NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

A well known resident of Morris county, Mr. BOCKOVEN is a worthy representative of one of the old families of New Jersey and was born upon the farm, west of Mendham, now owned by him, on the 8th of July, 1835. His father, David BOCKOVEN, was born in Morris township on October 12, 1792, and died at Mendham in November, 1889. Early in life he came to the farm upon which our subject was born, and there passed the greater part of his busy career. He erected a mill on the site of the present "Bockoven Mill" and built up quite a lumber industry there. In politics he supported the Democratic party for many years and once served as a freeholder for Mendham and at another time was surveyor of the highways. Later in life he became a Prohibitionist and remained so until his death. He married Miss Phoebe LAYTON, a daughter of John L. LAYTON, of Liberty Corners, Somerset county, and she died in 1864, at the age of sixty-eight years, being survived by her husband and the following children:

• Mary A., who is the widow of Henry A. CAREY;
• John N.;
• Elizabeth, the widow of William F. MILLER, of Morris county;
• George and
• William, deceased;
• Fannie, who married Israel LEWIS, of Morristown;
• David;
• Daniel J., deceased;
• Abram;
• Theodore, of Succasunna Plains; and
• Theophilus, of Mendham.

All of the foregoing children were living when their father was ninety years old.

Abram BOCKOVEN, the grandfather of our subject, was a son of Dutch parents and was called Major BOCKOVEN, a title attained, no doubt, through some connection with the militia of New Jersey. He died in Morris township about the year 1850, at the venerable age of ninety years.

The subject of this review engaged in the battle of life at the age of twenty years, as a farmer, and in 1864 he took charge of the old mill, rebuilt and operated the same until 1896, in which year he retired from both it and the farm, and the following January moved into Mendham, of which he has since continued one of the most respected citizens. He has always advocated Democratic principles and has served his township as committeeman, a member of the board of education and for fourteen years held the office of clerk. He is a faithful adherent of the First Presbyterian church and is a trustee of the Cemetery Association.

Mr. BOCKOVEN was united in marriage on the 20th of November, 1855, to Miss Frances L. AXTELL, a daughter of Luther and Sarah (SIMPSON) AXTELL, her birth having occurred in 1838. The children born of this union are:

• David M., who married Eliza SHARP and resides in Morristown;
• Phoebe M., deceased;
• George, who married Miss Anna SAVAGE and farms the old homestead;
• Charles, who married Caroline SHARP and resides in Morristown;
• Clifford A.,
• Edward,
• Frederick,
• Jennie F. and
• Albert.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.

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