The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 8

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

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Massachusetts. At the end of that time he literally started out into the world. His father owned a large tract of land in what was then Medina county, but is now Lorain county, Ohio, about fifty miles southwest of Cleveland, and Alfred and his brother Seldon, who is now a resident of Ohio, started to reach this tract of land and clear a portion of the timber off it, to render the place fit for farming pur- poses. The brothers performed this journey of seven hun- dred miles on foot, going by way of Albany and Rochester (the latter place being then a mere collection of log huts), and thence through Buffalo and Cleveland, reaching their destination a month after leaving home. Their first work, after arrival, was to erect a log hut and commence a " clearing ; " and in the construction of their cabin not a nail was used, for the conclusive reason that there were no nails in that region. Three months after the brothers had erected their log cabin, the remainder of the family arrived from Massachusetts, making the journey in wagons drawn by oxen, and the clearing in the forest became the family homestead. Alfred Hall, having a natural aptness for me- chanical work, was frequently called upon to help his neighbor pioneers in preparing their log homes. He re- mained at the forest homestead for about a year, assisting with the farm-work, and then he went to Silver Springs, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and there resumed his occupation of teacher. He remaincd there, so employed, for about two years, when he returned to his father's home. He built himself a cabin in the vicinity, and settled down as a hard-working citizen of the community. He remained for several years, during which time he acted as Postmaster, Trustee of the Township, and Justice of the Peace. His occupation as postmaster could not have been very arduous, as in those days two months were required to send a letter to the East and receive a reply, the mails for the most part being carried by men who travelled on foot. At length he removed to Cleveland, and there engaged in the manufac- ture of building-brick, which business he continued to prose- cute, successfully and to a considerable extent, for a period of fifteen years. He took an active part in the public af- fairs of Cleveland during this residence. He was a proni- nent worker in the formation of the charter of the town, and subsequently served as an Alderman, and also as a member of Council. When the town was regularly laid out, he was Chairman of the Committee on Streets, etc. Although a Democrat in politics, his public spirit, sterling integrity, and practical ability were so widely and heartily recognized, that he received the support of his fellow-citizens, irrespec- tive of party considerations. In the year 1842, while still in business in Cleveland, he invented and patented a brick- moulding machine, which achieved a fine success and was adopted generally by the trade throughout the country, and is now in use by the firm of which he is the head. Leav- ing Cleveland, he removed to Coxsackie, New York, where he remained three years. In 1845 he went to England, and

ALL, ALFRED, Manufacturer, of Perth Amboy, is a New Englander by birth, having been born, May 22d, 1803, in Mcriden, Connecticut. On his father's side he is of English and on his mother's side of French extraction. Both his father, Avery Hall, and his mother, Sarah Foster, were natives of Connecticut, his father being a farmer at Meridcn. The early education of Alfred Hall was obtained in the public schools of Mcriden. Later he removed with his parents to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and he con- tinued his studies in the schools at that place. During school sessions he worked hard and effectively at his books, and out of school he worked just as hard and effectively on his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he did what one is tempted to believe evcry New England boy does at one time or anotlicr-hc began to teach school. For the space of a year he taught the school at the centre of Tyringham, during most of that year was occupied in securing patent-

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rights in that country for his brick machine. He returned | Robinson, a widow with three young children-one son and to the United States in the latter part of the year, and lo- two daughters-whom he reared as his own. She is a na- tive of New England, and a daughter of Colonel William Pearl, of New Hampshire. Mr. Hall is possessed of liter- ary tastes, and his writings are always graphic and to the point. An article written by him, on the " Manufacture of Fire-Brick," and published in the Scientific American in January, 1870, and republished in several English papers, is characteristic. As a public speaker he seldom occupies more than twenty minutes, and is always listened to with earnest attention, as he never speaks unless he has some- thing to say. He is a supporter of the Episcopal church, which he attends with his family, but he is no sectarian, and is not a member of any church. He has liberally aided all religious societies in his vicinity in the erection of their churches, and thinks any religion a good one if it makes those who profess it do what is right. cated at Perth Amboy, where he commenced the erection of buildings for the manufacture of fire-brick. The build- ings were constructed of wood, and business could be con- ducted in them only during the summer months. Ten years later, in 1856, a portion of these buildings was destroyed by fire, and then he at once erected in their place an extensive brick building, comprising all desirable improvements, and in this structure the work is carried on all the year round. The ground-floor is heated by four immense furnaces, by which the bricks are dried ; and the upper story is used for the manufacture of Rockingham and yellow ware. The works include, also, extensive kilns for burning the bricks and the ware, the ware being burnt in round kilns, accord- ing to the old English style, and the bricks in the square American kilns. These are perfect in their way, embody- ing many improvements which are the inventions of the proprietor : among them may be mentioned a patent hinge- grate of his invention, which renders the burning much more speedy and less expensive than heretofore. Beside the works at Perth Amboy, the firm of A. Hall & Sons have a similar fire-brick works, of about the same capacity, at Buf- falo, New York, and ten miles below Buffalo, at Tonawanda, extensive works for the manufacture of red brick, which produce about 2,250,000 annually, a million of which are

of the style of Philadelphia face bricks. When running in full force, the several works employ about 250 men and boys, and produce about 5,000,000 fire-brick and 2,250,000 red-brick annually. The works in Buffalo are in charge of Edward J. Hall, a son of Alfred Hall. Another son, Eber H. Hall, is associated with his father at Perth Amboy. A fine specimen of the colored building-brick, produced by A. Hall & Sons, was presented by the large chimney erected by them adjoining the New Jersey building on the Centen- nial grounds, and it deservedly attracted much attention and admiration. The manufacture of brick has been very much benefited by various improvements introduced by Mr. Hall, many of them being his own inventions. From 1863 to 1869 he was Mayor of Perth Amboy, and three times he was elected without the opposition of any other candidate. He is, and has been since its organization, a stockholder, Director, and the President of the Middlesex Land Com- pany. He was for many years a member of the Board of Freeholders of Middlesex County, and is President of the Fire-Brick Manufacturers' Association of the United States. During the war of the rebellion he was an active Union man, aiding the government effectively with money and in- fluence. During his residence in Lorain county, Ohio, he married Sarah Buckingham, a native of Connecticut, and in their pioneer home the two sons now associated with him in business were born. Their family consisted of three sons and three daughters, of whom only two sons and one daughter are now living. She died in 1853, highly esteemed by all who knew her. Subsequently he married Pamelia F,

DGAR, THOMAS, Merchant and Farmer, of Rahway, from whom the Edgars of Woodbridge descended, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, October 19th, 1681. He was one of six brothers, from whom and from his father he differed in religion and in politics, being a Presbyterian and opposed to James III. He came to this country about 1720. Many of the Scotch ancestors of New Jersey fam- ilies came at this period. He was one of the passengers on the " Caledonia" in the last voyage she made. She landed at Perth Amboy, and never went to sea again. Janet Knox, whom he afterward married, was also a pas- senger on the "Caledonia." He purchased land on Rahway river, and built a house thereon, which is still occupied by some of his descendants. In addition to farming his land he prosecuted business as a merchant, earning in all rela- tions of life a wide reputation for integrity, strict uprightness and devoted piety. He died in May, 1759, leaving three sons and three daughters, from whom have sprung numer- ous descendants, although the name does not appear in all the families. They have ever been conspicuous for their virtues, industry and domestic habits. Very few of them have been in professional or public life, although the family has from time to time been worthily represented in the army, in law, in medicine, in the pulpit and in politics. As, for example, Clarkson Edgar was a brigadier-general in the war for independence, while another, David Edgar, was a captain of cavalry in the same patriotic contest. Later on, Alexander Edgar selected the medical profession, and served his country by taking part in the quelling of the in- surrection in the Mohawk valley. Three other Edgars, William, Samuel and Thompson, were each several times members of the Legislature, wherein they served with great credit to themselves and acceptability to their constituents ; and Samuel also held the office of Sheriff of Middlesex

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

county. Of those now living, David Edgar is a physician in high standing on Staten Island, while Jonathan Edgar enjoys a fine practice and excellent reputation as a lawyer in New York city, and Frank W. Edgar is a rising member of the bar of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Among the representatives of the family in the pulpit are Rev. Dr. Edgar, of Easton, Pennsylvania, Rev. E. B. Edgar, of Plainfield, formerly of Westfield, and Rev. H. M. Booth, of Englewood. There have been others of this profession, but their names and location cannot be ascertained. Rev. C. H. Edgar, D. D., was seven years head master in the grammar school of New York University; was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Bridgehampton, Long Island, and has been more than twenty years pastor of the American Reformed Church in Easton, Pennsylvania. He has con- tributed to the press a tractate on the " Curse of Canaan," some articles in reviews and several sermons. Rev. E. B. Edgar, during his pastorate at Westfield, preached the last sermon delivered in the Old Presbyterian Church of that town. This church was originally located in 1730, a rude log-house being first used; this gave way to a frame build- ing, which in its turn was replaced in 1802-3 by the edifice wherein, on January 26th, 1862, Mr. Edgar preached the last sermon. This discourse, in its historical narrative and related thoughts, proved so interesting that, by general re- quest, its author consented to yield the manuscript for pub- lication, and it now remains among the most cherished archives of the new church. Commerce has attracted the attention of members of the family, and among the names of the successful and honorable merchants of the com- mercial metropolis of the new world-New York-appear those of several Edgars.

EDGAR, WILLIAM, third son of Thomas Edgar, was born April 20th, 1724, and died April 17th, 1776. He lived and died in the house built by his father, to which he made some additions. His career was that of a merchant and a farmer. Seven children were born to him. Of these were General Clarkson Edgar and Dr. Alexander Edgar, above alluded to. William, the youngest, known as Major Edgar, succeeded to the old homestead ; also added some improvements to the structure. After the major's death the house was occupied by his son, William, until his decease, in July, 1866. Then it came into the occupancy of Miss Catharine B. Edgar, daughter of Major Edgar, who, now in her eighty-third year, still continues to reside beneath its shelter. The same house has been owned and occupied by this family more than a hundred and fifty years.

was the daughter of Captain Matthias Baker, of whose deeds of daring and narrow escapes in the service of the country the family have traditions ; for example, he alone, unsupported by any soldiers, captured a British wagon with stores, which was guarded by a troop of cavalry. A musket is shown and highly prized as an evidence and trophy of the courageous deed. Major Edgar was a merchant, and a farmer in a very extensive way. Considerable attention was given by him to brick manufacture, and a large busi- ness in that line resulted. In connection with farming he conducted heavy operations in cattle and sheep. Looking beyond his merely personal requirements, he took an earnest interest in the development of his neighborhood, and, per- ceiving the necessity for better banking facilities, became one of the originators of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, and its first president. He gained great repute as a man- ager and as a clear-headed business man of unquestionable integrity. Many estates were intrusted to his care for set- tlement, and in business disputes among his neighbors he came to be regarded as a general referee. For a number of years he was a member of the Legislature, and he proved himself a devoted and intelligent custodian of the public interests. His title of Major he derived from his rank in the State cavalry. Respected and beloved by the whole community, his death was regarded as a public loss. His family consisted of twelve children, six sons and six daugh- ters, four of whom survive. Matthias B., who died in 1865, aged seventy-five years, held several positions of honor and trust in the Custom House, and was at one time Treasurer of the Illinois Central Railroad. He was a long time one of the leading merchants in New York. Alexander, who died in 1866, aged seventy-four years, was also a merchant, and for many years Public Storekeeper in New York; he held other positions of importance under the city and national government. Clarkson, who died in 1856, aged fifty years, was for a long period a merchant in Louis- iana, and a New Jersey farmer. Jennette, who became the wife of Cornelius Baker, late of Elizabeth, and for many years a prominent merchant of New York, died in 1867, aged sixty-seven years. The four survivors are : Miss Cath- arine B. Edgar, living at the Edgar homestead ; John B. Edgar, a farmer who has given much attention to the im- provement of stock and to the best methods of agriculture ; Rcv. Dr. Edgar, of Easton, Pennsylvania, above men- tioned; and Margaret, the wife of William W. Cornell, of Poughkeepsie, New York.

EDGAR, WILLIAM, son of Major Edgar, died July, 1866, aged sixty-nine. After some years spent in New York, as a merchant, he and his brother Alexander went, in 1820, to Ohio, into the very forest, to engage in farming. HIe afterward engaged in business in New Orleans. Securing a comfortable competence he retired, and after the death of his father purchased the homestead, and was

EDGAR, WILLIAM, son of William and grandson of Thomas, known as Major Edgar, was born March 25th, 1768, and died May 22d, 1845, aged seventy-seven years. He married Phebe Baker, great-granddaughter of Admiral Sir John Baker, to whose character and services a memorial column was erected in Westminster Abbey. Phebe Baker largely occupied in agriculture. Always deeply interested

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in the welfare of his country, and well informed upon all | to the Democratic party, of which he became a conspicuous political questions, he nevertheless declined all offers of office, preferring a private life. He was highly esteemed as a good citizen, an affectionate friend, a kind neighbor and a benevolent man. He lived a bachelor. He left the old homestead to be occupied by his sister Catharine.

EDGAR, CAPTAIN GEORGE P., is a son of Alex- ander and grandson of Major Edgar. He served with gallantry in the war for the Union and received the highest commendation from his superior officers; he was brevetted Major by Governor Fenton, of New York, as he first en- tered the service with the famous 7th Regiment, of New York city.

EDGAR, SAMUEL, above mentioned, was descended from Thomas through his second son, Alexander. He was highly esteemed as an honorable man, and served as Sheriff of Middlesex county and in the Legislature. Among his children are Jonathan Edgar, Esq., of New York, and Martha, the wife of Dr. Ellis B. Freeman, of Woodbridge.

EDGAR, THOMPSON, was also a descendant from Thomas through Alexander, his second son. He was an honest and benevolent man, and very popular with his party, of which he was the recognized head in his town. He served several times in the Legislature. He died a few years ago, in a ripe old age, beloved by all who knew him.

There are branches of the Edgar family of Woodbridge and Rahway in New York, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois and other parts. There have been hundreds of descendants of Thomas Edgar -- scores of them now living. Like their ancestor, most of them have been Presbyterians. Some of the females married Quakers, and thus many of the most estimable of the Society of Friends in Rahway, Plainfield, Philadelphia and elsewhere are descendants of Thomas Edgar, of Scotland.

leader. In 1853 he was elected to the State Senate, of which he continued, by successive elections, a member until 1868. For four years he presided over that body as its president, and his rule was distinguished for its ability, impartiality, discretion, firmness and dignity. In 1857 he received the Democratic nomination for Governor, but he was defeated with his party. Two years subsequently, in 1859, he was chosen President of the Equitable Life As- surance Society of the United States, and held the position up to the time of his death, August 24th, 1874. He was a member from New Jersey of the famous Peace Congress, held in Washington in 1861, and did his best to secure the ohjects with which that assemblage was called together. In recognition of his scholarship and public services La- fayette College, Pennsylvania, conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws upon him in 1860. He was never married.

TRATTON, HON. JOIIN L. N., President of the Farmers' National Bank, of Mount Holly, New Jersey, was born in that township, November 27th, 1817. His father was John L. Stratton, M. D., a distinguished practitioner of Burlington county, who carried out his profession for more thian forty-five years. His mother, whose maiden name was Ann Newbold, descending from an old and influential family, was a native of the same county. His early educa- cation was mainly obtained at select schools in Mount Holly. He was prepared for college at Mendham, Morris county, New Jersey, and in the spring of 1834 entered Princeton, from which he graduated in September, 1836. Upon his return to his native town he spiritedly entered upon the study of law, under the guidance of B. R. Browne, Esq., and in 1839 received his license as attorney, and in 1842 as counsellor. He commenced at once the practice of his profession, which he has ever since steadily maintained in the county and State courts. His reputation is that of an able and honorable advocate, and his clientage is very large. In 1858 he was elected to Congress from the Second District, on the Republican ticket. Primarily he was a Whig, and upon the dissolution of that party he iden- tified himself with the Republican organization, of which he has ever since been a prominent member. In 1860 his constituency returned him a second time to the national House of Representatives. His record in these two ses- sions of Congress shows him to have been an industrious worker, strong in argument, ready in parliamentary law, influential in committee meetings, and at all times faithful to the people whom he so ably represented. Upon the con- clusion of his Congressional service he resumed his practice of the law. In 1875 he was chosen President of the Far- mers' National Bank, of Mount Holly, to fill the vacancy

LEXANDER, WILLIAM COWPER, LL. D., Lawyer, of Princeton, was horn in Prince Ed- ward county, Virginia, May 20th, 1806. He was the second son of Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D., the first Professor in the Princeton Theo- logical Seminary, and of Janetta (Waddel) Alex- ander, daughter of Rev. James Waddel, Wirts' " Blind Preacher." Having passed through preliminary instruction, he became a student at Princeton College, from which he graduated with the class of 1824. He then took up the study of law, under the guidance of Hon. James S. Green, in Princeton, New Jersey, and was admitted in due course to the bar, in 1827. As a lawyer he took high rank. He mingled actively in politics, his convictions attaching him caused by the death of John Black, Esq., who had served in

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that responsible position for the remarkable period of fifty- | interest in the advancement of the military interests is de- seven years. The institution was organized in 1814, and cided, and has infused greater activity in the organizations with which he is identified. He is a gentleman not only of ability, but of progressive tendency, and enjoys the esteem of all his fellow-citizens. since Mr. Stratton has been called to its management he has sufficiently shown his ability as a careful financier. For some years past he has served also as President of the Gas Works. He is still actively interested in politics, and gives his good counsel to the organization with which he has been for many years so honorably identified. In 1842 he married Caroline Newbold, of Burlington county, New Jersey.

TRATTON, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES NEWBOLD, A. M., Judge-Advocate on the Staff of General Gershom Mott, was born, August 26th, 1845, in Mount Holly, Burlington county, New Jersey. His father is the Hon. John L. N. Stratton, a prominent lawyer of that place, and President of the Farmers' National Bank, whose biographical sketch goes before. His mother, Caroline Newbold, was a member of an old and highly respected family of Burlington county. He spent a considerable period of his youth at a select school of Mount Holly, where he acquired an excellent rudimentary education ; thence passed into the Lawrenceville High School, where, from 1860 to 1863, he studied the courses essentially pre- paratory to a collegiate career, and in the fall of the latter year entered Princeton College. Two years after, so rapid and substantial was his progress, he graduated with the class of 1865, and in 1868 received the degree of A. M. He commenced at once, upon leaving Princeton, the study of law in his father's office at Mount Holly, and in 1868 was licensed as an attorney, and in 1871 as counsellor. Since his admission to the bar he has been actively engaged in professional labors at Mount Holly, and has participated in many of the most important cases which have been brought up for adjudication. In politics he is identified with the Republican party, of which, in his locality, he is a leading member. He has served on important committees, and has frequently stumped the State in the interest of Re- publican candidates. In speaking he is fluent, with a ready memory to reproduce facts in local, State, or national his- tory, and a quick ability to construct from them a powerful argument. He was chosen a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention, in 1876, which nominated for the Presidency the Hon. Rutherford B. IIayes. IIe fills, and has filled a number of important trusts. At this time he is Solicitor for the First National Bank, of Vincentown, New Jersey. He has for a number of terms served as the legal adviser to the officers of Mount Holly, and has been a director of the Farmers' National Bank, of the same place, and of which his father is president, since 1872. On August 12th, 1873, he was commissioned Major of the 7th New Jersey National Guard, and was, on the 28th of June, 1876, raised to the position of Lieutenant-Colonel and Judge-Advocate. His

ARRISH, JOSEPH, M. D., who is so widely known in connection with the treatment of in- ebriety as a disease, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 11th, 1818, being the son of the late Dr. Joseph Parrish, of that city. After receiving a liberal education he studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated with distinction in 1844. He married Lydia Gaskill, the daughter of a leading citizen of Burlington, New Jersey, and began practice in that city. Here he achieved rapid success, and in the fourth year of his professional life was appointed Physician to Burlington College and St. Mary's Hall. About this time he started the New Jersey Medical Reporter, being its sole editor and proprietor. So ably did he conduct it that the journal attracted the attention of the profession throughout the country, and the New Jersey Mcdical Society marked their sense of its value by recog- nizing it as their organ, and making an annual appropria- tion for its support. Thus firmly established, the Reporter still enjoys favor, being published from Philadelphia, and managed by Dr. S. W. Butler, formerly Dr. Parrish's office assistant, and later co-editor. After a residence of some years in Burlington Dr. Parrish was waited upon by a com- mittee of the faculty of the Philadelphia College of Medi- cine, and invited to accept the chair of Obstetrics and Dis- eases of Women and Children. At first he declined the offer, but subsequently, at the solicitation of his friends in Philadelphia, he accepted it, and removed thither in 1854. Under the heavy claims of his professorship and a large private practice his health gave way ; he resigned his chair, and with his family spent the winter in Alabama, near Montgomery. Failing to realize the anticipated benefit from the change of climate, he sailed for Europe in the following May. A pulmonary complaint had then been dc- veloped, and his recovery was deemed doubtful by distin- guished physicians. While abroad he conceived a desire to visit Switzerland during the winter, and accordingly, ac- companied by his wife and three friends, he made the passage of the St. Bernard Pass in December. The severe weather and concomitant hardships of the trip exercised the most favorable influence upon the invalid traveller, and his health steadily improved therefron. He passed some time in Rome, and paid frequent visits to the various hospitals and asylums, in the management of one of which he ob- served a painful carelessness and inhumanity. Expostu- lating with the authorities of the Insane Department of the San Spirito Hospital for the harshness and severity of their

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 8

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