John Prevost Winterbottom

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

The Winterbottom family, which is at present represented in Oak Ridge, Morris county, New Jersey, by John Prevost WINTERBOTTOM, has been in the State for a number of generations, and has aided materially in increasing its prosperity. The grandfather was John WINTERBOTTOM, a shoemaker. William, son of John WINTERBOTTOM, was born in Newton, New Jersey, and learned the trade of cabinetmaking. For a time he worked in the states of New York and Pennsylvania, then returned to New Jersey. He married (first) Jane, a daughter of Abraham CHAMBERLAIN, and they had children: John Prevost, whose name heads this sketch, and Ella, born in 1856, died in 1903. He married (second) Jane DAVENPORT, who survived her husband, and is living at the present time. By the second marriage there were: Theodore, residing on the brick road near Milton; William, a carpenter and builder in Newark, New Jersey; Phoebe, lives in Newark; Fannie, unmarried.

John Prevost WINTERBOTTOM was born in Jefferson township, Morris county, New Jersey, September 14, 1853. He received his education in his native township, and at the age of seventeen years entered the employ of the New Jersey Midland Railroad Company, now the Susquehanna & Western Railroad Company, May 1, 1871. During the first two weeks he was set to cleaning engines, then advanced to the position of fireman, which he held four years. In July, 1875, he was promoted to the post of engineer, the duties of which he discharged faithfully until 1888, during which time he resided at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He was then with the Elevated Railroad Company in New York City, five years, after which he was again with the Susquehanna & Western Railroad for five years, leaving it in order to accept a position with the Elevated Railroad in Brooklyn, New York, known as the Kings County Road. He then made his home in Brooklyn until 1908, then moved to Petersburg, near Milton, New Jersey, on a farm of 115 acres, a part of the Abraham Chamberlain homestead. The residence on this place was erected by Abraham CHAMBERLAIN in 1832, while the barn had been erected four years earlier, and both are in excellent condition. Mr. WINTERBOTTOM has been exceptionally careful in his career as an engineer, and has never had an accident while in charge of a locomotive. Since 1876 he has been a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He is also a member of Bangor Lodge, No. 325, F. and A.M., of Stroudsburg. In political matters he has always been a staunch Republican, and has done his utmost to further every project and measure which tended toward the improvement and development of the community. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Abraham VREELAND, of Butler, Morris county, New Jersey. He was a farmer and is now deceased, but his widow is still living.

The Chamberlain Line