The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 57

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

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TILLMAN, CHIARLES II., M. D., Physician and Savings Institute and various other corporations. Politi- cally he is an ardent Republican, but enjoys the high esteem and perfect confidence of his fellow-citizens of all parties. In 1872 he was nominated by both political parties for the office of Mayor of Plainfield. He was, of course, elected to the position, and administered the duties of the office for two years. He was married, in 1842, to Mary E. Starr, of IIamilton, New York. His eldest son was for a time Assistant Professor of Chemistry in Stevens' Institute, Hoboken, New Jersey, and is now pursuing his studies in Germany. His second son is now House Physi- cian in St. Francis' Hospital, New York, and a third son is in his senior year at Rutgers College. ex-Mayor of Plainfield, was born in Schenectady, New York, January 25th, 1817. The family is of English descent, the founders of the American branch having settled in Massachusetts in 1680. Afterwards a portion of the descendants of these settlers removed to Rhode Island, at what is now the vil- lage of Stillmanville, and others settled in the State of New York. From these Dr. Stillman is descended. His father, Joseph Stillman, was a widely known ship builder, and his older brother, Thomas B. Stillman, was one of the origina- tors-and up to the time of his death, which occurred some ten years since, was one of the proprietors-of the celebrated Novelty Works, of New York. All the members of the family were more or less celebrated for their skill in the mechanic arts. Charles H. Stillman was fitted for college at the academy of Schenectady, New York, and in the year 1832 entered the sophomore class of Union College. He AYLOR, LEWIS HAZELIUS, of High Bridge, Iron Manufacturer and Railroad Promoter, was born in 1811, at the old historic mansion of the Taylor family, near the town of High Bridge, New Jersey, and is a son of Archibald and Ann (Bray) Taylor, and grandson of Robert Taylor, who came to America from Ireland in 1757. His grand- father, soon after his arrival, became connected with the Union Iron Company, then owned by the wealthy English land proprietors and iron masters, Allen & Turner, and superintended by Colonel Hackett. After the death of the latter, Robert Taylor became his successor in the super- vision of the Union Iron Company, and continued to occupy that position until the suspension of the works, about the year 1782. The furnace of that company was the first erected on the continent of America, although the precise date cannot now be determined, but it was prior to the year 1700. The house where Robert Taylor resided is still standing, uniquely connected with and forming a part of the modernized mansion where his grandson now re- sides. In one room of the older portion, one hundred years ago, Governor John Penn and Attorney-General Benjamin Chew, the last colonial officials of Pennsylvania, were placed as prisoners of war, under charge of Robert Taylor, by the Continental Congress. Two volumes of " Memoirs," by Sir John Dalrymple, Baronet, which were presented to Robert Taylor by Governor Penn, are now in the possession of his grandson. In another room Robert Taylor died, in 1821, and in the same room his son Archi- bald was born, in 1780, and died in 1860. Lewis H. Taylor, son of Archibald, was partly educated at the Hart- wick Seminary, then under the superintendence of his uncle, the Rev. Lewis Hazelius, D. D., from whom he was named, where he passed three years; he completed his education under private tutors at home. On reaching manhood he engaged in mercantile and various other pur- suits until 1849, when the announcement was made that the graduated with the class of 1835. Among his classmates were Professors Foster and Pierson, of Union College. Immediately after graduating he commenced a course of preparatory study, with a view to entering the medical pro- fession. He studied first at Schenectady, and then read for three years with Dr. Delafield, of New York. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, in the year 1840, and for two years after his graduation he was Physician and Oculist of the Eastern Dispensary. In 1842 he removed to Plainfield, New Jersey, where he has since resided, actively engaged in the practice of his profession. His advance to the front rank of medical practitioners was rapid and brilliant. His high natural abilities, joined to his sterling personal qualities and his thorough professional culture, and the enthusiasm with which he devoted all his energies to the calling he had entered upon, soon placed him among the foremost of his profession, and now his practice is among the largest and most valuable in the State. He has been for many years Surgeon of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and his great skill as a surgeon has won the cordial recognition not only of the community at large, but of all in the profession. Next to his devotion to his profession is his practical ear- nestness in forwarding the educational interests of the com- munity in which he resides. It was largely through his instrumentality that the public schools of Plainfield, which rank now among the best in the State, have been brought to their present high standard. In 1847 he was elected a member of the School Board, and he held that position until 1867, when the revised school laws of the State took effect. He was elected a member of the first School Board under the new law, was chosen President of the Board at its first meeting, and has continued to fill the position from that time to this. He is a member of the State Medical Society and President of the Medical Society of Union County. He is also a Director of the City National Bank, of the Washington Fire Insurance Company, the City newly acquired territory of California was the long-looked-

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for Eldorado. In company with his brother, General | in the usual manner and the award of the commissioners George W. Taylor, he started for the Pacific coast, taking paid into court. On the 9th of November, 1875, the Dela- ware & Bound Brook Railroad hrought up the first locomo- tive engine and stationed it on a siding at the crossing. On the evening of the same day the Pennsylvania company also brought up an engine and placed it immediately on the crossing of the point intersected by the two roads, only moving it away long enough to allow the Mercer & Som- erset trains to pass, and then returning immediately to its post. Work on the Delaware & Bound Brook Railroad necessitated a crossing at once, and on Wednesday even- ing, the 6th of January, 1876, a large force of their men ap- peared on the ground. When the Pennsylvania company's patrolling engine passed off on a siding to allow a regular train to traverse the main road, and as soon as the latter had passed the point of intersection, each man with a cross- tie upon his shoulder rushed upon the track, and in a second of time had formed an impassable bulwark. The switch-tender was frightened from his post by this unex- pected demonstration of the Delaware & Bound Brook force, and the gang immediately commenced operations with a will, and soon had the Mercer & Somerset track torn from its bed, and were putting in the frog. This state of affairs was at once telegraphed to the officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and engine 336 was ordered to be run from Millstone at its greatest speed, and if possible to be tumbled into the gap. The engineer of No. 336 obeyed orders, and with his engine proceeded on its dangerous mission, at a speed never before attempted. It fairly flew past Hopewell into the throng of astonished workmen, and, shivered and wrecked, it fell into the pit dug by the Delaware & Bound Brook men, but failed by six inches in reaching the point where the Bound Brook men were putting the frog into position, and which by mid- night they had securely laid. Amid the cheering of the victors the engine of the Delaware & Bound Brook Rail- road Company moved upon the crossing thus legally se- cured. The failure of No. 336 to effect its object was flashed over the wires, and another engine, in its place, was at once ordered to the front to assist if possible in pushing the Delaware & Bound Brook engine from the crossing; but on the arrival of the second engine it was apparent that the crippled condition of No. 336 would not admit of such a proceeding. Affairs remained in this position until the following day, when each company brought to the field a force of over 1,000 men-Irishmen armed with the pro- verbial pick handles, and Italians with the stiletto or a revolver under their belts. Mr. Taylor, assisted by Messrs. Francis II. Saylor, Chief Engineer, and George B. Boggs, Division Engineer, had the Delaware & Bound Brook men under their control, and Counsellor Browning, of Camden, advised them to defend their position by force, if circum- stances rendered such a course necessary, and this course they were fully resolved to adopt. Both parties encamped passage on the steamer "Crescent City," on her first trip via the isthmus, and was among the first colony of miners or pioneers of California. On their arrival in the land of gold, they were engaged in various enterprises, and while there contracted for and furnished the timhers for building the first wharves of San Francisco. They remained in California until 1852. On his return to the Atlantic States he built a forge on the site of one of the old pre-revolution- ary works of the Union Iron Company, which has been enlarged at different times, a car-wheel foundry added, and in 1869 the whole concern was incorporated by the name of the Taylor Iron Company. These works have increased materially, until they are now one of the largest industrial establishments of the kind in the United States, manufac- turing car-wheels, car-axles and all varieties of car and locomotive forgings; and it is the only concern- in the country which manufactures both car-wheels and axles and " fits " them. The first President of the company was Lewis H. Taylor, who still holds the position. The works are located near the beautiful village of High Bridge, on the south branch of the Raritan river, and at the junction of the Iligh Bridge Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey. There are about two miles of railway which con- nect the different shops of the company with the Central Railroad, for which a separate charter was obtained in 1871. This gives admirable facilities for operating the works, receiving material, shipping the products, etc. In June, 1874, Mr. Taylor, in conjunction with Edward C. Knight, of Philadelphia, and others, became interested in the Delaware & Bound Brook Railroad. This road was built under the general railroad law of New Jersey, and the route selected was that originally surveyed for the National Air Line Railroad, which last named company had com- menced the construction, but through the need of a proper organization and bad management had failed. Lewis H. Taylor was Managing Director of the Delaware & Bound Brook Railroad, and to his energy and capability is due, from the people of New Jersey and the travelling public in general, the credit of the early completion of this road and the first successful attempt to establish a through line between the cities of New York and Philadelphia, In opposition to the New Jersey monopoly, controlled by the Pennsylvania Rail- road. The Pennsylvania company had thrown every obstacle in the way of an early completion of the Delaware & Bound Brook Railroad, contesting it in the courts in every possible manner. This opposition culminated into what has passed into the history of New Jersey as the " frog war." The Dela- ware & Bound Brook Railroad crosses the Mercer & Som. erset Railroad-a hranch of the Pennsylvania Railroad-on the same grade at a point near the village of Hopewell. As Mr. Taylor was unable to arrange for the right of way across that road-the Pennsylvania company refusing to make any concessions-he had the right of way condemned |upon the line, and on the following day Counsellor Brown-

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ing petitioned the Chancellor for a mandamus to compel the Mercer & Somerset branch of the Pennsylvania Rail- road to remove their obstruction. Meanwhile, passengers over this latter road were obliged to be transferred above and below the obstruction. These transactions were wit- nessed by hundreds of spectators. The Governor of New Jersey ordered the 7th Regiment of the National Guard, under Colonel Angel, to proceed to the disputed territory to preserve the peace. The Delaware & Bound Brook company continued to hold possession until the Chancel- Ior's decision came, and this decision virtually gave them all they had contended for. The road was opened for public travel My Ist, 1876. It is a double track road, and has a passenger traffic fully equal to its capacity. Its com- pletion was a signal victory over the Pennsylvania com- pany and the railroad monopoly that had for years held the State, and virtually controlled its Legislature. The open- ing of the new line, making a direct route of travel between New York and Philadelphia, was hailed with delight all over the State, and to Lewis H. Taylor was justly awarded the honor of having been the instrument in procuring the Iong sought for disenthralment of the State from a gigantic monopoly. In 1873 he was instrumental in procuring a charter to construct a railroad from High Bridge, on the New Jersey Central, to Chester, in Morris county. This was afterwards consolidated with the Longwood Valley Railroad. Work was commenced on the High Bridge road in 1874, and completed in 1876 to Port Oram, in Morris county. This road, it is intended, shall reach the Hudson river, and there connect with eastern lines, so forming a direct route from the coal fields of Pennsylvania, via the Central Railroad of New Jersey, to the manufacturing towns of New England. The first President of this corpo- ration was Lewis H. Taylor. He is also a Director of the Union Iron Company, of which his son, W. J. Taylor, is President. In politics, he is an ardent Republican, and has labored earnestly for the welfare of that party. He rendered efficient service to the Union government during the rebellion in raising troops. A serious affection of the eyes, as well as pressure of business devolving on him-owing to the absence of his brother, General George W. Taylor, who was one of the first to proceed to the front after the com- mencement of hostilities, and also of both his sons-pre- vented hin from taking the field himself. Although so firm a Republican, he has steadily refused any office in the gift of the people, or any nomination thereto. In the autumn of 1876, however, his Republican friends induced him to accept the nomination for State Senator for the in- tensely Democratic county of Hunterdon, and although defeated, he polled a vote by several hundred greater than the balance of the Republican ticket. He was married, in 1835. to Jane C., daughter of William Johnston, of Phila- delphia, and has four children now living : W. J. Taylor, of whom a sketch appears in another portion of this vol- ume; one daughter is married to O. W. Chrystie, one of the

officers of the Taylor Iron Works; and the other is the wife of W. H. Stevenson, senior partner of the house of W. H. Stevenson & Co., of Philadelphia, in which Lewis Taylor, Jr., his youngest son, is a junior partner. His second son, Archie, at the commencement of the war, enlisted as a private in Duryea's Zouaves, and served with that organization until just previous to the battle of Big Bethel, when he was promoted to a Lieutenancy and trans- ferred to the 3d Regiment of the First Brigade New Jersey Volunteers. Before his twentieth year he was commis- sioned Captain, and distinguished himself, through all the hard fighting of the First Brigade, for bravery and fine soldierly qualities. He was killed at the second battle of Fredericksburg, near Salem Church, at the age of twenty years and eleven months.

ENNINGTON, LOT S., M. D., and Pioneer Far- mer of Illinois, was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, November 12th, 1812. His parents were Elijah Pennington and Martha (Todd) Penning- ton. His earlier education was acquired primarily at an academy located in Somerville, Somerset county, New Jersey, and afterward in an educational estab- lishment of Basking Ridge, in the same county and State. At the completion of his probationary course of studies he decided to embrace the medical profession, and prepared himself for it while residing in New Jersey and in New York city. In 1836, believing that in the West was to be found a wider field for the profitable exercise of skill and industry, he removed to Jerseyville, Jersey county, Illinois, and there entered temporarily upon the active practice of his profession. He went subsequently to Macoupin county, and occupied himself professionally, and with success, at Brighton, Woodburn and Bunker Hill, until 1839, at which date he removed to Sterling, where he practised medicine for one year. In 1840 he purchased a tract of land, and applied his attention to farming and agricultural pursuits. In 1841 he commenced the cultivation of fruit and orna- mental trees, in the first instance with a view to supply his own requirements only; but that limited beginning was destined to undergo a speedy development, and he ulti- mately found himself in a position to command an extensive nursery business, and which, in fact, he did subsequently carry on for a period of fifteen years, meeting with great and merited success. His was the second nursery estab- lished in northern Illinois, and at the present time he has over 800 acres of the finest land in the State of Illinois, all under high cultivation. He has devoted the latter portion of his life to scientific farming and kindred pursuits, and in apposite knowledge is unsurpassed. The nursery business, from which he retired in 1855, was encompassed with in- numerable difficulties in this section, in the earlier days, when the country was sparsely settled and in almost a

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primitive and virgin condition ; the depredations of swarms of wild rabbits made it all but impossible to preserve the trees, while the intensely severe winter of 1842-43 was extremely injurious to all vegetable growth. His lands were located on the boundary of the prairie, and the inces- santly recurring prairie fires necessitated the constant exer- cise of great caution and vigilance; and it was necessary, in order to arrest the progress of such fires, to hedge the farm about with a cordon, or belt of land, thoroughly plowed, of 200 yards in breadth. In 1861 he was appointed a member of the Board of Supervisors of Whitesides county, in which capacity he has since continued to act with energy and ability. He was married, in 1837, to Ann P. Barnett, daughter of John Barnett, of Brighton; she died in 1866. He was again married, in 1868, to Ruth A. Morrison, daughter of William and Mary Anne Galt, and widow of Dr. William Morrison, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

cGILL, STEWART, Agriculturist, was born near Trenton, New Jersey, February 18th, 1788, and was the oldest of eight children, whose parents were Neill McGill and Elizabeth (Larrison) Mc- Gill. The former, a native of county Antrim, near Belfast, Ireland, was engaged through life in school-teaching and surveying, and while still a young man emigrated to America. He sympathized with the colonies in their resistance to the rule of Great Britain, and took an active part in common with the insurgent patriots. While the Hessians were in winter-quarters at Trenton, prior to their capture by General Washington, they made a descent on his property, and appropriated to their own uses his cattle and other valuable possessions. He died in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1814, at the age of seventy-two years. His mother was a native of New Jersey, and daughter of Rodger Larrison, an active participant in the revolutionary war. She died in 1823. His earlier education was limited, and received at the common schools located in the neighborhood of his home. While in his twelfth year he went to live with Judge John Corryell, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, with whom he remained for about three years, during this time attending school for a term of three months or more. He subsequently worked for three years as an apprentice under Luke IIebdon, of Trenton, New Jersey, at the shocmaking trade, afterward opening a shoe-shop at Lambertville, New Jersey, where he engaged also in harness-making; he remained there through the ensuing year. Up to 1811 he worked in New Jersey and in New York city, removing later to Ohio, where, July 3d, 1811, he settled finally in Colerain town- ship, Hamilton county. He travelled west on foot through Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh, and thence on a flat-boat to Cincinnati, where he landed July 2d. The battle of Tip- pecanoe, in the second war with England, had been fought,

and becoming imbued with the prevalent popular excite- ment he entered the volunteer service in 1812, under the command of General Hull, and was taken prisoner at the time of that officer's surrender at Detroit. At the expira- tion of a few weeks he was released on parole, and re- turned to his home in Hamilton county, where he has since resided, occupied mostly in agricultural pursuits. In 1821- 22 he served as constable and assessor of chattel property, and in 1823 was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held for nine years. He also held at various times the offices of Trustee, Township Clerk and Assessor of Real Estate for Colerain and Springfield Townships. In 1824 he was elected Treasurer of the School and Ministerial Funds of his township, which office he held for twenty- five years. In 1838 he was elected a Director in the Cole- rain, Oxford & Brookville Turnpike Company, whose road was then in the course of construction. In 1840 he was elected Treasurer of said company, which position he held, with the exception of a year or two, until November, 1865. Upon retiring from said position the committee (consisting of the president, secretary and one other director) appointed to settle his accounts passed a resolution expressing their satisfaction that in " accounts extending over a period of nearly a quarter of a century, and amounting to several hundred thousand dollars, no discrepancy had ever ap- peared, nor had a single dime ever been unaccounted for." He has also settled the estates of more deceased persons than any other man in his part of the county. Politically, he is attached to the Republican party; he cast his first vote for President for James Monroe. In 1824 he voted for John Quincy Adams. In 1826 or 1827 he became a strong Jackson man, and took a leading part in organizing the Jackson or Democratic party in Colerain township, and was a delegate to the first convention held by that party in Hamilton county. Hc voted for General Jackson in 1828, and again in 1832. But in 1833, not approving the course General Jackson had taken, he left the Democratic and joined the Whig party, to which he adhered until it died, after which he became a Republican. In his younger days he took an active part in politics, although he never sought office. In 1833 he was nominated as a candidate for County Commissioner, but was defeated by a few votes. In 1836 the Whigs nominated him for the Legislature, but he was not elected. He was nominated several times afterwards for the same office, sometimes accepting and at others declining to be a candidate; but as his party was in the minority he never was elected. He was married, October 5th, 1823, to Sarah Johnson, widow of Alexander Johnson and daughter of Elias IIedges, an carly settler from Morris county, New Jersey, who settled at Dunlap's Station, on the Big Miami river, Hamilton county, in ISo5, by whom he has had three children, two of whom are still living, a son and daughter. He lost his wife in April, 1854, and has never married again; his son, Amzi McGill, has been twice elected a member of the House of Representa-

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tives of Ohio, and has served one term as County Com- missioner of Hamilton county, Ohio, and has held various other trusts of greater or less importance.

USLING, JAMES F., Counsellor-at-Law, Master in Chancery and Notary Public, of Trenton, was born at Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, April 14th, 1834. His parents were Gershom and Eliza B. Rusling. In March, 1845, while he was still quite a lad, his family removed to Trenton, New Jersey. He entered the New Jersey Con- ference Seminary at Pennington, in October, 1850, and graduated there with the honors of his class, in October, 1852. Immediately afterwards he entered the junior class, at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and graduated there with second honors in July, 1854. In September fol- lowing he was elected Professor of Natural Science and Belles Lettres in Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, Penn- sylvania, and read law under Hon. Robert Fleming while teaching there. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar mn 1857, but subsequently returned to Trenton, and was ad- mitted to the New Jersey bar in June, 1859. He soon acquired a satisfactory practice, but was diverted from it by the civil war, and in August, 1861, entered the Union army as First Lieutenant, 5th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. In June, 1862, he was made Captain United States Vol- unteers, by President Lincoln, and in May, 1863, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. Early in 1865 he was brevetted Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, for " gallantry and good conduct," and promoted to be full Colonel United States Volunteers, and Inspector Quartermaster's Depart- ment. In 1866 he was further brevetted Brigadier-General " for faithful and meritorious services" during the war. Ile served with the Army of the Potomac from August, 1861, to November, 1863: at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristow Station, Rappahannock, etc .; and the remainder of the war in the Department of the Cumberland, where, as OFFMAN, THEODORE J., Lawyer, of Clinton, was born in Clinton township, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, his father being the late R. H. Hoff- man, a prominent farmer, merchant and real estate operator. Under the tutorship of the Rev. Robert Van Amburg he was prepared for college, the point to which he had carried his studies enabling him to enter Rutgers, in 1848, in the sophomore class .. Gradu- ating in 1851, he immediately began the study of law in the office of S. B. Ransom, then of Somerville, now a lead- ing practitioner at the Jersey City bar. Admitted to prac- tise in 1854, he established himself at Asbury, New Jersey, where he remained until 1860, acquiring in that time' a prominent position in his profession. He was a staunch Chief Assistant Quartermaster of that department, under Generals Thomas and Sherman, he contributed much to our success at Chattanooga, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, etc. . In 1865-66, while Inspector of the Army, he was sent through nearly all of the late rebel States, to observe affairs, reduce government expenditures, etc .; in 1866-67 he was ordered overland to the Pacific, to inspect all military depots and posts en route, and return by the isthmus, with a view to reductions, cheapening supplies, etc. On his return he retired from the army, in September, 1867, and soon after resumed the practice of law at Trenton, New Jersey. While in the army he was so fortunate as to secure the confidence of Generals Sickles, Mott, Hooker, Meigs, Thomas, Sherman and Grant, and his promotions were made | adherent to the Republican party, and a warm supporter

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 57

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