In honor of Labor Day, I present a special edition dedicated to my ancestors' professions over the past two hundred plus years. Here is a list of what they did to earn a living. Some of these names will be familiar, having been highlighted in previous posts; others will become familiar in future ones.
As you go through, you may notice that careers were fairly consistent from generation to generation. It was not until the late 19th century / early 20th century that children began to pursue different occupations than their fathers.
The majority of occupations listed are as noted on census and tax records.
Grandfathers
Arthur E. Schoener (1897-1957)
Soldier
Teacher
Chairman, Commercial Department, Trenton Central High School
Principal, Trenton's Accredited Evening High School
Benjamin F. DuBois (1898-1968)
Farmer
Supervisor, Gloucester County Highway Department
President, the Clayton National Bank
Director, Clayton Savings and Loan Association
Great Grandfathers
William M. Schoener (1859-1935)
Carpenter/Contractor
James M. Blew (1859-1913)
Colliery Firemen/Engineer
Charles H. DuBois (1860-1954)
Farmer
William H. Kelley (1879-1975)
Farm Laborer
Truck Driver
Workman, State Highway Department
Great-Great Grandfathers
John F. Schoener (1834-1919)
Carpenter/Contractor
Solider
Tax Receiver
Ebenezer Morris (1832-1892)
Coal Miner
Isaac A. Blew (1824-1897)
Farmer
Simon R. Moyer (1825-1906)
Blacksmith
Benjamin F. DuBois (1824-1903)
Farmer
Retail Grocer
Christopher Knisell, Sr. (1826-1915)
Farmer
John Kelley (1835-1904)
Laborer
James H. Phillips (1862- )
Farmer
Great-Great-Great Grandfathers
John Schoener (1804-1842)
Carpenter
Levi Blew (1784-1876)
Farmer
John L. Schlier (1792-1866)
Farmer
Francis Moyer (1797-1864)
Farmer
Johann Nicholas Oberrender (1806-1877)
Tailor
Cornelius DuBois (1801-1874)
Carpenter
Farmer
James Gardiner (1807-1884)
Farmer
Andrew Knisell (1801-1865)
Auctioneer
Liquor Dealer
Daniel Johnson (1793-1870)
Farmer
Thomas Sapp (1827-1890)
Laborer
Oysterman
George Hadder (1835-1881)
Sailor
Lemuel D. H. Hudson (1815 - Aft. 1880)
Farmer
Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfathers
John Jacob Schoener (1775-1842)
Justice of the Peace
Andrew Stouch (1789-1864)
Shoemaker
Jacob Reitenauer (1764-1831)
Cordwainer (a shoemaker)
Johann Lorenz Vollrath (1773-1825)
Potter
Benjamin DuBois (1780-1850)
Farmer
Joseph Coles (1775-1851)
Farmer
Andrew Gardiner (1782-1849)
Farmer
Philip Hogate (1762-1854)
Farmer
Christopher "Christian" Knisell (1770-1823)
Grist Miller
Merchant
William Hadder (1810- )
Tailor
Benjamin Phillips (1793- )
Shoemaker
I would also like to acknowledge the work performed by my grandmothers, whose occupation was typically listed only as "Keeping House" or "House Wife." I think we all know they did a lot more for the family than those simple words imply and helped contribute to the overall well-being and nurturing of our family tree.
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