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 8
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William Van Mater was educated in the common schools and early acquired a practical knowledge of farming. He succeeded admirably in his chosen calling, especially as a producer of fruits and garden vegetables. He was married Decem- ber 13, 1876, to Margaret A. Wallace, who was born in Raritan township, July 6, 185I, a daughter of William and Mary E. (Cottrell) Wallace, both members of old families of prominence. Her father was a tinsmith'and plumber. Mr. and Mrs. Van Mater have one son, Gilbert Van. Mater, born February 18, 1881, who, after having been duly graduated from the school at Keyport, took the commercial course at Coleman's National Business College, Newark, New : Jersey. The family are
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
attendants of the Baptist church at Keyport. Mr. Van Mater is a Republican and for twenty years has held the office of school trustee, and has demonstrated in other ways that he is a man of much public spirit, who may be safely depended upon to aid, to the extent of his ability, all measures which in his good judgment promise to benefit his fellow citizens.
JAMES McCOLGAN.
Among the flourishing lines of industry in Monmouth county, New Jersey, the nursery business occupies a prominent and leading position, and engages the attention of a number of intelligent and progressive citizens. The Bay View nur- sery, which is located near Atlantic Highlands was established in 1893 by Mr. James McColgan, who is the subject of this biography. The birth of Mr. McColgan was at Hightstown, New Jersey, in 1859, and he is a son of John and Isabella (Donnell) McColgan. He was reared and acquired his education in liis native place. For a number of years he was connected with the Elizabeth Nursery Company, as his choice of employment was connected with horticultural pursuits. He is still secretary of this company and holds valuable stock in it; but when he saw a favorable oppor- tunity for establishing a business of his own, he located a nursery at Atiantic High- lands. The beautiful farm consists of one hundred acres, and all of it is devoted exclusively to a general but choice line of nursery stock. This property was formerly owned by William V. Conover, of Red Bank.
Mr. McColgan was married April 13, 1886, to Miss Emma, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Pope, residents of Little Silver, although Mrs. McColgan was not born there. To this union three children have been born, namely: Milton L., Olive and Bertram, the latter now deceased. The religious connection of the family is with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which our subject is steward, while socially he is connected with the Foresters.
Mr. McColgan is a practical horticulturist and has spent much time and means in the construction of his large nursery and in the building up of a business which now covers a large extent of country, the excellence and sturdiness of his stock bringing him orders wherever a first sale is made. His judgment is so good that no spurious is ever introduced, and by experiment he continually is developing new and superior qualities in the old standards. His integrity as a man of business is well known and he is one of the representative citizens of the county.
JAMES M. VAN BRAKLE.
Mathias Van Brakle, a Hollander, came to America in 1709 and bought about one thousand acres of land from a man named Bowne, who had purchased it of Indians. This tract has since been divided into several farms and two hundred acres of it have been owned in the Van Brakle family to the present time. A de- scendant of Mathias Van Brakle, a pioneer, was another Mathias Van Brakle, grand- father of James M. Van Brakle, of Holmdel township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, who was born on the farm now the property of his grandson. The second Mathias Van Brakle married Eleanor Vanderbilt, also of Dutch ancestry and of the same family as the Vanderbilts of Staten Island and of New York City. Eleanor (Vanderbilt) Van Brakle bore her husband two sons and eight daughters.
James de You Brakle.
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One of her sons was Stephen M. Van Brakle, who married Johanna Bedle, a cousin of the father of the late Governor Bedle. Stephen M. and Johanna (Bedle) Van Brakle, who are the parents of the subject of this sketch, were zealous and active members of the Baptist church and aided very materially in building the first house of worship of that denomination at Jacksonville.
The four sons and three daughters of Stephen M. and Johanna (Bedle) Van Brakle were all living in 1901. Their son, James M. Van Brakle, was born De- cember 20, 1833, on the farm on which he now lives. He was educated in the common schools and was early initiated into the mysteries of successful farming, to which he has devoted himself profitably during all his active years. Partly by purchase and partly by inheritance he acquired title to his present farm, which until he did so had never been sold since it had been purchased by his remote ancestor in 1709, but had been passed down from father to eldest son through many suc- cessive generations. He was married December 20, 1855, to Pamela E. Brown, who was born August 27, 1832, a daughter of William and Pamela (Lefferts) Brown, natives of Monmouth county. Mrs. Van Brakle's ancestors in the paternal line were of English extraction and in the maternal line they were Dutch. She has borne her husband five children. Their son James W. married Emeline Sickles ; they have children as follows: Fanny, Leon (deceased), Percy, Claude and Lila. Their daughter Emma married Theodore Thorn, a farmer; their children are Lida, Van B., Garrett P., Anna E., Lena K., Ella S., Carrie M. and James M. Their son William B., who is a farmer, married Ada Simmons; their children are James M. and Sarah S. Their son Stephen M., who is a commission merchant in New York, married Mary Chevalier. Their son Leffertt B., a farmer, married Lillian Hankins, of Monmouth county.
Mr. Van Brakle is a man of influence in his vicinity and his word is considered as good as his bond. He and all the members of his family are identified with the Baptist church, and in politics he is a Republican. His great-grandfather, Van Brakle, served the Colonies as a soldier during the entire period of the Revolutionary war and all of his ancestors of that time were loyal to the American cause.
DANIEL VAIL.
Daniel Vail, a prominent manufacturer of fish oil at Port Monmouth, was born at. Riverhead, Long Island, where he was also reared. He received an excellent education in the high school of his native place, but he has added greatly to his knowledge received therein by constant reading, study and observation. From his infancy he showed a decided tendency toward mechanics, and may truly be termed a natural born mechanic, being perfectly at home in the working of both wood and iron. Samples of his work were placed on exhibition at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. In 1880 he entered into partnership relations with Abner Osborn, of New York, in the manufacture of fish oil, but by mutual consent this relationship was dissolved two years later, Mr. Vail selling his interest to his part- ner for fifteen thousand dollars; and in that year, 1882, he removed from his native island to Port Monmouth, where he began the manufacture of oil on a large scale. At the end of three years, however, on account of the depression in business and other causes, he was obliged to discontinue the business, after which the plant was oper- ated under the name of the Monmouth Oil and Guano Company. Subsequently the fishermen of the coast took charge of its operation for one year, which relieved Mr.
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Vail of all obligation on his part toward those gentlemen. In 1888 Mr. Jonathan Nowell took charge of the plant in Mr. Vail's interest, and Mr. Vail then removed to his former home on Long Island, where his mechanical skill again brought him into prominence until 1898, in which year he eame a second time to Port Monmouth. He is now operating the old plant in the interest of his son, Vernon S., under the firm name of Daniel Vail's Son.
The marriage of our subjeet occurred in 1867, Miss Ada E. Smith becoming his wife. She is a native of Long Island. Two children have been born unto this union -- Hannah C., now Mrs. Howell, of South Hampton, and she has one son, Eric, aged eleven years ; and Vernon S., who was for nine years connected with the Hanover National Bank of New York City and is now devoting his time to his oil manu- facturing business at Port Monmouth. Throughout his entire life Mr. Vail has been a student, keeps himself well informed on the issues and questions of the day, and at all times gives his aid and co-operation to all movements which are intended for the public good.
JOHN H. VAN NEST.
Among the prominent dairymen of that section of New Jersey in which Eaton- town is situated, the name of John H. Van Nest is conspicuous. He leases and works a farm of seventy-five acres located about one mile front Eatontown, where he pro- duees the highest grade of dairy artieles. His stoek he seleets for their milk- producing qualities. The trade demand upon him is so great, that besides the yield from his own stock he controls the output of milk from three other farms, which average daily two hundred and fifty quarts.
John H. is the son of Asher and Eleanor ( Hunt) Van Nest, having been born to them at Freehold, Monmouth county, New Jersey, on March 13, 1858. His father died in July, 1866. He was reared and educated at Coltsneck and has been a fol- lower of agricultural pursuits all his life. In 1836 he engaged in this, his chosen occupation, on his own responsibility, and has since been eminently successful. He located on. his present farm in 1895. where his business has greatly increased. He possesses an enviable character among his friends and neighbors, who respeet him for his straigiitforward and upright dealings, and who look up to him as a man of sound and conservative judgment.
His marriage to Mary, daughter of Peter W. and Jane Applegate, of Cranbury Station, was solemnized on November 14, 1883. They have had two children, George H. and Mary L., born, respectively, April 24, 1887, and May 7, 1896.
The Applegates, of which family Mrs. Van Nest is a descendant. were early settlers of New Jersey, locating in the section now known as Cranbury Station. They are an eminently worthy and respectable family, well thought of and looked up to in the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Van Nest are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a highly esteemed member of Jr. O. U. A. M.
EMIL WILHELM.
Emil Wilhelm is a well known representative of the industrial interests of Carteret, where he is occupying the responsible position of foreman for the Knapp- mann Whiling Company. He is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
Stakstat, on the 12th of October, 1865. There be acquired his education and spent the days of his childhood, learning the florist's trade, after putting aside his text- books. When eighteen years of age he resolved to try his fortune in America, having received very favorable reports of the advantages and opportunities here ex- tended to men of determination. Accordingly, in IS83. he sailed for the new world and began the task of earning a living in the land where ambition and earnest effort are not hampered by caste or class. He was first engaged in painting barns in Wood- haven, Long Island, and subsequently he secured employment in a tin factory at Hunters Point, Long Island, owned by the Standard Oil Company. Then he was engaged for six years on the construction of docks, and on the expiration of that period he entered the works of the Knappmann Whiling Company, at Carteret, New Jersey, where he gained promotion through ability and diligence and now occu- pies the responsible position of foreman. He has . the entire confidence of the com- pany and the respect of those who serve under him.
On the 2d of May, 1885, Mr. Wilhelm was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Haffner, and unto them have been born six children: Josie, Michael, Frank, Eva, John and Anna. He and his family are communicants of St. Joseph's Catholic church, at Carteret, and in his political views he is independent. He has never aspired to office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business cares. The success he has achieved is entirely due to his own efforts and he may justly be called a self-made mail.
JOHN EVANS.
In the death of John Evans, December 8, 1873, Milltown and Middlesex county lost one of the prominent and highly respected citizens. As the day with its morn- ing of hope and promise, its noontide of activity, its evening of completed and suc- cessful efforts, so was the life of this honored man. His career was a busy and use- ful one, but although he was earnest and active in business he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature.
Mr. Evans was born in Wales, March 15, 1825, and when a young lad came with his parents to America, the family settling at Belleville, New Jersey, where he remained until nineteen years of age. About 1844 the family came to Milltown, and when the present rubber manufactory was established he became an employe in the concern which was then conducted under the name of the Meyer Rubber Com- pany. It is now the Milltown India Rubber Company and Mr. Evans' son is now its president. The father became superintendent of the establishment and retained that position up to the time of his death. His close attention to all the details of manufacture, of which he had an extensive and accurate knowledge, contributed much to the success of the enterprise. For twenty years he acted as superintendent and during that period he gave to the rubber industries of this country inventions and much improved machinery, which have been universally adpoted for their orna- mental and labor-saving values.
In 1852 Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Mary Augusta Vanderbilt. daughter of Cornelius and Rosanna Elizabeth (Tunison) Vanderbilt, of Milltown, New Jersey, a most estimable lady who shared with him in all his church work and thereby materially advanced its influence. Their living children are Rosa L. (Mrs. H. Brewster Willis), John C., Sadie E. (widow of Clarkson P. Stelle, deceased), Alfred D., Margaretta M. and May V. A friend, in writing of Mr. Evans' church work, said : "He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Brunswick, in 1845, and soon afterward he became a member of a class, which was formed in
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
this community, and the class remained in connection with the Liberty street church until a church was organized in this place in 1851. At the organization of the church here he was chosen a member of the board of trustees, and upon the establishment of the church was chosen a steward, which office he filled with honor and fidelity. When the interests of the church in this place called imperatively for a new building to meet the enlarged wants of the society, he was an active promoter and laborer for that purpose. When the new church was in course of building, he was stricken with disease and was unable to further attend to the completion of the church edifice, but his ideas and wishes were remembered and the church was completed as he would have wished. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father; and looked well after the interests of his family; a faithful member of the church of Christ and an honorable and respected citizen."
In writing of the death of Mr. Evans, the Milltown Herald said: "He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, and acts the best, for the life of such a man speaketh though he be dead. The two great conflicting interests in the world are sin and wickedness, truth and holiness, and every life is an influence siding directly or indirectly, with one or the other of these interests. Neutrality in view of the conflict is impossible. It is therefore not only proper but helpful to succeeding gen- erations to keep fresh in the public mind the names of those persons, who by con- sistent, progressive and successful living, have left a permanent impress upon the community in which they lived for truth and holiness. The life of Mr. Evans stood out prominently for God, home and industrial prosperity. Notwithstanding his life was only a little more than two score years, yet his devotion to God and His cause, his consistent life, his wise council, his superior business capacity, and his great in- ventive genius enabled him to accomplish more for the betterment of the world during this brief career than many who have been allotted three score years and ten. He maintained an attractive and most hospitable home, where his many friends were always welcome, particularly the clergy. He was an earnest advocate of education and fully abreast with the spirit of the times. He was an earnest, God-fearing, capable man, who desired to do good in liis brief day and generation. The home, the church and the industry he left in our midst are silent witnesses, testifying day by day to a successful life in behalf of truth, holiness and industrial development .. May the reading of such a life be an incentive to good works.
"Our lives are albums written through With good or ill, with false or true ; And as the blessed angels turn The pages of our years, God grant they read the good with smiles And blot the ill with tears." 1
VICTOR DEAN KENNEY.
The name Kenney has been perpetuated in that locality of Hunterdon county, in the state of New Jersey, known as Kenney's Mills. There Victor Dean Kenney, of Holmdel, Monmouth county, New Jersey, was born April 13, 1863, and is a son. of Andrew P. and Elizabeth B. (Dean) Kenney, the former a native of Hunter- don county and the latter of Warren county, New Jersey. Michael Kenney, the great-great-grandfather of Victor Dean Kenney, came from Holland about the year
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1700 with his two brothers and settled in the northwestern part of New Jersey, where he bought several thousand acres of land and engaged extensively in farming, milling, distilling and lumbering. This property in time descended to his sons, one of whom was Andrew Kenney, the great-grandfather of Victor Dean Kenney, who devoted himself to the pursuits of his father during his active years. Andrew's son, Peter, was also active and successful as a business man. He had several sons and daughters, and Andrew, one of his sons, was the father of the immediate sub- ject of this sketch. The three Kenney brothers were all men of prominence in their time, and it is on record that they were foremost among the organizers of the Dutch Reformed church of Reddington, Hunterdon county, and they were among the moving spirits in the same county.
Andrew Kenney was the fourth in line of descent of the Kenneys who owned the old Kenney homestead. He was born November 24, 1827, and died April 10, 1901. He was a zealous supporter of the church of his forefathers and served for many years in the office of elder. In politics he was an old-school Democrat, and his activity in public affairs was such that he held many important local offices.
His son, Victor Dean Kenney, was educated in the village school near his father's home, and completed his studies by a course in the Kanauss Business Col- lege, of Easton, Pennsylvania. After being associated for a short time with his father in business he went to Holmdel, where he was engaged in mercantile pur- suits for five years. For three years he was employed in a responsible position in a wholesale dry goods house of New York City, and for seven years thereafter was with the great retail dry goods house of Lord & Taylor of that city.
On the 20th of June, 1895, Mr. Kenney married Miss Lydia Anna Longstreet, who was born at Holmdel, May 3, 1855, a daughter of Joseph Holmes Longstreet, who was born August II, 1816, and died May 18, 1856. His wife, Hulda Holmes Longstreet, was born February 23, 1815, and died September 28, 1889. Mr. Long- street was a successful farmer and in his early manhood bought the four-hundred- acre farm at Holmdel known as the Academy farm. He was a brother of Aaron and Mary A. Longstreet, who are represented in a biographical sketch in this work. Mrs. Kenney's mother was a daughter of ex-Sheriff Daniel Holmes, who is also represented on another page of this work. She and her sister, Mrs. J. S. Holmes, inherited their father's old homestead, comprising one of the finest farms and one of the best houses in the county. Mr. Kenney's mother was of English ancestry and representatives of her family settled early in New Jersey. She was born July 28, 1832, and died March 8, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Victor D. Kenney are active members of the Baptist church. Mr. Kenney is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker, or, in the ordinary sense of the term, a political worker.
JOSEPH W. SAVAGE.
Joseph W. Savage, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Carteret, is numbered among New Jersey's native sons, his birth having occurred in Jersey City, on the 30th of June, 1851. He is the son of the Hon. George W. Savage, a distinguished statesman, who was born at West Point, New York, and dur- ing the administration of President Cleveland served first as consul to Belfast, Ire- sand, and afterward to Dundee, Scotland, his death occurring in the latter place. His understanding of the relations of the countries to each other, of the duties at- tached to the consulate and his diplomacy in handling foreign affairs made him
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
a most able representative of this nation in foreign courts. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary F. Shaffer, was born in Savannah, Georgia, was married in 1848, and in 1855 was called to her final rest.
In the public schools Joseph W. Savage pursued his education and after putting aside his text-books turned his attention to the insurance business, establishing an agency in New York City. In 1886 he came to Carteret, where he is now engaged in real estate dealing, having conducted many important real estate transfers while on the value of property in this locality no man is better informed. He is also representing a number of fire, life and accident insurance companies, and writes con- siderable business in that line each year, thus materially increasing his income. He is also agent for the Canada Manufacturing Company of Canada, New Jersey, and carefully conducts each branch of his business, so as to make it produce the best results.
In 1870 occurred the marriage of Mr. Savage and Miss Adelia Cooper, a daugh- ter of William Cooper, of Covington, Kentucky, and their children are Sue, Anna Josephine and Eugenia L .. Socially Mr. Savage is identified with the Royal Arcanum and is a member of American Lodge of Masons, of Woodbridge; in his political views he is a Democrat. He has been school trustee of Woodbridge township, Middle- sex county, and as a citizen is progressive and deeply interested in everything per- taining to. the welfare of his adopted city.
LUTHER GREEN.
Luther Green, now a veteran of the Civil war, was born on a farm in upper Freehold, Monmouth county, New Jersey, March 8, 1840, the son of Hugh Green. His father, born in 1795, and pursuing an agricultural life in the township of Free- hold, became an invalid when Luther Green was about two years of age and for ten years the property was gradually consumed to defray the family expenses; it then became necessary to make some provision to take care of the family of children. Luther, at an early age, was adopted by Joseph C. Conover and at twelve years of age was apprenticed to learn the milling trade. For sixteen years he worked in the old Marlborough grist mill for Mr. Conover. In those days Luther Green, as a lad and later a young man, was a familiar figure to the citizens of the surrounding country, either helping to unload their "grists" or sitting upon a mill stone with chisel and mallet at his work.
Overpowered by the war spirit in 1861, young Green left his employer and en- listed at New York in the Fourteenth Maryland Regiment. It was discharged in three months and he then enlisted in the First Maine Artillery. An effort was then made to transfer these men against their will to other regiments in the army service. The attempt failed and the men were discharged. Mr. Green returned to Marlborough and resumed his former position in the old Marlborough mill.
On November 12, 1865, Mr. Green was married to Amy C. Crawford, of Free- hold. They have had children as follows: Eva died in infancy ; Ellanora, who married George W. Reynolds; Edgar, deceased; Eva, who married Stephen Garrettson ; Addie, who married B. Pierce; John L .; Laura, who married William Storey; Amy G., who married Elmer Dey ; Francis F., and Kate L. Mrs. Green's father. James C. Crawford, was a veteran of the Civil war. Mrs. Green is a member of the Dutch Reformed church of Freehold. Mr. Green has been a member of the Knights of Golden Eagle for many years, having passed the chairs and been a noble chief of the lodge, and a
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