USA > New Jersey > The New Jersey coast in three centuries; history of the New Jersey coast with genealogical and historic-biographical appendix, Vol. II > Part 47
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Longstreet
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Aaron Songsthat
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name of the American Rice Food & Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Longstreet is president and Mr. Morton, treasurer and secretary.
Mr. Longstreet, like his father, is an active Democrat and a Presby- terian. He is a member of the Holland Society of New York City. He has been twice married; his first wife, Martina, a daughter of Dr. A. B. Dayton, to whom he was married in 1884, died in 1888, leaving one son, Harry. In January, 1893, Mr. Longstreet married Elmira, daughter of John H. Farry.
JOHN H. LEISEN.
Among the well known business citizens of Woodbridge, New Jersey, is John Leisen, who has been a resident of this city since 1868. His birth was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 1863, and he was a son of Frank J., Jr., and Margaret ( Powers) Leisen.
The Leisen family is of German extraction, many of its ancestors hav- ing been born on the banks of the classic Rhine. Here occurred the birth of Frank J. Leisen, the grandfather of our subject. After his marriage to Mary Weaver he came to America, selecting the city of Baltimore as a place of residence and there engaged in cloth manufac- turing until the time of his death, about 1835. After the death of the grandfather, the grandmother took her children and removed to Philadel- phia and there Frank J., the second, was reared to manhood and educated ; · he learned the trade of pattern-maker, this having been his occupation during life. In 1868 he removed to Woodbridge, New Jersey, and since that time has resided in this beautiful city, spending the autumn of life in comfortable retirement.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Leisen were as follows : Mary, who died in childhood ; John H .; Margaret, who is the wife of M. E. Turner ; Frank; Charles; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Christian Chris- tianson ; Maurice, who died in childhood; James; Charlotte, who is the wife of Ellis F. Chapman ; and Harry K.
John H. Leisen, who is the subject of this sketch, acquired a good common school education and then became an apprentice to the machinist trade, but he only engaged in active operations for one year, becoming interested in his present business, that of clay digging.
Mr. Leisen is an ardent Republican and has been very active in the ranks of his party and has faithfully served in many positions of trust and re- sponsibility. In 1900 he was elected town assessor for a period of three years, and is the efficient president of the board of health; is registrar of vital statistics ; is light commissioner, and is also a member of the school board, filling the duties of all these positions with the faithful service which is characteristic of all of his movements.
The marriage of Mr. Leisen was in Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 22, 1891, to Margaret E. Falconer, who was a daughter of David and Winnifred ( Bryan) Falconer, of New York, and four children have been
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born to this union, as follows: John P., who died in childhood; Margaret WV .; Helen R. and Ruth E.
Since his maturity Mr. Leisen has been prominently identified with many social and fraternal organizations, among these being the Masonic order, in which he is junior warden of American Lodge, No. 83, of Wood- bridge; New Jersey Sovereign Consistory; Scottish Rite bodies; Wood- bridge Council and Mecca Temple, New York City; No. 1743, Royal Ar- canum ; Independent Order of Foresters ; Woodbridge Athletic Association ; Driving club, and others. His business standing is high and his social prominence acknowledged.
JOHN M. DEY.
Very few men of large affairs can be named whose active business ca- reer has exceeded a full half-century, and who are yet connected with financial and commercial enterprises. This class, so limited in number, have had a remarkable experience. They have witnessed the beginnings of steam as a motive power, and the application of electrical energy, in all its departments, has taken place within their recollection. When they were young men, just entering upon life, there was neither mowing machine nor thresher, photography or rapid printing. It was the day of the stage coach, the wheat cradle, the hand printing press and the tallow candle. He who has lived during this period has witnessed more of invention and of progress than occurred in a score of centuries before him. Of this class is John M. Dey, a resident of Ocean Grove, New Jersey. In h's own immediate field of vision, he has seen the development of the great metrop- olis of the United States, and the absolute creation of a large portion of its outlying territory. In the work connected with the last mentioned, he has been and still is a potent factor.
John M. Dey was born September 26, 1827, in Princeton, New Jersey, son of Randolph and Caroline Dey. On the paternal side he is descended from one of the earliest emigrants from Holland, who came to Manhattan Island and its vicinage, and one member of the family, his great-grandfather - served in Captain Peter Perrine's Company, Third Regiment, Middlesex county. New Jersey, militia, during the Revolutionary war. In his boy- hood John M. Dey received the meager educational advantages which were afforded by the "pay school" of that time, but his native talent and his ambition enabled him to supply all deficiencies through private reading. In 1844, when but seventeen years of age, he began to learn carpentering on Staten Island, continued it at Williamsburgh, and finally engaged in business as a builder, an occupation which, more or less actively, has en- gaged his effort until the present time. In 1871 he took up his residence in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, and he was actively employed during all the phenomenal development of that and other popular resorts along the adja- cent coast. The town named was particularly advanced by his industry
John M. Der
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and enterprise, and very many of its most extensive building operations were projected or carried out by him. Despite his great age he preserves his wonderful vitality and energy, and continues to give his attention in advisory way to many of the most important business interests of the place. About one month after the organ zation of the Asbury Park Building and Loan Association Mr. Dey became a member and was at once elected one of its directors, was later elected vicc-president and in 1901 appointed to fill the unexpired term of its deceased president, William Hegerman, and in 1902 was elected its president. He has been exceedingly helpful in promoting building enterprises, and he has given his personal attention to the practical work of designing and erecting many of the most useful and attractive business and residence edifices in the village. He has also been for many years the local correspondent for the New York Board of Under- writers.
Mr. Dey is influential and active in religious, political and social cir- cles, as well as in business affairs. As a matter of fact, it may be said that, during his long residence in Ocean Grove, his influence has been felt and his effort has been exerted in behalf of every worthy object or measure conducing to the welfare of the community. He is an active member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, and a member of its board of trus- tees. In politics he is a Republican, and for three years past he has served as one of the judges on the election board. He has attained to the com- mandery degrees in Masonry, and to the Patriarch Militant rank in Odd Fellowship.
Mr. Dey was married March 4, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth M. Pearce, and their children are Randolph E., Margaret S. (deceased), Willisford, Sanford, John S. (deceased), Eugenia V. (deceased) and Alfred W. Dey.
ISAAC SKINNER PAYNE.
Among the successful and progressive farmers of Woodbridge town- ship, Middlesex county, Isaac Skinner Payne stands foremost. He was born October 2, 1814, in the county in which he now res des, h's father, John F. Payne, also being a native of Middlesex county, his birth having occurred in the year 1795. The father chose for his wife Miss Anne E. Marsh, who died in 1829, being survived but a few years by her husband, who passed away in 1835. The family is of Norman I'neage, but the great- grandfather of our subject, John Payne, served in the Revolutionary war, receiving a mortal wound while defending the flag for which he fought, while the great-grandfather Skinner also died while serving in the Revo- lutionary war. Isaac Payne was the grandfather of our subject, and was a man of high respectability.
Isaac Skinner Payne was reared in his native state, receiving his education in the schools of Woodbridge township, which he attended until eighteen years of age. He followed the vocation of his ancestors, that of
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farming, and for twenty-one years held the position of steward of the poor of Woodbridge township, and also for three years was superintendent of clay mining for Peter Melick & Sons, discharging his duties with prompt- ness and intelligence and winning the commendation of those whom he- served. On the 25th of November, 1835, Mr. Payne was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Mary E. Clarkson, whom he had known from childhood. She was to him a good and faithful helpmate on the journey of life, but was called to her final rest on February 8, 1890, greatly mourned by all who knew her. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Payne were born three children, namely :. John F., born September 27, 1836, and died June 22, 1864; Amanda E., born February 22, 1839; and Anna. E., born October 7, 1841.
Mr. Payne was a stanch advocate of the Whig party, and upon its dissolution joined the Republican ranks, loyally upholding its principles. He was a member of a township committee for one year, and has always taken an active interest in the welfare and development of his community. In 1846 he became a member of the First Presbyterian church of Wood- bridge, New Jersey, and at the present time is an elder in the church, en- joying, in his eighty-seventh year, the best of health and prosperity. He has a remarkable memory for names and dates and is exceedingly keen of mind for one of his advanced years. All who know him entertain for him the highest regard, as his life has been one of honor and uprightness.
COLONEL J. BLANCHARD EDGAR.
The Edgar family of Woodbridge is one of the oldest in Middlesex county, and its members, in various generations, have been always promi- nent in their day in local affairs. The common ancestor was Thomas Ed- gar, who came from Scotland and located at this place about 1720. The farm upon which Colonel J. Blanchard Edgar is now living was acquired by his father, John B. Edgar, who purchased it. The ancestral homestead of the family is yet standing at the corner of Hazel avenue and Wood- bridge road, and, in its early days, the old family mansion was one of the handsomest and most substantial in the county. The tract of land adjoin- ing it was very large, and a considerable portion of it is yet in possession of descendants of the original stock, among whom were William Edgar, and Major William Edgar, respectively great-grandfather and grandfather of Colonel J. Blanchard Edgar. Major William, Edgar was one of the most prominent men of the place in his time, and was well known as a man of means and large affairs. He was a member of the assembly, and he was one of the founders of the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank of Rahway, having been its first president. By his marriage with Phoebe S. Baker he became the father of thirteen children.
John B. Edgar, one of the children in the family last named, was born on the old homestead in 1809. He bore a full share in the cultiva- tion of the farm, and his education was necessarily limited to such as was
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afforded by the town school, but being ambitious he became a well informed man, as well as one of the most successful and practical farmers in the entire neighborhood. When he was quite a young man he bought the farm upon which Colonel J. Blanchard Edgar is now living, and built the house which is yet standing. Mr. Edgar was a man of more than usual energy and pub- lic spirit, and in his time he prabably accomplished more for the improve- ment of the roads in his township than did any other individual. In the accomplishment of this he served for many years as an overseer of roads, but he could not be prevailed upon to accept any other office. His farm specialty was the breeding of high-grade cattle, sheep and swine. He was a charter member of the New Jersey State Fair Association, and he would frequently take a carload of animals to the annual fair at Trenton, where he was always awarded prizes. In religion he was a Presbyterian; in politics he was a Whig until the dissolution of the party, when he became a Repub- lican. He was a man of sterling character and domestic tastes. He was married to Miss Anna Louise. Ross, a daughter of William M. Ross, of Metuchen, New Jersey, a retired merchant and an elder in the Presby- terian church. A younger daughter of Mr. Ross was married to Amos Robbins, a leading Democrat of Middlesex county, who served repeatedly in the assembly, and for several terms as president of the senate. To Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard were born six children, named as follows: Eugene R., Rufus N., J. Blanchard, Margaret, Josephine and Catherine. The mother of these children died in 1863, and Mr. Blanchard married Miss Catherine Bevier, of Ulster county, New York. One child was born of this marriage, but mother and infant soon passed away. Mr. Blanchard died in April, 1882.
J. Blanchard Edgar, the only surviving child of John B. and Anna Louisa (Ross) Blanchard, was born on the old family homestead where he now resides. He attended the preparatory school of the Reverend David H. Pierson, at Elizabeth, and then entered Rutgers College, in which he was graduated with the class of 1866. Among his classmates were several who became distinguished in the history of the state, in politics and in commercial and political life. He began a course of law reading under the preceptorship of Parker & Keasby, at Newark, but was obliged to discontinue his studies to return home and assist his father in the man- agement of the farm. Somewhat later he was appointed to a position in the New York custom house, on the staff of the surveyor of the port, which he held for several years. For fifteen years thereafter he was engaged in the lumber business, in charge of the lumber interests of the Domestic Sewing Machine Company of Newark, for ten years, and upon his own account as an operator in West Virginia and in other timber sections. He then acquired the old homestead farm, upon which he built a residence, one of the most elegant in the neighborhood. He also greatly improved the farm and created a large dairy business, with seventy-five cows, whose milk: and butter products find a ready market in Rahway with the choicest class of customers. It is not to be inferred from his entering upon such a life that Colonel Edgar has been inconspicuous in public affairs. Like his father,
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he had a fondness for country life, else he might have given broad indul- gence to political ambition. Destitute of this, however, he has rendered the state considerable valuable service. In 1873 and 1874 he was a mem- ber of the staff of the distinguished Governor Sewell. In more recent years he has served most acceptably as a member of the board of educa- tion of Woodbridge township. He is a member of the Masonic brotherhood and of the Zeta-Psi college fraternity. In politics he is an ardent Repub- lican. Colonel Blanchard was married to Miss Hattie B. Collins, of New Britain, and of this marriage five children were born,-Anna Laura ; Blanche Collins; Gertrude R., a student at Vassar College; Margaret, at- tending school at Elizabeth, New Jersey; and Natalie. The family live an ideal home life, and enjoy the esteem and affectionate companionship of a multitude of friends.
FRANK BRUEN CONOVER.
Frank Bruen Conover, proprietor of the Coleman House, the leading hotel of Asbury Park, and president of the Monmouth Ice Company of Long Branch, was born at Marlboro, Monmouth county, New Jersey, Jan- uary 14, 1860, son of Judge Charles H. and Mary Ann (Bruen) Conover. For four generations the family history has been identified with that of Monmouth county, their Dutch ancestors being among the earlier settlers of the state. Mr. Conover's grandfather, John Edward, was a graduate of Princeton College, and, possessed of abundant means, led a life of quiet. leisure, keeping up his classical studies and gratifying to the full his schol- arly and academic taste. He was an old-line Whig, and a communicant of the old "Tennent" church, near Freehold. He gave his sons William and Charles a finished education under the tutorship of a member of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, passed his declining years "a gentle- man of imposing bearing, noble intellect and lofty character," and died in 1832, his remains being interred in the cemetery of the Brick church at Marlboro.
Charles H. Conover, the father of our subject, was born March 6, 1818. After completing his education, for many years prior to his elevation to the bench he passed his time in the supervision of the homestead farm at Marlboro. . Giving his leisure hours to study, inheriting the dignity and natural refinement of the elder Conover, his mind richly stored with knowl- edge, his life was more that of the elegant scholar than that of the prac- tical land owner. Becoming a popular Democrat leader, in: 1868 he was elevated to the lay bench of Monmouth by Governor Parker. In 1873 he was reappointed to the judgeship by Governor Randolph. He died March 7, 1881, a widow and six children surviving him.
Frank B. Conover was prepared for college at Freehold, New Jersey. He entered Rutgers College in 1876, continued until he renched his junior - year, then abandoned college for a business career ; he accepted a situation as ticket clerk for the New York Central Railroad, holding the position for
Day: F. S. Brown
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
six years, then exchanging his position for a similar one upon the Jersey Central road. He here made rapid strides until he attained the post of superintendent of the Freehold Division. In the meantime he had or- ganized the Monmouth Ice Company, becoming active in its manage- ment. The business of this company rapidly gaining volume, he resigned from his connection with the railroad to give the new business his undivided attention. The company, commencing with a small retail trade in Long Branch, now extends its retail business to all points on the New Jersey coast, from Red Bank and Atlantic Highlands on the north to Belmar and Spring Lake on the south. Its carload shipments cover all points on the Jersey Central and the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroads, a develop- ment due entirely to Mr. Conover's careful management and executive ability.
In 1899 he became proprietor of the Coleman House, which has always ranked as the leading hotel of Asbury Park. He immediately laid plans for complete renovation of the property, and sparing neither energy nor money completely modernized it. Under his management the high reputa- tion of the establishment has been enhanced, and its business has been largely increased.
Although Mr. Conover has never aspired to public office he has still played an important part in political life as a Democrat. As chairman and treasurer of the county executive committee and leader of the "Abbett Ring," for a number of years he has been largely in control of party affairs. He is a member of the D. K. E. of his alma mater ; member of the Holland Society of New York City and of the Sons of the Revolution. In January, 1884, he was married to Blanch, daughter of Gen. Peter J. Sullivan, a prom- inent lawyer of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have one child. Dorothy.
BENJAMIN F. S. BROWN.
The pleasant village of Matawan, in Monmouth county, replete with historic associations, is the home of Benjamin F. S. Brown, the present state councilor of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, which, with its thirty-seven thousand members is the largest secret society in the state of New Jersey.
He was born November 2, 1856, in Keyport, eldest son of Cornelius H. and Emeline F. Brown, the father being a contractor and builder in Keyport, and the mother the eldest daughter of Charles D. Strong, who in his early years was a prominent book publisher in Boston, and afterward conducted the largest wholesale hardware establishment of its day in the northwest. at St. Paul, Minnesota. On the paternal side he descends from John and Susanna ( Reseau) Brown, who were married in 1763, and were residents and large landowners in Middlesex county, where was made the little ham- let of Browntown. named for them. Among their twelve children were Daniel and Benjamin. From Daniel descended the grandfather and from Benjamin the grandmother of Benjamin F. S. Brown.
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Benjamin F. S. Brown began his education in his native town, where he attended the Keyport Academy, and he was afterward a student at the Glenwood Institute, at Matawan. He learned the trade of a printer in the office of the "Keyport Weekly," and afterward read law under the preceptorship of Dayton & Taylor, in Matawan. Law was not to his liking, however, and for some years he worked in various New York City news- paper offices. In February, 1890, he purchased the "Matawan Journal," of which he has been editor and publisher to the present time. His success as a journalist has been pronounced, and his paper has a recognized stand- ing among the local press of the state, and is known as an able exponent of the interests of the community and county. Since entering upon its conduct, he has increased its circulation, and has added to the mechanical equipment until it is now a completely appointed steam plant, including two cylinder presses and a folding machine, and other facilities for all classes of commercial and book work.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Brown has ever been an able advocate of the principles and politics of his party, and his abilities command the con- fidence and esteem of its members. In May, 1897, he received the appoint- ment of postmaster from President Mckinley, and he was recommissioned by President Roosevelt in April, 1902. His activities have been employed in all that conduces to the advancement of public interests. He was the prime factor in the establishment of the graded school system in Matawan, and was a member of the first board of education under the new regime. He aided in the organization of the Monmouth and Middlesex Electric Light, Heat and Power Company, whose plant affords power for the trolley line from Matawan to Keyport and South Amboy, and light in all these towns, and is one of the directors of the corporation.
Mr. Brown has always been deeply interested and active in various fraternal and benevolent orders. Of these, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics claims his greatest interest, and his labors in its service have been phenomenally active and useful. He is a member of Columbia Council, No. 77, in which he holds the rank of past councilor. In 1900-1901 he was state vice-councilor, and on the completion of his term he was advanced to the state councilorship, the head office of the order in New Jersey. The duties of the position are most exacting, in- volving a vast correspondence and frequent visits to the councils through- out the state. All this labor has been performed cheerfully and zealously, and has been rewarded with the grateful appreciation of his fellow mem- bers, whose numbers have been largely increased through his efforts. He- has occupied high positions in various other benevolent organizations- past councilor of Pride of Columbia Council, No. 37, Daughters of Liberty ; master of exchequer of Matawan Lodge, No. 142, Knights of Pythias; past grand of Knickerbocker Lodge, No. 52, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; past chief patriarch of Monmouth Encampment, No. 52. Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Keyport; and past regent of Glenwood Council, No. 1497, Royal Arcanum. He is also a member of the Loyal Additional Benefit Association, which is connected with the latter named
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order, and, based upon his service in the National Guard of New Jersey, in which he bore the rank of first sergeant in the Third Regiment, he holds membership in the Raritan Guard Veteran Association of Keyport.
Mr. Brown was married in 1884 to Miss Jennie S. Silleck, of Keyport, and of this union were born seven children, all of whom are living : Jennie Mabel, Charles Bradford, Herbert Franklin, Cornelius Merrill, Mildred Josephine, Geraldine and Bernice Wymond Brown.
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