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 37
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He was delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1896, at which time William Jennings Bryan was nominated. He was classed as a gold Democrat and voted with his delegation as a unit under instructions from the State convention to vote for a sound money man.
In 1879 he married Miss Bella Loomis, of Columbia County, New York, who has a birthright in the D. A. R .. her great-grandfather having been Major Cousins, who fought under General Putnam at Bunker Hill. Her mother was a schoolmate of Charlotte Cush- man and a niece of Daniel Webster.
His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Perry, is still living at an advanced age at her old home in Hunterdon County. New Jersey. She speaks two or three languages, and at one time wrote an article against whipping in the Navy, which created a great stir. and Commodore Stockton is reported to have said that it did more toward abolishing the practice than any
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other agency. In her younger days, she was a great musician and a writer of some renown, under her maiden name of Elizabeth D. White, and articles under her name from her pen may still be found in the old Columbia magazines and periodicals of her day.
His father, Edmund Perry, was classed with such men as ex-Chancellor Williamson, ex-United States Senator William Wright, the late Secretary Frederick Frelinghuysen, John P. Stockton and Frederick C. Potts.
Major Perry was the first exalted ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of America in Atlantic City. He is an active member of the I. O. O. F., and delivered the oration at the laying of the corner-stone of Odd Fellows Hall, this city, June 13, 1892. He is a Red Man, belongs to the Independent Order of Heptasophs, Judge Advocate of the Third Regiment, ex-Prosecutor of Atlantic County, appointed by Governor Wurts in 1893, and filled the position acceptably for five years.
CLARENCE PETTIT.
The subject of this sketch was born on the banks of the Maurice River, near Maurice- town, Cumberland County, N. J. His father was a prominent farmer in that section, and the son, like many well-known Americans, passed his first years on the farm, attending school in winter and devoting his spare time to reading and study. Graduating at the public schools at the age of nineteen. he engaged in teaching for a time and subsequently was em- ployed by Daniel Loder, a brother-in-law, and by the Cumberland Glass Company of Bridgeton.
To prepare himself for the law he entered Pennington Seminary, and while there won a competitive prize in debate, evincing powers of mind and speech, so essential in his pro- fession. He was one of the founders of the Dickinson Law Society of Dickinson College, while a student there, and became a member of the Carlisle Bar while connected with the office of Hon. Theodore Cornman.
Mr. Pettit was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in February, 1897, and by strict atten- tion to his clients' interests is building up a lucrative business. He takes an active part in literary and church affairs, and is a member of the governing board of the Central M. E. Church.
Politically Mr. Pettit is a Democrat, and is a cousin of the late Hon. Leon Abbett, twice Governor of New Jersey.
WILLIAM M. POLLARD.
William M. Pollard. M. D., Superintendent of the Public Schools of this city, was born at Turner, Me., in 1855. He finished his academic education at the Nichols Latin School, in Lewiston, and then taught school for a period of five years. He was principal of the schools at Port Republic, and at Hammonton, N. J., before he entered Jefferson Medical College, where he graduated in 1882. He located in this city and has made a speciality of the diseases of the ear and eye. In 1895 he was chosen Superintendent of the Public Schools, a position he is well qualified to fill. He was elected president of the Academy of Medicine in 1898 and 1899.
BENJAMIN WOOD RICHARDS.
Benjamin Wood, son of William Richards, was born at Batsto, November 12, 1797. He graduated from Princeton College at the age of eighteen, and decided to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. The delicate condition of his health compelled him to change his plans and seek health in extended travel through the South and West. At the age of twenty-two he entered mercantile pursuits in Philadelphia, and becoming interested
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in municipal affairs, was elected first to Council, and in 1827 to the Legislature Ile was instrumental in securing the first appropriation from the State for public schools in Phila- delphiia, and did much for the cause of education. He was one of the original members of the Board of City Controllers, and was one of the State Canal Commissioners when he was chosen Mayor to succeed George M. Dallas, who resigned in 1829. Council elected the Mayor at that time for a term of one year. He later served two full terms as Mayor, 1830-'32. A life-size portrait of him in oil, by Inman, now hangs in the Mayor's private office in the City Hall. It was presented to the City of Philadelphia by one of his sons, Benj. Wood Richards, Jr., at the suggestion of Mayor Stokley, some years ago.
Mayor Richards was one of the founders of the Blind Asylum, an early manager of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, a trustee of the University, a member of the Philosophical Society. President Jackson had appointed him a director in the United States Bank and a director of the Mint, but he resigned these positions on becoming Mayor. During his administra- tion Stephen Girard died and he became one of the directors of Girard College.
With other prominent citizens, in 1835, he organized the Laurel Hill Cemetery Asso- ciation and the following year founded the Girard Life Insurance, Annuity and Trust Com- pany, the first insurance company in America, and was its president until his death. He was a courageous, benevolent, enterprising man and made a decided impress upon his associates and the city of his adoption. He was of tall imposing figure, long considered one of the handsomest men in Philadelphia, as his portrait indicates. He was married in 1821 to Sarah Ann, daughter of Joshua Lippincott, and left seven children, four sons and three daughters. He died July 12, 1851, aged 53 years. His wife died March 19, 1862. His re- mains were interred at Laurel Hill.
JOHN RICHARDS.
John Richards, for many years the owner and operator of the Old Gloucester Iron Works, now a portion of Egg Harbor City, was a second cousin of Samuel Richards, the owner of Weymouth Iron Works. He was the son of James and Mary Richards, and was born June 5. 1784. In 1807 he left his home in Pennsylvania and came to Batsto, finding employment with his great-uncle. William Richards. He later became assistant manager and for sixteen years chief manager of Weymouth Works, then owned by Joseph Ball and his associates, the founders. In 1830, ten years after the death of Ball. he formed an equal partnership with Thomas S. Richards and purchased of Samuel Richards the Gloucester estate comprising some 17.000 acres of iron bogs and timber lands for $35.000. The per- sonal estate purchased cost $15.000 more. The property then included a saw and grist mill. an iron furnace capable of producing twenty-five tons of iron weekly. Stoves, lamp posts and other articles were made there to advantage for more than twenty years. In 1854 John Richards sold his Gloucester interests to Dr. Henry Schmoele of Philadelphia and removed to his country seat. "Stowe." in Montgomery County, Pa., where he died November 29. 1871. He was the father of seven children.
SAMUEL RICHARDS BY CHARLES R. COLWELL.
A history of the development and improvement of South Jersey during the past fifty years, failing to do justice to the part taken by Samuel Richards, formerly of Jackson, in Camden County, would be indeed incomplete. Although a merchant of Philadelphia for many years and of late a resident there, his interests were thoroughly identified with New Jersey and his efforts toward the improvement of what is usually called South Jersey were unceasing.
Of vigorous and handsome physique, marked personality, untiring energy, he was a worthy descendant of a line of ancestry distinguished for the same qualities. Of most
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sanguine temperament, his plans were matured with rare judgment, and although always years in advance of public opinion, the progress of events has never failed to prove that Samuel Richards' schemes were well founded and in the right direction.
Of great ingenuity, he was inventor and owner of a number of valuable patents, more than sufficient to prove that, if his talents had been given a fit opening in that direction, he would have taken a high place among inventors.
As early as 1850 he began to plan for a railroad across New Jersey, in part with a view to benefiting the existing glass and iron industries which languished under the difficulties of transportation, partly for the development of the vast tracts of land lying idle in Camden and Atlantic Counties, lands then generally deemed useless for agricultural purposes, and also with the intent to establish a seaside resort upon the beach front.
Long Branch at the upper end of the New Jersey coast and Cape May at the southern extremity had been favorite resorts for many years, because accessible by boat, but the whole extent of the beach front between was a barren waste.
Along the fast land, bordering on the salt marsh, which separates the beach from the "shore," there was, for almost the whole length of the coast. a strip of improved land. The inhabitants were usually either marines, fishermen, oystermen or in some way connected with the sea. There was much wealth among them. As they had been so long completely isolated, it was to be expected that they would welcome and assist in building a railroad which would bring them into direct communication with Philadelphia. Mr. Richards worked unceasingly at his plan for a railroad across the State and finally, in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties, brought it to a successful issue.
It has not been shown that the inhabitants of the Jersey shore failed to welcome the railroad, but the records show that they did very little to assist in the construction of it. In this, the solitary item of the financial aid expected to be derived from this source, Mr. Richards' expectations and calculations were proved to be much in error. It was, however, quite in character with the man to be unable to allow for so great caution or lack of appre- ciation of prospective benefits.
It cannot be successfully denied that Samuel Richards was the orinigator of the first railroad to the Jersey coast, or that he was the founder of Atlantic City and of the Camden and Atlantic Land Company, which has done so much for the city.
It has never been questioned that he was the originator and creator of the second rail- road to Atlantic City, the building of which has made Atlantic City what it is and which enabled it to establish a record for continuous and uninterrupted prosperity and increase of values almost unequalled by any other city.
This second railroad was built in the face of natural difficulties equalling those en- countered in his previous effort and proceeding from the same cause, i. e., the difficulty of imparting his own forethought to others less gifted. In addition it was necessary to en- counter and overcome a most bitter and determined opposition aroused in those interested in the first railroad, who believed its prosperity to be threatened. All this Mr. Richards did, almost unaided in the actual work and at times impeded by dissensions within the new company.
In the building of this road, fifty-four miles in length, he accomplished the then un- heard of feat of grading, laying the track and opening it for business in ninety days from the time work was begun upon it.
This road, after the vicissitudes common to such enterprises, passed into the control of the Reading Railroad and was the origin and foundation of that magnificent double track line now known as the Atlantic City Railroad.
His enterprise, perseverance and ingenuity caused the building of the first railroad across the State, and this rendered possible the establishment of Hammonton, Egg Harbor City, Elwood, Atco and many other flourishing towns. In this sense he was the founder of each and all of these. The opening of Atlantic County by the first railroad to the coast was the first cause of the explosion of the belief that Jersey land was worthless for agricultural
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purposes. Mr. Richards' enterprise rendered possible the planting and profitable culture of the many thousands of acres in grapes, berries, fruits, and truck farms in Atlantic and adjoining counties.
Mr. Richards for several years occupied the position of Assistant President of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad. During this time he was, in fact, the executive officer of the road.
Among many other marked improvements introduced by him into the management, conducive to extension of the business and greater economy, was the attention he gave to the prevention of forest fires, which had been set by the locomotives of this road in great number and most destructive in extent. He gave the closest personal attention to this matter, aiming to procure the best apparatus for arresting sparks from locomotives, to see that, after being procured, they were used, and to disciplining locomotive engineers and firemen guilty of negligence in this regard or, as was then not infrequently the case, of purposely setting fires.
For his effort in this direction. Mr. Richards deserves the gratitude of every one in- terested in the preservation of the forests of New Jersey. Although destructive fires from this cause have continued to be frequent up to the present time, he was the first person, perhaps the only one, connected with railroad management to give this matter attention. By his efforts a large extent of forest which, at the rate it was being destroyed, would un- doubtedly have been burned with the rest, has been preserved up to the present time. If the Camden and Atlantic Railroad had then been made to pay for the damage done by fires set by its locomotives, as it would be at this time, it would have gone far to bankrupt the struggling concern. Immediately upon Mr. Richards' assumption of the executive office there was a decided decrease in the number of fires set, and this state of things con- tinned during his term in office.
One of Mr. Richards marked peculiarities was his inability to look on at the doing of any difficult piece of work without showing a disposition to assist in, as well as, direct it- a disposition he not infrequently indulged.
This with his unfailing kindness and justice to those under his control made him a most popular officer. Although so many years have passed since he ceased to have official connection with either railroad, he is remembered with affection by the old employees. So long as he lived, they never ceased to inquire for his welfare.
It would be impossible within the space of this necessarily brief sketch to do justice to the genius, talents and many excellent qualities of this remarkable man. Enough has been said to demonstrate that no other man has done as much for the development of South Jersey as Samuel Richards.
He was best appreciated by those who knew him best.
JOHN COLLINS RISLEY.
John Collins Risley. the good-natured real estate man, who holds forth in the office known as Risley and Cavileer, 1311 Atlantic avenue, was born at Smith's Landing in 1857. Educated in the county schools, he came to Atlantic City in the summer of 1877 and worked in the Atlantic market for two years. He then entered the employ of the P. R. R. and continued with that corporation for six years. He next became an attache of the Daily Union, remaining for two years. For four years he was in the employ of 1. G. Adams & Co., and having a liking for the real estate business, he became associated with Clifton C. Shinn. Esq., in the firm of Shinn & Risley, the partnership continuing for two years. The firm was then dissolved and the subject of our sketch for a year carried on the business alone. Then he and W. K. Cavileer formed a partnership which is influential not only in real estate, but insurance and conveyancing as well. He is interested in promoting up-town property and to him belongs much of the credit of its improved condition.
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DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
JOHN J. ROCHFORD.
John J. Rochford, proprietor of the Rochford Hotel Apartment House of this city, was born in New York City in 1854. When a young man he went west with his father, the late Robert B. Rochford, who was a contractor for the erection of State and county buildings in Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska and Wyoming. Selecting medicine as his pro- fession, the subject of this sketch devoted two years to preparatory study in the city of Omaha. When the vast mineral wealth of the Black Hills country was discovered, in 1875, he went there with thousands of others and became identified with the organization and developing of what have since become the best known and most profitable mining proper- ties there. He suffered financially like thousands of others from the great slump in mining interests and the financial depression consequent upon the demonetization of silver. There was an exodus from the Black Hills during the years 1888, '89, '90. Mr. Rochford came to. Chicago, where he became interested in an institution for the cure of inebriety and a craving for narcotics.
At the solicitation of Eli C. Woodward, in 1893, he came to Atlantic City, where it was proposed to build a sanitarium, capitalized at $25,000 and promoted by Drs. Willard. Wright, T. P. Waters and Job Somers. The business was conducted successfully for a year and remarkable cures effected, but the full development of the enterprise failed when Mr. Rochford organized a sanitarium association with a broader scope and incidentally to. meet the needs of this city for an emergency hospital.
The first year, 1894, the Carrolton, on New York avenue, was leased and a contract made with the city for $500 rent and $5 per week for all cases treated for the city.
The purchase of the Margate property at Pacific and Mt. Vernon avenues enabled Mr. Rochford and associates the four years following to conduct a successful sanatorium busi- ness and to give the city excellent hospital and dispensary service. The latter becoming the unprofitable and objectionable feature of this institution Mr. Rochford, at considerable expense to himself, called a meeting of representative citizens and helped to organize the present hospital association with a board of fifteen governors with the view of a separate, independent institution. He encouraged the purchase of the Henry J. White property on Ohio avenue and co-operated cheerfully and generously with the board of governors who were selected and organized in his house at his suggestion. The sanatorium was finally dis- solved. Mr. Rochford becoming the sole owner, and the property converted into the present fine hotel apartment house, the first and only one of its kind on the island.
In 1882 Mr. Rochford married Emma J. Riley, of Chicago. They have one child, Miss. Mabel, a young lady.
JAMES RYON.
James Ryon, of Smiths Landing, was the oldest son and third child of the late Pardon Ryon and Elizabeth Adams, who settled at Smiths Landing early in the century. He was- born in 1830. The father was a farmer and store keeper. and the son has been a prosperous farmer all his life. He married Caroline, daughter of the late Absalom Cordery, of Abse- con, and raised a family of five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons are Wil- Jard, Edward and Lewis, and the daughters, Anna and Elizabeth.
Mr. Ryon has been one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of his native town all his life. While holding no prominent public position he has been a pros- perous, useful citizen, a liberal supporter of the church and public schools and every worthy cause.
PARDON RYON.
Pardon Ryon, of Smiths Landing, was born where he has always lived, on May 22, 1839. He was the youngest son of the late Pardon Ryon and Elizabeth Adams. The father was born in Connecticut, and came to Atlantic County early in the century, settling
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on the shore and engaging in farming and keeping a country store. There were eight chil dren: Marietta. who m. Peter Tilton; Emeline, who m. John Cordery: James, who m. Caroline Cordery: Alice, who m. Elijah Adams; Caroline, who m. Samuel Cordery: Matilda, who d. when a young woman; Eliza, who m. Bowan Tilton, and the subject of this sketch, who m. Emeline, daughter of the late John Frambes.
After completing his education in the district schools. Pardon Ryon engaged in farm- ing, and for thirty years kept a general merchandise store at the old homestead. where he prospered and was widely known, honored and respected as a good citizen and a business man of the strictest integrity.
He raised a family of three sons: John, who m. Mame Ireland: Frank, who m. Clara Treen, and Arthur. The sons follow the occupation of the father and live at Smiths Landing.
ALOYSIUS SCHAUFLER.
The pioneer German citizen and resident on this island was Aloysius, better known as Alois Schaufler. He came here before the railroad. as early as 1852, many times walking the entire distance between the Delaware and the sea. He was born in Baden Baden, Ger- many, in 1818. in humble circumstances. In 1848, when thirty years old, he became in- volved with many others of liberal, independent views, in resisting the oppressions of the Prussian King, and considered himself fortunate to escape with his life and come to America. He found employment in Philadelphia, three or four years before coming to this city. He was poor and never had educational advantages and struggled under great dis- advantages at first till fortune favored him. "Jordanville." oceanward from Maine avenue, was his first hotel or restaurant. Later, through the encouragement of Judge Joseph Porter, he started a hotel near the railroad station at North Carolina avenue, which developed in a few years into Schaufler's Hotel and summer garden, that entertained members of the best families of Philadelphia and Washington.
To Mr. Schaufler's second wife, Barbetta Schercher, much credit is due for his pros- perity and success. Her excellent management made the hotel popular. Adjacent prop- erties were purchased till nearly an entire square was included, and the hotel several times enlarged and improved. The real estate which he secured for a few thousand dollars has recently been sold for more than $100.000.
In 1871 he was elected a member of Council. He was a man of progressive ideas and helped to build the turnpike over the meadows, to grade and extend Arctic avenue and make the city more attractive to visitors. By his second wife, Barbetta Schercher, there were three children: Annie, who married Adolph Schlecht; Dr. Charles, a veterinary surgeon of Philadelphia, and Caroline, who is married and lives in Philadelphia. He had several brothers who followed him to America. He died at his home in this city in 1881, a third wife and several younger children also surviving him.
LEWIS PENNINGTON SCOTT.
Lewis Pennington Scott. our popular County Clerk, is a descendant of two well-known Jersey families. His father. the late John Hancock Scott, of Burlington City, was a de- scendant of Henry Scott, one of the London Ten Commissioners who secured from the Crown 10,000 acres of American soil in what is now Burlington County. John Hancock Scott was a contractor and railroad builder. He had the contract to build the glass works at Estellville, this county, in 1834. for John and Daniel Estell. when he formed the acquain- tance of Miss Mary. daughter of John Pennington, of Mays Landing, who became his wife. He died in southern Virginia, in 1874, where he had a contract to build a section of railroad. The mother is still living.
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The subject of this sketch was the youngest of nine children, and was born in the city of Burlington, February 9, 1854. He was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, and for several years was an actor of considerable promise, and for a number of years a commercial traveler in the carpet trade. He came to Atlantic City in 1888, forming a part- nership with William A. Bell, under the firm name of Bell & Scott. In 1895 he was elected County Clerk for a term of five years, and is more than likely to be his own successor. His administration of the office has been marked by decided reforms in having the records of the office double-indexed and all the work conducted in a strictly up-to-date manner.
Mr. Scott is largely interested in real estate, and has been very successful. By his first wife he has one daughter, Isabelle G. Scott. For his second wife, he married Catherine, eldest daughter of Captain Daniel Gifford, of Mays Landing, and has three children, Gifford, Lewis and Daniel.
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