Fourth Generation

56. Senator John Alford ACKLEY was born on 14 Jul 1854 in Absecon, Alantic , New Jersey.^{1,15,17,47,53,119,120} 1900 NJ census has birth as Jul 1856
Middle name also listed as Alfred On 15 Jun 1870 he was working in a glass house at Milville, Cumberland , New Jersey.¹⁵ He was living in 1870 in Milville, Cumberland , New Jersey.¹⁵ living with father and step mother 1870 He was living in 1900 in Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey.⁵³ He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna News on 2 Apr 1902 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida Among other changes in ownership the W A French Home on Mary Avenue has been sold by Mr and Mrs William Hockman to John A Ackley of Vineland and Wildwood New Jersey, who with his wife and daughter will occupy next winter and succeeding seasons as a winter home He appeared in the following News Article from the The Washington Post on 11 Sep 1904 in Washington D. C. Auctioneer an Institution
No story of Vineland Would be complete without a mention of John Ackley. Its famous auctioneer. Every Saturday morning John, Ackley may be seen busily emptying contents of his store on to the street, right by the city hail, in the center of the `town. At 2 o'clock his audience is there, and John mounts a box and begins to sell things. The crowd is made of of Italians from Kant Vineland and residents of the little Jewish villages. The way John Ackley talks to these people and makes them think they want things is as good as a play. They will bid against themselves till they get a 3-cent pewter spoon up to 7 cents, and then go off happy with The prize. The writer saw one husky young Italian cheerfully carrying off a cradle from one of John's auctions. He was not married but doubtless would be in time, and meanwhile had acquired an article of prospective usefulness cheap. By 6 o'clock Mr. Ackley's bureaus, couches, teapots, and other treasures are meandering gaily on many a wagon to many a farmhouse, whose owner in the old country would have slept on straw on a mud floor.
The streets are so wide In Vineland that the point where the auction is held resembles a public square, and the Saturday afternoon sale takes the place to its customers of the weekly market day in the villages of Europe. The auctioneer is an institution in Vineland. He who listens is lost. The only safety is in instant flight
Between 1914 and 1916 he was New Jersey state senate at Cumberland , New Jersey.¹²¹ He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna Daily News on 25 Mar 1921 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida ACKLEY REAL BOOSTER
FOR THIS COMMUNITY
John Ackley of Wildwood, N.J.,who owns a winter home on Mary avenue, some booster tor Florida, and never misses an opportunity to put in a good word for New Smyrna and this community. Mr. Ackley sometimes writes to his home paper telling of the attractions of this section, and Mr. Ackley's example could be" followed with interest by many other winter residents of New Smyrna. A recent issue of the Wildwood Sun- Tribune has the following letter from
Mr. Ackley.
Mr. Editor: Knowing that your subscribers, at .east most of them, are ardent fisher men, I thought that the enclosed ac count of catching trout in Florida might be of interest to them. As you see, this fish was caught in this way in Orlando, but if you really want to catch fish such as our fishermen at Wildwood prefer, you must come to New Smyrna, the Mecca of salt water fishing. On Coronado Beach we catch the drum fish by the use of a "jazz" band, with the bass drum emphasized. These are caught, in the Indian river, which flows between New Smyrna and Coronado Beach; also the red snapper, bass, and many other varieties. By the way, some of your readers might be interested in owning a winter residence in. New Smyrna. I ??m en closing a pamphlet describing how one may be obtained free of charge, and I am sure that some of your readers have sufficient knowledge of the attractions of a city by the sea to write an essay that will win the prize, and it will be well worth competing for. I have met many people wno know of and some who have visited Wild wood, and they all have a good oird for it. Judging from indications here this winter we will have a successful season at Wildwood for 1921
Very Truly Yours
John A Ackley


He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna News on 11 Jan 1924 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida Ackley's Meet with Accident on Way South
John A. Ackley and wife and daughter, Miss Mary, and John F. Wink arrived last Friday night from their northern home in Vineland, N. J., having made the trip in their Franklin sedan. On the way south the party met with a serious accident just this Side of Washington; when they met a road hog on a curve at the loot of a hill and Mr. Wink, who was driving, was compelled to run the cur into the ditch to avoid a collision The car turned turtle, but the steel braces of the top held firmly and none of the occupants were seriously injured. Miss Mary got a bad Cut on her arm! Mrs Ackley received a cut on her forehead and Mr. Ackley a cut on his hand. They were compelled to return to Washington to have a crumpled wheel replaced which was the most serious damage to the car. Mr. Wink is enjoying a vacation and will return north next week.
He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna News on 18 Apr 1924 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida Mr and Mrs John Ackley and Miss Mary left Monday for their home in Vineland, N J They made the trip in their car with Miss Mary driving He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna News on 23 Jan 1925 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida Mr and Mrs John A Ackley and daughter, Miss Mary , arrived this week from their northern home in Vineland, NJ, and are again settled in their home on Mary avenue for the winter season. They made the trip through, as usual, in their car and had a pleasant trip. They were accompanied by Miss Nell Weber of Howard, Penna., who will remain here as the guest of Miss Mary for a month or so. He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna News on 13 Feb 1925 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida ANNOUNCEMENT
John A. Ackley, New Jersey's foremost auctioneer, who has owned and occupied a home in New Smyrna for several years, with his son, Chas. W. Ackley, is arranging for a combination sale of real-estate. In this sale you can enter your property to be sold regardless of its size, location or value. Bungalows, cottages, business blocks or sites. For full particulars as to terms, conditions and our methods, call or address,
JOHN A. ACKLEY & SON,
305 Mary Avenue,
New Smyrna, Florida
He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna News on 20 Feb 1925 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida New Smyrna's First Combination Auction Sate
In 1884Senator John A Ackley established the idea of a combination auction sale of real estate This method of selling has become so, popular, especially along the sea coast of New Jersey, that millions of dollars worth of property Is moved by them annually.
In the first sale which will be conducted by Mr. Ackley and his son, Charles W Ackley, there will be several desirable lots and properties The sale will take place on north Orange street and Wayne avenue. Wednesday the 25, at 2 o'clock. The lots will be staled and marked so the prospective bidders can readily inspect the properties to be sold.
Senator Ackley insists on Selling, strictly on merit having never adopted the so called "circus" method
Five years ago Senator .Ackley located his winter residence here and has always had sincere confidence in the future of this city, as well as being keenly interested in the city's welfare.- -
He appeared in the following News Article from the New Smyrna Daily News on 5 Dec 1925 in New Smyrna (historical), Volusia, Florida Mr and Mrs John A Ackley and daughter, Mary , arrived Friday night from their northern home in Vineland, NJ, to occupy their cottage on Mary avenue through the winter season, as usual, they drove through in the car and made the trip in 48 hours, actual driving time, though they made a number of stops on the trip. He died in 1933 in Volusia , Florida.^{17,49,119,120,122} Ed Ackley has date as Oct 1918 He was buried in Siloam Cemetery , Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey.¹⁷ He appeared in the census 1860, 1870 & 1900 in New Jersey. Biography of⁸ (IV) John Alfred, youngest child of William and Mary Rape (Smallwood) Ackley, was born at Absecon, Atlantic county, New Jersey, July 14, 1854, and is now living at Vineland, New Jersey. For his early education he attended the public school of Bridgeton and Landis township, Cumberland county. After leaving school he helped his father on the farm, and then became a clerk in a hotel in Philadelphia, and later at Atlantic City, after which he purchased a farm for himself next to that of his father, consisting of five acres of land, which he turned into a fruit farm. His next venture was a partnership with Charles H. Birkinshaw, the farm being Ackley & Birkinshaw, general merchants, dealing in house furnishings, also auctioneers and dealers in real estate; later he sold his interest in the same, and engaged in auctioneering and real estate on his own account. Mr. Ackley's business can be called interstate, as his services are as much in demand for important sales in Pennsylvania as in New Jersey. He has in charge the premium lot sales of Baker Brothers. He has cried all the contract sales of the Wildwood and Wildwood Crest lots that have been sold, having sold four million dollars worth of sea shore property in the past fifteen years. He has also had charge of the public sales of lots for Henry H. Ottens. His sales have been more influential in the up-building of Five Mile Beach and the establishing of value than the efforts of all other persons outside of the founders. Since his services were secured the lots have sold readily each year at higher figures. At the sale of Wildwood Crest lots in November, 1906, the premium amounted to sixty thousand dollars. The highest premium bid on a single lot was one thousand four hundred and seventy-five dollars. He inaugurated the public sales in Youngs' Philadelphia Horse Exchange in West Philadelphia in the winter of 1903-04.
In 1884, Mr. Ackley came from Bridgeton to Vineland and embarked in the new and second hand goods business at Sixth street and Landis avenue. In 1895, he removed to 9 and 11 North Sixth street, where he has two floors, completely stocked with furnishings and merchandise. He utilizes in the same manner the second and third floors of the adjoining premises and he conducts the storage business on the second floor of No. 604 Landis avenue. Auction sales take place regularly every Saturday afternoon at Mr. Ackley's place of business, and he conducts public sales upon the premises where goods are located. He purchases for cash the entire contents of dwellings and entire stocks of merchandise, and he is prepared to furnish houses completely from top to bottom. Mr. Ackley negotiates purchases, sales and exchanges of real estate of every description, and holds the appointment of commissioner of deeds. For his real estate business he maintained an office in the Reeves Building at Wildwood, which is his summer home. He is a member of the Wildwood board of trade, and was a justice of the peace of Vineland.
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Ackley is an exceedingly busy man, he devotes a portion of his valuable time to the social side of life and toward bettering the conditions of the unfortunate. He is a past master of Vineland Lodge, No. 69, Free and Accepted Masons; a member of Eureka Chapter, No. 18, Royal Arch Masons; Olivet Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, of Millville, New Jersey; Lulu Temple, Mystic Shriners, of Philadelphia; Vineland Castle, No. 46, Knights of the Golden Eagle; Muskee Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, of Vineland. He is one of the charter members of the Vineland Country Club, one of the board of managers of the Vineland Public Library, a charter member of the Wildwood Yacht Club, Holly Beach Yacht Club, and a member of the Wildwood Motor Club.
In politics Mr. Ackley is a Democrat, and as such was a member of the city council of Vineland, vice-president of the board of education at Vineland until 1908, when he was made president; also president of the Vineland park and shade tree commission. He and his family attend the Baptist church, and he is one of the trustees of the West Baptist Church of Vineland.
July 7, 1885, John Alfred Ackley married Antha Victoria, daughter of William J. and Hannah (Brown) Smith, of Vineland. Their children are: 1 Mary Louise, born September 19,1886. 2. Charles William, July 5, 1888. 3. John Alfred, Jr. 4. Charles Rocus, died in infancy. The last two were twins, born August 30, 1891

Senator John Alford ACKLEY and Antha Victoria SMITH were married on 7 Jul 1885 in Atlantic , New Jersey.^1,53,119,120 Antha Victoria SMITH (daughter of William J SMITH and Hannah L BROWN) was born about 1857 in New York.^{17,53,119,120} National society of sons, daughters of Pilgrims has date as ca 1857 She appeared in the census in 1900 in New Jersey. She died about 1938.^17,119,120 She was buried in Siloam Cemetery , Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey.¹⁷ Senator John Alford ACKLEY and Antha Victoria SMITH had the following children:

171	i.	Mary Louise ACKLEY was born on 19 Sep 1886 in New Jersey.8,17,53,119 She appeared in the census in 1900 in New Jersey. She lived at 11South State Street in Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey about 1946.119,120 She died about 1949.17 She was buried in Siloam Cemetery , Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey.17
+172	ii.	Charles Wiley ACKLEY I.
173	iii.	John Alford ACKLEY Jr was born on 30 Aug 1891 in Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey.17,53,123 draft spells middle name Alfred He appeared in the census in 1900 in New Jersey. He registered for the draft in 1917/18 in Cumberland , New Jersey123 He died about 1918.17 He was buried in Siloam Cemetery , Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey.17
174	iv.	Rochus Willey ACKLEY was born on 30 Aug 1891.8,17 He died about 1892.8,17 He was buried in Siloam Cemetery , Vineland, Cumberland , New Jersey.17