Mahlon Munson Searing

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899. pp737-739

Mahlon Munson Searing

[737]The eastern states of this republic, in the early days of American history, were largely settled by an earnest, thoughtful, intelligent and able people, many of whom fled from religious persecution in their own lands to seek personal safety and freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience in the New World. Among these were many Huguenots from France, and this heroic band included within its circle three brothers of the name of SEARING. One of them settled on Long Island, where ultimately the town of Searingville sprang up. The other two came to New Jersey, locating at Springfield, near Newark, where they were engaged in agricultural pursuits at the time of the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, and their farms were devastated and their stock driven off by the Brit-[738]ish, who, stationed in New York city, made raids into the surrounding country and took all the supplies they could seize for the army.

The first of the SEARING family to locate in Morris county was John SEARING, who established a home near Millbrook church. He had six children, three sons and three daughters, the former being Samuel, John and Jacob. Only the first name married. He had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, and with one exception all married and reared families. Only two of these are now living: James S., a resident of Dover, and John S., of Millbrook. The grandparents of our subject were Jacob and Mary (MARTIN) Searing, both born and reared in Morris county. Martin V. B. SEARING, the father of our subject, was born in the village of Millbrook, in Randolph township, and married Sarah E. MUNSON.

M. Munson SEARING, of this sketch, was born in Millbrook, near the old Quaker meeting-house, January 16, 1862 and spent the first six years of his life on the old homestead, when his parents removed to Dover and he began his education there, attending first the public schools and later a private school. He then entered Stephens Institute at Hoboken, New Jersey, where he pursued his studies two years, and subsequently he took a commercial course at Gregory's Business College, in Newark, where he was graduated with the class of 1878. Thus equipped with a thorough, comprehensive and practical English education, he entered upon his business career in the employ of H. P. Sanderson, a merchant, and later he secured a situation with the Morris County Machine & Iron Company, of Dover, continuing in that position for nearly three years. On the expiration of that period he entered the employ of the Singleton Silk Mills Company, at Dover, as bookkeeper, and from time to time had temporary charge of various departments of the works until having mastered the business, he became the secretary and treasurer of the company, of which responsible position he is now the incumbent. He has been associated with this enterprise for the long period of seventeen consecutive years and is now one of the stockholders in the company.

As Mr. SEARING has won success and added to his financial resources, he has made judicious investments in other enterprises, being now a stockholder in the National Union Bank, of Dover, a director of the State Mutual Building & Loan Association and a stockholder in the Stonebraker Chemical Company, of Baltimore, Maryland. He is a very capable business man, with keen insight into affairs, great sagacity and unflagging industry, and thus has he advanced steadily on the highway of prosperity, gathering to himself the well earned fruits of his toil.

In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Searing and Miss Mary Augustus PYLE, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, a daughter of Felix C. and [739] Elizabeth (SAYER) PYLE. They now have one son, Howard C. Their home is an elegant brick residence, supplied with all modern appointments, and furnished with all the comforts and luxuries that a refined taste can suggest, but one of its chief attractions is the charming hospitality extended to all people of genuine worth. The circle of their friends is very extensive and all who know them hold them in the highest esteem.

Transcribed by Brianne Kelly-Bly

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