The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 26

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

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ten years. During his residence in Atlantic county, in the | which led to the division of the Presbyterian Church. A year 1856, he was a candidate for the State Senate on the work entitled "Call to the Ministry " was from his pen ; besides this, he wrote several other works of a minor char- acter. He was profoundly learned in the specialty of church history, as well as in the history of the Rcformation; not only as regarded his own branch of the Reformed church, but in contemporaneous sects and religious bodies. He died at Hightstown, April 7th, 1867. Republican ticket. The county had always been Demo- cratic, and there was little hope of changing the result in that election ; but his services in the public behalf, his high abilities as a lawyer and man of affairs, and his popularity as a citizen, enabled him to wield an influence sufficient to turn the current of public opinion. In this year he largely reduced the Democratic majority, and continuing his active efforts year after year he succeeded before he left the county in winning it for the Republican party, and it has since remained true to that allegiance. In 1866 he was appointed, by Governor Ward, Associate-Justice of the Su- preme Court of New Jersey, and had assigned to him the Second Judicial District, comprising the counties of Cam- den, Burlington and Gloucester. A well-read lawyer and a man of evenly-balanced mind, devoted to his profession and to his judicial duties, he attained such a reputation that on the expiration of his term, in 1873, Governor Parker, though differing with him politically, concluded to offer him reappointment. The nomination was accepted, and at once confirmed by the Senate, and the community secured for another term the services of a capable and upright judge. He is highly respected by the profession both as lawyer and judge, while in private life he is esteemed as a polished gentleman and a public-spirited citizen. He was married, in April, 1847, to Caroline Mandeville Vroom, a niece of ex-Governor Vroom.

OOD, REV. JAMES, D. D., an eminent Presby- terian Clergyman, Teacher and Author, late of Hightstown, was born in New York State, in the year 1800. He was a graduate of the Princeton Theological Seminary, and was ordained pastor of a church in Amsterdam, New York, where he preached for some time. He was subsequently appointed an agent for the Board of Education for the West, and was afterwards elected Professor of Church History in the In- diana Theological Seminary, where he remained for quite a number of years. After resigning from that institution he became Principal of an academy for boys in New Albany, Indiana. His next appointment was that of Assistant Sec- retary of the Board of Education, at Philadelphia. He was afterwards elected President of Hanover College, Indiana, which position he resigned in 1866, that he might become Principal of the Van Rensselaer Institute, at Hightstown. The primary object of this institution was the education of the children of missionaries. He had entered upon his duties with great zeal, and was making vigorous efforts towards a complete endowment of the institute when inter- rupted by death. He was the author of an able work en- titled "Old and New Theology," setting forth the reasons

LMER, GENERAL EBENEZER, M. D., Physi- cian and Surgeon, Soldier and Statesman, late of Bridgeton, was born, in 1752, at Cedarville, Cumberland county, New Jersey, and was the grandson of the Rev. Daniel Elmer, who re- moved from Connecticut to Fairfield in 1727. He studied medicine with his elder brother, and was about to establish himself in practice when hostilities commenced between America and Great Britain. In January, 1776, he was commissioned an Ensign in the company of Continent- tal troops commanded by the late Governor Bloomfield, serving in that capacity and also as a Lieutenant in the northern army until the spring of 1777, when, the artillery being reorganized, he was appointed a Surgeon's Mate. In June, 1778, he was appointed Surgeon of the 2d Jersey Regiment, and filled that position until the close of the war, and during the whole period of his career in the army was never absent from duty. After the war he married and settled in Bridgeton, and pursued the practice of his profession. In 1789 he was elected a member of Assembly, and was re-elected for several successive years; and in both 1791 and 1795 was chosen Speaker of the House. In 1800 he was elected a member of Congress, and sat in that body for six years, being twice re-elected. His term of service there was coincident with the period of President Jefferson's administration, of which he was a supporter. He was Adjutant-General of the New Jersey Militia, and for many years Brigadier-General of the Cumberland Brigade. Dur- ing the war with England, in 1813, he commanded the troops stationed at Billingsport, in New Jersey. In the year 1807, and afterwards, in 1815, he was a member of the Legislative Council of the State, and was chosen Vice- President of that body. In 1808 he was appointed Col- lector of the Customs for the Port and District of Bridgeton, which office he resigned in 1817. He was reappointed thereto in 1822, and continued in the same until '1832, when he again resigned ; and, having then reached the age of fourscore years, wholly declined public business. For a long period of years he had been connected with the Pres- byterian Church as an active and leading member. His great characteristic during a long and useful life was his stern integrity; while his benevolence, generosity and kindly acts endeared him to all. He was at the time of his death

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the President of the New Jersey State Branch of the Order | technically, the jury acquitted the defendant. The latter, of the Cincinnati, and the last surviving officer of the New Jersey line of the revolutionary army. He died at Bridgeton, October 18th, 1843.

LMER, HON. DANIEL, Lawyer and Jurist, was born, 1784, in Cumberland county, New Jersey. He was the fifth of that name in descent from Rev. Daniel Elmer, pastor of the Cohansey Pres- byterian Church, and who died in 1755, leaving several children, whose descendants are still resi- dents of south Jersey. The family is of English origin, and the name was originally Aylmer, one of the family being Baron of the Exchequer, in 1535; and one, John Aylmer, was tutor of Lady Jane Grey, and was consecrated, 1568, Bishop of London under the name of John Elmer. Daniel Elmer lost his father when but eight years of age, and he was placed in the family of his great-uncle, Dr. Ebenezer Elmer, where he resided several years. His education was only such as could be attained in the common schools of the day; but he lost no opportunity of acquiring informa- tion, and devoted his leisure hours to study. When about sixteen years old he commenced the study of the law with General Giles, of Bridgeton, who was at that time the county clerk, and young Elmer obtained employment in the office, by which he was enabled to liquidate his ordi- nury expenses. Ile remained with his preceptor for five years, and was licensed as an attorney in 1805, as a coun- sellor in 1808, and twenty years later attained the rank of serjeant-at-law. Immediately after his admission to the bar he opened an office in Bridgeton, where he resided during the balance of his life, except when abroad on pro- fessional business. IIe acquired a large and lucrative practice, especially in the collection of accounts ; and, as he was very economical in his habits and made judicious in- vestments with his earnings, gradually acquired an inde- pendence. After Judge Dayton resigned, in 1841, he was appointed by the joint mecting of the Legislature a Judge of the Supreme Court, and sat upon the bench for four years. During his incumbency the celebrated Mercer case was tried, and he was the president Judge before whom the criminal was arraigned. The trial created great excite- ment, especially in Philadelphia, where both the victim, Hutchinson Heberton, and the avenger of his sister's honor, Singleton Mercer, resided. The offence took place on the ferry-boat plying between Philadelphia and Camden, while the vessel was in the waters of New Jersey. Camden at that time was in Gloucester county, and Woodbury the shire town and where the trial took place; Mercer was defended by the celebrated Philadelphia lawyer, Peter A. Browne ; and, aside from the feeling in favor of the accused, pre- sented the case so strongly to the jury that, although the State's attorney proved conclusively a clear case of murder,

however, was ruined morally and physically; and some years after, as if to atone for the crime he had committed, volunteered, with others, as a nurse when Norfolk, Virginia, was smitten with the yellow fever, contracted the fever and died, it is said, a true penitent. Judge Elmer was chosen a member of the convention which assembled to form the new State constitution, and entered upon his duties in that body with his accustomed ardor. He had ever been a laborious advocate and counsellor, and before he had taken his seat on the bench.of the Supreme Court he manifested symptoms of overwork. In the winter succeeding the meet- ing of the convention he had a slight stroke of apoplexy, and which so affected his system as to render it advisable that he should resign his office as Judge. For many years he was President of the Cumberland Bank, of Bridgeton. Politically he was a member of the old Federalist party, and in later years a Whig of the Henry Clay school. In his religious faith he adhered to the doctrines of the Presby- terian Church, and was an earnest and devout member of that denomination. He was married, in 1808, to a daughter of Colonel Potter, and had a family of several children, all of whom, except a son and daughter, died in infancy. Judge Elmer died in 1848.

LMER, HON. LUCIUS QUINTIUS CINCIN- NATUS, Lawyer and ex-Associate-Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, was born in Bridge- ton, New Jersey, where he now resides, February 3d, 1793. His father was General Ebenezer Elmer, M. D., who was also a native of Cumberland county, and who served as a surgeon in the revolutionary army, and during the war of 1812 commanded the militia at Billingsport. His mother was Hannah Seely, daughter of Rev. Ephraim Seely, of Bridgeton. He received his prepara- tory educational training at various schools in the neighbor- hood of his home, and then became a student at the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. Determining to adopt the legal profes- sion, he studied law with his relative, Hon. Daniel Elmer, of Bridgeton, and in due course was licensed as attorney in 1815. Three years later he was called as counsellor. Ile began practice in Bridgeton and the surrounding circuits. A good business soon accrued to him, and he began to fill a considerable space in the public eye. Although not a politician, in the general acceptation of the term, he took a lively interest in public affairs, affiliating with the Demo- cratic party, which represented the principles he believed to lie at the root of good government. Naturally, thereforc, he was regarded as an cligible candidate for representative positions, and became a member of the lower branch of the Legislature during the sessions of 1820, 1821, 1822 and 1823, serving during the latter year as Speaker of the llouse. During 1824 he was Prosecutor of the Pleas for

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Cumberland County, and at various times for Cape May County also. From 1824 to 1829 he held the appointment of United States District Attorney for New Jersey, and dis- charged the duties of that office with marked ability and fidelity. In 1843 he was elected to Congress from the First Congressional District, and served for one term. He was appointed Attorney-General of the State in 1850, and held the position until 1852, when he was elevated to a seat on the Supreme bench by Governor Haines. Thereon he sat for fifteen years, his course throughout commanding the confidence and respect of the bar and the whole commu- nity. Since 1869 he has ceased all active business. He is known as an author, having put forward several works of much merit and interest. In 1869 he published a " History of Cumberland County," which contains a very interesting account of the earliest settlement of the county, together with a history of the currency of that and the adjoining counties. Three years later he gave to the public a work entitled "The Constitution and Government of the Province and State of New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of its Governors from 1776 to 1845." A large amount of valu- able information is gathered together in the pages of this work, which was published among the collections of the New Jersey Historical Society. In 1838 he compiled a " Digest of the Laws of New Jersey," which has now reached its fourth edition, although since its second, about which time its author was raised to the bench, it has been known as " Nixon's Digest." Judge Elmer received the degree of A. M. from the College of New Jersey, Princeton, in 1824, and that of LL. D. from the same institution of learning in 1865. He was married, in 1819, to Catherine Hay, of Philadelphia, who still lives.

ILDER, SAMSON VRYLING STODDARD, an eminent Philanthropist, late of Elizabeth, was born, in the year 1780, at Bolton, Massachusetts, and was of Huguenot descent. He commenced his mercantile life in Boston, from which city he went, in the course of his business life, to Paris, and in 1813 to London, where he soon formed the ac- quaintance of the Rev. Rowland Hill and other celebrities of that era. At a very early day he became connected with the Bible and tract societies, and in 1823, when the Ameri- can Tract Society was organized, he was prevailed upon, after much solicitation, to accept the Presidency. He re- tired from that office in 1842, having presided over it for nearly nineteen years. Removing to New York, in 1830, he became a prominent banker in connection with the cele- brated house of Hottingner, of Paris, and later with the (national) Bank of the United States. At the time when he resigned the presidency of the tract society he was con- nected with a number of other organizations, from all of which he also retired. He was the author of a number

of religious tracts that obtained a large and world-wide notoriety. He passed the evening of his days in retirement at Elizabeth, and was ever occupied in doing good. He died in that city, April 2d, 1865.

ORTER, LUCIUS P., late President of the Norfolk & New Brunswick Hosiery Company, was born, May 14th, 1818, in Coldbrook, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and was the second child and eldest son of Henry Porter, a prosperous farmer of that town. When he was ten years old his father re- moved to Norfolk, in the same State, and he remained with his father for several years thereafter, and attended the dis- trict school. When nineteen years of age he entered a country store as clerk, where he continued some three years, and thence went to Plymouth, where he was simi- larly employed, first in the store of Paulus Warner, and subsequently in the establishment of Henry Terry, eventu- ally becoming the latter's partner. While connected with this gentleman he first took an interest in the manufactur- ing business, the firm becoming the owners of the Plymouth Woollen Mills. At this time he was only twenty-eight years old. About two years after he removed to New York city, although he still retained his connection with the mills. In 1851 he, with two other gentlemen, having be- come possessed of valuable patents-his own being a rubber toy-rattle-organized the New York Rubber Company, which has since become one of the most prominent in the country, and with which he was actively connected as Trustee at the time of his death; and in that business he acquired the principal portion of his wealth. In 1857, with several other capitalists, he organized the Norfolk Hosiery Company, at Norfolk, Connecticut, with a capital of $75,000, of which he was chosen the Treasurer. Two years after the capital was increased to $125,000. This company was organized to carry on the manufacture of fully-fashioned hosiery by steam power, withi machinery in- vented by E. E. and J. K. Kilbourn, the company having purchased their entire right and being the first to introduce this manufacture in this country. E. E. Kilbourn was ap- pointed a superintendent in the company, and elected a director. During the year 1859 he accompanied Mr. Porter on a visit to Europe to introduce the machines, which threatened to revolutionize the methods then in use for knitting by machinery. In 1863 the demand for the com- pany's goods having so increased as to make it necessary to enlarge, a committee was appointed to select an eligible lo- cation in some other city, and finally the site now used by the Norfolk & New Brunswick Hosiery Company-which was the name under which the old company was reorgan- izcd-was purchased by the corporation, whose capital was . fixed at $300,000, and Lucius P. Porter elected President .. The latter was so well pleased with New Brunswick that,

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soon after the mills went into operation, he removed to that | Mount Holly, and accepted a call to the Baptist Church city with his family, and resided there until his death. there, a position which he retained during the balance of his life. In September of the last-named year, in connec- tion with his son, Charles, he became the Principal of the Mount Holly Institute, continuing in the discharge of his duties up to the time of the brief illness which terminated his useful life. He was twice tendered the presidency of the New York Central College, but declined the honor. He was the author of many improvements in text-books. He died at Mount Holly, April 11th, 1865. Under his skilful inanagement the company prospered greatly, and in two years the capital stock was increased to $500,000, and in 1869 to $550,000. He continued as the principal executive officer of the corporation, as his management gave entire satisfaction to all interested in its welfare. Upon the organization of the New Brunswick Board of Water Commissioners, in 1873, he was elected President, in which position he continued until his death. He was also a director in the New Brunswick Savings In- stitution, and was connected with several other corporations in that city. He was for several years an active and lead- ing member of the First Presbyterian Church, and also one of the Trustees of the same. During his residence in his adopted city he effected much for its general prosperity, especially in locating there the largest, if not the most im- portant, of its manufactories, which will remain as a fitting monument to his memory. His death was a sudden one, his illness only lasting a few days; it occurred, April 2d, 1876.

ARON, REV. SAMUEL, Clergyman, Teacher and Author, late of Mount Holly, New Jersey, was born, in the year 1800, at New Britain, Pennsyl- vania, and was of Welsh-Irish lineage. Ile was left an orphan at the early age of six years, and was placed under the care of an uncle, on whose farm he labored for several years, and during a portion of the winter months attended the district school. Inheriting a small patrimony from his father, he entered Doylestown Academy at the age of sixteen years, where he remained some four years. He thence removed to Burlington, New Jersey, and connected himself with the classical and mathe- matical school, both as a student and assistant teacher. After leaving this town he married, and opened a day school at Bridge Point, and subsequently became Principal of a school at Doylestown. In 1829 he was ordained a minister, and became pastor of the Baptist Church at New Britain. In 1833 he returned to Burlington, where he took charge of the High School, and at the same time held the pastorate of the Baptist Society in that place, where he re- mained eight years. In 1841 he accepted a call to the church at Norristown, Pennsylvania, and removed there. After preaching for about three years he resigned his charge, and shortly afterwards founded the " Trcemount Seminary," about three miles from that town, which, under his management, became justly celebrated throughout cast- ern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, not only in the number of students, but also in the thoroughness of the instruction imparted to them. In the great financial crisis of 1857 he unfortunately became involved, owing to his having in- dorsed for a friend, and he relinquished the property of the seminary to the creditors. He subsequently removed to

OMERS, CAPTAIN RICHARD, Master Com- mandant in the United States Navy, was born, 1778, in the township of Egg Harbor, Atlantic county, New Jersey, and was the youngest son of Colonel Richard Somers, a prominent officer in the revolutionary army. He received his pre- liminary education in the city of Philadelphia, and com- pleted it in a celebrated academy at Burlington, New Jersey. When about sixteen years of age he went to sea in a coasting vessel from Egg Harbor, and during the two following years made sundry voyages. In 1796 he received from President Washington a midshipman's warrant, and made his first cruise in the frigate "United States," then recently built in Philadelphia, which was at that time under command of Captain Stephen Decatur. He formed a last- ing friendship with that brave officer, who, although his professional rival, respected and esteemed him highly. In 1801 Somers was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and two years later, during the period of the difficulties with the Barbary powers, he was appointed to the command of the "Nautilus," a beautiful schooner of twelve guns, attached to the Mediterranean Squadron, which sailed from the United States in the summer of 1803, and afterwards be- came so celebrated under Commodore Preble's orders. When the United States squadron, under the last-named officer, was blockading Tripoli, in 1804, Lieutenant Somers distinguished himself in its early stages, as well as on the enterprise which cost him his life. On one occasion he was engaged in a gun-boat, within pistol-shot of the enemy, whose strength was five-fold greater than his own ; but the foe was obliged to withdraw, and he brought his own boat back in triumph. At another period, as his boat was advancing to her position, he was leaning against the flagstaff, when he saw a shot coming directly towards him, and bowed his head to avoid it. The shot cut the flagstaff in two, and on measuring the remainder it was ascertained that he escaped death only by this timely removal. After several unsuccessful attempts to force the enemy to terms, it was resolved to fit up the ketch " Intrepid," in the double capacity of fire-ship and infernal, and to send her into the inner harbor of Tripoli, there to explode in the very centre of the Turkish vessels. As her deck was to be covered

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with a large quantity of powder, shells and other missiles, it was hoped that the town would suffer from the explosion, as well as the shipping, and that the panic created by such an assault, in the dead hours of the night, might procure an instant peace, and more especially promote the liberation of the frigate " Philadelphia," whose officers and crew were believed, at that time, to have been reduced to extreme suffering by the barbarity of their captors. The imminent danger of the service forbade the commodore from order- ing any of his officers upon it; and Somers, with whom the conception of the daring scheme is supposed to have origi- nated, volunteered to take the command. On the after- noon of September 4th, 1804, he prepared to leave the " Nautilus," with a full determination to carry the ketch into Tripoli that night. Previously to quitting his own vessel he felt that it would be proper to point out the des- perate nature of the enterprise to the four men whom he had selected, that their services might be perfectly free and voluntary. He told them that he wished no man to accom- pany him who would not prefer being blown up rather than to be taken prisoners; that such was his own determina- tion, and that he wished all who went with him to be of the same way of thinking. The boats then gave three cheers in answer, and each man is said to have applied to him for the honor of applying the match. It may be proper to state, in this connection, that at this iden- tical period the enemy were supposed to have almost exhausted their supply of ammunition, and if the ketch had fallen into their hands they would have obtained just ex- actly what they required, and so prolonged the war; rather than allow them so valuable a prize was another reason why Somers resolved to sacrifice himself and his crew. Being assured of the temper of his companions he took leave of his officers, the boat's crew doing the same; shak- ing hands and expressing their feelings, as if they felt assured of their fate in advance. Each of the four men made his will, verbally, disposing of his effects among his shipmates, like those about to die. Several of Somers' friends from the other ships visited him on board of the " Intrepid" before he got away. Among these were Stewart and Decatur, with whom he had commenced his naval career in the frigate " United States." He was grave, but maintained his usual tranquil and quiet manner. At nine o'clock in the evening Lieutenant Reed was the last to leave the ketch for his own vessel. When he went over the side of the " Intrepid " all communication between the gal- lant spirits she contained and the rest of the world ceased. At that time everything seemed prosperous. Her com- mander was cheerful, though calm; and perfect order and method prevailed in the little craft. The leave-taking was affectionate and serious with the officers, though the sailors appeared to be in high spirits. Two boats accompanied the ketch to bring away the party just after setting fire to the train : the whole party numbering thirteen, all of whom had volunteered. The ketch was seen to proceed cautiously into

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 26

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