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 21
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Thomas H. Grant was born on the farm where he now resides, October 1, 1858. He entered Rutgers College in 1877, and graduated with the class of 1881, taking the Bradley mathematical prize in his senior year. From the date of his graduation until 1895 he followed railroad engineering exclusively. In that year he established an inde- pendent engineering practice, his attention being mainly directed to railway terminal
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and water front work and foundations. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Mattano Club of Elizabeth, the Jersey City Club and many of the local social organizations. He is a Republican, and an Episcopalian, connected with Trinity church of Red Bank, and Christ church of Middletown. He devotes a part of his time to the management of a two-hundred-acre farm and the various business interests with which he is connected. Mr. Grant takes considerable interest in public questions and improvements, and in several of the field sports, which he follows to some extent for exercise and recreation.
EDWARD M. COOPER.
Agriculture forms the principal occupation of Edward M. Cooper, and the wide- awake manner in which he takes advantage of all methods and ideas tending to en- hance the value of his property, has had a good deal to do with his obtaining the competence which he now enjoys. Personal popularity results from the industry, perseverance and close attention to business which a person displays in the manage- ment of any particular branch of business, and in the case of Mr. Cooper this is certainly true, for he has closely adhered to the above mentioned pursuits, and he has gained the high esteem of all. His property and interests are located in Mon- mouth county.
Mr. Cooper was born on the farm on which he still resides, on the 22d of No- vember, 1855, and is a son of George F. and Elizabeth (Applegate) Cooper, whose history will be found on another page of this volume. Edward M. was reared and educated in his native township, and as a life occupation he chose that of a farmer. He has been very successful in his ventures in this direction, and has done much toward developing the agricultural interests of his community. He has never sought or desired the emoluments of public office, preferring rather to give his undivided attention to his business interests, but as a citizen he is public-spirited and pro- gressive, and every movement calculated to prove of public benefit receives his hearty support and co-operation.
In 1884 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah L. Patterson, who was born in Middletown township, Monmouth county, in December, 1862, a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Hance) Patterson. Unto this union have been born three children: Frederick L., born on the Ioth of January, 1885; Guy, born July 26, 1887; and Robert A., born on the 20th of June, 1895. The family is highly esteemed by the people of their locality, and they enjoy the hospitality of a large circle of friends and ecquaint- ances.
JAMES HARVEY, SR.
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This venerable gentleman, although he has passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, is still actively engaged in farming, and such a career should put to shame many a man of half his years, who, grown weary of the struggles and cares . of business life, would relegate to others the burdens he should bear, Mr. Harvey resides in Occan township, Monmouth county, and in that township he was born December 24, 1818. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Rachel (Bennett) Harvey. The former was at first a farmer, subsequently built a forge and upon the destruction of the forge by fire entered into the milling business, at one time operat-
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ing the Old Ocean Mills. His family numbered six members, who became prominent citizens : Isabelle, Catherine, Rachel, Samuel, James and Gavine. The last named was the father of our subject. After arriving at years of maturity he married Sarah Jackson and they had nine children, of whom Thomas, James, Samuel, Benjamin, Gavine and Ann reached years of maturity, the others dying in infancy.
James Harvey is now the only surviving member of his father's family. He was educated in the common schools and in early life followed the business of burning and selling charcoal, working for himself and others; he did shad fishing in the spring. He is a self-made man in the best sense of the term. By close application and through honest dealing he has secured for himself an enviable character, which riches could not buy. In 1865 he purchased a small place, to which he has been adding from year to year until at the present time he owns forty acres of land. This he devotes to the raising of garden produce and his land yields a good return for the cultivation be- stowed upon it. His vegetables, being of excellent quality, command a good price on the market and provide him with a very desirable income.
In 1844 Mr. Harvey married Miss Susan King, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine King, and unto them have been born five children, of whom four are living: John, Charles, William L., and Sarah (wife of Edward T. Brand, of Long Branch) ; while one died in infancy. The mother departed this life January 2, 1896. In public affairs Mr. Harvey has taken a deep and abiding interest and served for many years as commissioner of appeals for Ocean township. Since 1843 he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has served as trustee and steward. In its work he takes an active interest and his life has ever been in harmony with his professions.
ALBERT C. SMITH.
That cleanliness is next to godliness seems to be evidenced most clearly by the success which attends generally upon any properly projected laundry enterprise. This line of business has been followed by our subject, Albert C. Smith, of the firm of Smith & Smock, at Red Bank, New Jersey, where he established himself in 1898. His plant is known as the Red Bank Steam Laundry and is located at No. 64 White street.
Mr. Smith is a native of Keyport, New Jersey, where he was born in 1867. He is the son of Holmes W. and Jane A. (Baily) Smith. His early education was acquired in the common schools of Keyport. In early life Mr. Smith acted as clerk in a grocery store, which line he followed up to 1891, when he took up the laundry business at Asbury Park, New Jersey. Here he continued for three years, at the end of that time, in 1895, removing to Freehold, New Jersey, where he conducted an extensive laundry business. His present profitable business was established as above set forth in 1898, with Mr. Smock as partner. Their plant is capable of turn- ing out five hundred dollars' worth of business weekly. During the summer season they employ as many as twenty hands. They run a twenty-four-horse-power boiler and a twelve-horse-power engine; two wagons are kept on the road continually collect- ing and delivering. The business has grown to extensive proportions under its able heads, and promises to outstrip even its present standard. Mr. Smith is so well versed in the laundry business, that he is capable of running any branch and attend- ing to its numerous details. His thorough understanding of his business is one of the causes of his success, coupled with his determination to treat his customers fairly and honestly. While there are several laundries in Red Bank, both of foreign
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Albert C. Smith
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and native origin, yet the Red Bank Steam Laundry leads them all in popularity, superior workmanship and despatch in the execution of the work.
Mr. Smith has one son, Lester, by his wife Charlotte L., whom he married ยท in 1892. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of Edwin and Mary Bawden, of Freehold, New Jersey.
JOSEPH TAYLOR BURROWES.
Joseph Taylor Burrowes, a lumber merchant of Monmouth county, New Jersey, and prominent citizen of Red Bank, was born in Middletown township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, July 7, 1836. His parents were Richard and Mary (Taylor) Burrowes. Richard Burrowes was a soldier in the war of 1812, and two, of the same stock fought for the independence of the American colonies in the war of the Revo- lution. Richard Burrowes was a successful agriculturist of Monmouth county up to the time of his decease in 1850; his wife survived until 1874. Their son, Joseph Taylor Burrowes, received a common school education and was thereafter, up to his twenty-second year, engaged with his father in the cultivation of the latter's farm. In 1858 he went to California, where he was variously employed for seven years. Returning to New Jersey he became associated in 1868 with his brother Thomas in the lumber business at Keyport, Monmouth county, under the firm name of T. & J. T. Burrowes. This partnership continued until 1875, when the junior member withdrew therefrom, and in 1877 established himself in the same business at Red Bank, New Jersey. Here Mr. Burrowes continues in the successful. conduct of one of the leading industries of his community, to the development of which he has contributed, among other material ways, by the erection of a number of substan- tial dwelling houses. Mr. Burrowes is a stalwart Republican, but without aspiration for political preferment. He served efficiently for two years as commissioner of
Red Bank. He married Sarah, daughter of the late James Lemmon. Three chil- dren born of this union survive, viz. : James Albert, Harry and Miss Ada Burrowes. Their deceased children are Edward, George and Joseph; of these the last named married Miss Sarah Hance, who resides at Red Bank and has one child, Joseph Tay- lor Burrowes, who was born in September, 1894. Harry Burrowes is associated in business with his father.
JAMES COOPER, JR.
James Cooper, Jr., secretary of the board of education of Red Bank, and a lead- ing druggist of the Jersey coast, was born in Monmouth county, August 10, 1858. He is a son of the late John Patterson Cooper and Catharine Kerr ( Pringle) Cooper, natives of New York City. Jehu Patterson Cooper was a prominent agriculturist of Mon- mouth county and from the time of attaining his majority up to the close of his life was a stalwart Democrat. He was continuously elected clerk of Middletown town- ship for a total period of thirty years, and was a freeholder for Middletown for ten years. He was one of the distinguished Freemasons of the state, having been grand high king of Royal Arch Chapter. James Cooper, Jr., received public school and academic courses of instruction, and as a youth entered the employ of F. T. Chad- wick, druggist of Red Bank, with whom he remained nine years. He then established himself in business at Broad and White streets, Red Bank, where he conducts one of the best equipped wholesale and retail drug houses in Monmouth county. He is also
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
a member of the firm of Antonides & Cooper, druggists, Main street, Atlantic High- lands. Mr. Cooper is a member of Mystic Brotherhood, No. 21, F. & A. M., Hiram Chapter, No. I, R. A. M., is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, member of the Independent Order of Foresters, Ancient Order of Foresters, and other social organi- zations, including the local clubs. He married Laura, daughter of George W. Van- derveer, of Freehold, New Jersey. Mrs. Cooper died December 31. 1896. leaving three children, James Oakley Cooper, George Vanderveer Cooper and Jehu Patterson Cooper.
MORRIS PACH.
Morris Pach, wholesale and retail dealer in cigars and tobacco, Red Bank, was born in Berlin, Prussia, April 3, 1837. He came with the remainder of his father's family to the United States in 1853, locating in Boston, Massachusetts, whence they removed in. 1864 to Long Branch, New Jersey. Five years later Morris Pach estab- lished his present business at Red Bank, where he has met with a success that has placed him in the forefront of the men of affairs in Monmouth county. He served efficiently for one term as commissioner of Red Bank. He was married in 1863 to Miss Rosa Libko, a native of Austria. Mr. and Mrs. Pach have four sons, all of whom are graduates of the high school at Red Bank. They are Alex- ander Pach, superintendent of Pach Brothers; Mortimer Pach, associated with his father ; Lester Pach, law student; and Ernest Pach, also associated with his father in business.
JAMES G. CRAWFORD.
James G. Crawford, who is a prosperous farmer residing near Holmdel, Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, traces his ancestry as far back as 1672, when John Craw- ford emigrated to America from Scotland, settling in the state of New Jersey and locating at the hamlet of Holmdel, his numerous offspring still being among the most prominent residents of the locality. The emigrant John was accompanied by three brothers and they first stopped at New Haven, Connecticut, but during the French and Indian war, John Crawford moved to this state, buying in 1686 two hundred acres of land near Morrisville. One of the maternal ancestors of our subject was named William Frost, and both he and Richard Crawford, on the father's side, took part in the Revolutionary war, the former suffering imprisonment and the latter being wounded.
The paternal grandfather of James G. Crawford was also James G., and was born in Holmdel in 1794. He was a prosperous and extensive farmer, a leader in the Democratic party, and he was also identified with the Baptist church. His mar- riage was to Elizabeth Smith, whose death occurred in 1883, and their children were: James. William. Ann, Caroline, Elizabeth, Mary and John.
John J'. Crawford, the father of James G. Crawford of this sketch, was born at Holmdel. on February 22, 1829. and acquired his education first in the primary schools of his locality, but later enjoyed the advantages afforded by the Glenwood Institute at Matawan, and after his return settled down to the life of an agriculturist. During his whole life. he was an active and devoted member of the Baptist church. In 1855 he was married to Miss Mary Frost, who was a native of Chapel Hill, where she was born. in 1832, her death occurring in 1872, Mr. Crawford surviving until 1888.
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
The children born to our subject's parents were as follows: John, James G., William, Sarah, Caroline, Mary, Esther, Theresa and Emma.
James G. Crawford was born near Holmdel on September 2, 1860, where he was; reared and educated. His occupation has principally been that of farming and he has attained high excellence in this chosen pursuit. His fine property consists of. one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he has improved and placed in a fine state of cultivation, causing it to be counted among the most productive tracts of land in the county.
Mr. Crawford is unmarried. In politics he is an active and ardent supporter of the Democratic party and has been of signal use in its local councils. He was reared in the Baptist faith and is a consistent and worthy member of that church, and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Holmdel, where his family has so long been a leading one.
ADDISON HENRY RIGGS.
The Riggs family of New Jersey had its origin in ancestors who came from Scot- land far back in the colonial days, and their sturdy traits of character-integrity, industry and persistency-are discernable in their descendants to the present day.
The ancestral immigants were three brothers, who settled at that famous Revo- lutionary war spot, Baskingridge, in Somerset county. Lewis Riggs (great-grand- father of Addison H. Riggs) taught a school at Cheesequake, in Middlesex county, in his young manhood. He afterward removed to Hightstown, Mercer county, where he conducted a store, and then to Perrinville, Monmouth county. He subsequently returned to Hightstown and occupied a large farm, and there died. By his marriage with Miss Ida Bergen he became the father of the following named children: George, William S., Elias, and a daughter who became the wife of John Chamberlain.
Elias Riggs, youngest son of Lewis Riggs, was born near Hightstown, and lived his entire life in that locality, and died there at an advanced age. He was a man of strong and exemplary character, and was a deacon in the Presbyterian church; for many years he was a justice of the peace. He married Rachel, a daughter of Captain David Baird, of Manalapan, who bore him the following named children : Lewis, David Baird, John C., and Ida, who became the wife of Charles H. Perrinc.
Lewis Riggs, oldest son in the last named family, was also born at Hightstown, where he received a common school education. For some years he was successively in the employ of the Camden & Amboy Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Companies. He married Margaret E. Allen, a daughter of John Allen, and of this marriage were born the following named children: Addison Henry; Frank P., who married Alma Herbert, and to them were born Frank P., Jr., and Frederick; Mary Blanche, who married Joseph P. Lisk, of Palmyra, New York, now a mechanical draftsman and consulting engineer in New York City, residing in Brooklyn; and Drucilla, who is unmarried. The father of these children died at the age of forty- four years, and the mother is living in Brooklyn at the age of sixty-six years.
Addison Henry Riggs, cldest son of Lewis and Margaret E. (Allen) Riggs, was born near Hightstown, Mercer county, New Jersey, in 1857. He began his education in the public schools in his native village and took a special course in the Peddie Institute. He entered the employ of Wannamaker & Brown, in Philadelphia, withi whom he remained for two years. His experience during this period was highly advantageous to him in after years. He was subsequently engaged in a general store at Hightstown, which he left in 1876, and removed to Asbury Park. In. the
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city last named he served in a clerical capacity in various leading establishments, among them those of J. S. Ferguson and George Farmer, coal dealers. At the death of the latter named, a corporation was formed under the name of the G. P. Farmer Coal and Supply Company. Of this Mr. Riggs became a member, and he was elected treasurer and manager. The company conducts a coal, wood, lime and cement business at Asbury Park, and a coal, wood, hay and feed business at Belmar. Their transac- tions extend over a wide scope of territory, and aggregate a large sum annually. Methodical and thorough in his business affairs, Mr. Riggs is enabled to direct and oversee all promptly, and with thoroughness and accuracy. He occupies a highly creditable position in the business community and his name is a synonym for integrity and public spirit. His influence has been extended to every laudable enterprise, and he has borne a full share in the development of all municipal improvements, without seeking personal advancement. In politics he is a Republican.
April 14, 1888, Mr. Riggs was married to Miss Nora L. Allright, a daughter of Frank Allright, of Reading, Pennsylvania, and this marriage has resulted in one child, a son, Earl, now aged fourteen years.
ALFRED F. SOFIELD.
One of the leading men of Avon, New Jersey, and one, too, who has gained his present position of prominence by indefatigable labor and perseverance, is Alfred F. Sofield, whose name heads this sketch. The early ancestors of the Sofields were natives of England. It is supposed that there were several of them, and these set- tled along the Raritan river in New Jersey prior to the war of the Revolution. The grandfather of our subject was Runyon Sofield. He was born on his father's farm on the Raritan river, where he lived and died. Enos Sofield, the father of our subject, was born on his father's farm, subsequently removed to Perth Amboy, where he engaged in the business of growing oysters. He carried on this business. . on a large -scale for many years, and died September 4, 1880, at Perth Amboy. His wife was Mary E. Sofield and to them were born two sons and five daughters.
Alfred was born July 30, 1848, at Perth Amboy. Such elementary knowledge as he acquired in his boyhood was imparted by the schools of his native place. Young Sofiled early entered his father's line of business, which he followed up to the year 1883, carrying it on during the later years in his own name. Not, how- ever, feeling satisfied that this was the field of labor in which he could accomplish the best results financially, or yet satisfy his ambitions, Mr. Sofield disposed of his oyster interests and went to Avon, where for a while he contented himself with keeping boats for rental to pleasure parties during the summer months; this only bridged over an unsettled period, however, until he should find something more to his liking. He was ever on the alert for the opportunity that he felt certain would present itself sometime; in this he was not disappointed; in 1901 what he had always desired was brought about, and he began to handle and ship sand to steel foundries in various parts of the country for use in sand blasts and core-sands. His sand blast material is pronounced by experts to be the best and finest for the purpose to be found in the country. He also furnishes clays of different kinds suitable for all sorts of purposes.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Sofield has the honor of being a member of the borough council of Avon, in which capacity his voice is always raised in advancing those propositions which look to the betterment of the town and to the best interests.
C.F. Sofiela
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of its inhabitants. He is an esteemed member of Freedom Council, No. 116, Jr. O. U. A. M.
.. His marriage to Miss Mary Ella Page, daughter of Edward C. and Anna Maria (Blackney) Page, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was solemn zed on October 26, 1869. Six children have been born to them, as follows: Francis A., born De- cember 10, 1871 ; Leroy, born March 18, 1874; Isabella H., born June 26, 1877; Emma. G., born December 28, 1881; Howard S., born May 12, 1838; Hilton W., born Au- gust 13, 1890.
E. H. PRICE.
Among all the summer resorts on the New Jersey coast Pleasure Bay stands pre-eminent for its natural advantages and for those pleasing accessories which large means and cultivated taste will command. All these and the famous aquatic opera are written of at length in a chapter of this work.
Chief among the founders of this resort is Captain E. H. Price, proprietor of the palatial hotel known by his name. His family has been prominently identified with Monmouth county. His father, John Price, a man of sterling character, was a native of the county, and was throughout his life a well-known and successful seaman. He served before the mast and became a capable ship commander, sailing vessels from his home to New York, in the coasting trade, and at times extending his voyages to the Gulf of Mexico. He was an Odd Fellow ; in politics he was a Whig. He was married to Miss Mary Lane.
Born of this marriage was E. H. Price, May 6, 1827, at Oceanport, Monmouth county, where he was reared and educated. He had the sailor instincts of his father, and he went to sea at the early age of twelve years. In course of time he bcame a master and owner, and for several years his "Triton" was famous in New York bay and adjacent waters.
In 1854 he retired from this life and took up his residence at Pleasure Bay, where there were but two cabins. In the beginning he established and conducted a stopping place for lumbermen, which was well known as "The Kitchen." The bay was then only inhabited by men engaged in cutting timber for ship building, and was known as "The Sheep Pen." The region was a veritable wilderness, just as it was known to the Indians, and no one was bold enough to prophesy the future which was destined for it. After a time transient visitors engaged in lumbering interests came to the place, and they were so well pleased with Captain Price's "Kitchen", that they made it known in New York, and it became quite a resort. Among the first who thus came and were instrumental in spreading its fame, were Dr. Kane, the Arctic explorer, Frank Leslie, the well-known publisher, Eddie Stephens and other celebrities.
In 1859 Captain Price built the present commodious Price's Hotel, and this has long been known to all visitors to the New Jersey coast as one of the most homelike and pleasant places of entertainment in the entire region, and is much sought by the best class of summer sojourners, and especially by picnic and excursion parties. It is picturesquely situated upon a beautiful tract of three acres contiguous to the bay and to the beautiful park and grandstand, reaching almost to the water's edge, from which may be witnessed the unique operatic performances upon a stage erected in the stream. The hotel contains sixteen rooms, beautifully furnished, and the cuisine is all that the most exacting epicure could desire. The resort is reached by the Patten Line steamers, and has trolley connection with all other resorts on the coast.
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