History of Salem County New Jersey United States of America

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Benjamin Harris Brewster, cabinet officer, was born in Salem county, N.J., Oct. 13, 1816; son of Francis E. and Maria Hampton Brewster. His first American ancestor was William Brewster, the pilgrim, and on his mother's side he descended from the Hamptons of South Carolina. He was graduated an A.M. from Princeton in 1834, was admitted to the bar in 1838, and in 1846 was appointed by President Polk commissioner to settle the Cherokee Indian claims. He gained a high position as a lawyer, and especially as an advocate at the bar. In 1867 he was appointed attorney-general for Pennsylvania, by Governor Geary, and was instrumental in exposing and defeating the Gettysburg lottery scheme. On Dec. 19, 1881, President Arthur appointed him to his cabinet as attorney-general of the United States. Upon him devolved the prosecution of the postoffice officials charged with conspiring to rob the government, known as the "Star Route" trials. Dickinson college gave him the degree of LL.D., as did Princeton in 1867. His life was written by Eugene C. Sav-idge, M.D., of Philadelphia. He died April 4, 1888.

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

Alice Barber Stephens, illustrator, was born in Salem county, N.J., July 1, 1858; daughter of Samuel C. and Mary (Owen) Barber. She studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and in Paris, and became one of the most prominent of American illustrators. She was married, June 23, 1890, to Charles H. Stephens, son of Louis H. and Susannah (Menns) Stephens of Philadelphia, Pa. She became wood-engraver for Scribner's Magazine, illustrator for Harper's, the Century and The Ladies' Home Journal, and instructor in portrait and life classes in the Philadelphia School of Design for Women.

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

History of Salem County New Jersey

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