The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 14

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

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LLEN, GEORGE A., Lawyer, of Flemington, New Jersey, was born in Westport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, and is a son of the late William. Allen, formerly a merchant of that place. The family is of English origin, and were among the early settlers of Connecticut. They were noted for their fidelity and patriotism during the war for independence. Both his paternal and maternal grandfathers served as officers in the revolutionary army, and one participated in the battle of Long Island, where he was taken prisoner by the British and suffered untold pri- vations and hardships at their hands. George A. Allen was being prepared for college at Greens Farms Academy when his father died suddenly, and as his pecuniary affairs were . not in a condition to allow his son to pursue a collegiate course, the latter commenced teaching school at Milford, Connecticut, where he continued in this vocation about two years; and thence removed to New Jersey, where he again commenced teaching in a school near Flemington, and was likewise so occupied another two years. At the expiration of this latter period he entered the law office of James N. Reading, then of Flemington (now of Morris, Illinois), and commenced his legal studies. He remained there four years, and in 1844 was licensed as an attorney. He soon became known as an ardent, energetic practitioner, who could be entirely depended upon, both as advisory counsel or in the management of cases, and as such rapidly ac- quired practice. On the outbreak of the great rebellion he enlisted as a private in the 3d Regiment New Jersey Vol- unteers on the first call for troops. He was, however, soon promoted to a Captaincy; and the regiment to which he was attached was one of the first in the field, reaching Wash- ington City by the way of Annapolis. On the expiration of the term for which he had enlisted he returned with his regiment to New Jersey. As his extensive legal and pri- vate business demanded his attention, he was thus prevented from returning to the field; but throughout the entire period of the war he was active and earnest in his support of the Union cause and in the raising of men and means to carry on the contest. His legal practice still continues a large one, and there is rarely any important case in the county in which he is not engaged. As a chancery lawyer he enjoys a reputation second to none in the State. He prepares his cases with the utmost care, and seldom takes one into court with a single point unguarded, while he will speedily detect any weaknesses, however slight, in his opponent's side. In arguing a case he never displays much oratorical effort, but arranges the facts and circumstances in the most forcible and logical manner, and never allows the judge or jury to

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client's case in the best possible light that it is capable of the firm continued until the death of the senior member. assuming. His undoubted probity and his unswerving de- votion to the interests of his clients have placed him at the head of the profession in his section of the State, and have won for him an extensive and lucrative practice, which has yielded him a competency. He assisted materially in the organization of the Hunterdon County Bank, and was at one period President of the same, and also was one of the organizers of the bank at Lambertville, both of which in- stitutions are at present national banks. In 1856 he, with others, founded the Hunterdon Republican, and was one of its editors, and still continues one of its proprietors. Ilis political creed was formerly that held by the Whig party, but he became a Republican, and was one of those who brought that organization as a party into existence. In 1872, or thereabouts, when the liberal Republican party was formed, which nominated Horace Greeley for the Presidency, he supported that movement, and at that time retired from the editorial management of the Republican, but continued one of the proprietors of that journal. IIe is a member of the State Editorial Association, and during the Greeley campaign he was one of the State Executive Committee. He was married in 1850 to Mary, daughter of Charles Bonnell, of Flemington. Ilis eldest son, William D. Allen, was admitted to practise at the bar in 1875; and his second son, Charles W., is now (1876) a student in the medical department of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

HETWOOD, FRANCIS B., late Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law, of Elizabeth, was born, Feb- ruary Ist, 1806, at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and was the son of the late Hon. William and Mary (Barher) Chetwood. His grandfather, John Chetwood, was an Associate-Justice of the Su- preme Court of New Jersey, and was of Quaker deseent. His resignation from the bench, as stated by one of his con- temporaries, was occasioned by " continued and increasing bad health; " but the tradition in his family is that it was " his unwillingness to sentence a man to death." He died in 1806, at Elizabeth, at the age of seventy-two years. Francis B. Chetwood obtained his education in the schools of his native place, and at the proper age commenced the study of the law in his father's office, the latter having been a prominent practitioner in his time. Francis was duly licensed as an attorney in November, 1828, and as a coun- sellor three years later. He commenced the practice of the law with his father, with whom he continued until the latter retired. IIe then followed his professional pursuits alone until about 1860, when he formed a partnership with William J. Magie, who had studied with him, the firm's name and style being Chetwood & Magie. After some years this firm dissolved, and he then associated with his son, Robert E. Chetwood, under the style of F. B. Chetwood & Son, and entered Princeton College, and there pursued a three years'

During his lifetime he held a large number of offices of trust and honor in the gift of his fellow-townsmen. He was Prosecutor of the Pleas for the county of Essex; this was prior to the formation of Union county. At an early period of his manhood he was a member of the City Council for several terms; also a member of the State Legislature for two years, and was elected Mayor of the borough, and also Mayor of the city of Elizabeth; in the latter office his ad- ministration was characterized by rare executive ability and remarkable industry. Ile was the projector of the Elizabeth Water and the Elizabeth Gas Companies, and it was owing, in a great measure, to his indomitable perseverance that these works were built, notwithstanding the indifference of some and the opposition of others. He was also one of the originators of the Elizabeth Orphan Asylum and of the Evergreen Cemetery, and was one of the two who pur- chased the grounds for the cemetery and became personally responsible for their cost. Ile also assisted in planning the grounds, giving the names to its avenues and paths, beside framing the rules and regulations for the government of the company. He took a warm interest in the growth and prosperity of his native place, which was especially noted for the elegance of the buildings he erected at various times and afterwards disposed of. Some of the finest suburban residences of Elizabeth were planned and erected by him. For many years he held the position of attorney for the old State bank; he lost heavily by the failure of several institu- tions, and these losses, added to continued domestic afflic- tion, had their effect upon his sensitive nature. He had becn long a communicant of St. John's Episcopal Church, in which he served for many years as a vestryman, and at the time of his death was a warden. As a citizen and neighbor he was universally beloved; he was as simple and unostentatious in his manners as he was pure and honorable in his dealings. Ile always acted in accordance with his convictions, whether they were popular or the reverse; and he left behind him a record that few can equal. lIe was married, April 3d, 1832, to Elizabeth P. Phelps; he died, January 18.h, 1875, leaving a widow, two sons and one daughter, two sons having died some years previous.

HIETWOOD, ROBERT E., Lawyer, of Elizabeth, is a native of the place in which he now resides, being born there, December 20th, 1837. On his mother's side he is of New England descent, his mother, Eliza P. Phelps, having been born in Connecticut; but his father, Francis B. Chetwood, was a native of Elizabeth. Robert received the rudiments of his education at the common schools of Elizabeth. llc " had a turn for study," and his progress was rapid and thorough. When he had arrived at the proper age he

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course of study. He graduated in the year 1858, and | position two years. In 1864 he was chosen Senator from immediately commenced the study of the law. That he Burlington county, and served in that capacity for three years in the Legislature, 1864 to 1867; while a member of that body he was placed on several important committees. For twelve years he filled the post of Inspector and Col- lector, at Bordentown, for the Delaware & Raritan Canal. During his occupancy of that important position millions of dollars passed through his hands, all of which was satis- factorily accounted for. He is at present a director in the Bordentown Banking Company, as also of the Steam Tow- ing Company. He was appointed State Treasurer in Feb- ruary, 1875. Throughout his whole life he has been noted for his industrious habits, his sterling honesty and unim- peachable character; while he is regarded by his fellow- lownsmen as an energetic, public spirited citizen. He was married in 1848 to Jane M. Bradley, of Richmond county, New York. The old homestead of his father, in New York State, is still in his possession. should become a lawyer was almost a matter of course. Ilis father was a prominent member of the profession, who had also been mayor of the city, and of the borough before its incorporation as a city. Moreover, the son had a strong natural inclination toward the law, and a thorough fitness for that profession. He entered the office of his father as a student, and prosecuted his studies with vigor and rapid success. He was licensed as an attorney in June, 1861. In June, 1864, he received his license as counsellor-at-law. Ilis progress in his profession was rapid, and he speedily attained a high place at the bar and in the confidence of his professional brethren and of the public. In the year 1874 he was elected to the office of City Attorney of Elizabeth, a position which he still holds. Politically he is of the Re- publican faith, and has been an active and effective worker in the ranks of that party since his majority. Repeatedly he has been delegate to Republican conventions, and has served the party in numerous other capacities. Ile was married, March 5th, 1867, to Kate A. McGowan, daughter of Captain John McGowan, of the United States Revenue Service.

RIGIIT, GEORGE M., State Treasurer, was born, July 18th, 1817, in Newshoreham, New- port county, Rhode Island, and is a son of Wil- liam L. and Lucy ( Minor) Wright, both of Rhode Island, and both of English descenit. His father was for many years a sea captair, but the latter portion of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuit-, he having removed to Otsego county, New York, where he died. George received his preliminary education at the district school of Rhode Island, and then became a pupil in a select school at Hartwick, in the same county. When twenty years old he left the academy, and went to New York at twenty-one to better his condition ; and being pos- sessed of an active, energetie spirit, he soon advanced him- self in the world. He engaged in various enterprises, which all proved successful, as to whatever he undertook he gave all his attention, and allowed nothing to escape his notice which might in the end conduce to his benefit. In 1851 he was the agent for George W. Aspinwall's line of steamers, which position he retained until the death of that gentleman, which occurred in 1853. About that time the Pennsylvania Steam Towing & Transportation Company was formed, in which he became a large stockholder, and has continued as such ever since. From his long connec- tion with the steamboat interests of New Jersey he is more familiarly known as Captain Wright. In 1851 he removed to New Jersey, and resided in New Brunswick for about three years, when he selected Bordentown as his future home, and of which he still continues a citizen. He was elected Mayor of Bordentown in 1858, and held that

OWELL, REV. ISAAC P., late Pastor of St. Mary's Church, Elizabeth, New Jersey, was born, July 16th, 1811, in the city of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Dr. Abraham and Mary Elizabeth (Rosette ) Howeil. His father was an eminent physician and a Staunch Protestant; while his mother was of French ex- traction and a zealous member of the Roman Catholic Church. In accordance with the views of his father, he commenced the study of medicine in 1829, but before he had completed his prescribed course of readings his father clied-in 1832. At the carnest solicitation of his mother, he entered Mount St. Mary's College, in Maryland, to study divinity and prepare himself to exercise the sacred functions of a priest of the church. He was ordained by the late Archbishop Hughes, March 17th, 1844, and immediately was detailed for duty in Elizabeth. Although that city is the oldest settlement in New Jersey, but few members of the Roman Catholic Church ever resided there until of late years. Less than half a century ago-in 1829-there were but three of that faith sojourning there; when their reli- gious faith was discovered they were obliged to leave, as no employment would be given them. In the course of time, especially when the New Jersey Railroad, and at a later day when the Central Railway were in process of construc- tion, a large influx of laborers professing that faith were added to the population of the town ; but there were no ser- vices held as yet, and very little probability that any would be needed, as the Roman Catholic population was, so to speak, a floating population. The late Rev. P. Moran, of Newark, then the only priest there, attended to the sick calls of the railroad laborers; and in 1842 Rev. Ildefonso Medrano, then stationed on Staten Island, visited the few scattered members of the fold in and near Elizabeth, and

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occasionally celebrated for them the rites of religion; but love of country, he has through life proved himself a public- the prejudice against the church was such that the only spirited and useful citizen, always rendering substantial support to all movements calculated to advance the material and social welfare of the nation, in whose creation his pro- genitors bore so conspicuous and honorable a part. He was educated at the New York University, and the superior advantages he there enjoyed were improved to the full. Shortly after commencing the active business of life he re- moved to the South, and from 1834 to 1846 was engaged in New Orleans as a merchant. Subsequently he returned North, and since 1852 has conducted business as a mer- chant in the city of New York, residing at his native place, Rahway. In the progress of this rapidly advancing locality he has always manifested an active interest. He has been President of the Rahway Savings Institution since its or- ganization, in 1853. In the subsequent year he was chosen President and Managing Director of the Passaic Zinc Com- pany, a corporation of the State of New Jersey, engaged in the manufacture of oxide of zinc, spelter and sheet zinc at Jersey City, with mines in Sussex county, New Jersey, for- merly owned by Lord Stirling -- that is, hefore the revolu- tionary war. He has continued to serve the company in that capacity until the present time, and its substantial pros . perity is attributable in large degree to the wise and prudent character of his management of its affairs. He was married on November 8th, 1841, to Catherine Craig, daughter of Dr. David S. Craig, a highly respected physician of Rahway (now deceased). place he could procure for the purpose was a low tavern on the outskirts of the town, and his visitations were attended hy the most unfavorable circumstances, not only to his own personal interest, but also to the most vital interests of re- ligion. And this was the state of affairs when Father Howell appeared. After considerable difficulty he pro- cured a small room, in a house near the town, in which to celebrate mass. On Palm Sunday, 1844, a congregation of about twenty-five assembled to greet their pastor and assist at the sacred rites of religion. Notwithstanding that he met with opposition, yet there was somewhat of an in- crease in the congregation during that year, and a collection was commenced in the fall to purchase a lot whereon to ercct a church. In April, 1845, the basement wall of St. Mary's of the Assumption was laid, and on the first Sunday in Advent of the same year a substantial brick church, fifty fect square, was sufficiently completed to accommodate the congregation, which had then increased to about 100. In the course of a few years the church became too small for the rapid growth of the parish, and in 1847 the German members of the congregation left and erected an edifice for themselves. In 1851 a substantial hrick school-house, two stories high, was erected alongside of St. Mary's Church. In 1858 the enlargement and remodelling of the church and erection of a pastoral residence were commenced; and in the spring of 1862 the work was completed. A beautiful church, 133 feet long and 66 feet wide, with a spacious pastoral residence, are the best evidences of the zeal and charity of the congregation. To this congregation did Father Howell minister until the close of his life. At the outbreak of the great rehellion, in 1861, he promptly es- poused the cause of the Union, and induced many of his flock to aid in the defence of their country. He was a man of marked learning and ability, and the founder of the Ro- man Catholic Church in Elizabeth. He died, August 31st, 1866, and his funeral was attended by all denominations, who had learned to respect and honor him.

QUIER, WILLIAM CRANE, Merchant, of Rah- way, New Jersey, was born in that place on Jan- uary 8th, 1812. He is descended from illustrious ancestors. IIis grandfather, John Squier, mar- ried Ilannah Clark, cousin of Abram Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence; his uncle, Abram Clark Squier, was captured from a privateer by a British cruiser and consigned to the famous New York sugar-house prison, where he died from slow starvation ; his father, Jonathan Squier, married Hannah Crane, a niece of General William Crane, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, who distinguished himself as an officer of the revolutionary army. Inheriting from his ancestry an ardent

HITE, HON. JOHN MOORE, Lawyer and Jurist, late of Woodbury, was born, 1770, at Bridgeton, Cumberland county, New Jersey, and was the youngest son of an English merchant who had originally settled in Philadelph a and who had married the daughter of Alexander Moore, who had settled in Bridgeton about 1730, and had been engaged there in business for many years and had acquired a com- petence. She was of Irish descent, and a remarkably hand- some woman ; and the same may be said of her husband's appearance. She died while her youngest son was but an infant, Icaving also two other sons. The widower returned to England ; but when the revolutionary war broke out he took the patriot's side, returned to America, obtained a commission in the army, was an aide to General Sullivan, and was killed in the battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania. Alexander Moore, their grandfather, became the guardian of the three boys, and educated them. IIc died in 1786, and bequeathed to them a large portion of his landed prop- crty, including a large tract on the east side of the Cohansey river, upon which the city of Bridgeton is built. Judge White studied law with Joseph Bloomfield, and received his license as an attorney in 1791, as a counsellor in 1799, and as a serjcant-at-law in 1812. He settled in Bridgeton, where he entered upon the practice of his profession, and

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

where he continued to reside until ISOS, when he removed | & Maine road he continued for two years, and resigned to to Woodbury, and lived there until the close of his life. He was very successful as an advocate, and was well versed in the common law as applied to matters where real estate was concerned; and, as he had made himself fully ac- quainted with the surveys located under the proprietors, he was generally charged with cases where boundary lines were involved. He was also, during his professional life at the bar, the Prosecutor of the Pleas of the State for several years in the counties of Cumberland and Salem. During the early part of his residence in Woodbury he was elected a member of Assembly, to represent Gloucester county in that body, and was several times re-elected. He was ap- pointed Attorney-General of the State in 1833, and served in that position during his five years' term, and would have retained the position had it been possible for him to have done so. But when the joint meeting of the Legislature was held, in 1838, another person was elected as his suc- cessor, while he was nominated and elected a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State. He served his term of seven years on the bench, and at its close retired to private life. He had married, about the time of his admission to the bar, Miss Zuntzinger, and his family consisted only of one child, a daughter, who died when only about sixteen years old. Judge White's years were protracted beyond fourscore years and ten. He died, 1862, in the ninety-second year of his age.

ARKER, GEORGE W., Division Superintendent of the New York Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and a resident of Jersey City, was born in Strafford county, New Hampshire, June 17th, IS28. His father, Benjamin Barker, of New Hampshire, and his brother, Hon. David Barker, memher of Congress from New Hampshire, were the origin- ators of the woollen manufacture now so extensively carried on in that section. His mother, Eliza March, was the daughter of Hon. Jonas C. March, a man of public note for many years in New Hampshire. It was in the public schools that the subject of this sketch received all the edu- cational training he ever enjoyed, and, his father having failed in the great panic of 1837, it was necessary that at an early age he should do something for his living. Ac- cordingly at sixteen years of age he began working in a saw-mill. After a short employment there he engaged with the Eastern Express Company as a messenger, and in this occupation he continued for about a year. He then assisted his father in the conduct of a grist-mill and in the manufac- ture of shoe-lasts. For several years he remained with his father, and in IS51 was appointed Station Agent at Ro- chester, on a branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad. Here he struck the right track, and made it manifest that his path lay in the direction of railroading. With the Boston

become Freight Agent for the Salem & Lowell, and the Lowell & Lawrence Railroads, at Lowell, acting as Gen- eral Freight Agent as well as Local Agent for both of these roads, which at that time were under the management of William Livingston. In April, 1854, he resigned his po- sition on these roads, and moved to Jersey City to enter the freight department of the Erie Railway, as Assistant Local Freight Agent. After holding this post for one year he was transferred to a passenger conductorship, and travelled in that capacity until September, 1858, when he was dis- missed the road by D. C. McCallum for passing some of the family of one of its directors. He was, however, shortly after reinstated by Charles Minot, and ran as Conductor on the Elmira & Canandaigua Branch of the Erie road, where he served for two years, and was then transferred to Chicago as Passenger Agent for the same railroad in that city. At the expiration of two years he resigned that position, and, by request, connected himself with the New Jersey Rail- road & Transportation Company, as Conductor. After run- ning in that capacity for twelve months he was made Depot Master at Jersey City, and so continued for about four months, when he was appointed Master of Transportation. In this office he served until 1871, when the Pennsylvania Railroad Company took charge of the United Railroads of New Jersey, when he was appointed Division Superin- tendent of the New York Division, extending from New York to Philadelphia. In this responsible position he has demonstrated more strikingly than ever before his special fitness to take part in the active operation of a railroad. When he first arrived in Jersey City the entire number of trains centring at that point was only twenty-two daily, a total that included the trains of the Erie, the Morris & Essex, and the New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Com- panies. Now the Pennsylvania Railroad Company alone run eighty-two passenger trains each way daily from their depots. In this total are included those of the Lehigh Val- ley, New Jersey Midland, Montclair & Greenwood Lake, and Jersey City & Albany Railroads, all of which are under the immediate supervision of Mr. Barker. On the opening of the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, there were 344 trains handled on the New York Division in twenty- four hours, the movement of seventy-eight of them being directed each way by telegraph. Again, on the occasion observed as New York Day at the Exposition, and for a day or two previous and for a day or two after, there was an immense strain upon the resources of the division and upon the executive ability of its Superintendent, while from' about the end of August until after the close of the Expo- sition the travel on the road was simply enormous, taxing heavily the capacity and endurance of this officer and his assistants. The whole of this extraordinary travel, owing to the system and careful attention of the Superintendent, was conducted on remarkable time and without an accident by which a passenger was injured. Having served in almost

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 14

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