James Arthur

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

James Arthur

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

James ARTHUR, of Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, who was for eighteen years superintendent of the RICHARD mines at Port Oram, owned by the THOMAS Iron Company, had had a most interesting and varied career. His father, John ARTHUR, was born in Cornwall, England, in 1821, died at Durham, Pennsylvania, 1892 or 1893. He emigrated to America about 1846, and having been employed in the copper and tin mines in his native land, he sought employment in the same industry upon his arrival here. For a time he worked in Flemington, New Jersey, then removed to Durham, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he became a foreman in the mines. For some years prior to his death he had been blind as the result of an explosion in the mines while he was on duty. He married, in England, Jane CARKEET, also a native of Cornwall, who died about one year after the death of her husband. They had six sons and two daughters of whom: James, see forward; John, employed in the cement mines of New Jersey; William H., in the cement mines of Pennsylvania; Anna, married William KEMP, a bell maker in East Hampton, Connecticut; Jane, married John REYNOLDS, who resides at Irvington, New York, on the banks of the Hudson River.

James ARTHUR was born in Cornwall, England, January 14, 1844, and was brought to America with his parents at the age of two years. Until he was nine years of age he remained in Durham, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he attended the common schools. He then went to the West Indies with his uncle, Joseph ARTHUR, and attended school in Jamaica until his twelfth year and, upon his return to Durham, entered the employ of the Durham Iron Works, where he remained until his seventeenth year. Removing to Hancock, Michigan, he was employed in the copper mines of Houghton county for a period of nine years. At the expiration of this period he returned to the east, locating in Trumbull, Connecticut, where he had charge of mining operations for five years. The next seven years were spent at Virginia City, Nevada, and he then returned to Belvidere, New Jersey, in order to take charge of the mines owned by the SHOEMAKER Mining Company. In December, 1894, he arrived at Port Oram, Morris county, New Jersey, to assume management of the RICHARD mines of the THOMAS Iron Company, and acted in the capacity of superintendent, having charge of upward of 400 men, until March 1, 1913. He is thoroughly conversant with the business of mining in all its departments and was therefore well qualified to fill this position. Under his supervision the mine was worked to yield a good profit and the enterprise was successful in every particular. He merited the unqualified confidence of the company, for his fidelity to its interests was above question. His fairness to his employees won their respect and faithful service, and he had less labor difficulties to contend with than is generally the case with the mining industry.

Mr. ARTHUR married Angie A. ANDERSON, of Calais, Maine, and they had children: Kenneth Ray, who died at Belvidere, New Jersey, September 14, 1893, the day he was to commence his studies at Lafayette College; Angie May, who was graduated from the Maryland College, at Lutherville, Maryland, from both the academic and musical departments; she is a highly accomplished artist as well as showing great literary ability. The family resides in a beautiful home at No. 273 West Clinton street, Dover, New Jersey.

Mrs. ARTHUR’s father, William ANDERSON, was born in Portland, Maine, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and afterward a prominent business man of Baileyville, Washington county, Maine. He married Sarah Ann THORNTON, whose great-grandfather, Andrew THORNTON, was a brother of Matthew THORNTON, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. Her grandfather, Matthew THORNTON, named for his uncle just mentioned, was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and was a captain in the Colonial army; her father, Joseph THORNTON, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary army. The record, or family Bible, giving the data of the THORNTON family, is in the possession of Mrs. McBEAN, of Calais, a relative, and is now 146 years old. Of William ANDERSON’s children, in addition to Mrs. ARTHUR, there were: Harris W., of Baileyville, who was a soldier in the Civil War; Mrs. E. J. FARRAR, of Milltown, Maine; Mary Rebekah, who married Captain David A. SWAIN; Martha L., of Calais. Mrs ARTHUR has a niece who is the wife of Hon. G. M. Hanson, of the Supreme Court of Maine. The Bible containing the record of the ANDERSON family is kept by Dr. A. K. P. MESERVE, of Portland, Maine, who is a cousin of Mrs. ARTHUR.

In his political views Mr. ARTHUR is a Republican and has served as a member of the township committee. He was a member of the Rockaway township school board for about a dozen years. He has been a member of the Masonic order for forty years, and of Warren Lodge, No. 13, F. and A. M., some twenty-five years, and among his brethren of the fraternity is regarded as a valued addition to their ranks, owing to his allegiance to the vows of the order, and also to his genial and affable nature. The duties and quiet pleasures of a retired life now occupy the time and attention of Mr. ARTHUR, and he takes great interest in all matters connected with the charitable enterprises of the community.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)