Eighth Generation

3576. William Newton "Will" Skillman was born on 8 July 1869 in Skillman, Somerset, NJ. Birth Certificate copy of 3/31/1999 has DOB March 8, 1870. Registration date was Aug. 5, 1870, so March could be a typo, supposed to be July. Grandma's early diaries have July 8, 1970, later has July 8 1969. 1900 Census and tombstone have 1869. From 1893 to 1938 he was a Station agent for Reading Railroad in Skillman, Somerset, NJ. He retired about 1 August 1938. Will died of a heart attack on 9 October 1938 at the age of 69 in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ. Obit in Hopewell Herald:

William N. Skillman Expires at 69
Was in railroad service for 45 years and retired only two months--prominent local resident 30 years.

Funeral services this afternoon.

One of Hopewell's best known citizens, William N. Skillman, who had resided here for 30 years, died at his home, on Hart avenue, Sunday evening following a brief illness of one week. He was the husband of Adeline Albertson Skillman, and recently retired as Reading Railroad station agent at Skillman. He was 69 years old and had retired two months ago after 45 years in charge of the Skillman station.

Born in Skillman, he was one of the organizers of the Hopewell Fire Company in 1912. Besides his widow, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Richard E. Reed, of Hopewell; a son, Wilbur N. Skillman, of Toms River; a grandson, William Skillman; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Bergen, of Bound Brook, and Mrs. Bertram Ten Eyck, of Somerville, and three brothers, Joseph, of Bound Brook; Charles, of Martinsville, and Frederick, of Skillman.

The funeral was held this afternoon from his late home, with services by the Rev. John H. Ginter, of the First Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the Blawenburg cemetery, under direction of Charles Holcombe, of Ringoes.

Mr. Skillman was a member of the local Presbyterian church, the Presbyterian Men's Bible Class, Hopewell Lodge, No. 155, F. & A. M., and a charter member of the Hopewell Fire Department.

[ed. obit says he lived in Hopewell for 30 years but his house on Hart Ave. was built in 1899 and the 1900 Census lists him in Hopewell so he lived there about 39 years] He was buried at Blawenburg Reformed Church Cemetery in Blawenburg, Montgomery Twp., Somerset, NJ. Plot 49. He was a Presbyterian. Will had Social Security Number 715-18-5055 NJ. Trenton Times, 4/8/1902, page 3: "William Skillman has moved his family from Hart Avenue to Skillman"

William Newton "Will" Skillman and Adaline Lord "Addie" Albertson were married on 1 June 1893 in Skillman, Somerset, NJ. They lived at 23 Hart Avenue in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ from 1899 to 1941. The Trenton Evening Times for 10/25/1898 reported that he recently purchased a lot at the corner of Shaftsbury and Hart Avenues, and the lot adjacent on Hart. The house had a plaque with "1999" on my last visit.

Ibid, 5/9/1908 reported that "William N. Skillman has removed from Skillman to his residence on Hart Avenue. They appeared in the census in 1900 in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ. Child Wilbur living with them. Will and Addie appeared in the census in 1910 at 23 Hart Avenue in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ. Children Wilbur and Elsie and servant Lizzie Pittman living with them. They appeared in the census in 1920 at 23 Hart Avenue in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ. In the 1920 Census his mother-in-law, Carrie Bull, was living with them, and Lizzie Pittman, 44, servant also. His children, Wilbur and Elsie, are listed as living at home. They appeared in the census in 1930 at 23 Hart Avenue in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ. Also living with them in 1930 was Lizzie Pittman, domestic; daughter Elsie and husband Richard E. Reed, carpenter, both 26, married at 24. Adaline Lord "Addie" Albertson, daughter of John Parker Albertson and Caroline Amanda Ford, was born on 28 November 1872 in Troy, Rensselaer, NY. 1900 Census has her birth date as April 1872. She died of pulmonary edema on 2 December 1971 at the age of 99 at Toms River Convalescent Center in Toms River, Ocean, NJ. She was buried at Blawenburg Reformed Church Cemetery in Blawenburg, Montgomery Twp., Somerset, NJ. Plot 49. Addie had Social Security Number 139-36-3204. She was a Presbyterian. Trenton Evening Times, 7/7/1915: "Mrs. William Skillman and children Elsie, Albertson and Wilbur are spending a week in Atlantic City."

Hopewell Herald, 10/30/1918: "Mrs. William Skillman and daughter Elsie, spent Saturday in Philadelphia."

William Newton "Will" Skillman-4 and Adaline Lord "Addie" Albertson-5 had the following children:

6056	i.	William Harold Skillman was born on 29 August 1896. He died on 21 May 1897 at the age of 0. Not included in 1900 Census taken 6/21/1900. He was buried at Blawenburg Reformed Church Cemetery in Blawenburg, Montgomery Twp., Somerset, NJ. Plot 49.
6057	ii.	Jessie Adaline Skillman was born on 13 February 1898. She died on 23 February 1898 at the age of 0 in Skillman, Somerset, NJ. From Trenton Evening Times, Trenton, NJ, Sat., Feb. 5, 1898, page 153: "The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William N. Skillman, of Skillman, died a few days ago. The baby was about a week old." She was buried at Blawenburg Reformed Church Cemetery in Blawenburg, Montgomery Twp., Somerset, NJ. Plot 49.
+6058	iii.	Wilbur Newton "Skilly" Skillman-2.
+6059	iv.	Elsie Marion Skillman-844.
6060	v.	John Albertson Skillman was born on 8 August 1910 in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ. He died of infantile paralysis on 10 October 1916 at the age of 6 in Hopewell, Mercer, NJ. Hopewell Herald, 10/11/1916, page 1: "ALBERTSON SKILLMAN VICTIM OF INFANTILE PARALYSIS Died Yesterday After Three Days' Illness Master John Albertson, son of Mr. and Mrs. William N. Skillman, died yesterday morning about 11 o'clock, at the home of his parents on Hart Avenue, after an illness of only three days. He was taken sick on Saturday. After death a test was made of the spinal fluid which showed infantile paralysis. Albertson was six years of age and was a general favorite with all, being a congenial little fellow. He had just commenced his second year in the primary department at Lincoln's Grammar school. The funeral, which was private, was held this afternoon at 4 o'clock, Rev. Edward S. Brearley, pastor of the Presbyterian church, officiated. Interment was in Blawenburg cemetery, under direction of Rorer." He was buried on 11 October 1916 at Blawenburg Reformed Church Cemetery in Blawenburg, Montgomery Twp., Somerset, NJ. He is buried in Plot 49.