NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Marsden Jacobus
Morris Co. Up

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

Recognized as one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of Morris county, Mr. JACOBUS was born on the present homestead February 23, 1837, a son of Abraham A. and Maria (VREELAND) JACOBUS. He traces his ancestry back to his great-great-grandfather, a native of Holland, who came to this country and settled in Morris county, on eleven hundred acres of land, where he reared a large family. The great-grandfather's children were

  • Nicholas,
  • Cornelius,
  • Abraham,
  • David and
  • others.

The grandfather, Abraham, was born on the old homestead and became one of the well known farmers of the county and a prominent member of the Dutch Reformed church at Pompton Plains. He married Miss Leah MANDEVILLE and their children were:

  • Anthony, deceased;
  • Mary, deceased, married Nicholas N. RYERSON, of Passaic county;
  • James, a farmer living in Montville township;
  • Giles, a carpenter residing in New York city;
  • Abraham A., father of our subject;
  • Wilhelmina, who married Martin VAN WINKLE, of Passaic county;
  • Agnes, now Mrs. Jeremiah MITCHELL, of Livingston, New Jersey; and
  • Adrian, deceased.

Abraham A. JACOBUS was born on the farm April 25, 1798, and resided there until his death, on November 13, 1869. He married Miss Maria VREELAND, who departed this life on July 11, 1881. Mr. JACOBUS was a progressive farmer and was solicited to fill several public offices, but invariably refused to do so. He was a deacon and elder in the Montville Reformed church for many years. He was the father of these children:

  • George, a blacksmith by trade, was born October 17, 1826, and died November 19, 1891;
  • Catherine A., born September 29, 1829, married Joseph PIENOVI, of Newark, New Jersey;
  • Leah Ann, born February 28, 1833, married Albert TERHUNE, and is now deceased;
  • Adeline, born September 13, 1835, became the wife of John B. VAN SAUN, of Paterson, New Jersey;
  • Marsden, our subject;
  • Eugene, who followed farming, was born June 29, 1839, and died April 4, 1897; and
  • Sarah Martha, born September 19, 1841, married Gilbert F. MERSELLIS, of Preakness, Passaic county.

Marsden JACOBUS was reared on the scene of his birth and upon arriving at maturity engaged in farming, which he has made his life work. In politics he is a Democrat, giving a stanch support to that party, and he has served nineteen years as school committeeman. He has on several occasion been asked by his friends to become a nominee for the state assembly and for sheriff, but has always refused, preferring to devote his time to6 his personal affairs. He is an elder and a consistent adherent of the Montville Reformed church.

The marriage of Mr. JACOBUS was consummated on the 2d of June, 1869, when he was united to Miss Susan E. VAN NESS, who was born August 4, 1844, a daughter of Henry S. and Elizabeth VAN NESS, of Pompton Plains, and of this union six children have resulted, of whom the following record is given:

  • Bertha, born March 18, 1870, was married on the 7th of November, 1895, to John MYERS, of Boonton, and they have one child,
    • Florence J., born March 28, 1897;
  • Maria, was born October 26, 1871, and on the 7th of June 1894, became the wife of Harry R. DOREMUS, of Newark, and they have one child,
    • Russell J., born April 16, 1895;
  • Lizzie, born September 13, 1873;
  • Abraham A., born June 3, 1875, died June 13, 1895;
  • Henry S., born February 28, 1878; and
  • Wilbur M., born March 21, 1883.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.

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