History of Bridgeton, (Cumberland County) New Jersey United States of America

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Biographies:

Ebenezer Elmer, representative, was born in Cedarville, N.J., in 1752; son of the Hon. Theophilus Elmer. He became a physician in his native place and practised until the Revolutionary war. He joined the army in 1776 as ensign, and the following year was appointed surgeon of the 2d New Jersey regiment. After the war he removed to Bridgeton, N.J., and practised medicine until 1789, when he was elected to the state legislature. He served in the lower house until 1795, being speaker for several sessions. He was a representative in the 7th, 8th and 9th congresses, 1801-87, was collector of customs for Bridgeton, N.J., 1808, vice-president of the state council, 1807-15, and was commander of a brigade of militia in the war of 1812. He was vice-president of Burlington college, 1807-27, and was a charter member and president of the New Jersey state society of the Cincinnati. He died at Bridgeton, N.J., Oct. 18, 1843.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer, representative, was born in Bridgeton, N.J., Feb. 3, 1793; son of Ebenezer Elmer, an officer of the American Revolution, a charter member of the New Jersey society of the Cincinnati and its president at the time of his death in 1843. His son, Lucius, acquired his education in his native state and in Philadelphia, Pa. He served during the war of 1812 as lieutenant in a military company, later gaining promotion to the rank of brigade-major and inspector. He was admitted to the bar in 1815 and practised in Bridgeton. He served in the state assembly, 1820-23, and in 1824 was made prosecutor of pleas for Cumberland county, and United States attorney for New Jersey. In 1842 he was elected, as a Democrat, a representative in the 28th congress. He was attorney-general of the state, 1850-52, and was appointed a justice of the New Jersey supreme court in 1852 and 1859, retiring from the bench in 1870 on account of advanced age. He was president of the New Jersey society of the Cincinnati at the time of his death. The College of New Jersey conferred upon him the degree of A.M. in 1824 and that of LL.D. in 1865, and he was a trustee of the college, 1829-64. His published works include: Elmer's Digest of the Laws of New Jersey (1838, 4th ed., 1868); Elmer' s Book of Law Forms; Genealogical and Biographical account of the Elmer Family (1860); Reminiscences of the Bench and Bar of New Jersey; History of Cumberland county (1869); History of the Constitution and Government of New Jersey with. Biographical Sketches of the Governors from 1776 till 1845 (1882); and Eulogium on Garrett D. Wall, delivered before the Bench and Bar of New Jersey (1872). He died in Bridgeton, N J., March 11, 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Benjamin Franklin Lee, A.M.E. bishop, was born in Bridgeton, N.J., Sept. 18, 1841; son of Abel and Sarah (Gould) Lee; and of African descent. He was taught by his mother, a school teacher, and also attended the Gouldtown district school. He was licensed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal church in 1868, at Xenia, Ohio, was ordained a deacon in 1870 and an elder in 1872, and was also graduated from Wilberforce university in the latter year. He was married, Dec. 30, 1872, to Mary E. Ashe of Mobile, Ala. He preached in Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania; was professor of ecclesiastical history, homiletics and pastoral theology at Wilberforce university, 1873-75, and president of that institution, and professor of intellectual and moral philosophy and systematic theology, 1876-84. He was a trustee of the university and a director of the Payne Theological seminary. He was a delegate to the general conference of the A.M.E. church, 1876; a member of the committee to arrange for the first Ecumenical conference of Methodism, and a delegate to the Ecumenical conference in London, 1881, and to the Methodist Centennialin Baltimore, Md., in 1884. At the general conference of the A.M.E. church, in Philadelphia, 1892, he was elected and consecrated bishop. He received the degree of D.D. from Wilberforce university in 1883. He edited the Christian Recorder, Philadelphia, Pa., 1884, and is the author of: Wesley the Worker (1880); The Causes of the Success of Methodism.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor