Benjamin A. Vail
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Augustus Vail was an American
jurist and Republican Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate
.
to Benjamin Franklin and Martha C. (Parker) Vail. He was descended from early Quaker
colonists in New Jersey, and his grandfather Benjamin Vail was an early settler of the region between Rahway
and Plainfield
.
He was educated at Westtown School
, a Quaker boarding school in Chester County, Pennsylvania
, and then attended Haverford College
, graduating in 1865. He studied law at the firm of Parker & Keasbey in Newark, New Jersey
and was licensed to practice as an attorney in 1868. He established a law practice in Rahway
and was elected to the Common Council there.
From 1876 to 1877 he represented Union County
in the New Jersey General Assembly
, and he served in the New Jersey Senate
from 1879 to 1885. In 1884 he was selected as Senate President.
In 1898 Governor John W. Griggs
appointed Vail to the Court of Common Pleas of Union County. He was reappointed to this position in 1903 by Governor Franklin Murphy
. In 1906 Governor Edward C. Stokes
appointed him as a Circuit Court Judge, his circuit consisting of Hudson
, Union
, and Somerset
counties. He served in this position until 1914.
In 1924 Vail died on his eightieth birthday at Saint Barnabas Hospital in Newark
after an operation. He is buried at Hazelwood Cemetery in Rahway, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist and Republican Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
.
Biography
Vail was born in 1844 in Woodbridge Township, New JerseyWoodbridge Township, New Jersey
-Communities:Many distinct communities exist within Woodbridge Township. Several of these communities have their own ZIP codes, and many are listed by the United States Census Bureau as census-designated places, but they are all unincorporated areas and neighborhoods within the Township that,...
to Benjamin Franklin and Martha C. (Parker) Vail. He was descended from early Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
colonists in New Jersey, and his grandfather Benjamin Vail was an early settler of the region between Rahway
Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
and Plainfield
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
.
He was educated at Westtown School
Westtown School
Westtown School is a coeducational, college preparatory day and boarding school for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.-About Westtown School:...
, a Quaker boarding school in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, and then attended Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
, graduating in 1865. He studied law at the firm of Parker & Keasbey in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and was licensed to practice as an attorney in 1868. He established a law practice in Rahway
Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
and was elected to the Common Council there.
From 1876 to 1877 he represented Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, and he served in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from 1879 to 1885. In 1884 he was selected as Senate President.
In 1898 Governor John W. Griggs
John W. Griggs
John William Griggs was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 29th Governor of New Jersey, from 1896 to 1898, stepping down to assume the position as the United States Attorney General from 1898 to 1901....
appointed Vail to the Court of Common Pleas of Union County. He was reappointed to this position in 1903 by Governor Franklin Murphy
Franklin Murphy (governor)
Franklin Murphy was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 31st Governor of New Jersey, from 1902-1905. He was the founder of the Murphy Varnish Company in Newark, New Jersey.-Civil War Service:...
. In 1906 Governor Edward C. Stokes
Edward C. Stokes
Edward Casper Stokes was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 32nd Governor of New Jersey, from 1905 to 1908.-Biography:...
appointed him as a Circuit Court Judge, his circuit consisting of Hudson
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
, Union
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, and Somerset
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
counties. He served in this position until 1914.
In 1924 Vail died on his eightieth birthday at Saint Barnabas Hospital in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
after an operation. He is buried at Hazelwood Cemetery in Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
.
External links
- Benjamin A. Vail at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
- Benjamin A. Vail at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...