DR. LUTHER M. HALSEY of Gloucester Co NJ
(BIOGRAPHY)

Information located at http://www.nj.searchroots.com/Gloucesterco/
TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN, 2006 
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The original source of this information is in the public domain, 
however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is 
restricted without written permission from the transcriber 
(who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same).
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SOURCE: SOUTH JERSEY, A History, 1664-1924, edited by Alfred H. Heston; Vol 1, 1924,
 Lewis Historical Publishing Co Inc., New York and Chicago

pages 6

DR. LUTHER M. HALSEY --[excerpts only]

The community of Williamstown, New Jersey will long hold in loving remembrance the life 
and work of Dr. Luth M. Halsey, of Williamstown, Gloucester County, NJ, whose death on
March 20, 1921, at the age of sixty-two years, terminated a notably successful and useful
career. Dr. Halsey was prominent in the profession in his State, and as president of the
Medical Society of New Jersey, rendered valuable service.

(I) The HALSEY family originally came to America from Cornwall, England. Luther Halsey,
great-grandfather of Dr. Halsey, served in the Revolutionary War, and the certificate
of membership in the Society of Cincinnati given to him and signed by George Washington as
President and General Knox as secretary, bears the date May 24, 1774. He was captain on
the staff of General George Washington, and loyally aided in achieving independence for
the American colonies. Three of his sons were clergymen: 1. Rev. Abraham, of further
mention. 2. Luther, who occupied the chair of Chemistry and Natural History in Nassau
Hall, Princeton, New Jersey, and was professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Policy
in the Western Theological Seminar at Alleghency, PA.  3. Job, who was for two years
pastor of Tannent Church at Freehold, New Jersey, and for 35 years pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church at Norristown, PA.

(II) Abraham Halsey, son of Luther Halsey, was born in Orange County, New York. He was 
the founder of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphi, at Eighteenth and Arch
streets, and from that city he removed to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he labored
for forty years in the Reformed Presbyterian Church. He died in 1867.

(III) Luther Foster Halsey, son of Abraham Halsey. He was born October 28, 1833, and
died July 7, 1895. He was a graudate of Rutgers College, and later of Jefferson Medical
College at Philadelphia, PA. After leaving college he spent one year in Europe, where for
a time he was a surgeon in a university. He also served as assistant surgeon in the
British fleet, at the bombardment of Sevastopol, Russia. He finally located in Swedesboro,
New Jersey, in 1857, and at the breaking out of the War of the Rebllion, in 1861, he was
made assistant surgeon in the Second New Jersey Volunteers. He held various positions in
the army and at the close of the strife he was the chief of the doctor's staff in the 
Army of the Potomac. After the close of the war he returned and practiced medicine in
Swedesboro. He enjoyed a large patronage and was one fo the founders of the present school
in antiseptics. It was he who organized the Masonic Lodge at Swedesboro, and he also
belonged to the chapter and commandery of the fraternity. For many years he was either
president or secretary of the Gloucester County Medical Society, in which he took great
interest. He married Catherine Gaskill Murphy, who died September 18, 1908. Of their
three children, Luther M., of whom further, Joseph G., and Mary Elizabeth, Joseph G.
survives. His sketch follows.

(IV) Dr. Luther M. Halsey, eldest son of Luther Foster and Catherine Gaskill (Murphy)
Halsey, was born in Swedesboro, New Jersey, Sept. 17, 1858. He received excellent
educational privileges including a college course at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem PA.
He then became a student in Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated with
the class of 1880. After spending one year in a hospital in Philadelphia, he passed an
examination to enter the army, but finally went to Williamstown and began the practice 
of his chosen profession in 1880. He was thoroughly successful in his calling and kept up 
with the times in all medical ideas, theories, and discoveries. He was a power in medical
circles, but never wishes high position for himself. He was very active and influential
in the New Jersey State Medical Society for years, and at one time could have been
vice-president of the American Medical Association but refused, for he thought he could 
be more useful on committees. He was president of the Medical Society of New JErsey,
and twice served as chief executive of the Gloucester County Medical Society. He was a
member of the Legislative Committee of the State Medical Society for years, and took an
active interest in all legislation involving his profession. For several years he made a
study of auto-intoxication, and the development of chemical poison in the human economy,
and in 1898 he read, before the State Medical Society, a paper on this subject, which
attracted wide attention. He was a member of the board of governor of the New Jersey State
Hospital. His private practice was large, and he attended to all the requirement of the 
line of surgical work of the branch of the Reading Railroad near which he lived.
  In political matter the doctor was a Republican; was prominent in the rank of the
party, and strong and influential in Monroe Township. He was mentioned as a candidate 
for both branches of the Legislature, but had no great political aspirations. He was
one of the promoters of the Masonic Lodge of Williamstown, was Past Master; and a member
of the Chapter at Vineland and the COmmandery at Camden. He was also a member of the
Society of Cincinnati and of the Sons of the American Revolution. But few men within the
State have enjoyed more successful careers than those of Dr. Halsey. 
  On May 1, 1884 Dr. Luther M. Halsey married Alice L. Bodine, daughter of Judge John
Forman Bodine, a biography of whom will follow.

****************
JOSEPH GARRISON HALSEY, D.D.S.--As a practicing dentist, Dr. Halsey is widely known in
Swedesboro, New Jersey, his birthplace and lifetime home. This town of Gloucester County
on the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad (PA Railroad) with his foundry and glass works,
is also at the head of navigation on Raccoon Creek, and has long been one of South
Jersey's prosperous communities. After the close of the Civil War, Dr. Luther Foster
Halsey, father of Dr. Joseph G. Halsey, who had borne an important part in that war as a
surgeon, returned to Swedesboro, where he had settled in 1857, after years well spent in
professional practice and social prominence. Swedesboro was also the birthplace of his
eminent son, Dr. Luther M. Halsey, now deceased, whose career is traced in a preceding
biography.
  Dr. Joseph G. Halsey, second son of Dr. Luther Foster and Catherine Gaskill (Murphy)
Halsey, and brother of Dr. Luther M. Halsey, was born in Swedesboro, January 8, 1860.
He was educated in Swedesboro Academy, Lafayette College (Easton PA), and Pennsylvania
College of Dental Surgery, whence he was graduated Doctor of Dental Surgery, class of
1881. Immediately after graduation, he began professional practice in Swedesboro and
there has sine continued, attaining high rank as a dentist and dental surgeon. He keeps
in touch with the general developments in his profession through emmbership in the
American Dental Association, the New Jersey State Dental Society, and in the Southern
Dental Society of New Jersey, and is highly esteemed among his associates.
  Dr. Halsey is a Republican in politics, and has been active in the advancement of the
the interests of the borough. He served as councilman for 11 years, and during his 
regime, the streets were greatly improved. For seven years he was president of the local
Board of Health, and in all department of borough life he has taken an active and
helpful interest. During the World War he served in the Selective Service Board (medical)
examining mouths and teeth. He is a member of the New Jersey Society of the Revolution,
and by inheritance, a member of the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Cincinnati.
He is also vice-president of the Gloucester Historical Society. He is an active member
and clerk in the vestry of the Swedesboro Protestant Episcopal Church, which he has
served as clerk of the vestry since 1906.
  Dr. Joseph G. Halsey married in Iowa City, Iowa, June 24, 1914 to Mary Newell Watson,
daughter of Rev. George W. Watson, D.D. and Hetty (Newell) Watson.

(end)