James B. Dell

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

James B. Dell

James B. DELL is most successfully engaged in business at Netcong, New Jersey, as a contractor and builder, having followed that line of enterprise continuously for the past twenty-four years. He has served his home community in various official positions of trust and responsibility. In 1902-3 he was mayor of Netcong, for one term was member of the town council, and he has also been incumbent of the office of town assessor.

A native son of Morris county, New Jersey, James B. DELL was born at Landing, February 7, 1857. He is a son of Charles S. DELL, who was likewise born in Morris county, where he grew to maturity and where he learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1862 the father removed to Stanhope, in Sussex county, this state, and there past to eternal rest in 1873, in the fifty-third year of his life. The mother of James B. DELL was Mary Hathaway DELL, who was born at Dover, and who passed away in January, 1902, aged seventy-six years. There were five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. DELL, namely: Caroline, is deceased; Sarah Elizabeth, was wife of James CLAWSON at the time of her demise; George, died at the age of twenty-two years; Susan, is wife of Sylvester BARTMAN, and for several years they lived in the city of Detroit, Michigan; Caroline, died at the age of eighteen months; and James B., whose name inaugurates this article.

James B. Dell was a child of but five years of age at the time of his parents’ removal from Morris county to Stanhope, New Jersey. To the public schools of Stanhope he is indebted for his preliminary educational training. In that city he learned the trade of carpenter, and in 1883 he established his home in Netcong, where he has since been engaged in business as a contractor and builder. In 1880 he went to Topeka, Kansas, with the expectation of taking up a land claim; he remained there for nine months but did not enter a claim. He has erected some of the finest buildings in Netcong and has also been a contractor for structures in other sections of Morris county. In his political proclivities Mr. DELL is a stalwart Progressive, although formerly a Republican. He has always manifested an active interest in local politics. For two terms he served with the utmost efficiency as township assessor, for three years was a member of the town council, and in 1902 was honored by his fellow citizens with election to the office of mayor of Netcong, serving in that capacity for two years, during which time he accomplished much in the way of public improvements. In fraternal circles he is affiliated with Lodge No. 151, F. and A. M.; and with the Royal Arcanum.

January 7, 1881, Mr. DELL married Miss Ida DRAKE, a daughter of William DRAKE of Netcong. Mr. and Mrs. DELL have two children: Charles Milton, born April 26, 1883, is a carpenter by trade, and associated with his father in business, he is unmarried; and Lillian, born March 11, 1881, the wife of Phillip HOPLER, of Newark, New Jersey. Mr. DELL owns considerable property in Netcong, and has a beautiful residence on Drakeville avenue. He is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, and his long and useful life has been exemplary in all respects.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)