Bios M-O | Hudson County, NJGenWeb

a proud part of The USGenWeb Project

Libraries & Societies | Maps | Military | Museums |

Naturalization & Probate | Vital Records

County Coordinator: Denise Wells

BIOGRAPHIES

What bios on this here?

A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-U | V-Z

EDWIN MANNERS, A.M., LL.B., is the son of the late Hon. David Stout Manners and Deborah Philips Johnes, and was born in Jersey City, N. J., on the 6th of March, 1855. His father was for several years Mayor of Jersey City and universally esteemed and respected as one of its best executives and citizens. He Is a grandson of David Manners, a great-grandson of John Manners, and a great-great-grandson of John Manners, Sr., of Yorkshire, England, who was born in 1678, emigrated to America about 1700, and married Rebecca Stout, of Middletown, N. J., a granddaughter of Richard and Penelope Van Princess Stout, of interesting memory, and the first in America. John Manners, Sr., settled at Upper Freehold, N. J., but afterward moved to Amwell, Hunterdon County, in this State, where he died in 1770. The American branch is connected with the noble family of Manners in England, which traces its distinguished lineage back to the time of William the Conqueror, and indeed is of Norman origin.

On his mother’s side Edwin Manners is a grandson of David Johnes, a great-grandson of David Johnes, Sr., a great-great-grandson of Stephen Johnes, and a great-great-great grandson of Samuel Johnes, Jr., who was the son of Samuel Johnes, Sr., whose father, Edward Johnes, of Somerset, England, came to Charlestown (Boston), Mass., with Governor Winthrop in 1630; he later was one of the founders of Southampton, Long Island, and died there in 1659. Edward married Anne, daughter of George and Alice Griggs, natives of Dinder. The Johnes family in the United states may be distantly related to tht of Dolan Cothi, in Wales, which traces to Godebog, King of Britain, but is directly descended from the Johnes family of County Berks, County Salop, and London and Somerset, England, the branches living in those counties and also in Bristol all proceeding from the same original stock. Sir Frances Johnes was Lord Mayor of London in 1620. Edwin Manners’s great-grandfather, John Schenck, was a Captain in the Revolutionary War, took an active part in the principal battles in the State, and by a well-planned ambuscade prevented the British troops from overrunning Hunterdon County. His grandfather, David Manners, who married Captain Schenck’s daughter Mary, was an officer in the War of 1812, and won honorable mention in several important engagements. On the maternal side Mr. Manners’s great-great-grandfather, Stephen Johnes, married Grace Fitz Randolph, whose brother Nathaniel gave to Princeton the land upon which Nassau Hall Is erected, and his great-grandfather, David Johnes, was a Major in the Revolution and rendered efficient service in establishing American independence.

Edwin Manners early displayed unusual intellectual abilities, and in preparatory school and college won prizes for composition and select and original speaking which distinguished him as a scholar. From his earliest school days he exhibited a disposition for the world of letters. While a student at Hasbrouck Institute, Jersey City, he was connected with the Quill, a school paper, and while pursuing his studies at sing-Sing-on-the-Hudson was the editor of Mount Pleasant Reveille, the organ of the Mount Pleasant cadets. During his senior year at Princeton University, from which he was graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1877, he was one of the editors of the Nassau Literary Magazine, and on class day delivered to the distinguished class of 1877 a characteristic presentation address. Princeton conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1880.

After leaving college Mr. Manners began the study of law with Collins & Corbin, of Jersey City, and at the same time took a course at the Columbia Law School in New York City, graduated from that institution with the degree of LL.B. in 1879. In November, 1880, he was admitted to the bar, and since then he has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in his native city. Although interested in municipal matters and politics, he has declined offers of political preferment. A large portion of his time is taken up with the care and management of his own property of his time is taken up with the care and management of his own property and business affairs.

Mr. Manners has ably assisted those who have procured for Jersey City an improved water supply and other public improvements. Greater Jersey City has also claimed Mr. Manners’s attention, and received his favorable comment. Many advantages are to be gained in bringing the various municipalities of Hudson County under one name and government. This unity of development in particular is much to be desired. With the extension of rapid transit facilities the last of apparent excuses for delaying consolidation has disappeared, and it would seem a needless expense to keep up separate charters in contiguous towns.

As a landlord Mr. Manners is liked by his tenants, and their praise is in evidence of his liberality and forbearance. He is a member of the Hudson County Bar Association, the University and Palma Clubs of Jersey City, the Princeton Club of New York City, the Sons of the American Revolution, and other societies. Of literary aptitude, he writes occasionally for newspapers and magazines. He is unmarried.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, pages 117-118.

ALEXANDER TAGGART McGILL, A.M., LL.D., for thirteen years Chancellor of the State of New Jersey, was born October 20, 1845, in Allegheny City, Pa., where his father, Rev. Alexander T. McGill, D.D., LL.D., was a professor in the Western Theological Seminary. His great-grandfather was an Indian fighter of note in Pennsylvania, and served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Continental Army under Washington at Trenton and Princeton. The Chancellor’s father was for some years a lawyer in Georgia, but later studied theology and became professor in the Western Theological Seminary. When the Chancellor was nine years old, in 1854, his father accepted a professorship in Princeton Theological Seminary and the family moved to New Jersey. His father held that position until his death in 1880.

Chancellor McGill thus spent his early life in the midst of the best educational and social advantages, which he imbibed with an eagerness characteristic of his race. While a youth he exhibited scholarly tastes, and rapidly acquired a high standing as a thorough and painstaking student. His chief aim was to master every problem, no matter how difficult that came to this attention. He was a keen observer, possessed of analytical powers of a high order, and won the praise and respect of both teachers and associates. Entering Princeton College, he pursued the regular course and received the degree of A.B. in 1864 and that of A.M. in 1867, and afterward his alma mater and Rutgers College of New Jersey, each conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. In June, 1866, he was graduated from the Columbia Law School, and thereafter continued his legal studies with the late Hon. Edward W. Scudder, of Trenton. He came to the bar in New Jersey as an attorney at the November term, 1867, and as a counselor in November, 1870.

For a few months he remained in Trenton as an associate of his preceptor, Judge Scudder, and then, in 1868, moved to Jersey City, where he afterward resided. Chancellor McGill soon achieved prominence as an able, industrious, and conscientious lawyer. From 1870 to 1876 he was the law partner of the late Attorney General Robert Gilchrist. In 1874 and 1876 he was counsel for the City of Bayonne and also member of Assembly from the then First District of Hudson County. He was active and influential in the Legislature, and served on the leading committees. In April, 1878, Governor McClellan appointed him Prosecutor of the Pleas of the County of Hudson, and in April, 1883, he was appointed Law Judge of that county by Governor Ludlow.

On March 29, 1887, he was appointed by Governor Green as Chancellor of the State of New Jersey, and the appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on the 31st of the same month. His first term expired May 1, 1894, and he was re-appointed to the office by Governor Werts, and at once unanimously confirmed by the Senate without reference.

It was during his term as Chancellor that the famous coal combine bill was passed by the Legislature. When Governor Abbett refused to sign the bill the railroad companies in the combination contended that they were protected by existing law, and proceeded to act accordingly. The attorney general brought suit against the Coal Trust in the Court of Chancery. The Chancellor rendered a decision which not only laid down the relations of corporations to the State with a clearness and fairness that placed his ruling beyond attack, but dealt a blow to all the monopoly combinations of the Coal Trust class.

In the fall of 1895 the Democratic party nominated the Chancellor for Governor. In the campaign that followed he took no part, but continued to discharge the duties of the office of Chancellor. The election resulted in his defeat by John W. Griggs, now Untied States Attorney General, by a plurality of 26,900.

Chancellor McGill died April 21, 1909, at his home in Jersey City. His friends declare that he died a martyr to duty. His office killed him. He was a scrupulously conscientious man, and thought of duty above everything else. He would never shirk a responsibility, however much he might suffer in fulfilling it. His learning, dignity, good judgment, and ability long adorned the highest equity bench in the State. He was one of the most popular jurists that ever presided over the Courts of Errors and Appeals and Chancery. As a citizen, lawyer, and judge he was universally respected and esteemed.

Chancellor McGill married Miss Olmstead, a relative of the Stevens family, of Hoboken, who survives. He had no children. He is also survived by a brother, Dr. John D. McGill, Surgeon-General of New Jersey.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 55-57.

THE MERSELES FAMILY is still numerous in Hudson and Bergen Counties. They trace their lineage to Pieter Marcelisen (Marcells), a native of the little Town of Beest, near Leerdam, in the province of Utrecht, Holland. He left Amsterdam in April, 1681, with his wife, four children (aged, respectively, twelve, six, four, and two years), and two servants, on the Dutch West India ship "Beaver," and arrived at New Amsterdam on the 9th of May of the same year. The ship's register shows he paid 232 florins passage-money for the family of eight persons, all of which goes to show that even then he must have been a man of considerable means. He removed to Bergen, where he settled, and where his wife died in 1680, and he followed her in 1681. His issue were James, Jannekie, Pieter, Merseles, Elizabeth, and Hilldegend. These all married and remained at Bergen. Peter, the eldest son, died wealthy. Some of his descendants settled in Rockland County, N. Y., and in the north end of Bergen County.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 172.

JOHN JOSEPH NEVIN, Judge of the Criminal Courts of Jersey City, is the son of Patrick Nevin, and was born in Summit, N. J., on the 31st of August, 1870. After attending private schools he entered St. Peter's College of Jersey City and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1889, receiving in July of that year the degree of Bachelor of Arts; a year after he received the degree of Master of Arts. On leaving college he was offered the position of clerk to Mayor Cleveland, which he accepted, and when Mayor Wanser succeeded Mr. Cleveland in office Mr. Nevin was retained on account of his efficiency, industry, and superior qualifications. In these capacities Judge Nevin gained a wide reputation and displayed those broad executive abilities which have since distinguished him in both public and private affairs. He also engaged in journalism, being the Jersey City correspondence of the New York Morning Advertiser and also of the New York Star and Daily Continent during the existence of those papers. He is now Judge of the Criminal Courts of Jersey City, which office he is filling with marked ability and universal satisfaction. In 1899 he was appointed a member for Jersey City of the Hudson County Consolidation Commission, and he is now Secretary of that body. Judge Nevin was married April 30, 1895, to Katharine Walsh, of Jersey City, and has two children, Joseph and Edward.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, pages 161-162.

JAMES S. NEWKIRK, Secretary and Treasurer of the Provident Institution for Savings, of Jersey City, was or in Bergen (now Jersey City) September 9, 1852. His family at one time was one of the most numerous in Hudson County, and the name is still very common. More than a century ago some members of the family settled in New York State, in Ulster and Sullivan Counties, here their numerous descendants have spread rapidly and become prominent in the various walks of life.

Matthew Cornelisse, who is said to have been a native of Nieuwkercke (New Church) in Holland, emigrated to America in about the year 1660, and after landing and staying at New Amsterdam a short time went to Flatbush, L. I., where he bought and located on a "Bonwerie" of about thirty-six acres of land, butting, as his deed declared, on "Corlears Flats." This tract he sold March 10, 1665, to one Arent Evertse, and he removed thence to the "Towne of Bergen," in New Jersey. Here, on December 14, 1670, he married one Anna Luby, daughter of Jacob Luby, who had served as a non-commissioned officer (Sergeant) in the Dutch West India service, but who had for some years been a resident and landholder at Bergen. Mattheus Cornelissen assumed the surname of Newkirk--in honor of his birthplace, no doubt. He leased lands at Bergen which were afterward conveyed to his children. His occupation seems o have been that of a farmer. His wife, Anna, died December 20, 1685, and he married in 1686 Catharine Pouwless, a daughter of Poulus Pieterse, of Bergen. She died in April, 1764. The children of Matthew Cornelissen Van New Kirk were twelve--five by the first wife and seven y the second wife: Gertrude, Gerritie, Jacomina, Cornelius, Jacob, Jannetje, John, Jannete, Peter, Gerritt, Poulus, and Cornelius. Those by the first wife scattered to different parts of the country, while those of the second wife remained in Bergen County, inheriting all their mother's property, which was considerable. The eleventh of these children, Gerrit Newkirk (2d gen.), born at Bergen November 18, 1696, married September 5, 1730, Catrina, daughter of Hendrick Kuyper (Cooper). She died September 12, 1751. He died April 23, 1785. Their children of the third generation were four: Catrina, Janneke, Matthew, and Henry.

Matthew (3d gen.) married Caroline, daughter of Arent Toers. He died July 10, 1811, leaving three children: Garret M., Aaron, and Henry.

Garret M. Newkirk (4th gen.), born at Bergen April 9, 1766, died August 28, 1832, married Polly Ackerman. They had six children: Catherine, Margaret, Sally, Sally, Henry, and Garret.

Garret G. Newkirk (5th gen.), born at Bergen October 17, 1808, married (1) October 25, 1828, Rachel, daughter of Halmigh Van Houten. She died December 1, 1835. He married (2) Jane Fowler, widow of Abram Tice. She died October 6, 1849. He married (3) September 6, 1851, Eliza Ann Beatty, daughter of George E. Beatty, born in 1820. His children by three wives were: two by first wife,, ten by second wife, and four by third wife. One of these children is the subject of this sketch.

James S. Newkirk (6th gen.) inherited all the sturdy characteristics of his race and early displayed those intellectual qualities which have since won for him so much distinction in the affairs of life. He was educated in the common schools, at Columbian Academy, and at District School No. 1 in the Town of Bergen. He commenced his business career as clerk in the grocery store of Jacob Van Winkle, of Bergen Square, in 1865. Five years later, or in 1870, he entered the Provident Institution for Savings in Jersey City, with which he has ever since been actively identified, having filled important positions in all the departments up to and including the offices of Secretary and Treasurer, which he now holds.

Mr. Newkirk has not, however, aspired to public or political office, having devoted himself almost exclusively to business affairs. For five years he was a member of the Fourth Regiment, N. G. N. J. He is a member of the Jersey City and Union League Clubs, of the Free and Accepted Masons, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics.

Mr. Newkirk's fist wife, Mary Elizabeth Terhune, died in 1878. In 1881 he married Annabella Meeker Randall, and they have four children of the seventh generation.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 131-132.