Morris County, New Jersey Biographies

BUDD, JACOB Z.

Jacob Z. Budd, who follows farming in Pequannock township, is one of the leading and influential citizens of his section of the county, and his worth and ability have not only won him a place among the leading agriculturists, but have also gained him political prominence. He was born in what is now Hudson county, New Jersey, on the 3^rd of February, 1823, being a son of Aaron and Mary (Zabriskie) Budd, who also were natives of the same county. His father was born in 1797, and removed to Morris County, on the 31^st of March 1836, locating in Pequannock township, where he spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring January 6, 1859. His first wife, who was born in 1800, died in Hudson (then Bergen) county, New Jersey, April29, 1829, and he afterward married Mrs. Fannie (Tuers) Harris, who died in Morris County, in 1879. Mr. Budd was one of the leading farmers in this section of the state and owned and operated large tracts of land. By his first wife he had three children: Jacob Z.; Joanna, who married James Crane, and after his death became the wife of James L. Tower; and Aaron, who died in 1854. By the second marriage there were two children: Richard T., a farmer of Pequannock township; and Matilda, who died in 1855.

Mr. Budd, whose name introduces this review, came to Morris County when thirteen years of age and his youth was largely passed in assisting his father in the labors of the farm. In 1857 he began to deal in furs and in the interest of his business traveled through northern New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, carrying on that enterprise for fifteen years, with fair success. He has also carried on farming the greater part of his life, and his place is always neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating his careful supervision and the enterprise with which he prosecutes his labors. For the past twenty years he has been agent for the Champion Harvesting Machine Company and adds not a little to his income in this way.

In his political views Mr. Budd is a stalwart Republican and is well informed on the issues of the day, giving them earnest attention, as every true American citizen should do. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth, have called him to various public offices the duties of which he has ever discharged with marked fidelity and trustworthiness. He served as a member of the house of representatives in 1873-4 and was elected for four consecutive terms as a member of the board of county freeholders. He was treasurer of the poor-house committee for two and a half years, was constable of Pequannock township for two years, was county coroner for three years and from 1875 until 1878 was collector.

In 1845 Mr. Budd was united in marriage to Miss Susan Dodd, daughter of John Dodd, and to them have been born two daughters: Marietta, who died May 5, 1863, at the age of seventeen years; and Elmyra, wife of Peter Vreeland, by whom she has three children: Susan B., Emma and Lillie May. Mr. Budd and his family hold membership in the Reformed church, of Pompton Plains, in which he is serving as deacon. Honorable in business, reliable in political office, faithful to all the duties of both public and private life, his record is unsullied and is well worthy a place in the history of Morris County. (Biographical & Genealogical History, Morris County, New Jersey, Volume II, Pages 420-421. published 1899)

BURNET, MATTHIAS

One of the well improved farms of Hanover township, located near Whippany, is the property of Mr. Burnet, who ranks among the leading agriculturists of the community. He is enterprising, progressive and practical, and his energetic efforts have transformed his place into a highly cultivated and valuable property which well indicates his careful supervision.

Mr. Burnet is descended from one of the oldest families of Morris county. The Burnets are of Norman origin, and emigrated from Yorkshire, England, to America, taking up their residence on Long Island. Aaron Burnet removed from Long Island to New York, thence to Burnet Station, now Madison, New Jersey, and spent his last days there, dying in 1755, at the advanced age of one hundred years. Matthias Burnet, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Whippany, and died October 17, 1783, at the age of sixty years. His son Matthias was born in Whippany in 1749, married Phoebe Brookfield, a daughter of Job Brookfield, and reared a large family, including Job Burnet, the father of our subject. He wedded Mary, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Osborn) Hedges.

Thus it will be seen that Mr. Burnet, of this review, represents a family whose ancestral connection with the history of Morris county covers a period of a century and a half. He was born and reared on the old home farm near Whippany and later learned the shoemaker s trade, which he followed until after the commencement of hostilities between the north and the south. Feeling that his country needed his services, he enlisted, September 3, 1862, as a member of Company E, Twenty-seventh New Jersey Infantry, and served for nine months. He was assigned to the Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac under General Burnside, and participated in the battle of Fredericksburg and a number of skirmishes in Kentucky. On the 25^th of February, 1865, he was drafted as a member of Company G, Fifteenth new Jersey Infantry, and the last engagement in which he participated was at Petersburg. At the close of the war he was mustered out, August 11, 1865, and returned to his home, since which time he has successfully carried on agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Burnet was married in 1874, to Miss Julia Ann Williams, a daughter of Robert Williams, a descendant of Captain Robert Troup. They have three children: Eleanor Troup, Sarah Louise and Marion Williams. Mr. Burnet votes with the Republican party and attends the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as trustee. (Biographical & Genealogical History, Morris County, New Jersey, Volume II, Pages 421-422. published 1899)

HILL, JOHN

No compendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential limitations will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and accomplishments of the subject of this review. a man remarkable in the breadth of his wisdom, in his indomitable perseverance, his strong individuality, and yet one whose entire life had not one esoteric phase, being as an open scroll, inviting the closest scrutiny. True his were massive deeds and great in one sense, and yet his entire accomplishment but represented the result of the fit utilitzation of the innate talent which was his, and of the directing of his efforts along those lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination led the way. There was in Mr. Hill a weight of character, a native sagacity, a far-seeing judgment and a fidelity of purpose that commanded the respect of all. He carved his name deeply on the records of the state and nation an din some of the most trying hours of his country s history he proved a safe and wise counselor, whose comprehensive understanding of the national situation led him to support measures which time has proven to be of great benefit to the Union.

John Hill was born in Catskill, New York, on the 10^th of June, 1821, and was a son of Hiland and Mary (Butler) Hill. His father was for nearly half a century identified with the Catskill National Bank, of that place, and for many years held the position of cashier. Both he and his wife died at an advanced age. They had four sons and three daughters, and one of the sons, Henry Hill, succeeded his father as cashier in the Catskill Bank. Another son, Frederick, was for sixty-three years identified with, and served as cashier of, the Farmers National Bank of Catskill. He is still living, 1898, at the venerable age of eighty-seven. He also served as county treasurer of Greene county, New York, for over sixty years.

In the schools of his native town John Hill acquired his preliminary education which was supplemented by study in private schools. At an early age he secured a clerkshop in the bank in which his father was cashier, acting as bookkeeper for his father until twenty years of age, when he came to Boonton, Morris county, and entered the employ of the New Jersey Iron Company in the capacity of bookkeeper and paymaster. He soon became familiar with the business of the house and for some years was connected therewith in the capacity of manager. Subsequently he engaged in general merchandising in connection with Mr. Voorhees, was afterward a partner of Mr. Penfield and still later of William G. Lathrop, under the firm name of John Hill & Company, continuing in that business until the Boonton Iron Works ceased operation in 1876.

In the meantime Mr. Hill had come prominently before the public notice in an official capacity. In 1852 he was elected one of the township committee, and again in 1856 and 1863 was chosen for that position. He was postmaster of Boonton from 1849 and 1853, and was elected justice of the peace in 1856, serving five years. At the outbreak of the Civil war he became a stanch advocate of the Union cause and his patriotic addresses had marked influence on the public and occasioned many young men to enlist in the northern army. He took a deep personal interest in these boys in blue, frequently visited them at the front and ministered to their comfort in all possible ways. It was largely due to his efforts in securing enlistments that no draft was ever made in Pequannock. In 1861 and 1862 he was elected to the state legislature and was made a member of the committee that received Lincoln when he visited Trenton on his way to Washington to be inaugurated president of the United States. In 1863 he was again chose to represent his district in the general assembly and in 1866 was chosen speaker of the house. In 1866 he was elected to congress from the fourth New Jersey district, serving from 1687 until 1869. His opponent was Jack Rogers, and he was the first Republican ever elected in the district, which was considered a Democratic stronghold. On the close of his first.term he was re-elected, and for a third time was chosen for that office, in 1871 making the memorable canvass which resulted in the defeat of Philip Refferty. Accompanied by a brass band he went from place to place, and his stirring addresses on the issues of the day will long be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to hear him. In 1880 he was once more chosen to represent the fourth New Jersey district in the council chambers of the nation and served from 1881 until 1883. It was his ambition and desire to become governor of the state and few men of his party ever had a stronger support than he; but owing to his declining health he was dissuaded by his medical advisers from making the canvass. While in congress he served on the committee on post-offices and post roads and was the father of the popular postal card; also was instrumental in abolishing the then pernicious franking privilege. In 1874 he was elected state senator, being thought the only Republican who could carry the county at that time, when the Democratic sentiment was very strong. During his fourth term in congress he was mainly instrumental in securing the reduction of letter postage from three cents to two. He was an enthusiastic advocate of protection to American industries, and in support of his belief, as in all other matters, he was an indefatigable worker. He was always zealous in support of the measures intended to better the condition of the working men and the poor in general and in all things he put the national welfare before partisanship and the general good before self-aggrandizement. Firm in support of his conviction no one was ever in doubt as to his position relating to any question; and the sobriquet of Honest John Hill was not misapplied. Perhaps he did not displace the brilliance of some who have served in congress, yet he possessed true statesmanlike abilities and was a forceful, logical and convincing speaker who held the attention of the house throughout an address.

Mr. Hill was married September 27, 1853, to Phoebe J. Carman, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Miller) Carman, of New York City. She shared in the high regard so uniformly given her honored husband and throughout Morris county she had many warm friends. Mr. Hill was a prominent and consistent member of the Presbyterian church and a very zealous worker in the Sunday-school. The last public act of his life was the delivery of a very impressive address before the Presbyterian general assembly in Saratoga, New York. He was one of the delegates to the Raikes Centennial (Sunday School) held in London a few years ago, and after his return delivered a number of very interesting addresses on subjects discussed in that convention; for thirty-nine years he served as elder in his home church; at the time of his death was president of the Morris County Bible Society; and was also prominent in the work of the Young Men s Christian Association, and usually attended to its state and national conferences.

In summing up his life work we note several very strong points in his character. He was a student of national issues and his strong mentality well fitted him for leadership, but while others might have used their influence and power for selfish purposes, in his public acts he was at all times governed by a loyal and patriotic purpose that knew no wavering. He left the impress of his individuality upon the legislation of his time, the usefulness and wisdom of which the passing years have shown. Nor was he content with those labors which were of a general character merely; he was a man of keen sympathy and came into close touch with humanity through his labors in the church and different church organizations. He believed thoroughly in that practical religion which extends a helping hand to the needy, is sympathetic with the distressed and at all times inspires hope and confidence in better days to come. Such was the life of one of the most honored and prominent citizens that Morris county has produced, and his name is indelibly inscribed on the pages of its history. (Biographical & Genealogical History, Morris County, New Jersey, Volume II, Pages 417-420. published 1899)

McCORMACK, WILLIAM L.

A successful florist of Chatham, Mr. McCormack was born in Chatham township, Morris County, in March, 1867, and is a son of John and Bridget (Skelley) McCormack, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Emigrating to America in the

50s, they took up their residence in Morris county, where they spent their remaining days. They had a large family of children, as follows: Anna, John, Elizabeth, William L., Mary (deceased). Julia, Marcellus (also deceased), Theresa, Johanna, James and Thomas.

Under the parental roof Mr. McCormack was reared to manhood and in the public schools near his home acquired his education. Entering upon his business career, he served an apprenticeship under Mr. Littlejohn, a florist, and in 1890 purchased his present place in Chatham, where he has since carried on operations on his own account. His energy, well-directed efforts and capable management have brought to him success and he is now one of the prosperous florists of his section of the county, having ten thousand eight hundred square feet under glass. He raises every variety of rose, and his greenhouses are marvels of beauty. New York furnishes him an excellent market for his flowers and his sales are very extensive. He has made a close and careful study of rose-growing and understands all the needs and requirements of his flowers, so that his care of them is most conducive to the healthy growth and bearing.

Mr. McCormack is a member of the Madison Rose Growing Association and is one of the progressive men of the town. His political support has been given the Democracy previous to 1896, when, becoming convinced that the platform of the Republican party contained the measures most adapted to the welfare of the progress of the nation, he espoused its cause, and was made a member of the Republican executive committee. In the spring of 1897 he was elected a member of the first council of Chatham and his active support and co-operation are given to all measures for the public good. He holds membership in the Catholic church and is a liberal contributor to its support. (Biographical & Genealogical History, Morris County, New Jersey, Volume II, Pages 424, published 1899)

PIERSON, SAMUEL F.

A civil engineer of distinctive ability, Mr. Pierson is now practically living a retired life, in Morristown. He was born at Morris Plains, Hanover township, Morris county, September 20, 1823. His father, Ebenezer Pierson, was born at Morris Plains, October 3, 1878, and was a son of Samuel Pierson Sr., whose birth occurred at the same place in 1738. He served in the war of the Revolution, valiantly aiding the colonists in their struggle to secure independence from English rule. He married Rebecca Garragus, whose brother John was also one of the Revolutionary heroes and fought at the battle of Monmouth, where so many of the British died from sunstroke. He lived to over one hundred years of age, and his sword, which he carried at Monmouth, is now in possession of the Washington Park Association of Morristown, having been given them by the subject of this review. Samuel Pierson, the grandfather of our subject, had a family of six children, namely: Timothy, Stephen, Samuel, Ebenezer, Mary and Hulda. The father of this family died May 2, 1790, and the mother died on the 18^th of November, 1838.

Ebenezer Pierson, father of our subject, served in the war of 1812 for a short period and was stationed at Sandy Hook. He was the owner of a large farm of three hundred acres, on the Mendham road, a part of which is now owned by James Pierson, who occupies the old homestead. Ebenezer Pierson was twice married. On the 22^nd of Augusta, 1812, he wedded Miss Permelia Lindsley, and they had three children Lettie, Julia and Elizabeth. He was again married, January 13, 1822, his second union being with Johanna Trowbridge, who was born October 8, 1797, a daughter of Austin Trowbridge, who was born April 19, 1767, and died June 7, 1845. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Freeman, was born May 18, 1775, and died April 25, 1845. Mr. Trowbridge was a farmer by occupation and was a well known citizen of the community in which he made his home. He was the owner of a clock which is now in possession of our subject, and although more than a hundred years old, it is still in good running order. By the second marriage of Ebenezer Pierson were born five children, as follows: Samuel F.; Hannah, who married Charles M. Foster and is now living in Chicago, Illinois; Silas, deceased, George, who married Nancy Miller and moved to Chicago, where he died and James, who wedded Catherine H. Halsey and is living in Morris township.

Samuel F. Pierson was only a year old when his father removed to Morris township, and there he grew to manhood, assisting in the labors of field and meadow and in the other duties of the farmstead. He began his education in the common schools and later entered a private school, conducted by Jacob Jenkins. There he remained for two years, completing a course in civil engineering. He found that occupation very congenial and has made it his life work. There are very few places in the county that have not been surveyed by him, and his files contain maps and plats covering nearly every part of this section of the state. He has made this a life study, and his work is very accurate and satisfactory.

Mr. Pierson is highly respected throughout the locality in which his entire life has been passed and his fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth and ability, have frequently called upon him to fill local positions of honor and trust. From 1875 until 1885 he served as assessor of Morris township, discharging his duties with marked fidelity and promptness.

Mr. Pierson was married January 14, 1846, to Miss Mary J. Moore, who was born April 14, 1826, a daughter of Isaac B. and Elizabeth (Moore) Moore, who were natives of Somerset county, New Jersey, and belonged to old families of this state. To our subject and his wife have been born the following named children: Edna E., born March 25, 1847, now deceased; Ella A., who was born January 19, 1848, and is the wife of A. Layton Powelson, a resident of Brooklyn, New York; George A., born April 17, 1852, deceased, Mary Emma, who was born September 18, 1858, and is now the wife of George A. Mills, a resident of Morristown; Clara J., who was born September 3, 1857, and is the wife of Lewis M. Tuttle, a farmer of Morris township; Eugene, who was born July 6, 1859, and married Anna Sayer, their home being now in Morristown; Anna L., who was born October 12, 1864, and is the wife of Charles J. White; and Arthur S., who was born August 11, 1866, who married Anna Mason; he is also a civil engineer and has an office in Morristown, being the present city surveyor. For three generations the Pierson family has been connected with the Presbyterian church, and our subject is identified with that organization. His has been an upright, honorable, busy and useful life, and now in his declining years he is largely resting from the toil of former days. (Biographical & Genealogical History, Morris County, New Jersey, Volume II, Pages 422-424. published 1899)