USA > New Jersey > The New Jersey coast in three centuries; history of the New Jersey coast with genealogical and historic-biographical appendix, Vol. III > Part 13
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While residing in Keyport Mr. Hearn was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hines, the wedding being celebrated on the 28th of December, 1878, and unto them were born two children: Joseph, who was born in 1880; and Francis, born in 1881, but the latter is now deceased. The mother was a native of Keyport and her death occurred in that city. In 1892 Mr. Hearn was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Annie (Loesch) Johnson, who by her former husband had two sons, Joseph and Francis Johnson. In his social relations Mr. Hearn is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Red Men, of which he is a past sachem. He is a gentleman of unfailing courtesy, of genial manner and jovial disposition, and is a most popular landlord, winning many friends among his patrons as well as in the community in which he resides.
ADELBERT S. D. LEIGH.
Adelbert S. D. Leigh, a prominent citizen and ex-mayor of the town of Neptune City, now Avon, lias gained his position in the community through earnest work and honest endeavor, and though he has walked by devious paths, and turned his hand to occupations widely differing from each other, at the present time he has a large and constantly increasing patronage as a dealer in flour, hay and feed. Mr. Leigh was born in Hopewell township, Mercer county, New Jersey, on September 8, 1842, and was educated at Mt. Rose and the public schools of Hopewell. When he was sixteen years of age he entered the retail store of Jonathan Stewart of Trenton, New Jersey, where he remained for only one year; then deciding that he would like to become a machinist he entered the locomotive works of Van Clif & Kane, at Trenton; here he continued as an apprentice for' eighteen months; the name of the locomotive works was then changed to the Trenton Arms Company, for the purpose of manufacturing ordnance for the United States government dur- ing the Civil war; his employment continued in this place for two years. From Trenton he followed his trade in railroad shops at Lambertsville, South Easton, Pennsylvania, South Amboy, New Jersey, and Elizabethport, New Jersey, spending fourteen years of his life in this employment. It was in 1882 that he took up his abode in Avon, New Jersey, then Neptune City, where, tired of his former occupa- tion, he engaged in first one pursuit and then another, namely, the grocery business, then the livery and express business, and a line of stages for city business, and finally started in his present line, his place being situated at the corner of Main street and Sylvina avenue, Avon.
Mr. Leigh is a Democrat in his political views, and his worth as a public-spirited citizen, and one whose opinions in town affairs is considered valuable, is demonstrated in the fact that he has for eleven years served on the borough council of Avon, and
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for one year acted as its mayor. He is a member of Lodge No. 134, F. & A. M., at Elizabeth, New Jersey. He is also a member of the First Methodist Protestant church of Avon. His marriage took place on February 28, 1864, to Miss Margaret A. Selover. Three children have blessed their union, viz .: Adelbert V., born Sep- tember 4, 1865; Lizzie S., born August 5, 1867; Herbert M., born July 4, 1870.
HARRY J. ROCKAFELLER.
Harry J. Rockafeller, son of John and Susan ( McQuade) Rockafeller, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1866. His boyhood was passed in Phila- delphia until 1880, when the family moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey. He was educated in a common school and Friends school in Philadelphia and the Asbury Park high school. In 1887 he went to Philadelphia to take a position with a whole- sale drug house of French, Richards & Company. Shortly thereafter he returned to Asbury Park, and became an employe of Steinbach Brothers. From 1889 to 1891 he was associated with his father in the management of Sunset Hall. In the latter year he opened a men's furnishing goods store, which he conducted until 1897, when he became proprietor of the Gramercy, which he conducted for four seasons. In 1901 he took charge of Sunset Hall, which under his management has enjoyed the largest patronage that it has ever known. Sunset Hall has a capacity of 300 guests. Mr. Rockafeller is an owner of a large amount of the electric light plant. He is a member of the Republican party and a chosen freeholder of Asbury Park. He was married October 22, 1890, to Catherine McCabe, of Newark; they have four boys: John, Eugene, Harry and Thomas.
WILLIAM K. WARDEN.
There are not among the prominent families of New Jersey many persons who are descended from Virginian ancestry. William K. Warden, a prominent retired farmer at Red Bank, Monmouth county, is thus distinguished. William Warden, his grandfather, was born in Virginia of English parents, and they removed to Mon- mouth county about 1771. He became an extensive farmer and a man of powerful and beneficent influence. His wife, Catharine, bore him three children, two of whom died without issue. His son, William, was born in Monmouth county in 1786 and was an experienced builder whose work has stood the tests of time and the ravages of the elements, and who was employed at Allaire continuously for seven years; but he later purchased a farm of one hundred acres, to the cultivation of which he devoted the closing years of his life. William Warden married Mary Brower, who bore him ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch and Miss Sarah E. Warden are the only survivors. The father died in 1874, his wife in 1884.
William K. Warden was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, February 27, 1831, and was educated in the public schools and reared to farm life and for thirty years was a successful farmer. He began life independently at the age of twenty years and his whole career since that time has been a demonstration of what may be won by a man of good character, who is determined to succeed and applies him- self diligently to his chosen business. Both as a farmer and as a business, man he has been pre-eminently successful. He removed to Middletown in 1854 and lived there three years. Thence he went to Marlboro township, where he purchased a farm
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of cighty-five acres, on which he lived six years, and which he sold in order to re- move to Middletown township, where he bought a farm of two hundred acres, which was a part of the old Grover estate. This he managed successfully for seven years until 1873, when he retired from farm life with its many cares and went to New York. There, in company with his brother, he opened an office for the transac- tion of real estate and other business. But in time, his old liking for the soil gained ascendancy over him and he returned to Monmouth county and at Red Bank bought a farm of fifty acres, which he has since superintended.
In politics Mr. Warden is a Republican and in a religious way he is a lover of truth and an advocate of righteousness in its true form. His interest in the progress and prosperity of his township and county has always impelled him to take such action as characterizes a patriotic and public-spirited man. He married Miss Cora Sandford in. 1852 and she died in 1863, after having borne him children named Ella, Cora, Jolin C. and Margaret.
WILLIAM HANCE.
No history of Atlantic township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, would be com- plete without adequate mention of the family of Hance, of which William Hance, proprietor of the Atlantic Stock Farm, is a worthy representative in his day and generation.
William Hance's grandparents in the paternal line were Edwin and Mary Hance, farmers and the owners of two hundred acres of good land in Atlantic township. Of their nine children, two are living at this time. One of them was Henry Hance, father of William Hance and of Frank Hance, a biographical sketch of the latter of whom appears in this work; he was a native of Monmouth county, who married a good woman, named Alice Smith, who bore him four sons, named Edwin, William, Joseph and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Hance were members of the Reformed church and Mr. Hance was an influential citizen, who was devoted to the principles of the Republican party. He died in 1897, his wife in 1890. The family of Hance is of Dutch extraction and its representatives have in all generations been men of intelligence, thrift and influence.
William Hance, son of Henry and Alice (Smith) Hance, was born near Tin- tonfalls, Monmouth county, New Jersey, May 25, 1857, and was reared and educated in public schools near his home. After his school days were over, he turned his attention to the care, development and training of man's best animal friend, the horse, to which he took naturally because he liked horses, and in which, perhaps for the same reason, he prospered even beyond his own expectation. Not only is he a thorough stockman but a thorough farmer as well. His farm of two hundred and twelve acres of rich land is devoted entirely to his stock raising enterprise, and is provided with every kind of building and accessory which is necessary to its success. Mr. Hance's residence, which came into his possession in 1893, is a building of palatial appearance, which was erected by Mr. Stevens, of New York City, an extensive contractor.
Mr. Hance, who is regarded as one of the wide-awake men of his neighborhood, has been too busy with his private affairs to accept the responsibilities of public office. His keen perception and wide knowledge of men and events, no less than his love of horses, have made him successful in breeding and handling stock. The stock on his farm is much of it imported, and ali of it is of superior quality. His horses are road and race or running horses, and his racers are swift of foot and
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are attractive, pure blooded animals, which commend themselves to horse lovers at sight .. His road horses are of superior breed and, being well gaited and of fine carriage, they are in quick demand. His herd of eighteen pure blooded Jersey cattle has received the highest praise.
In 1878 Mr. Hance married Miss Catharine Grant, who was born near Morris -- ville, New Jersey, and is a daughter of Edward and Harriet Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Hance have three children-Hattie, Alice and William.
EDWARD F. FENTON.
Fenton is a well known name in Middletown township, the first one of that name to locate in this vicinity being John Fenton, who owned a farm many years ago at what is now known as Nut Swamp. The paternal grandfather of Edward F. Fenton, our subject, owned a small farm in the above named place, where he resided with his wife, Leydia Harris Fenton. His son Edward, father of Edward F. was born in 1832. He married Miss Esther Harris. For fourteen years he was proprietor of the Leedsville Hotel, during which time he satisfactorily catered to the wants of the traveling public. He subsequently removed to the place now occu- pied by his son, Edward F., which consisted of one hundred acres of productive farm land; here he remained to the time of his death, which occurred in the winter of 1896. His wife, Esther Harris Fenton, dicd the year following. Their family consisted of scven children, of whom six are now living: Jennie, John, Frank, Josephinc, George and Edward F .; the deceased child was a daughter, Sarah.
Edward F. Fenton was born at Leedsville February 9, 1864. He enjoyed the advantages of a public school education. Since beginning his career in life he has continuously followed the occupation of a farmer; he has made it a perpetual study until it has become an art with him, in which he takes an artist's. delight.
On February 22, 1899, he married Jessie, daughter of Charles F. Allen, of Oceanic, where Mrs. Fenton was born. Mr. Fenton is an esteemed member of the Knights of Pythias, and enjoys the full confidence of his townspeople.
PETER JAMES McCLEES.
Peter James McClees, a leading agriculturist and oyster planter in Middletown township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, was born December 25, 1841. He is a son of Peter and Sarah (Brown) McClees, both natives of Middletown township and of Scotch descent. The late Peter McClees was a son of John and Ann McClees, and both of these were Middletown township farmers. No member of the McClees family has had political aspirations, but each has been in turn a stanch adherent of the Democratic principles, and well affiliated religiously with the Baptist church, of Middletown, of which our subject has been a member for thirty-six years, and of which his parents were consistent members and generous supporters. Peter Mc- Clees died June 8, 1882, his wife May II, 1862. Of their ten children four arrived at maturity, Peter J. McClees; Mary Elizabeth McClees, a resident of Monmouth county ; Charles McClees, "who was a hardware merchant at Toms River, and who died March 25, 1895, and John McClees, of Middletown township.
· Peter J. MicClees, the eldest of these and the immediate subject of this review, had his initial schooling in Middletown township, this being supplemented by two
P.S.MEBlers.
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and a half years' attendance at Freehold Institute. The years of his later youth and early manhood were spent in the cultivation of his father's farm. On March II, 1868, he married Elizabeth R. Morris, daughter of Edmund and Mary Morris, of South Trenton, Oneida county, New York. In 1869 he built his present home, on seventy acres of land, then a part of his father's estate, but subsequently inherited by him. Much of this land is under a high state of cultivation and is utilized especially in the culture of fruits and vegetables.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. (Morris) McClees died April 16, 1872, and on November 16, 1874, Mr. McClees married Miss Emma J. Morris, a younger sister of his de- ceased wife. To this union have been born three children: Charles McClees, born October 13, 1875, attended Red Bank high school and Coleman's Business College, Newark, and i's at present an employe of the Phoenix National Bank, New York; Peter J. McClees, Jr., born March 5, 1876, was educated similarly to his brother, and is associated with his father in the agricultural and oyster planting business; and Miss Sarah McClees, born February 18, 1881, resides at home.
Mr. McClees was one of the charter members and stockholders of the Bay View Land Improvement Company, and the Bay View Cemetery Company; served several years as commissioner of appeals, and had the distinction at the time of his election to this office of holding the largest number of votes received by any candi- date at that election. He was one of the investors of the railroad operating between New Monmouth station and Atlantic Highlands, now one of the connections of the New York & Long Branch Railroad. He was for a time also principle owner of a schooner traffic between New York and Red Bank. The home of Mr. McClees is one of the beautiful and picturesque places of residences that adorn the world's famous Shrewsbury river, and is located on the north side of the river, opposite McClees' creek.
NELSON M. BROWN. 7
Nelson M. Brown, night dispatcher for the New York and Long Branch Railroad Company, is one of the prominent citizens of Little Silver station, Monmouth county, New Jersey, and occupies a beautiful residence, which commands a fine outlook over the water front at that point and is located on property once a part of the Parker estate. Mr. Brown was born in Eatontown, . Monmonth county, February 27, 1860, and was married October 5, 1887, to Miss Irene Conover, daughter of Garrett S. and Delia Conover. Mrs. Brown was born in the house in which she now lives, in 1863. 'Her grandfather in the paternal line was Tiley Conover, a farmer of promi- nonce. William Conover, brother of Tiley Conover and grand uncle of Mrs. Brown, was in his day a man of much influence, political and personal, who represented his fellow citizens in the New Jersey . legislaturc. Mrs. Brown's great-grandfather in- the maternal line was a silversmith, whose certificate was number three hundred and twenty-seven and was dated March, 1792. The Tallmans, who were Mrs. Brown's maternal ancestors, were participants in the Revolutionary war, and one of them received front the United States government a land grant as a gift for his loyalty and bravery in defense of the struggling infant republic.
Mr. Brown was reared at Eatontown and in the public schools of that place laid the educational foundation for his future usefulness. He began active lifc as a messenger boy. The New Jersey Southern Railroad Company offered him his next opportunity, and he served that corporation in various capacities for a num- ber of years, during which he built up for himself a reputation for honesty and faithfulness which paved his way to his present position; which he took in 1885,
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
the responsibilities of which he meets to the entire satisfaction of his employers. During his sixteen years' connection with the New York and Long Branch Railroad company, he has lost but one week's pay, a fact which speaks much for his industry and faithfulness. He is a worthy member. of Washington Lodge, No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons of Eatontown, which, as its number indicates, is one of the oldest Masonic lodges in New Jersey.
Nelson M. Brown is a son of Charles and Lydia (Gilson) Brown, both of whom are of Scotch descent and both of whom are natives of New York, and his father was long known in New York as an experienced jeweler. While not an active politi- cian Mr. Brown takes a lively interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare and his readiness to assist all movements for the general benefit has made him known as a young man of much public spirit. As a Mason and as a citizen he is popular in a wide circle of acquaintance and he is well and favorably known to the telegraphic fraternity of the east.
ALEXANDER MULLEN.
Alexander Mullen, of Avon, New Jersey, was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 24, 1852. His schooling was acquired at Scott's school of Burlington, New Jersey. His early manhood was spent in farming, first, in the vicinity of Long Branch, and in 1874 he took charge of the farm owned by Henry M. Bennett, which is located near Avon. Here he remained for ten years, giving his utmost care and attention to properly tending this fine piece of farm land. After leaving Mr. Bennett's employ, for one year he engaged in the fishing business; then went to Avon and entered the milk trade, in which line he has continued up to the present time, his place being located on Woodland avenue, corner of Fifth avenue, Avon.
Mr. Mullen has taken quite an active part in the affairs of the borough of Avon, and also of the borough of Neptune City when Avon formed a part of that borough. A Democrat in his political adherence, his constituency did him the honor to elect him mayor of the borough of Neptune City. He was elected to serve in the same capacity a second term, and when the borough of Avon was formed, he was duly elected mayor of the new borough. Besides these honorable positions, he has served as marshal of the borough of Neptune City, also in the capacity of school trustee. Fraternally he is a member of the Tecumseh Tribe, No. 60, Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. Mullen, on February 10, 1874, was united in marriage to Sarah Laveina Vannote. Five children were born, but only two of them are now living, Ida Bell and Clara Louise. Their only son, Jay Edwin, born November 1, 1881, died March 15, 1901. This was a sad blow to the little household, for the young man gave every promise of a successful career, being highly respected and favored by his many friends and acquaintances.
A. JUDSON BRAY.
The name above is that of a prosperous farmer, of Phalanx, Atlantic township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, who was born in that vicinity May 24, 1853, a son of James and Elizabeth Bray. James Bray was a native of Keyport, and his wife was born in Middletown township. He bought from the Frenches about sixty-seven acres of land, which formerly belonged to the North American Phalanx Association,
A J. Buy
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to which he added one hundred and eight acres by subsequent purchase, making an aggregate of one hundred and seventy-five acres, which he has devoted partially to general farming, but largely to fruit growing. His wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1895, bore him five children, David H., James Jr., Catherine L., A. Judson and William, four of whom are living. Catherine L. married Joseph W. Thompson, of Lincroft.
A. Judson Bray, who is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty acres, most of which is profitably fruit bearing, was educated in the common schools of his native township and was for three years a student at the Peddie Institute, at Hightstown, New Jersey. His first venture in active life was as a farmer, in which he was successful from the outset; but, being ambitious and anxious to ac- cumulate money as rapidly as possible, he embarked in business in New York City as a commission merchant, and for six years handled all kinds of country produce there with satisfactory pecuniary results. Since then he has devoted himself ex- clusively to farming. He is in the best sense of the term a practical farmer, and his farm is one of the best equipped and stocked in its vicinity.
Previous to his removal to New York City Mr. Bray was a resident of Mid- dletown township, where greatly to his own credit and to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens he held several important township offices. For six years he was super- visor of roads; for five years he was a member of the board of education, and for four years was clerk of the board. He removed to Atlantic township in 1897, in which year he purchased his present farm. He is a member of and one of the sergeants of the Second Red Bank Cavalry Troop, and from time to time has been identified with other local organizations. He has in various ways demonstrated that he is a man of public spirit, who is solicitous for the welfare and advancement of the com- munity in which he has cast his lot.
Mr. Bray was married in 1875 to Miss Jessie Oliver, a native of England and a daughter of Richard and Jane Oliver, who has borne him five children: Alice and Jessie, both now deceased; William; Jennie and Maud.
WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.
From a long line of tillers of the soil comes a worthy representative of a sturdy ancestry in William H. Thompson, the subject of this brief article. He, too, is a toiler in the fields, owning a splendid farm of sixty-five acres, which he has taken pride to cultivate to the highest extent. His farm and residence are located at Lincroft, Middletown township, New Jersey, where his family have lived for gener- ations. His paternal grandfather was Cyrenus Thompson and his grandmother was Catherine (Ray) Thompson; the former was a native of Wales, the latter of Scotland; they were the possessors of about forty acres of land, and were held in great respect among their neighbors. They had a family of six children, two of whom are now living ; one, Joseph Thompson, is the father of William H., our subject, and was born on the old homestead on August 23, 1808. His wife, Melvina Jones, was born August 3, 1814. Their marriage occurred January 23, 1833. They generally confined themselves to the cultivation of the soil, although Joseph was by trade a shoemaker, Their farm, though small-only forty acres-was well tilled and pro- duced bountifully. While living the conventional farmer's life, unproductive of any great events, yet he was honored by his fellow men for the many sterling qualities he possessed, among them honesty and integrity in his intercourse with those about
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him. Twelve children were born to them, eleven girls and one son, William H .; seven of this number are now (1901) living.
William H. Thompson received a common school education, which amply fitted him for the life of usefulness he has lived. He is a man of determination and energy, not afraid of putting his shoulder to the wheel and assisting it along the path of life, or of persisting in surmounting the obstacles which often obstruct the way. For ten years Mr. Thompson kept a general store in Leedsville, now Lincroft, during which time he also occupied the position of postmaster. . For thirty years he was township trustee, which fact bespeaks volumes for the high esteem in which he was held by his townspeople. For five years he was a freeholder, and occupied other offices of minor importance, which an appreciative public constantly thrust upon lıim. He proved himself worthy in all respects of the confidence reposed in him, amply justifying by the faithful discharge of every trust the high opinion in which he was. heid by his fellow citizens.
As a member of the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Thompson occupies an enviable position ; he is connected with the Mystic Brotherhood of Red Bank, in which organi- zation his congenialty makes him a favorite member. Through his marriage in 1860, with Mary, daughter of Hesia Smith, Mr. Thompson has had born to him three chil- dren, Joseph W., Anna V. and Lydia A.
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