Bergen County is and always has been largely an agricultural county, and its citizens mostly of Dutch descent. The first immigrants of this stock came to the new county in the early part of the seventeenth century and were soon followed by large numbers of the same race. At first, the settlements were on and near the Hudson River, but they gradually spread into the rich valleys of the Hackensack and the other streams intersecting the county, and there, these Hollanders built their quaint, substantial dwellings. As their substance increased, they jostled one another in their various interests, but, being law-abiding, sought remedy for real or fancied injury in legal measures. They were phlegmatic in their temperaments and sluggish in all their move. ments, but tenacious of their rights and once aroused, never let go their grip. These characteristics made them the most stubborn of litigants. A Bergen county lawsuit was a synonym for a long and bitter legal battle. In the beginning of the present century and down almost to 1850, the old lawyers from Newark regularly attended each term of the court in that county, and rarely failed to be retained in some important cause. The conditions of trade and of commerce materially changed, however, after the revulsion of 1837, and the volume of legal business was much diminished before Mr. Knapp came to the bar. Besides, Bergen had parted with a large part of its territory in the formation of Passaic and Hudson counties. The courts, nevertheless, were kept busy and lawyers were needed to bring suits, conduct trials and protect the property and interests of their clients.

The chances of success for the young lawyer, when he opened his office at Hackensack, seemed problematical, but he succeeded and obtained a large practice. The stolid and slow citizens of Bergen were discriminating enough to understand and appreciate the merits of the rising attorney and intrusted him with their business. His practice increased and extended into the higher courts.

In January, 1875, he was nominated and confirmed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and took his seat at the February term, but does not seem to have rendered any opinion at that time. His first opinion, as Justice, was delivered in a case upon appeal to the Court of Errors, from an equity decree, involving some questions relative to the law of fixtures. Judge Knapp's argument was exhaustive, has received the approval of succeeding courts and settled. the law in the State. The reports from that time until the time of his death fully show that he was alive to his responsibilities as Jus

tice, and that he was always ready and willing to perform his whole duty. His circuit included only the county of Hudson, the smallest in extent of territory, but the second in population and importance. It contained the populous city of Jersey City. Judge Knapp died January 26, 1892.

Jonathan Dixon, Jr., was born in England, in 1839, but removed so early to the United States that he has not the slightest trait of language or manner to indicate his foreign birth. He is, in fact, as patriotic a citizen of the great Republic as any to be found among the native born. Early in life, he settled at New Brunswick, and became a member of the family of Cornelius L. Hardenburgh, who had been a lawyer of extensive practice, but had become blind. Young Dixon acted as his personal attendant and amanuensis for several years. In 1855, he connected himself with Rutgers College and graduated from that institution in 1859. He then entered the office of Mr. Warren Hardenburgh as a student at law and continued his studies with him. and with Messrs. Dutton and Adrain, until he was licensed, in 1862. He almost immediately removed to Jersey City and became a clerk in the office of E. B. Wakeman, a lawyer then doing a large business. Mr. Wakeman very soon discovered the fitness of the young attorney for the practice of law, and offered him a partnership, which, however, only continued for one year. In 1865, he received his counsellor's license and from that year until 1870, practiced his profession alone. In 1870, he connected himself with Gilbert Collins, then a rising young lawyer, and continued in business with him until 1875. Such shining abilities and great worth as were possessed by him, were soon discovered and appreciated and he rapidly grew in public esteem as a citizen and lawyer, until he reached a height in his profession which could only be attained by a man of brains and integrity. He very early became distinguished as a lawyer of great acuteness of intellect. This characteristic united with industry and perseverance, with strict attention to the interests of his clients and care in all the details of his practice, soon secured for him a very large clientage.

In 1875, he was nominated as an Associate Justice by Governor Bedle and confirmed by the Senate. He was a Republican and the Governor was a Democrat; but the worth and fitness of the nominee for the position were too apparent to be overlooked and party lines were disregarded. Governor Bedle honored himself by his nomination, secured for the State the services of an accomplished jurist and an upright judge and added force and dignity to the bench.

His appointment took effect April 8, 1875, in time for him to be seated at the June term of the Supreme Court, but he does not seem to have then rendered an opinion. In November following, at the next term, he delivered several opinions, all of which fully proved the ability of Judge Dixon to meet and grapple with any cause which might be presented to him. Since his appointment he has been one of the most active members of the courts in which he sits. He is peculiarly adapted to the position of judge. It would be impossible to catalogue all the characteristics which distinguish his fitness, but the following are some, perhaps, the most prominent: Cool, patient to listen, observant of every point, acute-minded, quick of perception, alert to learn what there is in a cause, profound in his appreciation of the difference between right and wrong, even to the minutest shades, well-read in his profession and capable of analyzing and applying the legal principle applicable to the case before him; dispassionate, prompt in decision, swift in discernment, ready to act on the strength of his own convictions, careful ever to do just what is right, irrespective of public clamor or of personal interest, conservative in thought and action, able to express himself strongly in a few words, capable of marshalling human testimony and of reconciling its apparent inconsistencies, dignified and courteous.

He is a consummate trial lawyer and has a power of compressing his charges to juries into a few lucid sentences which, however, are so expressive that juries never fail to understand exactly what is his meaning. His circuit is composed of the counties of Bergen and Passaic. In 1896 he was appointed to his fourth term of office, having been renominated each time by a Democratic Governor.

While Justice, he was selected by a Republican convention as a candidate for Governor. He did not seek the nomination and, in fact, was opposed to the candidacy. He therefore refused to resign his office as judge, but was defeated.

In private life, Judge Dixon is the most genial of men, delights in the society of friends and indulging in quiet mirth. He is fond of general reading and the higher branches of the very best literature.

Alfred Reed was born in December, 1839, in Mercer County. He was educated for college in the very best academies and in 1859 entered Rutgers College. In 1860, he connected himself with the law school at Poughkeepsie, and in 1862, sought and obtained admission to the bar of the State of New York. He seems, however, not to have been

pleased with the practice of the profession in that State, as he returned to Trenton, resumed the study of the law there, and was admitted to the bar in New Jersey, in 1864. He became a member of the Common Council of Trenton, in 1865, and was made President of that body. In 1867, he was elected Mayor of Trenton, in which capacity he served for one full term. In 1869, he was appointed President Judge of the Courts of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Mercer County, in which office he remained for five years. On the 8th day of April, 1875, he was commissioned an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and took his seat at the June term of the courts of which he thus became a member. At the time of his nomination for this office, he was the youngest judge on the bench. In fact, he won all his honors in early manhood. He became President of the Common Council at twenty-six, Mayor at twenty-eight, Law Judge when thirty and Associate Justice when just past thirty-six. But he was fully equipped for all these positions which he honored by accepting. He had prepared himself for his law practice by study and research and his subsequent history has shown that no mistake was made in his elevation to the bench. His first term expired in 1882, since which time he has been again renominated and confirmed, and served. on his third term, when he resigned and was immediately appointed Vice Chancellor.

He rendered no opinion until the November term of the year of his nomination. His first decision was given in a case of not much importance, but it was of a character which enabled the young judge to show his ability and skill. After that he was industriously engaged in the performance of his duties as a judge. His circuit was a large one, composed of the four counties of Cape May, Cumberland, Salem and Atlantic and he was one of the busiest of the judges, not so much, however, by the importance of the cases brought before him as from the number and frequency of the terms of his courts, of which there were twelve each year in his four counties, in addition to which, he was necessarily obliged to attend eight terms in the Supreme Court and Court of Errors, making twenty terms each year, in all. It can well be imagined that Judge Reed had his time fully occupied.

His opinions are marked by one peculiarity; he delights to break them up into short, pithy sentences and his early decisions were easily distinguished without much examination, by simply glancing at the printed page. He does not seem, however, to have kept up this prac

tice in his later decisions. He is an independent thinker, a forcible writer and an excellent judge. While a pronounced man in his political views, he never suffered any bias in that direction to warp or control his action as judge. In fact, it is the glory of the bench of New Jersey that no considerations of a political nature ever enter into their decisions. Of Judge Reed it may be truthfully said that he has met with undeviating respect and confidence from the citizens and from the bar of the several counties where he presided and that his renomination in each instance was universally approved. His course as vice-chancellor has added materially to the excellent reputation he gained as a judge of the common law courts.

William J. Magie is the son of the Rev. David Magie, D. D., for more than forty years the honored and beloved pastor of the leading Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth and whose fame as a divine and as a good man, was in all the churches. Judge Magie was born at Elizabeth in December, 1832, was well prepared for college, entered Princeton in 1849 and was graduated in 1852. In the following year he entered the office of Francis B. Chetwood, one of the best lawyers in Elizabeth; was licensed as an attorney in 1856, and as a counsellor in 1859. His preceptor, appreciating his worth, offered him a partnership and a connection was formed when he came to the bar between him and Mr. Chetwood, which extended over a term of six years. He then, for a short time, practiced alone, but soon formed a connection with a Mr. Cross which continued until Mr. Magie became Associate Justice. For five years from 1865 to 1870, he was Prosecutor of the Pleas for Union County, which position he filled with marked ability. His counsel was eagerly sought by many corporations,-Deposit and Savings Banks, railroad and manufacturing companies and municipal bodies. He was not a politician, although decided in his political views. But in 1875, against his will and despite his better judgment, he was induced, by the strong persuasions of his friends and members of the political party to which he belonged, to accept a nomination for Senator from Union County. That County was then a doubtful one, but Mr. Magie was elected. He held this position for three years and was a most valuable addition to the Senate, serving the interests of the State and of his constituents with scrupulous care and attention. He took a leading part in all debates and was placed on several committees. His course in the Senate was marked by a jealous regard for the honor of his native State, by a consistent, manly and independent action and by a vigilant.