The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-29

Whon bne polls Close neXC lusSuay anu
the last ballot has been deposited in the
boxes, James H. O'Neil will have been
elected a second time Surrogate of Hud-
son county. James O'Neil, the father Of
the present Surrogate, was born in Troy,
N. Y, and when he left there to make his
home in New York city he took with him
reputation that any man might envy.
The present Surrogate, James II.
O'Neil, was born in the Empire City, Oc-
tober IS, 1858, and is in consequence just
passed thirty-eight years old. A year
after his birth his father, for business
reasons, moved to Hoboken, and there.
while Jimmy was attending the old pub
lie school ou Garden street. James O'Neil
was rapidly making his way among the
foremost citizens IN the county. His
progress was SO rapid and his work so
greatly appreciated, that after the short
residence OF i've years In Hoboken, the
citizens there demanded that he should
be the Democratic caudtdatos for Surro-
gate. Mi. 0sNeiI Was elected to that
Office by q handsome majority In 1859 and
at the expiration OF his term Was easily
reelected. He made such an excellent
Surrogate that when his second term was
drawing to close the people, regardless
OF party, demanded that he should serve
the,s for third time.
Mr.. O'Neil believed that he had been in
the effice long enough and insisted that
some one else should be the Democratic
candidate, Eut the people said mo" and
for third time james O'Neil was elected
Surrogate. He did not serve the people
the full term, however. tor he died sud-
denly in 1870. just before the time arrived
tor him to enter upon the duties OF the
A wear before this sad event James H.
O'Neil, the Surrogate's popular son, had
fini he'd his education, and had become
clerk In his fathers Office.
MADE CHIEF CLERK.
Robert McCague, the DEPUTY Surro-
gate, was appointed Surrogate by the
Governor to 11il the unexpected vacancy.
He recognized the qualities in young
James H. O'Neil that are SO necessary In
the office Of Surrogate, where broken
hearted widows and sRd orphans are the
principal clients; and promoted him to
the position OF Chief Clerk. This position
the young man filled with such credit
that he won the confidence and esteem of
every one, and when he became q vandi-
date for the Office his worth was acknowl-
edged by nearly every member OF the bar
in this county, REGARDLESS OF politics.
Ali justly claimed that the Office of
Surrogate should be kept as much aloof
from politics as that of Judge.
Young O'Neft continued with Robert
McCague Until William McAvoy was
elected his successor. and then James
was appointed Deputy Surrogate. which
position he filed with the same fidelity
that had marked his past career In the
Surrogate's Office. William McAvoy was
elected for second term OF five years in
November. 1885, but in March. 1886. he
died suddenly. Governor Albeit had the
duty thrust upon him second time of
appointing a Surrogate to iii the vacancy
until the next November election. The
Governor had known the Deputy Surro-
gale from boyhood socially As n mem-
Der of the bar the Governor had frequent-
ly had business dealings with him. and
he learned from personal observation how
Valuable Mr.. O'Neil was to the office.
APPOINTED SURROGATE.
There WAS ana is no man IN the county
,so conversant with the details of this
Gffice as Mr. O'Neil and without hesita-
fion Governor Albeit appointed James
i'll O'Neil Surrogate 10 March. 1886
Almost the first official act OF Surrogate
had oh hesn @a' cbief cI % cIerk. to the position