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 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
Mr. Conover was married on November 26, 1873, to Miss Margaret DuBois, and to this union there were born these three children: Edward S., born on Octo- ber 8, 1874, who married Nellie Conover; Gertrude D. B., born on February 9, 1879, who married Garrett R. Conover and has one child-Eleanor H .; and Mary L., born on September 4, 1882. The birthplace of Mrs. Conover was in Freehold, on June 5, 1852, and she is a lady of education and refinement, highly esteemed in the Re- formed church, of which her husband is also a member and the valued Sunday- school superintendent. The family is one that stands high in social circles in Colts- neck, where it has been known by all neighbors since Mr. and Mrs. Conover were children.
WILLIAM APPLEGATE.
William Applegate, proprietor of Hotel Monmouth, Asbury Park, was born in Freehold township, Monmouth county, January 23, 1843. His parents, Mathias and Margaret (Emmons) Applegate, were both natives of Monmouth county, where the paternal ancestors of our subject followed the vocation of farming. The boy- hood days of William were passed on his father's farm. He attended the common school at West Freehold. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company E, of the Twenty-eighth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battle of Fredricksburg. After being mustered out at the end of the war he went to New York and learned the butcher's trade. He opened a meat market at Eighth avenue and Fifty-fourth street, which he conducted successfully for seven or eight years.
In 1873 he located in Asbury Park and opened a general provision and butcher business. Fourteen years later he closed out this business and went to Belmar, then known"a's Ocean Beach, and became proprietor of the Surf House, now known as Melrose Inn. After conducting this hotel for two seasons he purchased the Atlantic Hotel in Asbury Park, and after spending some forty thousand dollars in improve- ments and additions renamed the hotel, calling it Hotel Monmouth. The hotel accommodates about three hundred guests and is open from June to October. It
.
non Applegate
5
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
has a large clientage, representing people from all quarters of the United States and Canada. Mr. Applegate has from time to time invested in real estate and owns some choice property in Asbury Park and vicinity. His winter home is at 509 Sixth avenue. He is a member of the Elks and of the Ancient Order of Red Men. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. . In 1867 Mr. Applegate was married to Elmira Hendrickson, of Freehold township, Monmouthi county. Mrs. Applegate passed away December 25, 1891. She was the mother of eight children, all of whom survive her.
Mr. Applegate is a self-made man. He began his business career with no capital. excepting energy and ability. His success is attributable entirely to hard work and constant application.
EDWIN B. REED.
Dr. Reed is the youngest of the twelve children born to William B. and Eliza G. (Perine) Reed. The mother was a native of Monmouth county. In early man- lood the father was a contractor and builder, but during his later years was a suc- cessful commission merchant in New York City. He retired from active business life in 1859 and located in Cranbury, Middlesex county, New Jersey, where the sub- ject of this sketch was born on the 15th of October, 1862. His boyhood days were passed in his native town, where-he-mastered the elementary branches of learning and at the age of fifteen became a student in the New Brunswick high school. Hav- ing decided to make the study and practice of medicine his life work, he prepared himself for admission to the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1884, while the following year was spent in the Jefferson hos- pital. In 1885 he began practice in Keyport, New Jersey, from which place eleven years later he moved to Asbury Park, which offered a larger field for his efforts. In his profession he has been successful and has earned for himself a position of prominence among the leaders in his community.
Domestic in his tastes and habits, the Doctor has not become affiliated with social clubs or secret societies, but is interested in athletics and is an enthusiastic devotee of the wheel and a member of the Asbury Park Wheelmen's Club. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Reed was married on the 12th of June, 1809, to Miss Eva B. Hornby, of Keyport.
E. C. HAZARD.
E. C. Hazard, founder of the E. C. Hazard Co., importers, New York City, and manufacturers of fancy groceries in Shrewsbury, Monmouth county, was born at Mumford's Mills, Rhode Island, April 4, 1831, son of Bowdoin and Theresa (Clark) Hazard.
Mr. Hazard was educated at the common schools of Narragansett, and at eighteen years of age came to New York City, and with horse and wagon engaged in intro- ducing and vending special fancy groceries, particularly of foreign manufacture, to the grocer trade. In 1860 he founded an establishment of his own at 69 Barcus street, the nucleus of the present house of E. C. Hazard & Company, Hudson and North Moor street, New York City. In 1883. prospecting for a suitable place to carry out a plan, now matured, for the production of a pure article of tomato catsup, he pur- chased a farmi of one hundred and sixty-five acres at Shrewsbury, New Jersey, erected
6 HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
extensive factories thereon, and gave the name of the town to the various brands of the goods he manufactured. This plant includes the handsomest offices and one of the best equipped laboratories in the country. To his first specialty, Shrewsbury tomato ketchup, which became celebrated, for its purity and excellence, he sub- sequently added canned tomatoes and canned baked beans. Later he cultivated and canned mushrooms. Mr. Hazard, after conceiving the idea, set before himself the problem of packing and preserving mushrooms in their own juice; he constructed a number of mushroom cellars on liis farm, situated on a peninsula in the Shrews- bury river. The test of the problem soon passed the experimental stage, for the value of the crop ot 1896 exceeded that of the previous year by nearly fifty thousand dollars, the value of the crop in 1895 being twelve hundred dollars. In the prose- cution of this industry he employs several hundred hands and the scene in the busy season is picturesque in the extreme. In addition to packing tomatoes, tomato ketchup and mushrooms, Mr. Hazard packs and ships to his New York house, the dis- tributing point, chili-pepper and burnt onion sauces, mayonnaise and salad dress- ing, asparagus, various kinds of jellies, and other tasty condiments.
At the Pure Food Association convention, held in Madison Square Garden, New York City, in 1892, Mr. Hazard was the presiding officer. He is a member of the New York Mercantile Exchange, of the Commercial Club of New York City and of the Masonic fraternity, No. 418, R. A. M.
CAPT. JAMES W. CONOVER.
Captain Janies W. Conover, a hero of the Civil war, surrendering his life in support of his country's flag, was born on his father's farm two miles southeast of Freehold, September 7, 1832. Such early education as he obtained was from the district schools of Freehold township. In early childhood he developed a strong military taste, and when only fourteen years of age, drilled a company of boys at Blue Ball in the county. In 1857 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the Third New Jersey State Militia, a position which he held until his death.
By instinct a soldier, only the severe illness of his wife prevented his offering his service upon the first call of President Lincoln for volunteers in 1861. But in J862, when the July call was made for 300,000 more volunteers, he at once tendered his services to Governor Parker, was accepted and commissioned August 15, 1862, captain of Company D, Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. The regiment went into canıp at Camp Vredenburg, located on the historic Monmouth battle ground.
Captain Conover served at first in the Eighth Army Corps under command of General Wool, of Mexican war fame, and was first stationed at Monocacy Junction. While instructing his company here in the art of war, Captain Conover exhibited those marked qualities which would have given him higher rank in the army, had he lived and had opportunity offered. In July, 1863, his regiment was attached to the third division of the Third Army Corps, and Captain Conover served with his command continuously until his death. In 1863 he was in the following engagements in Virginia: Manassas Gap, Wapping Heights, St. Kelley's Ford, Brandy Station. Locust Grove and Mine Run. In 1864 he fought in the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Poe River, Hanover Court House, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred and Petersburg. The Fourteenth was then taken to Washington, D. C., to repel the invasion being made by the Confederates in Maryland. All through these battles the Captain displayed the greatest coolness and bravery in action. At the battle of Monocacy, Maryland, July 9, 1864, Captain Conover was in command
1
7
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
of a line of skirmishers, and in an assault on the enemy was shot through the right thigh near the hip. The regiment was forced from the field, losing nearly all its , officers, and for a short time Captain Conover was a prisoner. The enemy, however, were driven from the field by the Union main line of battle, and Captain Conover was rescued and taken to the hospital at Frederick City, Maryland. Mrs. Conover, apprised of her husband being wounded, went to the front, followed him to the hos- pital, where he was patiently ending his sufferings, and remained until he died, August 4. 1864. His body was received at Freehold by military escort, which conducted him to the family residence. The funeral, August 9, was attended by the military, the societies of I. O. O. F. and F. & A. M., and by a large concourse of the citizens of the county. The pallbearers were: Lieutenant Abram Havens, Major Henry Bennett, Lieutenant Colonel W. B. Foreman, Lieutenant Thomas B. Ryal, Captain John W. Conover and Colonel A. H. Patterson.
Captain. Conover was married in Freehold September 7, 1859, to Martha Ru- dolpli Ellis. They had two children. Roland Ellis, who died at eleven years of age; and Lydia. who died at three years of age. Mrs. Conover still resides in Freehold. The farm owned by Captain Conover had descended from father to son for three generations. His father, Wykoff Conover, was born there August 24, 1784, and died there May 3, 1833; his mother, Ely Craig Conover, born in 1798, died in 1880. His grandfather, William B. Conover, was born on the same farm of three hundred acres in 1751, was a patriot in the war of the Revolution and died in 1807.
The father of Mrs. Captain Conover, Roland A. Ellis, was born in Kent county, Maryland, August 1I, 1810, and died January 14, 1878. Her mother, Catherine Van- derveer, was born February 16, 1811, and died November II, 1873. She had a brother, Charles B., who died on the old homestead September 23, 1901.
When a Grand Army post was organized in Freehold in 1882, the name chosen at its installation was that of James W. Conover.
ARTHUR M. BROWN.
Arthur M. Brown, cashier of the Keyport Banking Company, was born July 12, 1859, and is the son of the late Thomas S. R. and Mary ( Beers) Brown, both natives of New Jersey.
Arthur M. Brown received his schooling in Monmouth county, which tuition was concluded at Glenwood Institute, Matawan, New Jersey. In 1878 he entered the employ of his father, then a hardware, lumber and coal merchant, an association which continued until 1884, when he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Keyport, an institution which was succeeded in 1889 by the Key- port Banking Company. (See history elsewhere.) On March 1, 1900, he was ap- pointed to the cashiership of the Keyport Banking Company, to succeeded Garrett S. Jones, who resigned to become the cashier of the Rahway National Bank.
Mr. Brown, while affiliating with the Democratic party, generally, may be held to-day as an independent in politics. He has never sought political preferment, al- though he did complete an unexpired term as township collector, by appointment, in 1887.
Mr. Brown has been actively identified with every interest that has contributed to the development of the community. He was for seven years treasurer of the Key- port and Matawan Street Railroad Company: and for the past ten years has been treasurer of the Second Keyport Loan Association.
He was married December 12, 1883, to Minnie Adelaide, daughter of Benjamin
8
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
B. and Martha A. (Clark) Pierce, of Keyport. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one child living, Mary Gladys. They reside at the corner of Broad and Elizabeth streets, Keyport, New Jersey, and attend the First Baptist church of that place.
WILLIAM HOLMES WYCKOFF.
Among the fine fruit farms of Holmdel township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, those owned by William H. Wyckoff, who is living retired at Keyport, are conspicuous. These two farms, comprising about two hundred and forty acres, are planted with about one thousand pear, apple, peach and other domestic fruit trees and have yielded about one thousand barrels of apples in a single season.
William H. Wyckoff was born near the Highlands, in Monmouth county, No- vember 27, 1824, a son of William G. and Lydia (Holmes) Wyckoff. In the pater- nal line he is of Holland-Dutch ancestry and his family is one of the oldest in New Jersey. Biographical sketches of members of the Holmes family which appear in this work contain the genealogy of Mr. Wyckoff's mother.
William G. and Lydia (Holmes) Wyckoff had five sons and one daughter, four of whom are living :. William H. is the immediate subject of this sketch. His living brothers' are named Jacob, Joseph and David, and John is deceased. William H. Wyckoff was married in 1853 to Elizabeth Tunis and they had seven children. The following facts concerning them will be of interest in this connection. Mary E. became the wife of William Sherman, a farmer in Marlboro township. John. T. is in the hardware business at Keyport. Florence is a member of her father's household. Oscar lives at Keyport. David H. is a farmer at Middletown. Charles A. is a farmer on the old home farm. The mother of these children died October 10, 1892.
In politics Mr. Wyckoff is an ardent Democrat and although he has never taken an active interest in the affairs of his panty he is an influential citizen of much pub- lic spirit, who is always ready to aid to the extent of his ability any movement which, in his good judgment, will benefit any considerable number of his fellow citizens. He is a man of sterling integrity, an excellent farmer and a successful business man.
JOHN L. SUYDAM.
1
John L. Suydam, physician and surgeon, Jamesburg, Middlesex county, New Jersey, is a descendant of one of the oldest families of Long Island, New York, and the son of Abraham and Letticia (Brunson) Suydam; he was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, October 13, 1859.
.Abraham Suydam, father of Dr. John L. Suydam, was a son of John L. and Eleanor (Elberson) Suydam, and was born in Somerset county. February 28, 1830, spent his entire life there as a farmer and died there January 4. 1862. Letticia (Brun- son) Suydam, who was the daughter of John W. and Sarah (Van Tine) Brunson, was born January 5, 1835, and lives with Dr. Suydam, who was the only child born to her.
John L. Suydam acquired his primary education in the district schools and sup- plemented it by a course in a private school at Middlebush, New Jersey. In Sep- tember, 1873, he entered Rutgers preparatory school at New Brunswick, New Jersey,
9
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
from which he was graduated in 1876. He then entered Rutgers College and was graduated in June, 1880, receiving the degree of A. B., and in June, 1883, he received the degree of A. M. During his senior year in college he read medicine in the office ot Dr. H. R. Baldwin, of New Brunswick. After his graduation he entered the University Medical College of the city of New York, and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in March, 1882. In October of the same year he began the practice of his profession at Jamesburg, where he has achieved a satisfactory success. He is a member of the State Medical Society, of New Jersey, and an ex- president of the Middlesex County Medical Association. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He was married at Jamesburg, January 16, 1884, to Mary E. Park, daughter of Thomas and Jane Park. Dr. Suydam in politics is an ardent Republi- can. He is now secretary of the Middlesex county board of elections.
The Suydam family in America is descended from an old German family of the name of Rycken, which lived in the lower part of Saxony, a German province, where the family possessed a large estate. The name was then written Von Rycken, mean- ing of or from Rycken. Hans (John) Von Ryken was a brave knight and a cousin of Melchoir Von Rycken, who lived in Holland. Both Hans and Melchoir were in the first crusade to the Holy Land in 1096, and Hans perished in the expedition, but Melchoir survived and returned to his home. The descendants of Hans Von Rycken spread into lower Saxony, Holstein, and Hamburg, and the descendants of Mel- choir, afterward sometimes spelled Melchinor, spread from Holland south along the Rhine into Switzerland, and from this latter branch of the family came a dis- tinguished man who was in great favor with Charles V of France.
The American branch of the Von Rycken family descended from a branch of Melchinor, at Amsterdam, where for nearly two hundred years members of it held. with the geatest honor, offices of public trust. In the war with Spain at the time of the reign of William, Prince of Orange, of whom the Von Ryckens were active sup- porters, the family met with the greatest reverses of fortunes. The Von Ryckens also supported William of Nassau, when that prince took up arms in defense of Dutch liberty, and for a long time were known as a military family. When the vir- tuous and daring Hollanders were invited to seek a home in America, several of the Von Rycken or Von Ryker family, descendants of Melchinor, joined them. The names of the inembers of this family who came to this country were Abraham, Guys- bert, Rynier and Hiendrick. Hiendrick Von Rycken emigrated from Schiedam or Saardam in Holland, a few years after the three others mentioned above came over, and landed at Nassau (New York) in 1663. He was a blacksmith by trade and set- tled on an outskirt. of New York, at a place called Smith's Fly or Smith's Meadows, where lie purchased a house and considerable land. In 1678, on account of the great number of snakes with which that locality was infested, he was compelled to leave there, and with his wife, Ida Jacobs, he settled in Flatbush, Long Island, and in 1679 he united with the Dutch Reformed church there. He afterward sold the property in New York to Derrick Vander Cliff, in whose- honor Cliff street, New York, was named.
Hiendrick Rycken (the von seems to have been dropped about this time) ac- quired much land at Flatbush and elsewhere. He died in 1701 and in his will par- ticularly enjoined his wife Ida to give strict attention to the training of his children, whose names were Hendrick, Rycken, Jacob, Ida, Gertrude and Jane. In 1710 Hendrick, Rycken and Jacob, three of the children mentioned, adopted the name of Suydam. evidently following the custom in vogue then, and still existing in some countries, of taking a family name from the family's place of residence or from the place of nativity of its ancestors. Suydam was evidently taken from Schiedam or
10
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
Saardam in Holland, the birthplace of Hiendrick. Rycken, who thus changed the family name to Suydam, was the original ancestor of all the Suydams in New York, New Jersey and adjoining states.
Rycken Suydam, son of Hiendrick, was born in 1665, lived at Flatbush, and was supervisor and judge there for several years. He was twice married and died in 1741, icaving nine children. Jacob Suydam, born in 1666, was a farmer and blacksmith. He lived in Flatbush on the site of the old brewery on land owned at a compara- tively recent date by Garret Stryker, and was supervisor in 1706 and again in 1717. He married Sytie Jacobs, and died in 1738, in his seventy-second year, leaving thir- teen children.
Hendrick, the brother of the two above, was a farmer at Bedford on land which he bought from his father in 1698. He died in 1741, leaving three children, Lambert, Henry and Elsie. Lambert married Abigal Leffert, of Bedford, and died in 1764. Hendrick, born December 2, 1706, married Gertie Ryerson, of Wallabout. He was a farmer and blacksmith and lived at Bedford, where he died July 16, 1778, leaving four children named Lambert, Jacob, Hendrick and Christiana. Elsie married John Lott, of Flatbush. Lambert, son of the last mentioned Hendrick, born at Bedford in 1743 was a captain in the Kings county troop at the beginning of the Revolutionary war. His first wife was Sarah, daughter of Joseph Hegerman, and his second wife was Anna, daughter of Barant Johnson, of Wallabout. He died April II, 1833, in the ninetieth year of his age. His children were Anna; Gertrude, who married Peter Wykoff ; Maria, who married Daniel Lott; Hendrick, who married Gertrude, daughter of Dominie Van Pelt, and for his second wife Margaret, daughter of D. Rapailje, and widow of Abraham Sneidiker. The children of Hendrick were named Abraham, Charity, Hendrick, Sarah, Ann and Daniel R.
Jacob Suydam, the brother of Lambert, was born February 3, 1740, and settled at Bushwick. He married Elizabeth Leaycroft and died July 27, 1811. His children were George, who 'married Jane Voorhees: Gertrudc, who married Adrian Martense; Jacob: and Hendrick, who married Helen, daughter of John Schenck.
Hendrick. brother of Lambert and Jacob, was born in 1732 and married Rebecca Emmons, of New Utrecht. He removed from Bedford to Flatbush in 1759, and lived there until his death, which occurred July 9, 1805, on a large farm, which then passed into the hands of his children, Hendrick and Andrew. The latter married Phoebe Wykoff, of Gravesend, and lived on the old homestead, which was his portion of his father's estate. He died December II, 1831, aged seventy-four years, leaving a daughter Sarah, who married John Ditmars, of Flatbush.
Hendrick, brother of Andrew, and son of Hendrick, farmed on the portion of his father's land which was left to him, and held the honorable position of a colonel in the state militia. In 1806 lie sold his original farm and purchased another near Flatlands. He married a Miss Kowenhoven, of Flatlands, who died leaving a daugh- ter, Rebecca. His second wife, Lemian Lott, of Flatlands, bore him four children- Ida, Jeromus, Henry and Cornelius. Hendrick Suydam died May 24, 1823, at the age of seventy-four years. His daughter Rebecca died unmarried, September 5, 1874. aged eighty-three years. His daughter, Ida, married John Vanderveer, a suc- cessful farmer of New Lotts, and died February 5, 1873, aged seventy-seven years. Her children were named John, Henry, Ann and Stephen Lott.
Henry, son of the last named Hendrick, occupied a house which he built on a portion of his father's farm, and assisted his brother Cornelius on the farm. He married Mary Van Brunt, of New Utrecht, and died January 19, 1847, aged forty- eight years. His children were Joanna, who married Elias Bergen, of New Utrecht, and died without issue; and Henry, who died in carly manhood, unmarried.
Cornelius married Lemian Van Nuyse, daughter of Hans Van Nuyse, of Flat-
3 1833 02232 7883
L
II
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
lands. He inherited his father's homestead, which he farmed and on which he died, March 8, 1883, agcd eighty years. His children were Lemian; John, who married Elen Maria Bergen, of New Utrecht; and Ellen Rebecca.
Jeromus, the remaining brother, was born in Flatlands, December 28, 1796, and spent his life as a farmer. He married Harriet Lott Voorhees, daughter of Abaham and Martha (Lott) Voorhees, of Fiatlands, January 2, 1825. He died November 13, 1872, his wife January 25, 1868. Their children were Henry, who died July 4, 1899; Lemian, who is dead: Daniel Lott; Mary, who is the widow of William Martin; Lemian, the second of the name; and Harriet Rebecca, who married John J. Ryder.
VALENTINÄ– P. BUCK.
The Buck family have been known in Monmouth county, New Jersey, since 1686, when it is recorded that John Buck was a resident of what is now known as Toms River, Ocean county, New Jersey.
Lieutenant Ephraim Buck, supposed grandson of the above named, was a lieu- tenant in Monmouth county, New Jersey, in January, 1780, and served in the Con- tinental army, directly under General Washington. He married Mary Wainright, who belonged to an English family which had settled in Monmouth county as early as 1668. Lieutenant Ephraim Buck founded the Methodist church at Bethesda, Monmouth county, New Jersey, in the year 1777, was local preacher there, and he and his wife are there buried. Their son, John Buck, born July 7, 1768, residcd in the village of Marlborough, Monmouth county, and kept the public house there at the time of his death, which occurred April 19, 1829, while attending services in the Brick church, dying in the arms of his friend, Aaron Smock. He married Ann West, who was born May 28, 1774, and died April 12, 1854. She was the daughter of Jacob West and Anna Rhea.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.