The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-01-26

Cause of Hard Times and the Remedy"
and in 1913 he and his family Joined
company of Fourierites, or Socialists.
who enligrateu to Pike county, Pennsyl-
vania, where, as he expressed II, he
lived for one year to reform socles
and then returned TO New York, to peddle
books again.
To the last he retained g most remark
able memory. and his recitals of personal
experiences aud of the settling and his
tory Of the Hill section, afterward Hud-
SON City were replete with interest and
instruction.
In October, 1871, he commenced a sketch
of his life, and his autobiography occupies
reams OF closely written foolscap. 1t is
entitled THE Life and Adventures OF
Boy; a Sailor for Twenty Years; Book
seller; Member of n Fouriefite Associa-
ton; a Politician aud Justice of the Peace
III the Rural State of New Jersey
The graphic tale of his early wander
ings is not more interesting than the
filial affection displayed in his tender al
lusions to his mother, "A woman of great
force of character and liberal minded
Christian"
His long residence on the Hill. his men
tai and physical yigor and his unfiinch-
ing honesty made him noted character.
The little quaint office on Oakland ave-
nue., in which for so many years he dis
pensed justice bears many evidences of
his honesty and his peculiarities. Max
inns aud notices decrying the folly of liti-
CATION, except when absolutely necessary.
and suggesting to parties to settle their
differences by compromise or arbitration,
together with newspaper clippings. mark
its walls. At the same time, there are
notices to patrons to secure their legal
knowledge of him instead of paying ex-
orbitant fees for it to lawyers.
Is it a wonder that Squire Marten re-
a m
others would have secured large fees
from clients, he talked to his patrons in
fatherly way, and in q majority of cases
succeeded in amicably adjusting their diff
ferences, without receiving a cent of the
fees to which he would have been en-
titled to in the event Of suits being
begun.
He served as Recorder of Hudson City
for several years, at salary OF only $500
per year. OF his connection with the
Office he says:-"The fees were so made
quate that could hardly make living,
although was kept busy early and late.
mad wife and four children TO provide
for. Even my sma II income was watered
during the war. [ was the only acting
magistrate on the Hill. and it became my
duty to swear into the service of the
United States two regiments and four
companies Most of the men were Ger
mans, and had to administer the oath
in German. | refused TO accept any fees
for the service from a conscientious mo-
tive
He came to North Bergen in 1889, and
was pioneer of the then almost wilder
ness. He was intimate with the early
settlers OF the section and their succeed
ing generation. He carried the survey
or's chain almost forty years ago in lay
ing out dutch Row." now Beacon ay-
enue, and was interested in and con-
Tersant with the progress and improve
ment of the section. He also took an
active part in political matters prior to
the annexation of Hudson City to Jersey
City. Speaking OF those times he says
My first experience in Jersey politics
was at a meeting at the Five Corners TO
elect four delegates to a convention to
make nomination, believe, for Gov
ernor. There We're present, General f.
! " II. Wright, Hugh Slater and myself,
and as four delegates were to DC chosen
we waited until the small school came
out, and then Slater brought the school
teacher, Richard Kidney, into Rachael
Riker's tavern. The General was chair
man, and the school teacher secretary,
and the four present were elected dele
gates and furnished with certificates.
The whole business of electioneering
was carried on in very simple. good
natufed way, going to the meetings in
! wagons drawn by oxen. and singing,
Shout, shout, shout for JOY over in New
Jersey. wings and Democrats rode to-
gether and had great times
The squire" always appreciated a
joke, and was himself. even in his old
age, given to witticisms, jokes and the
relating of anecdotes, the latter always
told to point moral He says in his
mannscript:-"1 don't remember what
newspaper, If any, was circulated in
North and South Bergen, or in the town
Of Hudson, up to 1852. but then Mr..
Hughey Slater was a good substitute
For several years prior to his last sick
ness Justice Marten acted at intervals
in the place OF Police Justices Lawrence
and Wunser on occasions of their en-
forced absence. He was firm in melting
out penalties, but his sentences were
kindly given and usually accompanied by
sympathy and words OF advice. Occa-
sionaliy, however, when a thief or wife
beater appeared before him, he would
almost thunder out the sentence, and
call upon the officers to hurry the Grim
inal out of his sight.
lie was too high spirited 20 complain
! when pressed by adversely, and to young
and old he Was noted for his courtesy and
apparent happiness. Though bent by
the weight OF more than four score years
he was always busy, working in his Office
or about his house.
When he was taken down few days
ago with his last sickness he said to friends
who visited him. This is very kind OF
you, | thought | would lay down on my
bed and pass uuietiv uVvay vyithout