Here’s a Document Signed by Prominent Democratic Party Leader, Politician and ‘American Flags Flying on School Houses’ Educator & Superintendent of Schools in Middlesex County, New Jersey for 38 Years During the Late 19th/Early 20th Century

H. BREWSTER WILLIS

(1850 – 1925)

·       DEMOCRATIC PARTY POLITICIAN and ZEALOUS EDUCATOR FROM MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY,

·       COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, APPOINTED BY THE NEW JERSEY STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 1887-1925,

·       POMINENT ATTORNEY and COUNSELOR-AT-LAW IN THE BAR OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY 1881-1913.

·       LEADER IN THE EFFORT and AUTHOR OF LEGISLATION WHICH REQUIRED ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO FLY AN AMERICAN FLAG ON EVERY SCHOOL HOUSE  - THE FIRST LAW OF THAT KIND IN THE UNITED STATES,

·       FOUNDER and PRESIDENT OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION IN 1896 FORMED TO PREPARE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR RESPONSIBLE DUTIES – THE FIRST SUCH ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES,

·       FOUNDER and PRESIDENT OF THE SUPERVISING PRINCIPAL’S ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1902 TO PREPARE and ENFORCE UNIFORMITY IN EDUCATION,

·       FOUNDER OF THE FIRST MIDDLESEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN 1914,

·       FOUNDER and PRESIDENT OF THE MIDDLESEX PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION IN 1895,

·       DIRECTOR and VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,

·       PRESIDENT OF THE STATE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION,

·       COUNSEL FOR THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS FOR OVER A DECADE, and

·       PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SANITARY ASSOCIATION and FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE BOARD OF HEALTH and CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION 1900s

Willis was the Son of Reverend Ralph Willis, clergyman and County Superintendent of Schools in Middlesex from 1867-1887, serving up to his death, when his son was appointed in his place!

The document is also Signed by NJ State Politician

SENATOR JOHN STILWELL APPLEGATE

(1837-1916)

·       CIVIL WAR MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S LIGHT GUARD OF NEW JERSEY- AIDING IN RECRUITING NJ TROOPS AND IN THE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF THE WAR,

·       NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR FROM MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ,

·       CIVIL WAR BIOGRAPHICAL AUTHOR OF HIS CLOSE FRIEND COLONEL GEORGE ARROWSMITH, KIA AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG,

·       ELECTED 1ST PRESIDENT (MAYOR) OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF RED BANK, NJ AFTER ITS INCORPORATION IN 1871, and

·       INFLUENTIAL RED BANK, NJ LAWYER, ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS RAILROAD PRESIDENT and FOUNDER & PRESIDENT OF THE 2nd NATIONAL BANK OF RED BANK.

 

THE DOCUMENT CONCERNS A NEW JERSEY COURT OF ERRORS and APPEALS CASE (THE HIGHEST COURT IN NJ AT THE TIME) BETWEEN “THE MAYOR and COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF SOUTH AMBOY, DEFENDANTS vs. THE NEW YORK and LONG BRANCH RAILROAD, PLAINTIFFS, CONCERNING A LAND DISPUTE IN SOUTH AMBOY BORDERING HENRY STREET AND BROADWAY.

WILLIS SIGNS THE DOCUMENT REPRESENTING THE MAYOR and COUNSEL OF SOUTH AMBOY, NJ, and APPLEGATE SIGNS AS COUNSEL FOR THE RAILROAD.

HISTORICAL NOTE: THE SOUTH AMBOY TRAIN STATION IS LOCATED NEAR HENRY STREET AT NORTH BROADWAY AND AUGUSTA STREET.  TODAY IT SERVES AS A KEY COMMUTER STOP ON NJ TRANSIT'S NORTH JERSEY COAST LINE.

 

 

PROVENANCE: This document came out of the John S. Applegate Red Bank, NJ Estate.  As indicated above, John Applegate was a prominent State Senator and notable 19th century lawyer. Applegate did much legal work in connection with the Railroads and telegraph Companies.  He worked with Civil War notables including General T. T. Eckert in railroad/telegraph company litigation.  He also wrote a rare book about his friend and Hamilton College roommate, Colonel Arrowsmith, who was killed in action at Gettysburg in 1893 Titled: "Reminiscences and Letters of George Arrowsmith of New Jersey, Late Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, New York State Volunteers" Col. Arrowsmith was KIA at Gettysburg from a bullet to the head. (Red Bank, NJ: John H. Cook, 1893. 254 p.)

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PUBLIC EDUCATION— THIRTY-THREE YEARS GROWTH OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MIDDLESEX COUNTY. N. J.

BY H. BREWSTER WILLIS

Note — For more than a half a century, the Public Schools of Middlesex County have been under the superintendency of father and son, Rev. Ralph Willis and H. Brewster Willis. By reason of this unusual circumstance, I have been induced to write this brief sketch of the Public Schools of Middlesex County, keeping in mind those who have rendered more than ten years of public school service continuously in Supervisory, teaching and administrative positions in the same district. It is quite possible that some names of those worthy, and some important facts have been omitted; if so, I trust the omission will be forgiven, as I have sought the fullest information.

School service is a patriotic service. The preservation and continuation of our present form of government depends very largely upon the public schools of our land. It is high time that more public appreciation should be expressed of the service rendered by those working in the Second Line of National Defense.

 

Herbert Brewster Willis.

July I, 1920, New Brunswick, N. J.

 

 

 

Ralph was appointed Superintendent of Schools of the County

of Middlesex more than fifty years ago by Governor Joel Parker, about

the time the Legislature discontinued local township school superin-

tendents. For a period of twenty years he continued in office, improving

the County Public School System, a record of which may be found in

the Annual State School Reports.

 

In his last report to the State Board of Education the following

appears: "I retire from the office with a grateful sense of the honor

conferred upon me by so many reappointments; with a consciousness

of honest eflforts in the performance of my duties ; and with pleasant

memories of the respect and kindness of all with whom I have been

officially connected." His official mantle fell upon the shoulders of his

son, H. Brewster Willis, in 1887.

 

He died March 17, 1895, highly esteemed by all who knew him,

as a faithful and successful school official.

 

In 1897, County Superintendent H. Brewster Willis attempted to

have the United States Flag float from every school house in Middlesex

County. He discovered that the school law would not permit the Boards

of Education to expend public school money for United States Flags.

Upon this discovery, a campaign was conducted among the Boards of

Education, teachers and pupils, and, through entertainments and dona-

tions, the school districts raised the sum of $3,000, which amount pro-

vided United States flags of varied dimensions and quality, to every

public school property in the county.

 

In 1898, the County Superintendent drew an amendment to the school

law, which included the purchase of United States Flags among the

items which the Board of Education might purchase out of the fund

for current expenses. This amendment became a law, and the purchase

of United States Flags was made permissible by Boards of Education

out of school funds. In 1900, by a further Act of the Legislature, the

Boards of Education were compelled to purchase United States Flags

and display the same upon or near each public school property, each

school day and at such other times, as said Board of Education deemed

proper.

 

Correspondence with the Secretary of State of the respective States

of the Union in 1898, revealed the fact that Middlesex county was the

first county to uniformly display the United States Flag over all its

school houses, and that the State of New Jersey was the first State to

require by law the United States Flag to float upon or near every public

school building in the State.

 

City of New Brunswick — In the very early days there was established

a free-school, conducted under the Lancasterian Plan. This famous

school was located in the old four-room wooden building on Schureman

street. Part of the building was occupied as the living quarters cf the

teachers.

 

Under the township act, the New Brunswick schools were k'lown

as School District No. 1. In 1890, and since that date, modern ward

schools have been erected.

 

At the present time this city has six large graded elementary schools,

well equipped ; Junior High, and a most modern Senior High School,

comparing favorably with any high school in the State in a city of the

same population. The graduates of eight elementary schools in dis-

tricts immediately surrounding the city, attend this high school. The

graduates of the Senior High School are admitted on certificate to the

leading colleges and universities. At this date the teaching force num-

bers 175, exclusive of a number of evening school teachers and those

who are teachers in classes for foreign born residents. The total enroll-

ment is about 5.400 pupils. Population 32,779. A large number of the

school population attend the excellent Parochial Schools.

 

Among the City Superintendents who have rendered valuable serv-

ice in the development of the city school system, might be mentioned

Henry B. Pierce, Charles Jacobus, Ellis A. Apgar, George G. Ryan,

William Clinton Armstrong, George H. Eckels and the present City

Superintendent, Ira T. Chapman.

 

Among the teachers who have served continuously in the city system

for many years are Misses Eleanor S. Lott, Anne Castner, Cecelia Bou-

dinot. Mary Castner, Cornelia Schroeder, Amanda Voorhees, Annie

Rastall. Grace E. March, Carolyn Plechner, Emma A. McCoy, Saidee

Felter, Josephine Masso, Angie Wray, Blanche Johnston, Mr. Henry

Miller, Miss Sarah O. Whitlock, Mr. George W. W^ilmot, Misses Susie

Crabiel, Saidee A. Smith, Chrissie Bartle, Jessie M. Gray, Selma Erick-

son, Margaret Wall, Bertha Dewald. Permelia Wray, May U. Bogan,

Maude Hart, Suzanne J. Price, Martha Dewald, Mr. George H. Brooks,

Misses Faye Van DeVenter, Helen Morrison, Jessie Morrison, Myra

Selover, Katherine Boudinot, Mrs. Kate C. Marsh (formerly Miss Kate

C. Garland) ; Misses Marjorie Deshler, Sadie Leary, Elsie Dunham, Mrs. Josephine de Percin (formerly Miss Josephine Paulus); Misses Edith  Richardson and Laura Hughes.

 

Many of the most distinguished professional and business men have

served long and well upon the Board of Education, among those who

have served for a period of ten years or more, mention might be made

of Garret Conover, John Cheeseman, Thomas N. Doughty, John S. Stew

art, Abram R. Provost, Robert L. Hoagland, John Helm, Joseph

Eldridge, E. Leon Loblein, Charles E. Tindell, James A. Morrison,

Henry G. Parker, Anthony Viehman, A. L. Smith, Otto O. Stillman,

George C. Ludlow, Theodore G. Nelson, Henry R. Baldwin, Robert J.

Smith and A. W. Winckler. It is worthy of note that H. B. Zimmerman,

Nelson Dunham and Henry L. Janeway each served for a period of

twenty-two years, and that Morris Bauer has been connected with the

Board of Education of the city for a period of twenty-four years.

 

The sum of $408,340 has been raised for the next school year, which

is an indication of progress. The school system is up-to-date, and with

the completion of the school buildings now being erected, the citizens of

New Brunswick may justly be proud of its educational privileges.

 

Source:  History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920  By Wall, John P. (John Patrick),, ed; Lewis Publishing Company; Pickersgill, Harold E., 1921

 

THIS DOCUMENT HAS NEVER APPEARED ON THE COLLECTOR MARKET.

The document measures 8”x 12,” shows some staining, fold wear, some archival tape repairs on the verso, but is perfectly legible and boldly signed by Willis and Applegate.

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