John H. Polhemus

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

John H. Polhemus

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

John H. POLHEMUS, one of the substantial business men of Whippany, Morris county, New Jersey, has the distinction of having a long and honorable line of ancestors. The progenitor of all of the name of POLHEMUS in America was Johannes Theodorus POLHEMUS, a minister of the Reformed Church of Holland, who accepted a call from the church in Flatbush, and labored there from 1654 until 1665. Later, and until his death, he was pastor of a church in Brooklyn. He married Catherine VAN WERVEN, and died in 1676.

Daniel POLHEMUS, son of the immigrant ancestor, was captain of the troops of King’s county, and died shortly before 1730. He was for a time supervisor of Flatbush, and later served as county judge.

Daniel POLHEMUS, son of Daniel POLHEMUS, removed to New York, where he took up his permanent residence.

Henry POLHEMUS, son of the second Daniel POLHEMUS, was born in New York, and removed to Battle Creek, Michigan. After the death of his wife he returned east, and made his home in Somerset county, New Jersey. He married Helen VAN MIDDLESWORTH, born in New York.

John H. POLHEMUS, son of Henry and Helen (VAN MIDLESWORTH) POLHEMUS, was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, April 11, 1856, died April 13, 1914. He was four years of age at the time of his mother’s death. A part of his education was acquired in his native State, and it was completed at a college for elocution in Middlebush, New Jersey. In 1876 he came to Whippany, Morris county, New Jersey, where he found employment as a clerk in a general store. Strict attention to business and faithful performance of all duties which fell to his share were not without their due effort. It was not so many years later that he became the proprietor of a general store in the same town, and steadily continued in business there. From the outset his methods were enterprising and progressive, yet tempered with a sufficient amount of conservatism to render them perfectly safe. He closely studied the trend of the times, always kept a large and well chosen stock of goods on hand, and the never failing courtesy with which all of his customers were treated was duly appreciated. He always gave his staunch support to the principles of the Republican party, and filled the office of postmaster of Whippany under President Harrison. His religious affiliations were with the Presbyterian church, of which he was a director, he was president of the Whiponong Hall Association, and a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

Mr. POLHEMUS married, April 21, 1880, Fannelia Beach, daughter of Thomas McINTYRE, of Mount Vernon, New York. They had children: Minnie Fannelia, married David L. EMMELUTH, of Mount Vernon, New York; John Howard, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, is assistant auditor with the Underwood Typewriter Company; William Alexander, who was associated in business with his father; Helen Van Middlesworth, married Russell WEBB; Laura Elizabeth, at home; Jennie Mabel, in the employ of the Morristown & Erie Railroad Company; Hazel Jewett, in the Orange Training School for Nurses; Edna Gordon, a senior in the Montclair State Normal School; Dorothy Gladys, in the public school.

William Alexander POLHEMUS is an active young Republican and has held the office of township clerk of Hanover township for the past four years, completing his second term, and was for some time president of the Whippany brass band, he being an accomplished cornetist.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)