Reuben Johnson Southwick Sr. (1864 - 1960)

Born 19 Jul 1864 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Sara Frances (Lindsley) Southwick — married 16 Oct 1889 in Somerville, Somerset, New Jersey, USA

Husband of Melinda H. (Naylor) Southwick — married 27 May 1922 in Somerville, Somerset, New Jersey, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Oct 1960 at age 96 in Somerville, Somerset, New Jersey, USA

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Biography

Newspaper Obituary of Reuben Johnson Southwick

Reuben Southwick, local Plumber Dies at Age 96. Retired five years ago; Opened Business Here in Old Somerset Hall

Reuben J. Southwick Sr. of 101 North Bridge Street (Somerville, NJ), a well-known plumbing contractor here for many years, died in his home Monday at the age of 96. Born in Philadelphia, he was orphaned at the age of six and grew up in the South Jersey home of his maternal grandparents. Mr. Southwick went to sea aboard a coasting vessel at the age of 12, and at 13 was apprenticed as a plumber in New York (City). In 1883 he went into partnership in Raritan with W.F. Peebles and two years later started his own business here (Somerville) in the old Somerset Hall. Later he moved his business to West Main Street and in 1906 he located at 58 South Street where he continued as a heating and plumbing contractor and dealer until his retirement at the age f 91. Pioneered Code Mr. Southwick was instrumental in establishing a modern sanitary code in Somerville. He was a member of Solomon’s Lodge F&AM, an exempt fireman from the West End Hose Company and a member of the First Baptist Church. His first wife, the late Sarah Frances Lindsley Southwick bore him five children, She died in 1918 after they had been married 25 years. Mr. Southwick is survived by his second wife, Mrs. Linda Burd Southwick to whom he had been married 38 years; a son, Reuben Southwick Jr. of Branchburg; four daughters Mrs. Kathryn S. Hunt, Mrs. Edna F. Mann and Mrs. Florence S. Davenport,, all of Somerville, and Mrs. Euleta Carberry of Flemington; a stepdaughter Mrs. Arthur L. Canfield Jr. of Somerville; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today from the Speer funeral home, the Rev. Wayne Hadley of the First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be New Cemetery. Masonic services were held last night by Solomon’s Lodge.

Sources

• Personal Knowledge
• Federal Census 1870, Ocean County, Stafford Township, P.O. West Creek; M593 Roll # 883, Page 1 1
• Southwick Family Bible W. & P. Southwick
• Reuben J. Southwick Sr.Death Certificate
• Eleanor Mason Smestad; Personal Family knowledge
• 1880 United States Census West Creek, Ocean, New Jersey - Reuben Southwick
• Reuben J. Southwick Sr. Marriage Certificate; Reuben Johnson Southwick and Sara France Lindsley