This week in #52Ancestors I am continuing to build out what I know about the five Tompkins siblings who were the children of Samuel Dusenbury and Gettianna Vreeland Tompkins. Of the five who survived to adulthood, Vreeland Tompkins was the oldest, born 8 December 1870 in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Vreeland was educated at Public School No. 12 and the Hasbrouck Institute, in Jersey City. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1893 and was a member of Delta Phi fraternity. After graduation he was employed as a chemist at Standard Oil Co., Bergen Port Works. In 1895, he founded the Smooth-On Manufacturing Company, with his father serving as President and himself as lead chemist. Vreeland invented the product Smooth-On was an iron cement compound. I have a childhood memory of bookcases in our house and Louise Tompkins’ house which were made from the shipping containers from Smooth-On. After Samuel D. Tompkins’ death in 1926, Vreeland assumed the presidency until 1953 and then in retirement served as chairman of the board.
On 18 May 1904, Vreeland Tompkins married Laura Towar of Jersey City. They had three daughters: Margaret Vreeland (1906-1984), Grace Elizabeth (1909-2010) and Gertrude Vreeland (1912-1944). In 1907, the family moved into 115 Bentley Ave from the Towar homestead at corner of Bentley and West Side ave.
In 1916, Vreeland compiled a history of the Rutgers College Class of 1893 and from this we glean some interesting details of his life. He was active in social services in Jersey City, serving the Home of Homeless, Whittier Home Settlement and the Organized Aid Society. He also served as the Shade Tree commissioner for Jersey City and as Mosquito Commissioner for Hudson County.
I was fascinated to discover that Vreeland Tompkins’ obituary described him as a life-long Episcopalian, first at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Jersey City, then at Calvary Church in Summit and finally at St. Paul’s in Chatham, New Jersey. As one, myself, this gives me an extra connection to this interesting man.
Vreeland Tompkins died January 30, 1956, at the Hollywood Hotel in Southern Pines, North Carolina. According to his obituary, he was living at 74 Oak Ridge Ave in Summit and had been since 1926. At the time of death, he was listed as the chairman of the board at Smooth-On Manufacturing Co. and as a director of the Joseph Dixon Crucible Co. He was also a life trustee at Rutgers University, having been a founding member of the College of Pharmacy.
Telling My Story 
Very interesting info. My Grandmother was Grace Elizabeth. You never know what info you will find on the internet!!!! Susan DeGeorge.
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on a whim I decided to look into the Tomkins’ history with Smooth-On, because as a child my Grandmother – Margaret Tomkins – told me that her father had invented Smooth-On, in the basement of their house. Now I know that he did invent it. Vreeland seems to have been an intelligent, well educated, and extremely motivated man. My mother knew him, and the story goes that he has an introvert, with a speech stutter. Anyways, an inspirational ancestor.
Thanks for posting.
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Collin, Our family does have an interesting history. My Dad did work for Smooth-On from the mid sixties to 2000. He took the train from Hopewell into Jersey City and then drove to Gilette NJ when the company moved there in 1967. I see that Lindsay is your Mom. I met her at my Grandmother’s memorial service in November 2010 in Vero Beach. I also have a copy of your Grandmother ‘s collection of stories entitled “Houses that Live on and on and on”. My Grandmother Elizabeth gave me a copy of it. Nice to be in touch with you. Susan Hoadley DeGeorge.
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