Hon. Joseph B. Righter

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

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

One of the most prominent and influential men in local politics in Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, is the Hon. Joseph B. RIGHTER, who has been a leading factor in a number of campaigns. His well know devotion to the welfare of the county has won him many supporters, and he has been honored with public office, and has won the approval and commendation of both the Democratic and Republican parties. In business life he has also proved his worth, and he is accounted one of the most valuable citizens of the community.

Joseph A. RIGHTER, his father, was born in Parsippany, Hanover township, Morris county, New Jersey, December 4, 1822, and died October 11, 1883. He was engaged in the clothing business, and at the outbreak of the Civil War volunteered his services in behalf of the Union army, but was disbarred by reason of physical disability. He went south and carried on his business there during the war, but lost his fortune by this operation, and at the close of the war removed to Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, where he followed the same line of business. He regained a portion of his wealth and became the owner of a considerable amount of real property. He was a Republican in politics and a strong abolitionist. His religious affiliation was with the Methodist church. He married Jane WADE, born in Orange county, New York, December 11, 1829, died in Denville, Morris county, May 24, 1903, at the age of seventy-three years. The WADE family was one of the oldest of the State, they were extensive land owners, at one time owning the present site of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Mrs. RIGHTER was reared in the faith of the Dutch Reformed church, but later became a Methodist. Mr. and Mrs. RIGHTER had children:

Stewart M., has been a farmer near Joplin, Missouri, for the past thirty-six years;
Elizabeth, widow of James H. WALLACE, resides in Montgomery, New York;
William, is married and lives in Morristown;
Daniel M., a plumber by trade, has served as postmaster of Denville, for the past seventeen years;
Frank L., of Morristown;
Charlotte W., a resident of Denville;
Hon. Joseph B., whose name is at the head of this sketch.

Hon. Joseph B. RIGHTER was born in Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, December 23, 1864. The public schools of his native town furnished him with excellent educational advantages, and he was not slow to profit by these, and thus equip himself for any station of life. Upon the completion of his school years he was for a time a clerk in a hotel in Morristown, then held a similar position in one of the hotels in the city of New York. Being of an energetic and ambitious nature, this was not a class of work which appealed to him very strongly and when he was twenty years of age, he established himself in the general mercantile business in Denville, and carried this on very successfully for a period of eleven years. He abandoned this enterprise in favor of the manufacture of vanilla extracts, and has been identified with this for the past fifteen years. He has created a strong demand for his output, which is of the highest quality, and his products are shipped to every State in the Union. He has been eminently successful in this direction. But, being a man of many sided ability, Mr. RIGHTER was not satisfied with business success only. He has been very active in the field of politics and was elected a member of the general assembly of New Jersey, serving in 1896-97. He filled this office with dignity, and his service was a benefit and a satisfaction to the community. He is a member of Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M., of Dover.

Mr. RIGHTER married, April 17, 1908, Susan A., who was born and educated in Morris county, a daughter of Daniel DICKERSON, of Denville, and a descendent of an old family of the State. They have had children:

Frances and
Mary.

Mr. RIGHTER owns a beautiful house in which he resides, and also a quantity of other valuable property.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).