six years, then exchanging his position for a similar one upon the Jersey Central road. He here made rapid strides until he attained the post of superintendent of the Freehold Division. In the meantime he had organized the Monmouth Ice Company, becoming active in its management. The business of this company rapidly gaining volume, he resigned from his connection with the railroad to give the new business his undivided attention. The company, commencing with a small retail trade in Long Branch, now extends its retail business to all points on the New Jersey coast, from Red Bank and Atlantic Highlands on the north to Belmar and Spring Lake on the south. Its carload shipments cover all points on the Jersey Central and the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroads, a development due entirely to Mr. Conover's careful management and executive ability.

In 1899 he became proprietor of the Coleman House, which has always ranked as the leading hotel of Asbury Park. He immediately laid plans for complete renovation of the property, and sparing neither energy nor money completely modernized it. Under his management the high reputation of the establishment has been enhanced, and its business has been largely increased.

Although Mr. Conover has never aspired to public office he has still played an important part in political life as a Democrat. As chairman and treasurer of the county executive committee and leader of the "Abbett Ring," for a number of years he has been largely in control of party affairs. He is a member of the D. K. E. of his alma mater; member of the Holland Society of New York City and of the Sons of the Revolution. In January, 1884, he was married to Blanch, daughter of Gen. Peter J. Sullivan, a prominent lawyer of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have one child, Dorothy.

BENJAMIN F. S. BROWN.

The pleasant village of Matawan, in Monmouth county, replete with historic associations, is the home of Benjamin F. S. Brown, the present state councilor of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, which, with its thirty-seven thousand members is the largest secret society in the state of New Jersey.

He was born November 2, 1856. in Keyport. eldest son of Cornelius H. and Emeline F. Brown, the father being a contractor and builder in Keyport, and the mother the eldest daughter of Charles D. Strong, who in his early years was a prominent book publisher in Boston, and afterward conducted the largest wholesale hardware establishment of its day in the northwest, at St. Paul, Minnesota. On the paternal side he descends from John and Susanna (Reseau) Brown, who were married in 1763, and were residents and large landowners in Middlesex county, where was made the little hamlet of Browntown, named for them. Among their twelve children were Daniel and Benjamin. From Daniel descended the grandfather and from Benjamin the grandmother of Benjamin F. S. Brown.

Benjamin F. S. Brown began his education in his native town, where he attended the Keyport Academy, and he was afterward a student at the Glenwood Institute, at Matawan. He learned the trade of a printer in the office of the "Keyport Weekly," and afterward read law under the preceptorship of Dayton & Taylor, in Matawan. Law was not to his liking, however, and for some years he worked in various New York City newspaper offices. In February, 1890, he purchased the "Matawan Journal," of which he has been editor and publisher to the present time. His success as a journalist has been pronounced, and his paper has a recognized standing among the local press of the state, and is known as an able exponent of the interests of the community and county. Since entering upon its conduct, he has increased its circulation, and has added to the mechanical equipment until it is now a completely appointed steam plant, including two cylinder presses and a folding machine, and other facilities for all classes of commercial and book work.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Brown has ever been an able advocate of the principles and politics of his party, and his abilities command the confidence and esteem of its members. In May, 1897, he received the appointment of postmaster from President McKinley, and he was recommissioned by President Roosevelt in April, 1902. His activities have been employed in all that conduces to the advancement of public interests. He was the prime factor in the establishment of the graded school system in Matawan, and was a member of the first board of education under the new regime. He aided in the organization of the Monmouth and Middlesex Electric Light, Heat and Power Company, whose plant affords power for the trolley line from Matawan to Keyport and South Amboy. and light in all these towns, and is one of the directors of the corporation.

Mr. Brown has always been deeply interested and active in various fraternal and benevolent orders. Of these, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics claims his greatest interest, and his labors in its service have been phenomenally active and useful. He is a member of Columbia Council, No. 77, in which he holds the rank of past councilor. In 1900-1901 he was state vice-councilor, and on the completion of his term he was advanced to the state councilorship, the head office of the order in New Jersey. The duties of the position are most exacting, involving a vast correspondence and frequent visits to the councils throughout the state. All this labor has been performed cheerfully and zealously, and has been rewarded with the grateful appreciation of his fellow members, whose numbers have been largely increased through his efforts. He has occupied high positions in various other benevolent organizations— past councilor of Pride of Columbia Council, No. 37, Daughters of Liberty: master of exchequer of Matawan Lodge, No. 142, Knights of Pythias; past grand of Knickerbocker Lodge, No. 52, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; past chief patriarch of Monmouth Encampment, No. 52. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Keyport; and past regent of Glenwood Council, No. 1497, Royal Arcanum. He is also a member of the Loyal Additional Benefit Association, which is connected with the latter named

order, and, based upon his service in the National Guard of New Jersey, in which he bore the rank of first sergeant in the Third Regiment, he holds membership in the Raritan Guard Veteran Association of Keyport.

Mr. Brown was married in 1884 to Miss Jennie S. Silleck, of Keyport, and of this union were born seven children, all of whom are living: Jennie Mabel, Charles Bradford, Herbert Franklin, Cornelius Merrill, Mildred Josephine, Geraldine and Bernice Wymond Brown.

RUTSEN S. SNYDER.

For nearly half a century Rutsen S. Snyder, of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, recently deceased, was one of the most enterprising citizens of Monmouth county, and many of its most important interests had their inception in his fertile brain and owed their success to his energy and determination. He was born May 9, 1835, in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, New York, son of George and Mary Snyder; his father was a prosperous farmer and man of strong character. He was educated at Rhinebeck Academy and Brown Academy, graduating from the latter named. In 1858 he removed to Monmouth county, New Jersey. After four years' useful service as a school teacher he purchased a farm, which he managed for many years and which remained in his possession until 1895. Soon after becoming a farmer he was appointed a commissioner of deeds, and also engaged in surveying and in a real estate and insurance business. All of these undertakings proved remunerative, and he constantly added to his means and extended his usefulness into other and broader fields.

In 1892 he took up his residence at Atlantic Highlands, where he had previously opened a real estate and insurance office. He was one of the pioneer settlers and original surveyors of the delightful village named, and there was not a movement designed to add to its desirability as a place of residence but found its origin in him or had his earnest and persistent aid. He made the preliminary survey of the Keyport branch of the Freehold & Atlantic Highlands Railroad for Superintendent Justus E. Ralph, and he was one of the organizers of the Port Monmouth Steamboat Company, and his connection with that corporation in the capacity of a director only terminated with his death. He aided in organizing the Atlantic Highlands. National Bank, in which he was a director for several years, and he was also a director in the Atlantic Highlands Savings Fund and Building and Loan Association from its organization until his death; treasurer of a fire company, and was actively interested in various other local enterprises. He also occupied highly responsible public positions at different times. From 1885 to 1893 he was assessor of Middletown township, elected from year to year. In April, 1900, he was appointed by President McKinley as postmaster at Atlantic Highlands, and when he entered the office he placed in it an entirely new and modern equipment at his own expense.

While thus devoted to advancing the material interests of the com

munity, Mr. Snyder was not less zealous in the causes of education and religion. As a member of the board of school trustees he aided materially in providing substantial buildings and in securing the services of a capable corps of teachers. A Baptist in religion he had been clerk of the New Monmouth church, and for more than a score of years a trustee, and the district clerk of the Chanceville school district. After removing to Atlantic Highlands he assisted in the organization of the Central Baptist church, and was then made a deacon, a position which he held throughout the remainder of his life, and he was particularly active in the work of the church and the Sunday-school. In politics he was a Republican.

In January, 1862, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Elizabeth Roberts, a lady of most admirable disposition, a daughter of Thomas Roberts, Jr., a highly respected farmer of New Monmouth, with extensive connections throughout Monmouth county, and son of Rev. Thomas Roberts, a noted Baptist divine and missionary to the Cherokee nation. The children born of this marriage were Evelyn R. Snyder, who assisted her father in his insurance business; M. Louise Snyder, who succeeded her father as postmaster at Atlantic Highlands; and Charles R. Snyder, a lawyer in the same place.

In January, 1902, Mr. Snyder contracted a fever which left him in an enfeebled condition. He gradually regained strength, and his family hoped for his entire recovery, but on April 22 the heart suddenly ceased to beat and he passed quietly away without premonition. His sudden death was a great shock to the community, by whom he was regarded with sincere affection for his estimable traits of personal character and for his great public usefulness. There survive him the widow and all their children before named; his sister, Miss Catherine Snyder, of Rhinebeck, New York, and two brothers, Robert S. Snyder, of Rhinebeck, New York, and Jesse H. B. Snyder, of Elmhurst, Pennsylvania, besides numerous nephews and nieces, children of deceased brothers.

C. D. BOYNTON.

C. D. Boynton, of the firm of Boynton Bros., real estate and insurance agents, a popular and progressive business firm of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, was born in Sewaren. Middlesex county, New Jersey, on February 20, 1880, and he was a son of Cassimer W. and Eunice Adelia (Harriman) Boynton.

Cassimer W. Boynton, the father of our subject is one of the most progressive business men of Middlesex county, New Jersey. He resides at Sewaren, where he is extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick. His birth was in Bangor, Maine, on February 14, 1826. In early manhood he graduated at the Troy Polytechnic Institute and a large portion of his life has been spent as a civil engineer. For over a quarter of a century he has been a resident of Middlesex county and is an honored

citizen of Sewaren. His family consists of nine children, namely: Mary L.; Helen G., the wife of William T. Ames; Gorham L.; Georgia S.; Cassimer W., who died in early manhood; Ernest H.; Albert B.; C. D.; and Dorathea.

C. D. Boynton attended the Woodbridge public schools and spent two years in a select-school at Waltham, Massachusetts, subsequently entered a school in Lawrenceville, and in the fall of 1898, he embarked in his present business, in which he has displayed those business qualities which go far toward insuring success.

JAMES VOORHEES FREEMAN.

James Voorhees Freeman, of Sewaren, New Jersey, was born in New York City, June 26, 1853, a son of David V. and Ella E. (Voorhees) Freeman. The former was born and brought up in the town of Bellville, New Jersey, and was a son of Israel Freeman, whose birth occurred in Woodbridge.

Our subject's mother was born in New York, and is still living. She is a daughter of James Voorhees, of New York City, who conducted a wholesale grocery business for a number of years in that city. David V. Freeman, the father of our subject, is now residing in Essex county, near Glen Ridge, having retired from the activities of the business world. They have reared a family of seven children, namely: James V., Mary L., Whitney, Lela, Clarence, Milleson W., Theodore, who passed away at the age of twenty-one years, and Catharine V.

James V. Freeman, as already stated, was born and reared in New York City, attended the schools there, and later entered into the insurance and transportation business. About thirty years ago he decided to change his residence from New York to Sewaren. He was joined in marriage to Bessie W. Dallace, daughter of Rolland and Hedda M. Dallace. Four children have been the result of this union, namely: Rolland S., who is with the Wheeler Condenser Company Foundry; James V., Jr., who is a graduate of Harvard College, and who is now in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City; Ruth L.; and Theodore, who is still attending school.

Fraternally Mr. Freeman is a member of the Masons, the Americus of Woodbridge, is a past master regent of the Woodbridge Council of the Royal Arcanum, a member of the Red Men, and also of the Woodbridge Fire Company. Politically he is a Democrat, having been elected on that ticket to fill the office of collector of the township for one year, and tax assessor for six years, and he has also been sent as a delegate to the state convention. He is one of the most prominent men in Sewaren, and enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen. He resides on West avenue, Sewaren, New Jersey, where he has a beautiful home.