The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 72

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

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ORGAN, GENERAL DANIEL, a distinguished Officer of the American army in the war of the Revolution, late of Winchester, Virginia, was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, 1736. Ile was of humble parentage, and was unable to secure any but a very elementary and limited education. At the age of seventeen he left his father's farm, and in 1755 joined the expedition of General Braddock against the French and Indians on the Ohio, acting as a teamster or private soldier. While thus engaged, in the spring of 1756, he knocked down a British lieutenant who had insulted him, and for this violation of military rules was sentenced to receive five hundred lashes. Ile was ac- customed, however, in after life, to maintain jestingly that the drummer had miscounted the number and still owed him one. " One can hardly conceive of his surviving such a severe punishment, and perhaps there was some favor shown by the men who administered it." The officer here spoken of afterward made him a public apology. About

the same time he also received a painful wound, which dis- figured his countenance for life. Returning to Frederick, now Clarke county, Virginia, whence he had removed in early life, he resumed his career as a backwoods farmer and a leading pioneer, until the outbreak of the Revolution. Previously, in 1757, he served in the militia, and distin- guished himself in the defence of Edward's Fort. In 1758 he was made an Ensign, and while carrying despatches was waylaid and severely wounded by Indians, escaping by presence of mind and the fleetness of his horse, from whose back he was taken insensible. After the peace he was much addicted to gambling and dissipation, and gained notoriety as a sturdy pugilist ; but before 1771 had reformed, became a man of good morals and substance, and in 1774 commanded a company in Lord Dunmore's expedition against the Indians. Immediately after the battle of Lex- ington, he in less than a week enrolled ninety-six men, the nucleus of his celebrated rifle corps, and led them to Boston, reaching the American camp, after a march of six hundred miles, in three weeks. He was early appointed to com- mand a troop of horse in Virginia, and with this company marched to the patriot lines at Cambridge in the summer of 1775. General Washington, who knew him well, had great confidence in his bravery and loyalty, and detached him to join the expedition of Arnold against Canada in the following autumn. No officer was more valiantly promi- nent than Morgan on that memorable occasion, and when Arnold was wounded in the first assault he assumed the command. Although successful in that part of the field where he held command, he was compelled by the fall of Montgomery and the defeat of his division to surrender ; or, as it is otherwise narrated, he was taken prisoner with others when General Montgomery was slain. While in the hands of the British he was offered the rank and pay of a Colonel in the royal service, which he indignantly rejected. Soon after his release, toward the close of 1776, Washing- ton gave him command of a rifle corps, the 11th Virginia, with which he was detached to the assistance of Gates, then opposing the enemy in its advance from Canada; and took a most important part in the victory attending the surrender of Burgoyne, near Saratoga. During Washington's retrcat through New Jersey in 1776, and the campaign in the same State in 1777, he also rendercd valuable services. Upon joining the main army, after the action at Saratoga, he was employed by the commander-in-chief in several perilous en- terprises, which he conducted with equal courage and judg- ment; and for his services on the occasion referred to, the Virginia Legislature voted him a horse, pistols, and sword. He was an active participant also in the severe skirmish which took place near Chestnut Hill with a part of Corn- wallis's division. During a part of 1778 he was in com- mand of Woodford's brigade ; and March 20th, 1779, was made Colonel of the 7th Virginia regiment, hut resigned that position in the following June. In the hattle of Bemns's Heights, which had precipitated the surrender of the British

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commander, his riflemen took a leading and efficient part ; yet their chief was unnoticed by Gates, in his official ac- count of the occurrence, and an attempt was even made to induce him to join the Conway cabal against Washington, which he scornfully repelled. After the defeat at Camden he joined the remnant of Gates's army at Hillsborough, and, October Ist, was placed in command of a legionary corps. Continuing in active service in the North until the summer of 1780, he was then made Brigadier-General and trans- ferred to the southern army. At this period he found his health declining, and wished to retire from the army, but was induced to remain with the forces in the South in order to harass and repel the British, who were making depredations on the inhabitants. Shortly after Greene as- sumed the command, in December, he was detached to the country watered by the Broad and Pacolet rivers. Pursued by Colonel Tarleton, he withdrew to the Cowpens, where, January 17th, 1781, he gained a brilliant victory over that renowned officer, capturing or destroying nearly the whole of his force. A gold medal testified the appreciation of Congress of his skill and bravery on that occasion ; he was also honorably noticed by this body, in connection with Colonel Howard, Colonel Washington and General Pick- ens. Ile then followed up the action at Cowpens by a series of well-conceived manœuvres which seriously em- barrassed Cornwallis. Before the close of the campaign, however, he was compelled, by repeated and severe attacks of rheumatism, to retire to his home in Virginia. In 1794 he commanded the army sent against the insurgents in western Pennsylvania, aiding importantly in quelling the Whiskey Insurrection that had broken out in that locality. From 1795 to 1799 he was a member of Congress. In 1 800 he removed to Winchester, where he resided until the time of his decease. In 1799 he published an address to his constituents, vindicating the administration of Mr. Adams. The latter part of his life was passed in much physical suffering, and he died in Winchester, Virginia, July 6th, 1802. ITis oldest daughter was married to Gen- eral Presby Neville, of Pittsburgh. His son, Willoughby Morgan, Colonel United States army, died at Fort Craw- ford, Upper Mississippi, April 4th, 1832. A " Life of Mor- gan" was published by James Graham, 12mo., in I859.

OXE, JOIIN REDMAN, M. D., Medical Editor and Author, late of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1773. IIe studied medicine under the guidance of the cele- brated Dr. Rush, and also in London, Paris and Edinburgh. Upon his return to the United States he settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1796, and there entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1798 he filled the position of Port Physician, and during the yellow fever visitation performed efficiently, and with noteworthy

energy and ability, the duties of his office. IIe was for several years a physician of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and of the Philadelphia Dispensatory ; from 1809 to 1818 he was Professor of Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, and from 1818 to 1835 Professor of Materia Medica in that institution. He was the introducer into Philadelphia of the system and practice of vaccination. IIe published "On Inflammation," Svo., 1794; " Importance, etc., of Medi- cine," Svo., 1800; "Combustion, etc.," Svo., 1811 ; "Ameri- can Dispensatory," 8vo., 1827 ; " Refutation of Harvey's Claim to the Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood," 8vo., 1834; " Female Biography; " and " Recognition of Friends in Another World," 12mo., 1845. IIe also edited " The Philadelphia Medical Museum," six volumes, Svo., 1805, new series, ISII; and " The Emporium of Arts and Sciences," five volumes, 8vo., 1512. " IIc never had a day's illness throughout the course of his long and busy life, and lived far beyond the average term of man, while keeping intact his rare powers of mind, and, his great age excepted, with its attendant feebleness, haleness of body." IIe died in Philadelphia, March 22d, 1864, without any appreciable disease, aged ninety-one years.

OOD, GEORGE B., M. D., LL. D., Physician and Author, was born in Greenwich, Cumberland county, New Jersey, March 13th, 1797. IIe was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1815 with the degree of A. B., and in ISIS with that of M. D. IIe was Professor of Chemistry in the Philadelphia College of Phar- macy from 1822 to 1831 ; Professor of Materia Medica in the same college from IS31 to 1835; Professor of Matcria Medica in the University of Pennsylvania from 1835 to 1850; Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the same from 1850 to 1860; and a physician in the Penn- sylvania Hospital from 1835 to 1859. Hc is the author of numerous and valuable works, chiefly relating to his pro- fession, which rank among the classics of the medical sci- ences. His first important work, " The Dispensatory of the United States," was written in conjunction with Franklin Bache, M. D., and the original edition was published in Philadelphia, in 1833 (Svo., 1073 pages). This at once stamped him as a man whose research and knowledge of his profession were of the highest order ; it was thoroughly exhaustive in its description of the many medicinal agents peculiar to American practice, indicating minutely their various properties and effects. It has gone through thirteen editions, the last being in 1870 (Svo., pages xii. 1810), about 150,000 copies having been sold. Before 1830 there had not been any United States pharmacopoeia or standard list of medicines and their preparation whose authority was generally recognized. ' In the year mentioned two such lists were offered to the public, one prepared in New York,

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the other chiefly the work of Dr. Wood. In a severe review | majority. In the Assembly he proved himself to be strong Dr. Wood completely demolished the first of these, and by in debate, and also, as a member of the Committees on Re- vision of the Laws, State Printing, ete., to possess to an exceptional extent the power of formulating and crganizing. The duties of his office were so well fulfilled that in 1876 he was again nominated, and was elected by an increased majority. On the rearrangement of committees, at the beginning of the session, he was assigned as a member of the Judiciary, on State Prison, and on Elections. During this session a bill was introduced into the Senate, and passed by that body by a unanimous vote, making a writ of error in capital cases a writ of right; thereby radically changing the criminal law and practice of the State. Against this measure, upon its introduction into the House, he spoke at length and forcibly, but the bill was passed over his protestation, and was referred to the governor for approval. Governor Bedle returned it with his veto, based upon a line of argument practically identical with that used in opposing it by Mr. Bergen, and upon a subsequent re- consideration in the Senate the veto was sustained. Mr. Bergen, it should be observed, was the only member of the Legislature who spoke in opposition to the bill, previous to its being vetoed by the governor. In March, 1877, he was appointed, by Governor Bedle, Prosecutor of the Pleas for Somerset county. writing the " Un ted States Dispensatory " caused the au- thority of the other to be universally acknowledged. In 1847 he published a " Treatise on the Practice of Medi- cine " (two volumes, 8vo). It ran through six editions, the last being in 1867. He also published in 1856 a " Treatise on Therapeutics and Pharmacology," or materia medica, which had three editions, the last being issued in 1868 (two volumes, 8vo., 1848 pages), and a volume containing twelve lectures, six addresses and two biographical memoirs, in 1859. It consisted of lectures and addresses on medical subjects, delivered chiefly before the medical classes of the University of Pennsylvania. He has also written "The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital; " " History of the University of Pennsylvania ; " " Biographical Memoirs of Franklin Bache," etc. In the first and last of these pam- phlets will be found an account of Wood and Bache's " Dispensatory and United States Pharmacopoeia," of which he, in connection with Dr. Bache and others, was editor of the editions of 1831, 1840, 1850 and 1860. In 1872 these memoirs, with the addition of the History of Chris- tianity in India, of the British Indian Empire, of the Girard College, and other papers, were collected into a volume entitled " Memoirs, Essays and Addresses." In 1865 ne endowed the Auxiliary Faculty of Medicine in the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, consisting of five chairs: one of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, one of Botany, one of Geology and Mineralogy, one of Hygiene, and one of Medical Jurisprudence, all of the subjects to be es- pecially considered in their relation to medicine.

ERGEN, HON. JAMES J., Lawyer, Somerville, son of John J. Bergen, merchant, and descended from a Hollandish family, the founder of which in America was one Hansen Bergen, a ship- builder, who settled at Breuklyn în 1633, was born at Somerville, New Jersey, October Ist, 1847. At the time of the revolutionary war several of his ancestors served with credit in the continental army, and his family has for many years been prominent in the affairs of East Jersey. Under the tutorship of Mr. Butler, of Som- erville, he received a classical cducation, and in 1864 began the study of law in the office of Hugh Gaston, Esq., a leading practitioner of the same town. Admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1868, he practised for a year in Plain- field, and then, returning to Somerville, entered into part- nership with his former legal preceptor, thus establishing the firm of Gaston & Bergen. His ability as displayed at the bar gave him prominence in public affairs, and in 1875 he received the Democratic nomination to the lower house of the State Legislature, and was elected by a handsome

AYTON, HON. GEORGE, of Rutherford, Mer- chant and Senator from Bergen county, was born in Westerloo, Albany county, New York, October 2d, 1827. He is a member of the same family with the late William L. Dayton, United States Senator and Minister to France, their common ancestor having been Samuel Dayton, of Long Island, High Sheriff there from 1723 to 1728, whose son, Jonathan, was the first settler of the name at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and one of the first of any name. His family indeed has given to the country some of the ablest and most brilliant of its statesmen. He received a thorough English educa- tion, and in his twentieth ycar became a clerk in a mer- cantile house in New York city, where he is now one of the leading merchants. He has come up from the counter ; and that, perhaps, is one reason why he has ascended so high, and is stationed so securely. A poet may be born, not made; but a merchant, even if born, requires a great deal of making, and this he has had. Beginning with the A B C of trade, he took a full course of practice, mastering the business at every stage, until he ranks to-day among the lords of commerce, if not among the princes. But commerce, steadily and successfully as he has pursued it, has not absorbed all his energies of mind or character. For the last twelve years he has taken an active part in the politics of his section, and has been chosen to fill a number of responsible offices. He has been for many terms a

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member of the Township Committee, of which in late years he has been President; and in 1874 he was elected, by a flattering majority, to represent Bergen county in the State Senate, in which he has attained an enviable prominence as a legislator. Thoroughly informed, able, prudent, vigilant and firm, he is recognized by his colleagues as a leader, and by the public as one who promises to rival the political distinction and influence of his lamented kinsman. He, at | any rate, has crossed the threshold of what bids fair to be a useful and distinguished public career. It may be men- tioned here, that, while he is a member of the Senate of New Jersey, his brother, J. C. Dayton, by a pleasant co- incidence, is a member of the Senate of the neighboring State of New York, representing the district which includes the city of Albany. The mantles of the elder Daytons would seem to have fallen on successors who have the ability as well as the inclination to wear them.

LUMMER, HON. CIIARLES S., Merchant and State Senator, of Pedricktown, was born, Decem- ber 2d, 1839, in Sharptown, Salem county, New Jersey. He is a son of Samuel Plummer, United States Marshal for New Jersey, the family being old residents of Salem county. He was educated in the public schools of the county; and, deciding to lead a mercantile career, embarked in 1864 in merchandising at Pedricktown, where he still pursues the business, which, under his energetic and skilful management, has developed into an extensive one. His mercantile career proved so successful that he was soon led into a political career, the ability and integrity with which he had conducted his private business occasioning his fellow-citizens to call him into the public service. In 1870 the Republicans of Salem county nominated him for the Assembly, but the district being strongly Democratic he was defeated, though running in his own township greatly ahead of the general ticket. But neither he nor his party was content to rest in defeat. In 1875 he was nominated for the State Senate, and this time was elected, carrying his own township, which usually gave a Democratic majority of over 200, by a majority of IIO. Ile is now fairly launched on the political waters, under signs that are favorable to a prosperous course. IIe has served in the Senate as Chairman of the Committee on the Treasurer's Accounts, and on the State Prison Com- mittee, of which he is at present a member, as he is of other committees of importance. With youth, energy, ability, business skill, the confidence of his party, and the regard of the people, irrespective of party, there would seem to be no good reason why he should not achieve success in politics as well as in commerce. Certain it is, that his future is bright with promise. He has been twice married-to Hannah A. IIeritage, in 1861 ; and, in 1865, to Anna M. Black.

EAMING, HON. JONATHAN F., Physician, Dentist and State Senator, of Cape May Court House, was born in Cape May county, New Jer- sey, September 7th, 1822. His family, of English extraction, were among the early settlers of New Jersey, Christopher Leaming, from whom he is sixth in the line of descent, having emigrated from England in 1670, and settled in Cape May in the year 1691. He attended Madison (New York) University, from which he passed to Brown University, Rhode Island, where he re- mained until 1844, subsequently entering Jefferson Medical College, at which he graduated in 1846, and in the follow- ing year married Eliza HI. Bennett, of Cape May Court House. Immediately after graduating he began the prac- tice of medicine in his native county, and pursued it with signal success for fourteen years, when, its extent and la- boriousness and the attendant cares beginning to under- mine his health, he was compelled to relinquish it. Un- willing, however, to forego absolutely those struggles with disease in which he had acquired such distinction and dis- played such mastery, he compromised with his professional tastes and aptitudes by turning to dentistry, which he has practised ever since, except when interrupted by the public duties to which his fellow-citizens from time to time have called him. His excellent sense, popular sympathies and wide experience of life admirably fit him for political ser- vice, and it is not a matter of surprise that he has been called to discharge it; it would have been more surprising if he had not been, among a people who rightly think that no man, whatever his profession or his rank, is too good to serve them, if he has the ability. In 1861, accordingly, he was elected a member of the New Jersey Assembly, in which he served one term, when, in 1862, he was elected to the State Senate for a full term of three years. During this term he was Chairman of the Committee on Education, and a member of several other important com- mittees. His course as a legislator fully justified the ex- pectations of his friends, placing him among the most useful, enlightened and judicious members of the Legisla- ture. In 1868 his popularity received a new stamp by his election to the office of Surrogate of Cape May county for a term of five years, upon the expiration of which, so ably and acceptably had he filled the place, lie was re-elected for another full term, which, however, he did not serve ont, being re-elected also to the Senate in 1876, and decided to resign the Surrogatcship and to accept the Senatorship, which he now holds, having resigned the former office on the Ist of January, 1877. In the Senate he is a member of the Committee on Commerce and Navigation, on Miscel- laneous Business, and other important committees, and would no doubt occupy a much more prominent position in the business of the body were it not that he is now one of the minority, to whose members the majority, on grounds quite other than those of qualification, are not accustomed to assign the foremost places. After this it is hardly

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necessary to say, for the benefit of contemporary readers at listed his warmest sympathies and active co-operation. Ile any.rate, that he is a Republican in politics, though it may was the second oldest living member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton College, and at the time of his death was, and for some time previously had been, the President of the Board of Trustees of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. His religious views attracted him to the Presby- terian Church, of which he was a devoted and highly valued member. His death occurred in Trenton, on the night of December 19th, 1876. not be unnecessary to add that his zeal for his party, always strong, has never been more ardent or more active than it now is. No carpet. knight or summer-bird is he. In 1858 the degree of A. M. was conferred on him by the University at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and in 1860 the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery by the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He has been for forty years a member of the Baptist Church.

GREEN, HON. HENRY WOODHULL, LL.D., of Trenton, Lawyer, and ex-Chancellor of the State, was born near the city of his residence, on September 20th, 1804. After receiving a thor- oughly sound preliminary training, he entered Princeton College, and was graduated from that institution in 1820, being then only sixteen years of age. The profession of the law seemed to be naturally indicated for his life career, and he accordingly began his studies therefor soon after his graduation, entering the office of the late Chief-Justice Charles Ewing. Under so distinguished a preceptor he acquired a very sound legal knowledge, and was admitted to the bar in due course in November, 1825. IIis marked abilities, his deep learning and devotion to his profession, soon placed him in the front rank at the bar, where it was early admitted that he had few equals. As a counsellor, also, he enjoyed the highest consideration. A man of earnest mind and public spirit, he could not fail to take a strong interest in political affairs, and his name was sought to strengthen the ticket of his party-the Whig. Ile thus became a candidate for the State Legislature in 1842, and was elected by a considerable majority. But legislative service had no attractions for him, and he de- clined further nominations in that direction. In 1844 he was chosen a member of the Constitutional Convention, and rendered valuable assistance in the revision of the organic law. Two years subsequently his pre-eminent qualifications pointed him out as a fitting member of the bar for elevation to the Supreme Bench as Chief-Justice, and the position being offered to him he accepted it, and served for two full terms, of scven years each, with great distinction. In 1861 Governor Olden singled him out for yet more distinguished honor, tendering him the appointment of Chancellor of the State. The nomination was accepted, and Judge Green oc- cupied the position until he had nearly completed a full term, when ill health necessitated his resignation, much to the re- gret of the entire legal fraternity and the community at large. As Chancellor he added greatly to his previously very high reputation as a jurist, his opinions being received with marked acceptance, and cited throughout the country as those of very few American jurists have been. Thirty years ago he published three volumes of reports of cases decided in the Court of Chancery. Educational matters always en-

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 72

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