Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-24
Jos. SHANN DIES;
SON, ILL, UNAWARE
Younger Sufferer Lies in Adj
Joining Room in Serious
Condition.

RAILWAY, N. J.. May 4.-While
his son lay seriously i'll in an ad-
Joining room at their residence in
Commerce street, Railway, Josephus
Sham, dean of New Jersey newspa-
permen, passed away last night, aged
"a years. Mr.. Shann's son, Lewis z.
Sham. is not expected to recover
from a serious internal ailment ana
has not been informed of his parents
death.
The elder Mr.. Sham had enjoyed
good health until several weeks ago,
when he suffered a general breaking
up of his system, and while he was
not always confined to his bed he
seldom left his room for a week be-
fore his death. The funeral will
probably be held Monday afternoon,
although arrangements have not been
completed.
Senses Perfect at "a.
Mr.. Sham never lost his keenness of
vision nor was his hearing impaired
at any time. He frequently Travelled
about New Jersey to meet members
of his family, despite his advanced
age, and he kept abreast of the times
in public affairs. He was lifelong
Democrat and an admirer of Will
lam Jennings Bryan and President
Wilson. and only recently, in dis
cussion, prophesied the President
would surprise his critics by giving
skilful and successful administration.
Born in Bloomfield, where his faith
err was active in cloth manufacture,
Mr.. Sham early in life removed with
his family to Millburn. His father
was killed while transporting over
land from Philadelphia, the nearest
port of entry, one of the first i'm
proved English machines for cloth
making. His body was found buried
beneath the truck and machinery in
a pond where the wagon had over
turned from a primitive wooden
bridge. II
Reaching manhood Mr.. Sham took
IN newspaper work and farming. He
came to Railway an dfounded the
Railway Republican, seventy-three
years ago When the Wing party be-
came a prominent factor the paper
changed to the Railway Wing, and at
the close of the Civil War was re-
named the Railway Democrat. Mr.,
Sham some years ago disposed of the
paper to Lewis S. Hyer.
His Newspaper Ventures.
After selling the publication Mr..
Sham began specializing in news
papers. He purchased the Hudson
Democrat and conducted it for several
years, selling it, and later taking
charge of a publication in Newton,
Sussex county, which did not flourish
long. Subsequently he had an in
terest in the New Brunswick Times,
and shortly afterwards sold his, n-
terest He retired from newspaper
life twenty years ago and gave his
time to farming and property in
terests.
During his newspaper life he was
active in political labors. He was
postmaster at Railway more than a
generation ago, served two terms in
the Legislature thirty-five years ago,
was engrossing clerk of the House of
Assembly, and at one time avs mem
toned as a possible Democratic nomi-
nee for governor.
Several of Mr.. Shann's children en-
tered the newspaper field. Fred G.
Sham is editor of the Orange Adver-
tiser, and his son. Lewis C. Sham,
was connected with the Newark Sum
day Call, the New York World and
other publications. Other surviving
children are Mrs. Appolis Potter, at
whose residence Mr.. Sham died; Mrs.
John Brewer, Joseph Sham and Mrs
William VOORHEES,, of Newark; Stuart
Sham, of Long Branch; Robert Bruce
Sham, of Boston, Mass, and Mrs.
William Fanton, of Stony Brook,
Long Island. Mrs. Sham died nine
teen years ago. Mr.. Sham was a
member of the First Presbyterian
Church at Railway.