George H. Hulmes

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

George H. Hulmes

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

One of the most important interests of Lake Hopatcong, Morris county, New Jersey, is represented by George H. HULMES, who is a descendent of a family which has been resident in the State of New Jersey for many years. Christopher HULMES, his grandfather, was a forgeman at Weldon, Longwood, and various other places, and died at Weldon about 1866. He married Hannah HENDERSON, who died about 1878, and they were the parents of: _______, deceased; William S., of further mention; Charles, Frederick, Sarah, Ann, Malinda, Caroline.

William S., son of Christopher and Hannah (HENDERSON) HULMES, was born at Weldon, in 1835, and died in 1908. In his younger days he was also a forgeman, but in his later years worked in the Mount Hope mines. The last twenty years of his life were spent in Chester and Succasunna. He enlisted in a regiment of Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, under Captain David S. ALLEN, and received his discharge at the close of the war. He married Emily, daughter of Stephen and Fannie (LANNIN) DICKERSON, the latter part of whose lives was spent in Berkshire Valley, where he was a farmer. They had one other child: H. Jonathan, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. HULMES had children: Emma A., now deceased, married Joseph SMITH; George H., of further mention; Frank, in the employ of the Bailey Meat Packing Company, of Newark; Charles L., a carpenter, of Newark; Mary, married (first) William DAVENPORT, of Berkshire Valley, who died in 1902, married (second) Joseph VANDERHOOF, and resides in Newark; Edith, married Josiah F. SPENCER, of Berkshire Valley.

George H., son of William S. and Emily (DICKERSON) HULMES, was born in Berkshire Valley, Jefferson township, Morris county, New Jersey, July 5, 1863. He was educated in the public schools in the vicinity of his home, then was engaged in mine work at Mount Hope for a few years, and later was superintendent of the Cooper Mine. Subsequently he opened up and worked a mine at Hockleborney, employing about thirty men. After this he entered the employ of the Kenville Lumber Company, being given charge of the lake stores and the limber yard at Nolans Point, held this post sixteen years and was a stockholder in the company. He then sold his interests in this enterprise and purchased boats for use on Lake Hopatcong. He operated the Black Line through the canal for a period of eight years. His first three boats were run under the name of the People’s Steamboat Line, and were named: F. W. Zook, a steamer of seventy-passenger capacity; Mystic Shrine, sixty-five passengers; Gladys, forty passengers. In 1914 Mr. HULMES purchased the Bertram Island Transportation Line, and the five vessels under its control are: Uncle Dan, forty-five passengers; Richard J., eighty-five passengers; C. K. Benedict, gasoline, eighty-five passengers; Esther R., gasoline, forty passengers; New Breslin, gasoline, twenty-nine passengers. In political matters, Mr. HULMES is a Republican, and in November, 1913, was elected a freeholder of Jefferson township. He has a beautiful home at Lake Hopatcong, where he has resided since 1871, and all his life has been spent in Morris county. He is a member of Agassiz Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Dover, Madison Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Morristown; Roxbury Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Succasunna. Mr. HULMES married (first) December 28, 1887, Jennie, daughter of John and Ann CHAPMAN; children: Charles Raymond and Myrtle C. Mrs. HULMES died March 26, 1910, and he married (second) 1912, Nellie, a sister of his first wife, and has one child by this marriage: Evelyn Loraine.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)