Fred R. Casterlin

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Fred R. Casterlin

Fred R. CASTERLIN , proprietor of the Park Hotel, the leading hostelry in Butler, located on Main street, is a representative of a family that has resided in New Jersey for many years, the members of the family in various generations displaying special ability for the hotel business, in which they have been highly successful.

(I) Nathaniel CASTERLIN, grandfather of Fred R. CASTERLIN, spent his entire life on the old homestead at Rockport, Sussex county, New Jersey, and was a wagon maker by trade. He married Hannah MANDEVILLE, and their children were: George, Nathan, Thomas, Dennis, Jane, wife of Charles KINSEY; Ella, wife of Alford H. DECKER, of Paterson; Maggie, wife of Captain C. H. TUTTLE; Sarah, wife of Jesse ROSENCRANSE; Minnie, widow of James DECKER; Richard, of whom further.

(II) Richard CASTERLIN, father of Fred R. CASTERLIN, was born at Rockport, Sussex county, New Jersey, 1806. He was a wheelwright in early life, and later conducted a hotel in Unionville, New York, engaging in that enterprise in 1860, and continuing for the remainder of his days. He married Mahala ROGERS, daughter of Peter and Sallie (SEIDMORE) RIGERS, the former named, who was a veteran of the War of 1812, died in March, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. Mr. and Mrs. CASTERLIN were the parents of three children: Charles, proprietor of a hotel in Florida, New York, married Mary KELLOGG; Fred R., of whom further; Ralph, a carpenter in Unionville, New York, married Lizzie De GROOT.

(III) Fred R. CASTERLIN was born at Rockport, Sussex county, New Jersey, January 16, 1856. He attended the schools in the vicinity of his home in Orange county, New York, and his first occupation was as stage driver for his father, the route being from Unionville, New York, to Deckertown, New Jersey, in which capacity he served for one year. He then accepted a clerkship with F. M. CANNON, of Deckertown, a prominent druggist there, with whom he remained for two years, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, continuing along that line until 1890, in which year he took up his residence in Butler and assumed charge of the Park Hotel, which was erected in 1884, and to which many improvements were made in 1913 by Mr. CASTERLIN, making it one of the best equipped places of public entertainment in that section of the state. The house contains twenty-two bedrooms, in addition to the other necessary rooms, all of which are furnished with everything needful for the comfort and convenience of his quests, the table is supplied bountifully with good, wholesome food, therefore the house receives it full quota of patrons. Mr. CASTERLIN caters largely to the auto trade, being capable of entertaining them in the proper manner. In 1909 he erected a commodious brick barn, fitted running a livery stable in connection with his hotel. Mr. CASTERLIN is also with up-to-date appliances, for the sheltering of his twenty-five horses, he engaged in the buying and selling of horses, of which he is an excellent judge, disposing of from fifty to 100 each year, making a specialty of fast horses. He was the owner of "Dick R’ and "Nick E." two valuable pacers, the former with a record of 2:27, while the latter made the mile in 2:17, and one of the horses now in his possession, "Doc Wilson," made one-half mile in fifty-nine seconds. Mr. CASTERLIN is a director and one of the largest stockholders in the First National Bank of Butler. He is a Republican in politics, and served as collector in Unionville, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. CASTERLIN married, December 24, 1884, in Deckertown, New Jersey, Cora ADAMS, daughter of John E. and Jane (DAVIS) ADAMS, the former of whom was a farmer and brewer and also operated a creamery in Sussex county, New Jersey. Mrs. CASTERLIN died in 1910. Children: Richard J., resides in Butler; Lewis, died in June, 1913.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)