Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-05
FORMER u. S. SENATOR KEAN
DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS


Later his condition became such that
he was compelled to give up these,
and be confined to the house, but
often was permitted to sit in an easy
chair on his front veranda at Ursino,
his palatial residence.
John Kean was born on December
1. 1852, In the house where he died.
He was related to Hamilton Fish Sec
rotary of state under Grant, and he
was a descendant of the Livingstone,
prominent In Revolutionary history.
The house In which he was born was
once known as Liberty Hall, and 1t
was erected by Governor Livingston
In 1772 Within its walls WASHINGTON
held conferences with his gen.
erals, and Alexander Hamilton studied
law there. In the same house John
Jay married one of Governor Living
ston's daughters.
Mr. Kean received his early educa-
ton in a boarding school In Stock
bridge. Mass. From there he went to
a private academy at Sing sing, on
the Hudson. He entered Yale Col
lege In 1872. afterward taking a
course in the Columbia Law School,
He was admitted to the New Jersey
bar in 1877.
The young lawyer took deep IN
terest In Republican politics, In 1857
he became Republican candidate for
Congress in what had always. been
considered a Democratic district ana
he won his first fight, defeating the
Democratic aspirant, Miles Ross.
veteran campaigner. Mr.. Kean was
only twenty-eight years old at the
time and he was among the youngest
men who ever sat in Congress.
In 1884 he sought reelection and
was opposed by Robert S. Green. 1t
was the year of Grover Cleveland's
first election to the presidency, and
Green was elected Two wears later
Mr.. Kean again entered the congress
sional lists and defeated Mcmahon,
the Democratic candidate. He was
again buried under a Democratic
landslide when he sought reelection
two years later.
In 1893 Mr.. Kean was chosen Re-
publican candidate for Governor at
the State convention, running against
Frant Ms oo-an re Mercer: Gem
eral p. Burd Grub and Franklin MUIR
ply. His Democratic adversary at
the general election was George t.
Werts and Werts was elected. Mr..
Kean was the unanimous choice IT
the Republican caucus for limited
States senator In January, 1899, and
received the full vote of his party,
being elected to that Office In a joint
meeting of the Legislature held soon
afterward, hts Democratic onnonent
being the then incumbent, Senator
James Smith. jr. Mr. Kean served
In the Senate until March. 1911, when
he was succeeded by Senator James
e. MARITIME.
Many Business Enterprises,
Senator Kean was prominently iden-
tilted with a number of great business
enterprises, among them being several
important public utility corporations.
He was president Of the E'izahath-
town Water Company and Of the Eliz-
ahethtown Gas Light Company. He
was president of the National State
Bank OF Elizabeth. yice-president of
the Plainfleld Union Water Com
pany, treasurer of the Pacific Coast
Company and q director Of the Securi-
as director OF the Elizabeth Ice Com
pany, the Elizabethport Banking
Company. the Perth Amboy Gas Conn
nany. the westsald Gas Cornrary.
the Plainf1eld Gas and Water Com
pany and the First National Bank,
Perth Amboy. He was a stakeholder
In several other corporations. He held
the controlling interest in the Eliza
beth Street Railway Company until
that corporation was absorbed by the
Public Service. He was also instru-
mental In the construction of a trolley
line between Elizabeth and Plainfieid, |
He was vice-president OF the Manhat-
tan Trust Company, of New York.
Mr.. Kean attributed most Of his |
success to hard work. Before he was |
elected to the Senate 1t was his Gus
tom to be at the office of the Eliza |
BEETHOVEN Water Company every |
at o'clock to dispose OF his |
mail, and then go to the office Of the |
gas company and look after his busi-
; ass fairs there Fro, the COS Of I
Ace he would go to the National State I
Bank, where ne passed ON AL notes /
for discounting. Even in |
more recent years he gave many |
hours each day to the direction OF |
his business interests.
Had, a Remarkable Memory.
Persons closely associated with him !
testify to his remarkable memory He I
could look at the figures showing the
output of the gas company for a
given day and could tell whether the /
amount was larger or smaller than II (
was on the same day In the previous I
year. without consulting the records. I
He could tell the amount of deposits
In the National State Bank for al /
most any day within a month, He
knew most of the employees of the (
various corporations in which he was
by their first names, and he |
had a wonderful memory for faces. |
il - said of MI Kean that he knew |
almost every employe in his Eliza
beth Affiliations, He always had a !
pleasant word for them and an ear !
ready to listen TO any grievance they
may have had. He was large real i
estate owner in Elizabeth and its vi
cinity. He erected several business !
one Of Which hears his I
name, standing In Broad street in the !
heart OF the business sect on. He (
also owned considerable property In II
Julian place. also buHiness block. I
The woodland near his home Is q Ia |
vnrifs rtcrir Rrozrd for rh idrpr