The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 123

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

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Jack would be dismissed, and Meyers buried the money in | many of the residents of that place were only too strongly a different place. The story, as told by Jack, was, that as often as he had helped Meyers dig up the box, he had never seen it buried, nor was it ever buried twice in the same place. At last the patriots entrapped and shot Meyers, but Jack was too wary, and escaped. After Meyers' death great efforts were made to discover his treasure. His widow, ever looking for the 'end of the rainbow where rests the pot of gold,' every spring, when the ground was soft, would go over what was recently the Fourth and Fifth Wards of Jersey City, prospecting with an iron rod, which she pushed into the ground, hoping to strike the box. She never succeeded, though she worked and hoped while she lived. It is possible that the old spy's box of British gold yet lies buried in that part of the city, awaiting its resurrection by the spade of some lucky finder." April 21st, 1753, he married Annetje Van Horn; and died September 30th, 1818.

ROELIGH, REV. SOLOMON, Pastor of the Re- formed Dutch Church at Millstone, and Patriot of the Revolution, was born at Red Hook, near Albany, New York, May 29th, 1750 (o. s.) In his fourteenth year his mind was deeply im- pressed with religious convictions, he being then under the pastoral care of Rev. John Schenema, the minister of Catskill and Coxsackie. While in his eighteenth year he was placed under the care of Rev. Dirck Romeyn, the pastor of Marbletown, Warwarsing and Rochester, to begin the study of Latin and Greek. " He never received any assistance from his father, but assisted himself by teaching school." Subsequently he removed to Hacken- sack, New Jersey, and entered the celebrated academy of Dr. Peter Wilson. Here he made such progress that Prince- ton College conferred on him the degree of A. B. He then proceeded to the study of theology, under Rev. John H. Goetschius, minister at Hackensack. October Ist, 1774, he was licensed to preach the gospel; and, June 11th, 1775, ordained pastor of the four united churches of Long Island. " With his ardent nature he could not help taking sides in the great struggle between the colonies and the mother country." The district in which he lived was noted for its disaffection to the cause of independence; yet in the midst of enemies he labored and prayed boldly for his country's freedom. Shortly after the battle of Long Island, in Au- gust, 1776, which occurred in the territory of his congrega- tions, he found it necessary to flee to save his life. He then fled to Jamaica and Newtown; and, having been con- cealed one night in the house of Mr. Rapalje, at Hurl-gate, was guided across the river to Harlem. He went first, however, to Hackensack, and while there preached a most patriotic sermon from 2 Chron. xi. 4, exhorting the inhabi- tants not to fight against the cause of freedom, to which been regularly dismissed; but he said he was now united to

inclined. Dr. Laidlie, the colleague of Dr. Livingston, heard him on that occasion, and warmly commended his action and utterances. In his flight he lost his cattle, fur- niture, books and clothing. In company with Dr. Living- ston, both being on horseback, he started for Poughkeepsie, keeping on the west side of the Hudson; and during the ensuing three years supplied the pulpits of Fishkill and Poughkeepsie (1776-79). In the spring of 1780 he ap- peared in Millstone, one year after Mr. Foering's death, and the consistory at once appointed Ernestus Van Har- lingen to wait upon him, and try and secure his services till he could return to his churches on Long Island. They offered to give him, as salary, 268 bushels of wheat per year, each bushel to weigh sixty pounds; but he declined entering into a temporary arrangement, and said he would . accept a call. This the consistory gladly extended, and he moved into the parsonage, June 5th, 1780. The consistory paid his expenses of moving, which, in the money of the day, amounted to $1,455, one dollar in gold being worth at the time forty dollars of the continental currency. But it was impossible for him to obtain a formal dismission from his churches on Long Island, as the enemy held both the island and the city. But the synod, meeting in October, 1780, at New Paltz, appointed a committee to scttle a ques- tion of dispute between the Millstone congregation and the three neighboring congregations, in respect to the bounds of each; and, if they succeeded in effectually reconciling all differences, they were then empowered, in the name of the synod, to approve the call, and in this very un- usual case to dismiss him from his congregations on Long Island. But during the summer of 1780, and before the call was acted on from the Millstone congregation, Nechanic sought to unite with it, and thus secure a part of his services, Nechanic and Sourland being then under the care of Rev. John M. Van Harlingen. Articles of agreement were entered into, and his call, as finally ap- proved, stands in the name of the two churches, and is dated September 4th, 1780. He was to preach two Sun- days out of three at Millstone, and one at Nechanic, and was to alternate between the Dutch and English. October Ist, 1782, the synod met in the church of New Millstone; New York was their general place of meeting, both before and after the war, but during its progress all meetings were held at places remote from the scene of hostilities; 'and in 1782 " our defaced and desolated church, almost unfit to be occupied, welcomed the synod of the denomination within its, blackened walls.", Rev. Harmanus Meyer, the pastor at Paterson and Pompton Plains, presided over the body, which consisted, however, of only nine members. It was at this meeting that Simeon Van Arsdale was examined and licensed. Afterward, while on Long Island, soliciting funds to be devoted to the repairing of the church at Millstone, " his old charges tried hard to keep him, as he had never

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another, and refused to remain." In 1786 he received a call to the two congregations of Hackensack and Schraal- enberg, which he accepted; and in these two places he continued to labor until his death, October 8th, 1827. In 1791 he was elected Professor of Theology, in place of Dr. Meyer, of Pompton, who had died. In his new field he found his churches divided into two parties, with two con- sistories, on account of a difficulty which had begun fifty years before ; and having tried to unite them, and failed, " he took sides with the party which was very strenuous in' doctrine, and opposed to the commingling of Christians of different names, virtually exalting doctrine above practical religion, and refusing to unite in the great efforts of Chris- tian union and fraternization, under the power of which the Bihle, and Tract and Missionary, and other union societies, were organized." Finally, he, with four others, seceded from the Dutch Church in 1822, when he was seventy-two years of age; thirty-six years after his departure from Mill- stone. He was accordingly deposed from the professorship and the ministry by General Synod ; and although the True Reformed Dutch Church which he organized continued to increase for six years quite rapidly, it has since that time been steadily declining, " and but few congregations of any strength remain."

URPHY, JOHN L., of Trenton, Proprietor of the State Gazette, was born on the 19th of June, 1828, in the city of Trenton, State of New Jersey. At the age of eleven years he entered the weekly State Gazette newspaper and printing office, as errand- boy and news-carrier. In that capacity he carried the first tri-weekly and the first daily newspaper published in Trenton. At the age of sixteen years' he was regularly apprenticed to James T. Sherman, to' learn the printing business. He served his time out, and worked with the firma (then Sherman & Harron) as journeyman until 1856. In that year Enoch R. Borden started the Free Press, in opposition to the Camden & Amboy Rail- road monopoly, and Mr. Murphy went with him as fore- man. At the expiration of six months the paper suspended, and Mr. Murphy bought the material and started a job office. He went into business with a cash capital of about $500, saved up out of his wages as journeyman printer. At that time there was no regular job printing office in the city, and he was therefore the pioneer of the business in the capital of New Jersey. Three months after setting up in business for himself he took in' Mr. Charles Bechtel, a

young man of about his own age, as equal partner, and they removed to the building on the corner of State and Greene streets, the present site of the large newspaper and ' printing establishment of John L. Murphy. Being practical men, the young firm were enabled to do work cheaper and better than the newspaper offices, and they gradually built.

up a large and thriving business. In 1869 the firm pur- chased the State Gazette, daily and weekly newspaper, regarded from time immemorial as the " State organ " of the Republican party of New Jersey. At the time they purchased it, the paper was greatly run down in circulation and influence, and under their vigorous and enterprising management it at once started upon a new and unexampled career of usefulness and prosperity. Its daily circulation was about 700, and is now 2,200; its weekly circulation was 2,000, and is now 7,127. In July, 1875, Mr. Murphy bought out the interest of his partner, and has since con- ducted the entire business of newspaper publisher, job printer, book-binder and stationer himself. During his career Mr. Murphy has held several important positions of public trust. He was twice elected Collector in the city of Trenton, was United States Internal Revenue Assessor for the Second District of New Jersey, from 1868 until the office was abolished by act of Congress and its duties merged in that of Collector; was then Collector until Jan- uary, 1876, when he resigned in order to devote himself more exclusively to his extensive and increasing business, He is now the sole proprietor of (with one exception) the largest and most valuable newspaper and printing estab- lishment in New Jersey. He is entirely a self-made man, and his success in life is due to great natural shrewdness and far-seeing business sagacity, boundless energy, an enterprising spirit that is dismayed or turned aside by no obstacles, and an unwavering adherence to honorable and upright principles.

RANE, REV. DANIEL; Clergyman, Educator, late of Chester, was born in Essex county, New Jersey, in the last quarter of the past century, and graduated from Princeton College. In 1803, having spent some time in preparing himself for the ministry, he was licensed by the Morris County Presbytery, and in the course of the following year was ordained by the same presbytery, and settled as pastor. of the Presbyterian church at Chester, New Jersey. He remained in this charge until 1808, when he became pastor of the church at Fishkill, New York, June 7th, and there for thirteen years labored with notable zeal and success. In July, 1821, he took charge of the First Congregational Church in Waterbury, Connecticut, still retaining his con- nection with the presbytery. In 1825 he returned to Fish- kill, and taught there in a select school for about two years, and then accepted a call to his old charge in Chester. 11e was installed July 18th, 1827, and continued his labors in that field until September 14th, 1831, at which time he tendered his resignation, and his pastoral relations were amicably dissolved. The remainder of his life was spent in preaching and good works, as health and opportunity permitted. He died April Ist, 1861.

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SMAN, LEWIS M., M. D., of Philipsburg, son of Joseph Osman, farmer, was born in Independence township, Warren county, New Jersey, November 2d, 1837. Some years later his father removed to Virginia, engaging in real estate operations in Prince William and adjacent counties, and in Virginia his preliminary education was received. Having read medicine under his uncle, Dr. L. C. Osman, he en- tered the National Medical College, and in 1860 received from that institution his degree of M. D. In the same year he entered upon the practice of his profession in Pike county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1862. He was then appointed a member of the medical staff of the Methodist Church Hospital at Alexandria, Virginia, and some six months later, upon receiving a similar appointment in the Emory Hospital, removed to Washington. In Au- gust, 1865, he established himself permanently in Philips- burg, his excellent professional qualities enabling him to rapidly build up an extensive practice in that town. For several years past he has been Surgeon to the Middle & Eastern Division of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, and is also Assistant Surgeon to the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. Among the medical men of the section in which he practises he occu- pies a leading position, being one of the most active and influential members of the Warren County Medical Society, and holding at present the position of Vice-President in that organization.

UGH, HON. JOHN HOWARD, M. D., of Bur- lington, son of Elijah and Lettice (Barnard) Pugh-the former fifth in descent from Daniel and Catherine Pugh, immigrants to this country from Wales in the early part of the last century ; the latter descended from Godfrey Barnard, of French origin, who died and was buried at Wareford, Eng- land, in 1240, and one of whose descendants immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1685-was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, June 23d, 1827. Having received a thorough academic education, he was for some three years associ- ated with Professor Wickersham, now the able Superin- tendent of Public Instruction in Pennsylvania, as his as- sistant in the conduct of an academy at Marietta, his lei- sure time during this period being utilized for a continuation of his studies in classical and general literature. Relin- quishing his position in the Marietta Academy, he began the study of medicine, and after regular attendance upon lectures in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, he was in 1852 graduated with honors, and received from that institution his degree of M. D. Imme- diately upon graduation, he established himself as a physi- cian at Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, but within a few months failing health compelled him to temporarily

relinquish practice, and as a sanitary measure he betook himself to the mining regions of Lake Superior. A year in this bracing climate thoroughly restored his health, and returning to the seaboard States, he permanently estab- lished himself, in the spring of 1854, in Burlington, where he has since continued to reside. His skill as a physician, and his strong traits of personal character, enabled him to quickly win and constantly hold the confidence of the com- munity of which, as an entire stranger, he had become a part, and he rapidly rose to take rank with the most prom- inent and influential of his fellow-citizens. Aside from his professional ability, he has displayed in his management of the Mechanics' National Bank of Burlington, of which he has been President for the past eight years, remarkable judgment and administrative talent as a financier. During the late war he was a zealous supporter of the Federal gov- ernment, laboring with voice and pen to secure its triumph, and giving a practical proof of his loyalty by attending without compensation the sick and wounded soldiers in the United States General Hospital at Beverly. In September, 1876, he was nominated by the Republican State Conven- tion to represent the Second Congressional District of New Jersey. The nomination was on his part unsought and un- expected, but received the unqualified approval of the Re- publican party and Republican press of the district. In the election that took place in the ensuing November he was elected by a handsome majority, and is at present (1877) efficiently discharging the duties of his high office.

ALDWIN, MILTON, M. D., of Newark, was born in Newark, October 22d, 1821. Having received an ample preparatory education, he began the study of medicine at the University of New York, and in 1843 received from that institution his de- gree of M. D. In the same year he established himself as a physician in his native town, and in a very short time-his pleasant social qualities uniting with his professional skill to render him popular-built up an exten- sive and lucrative practice. In 1848, although then one of the youngest physicians in the city, he was elected Coroner by a handsome majority, and in 1851-52 was elected by a similar full vote a member of the Board of Education. In 1854 he was again elected Coroner, and was re-elected dur ing four successive years. During the last two years (1857-58) of his service as Coroner, he also held other im- portant municipal offices, being an Alderman of the city of Newark in 1857, and President of the Common Council in 1858. Finding the duties of public life incompatible with the duties of his greatly increased practice, he has since 1858 declined all save professional offices, and has given his time wholly to his profession. In October, 1862, he entered the medical department of the United States volun-

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teer army as an Acting Assistant Surgeon; was assigned to | the Romans," published in Philadelphia in 1835, issued in the Ward General Hospital at Newark, and until June, abridged form in 1836, rewritten and enlarged and repub- lished in 1866; " Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," two volumes, published in 1840-41; " The Way of Life," 1842; " Commentaries on the Ephesians," 1856; " Commentaries on the First Epis- tle to the Corinthians," 1857; " Commentaries on the Sec- ond Epistle to the Corinthians," 1860; " Systematic The- ology," three volumes, 1871-72; " What is Darwinism ? " 1874. A ripe scholar, a profound theologian, and a most estimable gentleman, he enjoys, in a high degree, the respect and esteem of a very wide circle. 1865, rendered faithful and efficient service in that institu- tion. The discharge of this duty of course involved a con- siderable (temporary) loss of practice and very greatly in- creased labor; but on neither account did he permit his earnest loyalty to be discouraged, and until the end he re- mained true to his self-imposed trust. From the outset of his career his personal popularity has been a potent factor in his success. Naturally buoyant and cheerful in disposition, courteous in manner, warm-hearted and outspoken in his friendships, and true to his friends, his genial, kindly qual- ities have paved the way for a recognition of his professional skill, and have assured to him the merited esteem of all who have known him either casually or well.

ODGE, REV. CHARLES, D. D., LL. D., Clergy- man, Author, and Professor of Didactic, Exeget- ical and Polemic Theology in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, was born in Philadelphia, December 28th, 1797, and graduated from the New Jersey College in 1815. In 1819 he be- came a graduate of the Princeton Theological Seminary ; in 1820 was appointed Assistant; and in 1822 Professor of Oriental and Biblical Literature in that institution. In 1840 he was made Professor of Didactic and Exegetical Theology, a position for which he was admirably qualified by his innate bent and sterling attainments. Twelve years later polemic theology was added, and the chair thus con- stituted he still holds. In 1825 he founded the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, enlarging its plan in 1829, and conducting it until it was changed into the Pres- byterian Quarterly and Princeton Review in 1872. The most important of his contributions to this journal were re- printed in the " Princeton Theological Essays," two vol- umcs, 1846-47, and in his " Essays and Reviews," issued in 1857. In 1846 he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, Old School, and in 1858 he was appointed a member of the committee in- trusted with the revision of the Book of Discipline. On the 24th of April, 1872, the semi-centennial anniversary of his appointment to the professorial dignity, a notable celebra- tion occurred at Princeton. Between four and five hun- dred classmen and former pupils assembled, and by appro- priate exercises and ceremonies conveyed to the eminent scholar and teacher their congratulations on the happy oc- casion, and marked their great love and estcem for the man and the professor. The proceedings. were subsequently published in book form, and in that shape have had large circulation among the graduates of the institution. Among the principal works which have proceeded from Dr. Hodge's pen may be mentioned his "Commentary on the Epistle to |He did not, however, retire from all business, but rather

ERRY, NEHEMIAHI, Retired Manufacturer and Statesman, of Newark, New Jersey, was born at Bridgefield, Connecticut, March 30th, 1816. His father was a farmer. He was educated at the Wesleyan Seminary of Bridgefield, and intended to study medicine, but, his health failing, he was compelled to give up that intention. At the age of sixteen he became a clerk in the dry-goods store of George St. John, at Norwalk, Connecticut, with whom he remained in that capacity for two or three years, performing his duties with fidelity and marked cleverness. IIis employer was more than satisfied with his services; but, stirred by a just ambition to do greater things, he resolved to seek a sphere where greater things were to be done. Pursuant to this resolution, he went to the city of New York, where, shortly after his arrival, he engaged as a clerk in a clothing store on the corner of Greenwich and Cortlandt streets. This, however, was not by any means the entertainment to which he had invited himself, and, while diligently performing the duties of his clerkship, he kept his eyes and ears open to catch the clew or cue to some larger opportunity: It pres- ently came in the shape of a tempting report about Newark, which finally induced him to visit that city, where, though only twenty years of age, and a total stranger, he soon made the acquaintance of influential citizens, and, what was more to the purpose, made an excellent impression on them, the result at last being the establishment of the cloth and clothing manufacturing firm of N. Perry & Co., through which he built his fortune, and laid the foundations of his fame. He continued at the head of this firm for sixteen years, during which it grew to be one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the United States, having branch houses in St. Louis, Omaha, Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Nashville, and Petersburg, Virginia, and being distinguished alike for its enterprise, Its financial resources, and the perfect system upon which its vast busi- ness was conducted. Ile showed himself a prince among business men, and, as the reward of his rare energy and sagacity, was able in 1866 to retire with an ample fortune.

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transferred his capital to new forms of investment, entailing | nominated him for the Mayoralty of Newark, and, the per- less toil and vigilance in the' management, and leaving him some portion at least of that leisure to which his means and his achievements entitled him. Confiding, as he does, and as he well may, in the future of Newark, he has, for one thing, invested largely in real estate there ; but he is, be- sides, connected more or less prominently with most of the leading business corporations, and a Director of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, one of the most important institutions of the kind in the whole country, of the Ameri- can Insurance Company, of which he is now Vice-President, and of the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Com- pany. While the weight of his immense establishment still rested on his shoulders, though," he found time, without compromitting in the least his business interests, to enter upon a political career, and pursue it with a success and to a length which few unoccupied men are able to reach. He was elected in 1852 a member of the Common Council, of which he was the presiding officer for several terms. In 1850 he was elected to the State Assembly from the Newark District, and in 1856 re-elected, being at his second term the caucus nominee of his party for the position of Speaker of the House. In 1860 he was nominated by the Bell-Everett or Constitutional Union party for Congress against William Penington, and elected by a majority of four hundred and ninety-nine. He was re-elected in 1862, by a majority of three hundred and eighty-four, over Joseph P. Bradley, then a leading lawyer of Newark, now a member of the Supreme Court of the United States. A's a representative in Congress, he displayed ability and efficiency, serving with credit as a member of the Committee on Commerce, and of other important committees, and, though speaking but seldom, speaking always with discretion and effect. One of the most sensible and cogent speeches made in the House during the critical period of the war was his speech in 1862 on the state of the Union, closing with this inspiring and eloquent forecast of the issue : " Though everything may be dark and foreboding, still behind the cloud of rebellion the sky is clear and beautiful. Soon the breath of heaven will sweep across the threatening mass, and one by one the stars on that dear banner will reappear; then we can count the thirty-four, and thank God that they are all there." His remarks, in the following session, on the death of Senator Thomson, of New Jersey, were charged with subdued pathos and beauty. " Let us all strive," he said exquisitely in conclusion, " so to live that, when gradually sinking into the ocean of eternity, we may leave on the fluctuating waves of time a golden tint." At this time his political affiliations were Democratic, he having joined the Democracy on the dissolution of the Whig party, of which he had been a con- sistent and devoted adherent for the preceding twenty years. In 1868 he was a candidate before the Democratic State . Convention for the gubernatorial nomination, and, but for differences in the Newark delegation, would have received it, in place of Mr. Randolph. The Democrats in 1873

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 123

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