Though the Wicoff House Museum mostly focuses on the Wicoff family, John Van Buren Wicoff married Lavinia Applegate of the affluent Applegate family of Mercer County, New Jersey. Lavinia’s father, Edward Taylor Riggs Applegate (1831-1915), is for whom the New Jersey village of Etra is named after (Edward T.R. Applegate). Etra, a part of East Windsor, was previously known as Scrabbletown or Milford before it was changed to Etra around 1890. Before his marriage to Lavinia’s mother, Lavinia Ely (1842-1915), E. T.R. Applegate married Amanda FitzAllen Reed (1833-1858). They had two children together, Willard and Lillian “Lillie”. E. T.R. had a portrait commissioned of his first two children circa 1858 by Alessandro E. Mario. Lillie’s niece, Maude Applegate Smith Moreau (1890-1964), donated the portrait to the Monmouth County Historical Association in 1983.

https://monmouthhistory.emuseum.com/objects/551/two-children-of-the-applegate-family

From the Monmouth County Historical Association’s webpage: “Edward T. R. Applegate (1831–1915), a respected farmer, businessman, and public figure who commissioned this double portrait of his first two children, Willard (1854–1873) and Lydia (“Lillie”) R. (b. 1856). Accompanied by a playful dog, the siblings are shown in a picturesque outdoor setting that includes a view of the Applegate residence, an elegant, two-story Federal-style structure built about 1823 that still stands on Etra Road in East Windsor Township, Mercer County. Portions of the estate can be seen in the background, along with some tiny figures that provide a sense of scale. Edward Taylor Riggs Applegate (1831 – 1915) married first to Amanda FitzAllen Reed (1833 – 1858). They had two children depicted in the painting, Willard Applegate (1854 – 1873) and Lillian Reed “Lillie” Applegate (b. 1856) who married Edward D. Stokes (b. 1857) and had no children. Edward Applegate married a second time to Lavinia Ely (1842 – 1915). They became the parents of ten children. Their daughter Mary H. Applegate (1866 – 1946) married Daniel P. Smith (1859 – 1840). Their daughter, Maude Applegate Smith (1890 – 1964) married William Rhea Moreau (1891 – 1964).”

Edward T.R. Applegate’s great-grandfather, Henry Applegate, came from England in the mid-1750’s. His grandfather, Asher Applegate, married Sarah Higbee, and they had Abijah Applegate (1799-1885), Edward’s father, who married Sarah Hunt (1801-1885). Edward was born in Mercer County, NJ and lived in Hightstown for much of his life. His obituary from the Trenton Evening Times in 1915 tells the story of his long and successful career in the fields of business and politics.

HIGHTSTOWN, Feb. 23 – Edw. Applegate, Long Prominent in County, Dies – Well Known Hightstown Resident, Who Held Several Public Offices of Trust, Succumbs

He commenced his business career as a member of the firm of Benjamin Reed and Sons extensive peach and live stock growers. Later, he was associated with Sidney C. Denise in the lumber business and with Joshua C. Norton in cranberry growing. He was one of the original stockholders and directors of the First National Bank of Hightstown, which was organized September 12, 1870. He was a former director of the Pennsylvania, Slatington, and New England Railroad, and of the Hightstown-Perrineville Turnpike Company, for which he obtained his charter from the legislature. In politics, Mr. Applegate was a Democrat having served in the New Jersey Assembly in 1859 and 1860. He fathered the bill creating Washington Township and was chairman of the corporation committee and was selected as speaker of the House pro tem for two weeks. In 1877, he was appointed judge of the Mercer County Common Pleas by the late Governor Pedie and reappointment in 1882 by Governor Ludlow. He served with the late Judges Buchanan, Woodruff and Yard. Governor Newell commissioned him a major of the entire state militia prior to the Rebellion. He was a charter member and past master of Hightstown Lodge No. 41 of Free Masons, which was organized March 19, 1856.

Mr. Applegate was a member of the first class initiated in Three Times Three Chapter No. 5 of Royal Arch Masons and was knighted at Jersey City. He was one of the eight founders of Peddie Institute and a member of its first board of trustees and acted as its treasurer for several years. He always took a keen interest in the affairs of the borough serving the borough in 1866 as a Councilman and served the township in several positions of honor and trust.

It was perhaps a bit intimidating for John V.B. Wicoff to have such a well-revered man as a father-in-law!

E. T. R. Applegate’s daughter, Lavinia Applegate Wicoff, lived in the Wicoff House from the time of her marriage to John V.B. Wicoff until her death in 1958. She raised their 7 children in the house as well: John, Douglas, Dorothy, Catherine, Evelyn, Marjorie, and Lavinia. Lavinia’s niece, Maude, was a painter and prominent member of the Associated Artists of Freehold during the 1930s. Some of her pieces can also be seen on the Monmouth County Historical Association website. In our collection at the Wicoff House, we have a photo of a very young Maude with her mother, Lavinia’s sister, Mary Applegate Smith. We are unsure if the photo was taken in the Wicoff House, but it is interesting to see how one family can pull together the histories of Middlesex County, Mercer County, and Monmouth County!