The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-11-20
A PROMINENT
MAN DIES
Hobart Canfield, One d
Morristown'S Leading Citi-
zenS Passes Away.
SCION AN HoNoRED FAMILY

monia, after very brief illness. He
was born January 10, 1841 at the old
home Of his parents and grandparents
on Watnong (now Morris) Plains. He
was the youngest Of three sons Of
Dayton Israel, and Charlotte 9. (Eb-
betsy Garfield. His two brothers,
Rev. Francis Dayton Canfeld and
Joseph Lowell Garfield are both de-
ceased.
Mr.. Garfield married in 1876, Miss
Emily Hosack Ford, daughter of Hon.
Henry A. Ford, and granddaughter Of
Judge Gabriel Fl. Ford Of the SUI
preme Court of New Jersey, who was
a son of Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., Of Revo-
Ilutionary memory.
| Hobart Garfield spent his boyhood
on Morris Plains, and was educated at
the Morris Academy, where he was
studious and athletic and also popu-
lar. Even then he was always busy
with mechanical devices. remem-
Der that he could make, out of crude
rubber. a base ball, and the fortunate
| possessor of one was always sure Of a
favorable place in the Saturday after
noon ball game on the common.
He graduated from The Academy in
to the Speedwell Iron Works, one of
the most famous in America, place
more favorable for acquiring the prin-
ciples and practice of mechanical and
steam engineering than any modern
technical school.
He entered in 1856 as an appren-
tice in the machine shop; three years
later he was advanced to the draught-
| ing room, and from thence he was
sent to Central America to superin-
tend the erection Of machinery he re-
mained there six years. In 1867 he
was employed by the Pacific Mail S. S.
and stayed with them five years. He
was next in charge of the machinery
used in the construction Of the stone
dry dock at the Mare Island Navy
Yard. ("
Since 1878 he has been in the service
of the Pennsylvania K. r. 90. He
was superintendent of their marine
and responsible for all their fleet,
some two hundred boats
Mr.. Garfield became a master in his
profession and stood in the very front
rank. He was well read both profess
sionally and generally. He was pro-
gressive and kept himself well in
formed Of the latest facts and theories.
He was conservative and practical as
we'll, and never relinquished a foot
hold until certain Of better one.
There was no better adviser than he
| in the installation of steam ma
chinery.
In social life ne was courteous and
agreeable, with manners of the old
school of politeness; a good conversa-
tionalist and ready to impart.
He was a great admirer of the
church of England, to which his
mothers ancestors had always be-
longed. His fathers ancestors were
Puritan.
He fulfilled his social and civic dut-
les scrupulously but never sought pre-
ferment.
He was vestryman of St. Peters
and had been for a number of years.
His father was one of its thirty-eight
founders in 1926 and one of it's first
trustees.
Mr.. Canfield has served in the Com
mon Council Of MOrristOwn. and was
often chosen a delegate to political
and civic bodies He was member
Of the Washington Association the
American Society of Mechanical En-
gfneerS; the Society of Naval Archi-
tects and Marine Engineers; the Nor
ristown Club and others.
Mr.. Garfield had a Colonial and
Revolutionary ancestry. His great
grandfather, Abraham Garfield was
one of the early settlers here, before
Morris was a county or the church on
the Green organized. He and his wife
are on The earliest church roll. Abra-
ham was an iron maker and had a
forge on Passaio river. just over the
Somerset line, little above Van
Dorn's mill. Its ancient dam may
Istill be found. He was soldier OF
the Revolution. His son, Captain
Isaac, married Margaret, daughter Of
Rev. James Caldwell, patriot of the
Revolution. They settled at Wat
nong Plains, on the Parsippany road.
just over the division between Morris
and Hanover. Dayton L., father OF
Hobart was one of their ten children.
The first Garfield was Serjeant
Thomas, born in England, great-great-
grandfather of Abraham, who settled
in Milford Conn, before 164G. Hobart
Canfield'S mother was a daughter Of
Capt Geo WetmOre and Rachel Og-
Iden, his wife. He was a British Off
Ger. She came to MOrriStOwn in 1901.
a widow, and established school for
Young Ladies' in Major Phoenix S
house on Morristown Green, and later
kept it in Dr. Richards's house, on
South Street where the Church OF the
Redeemer now is.
Capt. Isaac's brother Israel married
Rachel, another daughter Of Rachel
Ogden Wetmore. Another daughter
Sophia, was the wifesof Joseph Lowell.
Another, Harriet, was wife Of James
COLES In the beginning of the last
century, Israel and Isaac together
controlled the iron output of Morris
county and maintained a line of wa
gons between MorristoWn and Eliza
beth Town to carry their own mer-
|chandse, BY which they had weekly
communication with New York.