Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Edward Burd Jr. GRUBB
Edward Burd Grubb Jr. (November 13, 1841 - July 7, 1913) was a regimental commander during the civil war and later United States Ambassador to Spain. Raised in Burlington City, he graduated from Burlington College (early high schools were often called colleges) just five months before Abraham Lincoln was elected. At the out break of the war, Edward enlisted in the 3rd New Jersey Regiment and was promoted through the ranks to Colonel by 1863. At the end of the war, he was given the rank of brigadier-general for his gallant and meritorious service. The full story of his war experiences is published at the end of this chapter.
After his discharge, General Grubb entered the family business and assumed his father's position as President of the Lebanon Valley Furnace Company when his father died three years later. The family's ownership of one-sixth of the Cornwall ore mines proved to be especially lucrative after the civil war because the rapidly expanding steel mills in western Pennsylvania needed large amounts of ore.
In 1868, Edward married Elizabeth Wadsworth Van Rensselaer (1848 - April 7, 1886), daughter of Rev. Cortland Van Rensselear and Catharine Ledyard Coggswell. They had a daughter the next year. The General built a house in Burlington next to his parent's home on the Delaware and started to enjoy life with his young bride. He was elected to the Burlington City Council and served as its president for two years. In 1874, the General purchased a 12-acre estate at Edgewater Park on the river just south of Burlington where he annually entertained the survivors of the 23rd regiment. For eighteen years he was captain of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, and also served as colonel of the 6th Regiment, New Jersey National Guard. In 1881, he commanded the New Jersey Battalion in the centennial ceremonies at Yorktown. From 1886 to 1889, he was department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for New Jersey and was appointed by the President to the board of visitors at West Point. The General was also a member of the Philadelphia Club, the Reform Club, the New York Yacht Club and an active republican. If that isn't enough, the General and his wife found time to travel in Europe and accompanied Baron de Lesseps through the Suez Canal.
In New Jersey, a governor could not run for re-election without sitting out a term. Leon Abbett, known as the Great Commoner, was elected governor in 1883 and during his term became the most effective politician in the state during the nineteenth century. In 1889, he was out of office and eligible to run again. After the democrats agreed to double the governor's salary, Abbett accepted their nomination. The republicans thought that possibly they could beat Abbett by running a war hero who was untainted by the frequent scandals in New Jersey politics. General Grubb, who lost his wife three years earlier, was flattered and agreed to run. He was clobbered. As it worked out, Abbett had an easy time defeating the novice from Burlington, but the democrats didn't take any chances. For example, more votes were counted in Jersey City's Irish wards than there were registered voters! Sixty-nine election workers were convicted of fraud and sent to prison. However, Abbett was able to use the scandal to his advantage by calling for ballot reform after he was sworn into office.
Also that year, Benjamin Harrison was elected President and selected James Blain as Secretary of State. Blain was a friend of General Grubb and had him appointed Ambassador to Spain in September 1890. Coincidentally, President Harrison's mother was Jane Irwin, step-daughter of Sidney Grubb (1789-1869). In his two years in the position, the General was able to negotiate a trade reciprocity treaty with Spain. While in Europe, he also spent considerable time in London were he met Violet Sopwith (May 1865 - unk), daughter of Thomas Sopwith and Gertrude Messiter. Even though Violet was half the General's age, they were married on November 3, 1891. The next year, Grubb resigned his post and they returned to Edgewater Park to start a new family. A son was born in 1893, a daughter (who died young) in 1902 and a second daughter in 1905.
The General spent the rest of his life active in his clubs and veteran's affairs. He was especially proud when New Jersey built a monument to the 23rd regiment at Salem Church in 1906. Four years later, the State prepared a history of the Jersey Brigade and the General paid to have it published. He died at age 72 in 1913
| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
Return to The Pennocks of Primitive Hall website.
The information in this database may contain errors. If you find any questionable data, or if you have something to add my findings, please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on the "E-MAIL" link above. Thank you!
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 07 July 2020