"Portrait and Biographical Record of Hunterdon and Warren counties, New Jersey"
Chapman Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1898
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HON. ELIAS J. MACKEY, sheriff of Warren
County, is a resident of Belvidere and is
well and favorably known in this portion of
the state. His ancestors have dwelt in Oxford
Township, this county, for more than a century,
and have invariably led lives of quiet usefulness
and industry. An uncle of his, Jeremiah Mackey,
represented this section in the New Jersey senate
when the county was first organized. John
Mackey, father of our subject, followed farming
during his entire life, and was very liberal in his
support of worthy public enterprises. Among
other things which were of benefit to his community and were fostered by his influence,
material or otherwise, was the old Oxford Church,
which was founded by him and largely maintained by his means thereafter. He died in 1864,
and was survived by his faithful helpmate, whose
maiden name had been Mercy Pritt, thirty-one
years. She was ninety-two years of age when
death claimed her, in 1893. Four of her six
children are living at this writing. Marshall P.
is a farmer of this vicinity, and William is a
member of the legal profession in Belvidere,
while Elizabeth, also a resident of this place, is
the widow of William Armstrong.
The birth of Elias J. Mackey occurred in
Oxford Township July 12, 1842. Until he was
about eighteen years old he attended the district
schools or those of Belvidere during the winter
season, and worked on the old homestead the remainder of the year. After leaving school he devoted all his time and energies to the management
of a farm for several years. In 1875 he was
elected to the general assembly of the state on the
Democratic ticket, and served most acceptably to all
concerned for three years. He has frequently held
township offices, has taken great interest in politics, and has often attended conventions in the
capacity of a delegate. He owns two good farms
in this county, in addition to which he has some
Florida property. He is a member of the Masonic
order, is connected with the Odd Fellows, the Red
Men, and is a Knight of Pythias. He was elected
sheriff in the fall of 1896, his term to extend for
three years.
April 17, 1862, Mr. Mackey married Sarah E.
Hoff, daughter of John H. Hoff, and granddaughter of Thomas Lomason. Of the eleven
children born to them eight are yet living, viz.:
Laura, wife of Philip Miller, of this county;
Addie M., wife of George E. Merritt, of Phillipsburg; John H., of Washington, this county;
William A., who married Hattie M. Good; Frances M., wife of John R. Good, of Philadelphia;
Carolene, Winfield S. and Mertie P., the three
youngest at home.
(c) 2000-2013 American History and Genealogy Project
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