Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-10-25
CHARLES EWING ELMER.
THE END OF A PROMINENT
CITIZEN.
Lawyer. Banker. Public Officer,
Private CitiZen--He Fills Each
Position HOnOrabIy. and
Dies Respected.

AT four o'clock, Saturday morning,
died Charles Ewing Elmer, in his
seventieth year. He was at the time
of his death, the most prominent citi-
zen in Bridgeton, where he was born,
| and in which his entire life was passed.
| His ancestor on his fathers side, who
founded the Elmer family in South
Jersey, was the Rev. Daniel Elmer,
a graduate of Yale College of the class
OF 1913, who removed to Fairfield in
Cumberland county in 1927, and was
pastor OF the Presbyterian congrega-
tion there. Charles was the head of
| the sixth generation, descending from
the old minister, his elder brother,
Daniel, dying, while preparing to en-
ter Princeton College, before attain
ing manhood, Major Daniel Elmer is
the seventh of the name, and the head
of the main stem by the laws of primo
geniture.
His mother was the sister of James
b. Potter, and the daughter of Colonel
David Potter Her mother was Sarah
Boyd, daughter of Mary Boyd, who
removed to Bridgeton from Belfast,
before the Revolutionary war, and
whose other daughter Martha, married
james Ewing, and became the mother
of Charles Ewing, the great Chief JUS
tice OF New Jersey, whose namesake
is the subject of this sketch.
He was born in Bridgeton, March
9th, 1919, received good education,
rounded off by special course at
Princeton; studied law in the Office of
his father, Judge Daniel Elmer, who
was one of the Justices of the New
Jersey Supreme Court; was admitted
to practice in 1S43; formed a partner
ship with John T. Nixon about 1916,
and continued the active practice of
his profession for about ten years
afterwards, and after the dissolution
of the, firm of Elmer and Nixon, ac-
cepted for the second time, the posi-
tion of Prosecutor of the Pleas for
Cumberland County, vigorously and
faithfully performing the duties of his
Office until 1865.
Having inherited from his father,
Judge Daniel Elmer, a fortune for
those days, which. with the increase
made by his own judicious invest
ments, obviated any pecuniary anxi
eties, he lacked the incentive to great
application to his profession. He was,
however, by nature, most industrious
and painstaking, and his sound judg
lnent made him an excellent counsel
lor, He was a compact, forcible and
convincing speaker; and his high char
acter for integrity, gave great force to
his arguments. The last case of i'm
portance, in which he appeared, was
the trial of Ogden and Howard for the
murder of Damrell, in the summer of
1864, in which he secured a conviction.
With this case, his active practice
really closed. After 1865, his services
as Special Master in Chancery, and in
the taking OF testimony, were fre-
quently sought by the other members
OF the bar, and in these offices he was
active and useful until within few
years past.
! He was busy man; his nature
craved work, and he was most con-
scientious in its performance. He was
the incarnation of system, neatness,
and order, being always ready to
undertake work for its own sake, and
being prompt and systematic in It's de-
spatch. Joined with a reputation
and character of the highest, his ser
vices were sought in offices of trust
and honor, without profit. He had
always said that he was willing to
serve the State where no compensa-
tion was offered, but he would take no
office having salary attached to it.
For years he was a Trustee of the
State Normal School, and of the Far
mum Preparatory School. He was
Secretary of the State Board OF Educa-
tion, and was also on the State Board
OF Agriculture and the Board for the
Geographical Survey of the State.
For many years, and up to the time of
his death, he was a Director of the
West Jersey Railroad Company. For
twenty years he was President of the
Cumberland National Bank, succeed
ing his father and uncle, giving up his
position in 1886, and taking the office
OF Vice President.
In religious belief, he was Presby-
terian, and generous contributor to |
the support of that church, and a I
regular attendant at it's services, al
though not a church member. That
his orthodoxy was unquestioned, is
shown by his election as Trustee of
Princeton College, in 1877, position
ne held during the remainder of his
lie. The qualifications for that posi-
tlon are prominence and high char
acter, but, more than all, unquestioned
belief in Presbyterianism.