The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 110

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company
Number of Pages: 924

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Lewis Jemison M. D. -

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marriage ceremony for that exotic nobleman. John Lilly, [ into the violation of the strictest code, and was not slow to being desirous of entering the medical profession, was- condemn such violation on the part of others." As may be inferred from the foregoing, he was a man of decided re- ligious convictions ; in early life he became connected with the Protestant Episcopal Church, and to the time of his death was a consistent member of that religious organiza- tion. For many years he was a Vestryman, and for a con- siderable period was Senior Warden of St. Andrew's Church, at Lambertville. While by no means an active politician, he took much interest in politics, and in 1840-41 was elected a member of the Legislative Council, a position that he filled with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He died in June, 1848. after the custom of the time-apprenticed to Dr. Samuel Stringer, a prominent physician and surgeon of Albany, and after serving an apprenticeship of four years, was duly licensed as a practitioner in 1807. During the ensuing year he was engaged in professional duty in Lansingburg, near Albany, but in 1808 removed to New Jersey, and established himself at Readington, Hunterdon county. Applying to the State Medical Society for authority to prac- tise, he was examined by the then Board of Censors, of which the venerable Dr. Moses Scott, of New Brunswick, was chairman ; and being found properly qualified, was made a licentiate of that organization. At this time he was married to Julia Moodie, a lady with whom he had become ac- - quainted in Lansingburg, and who had come upon a visit to the Lane family, of Readington, shortly after his estab- lishment in that town. In the spring of 1809, as the suc- EMISON, LEWIS, A. B., A. M., M. D., Physi- cian, of Bordentown, was born near Princeton, New Jersey, June 10th, 1832. His father, Isaiah Jemison, a farmer, and his mother, Elizabeth (Major) Jemison, were both natives of New Jer- sey. His early education was received at the select school of George W. Schanck, in Princeton, and when he had finished his preparatory course, in 1849, he entered Princeton College. He was a close and successful student in college, and graduated with honors in the year 1853. After leaving college he went to Haverstraw, New York, and taught for some time in the classical department of the institute there. He had decided upon adopting the medical profession, and at length gave up teaching to enter upon the study of medicine. This he did in Princeton, in the office of Professor J. Stillwell Schanck, LL. D., now pro- fessor of chemistry in the College of New Jersey, at Prince- ton. Having completed his preliminary studies, he attended the regular course at the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and received his diploma in 1858. Being now a qualified practitioner, he removed to Hightstown, New Jersey, and commenced practice. He remained there but a short time, however, and then took up his residence in Bordentown, where he has since lived, actively engaged in the practice of his profession. His professional devotion has always been great, and his success as a practitioner re- markable. He is a patient student, a careful and exhaus- tive reader, and, in addition to these eminent qualifications for success, he possesses peculiar natural talents, a quick insight, accurate judgment and trained skill. HIe rapidly gained a large and important practice, and to-day stands high in the confidence of the community, and in the regards of his professional brethren. He is a member of the Bur- lington County Medical Society, and was its President during 1870. He has never taken any active part in politics, but has devoted his time and cnergies to his profession exclusively. He is the United States Examining cessor to Dr. Kroesen, then recently deceased, he finally settled at Lambertville (then called Georgetown), where, during the ensuing thirty-nine years, he remained actively engaged in the dutics of his profession. In 1821 he was one of the founders of the Hunterdon County Medical So- ciety, and until his death was, through all its vicissitudes (including two actual disruptions), one of the most prominent and enthusiastic members of that body. He was President in 1825 and in 1847; Vice-President in 1823 and in 1846; Treasurer from 1836 to 1846; a member of the Board of Censors from 1821 to 1825 inclusive, and in 1847-48; and was repeatedly a delegate to the annual conventions of the New Jersey State Medical Society. Of the State Society he was also a leading member, being Corresponding Secretary in 1827, and again in 1832; a member of the Standing Committee in 1831, and a member and Chairman of the same committee in 1847. Dr. John Blane, the able histo- rian of the Hunterdon County Medical Society, who was for many years his intimate friend, writes of him: " His mind and character were those of a refined gentleman ; scrupulously neat in his personal habits, pure and chaste in all his acts and words, The writer, during a close intimacy of nearly twenty years, during which he has seen him in all kinds of company, never heard a word or an intimation pass his lips which could not have been uttered in the most refined circle. This purity and refinement was very promi- nent in all his writings, he being a frequent contributor to the periodicals of the day, and frequently appearing before his fellow-citizens in the character of a lecturer before the local literary societics. As a physician he was very atten- tive to his patients ; his judgment sound and clear, and his practice in emergent and dangerous cases prompt and ener- getic. He was not slow to adopt any new or improved node of treatment, if it had the approbation of his judg- ment. His success was as marked as that of the most suc- cessful. He was always a stickler for the most rigid pro- fessional ethics, He never permitted himself to be betrayed |Surgcon in his section of the State for applicants for pensions

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He was married, in 1859, to Martha D. Allison, of New | Free Church of Scotland. In 1845 he married a daughter York. She died April 4th, 1860, and he was again mar- ried, January Ist, 1863, to Rebecca S. Wray, of Phila- delphia.

CUDDER, HON. EDWARD W., Lawyer, and one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, is a native of Mercer county, New Jersey. He was admitted to the bar of the State in 1844, at the September term, and was made counsellor in October, 1848. He practised extensively in all the courts of the State until 1869, when he was ap- pointed by Governor Randolph one of the Justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and after serving a full term of seven years was reappointed by Governor Bedle, in 1876, and is still holding the position, his tenure of which will expire in 1883. His career as a lawyer and judge has been such as to add to the reputation and dignity of the New Jersey bench and bar, and consequently to the high estimation in which they are held throughout the United States.

cCOSH, REV. JAMES, D. D., LL. D., President of Princeton College, was born in Ayrshire, Scot- land, April Ist, 1811. His father, Andrew Mc- Cosh, was a farmer on the banks of the Doon, respected for his intelligence and integrity. In 1830 Andrew McCosh died, leaving a widow and seven children, six daughters and this son. The widow continued the farm and sent James to the parochial school. From here, at the age of thirteen, he was sent to Glasgow University, where he remained five years, applying himself with success to the study of philosophy. From Glasgow he went to Edinburgh University, where he had for his in- structor the eminent scholar and theologian, Dr. Chalmers. Another five years was passed at this university, during which time the youthful metaphysician wrote his " Essay on the Stoic Philosophy," which gained for him the hon- orary degree of Master of Arts. After leaving Edinburgh he continued the study of theology, begun at Glasgow, with Dr. Thomas Guthrie, the famous preacher. A year later, in 1834, he was licensed to preach the gospel in connection with the Church of Scotland, and soon afterwards he was ordained minister to Abby Chapel, Arbroath, in the eastern part of Scotland. His ministry here was very successful, terminating after three years of incessant labor in a call to the charge of the city of Brechin, a parish in Forfarslire, which he accepted. Even at this early date he was taking an active interest in church politics, and attracting attention by the breadth and liberality of his views. He was one of the little band of Scotch Presbyterian ministers, led by Dr. Chalmers, who signed away their livings and founded the

of Alexander Guthrie, a physician as eminent in his profes- sion as his brother, Thomas Guthrie, the divine-McCosh's former teacher-was distinguished in the ministry: The next five years were largely devoted to the service of the church which he had aided in establishing, hut that he found time to continue his philosophic studies is evidenced by the publication, in 1848, of his first great work, " The Method of Divine Government, Physical and Moral," which at once attracted much attention, especially among metaphysicians, and gained for the author warm praise as well as criticism in Europe and America. He was soon after called (1851) to the Professorship of the newly created chair of Logic and Metaphysics in Queen's College, Belfast, which position he accepted and occupied until his removal to this country, in 1868. The same year, 1851, he pub- lished an essay on " Typical Forms" in the North British Review, which he afterwards elaborated in connection with Dr. Dickie, also of Queen's College, into " Typical Forms and Special Ends in Creation." In 1860 his " Intuitions of the Mind Inductively Investigated" brought him still more prominently into notice as a profound scholar and theological essayist. " In this, as in his previous publica- tions, he diverges from the English school of Locke, by maintaining the existence and essential importance of 'a priori' conceptions and beliefs. They are the conditions of an empirical and concrete knowledge, and without them ethics, theology and all the science are impossible. But by investigating these intuitions inductively, he claims that he departs from the method and avoids the results of the German transcendental school, shunning the two extremes of sensationalism and idealism. It is his aim to grasp and unite the truth in each. In this spirit he treats the topics which lie at the foundation of knowledge and faith, as time, space, quantity, power, idealty, causation, substance, being, the infinite, personality, freedom and moral worth." While at Belfast he also wrote and published " The Supernatural in Relation to the Natural," 1862; " Examination of J. S. Mills' Philosophy, being a Defence of Fundamental Truth," 1866; and numerous articles for the periodical press of the day, which won him great distinction as a keen controver- sialist, a ready logician and a master metaphysician. In 1858 he visited Europe with a view to studying the educa- tional systems obtaining in the great universities, especially in those of Germany. On his return the educational ques- tion in Ireland was occasioning much feeling, and he at once entered into the discussion with his accustomed vigor. Indeed, during his sixteen years' residence in Ireland he was the devoted friend of the working classes, laboring for the extension of education and the social improvement of the people. His singleness and sincerity of purpose won him the respect even of those to whom he was opposed by his convictions. In 1866 he visited this country, making an extended tour and examining our several colleges and theological seminaries. While at Princeton he read his

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essay on "The Method of Divine Government," which | 20,000 congregations of Preshyterians, including the Re- made a profound impression upon the trustees of the col- formed churches, and 34,000,000 population. It had long been a favorite idea of his to bring these churches together in a Pan-Presbyterian council. He had written of the scheme to the Weekly Review, of London, and had spoken of it to the Irish Presbyterian Assembly, and to the Old and New School Assemblies, at St. Louis, in 1866. At the World's Conference of the Evangelical Alliance, held in New York, in October, 1873, a meeting of the Presbyterian delegates present was called by him, and their assent to the idea of confederation was secured. A committee, with Dr. McCosh at the head, was appointed " to correspond with individuals and with organized bodies, in order to ascertain the feeling of Presbyterians in regard to such Federal Coun- cil, and to take such measures as may in their judgment promote this object." This committee issued an address to the Presbyterians of the world, asking each Presbyterian organization, " First, to express in a formal manner its ap- proval of the object," and, second, to appoint a committee to arrange for a convention to organize the federation; and it also set forth the benefits that would result from the pro- posed union. The movement also received a great impetus from a visit which Dr. McCosh made to Europe in the summer of 1874, during which he made frequent addresses in London and elsewhere in furtherance of the project. Concerning this visit he wrote : " My late visit to Great Britain was simply for the purpose of seeing my friends; but, being there, I put myself in connection, in an unofficial way, with persons interested in the scheme. I was happy to find that all the Presbyterian churches of the three king- doms, including the Established Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, the Covenanting Church of Scotland, the Pres- byterian Church of Ireland and the Covenanters of Ireland, the Welsh Calvinistic Church and the Presbyterian Church of England, have passed strong and decided resolutions on its behalf, and appointed committees with full power to carry out the grand design. I was able to hold quiet meet- ings in London, in Belfast and in Edinburgh, and I put the question in each place, What step are we to take next ? And in answer I got valuable suggestions, all pointing in the same direction. I may add, that I have had communi- cations from the French churches, the Belgian, the Swiss evangelical churches, the Waldensians; from Dr. Dorner, of Berlin, and Professor William Kraft, of Bonn, and from distant Australia-all favorable. We need only the bless- ing of heaven to secure success, and let us pray for that." One of the results of this visit was the formation of a com- mittee representing the State Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, the United Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church of Ireland and the English Presbyterian Church, which committee had a session in November, 1874, and discussed the programme of the great meeting held in London, in July, 1875. This committee made a suggestion, which was lege; and when the venerable Dr. Maclean signified his intention of severing his connection of over fifty years with that institution, Dr. McCosh was unanimously chosen to supply the presidential chair. He was elected April 29th, 1868, and signified his acceptance the next month. When this was made known the college was universally congratu- lated on its acquisition, and the learned societies of Great Britain expressed their regrets at his loss to that nation and their good wishes for his success in his new field of labor. Harvard College conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. He was inaugurated President of the College of New Jersey on the 27th of October, 1868, and entered upon the duties of his office immediately. In his inaugural address, "Aca- demic Teaching in Europe," he presented the views of education which have since been followed at Princeton with such eminent success. He thoroughty identified him- self with the college, and was unremitting in his exertions to raise it to the highest standard of excellence. The course of study was reorganized, enlarged, and the standard of scholarship raised. A judicious adjustment of voluntary and elective studies was made. Incentives to study were added by the establishment of prizes and fellowships. The fruits of his labors are visible. Since 1868 the number of students has increased fifty per cent .; nine fellowships and a Professorship of Modern Languages have been founded ; the material resources and accommodations have been en- larged and improved; several new and imposing college buildings have been erected, one of these latter, Re- union Hall, commemorating the union of the Presbyterian churches. In college reform one of his first acts was to suppress the scandalous secret paper which used to be cir- culated just before commencement day ; a later and more radical change was the abolition of the secret societies, which, however, was not accomplished without considerable difficulty. Being at the head of the principal educational institution in New Jersey, Dr. McCosh also took a lively interest in the educational progress of the State, seeking to elevate and enlarge the public school system. In this pur- pose he delivered an address before the House of Assembly during the winter of 1871, in favor of the establishment of a system of high schools. Shortly after this he was ap- pointed by Governor Randolph on an educational cominis- sion for the revision of the school laws of the State, and the suggestion of such amendments as this investigation might reveal a necessity for. This commission made a thorough and exhaustive report, suggesting reforms in this particular which will be of great benefit to the community. The movement to bring into closer relations all church organizations holding Presbyterian doctrines and using the Presbyterian form of government originated with Dr. Mc- Cosh. It may be said to have started at the tercentenary celebration of the birth of John Knox, held in Philadelphia, in November, 1872. He stated at that time that there were

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who suppose that it is capable of solving all problems and becoming a system of infinite knowledge. . . . . In respect to the great theme of morals and religion, Dr. McCosh agrees with that lofty and influential class of thinkers from Pliny to Kant, who believe that genuine philosophy is in harmony with man's religious needs and instincts, and that these views of man are impossible without true views of God." A pen portrait of Dr. McCosh, as he appeared when he came to this country to assume the Presidency of Princeton College, sketches him as a tall, handsome man, with dark, penetrating eyes, a pleasant smile and most en- gaging manners. His forehead is high and clear, and his mouth indicates him as a man of great firmness and strength of will. He has just enough of the scholarly stoop to betray his sedentary avocations, yet his step is elastic, and in all respects he seems like a vigorous man, to whom the exer- cise of mental or bodily powers is never fatiguing.

acted upon, that the gathering should be strictly representa- tive, and should be composed of commissioners appointed by the churches. It also recommended that, in regard to the English-speaking churches, the Westminster Confession should constitute a doctrinal basis of union; but that, in regard to other churches having Presbyterian government, a general agreement with the Reformed symbols of doctrine should be required. On the 20th of April, 1875, a com- mittee, under the presidency of Dr. McCosh, met in New York and adopted a draft of a constitution to be presented to the council in London for consideration. In this draft it was proposed that the alliance be called " The Confed- eration of the Reformed Churches holding to the Presby- terian System; " but when the question was considered at the London council, in July, it was found that a large majority of the council preferred the title and form of an alliance, rather than a confederation, as less restricted in scope, and it was ultimately agreed that the alliance of all the Reformed churches throughout the world should be formed. The name given to the union, in accordance with this resolution, was the "Alliance of Reformed Churches MITH, JOHN JAY, Librarian, Editor, Author, great-grandson of James Logan, of New Jersey, was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, June 16th, 1798. From 1829 to 1851 he presided as Librarian of the Philadelphia and Loganian Li- braries. He is the author of " Notes for a His- tory of the Philadelphia Library Company," published in 1831; "Guide to Laurel Hill Cemetery," published in 1844; "A Summer's Jaunt," two volumes, published in 1846; "American Historical and Literary Curiosities," published in 1861; and, in the " National Portrait Gallery," of lives of Franklin, Rittenhouse, Keaton, Montgomery and A. Washington. He has also been engaged extensively in editing various works and periodicals: The Saturday Bul- letin, 1830-32; The Daily Express, 1832; " Waldie's Select Library," 1833-49; " Waldie's Portfolio," two volumes, quarto; "Smith's Weekly Volume," 1845-46, three vol- umes; Walsh's National Gazette and Downing's Horticul- turist, 1855-60. He is a man of varied and scholarly at- tainments; is fond of antiquarian research, and through long- continued study of the earlier annals of the States has grown to be a recognized authority on the subject of American and colonial literature and history. throughout the World." Since his residence in the United States, Dr. McCosh has written several works; notably, " Logic," 1869; "Christianity and Positivism ; " "A Series of Lectures to the Times on Natural Theology and Apolo- getics," 1871; and "The Scottish Philosophy, Biographical, Expository, Critical; from Hatchem to Hamilton," 1874. The lectures mentioned above were originally delivered in New York, and being in refutation of the teachings and deductions of Huxley, Darwin, Spencer and that school of thinkers, evoked a very deep interest in the religious world, where the work is very highly esteemed. Concerning his philosophy as compared with Sir William Hamilton, a writer says "it was what physiology is compared with anatomy; while he did not lack the acuteness of the dia- lectician, he clothed his skeletons with flesh and blood, and they readily took their places as living organisms in the world of progress." His mental characteristics are given by Dr. Shedd in his introduction to Dr. McCosh's greatest work, " The Intuitions of the Mind Inductively Investi- gated." He says : " The first feature that strikes the reader is the fidelity of the author to his nationality in rejecting all idealism in philosophy, realism in perception; that objects have an existence independent of the mind, that there is a substance in which properties inhere, that our perceptions of God, the soul, and even of infinity and eternity, are posi- tive, and not merely negative. These and such like are the positions taken by this writer with decision, and main- CAMPBELL, GEORGE, M. D., late of Frenchtown, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, son of James Campbell, was born at Newtown-Stewart, county Tyrone, Ireland, August 15th, 1758. He was educated at the University of Dublin, entering the medical department after graduating from the department of arts, and being during the time that he at- tained with power. In this particular we regard him as doing an excellent service in counteracting the influence of some recent speculations which tend to unsettle all scien- tific thinking and to convert the hightest department of human thought into a sphere of airy and unreal fictions. Though holding a high estimate of philosophy as a branch of human inquiry, he does not fall into the error of those | tended medical lectures an office student with Dr. Mc-

Culary Pub. Co. Phelan.

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Farling. He received his degree of M. D. while the | being an idle or mere formal student, he took charge of American war of the Revolution was in progress; and sympathizing heartily with the cause of the rebel colonies, he immigrated to this country and entered the Continental army. He was soon promoted to be Surgeon, and in this capacity served until peace was declared. When the army was disbanded, he settled at Frenchtown, where his excep- tionally thorough education, and his extensive surgical ex- perience during the war, combined to throw into his hands a very large practice. Here he married Rachel, youngest daughter of Jeremiah Thatcher, by whom he had two chil- dren. He remained actively engaged in his profession until 1812, when he was prostrated by a stroke of paralysis. From this he never entirely recovered, and his death, fol- lowing a second stroke, occurred in August, 1818.

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 110

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company Number of Pages: 924

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company
Number of Pages: 924