NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

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

The TICHENOR family of Newark, New Jersey, are descendents of Martin TICHENOR, or TICHENELL, whom tradition says came from France. He took the oath of allegiance to the New Haven Colony in August, 1644, and came to Newark, New Jersey, with the second colony in 1677, that settled there. He married Mary CHARLES, in 1651, and had children, namely:

• John, born in 1653; 
• Abigail, born in 1655; 
• Daniel, born in 1656; 
• Hannah, born in 1659; and 
• Samuel, born in 1660, 

in the New Haven Colony. His will, dated in 1681, named children: John, Daniel, Samuel, Jonathan (a minor), and Abigail; also a son-in-law, Ensign John TREAT, at Newark. Numerous descendents in Essex and other counties of New Jersey trace there origin to these first settlers of Newark; and James H. Tichenor, of Newark, New Jersey, was a lineal descendant of the above mentioned Martin TICHENOR. His father, James TICHENOR, married Abigail Huntington HEDDEN, and had issue among others, a son, whose record follows.

James Hedden TICHENOR, third son of James and Abigail (HEDDEN) Tichenor, was born March 23, 1809, at Newark, New Jersey. He was educated in the local schools of his native city and at the Newark Academy. After leaving school he engaged in the retail shoe business with his father, in Newark; in time he became the junior partner of the business, and retired from active commercial pursuits with a competence, at about fifty years of age. He was an enterprising, public-spirited citizen who was interested in the commercial welfare of Newark, and did whatever possible to secure civic improvement of his native city. He was a member of the board of estimate, New Jersey proprietors, and was president of that board for several years. His first vote was cast for John Quincy Adams for President of the United States; but in later alignment of the old Whig and Democratic parties, he espoused the latter party and remained a staunch Democrat until his death. He was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, during infancy, his father was one of the deacons of that church, but during his latter years he affiliated with the Episcopal church, and died in that faith. He was noted for his strict personal integrity of character, and his word was held as sacred as his bond. He died June 18, 1883, in Newark, New Jersey.

He married Lydia Tuttle NUTTMAN, youngest daughter of Isaac and Ruth NUTTMAN, May 30, 1830, at Newark, New Jersey. She was the mother of several children, of whom particular mention is made of the following only: 

• Ruth Elizabeth TICHENOR, their oldest daughter, was the granddaughter of James TICHENOR and Abigail Huntington HEDDEN in the paternal line; and of Isaac NUTTMAN and Ruth COOLEY on the maternal side. Her education was a matter of much personal solicitude by her parents. She was placed in the best select schools in Newark and later in New York City, and graduated from the latter June 13, 1866. Afterwards she married Dr. Richard Van Wyck FAIRCHILD, a practicing physician of Parsippany, Morris county, New Jersey, and resided there subsequently. He was a descendant of a colonial family of the name who settled at Morristown before the Revolution. She has devoted much of her life to charities, and is connected with various local and State social organizations. She is s life member of the D. A. R., and regent of the Parsippany Chapter; also a life member of the Woman’s Branch of the New Jersey Historical Society, at Newark, New Jersey.
• Francis Marion TICHENOR, son of James Hedden and Lydia Tuttle (NUTTMAN) TICHENOR, was born December 20, 1840, at Newark, New Jersey. He was educated in the public schools of Newark, and graduated from Newark High School about 1858; he then attended a boarding school at Hudson, New York, where he remained for about two years and in 1862 began the study of law in the law office of John Q. Hayes, of Newark, New Jersey. In 1866 he was admitted to the Newark bar as an attorney-at-law, and in 1869 as counsellor. He practiced law in the local and State court f New Jersey, but his business was largely in the Chancery, Probate, and Orphans’ Courts of Essex county. He was president of the Board of Proprietors of East New Jersey, and held many positions of trust in the city of Newark. He was a member of the New Jersey Historical Society at Newark from 1869 until his death; a trustee of the Washington Association of Morristown, New Jersey; and a life member of the Memorial Society at Somerville, New Jersey.

He married Elizabeth T. CORNELL, daughter of Dr. John Frelinghuysen and Elizabeth (HALL) CORNELL, October 8, 1879, at Somerville, New Jersey. She died July 3, 1901, at Newark, New Jersey, and her remains were interred in Greenwood Cemetery, New Jersey. No issue.

Francis Marion TICHENOR died October 22, 1906, at Newark, and his remains were laid beside those of his wife in the family burial plot, Greenwood Cemetery, near Newark, New Jersey. Thus passed the lives of husband and wife – the former, a kind friend, trusted adviser, and respected citizen, among his fellow countrymen.

The FAIRCHILD Line:

Since 1735 the name FAIRCHILD has been well known in Morris county. Thomas FAIRCHILD, a native of England, crossed the Atlantic to the colony of Connecticut in 1639. Caleb FAIRCHILD, the direct ancestor of the branch of the FAIRCHILD family in Morris county, located in Whippany, New Jersey, in 1735, and died in May, 1777, aged eighty-four years. His Wife and he were members of the First Presbyterian Church as early as 1742. Mathew, the eldest son, born in 1720, died June 5, 1790, aged sixty-nine years. His ten children were all baptized in the First Presbyterian Church in Morristown. The seventh son, Jonathan Fairchild, was born November 3, 1751, baptized December 10, 1752. On September 8, 1783, he married Sarah HOWELL. He died August 5, 1813, aged sixty-three years.

• Dr. Stephen FAIRCHILD, their youngest son, was born in Littleton, Morris county, October 28, 1792. He was a man of strong mentality, possessing a very studious nature. After acquiring a common school education he prepared himself for the practice of medicine. He pursued his studies under the direction of Dr. Ebenezer and Charles E. PIERSON, of Morristown, New Jersey; attended medical lectures in Philadelphia for a year, and engaged in practice in New York. Upon the urgent solicitation of many friends he removed to Parsippany, New Jersey, as the successor of Dr. HARTWELL, who had recently died. For thirty-six years he was successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen calling and his pronounced skill and ability made him the leader of his profession. He was among the first to adopt Homeopathy, and became a firm believer in that practice. He was not only an eminent physician, but was an earnest and devout Christian. Few physicians have ever been more loved or honored that Dr. Stephen FAIRCHILD. Death came to him after a long illness, marked by the greatest suffering. He bore it with Christian fortitude; his faith never faltered. He died July 13, 1872, and was laid to rest in the cemetery of Parsippany.

Dr. Stephen FAIRCHILD enjoyed an ideal home life. He was married, May 18, 1818, to Miss Euphemia M. BRINKERHOFF, born in Mount Hope, New Jersey, September, 1796, daughter of George D. BRINKERHOFF and Euphemia ASHFIELD. Mr. BRINKERHOFF retired from business, purchased a home in Parsippany, and removed his family in 1797. The residence has been a noted tavern in Revolutionary times. It became the birthplace of the children of Dr. Stephen and Euphemia FAIRCHILD. It was destroyed by fire in November, 1874, but was rebuilt on the old site and continued to be the home of Mrs. Euphemia FAIRCHILD through her last years. She died June 20, 1882. She was a lady of the old school – amiable, educated, refined, and a sincere Christian.

The children of Dr. Stephen Fairchild and his wife were:

• Richard VAN WYCK, born February 22, 1819, and 
• Eliza S., born October 19, 1820, but died in infancy. 

The only son followed in his father’s footsteps, and the two were associated in business for a number of years, a most ideal relation existing between them. The son was prepared for college in the classical school conducted by Ezra FAIRCHILD, in Mendham, New Jersey. In 1837 he entered the junior class at Princeton College, where he was graduated in 1839. He studied medicine under the professional guidance of his father, and subsequently under Dr. McCLENNAN, of Philadelphia, and Dr. MOTT of New York. He entered upon practice with his father in 1843, and attained eminence in professional circles, for his knowledge was comprehensive and accurate, possessing exceptional skill in the diagnosis of cases and the administration of proper remedies. Dr. Richard Van Wyck FAIRCHILD was twice married. In November, 1852, Elizabeth KIRKPATRICK became his wife, but she died January 16, 1862. On June 13, 1866, Dr. Richard FAIRCHILD married (second) Ruth E. TICHENOR, daughter of James H. TICHENOR and Lydia T. Nuttman TICHENOR, of Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Richard Van Wyck FAIRCHILD died very suddenly, February 24, 1874, and was laid to rest in the family plot in the burial ground at Parsippany. He survived his father hardly two years, and thus they who were united in such ties of love and interested in life were not long separated in death. Many admirable qualities endeared Dr. FAIRCHILD to those who came in contact with him. As a friend he was kind and generous. At Princeton he was a college wit, and this strong vein of humor, combined with his power of imitation and representation, together with his wide and varied information, made him a most agreeable companion and entertaining gentleman. He was an able writer. His nature was not without the poetic side, nor did he lack in musical culture; he was fond of all the arts and interests that elevate humanity and his memory is revered throughout Morris county, New Jersey. 

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

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