History of Hanover, (Morris County) New Jersey United States of America

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Biographies:

George Hammell Cook, geologist, was born in Hanover, N. J., Jan. 5, 1818; son of John and Sarah (Munn) Cook; and great-grandson of Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis Cook of Hanover, N. J., prominent during and after the Revolution, being a member of the committee of correspondence and afterward of the legislature; lieutenant-colonel of militia, and a member of the provincial congress of 1776, which organized the state of New Jersey by its constitution. His first ancestor in America came from England to Lynn, Mass., in 1640, removing soon afterward to Southampton, Long Island, and thence to Hanover, N. J. George received a district school training, taught himself surveying and engaged as a boy on the engineer corps then laying out the Morris and Essex railroad, and surveying a road through Greene and Schoharie counties, New York. He was graduated at the Rensselaer polytechnic institute in 1839 with the degree of C.E. He then engaged in teaching. In May, 1840, he returned to the institute, where he pursued a post-graduate course while serving as tutor, and received the degrees B.N.S. and M.S. He was made adjunct professor and in May, 1842, senior professor, holding the chair of geology and civil engineering. From 1846 to 1848 he engaged in the manufacture of glass in Albany, and in the latter year accepted the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy in the Albany academy. He was principal of the academy, 1851-53. In 1852 he was sent to Europe by the state of New York to study the salt deposits. He was professor of chemistry and natural sciences in Rutgers college, 1853-89. In 1854 he was made assistant geologist of New Jersey and was in charge of the southern division of the state for three years. In 1864 he organized the New Jersey state college for the promotion of agriculture and mechanic arts, which was attached to Rutgers college as a scientific department, and he was made vice-president of the combined institutions. In 1878 his chair in Rutgers became that of analytical chemistry, geology and agriculture, and in 1880 he relinquished the branch of chemistry, retaining the other two branches. He aided in forming a state board of agriculture in 1873 and was a member of its executive committee. While assistant geologist of the state he published three annual reports and a geological survey of Cape May county (1857). After this the office was vacant until 1864, when the legislature, through the efforts of Professor Cook, reorganized the department and appointed him state geologist. His annual reports and "Geology of New Jersey" (1868), together with a series of geological maps of the several counties of the state, certify to the wisdom of the act of the legislature. His investigations and reports on the clays of New Jersey and the flora of the state, and his maps relating to geological formation and mineral deposits, were used as models by the U.S. geological survey. He organized and became chief director of the weather service of the state in 1886. He was a member of the state board of health, secretary of the board of agriculture and president of the New Brunswick board of water commissioners. In 1878 he was a delegate to the international geological congress in Paris. He was a member of the American philosophical society, of the academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia, of the American institute of mining engineers, of the National academy of sciences; vice-president of the American association for the advancement of science, and a member of the Royal agricultural society of Sweden. The University of the city of New York conferred upon him the degree of Ph.D. in 1875 and Union college gave him that of LL. D. in 1866. He died at New Brunswick, N. J., Sept. 22, 1889.

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

Jonathan Bailey Condit, educator, was born in Hanover, N. J., Dec. 16, 1808; son of the Rev. Aaron and Mary (Dayton) Condit; grandson of Samuel and Mary (Smith) Condit; great-grandson of Samuel and Mary (Dodd) Condit; and great-great grandson of Peter and Mary (Harrison) Condit of Newark, N. J. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1827 and received his A.M. degree in course. He was a student at Princeton theological seminary, 1828; was ordained July 14, 1831; was pastor of the Congregational church, Long Meadow, Mass., 1831-35; professor of rhetoric, oratory and English literature, Amherst, 1835-38; pastor of the Second church, Portland, Maine, 1838-45; of the Second Presbyterian church, Newark, N. J., 1845-51; professor of sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology, Lane theological seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1851-54; and professor of the same branches in Auburn theological seminary, 1855-74. He was moderator of the general assembly (N. S.) in 1861. He received the degree of D.D. from the College of New Jersey in 1847. He was married July 20, 1831, to Eliza Keturah, daughter of the Rev. Selah S. Woodhull of Lawrenceville, N. J. She died in 1835, and in 1836 he was married to Sarah Strong Woodhull, sister of his deceased wife. He died in Auburn, N.Y., Jan. 1, 1876.

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

Aaron Kitchel, senator, was born in Hanover, N.J., July 10, 1744. He received a common school education, and became a blacksmith. He supported the cause of the patriots in the American Revolution, and was an anti-Federalist representative from New Jersey in the 2d, 3d, 4th and 6th congresses, 1791-97 and 1799-1801, He was elected to the U.S. senateas successor to Jonathan Dayton in 1805, and served until 1809, when he resigned, and was succeeded by John Condit. He was a representative in the New Jersey legislature, and was a presidential elector on the Monroe and Tompkins ticket in 1817. He died in Hanover, N.J., June 25, 1820.

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

Ashbel Green, educator, was born in Hanover, N.J., July 6, 1762; son of Jacob and Eliza beth (Pierson) Green; grandson of Jacob and Dorothy (Lynde) Green, and a descendant of Thomas and Elizabeth Green(e), who came to America about 1635. His preparatory education was acquired under the instruction of his father. At the age of sixteen he volunteered as a private in the state militia serving in that capacity and as a subaltern officer until 1782, when he entered the junior class of the College of New Jersey. He was graduated in 1783 as valedictorian, also having first honors in scholarship. The Continental congress then in session at Princeton attended the commencement exercises in a body together with General Washington. In the course of his valedictory, Mr. Green made a direct address to Washington, which made such an impression that the young man was invited to dine with the congress After graduation he was appointed a tutor in the College of New Jersey and in 1785 became professor of mathematics and natural philosophy. In 1787 he resigned his chair to accept the associate pastorship of the Second Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, and in 1792, on the death of his colleague, Dr. Sproat, succeeded to the chief pastorship. In the latter year he was appointed chaplain to the U.S. house of representatives. He was a trustee of the College of New Jersey, 1790-1848, and in 1812, on the resignation of President Samuel Stanhope Smith, he was appointed his successor in the presidency of the institution, which office he held until 1822. He organized as an adjunct to the college the theological seminary and was president of its board of trustees until his death. In 1822 he removed to Philadelphia and originated and became editor of the Christian Advocate. He was president of the Jefferson medical school for many years. He was married, in 1785, to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Stockton of Princeton. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1791, and that of LL.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1812 His published writings include: Sermons on the Assembly's Catechism (1818); Presbyterian Missions (1820); Discourse Delivered in the College of New Jersey with a History of the College (1822); Sermons from 1790 to 1836 (1836); and Reports and Addresses from 1793 to 1836 (1837). See Autobiography edited by J. H. Jones (1849). He died in Philadelphia Pa., May 19, 1848.

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