The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 2

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 ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

days, or a few weeks ; others did not hesitate to say that | and finally to resign the Presidency before the proceedings blood-letting would be of service to the nation." Herein appear the grounds upon which he opposed the measures of the Lincoln administration. He was a presidential elector in 1862 upon the Pierce ticket. During the excitement over the compulsory draft in July, 1863, he made a speech to a large assembly in Somerset county, which was the means of ealming passion and promoting obedience to the law, urging with great eloquence and force that the people were not the judges of the constitutionality of a law. He was a supporter of General Mcclellan for President in 1864, and his able and earnest efforts contributed greatly to the success of that ticket in New Jersey. In 1868 he was an elector on the Seymour and Blair ticket. Upon the death of his eldest son he took up his office of State reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court. For several years he was one of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund. In religious faith he sympathized with the Dutch Reformed Church, of which for many years he was a ruling elder. He was a Vice-President of the American Colonization and Bible Societies. His degree of LL.D. he received from the College of New Jersey in 1850. Possessing a vigorous constitution and iron frame, he continued to prosecute his profession with undiminished powers, till within a very short period of his death, which oeeurred November 18th, 1874.

were closed. Before the close of the year he died at the age of seventy-seven years. Prior to Governor William- son's entering upon the duties of Chancellor and Judge of the Prerogative Court of the State, those courts were com- paratively unimportant. Occasionally an important case was prosecuted in them, but the practice was in many re- spects very loose, and was understood by very few members of the har. Chancellor Williamson made himself thoroughly acquainted with the practice of the English courts of equity, after which the Court of Chancery in New Jersey had been originally modelled, and in 1822 prepared and adopted a set of rules greatly improving the business of the court. Moulded by his skill and learning, and dignified by his ad- ministration of its peculiar sphere of justice, the court was deservedly held in high repute, and became, and has since continued to be, a most important branch of the judiciary system of the State. Judge Elmer, from whose reminis- cences this sketch is culled, says of him : " Mr. William- son was one of the most thorough bred lawyers that ever adorned the bar of New Jersey. His learning was almost entirely the learning essential to a great lawyer, which, of course, was by no means confined to the mere technical de- tails of the profession. He was a diligent reader of history ; but during his busy professional life he did not allow his mind to be diverted by what is termed light literature; and he altogether abstained from any active participation in mere party politics. He was an able and very successful advocate, and when made Chancellor became a great equity judge.

ILLIAMSON, HON. ISAAC H., LL.D., Gov- ernor and Chancellor of the State of New Jersey from 1817 to 1829, was born at Elizabethtown in the year 1767. He studied law with his brother, ILLIAMSON, HON. BENJAMIN, LL.D., Chan- eellor of the State from 1852 to 1859, son of Governor and Chancellor Isaac H. Williamson, was born at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and graduated from Nassau Hall in 1827. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1830 and made a counsellor in 1833. He commenced and continued the practice of his profession in his native town, and soon rose to eminence. He served with great success as Prose- cutor of the Pleas for Essex County for several years, that heing at the time the most important office of the kind in the State. In 1852 he was appointed to the highest judicial position in the courts of New Jersey, succeeding Chancellor Oliver S. IIalsted, whose term then cxpircd. He filled this position, which his father had done so much to make important and which he had for so many years graced with his learning, with distinguished ability until the expi- ration of his term, and then resumed the practice of the law. There were few cases of importance or interest, arising in Mr. Williamson's section of the State, in which he was not employed, previous to his appointment as chancellor, and on his return to the bar he at once secured a large and Matthias Williamson, then, and for many years, one of the leading lawyers of the State. In 1791 he was licensed as an attorney ; in 1796 as a counsellor, and in 1804 was ealled to be a serjeant-at-law. Although in early life he ranked as a Federalist, he did not sympathize with that party in their violent opposition to the war of 1812, and in 1815 he was put upon the ticket for memher of the Assembly from Essex county hy the Democrats, with- out his knowledge, and elected a member of the Legislature. On the resignation of Governor Dickerson, after his being chosen Senator in 1817, Mr. Williamson was elected Gov- ernor, and was afterwards re-elected every year for twelve years. He was elected a member of the Council (now Senate) from Essex county for the years 1831 and 1832, and in 1832 would undoubtedly have heen elected Chief- Justice of the State, made vacant hy the death of Chief- Justice Ewing, if he had permitted the use of his name. In 1844 he was chosen a member of the convention which framed the new constitution of the State, and was unani- mously elected the President of that body, no other person heing nominated. He presided over its deliberations for some time, hut his health failed and he was obliged to leave, | important practice, extending over the whole State, Without

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

disparagement to others, he may be said for years to have | viceable to us, and to be very loving and kinde." He was occupied the position of leader of the bar. While Mr. Williamson has avoided public office outside the line of professional service, he has, on more than one occasion, been prominently urged by friends as United States Senator, and they only failed of his election by a few votes in 1863 or 1864. In 1860 he was a Delegate at large from the State to the Democratic Convention at Charleston, and in 1861 was appointed one of the delegates to represent New Jersey in the Peace Congress which met in Washington, composed of delegates from every State, and which was called in the hope and for the purpose of averting, if pos- sible, the impending conflict between the two sections of the country. Mr. Williamson has been all his life identified with the interests of the church, of education, and the de- velopment of the resources of the State. He has for years served as an officer of the church of St. John's Episcopal Parish and of the Union County Bible Society, as Trustee of the State Normal School, as Director and Counsel for the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey, of the State Bank of Elizabeth, and as Director and Trustee of the New Jersey Southern Railroad Company, as Commissioner of the Sinking Fund of Elizabeth, and in other positions of trust, both public and private. He still lives at Elizabeth, on the place formerly the residence of his father.

OOPER, RICHARD MATLACK, Bank President, Legislator and Judge, late of Camden, born in Gloucester county, New Jersey, February 29th, 1768, was a descendant of William Cooper, one of the first English occupants of a great part of the lands on the Delaware river opposite Phila- delphia. This ancestor, born in 1632, and a resident of Coleshill in Hertfordshire, became a convinced member of the Society of Friends, and, with his family, incurring a share of the persecutions to which that sect were cruelly subjected, sought, with others, relief and rest in the "new world," where, in 1678, they landed and located at Burling- ton, a settlement of West New Jersey, then a few years in existence. In a short time he purchased and removed to a large survey of land at Pyne Point (now Cooper's Point and Camden), opposite the Indian village of Shakamaxon, where, two years later, the famous treaty was made. It was at William Cooper's house at this place, and at Thomas Fair- man's at Shakamaxon, that the first Friends' Meetings in the locality of the future Quaker City were alternately held, un- til the arrival of William Penn in 1682, when " the ancient meeting of Shakamaxon " was removed to the newly-founded city of Philadelphia. The meeting at Pyne Point remained for some time longer, and a quaint old letter of the time, in mentioning this fact, says, " We had then zeal and fervency of spirit, although we had some dread of the Indians as a savage people, nevertheless ye Lord turned them to be ser-

an active member of the Assembly of West Jersey in the first meeting after its organization in 1681, and in subsequent sessions ; and also one of the West Jersey Council of Pro- prietors at the first meeting of that body in 1687, and there- after. An accepted minister of the society, he was found amongst those who, on behalf of the Yearly Meeting of Friends, testified against George Keith, in the celebrated controversy which for a time threatened schism in the then infant church. In the history of the family during succeed- ing generations, several served their State in official capaci- ties, amongst whom may be mentioned Joseph Cooper, chosen to represent Gloucester county in the Assembly for nineteen successive years; and many were prominent in the less public, but no less important stations of ministers and elders in their religious society. The position of the sub- ject of this sketch, as a large landed proprietor and a high personal character, soon brought him into the political field as a successful candidate in several elections for the Legis- lative Council of New Jersey. In 1813 he became Presi- dent of the State Bank at Camden, then recently chartered, and held that position by continuous annual elections, until a re-election was declined in 1842, the institution mean- while proving itself one of the most prosperous in the State. In 1829 he was chosen as Representative to the National Congress, and again in 1831. For several years he served as Presiding Judge of the Gloucester County Courts, and at various times filled other minor local positions of trust and honor, securing in every station the confidence and respect of all classes by his judgment, integrity, and amiable deport- ment. He died March 10th, 1844.

OOPER, RICIIARD MATLACK, M. D., son of Richard M. Cooper, was born at Camden, New Jersey, August 30th, 1816. In 1832, after a su- perior preliminary training, he entered the literary department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduated with honor in July, 1836, matriculated in the medical department of the same institution in October, 1836, and graduated in 1839, having studied under the supervision of the celebrated physician and medical author, Professor George B. Wood. Inheriting ability of a high order, studious by temperament, and gifted with remarkable powers of observation, he laid during these years of collegiate life and private study a sure foun- dation for success. Beginning professional practice in his native city under these favorable auspices, by indefatigable lahor and study a position was soon won amongst the fore- most of his professional brethren. An immense practice in the city and neighborhood and a reputation over and be- yond the State resulted, yet at no time did onerous engage- ments prevent a diligent study to keep pace with medical progress. Declining health gradually circumscribed bis

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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

usefulness, but neither this nor the possession of ample [ cipient of a midshipman's warrant at the hands of President means could induce retirement from the practice of a pro- fession loved for itself and for the good it enabled him to do, especially amongst the poverty-stricken and destitute classes, to whom his charitable services were freely ex- tended. Thus devoted to his calling he naturally took a deep interest in its welfare, and both as president and fellow was an active member of the medical societies of his State, county and city, being a founder of the Camden District Medical Society, in 1845, and of the Camden City Dispensary, in 1865. He also favored the establishment of the Camden Hospital, a project since carried into effect through the instrumentality of his brother, William D. Cooper, Esq. Honorable in every act, generous and kind by nature, of genial manners, a consistent Christian, a skilful physician, an earnest and public-spirited citizen, he died May 25th, 1874, loved, respected, and sincerely regretted.

OOPER, WILLIAM DANIEL, Lawyer, son of Richard M. Cooper, was born at Camden, Ncw Jersey, August 30th, 1816, graduated at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1836, studied law under the supervision of the Hon. William M. Meredith, of Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar of that city and Camden in 1841. In practice, though rarely appearing in the courts, he was recog- nized as one of the most sagacious counsellors in the profession, and a model of straightforward, strict integrity. As a citizen he was public-spirited, and by the judicious management of the large estates of his family lying within the limits of the city, contributed very materially to its growth and improvement, always carefully studying to ad- vance the interests of the community. Benevolent and philanthropic in disposition, the need of a hospital in West New Jersey drew his attention towards establishing such an institution, but death occurring before the realization of this project, his family, in accordance with the wish and plan of their relative, generously donated a large tract of land eligibly situated in the city of Camden, and the sum of $200,000 for the erection of suitable buildings thereon and as an endowment fund for their support. This noble charity, incorporated under the title of the Camden Hospital, will be ready to dedicate to public service during the early part of the present year (1877). Mr. Cooper died Febru- ary 18th, 1875.

EARNY, LAWRENCE, late Commodore of the United States Navy, was born, November 30th, 1789, in the then village of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, his father's family and ancestry having been among the carly settlers of that section. From his very boyhood he manifested a fondness for a maritime life, and in his eighteenth ycar was the re-

Jefferson and was immediately ordered to join the gunboat flotilla thien under the command of Commodore Rodgers, in which he served during the enforcement of the embargo laid upon American shipping in 1807. He was next ordered to the frigate "Constitution," and subsequently to the " President," both of which vessels were attached to the Home Squadron. He remained on the latter vessel until 1810, when he was transferred to the schooner " Enterprise," whose cruising ground extended from Cape Hatteras to the southern point of Florida, and while attached to this vessel received his commission as Lieutenant in the year 1813. In the meantime war had been declared against Great Britain, and to the infant navy of the republic was com- mitted the honor of the flag as well as the protection of the seaboard cities and towns. How well he bore his part in the conflict, the brave and gallant acts he performed, are told not only by contemporaneous writers, but are also re- corded by the impartial historian. At the close of the war he continued on the " Enterprise " as her Commander, and for some time thereafter was engaged on a special service. In this new field of operations he was equally successful, not only in benefiting his own countrymen, but also in pro- tecting the merchantmen of friendly nations, who had hitherto been at the mercy of the freebooters and pirates who had, from time immemorial, haunted the islands and keys from Key West down to the Spanish main. Through his active exertions, the band of the noted pirate, Gibbs, was completely broken up, a number of them being cap- tured, although the chief escaped with some of his outlawed companions. Three large vessels were recaptured from the corsairs, of which two, the American ship " Lucius," and the British brig " Larch," were delivered to their respective owners ; but the American brig "Aristides " had been pre- viously stranded. Besides these, he captured five schooners, one sloop, and several luggers of the piratical fleet. In fact, he effectually cleared the seas of these marauders, and not only received the thanks of those at home, but his in- valuable services were recognized by the civilized world. He remained in the " Enterprise " until that vessel was wrecked, and, after some shore service, was advanced to the rank of Master Commandant in 1825. Towards the elose of the following year he was assigned to the command of the corvette " Warren," and sailed February 22d, 1827, to the Mediterranean. It was not long before he was again ac- tively engaged in rooting out the pirates who had been operating for a long time in the Grecian archipelago, to the detriment of all nations whose interests led them there. His exertions not only destroyed their stronghold, but com- pelled the recipients of a portion of the plunder to disgorge their ill-gotten booty. On the completion of his cruise he returned home, and in 1832 received his commission as Captain, that being in those days the highest rank in the service. For some years he was occupied on shore duty, until 1839, when he was assigned to the frigate " United

BIOGRAPIIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

EARNY, STEPHEN WATTS, late Major- General United States Army, was born, August 30th, 1794, in the city of Newark, New Jersey, where also he was educated. At the outbreak of the war with Great Britain in 1812, he entered the army as a Lieutenant, and was assigned to a company in the 13th Regiment of Infantry. This command, with several other regiments, was ordered to the frontier during the same year, and crossed over to Canada, where he

States." In the following year he was ordered to the frigate " Potomac," and sailed for the Brazil station. While in harbor at Rio de Janeiro he received the appointment of Commander of the East India Squadron, and in February, 1841, raised his flag on the frigate "Constellation," and soon after sailed for his new sphere of action. He found himself on the Chinese coast in 1842, and was prominently engaged in endeavoring to prevent the contraband traffic in opium. Being instructed by the Navy Department to pro. tect American interests in that distant section of the globe, | participated in the action at Queenstown Heights, where he he adopted the necessary measures to obtain pecuniary satis- faction for those merchants who had been considerable losers when the Dutch factory had been plundered by Chi- nese. Hitherto all measures had failed in obtaining the de- sired redress; but he succeeded in making the officials understand that the damages should be promptly arranged, and the amount of indemnity, over a quarter million dollars, was subsequently paid. About this time Great Britain was engaged in concluding a treaty with the Chinese govern- ment, which Captain Kearny feared might prove to the disadvantage of the United States, unless steps were taken to obviate it. IIe accordingly addressed a letter to both the Imperial Commissioners and also to the Governor of the Canton province, who advised him that to the United States would be accorded the same privileges as those which should be granted to Great Britain. Having secured this favorable reply, he communicated these proceedings to the Navy Department; and the Washington government thereupon availed itself of the opening he had thus effected by sending Caleb Cushing as the Commissioner or Special Envoy to the Chinese empire, the latter heing clothed with all the neces- sary power to conclude the treaty with that country, which was ratified in 1845, and went into operation during the following year. The next important service which Captain Kearny effected was to protest against the proposed ces- sion of the Sandwich Islands to the British government. This was in the summer of 1843, while he was on his homeward-bound voyage. He notified both the king and the British commissioner that such action as the former pro- posed would he inimical to the rights of those Americans who had settled in the islands. The matter was not ad- justed when he left Hawaii, but his timely interference had great weight in prolonging the negotiations, which ultimately came to naught. Turning the prow of his ship once more toward the east, and doubling Cape Horn, he speedily made his way toward home, arriving at Norfolk April 30th, 1844, thus closing a sea-service of nearly thirty-seven years. During the remainder of his life he was varionsly occupied at different stations, including the command of the navy- yard at Brooklyn, New York. He was also President of one of the. Nwval Courts of Inquiry, and a member of the Light-house Board, as well as of the New Jersey Board of Pilot Commissioners. He was commissioned Commodore, on the retired list, in 1866, and died at Perth Amboy, No- vember 29th, 1868.

acquitted himself with honor to himself and to the service. IIe was actively engaged during the entire period of the war, and after peace was declared he was retained in the army, having been promoted meanwhile to the rank of Captain and attached to the 3d Infantry. For the period of eighteen years he was attached to this branch of the ser- vice, both as Captain and afterwards Major. In 1833 he attained the grade of Lieutenant-Colonel and was trans- ferred to the United States Dragoons; three years later he became Colonel, and in 1846 was commissioned Brigadier- General, and was appointed to command the "Ariny of the West," as was then termed the force employed on the Indian frontier. When hostilities commenced with the republic of Mexico, he was ordered by the War Depart- ment to march westward with his command. Starting from Bent's Fort, on the Arkansas river, he pressed onward toward New Mexico, which he conquered, and where he established a provisional government in Santa Fé, the then capital. He then took up the line of march across the plains, the Rocky mountains, and the almost unknown re- gions beyond, until he reached California, and again defeated the Mexican army at the battle of San Pascual, on Decem- ber 6th, 1846, in which engagement he was wounded twice. Having reached the sea-coast, his command was reinforced by a detachment of sailors and marines ; and with these and his dragoons he fought the enemy in the battle of San Gabriel, January 8th, 1847, and also the next day in the en- gagement on the plains of Mesa, defeating them in both conflicts. He was highly complimented by the War De- partment for his services in the campaign, and was rewarded with the brevet-rank of Major-General, his commission as such heing dated December 6th, 1846, the day when he met the Mexicans in the field at San Pascual. About this time Commodore R. F. Stockton had superseded Commo- dore Sloat in command of the United States squadron in the Pacific ocean, and the former officer, with his sailors and marines, aided hy several hundred Californian settlers, had effectually conquered the Mexicans in and around Monterey. A conflict of authority unfortunately prevailed between Commodore Stockton and General Kearny, which was finally settled by a court-martial. Commodore Stockton re- turned to the United States overland, leaving General Kearny as Provisional Governor of the then Territory of California, which position he ably filled from March to June, 1847. He shortly afterwards rejoined the army in Mexico,

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MAJ. GEN. PHILIP KEARNEY.

BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

where he remained until military operations terminated ; for action was afforded them or their leader during the and on his return to the United States was ordered to the West. He was the author of a work entitled " Manœuver- ing of Dragoons " (1837), and " Laws for the Government of New Mexico " (1846). He died in St. Louis, October 3Ist, 1848, of a disease which he had contracted the pre- vious year in Mexico.

EARNY, PHILIP, late Major-General United States Volunteers, was born, June 2d, 1815, in the city of New York. On the paternal side his ancestry was Irish, while his mother was partly Huguenot in descent. Ile was also a nephew of General Stephen W. Kearny, whose bio- graphical sketch may be found immediately preceding. He was educated in the best academies of his native city, closing with the four years' course in Columbia College. After graduation he studied law, but being charmed with military pursuits, and desirous of a more active life than could possibly be attained if he continued at the bar, he sought and obtained a commission as Lieutenant in a cavalry regiment which had been ordered to the West. This was about 1837, and among the officers was Jefferson Davis, captain of a company. He remained with the com- mand about sixteen months, during which time he studied the whole theory and practice of his profession, and availed himself of every opportunity to perfect himself in all those branches which would constitute him a perfect tactician. In 1839 he was selected as one of three officers who were sent by the United States government to Europe to study cavalry tactics; and as permission had been obtained from the gov- ernment of France for these officers to enter their celebrated military school at Saumur, he availed himself of this great privilege, and became one of the most patient and indefatig- able of students. After thoroughly mastering his profession he left the school and accompanied the French forces to Africa, being attached to the Ist Regiment "Chasseurs d'Afrique," and participated in two battles, where he dis- played great bravery and gallantry, and won for himself the highest praises from his superior officers. He left France for home in 1841, and on his arrival in the United States was ordered to the staff of General Winfield Scott, in which position he remained until the outbreak of the Mexican war. In the meantime, however, he had received his commission as Captain of United States Dragoons ; and being permitted to raise his own company, he journeyed to the western country, where he recruited a superior body of men and horses, himself adding from his ample means an additional bounty to that offered by the government. He was thus enabled to pick his men, and the result was as he desired; his troop being the acknowledged superior of any similar body in that branch of the service. This fact was so ap- parent that General Scott sclected them as his body-guard when he reached the Mexican territory, and no opportunity

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 2

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