Isaac A. Brokaw

[Foster #914]

Isaac A. Brokaw was born to Abraham I. and Cornelia Polhemous Brokaw, on a farm near Bound Brook, Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, on December 31, 1819. Isaac remained in that area for his entire life and all of his children were born on the farm, near Bound Brook, "on the west side of the Raritan River on the road to New Brunswick."
In his will, probated in 1892 after his death on February 15, 1892, Isaac left to his youngest son, Henry, his French clock, collections of gold ore, fractional currency, and Confederate money, books, and furniture. To his executors (son Henry, John H. Burke of Minneapolis, and Henry K. Gaston of Somerville, NJ) "the farm, in Franklin Twp., 59 acres, whereon his son Charles resided, to be held in trust for him, and $1500.00 to be kept in trust by executors and invested in good security, and income to go to wife in lieu of dower. Rest to executors, except some money in sec. for Henry. Residue of fund and remainder of any legacies to be div. into 3 equal parts, one to daughter, wife of William Vorhees; one to son Henry, and the other, as well as the farm, to son Charles." The farm was valued at $5000. (Somerset Co Wills, File # 6097-R)
Isaac married Gertrude Whitenack Garretson, daughter of Richard H. Garretson, on June 17, 1830. Gertude, born on January 4, 1830, lived until August 18, 1908. Isaac, Gertrude, and their three younger sons were buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetary at Bound Brook.

Children of Isaac and Gertrude Brokaw

Charles Richard Brokaw, born August 28, 1850.
Cornelia Brokaw was born May 6, 1853 and lived until April 12, 1925. She married William Dumont Vorhees on October 18, 1876. William was born in Pleasant Plains, NJ, on June 9, 1854 and lived until January 12, 1938. They farmed near Bound Brook and moved to South Brunswick, NJ around 1885.
Children of William and Cornelia Vorhees:
Wilbur Garretson Vorhees (born July 24, 1878) married Amelia (April 16, 1902) and were still living at S. Bound Brook, NJ, in 1960. Their children are Viola Cornelia, later Mrs. Peter Gowka of Martinsville, NJ.; Hazel May, later Mrs. William Hollar of Ringoes, NJ.; and Wilber Garretson Jr., of New Brunswick, NJ, married to Elsie Ann Olsvary.
Edward Lyall Vorhees (born August 30, 1883) married Louise Ronssean. Their children are William Dumont Vorhees, 2nd, married to Ellen Dagarty, living in Garden Grove, CA in 1960, and Evelyn, wife of G. V. Hartshorn, living in Sacramento, CA in 1960. Edward married again to Lyda Van Welch, and was living in Sacramento, CA in 1960.
Nellina Margaret Vorhees (born September 3, 1886) is unmarried, and is a wheel-chair invalid, living in Bound Brook, NJ, in 1960.
Marva Elliot Vorhees (born September 3, 1886) married Bertram Augustus Copeland on September 20, 1911, and was living in Bound Brook, NJ, in 1960. Their son, Bertram Augustus Copeland (born September 19, 1912) married Gertrude Rose Whalen (September 21, 1940) and they have children Bertram A., Cornelia Gail, and Richard Stephen. Their daughter, Cornelia Brokaw Copeland (born May 25, 1916) married Minor Cooper Keith Jones, and they have children M.C.K. Jones, Jr., Marva Connie Jones, Barbara Jean Rosa Jones and twins Jonathan Lee Alden Jones and Steven Derwydd West Jones.
Grace Vorhees (born July 24, 1888) died unmarried May 1, 1951.
John Burke Brokaw was born October 2, 1862, and died in his first year, July 27, 1863.
Isaac I. Brokaw was born July 16, 1866, and died shortly after his first birthday, August 8, 1867.
Henry Daniel Brokaw was born July 29, 1868, and lived until December 28, 1910. He married Mary Kline on February 21, 1893. Mary was born March 24, 1866 and lived until March 24, 1858; no children are recorded from this marriage.

Where this information came from.