The Penn's Grove record., 1913-02-21
A PENNS GROVER HONORED
Former nayor Fred A. dentieu APP
pointed State Assessor. Who He Is

pointed State Assessor. Who He Is
The people OF this region were surpris
ed wien they read Wednesday morning
III the papers some OF the appointment;
made by Governor Wilson Tuesday
night. p.1, c, :,
Penns Grove, was nominated to be 4
member OF the State Board of Assessors
and Frank j. Gaventa WAS nominated to
be the minority Republican member OF
the County Board OF Taxation to succeed
ID. Harris Smith. Mr.. Gentieu started
to be a candidate for the County Tax
Board, but there was considerable Demo
| cratic opposition, so Senator Davis found
a better berth for his Republican Bull
Moose friend, a position none III this re-
gion Can take exceptions to. Such Il State
appointment has not fallen To Salem
county for twenty years, not since Albert
Fl. Shape was a member OF the State Board
Board for Equalization OF Taxes.
The appoint of Frank j Gaventa is
gratifying to the north end OF the County
because it is the first recognition ever
given Oldmans OIL a county board. The
last recognition to this end OF the county
was in 1877 when William Summerill held
the Lay Judgeshlp.
The other members on the County
Board for Equalization of Taxes are
Charles Mecum, Salem; Clayton L. Batten,
Pennsville. Charles F. Pancoast, OF
Woodstown, is secretary. Their salaries
are 81, 900 a year.
The State Board of Assessors has the
assessment of all railroad and trolley
properties in the State. The term is for
four years and the salary is $2500 a year,
payable monthly $2O8.33 1t was OIL this
Board that DAVID Baird, the Republican
Boss in Camden, ruled South Jersey for
years. He kept down the values OF rail
roads and the railroad companies gave
his lumber company many lat contracts
for lumber.
Mr.. Gentieu succeeds George E. Halsey,
republican, of East Orange. Last
year Gov. Wilson appointed George l..
Record. of Jersey City, the bralny Pro-
gressive Republican on the Board. As a
consequence the assessments on corpora
ton properties were raised many Uhous-
ands last year and the state treasury was
benefited. With another Progressive
Bull Moose on the Board people may ex-
pect corporation taxables to be tossed
still higher OH their horns.
Charles E. Hendrickson, Jr., democrat
of Jersey City, son OF Supreme Judge Z.
E.. Hendrickson, is a member OF the
Board, also OBADIAH C.. Bogaldus, of Key
port. Irvine E. Mcguire is secretrry.
FREDERIC A. GENTIEU
AS Mr.. Gentieu is about to assume a
state wide sphere of action, the following
biographical sketch may be OF interest.
Frederic Auguste Gentieu was borh
in Brooklyn, February 10, 1872. In 1878
his father moved to Wilmington and be-
calme an employee OF the DUPONT Powder
Company. Frederic was educated i'll the
public schools i'll Wilmington and then
studied carpentry and architecture, finish
ing his course with Joseph Seeds & Son.
In 1891 he accepted the position OF
supervising foreman Of the erection Of the
first Smokeless Powder Plant built III the
United States by tie Z. l. DUPONT de Ne
mour Powder Company, on Carney's
Point, n. j., OH the Delaware river, TWO
miles below Penns Grove and opposite
Wilmington, where the Company has had
headquarters for Ill year. 1t is the larg-
est smokeless powder plant i'll tile word.
He continued in that position until 1899
when he accepted a position III the lab
oratory to study the chemistry and man
Of. gun cotton and smokeless
powder under the personal instruction
Of Messrs du Point. tlescontinued i'll
that position until 1905 when he accepted
the position AS assistant superintendent
the Works.. which position he now
holds.
Mr.. Gentieu has taken much interest
in public affairs. He cast us filst ballot
III 1894 Tor the incorporation OF the bOr-
lie was elected a member OF the
Board oil Education, March IL, 1908, Tor
Two years and reelected III 1905 for three
years. during his last term lie was pres
ldent OF the Board and was largely III.
strunientdl iii advancing the high srlooi
to the States standard louI-year approx |
ed course.
In 1906 he WAS elected Mayor on tn
Republican ticket and reelected i'll 1909
by All Increased majority. As May OF he
WAS very active III promoting good streets
and curbs.
In 1908 he was alternate delegate from
the First Congressional District TO lie
National Convention at Chicago. Tie was
always Il Republican until 1912, " hen he
joined the Progressive party and became
president oil the largest Progressive club
III Salem County.
lie is still president OF the club.
He is widely known over the State in
patriotic society circles. lie Is Past Com
mander OF Camp SO Sons OF Veterans and
Past State Commander OF the Sons q
Vetsrans OF New Jersey. lie is past pres
ident oil Camp AZ, 2. o. s. OF a., and
past president OF the Patriotic Order
sons Of America. He is Past Master OF
OF PENIS Grove Lodge No. l62 Free and
Accepted Masons, also a member OF the
Knights OF the Golden Eagle and other
organizations.
In whatever position he has held he has
made a thorough study OF its duties, He
has made good or he would not continue
10 hold the position he does with the
largest snlokeless powder company III the
world.
These reasons lead his friends TO
believe that he will make good on the
Stale Board of Assessors.
Mr.. Gentieu is a personal friend OF
Senator j.. Warren DAVIS who is Cover
nor Wilson's most enthusiastic friends and
trusted lieutenant in the State Senate.
Hence the appointment.
Mo I INIT on Dr;co of Douydar