The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-02-21
JOHN WHITEHEAD'S DEATH.
a Foremost citizen whose Loss VIII
be Keenly Felt.

be Keenly Felt.
John Whitehead one of the Oldest
and best known citizens of Morris
town, died at his late residence on
Hill street on Tuesday afternoon. He
had been i'll with an attack Of the grip
for week or more, but was apparent
ly making rapid recovery. On Tues
day morning he told DR. Douglas that
he was feeling better than he had for
some time and enjoyed his breakfast
At noon his heart became weak and
he died about half past three O'Clock.
Mr.. Whitehead for many years
taught bible class in the Spring
Street Sunday School.
Many a young person will remember
him as the man who gave the permits,
which allowed them the use Of books
without charge
Mr.. Whitehead, was born in Jersey,
Licking county, Ohio, in September,
1919. Deprived by death of a fathers
care, his early years were passed in the
home of his uncle, Hon. Asa White
head, a leading member of the New
Jersey bar, practicing at Newark.
After receiving a thorough academical
education he became a student in his
uncle'S office. was admitted to the bar
IN September, 1910, and began at once
the practice Of law, remaining with
his uncle until 1843, when he opened
an Office for himself. In 1856 Mr..
Whitehead was appointed United
States circuit-court commissioner for
the district of New Jersey In this
capacity it became his duty to investi-
gate complaints for the violation of
federal statutes. His patience and
breadth of legal knowledge made him
/. a most admirable committing magis-
trate.
During his long practice Mr.. White
head has never sought political or
other honors outside Of his profession,
the only temptation to which he
yielded being the indulgence of his
literary tastes. He had a strong SYM
pathy for the colored race, although
never a pronounced abolitionist, and
took great interest in furthering their
efforts to obtain the elective franchise.
His lectures on history and philology
evince deep research and great famil-
larlty with those Subjects and valua-
BILE contributions have been made by
him to the legal literature of his state.
The cause of education has always
found in him an earnest advocate.
He was a member of the "public-
school committee of Newark as early
as 1915, its meetings being held in his
private office. In 1851. after the legis-
lature had enlarged its powers, as the
board Of education,' it's meetings
were still held at the same place, Mr..
Whitehead being it's secretary and
treasurer until 1855. The people of
Clinton township, of which he then
becamea resident, Immediately ayailed
themselves of his devotion to the
cause of education by selecting him
for their school superintendent, which
position he held for four years. He
was for a long time secretary of the
State Society Of Teachers and Friends
of Education, and in the interest of
this society spent much of his leisure
time visiting different parts of the
state, endeavoring to rouse the people
to realization OF the Importance of
furnishing their children with better
educational advantages. He was also
a prominent member Of the American
Association for the Advancement of
Education, composed of the most dis
tinguished educators and men of learn
ing in the country. When it was de-
creed by AL act of the legislature that
school examiners should be appointed
in the different counties of the state,
Mr.. Whitehead was selected for Essex
county, holding the office until the
act was repealed.
In 1861 Mr.. Whitehead changed his
residence to MoFristOwn, where. after
years of patient labor and unfiagging
zeal ia building up the public senti-
ment so as to render it's ultimate sue
cess possible he had the satisfaction
of seeing the MOrristown Library
opened to the public August IA, 1876,
with every prospect Of growth and
usefulness. With indomitable persist
ence he watched over the youth of
this institution, and all Of its thou
sands of books we're selected under his
immediate supervision.
( In 1891 Mr. Whitehead was chosen
president Of the New Jersey Society Of
the Sons of the American Revolution.
founded in 1885, an outgrowth of the
patriotic sentiment engendered BY the
centennial anniversary of the inaugu-
ration OF Washington. During the
successive years that he has held that
position his genial social qualities and
enthusiastic patriotism have largely
increased the membership of the So
ciety. In 1898 he was elected one of
the vice-presidents Of the National
Society Of the Sons Of the American
Revolution.
| The funeral services are held in the