NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

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

Edson Julius ROOD, an honored citizen of the little city of Mendham, Morris county, New Jersey, typifies true Americans. He is of straight English descent, the name having been spelled RUDE in the early days. It has been laughing claimed for him that he was a connect ion of Honest John RUDE, the hero of "Lorna Doon" and without doubt the family came from that part of England in which the DOON family lived during their palmy days.

Jeremiah ROOD, the great-grandfather of Mr. ROOD, was in the WOLFE campaign of 1754. He was, also, an Indian fighter of more than local renown, and was instrumental in saving many an isolated white family from the torch and scalping knife. He died at the age of eighty-six, leaving his descendents many thrilling stories of his experience by field and flood, with Indian, Frenchman and wild animals. Briggs ROOD, the grandfather of Mr. ROOD, was born in the colony of Connecticut and followed the peaceful vocation of farming, unless interrupted by Indian marauders. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he offered his services to the Continental army, shouldered his musket and served throughout the entire time. At the close of the war he returned to Connecticut and resumed his former occupation of farming. He reared a large family; many of his descendants are living in the New England States.

Dudley Belcher ROOD, the father of Mr. ROOD, was born in Shoreham, Vermont, 1797, to which State his father went after the War of the Revolution. He died in Fletcher, Franklin county, Vermont, 1889, aged ninety-two. Like his forefathers, he was a farmer by vocation, and reared his children on the farm. When the trouble arose between England and the United States in 1812 he joined the corps of sharpshooters known as the Minute-Men, and did effectual work. He was in the battle of Plattsburg, but escaped unharmed. At the cessation of hostilities he returned to his farm, and took up the even tenor of his life as though there had been no tragic break in it. He married Elizabeth HIMES, daughter of Vernon HIMES, of Rhode Island, a Revolutionary soldier and a blacksmith and farmer, who also claimed pure English descent. Elizabeth was born in Vermont in 1802, and proved an excellent wife for those days of unrest. They were the parents of eight children, of whom E. J. ROOD and a younger brother, William Hammond ROOD, of Fairfax, Vermont, are the sole survivors. The six dead are: Electra, Jane, Elizabeth, Harriet, Martha, Dr. Vernon D. ROOD, who died in California, was a soldier in Company H, Second Vermont Regiment, Civil War, was wounded before Richmond and taken prisoner, exchanged after four weeks.

Edson Julius ROOD was born in Fletcher, Franklin county, Vermont, October 18, 1835. He was educated in the common schools of the time and section. Leaving school he taught for three years, making for himself a name as an excellent disciplinarian and a kind master. He moved to Somerset county, New Jersey, in 1856, and taught in various places until 1862. The Civil War was in progress and the president called for recruits. He enlisted in Company K, Thirty-first New Jersey Regiment, and was at once elected first Lieutenant, and went to the front as an officer. He took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, and in minor engagements. He was mustered out in 1863, and returned to New Jersey. He taught school in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, until 1866, at which time he opened a general merchandise store in that county. He gave this up in 1868, and came to Mendham, where he farmed for twenty years, teaching school during the first three years. He has lived in Mendham since, and is now engaged in the fire insurance business. He is a member of the Masonic Order, the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a Son of the American Revolution. He is a strong Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. ROOD is now serving his sixth term as commissioner of deeds; for twenty years served on the election board, and held the commission of notary public three terms.

He married (first) Katherine APGAR, in 1865; she died September 15, 1892. She was a lineal descendent of John Adam EPGAR, also called EBGERT, EBCHER, EDGAR and ABGAR, who fled from the southern part of Switzerland, September 13, 1749, from the intolerable persecutions by the Roman Catholics of the Protestants. He settled in New Jersey and reared a large family, many of whom still bear his name. By Katherine APGAR Mr. ROOD had three children: Annie, now the wife of Rev. Walter L. HUGHES, of Amenia, New York; Peter A., of the township of Mendham; Vernon D. ROOD, D. D. S., of Morristown. He married (second) Mrs. Hughemma (NESBITT) DILDINE, daughter of John R. NESBITT, of an old and consequential family of New Jersey, the great-great-grandfather came from Ireland and settled in New Jersey, this was John NESBITT, then came Thomas NESBITT, a man of prominence, next in line was Hugh NESBITT, then John R., father of Mrs. ROOD. By her first marriage Mrs. ROOD had one child, Henry Nesbitt DILDINE, who died in infancy.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)

Copyright ©1999-2018 by Brianne Kelly-Bly, all rights reserved.