Anthony R. Kuser

Anthony R. Kuser (May 12, 1862-February 8, 1929) was a businessman and philanthropist who who built the High Point monument and donated the land that makes up New Jersey's highest point.

He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved with his family at age 5 to Trenton, New Jersey.

In 1889 he was appointed the personal staff of Governor Leon Abbett where he received a nickname of "Colonel." He would serve in a similar capacity for George T. Werts and John W. Griggs. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F10C1EFF3E5A167A93CBA91789D85F4D8285F9 Col. A.R. Kuser Dies; Jersey Capitalist - New York Times - February 9, 1929] ]

On December 1, 1896, he married Susie Fairfield Dryden, daughter of Senator and Prudential Insurance founder John Fairfield Dryden.

In 1909 he financed the Kuser-William Beebe Expedition to study birds in Ceylon, India, Burma, the Malay States, Java, Borneo, China and Japan.

In 1910 he purchased the High Point Inn from the estate of Charles St. John and proceeded to remodel it into his personal home although he rarely used it. [http://www.njskylands.com/pkhighpt2.htm]

In 1915 he loaned $200,000 to William Fox (producer) to establish what would become 20th Century Fox. [http://www.njskylands.com/pkhighpt2.htm] He would remain on the Fox board until his death.

In 1922 he donated his home at High Point along with 10,500 acres for a state park. In 1927 he selected an architect to design a memorial on the summit which was to be modeled on the Bunker Hill monument. The monument was still under construction when he died.

One of his sons was John Dryden Kuser, a New Jersey state senator who was the first husband of Brooke Astor.

Kuser's mansion which fell into disrepair was torn down in 1995.

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