USA > New Jersey > Atlantic County > Atlantic City > The Daily union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and County > Part 36
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As a young man, the subject of this sketch engaged in the dry goods business in Phila- delphia, having a store on Market street and becoming an extensive importer of cloths. He prospered and had been a cottager at Cape May for some years previous to his purchase of a cottage in this city, in 1863, a building which is still standing, being a portion of Craig Hall, on Ocean avenue.
Since 1860 Mr. Lippincott and sons have been wholesale auctioneers, a business which since his retirement has been conducted by three of his sons.
Through his long and busy life Mr. Lippincott has scrupulously preserved untarnished the good name of this widely known family, and in the full possession of all his faculties is peacefully rounding out his more than four score years.
He married Mary Jones, who died in 1894. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Four of the sons. Henry C., Albert G., Frank B. and George T. are. with the father. the surviving members of the family.
WILLIAM B. LOUDENSLAGER.
William B. Loudenslager, of the firm of Loudenslager Bros., at 1013 Atlantic avenue. was born in Philadelphia, of German parentage, September 18, 1851, and was one of a family of seven children. His father for more than thirty years was a butcher in the old Spring Garden Market. The son received his education in the public schools and learned the trade of a bookbinder. At the age of twenty-one he opened an office on his own account at Fifth and Walnut streets, and later at Tenth and Arch, where he conducted the business successfully for thirteen years. In June, 1885, he sold his bindery and came to Atlantic City to assist his brother, Henry C. Loudenslager, in the Ashland market, and has been here ever since. For one term of three years. 1892 to 1895, he served very acceptably as City Superintendent of Public Schools, and for eight years, 1892 to 1900, he has been a member of the Board of Health. He has been associated with John L. Young, since 1894. in beach front enterprises, and has been very successful in real estate transactions. He suc- ceeded Stewart McShea as President of the Beach Pirates Fire Company, a position which he still holds, and is a very popular officer.
EDMUND H. MADDEN.
Dr. Edmund H. Madden was born in Millville, July 27, 1843. When two and one-half years old his parents moved to Tuckahoe, where the son was educated in the pay schools of that period, becoming a surveyor. He attended Pennington Seminary two years and decided upon the study of medicine. He studied one year with Dr. E. L. B. Wales, the well-known practitioner at Tuckahoe, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1866. In November of that year he began practice at Absecon and has continued there ever since.
Dr. Madden, like his father before him, is a life-long Democrat and conservative citi zen. He stands high in the profession to which he has devoted his best years. He is a member of the county and State medical societies and has frequently been mentioned Ior the highest elective offices in the county.
He married Miss Temperance C., only daughter of the late Captain Theophilus Weeks, of Tuckahoe. They have eight children: May, widow of the late John J. Townsend; Eva, Edmund H .. Jr .. Theophilus, who is associated with his father as a physician: Hosea F., Hannah, Leland S. and Herman Lester.
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HOSEA F. MADDEN.
Hosea F. Madden, who was elected High Sheriff of Atlantic County in 1852, and was State Senator at the time of his death, in 1877, was a glassblower by trade. His father, Hosea Madden, Sr., was born in England in 1785. He came to this country previous to the war of 1812, and was a member of a company known as the Light Horsemen. He was thrown from his horse and had a leg broken. He became one of the first manufacturers of glass at Glassboro, N. J., and later engaged in the same business at Port Elizabeth, where the son Hosea was born. He married Sarah Stanger, a woman of German birth, and died in his 38th year.
The son followed the occupation of his father and married Catherine Burch, a native of Cumberland County.
In 1847, on account of his health, he moved to Tuckahoe and engaged in farming, kept a general store, dealt extensively in wood and lumber and took an active interest in public affairs. In 1852 he was elected Sheriff, and in 1874 State Senator. He is remem- bered as a very courteous and popular citizen and official. He was the father of nine chil- dren: Edmund H., the well-known physician of Absecon; Braddock B., Thomas B., Sarah, Josephine, Eva, Catherine, Hope W. and Otis S. All are living except the last, who died January 23, 1896.
JOHN E. MEHRER.
Col. John E. Mehrer, who for years was the most popular man in Atlantic City, was born in New York City in 1845. His parents hailed from Wurtenberg, Germany, and finally removed to Philadelphia. About 1860 the young man first came to this city to serve as barkeeper for the late Col. Adolf Mehler. till his death in 1872. During these twelve years he had proven his ability as a hotel man and entered the employ of the late Alois Schaufler as manager of his summer garden. In 1880 he formed a partnership with Adolph Schlecht, a son-in-law of Mr. Schaufler, and leased the property and business until its purchase was effected, in 1890. Messrs. Schlecht and Mehrer, the same year, became the lessees of the Inlet Pavilion, to which Col. Mehrer has given his personal attention every summer since. This successful and harmonious partnership continued until 1899, when the Schaufler prop- erty was sold. Mr. Schlecht retiring and Col. Mehrer retaining the Inlet business. During his forty years at the shore till his death on February 28. 1900. Col. Mehrer had always been an important factor socially and helped to entertain thousands, but would never accept any public position. He was affiliated with over seventy social, benevolent or business organiza- tions. A thirty-second degree Mason, an Odd Fellow, an Elk, and a member of many German societies. He was chief marshal at the dedication of the first boardwalk in 1870, also at the celebration of the new steel walk in 1896. He was chief marshal at the recep- tions in this city of the Washington Light Infantry and Fifth Maryland Regiment in years gone by, when they summered at the shore.
The Mehrer Rifles. a local military company which has since become Company F, Sixth Regiment, N. G. of N. J., was named in his honor. Col. Mehrer was a director in the Consumers Water Company, in the Atlantic Lumber Company, and the Gas and Water Company. He also has important business interests in Philadelphia, and during the winter months occupied a fine residence at No. 518 North Fifth Street.
Col. Mehrer married Mary Crocket. They have one son, Everett, who married Katie Schwamb. Little Olga Mehrer is the only child and grandchild in the family.
DANIEL MORRIS.
Col. Daniel Morris, who died in this city on the afternoon of December 21, 1898, was born near Kingston, in the west of Ireland, in 1819. He was one of a family of five children, he having one sister and four brothers. He was more than ordinarily proficient in his
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studies, making rapid advancement and graduating as a civil engineer. He came to America a young man and first found employment surveying for the first railroads built near Phila- delphia. He became associated with Patrick O'Rcilley, of Reading, a successful contractor, and when the C. & A. Ry. was built to this city, in 1854, he came to this island resort to help survey the railroad and the town. He soon became interested in real estate and was quite successful, living in a modest way and having no family. He owned at different times nearly all the beach front from Michigan to North Carolina avenues, which is now worth millions, also other acres at Chelsea, which are now immensely valuable. Perhaps the most important real estate transaction with which he was identified was the purchase of the old Surf House property in 1879, for $30,000, and the subsequent sale of the property in building lots for more than $100,000. It embraced the entire square between Illinois, Kentucky, Pacific and Atlantic avenues, and the westerly side of Kentucky avenue from Pacific to the beach, now worth a million dollars.
Col. Morris became a stockholder in each of the banks and other local corporations. He never held any public position, but was always much interested in the success of the Democratic party. He lived a blameless, honorable life, giving of his wealth freely to poor relatives, to churches and to needy and worthy persons. Few knew of the quiet benefactions of this generous man. In 1888 he was one of the Presidential electors of New Jersey on the Democratic ticket.
Col. Morris for years was the patron and helper of the Morris Guards, a social-military organization of young men of Atlantic City. He caused to be erected the large Armory building where drills and social functions are frequently held. This organization has been a decided advantage to hundreds of young men, and as long as he lived Col. Morris took a keen interest in the success of the organization. In his will he provided that the Armory property should continue as such so long as the organization is maintained and its objects are promoted.
His memory will long be cherished by the disposition which he made by will of his great fortune, which is estimated at over $200,000. Before he died he built and paid for the St. Michael Orphan Asylum at Hopewell, N. J. It is a large and beautiful stone structure dedicated to the orphan boys of this diocese and is conducted under the auspices of the Catholic Bishop of West Jersey. This industrial school and home cost $75,000, and has from the residuary estate an endowment fund of $40.000 more.
Forty thousand dollars were set apart for an old man's home and other institutions for the helpless and worthy were generously remembered. The remains of Col. Morris lie in a granite vault near the school which for all time will be a blessing to hundreds of orphan boys. A handsome marble cross rises to mark the pure and blessed life work of this gen- erous man whose ashes repose there.
SILAS R. MORSE.
Silas R. Morse, the well-known educator of this city, was born of good family in Liver- more, Maine, in 1840. As a lad he showed an aptitude for books, and at an early age passed through all the grades of the public schools. He was a sophomore at Waterville College when he enlisted during the war of the rebellion, while he was working his way through college. On reaching Washington he failed to pass the physical examination, when he came to Hammonton, N. J., where his sister, Mrs. Ezra Packard, lived. He taught school successfully at Hammonton and Winslow three years, when he was offered the prin- cipalship of the schools of Atlantic City in the fall of 1865.
He then married one of his advanced pupils, Miss Mary J., daughter of the late Dr. Joseph H. North, and made this city his home. He continued as principal of the schools of this city for eight years, and for seven years Mrs. Morse was one of his assistants.
In 1866 and '67 Mr. Morse was a member of City Council, and was Tax Collector in
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1868-'69. He served eight years as City School Superintendent. In 1877 he succeeded Rev. George B. Wight as County Superintendent of Schools. To the duties of this position he gave his best energies for fifteen years. He reorganized and greatly improved the condi- tion of the schools throughout the county. He introduced a regular course of study in ungraded country schools and became favorably known far and wide as a school man. He has been a member of the Atlantic City Board of Education ever since the charter amend- ments took effect in 1887. He helped to prepare the New Jersey school exhibit for the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893, and was appointed curator in charge of the exhibit there. So ably and acceptably did he fill the position that he has been continued as such ever since, and the exhibit made a permanent one in the State House at Trenton. In 1895 Mr. Morse was appointed a member of the State Board of Education. He is thoroughly familiar with the school laws and the public school system of the State, and is a very important adjunct of the State Superintendent's office.
Mr. Morse has been fortunate in real estate investments during his long residence in this city, and has a comfortable fortune so that he can devote most of his time and efforts to educational work.
He spends his summer in Maine, having a camp on the shore of Rangeley lake, another near Wayne pond, with headquarters at the old homestead at Livermore. He is an expert angler, having had the good fortune in 1896 to catch the largest salmon trout ever hooked at Rangeley, one weighing 131/2 pounds.
MILTON L. MUNSON.
Milton L. Munson, M. D., was born at Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y. His early education was received at the Delaware Literary Institute. He was a druggist in his native town for several years, till he decided upon the practice of medicine as a profession. He enterd Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1887, graduating in 1890, and in May of the same year located in Atlantic City. He enjoys the confidence of his fellow practi- tioners and the esteem of all who know him as a progressive, public spirited citizen. He is a member of the Atlantic City Homoeopathic Club, the American Institute of Homoeopathy, and the New Jersey State Homoeopathic Medical Society.
TOBIAS McCONNELL.
Tobias McConnell, the well-known keeper of the Atlantic County Almshouse and Asylum at Smith's Landing, was born in Philadelphia, November 24, 1849. He is of Irish parentage, his father being the late John Logan McConnell, who came to this country before 1830, and for many years was a prominent grocer at Eleventh and Race streets, Philadelphia. He died in 1855. His mother was Eliza Mulholland, who for her second husband married Richard Benson and settled at Newtonville, Buena Vista township, in 1860, when the subject of this sketch was about ten years old. They engaged in farming and, excepting a few years, when Mr. McConnell was employed as a lithographer in Philadelphia, he continued to live at Newtonville till he was chosen by the Atlantic County board of freeholders for his present position. He has been a painstaking and popular official. In May, 1874, he married Emma Louisa Wisham of Burlington County, a descendant of French Huguenots, who found refuge in America during the close of the last century. They have two sons, Howard Wisham and Walter Logan.
EDWARD NORTH.
Edward North, M. D., was born in West Waterville, Maine, July 29, 1841. He was the oldest son of the late Dr. Joseph H. North, of Hammonton. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and Kents Hill Seminary. He graduated from Jefferson
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Medical College, Philadelphia, in the spring of 1868, previous to which he had been in mercantile business in Philadelphia. During the Civil War he was in the military hospital at Washington, D. C. He commenced the practice of his profession at Hammonton in 1808. but removed to Jefferson, Wis., in 1870. Owing to sickness he returned to Hammonton the following year, where he remained until 1880, when he accepted a position with the Ferroll Iron Company, of Angusta County, West Virginia. There he remained two years, returning to Hammonton where he remained until his death.
As a successful physician Dr. North stood high among his brethren: as a skilled surgeon, and fearless operator. he had few equals. He was a member and president of the Atlantic County Medical Society, and contributed papers of special interest to that body, to the medical journals and to Gross' System of Surgery. He was an industrious student, careful and painstaking, keeping abreast with the advancement of medical art. Dr. North was a staunch Republican. He represented his party in Atlantic County for years, as chairman of the County Committee, Coroner and member of the Assembly in 1884 and 1885. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, Past Master of M. B. Taylor Lodge, F. and A. M., and a member of other fraternal societies. He was instantly killed at a railroad crossing by an express train February 11, 1899. He was twice married. By his first wife he had three daughters.
JAMES NORTH.
James North, M. D., D. D. S., was born in West Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, September 2, 1855. Came to Hammonton in 1859, in whose schools, together with the State Normal School at West Chester, Pa., and Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Philadel- phia, he was educated. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1880, and practiced the profession of medicine in Hammonton for two years with signal success, giving up the same for the profession of dentistry, taking the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Philadelphia Dental College in 1883.
He located in Atlantic City in the spring of that year, and has by skill and attention built up the largest and most lucrative practice in South Jersey. The Doctor is a Past Grand Chancellor of the Scottish Rite and a thirty-second degree Mason, Past Master of Trinity Lodge, Past High Priest of Trinity Chapter, Past Sachem of Pequod Tribe. Past Grand of American Star Lodge, Past Chief of Ocean Castle, Past Regent of the R. A., and a popular member of some twenty other secret, fraternal and social societies. As a speaker he has few equals, his speeches being models of beauty and eloquence.
He enjoys the title of "Poet Laureate of Atlantic County." though his reputation as a master of verse is not limited by its boundaries. The Doctor is a Republican in principle and profession, but not an office seeker. He was married in 1883 to Miss Cora E. Faunce. and has two daughters. Mary Eliza and Cora Marguerite.
JOSEPH HENRY NORTH.
Dr. Joseph Henry North, Sr., was born at Clinton, Maine. August 25, 1811. He grad- uated from the Bowdoin Medical College at Brunswick, Maine, in the class of '35, with honors, and commenced the practice of his profession at Belgrade, moving to West Water- ville, now Oakland. in 1840, where he practiced successfully eighteen years. In 1858 he moved to Hammonton, N. J. Here he continued the practice of medicine, and at the same time gave much attention to fruit culture, having one of the finest farms in this section. In 1870 he retired from active practice, and devoted himself to the oversight of his extensive farm lands.
Dr. North was extensively engaged in the sale and exchange of real estate, and to his energy Hammonton owes much of its success. He was a skilled physician, as his professional brethren and the hundreds of his patients throughout Atlantic County can attest. His
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reputation was not wholly local, as the charge of the great fever hospitals around Washing- ton during the Civil War was offered to him, so highly was his skill in the treatment of fevers held. He was a learned man aside from his professional knowledge, a great student and brilliant conversationalist. He was married in 1840 to Eliza H., daughter of Hon. Joseph H. Underwood, of Fayette, who bore him seven children, all of whom are residents of Atlantic County. He died at the advanced age of 82, at Hammonton. September 19. 1893.
RICHARD BOYCE OSBORNE.
Richard Boyce Osborne, the "Father of Atlantic City," who was the civil engineer in charge of the first survey of the first railroad to this city and the city itself, was born in London, England, November 3, 1815. He married Eliza Graves, of Philadelphia, November, 1842, and had seven children, five of whom survive him. Mr. Osborne died November 28, 1899, at Glenside, Pa., in his 85th year. He was eminent in his calling, both in this country and in England. He was largely influential with the promotors of the first railroad to this city, in overcoming obstacles which seemed insurmountable. But for him the founding of this resort might have been postponed many years. Later in life he was engaged in many important engineering works which added to his well-established plans.
CYRUS F. OSGOOD.
Cyrus F. Osgood, senior member of the shoe manufacturing firm of C. F. Osgood & Co., of Hammonton, N. J., was born in Auburn, Maine, September 10, 1841. Like many other Maine boys he taught school a few years, when his own education was considered finished. At the age of twenty, he went to Lynn, Mass., which, like his native Auburn, was a shoe-manufacturing town. He speedily found employment, but the war breaking out he enlisted in the Fourth Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, under Col. King of Boston. He was with his regiment during its entire term of service, and at the close of the war returned to Lynn and the shoe business. In 1870 he came to Philadelphia and the following year became superintendent of a shoe factory at Elwood, N. J. In 1872 he began the manufacture of shoes in company with Calvin Johnson in Hammonton, where he has lived and prospered ever since. The present firm owns and occupies a large factory, equipped with up-to-date machinery and employs over ninety people the year around. This firm also owns and operates the Hammonton Shoe Co., a separate business enterprise of the town, which for years was conducted by another firm.
William J. Smith, the junior partner, before he was of age, was employed by Mr. Osgood and later taken in as a partner. He has been connected with the business twenty- one years and has given his best energies to the enterprise.
Mr. Osgood for years has held various local offices. He was Postmaster four years, chosen freeholder two years, president of the Board of Education, president of the Work- ingmen's B. & L. Association, director of the bank, and other positions of honor and trust. He is a Past Commander of Gen. D. A. Russell Post, and a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge. He has been the candidate of the Democratic party for Assemblyman and State Senator, and one of the most popular and useful citizens of his town and county. He has a wife and two children.
L. H. PARKHURST.
L. H. Parkhurst, the town of Hammonton's representative in the County Board of Freeholders, was born in Ohio in 1845. He gained his early schooling in Milford, Mass., coming to Hammonton with his parents at the age of twelve and attending school there. He entered the army and became a first lieutenant at the age of eighteen, and took an active
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part in the closing events of the rebellion. On being mustered out he went to Fexas pros- pecting along the Rio Grande, but returned and became a fruit grower of Hammonton. where he has prospered ever since. He has been active in town affairs and influential for the public good. He is president of the Fruit Growers' Association, in which for years he has been a director.
JOHN W. PARSONS.
John W. Parsons was born at West Creek, Ocean County, N. J., August 20, 1853. He attended the public schools at home and at Tuckerton till sixteen years of age, when he went to sea. He followed a seafaring life for twelve years. At the age of twenty-one, he was master of a vessel. In 1880 he came to this city to live, finding employment as a carpenter and builder. For a time he was a member ofthe Absecon Life Saving Crew and later a police officer, becoming a sergeant of police. In 1800 he collected mercantile licenses for City Clerk Irelan and was elected to Council from the First Ward, serving three years. He was appointed by Mayor Stoy as Captain of the City Life Guards the first year this force was paid by the city.
Since 1895 he has served with great acceptability as Mercantile Appraiser, a position which he continues to hold. His wife was Miss Belle, daughter of William Paul, of Mana- hawkin, N. J. They have a comfortable home in Grammercy Place.
SAMUEL E. PERRY.
Major Samuel E. Perry was born in Huntingdon County, New Jersey. in 1851, and is a son of Edmund Perry who represented Huntingdon County in the State Senate and was president of that body in 1861. Major Perry studied law with Judge Randolph of the Supreme Court and was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1877. and as a counsellor in 1881.
In 1878 he was Journal Clerk of the House of Assembly, and in 1889 was a member of the Board of Education of Atlantic City. In the same year the Seacoast Artillery was dis- banded and then a new organization was attempted under the auspices of a number of the old members. The subject of this sketch was elected captain of the new command, which was known as Company F. and was merged into the Sixth Regiment.
During his career he has been identified with a number of important trials, notably the murder case of Burke vs. Tighe. the assault case of the Black Hussars growing out of a wicked attack on Sheriff Gaunt of Gloucester County. Also the case of Robert Elder, in- dicted for the murder of his father near Hammonton, in which he was senior counsel and associated with Judge Endicott. He won a name in his defense of Eva Hamilton in August, 1889. He was counsel of the Board of Freeholders of Hunterdon County at one time, as well as City Solicitor of Lambertville.
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