The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 32

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

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IDGWAY, BENJAMIN, President of the Union Bank, of Mount Holly, was born, July 8th, 1797, in the township of Willingborough, Burlington county, New Jersey, and is the son of the late Benjamin E. and Prudence (Borton) Ridgway, both of whom were also natives of that State. Ilis rudimentary education was obtained in the common schools of the day in the neighborhood of his home; and he completed his studies in the then well-known academy of the late John Gummere, at Burlington, where so many prominent citizens of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania were educated. When twenty years old he left school, and for some years was engaged in assisting his father on his farm. As soon as he attained his majority he commenced taking an active interest in politics, and was elected Asses- sor, which position he held for eleven years, being con- stantly re-elected every year. He was then elected Free- holder, wherein he served his constituency between fifteen and twenty years. In 1842 he was elected a member of Assembly, on the Whig ticket, and so ably did he acquit himself that, in the year following, he was nominated by both parties, and received almost the entire vote of the district, lacking only about ninety ballots of the whole voting population of 5,700. He was ever outspoken on all questions, and voted for that which was for the public weal, irrespective of party. In fact, so great confidence has been

IDGWAY, CAPTAIN JOSEPH R., Soldier, was born, December, 1840, in Willingborough town- ship, Burlington county, New Jersey, and was the son of Benjamin and Margaret B. (Feni- more) Ridgway, both his parents being natives of the same State; and his father's biographical sketch appears above. Joseph's early education was ob- tained at Beverly, and he completed his studies at the Gummere's Academy, in Burlington, the same institution where his father had attended, and presided over by - Samuel Gummere, who was a son of John Gummere, who founded the institution. He left school when nineteen years of age, and became of much assistance to his father in the management of his farm. He remained there until the outbreak of the war and the call for the ninety-day men, when he responded, and raised a company in his own neighborhood, which was subsequently known as Company G, of the 3d Regiment New Jersey Infantry, and of which he was elected Captain. He fell at the battle of Fredericks- burg, while gallantly leading his command. His remains were recovered, taken home and buried at Rancocas.

LARK, AMOS, JR., ex-Member of Congress and Real-Estate Operator, of Elizabeth, was born in Brooklyn, New York, November 8th, 1828. Ilis father, Amos Clark, was a native of Union county, New Jersey, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Meeker, was a native of Springfield, New Jersey. He was educated at an academy in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he was thoroughly schooled in all the

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usual branches of study. Upon completing his academic nomination for a second term. Upon two occasions he has career he engaged in a large wholesale clothing house, and represented his party in Union county at gubernatorial con - ventions. His irreproachable character, various business capacities, energy in projecting and carrying to complete realization important local improvements, his liberal aid to charities, his important services to his party and to his fellow-townsmen, irrespective of party, have secured for him their lasting regard as a public-spirited citizen and a faithful official. Ile was married, on October 15th, 1851, to Eliza- beth R. Hunter, of Massachusetts. by careful attention and active observation gained in a short time a thorough insight into the methods of conducting business transactions. Soon afterwards he embarked on his individual account, in New York, in the same line, and met with gratifying success. In 1862 he made extensive real estate purchases in Elizabeth, and rapidly augmented these investments, until they had reached proportions which demanded his entire attention. In 1865, therefore, he re- linquished his business in New York, and gave his whole time to his interests in Elizabeth, where he settled. Having become one of the largest proprietors of real estate in that city, he was naturally led into an active support of all ef. LANE, JOHN, M. D., of Perryville, Physician, ex- Senator and Major-General New Jersey Militia, was born, July 7th, 1802, in the township of North Brunswick, Middlesex county, New Jersey, and is the only son of the late Thomas and Eliza- beth (Toombs) Blane. His father was a native of the county of Louth, Ireland, and had emigrated to the United States only a short time prior to the birth of his only son. His family were originally from a Spanish or French province, and had migrated to the district of Galloway, the extreme southwest part of Scotland, where they resided for very many years. They were, while residents of this latter country, staunch Presbyterians, members of the Kirk of Scotland, and noted for their adherence to the convic- tions of right and justice. Although strong Protestants, they believed the cause of the Stuarts a just one, and fol- lowed the fortunes of that house to their own sorrow. Early in the eighteenth century the grandfather of Dr. Blane left Scotland for Ireland. His mother, Elizabeth Toombs, was a daughter of George Toombs, of Carling. ford, Ireland, and a cousin of John Philpot Curran, the celebrated barrister, her mother having been Elizabeth Curran. When he was but three years old his mother died. Ilc was educated in the schools of Middlesex county ; and, in addition to the knowledge he gamed there, studied surveying under Ilon. Beach Jennings, and was in - structed in conveyancing by Richard Harwood, Esq. In the spring of 1820 he opened a school in Hillsborough, Somerset county, where he was engaged in teaching for about one year. During this period he passed his " blank Saturdays" and his leisure days in surveying and drawing deeds, etc. After relinquishing his position as teacher he again became a student in the select school of Abraham G. Voorhecs-who was a graduate of Princeton College- at the residence of Rev. Mr. Zabriskie, at Millstone, board- ing in the family of the principal. He remained at this locality about one year, and among other matters studied the science of navigation. In the spring of 1822 he had made all the necessary arrangements to go to the West Indies as second mate of the " Howard," a vessel trading from New York; but one of the owners of that craft, de- sirous of finding a berth for a relative, mduced him to with- forts to carry out long-needed local improvements ; and to this end gave liberally of his own means and attention. He became one of the incorporators of the First National Bank, of Elizabeth, and was chosen as its President by the body of stockholders. This office he has continuously held up to the present time, and his sagacious management of its af- fairs, resulting in its becoming one of the strongest moneyed institutions in the State, is an ample affirmation of his ability as a financier. He was one of the originators of the Eliza- beth Horse Railroad, and is very heavily interested in it. He was one of the projectors, and is now President, of the National Fire & Marine Insurance Company, of Elizabeth, having occupied his present position ever since its incorpo- ration. He found time, amid these cares, to carry out a large number of individual schemes, which have given to the city many conspicuous ornaments. A large number of the finest business blocks he erected, prominent among them heing the Arcade, which was built in 1869. This substantial and imposing structure contains a fine opera house, a conservatory of music, a Masonic hall and a series of handsome offices. The post-office of the city is also located in this building. Mr. Clark has always evinced a decided interest in agricultural science, and has been for years a prominent member of the New Jersey State Agri cultural Society, of which he is at present the presiding officer. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party, and is one of its most influential leaders in this State. He was elected a member of the City Council in 1865, and served until the close of 1866. Union county sent him to the State Senate for the term of 1866-69, where he served his constituency with distinguished ability. In 1872 he was returned as Congressman from the Third District of New Jersey, a district which comprises the counties of Mid- dlesex, Monmouth and Union. During his term he was a member of the committee appointed to thoroughly investi. gate the District of Columbia frauds, and which unearthed the peculations of Shepherd and his associates. Mr. Clark, in this position, rendered most valuable and conspicuous services. He was an Elector on the Republican ticket in the Presidential campaign of 1872, and a delegate to the convention in Philadelphia which placed General Grant in

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draw. Moreover, such a course was in opposition to his father's wishes, who desired him to embrace one of the learned professions. He thereupon commenced the study of medicine, under the preceptorship of Dr. William D. Mc- Kissack, of Millstone; meanwhile passing one or two days each week in surveying, drafting, etc. In the autumn of 1825 he went to New York city, and became an attendant upon the medical lectures delivered by the professors of the College of Physicians and Surgcons, in Barclay street. These professors were Drs. Wright Post, Samuel Mitchell, William J. McNevin, Valentine Mott, John W. Francis and David Hosack; and this course of lectures was the last de- livered hy those professors in that institution. During this season he was a student in the office of Drs. Smith and Pendleton, New York city. Returning home he taught the school of his native school district, at Six Mile Run, during the summer of 1826; at the same time reading, or occasion- ally giving a helping hand to his father on the farm. To- wards the close of that year he again went to New York city, where he became an attendant upon the lectures de- livered in the Rutgers Medical College, in Duane street. These lectures were delivered by Drs. Hosack, Mott, Mc- Nevin, Francis, Godman and Griscom, the first four having been connected with the College of Physicians and Sur- geons during the previous year. During this period he was the office student of Dr. Stephen Brown, of Franklin Square, having as his companion the late Surgeon Charles Tripler, of the United States army, then also a student. During both winters, while a resident of New York city, he attended the practice of the New York Hospital, and also that of Bellevue, then a comparatively new institution. In the spring of 1827 he entered into an arrangement with Dr. G. W. Boyd & Co., to superintend their apothecary store, No. 526 Pearl street, New York, and to prescribe and at- tend upon such calls as might offer. He passed his exami- nation satisfactorily, and received a certificate for the same; but the chancellor having decided that the diploma of the Rutgers Medical School was not a license to practise in the State of New York, he went to Somerville, New Jersey, and was examined there by the Board of Censors, April 26th, 1827, and received their certificate and the diploma of the Medical Society of New Jersey, which entitled him to practise the profession of medicine in New Jersey; and this certificate and diploma, being subsequently filed in New York, removed the disability. He continued in the situation at the store in Pearl street until the close of the year; but, city life having become distasteful, he relin- quished the position and returned to his father's farm. Early in 1828 he hecame the associate of Dr. W. A. A. Ilunt, of Clarksville, Hunterdon county, which partnership continued for three years. He then removed to Perryville, in the same county, where for many years he attended to a large practice, never refusing a call, unless forced to do so by circumstances over which he had no control, During his long residence in Hunterdon county he has been re-|

garded as one of the leading medical men of the State, and is much esteemed by those who know him best, both as a physician and as a surgeon; and has done much to advance the dignity and character of the profession in the State. In the latter part of 1870 he relinquished to his son- in-law, Dr. N. B. Boileau, his extensive practice, and has since been in comparative retirement, occasionally attend- ing consultations, or prescribing for old friends. It is a singular fact, that there is not a township adjoining the one in which he resides, nor a county adjoining Hunterdon- not even excepting two in Pennsylvania-in which he has not practised. He was a regular attendant upon the meetings of the district medical society of his county, and was one of the commissioners for its reorganization, in 1836, and again in 1846; it has since continued in a flourishing con- dition. In 1848, and also in 1855, he was its President; in 1859 he was elected Treasurer; and in 1869 was chosen as the historian of the society. Under its auspices he wrote a " History of the Physicians of the County of Hunterdon," and also of several other neighboring and State prac- titioners. From 1847 to 1861 he was frequently a delegate to the New Jersey State Medical Society, and up to 1865, inclusive, served as one of the Board of Censors of the same, being sixteen times in nineteen terms of that body. In 1855 he was the Chairman of their Standing Committee; and upon reporting the proceedings of that committee, in the session of January 22d, 1856, the society conferred upon him the degree of M. D. In 1859 he was elected their Second Vice-President ; in 1860 he became the First Vice- President ; and the following year was made President of that body. He has also been on many occasions a delegate to the meetings of the American Medical Association; and from 1855, when he first became a member thereof, until prevented by age and infirmities from attending its meet- ings, was more punctual in his appearance at its sessions than the majority of its members. At the meeting held in Chicago, in 1863, he served on the Committee on Nomina- tions; and at the session held in Baltimore, in 1867, he was appointed on the Committee on Necrology, and since that period has been annually reappointed. He has ever been a friend to the cause of education, and has been a member of the School Committee and Superintendent of the Town- ship Schools for over thirty years. He has held several township offices, and as chosen Freeholder, which he held for several years, was the Director of the Board, in 1850. For over a half century he has held commissions in the militia of New Jersey. From eighteen years of age, when first subject to military duty, he passed through all the ranks up to that of Major-General ; the latter appointment he re- ceived in February, 1840. In 1834 he was nominated by the Democrats as their candidate for the State Assembly, and was elected by a large majority; being re-elected during the following year, and served with credit to himself and also to that of his constituents. In 1861 he was nominated by the Democracy as their candidate for State Senator, and

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elected over Charles Bartles, Esq., by a large majority. He served three years in the Senate, and during his first year in that body was Chairman of the Committee on the Lunatic Asylum ; in 1863 he was Chairman of the Militia Commit- tee ; while in his last year he was Chairman of the Commit- tee on Education and on the Committee on the State Prison. Here, as in every other position, public or professional, that he has filled, his thorough integrity asserted itself. His record, as a State Senator or other official, as a practitioner, or as a private citizen, in purity of thought or action, has been guided by rare discrimination and judgment. He has been somewhat of a writer in connection with medical mat- ters. His thesis was on the " History of Scarlet Fever; " and as historian of the medical society already alluded to, he has penned the biographies of various physicians; also a " History of the Medical Society of Hunterdon, with its Medical Men; " together with reports of various commit- tees. One of these should be more especially noticed. While a member of the Legislature, in 1837, he opposed the encroachments on the rights of the citizens of New Jersey by the companies then acquiring monopoly powers in the State, and was Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry on that subject. His report, although a minority one, did much towards restraining these companies in their grasping and overreaching acts towards the State; it was their first check in that quarter. His political predilections were in favor of the Democratic principles enunciated by Jefferson, Jackson and Johnson; and although he has had all defer- ence for the opinions of others, he has never failed to give his views, unreservedly, when called upon to do so. Hc was energetic, industrious and persevering beyond the en- durance of his physical ability, for his health was never robust. From 1837 until 1867, a period of thirty years, he conducted the management of his farm, taking it from the hand of nature, in a rough and forbidding condition, and brought it to a fair state of cultivation. He is of temperate habits and dresses plainly. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian Church. He is now (November, 1876) in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and, among his other ac- quirements, has learned to grow old gracefully in a pleasant home, surrounded by the most productive farming country of New Jersey. During his long career as a physician lie has been the preceptor of many medical men, all of whom were successful and an honor to the profession. Among these may be named Drs. I. S. Cramer, William Labaw. William S. Creveling, Matthias Abel, Levi Farrow, Nathan Case and the late Lewis R. Needham, all of New Jersey ; A. S. Combs, of Ohio; the late II. L. R. Wiggin, of Mame; and C. A. Voorhees, of Pennsylvania. Dr. Blane was mar- ried, May 28th, 1840, to Cornelia Hunt, youngest daughter of Isaac Smith, of Warren county, and is the father of three children, one son, who died in infancy, and two daugh- ters ; one of the latter is the wife of his successor in practice, Dr. N. B. Boileau, and the other married Dr. Nathan Case, now a resident of Riegelsville, Warren county, New Jersey.

ANNON, HIENRY R., M. D., Physician and County Clerk of Union County, was born, May 20th, 1821, in Somerset county, New Jersey, and is a son of Rev. James S. and Catharine (Brevoort) Cannon. His father was a native of one of the West India islands, and for many years filled the chair of Professor of Mental Philosophy, etc., in Rutgers College, New Brunswick ; his mother was a native of Bergen county, New Jersey. Dr. Cannon re- ceived his preliminary education in the grammar school of Rutgers College, and- in 1836 matriculated in the college itself, graduating in the class of 1840. Having decided to enter upon the profession of medicine, he became a student in the office of Dr. William Van Deursen, of New Bruns- wick, with whom he remained for nearly three years, mean- while attending the courses of lectures delivered in the medical department of the University of New York, and in March, 1843, graduated as Doctor of Medicme. In the autumn of that year he commenced the practice of his profession in Somerset county, and for nine years thereafter was actively engaged therein. In 1852 he opened a drug store in Plainfield, which he successfully conducted until April, 1857, when he was appointed County Clerk of Union County, and has been continually re-elected at the expira- tion of his term, and is now in the twentieth year of the tenure of that office. This one fact speaks volumes as to his capability, integrity and popularity, the position being the most important office of a leading county. He is also connected with some of the most important corporations of that section, and is a director of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company, of Elizabeth; also a director of the Elizabeth Horse Railroad; and a director of the Union Manufacturing Company, of Elizabethport. He was married, in 1844, to Emma M. Carkart, of New York city, who died in 1862. He was subsequently united in marriage to Mrs. Mary C. Van Vranken, of Hackensack, New Jersey.

OODRUFF, JONATHAN, President of the Union National Bank, Rahway, was born, September 6th, 1815, in Westfield, New Jersey, of which place his parents, William and Phoebe ( Ludlow) Woodruff, were old residents. The Woodruffs and Ludlows settled in the neighborhood of Westfield and were identified with the town before the revolutionary war, in which his maternal grandfather, Jacob Ludlow, was a participant, and shared the dangers and pri- vations of the " Jersey Brigade." Mr. Woodruff was one of a family of ten children, eight of whom (six sons and two daughters) are now living, the oldest being over seventy three years of age and the youngest over fifty. In 1816 his father purchased a farm about one mile from Rahway, on the old " King George's road," from Rahway

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to Elizabeth, and there Jonathan passed his boyhood. | Rahway at that time was extensively engaged in the manu- facture of carriages for the 'Southern market, and when seventeen years of age he began to learn the trade of car- riage-making, and was occupied for four years in mastering all the branches of the business. He then went to New York city, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for several years, until 1842, when, in connection with his brother Amos, he opened a general mercantile store in Rahway, under the firm-name of J. & A. Woodruff. In the winter of 1845 the firm established a house in Memphis, Tennessee, for the sale of carriages, which they manufac- tured in their own establishment at Rahway, shipping all their products to the Memphis house for disposal. His brother, Amos Woodruff, took charge of the Memphis branch of the business, while he remained in Rahway. His thorough knowledge respecting the manufacture of carriages, gained in his four years' experience in the busi- ness, now proved of great value to him; and the vehicles bearing their stamp soon acquired a wide reputation in the West and Southwest. They carried on this trade with great success until the breaking out of the war, when the firm of J. & A. Woodruff & Co. was dissolved by Jonathan retiring. The business in Memphis is still carried on by Amos Woodruff and William Woodruff (a nephew), under the firm-name of A. Woodruff & Co. In 1865 Mr. Wood- ruff became one of the first to organize the Union National Bank, of Rahway, and when it went into operation was chosen President of the institution, and has since continued to conduct its affairs. Under his management the bank has successfully withstood all the monetary disasters and financial storms that have visited the country during the past eleven years, since its organization. He has been thoroughly identified with all improvements in the city of Rahway, and has always been ready to aid, both with his time and his means, any enterprise that would promote the public good. He was married, August 9th, 1842, to Alvira, daughter of William and Sarah (Crowell) Martin, whose ancestors came from England and Scotland, and settled in Middlesex county, New Jersey.

EWELL, WILLIAM L., M. D., Physician, of Millville, was born in Bridgeton, New Jersey, March 27th, 1834. His father, James M. Newell, was for many years a prominent citizen of that place, where he edited and conducted the Bridge- ton Chronicle. The influence he exerted proved of immense advantage to the town and State. He was mainly instrumental in having various public measures adopted, among which may be cited, as of especial im- portance to the community, the Equalization of Taxes, the Abolishment of Imprisonment for Debt, and the Two Hun-

dred Dollar Exemption Act. He died in 1851. Dr. Newell's mother, Amanda Loper, was a daughter of Judge W. Loper, who for over twenty-five years was an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Salem County. His grandfather, James Newell, was for over thirty years engaged in successful ministerial labors in connection with the Methodist Church. He himself received his prelimi- nary training at the Mount Holly Academy, and subse- quently attended Princeton College for two years. Having made choice of the medical profession, he began study therefor, in 1856, under the direction of Dr. E. B. Rich- mond, of Millville, New Jersey, and in 1857 matriculated at Jefferson College, Philadelphia. From this institution hie was graduated in 1859, and thereupon settled for practice in Millville. In this sphere of labor he remained until 1862, when he entered the United States service, as Surgeon of the 24th New Jersey Infantry. With this regiment he con- tinved for nine months, when he became Brigade Surgeon (and Surgeon-in-Chief of Kimball's brigade). Subsequently he served as Surgeon-in-Chief of General French's division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. On returning to private practice he located at Salem, New Jersey, where he remamed for one year. Then, by request, he settled once more in Millville. This was in the year 1864, and he has since been successfully engaged in the same field. He has won an excellent reputation as a skilful and judicious sur- geon, and in all departments of the profession occupies a good position. He is a member of the Cumberland County District Medical Society, and was its President in 1875. His brethren sent him as a delegate to the American Medical Association in 1876. He was married, in 1869, to Sallie W. Maylin, daughter of E. W. Maylin, of Millville; she died, January Ist 1876.

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 32

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