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 7
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Politically Captain West is affiliated with the Republican party, and in his relig- ious views he is a Presbyterian; for some years both Captain and Mrs. West were actively interested in the Methodist Episcopal church, and it was princ pally through their personal efforts that the site was secured and the edifice erected where the congregation of the First Methodist Episcopal church worship at Seabright. Cap- tain West acted as secretary for the board of stewards, and was class leader for ten years, while Mrs. West was the efficient teacher of the infant class for the same period of time. Captain West is one of the most prominent as well as popular citi- zens of Seabright, and enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow men. He was one of the charter members of the Ocean Fire Company of Seabright, and a member of the United American Mechanics of Seabright.
Captain West in early manhood married Miss Clementine Warner, daughter of Jacob Warner, of Pleasure' Bay, New Jersey, and their four children are: Laura B., the wife of John F. Lane of Long Branch; Carroll B., who was married to Sadie D. Ferry, resides at Seabright, and is engaged in the fish business; Fanny G., wife of William S. Jeffrey of Seabright; and Hetty R., wife of Henry L. Zobel, of Seabright.
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ASHLEY B. STOUT.
Ashley B. Stout is the leading grocer of the beautiful and growing hamlet of Oakhurst. He was born at Eatontown, New Jersey. in 1850, and is descended from an old historical family. His parents were William B. and Sarah J. (Brown) Stout, the former a native of Barnagat, New Jersey, born in 1817. He was. an extensive contractor and builder and the pioneer in the work of constructing summer cottages on the New Jersey coast. Both he and his wife are still living, the latter having been born in 1834. They were the parents of four children: Solomon S., William L., Orlean E. and A. B.
Ashley B. Stout was reared in his parents' home and educated in the common schools of Eatontown. In early life he was employed as a clerk in a grocery store, entering the service of Vincent Brown, at Oakhurst, New Jersey, in 1876. There
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
he remained for four years, during which time he became thoroughly familiar with the business in every detail. During that time he also served as postmaster. In 1880 he removed to Eatontown, where he opened a grocery store, which he success- fully conducted until 1885, when he returned to Oakhurst and became the successor of his old employer, Vincent Brown, deceased. He carries a large and well selected stock of staple and tancy groceries, and his moderate prices, earnest desire to please and honorable business methods have secured to him a very liberal and con- stantly growing patronage.
In 1877 Mr. Stout was united in marriage to Miss Edna B. Buckingham, a daughter of John and Sarah Buckingham. The only child of this marriage died in infancy. Mrs. Stout is a native of New Milford, Connecticut. Her father, Mr. Buckingham, was an extensive stone cutter and his monuments all over the county attest his skill and handiwork. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stout are widely known and enjoy the warm regard of many friends. He is quite popular, was elected to the office of commissioner of deeds, and is now postmaster of Oakhurst. Socially he is connected with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
RICHARD STEPHEN LEWIS.
The gentleman whose name is above and who fills the honorable office of mayor of Jamesburg, Middlesex county, New Jersey, is of Welsh ancestry, but for more than a hundred years his progenitors have lived in London, England, where he was born December 24, 1833, a son of Stephen and Jane (Jeffrey) Lewis. Stephen Lewis, his grandfather, was born in London and spent his entire life there. He was engaged in the livery business and was a lessee of Grosvenor Mews. His children, all of whom are now dead, were named Stephen, George, Henry, Maria and Jane. Stephen Lewis, son of Stephen and Catharine Lewis, and father of Richard Stephen Lewis, was born in London about 1801 and spent his entire life there, dying about the year 1879. He was a fishmonger and poultryman. His children were John, who lives in London; Richard Stephen, the immediate subject of this sketch; Caroline, who became the wife of John Clark, and lives in London; Maria, who married Frank Dobson, a horse dealer, of London, England; Fannie, who became the wife of John Simpson. The mother of these children died in London about 1885.
Richard Stephen Lewis was educated in the national schools of London and at the age of fourteen was indentured as an apprentice to the stonecutter's trade. After becoming a proficient workman, he was employed as journeyman by Peter Cooper, Northwharf Road, Paddington. In 1859 he came to New York on the ship York- town, which consumed ten weeks and three days in making the voyage, and soon after he reached New York he obtained employment in connection with the construction of the New Jersey Southern Railroad. He made his advent in Jamesburg in 1861, and was employed in the sawmill of James Buckelew until August, 1869. After that he learned the shirt cutting business and later became foreman at the shirt factory of of Finlay, Gourlay & Finch, until the failure of that firm. Later he was fore- man of the cutting department of the shirt factory of Coblenzer & Dazian, succes- sors to the concern just mentioned, until the destruction of the factory by fire, March 27, 1901.
Mr. Lewis was married at Freehold, New Jersey, in 1862, to Elizabeth Kelley, a daughter of Thomas and Esther (Harte) Kelley, and a native of county Kildare, Ireland. Their son, Stephen T., married Annie Meagher and lives in New York City. Their son, John Henry, married Margaret Whelahan and lives in Camden,
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New Jersey. Their datighter, .Mary Jane, is the wife of Martin Kelley, of Newark, New Jersey. Their son, Richard, married Rose Nolan, and is a merchant at Jamesburg.
Mr. Lewis filled the office of township committeeman and was one of the members of the first borough commission, and was secretary of the same; he also was commissioner of appeals, member of the borough council, member of the board of education three times, and was elected mayor in 1901. He was one of the incor- porators and is an ex-trustee of St. James church. He is now in business in New York City.
BENJAMIN VANERVEER DU BOIS.
Louis Du Bois was a French Huguenot refugee who emigrated to America in 1660. The name Du Bois was used as an ancient family surname both in Artois and Normandy before William, the first king of England, left his native shore, and has remained unchanged to the present time. It is on record in Paris that the Du Bois family is one of the oldest of the noblest families of the bailiwick of Con- tention, in Normandy, and the record describes Geoffroi Du Bois as a knight under William the Conquerer, who accompanied the latter in the conquest of England in 1066. The date of the birth of Christian Du Bois is not known. His son, Louis Du Bois, was born at Wicres, near Lillie, in northern France, October 27, 1626. He fled to Holland to escape religious persecution and was married to Catherine Blanshan, October 10, 1655. There were born to them two sons, whom they named Isaac and Jacob, and after the birth of these two sons they emigrated to America and located at Helley, near Kingston, New York, whence they later removed to New Paltz, New York. Louis Du Bois had eight other children born to him after he came to America, increasing the number to ten. From some of his sons descended the Du Boises of Monmouth county, New Jersey. This is one of the oldest families in America and can boast of the production of some of the foremost men in all of the leading professions on either side of the Atlantic.
The Rev. Benjamin Du Bois, a native of Pittsgrove, Salem county, New Jersey, and a great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch in the paternal line, was born March 30, 1739, and became pastor of the Reformed church at Freehold, Monmouth county, about 1764. He was an outspoken patriot during the Revolutionary war and strongly commended the cause in his sermons. His wife was Phebe De Nice, a woman of rare intelligence, who died in 1839 at the age of ninety-six years. The Rev. Benjamin Du Bois was the son of the third Louis and the grandson of Jacob, who was an early offspring of the first Louis. The paternal grandfather of Ben- jamin Van Du Bois, of Coltsneck, Monmouth county, New Jersey, was Tunis D. Du Bois, who married Sarah Smock and had children named as follows: Henry, Benjamin, Sarah, John, Tunis V. and Livingston. Tunis D. Du Bois was a prac- tical and successful farmer and owned one hundred and seventy-five acres of land. Benjamin Du Bois, father of Benjamin Van Du Bois, was born in Marlboro town- ship, Monmouth county, May 10, 1810, and was married February 1, 1832, to Miss Helena Wikoff. He was a successful farmer and a prominent and respected citi- zen, long a director of the Smithville and Freehold turnpike and was for several years a justice of the peace.
Benjamin Vanerveer Du Bois, son of Benjamin and Helena (Wikoff) Du Bois, was born in Manalapan township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, September 9, 1847, and received his early education and training on his father's old homestead,
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B. Von. DuBois
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
and, following the example of many of his ancestors, has devoted his active years exclusively to farming, in which he has been unusually successful. His farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres is one of the best in its vicinity. He is a mem- ber of the Reformed church of Freehold, New Jersey. In 1877 he married Miss Catharine Prine, daughter of Enoch and Mary Prine, and a. native of Middlesex county, New Jersey, who was born October 1, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois have had children as follows: Mary H., born June 27, 1881; and Irene A., who was born May 18, 1885, and died January 4, 1887.
Mr. Du Bois is one of those rare men who become known to their fellows as natural physicians. He can scarcely remember a time when he was not studying or speculating upon the causes and cures of some of the diseases to which flesh is heir, and from time to time he has effected remarkable cures. Without claiming any considerable knowledge of chemistry, with no medical books to guide him, with but a limited scholastic knowledge of botany, yet with a wonderful knowledge of roots and their effects on the human system, he goes out into the forests, to the very heart of nature, as it were, and procures remedies which are in every way effective and which are commended by their simplicity and their absolute safety. He has made a special study of indigestion, a disease to which all mankind is sub- ject, but which is especially prevalent in America, and after much careful research and many conscientious trials has succeeded in compounding from simple products of the woods a remedy which, administered to people suffering from indigestion, produces effects no less wonderful than gratifying. Mr. Du Bois has scores of testimonials to the benefits which have been conferred upon suffering humanity by his discovery and contemplates the erection of a small laboratory on his farm, with a view to supplying a demand for his remedy, which is constantly growing, as its merits are told by one sufferer to another.
ROBERT J. WYLIE.
Among New Jersey's native sons who have attaincd to a creditable position in the business world and have at all times meritcd the confidence and respect of their fellow men by reason of their loyal adherence to commercial ethics, is Robert J. Wylie, of Woodbridge, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business. Moreover he is serving as notary public, and for a quarter of a century he has filled the office of commissioner of deeds-his long service standing in unmistaka- ble evidence of his fidelity to the trust reposed in him.
Mr. Wylie was born in Paterson, this state, June 6, 1838, a son of John and Elizabeth (Jolinson) Wylie. The parents removed with their family to New York City when he was a small boy, so that he was reared amid metropolitan influences, continuing his residence in New York until the outbreak of the Civil war. Hardly had the roar from Fort Sumter's guns ccased to reverberate and the smoke cleared away when he offered his services to the government, enlisting on the 19th of April, 1861, in an independent battery company of the Eighth New York Regiment. He was then on active duty at the front until 1863, when his company, with others, was detailed on special duty in New York. Later, however, he again went to the field and took part in the battles of Fairfax, Vienna, Blacksford, Centerville, Big Bethel and others. Receiving an honorable discharge he returned to his home with a most creditable military record as a loyal defender of his country in the hour of her peril.
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
After the close of hostilities Mr. Wylie came to Woodbridge, having previously married Miss Elizabeth Dally, of this place. Here he embarked in general merchan- dising and also engaged in the clay business; his wife owned some land, on which there were clay beds, and these he worked until 1876. Since that time much of his attention has been given to his official duties, for he is now serving his fifth term of five years each as commissioner of deeds. He is also a notary public and is engaged in the real estate and insurance business, in which he is meeting with good success, having conducted some important realty transactions. Formerly a Democrat, he is now a Republican in his political views, warmly espousing the principles of the party, but always refusing other offices aside from those mentioned. At one time, while living in New York City he was superintendent of street cleaning for the borough and was succeeded by Mr. Waring, who still holds the office.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wylie have been born five children: Samuel F., who is superintendent of the Fisher Brick Works, at Sayerville; Charles, a pharmacist, of New York City: Mary E., Sarah and Esther, all at home. The hospitality of the Wylie residence in Woodbridge has many admirers, and the friends of the family delight to share in the good cheer of the home. Socially Mr. Wylie is identified with William C. Berry Post, G. A. R., of Woodbridge, and was one of the founders and is an exemplary member of American Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he served as master from 1870 until 1873. His public-spirited interest in the welfare of the city is manifest in the hearty co-operation which he gives to many movements for the general good and to all his duties of citizenship he is as loyal as when in coat of blue he followed the nation's starry banner over southern battlefields.
WILLIAM THOMAS VAN DYKE.
William T. Van Dyke, a descendant of an old Dutch family, was born at Long Branch, Monmouth county, New Jersey, August 26, 1839, a son of Vincent W. and Hannah (Wells) Van Dyke.
Vincent W. Van Dyke pursued the occupations of farmer and fisherman through- out his life. He was an old-line Whig in politics. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and meetings for the praise and worship of God were held at his residence. He married Hannah Wells, and the following children were born of the union: Michael, Saul, Henry, Isaac, William T., and Hannah, wife of William H. Denise. Mr. Van Dyke met with a very sudden death; while attempting to cross the railroad tracks at Long Branch one Sunday morning he was instantly killed by a passing train. His widow passed out of life two years later in the same city.
William T. Van Dyke, son of the parents before named, was educated in the pub- lic schools of Long Branch. Subsequently he assisted his father in the occupation of fishing. Later on he engaged in the fishing business on his own account, and he now conducts a very large wholesale and retail trade, packing and shipping salt water fish to such leading points as New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, which, together with an extensive local trade, constitutes his successful business. By per- sistent application to his business, and by his irreproachable conduct in all his trans- actions, he has won for himself the confidence and esteem of all his customers, not only in the town in which he resides but through all the channels of his trade.
Mr. Van Dyke is a firm and stanch Democrat, but has never aspired to public position. He is a true Christian gentleman and follows the teachings he received
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
in his father's home; he is associated with the Methodist Episcopal church of Long Branch.
Mr. Van Dyke was married to Henrietta Ireland, daughter of John Ireland, of Long Branch. To them have been born eight children: George, bookkeeper for his father; Edwin F., hotel keeper, Long Branch; William E .; Charles A .; Vin- cent W., also associated with his father in business; Flavel Quinn; Mary C., wife of Lester Houk, of Long Branch; and Hannah L., wife of Edward Bunnell, of Long Branch.
AARON MORRIS.
Aaron Morris is engaged in the produce commission business in New York City and also owns a beautiful home in Holmdel, consisting of about thirty-five acres of land, all under a fine state of cultivation and devoted to the raising of fruit and gar- den vegetables. He was born in Middletown township, on the 6th of May, 1843, a son of George and Frances (Camp) Morris. The father was also a native of Mon- mouth county and was descended from some of the oldest settlers of the state, and many members of the family have become prominent in the affairs of the state and nation. He was a prominent and successful farmer by occupation. The mother of our' subject was a native of Sacket's Harbor, New York. Unto this worthy couple were born eleven children, five sons and six daughters, nine of whom are still living.
Aaron Morris, the subject of this review, enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the public schools of the community, and from early youth until his twenty-fifth year was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He then embarked in the produce commission trade in New York City, in which he has since continued, and at the same time he has also continued his farming interests. On the 3Ist of De- cember, 1865, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Van Brakle, who was born in 1846, a daughter of Mathias and Amelia (Carhart) Van Brakle, Monmouth county, New Jersey, both descended from Holland Dutch families, who came to America carly in the seventeenth century. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morris have been born four children, as follows: Frances Amelia, born December 18, 1866, is the wife of Dr. William H. Van Gieson, of Bloomfield, New Jersey; Minnie, born October 2, 1869, died July 22, 1873; William A., born December 13, 1878, attended Hoboken Seminary and the New York Dental College, and is now engaged in the practice of his profes- sion in Brooklyn, New York ; and Eleanor May, born January 25, 1886, is still with her parents. Mr. Morris is identified with the Republican party, but takes no active interest in political affairs, although he keeps hmself well informed on state and national questions. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Keyport.
ASBURY F. NIVISON.
Asbury F. Nivison, a leading merchant and justice of the peace of Morganville, was born in Marlborough township, Monmouth county, on the 9th of May, 1842, a son of Adam P. and Mary (Croven) Nivison. The father, also a native of Marlborough township, was a carpenter and builder by occupation, and was highly respected in the community in which he resided. The grandfather of our subject, Captain David O. Nivison, was a brave and gallant soldier and officer in the war of 1812, while the
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
father and two brothers, Harris and David, were soldiers of the Union cause during the Civil war. The family are of English descent, and in an early day they were prominent supporters of the Whig party, later allying their interests with the Re- publican party. They have ever been great readers, have kept themselves weil informed on the affairs of the day and have been prominent and representative citi- zens of their localities.
Asbury F. Nivison, the immediate subject of this review, was reared to the carpenter's trade, which he has followed for many years, and in addition thereto he has also entered the mercantile field. In the ranks of the Republican party be takes an active and commendable interest, and for the past ninc years he has held the office of justice of the peace. The cause of Christianity also finds in him an active worker, and for many years he has served as a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a thorough student, a deep thinker and reasoner, and in all his relations with his fellow men he has been found true to duty and the right.
On the 8th of September, 1867, Mr. Nivison was united in marriage with Mary C. Lamberson, who was born August 20, 1849, a daughter of John and Mary (Combs) Lamberson, both natives of Marlborough township and descendants of some of the earliest settlers of the locality. Two brothers of Mrs. Nivison were soldiers in the Civil war, Lewis and John Croven, and the latter lost his life by a sun stroke at the battle of Gettysburg. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nivison has been blessed with two children-Walter F. and Nellie May. The daughter was born on the 20th of February, 1887. Walter F., who was born on the 7th of August, 1868, was educated in the common schools of his locality and in the public school at Freehold, later entering Glenwood Institute, at Matawan. In early life he was engaged in business with his father, but for the past fifteen years he has followed the profession of teaching, nine years of that time having been spent in the school at Morganville. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, being an active worker in its ranks, and for several years he has served as township assessor. On the 24th of December, 1890, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Frazer, who was born April 6, 1870, a daughter of George M. and Virginia (Conover) Frazer. Three children have been born unto this union-Harry F., Edna V. and Hazee M.
Mr. Nivison, of this review, has ever been an active worker for the cause of ed- ucation, doing all in his power to promote its growth and development, and for several years he has been a member of the board of education. He is a good busi- ness man and has gained for himself a handsome competence, which places him among the substantial residents of the community.
WILLIAM VAN MATER.
It will be hard to find a more interesting genealogical and biographical sketch than that which follows, representing primarily William Van Mater, a prominent farmer of Raritan township, near Keyport, Monmouth county, New Jersey, and more remotely the old New Jersey families of Van Mater and Taylor.
William Van Mater was born on the farm on which he now lives February 17, 1840, a son of Gilbert and Sarah (Taylor) Van Mater. His father was born in Holmdel township, July 10, 1802, and died on his farm there September 6, 1881. His mother was born in Middletown, October, 1807, and died on the Van Mater farm in Raritan township, August 17, 1896. Gilbert Van Mater descended from those Van Maters who came from Holland, soon after the year sixteen hundred,
William Man Mater
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
whose representatives in later generations have been well known in national and state affairs, and prominent as founders. of churches and schools. He was a son of William and Mary (Hendrickson) Van Mater, of Atlantic township, Monmouth county, and was a successful farmer and business man, prominent as a Baptist and as a Republican. One of his ancestors risked his life as a spy attached to Wash- ington's army during the Revolutionary war. The family originally owned a large tract of land in Monmouth county and many of its representatives were men of influence and many of them are buried in the old cemetery on the farm of William Jones, in Holmdel township.
Mr. Van Mater has a complete account of his mother's ancestors, from which the following interesting statement has been compiled : Joseph Taylor, Esq., Mrs. Van Mater's grandfather, was seventh in descent from that Edward Taylor who emigrated from London, England, and settled at Garrett Hill, in Middletown, in 1692. That Ed- ward Taylor was descended in direct line from the Norman Baron Taillefer, who accompanied William the Conqueror and assisted him in the invasion and conquest of England in 1066 and acquired large landed estates in Kent, where the family originally lived in England. The spelling of the name was gradually changed. In- the time of Henry III, about the year 1250, we find Hanger Taylefer, and about one hundred years later, in the time of Edward III, John Taylor living on the same land in Kent, and from the latter the succession is perfectly traced through. William, John, William, John, John, John, Mathew and John to Edward, the emigrant. About the time of Richard III, John Taylor married the heiress and acquired the estates and arms of the De Fairsteds, and about the year 1600 Mathew Taylor by marriage with the heiress of Richard Freeland acquired the estates and arms of that family. Mathew Taylor, grandson of the Mathew Taylor just mentioned, came to America with the intention of speculating in lands in New Jersey under the patronage of Sir George Carteret, one of the proprietors of East Jersey, with whom he was distantly connected by marriage. He died in New York in 1687 with- out issue and bequeathed his lands to his brother, Edward Taylor, then living in London; the latter purchased an additional tract of one thousand acres at Garrett Hill and in 1692 came over and settled on it. He died in 1710, leaving the follow- ing children: George (the ancestor of the subject of this sketch), William, Edward and Hannah. George Taylor inherited the old home at Garrett Hill. He had three sons, George, Edward and John. His son Edward was the great grandfather of William Van Mater's mother, and the next in succession was John, who married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Holmes, who bore him eight children. Their oldest son, Joseph, who was Mr. Van Mater's grandfather, married Martha Dorrsett. They had thirteen children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. One of them was Sarah, mother of Mr. Van Mater. For many years Joseph Taylor lived at the foot of Rutmar's Hill, where he died in 1836 and where his wife died in 1856. From the original ancestor, Edward, descended many men of national dis- tinction, among them Bayard Taylor, the celebrated author and traveler.
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