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 19
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
of the country. He was born during the presidency of James Madison and voted for the twenty-fifth President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Wonderful changes have occurred in all these years in inventions, in science, in business, and political life, and though well advanced in years Mr. Mason always felt a keen interest in the progress of his country, which he ever loved and honored as a loyal citizen.
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WILLIAM H. WHITE.
William H. White, of Red Bank, New Jersey, is one of the highly esteemed citizens and a descendant of one of the oldest families on the Jersey coast. This family has been a power in the Methodist church and has always stood for tem- perance, law and order.
Grandfather Robert White while following his trade of blacksmith served also as a minister in the Methodist church, and in all his worthy efforts was seconded and assisted by his estimable wife, Sarah. Twelve children were born to them, and five sons of the family became preachers. James J. White, one of the sons of Rob- ert White, became the father of our subject, and he was born in Ocean county, New Jersey. He married Miss Adaline Mount, who was also born in Ocean county, and they reared a family of twelve children, all of them becoming consistent mem- bers of the Methodist church. Eight of these children still survive, estimable mem- bers of society, but the father passed out of life in 1898, the beloved mother still living.
William H. White was the fourth in the order of birth in the family of his parents, and he was born in West Philadelphia in January, 1854. He was reared and educated at Cream Ridge and was early interested in agricultural pursuits. Mr. White, however, inherited some mechanical skill and decided to encourage it by becoming a carpenter, and in 1893 began to learn this valuable trade, cherishing a reasonable hope that it might prove a leader into a high line of work. This hope was justified, for he later became associated with the Deering Company in the manu- facture of harvesters and other agricultural machinery, and so well did he satisfy his employers that he remained with that company for a period of twelve years. His natural ability had play and his work was far beyond that of an ordinary car- penter. Since that time Mr. White has been engaged in contracting and building very successfully, his own fine residence, which he erected about 1899, in Red Bank, testifying to his ability.
Mr. White was first married to Miss Mary E. Smith, and at her death, on August 4, 1892, she left two children,-Albert G. and Lillie A. Mr. White's second marriage was on February 1I, 1901, to Mrs. Anna Layton, who was a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth La Valley, who were natives of France.
Like his forefathers Mr. White is active in the Methodist church, while Mrs. White is a consistent Presbyterian, both of them most highly regarded. Frater- nally Mr. White has long been a member of the I. O. O. F. order. In business as well as social and religious circles he is numbered among the best and most re- spected citizens of Red Bank.
MILO C. GRIFFIN.
Milo C. Griffin, a prosperous contractor and builder of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, was born at Greenville, Green county, New York, April 14, 1854. His early mental training was acquired at the public schools, later supplemented and fortified by a course
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at the Greenville Academy. For some time after the completion of his studies he worked upon a farm, thus affording his body a good physical development, which, with his strength of intellect, admirably fitted him to successfully cope with the exigencies of life. He selected as his vocation the trade of carpenter, devoting his tinie up to his twenty-sixth year in acquiring a thorough mastery of the business; it was at this time that he located in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, where for three years longer he worked as a journeyman ; he then opened up business on his own account as a contractor and builder, and has succeeded in steadily developing and increasing same, until at the present time he has a large and lucrative patronage. He spent three winters on contracts for construction work in the state of Florida. His residence is at No. 66 Heck avenue, Ocean Grove, where he also has his office. Mr. Griffin is a Republican ; he takes no part in party strife, however, simply exercising his right of franchise as an American citizen. He is a member of several popular fraternal organizations, namely : Asbury Lodge, No. 142, F. & A. M .; Neptune Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F .; Park Lodge, No. 38, A. O. U. W .; Tecumseh Tribe, No. 60, Improved Order of Red Men ; Atlantic Rebekah Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F .; and is also a member of Washington Fire Company No. I, of Ocean Grove.
Mr. Griffin married Miss Amanda F., daughter of Oscar and Sarah E. Hoffman, of Rahway, New Jersey, on February 14, 1882. Their three children are as follows : Carl M., born July 22, 1885; Alice E., born October 16, 1893; Oscar D., born Decem- ber 26, 1899.
WILLIAM .CAMPBELL KELLY.
William Campbell Kelly, whose residence is at Oak Tree post office, Raritan township, Middlesex county, New Jersey, one of the most useful and enterprising residents of that region, and whose activities have been exerted successfully in other and more distant fields, is a worthy descendant of one of the oldest families in that portion of the Raritan valley.
Daniel Kelly, paternal grandfather of William Campbell Kelly, was born Janu- ary 15, 1769, and died May 17, 1849. Of his marriage with Rhoda Drake (January 9, 1798) was born a son, Christian L., April 8, 1811, at Oak Tree, in that part of Wood- bridge township, Middlesex county, which is now Raritan township, in the same county. Christian L. Kelly was married, October 17, 1832, to Jeannette E., daughter of Henry Campbell, born April 9, 1814, and dicd September 13, 1893; he was a suc- cessful farmer and an honored citizen, and died June 19, 1850. The children born to Christian L. and Jeannette (Campbell) Kelly were: George Henry, born Decem- ber 20, 1834; Elizabeth, born February 20, 1836; William C., born August 17, 1837; Alexander C., born February 2, 1839; Rachel Ann, born May 10, 1843; and Oliver, born November II, 1847.
William Campbell Kelly, the second son in the family last named, was born on the family homestead near Oak Tree. His education was limited to that afforded by the neighborhood school, and his attendance ended with liis fifteenth year. He made excellent use of his opportunities, however, and established himself in the com- mon branches so well that he was enabled to advance himself in later years to the acquisition of knowledge amply sufficient for the conduct of large business affairs. When fifteen years of age he began to learn carpentering at Plainfield, and followed that calling for about five years. When twenty years of age he and his brother Alex- ander opened a general store at Oak Tree. Their combined capital amounted to twenty dollars, William's contribution being eight dollars. The brothers, however, bore
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excellent character, which afforded them credit sufficient for a beginning, and through their close application to business they were soon well on the high road to success. At the end of five and one-half years the partnership was dissolved, William selling his interest to his brother for the sum of three thousand dollars. William then went west, returning at the expiration of a year, when he bought a farm, which he soon sold. He then returned to the west and purchased pine lands in Wisconsin and Michigan, besides setting up at Manistee, in the latter nained state, a mill for the manufacture of building lumber for shipment to eastern markets. He further extended his opera- tions by forming a partenrship with Palmateer Brothers, at Asbury Park, New Jersey, where they established a lumber yard to handle a portion of the Michigan mill product. This venture was successful from the first, and the business expanded to such an extent that Mr. Kelly found it expedient to locate at Asbury Park in order to give it his personal attention. At the expiration of seven years he returned to Oak Tree and bought a fine farm. He was not content, however, to confine his attention to farming interests, and he associated with himself four others and pur- chased ninety-six thousand acres of pine and cypress lands in the south, nearly one- third of the area being fine cypress. This property they sold in 1899.
Mr. Kelly, as is to be discerned from the foregoing, is an eminently capable busi- ness man. In all his transactions he has maintained an unsullied reputation for sterling integrity, and his simple word is held by him as binding and obligatory as would be his bond. In his home neighborhood he has ever been a leader in all worthy causes for the advancement of the community. He is a Democrat in politics, and has no affiliation with any order or society.
Mr. Kelly was married in November, 1863, to Miss Bessie M. Palmateer, daugh- ter of Albert and Lorania (Jones) Palmateer, of Albany county, New York, where she was born October 2, 1845. Born of this marriage was one daughter, Eva L. Kelly. She was married to John H. Campbell, and their children are: Bessie Kelly, born April 25. 1890; and William K., born June 2, 1896.
DANIEL GATES. -
As a general auctioneer and furniture dealer, our subject, Daniel Gates, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, has established one of the most successful and substantial busi- nesses along the Atlantic coast. Out of a life of varied experiences in many places, and in pursuing lines of business that have materially differed, he deserves credit for having persevered until he has placed himself in the right position to attain the object of his ambition.
Mr. Gates is a native of England, where he was born on April 8, 1853. in Brad- ford, Yorkshire, England; he is the son of Charles L. and Sarah Gates. The course of his education was followed in his native town, the knowledge then attained being supplemented in later life by experience gained by contact with the world. After the completion of his studies he entered the tailoring trade, which he followed up to the time of his determination to seek for a wider range of opportunity in America, for. which he sailed in July, 1882. Arriving here he located in Rahway. New Jersey, where for eight years he continued to follow his trade. Still feeling. however, that he was not yet launched in the business best suiting his ability, he moved to Perth Amboy. New Jersey, where he started in business as an auctioneer and dealer in furni- ture; this he carried on for about seven years, when he recognized the fact that Asbury Park offered greater promise for a man engaged in his line. For him to
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arrive at such a conclusion meant the immediate execution of his idea, which has since proved its wisdom. He located on Main street, and is among the foremost business men of that growing section.
Mr. Gates is an adherent of the Republican party, and while not in any sense seeking its patronage, he is interested in its success. He is a member of the First Episcopal church of Asbury Park, in whose work he takes a keen interest. His marriage took place December 25, 1878, to Miss Mary Ann Harrison, also a native of Bradford, Yorkshire, England. Their living children are as follows: Herbert W .; Martha W .; Pansy; and Pearl.
ERNEST SCHNITZLER.
The history of Asbury Park and the other seashore resorts of New Jersey has been written in general terms upon other pages of this work. In all that enters into the kaleidoscope scene presented there is no feature more captivating than the amusement halls and pavilions which are found at every little interval. Among them are some which are contemptible and others which are objectionable. Others there are which are in every sense pleasure-giving and refined. and their conductors are deserving of praise, for man can confer no greater boon upon his fellows than to provide amusements which are exhilarating and innocent, and in which his children and their mother may participate with him. This proposition was never so true as it is in the present times, when the pressure of business and the exactions of
PALACE OF AMUSEMENT.
society are so intense, making more necessary than ever before some new attraction which will afford diversion to the mind and work no injury to good morals.
The one mammoth and leading Pleasure Palace at Asbury Park-the largest, most unique and most complete under one roof of all found on the Atlantic coast --- is that established, owned and conducted by E. Schnitzler. This establishment is
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at the same time an exceptionally refined place of amusement, admirably well adapted for ladies and children, and has been delightfully visited and revisited by thousands of foreigners as well as Americans.
The completeness of the establishment may be imagined, in a degree, when it is said that it represents an outlay of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the employment of inventive and constructional skill of the highest order. From a great distance are visible the lofty observation tower and its gigantic revolving wheel. These are so combined that when a car on the wheel has reached its greatest eleva- tion, the passenger may ascend one flight of steps to the tower, which commands a wonderfully broad view of ocean and shore, affording a bird's-eye view of Asbury Park, and glimpses inland of outlying towns. The great merry-go-round is of itself a work of art and mechanical ingenuity, and cost sixteen thousand dollars, and an- other remarkable fact is that during over nine years of operation not a single acci- dent has occurred. A remarkably attractive feature is the bewildering maze, with its countless multiplying mirrors, among which one is lost among the countless duplications of himself and deceptive passage ways visible to the eye, but which afford no egress when closely approached. The entire structure is brilliantly illumin- ated with myriads of electric incandescent lights of every conceivable hue, giving to the interior a peculiarly dazzling and spectacular aspect, and especially when the rooms are thronged (as they are at all open hours) with an ever moving panorama of pleased and wondering human beings. While the eye is thus delighted, sweet sounds come to the ear from various directions, from instruments of exquisite construc- tion, capable of giving strains of æolian softness and sweetness, or the full volume of a gigantic brass band or orchestra. These orchestrions and other. instruments cost ten thousand dollars.
Mr. Schnitzler, the creator of this great Palace of Pleasure, was the pioneer of such amusements in Asbury Park. He came in 1888, and made his first small. beginning, when the place was altogether destitute of all which he had in mind. He began with a modest merry-go-round, and he made additions from time to time as his means would permit. He was first in New Jersey to introduce magic mirrors, and he was the first private individual to erect an electric light plant. This, put up to illuminate his Palace of Pleasure, comprises two six-hundred-light-power dynamos, and is of sufficient capacity to light the entire city if necessary.
Mr. Schnitzler, who has introduced and maintained this splendid aggregation of innocent and inspiring amusements, is a modest, unassuming gentleman of sterling character. He was born May 26, 1852, in Cologne, Germany. When he was only six weeks old his parents came to the United States, settling in Camden, New Jersey. His father, Anthony Schnitzler, was closely related to Dr. Schnitzler, the dis- tinguished German surgeon and chemist. Anthony Schnitzler was a college bred man, of excellent business qualifications, and he conducted a mercantile establish- ment in Camden until the time of his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. He served in the Crimean and other wars before coming to America, and while a resident of Camden, New Jersey, his deep knowledge of military affairs led to his being commissioned captain of a militia company. By his marriage with Margaret Hilgers he became the father of three children : Ernest, Charles and Alfred.
Ernest Schnitzler, eldest son of Captain Anthony Schnitzler, was educated in the public schools of Camden, and afterward entered college, from which he with- drew in order to assist his father in his business. After the death of his father he became interested in a hotel and sea-water bathing business at Atlantic City. This he soon disposed of to purchase and operate a merry-go-round in the same-
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place. A year later he sold the property and removed to Asbury Park to engage in the business of which we have previously written.
Mr. Schnitzler was married to Miss Mary Gunning, of Philadelphia, and a daughter, Mary, was the fruit of this marriage. The parents are members of the First Presbyterian church of Asbury Park, in which Mr. Schnitzler has been a trus- tee for the past five years. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of the best of the permanent residents of the city, and acquaintance with an army of people of all sections of the country-among them many of national reputation in the professions, in commercial and financial affairs, and in politics-to whose pleasure he has. con- tributed and who also value him for his worth as a man.
TAULMAN ALLAIRE MILLER.
Taulman Allaire Miller, the well known cashier of the Ocean Grove National Bank, is the son of Ozias N. and Hannah Conover Miller, and was born on March 19, 1869, on the Peter Drummond farm near Asbury Park, Monmouth county, New Jersey ; his father, Ozias N., came from Westchester county, New York, and settled on the Drummond farm in 1855. Our subject's early education was acquired in the public schools, where he remained until his seventeenth year, finishing his studies with a fair general knowledge, which has served him in good stead during his active business career. In 1886 he secured a position with the First National Bank of Asbury Park, which position he retained until the organization of the Ocean Grove National Bank, which was consummated on June 6, 1900, when he became cashier of that institution, which responsible position he still holds.
His sympathies, politically, are with the Republican party, although he does not engage personally in its activities. In church relations he is identified with the First Methodist Episcopal church of Asbury Park. On October 5, 1897, Mr. Miller was joined in marriage to Miss Edith May Finch, daughter of Cornelius and Mary A. Finch.
Mr. Miller is not only well known but exceedingly well liked by the people of his community ; he has won his way in the business world by the honest and faithful carrying out of the duties assigned him and of the many responsible commissions given him to fulfill; in all these he has not been found wanting in integrity, and he has fairly won the honorable position he now holds.
J. EDWARD FLITCROFT.
J. Edward Flitcroft, of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, is properly to be named among i those whose energy, business tact and public enterprise have made them important factors in the development and improvement of one of the most important and popular summer resorts and residence places on the Atlantic coast. His effort has not been in the field of finance, nor in the promotion of great schemes employing vast capital, but it has been in the walks of ordinary business and social life, in those undertakings upon which are built the entire structure of social order and free institutions; in short, in the labor near at hand, faithfully performed, and of real and enduring value to the community.
He is a native of New Jersey, and was born November 18, 1869, at Farmingdale, son of James and Anna (Smith) Flitcroft. He received his education in the public
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schools of his native town. At the age of sixteen years he left school to learn plumbing and tinsmithing under the instruction of his brother, who was established in business in Ocean Grove. He occupied a subordinate position in the shop for six years, during which time he became a skillful workman, familiar with every detail of the trade, and amply able to perform any work in his calling. He then became partner with his brother, and this association was maintained for five years, when he purchased his brother's interest, and has since conducted it alone. Not only a master mechanic, but an accomplished business man, he has succeeded in placing his establishment in the forefront of its class, surpassing in volume of business and char- acter of contracts fulfilled all competitors on the New Jersey coast. With such a record, it may be estimated how important has been his part in the building up of his town and adjacent villages and in the equipment of the many elegant villas and cot- tages in their vicinage. His place of business is located on Pilgrim Pathway, opposite the post office.
Mr. Flitcroft was married, November 1I, 1891, to Miss Mary E. Winstanley, daughter of James and Rachel Winstanley, of Hoboken, New Jersey, and to them has been born a daughter, Gladys, May 10, 1894.
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ISAAC B. WHITE.
Isaac B. White is one of Oakhurst's most widely known and highly respected residents. He was born at Oakhurst on April 23, 1848, and is the son of the late Samuel T. and Rebecca (Tallman) White, then residents of Oakhurst. Both of his parents were of English extraction, his paternal grandfather being Robert White, and his maternal grandfather Ellis Tallman.
Samuel T. White, the father of Isaac B., in early life followed agricultural pursuits; later his attention was given more exclusively to gardening, in which he was wonderfully proficient and successful. His family consisted of nine children, six of whom are now living, namely: Rachel, Hannah, Ozella, Bloomfield, Mar- garet A. and Isaac B. Among his deceased children the Rev. Samuel T. White was one of the most promising young divines of the Methodist conference of New Jersey. He was born at Oakhurst November 18, 1857. He was admitted to the confer- ence in the year 1882, and was ordained deacon the same year in which he died, his death occurring December 28, 1884.
Isaac B., the subject of this chapter, received his early mental training in the public schools of his native town. During his early manhood he engaged in various pursuits, having been employed by some of the most prominent men of his section. An incident of peculiar interest occurred in the year 1870, which affected in a marked degree his whole after life. While the young man was on an excursion to Toms River, and while crossing the river the bridge parted without warning sufficient to enable pedestrians to seek safety, and precipitated those upon it into the water. Here it was that Mr. White showed his daring and courage by his gallant rescue of two ladies who might otherwise have been drowned; they were Mrs. Julia (Stillwell) Spinning and Miss Cornelia A. Pettie. Mr. White's act of heroism did not go un- rewarded. Miss Pettie presented him with the most precious gift she possessed, that of a true and loving heart. Two years later, in 1872, they were united in marriage, a happy culmination of a romantic episode. To them have been born two sons : Charles P., born in 1874, and Albert T., born in 1878.
During these years Mr. White busied himself in mastering the painter's trade ;
Isaac B White
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this accomplished, in the fall of 1882, he became a contractor on his own account, his first contract being for work on the Elberon hotel. Since that time he has unin- terruptedly pursued this business, and has deservedly become both prominent and popular because of the superiority of his workmanship. Among his pat.ons are numbered such men as L. B. Brown, C. T. Cook, W. Wilson and E. W. Gawtery. When such men as these accord him the preference, it certainly speaks well for his ability to please the most fastidious. In the same year (1882) in which he launched out on his independent business career, he purchased a lot in Oakhurst, upon which he erected a neat but commodious cottage, which he takes special pride in making attractive, not only to the eye of the passer-by, but in its interior decorations and furnishings.
In the religious field Mr. White has gained a wide reputation for his consist- ent and zealous work in behalf of the church of his adoption. As a mere lad he was susceptible to religious influence, and at the age of fourteen he became a con- vert; two years later he joined the Methodist Episcopal church. He has remained stanch and true to his membership ever since that early time, and has successively filled every office of the church except that of steward. For the past six years he has held the position of superintendent of the Sunday-school, and for twelve years past has acted in the capacity of local preacher, in that time having filled the pulpits of the various Methodist Episcopal churches in and around Long Branch. Indeed it is safe to say that no ordained minister in the New Jersey conference is more widely known than Mr. White.
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