William E. Genung

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

A resident of Chatham, Mr. GENUNG is now living a retired life, for his untiring and well directed business efforts in former years brought him a competence sufficient to supply him with most of the comforts of life without further labor on his part. The rest is well deserved, for his business career was marked by great energy and honesty above question.

Mr. GENUNG has spent his entire life in New Jersey and is one of the native sons of Morris County, his birth having occurred on the old family homestead, February 13, 1834. He is the oldest son of Isaac P GENUNG, and was reared on the farmstead until seventeen years of age, when he went to Newark and began an apprenticeship at the carriage-maker's trade, under the direction of Stephen B. SAUNDERS, serving a four year term, during which he completely mastered the business, becoming an expert workman. He afterward worked as a journeyman for thirteen years, and then engaged in the manufacture of carriages in Newark, following that pursuit until 1885. He built up a big business and conducted a large and paying factory, which was classed among the leading industries in that line in Newark. His excellent workmanship won the public approval and was consequently followed by public patronage, so that his financial resources increased from year to year until at length he was enabled to lay aside business cares. On his retirement from business life, Mr. GENUNG'S thoughts again wandered to the home of his boyhood and he returned to Chatham, where he resides in the midst of pleasant surroundings.

In 1855 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. GENUNG and Miss Sarah A. RUSSELL, a native of Morristown and a daughter of William and Susan (MEEKS) RUSSELL, the former a native of Paisley, Scotland. To Mr. and Mrs. GENUNG were born four children, as follows: Helen L., who died in infancy; Frank C., who died at the age of twenty-eight years; Arthur R who died at the age of twenty-six years, in less than half a year after his brother's death: and Mary Alice at home. The mother of this family died January 16, 1893, and Mr. GENUNG was again married, in June 1896, his second union being with Kate L. EDWARDS, a native of orient, Long Island, New York, and a daughter of James and Mary F. EDWARDS, and a niece of the late Hon. Lewis A. EDWARDS, her father being a descendant of Jonathan EDWARDS. Mr. and Mrs. GENUNG have a pleasant home in Chatham and are highly regarded by a large circle of friends. In his political preferences he is a Republican. While a resident of Newark Mr. GENUNG devoted some time to vocal music, and he has sung in the churches of Newark, both as a soloist and in chorus.

Transcribed by Ida King

This page was last modified on: 01 January, 2014