The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 19

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

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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

College, and after his graduation he studied law with Gov- [ nary degree of success. His researches and studies in a ernor Pennington, of New Jersey, but never entered upon constantly expanding science, his eare and attention when called to act or consult, his frequent contributions to the literature of medicine and dental surgery, have all combined to raise him to a leadership in his profession in the city of his residence. IIe was married in 1871 to Jane Medora Haughwont, of Port Richmond, Staten Island. professional practice. For a period he was on Governor Pennington's staff, with the rank of Colonel. He has al- ways continued to reside at Ursino, and is identified with all the leading interests of Elizabethtown and vieinity. A man of fine abilities, high culture and eminent social position, he occupies a prominent and leading position as a public- spirited and influential citizen, enjoying the fullest confi- dence and the highest esteem of the entire community. He was one of the founders, and was the first President of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and is now acting as New Jersey Director of that company. He is President of the National State Bank, of Elizabethtown, and is connected in various capaeities with numerous other institutions. In- deed, he has been and continues to be identified with most of the moneyed institutions of Elizabeth. He was active in the foundation of many of these institutions, and in others his interest was inherited. His duties in connection with these various enterprises oceupy his time and attention fully, and he takes no aetive interest in politics, and has never sought or held public office of any kind. He is one of the wealthiest men in New Jersey, and enjoys the rare distinc- tion of rendering his great wealth beneficial to the fullest extent to the community surrounding him. He is married to a daughter of Caleb O. Halstead, of New York.

IMONSON, JACOB, D. D. S., of Newark, was born on Staten Island, Richmond county, New York, March 8th, 1844. His parents were Jacob and Caroline (Jacques) Simonson. His educa- tion, preliminary to his professional studies, was carefully conducted in the public schools and academy at his home, and finally at Kingston Academy, Pennsylvania. His studies in these institutions were com- prehensive, and admirably fitted him for his pursuit of pro- fessional science. In 1868 he entered the office of Dr. C. E. Francis, a celebrated practitioner in New York city, and under his preceptorship made rapid and thorough progress in his study of dentistry during the two years he remained with him. In 1870 he was entered on the rolls of the Phila- delphia Dental College, and at the commencement of 1871 graduated with honors. The theses prepared by him on that occasion were highly commended for their thorough- ness in research and their application of methods in profcs- sional duties. He supplemented this study by two courses of lectures on descriptive anatomy, at the Philadelphia School of Anatomy, in Philadelphia, and by a course of medical surgery at Blockley Almshouse, under Dr. William II. Pancoast and others. In the summer of this ycar he commenced the practice of his profession in New York city, and in the fall transferred his office to a more promising field in Newark, where he has since labored with no ordi-

WEN, FRED WOOSTER, M. D., of Morristown, was born, October 6th, 1840, on Martha's Vine- yard, Massachusetts. His father, Captain William W. Owen, descended from one of the oldest set- tlers in New England, was born at Wiscassett, Maine, and for many years commanded vessels in the foreign trade. His mother, Adeline Wooster (descended from Major-General David Wooster, who was killed in the revolutionary battle of Danbury, Connecticut, and a daugh- ter of Abel Wooster, M. D., born in Stratford, Connecticut) was born in New York city, and after a life to whose worth and beauty all bore tribute, died at Port Jefferson, Long Island, June 29th, 1867. Dr. Owen attended the French School of the Christian Brothers, the German School of Saint Matthew, and Public School, No. I, in New York, Mr. Hines' school in Warren, Connecticut, and Saint Mark's Hall, Orange, New Jersey. From 1855 to 1859 he prose- cuted classical studies in the Gymnasia of Neuchatel, Swit- zerland, and Leipsig, Germany. From October, 1859, to May, 1861, he was assistant bookkeeper in foreign houscs in New York. In June and July, 1861, he recruited sixty volunteers for the 2d New York Fire Zouaves, and went with that regiment to the war. November 12th, 1861, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 3Sth New York Vol- unteers. The following extracts from his military history are taken from the records of the United States Signal Corps, and from papers on file in the War Department at Washing- ton : " Was detached for signal duty by Brigadier-General John Sedgwick, December 24th, IS61, and reported for said duty to Major Albert J. Myer, signal officer of the army at Signal Camp of Instruction, Georgetown, District of Colum- bia, January Ist, 1862; " " February 24th, 1862, was or- dered to report for signal duty to General Hooker, on the lower Potomac; " " Licutenant Owen acted as a Signal Officer during the entire Peninsular campaign, and was fre- quently mentioned by his commanding offieer for efficieney, zeal and gallantry; " "October 23d, 1862, Lieutenant Owen was, by virtue of General Orders No. 42, issued from Head-quarters United States Signal Corps, Camp ncar Har- rison's Landing, Virginia, July 23d, 1862, awarded a set of ' battle flags,' inscribed ' Yorktown' and ' West Point,' for having gallantly carried and used his signal flags in those battles ; " " For services at the battle of Antietam and on the pursuit to Shepherdstown, Virginia, Seeond Lieutenant F. W. Owen occupied the front near Rutlett's House, and

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

bravely maintained it for some hours under an artillery fire." He was promoted to First Lieutenant, 38th New York Volunteers, December Ist, 1862. Captain B. F. Fisher, Acting Signal Officer, in a report dated December 18th, 1862, and covering the battle of Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia, says : " It gives me pleasure to mention the courage displayed and the marked attention given to duty, under the fire of the enemy, by Lieutenant Owen." Upon the expi- ration of the term of service of the 38th New York Volun- teers, early in 1863, the regiment was mustered out, and Lieutenant Owen, having received authority to have the ad- ditional names of " Fort Powhattan," "Antietam," and " Fredericksburg " inscribed upon his battle flags, severed, with honor, his connection with the Signal Corps. Imme- diately after this, upon the recommendation of his colonel, and of Generals Sedgwick and Howard, he was ap- pointed by President Lincoln, Captain and C. S. Vol- unteers, and continued to serve with the Army of the Potomac in the field from April 30th, 1863, to November 30th, 1864, when disease, contracted in the service, com- pelled his resignation upon surgeon's certificate of disability, and he was honorably discharged from the service. The following, from his immediate commander, covers his career in his new field of service : " West Point, New York, Janu- ary 2d, 1867. Brevet Major Fred Wooster Owen served for a long time under my command in the 2d Division, 2d Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. IIe was most con- scientious and assiduous in the performance of his various duties, particularly indefatigable in campaign movements, and most enterprising. I respected him as an officer and as a man. Alex. S. Webb, Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet Major-General United States Army." At the close of the war Captain Owen received from the United States the brevet of Major, and from the State of New York the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, both commissions being " for gallant and meritorious services during the war." In May, 1865, he received from General Howard an appointment in the Freedmen's Bureau. While in Washington, and outside of the government hours, he continued his medical studies commenced the previous year, and attended through the winters of 1865-66 and 1866-67 the courses of lectures of the medical faculty of Georgetown College. July Ist, 1866, he received the appointment as Chief Clerk of the Freed- men's Bureau, and, March 5th, 1867, the degree of M. D. from his Alma Mater. August 14th, 1867, he resigned his position in Washington, and was married to Louisa M. Graves, of Brooklyn, a graduate of the Packer Institute. Rufus R. Graves, his wife's father, was born in Sunderland, Massachusetts, November 6th, 1807. In 1830 he removed with his father to Macon, Georgia, and there established a successful business. In 1842 he removed to New York city, and established himself in a business from which he re- tired, after an eminently successful career, in 1873. He was one of the earliest promoters and managers of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, a Director of the

New Jersey Zinc Company, and of several New York in- surance companies. He was interested in all patriotic and benevolent enterprises, and contributed liberally to their support. He died, August 17th, 1876, at his residence in Morristown, New Jersey. November 6th, 1867, Dr. Owen and his wife sailed for Europe, and resided in Paris until November 30th, 1869, during which time the doctor, at- tached to Dolbeau's service, Hospital Beaujon, prepared for and passed the five examinations of the Doctorate of the Faculty of Paris; receiving his second diploma just before leaving for America. In December, 1869, he settled in Brooklyn, and was appointed, in January, 1870, Adjunct Surgeon Long Island College Hospital. In June, 1870, his wife being an invalid, he removed to Morristown, Ncw Jersey, where he now resides and practises his profession. He is a member and an ex-officer of the Morris County Medical Society, was twice elected Health Physician of Morristown, and is the present County Physician.

AN AM BURG, REV. ROBERT, Clergyman, of Lebanon, was born, June 9th, 1809, about six miles south of Poughkeepsie, in the southern part of Dutchess county, New York, and is of both Hollander and French descent. His early occu- pation was that of husbandry, and in all the va- rieties of agricultural pursuits he was among the first in labor and success ; even at ten years of age he could handle a scythe with the same ease and agility as any older la- borer. The first twenty years of his life were passed in the usual routine of a farmer's life, receiving the education the common schools of the neighborhood afforded. When he had nearly attained his majority, he received a decided re- ligious impression, accompanied by a strong sense of Divine responsibility that he should devote himself exclusively to the service of the Lord. He at once began to prepare him- self under the tutelage of the Rev. Eliphalet Price, a very able and worthy Presbyterian minister, at Hughsonville, New York, and from thence he repaired to Whitesboro', in - the same State. In 1834 he entered Rutgers College, at New Brunswick, from which institution he graduated in the class of 1837. He subsequently matriculated in the Theo- logical Seminary in the same city, and took his degree in 1840; in both institutions the highest honors were conceded to him. When he entered the public ministry, his preaching was so popular and so significantly successful, that he was tendered a call in almost every vacant church where he ministered. He accepted a call to the Reformed Church of Lebanon, New Jersey ; and in a comparatively brief period the congregation grew until the edifice was filled to its utmost capacity. The field of his labors embraced a rich, rural country, thickly settled, about ten to twelve miles square. The calls to duty were frequent, and the duties

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

themselves multiform and various. His labors were nu- He is now in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and is yet as vivacious in spirit, active in labor, and as persevering in his efforts as he was in his youth. He possesses a warm tem- perament, with great decision of character, accompanied with an energetic spirit that contends earnestly for victory in the battle of life. He makes it a point to preach twice for years agitating the expediency of erecting a new edifice, every Lord's day. He is benevolent, and is a generous giver; and his house is where the needy and afflicted are wont to gather. merous, often burdensome, and little time was left him for study or recreation. Years glided by with scarcely any cessation or rest, until August, 1837, when he resigned his charge and went to Fordham, New York, where he became pastor of an old church. The congregation there had been but internal and external strength was apparently paralyzed, and their efforts resulted in nothing, notwithstanding for seventeen years they had been striving to attain their object. In this state of lethargy he came among them, and instilled new life into the fold; the old, dilapidated structure was IGGETT, REV. JOHN ALBERT, A. M., Clergy- man, of Rahway, was born, November Ist, 1834, at Brandywine Manor, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Caleb and Jane (Cowan) Liggett; his father was a farmer by occupation. He was educated principally at Lafayette Col- lege, Easton, Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated in the class of 1857. He then entered the theological seminary at Danville, Kentucky, for the three years' course, and in 1860 was settled over a church at Crittenden, Kentucky, where he labored for four years. In 1864 he received and accepted a call from Rahway, to be- come the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of that city, and whose pulpit he has ably filled for the past twelve years, During that period the church membership has been largely increased under his ministry, and is at the present time in a flourishing condition. At one period he was Moderator of the New Jersey Presbytery. He was chosen to deliver the annual address before the Alumni of Lafayette College, June 25th, 1876. IIe was married, November 13th, 1861, to Mary B., the only daughter of George B. Armstrong, of Kentucky. filled to overflowing during the first year of his ministry, and in February, 1838, a meeting was called to take meas- ures for the erection of a new edifice. In the following month of August a beautiful brick building was dedicated, free of debt, with the exception of about $1200. This building was soon filled with an interesting worshipping assembly; and his salary was largely increased from the pew-rents. From Fordham he removed to Hughsonville, New York, after the former charge became independent. He was recalled to Lebanon in August, 1853, and almost immediately the old brick church was converted into a new, convenient and elegant frame structure, not surpassed by any church edifice in Hunterdon county; here also his labors were crowned with remarkable success. Great num- bers of the middle-aged, as also the young and old, were added to the church; and from the adjoining counties the population flocked to this church, insomuch that all could not obtain sittings, even on ordinary occasions, and it be- came the largest assemblage of any country congregation in the State. In 1869 he accepted a call to High Bridge, a church of his own organizing, it having grown under his care from a very few worshippers, in an obscure school- house, to a fairly sustaining congregation with a church edifice. When he had become settled as their permanent pastor, the building was found to be too small to accommo- date the necessary congregation ; whereupon he immediately HETWOOD, JOHN JOSEPH, Lawyer, late of Elizabeth (deceased), was born in that city, January 18th, 1800, and was the son of Dr. John Chetwood, a physician of great eminence, who was one of the first victims of the Asiatic cholera, in 1832; his grandfather, Ilon. John agitated the question of building a new edifice, and in the face of strenuous opposition he pushed the matter forward, and soon had the corner-stone laid, obtained the means, and speedily there was completed one of the finest speci- mens of Gothic architecture in the State, which now lifts its spire heavenward, as if indicating its future prosperity and Chetwood, was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court the moral elevation of the surrounding inhabitants. From High Bridge he removed to Lower German Valley, and took charge of the Presbyterian Church at that place. This also was an infant congregation, and under his ministry rapidly advanced in strength and devotion. From Lower German Valley he removed to Annandale, New Jersey, to another congregation which he had organized previously. At this point a large debt had been nearly liquidated in about two years and the number of attendants nearly doubled. He is still their pastor, and much greater good will doubtless be their lot under prayerfully discreet care. of New Jersey. John Joseph received a liberal education preparatory to his entering Nassau Ilall, and graduated from that ancient institution in 1818. Immediately after leaving college he entered the office of his uncle, William Chetwood, where he prosecuted his studies for the bar, and was licensed as an attorney in 1821, becoming a counsellor in 1825, and attaining the rank of a serjeant- at-law in 1837. Ile was for fourteen years Surrogate of Essex County, and also the first Prosecutor of the Pleas for Union County. Ile was also a member of the Legislative Council before the adoption of the present constitution of the State. Ile was

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

early identified with the great railroad enterprises of the State, active in the promotion of education and in the sup- port of religious institutions. His practice was large and remunerative. He was a man of generous and genial dis- position, a cheerful giver to charitable and benevolent objects. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and one of the Trustees of Burlington College. He was married to a granddaughter of General Elias brothers, Wesley and Fletcher, who subsequently became Dayton, and was a resident of Elizabeth, his native place, where he died, November 18th, 1861.

URRAY, REV. NICHOLAS, D. D., Clergyman, late pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of Elizaheth, was born, December 25th, 1802, at Ballynaskea, in the county of Westmeath, Ire- land, and was the son of Nicholas and Judith (Mangum) Murray. His father was a farmer of some property, and exerted considerable influence in the civil affairs of the neighborhood in which he lived ; he died in 1806. Nicholas remained at home under the care of his mother until he was about nine years old, when he went to reside with an aunt, his mother's sister, some ten or more miles distant, where he went to school until he reached the age of twelve. He was then apprenticed as a merchant's clerk in a store in Grannarth, near Edgeworthtown, where he remained three years. He was sadly and badly used by his employer, but he bore it bravely for those three years, and then fled to his mother's house. But she disapproved of this step, and urged him to return to the service of his master. He refused to do so, and chose to emigrate to America; telling his brother that he would relinquish all right to any property that he might inherit from his father's estate if he would give him the necessary means to convey him to the United States. His brother, moved by his en- treaties, gave him assistance, and he bade farewell to his native land. His parents were of the Roman Catholic faith, and he had been baptized and duly confirmed by the bishop; he had also conformed to the entire discipline of that church, never doubting the religion in which he had been reared, It was in July, 1818, when he arrived in New York, and his entire fortune was about twelve dollars. After finding lodgings he began to look for something to do, and visited store after store, acknowledging that he was perfectly willing to work, and resolved to do anything that was honest to help him to support himself. Among other places he called on the Messrs. Harper, who were then in the printing husiness in Pearl street. They listened to his story, and accepted him as an apprentice to their business ; moreover, he became an inmate of the family of one of the firm, where he associated with young men of his own age who had been religiously educated, and the influences which surrounded him were very favorable to his own moral improvement. His education and associations in

Ireland had not fitted him to fill any position that required culture; but he was ready for any task that he could per- form. He labored earnestly and steadily both at the press and at other employment in the printing department, so faithfully that he won the respect of all with whom he came in contact. The firm of J. & J. Harper was then composed of two brothers, James and John. Their two younger

members of the firm of Harper & Brothers, were then work- ing at the business with Murray, and were also his com- panions by night, occupying the same room with him in their mother's house. He continued in this family until the autumn of 1820, when he became a boarder in Mr. Kirk's house, in Liberty street, although he still continued in the employ of the Harpers. He there formed an intimacy with some young men, theological students chiefly, one of whom, who was afterwards known as Rev. J. B. Steele, of the Re. formed Dutch Church, proposed to teach him the Latin language. To this young Murray assented, and he made such rapid progress that at the end of six months he was not only able to translate " Virgil," but also possessed some knowledge of the Greek grammar. In the meantime his religious training had not been neglected. He had first abandoned the church of his fathers, and was lapsing into infidelity, when he was brought under the influence of the Methodists. After being a probationary member for a period he became an attendant upon the ministrations of the Pres- hyterian Church, and finally joined that communion. In the winter of 1820-21 he determined to prepare himself for the work of the gospel ministry, and at that time came under the notice of the Rev. Dr. Alexander Proudfit, of Salem, Washington county, New York, who encouraged him in the views he now entertained; and by means of funds, raised by several benevolent persons connected with the " Brick Church," in New York, he was enabled to pros- ecute his studies in that direction, having previously con- nected himself with that congregation, then under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Spring. Now that the way was open he entered upon his studies with greater avidity than before; for while he was earnestly seeking the assistance necessary for his support, while prosecuting his studies, he had neglected no opportunities of self-culture, but had been occupied in steadily improving every leisure hour. His associates were those who have since been distinguished in various public and private positions, and with them he mingled constantly. He was yet an apprentice to the Harpers, and his time and services were valuable to them, as he had so thoroughly learned the business; but when he sought their advice and assistance in reference to his future career, they cheerfully cancelled his indentures and bid him God-speed in his new sphere. In the fall of 1821 he went to Amherst Academy, Massachusetts, where he pre- pared for entering college, under the tutorship of Gerard Halleck, afterwards editor of the New York Journal of Commerce. He remained there about nine months, and in

phil

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

the autumn of 1822 entered the freshman class of Williams | Education elected him their Assistant Corresponding Secre- College, then under the presidency of Rev. E. D. Griffin, D. D. He was a diligent and earnest student, and always acquitted himself well; and he made rapid progress in his studies. During his sophomore year he was elected as the orator of the day on the anniversary of our national inde- pendence; and the lofty spirit of patriotism which pervaded his address showed how thoroughly he had become an American in sentiment. He passed through the four years' course of study, and graduated with honor in the summer of 1826. He then accepted for a short time an agency of the American Tract Society, and left New York to fulfil the same in September, 1826. He visited many cities and towns in the interior, where he addressed congregations and organized auxiliary societies. After a service of six or seven weeks he returned, and at once entered the Theologi- eal Seminary at Princeton. He remained there for some time, pursuing his studies under the care of the New York Preshytery, with which he had connected himself, occasion- ally accepting, during his vacations, an agency of the tract society, as a colporteur. On one of these occasions he ab- sented himself from the seminary beyond the specified time, and had neglected to inform the presbytery of his reasons therefor. It appears this body directed the moderator to write him a letter of caution ; and his letter in reply, which has been preserved, shows that he was capable of wielding a pen in self-defence, and was also not disposed to com- promise himself in the least, nor willing to obey such tyran- nical orders. He continued his labors in connection with the tract society in Pennsylvania, and was an efficient laborer in establishing an auxiliary society in Philadelphia. He was thus engaged for about eighteen months, and was enabled to lay by a sufficient store of money wherewith to sustain himself during the remainder of his divinity studies at Princeton. Notwithstanding his absence from the semi- nary he had kept pace with all the studies of his class during his leisure hours. In fact, so successful was he in this respect that his certificate of dismission from the semi- nary, given May 7th, 1829, states that he had entered the institution, November 9th, 1826, " and has ever since been a regular student." In April, 1829, he was licensed hy the Presbytery of Philadelphia to preach the gospel, and his first sermon was delivered in that city, in the " old Pine Street Church." He then filled a three weeks' engagement in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and proceeded to Wilkesbarre, in the same State, to hold a mission service of two months' duration, at the instance of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly. He was subsequently invited by the churches of Wilkesbarre and Kingston to become their pastor; and, after consulting with friends in Philadelphia, accepted the call. Ile was frequently during this ycar perplexed with calls from various sources, urging him to accept pastorates, and the American Tract Society wished him to become their permanent agent ; and before he had been even licensed to preach, the Presbyterian Board of

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 19

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