Jairus J. Langdon

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Jairus J. Langdon

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

One of the thorough-going business men of Wharton, Morris county, New Jersey, who has gained success as the result of honest, honorable toil, is Jairus J. LANGDON, whose sterling worth is acknowledged by all who have had dealings with him. His family is an old one, and in all probability came here from England. Phoebus LANGDON, his grandfather, was born in Connecticut, came to Morris county, New Jersey, in early manhood, and took a noteworthy part in its development.

Jesse S., son of Phoebus LANGDON, was born in Morris county in 1818, and died in 1894. During the greater part of his life he was engaged in farming. He purchased a farm of fifty-six acres about 1860, and devoted his time to this and the carting of ore from the RICHARDS and ALLEN mines to Wharton. He built the fine brick residence now on the farm. He was a staunch Whig, and then a strong Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Sarah, born in 1819, died about 1897, a daughter of John and Elizabeth MARTIN, and they had children: Louisa, died young; Andrew C., a resident of Dover; Theresa, deceased; Theresa; Jairus J., the subject of this sketch; Webster C., lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and has been for a number of years state veterinary surgeon of North Dakota; Sarah E., widow of Lemuel S. VANDERBEAK, resides at Roseville, New Jersey; Henrietta, married Augustus BURKHART, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Jairus J. LANGDON was born on the LANGDON homestead, Morris county, New Jersey, November 18, 1849. His early years were spent at Mount Pleasant, and he acquired his education in Rockaway Seminary. His first business occupation was in the employ of the Mount Hope Mining Company, with which he was associated for a period of four years. His next field of industry was in Passaic county, New Jersey, where he and Edward G. COURSEN were in the general merchandise business under the firm name of COURSEN & LANGDON, the business being closed out when Mr. LANGDON removed to Mount Pleasant in 1876. There he commenced a store on a small scale, which he gradually increased in size as conditions warranted, until it was the largest in the town. He then opened a branch store at Hopatcong, the firm name being LANGDON & VAN DERBEEK,, then bought out his partner, and placed it in charge of his brother-in-law, Mr. BURKHART. A part of his time was spent to farming, in which he was also successful. For the past five years he has been a partner in the LAKE and LANGDON Silk Mills, which is operated by water power. They manufactured dress and braid silks, and have opened a retail store for the sale of their output at No. 24 West Blackwell street, Dover, New Jersey. They employ about twenty operators in the mills. One of his farms is located in Berkshire Valley and the other near Wharton. Mr. LANGDON was a Republican until the formation of the Progressive party when he joined the ranks of that organization and was a delegate to the convention in the summer of 1912, at Chicago. He has served as a member of the town council for a period of four years, and was formerly a member of the school board. He is a member of Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M. of Dover; Randolph Lodge, No. 130, I. O. O. F.; Hope Council, Golden Star. His religious affiliation is with the First Presbyterian Church of Dover.

Mr. LANGDON married, in 1874, Mary E., of Verona, Sussex county, New Jersey, a daughter of Richard S. DENTON, a merchant. They have one daughter: Elizabeth Denton, who attended the Wharton public schools, and then Blair Hall.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)