Here’s a Letter Signed by Prominent 19th Century NJ Judge and Politician

WILBUR ARTHUR HEISLEY

 

(1858 – 1934)

·       ELECTED REPUBLICAN PARTY MAYOR OF LONG BRANCH 1886,

·       CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE OF NEW JERSEY COMPRISING PASSAIC, SUSSEX and ESSEX COUNTIES APPOINTED BY NJ GOV. MURPHY 1904-1911,

·       PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE MONMOUTH COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (NJ SUPERIOR COURT) APPOINTED BY NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR VOORHEES 1900-1904,

·       PROSECUTOR OF PLEAS FOR MONMOUTH COUNTY APPOINTED BY GOV. GRIGGS 1897-1900, and

·       PROMINENT ATTORNEY PRACTICING IN LONG BRANCH, NJ

On May 15th, 1883, there was launched from the yard of J. P. Voris at Upper Nyack, the paddle wheel steamboat, “Wilbur A. Heisley,” built for the Long Branch & Seabright Steamboat Co. and named in Heisley’s honor.

 HERE’S A LETTER SIGNED BY HEISLEY ON HIS “OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR OF PLEAS, MONMOUTH 
COUNTY, N.J” LETTERHEAD, 1p., DATED AT LONG BRANCH, NJ, JUNE 9, 1898, CONCERNING A GRAND
JURY HEARING FOR THE SEWER COMPANY, AND THE COMPANYS PROMISE TO INVESTIGATE
 THE MATTER OR SEEK AN INJUNCTION. 
The Letter Is Written to Fellow Prominent Monmouth County Politician, Jurist and Historian

SAMUEL CRAIG COWART

 

(1854-1943)

·       DISTINGUISHED NEW JERSEY LAWYER, POLITICIAN, HISTORIAN & POET,

·       SPECIAL MASTER IN CHANCERY COURT FOR MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY,

·       CHAIRMAN OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR MONMOUTH BATTLE MONUMENT COMMISSION FOR BOTH THE 125th and 150th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IN 1903 and 1928,

·       HISTORIAN and AUTHORITY OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR DAYS IN MONMOUTH COUNTY, AUTHORING ADDRESSES and POEMS ABOUT THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH,

·       CHARTER MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,

·       DEAN OF THE NEW JERSEY BAR ASSOCIATION,

·       TRUSTEE OF THE NEW JERSEY MILITARY ACADEMY 1900s, and

·       MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS, THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE NJ HISTORICAL SOCIETY, and THE MONMOUTH COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.

In 1914, Maryland Governor James Fielder appointed Samuel Cowart to represent the State at the centennial celebration of Baltimore. On this occasion the lawyer read his own poem, 'The Starry Banner of the Free,' at the unveiling of the Sir Francis Scott Key monument."

The letter comes with its original stamped transmittal envelope cover, with “Long Branch N. J.” cds postmark and ‘Prosecutor of Pleas’ corner card.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE HONORABLE WILBUR A. HEISLEY

Wilbur Arthur Heisley was born at Elmer, Salem County, New Jersey on February 11, 1858, son of Reverend Charles W. Heisley of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New Jersey. Wilbur studied law with Martin P. Grey, the late Vice-Chancellor, at Salem, received his attorney's license at June term, 1879, and immediately began the practice of his profession at Long Branch, and has resided there continuously since.

At the June term, 1882, he received his counselor's license. In 1886 he was elected Mayor of Long Branch, New Jersey. On January 24, 1297, he was appointed, by Governor Grigg, as Prosecutor of the Pleas for Monmouth county. On April 1, 1900, he was appointed by Governor Voorhees as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Monmouth County. On March 24, 1904 he was appointed by Governor Murphy one of the Circuit Judges of New Jersey. He died on August 7, 1934. (Source: Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, published in 1907).

SEE "W. A. Heisley Dead. Ex-Jersey Jurist; Former Mayor And Solicitor Of Long; Branch Succumbs At Age Of 76.". New York Times.

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Judge Wilbur A. Heisley died yesterday at his home at Long Branch in his 77th year. He was a former prosecutor and judge of common pleas of Monmouth county and later served fourteen years as a circuit court judge at Newark.

Mr. Heisley was a Republican and was prominent in civic and public affairs at Long Branch, where he had been a resident thirty years. His wife died a year ago. From 1890 to 1900 he was a law partner of Benjamin P. Morris of Long Branch.

The funeral will be held at two o'clock Friday afternoon at the Flock funeral home at Long Branch. burial will be in Glenwood cemetery.

Red Bank Register, Wed., Aug. 8, 1934

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Judge Wilbur Arthur Heisley

Birth

1858

Death

7 Aug 1934 (aged 75–76)

Burial

Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch, Monmouth County, New Jersey

The document measures 5” x 9” and is in excellent condition.

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