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 27
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The communicants of the church at the present time number one hundred and twenty, and the property is valued at $11,000.
PETER J. DEY.
Peter J. Dey is a direct descendant of Lawrence Dey, who was a soldier of some repute during the Revolutionary war: he followed the fortunes of the Colonial army under Washington, particularly displaying his valor at the battle of Monmouth, although he was engaged in many other fierce conflicts in which his valiant behavior was acknowledged. Lawrence Dey was an extensive land owner in both Middlesex and Monmouth countics. His family consisted of four children, namely : Joseph, William, Catherine and Lawrence. His son Joseph is the grandfather of our subject, Peter J. He (Joseph) was born in Monroe township, and was quite a lad during the struggle of the Colonists for independence. He was twice married, his first wife being Euphcmia Chuscman, who bore him six children, as follows: Matthew R., Lawrence, Margaret, Mary, William and Joseph. His second wife was Elizabeth Middleton, who gave birth to two children, namely: Peter J. and Elizabeth.
Matthew R., the father of Peter J., whose name heads this chronicle, was born
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in Middlesex county on September 10, 1792. He married Achsah E. Herbert, also a native of Middlesex county, born on April 5. 1802. Their marriage occurred on January 29, 1822; they had the following family: Joseph, born March 17, 1823; John P., born February 23, 1825; William H., born February 10, 1827, died in 1831; Matthew R., born March 1, 1829; Peter J., born April 18, 1831 ; Allason E., born Oc- tober 12, 1833. died in 1844; Elizabeth M., born October 12, 1833, (twins) ; Sarah A., born January 22, 1836, died in 1838; Achsah E., born July 3, 1839; and Margaret A., born July 27, 1841. Matthew, the father, departed this life on March 3, 1865; his wife, Achsah, survived him until February 18, 1875. Matthew R. was an extensive farmer, an upright man, and one who believed in the practical application of the "Golden Rule" to cvery day life. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and in politics a stanch Republican.
The son of this worthy gentleman, Peter J., our subject, is a resident of Mon- roe township, where he was born, reared and educated. He is a carpenter by trade, having mastered it in early life and continuously followed this line of business ever since. He is every inch a mechanic, and one whose workmanship is considered among the best. Aside from his carpentering business, he carries on in a practical and up-to-date manner the cultivation of his farm lands, which consists of forty acres of valuable and productive ground; for the past forty years he has made his home upon this property, which he devotes to the raising of general farm products.
As a public man Mr. Dcy has been honored by the people of his community with election to various township offices, which he has filled to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. For thirteen years he has occupied the position of clerk of the district school board, and for a number of years has been overseer of highways. Mr. Dey has not lived entirely within the bounds of his native place, having had occasion to travel to distant points from time to time, thus widening and deepening his view of life; in this connection he has performed many offices of trust and responsibility. At one time he was employed by a Philadelphia house as collector.
On January 1, 1860, Mr. Dey was joined in wedlock to Miss Caroline E. Acklay, of Philadelphia. Six children were the result of their union, viz .: Clara, born March 8, 1861; Florence, born May 23, 1863: Irene, born March 18. 1868; Ray, born August 5, 1870; and two other children, who died in infancy. Mrs. Caroline E. Dey was born in Philadelphia in 1833.
Mr. Dey is naturally proud of having descended from men of Revolutionary dis- tinction, and exhibits with keen satisfaction a sword now in his possession, but once the property of Captain Conover, who did valiant service for the cause of freedom in many hotly contested battles.
DANIEL A. MOUNT.
Daniel A. Mount is proprietor of what is known as "Pine Tree Farm," which contains about twenty acres of land, which Mr Mount devotes exclusively to the rais- ing of the finest breeds of poultry. He was born in Monroe township, Middlesex county, in the year 18.49, the son of Joseph B. and Margaret (Applegate) Mount. Of this branch of the Mount family, of the preceding generation, only an aunt still survives (1902). The earliest recollections of Daniel A. Mount carry him back to life upon the old farm, and for many years he devoted himself to agricultural pur- suits ; this, however, he abandoned to enter the mercantile trade, in which his efforts were crowned with success: hc built up a fine and lucrative business, but his health failing, he was forced to relinquish the business that promised so well, and in 1885
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he commenced operations along his present line of business, beginning in a small way, however, and in conjunction with other matters in which he was at the time interested. In 1887 he turned his attention exclusively to poultry raising, which since that time, under his careful and thorough supervision, has grown to enormous proportions. His operations have been carried on at Jamesburg since 1895. His stock consists of turkeys, ducks, geese and chickens; four thousand chickens can be properly cared for in the commodious space set apart for their breeding. His buildings cover about thirty thousand square feet of ground, while his fences, enclosing his pens, extend for about two imiles. Mr. Mount exhibits his superior stock in the largest cities only, viz .: Boston, New York and Philadelphia, where invariably he is awarded first prize. During the World's Fair at Chicago, he carried off both the first and second prizes on some of his fine specimens of white turkeys.
Mr. Mount was married on Scpteniber 10, 1873, to Hclen E., daughter of Samuel N. Stillman ; they have had but one child, namely, Otto R., born on September 10, 1877. Mr. Mount is a member of Jr. O. U. A. M., is a highly respected citizen, an ex- cellent neighbor, and one whose sagacious business capacity is evidenced by his well regulated establishment.
WALTER RANDOLPH BRINLEY.
Walter R. Brinley, of Long Branch, a descendant of one of the oldest families in that section, was born on October 31, 1844, at Long Branch, Monmouth county, New Jersey, the son of Henry and Jane (Wilson) Brinley. His education was ac- quired at the public schools, and his first experience in the commercial line was in the manufacturing and bottling of mineral waters, which he carried on in his native town; his was the first establishment of this kind in Monmouth county. Since that time he has been in the hotel business, was from 1874 to 1880 a merchant at Long Branch in the clothing and boot and shoe business, and his latest venture was in the real estate line, in which he has met with success, and is still engaged in it.
As a public man, he has acquired distinction from the fact of his having been elected in the spring of 1876 justice of the peace, which official position he has con- tinuously held, through re-elections, up to the present time (1902), a period of twenty-six years. He has always been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, in whose interests he has been actively identified ever since attaining to majority, serving as campaign committeeman and delegate to numerous conventions.
In November of the same year that he was elected justice of the peace he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet De Nyse, daughter of W. H. and Hannah De Nyse, of Long Branch. Mrs. Brinley died September 30, 1880, in giving birth to her son, who is now (1902) a student at Cornell University.
WILLIAM HENRY PALMER.
Among the prosperous farmers of Monmouth county, New Jersey, is William H. Palmer, of Keansburg, Middletown township, where he was born November 7. 1852, his parents being Dr. Warren W. and Weltha A. (Mason) Palmer, both of whont belonged to highly respected families of New Jersey.
Captain William Mason, who was the maternal grandfather of our subject, was prominently identified with the shipping interests of the coast, owning and sailing
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a vessel plying between Port Monmouth and New York City. He also engaged in the mercantile business both in New York and at the same time in Keansburg, near which latter place he owned a large and productive farm. It was largely through the efforts of Captain Mason that the public school was cstablished at Keansburg, and through life he was one of the most progressive and public-spirited men of his section. Captain Mason was born in 1794 and died in 1865, while his wife, Malvina, born in 1800, survived until 1883. Their children were: John W. and Weltha, the latter becoming the mother of our subject.
Dr. Warren W. Palmer, the father of William, was one of the prominent phy- sicians as well as a useful citizen of Monmouth county. During his younger days he was a justice of the peace and had the transacting of much legal business. Dr. Palmer became a large land owner, his property consisting of farms, houses and lots. His family consisted of five children, these being: William H., our subject; Dr. Warren, a practicing physician of Brooklyn; Annie W., wife of John E. Giberson, of Keansburg; Dr. Charles A., of Farmingdale, New Jersey; and Sarah D., wife of Aaron E. Johnston, of Freehold.
William H. Palmer acquired his education in the public schools of his native town and then prepared himself for the vocation of teacher, following this pro- fession from 1868 until 1895, with credit to himself and much advantage to those under his careful and scholarly instruction. He has been identified with public affairs, tak- ing a deep and intelligent interest in all enterprises which promise to be of benefit to his county or state. Mr. Palmer has served in a number of useful capacities for the public and has long been town committeeman.
The marriage of Mr. Palmer took place in 1870, to Miss Louise Thomas, who was born at Harmony, Monmouth county, New Jersey, and to this union have been born the following named: Willard N., born in 1871; Mary F., born in 1875, died in 1896; E. Judson, born in 1876, now in the employ of the United States government as inspector at Governor's Island in New York City ; Abbie L., born in 1879, now Mrs. Edward Bennett; and Annie W., born in 1885. Mr. Palmer is fraternally connected with the Atlantic Highlands Anchor Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F., and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Keansburg.
IRA T. SPENCER, M. D.
From no professional man do we expect or exact so many of the cardinal virtues as from the physician. If the clergyman is austere we imagine that his mind is absorbed with the contemplation of things beyond our ken; if our lawyer is brusque and crabbed, it is the mark of genius; but in the physician we expect not only ia superior mentality and comprehensive knowledge, but sympathy as wide as the universe. Dı. Ira Thorp Spencer in large measure meets all of these requirements and is regarded by many as an idcal physician. He is a young man, studious, am- bitious and resolute and already he has won enviable success.
The Doctor is a native of Martinsville, Somerset county, New Jersey, born July 28, 1870, his parents being Aaron and Anna (Drury) Spencer. The family is an old and distinguished one of New Jersey, having been founded in the state several gen- erations ago. The first of the name of whom we have record is Caleb Spencer, the great-great-grandfather, and his son, also named Caleb, was the founder of the family in Somerset county. where his descendants are still found. He had two children, John and Ann, the wife of Peter Martin, who are still residents of that locality. The former is the grandfather of our subject and is still living near Martinsville at
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the age of eighty years, but his wife passed away about two or three years ago. One of their children was Aaron Howe Spencer, the father of the Doctor. He was born in Martinsville, Somerset county, in 1849, and in early life was connected with com- mercial pursuits, conducting a feed store in Rahway, New Jersey, and a grocery store in Elizabethport, but during the great financial panic of 1873 financial reverses over- took him and he located upon a farm near Martinsville, where he is still engaged in the cultivation of peaches. He has been quite active in politics as a supporter of the Democratic party and has filled various township offices. Of his four children three are living, the Doctor being the eldest. The others are William A., a practicing at- torney of Perth Amboy, and Musette, the wife of Charles Skillman, of Skillman Sta- tion, New Jersey. The youngest child, a daughter, died in infancy.
Dr. Spencer pursued his education in the schools of Pennington and the University of Pennsylvania, being graduated from the latter institution in the year 1893, hav- ing completed the medical course. He began practice in Harlingen and in 1895 came to Woodbridge, where he has since been engaged in general practice. He is a member of tile State and County Medical societies; has for four or five years been a member of the board of health of Woodbridge; was township physician for four or five years, and is medical examiner for a number of societies and four or five insur- ance companies. In addition to this he has a large general practice, and the ability he has manifested in handling the cases entrusted to his care has won for him a po- sition of prominence among the representatives of the medical fraternity in Wood- bridge. He is a stockholder in the Carteret Electric Light Company.
In 1897 Dr. Spencer was married to Miss Anna Ensign, a daughter of Albert and Anna (Potter) Ensign, and they now have an interesting little daughter, Madelinc. Socially the Doctor is connected with several societies, belonging to the Athletic Club ; American Lodge. No. 83, F. & A. M., in which he has held the office of junior deacon; the Knights of Pythias lodge of Woodbridge, in which he is past chan- cellor; and Court Carteret, of the Order of Foresters. He was also one of the stock- holders in the Woodbridge Athletic Association. His home is a handsome residence on Upper Main street and the functions there held are an important part of the social life of the city. Widely known, the Doctor possesses those sterling traits of char- acter and sterling worth which everywhere command respect and good will.
J. WESLEY CROSS.
After a career of many changes and vast experience, our subject, J. Wesley Cross, of 'Asbury Park, New Jersey, is at last enjoying a season of well meritcd peace and quiet. Born in Baltimore county, Maryland, December 31, 1843, the son of Andrew and Amelia Cross, his education was acquired at the public schools of Balti- more. At the time of the breaking out of the Civil war he was too young to enlist in the ranks, but with all the ardor of youthful ambition he desired to take his place in defense of his country's honor; il he could not do this in one way, he determined to seek another, and to win by hard work a place for himself where he could substan- tially demonstrate his patriotism. First, in order to accomplish something for the cause in which he was greatly interested, he served for one year in the sutler de- partment; this, however, did not give him the opportunity he sought, so he made up his mind io prepare himself to become an engineer in the United States navy; with this object in view he took up a course of study, and after considerable hard work and close application he successfully passed the examination, and on September 25,
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1863, he became a duly commissioned engineer, and was ordered almost immediately to do duty on the "Zouave" at Fortress Monroe. Here he participated in General Grant's assault on Petersburg, and from this time on saw more or less of the dangers and horrors of actual and deadly warfare. Shortly after the Petersburg conflict he was transferred to the sloop-of-war Shenandoah and engaged in the assault on Fort Fisher which resulted in its final capture. Next he was ordered to Charleston, South Caro- lina, and as the captain of his vessel was senior commanding officer, it happened that Mr. Cross was vouchsafed the privilege of being the second man in the navy to enter that city after its evacuation by the enemy. He then returned to Philadelphia on waiting orders. His next berth was aboard the Paul Jones, on which gallant vessel he served for two years; this he left to take up his quarters at the Washington, D. C., navy yard, on the Talapoosa, which was then known as the President's yacht, where he remained until his discharge in 1868. He then returned to Baltimore, where he entered the commercial field, which line of business he carried on at that place for fifteen years; during the great conflagration there, which destroyed so vast a section of that city, he was unfortunate enough to lose the greater part of his prop- erty. Somewhat disheartened, he turned his face toward the great west to labor in an enirely new field, and to repair, if possible, his financial losses. He located in Portland, Oregon, where he remained until 1894, a period of five years froni the date of his arrival there (1889). Then he again journeyed east, this time taking up his residence at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, where he established himself in the hotel business; in this he has been eminently successful, owing to his genial temperament, which enables him to make his guests feel that everything is being done for their indi- vidual comfort, as indeed it is.
Politically Mr. Cross is greatly interested in the success of the Republican party. His popularity as a citizen is attested to by his having been elected to the responsible position of justice of the peace of Ocean Grove, which position he must have most acceptably filled, judging from the fact that he now occupies the same office, which has been conferred upon him by the citizens of Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Mr. Cross is affiliated with the F. & A. M. and the Knight Templars, and is also a respected member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Asbury Park. His marriage to Miss Mary A. Westwood, of Baltimore, took place on May 2, 1867. She died May 17, 1898. Their living children are: Morton W., Herbert M., Howard W., Guy E. and Mattie M. His second marriage occurred on September 27, 1900, to Miss Carrie L. Jackson, also of Baltimore.
ELDER WILLIS G. BROWN.
Coincident with the founding of the Second Adventist church of Eatontown, New Jersey, in 1853, occurred the birth of Elder Willis G. Brown, our subject, and the present efficient pastor of the church. To Mr. Edward T. Welch, Sr., of Ocean- port, is credited the church's inception. So earnest was he to propagate the truth as he understood it that he set apart a room in his own house for the gathering together of those inclined to the acceptance of the then new doctrine, which he so ably and patiently taught. For twenty years these meetings continued, for which purpose the school houses where Mr. Welch and others taught were often called into service.
It was in 1862 that Elder Wolcott instituted a school of chirography, which he conducted in the Locust Grove school house. To this he added a Bible reading class ;
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from this humble origin developed the present church, which was erected in 1870 and is situated midway between Locust Grove and Eatontown. The building, though small, affords aniple accommodation for its membership. Elder Wolcott ministered to this people for twenty-seven years and was succeeded by Elder S. W. Bishop, who served as pastor for six years, when Elder Wolcott again took charge. The present pastor, Eider Wiilis G. Brown, our subject, was called to the pastorate in 1895. The church membership, though numbering only seventy, is composed of faithful, con- secrated, earnest men and women, stanch and true to the faith of their adoption. About forty-five children on an average attend the Sunday-school each session.
Elder Brown is a native of Orrington, Maine, where he was born on November 9. 1853. He is the son of the late Captain Stillman and Mary ( Bartlett) Brown, both of whoni were natives of Maine. The title of captain was applied to Mr. Brown, the father of our subject, when he was but nineteen years of age, he having evinced such superior genius in his chosen calling that even at this early age he became the master of a vessel; from this time until he was forty-four years years old he followed the sea, upon which he made many long voyages to various foreign ports. He died in his forty-fourth year. His family consisted of nine children, only two of whom are now living.
Willis G. Brown received his early mental training in the public schools of his native town. He was early recognized as a boy of thoughtful and studious mind, and by closely applying himself to his books he opened up an intellectual capacity whose continued growth he never allows to lag, as he is ever feeding it with the best literary* products that the mind of genius has produced and is producing for the benefit of hint whose soul craves the food on which it alone can flourish. He and his books are insep- arable, and it is his well stored mind which makes Elder Brown so capable of hold- ing his hearers and impressing them with his logical arguments. At the age of twenty-two he engaged in evangelistic work, which has occupied his attention for eighteen years. The establishment of a church at Bradley, Maine, is directly attributa- bie to his untiring efforts. During his years of ministry he has traveled extensively throughout the New England states, and on every hand his labors have been abundantly blessed in the spread of the truth he so ardently advocates, and in the leading of many darkened minds out into the light of an inspiring faith. Not only by his preaching does he exert a wide-spread influence, but among his people who know and love him, his life speaks more eloquently than words a message none can fail to un- derstand.
In 1878 Elder Brown married Lois Josephine, daughter of Stephen and Rebecca Holt, of Maine. Four children have been born to them-Willis H., Anna J., Susie M. land Karle E. Elder Brown is an active member of the C. B. B. A.
ALBERT MORRIS BRADSHAW.
Nb man in Ocean county is better known than Captain A. M. Bradshaw, who has been a prime mover in the advancement and upbuilding of Lakewood. His his- tory is so closely interwoven with that of the city that to give an account of the development and improvement of Lakewood will be to chronicle the life work of the Captain, who more than any other man has controlled the growth and instituted the improvements of this place.
Prior to 1832 the territory upon which the town now stands was known as Washington Furnace and in that year named the Bergen Iron Works, taking its
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name from the industry which had been established there. A tract of land of about twenty-five thousand acres had been secured; there was a store, foundry buildings, a business and commercial system, all created and dominated by a single individual, J. W. Brick. Such was the beginning of Lakewood, but no marked progressive step was taken until July 4, 1865,` when the name was changed to Bricksburg. By special act of the legislature the Bricksburg Land & Improvement Company was in- corporated in 1866, with Robert Campbell as its president. Under the regime of this company the old industry gradually decreased in importance and died out. It was at this period, in 1866, that active work was done in laying out streets and avenues; the sound of saw and hammer was heard, indicating the progress of building inter- ests; real estate was placed upon the market and land was sold under sensible re- strictions. The healthful conditions of the locality being recognized, the people came in great numbers and rapid progress was made for a time, but much of the property was purchased for speculative purposes, and such a course is invariably followed by a period of depression in the growth of a town. In time, however, the work of progress and improvement was resumed and has since been carried steadily forward.
It was in 1879, in conjunction with Mr. Charles H. Kimball, that the progressive spirit of Captain Bradshaw was first infused into the development of the place, and since that time he has been a power for good in the town, which largely stands as a monument to his enterprise and business ability. In 1879 he induced New York capitalists to interest themselves in the place and then was formed the Lakewood Hotel and Land Association, under the direction of the following officers: C. H. Kimball, president; S. D. Davis, treasurer; and Captain A. M. Bradshaw, secretary. By these gentleman a liberal system of improvements was inaugurated and the Laurel House was opened in 1880. Ten years later the Forest Hotel Company was organized with C. H. Kimball, president; Francis S. Freeman, treasurer; and Captain Brad- shaw, secretary. In the same year the Pine Forest Land & Improvement Company was organized, and the same year the Lakewood Hotel was built.
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