Henry W. Jeffers
Encyclopedia
Henry Williams Jeffers was an American
dairy
man and Republican Party
politician
who served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
.
to Watson and Betsey Milburn (Oakley) Jeffers. He attended Wyoming Seminary
in Kingston, Pennsylvania
before going on to Cornell University
, where he received a B.S.
degree in 1899. He married Anna C. Adams on July 14, 1898.
Starting in his senior year at Cornell in 1898, Jeffers worked for the Walker-Gordon Dairy Farm, eventually becoming president in 1918. At Walker-Gordon, based in Plainsboro
, New Jersey
, Jeffers invented a number of technological innovations streamlining dairy production, including the Jeffers bacteriology
counter, the Jeffers feed
calculator, and the Rotolactor (a rotary milking parlor, a sort of "carousel
" for cows, invented in 1930).
Jeffers served on the New Jersey Board of Agriculture from 1916 to 1927. During World War I
he served on advisory boards for the United States Department of Agriculture
and the American Food Administration under Herbert Hoover
.
Jeffers was among the founders of Plainsboro Township
, having petitioned the New Jersey Legislature
to form a new municipality out of sections of Cranbury
and South Brunswick
townships. After the township was officially founded on May 6, 1919, Jeffers was elected the first mayor.
Jeffers was also active in Republican politics in New Jersey. He was selected as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
in 1935 when E. Donald Sterner
was named State Highway Commissioner. He served until 1937.
Jeffers died in 1953 at Princeton Hospital at the age of 82.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
man and Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
.
Biography
Jeffers was born in Harford Township, PennsylvaniaHarford Township, Pennsylvania
Harford Township is a township in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,301 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
to Watson and Betsey Milburn (Oakley) Jeffers. He attended Wyoming Seminary
Wyoming Seminary
Wyoming Seminary, founded in 1844 and currently led by President Kip P. Nygren, is a private college preparatory school located in the Wyoming Valley of Northeastern Pennsylvania, in Kingston and Forty Fort It is near the Susquehanna River and the city of Wilkes-Barre...
in Kingston, Pennsylvania
Kingston, Pennsylvania
Kingston is a municipality located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, on the Susquehanna River opposite Wilkes Barre. Kingston was incorporated as a borough in 1857. Kingston has adopted a home rule charter which became effective in January 1976. It is part of the greater metropolitan...
before going on to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1899. He married Anna C. Adams on July 14, 1898.
Starting in his senior year at Cornell in 1898, Jeffers worked for the Walker-Gordon Dairy Farm, eventually becoming president in 1918. At Walker-Gordon, based in Plainsboro
Plainsboro Township, New Jersey
Plainsboro Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 20,215.Plainsboro was incorporated as a township on May 6, 1919...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Jeffers invented a number of technological innovations streamlining dairy production, including the Jeffers bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
counter, the Jeffers feed
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
calculator, and the Rotolactor (a rotary milking parlor, a sort of "carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
" for cows, invented in 1930).
Jeffers served on the New Jersey Board of Agriculture from 1916 to 1927. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he served on advisory boards for the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
and the American Food Administration under Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
.
Jeffers was among the founders of Plainsboro Township
Plainsboro Township, New Jersey
Plainsboro Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 20,215.Plainsboro was incorporated as a township on May 6, 1919...
, having petitioned the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
to form a new municipality out of sections of Cranbury
Cranbury Township, New Jersey
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 3,227 people, 1,091 households, and 877 families residing in the township. The population density was 240.6 people per square mile . There were 1,121 housing units at an average density of 83.6 per square mile...
and South Brunswick
South Brunswick Township, New Jersey
South Brunswick Township is a Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 43,417....
townships. After the township was officially founded on May 6, 1919, Jeffers was elected the first mayor.
Jeffers was also active in Republican politics in New Jersey. He was selected as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
in 1935 when E. Donald Sterner
E. Donald Sterner
Edwin Donald Sterner was an American lumberman and Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee. He was also New Jersey's first Highway Commissioner.-Biography:Sterner was born in Belmar, New Jersey...
was named State Highway Commissioner. He served until 1937.
Jeffers died in 1953 at Princeton Hospital at the age of 82.
External links
- Biographical information for Henry W. Jeffers from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...