Frederick R. Guerin

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Frederick R. Guerin

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

During the past fifteen years Frederick R. GUERIN has been interested in the grocery business at Mendham and since 1908 he has been owner and manager of the grocery formerly owned by the Freeman & Hoffman Company, for whom he was clerk and manager for the preceding thirteen years. Mr. GUERIN was born at Morristown, New Jersey, October 21, 1873, and is the only child of Harry and Eveline (IRVING) GUERIN, the former a native of Morristown, and the latter of Somerset county, this State. The father was a carpenter by trade and he was a resident of Morristown at the time of his demise, in 1910, aged sixty-five years. Mrs. GUERIN is also deceased.

The maternal grandfather of Mr. GUERIN was Peter A. IRVING, born in Peapack, New Jersey, July 29, 1819, died at the home of his son, Theodore IRVING, on Sussex avenue, Morristown, New Jersey, November 15, 1913, in the ninety-fifth year of his age, thus being at the time of death one of the oldest men in this part of the State. His parents died while he was still young. He went to Paterson from Peapack and in 1866 came to Morristown and associated himself with his cousin, Mr. VAN DOREN, in the milling business, and for a time was engaged at the old Speedwell Works.

In the year 1870 he purchased the interest of the senior partner of Cooper & Brown, soap manufacturers, later selling his interests. The factory is now an Italian apartment house. His next business was that of carpentry which he followed up until about twenty years ago when he retired. He retained his health and vigor up to within a few years of his death.

Frederick R. GUERIN was an infant when his mother died and he was placed in the home of his maternal grandfather, Peter A. IRVING, where he spent his boyhood. He completed the course of study prescribed in the common schools of Morristown. At the age of thirteen years he accepted a position as clerk in a grocery store at Morristown and continued as such for the ensuing ten years, at the expiration of which time he went to New York City, where he was manager of a Childs’ restaurant for three years. Returning to Morristown in 1894, he held a position there as clerk for two years, and in 1898 came to Mendham, here entering the employ of the Freeman & Hoffman Company as a grocery clerk. With the passage of time he became thoroughly familiar with the details of this line of enterprise and subsequently was made manager of the store. In 1908 the business was for sale and he purchased it. In addition to retaining the old trade he has in recent years attracted many new customers, and now holds rank as one of the foremost grocers of this section of the county. His success in business is the result of his energy and ambition and has been on a parity with his own well directed efforts. Politically Mr. GUERIN is independent. He is a member of Mendham Fire Company, No. 1, and his fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with Prospect Lodge, No. 24, F. and A. M., and Madison Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M., at Morristown. He and his family attend and are members of the First Presbyterian Church.

The year 1895 marks the marriage of Mr. GUERIN to Cornelia D. GARABRANT, born in this county, daughter of John Newell and Helen (DAY) GARABRANT, the former of whom was for many years one of the progressive farmers of Mendham township. Mr. and Mrs. GARABRANT are both deceased. They had the following children: Eugene M., Everett L., mentioned elsewhere in this work, as is also John W.; Eliza, wife of Oscar PRUDEN; Jennie, wife of Charles FREEMAN; Florence; Cornelia D., wife of the subject of this sketch; and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. GUERIN have two sons: Irving A., a student in the Mt. Herman School; and Chauncey H., a pupil in the public school at Mendham. There were also twin daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. GUERIN, both died in infancy, Helen Marian and Eveline Irene.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)