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JOHN GEORGE SYMS
Originally published in 1900 |
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JOHN GEORGE SYMS, who with his father, the late John Syms, has
done so much for West Hoboken and Hudson County, was himself long
established in business in New York City. His grandfather, John Syms,
was born and lived in the Town of Torquay, Devonshire, England, where his
ancestors were long seated. About 1814 John Syms, the father of John
George Syms, came to New York City, established himself in the shoe business,
in Chatham Street, and acquired a comfortable fortune. He bought
a large tract of land on the present site of West Hoboken, then known as
the Indian Spring woods and subsequently as the Syms woods, and another
tract from Palisade Avenue to Central Avenue. In 1813 he removed to
West Hoboken, which remained his residence from that time until his death
in 1868. John Syms was very active in connection with public improvements.
He was one of the builders and owners of the Jersey City Plank
Road. joining with Air. Armstrong and others in the execution of this
project. He was also very prominent in establishing the public school system
of West Hoboken, and always took a lively interest in educational matters. He was the founder of what was known as the Syms Library. He
built the original church edifice of the First Baptist Church, of West Hoboken
of which he was long the leading member, and by his will left a large
suns of money to be devoted to the erection of the present church structure.
He was active and successful in efforts to secure the observance of the Sabbath-day,
and to prevent its desecration. He was a stanch and leading member of the Whig party,
and one of the most eminent and public spirited men
in the history of Hudson County. He died
in 1868, at the age of
seventy-eight. His
wife, Grace Lakeman,
also a prominent
member of the First
Baptist Church, of
West Hoboken, and
active in church and
benevolent work, died
in 1859, at the age of
sixty-seven.
John George Syms was born in New York City, November 25, 1826, and received his education there and in institutions in Connecticut. He was long engaged in business on Chatham Street, New York City, as a dealer in guns and firearms, but retired in 1870 from active business in this line. Since that time he has been engaged in attending to his large real estate interests in Hudson County. He has resided in West Hoboken since 1843, with the exception of the years from 1848 to 1856, and, like his father, has been prominent in connection with matters affecting the general welfare of the community. He was conspicuous among the original number who secured from the New Jersey Legislature the act authorizing the improvement of the streets of West Hoboken, to run parallel and at right angles, widening them, and making a tax map which is still in use. He has held for many years such positions of local trust and responsibility as Treasurer of West Hoboken and member of the Township Committee. Prior to the beginning of the Civil War lie was a member of the Whig party. and since that time has been a Republican and a leader in party councils. He is a member, an officer, and one of the most liberal supporters of the First Baptist Church of West Hoboken. He donated $15,000 to this church to enable it to carry out certain improvements. Mr. Syms married Louisa Gordon Brown, and has six children living: John B. Syms. Grace Lakeman (wife of James R. Whaples, a native of Connecticut), Mary Louisa (wife of Thomas Reynolds, of Rhode Island), Winfield H. Syms, George N. Syms, and Louisa G. (wife of William E. Warner, of New York City). All of his children are members of the First Baptist Church, of West Hoboken, with which Mr. Syms and his father have been so prominently identified, while some of them hold official positions in connection with it. .
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