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- History of Sussex County, New Jersey
Jacob E. Hornbeck
The Hornbeck family is one of the pioneer famliies of Sussex County, and was early represented in Ulster Co., N.Y., being of Dutch extraction.
Philip was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch and the first representative of the family in this section. His son Jacob was one of the early and prominent physicians of the county. He resided a part of his life where Jacob Westbrook lives, in Sandyston township, and in Montague township, and was licensed to practice by the State board of censors on Oct. 5, 1802. He enjoyed a large and extensive practice, and at one time represented his fellow-citizens in the Legislature of the State. His wife was Esther, daughter of Capt. John I.Westbook, and granddaughter of Jacob Westbrook, and his children who reached mature years were seven in number - namely, John W., a prominent lawyer of Allentown, Pa., who died in 1848, while representing his district in Congress; Maria (deceased), wife of James Bassett, of Honesdale, Pa.; Sarah, widow of Dr. Cornelius Stillwell; Elizabeth, Widow of Archibald Drake, Cornelius, a leading merchant and lumber-dealer of Honesdale, Pa; Margaret, widow of William Cortright; and Jacob E., our subject. Dr. Hornbeck died Nov. 12, 1859, aged eighty-four years.
Jacob E. Hornbeck was born March 20, 1820, on his father's homestead, in Sandyston township, where his earlier years were passed. He enjoyed the beneifts of academic instruction under Rev. Mr. Allen at Milford, Pa., and at the Allentown Academy. Upon attaining the age of twenty years he entered mercantile life as a clerk in Honesdale, Pa, where he remained for five years, owning one-quarter interest in the White Mills, near Honsdale, and in eighteen hundred acres of land in Wayne Co., Pa, and superintending the erection, one summer, of a new mill, at an expense of two thousand eight hundred dollars.
At the conclusion of that time he engaged in trade in Montague, in partnership with Jacob Hornbeck, and married, for his first wife, Mary D., daughter of James B. Armstrong, of that township, who died a few months later. In 1847 he opened a store at the Lackawaxen Narrows, in Pike Co., Pa., and continued at that point for four years. He then moved to Hawley, Pa., and, in partnership with Joseph S. Soliday, followed mercantile pursuits for two years.
On Jan. 3, 1856, he married, for his second wife, Zillah M., daughter of Samuel and Margaret Whitaker, of Deckertown, N.J., and soon after removed to that place. He purchased a cedar swampt near the village, erected a mill, and for a time manufactured cedar shingles quite extensively, Subsequently he assisted his father-in-law, Mr. Whitaker, in the management of his affairs, and later engaged in trade in the village, in partnership with John A. Beemer and John Loomis, under the firm-name of Hornbeck, Beemer & Co., for about five years. After the termination of this business connection he purchased the Deckertown mill property, and has since owned and operated the grist-mill at that point.
Mr. Hornbeck is recognzied as one of the self-made, influential, and successful business men of Wantage. Starting out ins life with small capital, but filled with an ambition to doa nd succeed, he has, by the exercise of sound judgement, industry, and close application to business, achieved honorable prominence in business life. He is generous and liberal-minded, a warm supporter of the progressive and benevolent enterprises of the day, and one of the movign men of Deckertown. A few years ago he erected the Opera House block, in size fifty-four be eighty feet, and comprising several stores and a public hall, which he still owns. He has dealt considerably in real estate and owns several houses and buildings, besides a farm of two hudnred and eighty-seven acres in Orange Co., N.Y. He is a Democrat in politics, was a warm supporter of the war, and postmaster at Deckertown for two years, commencing April 1, 1859. He has been collector of Wantage township for two years past, being chosen without oppostion, and was trustee and clerk of Deckertown school for thirtten years. He has acted as the private adviser and counsel of a number of friends, and has administered five different estates. Towards the project of bringing the Midland Railroad to Deckertown he contributed fifteen hundred dollars,and lent warm personal encouragement.
His children are Maggie E., wife of Whitfield Gibbs, editor of the Deckertown Independent, and Samuel W., residing at home.
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Bassett Family Association Database
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