People: Governor Foster M. Voorhees

For those who may not know, Foster M. Voorhees was not only a prominent politician who rose from the NJ State Assembly to the NJ State Senate, but he also served as Governor of New Jersey for three years while he maintained an active role in many legal and financial capacities. He was a member of the Board of Managers of the Elizabeth General Hospital and Dispensary from 1899-1907, Governor from 1899-1902, and President of the Elizabeth General Hospital and Dispensary's Board of Managers from 1902-1907.

The information below was transcribed from one of the leading business publishers who produced books about prominent individuals in various areas. The punctuation was transcribed verbatim and was accurate for the time period (it was published in 1923).

Inheriting from Dutch and English ancestry the strong characteristics of both, Foster M. Voorhees possesses the simple, plain, independent spirit of the one, and the perserverence and keen intellect of the other of these races. He is a descendant of Steven Coert Van Voorhees, a farmer and gardener, who came from Holland to Long Island in 1662. Mr. Voorhees' love of nature is a heritage from him, while from the English came his political and legal ability. His career from 1884, when a school commissioner in Elizabeth, New Jersey, until the day in January, 1899, when he took his seat as governor of the State of New Jersey, was one onward step in the political arena, he having been nominated as candidate for the office by acclamation at the convention in Trenton, an honor which has been bestowed upon but few of the many governors of the State. He was acting-governor of the State during the Spanish-American War, and under him New Jersey maintained her high reputation as a loyal, patriotic State. He came upon the scene of State politics in a "piping time of peace" from a military point of view, but in a period of war over certain public questions, notably the "high license" problem and "railroad taxation," two problems which he was largely instrumental in solving while in the Legislature.

In the Senate Mr. Voorhees was the leader of the Republican Senators-elect, who were locked out by the hold-over Democrats of the "Rump Senate," when they demanded admission to the Senate Chamber in 1894. He came to the governorship when Governor John W. Griggs resigned to accept a cabinet position from President McKinley in 1898. Mr. Voorhees was then president of the Senate, and under the law he assumed the governor's office, but without other title. The complications that arose from his anomalous, official position led the Legislature to create the office of acting-governor. This settled one complication but another arose. Senator Voorhees was slated to succeed Governor Griggs in natural order, but succeeding him by virtue of being president of the Senate brought him under the provisions of the constitutional article which forbids a governor of New Jersey to succeed himself. That embarrassment was met by the acting-governor resigning his seat in the Senate, and that action automatically removed him from the governor's chair, Speaker Watkins succeeding him by virtue of his office. Thus New Jersey was under the rule of three different governors in one year. As governor of New Jersey for three years, 1899-1902, Governor Voorhees was true to his previous high record, and his administration was marked by much important legislation.

Foster M. Voorhees was a son of Nathaniel W. and Naomi (Leigh) Voorhees, of Clinton, Hunterdon county, New Jersey. Nathaniel W. Voorhees was a lawyer by profession, at one time a judge, and later was cashier of the Clinton Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel W. Voorhees spent their entire lives upon the homestead in Clinton, and died there many years ago. There they reared their family of six children, five of whom are now living: 1. Samuel L., a resident of Clinton. 2. Nathaniel, a physician, living at High Bridge, New Jersey. 3. Mary T., residing at Clinton. 4. Elizabeth K, also of Clinton. 5. Foster M., of whom further.

Foster M. Voorhees was born in Clinton, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, November 5, 1856, and there obtained a good, predatory education in the public schools. He completed his studies there at the age of fifteen, then entered Rutgers College, whence he was graduated A.B., class of '76, second honor man, and winner of the prizes in Moral Philosophy and Greek. He served his alma mater for a year as profession of languages and at the same time was reading law. After a year he gave himself solely to the study of law, being a student in the office of Magie & Cross, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in June, 1880, and at once regain the practice of his profession, opening an office in Elizabeth. It is most interesting to know that in later years, when Governor Voorhees had to appoint a chancellor of New Jersey, he chose his old preceptor, whose worth he knew so well, and bestowed the honor upon William J. Magie. In 1884 Mr. Voorhees was admitted a counsellor, and in connection with his law business, devoted himself to the interests of the Republican party, with which was allied from youth. He was rated an able lawyer, and won a commanding position in his city. After retiring from the governor's chair in 1902 he was for three years president of a New York City life insurance company, but later resumed the practice of law in Elizabeth.

Immediately after making Elizabeth his home in 1884, Mr. Voorhees entered ardently into political life, and in that year was elected a member of the Board of Education, serving four years. His rare qualities as an orator were freely asked for, and as freely given, with the result that he was soon drawn into the politics of not only his city, but of his State. In 1888 he was first elected to the House of assembly, reelected in 1889 and 1890. While in the house he was largely instrumental in framing what is known as the Werts High License Law which largely increased the cost of liquor licenses, the increased fees bringing in a quarter of a million dollars to the State treasury annually. The bill also curbed the liquor traffic in many ways, and the fact is brought to mind that a saloon license in some of the the cities at the time of the passage of the "Werts" law could be obtained as low as twenty-five dollars per year. Assemblyman Voorhees was the party leader on the Assembly floor, and right well he deserved the honor.

When Governor Abbett presented his bill taxing railroads as other property was taxed, a bitter contest was precipitated. The railroads were claiming exemption under irreparable contracts with the State, and even the great Pennsylvania railroad was then paying into the State treasury less than $300,000 annually for its transit privileges. The Democratic Assembly insisted upon the passage of the bill as Governor Abbett drafted it, but the Republican Senate stood for modifications. Agreement was finally reached after a deadlock by the action of a joint committee, which finally evolved a bill which was passed. Under that law, and others which followed it, the income from the railroad was increased until it now totals more than $4,000,000 annually. Mr. Voorhees had an active part in the revision of the State's railroad taxing system, and greatly increased his prestige as a party leader.

Then, in 1893, as before stated, he was elected State Senator and reelected in 1896. He because the Senate leader, and was elected president of that body. In 1894 came the "Rump Senate," when the Democratic hold-over senators attempted to lock out the Republican Senators, newly-elected, and organize the Senate. Senator Voorhees led the fight for their right , and again scored a tremendous advance in public esteem. As president of the Senate in 1898, he succeeded to the duties of the governor's office when Governor Griggs resigned, and was acting-governor of the State until he resigned in order that there might be no cloud upon his title to the actual governorship, for which he meant to compete. In the fall of 1899 he was the unanimous choice of the Republican Sate Convention, was elected, and served his term of three years with honor. After seven years as head of a New York corporation, the ex-governor returned to practice law. For many years his home was in Elizabeth, where his brother, Nathaniel Voorhees, M.D., was engaged in the active practice of medicine, but a few years ago they closed their residence here and have since resided at High Bridge, New Jersey, though Mr. Voorhees is to be found at his law offices at No. 288 North Broad street, Elizabeth, nearly every day.

In additional to his professional duties, Mr. Voorhees is identified with important business interests; he is president of the First National Bank of High Bridge, New Jersey; is a director of the Union County Trust Company of Elizabeth; president of the Middlesex Water Company; and is connected with other enterprises.

Mr. Voorhees is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 33, Free and Accepted Masons, of Elizabeth, and in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite hs has attained the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; the Union League Club, of New York; and in religious faith is a Presbyterian.

An ardent pedestrian, Mr. Voorhees finds plenty of opportunity to indulge in his favorite exercise at his country home in High Bridge, where he enjoys life in the open, taking a personal interest in the management of the farm.

Source: A. Van Doren Honeyman's "History of Union County 1664-1923" Volume 1, pages 21-22.

This information was last reviewed or updated on November 12. Adjustments may be made to this page as new information is added, making this a continual work in progress.