NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Freeman H. Tappan
Morris Co. Up

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

One of the best known of Mount Arlington’s citizens, who moved there while still in young manhood, and when the great development of the place was but beginning, who identified himself with its growth and become prominent in its affairs, is Freeman H. TAPPAN, a native of New Jersey, who both by blood and marriage is connected with many of the important families in the northeastern part of the State. His father, William C. TAPPAN, was a native of Bergen county, New Jersey, a ship carpenter in his youth, who afterwards took up farming and passed the latter part of his life in that hard but peaceful labor. He died in 1893 at the age of seventy-two years. William TAPPAN’s wife was Sophia DOYLE, daughter of Henry DOYLE, of Morristown, Morris county, New Jersey. Mr. DOYLE was a prominent figure in the early days of that old New Jersey town, and here his daughter, Mrs. TAPPAN, was born in 1826. She lived to the venerable age of eighty-five, her death occurring in 1911. To her and Mr. TAPPAN were born nine children as follows: 

  • Chillian V., constable and chairman of township committee for many years of Butler and Bloomingdale, New Jersey, who died in 1911; 
  • Minerva, now Mrs. Vincent BONTER, of Oak Ridge, New Jersey; 
  • Freeman H., our subject; 
  • Sophia, now Mrs. George W. WRIGHTNOR, of Midvale, Passaic county, New Jersey; 
  • George W., who followed GREELEY’s advice to young men and went west; 
  • William D., connected with the rubber manufacturing works at Bloomingdale, New Jersey; 
  • Frank, connected with the same concern; 
  • Edward, chief engineer of the rubber works; 
  • Bertha, now resident in Butler, New Jersey.

Freeman H. TAPPAN was born March 3, 1855, in Boardville, now known as Erskine, Passaic county, New Jersey. He obtained his education in the schools of Boardville, Stanhope and Midvale, and upon completing his studies in these institutions, engaged in farming in the vicinity of Oak Ridge, New Jersey. After remaining here for several years, Mr. TAPPAN’s attention was drawn to the opportunities to be had about Lake Hopatcong, Morris county, New Jersey, which then was beginning the development which has continued with increasing power to the present time. Mr. TAPPAN was too farsighted to overlook the opportunity and too enterprising not to avail himself of it. In 1891 he removed to Mount Arlington and erected a substantial house for himself and family. He was active in the affairs of the newly organized borough from the start, and was appointed tax collector and treasurer of the place, offices which he held for fourteen years, and for nine years he has been in charge of all the public buildings, and occupies that position at the present time. For some time after his arrival in his new home, Mr. TAPPAN continued his old occupation, but gradually, as other duties became more onerous and he was enabled to, he reluctantly gave up active participation in agriculture. Mr. TAPPAN is a Republican in his politics. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. of Succasunna for eighteen years.

Mr. TAPPAN was married in the year 1878 to Martha E. SPEAKER, daughter of Jacob P. and Hannah Mary (CAHILL) SPEAKER, of West Milford, New Jersey. Mrs. TAPPAN is of German descent on her father’s side, and Irish on her mother’s. Her maternal grandfather, Charles CAHILL, was a sea captain, well-to-do and prosperous, who lived and died at Westminster. Mr. SPEAKER was in early life a farmer, but he also was among those who migrated to Mount Arlington, during the days of the "boom" and he there operated a store. His death occurred December 31, 1908, and that of Mrs. SPEAKER in 1876. Mrs. TAPPAN was one of a family of twelve children born to them. To Mr. and Mrs. TAPPAN have been born two children: 

  • Mary A., single, resides at home with her parents; 
  • Harry C., married Mary HANS, of New York, by whom he has had one son, Harry F. TAPPAN. He resides at Millstone, New Jersey, where he has a position as chauffeur.

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

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