The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 34

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

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)LFE, HON. ISAIAH, Lumber Merchant, Builder, Contractor, and Mayor of New Bruns- wick, was born, 1809, in the township of South Amboy, Middlesex county, New Jersey, and is the son of Phineas and Sarah (Martin) Rolfe, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. His father, many years since, was captain of one of the packets which were used to convey passengers from Amboy to New York, hefore the era of railroads, and who were obliged to make the journey by stages from Bordentown, which at that time was the terminal point of the steamboats from Phila- delphia. Isaiah received his education in the common schools of the day, and when seventeen years of age went to New Brunswick, where he learned the trade of a carpen- ter. He labored at this craft until he attained his majority, and becoming dissatisfied with the few opportunities afforded in a country town, repaired to New York in 1831, in order to seeure a good position in what he believed to be a larger field of labor; and he remained there until the following summer, when, upon the breaking out of the cholera in 1832, he returned to New Brunswick, and remained thrce years. Shortly after this, in 1836, he went to Newark, at that period rapidly growing in importance; and for two years thereafter he successfully plied his vocation. With the year 1837 came the celebrated period of financial distress, which overspread the entire country. Returning once more to New Brunswick, he bided his time, and when more pros- perous times dawned upon the country, he cffected favor- able engagements, and resumed his avocation as carpenter, contractor and builder. He continued in this ealling until 1853 with encouraging success; and during the latter part of that year became interested in the lumber business, in which he has since continued. Although he has met with many reverses, yet he has, by his energy and indomitable perseverance, surmounted all the disasters that have befallen him. Between 1837 and 1865 he suffered loss by fire on

three separate occasions, and once had his business almost ruined by an inundation ; in addition to all this, in 1835 a tornado almost demolished a building which he had nearly completed. Although a sufferer by these losses, he was able to recuperate, and so surmount these difficulties and build up a successful business of twenty years' standing. His political proclivities have been in favor of Republican principles, and in 1870 he was chosen by that party as a candidate for Alderman, and served in that capacity for two terms, or four years, being clected in 1872. In April, 1874, he was elected Mayor of the city of New Brunswick, and in the spring of 1876. In the fall of the same year he was chosen to the Legislature. He was married Decem- ber, 1832, to Charlotte Mead, of New Jersey.

ILSON, DANIEL M., late. of Newark, an eminent citizen and philanthropist, was born, 1803, and in his early life was engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York city, by which he acquired an ample fortune. On his retirement from business, he became a resident of Newark, New Jersey, and from that time identified himself with all of its impor- tant interests. He was one of the most active citizens in having the plank road constructed between Newark and Jersey City, and was the President of the company from its formation. He was also a Director of several financial in- stitutions, and President of the Republican Trust Company, of Newark, from its organization. He was for several years President of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and held other important offices connected with the Baptist de- nomination. He was also President of the Peddie Classical and Scientifie Institute, at Hightstown, to which he was a large contributor. He died at Newark, January 18th, 1873.

ARMAN, DAVID, M. D., Physician, of Trenton, was born in Franklin township, Warren county, New Jersey, January 29th, 1836. Ile is of Eng- lish and German extraction. Ilis parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Frome) Warman, and his father was a farmer in Warren county. David obtained his early education in the schools of the district, and his elassical education was completed at the academy at Belvidere, New Jersey. When about ninctecn years of age he commenecd teaching school, and continued so occupied for a term of four years. During this period he taught at llarker's Grove a while ; also at Little York, and latterly at Harmony, all these localitics being within the limits of his native county. Concluding to adopt the pro- fession of medicine, he began his studies in 1859, under the direction of Dr. P. G. Creneling, of Broadway, Warren county. IIe matriculated at the College of Physicians and

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Surgeons, New York, in 1860. At this institution he took 'none more valuable. The rank and file became deeply at- one course ; the succeeding one was taken at Bellevue tached to him for his intelligent and laborious efforts to save life and mitigate pain, and for his kindness, which was invariable. From the battle-fields of Virginia he returned to his home in Flemington, and resumed his professional duties which the war had interrupted. His practice is ex- tensive, and his services as a consulting physician are fre- quently solicited from places remote from his home. He has rare ability as a surgeon, and has performed many of the most important operations which have claimed the attention of the profession in the State. He is a gentleman of fine social characteristics and progressive ideas, and manifests an active interest in the material as well as moral welfare of the community in which he makes his home. Hospital Medical College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1862. He was among the first graduates of that college. Upon receiving his diploma he settled for practice at Milford, New Jersey, but remained there only about six months. Then he removed to Morrisville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged until the spring of 1864. At that time he entered the army as Con- tract Surgeon, and was stationed at Chesapeake Hospital, near Fortress Monroe. Here he was occupied busily from May, 1864, until November of that year, when he retired from the service, and settled down to private practice at Trenton. In this city he has since continued to reside, and has built up a good practice. To all movements designed to advance the best interests of the profession he has always contributed earnest support. He is a member of Mercer County District Medical Society, and in 1871 and 1872 served as its President. At various times he has been chosen as delegate to the New Jersey State Medical Society. Ile has acted as Secretary of the Trenton Medical Associa- tion since its organization, and much of its vitality is owing to his earnest labors on its behalf. In 1862 he was mar- ried to Rebecca F. Love, daughter of Rev. Robert Love, of Warren county, New Jersey, and sister of Dr. J. J. II. Love, of Montclair, Essex county, New Jersey.

ULLIVAN, GEORGE R., M. D., was born in Maryland in 1836, being the son of James T. Sullivan, and a grandson of William Sullivan, a native of Pennsylvania, who served with distinc- tion in the revolutionary army. He studied at Newton University, pursuing a comprehensive course, and upon graduating from that institution com- menced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Professor Smith, of Baltimore, and in 1859 received his de- gree of M. D., from the Maryland Medical College. The year succeeding his graduation he passed in study and medical service in the Baltimore Hospital, securing there a fund of information which became invaluable when he had fully entered upon his professional duties as a practitioner. In 1860 he removed to Flemington, New Jersey, where he successfully labored as a physician until July, 1862, when he was called to the field as Assistant Surgeon of the 15th New Jersey Volunteers. He served with this command two years, passing through all the vicissitudes of one of the most trying campaigns of the great civil war, and embracing nearly all of the perils that visited the army in the Potomac and Shenandoah valleys. In 1864 he was appointed Sur- geon of the 39th New Jersey Volunteers, and served with this command until peace was declared, and he was mus- tered out in June, 1865. Few surgeons rendered more con- tinuous service in the army than Dr. Sullivan, and certainly

NGLISH, DAVID C., M. D., Physician, of New Brunswick, was born in that city, March 2d, 1842, and is a son of the late Dr. David C. and Henrietta (Green) English, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. The grandfather was also a physician, who devoted himself to the practice of medicine for many years at Englishtown. Young English received his education, first at the public school for two years, after that at one of the private schools until 1859, when he entered Rutgers College Grammar School with the intention of preparing for the college, during the same time spending his spare hours in his father's store (his father be- ing a druggist and practising physician), acquiring a knowl- edge of medicines. In the summer of 1862 Dr. C. T. Morrogh, of the same place, made a proposition to young English to enter his office as pharmacist and take up the study of medicine. The proposition was favorably re- ceived by him, the college course of study for which he was then prepared was with regret abandoned, and he entered Dr. Morrogh's office the same week, where he was engaged for some time. Subsequently he attended a three years' course of study in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York city, and graduated from that institution in March, 1868, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For a few months thereafter he was associated with his preceptor, and then commenced to practise his profession on his own account, and has ever since been actively engaged in his native city. On two separate occasions, during Dr. Mor- rogh's absence in Europe, he assumed charge of his prac- tice. He has been an active member of the Middlesex County Medical Society, having been its President one year, its Reporter to the State Society three years, and is now its Treasurer, having also several times been one of its dele- gates to the State Society. He was elected by the State Society a delegate to the American Medical Association in 1870 and again in 1873. He was also a delegate to the same at its session in Philadelphia, 1876, from the county society. He was for three years Vice-President of the

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New Jersey Microscopieal Society. He was elected an Alderman from the Third Ward of the city, and served two years in that body, 1866 and 1867. This is the only politi- cal office he has held, all his time that could be spared from his professional engagements having been mostly given to the various benevolent and religious organizations in the city, with many of which he has been identified. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and one of its elders. He was for three years President of the Young Men's Christian Association of New Brunswick, and has several times represented it in the International Young Men's Christian Association Convention, at the meeting of which body in 1875, at Richmond, Virginia, he was elected one of its Vice-Presidents. He is a Director in the Union and also New Brunswick Building Loan Associations. He was married, September 14th, 1870, to Susie C., daughter of Harrison Blake, for many years a prominent lawyer of Cum- berland county, Maine, now resident at New Brunswick.

ACKSON JOHN P., late Vice-President and Su- perintendent of the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company, was born, 1805, in New Jersey. He was educated for the bar, and held a high position in the legal profession. He was on two several occasions elected to the State Legislature, and was twice elected Clerk of the County of Essex, a very lucrative office. After his election by the Directors of the New Jersey Railroad as the Superintend- ent of the Company, he abandoned all participation in the pursuits of political life, and devoted all his energies and thoughts to its service. He was connected with the com- pany from its very organization until the elose of his life. He was distinguished for his benevolence and eharity, as well as for integrity of character and honesty of purpose. He died at Newark, December 10th, 1861.

OB, ARCHIBALD F., President of the Central National Bank of Hightstown, New Jersey, was born in that town, March 15th, 1831, and is the son of the late Richard M. and Mary F. (Wilson) Job, both of whom were also natives of New Jersey. He is a great-grandson of Peter Joh, an officer in the war of the Revolution, who was a participant in the battle of Princeton, and was taken prisoner by the British there, but managed to effect his escape on his horse, and reached his home near Cranberry; and thence returned to the American forces. IIe was afterwards present at the battle of Monmouth, where he was an aide-de-camp on the staff of General Washington. He returned home after the elose of the war and lived many years. Richard M. Job,

father of Archibald, was for many years a prominent miller at Hightstown; the latter part of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits ; he died October 26th, 1874. Archi- bald's mother was the daughter of Dr. Enoch Wilson, of Hightstown. His rudimentary education was obtained in the common schools of the district, but he afterwards be- came a pupil in the select school of O. R. Willis, in his native town. When nineteen years old he left school and commenced learning the milling business with his father, and three years after, when twenty-two years of age, his father associated with him under the firm-name of R. M. Job & Son, which they carried on successfully until 1865, when he disposed of his interest in the business and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on the farm where he now re- sides. In June, 1872, he was elected President of the Cen- tral National Bank of Hightstown, which position he has continued to hold until the present time. He was married, February 15th, 1854, to Ann Eliza Perrin, who died, Janu- ary 5th, 1856. IIe again married, August 17th, 1865, Martha M. Oakley, of Saratoga county, New York, daugh- ter of William J. Oakley, of Middletown, in that State.

ROST, BARTLETT C., Lawyer, of Philipsburg, was born, March 17th, 1833, in the town of Leeds, Androscoggin eounty, Maine, and is a son of Oliver P. Frost. ITis family is of English de- scent, and was among the early settlers of New England. His preliminary education was ob- tained in the schools of his native town, and when he reached the age of eighteen years, himself became a teacher, which avocation he pursued for some time, and then com- pleted his studies at the Maine Wesleyan University. In 1854 he removed to New Jersey, and recommenced teach- ing, first at Clarksville, and afterwards at Springtown. Having resolved to devote himself to the profession of the law, he entered the law department of the University at Albany, New York, and also became a student in the office of Peckham & Tremain, and in 1859 was admitted to prac- tise at the New York bar. His name having already been registered in New Jersey as a student-at-law, he returned thither, continued his readings, and in 1860 was licensed as an attorney in that State. IIe immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Philipsburg, Warren county, and has met with marked success in building up a large and lucrative business, which extends to all the courts in the State ; and for two years was corporation counsel. He is a hard student, and manages his cases with marked ability. In politics he is a Republican, but in 1872 was a liberal Republican and an earnest supporter of Horace Greeley. Ile was married in 1874 to Mary I. Stockton, of Easton, Pennsylvania, a lady of accomplishment and highly estecmed.

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THERTON, GEORGE P., Professor of History, I ment; the Governor of Connecticut, at the written request Political Economy and Constitutional Law in of the field and line officers, recommissioned him as First Rutgers College, New Brunswick, was born, June Lieutenant and then as Captain, in which capacity he again 20th, 1837, in the town of Boxford, Essex county, Massachusetts, of New England parentage. His entered into the arduous duty of army life and the swamps surrounding the cradle of the rebellion. The malarial fever father died when he was but twelve years of age, in time prostrated him, which was followed in turn by the leaving his family in straitened circumstances, and young

typhoid, and so prostrated his otherwise vigorous constitu- Atherton obtained work in a cotton-mill, whereby he earned tion that, in accordance with the advice of his physicians, a living for himself, beside affording some support for his he was again compelled to resign from the army, much against his wishes. Returning to the North, he recuperated sufficiently to enable him to resume his studies once more, and graduated at Yale College. He was afterwards ap- pointed a professor in the Albany Academy, where he remained for three years, and then accepted a professorship in St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland. He passed about eighteen months in that institution, when he accepted a call to the State University, at Champaign, Illinois, where he also filled the chair as professor. In 1868, through the influence of Professor David Murray, who had made his acquaintance at the Albany Academy, and knew his eapacity as an instructor, he was invited to become a professor in Rutgers College, New Brunswick. After much persuasion on the part of his Eastern friends and opposition from his Western associates, he. finally accepted the position in Rutgers as Professor of History, Political Economy and Constitutional Law. This was a new chair in the institu- tion, and it is almost needless to say that he has filled it to the entire satisfaction of the trustees, faculty and students of the college. He has not only performed the duties in- cident to that particular chair, but has been active in all that pertains to the welfare of the institution. He has been repeatedly invited to return to institutions with which he has formerly been connected, besides being offered the Presidency of the Howard and one or more other universi- ties, all of which he has declined, as the duties of his present position are congenial to his mind, besides being otherwise satisfactory to him. In the year 1875 charges of fraud were made in regard to the administration of affairs at the Red Cloud Indian Agency, in Dakota, and three commissioners were appointed by President Grant and three others by the Board of Indian Commissioners to investigate matters. Several distinguished men of both political parties were members of this commission, and among them was Pro- fessor Atherton. The commission paid a personal visit to the Red Cloud Agency, and several posts in the North- west which had transactions with it, and made a thorough investigation of all matters connected therewith. A full and exhaustive report, accompanied by the sworn testimony taken in the ease, was made and published, filling a large volume. The commission found various abuses existing, which they detailed, and pointed out by name the persons who were incompetent and guilty, and recommended their discharge from the government service. Some of the more serious were not found to be substantiated by the facts, and corresponding recommendations were made. The report mother and young sisters. A few years afterwards he was employed on a farm, where he continued for several years. Meanwhile, when about seventeen years of age, he formed a purpose to obtain a college education, and through the practice of much economy and self-denial obtained enough means to enable him to attend the village academy during the winter, while he labored upon the farm the balance of the year. By incessant application he gained suficient knowledge to cnable himself to become an educator of youth, and secured a position in a district school in New Ilampshire for the usual term of eight weeks. His teaching was so successful that when the session was concluded he was invited to remain for nine weeks longer, a private sub- scription being raised for the purpose. When this extra term had ended he had saved sufficient means to enable him to enter Phillips Academy, at Exeter, where he pursued the studies requisite in entering a college, devoting a portion of his time during the winter season in teaching district schools. After thus obtaining his preparatory education, he was ap- pointed a teacher in the celebrated Albany Academy, where he taught with great acceptance for eighteen months, and thus secured means enough to enter college. He matricu- lated in Yale College, New Haven, in 1860, becoming a member of the sophomore class, and continued through that year and a part of the junior year. During that period the great rebellion had broken out which threatened to destroy the Union, and he felt it to be his duty to be one of the de- fenders of the flag and of the country. Having explained his purpose to President Woolsey, of Yale, the latter ap- proved of his patriotic course, and consented to his with- drawal from college for a season. He also wrote him an introductory letter to Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut, and the latter, after making proper inquiry, gave him a Lieutenant's commission in the 10th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. His regiment was assigned to the celebrated Burnside expedition against the rebel positions in North Carolina, and did valiant service in the battles of Roanoke Island, Newbern, ete., in which engagements he participated and commanded the company in the absence of the captain. Immediately after the battle of Newbern he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and served in that capacity for several months, his regiment being engaged only in camp and picket duty during that time. Finding that there was no prospect of active service, he resigned and returned to college. In December, 1862, his regiment was ordered to join the expe- dition against Charleston, and he again joined his old regi-

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was laid before the Forty-fourth Congress, at its first session, | the summer of IS61. Then he was detailed for special for examination, and Hon. C. J. Faulkner, of Virginia, a member of the opposition, and one of the commissioners, went before the Committee on Indian Affairs and chal- lenged them to go over the work again. The labors of the commission and the report cannot be assailed, as no other commission can go over the work again without arriving at the same conclusions. A large portion of the labor of this commission was performed by Professor Atherton, and the result arrived at as well as the report itself are a sufficient proof of his capabilities and his entire fairness. In all edu- cational matters outside of his college he has been an earnest and active laborer. He is a member of several educational societies, national and State ; has participated in several prominent discussions, and has delivered several addresses of great interest and value. He has likewise bestowed much attention on common school matters, and is a warm supporter of the common school system of New Jersey, thereby sympathizing with the masses in all that con- cerns their welfare. Since his residence in New Brunswick he has been active in every good work that has enlisted the sympathies of the citizens, and is universally respected by all classes of his fellow-townsmen. In the autumn of 1876 he was nominated by the Republican party of the Third Congressional District as their candidate for Representative in the popular branch of the Federal Legislature, and was unanimously indorsed not only by the partisan press of the district but by other journals in distant parts of the country where he had resided. It is a matter of regret that so able a man should have been defeated in the election of No- vember, 1876, and, aside from partisan views, that one so thoroughly competent for the position should have lost the battle.

ARKER, CHARLES G., Brigadier-General, was born at Swedesboro, Gloucester county, New Jersey, in 1835. At an early age he was left an orphan, his father and mother following each other to the grave at a short interval. Some of the friends of the family and a few influential gentlemen took the lad's case in hand and obtained for him an appointment to a vacancy in West Point Military Acad- emy. In this institution he remained for four years, being graduated with distinction in 1858. The elass of that year was examined by a Board of Visitors, of which General Robert Anderson was a member. That distinguished officer was much attracted by the bearing and attainments of young Harker, and deelared him to be a model of a soldier, and one who would distinguish himself should opportunity offer. He entered the United States army as a Brevet Second Lieutenant of the 2d Infantry, July Ist, 1858, and on August 15th of the same year was promoted to a full Second Lieu- tenancy. At that time the regiment was engaged on frontier duty ; he at once joined it, and served in the command until

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 34

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