Essex County NJ Archives Biographies.....Clarence M. HEDDEN, 1856 - 1904 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 9, 2008, 2:50 am Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor (1917) HEDDEN, Clarence M., Manufacturer, Enterprising Citizen. The history of the great business undertakings of modern times is still to be written, for as yet it is an unopened book. When the romance enveloping commercial enterprise shall be told in language intelligible to the people, then shall it be known that many a Waterloo has been fought, lost and won, within the four walls of an office, just over the wire, with no other means than the scratch of a pen, a mere word, but backed by a will, a brain. With modern methods, discoveries and inventions, business has place only for those who combine the capacities of both the general and the diplomat, and these qualities were united in full measure in the person of the late Clarence Myers Hedden, of Newark, New Jersey. In his business undertakings, Mr. Hedden displayed those qualities which had made of his ancestors the devoted patriots who added prestige to the ancient name of the family, to which it is necessary to give brief mention. The name of Hedden, Hodden and Hoddon is of ancient origin, and has many corruptions, such as Headen, Hedde, Hedin, Headden and Heady. It is a distinctly English name, although it is also met with in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The armorial bearings betray the fact that members of the family were participants in the Crusades. Coat-of-arms—Quarterly first and fourth argent, a saltire engraved sable. Second, argent a saltire engraved between four roses gules. Third, or, a bend chequy argent and sable. In the center over the quarterings is a crescent argent. Crest—An eagle erased or. Motto —Suffer. Jared, or Gerard, Hadden, was born about 1608, and was the first of this family to come to America. He probably came in the fleet with Winthrop, as he is among the first hundred men admitted from the Boston church prior to the arrival of other freemen in May, 1634. In 1632 he settled at Cambridge, where he was made a freeman. He was a tailor and planter; was a proprietor of Salisbury, Massachusetts, in 1640, receiving land in the first division, and was of those who removed to the west side of the Powow four years later. He was a commoner, and taxed in 1650; was one of the first settlers in Amesbury, 1654-55, where he received land, 1654-64; received a seat in the meeting house, 1667, but was a member of the Salisbury church, 1677-87. He received "children's land" in Amesbury for his daughter in 1659, and a "township" for one daughter in 1660. In 1680 he was a selectman. His death occurred at Amesbury in 1689; his will, dated January 20, 1686-87, was proved March 20, 1689-90, and mentions his daughters, Mary and Sarah, and their children, and Elizabeth Huntington and Ensign John Weed, of Amesbury. He married Margaret ____, who died March 20, 1672-73, and probably had other children in addition to those mentioned above. Edward Hedden, in all probability the son of Jared or Gerard and Margaret Hadden, was born in 1666, and, like many of the New England settlers, migrated to Connecticut, and finally settled in New Jersey. With his wife he settled at "The Mountain," now in the vicinity of South Orange, and there received grants, as their sons all owned tracts there. He married Jane Jones, a Welsh girl, born in 1668, who was a member of the First Church, Presbyterian, at Newark, prior to the formation of the "Mountain Society," and she was interred in the burial ground of the church on Broad street, February 23, 1773, being the oldest person who had ever died in Newark up to that time. Children: John, Joseph, Eleazer, Oliver, Diana and Rebecca. Joseph, son of Edward and Jane (Jones) Hedden, was born at Newark, New Jersey, in 1702, and died in that part now known as Orange, November 3, 1798. He settled at "The Mountain," now South Orange, and there he and his brother John owned much land. In various deeds he is styled yeoman. He is buried beside his wife Rebecca in the old First Presbyterian burying ground at Orange, both having been members in full communion of the "Mountain Society" prior to 1756. The "Centinal of Freedom," of Newark, had this to say of him. in November, 1798: "This venerable citizen has from his youth sustained the character of an honest and upright man and was much lamented by those who were acquainted with him. He had thirteen children, one hundred and seventy-six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. It is a no less curious than amusing fact that this 'father of a host' immediately upon arising every morning, and before dressing, took a generous draught of pure Jersey distilled liquor. He died at the age of ninety-six years, and was wont to speak with pride of the fact that he had eight sons who served their country during the Revolution." He married (first) Rebecca, daughter of Samuel Dod, granddaughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Riggs) Dod, and great-granddaughter of Stephen Dod, of Guilford, Connecticut. He married (second) Rebecca, daughter of Matthew and Ruth (Wheeler) Williams, of Orange. Children: Ebenezer, David, Elijah, Job, Simon, Martha, Phebe, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Joseph, Jonathan, Sarah and Joanna. Jonathan, son of Joseph and Rebecca Hedden, was born in that part of Newark now known as South Orange, New Jersey, in 1733, and died in East Orange, December 25, 1795. He was a tailor all his life, and also cultivated the large farm which, in the course of time, he had acquired by purchase. He was one of the incorporators of the Second Presbyterian Church of Newark (Brick Church of Orange), was one of the seven trustees, and was duly qualified before Judge Peck at the parsonage house, September 22, 1776, each taking the oath of allegiance to his country. Jonathan Hedden was elected president of this board of trustees in the fall of 1776, and filled this office many years. He married Phebe, a daughter of Joseph and Phebe (Freeman) Canfield. Children: Caleb, Daniel, Abial, Jotham, Mary, Rebecca and Deborah. Jotham, son of Jonathan and Phebe (Canfield) Hedden, was born in what is now East Orange, about 1769, and died October 12, 1803. He was a farmer, and also a shoemaker. He served his town as constable, and was a prominent member of the First Church. He married, 1795, Mary Jones, born at Orange, June 4, 1774. died October 28, 1827, a daughter of Cornelius and Joanna (Harrison) Jones. Children: Israel, Nancy and Albert. Israel, son of Jotham and Mary (Jones) Hedden, was born on the Hedden homestead in East Orange, New Jersey, May 1, 1796, and died at Orange, October 10, 1825. He learned the trade of hat making with his uncle, Cyrus Jones, and established himself in business as a hatter in Orange. He died at the early age of twenty-nine years from consumption due to exposure while serving in the War of 1812. His residence in Orange was for a time in the old First Presbyterian parsonage, next to the present Young Men's Christian Association building. Later he erected a homestead opposite the present Park Hotel. He married, March 17, 1821, Maria Stiles, born October 27, 1798, died October 8, 1830. Children: Mary Josephine, Charles Israel, and Maria Augusta, the last mentioned a posthumous child. Charles Israel Hedden, son of Israel and Maria (Stiles) Hedden, was born at Orange, New Jersey, October 1, 1823, and died at Newark, New Jersey, January 7, 1893. He was but two years of age at the time of the death of his father, and was then taken by his uncle, Job Williams, of Orange, who raised him. His limited educational advantages were acquired in the district school, and even as a young lad he worked out. While living for a time with his maternal grandfather, his leg was so badly broken by a falling tree that he was lame throughout his life. As an apprentice to his uncle, Job Williams, with whom he remained until he had attained his majority, he learned the trade of hat making, then worked as a journeyman for various manufacturers, among them Marshall Smith, with whom he made his home. He established himself independently in the manufacture of hats in 1856, and was a pioneer in this industry in many respects. He was the first in Orange to introduce a steam boiler and a set of pouncing machines in the factory. He was also one of the first men to take the refuse hat roundings and have them re-picked into hat fur stock, and from that time to the present every part of waste hat stock has been utilized. He organized the firm of John H. Myers & Company, which continued in business until its dissolution in 1868. Mr. Hedden purchased fifteen hundred acres of land in Warren county, North Carolina, and cultivated this successfully as a tobacco and grain plantation until he returned to Newark in 1872. For a time he again lived in that city, then went to Texas with his eldest son, with the intention of starting a sheep ranch there. His stay there was a short one, and after his return to the north he was engaged for a time in the provision business at Washington Market, New York City. Abandoning this line of business, he again turned his attention to the manufacture of hats, and formed the firm of W. B. Huey & Company, of Newark, the other members of the firm being Wilbur B. Huey and Clarence Myers Hedden. When this firm was dissolved the new one was formed, known as C. M. Hedden & Company, and this continued its work on the same premises as the old company until December, 1883, when a larger and more commodious factory was erected on Thirteenth avenue, of which they took possession, in April, 1884. It was the largest and leading hat factory of its day, employing more than two hundred persons, and manufacturing one hundred and fifty dozens of hats daily. Their trade extended all over the United States, to various parts of South America, and numerous islands in foreign parts. He retained his membership in the old First Presbyterian Church at Orange, although he was a constant attendant of the Wickliff Presbyterian Church at Newark. In earlier years he was a Whig, but affiliated with the Republican party upon its formation. He was a strong supporter of the Abolition party, and actively assisted the "underground railway." One of his closest personal friends was Horace Greeley, and he held "The Tribune" in high esteem. Mr. Hedden married (first) June 9, 1852, Matilda Ward Myers, born June 11, 1827, died June 17, 1870, a daughter of Zebulon and Eliza (Lindsley) Myers, granddaughter of Judge John and Phebe (Baldwin) Lindsley, and related to the Days, Condits, Wards, and other first settler families. He married (second) August 11, 1881, Rhoda Eliza Marsh, daughter of Justus Morris and Susanna King (Wright) Marsh, natives of Rahway and Northfield, New Jersey, respectively. Children, all by the first marriage: Richard Stiles, Lelia Matilda, Clarence Myers, Israel Charles, Alice Eliza, Jesse Williams, Edith May. Clarence Myers Hedden, son of Charles Israel and Matilda Ward (Myers) Hedden, was born at Orange, New Jersey, June 25, 1856, and died May 11, 1904. He attended private schools at Orange until he was fourteen years of age, when, as the Civil War had entailed financial disaster upon his father, his education was brought to an abrupt conclusion. The family lived for a time on a plantation in North Carolina, and in 1872, two years after the death of the mother, returned to the north, where young Hedden attended school for a short time at Haydenville, Massachusetts. He was soon obliged to abandon this, however, and turn his attention to self-support. Ambitious, energetic and persevering, he had no difficulty in obtaining employment, and by dint of strict economy accumulated a fortune of some hundreds of dollars which he put to use to the best advantage. He had attained the age of twenty-five years when he became associated with his father in the manufacture of hats, and when the firm was incorporated in 1899 he became the president of this corporation, his wife the vice-president, and William H. Fitz the secretary and treasurer. He was a man of many-sided ability, however, and this industry, large and important as it was, was not sufficient for his untiring energy and executive ability, and for a number of years he was also actively engaged in carrying on an extensive real estate business. For a period of twenty-eight years he was an active member of the Sixth Presbyterian Church, and a member of the board of trustees during sixteen years of this time. Following is a partial copy of a set of resolutions authorized by the board of trustees at the time of his death: Resolved, By the death of Brother Clarence M. Hedden the board of trustees of the Sixth Presbyterian Church have lost a faithful and efficient member who served the church for a period of sixteen years, and whose business judgment and sagacity have always been of incalculable benefit to us in conducting the affairs of our work. While our church has lost a member who for twenty-eight years has ever rallied to its every call, liberally giving of his strength and substance that our Master's work might be supported and His kingdom advanced. Mr. Hedden was a member of Newark Lodge, No. 8, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the West End Club, in which he was a member of the board of governors for a number of years. Mr. Hedden married, at Haydenville, Massachusetts, Nellie Frances Hamilton, born November 2, 1857, daughter of John Royal and Sarah Clarissa (Mather) Hamilton, the former a carpenter and builder, and a descendant of an old pioneer family of Vermont. Children: Frances Matilda, born September 2, 1880; Lulu Josephine, born October 12, 1882; Clarence Hamilton, born July 1, 1885; Nellie Estelle, born December 14, 1887; Charles Leslie, born January 1, 1890; Ernest Myers, born September 28, 1892; Albert Henry, born June 23, 1895; Walter Page, born June 25, 1898; Dorothy, born December 28, 1902. Mr. Hedden was one of the most efficient business men of his day, and in public life his merits were no less. His quickness of perception and earnestness in every cause which he espoused, made him an invaluable ally and a most formidable opponent. As an organizer and worker, he was invaluable, his sagacity was unusual and his energy untiring. Whatever he had to do, he did with all his might, and it was always well done. With pleasing manners and a strange power of personal magnetism, it is not to be wondered at that he compelled success. Toward those in his employ he was not alone employer, but a kind, fatherly friend, so that they knew to whom to go in time of trouble, and were always certain to find the needed assistance. He was charitable to a degree, but his bounty was bestowed in so unostentatious a manner, that it was only in rare cases that others in addition to the recipient knew anything about it. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN VOLUME III MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 1917 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/essex/bios/hedden-cm.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/njfiles/ File size: 15.4 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/essex/bios/hedden-cm.txt