USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Passaic > The Passaic valley, New Jersey, in three centuries.. Vol. 2 > Part 35
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They had eleven children: Emma, wife of Alexander Kohler, of Newark, by whom she has two children; Charles, who married Emma Hass, has six children, and resides in Newark; Rosalie, who married Frederick Schmachtenburg, of Newark, and has four sons; Ida, who died at the age of eighteen years; Ernest C .; Amelia, wife of Jacob Kocher, of Newark, and the mother of two daughters; Edward; Peter Daniel, Jr., who married Hattie Matthews and has four children; Matilda, who died at the age of fourteen; Charlotte Wilhelmina, wife of William J. Layden, by whom she has three children; and Bertha, who died in infancy.
Ernest C. Evertz was educated in the public schools of Newark and East Orange. Since the age of fifteen years he has depended upon his own efforts for a livelihood, so what- ever success he has achieved is due entirely to his labors, his capable management, and his resolute purpose. He served a three years' apprenticeship to the florist's trade under Richard Purdue, and then began business on his own account, erecting commodious greenhouses on the Evertz homestead in East Orange. In this enterprise he met with success, and in addition to his labors in that direction he managed the family estate until 1887, when the homestead was sold to the East Orange Water Company. Mr. Evertz then leased the property from the water company, and in addition to the nursery business is successfully engaged in the dairy business. He has good patronage in both lines.
He is a Republican in politics and a member of Radiant Star Lodge, No. 190, I. O. O. F., of the Lutheran Church of Newark, of America Lodge, No. 143, Knights of Pythias, and of Newark City Conclave of Heptasophs, No. 247.
Mr. Evertz was married, April 15, 1885, in Newark, to Miss Mary M. Weimer, born October 15, 1861, daughter of George and Matilda (Weigman) Weimer. They have four children : Meta M., born June 28, 1886; Irving E., November 25, 1889; Hazel May, May 3, 1893; and Ethel Mildred, No- vember 12, 1896.
CHARLES GREENE ROCKWOOD, one of the most dis- tinguished financiers of Essex County, is descended from
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an ancestry long and prominently connected with the re- public. The family had its origin in England, and sixteen years after the landing of the pilgrims of the " Mayflower " at Plymouth Rock the first of the name in America braved the dangers incident to an ocean voyage at that day and founded a home in that district of our land to which was given the name of the mother country. All through the colonial epoch the representa- tives of the name were prominent in shaping those events which con- stitute the distinctive annals of the nation. and on many of the higher planes of life they attained marked prestige. Dr. Ebenezer Rockwood, grandfather of Charles G., was a Harvard graduate of 1773 and a surgeon in the Continental Army in the War of the Revo- Intion. At the close of CHARLES G. ROCKWOOD. his service he located in Wilton, N. II., where he not only attained eminence in his profession, but became influential in civil and religious affairs. At the ripe age of eighty-four years he died, mourned by the entire community. His second son, Ebenezer, Jr., the father of Charles G., also acquired his literary education at Harvard, and subsequently studied law in Boston, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. He was a man of strong mentality and schol- arly attainments, and possessed not only an accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurispru- dence, but also had superior gifts of oratory. It seemed that a most brilliant career at the bar awaited him, but death ended the professional life that was opening with
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such rich promise. He died when only thirty-four years of age, leaving a widow and four children. His wife, Eliza- beth Breese Hazard, was a daughter of Ebenezer Hazard, who was connected with the Postoffice Department under Washington as first Postmaster of New York, then as Sur- veyor of post roads and offices throughout the country, while from 1782 to 1789 he was Postmaster-General, being the third incumbent in that office. He was a man of rare mental powers, highly cultured, and a noted linguist, har- ing mastered several of the ancient languages. He was the author of several voluminous historical works and con- tributed many able and scholarly articles on historical sub- jects to journals and societies of that day. At the same time he won distinction as a financier and was the original Director, the first Secretary, and the untiring business manager of the Insurance Company of North America, in Philadelphia.
Charles G. Rockwood was born in Boston, Mass., July 19, 1814. He was yet an infant at the time of his father's death, and soon afterward his mother brought him and three other children to the home of her father in Philadelphia, Pa. A few years later she became the wife of Rev. Thomas E. Ver- milye, D.D., LL.D., subsequently an eminent divine, who for more than half a century occupied with colleagues the pulpit of the Collegiate Dutch Reformed Church in New York City. This excellent man devoted himself at once to the welfare of the children thus providentially placed in his care, and to his instruction, as well as to that of a highly cultured mother, Mr. Rockwood is indebted for his early training, which was so thorough and complete that it proved an excellent foundation upon which to rest the superstruc- ture of more advanced knowedge. After a suitable prepa- ration at home he entered au excellent academy conducted by E. W. Morse, of New York, and therein completed a course of studies sufficiently advanced to fit him for any sphere of life. His tastes, however, seemed to incline to a commercial instead of a professional career, and, being allowed to follow the bent of his own nature, he entered a large commission house in New York, where he remained from the age of fifteen until he attained his majority.
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Mr. Rockwood entered upon a conspicuous and success- ful career as a banker in 1846, accepting the position of Cashier of the Orange Bank at Orange, N. J. He remained with that institution until 1849, when he became Cashier of the Stamford Bank at Stamford, Conn. For three years he acceptably served in that capacity, and from 1852 to 1857 was at the head of the private banking house of Rock- wood, Hazards & Co., of Mauch Chunk, Pa., in which place a chartered bank was organized in 1857. Mr. Rockwood then removed to Norwalk, Conn., to enter upon the duties of Cashier in a newly established bank there. But in a short time a greater field of labor and responsibility was opened to him in Newark, N. J., where he became Cashier of the Newark Banking Company in 1858. He tilled that position, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the di- rectors, for almost thirty years, and in January, 1887, was elected President of the institution.
Working in perfect harmony with his fellow executives and directors, Mr. Rockwood has so directed the affairs of the bank that it has not only maintained its high prestige and prosperity, but has increased them. This is the oldest banking institution in the State. The first charter granted by the State of New Jersey to any bank was to the Newark Banking and Insurance Company on the 18th of February, 1804. This company never pursued the insurance business, and on the second renewal of its charter the word " insur- ance " was dropped from its title, leaving the name New- ark Banking Company. In 1865 it was changed to a na- tional bank under the name of the National Newark Bank- ing Company, having now had a continuous existence of ninety-seven years. The sound and conservative princi- ples of finance displayed by Mr. Rockwood in the super- vision of this institution have won for him uniform com- mendation. Ilis attention has not been given to this enter- prise alone, for he has been a Director of the Howard Sav- ings Institution of Newark for over thirty years and a mem- ber of its finance committee. He still gives regular atten- tion to the business of the National Newark Banking Com- pany, and is daily at his desk.
In all movements designed to advance the welfare of the
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community Mr. Rockwood has ever been deeply and actively interested. He has given largely of his time to Christian and philanthropic work, and the poor and needy have found in him a true friend. He is especially ready to aid those who are willing to help themselves, and thus promotes that practical benevolence which enables the recipient to retain his self-respect and independence of character. His nature is kindly and gracious and rests upon broad humanitarian principles. His religious life identified him with the Pres- byterian Church, in which he is an active worker. He is also a Director in the Young Men's Christian Association of Newark and a member of the Essex County Bible Society, which he has served as President. His labors in behalf of education have been very effective. For more than thirty years he has filled the office of Trustee of the Newark Acad- emy, which was founded in 1792 and is one of the oldest and best educational institutions in the State, and during most of this time he has been Secretary and Treasurer of the board and since 1900 its President. He is a member of the New Jersey Historical Society, the American His- torieal Association, the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, the Sons of the Revolution, and the Washington Association of Morristown. His life, charac- terized by a devotion to all that is good and pure and true, is worthy of emulation and should serve as a source of in- spiration to others.
Mr. Rockwood was married in 1840 to Miss Sarah Smith, daughter of George B. and Joanna ( Vermilye) Smith, of New York City. She died in 1893. Of their four children only one, Charles G. Rockwood, Jr., is living. He is pro- fessor of mathematics in Princeton University.
WILLIAM HENRY McKIRGAN, a well known citizen of Lyon's Farms, was born in Clinton Township, Essex County, N. J., January 16, 1832. He is the second son of Alexander McKirgan, Jr., and a grandson of Alexander McKirgan, Sr., both of Scotch descent. His grandmother on his father's side was Margaret Phelps. His mother, Julia, was a daughter of Zophar Lyon, one of the early
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settlers of Lyon's Farms, whose children were Obadiah, David, Harvey, Phoebe, Julia, Elizabeth, and Abby. The children of Alexander McKirgan, Jr., and Julia Lyon were Margaret, Harriet, Amelia L., Alexander, William H., Eve- line, Charles, Julia A., and Thomas F. The father of this family spent most of his life in Essex County, where he died in 1862, aged sixty-two years. His wife died in 1859, at abont the age of fifty-nine. Both were active and liberal supporters of church and kindred interests, and universally l'e- speeted for their ster- ling characteristics.
William II. MeKir- gan was educated in the public schools of Lyon's Farms, Essex County, and then learned the jeweler's trade, which he abandoned at the age of twenty-two to en- gage in the dairy busi- Hess. He continued in this line for ten years, achieving marked sie- cess as well as an hon- orable reputation. Abont 1864 he engaged in the business
WILLIAM H. M'KIRGAN.
of manufacturing refined oils, etc., at Newark, and successfully conducted that enterprise for twenty years, when he sokl ont to the Standard Oil Company. Since then Mr. MeKir- gan has lived in retirement from active business at Lyon's Farms, where he has a fine estate and a handsome home.
Ile has been somewhat active in public affairs, but has never held office, preferring to devote his energies wholly to business. Though a Prohibition Democrat, he has al- ways been deeply interested in the old line Democracy and ever loyal to its principles. He is a member and an Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Lyon's Farms, of which he
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has been a Trustee for about forty years. He is a man of great force of character, a public spirited citizen, and highly esteemed as a neighbor and friend.
Mr. MeKirgan married Mary D. Bond, daughter of David and Rebecca Bond, of Waverly, N. J., and has one son, Charles Henry. Mrs. Mary D. McKirgan is the only sur- vivor of the original twenty-one members of the old Lyon's Farms church.
JOIIN J. HELLER, of Forest Hill, Essex County, was boru in West Orange on the 20th of May, 1850, his parents being Elias Heller and Mary Leak. He is of German and French descent, and his ancestors were Huguenots who sought homes in America at an early day,
In the public schools of his native county Mr. Heller ac- quired his education. He remained at home until twenty years of age, when he moved to Forest Hill and entered the employ of his brother, Elias G. Heller, the well known manufacturer of files and rasps. He mastered the busi- ness in every detail, and in 1873 a partnership was formed between the three brothers, Elias . G., John J., and George E., for the manufacture of files, rasps, and farrier's tools. They now have a very extensive plant in Forest Hill, employ a large force of workmen, and enjoy an excellent patronage, which comes from all sections of the country. The su- perior workmanship manifest in their products, together with the well known reliability of the house, has secured for them a business which indicates the enterprising spirit, the energy, and the splendid executive ability of the pro- prietors.
Mr. Heller has been an important factor in the develop- ment and progress of the community in which he resides, giving active support to all measures for the public good. He is public spirited, loyal to county, State, aud nation, and one of the leading residents of Forest Hill. In politics he is an ardent Republican, well informed on the issues of the day, and gives to his party intelligent support.
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He was married, April 7, 1874, in Newark, to Miss Lona Pfeiffer, her parents being of German ancestry. Six chil- dren have been born to them: Ida, Walter (a graduate of
JOHN J. HELLER.
the Newark High School in 1897 and later a student at Cornell University), Florence, Benjamin, Russell, and Norma. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.
NEIL R. HOWARD.
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OWEN F. CONLON, of Newark, was born on the family homestead near Armagh, Ireland, July 4, 1861, his father, William Conlon, being the second son of Redmond Conlon, a descendant of an ancient Irish family. Redmond married Phoebe Passmore. Mr. Conlon's mother, Catherine (Sheri- dan) Conlon, was descended from the old Sheridan family of Ballinarea. Owen F. Conlon came to this country with his parents in 1873 and settled in Newark, N. J., where he attended St. Patrick's Parochial School and St. Benedict's College. In those institutions he obtained an excellent training.
In 1878 Mr. Conlon en- tered the employ of John Reilly & Co. to learn the patent and enameled leather busi- ness, which he mastered in every detail, working through the different de- partments from the tan- yard to the office. The experience which he ac- quired in these capaci- ties has been of great value to him, although OWEN F. CONLON. he did not follow the business as a life vocation. In 1884 he engaged in the fire insurance business with his elder brother, Redmond P. Con- lon, with whom he remained until 1889, when he established himself in the real estate and stock brokerage business, in which he has since continued with uninterrupted success.
Mr. Conlon has been active and prominent in public life as well as in business affairs. He served as Assessor for the Eighth Ward of Newark during the years 1885, 1886, and 1887, and in November, 1888, was elected Tax Commissioner for a term of two years. He was appointed by Mayor Haynes to the office of Tax Commissioner in May, 1889, for
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a five years' term, and was President of the Board of Assess- ment and Revision of Taxes in 1893 and 1894. His knowl- edge of real estate values, his integrity of character, and his earnestness in promoting the best interests of the city made lim a valuable man in these positions and won for him an honorable reputation. Mr. Conlon is a member of the Board of Trade, of the Young Men's Catholic Association of Newark, of St. Michael's Young Men's Catholic Asso- ciation, of the Catholic Benevolent Legion, the Royal Ar- canmm, the Institute Boat Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Improved Order of Heptasophs, the North End and Jef- fersonian Clubs, the Joel Parker Association, and St. Pat- rick's Alliance.
He was married, January 15, 1890, to Mary C. Newton, and has four children : Owen Newton, Marguerite, Leo, and Aloysius.
EDWARD EVERTZ, of Newark, was born in Solingen, Prussia, Germany, on the 5th of August, 1858. He is the son of Peter Daniel Evertz and Alvena Kouart, and a younger brother of Ernest C. Evertz, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Evertz was brought to this country by his parents when he was three years old and received his education in the public schools of East Orange, N. J. At the age of eighteen he entered the establishment of Joseph Schmidt, of Newark, to learn the butcher's trade, and at the end of his apprenticeship purchased Mr. Schmidt's business and con- tinned it for one year. He then entered the employ of Louis V. Pfeifer, with whom he remained five years, again engaging in business for himself in 1887, at the corner of Eleventh and Warren Streets, Newark. In 1890 he pur- chased his present property, to which he has added a num- ber of improvements, and here he carries on a large and suc- cessful meat market, dealing also in fruits, vegetables, etc.
In his various business undertakings Mr. Evertz has met with marked success. He is a man of energy, enterprise, and public spirit, actively identified with the best interests of the community, and through his integrity and ability
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has achieved an honorable standing. He is a member of Trinity Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F., and a Republican in poli- ties.
Mr. Evertz was married in Newark, December 29, 1881,
Edward Every
to Miss Sarah MeGill, daughter of William and Sarah Mc- Gill. They have three children: Harry Alexander, born October 23, 1882; Edna May, born June 21, 1884; and Jesse, born June 19, 1890.
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HENRY C. HEINISCH, a well known citizen of Irving- ton, Essex County, and a son of Rochus and Susannah (Dievenbach) Heinisch, was born in Newark, November 13, 1839. He received his education in the public schools of his native city and at the famous Newark Academy on the corner of High and William Streets. At the age of eight- een he entered his father's store in New York, where he learned the shears and scissors trade. He eventually as- sumed entire charge of the New York store, and under his able manage- ment the business was greatly increased. While conducting the New York store at No. 301 Broadway he was also exclusive New York agent for the Peters Cutlery Com- pany, of Solingen, Prus- sia, transacting an an- nual business aggregat- ing three hundred thou- sand dollars. Retiring for several years, he then became connected with the shears and HENRY C. HEINISCH. scissors manufactory at Windsor, Conn. H. Booker & Co., of New York City, handled the product of this factory, which was stamped " H. C. Heinisch, N. Y." He has ever since retained his association with the Windsor company. Mr. Heinisch has recently patented an inven- tion known as the H. C. Heinisch patent tailor's shears, which he believes will be used exclusively by the sartorial fraternity, as he maintains that by their use an operator can do twice as much work as with the ordinary shears hereto- fore employed.
Mr. Heinisch was at one time a member of the Board of Trustees of Irvington, and also served for two terms as a
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member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Essex Con- ty, representing Clinton Township.
He was married, September 14, 1870, to Miss Virginia Rogers, danghter of Thomas R. Rogers, of the Paterson Locomotive Works. They have five children: Mand R. (wife of Charles Terrill), Herbert D., Edith R., Mabel, and Mildred.
EDWARD HILL BALDWIN, M.D., of Newark, N. J., a prominent specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, and throat, was born in Newark on the 25th of December, 1871, being the son of Sanmel Hill and A. Henrietta ( Pierson) Baldwin. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Mary Louise ( Hill) Baldwin; his maternal grandparents wore Charles T. and Harriet (Coe) Pierson. On his father's side he traces his ancestry in an unbroken line to Melancthon Hill, of Eng- land, 1609. Ilis ma- ternal ancestors were of Puritan stock. Dr. Bald- win's father was for a quarter of a century a prom- inent lawyer in Newark.
He received his early education at the Washington Street Public School, Newark, was prepared for college at the New- ark Academy, and was graduated from Princeton EDWARD HILL BALDWIN, M.D. University. His medical studies were pursued at the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, the New York Homeopathie Medical College and Hospital, and the College of the New York Ophthalmic Hospital. Ile has re- ceived from the State of New York the special
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degree of Oculi et Auris Chirurgus. He began prac- ticing medicine in Newark in 1895, but in 1896 dis- continued general practice for the specialty of eye, ear, and throat diseases. For the past five years he has been assistant surgeon at the New York Ophthalmic Hospital, and is lecturer on the theory of opties, applied refraction, and ophthalmometry at the college of that institution. He is visiting oculist, aurist, and laryngologist to St. Mary's Hos- pital, of Passaic, N. J.
Dr. Baldwin is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the New Jersey State Homeopathic Medical Society, the Essex County Homeopathic Medical Society, the New Jersey Chiron Club, the Newark Athletic Club, the University Club, and the Princeton Club of Newark.
Ile was married, November 11, 1896, to Rosalind Grover Shepard. Mrs. Baldwin is a direct descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullin, of the "Mayflower."
GEORGE E. CLYMER, of East Orange, lawyer, son of Edward Swain and Uretha (Van Kuren) Clymer, was born in Newark, N. J., March 7, 1868. He was educated in the Newark public schools and by private instructors, and in February, 1886, entered the office of Judge James: D. Cleaver as a law student. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney at the February term of 1890 and as a coun- sellor at the February term of 1893. He is a successful member of the Newark bar. He has served as counsel to the Board of Health of East Orange, as counsel to the City of Newark under the Martin Act, as department counsel for the Essex County Savings Bank, and as counsel for the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy.
He is a member of the Republican Club of East Orange and of Newark City Council, No. 492, Royal Arcanum.
LEWIS E. HAYWARD, lawyer, of East Orange, was born in West Milford, Passaic County, N. J., on the 11th of De- cember, 1842. He is the son of Charles Hayward and Jo- anna N. Clark, daughter of John Clark, Jr., and grand-
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daughter of John Clark, Sr. His parents moved to Newark when he was young, and there he received a publie school education and learned the trade of harnessmaker.
At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion he en- listed in Company B. Seventh New Jersey Volunteers, being sub- sequently transferred to Company C of that regi- ment and to Company HI, Thirty-ninth New Jersey Volunteers. Ho served until the close of the war, and after his return home began the study of law. In 1870 he was elected a Justice of the Peace in Middle- sex County. He re- signed that office, how- ever, to go to Virginia, where he engaged in farming. In 1880 he re- moved to Washington, LEWIS E. HAYWARD. D. C., and successfully practiced law there for nine years. He returned to New Jersey in 1889, settled in East Orange, and has since been actively engaged in practice in that place.
Mr. Hayward is a man of ability, patriotism, and energy, and has always borne a high reputation. Ile is identified with the best interests of the community and actively con- tributes to its general welfare.
In 1866 he married Harriet D. Gatfield, daughter of Jacob Gatfield, of Newark, N. J. They have five children : New- ton W., John E., Mrs. Ida M. Selover, Ella M., and Lucy V.
JOHN HI. WHITE, of South Orange, a representative business man of that place, was born in Springfield, Union County, N. J., May 23, 1871, being the son of James H. and
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Lucy E. (Young) White, of New York, and a grandson of P. White. of New York, who plied between New York and Liverpool from 1845 to 1850 with the Black Star Steam- ship Company of New York. In 1862 he resigned his posi- tion and removed to Summit, N. J., where he resided until his death. On his fath- er's side he comes from Irish and on his moth- er's from Scotch stock. Both his maternal grandparents were born in Scotland. His mater- nal uncle, William Young, was a Colonel in the Civil War.
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