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CORNELL 

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History  of  Morris  CountVj..  New  ...Jersey,  wi 


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Cornell  University 
Library 


The  original  of  this  book  is  in 
the  Cornell  University  Library. 

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the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


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PROMINENT   CITIZENS    AND    PIONEERS, 


NEW    YORK: 
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36  Vesey  Street. 


1882. 


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PRESS  OF  GEORGE  MACNAMARA,  36  VESEY  STREET,  NFW  YORK. 


TABLE    OF   CONTENTS. 


OUTLIl^E  HISTORY  OF  ^^  JERSEY. 


PAOE. 

CHAPTER    I. 
The  Indians  of  New  Jersey— Discovery 

and  Settlement  of  the  State T,8 

CHAPTEB  TI. 
New  Jersey  under  the  Dutch  and  English 

Governors— Slavery 8-10 

CHAPTEH   lir. 
New  Jersey's  part  in  the  French  and  Rev- 
olutionary Wars 11, 12 

CHAPTEK  IV. 
Participation  of  the  State  in  the  Wars  of 
this  Centnry 12, 13 

CHAPTER  v/ 
Educational,  Governmental  and  Benevo- 
lent Institutions— The   State   Administra- 
tion       13-15 

CHAPTER   VI. 
Mineral      Resources— Industries— Canals 
and  Railroads— Population 15,16 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 

CHAPTER    I. 
The  Indians  in  Possession— Early  Boun- 
dary Lines-The  First  Settlements 17-20 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  Formation  of  Morris  County  and  its 

Division  into  Townships 20-23 

CHAPTER   III. 
The  Prelude  to  the  Revolution— Patriot 

Leaders  of  Morris  County 22-27 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Morris  County  Troops  in  the  Continental 

Army 27-31 

CHAPTER    V. 
Morris  County  Militia  in  the  Revolution 

—Incidents  of  the  War 32-37 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Recovering  from  the  Revolution— Mor- 
ris County  Men  in  the  War  of  1812 37-39 

CHAPTER   VII. 
The  Iron  Industry  of  Morris  Countj'— 
Early  Enterprises- Forges  and  Bloomaries     39-48 
CHAPTER   VIII. 
Charcoal  Furnaces— Pompton,  Hibernia, 

Mt.  Hope  and  Split  Rock 48-56 

CHAPTER   IX. 
Slitting    and   Rolling   Mills— An tiiracite 

Furnaces  and  Foundries 56-62 

CHAPTER  X. 
Iron  Mines  of  Morris  County 62-68 


PAGE 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Travel  and  Transportation— Turnpikes— 

The  Morris  Canal— Railroads 66-71 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Religious  and  Educational  Interests 71-73 

CHAPTEK   XIH. 
Political  Parties  and  Candidates— Officers 

and  Representatives 73-80 

CHAPTER   XIV. 
Opening  of  the  Civil  War— First  Volun- 
teers—Ladies' Aid  Societies 80,81 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Company  K   7th  N.  J.— Captain  South- 
ard's Engineers— Captain  Duncan's   Com- 
pany,.        81-85 

CHAPTER   XVI. 
The  11th    N.  J.  Regiment— Battles  and 

Losses  of  Companies  E  and  H 85-88 

CHAPTER  XVIL 
The  Brilliant  Record  of  Companies  C  and 

F  15th  N.  J.  Volunteers 88-93 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
History  of  the  27th  N.  J.  Volunteer  In- 
fantry—The  Cumberland  River  Disaster...      93-97 
CHAPTER   XIX. 
Drafting— "Emergency  Men  "—Company 

K  1st  N.  J.— Company  I  33d  N.  J 97-100 

CHAPTER  XX. 

The  39th  N.  J.  Volunteers— Roll  of  Com- 
pany K— List  of  Patriot  Dead 100-102 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

A  Sketch  of  the  Geology  and  Physical 
Geography  of  Morris  County 10.2-1C8 


CITY  A^D  TOWr(SHIP  HISTORIES. 

Boonton 177-186 

Chatham 187-210 

Chester 211-216 

Hanover 217-228 

Jefferson 229-240 

Mendham 341-248 

Montvil  le 249-253 

Morristown 109-176 

Mount  Olive 254-259 

Passaic 260-264 

Peguannock 265-289 

Randolph 290-330 

Rockaway 331-363 

Roxbury 364-371 

Washington o72-;!iriS 


VILL/GES. 

Bartley  ville 255 

Boonton 178 

Budd's  Lake 255 


PAGE 

Butler 396 

Chatham 199 

Chester 211 

Dover 313 

Drakeville 366 

Ferromonte 310 

Flanders 255 

Hanover 231 

Littleton 221 

Madison 200 

McCain  ville 366 

Mill  Brook 310 

Mine  Hill 310 

Morristown .' 109 

Mount  Freedom 310 

Mount  Olive 355 

New  Vernon 26,') 

Parsippany — 231 

Port  Morris 366 

Port  Oram 309 

South  Stanhope 255 

Stanley 200 

Sucoasunna 365 

Troy 221 

Walnut  Grove 310 

Whippany 221 

BIOGI|APHIC/L   SKETCHES. 

Allen,  Jabez  L 328 

Allen,  Job 341 

A.xtel  1  Family 242 

Baker,  Henry 360 

Baker,  William  H 362 

Barnes,  Rev.  Albert 136 

Beaman,  David 342 

Bergen,  Rev- John  G 208 

Boisaubin,  Vincent 203 

Brown,  John  P 24U 

Budd,  Daniel 315 

Butterworth,  Joshua  H 326 

Byram  Family 243 

Campfield,  Jabez .si 

Chandler,  L.  A ,362 

Condiet,  Silas 26 

Cook,  Ellis 26 

Cook,  Silas 252 

Cooper,  Daniel 263 

Cooper,  Nathan  A 211 

Darby,John 220 

Darcy ,  John 31 

De  Hart,  William 24 

Diclcerson,  Jonathan 321 

Dickerson,  Mahlon 321 

Dickerson,  Peter 25,  321 

Dod  Family 243 

Drake,  Jacob 25 

Faesch,  John  Jacob 53, 281,  337 

Fairchild  Family 2'28 

Fisher,  Rev.  Samuel 136 

Ford,  Jacob  sen..  23, 114,  115 

Ford,  Jacob  jv 115 

Ford,  Rev.  John 22U 


a4 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Gaines,  Nathaniel 252 

Garrison,  Samuel  L 18G 

Green,  Kev.  Jacob 334 

Hager,  John  S 377 

Hager,  Lawrence 376 

Halsey,  Samuel  B 361 

Hancock,  Rev.  John 210 

HannFamil3' 374 

Harcouv,  Hev.  Samuel 213 

Hasenolever,  Peter 43 

Hinchman  Family 334 

Hinchman,  Guy  M 58,  335 

Hinchman,  Joseph 324 

HofE  Family 361 

Horton,  Kev.  Azariah 205 

Hull,  Aurelius  B 170 

Jaekson,  John  Darby 361 

Jackson,  Joseph 360 

Johnes,  Rev.  Timothy 131,  133 

Kanouse  Family 269 

Kearney,  Michael 318 

King,  Andrew 43, 298 

King,  William  L 171 

Kitchel,  Aaron 3 19 

Kitchel,  Abraham 20 

Lefevre,  William  B 237 

Lefevre,  William  Jeff 392 

Littell  Family 261 

Marsh,  Ephraim 380 

McBowell,  Rev.  William  A 136 

Megie  Family 388 

Moylan,  Stephen 51 

Neighbour  Family 375 

Ogden,  Abraham 24 

Ogden,  Samuel . . .  -. 24 

Oram,  Robert  F 328 

Randolph,  T.F 168 

Richards,  George 337 

Richards,  Hev.  James 135 

Sanders  Family 343 

Sohenok,  Rev,  J.  V.  N 383 

Segur,  Thomas  B 336 

Spencer,  Oliver 31 

Stickle,  Hubbard  S 362 

Stiles,  Jonathan 24 

Stoddard,  Rev.  E.  W .370 

Stotesbury,  John 53 

Stoutenburg  Family 382 

Thompson,  David 36 

Tuthill,  Samuel 34 

Tuttle,  Rev.  Joseph  F 344 

Tuttle.Rev.  Samuel  L 308 


PAGE 

Vail,  Alfred 160 

Vail,  George 175 

Vanatta,  Jacob 172 

Ward,  L.  B 176 

Welsh  Family 375 

Wick,  Henry 35 

Winds,  William 24,  399 

Woodhull,  Rev.  William 213 

Young,  David 319 


P0RTI\A1TS. 

Baker,  Henry,  Rockaway 360 

Biker,  William  H.,    '•         363 

Bruen,  James  H.,      "        312 

Budd,  Daniel,  Shester 315 

Butterworth,  J.  H.,  Dover 336 

Cobb,  Andrew  B.,  Hanover 319 

Cooper,  Nathan  A.,  Chester 311 

Cooper,  Mary  H.,  "        312 

Dickerson,  Mahlon,  Randolph 331 

Drake,  Nelson  H.,  Mt.  Olive 375 

Fairchild,  E.  M.,  Hanover 329 

Fairohild,  R.  V.  W.,    "       337 

Fairchild,  Stephen,     "       328 

Garrison,  S.  L.,  Boonton 186 

Hager,  John  S.,  German  Valley 377 

Hager,  Lawrence,    "  "        376 

Hinchman,  G.  M.,  Dover 328 

Hull,  Aurelius  B.,  Morristown 170 

Johnson,  William  C„  Chatham 199 

King,  William  L.,  Morristown 171 

Lindsley,  Oscar,  Passaic 199 

Marsh,  Ephraim,  Schooley's  Mountain 380 

Stoddard,  E.  W.,  Succasunna 370 

Ward,  L.  B.,  Morristown 176 

Vail,  George,  Morristown 175 

Vanatta,  Jacob,  "  173 


ILLUSTI^ATIONS, 

PAGE 

Baker,  William  H.,  Homestead,  Rockaway 363 

Hartley,  William  &  Son,  Machine  Shop,  Bart- 

leyville 255 

Beach,  Columbus,  Residence,  Dover 316 

Brown,  John  P.,  Hotel,  Newfoundland 240 

Chovey,  Charles  L.,  Residence,  Madison 204 

Cole,  J.  P.,  Residence,  Montville 351 

Cooper,  N.  A.,  dec— late  Residence,  Chester. . .  213 


PAGE 

Crowell,  D.  A.,  Belmont  Hall,  Schooley's  Mt...  283 

Elliott,  Alex.,  Residence,  Dover 316 

Evans,  Mrs.  J.  D.,  Residence,  Chester 202 

Fairchild,  Mrs.  R.  V.  W.,  Residence,  Hanover. .  163 

Frontispiece ^ 

George,  Richard,  Residence,  Dover 314 

Green,  William  S.,  Residence,  Denville 312 

Guerin,  B.  C,  Hotel,  Morristown 147 

Hance,  John,  Residence,  Randolph 312 

Hopper,  Peter,  Residence,  Pompton  Plains....  282 
Howland,  Mrs.  William  H., Residence,  Montville  163 

Hurd,  Edward  C  Residence,  Dover 293 

Hurd,  Lewis  C,  Residence,  Hurdtown 230 

Johnson,  William  C,  Residence,  Chatham 199 

King,  V.  B.,  Residence,  Morristown 173 

Lanning,  G.  M.,  Residence,  Afton 300 

Leddell,  S.  W.,  Residence,  Mendham 279 

Macwithey,  A.  A.,  Residence.,  Pompton 282 

Map  of  Morris  County 8 

Marsh,  William  W.,  Residence,  Schooley's  Mt. .  380 

McParlan,  H.,  Residence.  Dover 292 

Moller,  Daniel,  Opera  House,  Dover 312 

Oram,  Robert  F.,  Residence,  near  Dover 328 

Post,  John  F.,  Residence,  Pompton 279 

Richards,  George,  Residence.  Dover 337 

Richards,  Samuel  E.,  Residence,  Afton 200 

Komondt,  C.  D.  V.,  Residence.  Pompton 279 

Rubber  Comb  and  Jewelry  Works 396 

Scenery  in  Morris  County  (frontispiece) 1 

Sharp,  J.  M.,  Hotel,  Budd's  Lake 255 

Simpson,  James  H.,  Residence,  Dover 318 

Stickle,  B.  K.&G.W.,  LumberYard,  Rockaway  358 

Thebaud,  Edward,  Residence,  Madison 200 

Thebaud,  E.  v.,  '•  ''  ..; 200 

Todd,  Edward,  "  "  208 

Vanatta,  Jacob,  dec,  late  Residence,  Morris- 
town   173 

Washington's  Headquarters,  Morristown 166 

Webb,  James  A.,  Residence,  Madison 202 

Welsh,  John  C,  Residence,  German  Valley 375 

Zabrislcie,  A.  J.  B.,  Residence,  Montville 251 


/PPENDIX. 

Financial  History— Reformatory  Institutions.  389 

Abstract  of  the  Proprietors'  Title 393 

The  11th  New  Jersey  Volunteers 395 

The  Village  of  Butler 396 

INDEX  TO  NAMES 398-407 


PREFACE 


To  one  whose  own  neighborhood  has  been  the  theater 
of  events  prominent  in  the  nation's  annals,  the  history  of 
those  events  is  the  most  interesting  of  all  history.  To 
the  intrinsic  fascination  of  stirring  incidents  is  added 
the  charm  of  their  having  occurred  on  familiar  ground. 
The  river  is  more  than  a  volume  of  water  irrigating  its 
banks  and  turning  mill-wheels — more  than  a  blue  ribbon 
woven  into  the  green  vesture  of  the  earth — to  one  who 
knows  how  it  has  affected  the  course  of  events  along  its 
valley  for  a  century  or  more,  determining  the  location 
first  of  the  Indian  camp  and  then  of  the  white  man's  vil- 
lage; the  line,  first  of  the  red  warrior's  trail  and  finally 
of  the  railway  and  the  canal;  now  the  route  of  an  army's 
march  and  anon  that  of  a  nation's  domestic  commerce. 
The  road  that  has  been  traveled  unthinkingly  for  years  is 
invested  with  a  new  interest  if  found  to  have  followed  an 
Indian  trail.  The  field  where  one  has  harvested  but 
grain  or  fruit  for  many  a  season  brings  forth  a  crop  of  as- 
sociations and  ideas  when  it  is  understood  that  il  was  the 
camping  ground  of  the  patriots  whose  labors  and  endur- 
ance founded  the  nation.  The  people  will  look  with 
heightened  and  more  intelligent  interest  upon  ancient 
buildings  in  their  midst — already  venerated  by  them,  they 
hardly  know  why — when  they  read  the  authentic  record 
of  events  with  which  these  monuments  of  the  past  are  as- 
sociated. The  annals  of  a  region  so  famous  as  that  of 
which  these  pages  treat  give  it  a  new  and  powerful 
element  of  interest  for  its  inhabitants,  and  strengthen 
that  miniature  but  admirable  patriotism  which  consists 
in  the  love  of  one's  own  locality. 

It  has  heretofore  been  possible  for  the  scholar,  with  lei- 
sure and  a  comprehensive  library,  to  trace  out  the  writ- 
ten history  of  his  county  by  patient  research  among  vol- 
uminous government  documents  and  many  volumes, 
sometimes  old  and  scarce;  but  these  sources  of  informa- 
tion and  the  time  to  study  them  are  not  at  the  command 


of  most  of  those  who  are  intelligently  interested  in  local 
history,  and  there  are  many  unpublished  facts  to  be  res- 
cued from  the  failing  memories  of  the  oldest  residents, 
who  would  soon  have  carried  their  information  with 
them  to  the  grave;  and  others  to  be  obtained  from 
the  citizens  best  informed  in  regard  to  the  various  inter- 
ests and  institutions  of  the  county,  which  should  be 
treated  of  in  giving  its  history. 

This  service  of  research  and  compilation,  which  very 
few  could  have  undertaken  for  themselves,  the  pub- 
lishers of  this  work  have  caused  to  be  performed; 
enlisting  in  the  effort  gentlemen  whose  standing  in 
the  community,  whose  familiarity  with  local  events, 
and  whose  personal  interest  in  having  their  several 
localities  fitly  represented,  afford  the  amplest  guaranty 
for  the  trustworthiness  of  their  work.  The  names  of 
these  gentlemen  appear  in  connection  with  the  sec- 
tions of  the  history  contributed  by  them.  They  have 
therein  acknowledged  the  aid  derived  from  the  au 
thorities  most  serviceable  to  them.  In  addition  to 
such  acknowledgments  the  author  of  the  history  of 
Chester  would  mention  the  loan  of  books  to  him  by 
Hon.  Samuel  H.  Hunt,  and  of  a  historical  discourse 
by  Rev.  Frank  A.  Johnson,  from  which  he  derived 
his  account  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Chester. 
It  should  perhaps  be  said  that  the  authors  of  the 
city  and  township  histories  in  most  cases  did  not 
write  the  biographical  sketches  attached  to  those  his- 
tories. 

While  a  few  unimportant  mistakes  may  perhaps  be 
found  in  such  a  multitude  of  details,  in  spite  of  the  care 
exercised  in  the  production  of  the  work,  the  publishers 
confidently  present  this  result  of  many  months'  labor  as 
a  true  and  orderly  narrative  of  all  the  events  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  county  which  were  of  sufficient  interest 
to  merit  such  record. 


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^{ffTERDO 


Scale-  3%  inches  io  -I  miley. — 


OUTLINE  HISTORY 


OF    THE 


STATE  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE   INDIANS   OF    NEW    JERSEY — DISCOVERY    AND   SETTLE- 
MENT   OF    THE     STATE. 


fT  the  time  of  its  discovery  by  the  whites  the 
region  which  includes  New  Jersey  was  inhab- 
ited by  the  Delaware  Indians,  or,  as  they 
termed  themselves,  the  Lenni  Lenapes — a 
name  which  has  had  various  interpretations, 
among  which  are  those  of  "  original  people  " 
and  "  unmixed  people."  They  were  a  portion 
of  the  people  who  were  known  by  the  generic  name  of 
Wapanachki,  which  according  to  Heckewelder  means 
"  people  at  the  rising  of  the  sun,"  or  eastlanders. 

Notwithstanding  the  eastern  name  which  they  bore 
their  traditions  related  that  they  came  from  the  western 
part  of  the  American  continent,  where  they  had  resided 
during  many  centuries  and  whence  they  came  eastward 
with  the  Mengwe  or  Iroquois,  whom  they  encountered  on 
their  journey.  Their  traditions  further  related  that  the 
Lenape  and  Mengwe  people  dwelt  peacefully  together 
during  several  centuries,  but  that  they  separated  and  the 
Lenapes  came  to  occupy  the  region  bordering  on  the 
great  salt  water  lake  and  watered  by  four  great  rivers,  the 
Delaware,  Hudson,  Susquehanna  and  Potomac. 

The  government  of  the  Lenape  Indians  was  somewhat 
similar  to  that  of  the  Iroquois,  and  like  them  the  Lenapes 
were  divided  into  totemic  tribes.  In  the  case  of  the 
latter  these  were  called  the  Unami,  the  Unalachta  and 
the  Minsi,  or  the  Turtle,  the  Turkey  and  the  Wolf.  In 
the  case  of  the  Iroquois  there  were  eight  of  these  divis- 
ions, each  with  its  totemic  designation.  The  relation 
of  these  tribal  divisions  to  each  other  was  such  as  to  give 
great  cohesive  strength  to  the  nation.  Although  these 
Indians  were  untamed  savages,  who  had  not  the  advan- 
tages of  the  recorded  experience  of  past  ages,  yet  with 


the  Iroquois  and  to  a  less  extent  with  the  Lenapes  a  civil 
system  existed  which  could  not  fail  to  challenge  the  ad- 
miration of  the  students  of  both  ancient  and  modern  sys- 
tems of  government.  It  may  truly  be  said  of  these 
people  that,  with  all  their  savagery,  so  long  as  they  were 
uncontamihated  by  the  vices  of  civilization  they  were  in 
their  domestic  and  social  relations  far  better  than  many 
who  have  sought  to  impose  their  civilization  on  them. 

At  a  period  which  is  not  definitely  fixed  the  Lenapes 
were  subjugated  by  th-eir  powerful  and  warlike  neighbors 
the  Iroquois,  and,  although  they  had  previous  to  this 
subjugation  been  a  warlike  people,  they  were  degraded 
from  their  position  as  warriors;  or,  in  the  language  of 
their  savage  conquerors,  "made  women."  Through  the 
instrumentality  of  Sir  William  Johnson  they  were  in  1756 
rehabilitated,  or  "  made  men  again." 

The  Indians  of  New  Jersey  on  several  occasions  be- 
came hostile  to  the  whites,  either  on  their  own  account 
or  as  the  allies  of  tribes  with  whom  they  were  on  friendly 
terms.  As  in  the  Indian  wars  of  later  times,  however, 
the  causes  of  these  outbreaks  could  usually  be  traced  to 
some  act  of  injustice  on  the  part  of  the  whites.  Such  an 
outbreak  occurred  in  1643,  during  the  administration  of 
Governor  Kieft,  in  which  the  Hackensacks  and  Tappans 
made  common  cause  with  their  neighbors  in  revenging 
some  injuries  that  had  been  inflicted  on  them  by  the 
Dutch  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year.  A  still  more 
serious  war  broke  out,  in  which  the  New  Jersey  Indians 
again  made  common  cause  with  those  of  Long  Island 
and  the  Hudson  River.  In  this  instance  peace  was  not 
finally  concluded  till  the  summer  of  1645. 

It  is  said  that  the  shores  of  North  America  were  first 
visited  by  the  Northmen,  in  the  year  986,  and  that  several 
voyages  were  made  by  them  to  this  country  during  the 
twenty-five  years  immediately  following.  These  alleged 
discoveries  led  to  no  practical  results.  The  first  effectual 
and  important  discoveries  on  this  continent  were  made  by 
Christopher  Columbus,  in  1492  and  the  few  succeeding 
years.  It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  in  detail  of  the  many 
voyagers  who  came  to  this  country  after  its  discovery  by 


8 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


Columbus  but  who  failed  to  discover  this  portion  of  the 
continent.  It  is  said  that  in  1624  John  de  Verrazano,  a 
Florentine  navigator,  sailed  to  America  and  proceeded 
along  the  coast  from  Florida  to  the  fiftieth  degree  of 
north  latitude,  and  that  he  entered  the  harbor  of  New 
York.  If  so,  no  practical  result  followed  his  discovery, 
and  during  almost  a  century  the  region  was  not  again 
visited  by  Europeans. 

In  1609  Henry  Hudson,  an  Englishman  in  the  service 
of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  while  seeking  for  a 
northwest  passage  to  Asia,  entered  the  Delaware  Bay,  in 
which  he  sailed  but  a  short  distance  on  account  of  the 
shoal  water.  Sailing  thence  northward  along  the  eastern 
shore  of  New  Jersey  he  anchored  his  ship  (the  "  Half- 
Moon  ")  within  Sandy  Hook  September  3d  of  that  year. 
On  the  5th  he  sent  a  boat's  crew  ashore  within  Sandy 
Hook,  and  they  penetrated  some  distance  into  the  region 
now  included  in  Monmouth  county.  The  next  day  a 
crew  of  five  was  sent  to  make  explorations  and  soundings 
in  the  Narrows.  It  is  stated  by  the  writer  of  the  ship's 
journal  that  they  found  "  a  large  opening  and  a  narrow 
river  to  the  west,"  which  was  probably  the  Kill  von  Kull, 
the  channel  between  Bergen  Point  and  Staten  Island. 
On  the  return  of  the  crew  they  were  attacked  by  the  na- 
tives in  two  canoes,  and  one  man,  named  John  Coleman, 
was  killed.  His  body  was  interred  the  next  day  on  what 
was  called  from  that  circumstance  Coleman's  Point — 
probably  Sandy  Hook.  Hudson  sailed  up  the  river  which 
bears  his  name,  as  far  as  Albany,  whence  he  returned, 
and  on  the  4th  of  October  sailed  for  Europe. 

In  1614  a  fort  and  trading  house  were  erected  on  the 
southwestern  point  of  Manhattan  Island,  which  was 
named  New  Amsterdam,  and  the  Dutch  colony  here  was 
called  New  Netherlands. 

It  is  not  positively  known  when  the  first  European  set- 
tlement was  made  within  the  limits  of  New  Jersey.  It  is 
believed  that  a  number  of  Danes  or  Norwegians  who 
came  to  New  Netherlands  with  the  Dutch  colonists  com- 
menced a  settlement  at  Bergen  about  the  year  i6i8.  In 
1614  a  redoubt  was  constructed  on  the  west  shore  of  the 
Hudson  River,  probably  at  Jersey  City  Point. 

The  first  attempt  to  establish  a  settlement  on  the  east- 
ern shore  of  the  Delaware  River  was  made  in  1623,  by 
Captain  Cornelius  Jacobsen  Mey,  in  the  service  of  the 
"  Privileged  West  India  Company."  He  sailed  up  Dela- 
ware Bay  and  River,  and  built  a  fort  (Fort  Nassau)  at 
Techaacho,  on  a  stream  which  empties  into  the  Delaware 
a  few  miles  below  Camden. 

The  West  India  Company,  to  encourage  settlement 
here,  granted  the  right  of  pre-emption  to  large  tracts  of 
land,  and  the  grantees  accordingly  purchased  the  lands 
from  the  Indians.  In  1630  they  formed  an  association 
and  sent  a  vessel,  under  the  command  of  David  Peiter- 
son  de  Vries,  with  settlers.  They  arrived  early  in  1631, 
to  find  that  Fort  Nassau  was  possessed  by  the  Indians 
and  none  of  the  settlers  were  there.  De  Vries  erected  a 
fort  and  left  a  colony,  which  was  soon  afterward  mas- 
sacred by  the  Indians.  He  returned  shortly  afterward 
with  a  new  company,  and  narrowly  escaped  a  similar 


fate.  The  Dutch  soon  abandoned  the  Delaware,  and 
during  some  years  the  country  remained  without  Euro- 
pean inhabitants. 

In  1637  the  Swedes  settled  on  the  Delaware.  Two 
ships  with  settlers  came  during  that  year,  followed  after- 
ward by  others,  and  in  1642  John  Printz  was  sent  over 
as  governor  of  the  colony.  He  established  himself  on 
the  island  of  Tennekeng,  or  Tennicum,  where  he  erected 
a  fort,  church,  etc.  Soon  afterward  the  Dutch  re-estab- 
lished a  settlement  at  Fort  Nassau  and  made  settlements 
elsewhere  on  the  river,  and  for  a  time  the  country  was 
occupied  by  the  two  nations  in  common.  Differences 
arose,  however,  which  led  to  general  hostilities,  and  the 
Swedes  were  in  1655  dispossessed  by  the  Dutch.  This 
was  the  termination  of  the  Swedish  authority  here. 

From  this  time  till  1664  the  country  on  the  Delaware 
was  wholly  under  Dutch  control,  and  was  governed  by 
directors  appointed  by  the  governor  of  the  colony  at 
New  Amsterdam.  These  directors  were,  in  the  order  of 
their  succession,  Johannes  Paul  Jaquet,  Peter  Alricks, 
Hinojossa  and  William  Beekman.  "  These  officers 
granted  lands,  and  their  patents  make  part  of  the  titles 
of  the  present  possessors.  At  this  period  the  Dutch  ac- 
quired large  tracts  of  country  upon  the  eastern  side  of 
New  Jersey,  and  it  may  be  reasonably  supposed  that 
there  was  some  settlement  on  the  road  between  the 
colonies  on  the  Hudson  and  Delaware." 

The  English  laid  claim  to  this  territory  on  the  ground 
of  prior  discovery  by  Cabot,  and  on  the  additional 
ground  that  Henry  Hudson,  though  in  the  service  of  the 
Dutch  when  he  discovered  the  region,  was  born  an  Eng- 
lishman; and  it  does  not  appear  that  they  ever  abandoned 
the  claim. 

Their  attempts  to  form  settlements  on  the  Delaware 
were  resisted  by  the  Dutch  and  Swedes,  and  even  vio- 
lence was  resorted  to,  which  gave  rise  to  controversies 
between  the  New  England  and  Dutch  governments. 


CHAPTER  II. 


NEW    JERSEY    UNDER   THE    DUTCH    AND    ENGLISH  GOVERN- 
ORS— SLAVERY. 


N  1664  Charles  II.  of  England  sent  a  force 
under  Sir  Robert  Carr  and  Colonel ,  Richard 
Nicoll  to  dispossess  the  Dutch  of  their  terri- 
tory in  the  New  World.  Governor  Stuyve- 
sant,  of  New  Amsterdam,  was  by  reason  of 
his  defenseless  condition  compelled  to  surrender 
without  resistance,  and  the  conquest  of  the  colony 
on  the  Delaware  was  accomplished  by  Sir  Robert  Carr 
"with  the  expenditure  of  two  barrels  of  powder  and 
twenty  shot."  At  this  time  an  extensive  grant  of  terri- 
tory was  made  by  King  Charles  to  his  brother,  the  Duke 


NEW  JERSEY  UNDER  THE  COLONIAL  GOVERNORS. 


of  York,  and  lie  on  the  23d  of  June  1664  conveyed  to 
Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret  the  territory  now 
comprising  New  Jersey,  by  the  following  instrument, 
which  first  definitely  described  its  boundaries: 

"  This  Indenture,  made  the  three-and-twentieth  day 
of  June  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  the  feign  of  our  Sover- 
eign Lord  Charles  the  Second  by  the  gface  of  God  of 
England,  Scotland,  France  and  Ireland,  King  Defender 
of  the  Faith — Anno  Dominie  1664 — between  his  Royal 
Highness  James  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  Earl  of 
Ulster,  Lord  High  Admiral  of  England  and  Ireland, 
Constable  of  Dover  Castle,  Lord  Warden  of  the  Cinque 
Ports  and  Governor  of  Portsmouth,  of  the  one  part,  John 
Lord  Berkeley,  Baron  of  Stratton  and  one  of  his  Majes- 
tie's  most  honorable  privy  council,  and- Sir  George  Car- 
teret, of  Stratturm,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  Knight  and 
one  of  his  Majestie's  most  honorable  privy  council,  of 
the  other  part,,Witnesaeth  that  the  said  James  Duke  of 
York,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  ten  shillings 
of  lavyrful  money  of^  England,  to  him  in  hand  paid,  by 
these  presents  doth  bargain  and  sell  unto  the  said  John 
Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret  all  that  tract  of 
land  adjacent  to  New  England  and  lying  and  being  to 
the  westward  of  Long  Island,  bounded  on  the  east  part 
by  the  main  sea  and  part  by  Hudson  River  and  hath 
upon  the  west  Delaware  Bay  or  River,  and  extendeth 
southward  to  the  main  ocean  as  far  as  Cape  May,  at  the 
mouth  of  Delaware  Bay,  and  to  the  northward  as  far  as 
the  northernmost  branch  of  said  bay  or  river  of  the  Dela- 
ware, which  is  in  forty-one  degrees  and  forty  minutes  of 
latitude;  and  worketh  over  thence  in  a  straight  line  to 
Hudson  River — which  said  tract  of  land  is  hereafter  to 
be  called  by  the  name  or  names  of  Nova  Csesarea  or  New- 
Jersey." 

The  feudal  tenure  was  recognized  by  the  agreement  to 
pay  an  annual  rent  of  one  pepper  corn  if  demanded. 
The  proprietors  formed  a  constitution,  or,  as  it  was 
termed,  "concessions  and  agreement  of  the  lords  pro- 
prietors," which  secured  equal  privileges  and  liberty  of 
conscience  to  all,  and  it  continued  in  force  till  the  divis- 
ion, of  the. province  in  1676.  Philip  Carteret  was  ap- 
pointed governor,  and  in  1665  he  made  Elizabethtown 
the  seat  of  government.  The  constitution  established  a 
representative  government  and  made  liberal  provision 
for  settlers..  In  a  few  years  domestic  disputes  arose,  and 
in  1672  an  insurrection  occurred  compelling  Governor 
Carteret  to  leave  the  province. 

In  1673  England  and  Holland  were  at  war,  and  a 
squadron  was  sent  by  the  Dutch  to  repossess  New  Neth- 
erland,  which  was  surrendered  without  resistance  by 
Captain  Manning  in  the  absence  of  Governor  Lovelace. 
On  the  conclusion  of  peace  between  England  and  Hol- 
land New  Netherland  was  restored  to  the  former.  The 
governor  of  New  York,  Major  Edmund  Andross,  claimed 
jurisdiction  over  New  Jersey,  insisting  that  the  Dutch 
conquest  extinguished  the  proprietary  title  ;  but  early  in 
1675  Governor  Carteret  returned  and  resumed  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  eastern  part  of  the  province.  He  was 
kindly  received  by  the  people,  who  had  become  dissatis- 
fied with  the  arbitrary  rule  of  Governor  Andross.  A  new 
set  of  concessions  was  published  and  peaceable  subordi- 
nation was  established  in  the  colony.  Governor  Andross, 
however,   continued  his  efforts  to   enforce   the  duke's 


jurisdiction,  and  at  last  sent  a  force  to  Elizabethtown  to 
arrest  Governor  Carteret  and  to  convey  him  to  New 
York. 

A  second  grant  was  made  to  Sir  George  Carteret,  but 
previously  to  this  it  appears  that  Lord  Berkeley  and  he 
had  partitioned  the  province;  for  the  country  described 
in  this  grant  was  bounded  on  the  southwest  by  a  line 
drawn  from  Barnegat  Creek  to  the  Rancocus.  Thus 
the  province  became  divided  into  East  and  West  New 
Jersey. 

Lord  Berkeley  was  not  satisfied  with  the  pecuniary 
prospects  of  his  colonization  venture  and  sold  his  inter- 
est to  two  Quakers,  John  Fenwicke  and  Edward  Byl- 
linge,  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds.  Byllinge, 
who  was  the  principal  proprietor,  became  embarrassed, 
and  his  share  was  conveyed  far  the  benefit  of  his  credi- 
tors to  William  Penn,  Gawen  Lawrie  and  Nicholas  Lucas, 
who  were  also  Quakers.  These  trustees  sold  shares  to 
different  purchasers,  who  thus  became  proprietaries  in 
common  with  them.  A  constitution  or  form  of  govern- 
ment similar  in  many  respects  to  the  "  concessions  "  of 
Berkeley  and  Carteret  was  adopted  by  those  proprietaries, 
and  on  the  ist  of  July  1676  a  line  of  division  between 
New  West  Jersey  and  New  East  Jersey  was  determined 
by  Sir  George  Carteret  and  the  trustees  of  Byllinge. 
This  line  was  defined  as  extending  "  from  the  east  side 
of  Little  Egg  Harbor  straight  north  through  the  country 
to  the  utmost  branch  of  Delaware  River." 

Many  settlers  were  attracted  hither,  nearly  all  of  whom 
were  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Land  was  purchased 
from  the  Indians,  and  the  town  of  Burlington — first  called 
New  Beverley,  then  Bridlington — was  established.  The  in- 
dustry and  patience  of  the  settlers  met  their  reward  and 
prosperity  prevailed  among  them. 

As  in  the  case  of  East  Jersey,  Governor  Andross,  of 
New  York,  claimed  and  sought  to  enforce  jurisdiction 
over  the  western  part  of  the  province,  and  finally  imposed 
a  tax  of  five  per  cent,  on  European  merchandise  im- 
ported. This  led  to  protests  and  representations  which  in- 
duced the  duke  in  1680  to  abandon  all  claims  on  West 
New  Jersey  and  confirm  the  rights  of  the  trustees  of  Byl- 
hnge  and  the  assignees  of  Fenwicke. 

The  proprietor  of  East  New  Jersey,  Sir  George  Carteret, 
died  in  1679.  By  his  will  he  directed  the  sale  of  that  part 
of  the  province  for  the  payment  of  his  debts,  and  it  was 
accordingly  sold  to  William  Penn  and  eleven  others,  who 
were  termed  the  twelve  proprietors.  A  fresh  impetus 
was  given  to  the  settlement  of  the  country,  especially  by 
people  from  Scotland.  Each  of  the  twelve  proprietors 
took  a  partner,  and  they  all  came  to  be  known  as  the 
twenty-four  proprietors,  and  to  them  the  Duke  of  York, 
on  the  14th  of  March  1682,  made  a  fresh  grant.  A  notable 
difference  had  been  observed  in  the  character  of  the  laws 
enacted  in  East  and  West  Jersey,  and  it  is  an  instructive 
fact  that  under  the  milder  and  more  merciful  laws  of  the 
latter  crime  was  less  frequent  than  under  the  severe 
enactments  of  the  former. 

Under  the  new  regime  in  East  Jersey  Robert  Barclay, 
one  of  the  proprietors,  was  chosen  governor  for  life,  with 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


power  to  name  his  deputies.  These  were,  in  succession: 
Thomas  Rudyard  (1683),  Gawen  Lawrie,  Lord  Niel 
Campbell  and  Alexander  Hamilton. 

In  West  Jersey  Samuel  Jennings  was  commissioned 
deputy  governor  by  Byllinge  in  1680,  and  during  the  next 
year  he  convened  an  assembly,  which  adopted  a  consti- 
tution and  form  of  government.  His  successors  were 
Thomas  Olive,  John  Skene,  William  Welsh,  Daniel  Coxe 
and  Andrew  Hamilton. 

In  1 701  the  condition  of  things  in  both  provinces  had 
come  to  be  such  that  the  benefits  of  good  government 
were  not  attainable.  Each  had  many  proprietors,  and 
their  conflicting  interests  occasioned  such  discord  that 
the  people  became  quite  willing  to  listen  to  overtures  for 
a  surrender  of  the  proprietary  government.  "The  pro- 
prietors, weary  of  contending  with  each  ottier  and  with 
the  people,  drew  up  an  instrument  whereby  they  sur- 
rendered their  right  of  government  to  the  crown,  which 
was  accepted  by  Queen  Anne  on  the  17th  of  April  1702. 
The  queen  at  once  reunited  the  two  provinces,  and 
placed  the  government  of  New  Jersey  as  well  as  of  New 
York  in  the  hands  of  her  kinsman  Lord  Cornbury."  The 
commission  and  instructions  which  Cornbury  received 
formed  the  constitution  and  government  of  the  province 
until  its  declaration  of  independence.  The  new  govern- 
ment was  composed  of  the  governor  and  twelve  councilors, 
nominated  by  the  crown,  and  an  assembly  of  twenty-four 
members  to  be  elected  by  the  people  for  an  indefinite 
term.  Among  the  instructions  given  to  the  governor  was 
the  following:  "  Forasmuch  as  great  inconveniences  may 
arise  by  the  liberty  oi  printing  in  our  said  province,  you 
are  to  provide  by  all  necessary  orders  that  no  person 
keep  any  press  for  printing,  nor  that  any  book,  pamphlet 
or  other  matters  whatsoever  be  printed  without  your 
especial  leave  and  license  first  obtained." 

Cornbury's  rule  was  terminated  by  the  revocation  of 
his  commission  in  1708.  It  was  characterized  by  mean- 
ness, extravagance,  despotism,  bigotry,  avarice,  and  pub- 
lic and  private  injustice.  He  was  succeeded  by  John 
Lord  Lovelace,  who  soon  died,  and  the  functions  of  gov- 
ernment were  discharged  by  Lieutenant  Governor  In- 
goldsby  till  17 10,  when  Governor  Hunter  commenced 
his  administration.  It  is  said  of  him  that  "he  assented 
to  most  of  the  laws  the  people  wanted,  and  filled  the 
offices  with  men  of  character."  He  was  followed  in  1720 
by  William  Burnet,  who  was  removed  to  Boston  in  1727. 
John  Montgomerie  then  became  governor,  and  so  con- 
tinued till  his  death,  in  1731.  His  successor,  William 
Cosby,  was  removed  by  death  in  1736.  The  government 
then  devolved  on  John  Anderson,  president  of  the  coun- 
cil, who  died  in  about  two  weeks  and  was  succeeded  by 
John  Hamilton  (son  of  Andrew  Hamilton,  governor  un- 
der the  proprietors),  who  served  nearly  two  years.  In 
1738  Lewis  Morris  Esq.  was  appointed  governor  of  New 
Jersey  "  separate  from  New  York.  He  continued  till 
his  death,  in  the  spring  of  1746.  He  was  succeeded  by 
President  Hamilton.      He  dying  it  devolved  upon  John 


Reading,  Esq.,  as  the  next  eldest  councilor.  He  exer- 
cised the  office  till  the  summer  of  i747>  when  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Esq.,  arrived.  He  died  in  the  summer  of 
1757  and  was  succeeded  by  John  Reading,  Esq., 
president.  Francis  Bernard,  Esq.,  appointed  governor 
in  1758,  was  removed  to  Boston,  and  succeeded 
here  by  Thomas  Boone,  Esq.,  in  1760."  He  was 
succeeded  by  Josiah  Hardy,  and  in  1763  by  William 
Franklin,  the  last  royal  governor  and  a  son  of  Dr. 
Benjamin  Franklin. 

From  the  first  settlement  of  New  Jersey  slavery  existed 
here.  No  measures  were  adopted  for  its  prevention,  and 
with  the  sentiment  that  then  prevailed  concerning  the 
slave  trade  and  the  institution  of  slavery  it  is  not  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  it  could  be  prohibited.  In  the  "con- 
cessions "  of  1664-65  "weaker  servants  or  slaves"  were 
spoken  of,  and  for  every  such  servant  above  the  age 
of  £4  brought  into  the  province  75  acres  of  land  were 
allowed  the  master.  When  Lord  Cornbury  was  made 
governor  of  the  province  he  was  instructed  as  follows  : 
"  And  whereas  we  are  willing  to  recommend  unto  the 
said  company  that  the  said  province  may  have  a  con- 
stant and  sufficient  supply  of  merchantable  negroes  at 
moderate  rates  in  money  or  commodities,  so  you  are  to 
take  especial  care  that  payment  made  be  duly  made  and 
within  a  competent  time,  according  to  agreement."  "And 
you  are  to  take  care  that  there  be  no  trading  from  our 
said  province  to  any  place  in  Africa  within  the  charter  of 
the  Royal  African  Company,  otherwise  than  prescribed 
by  an  act  of  Parliament  entitled  '  An  act  to  settle  the 
trade  of  Africa.'  " 

Barracks  once  stood  near  the  junction  of  Smith  and 
Water  streets  in  Perth  Amboy  for  the  reception  and  con- 
finement of  slaves  when  imported.  Much  of  the  labor 
of  families  was  for  many  years  previous  to  the  Revolu- 
tion performed  by  slaves. 

As  early  as  1696  the  Quakers  of  this  province  united 
with  those  of  Pennsylvania  to  discourage  the  importation 
and  employment  of  slaves,  but  their  example  was  not 
followed  by  others. 

In  New  Jersey  as  elsewhere  severe  penalties  were  in- 
flicted on  negroes  for  crimes,  and  these  often  followed 
closely  after  the  commission  of  the  crimes.  Whipping, 
branding,  hanging  and  even  burning  alive  were  among 
the  punishments  inflicted.  The  peace  of  the  province 
was  disturbed  it  is  said  by  several  risings  or  attempted 
insurrections  among  the  slaves,  but  these  were  promptly- 
suppressed. 

February  24th  1820  a  law  was  enacted  making  every 
child  born  of  slave  parents  subsequent  to  July  4th 
1804  free,  the  males  on  arriving  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years  and  the  females  at  twenty-one.  Under  this- 
law  and  that  of  1846  slavery  has  disappeared  from  the- 
State.  ' 

In  1790  there  were  in  the  State  11,423  slaves;  in  i8oq> 
12,422;  1810,  10,851;  1820,  7,557;  1830,  2,254;  1840, 
674;  1850,  236;   i860,  18. 


EARLY  REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS. 


II 


CHAPTER  IlL 


NKW    JERSEY  S    PART    IN    THE    FRENCH    AND    REVOLUTION- 
ARY   WARS. 


'N  1744  war  was  formally  declared  between 
France  and  Great  Britain.  Masked  hostili- 
ties had  been  for  some  time  carried  on.  In 
1746  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  resolved 
to  furnish  five  hundred  men  to  assist  in  the 
conquest  of  Canada.  In  response  to  the  call  for 
this  number  660  offered  themselves,  and  one  com- 
pany was  transferred  to  the  quota  of  New  York.  In  the 
French  and  Indian  hostilities  which  succeeded  this 
period,  and  which  were  not  terminated  till  1763,  New 
Jersey  nobly  sustained  her  part.  In  response  to  the  call 
of  the  English  minister,  Mr.  Pitt,  on  the  colonies  it  is 
said:  "  The  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  instead  of  raising 
reluctantly  five  hundred  men,  doubled  that  number;  and 
to  fill  the  ranks  in  season  offered  a  bounty  of  twelve 
pounds  per  man,  increased  the  pay  of  the  officers  and 
voted  a  sum  of  _;£'5o,ooo  for  their  maincenance.  They 
at  the  same  session  directed  barracks  to  be  built  at 
Burlington,  Trenton,  New  lirunswick,  Araboy  and  Eliza- 
bethtown,  competent  each  for  the  accommodation  of 
three  hundred  men.  *  *  *  This  complement  of  one 
thousand  men  New  Jersey  kept  up  during  the  years  1758, 
1759  and  176c;  and  in  the  years  1761  and  1762  fur- 
nished six  hundred  men,  besides  in  the  latter  year  a 
company  of  sixty-four  men  and  officers  especially  for 
garrison;  for  which  she  incurred  an  average  expense  of 
_;^4o,ooo  per  annum." 

It  is  neither  practicable  nor  desirable  in  a  brief  sketch 
like  this  to  discuss  the  causes  which  led  to  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  New  Jersey  bore  a  prominent  and 
honorable  part  in  that  memorable  contest,  and  not  only 
was  her  soil  the  scene  of  active  military  operations, 
but  it  was  more  than  once  made  red  by  the  blood  of  the 
defenders  of  American  liberty. 

Action  was  taken  by  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  in 
opposition  to  the  oppressive  acts  of  the  British  govern- 
ment as  early  as  February  1774,  when  a  State  committee 
of  correspondence  was  appointed,  with  instructions  to 
watch  and  make  known  all  matters  which  might  affect 
the  liberties  and  privileges  of  the  colonists. 

In  July  of  the  same  year  conventions  of  the  people 
were  held  in  the  various  county  towns,  and  resolutions 
were  adopted  condemning  in  strong  terms  the  oppressive 
acts  of  Great  Britain.  Deputies  were  also  chosen  to  a 
convention  for  the  election  of  delegates  to  the  General 
Congress  at  Philadelphia.  These  delegates  were  James 
Kinsey,  William  Livingston,  John  De  Hart,  Stephen 
Crane  and  Richard  Smith.  The  convention  was  held  be- 
cause of  the  refusal  of  the  governor  to  summon  the 
Assembly  when  requested  to  do  so.  At  its  next  session, 
in  January  1775,  the  Assembly  approved  the  proceedings 
of  Congress,  and  chose  the  same  representatives  for  the 


future  Congress.  A  convention  called  by  the  committee 
of  correspondence  assembled  at  Trenton  on  the  23d  of 
May  1775,  to  consider  and  determine  such  matters  as  de- 
manded attention.  This  convention  or  provincial  Con- 
gress, ''  reflecting  the  majesty  of  the  people,  assumed  as 
occasion  required  the  full  power  of  all  the  branches  of 
government."  It  provided  for  the  formation  of  one 
or  more  companies,  of  eighty  men  each,  in  every  town- 
ship or  corporation,  and  to  defray  necessary  expenses 
voted  a  tax  of  _;^io,ooo. 

On  the  5th  of  August  in  the  same  year  this  provincial 
Congress  reassembled  and  provided  for  the  organization 
cf  fifty-four  companies,  each  of  sixty-four  minute  men, 
allotting  to  each  county  a  certain  number.  A  resolution 
was  adopted  to  respect  the  rights  of  conscience  of  the 
Quakers,  but  askin;;  them  to  contribute  to  the  relief  of 
their  distressed  brethren.  The  Congress  made  provision 
for  the  perpetuation  of  the  authority  which  it  had  as- 
sumed, and  directed  "that  during  the  continuance  of  the 
present  unhappy  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and 
America  there  be  a  new  choice  of  deputies  in  every 
county  yearly,  on  the  third  Thursday  of  September." 

The  Legislature  was  convened  on  the  i6th  of  Novem- 
ber 1775  by  Governor  Franklin,  and  he  addressed  it  at 
some  length.  He  seemed  desirous  to  be  assured  of  his 
personal  safety,  and  of  the  fact  that  the  Assembly  did 
not  intend  to  declare  independence,  both  of  which  as- 
surances were  given  him.  "  On  December  6th  1775  ^^^ 
house  was  prorogued  by  the  governor  until  the  third  day 
of  January  1776,  but  it  never  reassembled,  and  thus 
terminated  the  provincial  Legislature  of  New  Jersey." 

Although  at  the  close  of  1775  the  feeling  was  strong 
against  a  declaration  of  independence  by  the  colonies, 
yet  the  experience  of  a  few  months  wrought  an  entire 
change;  and  when,  on  the  fourth  of  July  1776,  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  adopted  such  a  declaration  the  senti- 
ment of  a  majority  of  the  patriots  in  New  Jersey,  as  else- 
where, approved  it. 

On  the  loth  of  June  1776  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
New  Jersey  assembled,  and  oa  the  21st  of  the  same 
month  resolved  by  a  vote  of  54  to  3  to  organize  a  colo- 
nial or  State  government,  pursuant  to  a  recommendation 
made  by  the  Continental  Congress  on  the  15th  of  May. 
On  the  26th  of  June  a  constitution  was  reported,  and  on 
the  2nd  of  July  it  was  adopted,  thus  virtually,  though 
not  in  words,  severing  the  connection  between  the  colony 
and  the  mother  country.  The  declaration  of  independ- 
ence by  Congress  was  approved  on  the  17th  of  July. 
Governor  Franklin  was  thus  reduced  to  the  condition  of 
an  idle  spectator  of  the  doings  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress. He  made  an  impotent  attempt  to  exercise  his  au- 
thority, but  he  was  finally  arrested  and  sent  to  Connecti- 
cut, whence  he  sailed  to  England. 

Here  as  elsewhere  of  course  there  were  many  loyalists. 
Lenient  measures  toward  them  were  at  first  adopted,  but 
as  time  went  on  severer  measures  were  found  necessary. 
The  tories  here  as  elsewhere  were  more  malignant  in  their 
hostility  than  the  British  soldiery,  and  by  reason  of  their 
acquaintance  with  the  country  were  able  to  inflict  on  the 


12 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


patriots  great  injuries.     Laws  were  enacted  declaring  the 
forfeiture  of  their  estates  and  disfranchising  thera. 

It  is  not  practicable  to  give  even  a  distinct  outline  of 
the  military  operations  of  which  New  Jersey  was  the 
theater  during  the  Revolution.  Active  hostilities  were 
carried  on  here  for  several  years" of  the  struggle;  import- 
ant battles  were  fought  on  the  soil  of  the  State,  many 
minor  engagements  occurred,  and  there  is  hardly  a  town 
along  the  track  of  the  armies  which  crossed  and  recrossed 
the  State  that  was  not  rendered  historic  by  some  enter- 
prise or  exploit.  The  losses  of  New  Jersey  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary struggle,  both  in  men  and  property,  in  propor- 
tion to  her  wealth  and  population,  were  greater  than 
those  of  any  of  her  sisters.  "  When  General  Washington 
was  retreating  through  the  Jerseys,  almost  forsaken,  her 
militia  were  at  all  times  obedient  to  his  orders,  and  for 
a  considerable  time  composed  the  strength  of  his  army. 
The  military  services  performed  by  the  soldiers  of  New 
Jersey  and  the  sufferings  of  her  people  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  entitle  her  to  the  gratitude  of  her  sister 
States.  By  her  sacrifices  of  blood  and  treasure  in  resist- 
ing oppression  she  is  entitled  to  stand  in  the  foremost 
rank  among  those  who  struggled  for  American  freedom." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


PARTICIPATION    OF    THE    STATE    IN     THE     WARS     OF     THIS 
CENTURY. 


?T  is  not  necessary  to  discuss  at  length  the 
causes  which  led  to  the  war  of  1812  with 
Great  Britain.  It  may,  however,  be  stated 
that  the  principal  of  these  were  the  assump- 
tion by  that  power  of  the  right  to  search 
American  vessels  and  impress  seamen  into  the 
British  service,  and  the  violation  of  the  rights  of 
neutrals  on  the  high  seas.  War  was  declared  on  the  19th 
of  June  1812;  but  five  months  previously  the  State  of  New 
Jersey  had  by  resolutions  in  the  I>egislature  placed  her- 
self on  the  record  in  its  favor.  Though. this  State  did  not 
become  the  theater  of  active  hostilities  prompt  measures 
were  adopted  to  meet  any  emergencies  that  might  arise. 
In  1812  all  uniformed  companies  within  the  State  were 
called  on  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  take  the 
field  on  short  notice,  and  the  call  was  obeyed  with 
alacrity.  Subsequently  calls  were  made  for  men  to  guard 
the  coast  in  times  when  danger  was  apprehended,  and  in 
every  case  prompt  response  was  made  to  these  calls. 
Troops  were  sent  to  Marcus  and  Paulus  Hooks  and  to 
Staten  Islsnd  for  the  defense  of  those  points,  and  the 
.quota  of  the  State  for  the  war  was  furnished  at  an  early 
period.  About  four  thousand  men  were  called  into 
actual  service,  for  terms  averaging  about  three  months, 
and  the  pay  from  the  State  to  these  men,  in  addition  to 
that  which  they  received  from  the  government,  amounted 
to  $36,000. 


Peace  was  concluded  at  Ghent  on  the  17th  of  February 
1815,  and  in  this  State  as  elswhere  the  event  was  hailed 
with  lively  demonstrations  of  joy. 

In  1846,  by  reason  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the 
United  States,  difficulties  with  Mexico  arose  which  re- 
sulted in  war.  To  aid  in  the  prosecution  of  this  war 
many  troops  from  New  Jersey  were  raised  in  companies 
and  admitted  as  volunteers  directly  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States.  These  volunteers  accompanied  Gen- 
eral Taylor  in  his  campaigns  in  Mexico.  In  May  1846 
a  call  was  made  on  Governor  Stratton  of  this  State  for  a 
corps  of  volunteers,  which  was  very  promptly  furnished. 
The  troops  from  this  State  participated  in  all  the  cam- 
paigns of  this  war,  and  shared  its  hardships  and  priva- 
tions and  its  triumphs.  It  may  be  remarked  that  the 
commander-in-chief.  General  Winfield  Scott,  Colonel 
Phil  Kearney  and  Commodore  Robert  F.  Stockton,  all  of 
whom  bore  an  honorable  part  in  this  war,  were  Jerseymeii. 

December  20th  i860  a  convention  of  delegates  chosen 
by  the  people  of  South  Carolina  under  authority  of  the 
Legislature  adopted  an  ordinance  of  secession  from  the 
Union.  Other  Southern  States  soon  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  South  Carolina,  and  in  February  1861  a  con- 
vention of  delegates  appointed  by  the  conventions  of  six 
seceding  States  adopted  a  form  of  government,  termed 
the  "  Confederate  States  of  America." 

On  the  29th  of  January  1861  the  Legislature  of  New 
Jersey  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions,  setting  forth  the 
duty  of  the  citizens  to  sustain  the  Union,  and  declaring 
that  the  government  of  the  Uuited  States  is  a  national 
government  and  not  a  mere  compact  or  association. 

On  the  12th  of  the  following  April  Fort  Sumter,  in 
the  harbor  of  Charleston,  was  bombarded,  and  compelled 
to  surrender  to  the  rebels  on  the  13th.  On  the  15th 
President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  75,- 
000  men  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  Under  this  call  the 
quota  of  New  Jersey  was  3,120.  On  the  i7lh  Governor 
Olden  received  from  the  War  Department  the  requisi- 
tion for  these  men,  and  he  immediately  issued  his  proc- 
lamation calling  for  individvals  or  organizations  to  re- 
port for  service  within  twenty  days. 

In  New  Jersey  as  in  other  Inyal  States  a  spontane- 
ous uprising  at  once  took  place.  "  In  every  town  and 
village  the  people,  assembled  in  public  meetings,  pledged 
their  utmost  resources  in  behalf  of  the  imperiled  gov- 
ernment. The  banks  came  forward  with  liberal  offers 
of  money,  leading  citizens  proffered  their-  assistance  to 
the  authorities,  every  fireside  shone  with  the  lustre  of 
patriotic  feeling,  and  even  schools  shared  in  the  absorb- 
ing excitement.  It  was  a  carnival  of  patriotism  from 
one  end  of  the  State  to  the  other." 

On  the  23d  of  April  the  first  company— the  Olden 
Guards,  Captain  Joseph  A.  Yard,  of  Trenton — was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  Quickly 
following  this  were  other  companies,  so  that  by  the  30th 
of  the  same  month  the  brigade  was  full.  An  extra 
session  of  the  Legislature  was  convened  on  the  30th  of 
April  and  a  loan  of  $2,000,000  was  authorized  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  troops.     Within  sixty  days  the  banks 


CIVIL  WAR  RECORD— SCHOOL  HISTORY. 


13 


in  the  State  had  subscribed  to  this  loan  the  aggregate 
sum  of  $705,000,  and  individuals  had  taken  $76,000, 
making  a  total  of  $781,000. 

On  the  sth  of  May  the  New  Jersey  troops  reached 
Annapolis,  and  on  the  6th  they  reported  for  duty  to  the 
War  Department  in  Washington. 

On  the  3d  of  May  1861  a  call  was  issued  by  the  Presi- 
dent for  thirty-nine  regiments  of  infantry  and  one  of  cav- 
alry, to  serve  three  years  or  during  the  war.  Under  this 
call  the  quota  of  New  Jersey  was  three  regiments.  Such 
had  been  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  that  not  only  had 
the  first  quota  been  filled,  but  about  five  thousand  men 
had  enlisted  in  New  York,  and  nearly  a  sufficient  number 
of  companies  were  organized  to  fill  this  second  quota. 
The  regiments  were  organized  at  once  and  were  uniformed, 
clothed  and  equipped  at  the  expense  of  the  State,  amount- 
ing to  $177,000.  On  the  28th  of  June  they  were  sent  to 
Washington. 

On  the  3d  of  August  a  requisition  was  made  by  the 
President  on  this  State  for  five  regiments  of  infantry  and 
one  company  of  artillery,  and  on  the  Sth  of  September 
another  company  of  artillery  and  a  regiment  of  riflemen 
or  sharpshooters,  of  twelve  companies,  were  added  to  the 
requisition.  These  regiments  and  companies  were  at 
once  raised. 

A  regiment  of  cavalry  was  also  recruited  in  twenty 
■days,  under  authority  of  the  President,  by  Hon.  William 
Halstead,  of  Trenton,  then  seventy  years  of  age.  These 
regiments  and  companies  were  also  furnished  with  equip- 
ments by  the  State,  and  they  were  organized  and 
equipped  at  an  expense  of  $557,000.  Another  regiment, 
the  loth,  was  recruited  by  authority  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment without  authority  from  the  State,  but  was  afterward 
credited  on  the  quota  of  New  Jersey. 

Under  the  call  of  July  7th  1862  for  300,000  volunteers 
the  quota  of  New  Jersey  was  five  regiments.  Of  these 
four  were  mustered  into  service  before  the  end  of  August, 
and  one  on  the  6th  of  September. 

August  4th  1862  an  enrollment  and  a  daft  of  300,000 
militia  were  ordered  by  the  President.  On  the  3d  of 
September,  the  day  fixed  for  the  draft,  there  were  in 
camp  in  this  State  236  men  more  than  the  number  called 
for.  Although  the  men  of  these  nine  months'  regiments 
were  transferred  almost  at  once  from  civil  life  to  active 
military  service  they  discharged  their  duties  efficiently. 

Under  the  conscription  act  of  1863  the  quota  for  New 
Jersey  was  fixed  at  8,783.  Six  places  of  rendezvous 
were  established  on  the  3d  of  August,  all  of  which  were 
closed  within  about  two  months.  Ten  companies  of 
thirty-day  men  also  were  mustered  for  service  in  Penn- 
sylvania during  1863. 

Under  the  call  of  May  i6th  1864  for  "  hundred-day 
men  "  a  regiment  was  organized,  and  it  served  till  Oc- 
tober of  that  year. 

Under  the  call  of  July  i8th  1864  for  500,000  troops 
the  quota  of  New  Jersey  was  15,891. 

During  the  war  New  Jersey  sent  to  the  field  forty  regi- 
ments and  five  batteries.  Her  total  number  of  men  liable 
to  military  duty  was  98,806.     Of  these  78,248. men  were 


called  for  by  the  government,  and  88,305  were  furnished, 
of  whom  79,348  were  credited  to  the  State  and  8,957 
served  in  regiments  of  other  States.  The  surplus  over 
all  calls  was  10,057.  The  expenditures  made  by  New 
Jersey  in  supplying  troops  during  the  war  amounted  to 
$2,894,384.99. 

The  historian  Raum  says:  "  During  the  entire  war 
New  Jersey  had  ample  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  citizen 
soldiery,  for  on  every  battle  field  that  their  services  were 
called  into  requisition  they  acquitted  themselves  nobly, 
and  ably  sustained  the  reputation  of  Jersey  Blues." 


CHAPTER  V. 


EDUCATIONAL,    GOVERNMENTAL    AND  BENEVOLENT    INSTI- 
TUTIONS  THE     STATE    ADMINISTRATION. 


LTHOUGH  from  the  well  known  character  of 
the  Dutch  and  Swedes  who  first  settled  New 
Jersey  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  they 
had  schools  as  soon  as  there  were  among 
them  a  sufficient  number  of  children,  no 
record  of  the  fact  remains. 
The  English  immigrants  in  East  Jersey  estab- 
lished schools  in  connection  with,  their  churches.  The 
Quakers  who  settled  West  Jersey  were  exceedingly  care- 
ful to  educate  their  children,  and  the  first  school  fund  in 
the  province  was  derived  from  the  rent  or  sale  of  lands 
on  an  island  in  the  Delaware  opposite  Burlington  set 
apart  for  that  purpose. 

Action  in  Newark  concerning  schools  was  first  taken 
in  1676,  and  in  1693  the  General  Assembly  of  East  Jersey 
authorized  the  election  of  school  commissioners  in  the 
towns  and  recognized  the  principle  of  taxation  for  the 
support  of  schools. 

,A  school  fund  of  $15,000  was  created  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  in  1816,  and  this  was  increased  the  next  year. 
In  1818  the  amount  was  increased  to  $r  13,238.78.  In 
1820  the  inhabitants  of  townships  were  authorized  to 
raise  money  by  taxation  for  educational  purposes,  and  in 
1828  to  raise  funds  in  the  same  manner  for  the  erection 
of  school-houses. 

In  1824  the  Legislature  enacted  that  the  school  fund 
should  be  increased  by  the  addition  to  it  each  year  of 
one  tenth  of  all  the  State  taxes. 

In  1829  a  school  system  was  established,  and  in  that 
year  an  appropriation  of  $20,000  was  made  for  school 
purposes.  This  was  followed  by  appropriations  in  sub- 
sequent years.  In  1838  the  school  system  was  remodeled 
and  the  annual  appropriation  increased  to. $30,000.  The 
constitution  of  1844  prohibited  the  diversion  of  the 
school  fund  to  any  other  purpose  than  the  support  of 
schools.  An  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1846  provided  for 
the  appointment  of  a  State  superintendent  of  public 
schools  and  for  the  election  of  township  superintendents. 
It  also  modified  the  school  system. 


14 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


The  annual  appropriation  was  increased  to  $40,000  in 
185 1  and  to  $80,000  in  1858.  Teachers'  institutes  were 
established  by  law  in  1854.  The  State  normal  school 
was  established  in  1855,  at  Trenton,  and  the  Farnum 
preparatory  school  at  Beverly  was  founded  in  1856,  by 
Paul  Farnum,  who  donated  $70,000  for  that  purpose. 

The  State  Board  of  Education  was  constituted  in  1866 
and  in  1867  was  revised,  remodeled  and  greatly  inl- 
proved. 

Of  the  higher  institutions  of  learning  in  this  State  its 
citizens  are  justly  proud.  In  1756  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  which  had  been  incorporated  m  1746,  was  per- 
manently established  at  Princeton.  A  theological  sem- 
inary was  also  founded  at  Princeton,  by  the  Presbyterian 
denomination,  in  181 1. 

The  Queen's  College  was  established  at  New  Bruns- 
wick in  1770,  under  a  charge  from  King  George  III.  of 
England.  In  honor  of  Henry  Rutgers  its  name  was 
changed  by  act  of  the  Legislature  to  Rutgers  College. 
The  Reformed  Dutch  Church  founded  a  theological 
school  at  New  Brunswick  in  1771. 

Burlington  College,  at  Burlington,  was  chartered  in 
1846.  It  is  under  the  management  of  the  Episcopalians. 
Seton  Hall  College,  founded  at  Madison  in  1856  and 
removed  to  South  Orange  in  i860,  was  chartered  in  1861. 
It  is  a  Roman  Catholic  institution.  An  ecclesiastical 
seminary  is  connected  with  it. 

In  addition  to  these  there  are  many  academies,  theo- 
logical, commercial  and  special  institutions. located  in  dif- 
ferent portions  of  the  State,  the  character  of  which  will 
not  suffer  by  comparison  with  those  of  any  other  part  of 
the  country.  There  is  probably  no  State  in  the  Union 
which  in  proportion  to  its  size  affords  educational  facil- 
ities equal  to  those  of  New  Jersey. 

Previous  to  1798  there  was  in  this  State  no  place  of 
confinement  for  criminals  except  the  county  jails.  In  that 
year  a  prison  was  erected  at  Lamberton,  at  an  expense 
^^9,852.  In  1820  it  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a 
wing.  In  1838  a  new  prison  was  completed,  at  a  total 
cost  of  about  $180,000.  Acts  for  the  enlargement  of  this 
prison  were  passed  in  1847,  i860,  1868  and  1877,  and  the 
entire  cost  up  to  that  time  was  about  $500,000. 

In  1837  an  act  was  passed  making  the  old  State  prison 
a  public  arsenal.  The  building  has  been  from  time  to 
time  repaired  and  refitted,  under  authority  of  acts  of  the 
Legislature. 

In  1791  the  seat  of  government  was  fixed  at  Trenton, 
and  in  1792  a  State-house  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about 
;^4,ooo.  The  building  was  repaired  in  1799,  1801,  1806, 
1845  and  1850.  Additions  were  made  in  1863-65, 
1871-73  and  1875. 

The  first  action  for  the  regulation  of  the  State  library 
was  taken  in  1804,  when  168  volumes  had  accumulated. 
From  this  humble  beginning  the  present  State  library 
has  grown. 

The  first  effective  movement  toward  the  erection  of  an 
asylum  for  the  insane  was  made  in  1844,  when  a  com- 
mission for  the  selection  of  a  site  was  appointed  by  the 
Legislature.    "  A  site  was  selected  about  two  miles  from 


Trenton.  A  building  was  erected  within  a  few  years, 
and  additions  have  from  time  to  time  been  made  to  it  as 
necessity  has  required. 

In  1868  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  the  appointment 
of  a  commission  to  select  a  site  for  an  additioual  lunatic 
asylum  and  to  commence  its  erection.  A  site  was  selected 
three  miles  from  Morristown,  and  430  acres  of  land  were 
purchased.  An  extensive  building  was  erected,  at  a 
cost,  including  land,  furniture,  etc.,  of  $2,250,000,  and  in 
1876  292  patients  were  removed  to  it  from  the  Trenton 
asylum. 

A  solciers'  children's  home  was  incorporated  in  1865, 
and  in  1866  it  became  a  State  institution.  It  was  closed 
in  1876,  the  State  having  expended  on  it  more  than 
$346,000. 

An  act  for  the  establishment  of  the  "  New  Jersey  Sol- 
diers'Home  "  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  in  1865, 
and  a  building  in  the  city  of  Newark  was  completed  in 
1866,  at  a  total  cost  of  more  than  $32,000.  It  has  been 
supported  by  annual  State  appropriations. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1865  a  reform  farm 
school  for  boys  was  established.  The  farm  is  near  James- 
burg,  Middlesex  county,  and  includes  nearly  five  hundred 
acres. 

A  State  industrial  school  for  girls  was  established  in 
187 1,  and  a  farm  of  about  80  acres  in  the  township  of 
Ewing,  near  Trenton,  was  purchased  in  1872. 

In  1854,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  a  geological  sur- 
vey of  the  State  was  authorized,  and  since  that  year 
annual  appropriations  have  been  made  for  the  prosecution 
of  the  work.  This  survey  has  not  only  added  valuable 
contributions  to  geological  science,  but  has  aided  ma- 
terially in  the  development  of  the  mineral  and  agricultural 
resources  of  the  State. 

The  New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  1845,  was  incorporated  in  1846.  It  has  its  library 
and  collections  at  Newark. 

The  constitution  of  New  Jersey  which  was  adopted 
July  2nd  1776  continued  to  be  the  fundamental  law  of  the 
State  till  1844,  when  a  convention  of  delegates  assembled 
on  the  14th  of  May  to  frame  a  new  constitution.  They 
concluded  their  labors  on  the  29th  of  June.  The  con- 
stitution which  they  formed  was  submitted  to  the  people 
on  the  second  Tuesday  in  the  following  August,  and 
adopted  by  a  large  majority.  A  more  complete  sep- 
aration of  the  different  departments  of  government 
and  an  extension  of  political  and  civil  privileges 
were  the  notable  changes  which  were  made  from  the 
former  constitution.  No  further  change  was  made  till 
1873,  when  the  wants  of  the  Slate  seemed  to  require 
further  modifications  of  its  fundamental  law,  and  a  com- 
mission was  appointed  by  authority  of  the  Legislature  to 
propose  amendments  to  the  constitution.  Twenty-eight 
amendments  were  proposed,  and  they  were  submitted  to 
the  people  at  a  special  election  September  7th  1875,  and 
all  were  adopted.  Although  no  radical  change  was  made 
by  these  amendments  many  provisions  were  introduced  in 
keeping  with  the  progress  of  the  age,  among  which  were 
the  elimination  of  the  word  "  white  "  from  the  constitu- 


GOVERNORS  OF  NEW  JERSEY— INDUSTRIES. 


15 


tion  and  the  substitution  of  the  word  "free  "  for  "  public" 
in  the  paragraph  relating  to  schools. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  governors  of  New  Jersey 
under  the  different  regimes,  with  the  year  of  their  ap- 
pointment or  election: 

Previous  to  the  division  of  the  province:  Carstiansen, 
1614;  Peter  Minuit,  1624;  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  1633; 
William  Kieft,  1638;  John  Printz,  1642;  Peter  Stuy- 
vesant,  1646;  Philip  Carteret  (English)  1664;  Edmund 
Andross,  1674. 

After  the  division:  East  Jersey — Philip  Carteret,  1676; 
Robert  Barclay,  1682;  Thomas  Rudyard,  1682;  Gawen 
Lawrie,  1683;  Lord  Neil  Campbell,  1686;  Andrew  Ham- 
ilton, 1687;  Edmund  Andross,  1688;  John  Tatham,  1690; 
Joseph  Dudley,  1691;  Andrew  Hamilton,  1692;  Jeremiah 
Basse,  1698;  Andrew  Bowne,  1699;  Andrew  Hamilton, 
1699;  West  y^rj-ify^Commissioners,  1676;  Edward  Byl- 
linge,  1679;  Samuel  Jennings,  1679;  Thomas  Olive,  1684; 
John  Skene,  1685;  Daniel  Coxe,  1687;  Edward  Hun- 
loke,  1690;  Society  of  Proprietors,  1691;  Andrew  Hamil- 
ton, 1692;  Jeremiah  Basse,  1697;  Andrew  Hamilton, 
1690, 

Province  of  New  Jersey  under  the  English  govern- 
ment: Lord  Cornbury,  1702;  Lord  Lovelace,  1708;  Rich- 
ard Ingoldsby,  1709;  Robert  Hunter,  1710;  William 
Burnet,  1720;  John  Montgomerie,  1728;  Lewis  Morris, 
1731;  William  Cosby,  1732;  John  Anderson,  1736;  John 
Hamilton,  1736;  Lewis  Morris,  1738;  John  Hamilton, 
1746;  John  Reading,  1746;  Jonathan  Belcher,  1747;  John 
Reading,  1757;  Francis  Bernard,  1758;  Thomas  Boone, 
1760;  Josiah  Hardy,  1761;  William  T.  Franklin,  1763. 

Governors  of  the  State:  William  Livingston,  1776; 
William  Paterson,  1791;  Richard  Howell,  1794;  Joseph 
Bloomfield,  1801;  John  Lambert,  1802;  Joseph  Bloom- 
field,  1803;  Aaron  Ogden,  1812;  William  S.  Pennington, 
1813;  Mahlon  Dickerson,  18 [5;  Isaac  H.  Williamson, 
1817;  Peter  D.  Vroom  jr.,  1829;  Elias  P.  Seeley,  1832; 
Peter  D.  Vroom,  1833;  Philemon  Dickerson,  1836;  Wil- 
liam Pennington,  1837;  Daniel  Haines,  1843;  Charles  C. 
Stratton,  1844;  Daniel  Haines,  1848;  George  F.  Fort, 
1851;  Rodman  M.  Price,  1854;  William  A.  Newell,  1857; 
Charles  S  Olden,  i860;  Joel  Parker,  1863;  Marcus  L. 
Ward,  1866;  Theodore  F.  Randolph,  1869;  Joel  Parker, 
1872;  Joseph  D.  Bedle,  1875;  George  B.  McClellan, 
1878;  George  C.  Ludlow,  1881. 


CHAPTER  VL 


MINERAL    RESOURCES — INDUSTRIES — CANALS    AND     RAIL- 
ROADS— POPULATION. 


'EW  JERSEY  is  rich  in  mineral  deposits. 
Among  the  best  mines  of  zinc  in  the  United 
States  are  those  of  Sussex  county,  which  have 
been  long  and  extensively  worked.  Copper 
is  also  found  in  several  places.  As  early  as 
[719  a  mine  was  discovered  in  Morris  county 
lat  had  evidently  been  worked  by  the  early 
Dutch  settlers.  Iron  is  the  most  important  mineral  in 
the  State.  It  is  found  in  the  counties  of  Morris,  Sussex, 
Warren,  Passaic,  Hunterdon  and  elsewhere.  In  Morris 
county  mines  were  worked  as  early  as   1685,  and  there 


are  mines  in  the  State  that  have  been  worked  for  a  cen- 
tury and  a  half  and  that  still  are  productive.  A  smaller 
proportion  of  the  ore  mined  in  this  State  is  smelted  here 
than  formerly.  As  facilities  for  transportation  have  in- 
creased larger  and  larger  quantities  have  been  taken  away, 
especially  to  the  coal  producing  regions.  Many  hundred 
thousand  tons  are  annually  produced.  In  Monmouth 
county  there  was  a  smelting  furnace  and  forge  as  early  as 
1682,  and  what  was  then  a  large  business  was  carried  on. 
Space  will  not  permit  an  account  in  detail  of  the  mines 
that  have  been  worked  or  of  the  furnaces  and  mills  that 
have  been  established  in  the  State.  The  value  of  the  ore 
mined  and  of  the  iron  produced  amounts  to  many  millions 
of  dollars  annually. 

The  surroundings  of  New  Jersey  have  greatly  influenced 
the  character  of  its  industries,  as  in  the  case  of  other 
regions.  In  early  times  its  agriculture  was  similar  to  that 
of  the  first  settlements  elsewhere;  but  as  time  went  on, 
and  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  increased 
in  size  and  the  facilities  for  transportation  to  these  cities 
became  greater,  the  productions  of  the  soil  were  gradu- 
ally changed  to  meet  the  demands  in  these  cities,  till 
New  Jersey  has  come  to  be  not  inappropriately  termed 
the  "  market  garden  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia." 
The  cultivation  of  small  fruits  has  within  a  comparatively 
recent  period  become  an  important  industry  in  many  lo- 
calities, and  the  sterile  soil  in  some  of  the  lower  counties 
has  been  made  productive  by  the  use  of  fertilizers,  par- 
ticularly of  the  marl  which  abounds  along  the  coast. 

At  an  early  period  only  such  manufactures  were  en- 
gaged in  as  were  necessary  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
settlers.  Saw-mills,  grist-mills  and  clothieries  of  course 
sprang  up  in  all  settled  parts  of  the  State.  The  excel- 
lent water  power  furnished  by  the  streams,  the  natural 
facilities  for  transportation  existing  here,  and  the  exist- 
ence of  an  abundance  of  raw  material  led  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  different  kinds  of  manufactories  in  various 
localities  before  the  commencement  of  the  present  cen- 
tury. 

The  introduction  of  steam  as  a  motor,  and  the  increase 
of  facilities  for  bringing  hither  material  and  carrying 
away  manufactured  products,  led  to  the  establishment  of 
other  branches  of  manufactures  and  the  extension  of 
those  already  existing;  and  as  time  went  on  and  the 
population  of  the  State  increased  manufacturing  inter- 
ests assumed  a  constantly  increasing  importance,  till 
New  Jersey  has  become  one  of  the  most  important 
manufacturing  States  in  the  Union.  It  may  reasonably 
be  predicted  that,  with  the  advantages  of  location  and 
facilities  for  transportation  possessed  by  New  Jersey,  it 
will  maintaifi  its  position  in  the  front  rank  among  manu- 
facturing States. 

Of  the  many  canals  which  have  been  chartered  by 
the  State  the  principal  were  the  Morris  and  the 
Delaware  and  Raritan.  The  former  was  chartered  in 
1824  and  was  completed  between  Phillipsburg  and  Jer- 
sey City  in  1836,  connecting  the  waters  of  the  Hudson 
and  Delaware  rivers.  The  Delaware  and  Raritan  was 
finally  chartered  in    1830,  and  the  canal  was  completed 


i6 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


between  Bordentown,  on  the  Delaware,  and  New  Bruns- 
wick, on  the  Raritan,  in  1834. 

As  early  as  181,5  ^  railroad,  either  of  wood  or  iron," 
was  chartered  from  the  Delaware  river  near  Trenton  to 
the  Raritan  near  New  Brunswick.  This  was  the  first  rail- 
road chartered  in  America.     It  was  never  built. 

The  Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad  Company  was  char- 
tered in  1830,  and  in  1831  was  consolidated  with  the 
Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal  Company.  The  first  train 
of  cats  passed  over  its  entire  length  in  1833. 

By  reason  of  the  proximity  of  New  Jersey  to  the  great 
commercial  metropolis  of  the  country  the  railroad  system 
of  the  State  has  grown  to  far  greater  proportions  than 
that  of  many  States.  There  are  now  within  its  limits 
nearly  two  thousand  miles  of  railroad. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  city  of  New  York  has  come  to 
exert  a  potent  influence  on  the  portions  of  New  Jersey 
contiguous  thereto.  The  numerous  lines  of  railroad  thai 
diverge  from  points  on  the  Hudson  river  opposite  to  that 
city  afford  to  people  engaged  in  business  there  such 
facilities  for  quick  transit  that  thousands  of  such  have 
their  residences  along  these  avenues  of   travel,  and  pass 


daily  to  and  from  the  city.  It  is  not  extravagance  to 
look  forward  to  a  time  when  the  entire  region  for  many 
miles  from  New  York  will  become  practically  a  part  of 
that  city. 

Seaside  summer  resorts  have  sprung  up  at  various 
points  along  the  coast,  and  these  too  are  annually  in- 
creasing in  number  and  importance.  Anticipations  which 
may  at  first  be  considered  wild  can  also  reasonably  be 
entertained  concerning  these. 

The  population  of  the  State  by  counties  in  1880  was 
as  follows: 


Atlantic 18,706 

Bergen 36,79c 

Burlington S5.403 

.Camden 62,941 

Cape  May 9,765 

Cumberland 37)694 

Essex 189,81.9 

Gloucester 25,886 

Hudson 1 87,950 

Hunterdon 38,568 

Mercer 58,058 


Middlesex 52,286 

Monmouth 5S>S3S 

Morris 50,867 

Ocean 14.455 

Passaic 68,716 

Salem 24,580 

Somerset 27,161 

Sussex 23,553 

Union 55,57i 

Warren 36,588 

Total 1,130,892 


HISTORY  OF 


MORRIS  COUNTY 


By  Hon.  Edmund  D.  Halsey. 


CHAPTER   I. 


THE    INDIANS   IN    POSSESSION — EARLY  BOUNDARY   LINES — 
THE    FIRST    SETTLEMENTS. 


EFORE  the  year  1700  the  territory  now  called 
Morris  county  was  probably  in  the  undis- 
turbed possession  of  the  Indians.  During 
the  times  of  the  Dutch  supremacy  in  New 
York  people  of  that  nationality  had  settled 
upon  the  flat  lands  bordering  on  the  Hudson 
and  spread  themselves  northward  into  the  coun- 
ty of  Bergen.  After  1664  the  English  from  Long  Island 
and  New  England,  by  way  of  Elizabethtown  and  Milford, 
as  Newark  was  then  called,  began  to  dispute  with  the 
Hollanders  the  settlement  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
The  English,  Quakers,  Swedes  and  Dutch  had  become 
established  upon  the  Delaware  and  were  commencing  to 
look  inland;  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  an  actual  set- 
tler had  as  yet  disturbed  the  aborigines  in  their  posses- 
sion of  the  unbroken  wilderness  which  extended  from 
Orange  Mountain  to  the  "  Great  Pond."  So  distinct 
were  the  settlements  upon  the  Hudson  and  the  Delaware 
that  their  separation  into  East  and  West  Jersey,  so  sin- 
gular to  us  now,  was  a  natural  one.  The  line  between  the 
two  divisions,  described  as  a  "  streight  lyne  from  the  said 
Creeke  called  Barnegat  to  a  certaine  Creeke  in  Delaware 
River  next  adjoyneing  to  and  below  a  certaine  Creeke 
in  Delaware  River  called  Rankokus  Kill,  and  from 
thence  up  the  said  Delaware  to  ye  northermost 
branch  thereof,  which  is  in  fforty-one  degrees  and 
fforty  minutes  of  Latitude,"  was  a  fruitful  source  of 
dispute.  In  1687  Keith,  the  surveyor-general  of 
East  Jersey,  ran  this  line  from  Little  Egg  Harbor 
as  far  as  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan,  but  it 
was  deemed  by  the  West  Jersey  proprietors  too  far  west, 
and  they  objected  to  its  continuance  any  farther.  On 
September  5th  1688  Governors  Coxe  and  Barclay,  repre- 


senting the  opposite  sides,  stipulated  that  the  line  should 
be  extended  to  the  north  branch  of  the  Raritan,  near 
Lamington  Falls;  thence  up  the  river  to  its  rise  on  Suc- 
casunna  Plains,  and  from  there  to  the  "  nearest  part  of 
Passaic  River;"  thence  up  the  Passaic  and  Pequannock  to 
the  41st  degree  north  latitude,  and  thence  due  east  to  the 
partition  point  on  the  Hudson  River  between  New  Jersey 
and  New  York.  This  line  passed  about  five  miles  north 
of  Morristown,  and  seemed  to  be  regarded  as  the  division 
line,  but  not  invariably  or  for  any  length  of  time.  The 
line  run  by  John  Lawrence  in  1743,  which  passes 
through  Budd's  Lake  (the  "  ninety-three  mile  tree " 
standing  just  north  of  the  lake),  was  finally  settted  upon 
as  the  true  one;  but  until  after  the  Revolution  the  pro- 
prietors of  West  Jersey  claimed  to  the  compromise  line  of 
Coxe  and  Barclay,  or  to  a  line  running  from  Barnega:t 
Inlet  to  Port  Jervis,  and  the  proprietors  of  East  Jersey 
claimed  to  the  line  of  Keith,  continued  to  the  Delaware. 

John  Barclay,  Arthur  Forbes  and  Gawen  Lawrie,  writ- 
ing to  the  Scots  proprietors  March  29th  1684,  say  :  "We 
cannot  positively  answer,  to  give  an  account  of  the  whole 
length  and  breadth  of  the  province.  But  we  are  informed 
that  it  is  a  great  deal  broader  than  ye  expected,  for  those 
who  have  traveled  from  the  extent  of  our  bounds  on 
Hudson  River  straight  over  to  the  Delaware  River  say  it  is 
100  miles  or  upwards.  We  shall  know  that  certainly  after 
a  while,  for  the  line  betwixt  us  and  New  York  is  to  be 
run  straight  over  to  Delaware  River,  about  three  weeks 
hence,  and  after  that  the  line  betwixt  us  and  West  Jer- 
sey; after  which  we  shall  be  able  to  give  a  true  account 
of  the  bounds  of  that  province.  *  *  *  There  are 
also  hills  up  in  the  country,  but  how  much  ground  they 
take  up  we  know  not;  they  are  said  to  be  stony,  and  cov- 
ered with  wood,  and  beyond  them  is  said  to  be  excellent 
land."  Endeavoring  to  give  as  flattering  an  account  as 
they  could  of  the  settlements  in  the  province  and  their 
extent,  in  their  reports  to  their  friends  in  the  old  country, 
no  mention  is  made  of  any  nearer  Morris  county  than 
Newark. 

As  late  as  January  21st'  1707  the  Legislature  passed 


i8 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


an  act  defining  the  boundaries  of  the  then  nine  counties 
of  the  State,  and  exhibited  an  ignorance  of  the  geography 
of  the  upper  portion  of  the  State  only  to  be  accounted 
for  by  the  fact  that  that  region  was  uninhabited  except  by 
Indians  and  wandering  hunters.  The  bounds  of  Essex 
county  ran  up  the  "Rahway  River  to  Robeson's  branch; 
thence  west  to  the  division  hne  between  the  Eastern  and 
Western  division  aforesaid,  and  so  to  follow  the  said  di- 
vision line  to  Pequaneck  River,  where  it  meets  Passaick 
River;  thence  down  Passaick  River  to  the  bay  and  sound." 
The  lines  of  Burlington  county  followed  the  same  par- 
tition line  "  to  the  northernmost  and  uttermost  bounds 
of  the  township  of  Am  well;  thence  by  the  same  to  the 
River  Delaware;"  thence  down  the  Delaware  to  the  place 
of  beginning.  This  arrangement  placed  part  of  Morris 
county  in  Essex  and  part  in  Burlington.  The  division 
line  referred  to  was  evidently  the  Coxe  and  Barclay  line, 
as  Keith's  division  line  of  1687  or  its  continuation  did 
not  run  within  miles  of  the  Pequannock  or  any  of  its  trib- 
utaries. Lawrence's  line,  still  farther  to  the  east,  inter- 
sected only  the  head  waters  of  the  Walkill. 

March  tith  1713-14  all  the  upper  part  "of  the  said 
Western  Division  of  the  province  of  New  Jersey  lying 
northward  of,  or  situate  above,  the  brook  or  rivulet  com- 
monly called  Assanpink"  was  created  a  county,  to  be 
called  Hunterdon. 

The  Indians  who  inhabited  northern  New  Jersey  at  the 
time  of  the  first  settlement  by  the  whites  were  the  Lenapes 
or  Delawares,  who  are  treated  of  on  page  7.  The  Minsi 
tribe,  called  by  the  English  Muncys,  extended  from  the 
Minisink,  on  the  Delaware,  where  they  held  their  council 
seat,  to  the  Hudson  on  the  east,  to  the  head  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna and  Delaware  rivers  on  the  north,  and  on  the 
south  to  the  Musconetcong  and  Lehigh  hills.  Tribes  of 
the  Iroquois  or  Mengwe  also  roamed  through  the  country 
at  will.  The  different  tribes  of  these  Indians  were  often 
called  by  the  whites  after  the  Indian  names  of  the  rivers 
along  which  they  dwelt.  Hence  we  have  the  Whip- 
panongs,  the  Pomptons,  the  Rockawacks,  the  Parsippa- 
nongs,  the  Minisinks,  the  Musconetcongs.  A  very  favor- 
ite place  with  these  aboriginal  tribes  was  the  Great 
Pond,  now  called  Lake  Hopatcong;  and  the  traces  of 
their  sojourn  there  are  treated  of  in  the  history  of  Jeffer- 
son township. 

The  Indians  who  inhabited  this  region  appear  to  have 
been  very  peaceably  disposed,  as  there  are  no  records  or 
traditions  of  any  fights  or  massacres  with  or  by  them,  and 
no  settler  appears  to  have  been  disturbed  by  them.  The 
scene  of  Tom  Quick's  wonderful  adventures  is  laid  far- 
ther west  and  north,  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Delaware. 
The  aborigines  lingered  in  the  neighborhood  until  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  they  seem  to  have 
finally  disappeared  from  the  coi^nty,  but  not  from  the 
State.  As  late  as  1832  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  the 
purchase,  from  the  Delaware  Indians  who  had  removed 
from  this  State  to  Michigan,  of  all  their  rights  in  all  the 
territory  of  New  Jersey.  The  Indian  paths  from  one 
lake  to  another  or  from  the  seashore  westward  were  the 
first  roads  of  the  county,  and  are  often  referred  to  in  old 


deeds  and  land  titles.  The  Pequannock  valley  was  one 
of  their  traveling  routes,  as  there  was  a  path,  called  the 
Minisink  path,  running  through  "the  Notch,"  crossing 
the  Passaic  at  Little  Falls,  thence  passing  along  the  foot 
of  the  hills  to  Pompton  and  so  up  the  Pequannock  river 
toward  the  Delaware. 

The  first  actual  settlement  by  the  whites  was  probably 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county,  near  Pompton 
Plains.  On  the  6th  of  June  1695  Arent  Schuyler,  in  be- 
half of  himself  and  his  associates.  Major  Anthony  Brock- 
hoist,  Samuel  Byard,  George  Ryerson,  John  Mead,  Sam- 
uel Berrie,  David  Mandeville,  and  Hendrick  Mandeville, 
purchased  from  the  Indians  all  the  territory  lying  between 
the  Passaic  on  the  south,  the  Pompton  on  the  north,  and 
between  the  foot  of  the  hills  on  the  east  and  on  the  west; 
and  in  November  of  that  year  purchased  5,500  acres  ly- 
ing east  of  the  Pequannock  river,  of  the  proprietors 
of  East  New  Jersey.  The  next  year  Schuyler,  Brock- 
hoist  and  Byard  purchased  a  tract  of  1,500  acres  or  there- 
abouts, and  other  lands,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
including  all  the  present  Pompton  Plains.  The  houses 
of  these  men,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  were  built 
upon  their  first  purchase,  east  of  the  river;  but  it  is  alto- 
gether probable  that  in  1700  settlers  had  begun  to  make 
improvements  on  the  purchase  of  1696  in  Morris  county. 
If  this  be  the  case  the  honor  of  the  first  settlement  of  the 
county  is  due  to  the  Dutch. 

Following  closely  upon  the  heels  of  the  Pompton 
Plains  settlers  the  New  Englanders,  who  had  located 
along  the  Passaic,  extended  their  boundaries  to  the  west 
and  entered  Morris  county  by  way  of  Caldwell  and  I^iv- 
ingston.  Passing  the  extensive  Troy  meadows,  then  no 
doubt  a  dense  swamp  covered  with  a  growth  of  original 
forest  timber,  they  were  attracted  by  the  high  lands  of 
Hanover  and  Whippany.  In  the  "History  of  the  Han- 
over Presbyterian  Church,"  written  by  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Green  in  1767,  when  there  were  many  alive  who  were  eye 
witnesses  of  the  events  he  recorded,  it  is  stated  that 
"  about  the  year  17 10  a  few  families  removed  from  New- 
ark and  Elizabeth,  etc.,  and  settled  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Passaic  river,  in  that  which  is  nov/  Morris  county. 
Not  long  after  the  settlers  erected  a  house  for  the  public 
worship  of  God  on  the  bank  of  the  Whippanong  river, 
about  one  hundred  rods  below  the  forge  which  is  and  has 
long  been  known  by  the  name  of  the  Old  Iron  Works." 
This  fact  indicates  the  character  of  the.se  first  settlers, 
and  that  they  had  not  forgotten  the  cause  which  brought 
them  or  their  fathers  over  the  water.  September  2nd 
1718  a  deed  was  made  for  this  church  lot  by  "John 
Richards,  of  Whippanong,  in  the  county  of  Hunterdon, 
schoolmaster."  The  land  is  said  to  be  situated  in  the 
"  township  of  Whippanong,  on  that  part  called  Percip- 
ponong,  on  the  northwestward  side  of  Whippanong 
river  ";  and  the  land  was  to  be  for  "public  use,  improve- 
ment and  benefit  for  a  meeting-house,  burying  yard  and 
training  field  and  such  like  uses,  and  no  other." 

In  the  records  of  Hunterdon  county  no  mention  is 
made  of  any  township  but  Hanover  within  the  present 
bounds  of  Morris  county;  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that 


THE  PIONEERS. 


19 


the  settlement  of  Hanover  gave  name  to  the  whole  region, 
and  that  the  county  was  comprised  in  one  township, 
whose  western  boundaries  were  of  the  most  vague' 
description.  From  Hanover  or  Whippany  the  settlers 
moved  westward  to  Morristown,  called  at  first  New  Han- 
over. 

Passing  up  the  Basking  Ridge  neighborhood,  which 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  occupied  by  actual  settlers 
before  about  1720,  we  come  to  the  high  lands  of  the 
southwest  part  of  the  county,  which  were  peopled  from 
the  west.  The  renunciation  of  Protestantism  in  1697  by 
Frederick  Augustus,  elector  of  Saxony,  made  it  so  un- 
comfortable at  home  for  many  of  his  subjects  that  in 
1705  they  determined  to  leave  their  country.  They 
went  first  to  Neuwied,  in  Prussia,  then  to  Holland,  and 
in  1707  sailed  for  America,  expecting  to  join  the  Dutch 
in  New  York.  Carried  south  by  adverse  winds  they 
entered  the  Delaware  instead  of  the  Hudson,  and  landed 
in  Philadelphia.  Determined  still  to  join  the  Dutch 
settlements  in  New  York  they  crossed  the  Delaware  near 
Lambertville,  and  commenced  their  march  across  the 
State.  But  when  they  arrived  at  German  Valley,  and 
saw  the  goodness  of  the  land  and  the  beauty  of  its  sur- 
rounding hills,  they  abandoned  their  original  purpose  and 
began  to  make  a  home  for  themselves  where  their  de- 
scendants still  live. 

In  1 7 13  James  Wills,  an  Englishman,  bought  of  the 
proprietors  of  East  Jersey  a  large  tract  of  land  of  what  is 
now  called  Ralstonville,  west  of  Mendham,  and  the 
actual  settlement  of  the  Mendham  neighborhood  proba- 
bly soon  followed.  In  the  same  year  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Chester  is  said  to  have  been  laid  out  in  lots  for 
settlement. 

Thus  from  opposite  sides,  under  different  auspices  and 
by  men  of  different  nationalities,  the  work  of  subduing 
the  wilderness  was  begun.  The  energy  and  perseverance 
of  these  first  settlers  made  rapid  progress  in  the  work  of 
clearing  up  the  forests,  and  bringing  the  soil  under  cul- 
tivation and  developing  the  wealth  of  the  country. 
These  pioneers  kept  pressing  forward  until  within  a  few 
years  they  met  in  the  center  of  the  county,  and  what  had 
been  in  1707  almost  an  unknown  country  had  become  in 
1725  explored  and  dotted  with  hamlets.  The  roads 
were  still  but  bridle-paths  and  the  houses  were  of  logs; 
but  the  wants  of  the  people  were  few  and  easily  supplied. 
The  streams  were  stocked  with  fish,  and  game  of  every 
kind  was  abundant.  The  first  colonists  in  Morris  had 
neither  the  sterile  soil  nor  the  cold  climate  of  New  Eng- 
land nor  the  malaria  of  the  southern  seaboard  to  contend 
with;  and  both  by  immigration  and  by  natural  increase 
the  county  grew  wonderfully  in  numbers. 

From  1710  to  1715  the  proprietors  of  West  New  Jer- 
sey, attracted  by  the  richness  of  this  new  country,  began 
to  allot  to  themselves  large  tracts  of  its  land.  William 
Penn,  John  Reading,  William  Biddle,  John  Kays  and 
otjiers  took  up  in  this  way  tracts  of  1,200  acres  and  more 
at^a  time,  on  West  Jersey  right,  as  far  east  as  Morris- 
town.  These  locations  do  not  appear  to  have  extended 
further  north  than  Budd's  Lake,  Dover  and  Rockaway 


Valley,  the  country  north  of  these  places  seeming  to 
these  early  speculators  too  forbidding  and  unpromising 
for  their  purposes.  Titles  to  lands  in  this  region  are  de- 
rived from  locations  on  East  Jersey  right,  after  the  divis- 
ion line  had  become  more  definitely  settled;  and  of  these 
locations  the  first  were  small,  covering  the  streams, 
natural  meadows  and  smooth  land.  They  were  made  by 
actual  settlers,  who  could  not  afford  to  purchase  the 
surrounding  rough  hills,  the  mineral  wealth  of  which  was 
entirely  unknown  to  them.  Timber  then  was  too  plenti- 
ful to  be  desired,  and  it  was  not  till  after  the  Revolution- 
ary war  that  the  hills  were  thought  worth  purchasing  for 
the  wood  which  covered  them. 

The  first  location  in  the  northern  part  of  Jefferson  and 
Rockaway  townships  was  to  John  Davenport,  in  1750, 
of  210  acres  near  Petersburg.  Earlier  than  this  by  five 
years  was  the  "  Nevil  tract,"  which  extended  from  Berk- 
shire Valley  only  to  Longwood  and  was  the  first  in  that 
neighborhood. 

In  1722  the  settlements  in  Morris  county  had  grown 
sufficiently  to  be  thought  worthy  of  the  honor  of  bearing 
a  part  of  the  burden  of  government,  and  in  the  minutes 
of  the  Hunterdon  county  court  of  June  sth  of  that  year 
is  this  entry:  "  Whereas  there  is  no  assessor  returned  to 
this  court  to  serve  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  of 
Hanover,  it  is  therefore  ordered  by  the  court  that  Elisha 
Bird  serve  assessor  for  the  said  township  of  Hanover  for 
the  ensuing  year,  to  assess  the  tax  to  be  levied  upon  the 
said  inhabitants  towards  the  support  of  his  Majestie's 
government;  and  it  is  hereby  ordered  accordingly." 

The  next  year  all  the  township  officers  were  appointed 
by  the  court,  and  we  see  among  them  names  from  all  sec- 
tions of  the  county.  John  Hayward  and  Samuel  Vander- 
book  were  to  serve  as  '"  Comishoner  of  the  Highways," 
Benjamin  Hathaway  and  Morris  Morrison  were  appointed 
constables,  and  James  Hayward,  Abraham  Vandine  and 
Benjamin  Beach  were  to  be  the  overseers  of  the  highways 
and  John  Bigelow  was  to  be  collector  for  the  township  of 
Hanover. 

At  this  same  court  it  was  ordered  that  the  commission- 
ers of  Amwell  and  Hopewell  attend  those  of  Hanover 
"  in  order  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Amwell  to  Hanover 
thorow  the  Western  Division,  betwixt  this  and  the  next 
court,  and  to  meet  at  Mr.  John  Reading's  the  first  day  of 
October  next  for  that  purpose." 

In  1724  we  find  the  names  of  Samuel  Potter,  William 
Shores  and  Abraham  Vandine  as  town  officers,  and  March 
r4th  1725  there  were  appointed  for  Hanover  as  freehold- 
ers Jonathan  Gilbert  and  Abraham  Vandine;  as  commis- 
sioners, John  Cortland  and  Thomas  Huntingdon;  as 
overseers  of  highways,  Joseph  Lindly  and  Daniel  Goble; 
as  collector  John  Lyon,  and  as  assessor  Jonathan  Gil- 
bert. 

The  earliest  town  meeting  of  which  we  have  any  ac- 
count was  that  of  March  14th  1726-7,  and  the  record 
of  it  is  as  follows:  "It  being  the  General  Town 
Meeting  appointed  by  Law  for  Electing  their  Town 
Officers,  and  the  Inhabitants  of  our  Said  County  being 
met  on  that  acct.,  proceeded  to  chose  as  follows:     John 


20 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Morehouse  asessor  for  ye  Govener  Tax,  Joseph  Lindsley 
Collector,  Morris  Morrison  and  Joseph  Coe  Freeholders, 
Abraham  Vandine  and  Jonathan  Stiles  commissioners 
for  laying  out  roads,  Benjamin  Beach  and  Matthew  Van 
Dine,  Thomas  Huntington,  Nathaniel  Cogswell  and  John 
Courter  overseers  of  ye  H'ghway,  John  Morehouse  Town 
clerk." 

Three  years  afterward  Ephraim  Rue,  Stephen  Tuthill 
and  Paulas  Berry  were  appointed  constables. 

In  1732-3  for  the  first  time  another  township  is  men- 
tioned within  the  bounds  of  what  was  afterward  the  three 
counties  of  Morris,  Sussex  and  Warren.  At  that  date 
officers  were  nominated  for  Walpack  township.  In  Oc- 
tober 1737  among  the  associate  judges  of  Hunterdon 
county  appears  the  name  of  Abraham  Kitchel,  grand- 
father of  Aaron  and  Abraham  Kitchel,  afterward  so 
prominent  in  the  history  of  Morris  county. 

Hunterdon  county,  with  its  county  seat  at  Trenton, 
had  at  this  time  a  population  of  5,288  whites  and  219 
slaves,  and  of  the  aggregate  it  is  likely  that  one-third 
only  were  within  the  boundaries  of  the  northern  section, 
which  was  about  to  be  made  into  the  new  county.  But 
there  is  evidence  that  these  early  settlers  had  become 
dissatisfied  with  their  long  journeyings  to  the  distant 
court-house,  and  the  .subject  of  a  separation  was  being 
agitated.  Though  the  population  could  have  averaged 
hardly  two  persons  to  a  square  mile  the  measure  was 
adopted,  and  in  1738  Morris  county  obtained  a  separate 
existence. 


CHAPTER   II. 


THE    FORMATION    OF    MORRIS    COUNTY    AND    ITS   DIVISION 
INTO    TOWNSHIPS. 


HE  act  creating  the  county  of  Morris  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature  March  15th  1738- 
9.  Colonel  Lewis  Morris  was  at  the  time 
governoi-,  having  been  formally  appointed  in 
February  1738  and  publishing  his  commis- 
ion  and  taking  up  the  duties  of  the  office  August 
29th.  The  act  was  introduced  by  John  Embley, 
one  of  the  members  from  Hunterdon,  and  seems  to  have 
met  no  opposition.  Tiie  name  given  the  new  county 
was  in  honor  of  the  governor,  who  was  the  first  governor 
of  New  Jersey  distinct  from  New  York,  and  one  who 
had  been  largely  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the 
separation  from  the  sister  colony. 

The  act  declared  that  "  all  and  singular  the  lands  and 
upper  parts  of  the  said  Hunterdon  county  lying  to  the 
northward  and  eastward,  situate  and  lying  to  the  east- 
ward of  a  well  known  place  in  the  county  of  Hunterdon, 
being  a  fall  of  water  in  part  of  the  north  branch  of 
Raritan  River,  called  in  the  Indian  language  or  known  by 
the  name  of  Allamatonck,  to  the  northeastward  of  the 


northeast  end  or  part  of  the  lands  called  the  New  Jersey 
Society  lands,  along  the  line  thereof,  crossing  the  south 
branch  of  the  aforesaid  Raritan  River,  and  extending 
westerly  to  a  certain  tree,  marked  with  the  letters  L.  M., 
standing  on  the  north  side  of  a  brook  emptying  itself 
into  the  said  south  branch,  by  an  old  Indian  path  to  the 
northward  of  a  line  to  be  run  northwest  from  the  said 
tree  to  a  branch  of  Delaware  river  called  Muskonetkong, 
and  so  down  the  said  branch  to  Delaware  river,  all  which 
said  lands  being  to  the  eastward,  northward  and  north- 
eastward of  the  above  said  boundaries,  be  erected  into  a 
county;  and  is  is  hereby  erected  into  a  county,  named 
and  from  henceforth  to  be  called  Moiris  county,  and  the 
said  bounds  shall  part  and  from  henceforth  separate  and 
divide  the  same  from  the  said  Hunterdon  county." 

The  "Allamatonck  "  Falls  were  on  what  is  now  called 
the  Black  River,  which  formed  the  dividing  line  at  that 
point  between  Hunterdon  and  Somerset,  and  not  what 
is  now  called  the  north  br;inch  of  the  Raritan,  which 
crosses  the  south  line  of  Morris  where  the  townships  of 
Bedminster  and  Bernard,  of  Somerset  county,  corner. 
It  will  be  seen  that  only  a  part  of  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  new  county  was  fixed  by  this  act,  from  the  most 
southerly  point  of  what  is  now  Chester  township,  west. 
The  line  between  the  new  county  and  Somerset  remained 
uncertain  until  March  28th  1749,  when  the  division 
line  was  fixed  by  act  of  Legislature,  and  directed  to  be 
as  follows:  "Beginning  at  a  fall  of  water  commonly 
called  Allamatonck  Falls,  and  also  mentioned  in  the  be- 
fore recited  act;  and  from  thence  on  a  straight  line,  in  a 
course  east  and  by  north  as  the  compass  now  p(  ints,  to 
the  main  branch  of  Passaic  River,  and  so  down  the  said 
river  as  the  before  recited  act  directs;  anything  herein  or 
in  any  other  act  to  the  contrary  thereof  notwithstanding. 

The  territory  thus  described  and  made  a  new  county 
included  the  present  counties  of  Morris,  Sussex  and 
Warren.  It  comprised  about  870,000  acres  or  some 
1,360  square  miles.  It  was  considered  as  a  part  of  West 
Jersey,  though  two-thirds  at  least  of  it  was  east  of  Law- 
rence's line  of  1743.  In  the  letter  of  transmittal  of  the 
act  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  dated  May  26th  1739, 
Governor  Morris  says: 

"  Among  the  acts  herewith  sent  there  is  one  to  erect 
the  northern  parts  of  Hunterdon  county,  in  the  western 
division,  into  a  new  county  by  the  name  of  Morris  county. 
Their  having  of  representatives  is  suspended  till  his 
Majestie's  pleasure  is  known  on  that  head.  If  his  Majes- 
tic should  think  fit  to  grant  them  that  favour  it  will  be 
adding  two  representatives  to  the  western  division  more 
than  the  eastern  has;  but  if  his  Majestie  will  give  me 
leave  to  add  two  to  the  eastern  division,  in  such  place  or 
places  as  I  shall  judge  most  propper,  to  make  them 
equall  (as  by  his  instructions  it  seems  to  be  intended 
they  should  be),  such  is  the  scituation  of  this  new  county 
that  I  am  in  hopes  by  the  addition  of  these  four  mem- 
bers to  put  the  support  of  the  government  upon  a  better 
and  more  certain  footing  than  it  is  at  present;  &  to  get 
money  rais'd  for  the  building  a  house  and  conveniences 
of  a  governour's  residence,  sitting  of  Assemblyes  &c 
all  w'ch  are  very  much  wanting."  ' 

Notwithstanding  the  recommendation  of  Governor 
Morris   representatives    were   not    allowed    to    the   new 


FIRST  TOWNSHIP  BOUNDARIES  AND  OFFICERS. 


21 


county,  and  May  22nd  1756  in  the  minutes  of  the  As- 
sembly it  appears  that  several  petitions  were  presented 
to  the  house  from  the  county  of  Morris,  signed  by  190 
hands,  setting  forth  "  the  hardships  they  labor  under 
by  having  no  members  allowed  to  represent  them  in 
General  Assembly;  praying  the  Legislature  to  grant  them 
the  usual  privileges  as  the  other  counties  enjoy  in  being 
represented  by  two  members  in  General  Assembly  for 
the  future;  which  were  read  and  ordered  a  second  read- 
ing." 

It  was  not  till  the  last  colonial  Legislature,  which 
met  in  1772,  and  till  after  Sussex  county  had  been  set 
off  from  Morris  that  representatives  were  received  from 
this  new  county.  These  representatives  were  Jacob 
Ford  and  William  Winds,  both  exceedingly  prominent 
and  active  in  the  stirring  scenes  soon  to  be  enacted. 

On  the  25th  of  March  174c,  one.  year  after  the  act 
was  passed  constituting  the  county,  we  have  the  record 
of  the  first  court,  which  met  at  Morristown,  previously 
called  New  Hanover,  probably  at  the  hotel  of  Jacob  Ford, 
one  of  the  judges.  The  names  of  the  judges  present  the 
first  day  are  not  given,  but  on  the  next  day,  the  26th,  to 
which  they  adjourned,  there  were  present  Messrs.  John 
Budd,  Jacob  Ford,  Abraham  Kitchel,  John  Lindley  jr.i 
Timothy  Tuttle  and  Samuel  Swezy.  Their  first  business 
was  to  divide  the  new  county  into  three  townships.  The 
minute  of  their  proceedings  is  as  follows: 

"  March  25th  MDCCXL. 
"General  Sessions  of  the  Peace. 

"The  Court,  taking  into  consideration  the  necessity  of 
dividing  the  county  of  Morris  into  Proper  Townships  or 
Districts,  for  having  proper  officers  within  every  such 
Township  or  District,  and  more  especially  for  such  of- 
ficers as  are  to  act  in  concert  with  other  Townships,  we 
therefore  order  and  Determine  that  from  henceforth  a 
certain  Township,  bounded  on  Pissaic  River,  Poquanock 
River  to  the  lower  ead  of  the  great  pond  at  the  head 
thereof,  and  by  Rockaway  River  and  the  west  branch 
thereof  to  the  head  thereof,  and  thence  cross  to  the 
lower  end  of  said  pond,  and  shall  henceforth  be  called 
Poquanock  Township,  District  or  Precinct. 

"And  that  a  certain  road  from  the  Bridge,  by  John 
Day's,  up  to  the  Place  where  the  same  road  passes  be- 
■  tween  Benjamin  and  Abraham  Pierson's,  and  thence  up 
the  same  road  to  the  corner  of  Samuel  Ford's  fence, 
thence  leaving  Samuel  Ford  to  the  right  hand,  thence 
running  up  to  the  road  that  leads  from  the  Old  Iron 
Works  towards  Succasunning,  and  crossing  Whippenung 
Bridge,  and  from  thence  to  Succasunning,  and  from  thence 
to  the  great  pond  on  the  head  of  Musconecung,  do  part 
the  Township  of  Hanover  from  the  Township  of  Morris; 
which  part  of  the  county  of  Morris.  Lying  as  aforesaid, 
to  the  Southward  and  Westward  of  said  roads,  lines  and 
places,  is  ordered  by  the  Court  to  be  and  remain  a  Town- 
ship, District  or  Precinct,  and  to  be  called  and  distin- 
guished by  the  name  of  Morristown." 

These  descriptions  are  absurdly  indefinite  in  some 
respects,  and  impossible  of  identification  in  regard  to 
some  of  the  localities  mentioned.  But  the  general 
boundaries  of  the  townships  by  modern  landmarks  were 
as  follows:  Pequannock  township  included  the  territory 
bounded  north  by  the  river  of  that  name,  south  by  the 
Rockaway  River  and  west  by  Lake  Hopatcong.     Han- 


over township  was  bounded  north  by  the  Rockaway 
River,  east  by  the  Passaic  River  and  south  by  a  road 
passing  through  the  present  township  of  Chatham  near 
the  village  of  Madison,  and  so  to  and  along  the  road 
which  forms  the  present  boundary  between  Morris  and 
Hanover  to  the  present  Randolph  line,  and  by  a  line 
thence  across  the  mountains  to  Succasunna  Plains,  and 
from  there  to  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Hopatcong,  where 
all  the  townships  met.  Morris  township  included  all 
the  rest  of  the  county. 

The  first  township  officers  were  appointed  by  the 
county  court,  and  were  as  follows  : 

For  Morris  township —  Zechariah  Fairchild,  "  town 
dark  and  town  bookkeeper;"  Matthew  Lum,  assessor; 
Jacob  Ford,  collector;  Abraham  Hathaway  and  Joseph 
Coe  jr.,  freeholders;  Benjamin  Hathaway  and  Jona 
Osborne,  overseers  of  the  poor;  Joseph  Briddin  and 
Daniel  Lindsly.  surveyors  of  the  highways;  Stephen  Free- 
man and  John  Lindsley,  Esq.,  overseers  of  the  highways; 
Isaac  Whitehead,  Alexander  Ackerman  and  William  Day- 
less,  constables. 

For  Pequannock  township — Robert  Gold,  "  town  dark 
and  town  bookkeeper;"  Garret  Debough,  assessor;  Isaac 
Vandine,  Esq.,  collector;  Robert  Gold  and  Frederick 
Temont  (De  Mouth?),  freeholders;  Matthew  Vandine  and 
Nicholas  Hiler,  overseers  of  the  poor;  Henderick  Mor- 
rison and  Giles  Manderfield,  overseers  of  the  highways; 
John  Davenport,  constable. 

For  Hanover  township — Timothy  Tuttle,  Esq.,  town 
clerk  and  town  bookkeeper;  David  Wheeler,  assessor; 
Caleb  Ball,  collector;  Joseph  Tuttle  and  Caleb  Ball, 
freeholders;  John  Kinney  and  Jonathan  Stiles,  overseers 
of  the  poor;  John  Kinney  and  Samuel  Ford,  surveyors  of 
the  highways;  Paul  Leonard,  Robert  Young,  Benjamin 
Shipman  and  Edward  Crane,  overseers  of  the  highways; 
Joseph  Herriraan  and  Stephen  Ward,  constables. 

Most  of  these  names  are  still  familiar  in  these  town- 
ships and  among  these  officers  will  be  recognized  the 
ancestors  of  many  of  the  present  generation. 

It  is  well  in  this  connection  to  follow  out  the  subse- 
quent changes  in  these  townships  up  to  the  present  time. 
December  24th  1740  the  township  of  Roxbury  was- 
formed  from  the  township  of  Morris.  This  action  of  the 
court  is  thus  set  forth  in  their  minutes: 

"  A  peticion  to  the  Court  from  Sundry  of  the  inhabit- 
ance  of  the  Southwesterly  part  of  this  County  of  Morris, 
Praying  they  may  be  made  a  Township  for  several  causes 
therein  set  forth,  the  Court  grants  there  Petition  and 
Bounds  same  Township,  to  be  called  henceforth  Rox-. 
berry,  from  the  bounds  of  Summerset  County,  thence  up 
the  River  commonly  called  Pesack,  and  up  the  same  in- 
cluding the  same  to  that  Branch  or  part  thereof  called 
Indian  River,  and  thence  Northerly  and  Westerly  by  the 
bounds  of  hanover  to  the  Grate  Pond;  thence  down  by 
the  same  and  Musconitcung  to  the  Bounds  of  the  County; 
thence  by  the  Bounds  of  Hunterdon  County,  Essex  and 
Summerset  to  the  Place  first  mentioned." 

It  is  quite  impossible  to  define  exactly  the  limits  of  the 
township  thus  vaguely  described,  but  it  evidently  in- 
cluded all  the  present  townships  of  Washington,  Mount 
Olive  and  Chester,  and  part  of  Mendham,  Randolph  and 
Roxbury,  "  Indian  River  "  being  what  is  now  called  the 
north  branch  of  the  Raritan. 

The  next  year  Wallpack  township  is  mentioned  and 
officers  appointed  for  it,  and  on  March  23d   1741-2  there 


22 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


is  the  following  quaint  entry  in  regard  to  another  town- 
ship of  the  region  afterward  known  as  Sussex:  "  Whereas 
the  Court  is  informed  that  in  time  Past,  before  the  Divis- 
ion of  the  County  of  Hunterdon,  Grinnage  Township 
was  set  apart  and  bounded  on  Dillaware  river  from  Mus- 
conecung  to  Powlins  Kill,  being  the  bounds  of  Wallpack 
Township,  be  and  remain  from  hence  forth  a  Township 
or  District  by  the  name  of  Grinnage  Township." 

March  29th  1749  Mendham  township  was  created  by 
the  court,  their  action  being  recorded  as  follows: 

"  A  Petition  From  Sundry  of  the  Westerly  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Townships  of  Morris  and  Hanover 
and  Sunderie  of  the  Easterly  Part  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Roxbury  To  This  Court,  praying  that  they  may  be  made 
a  Township  or  proccuts  [precinct  ?]  for  Sevrall  Causes 
therein  Sett  forth.  The  Court  upon  Reading  the  same 
grants  them  their  Petition  and  Bounds  said  Township  as 
followeth:  Beginning  at  Pasiak  River,  at  the  South  Cor- 
ner of  Henry  Wick's  Land,  and  from  thence  a  straight 
Line  to  the  Contry  Road  Between  Ezra  Halsey's  and 
Stephen  Lyon's  Land;  thence  a  Straight  Line  to  the 
Mouth  of  Robert  Young's  Meddow  Brook,  up  Rockaway 
River  to  the  Uper  end  of  Spruce  Island  in  said  River; 
thence  to  a  River  commonly  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  Black  River,  the  nighest  to  Suckasona  mine; 
thence  down  the  same  till  an  East  point  will  strike  the 
head  spring  of  the  Most  Westerly  Branch  of  Dorson's 
Bfpok,  which  is  near  the  house  where  Sam'l  Pitdney 
Lately  Dwelt;  and  Down,  the  Stream  issuing  from  said 
Spring  till  it  comes  to  the  Road  Between  James  Wills 
and  Noah  Rude;  from  thence  ten  chain  to  the  post  of 
Joseph  Casen's  new  dwelling  house;  from  thence  South 
to  the  Lines  Between  the  County  of  Somersett  and  Mor- 
ris, and  thence  along  said  Line  to  pasiak  River  and  by 
said  River  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned;  and  to  be  from 
hence  forth  called  Mendham." 

This  included  not  only  the  present  township  of  Mend- 
ham but  also  Randolph,  and  nearly  all  of  Chester. 

June  8th  1753  the  act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed 
which  took  from  Morris  county  the  territory  west  of  the 
Musconet'^ong  river.  Lake  Hopatcong  and  a  line  drawn 
northwest  from  the  head  of  the  "  Great  Pond,"  and 
formed  it  into  the  county  of  Sussex.  The  boundaries  of 
Morris  have  remained  unchanged  since  that  time. 
There  were  in  the  new  county  the  townships  of  Grinnage, 
Wallpack,  Hardwick  and  New  Town.  In  the  old  county 
were  the  five  townships  of  Pequannock,  Hanover,  Mor- 
ris, Mendham  and  Roxbury;  and  for  forty-five  years 
there  were  but  these  five  in  Morris.  The  subsequent 
alterations  are  to  be  found  in  the  laws  of  the  State. 

Washington  township  was  formed  February  12th  1798, 
Chester  township  January  29th  1799,  Jefferson  town- 
ship February  nth  1804,  Randolph  November  13th  1805, 
Chatham  February  12th  1806,  Rockaway  March  5th  1844, 
Passaic  March  23d  1866,  Boonton  and  Montville  April 
nth  1867,  and  Mount  Olive  March  22nd  1871. 

Changes  were  made  in  the  township  lines  as  follows: 
Between  Randolph  and  Chester  in  1806,  between  Ran- 
dolph and  Pequannock  in  1831,  between  Washington  and 
Chester  in  1840  and  1853,  between  Washington  and  Rox- 
bury in  1858  and  1859,  and  between  Morris  and  Passaic 
in  1867. 

From    the   time   of    its    separation   from    Hunterdon 


Morris  county  grew  rapidly.  In  1745  it  had  a  population 
of  4,436,  and  seven  years  before  the  whole  county  of 
Hunterdon  had  but  5,570. 

In  1765,  in  a  "short  geographical  description  of  the 
province,"  by  Samuel  Smith,  the  first  historian  of  the 
State,  the  county  was  said  to  be  populous  for  a  "  late  set- 
tled county."  "  They  raise  grain  and  cattle  chiefly,  for 
New  York  market,  and  cut  large  quantities  of  timber  of 
various  sorts  for  exportation.  In  this  county  resides 
Peter  Kemble,  Esq.,  president  of  the  Council.  The 
places  for  worship  in  this  county  are — Presbyterians  nine, 
Lutherans  one.  Anabaptists  one,  Quakers  one,  Separa- 
tists one,  Rogerines  one." 

In  the  thirty-five  years  between  1740  and  1775  the  face 
of  the  country  greatly  changed.  Instead  of  a  few  vil- 
lages (at  Pompton,  Whippany,  Morristown,  German  Val- 
ley, Chester,  Dover  and  Rockaway)  the  whole  county 
had  been  opened  up  by  actual  settlers.  Furnaces  and 
a  slitting-mill  had  been  built.  Forges,  grist-mills  and 
saw-mills  were  on  all  the  streams,  and  every  considerable 
fall  of  water  turned  a  wheel  of  some  kind.  Only  the 
roughest  hills  and  the  large  lakes  or  little  "  gores  "  of 
land  overlooked  by  the  surveyor  were  left  to  the  pro- 
prietors. No  census  was  taken,  or  if  taken  has  been  pre- 
served, for  the  years  immmediately  preceding  the  war; 
but  it  seems  probable  that  the  population  was  not  less 
than  10,000  at  that  time.  They  were  an  independent, 
self-sustaining  people,  raising  their  own  bread,  and  manu- 
facturing all  that  their  wants  required.  No  county  in  the 
State  was  better  prepared  to  be  thrown  upon  its  own  re- 
sources, and  it  was  owing  quite  as  much  to  the  character 
of  the  people  as  to  its  situation  and  natural  defenses  that 
during  the  eight  years'  struggle  which  was  to  follow  no 
force  of  the  enemy  entered  its  bounds  except  as  prisoners 
of  war. 

The  population  of  the  county  at  the  various  census 
dates  has  been  as  follows:  1745,  4,436;  179c,  16,216; 
1800,  17,750;  1810,  21.828;  1820,  21,368;  1830,  23,580; 
1840,  25,861;  1850,  30,173;  1860,34,678  (680  colored); 
1870,43,161  (742  colored);  1875,49,019(788  colored); 
1880,  50,867. 

CHAPTER  IIL 


THE  PRELUDE  TO  THE  REVOLUTION — PATRIOT  LEADERS 
OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


N  quick  apprehension  of  and  sturdy  resistance 
to  the  tyrannical  measures  of  the  home  gov- 
ernment which  produced  the  Revolution, 
the  people  of  New  Jersey  were  in  no  way 
behind  the  other  colonists.  Though  not  so 
immediately  injured  by  all  the  measures  taken 
by  the  British  ministry  to  repress  their  uneasy  sub- 
jects, they  were  not  slow  to  perceive  that  the  cause  was 
a  common  one,  and  that  their  only  hope  of  success  was 
in  united  resistance.     The  Legislature  of   1772  consisted 


kEVOLUTtONARV  LEADERS  AND  SENTIMENTS. 


of  a  House  of  Assembly,  elected  by  and  sympathizing 
wih  the  people,  and  a  Privy  Council,  whose  members 
owed  their  appointment  to  Governor  Franklin,  whose 
tastes  were  aristocratic  and  their  sympathies  altogether 
with  the  king..  In  this  Assembly  Jacob  Ford  and  William 
Winds  represented  Morris  county.  While  the  governor 
and  Council  could  prevent  the  passage  of  a  law  in  aid 
of  the  popular  movement  and  the  appointing  of  dele- 
gates to  a  General  Congress  who  could  be  said  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  the  action  of  the 
Assembly  alone  was  regarded  by  the  people  as  their 
action  and  its  recommendations  were  observed  as  laws. 
February  8th  1774  the  Assembly  appointed  nine  of  its 
members  a  standing  committee  of  correspondence,  and 
requested  them  to  place  the  resolutions  appointing  them 
before  the  assemblies  of  the  other  colonies. 

On  the  nth  day  of  J.une  1774  a  meeting  of  the  free- 
holders and  inhabitants  of  Essex  county  was  held  at 
Newark,  and  resolutions  were  adopted  calling  upon  the 
other  counties  to  hold  similar  meetings  and  to  appoint 
committees  who  should  meet  in  a  State  convention  to 
appoint  delegates  to  a  General  Congress  of  deputies  to 
be  sent  from  each  of  the  colonies,  to  form  a  general  plan 
of  union,  and  pledging  their  support  and  adherence  to 
such  plan  when  adopted.  This  call  met  a  ready  response 
from  the  other  counties.  The  minds  of  all  the  citizens 
of  the  province  seemed  to  have  been  prepared  for  the 
step,  and  their  thoughts  only  required  this  example  to 
take  form. 

In  accordance  with  this  movement  "a  respectable 
body  of  freeholders  and  inhabitants  "  of  the  county  of 
Morris  met  at  the  court-house  in  Morristown  on  Monday 
June  27th  1774.  Jacob  Ford  acted  as  chairman  and  the 
following  resolutions  were  adopted: 

"  ist — That  George  the  Third  is  lawful  and  rightful 
king  of  Great  Britain  and  all  other  his  dominions  and 
countries;  and  that  as  part  of  his  dominions  it  is  our 
duty  not  only  to  render  unto  him  true  faith  and  obedi- 
ence, but  also  with  our  lives  and  fortunes  to  support  and 
maintain  the  just  dependence  of  these  his  colonies  upon 
the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 

"  2n^. — That  it  is  our  wish  and  desire,  and  we  esteem 
it  our  greatest  happiness  and  security,  to  be  governed  by 
the  laws  of  Great  Britain,  and  that  we  will  always  cheer- 
fully submit  to  them  as  far  as  can  be  done  consistently 
with  the  constitutional  liberties  and  privileges  of  free- 
born  Englishmen. 

"  ^d. — That  the  late  acts  of  Parliament  for  imposing 
taxes  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America  are 
oppressive  and  arbitrary,  calculated  to  disturb  the  minds 
and  alienate  the  affections  of  the  colonists  from  the  mother 
country,  are  replete  with  ruin  to  both;  and  consequently 
that  the  authors  and  promoters  of  said  acts,  or  of  such 
doctrines  of  the  right  of  taxing  America  being  in  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  are  and  should  be  deemed 
enemies  to  our  king  and  happy  constitution. 

"  4t/i. — That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  that  the 
act  of  Parliament  for  shutting  up  the  port  of  Boston  is 
unconstitutional,  injurious  in  its  principles  to  the  general 
cause  of  American  freedom,  particularly  oppressive  to 
the  inhabitants  of  that  town,  and  that  therefore  the 
people  of  Boston  are  considered  by  us  as  suffering  in  the 
general  cause  of  America. 

"5M. — That  unanimity  and  firmness   in  the  colonies 


are  the  most  effectual  means  to  relieve  our  suffering 
brethren  at  Boston,  to  avert  the  dangers  justly  to  be  ap- 
prehended from  that  alarming  act  commonly  styled  the 
Boston  Port  Bill,  and  to  secure  the  invaded  rights  and 
privileges  of  America. 

"  6//i. — That  it  is  our  opinion  that  an  agreement  be- 
tween the  colonies  not  to  purchase  or  use  any  articles 
imported  from  Great  Britain  or  from  the  East  Indies, 
under  such  restrictions  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the 
General  Congress  hereafter  to  be  appointed  by  the  colon- 
ies, would  be  of  service  in  procuring  a  repeal  of  those 
acts. 

"  yik. — That  we  will  most  cheerfully  join  our  brethren 
of  the  other  counties  in  this  province  in  promoting  an 
union  of  the  colonies  by  forming  a  General  Congress  of 
deputies  to  be  sent  from  each  of  the  colonies;  and  do 
now  declare  ourselves  ready  to  send  a  committee  to 
meet  with  those  from  the  other  counties  at  such  time  and 
place  as  by  them  may  be  agreed  upon,  in  order  to  elect 
proper  persons  to  represent  this  province  in  the  said  Con- 
gress. 

"  8(A. — That  it  is  the  request  of  this  meeting  that  the 
county  committees,  when  met  for  the  purposes  aforesaid, 
do  take  into  their  serious  consideration  the  propriety  of 
setting  on  foot  a  subscription  for  the  benefit  of  the 
sufferers  at  Boston  under  the  Boston  Port  Bill  above 
mentioned,  and  the  money  arising  from  such  subscriptions 
to  be  laid  out  as  the  committees  so  met  shall  think  will 
best  answer  the  ends  proposed. 

"  9M. — That  we  will  faithfully  adhere  to  such  regula- 
tions and  restrictions  as  shall  by  the  members  of  said 
Congress  be  agreed  upon  and  judged  most  expedient  for 
avoiding  the  calamities  and  procuring  the  benefits  in- 
tended in  the  foregoing  resolves. 

"  lot/i. — It  is  our  request  that  the  committee  hereafter 
named  do  correspond  and  consult  with  such  other  com- 
mittees as  shall  be  appointed  by  the  other  counties  in 
this  province,  and  particularly  that  they  meet  with  the 
said  county  committee  in  order  to  elect  and  appoint 
deputies  to  represent  this  province  in  a  General  Con- 
gress. 

"  iif/i. — We  do  hereby  desire  the  following  gentlemen 
to  accept  of  that  important  trust,  and  accordingly  do  ap- 
point them  our  committee  for  the  purposes  aforesaid: 
Jacob  Ford,  William  Winds,  Abraham  Ogden,  William 
De  Hart,  Samuel  Tuthill,  Jonathan  Stiles,  John  Carle, 
Philip  V.  Cortland  and  Samuel  Ogden,  Esquires." 

The  committee  appointed  at  this  meeting  was  selected 
from  all  parts  of  the  county,  and  its  members  were  lead- 
ing men  in  the  community. 

Jacob  Ford  was  the  son  of  John  Ford,  of  Woodbridge, 
N.  J.,  and  was  born  at  the  latter  place  in  1704.  He  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  iron  business  of  New  Jersey, 
and  from  the  year  1738,  when  we  find  him  applying  to 
keep  an  inn  in  "  New  Hanover,"  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  January  19th  1777,  his  name  is  frequently  met 
in  the  public  records  and  his  influence  was  widely  felt. 
He  was  no  doubt  the  leading  man  in  Morristown,  keeping 
a  store  from  which  not  only  the  community  about  him 
but  his  many  employes  in  his  different  forges  drew  sup- 
plies. The  first  court,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  met 
at  his  house,  and  "  Washington's  Headquarters "  v/as 
built  by  him,  probably  in  1774,  though  his  son  Colonel 
Jacob  Ford  jr.  resided  there  at  the  time  of  his  death 
When  made  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  he  was 
an  old  man,  and  his  son  and  namesake  was  succeeding 
him  in  his  business  and  in  his  place  in  public  regard. 


ttlSTOkY  OP  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Unfortunately   the    son    died    a    few   days    before    his 
fathier. 

General  William  Winds  was  in  many  respects  a  remark- 
able man.  He  was  born  in  Southold,  Long  Island,  in 
the  year  1727  or  1728.  Early  in  life  he  removed  to  New 
Jersey  and  settled  near  Dover,  on  the  farm  which  he 
afterward  willed  to  the  Rockaway  church,  to  which  he 
was  much  attached.  The  car  shops  of  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  are  built  upon  a  part 
of  this  farm,  and  not  far  from  where  the  mansion  house 
stood.  He  was  a  man  of  great  physical  powers,  tremen- 
dous voice,  strong  will  and  indomitable  courage.  Very 
impulsive,  he  was  calculated  to  be  a  leader  and  foremost 
in  every  popular  movement.  He  is  said  to  have  borne 
a  commission  in  the  French  war  in  a  New  Jersey  com- 
piahy.  As  colonel  of  the  ist  regiment  ist  establishment 
in  the  continental  army,  and  as  brigadier  general  of 
militia,  he  acquitted  himself  with  honor,  and  the  name  of 
no  other  of  our  Revolutionary  heroes  has  been  so  much 
honored  as  his  by  both  his  own  and  succeeding  genera- 
tions. A  very  interesting  sketch  of  his  life  was  read  be 
fore  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  by  Dr.  Tuttle  in 
1853,  and  published  in  its  proceedings,  to  which  we 
must  refer  for  a  more  detailed  account  of  this  ardent 
patriot.  General  Winds  died  October  12th  1789,  and  is 
buried  in  the  Rockaway  cemetery,  where  his  monument 
rn'ay  be  seen. 

Abraham  Ogden  and  Samuel  Ogden  were  brothers,  and 
sons  of  Judge  David  Ogden,  of  Newark,  who  graduated 
at  Yale  in  1728  and  became  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
supreme  court  of  this  State.  When  the  war  broke  out  he 
espoused  the  side  of  the  king  and  became  a  distinguished 
loyalist.  One  son,  Isaac,  sided  with  his  father,  and  his 
interest  in  the  old  Boonton  property  was  accordingly 
Confiscated  and  sold  to  his  brother  by  the  commissioners. 
Abraham  and  Samuel  were  active  and  ardent  patriots. 
The  former  was  a  distinguished  lawyer,  and  said  to 
have  had  no  equal  before  a  jury.  He  was  appointed 
surrogate  for  Morris  in  1768.  After  the  war  he  returned 
to  Newark,  was  United  States  district  attorney  in  Wash- 
ington's administration,  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
in  1790,  and  died  suddenly  in  1798,  upward  of  sixty 
years  of  age.  Samuel  Ogden  married  a  sister  of  Gov- 
ernor Morris,  and  lived  at  Old  Boonton,  where  he  was 
largely  engaged  in  the  iron  business.  He  commanded  a 
company  of  militia  in  the  war.  In  1805  he  is  described 
in  a  deed  as  being  of  Newark.  He  was  the  father  of 
David  B.  Ogden,  eminent  at  the  bar,  both  in  New  Jersey 
and  New  York. 

William  De  Hart  was  a  lawyer  residing  in  Morristown, 
and  one  of  its  streets  was  afterward  named  after  him. 
He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Matthias  De  Hart,  and  had  two 
brothers  killed  in  the  war.  His  name  occurs  frequently 
in  the  records  of  the  court.  He  was  licensed  as  attorney 
November  ist  1767,  and  as  counselor  May  30th  1771. 
He  was  a  major  in  the  first  battalion,  first  and  second  es- 
tablishments; afterward  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  second 
regiment  continental  army.  He  was  born  December  7th 
1746,  and  died  June  i6th  1801. 


Samuel  Tuthill  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Morristown, 
a  son-in-law  of  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  and  after  the  war  clerk 
of  the  county  and  judge  of  the  county  court.  He  lived 
on  South  street,  at  the  corner  of  Pine,  where  James  Wood 
afterward  lived. 

Jonathan  Stiles  was  one  of  the  county  judges  and  had 
been  sheriff  of  the  county.  He  also  lived  in  Morristown. 
Jonathan  Stiles,  named  as  a  township  officer  in  1726, 
probably  father  of  the  delegate,  died  in  Morristown  No- 
vember isth  1758,  aged  80  years. 

John  Carle  was  one  of  the  county  judges,  and  resided 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  He  was  an  elder  in 
the  Basking  Ridge  church  and  a  man  much  respected. 

Philip  Van  Cortland  was  probably  from  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Pompton,  and  his  name  appears  as  colonel  of 
the  2nd  regiment  of  Essex  county,  and  in  1776  as  colonel 
of  a  battalion  in  Heard's  brigade.  There  was  a  man  of 
the  same  name — a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
New  York — who  entered  the  military  service  of  the  king^ 
and  who  in  1782  was  major  of  the  3d  battalion  N.J.  (loyal) 
volunteers.     At  the  peace  he  went  to  Nova  Scotia. 

The  committees  of  the  several  counties  met  at  New 
Brunswick  July  21st,  and  appointed  five  of  their  members 
delegates  to  the  General  Congress,  which  met  in  Phila- 
delphia September  5th.  This  General  Congress,  after 
adopting  various  resolutions,  and  after  a  general  inter- 
change of  views,  resolved  that  another  General  Congress 
should  be  held  on  the  loth  of  May  following,  to  which 
all  the  colonies  were  requested  to  send  delegates.  Del- 
egates for  this  convention  were  chosen  by  the  Assembly 
of  New  Jersey  for  the  province,  that  body  being  urged  to 
take  the  responsibility  of  that  action  by  the  people  of  the 
several  counties. 

The  committee  of  correspondence,  appointed  in  June 
1774,  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Congress  in 
Philadelphia  called  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  at  Morris- 
town to  endorse  its  action.  The  proceedings  of  this 
meeting,  breathing  the  same  spirit  of  resistance  and  ex- 
hibiting an  appreciation  on  the  part  of  the  committee 
that  their  appointment  was  "  by  the  people  and  for  the 
people,"  were  as  follows: 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  of  the  county  of 
Morris,  at  Morristown,  on  Monday  the  9th  day  of  Janu- 
ary 1775,  William  Winds,  Esq.,  chairman,  the  committee 
of  correspondence  for  the  county  of  Morris  having  pro- 
duced and  read  the  association  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, the  same  was  deliberately  considered  by  the  whole 
assembly  and  by  them  unanimously  approved  as  a  wise, 
prudent  and  constitutional  mode  of  opposition  to  the 
late  several  tyrannical  and  oppressive  acts  of  the  British 
Parliament.  Whereupon  they  unanimously  determined 
strictly  to  abide  by  the  same,  and  thanks  to  the  delegates 
of  this  colony  for  their  great  attention  to  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  their  constituents,  and  for  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  the  important  trust  reposed  in  them. 

"The  assembly  then  unanimously  agreed  that  the  in- 
habitants of  each  several  township  in  the  county  should 
meet,  at  their  respective  places  of  holding  town  meet- 
ings, on  Monday  the  23d  day  of  January  instant,  at  i 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  then  and  there  respectively  to 
choose  (by  those  who  are  qualified  to  vote  for  repre- 
sentatives in  the  Legislature)  a  committee  of  observation. 


THE  PATRIOT  COMMITTEEMEN. 


25 


pursuant  to  and  for  the  purposes  expressed  in  the  elev- 
enth article  of  the  said  association.  After  which  the 
committee  of  correspondence  declared  to  the  assembly 
that  they  had  thought  proper  to  dissolve  themselves,  in 
order  that  their  constituents  might  have  an  opportunity 
of  a  new  choice,  and  that  they  were  dissolved  accord- 
ingly. Whereupon  Jacob  Ford,  William  Winds  and 
Jonathan  Stiles,  Esquires,  Messrs.  Jacob  Drake,  Peter 
Dickerson  and  Ellis  Cook,  together  with  Samuel  Tuthill, 
Dr.  William  Hart  and  Abraham  Ogden,  Esquires,  were 
elected;  and  at  the  same  time  authorized  to  instruct  the 
representatives  of  this  county  when  convened  in  General 
Assembly  to  join  in  the  appointment  of  delegates  for  this 
colony  to  meet  in  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia;  but 
if  the  said  assembly  should  not  appoint  delegates  for 
that  purpose  by  the  first  day  of  April  next,  then  the  said 
committee  of  correspondence  to  meet  with  the  several 
county  committees  of  this  colony  and  appoint  the  said 
delegates,  at  such  time  and  place  as  shall  be  agreed  upon 
by  the  said  committees. 

"  The  assembly  afterwards,  taking  into  consideration 
the  conduct  of  James  Rivington,  printer  in  New  York, 
in  publishing  two  certain  pamphlets — the  one  entitled 
'  A  Friendly  Address,'  &c.,  &c.,  the  other  under  the 
signature  of  '  A.  W.  Farmer,'  and  several  others — 
all  containing  many  falsehoods,  wickedly  calculated  to 
divide  the  colonies,  to  deceive  the  ignorant,  and  to  cause 
a  base  submission  to  the  unconstitutional  measures  of  the 
British  Parliament  for  enslaving  the  colonies,  do  unan- 
imously resolve  that  they  esteem  the  said  James  Riving- 
ton an  enemy  to  his  country;  and  therefore  that  they 
will  for  the  future  refrain  from  taking  his  newspapers, 
and  from  all  further  commerce  with  him;  and  that  by  all 
lawful  means  in  their  power  they  will  discourage  the  cir- 
culation of  his  papers  in  this  county." 

John  Carle  and  Philip  Van  Cortland  were  left  off  the 
new  committee  for  some  reason,  and  Jacob  Drake  and 
Peter  Dickerson  appointed  in  their  places. 

Colonel  Jacob  Drake  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  at 
Drakesville,  where  he  located  a  large  tract  of  land,  on 
which  he  resided  the  remainder  of  his  life,  selling  off 
portions  as  the  county  became  more  thickly  settled.  He 
was  born  in  1730  and  was  of  a  Virginia  family.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  took  at  once  a  leading  part. 
He  is  described  as  of  handsome  physique,  quick  and 
active  in  his  movements  and  of  very  popular  manners. 
He  was  colonel  of  the  "  western  battalion  "  of  Morris 
militia,  and  resigned  his  commission  to  represent  the 
county  in  the  first  State  Legislature.  He  died  at  Drakes 
ville,  September  1823,  aged  93  years.  Colonel  Drake's 
second  wife  was  Esther  Dickerson,  daughter  of  Captain 
Peter  Dickerson,  of  the  continental  army,  and  his  asso- 
ciate on  the  committee.  By  her  he  had  six  children — 
Clarissa,  wife  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Woodruff;  Jacob  Drake 
jr.,  of  Drakesville;  Silas  Drake,  who  removed  to  the 
west;  Hon.  George  K.  Drake,  judge  of  the  supreme 
court  of  New  Jersey;  Peter  Drake,  and  Eliza,  wife  of 
Dr.  Absalom  Woodruff. 

Peter  Dickerson,  son  of  Thomas  Dickerson,  was  born 
at  Southoid,  Long  Island,  in  1724,  and  came  to  New 
Jersey  about  1741  and  settled  in  Morris  county.  He 
was  an  ardent  patriot  and  his  house  in  Morristown  was 
from  the  beginning  of  the  difficulties  with  Great  Britain 
a  gathering  place  of  those  of  kindred  mind.  He  was  a 
member  pf  the  Provincial  Congress  of  1776,  and  was 


captain  of  the  sth  company  of  the  3d  battalion  first 
establishment  continental  army,  and  of  the  ist  company 
3d  battalion  second  establishment,  his  men  re-enlisting 
in  a  body.  It  is  said  that  he  paid  all  the  expense  of  the 
equipment  of  this  company  out  of  his  own  pocket,  and 
that  the  money  he  so  advanced  stands  to  his  credit  to- 
day in  Washington,  unpaid.  He  died  May  loth  1780,  in 
the  56th  year  of  his  age,  and  is  buried  in  the  First 
Church  burying  ground  in  Morristown.  By  his  first 
wife,  Ruth  Coe,  he  had  eight  children,  one  of  whotn— 
Jonathan— was  the  father  of  Governor  Mahlon  Dicker- 
son,  and  another — Esther — married  first  George  King,  of 
Morristown,  and  afterward  Colonel  Jacob  Drake. 

Who  were  chosen  members  of  the  several  jtownship 
committees  on  January  23d  cannot  now  be  ascertained. 
It  is  only  known  that  each  township  did  elect  such  a 
committee.  Matthias  Burnet,  Aaron  Kitchel,  David 
Biuen,  Captain  Stephen  Day,  Stephen  Munson,  Benja- 
min Howell  and  Captain  James  Keen  were  on  the  com- 
mittee for  Hanover.  The  committee  for  Pequannock 
township  was  composed  of  Robert  Gaston,  Moses  Tuttle, 
Stephen  Jackson,  Abraham  Kitchel  and  Job  Allen. 
David  Thompson  was  chairman  of  the  Mendham  com- 
mittee. Each  member  of  these  committees  exerted  him- 
self -to  obtain  signatures  to  a  form  of  association  which 
pledged  the  signers  to  sustain  the  Provincial  and  Conti- 
nental Congresses,  and  none  others  were  allowed  to  vote 
for  delegates  to  the  Congress  of  the  province.  The 
paper  of  Captain  Stephen  Jackson,  with  172  signers,  has 
been  preserved  and  is  printed  in  the  "  Revolutipnary 
Fragments "  of  Dr.  Tuttle.  While  the  committee  for 
Hanover  township  is  called  a  committee  of  safety  and 
was  in  existence  in  February  1775,  the  form  of  the 
articles  of  association  to  which  it  was  to  obtain  signa- 
tures was  adopted  by  the  Provincial  Congress  at  its 
meeting  on  May  31st.  .    , 

This  Provincial  Congress,  which  met  at  Trenton  May 
23d  1775,  and  continued  its  session  through  June  and 
August,  met  in  response  to  a  call  made  by  a  committee 
of  correspondence,  and,  assuming  thejpowers  of  govern- 
ment, supplanted  the  former  Legislature.  The  members 
of  the  Assembly  were  many  of  them  members  of  th,is 
Congress,  and  the  meetings  of  one  body  were  held 
during  the  adjournments  of  the  other.  The  delegates 
from  Morris  county  were  appointed  at  a  meeting  pf  ^he 
inhabitants  held  May  ist.  The  proceedings  pf  this 
meeting  and  of  the  meeting  of  the  delegates  the  next 
day  show  the  progress  that  had  been  made  in  the  work 
of  revolution.     They  are  as  follows: 

"  Pursuant  to  an  appointment  of  a  meetingof  the  free- 
holders and  inhabitants  of  the  county  of  Morris,  agree- 
able to  notice  given  by  the  former  committee  of  corre- 
spondence, the  said  freeholders  and  inhabitants  did  meet 
accordingly  on  Monday  the  first  day  of  May  anno  Domini 
1775 — Jacob  Ford,  Esq.,  chairman;  William  De  Hart, 
Esq.,  clerk — and  came  into  the  following  votes  and  reso- 
lutions, to  wit: 

"  That  delegates  be  chosen  to  represent  the  county  of 
Morris,  and  that  the  said  delegates  be  vested  with  the 
power  of  legislation,  and  that  they  raise  men,  money  and 
arms  for  the  common  defense  and  point  out  tUe  mode. 


26 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


method  and  means  of  raising,  appointing  and  paying  the 
said  men  and  officers,  subject  to  the  control  and  direction 
of  the  Provincial  and  Continental  Congress;  and  that 
afterward  they  meet  in  Provincial  Congress  with  such 
counties  as  shall  send  to  the  same  jointly  with  them  to 
levy  taxes  on  the  province,  with  full  power  of  legislative 
authority,  if  they  think  proper  to  exercise  the  same,  for 
the  said  province;  and  the  said  Provincial  Congress  be 
subject  to  the  control  of  the  grand  Continental  Congress. 

"And  they  proceeded  to  elect  the  following  persons 
to  be  their  delegates  as  aforesaid,  to  wit:  William  Winds, 
Esq.,  William  De  Hart,  Esq.,  Silas  Condict,  Peter  Dick- 
erson,  Jacob  Drake,  KUis  Cook,  Jonathan  Stiles,  Esq., 
David  Thompson,  Esq.,  Abraham  Kitchel. 

"  And  pursuant  to  the  above  appointment  the  said 
delegates  met  at  the  house  of  Captain  Peter  Dickerson 
at  Morristown,  in  the  county  of  Morris,  on  the  first  day 
of  May  1775.  Present:  William  Winds,  Esc^^.,  Silas  Con- 
dict, Peter  Dickerson,  Jacob  Drake,  Ellis  Cook,  Jona- 
than Stiles,  Esq.,  David  Thompson,  Esq.,  Abraham 
Kitchel.  William  Winds,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  chosen 
chairman.     Archibald  Dallas  was  appointed  clerk.  ' 

"  Voted,  unanimously,  that  any  five  of  the  delegates 
when  met  be  a  body  of  the  whole,  and  do  make  a  board, 
and  that  a  majority  of  them  so  met  should  make  a  vote. 

"  Voted,  unanimously,  that  forces  should  be  raised. 

"  Then  the  delegates  adjourned  till  to-morrow  at  9 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Captain 
Peter  Dickerson,  aforesaid." 

Having  met  pursuant  to  the  adjournment  the  delegates 
voted  that  three  hundred  volunteers  be  recruited,  to  be 
equally  divided  into  five  companies,  each  to  have  a  cap- 
tain and  two  lieutenants  except  the  first  two  companies, 
which  were  to  be  commanded  by  two  field  officers.  Wil- 
liam Winds  was  designated  as  colonel;  William  De  Hart, 
major;  Samuel  Ball,  Joseph  Morris  and  Daniel  Budd, 
captains;  John  Huntington,  "  captain-lieutenant  "  in  the 
colonel's  company,  and  Silas  Howell  ditto  in  the  major's 
company.  The  captains  were  to  appoint  their  lieuten- 
ants. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  captains  should  discipline  their 
men  at  the  rate  of  one  day  every  week  till  further  orders, 
the  times  and  places  to  be  appointed  by  the  captains.  It 
was  voted  "  that  the  said  officers  and  men  shall  be  paid 
as  follows,  viz.:  Captains,  seven  shillings  proclamation 
money  per  day;-  first  lieutenants,  six  shillings  per  day; 
second  lieutenants,  five  shillings  per  day;  sergeants,  three 
shillings  and  six  pence  per  day;  private  men,  three  shil- 
lings per  day  and  found  with  provisions,  arms  and  am- 
munition; and  when  only  in  discipline  at  home,  the  same 
wages  and  to  find  themselves;  and  their  wages  to  be  paid 
every  two  months." 

It  was  ordered  that  five  hundred  pounds  of  powder 
and  a  ton  of  lead  be  purchased  and  kept  in  a  magazine, 
for  the  use  of  the  new  regiment,  and  William  De  Hart 
was  appointed  to  make  the  purchase. 

It  was  voted  "  that  the  votes  and  resolves  of  this 
meeting  shall  be  subject  to  the  control  of  the  Provincial 
and  Continental  Congresses,  to  take  place  after  due 
notice  being  given  to  us  by  either  of  the  said  Congresses 
of  their  disapprobation  of  all  or  any  of  our  proceedings; 
and  the  delegates,  taking  into  consideration  the  unhappy 
circumstances  of  this  country,  do  recommend  to  the  in- 
habitants of  this  county  capable  of  bearing  arms  to  pro- 


vide themselves  with  arms  and  ammunition,  to  defend 
their  country  in  case  of  any  invasion. 

"Adjourned  till  the  ninth  day  of  this  month,  at  9  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon,  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Captain  Peter 
Dickerson,  in  Morristown." 

This  resolution  to  raise  three  companies  was  antici- 
pating the  first  action  of  the  Provincial  Congress  in  re- 
gard to  militia.  On  the  3d  of  June  1775  an  act  provid- 
ing a  plan  for  regulating  the  militia  of  the  colony  was 
passed,  directing  that  where  companies  and  regiments 
were  already  formed  and  officers  chosen  and  appointed  the 
same  were  to  be  continued.  The  muster  roll  signed  by 
recruits  contained  only  the  promise  "  to  obey  our  officers 
in  such  service  as  they  shall  ai)point  us,  agreeable  to  the 
rules  and  orders  of  the  Provincial  Congress."  Morris, 
county  was  to  have  two  regiments  and  one  battalion. 

Silas  Condict,  of  Morristown,  Ellis  Cook,  of  Hanover, 
David  Thompson,  of  Mendham,  and  Abraham  Kitchel, 
of  Pequannock,  who  were  the  new  members  of  the  Mor- 
ris county  delegation,  were  men  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  honor  conferred  upon  them. 

Silas  Condict  was  the  son  of  Peter  Condict,  who  came 
from  Newark  to  Morristown  about  1730  and  lived  first 
on  the  Doughty  place,  on  Kimball  avenue,  and  afterward 
in  a  house  near  the  David  Mills  place.  His  son  Silas 
was  born  March  7th  1738,  and  married  first  Phebe  Day, 
and  afterward  Abigail  Byram.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
education  and  fine  ability,  an  active  member  and  trustee 
in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  an  ardent  patriot.  He 
was  one  of  the  committee  of  the  Provincial  Congress  to 
draft  the  first  constitution  of  the  State,  and  was  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  county  in  the  State  council.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  council  of  safety  in  1777-8,  and  in  1783 
represented  the  State  in  the  Continental  Congress.  He 
was  twice  appointed  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county, 
and  was  eight  times  elected  to  the  House  of  Assembly, 
of  which  body  he  was  four  times  the  speaker.  He  died 
September  i8th  i8oi,  leaving  but  one  descendant,  a 
granddaughter,  afterward  the  wife  of  Colonel  Joseph 
Cutler,  and  the  mother  of  Hon.  Augustus  W.  Cutler.  His 
nephew.  Dr.  Lewis  Condict,  son  of  Peter  Condict  jr.,  was 
a  member  of  Congress  from  this  State,  and  speaker  of 
the  House. 

Ellis  Cook  was  a  very  prominent  public  man  and 
maintained  the  respect  and  confidence  of  a  large  con- 
stituency,for  many  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil for  three  years,  and  of  the  House  of  Assembly  for 
fourteen  years. 

David  Thompson  was  a  devout  elder  in  the  Mendham 
Presbyterian  church,  and  noted  for  his  eloquence  in 
prayer  and  faith  in  the  ultimate  success  of  the  patriots. 
He  said  in  one  of  the  darkest  hours  of- the  struggle:  "We 
can  look  to  Jehovah  when  all  other  refuges  fail;"  and  his 
wife  declared  to  the  numerous  soldiers  she  entertained 
without  charge  that  "  nothing  was  too  good  for  the  use 
of  those  who  fight  for  our  country."  Thompson  com- 
manded a  company  of  militia  in  the  war. 

Abraham  Kitchel  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Kitchel,  of 
Hanover,  and  a  brothe'r  of  Hon.  Aaron  Kitchel,  the  mem- 


REVOLUTIONARY  LEADERS— CONTINENTAL  TROOPS. 


27 


ber  of  Congress  and  United  States  senator.  He  was  born 
August  26th  1736,  and  in  1768  was  one  of  the  supporters 
of  the  Rockaway  church,  to  which  he  continued  to  be- 
long until  his  death.  He  lived  at  first  on  the  "  back 
road  "  from  Rockaway  to  Hibernia,  in  a  log  house  near 
the  stone  house  occupied  after  his  death  by  his  son  James. 
He  was  a  man  of  better  education  than  was  common 
among  men  of  his  day,  of  strong  good  sense,  and  of  firm- 
ness amounting  to  obstinacy.  He  had  great  independ- 
ence of  character  and  more  than  ordinary  physical 
strength.  He  built  the  Mansion  House  at  White  Meadow, 
and  occupied  it  until  1799,  when  he  sold  it  and  the  lands 
about  it  to  Bernard  Smith.  He  died  at  Parsippany,  Jan- 
uary nth  1807. 

•Of  the  military  officers  chosen,  Cologel  Winds,  Major 
De  Hart  and  Captains  Morris  and  Howell  soon  found 
their  way  into  the  "  regular  army  "  of  that  day,  and  were 
officers  in  the  ist  battalion  ist  establishment  of  the  con- 
tinental army — "Jersey  Line."  Joseph  Morris  was  made 
captain  of  the  first  company  in  this  ist  establishment, 
November  8th  1775,  and  captain  of  the  first  company  in 
the  rst  battalion  2nd  establishment  November  29th  1776. 
He  was  promoted  to  be  major,  and  severely  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Germantown,  October  4th  1777,  and  died 
from  his  wounds,  January  7th  1778. 

Captain  Silas  Howell  was  captain  of  the  2nd  company 
ist  battalion  ist  establishment,  November  14th  1775; 
captain  of  the  2nd  company  ist  battalion  2nd  establish- 
ment, November  29th  1776,  and  retired  September  26th 
1780. 

John  Huntington  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Rockaway  church  in  1758,  and  an  elder  in  it  for  many 
years.  His  beautiful  handwriting  and  fair  composition 
in  the  church  records  show  him  to  have  been  a  man  of 
considerable  education.  He  lived  near  Shongum,  and 
left  at  his  death  considerable  estate.  He  was  quarter- 
master in  General  Winds's  militia  brigade. 

Archibald  Dallas,  the  clerk  of  the  meeting,  was  com- 
missioned second  lieutenant  in  Meeker's  company  1st 
battalion  ist  establishment,  December  9th  1775,  and  in 
Captain  Howell's  company  ist  battalion  2nd  establish- 
ment November  29th  1776;  captain  in  the  4th  battalion 
2nd  establishment,  and  also  in  Colonel  Spencer's  reg- 
iment, and  was  killed  in  action  January  28th  1779. 

This  first  Provincial  Congress  on  August  12th  directed 
an  election  in  the  several  counties,  to  be  held  on  Thurs- 
day the  2 1  St  day  of  September,  for  delegates  to  attend 
the  Provincial  Congress  to  meet  at  Trenton  October  3d 
1775.  The  delegates  to  the  latter  from  Morris  county 
were  William  Winds,  William  De  Hart,  Jacob  Drake, 
Silas  Condict  and  Ellis  Cook.  It  was  the  last  Provincial 
Congress,  and  continued  its  sessions,  with  adjournments, 
to  August  2ist  1776,  when  it  adjourned  without  day, 
July  2nd  1776,  two  days  before  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence, it  adopted  the  first  constitution  of  this  State, 
under  which  the  first  State  Legislature  was  elected,  and 
which  continued  in  force  until  supplanted  by  the  consti- 
tution of  1834.  On  the  committee  to  draft  this  constitu- 
tion was  Silas  Condict. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MORRIS  COUNTY  TROOPS  IN  THE  CONTINENTAL  ARMY. 


N  the  9th  of  October  1775  the  Continental 
Congress  made  its  first  call  on  New  Jersey 
for  troops.  It  was  in  the  shape  of  the  follow- 
ing resolutions: 

^^  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the 
convention  of  New  Jersey  that  they  immediately 
raise,  at  the  expense  of  the  continent,  two  bat- 
talions, consisting  of  eight  companies  each,  and  each 
company  of  sixty-eight  privates,  officered  with  one  cap- 
tain, one  lieutenant,  one  ensign,  four  sergeants,  and  four 
corporals. 

"  That  the  privates  be  enlisted  for  one  year,  at  the  rate 
of  five  dollars  per  calendar  month,  liable  to  be  discharged 
at  any  time  on  allowing  them  one  month's  pay  extra- 
ordinary. 

"  That  each  of  the  privates  be  allowed,  instead  of  a 
bounty,  one  felt  hat,  a  pair  of  yarn  stockings,  and  a  pair 
of  shoes;  the  men  to  find  their  own  arms. 

"  That  the  pay  of  the  officers,  for  the  present,  be  the 
same  as  that  of  the  officers  in  the  present  continental 
array;  and  in  case  the  pay  of  the  officers  in  the  army  is 
augmented  the  pay  of  the  officers  in  these  -battalions 
shall,  in  like  manner,  be  augmented  from  the  time  of 
their  engaging  in  the  service." 

These  resolutions  were  laid  before  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress October  13th  1775,  and  that  body  on  the  26th  of 
the  same  month  resolved  that  warrants  be  issued  to  the 
proper  persons  to  raise  the  troops  called  for,  and  appointed 
mustering  officers  to  review  the  companies  when  raised. 
The  form  of  enlistment  was  in  the  following  words: 

"I ,  have   this  day  voluntarily 

enlisted  myself  as  a  soldier  in  the  American  continental 
army  for  one  year,  unless  sooner  discharged,  and  do  bind 
myself  to  conform  in  all  instances  to  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  are  or  shall  be  established  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  said  army." 

Some  delay  was  caused  by  the  question  whether  the 
field  officers  should  be  appointed  by  the  Provincial  or 
the  Continental  Congress;  but  on  the  loth  of  November 
(only  a  month  after  the  first  call  of  Congress),  this  ques- 
tion being  settled  by  the  confirmation,  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  of  the  officers  recommended  by  the  State  au- 
thorities, six  companies  were  raised  and  ordered  to  gar- 
rison the  fort  in  the  Highlands  on  the  Hudson;  and  No- 
vember 27th  the  rest  of  the  two  battalions  were  ordered 
into  barracks  in  New  York.  December  8th  both  bat- 
talions were  ordered  into  New  York,  and  on  the  26th 
they  were  ordered  to  be  mustered.  These  troops  were 
called  the  first  or  eastern  battalion  and  second  or  western 
battalion  of  the  first  establishment.  As  stated  hereafter 
a  third  battalion  was  afterward  called  for  by  Congress 
January  loth  1776,  which  was  raised  for  this  establish- 
ment. The  western  battalion  was  in  the  western  and 
southern  parts  of  the  State,  but  in  the  eastern  battalion 
Morris  county  was  largely  represented.  Lord  Stirling 
was  colonel,  William  Winds  was  lieutenant  colonel,  and, 


28 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


after  Stirling's  promotion,  Colonel  William  De  Hart  was 
major.  Three  companies  at  least  were  from  Morris,  viz: 
The  first  company,  of  which  Joseph  Morris  was  captain, 
Daniel  Baldwin  first  lieutenant,  Daniel  Brown  second 
lieutenant,  and  Jonathan  F.  Morris  ensign;  the  second 
company,  of  which  Silas  Howell  was  captain,  John  Mer- 
cer first  lieutenant,  Richard  Johnson  second  lieutenant 
and  Jacob  Kemper  ensign;  and  the  fifth  company,  of 
which  Joseph  Meeker  was  captain,  Yellis  (or  Giles)  Mead 
first  lieutenant,  Archibald  Dallas  second  lieutenant,  and 
George  Ross  ensign. 

On  the  loth  of  January  1776  three  companions  of  this 
first  battalion  were  ordered  to  report  to  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Heard,  in  command  of  minute  men,  for  duty  in  arresting 
tories  and  disaffected  persons  in  Queens  county,  N.  Y. 
The  rest  of  the  battalion,  Colonel  Winds  commanding, 
Were  stationed  at  Perth  Amboy  and  Elizabethtown  until 
May  1776.  On  the  3d  of  May,  with  the  third  battalion, 
they  left  New  York  to  join  the  expedition  to  Canada, 
and  having  been  joined  by  the  second  battalion  took  an 
active  part  in  the  operations  before  Quebec.  Later  the 
first  and  second  battalions  were  ordered  into  barracks  at 
Ticonderoga,  and  remained  at  that  place  until  directed, 
November  5th  1776,  to  return  to  New  Jersey  for  dis- 
charge. 

January  loth  1776  Congress  directed  another  battalion 
to  be  raised  in  New  Jersey  on  the  same  terms  as  the 
other  two,  and  on  the  6th  of  February  the  recommenda- 
tion was  made  by  the  Provincial  Congress.  The  regir 
ment  was  organized  at  once,  and  left  Elizabethtown 
April  29th  for  New  York.  On  the  3d  of  May  it  sailed 
for  Albany  with  the-  first  battalion,  and  served  with  it- in 
the  campaign.  The  battalion  left  Albany  March  7th 
1777,  and  was  discharged  at  Morristown  on  the  23d. 
The  regiment  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Elias  Dayton, 
and  contained  at  least  one  Morris  county  company— the 
fifth — which  was  commanded  by  Peter  Dickerson,  of 
Morristown,  Stephen  Dunham  being  first  lieutenant, 
David  Tuttle  second  lieutenant,  and  William  Tenbrook 
ensign.  A  list  of  the  enlisted  men  of  this  company  has 
been  made  up  for  the  files  of  the  adjutant  general  and 
is  as  follows: 

William  Anderson,  Stephen  Beach,  Woodrick  Bilberry, 
William  Bishop,  Joseph  Bolterhouse,  Jacob  Buttersop, 
Martin  Crill,  Andrew  Culpet,  Patrick  Davis,  Luke  De 
Voir,  John  English,  Jeremiah  Fleming,  Daniel  Guard, 
Thomas  Hathaway,  John  Hill,  John  Howe,  Jacob  Kent, 
Henry  Kitchen,  William  Logan,  Timothy  Losey,  Thomas 
Martin,  Clement  Martin,  James  Mathers,  Robert  Mc- 
Kindrick,  William  Mead,  John  Moore,  Stephen  Price, 
Adoniram  Pritten,  John  Quill,  Joseph  Rose,  John  Sline- 
man,  Peter  Smith,  Isaiah  Tuttle,  John  Tway,  Isaac 
AVard,  David  Watson,  John  White,  Richard  Williamson, 
Morris  Wooden. 

The  diary  of  Timothy  Tuttle,  a  sergeant  in  the  fiirst 
battalion  in  Captain  Joseph  Morris's  company,  has  been 
preserved  and  has  been  printed.  In  it  his  daily  doings 
are  recorded  from  before  January  ist  1776  until  he  ar- 
rived at  Albany  on  his  way  home,  November  12th.  From 
this  it  appears  that  he  and  his  comrades  arrived  at 
Albany  May  Sth,  after  an  eight  days'  sail,  and  marched 


from  there  to  Lake  George,  where  they  arrived  May  22nd. 
On  the  26th  of  May  they  arrived  at  Crown  Point,  which 
they  left  on  the  28th  in  boats  for  St.  John.  From  there 
they  marched  up  the  Sorell  River,  and  on  the  Sth  of  June 
were  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  cannon.  They  were  en- 
camped on  the  Sorell  until  the  14th,  when  they  began  a 
retreat  to  Crown  Point,  which  they  reached  on  the  24lh. 
They  remained  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point  until  November  6th,  when  Tuttle,  with  105 
of  the  men  of  his  battalion,  left  for  home  with  General 
Winds.  Recruiting  had  begun  for  the  second  establish- 
ment, which  was  enlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the 
war,  and  many  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  first  estab- 
lishment remained  and  were  mustered  into  the  second 
establishment.  Tuttle  notes  under  date  of  November 
5th:  "Same  morning  our  men  seemed  to  persist  to  go 
home,  and  orders  came  out  from  the  general  that  Col- 
onel Winds  and  what  men  is  a  mind  to  follow  him  to  be 
off  to-morrow  morning  at  8  o'clock.  Some  of  officers 
say  we  go  away  with  scandal,  but  Colonel  Winds  says 
[we]  go  with  honor."  Sergeant  Tuttle  was  afterward  en- 
sign and  lieutenant  in  the  Morris  militia,  and  later  a  cap- 
tain in  Colonel  Sylvanus  Seeley's  eastern  battalion  of 
Morris  militia. 

These  three  Jersey  regiments  of  the  firtt  establishment 
did  some  hard  service  in  this  campaign,  none  the  easier 
to  endure  because  the  movement  was  unsuccessful  in 
that  it  did  not  accomplish  what  was  hoped  for  it.  A 
committee  of  the  New  Jersey  Provincial  Congress  by 
direction  of  that  body  went  to  Crown  Point,  and  there 
reviewed  the  Jersey  troops  October  25th.  They  re- 
ported that  they  "found  the  soldiers  destitute  of  many 
articles  of  dress;  supplies  of  every  kind  they  want,  but 
shoes  and  stockings  they  are  in  the  last  necessity  for, 
many  hiiving  neither  to  their  feet."  They  believed  the 
troops  were  well  furnished  with  provisions,  and  that  they 
had  plenty  of  arms.  "  Respecting  the  disposition  of  the 
officers  to  engage  in  the  service"  (meaning  to  re-enlist),  the 
commissioners  say,  "  It  is  with  the  greatest  cheerfulness 
the  most  of  the  officers  are  ready  on  your  appointment 
to  serve  their  country  during  the  war." 

Somewhat  similar  to  the  experience  of  later  years.  Con- 
gress found  in  the  summer  of  1776  that  troops  enlisted  for  a 
short  time  would  not  suffice  to  bring  the  war  to  a  success- 
ful termination.  Accordingly,  September  i6th  1776,  a 
resolution  was  adopted  that  eighty-eight  battalions  be 
enlisted  as  soon  as  possible,  to  serve  during  the  war,  and 
that  New  Jersey  furnish  four  battalions. 

The  State  Legislature  appointed  a  joint  committee  to 
take  the  matter  into  consideration,  who  recommended 
that  the  first  three  of  the  new  battalions  be  formed  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  three  batalions  then  in  the  field, 
so  far  as  they  were  willing  to  re-enlist;  and  that  the  offi- 
cers of  the  fourth  battalion  be  made  up  as  much  as  pos- 
sible from  the  five  regiments  of  militia  then  serving  under 
General  Heard.  This  recommendation  was  adopted,  and 
the  three  battalions  in  the  field  formed  the  nucleus  of  the 
first  three  battalions  of  the  new  establishment. 

In  the  first  battalion,  Colonel  Winds   having   retired 


COMPANIES  OF  CONTINENTALS— THEIR  SERVICES. 


29 


Silas  Newcomb  and,  on  his  promotion,  Matthias  Ogden 
was  made  colonel.  Major  William  De  Hart  continued  in 
service  and  was  made  lieiUenant  colonel  on  the  promotion 
of  Ogden.  Joseph  Morris  remained  as  captain  of  the 
first  company  (until  made  major  of  the  battalion),  with 
John  Mercer,  formerly  first  lieutenant  of  Captain 
Howell's  company,  as  first  lieutenant;  Robert  Robertson 
(who  afterward  resigned  on  account  of  wounds)  as  second 
lieutenant  and  Simon  Mash  as  ensign. 

Silas  Howell  remained  as  captain  of  the  second  com- 
pany, with  John  Van  Anglen  (afterward  captain)  as  first 
lieutenant,  Archibald  Dallas  (formerly  of  Meeker's  com- 
pany) as  second  lieutenant  and  John  Howell  (afterward 
captain)  as  ensign. 

Captain  Meeker  went  home  at  the  end  of  his  enlist- 
ment. His  lieutenant,  Giles  Mead, 'remained  as  lieuten- 
ant of  the  third  company,  commanded  by  Captain  John 
Conway  (afterward  major  of  the  fourth  battalion);  John 
Flanhaven  was  second  lieutenant  and  Ebenezer  Axtell 
was  ensign  of  this  company. 

Captain  Peter  Dickerson's  company  seem  to  have  re- 
enlisted  in  a  body  and  formed  the  first  company  of  tlie 
third  battalion.  The  lieutenants  and  ensign  having  quit 
th€  service  their  places  were  filled  by  others.  Samuel 
Flanagan  was  first  lieutenant  until  promoted  to  a  cap- 
taincy; Jonathan  Brewer  second  lieutenant,  and  Edward 
D.  Thomas  ensign  until  made  first  lieutenant.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  enlisted  men  of  Captain  Dickerson's  first 
company  the  following  were  members  of  this  his  new 
company  :  Thomas  Beedle,  Josiah  Beetle,  David  Brown, 
Jonathan  Conkling,  George  Corwine,  James  Crane,  John 
Cugo,  Thomas  Cugo,  Cornelius  Drake,  Simeon  Hatha- 
way, John  Henry,  James  Joy,  Conrad  Kingfield,  Jasper 
Langley,  Enos  Little,  Abram  Ludlow,  Archibald  McNich- 
ols,  Solomon  Munson,  John  Panton,  John  Price,  Conrod 
Runyan,  John  Tuttle,  and  William  Tuttle. 

In  an  affidavit  made  by  Henry  Clark  in  order  to  obtain 
a  pension  (preserved  with  others  by  Hon.  Lewis  Condict), 
he  says  he  enlisted  at  Mendham  in  January  1776  for 
three  years,  in  Captain  Noadiah  Wade's  company,  with 
Abram  Hudson,  Stephen  Leonard,  Stephen  Frost,  John 
Doughty,  William  Minthorn,  Isaac  Stark,  William  Brown, 
John  Payne  and  others  whom  he  does  not  recollect. 
Zophar  Carnes  was  first  lieutenant,  John  Pipes  second 
lieutenant  and  Clement  Wood  ensign.  Wood  and  Wade 
lived  in  Mendham,  Carnes  in  Roxbury,  and  Pipes  in  what 
was  then  Pequannock.  The  company  consisted  of  60 
men,  and  was  filled,  the  membership  being  as  follows: 

Captain,  Noadiah  Wade;  lieutenants,  Zophar  Carnes 
(cashiered  April  i6th  1777)  and  J»to  JPipf^s,  promoted 
first  lieutenant  June  ist  1777.  Second  lieutenant,  Ben- 
jamin Horn.  Ensign,  Clement  Wood.  Sergeants: 
Robert  Logan,  John  Browne,  Shadrack  Hathaway  and 
Abram  Hudson.  Corporals:  Stephen  Harriman,  Ichabod 
Johnson,  Richard  Hedley  and  Jonathan  Starks.  Drum- 
Kier,  John  Cornelius.  Fifer,  WiUiam  Stone.  Privates: 
Adam  Showers,  Nathaniel  Petty,  George  Clifton,  Levi 
Shadwick  or  Shaddock,  Samuel  Freeman,  Wilham  Mun- 
son, Jesse  Rodgers,.  Samuel  Davis,  Philip  Minthorn, 
Abram  Mulct,  Henry  Blum,  Jonathan  Bailey,  Gabriel 
Hutchings,    Nathaniel     Thompson,     Price    Thompson, 


Abram  Losey,  Robert  Carson,  Philip  Hathaway,  Lewis 
Alvord,  John  Potter,  John  Doughty,  David  Mott,  Richard 
McGuire,  William  Finley,  Ichabod  Homans,  Daniel 
Parks,  Joseph  Richards,  Eleazer  Perkins,  Michael  Hayes, 
John  Davis,  Benjamin  Losey,  Robert  Hine,  Charles 
Clarkson,  Stephen  Leonard,  William  Brown,  Robert 
Minnis,  Thaddeus  Rice,  Samuel  Smith,  Daniel  Tuttle, 
Samuel  Hazle,  Jeremiah  Day,  David  Mumford,  Joseph 
Pipes,  Stephen  Frost,  John  Frost,  Job  Stiles,  Jonathan  Mc- 
Laughlin, John  Williams,  David  Carter,  Henry  Dugan, 
Josiah  Wynne,  Benjamin  Eaton,  Dominick  Hughs,  Isaac 
Dickinson,  John  Milbiirne,  John  Woodcock,  John  Col- 
lins, Henry  Clark,  James  Channel,  John  Stewart,  Jona- 
than Crane,  Dennis  Cargriff,  Thomas  Perry,  Joshua 
Pearce,  John  Berry,  William  Minthorn,  James  Knox, 
John  Hardcastle,  Alexander  Campbell,  Thomas  Day, 
Benjamin  Thorp,  Thomas  Rial,  Charles  Blumfield, 
Ephraim  Cary,  Andrew  Phillips. 

The  company  was  mustered  June  12th  i777»  and 
marched  to  Westfield,  where  it  was  reviewed  by  Colonel 
Martin.  It  was  the  third  in  the  fourth  battalion  second 
establishment. 

Besides  those  mentioned  there  were  many  other  Morris 
county  men  in  this  brigade.  John  Doughty  was  captain 
of  a  company  in  the  third  battalion,  promoted  major,  and 
resigned,  probably  to  enter  the  artillery  arm  of  the  ser- 
vice, in  which  he  afterward  distinguished  himself. 

The  four  regiments  were  ready  for  the  field  early  in 
1777,  the  first  battalion  being  organized  as  early  as  De- 
cember 1776,  the  second  and  third  in  February  and  the 
fourth  in  April  1777.  They  were  brigaded  together  and 
placed  under  command  of  General  William  Maxwell, 
forming  what  was  known  as  "  Maxwell's  brigade."  It  ^ 
was  placed  in  the  division  of  Major-General  Adam 
Stephens,  then  encamped  at  Elizabethtown,  Bound  Brook 
and  Rahway.  The  following  extract  from  General  Stry- 
ker's  history  of  Jerseymen  in  the  Revolutionary  army 
shows  the  part  these  battalions  took  in  the  war: 

"  During  the  summer  of  1777  the  division  of  General 
Stephens  marched  through  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware, 
and  on  the  morning  of  September  nth  a  portion  of  the 
'Jersey  line'  opened  the  battle  of  Brandywine.  They 
continued  in  the  fight  all  that  day,  on  the  advance  of  the 
division.  After  the  battle  the  brigade  continued  march- 
ing and  countermarching,  had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy 
at  White  Horse  Tavern,  on  the  Lancaster  road,  passed 
near  Yellow  Springs,  Reading  Furnace,  Worcester,  and 
then  towards  the  enemy,  and  finally  encamped  at  Ger- 
mantown.  A  battle  took  place  at  this  post  on  the  4th 
of  October.  With  the  brigade  of  North  Carolina  troops 
commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Francis  Nash,  Max- 
well's brigade  formed  the  corps  de  reserve  and  left  wing 
of  the  American  army.  This  division  was  commanded 
by  Major  General  Lord  Stirling,  of  New  Jersey.  The 
whole  command  distinguished  itself  in  this  fight,  but 
especially  the  first  battalion,  which  suffered  severely  in " 
both  officers  and  men.  Maxwell's  brigade  was  most  of 
the  winter  of  1777-8  with  the  army  at  Valley  Forge,  and 
on  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British,  June 
i8th  1778,  was  detached  from  the  main  army,  and  with 
some  militia  was  ordered  to  harass  and  impede  General  . 
Clinton's  force.  The  British  army  marched  towards 
New  York  by  way  of  Moorestown  and  Mount  Holly. 
The  army  under  Washington  crossed  the  Delaware  River 
at  Coryell's  Ferry  (Lambertville),  and  passed  through 
Hopewell,  Princeton,  Kingston,  Cranberry  and  English- 
town,  and  met   the  enemy  near  Freehold.     Maxwell's 


3° 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


brigade  was  afterwards  joined  by  six  hundred  continental 
troops,  commanded  by  Colonel  Daniel  Morgan,  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  again  by  fifteen  hundred  picked  troops  under 
Brigadier  General  Charles  Scott,  of  Virginia,  and  one 
thousand  under  Brigadier  General  Anthony  Wayne,  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  entire  force  engaged  in  harassing 
the  enemy  was  in  command  of  General  Lafayette.  On 
the  28th  of  June  1778  the  'Jersey  line'  joined  the  left 
wing  of  the  army,  and  the  brigade,  as  well  as  the  militia 
under  Major  General  Philemon  Dickinson,  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  fought  on  that  day.  The 
brigade  after  the  fight  was  sadly  in  want  of  clothing,  and 
many  and  urgent  were  the  requests  made  therefor  to  the 
Legislature." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  recruits  raised  in  the  ist 
regiment  foot  militia,  commanded  by  Colonel  John  Mun- 
son,  in  Morris  county,  who  were  to  serve  nine  months 
from  the  day  of  their  joining  any  of  the  four  regiments 
raised  by  the  State  for  the  service  of  the  United  States. 
They  joined  the  Jersey  brigade  June  5th  1778,  at  Mount 
Holly,  and  no  doubt  participated  in  the  battle  of  Mon- 
mouth: 

Captain  Luse's  Company,  2nd  Regiment — Aaron  Bai- 
ley, John  Clawson,  William  Cooper,  John  Hamler,  Jacob 
Hinckle,  Spencer  Lake,  Michael  Pace  jr.,  Benjamin  and 
John  Parr  and  John  Smith,  of  Roxbury:  Matthew  Con- 
ner, James  Gibson,  Hiram  Howard  (unfit  for  duty  on 
account  of  a  wound),  James  Jordan  and  Andrew  Mc- 
Roath,  of  Mendham. 

Captain  Cox's  Company,  3d  Regiment — William  Mapes, 
Roxbury;  Joseph  Bedford,  Elijah  Leonard  and  Reuben 
Wood,  Mendham;  Elihu  Howard  and  Eleazer  Perkins, 
Pequannock. 

Captain  Ballard's  Company,  3d  Regiment — Elkanah 
Holloway,  Lemuel  Twigley  and  Eleazer  Woodruff,  Mend- 
ham; Timothy  Morris,  Roxbury. 

Others — Andrew  Conard  and  John  Turney,  Penn.,  de- 
serted; Jabez  Bigalow,  Mendham,  drum  major  3d  regi- 
ment; James  Kenebough,  Pequannock,  Captain  Patter- 
son's company,  3d  regiment;  Moses  Losey,  Mendham; 
Stephen  Leonard,  of  Pequannock,  and  Stephen  Arnold, 
of  Mendham,  Captain  Morrison's  company,  ist  regiment; 
William  Halsey,  Hanover,  Captain  Baldwin's  company, 
ist  regiment;  David  Sargent,  enlisted  in  the  continental 
service. 

"  The  above  recruits  marched  from  William  Young's, 
Esq.,  in  Mendham  township." 

The  winter  of  1778-9  was  passed  mostly  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  although  a  detachment  of  the  second  battalion  was 
stationed  in  Newark,  and  a  detachment  of  the  fourth 
battalion  in  Spanktown  (Rahway). 

In  consequence  of  the  "massacre  of  Wyoming  "  Max- 
well's brigade  on  the  nth  day  of  May  1779  was  ordered, 
with  the  first  or  principal  division,  under  Major  General 
John  Sullivan,  of  New  Hampshire,  to  march  up  the  Sus- 
'  quehanna  into  the  settlements  of  the  Seneca  Indians. 
Attached  to  the  brigade  at  this  time  were  Colonel  Oliver 
Spencer's  regiment.  Colonel  David  Forman's  regiment. 
Colonel  Elisha  Sheldon's  (of  Connecticut)  regiment  of 
light  dragoons,  and  one  battery  of  artillery.  On  the  9th 
of  October  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  return  to  New 
Jersey. 

On  the  23d  of  June  1780  the  Jersey  troops,  continental 
and  militia,  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  fight  at  Spring- 
field. 


May  27th  1778  Congress  made  a  new  arrangement  of 
troops,  consolidating  the  battalions  and  reducing  the 
number  of  field  and  other  officers.  March  9th  1779  it 
was  resolved  that  the  army  should  consist  of  eighty  bat- 
talions, of  which  the  Jersey  troops  should  form  three. 
This  new  arrangement  was  not  finally  consummated  until 
the  summer  of  1780.  In  this  new  and  last  establishment 
Matthias  Ogden  was  colonel  of  the  ist  regiment,  Israel 
Shreve  of  the  2nd  and  Elias  Dayton  of  the  3d. 

Recruits  for  the  regiments  of  the  continental  line  in 
the  field  were  again  obtained  from  the  State  militia,  and 
the  following  lists  have  been  preserved  of  these  new  lev- 
ies: 

"  A  return  of  recruits  from  the  eastern  regt.  of  the 
county  of  Morris,  commanded  by  Colonel  Sylvanus  See- 
ley;  mustered  and  past  to  serve  in  the  State  regiment 
until  ye  ist  of  January  next,  agreeable  to  a  law  of  s'd 
State  passed  at  Trenton  7th  June  1780."  (After  the 
man's  name  come  his  place  of  abode  and  the  name  of 
the  captain  of  the  company  to  which  he  belonged.  All 
enlisted  in  the  first  week  of  July.) 

Joseph  Wade,  Long  Hill,  Layton;  Gilbert  Bunnell, 
Chatham,  Carter;  Thomas  Stagg,  Parsippany,  Bald- 
win; Daniel  Simers,  Pequannock,  Minard;  William  Gar- 
ret, Hanover,  S.  Munson;  Jesse  Wood,  Short  Hill, 
Kitchel;  John  Harparie,  Bottle  Hill,  J.  Ward;  Abraham 
Gobel,  Morristown,  Pearson;  John  Garrison,  Pompton, 
Debow;  John  Robarts,  Troy,  J.  Ward;  Daniel  Bates, 
Pequannock,  Minard;  Isaac  Ross,  Short  Hill,  Layton; 
John  Parrott,  Morristown,  Jos.  Beach;  Gershom  Liver, 
Morristown,  Stephen  Munson;  George  Gardner,  Morris- 
town, W.  Munson;  Asa  Beach,  Morristown,  Beach; 
Thomas  Johnston  (light  horseman),  Morristown,  Arnold; 
Wriglit  Reading,  Chatham,  Ward;  John  Lasier,  Pomp- 
ton,  J.  Ward;  David  Parrott,  Pompton,  Debow;  Eb. 
McDonald,  Chatham,  Carter;  Conrod  Esler,  Pequan- 
nock, Minard;  Benjamin  Romer,  Pompton,  Arnold; 
Samuel  Price,  Troy,  J.  Ward;  Samuel  Seward,  Rocka- 
way.  Keen;  Sylvanus  Johnston,  Rockaway,  Hall;  John 
Lane,  Rockaway,  Hall. 

"A  return  of  recruits  from  the  eastern  regiment  of 
Morris  county,  commanded  by  Colonel  Sylvanus  Seeley; 
mustered  and  approved  to  join  the  New  Jersey  brigade 
until  ist  of  January  next,  under  act  passed  June  14th 
1780.  All  enlisted  between  June  27th  and  July  20th 
1780."  The  company  is  indicated  by  the  name  of  the 
captain,  following  that  of  the  recruit: 

James  Richardson,  Chatham,  Carter;  Moses  Broad- 
well,  Morristown,  Carter;  Dunham  Wilkerson,  Morris- 
town, M.  Munson;  Jesse  Crane,  Hanover,  S.  Munson; 
Daniel  Gould,  Troy,  J.  Ward;  Daniel  T.  Bunnell,  Mor- 
ristown, M.  Munson;  Amos  Crane,  Parsippany,  Baldwin; 
Cornelius  McDermott,  Elizabethtown,  Layton;  Anthony 
Palmer,  Hanover,  S.  Munson;  Martin  Mitchell,  Troy, 
Ward;  Daniel  Wilcocks,  Long  Hill,  Layton;  Philip 
Lunney,  Chatham,  J.  W'ard;  Isaac  Garrigus,  Rockawav, 
Hall;  John  Abnir  (?),  Rockaway,  Hall;  Benjamin  Romer, 
Morristown,  J.  Beach;  Abraham  Ludlum,  Morristown, 
L.  Pearson;  Robert  McClean,  Hanover,  Kitchel;  Daniel 
Bates,  Hanover,  Minard;  Thomas  Brannon,  Morristown, 
Beach;  George  Cheshenounds,  Morristown,  Beach; 
Samuel  Price,  Pequannock,  Du  Bois. 

"  List  of  bounties  paid  by  Jonathan  Stiles  jr.  on  re- 
cruiting service  according  to  an  act  of  March  nth  1780." 


OFFICERS  IN  THE  "JERSEY  LINE." 


31 


The  bounty  paid  was  ;^i,ooo  to  the  soldiers  and  ;£2oo 
to  their  officer.  In  some  instances  half  those  amounts 
were  paid.  They  were  mustered  by  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Benoni  Hathaway  and  joined  their  companies  in  the 
continental  line  between  March  30th  and  May  4th  1780. 
The  residence  of  some  of  these  rnen  is  found  in  a  return 
of  the  same  men  made  by  Colonel  Hathaway,  and  is  given: 

Paul  Rheam,  Morristown;  John  Moor;  Isaac  Johnson, 
Andrew  Thompson  and  George  Carter,  Morristown;  Da- 
vid Gordon,  Windsor  Johnson,  Joseph  Yates,  James  Der- 
rick and  Moses  Headley,  Hanover;  James  Ceaser,  Sus- 
sex county;  Isaac  Wooley,  John  Williams  and  Watson 
Ludlum,  Morristown;  Robert  Miller,  Bernard's; 'William 
Wood,  Sussex  county;  Moses  and  Jacob  BroadweU, 
Morristown;  Paul  Clutter  and  James  Wigan  (or  Wagen), 
Bernard's;  John  Beaufort  (or  Bellfort),  Sussex  county; 
Michael  Coffee,  Morristown;  Thomas  McMurtree;  Isaac 
Ross,  Bernard's;  Isaac  Price;  Abraham  Emmis;  William 
Smith;  Thomas  Smith;  William  Worth;  Henry  Carragan, 
Morristown;  John  Jacobus  and  Jesse  Losey,  Roxbury; 
Jacob  Cahoon,  Samuel  Ogden,  Ezekiel  Price,  James 
Jones,  Richard  Hugg,  George  Smith,  Thomas  Reiler, 
Abraham  Gaskall,  Henry  Flantan,  Zechariah  Rossel, 
Nathan  Turner,  George  Laney,  Michael  Wood,  Henry 
Moore,  John  Darwin,  Reuben  Mickel,  Jedediah  Mills, 
Jonathan  Bailey,  Elias  Wood  and  Annanias  Clark.  Dan- 
iel Kiney  is  on  Colonel  Hathaway's  list  and  not  on 
Colonel  Stiles's. 

General  Maxwell  continued  to  command  the  Jersey 
brigade  until  he  resigned,  in  July  1780.  Colonel  Elias 
Dayton,  as  senior  officer,  then  assumed  command,  and 
retained  it  until  the  close  of  the  war.  On  the  21st  of 
September  1781  the  three  regiments  landed  on  James 
River,  Virginia,  about  five  miles  from  Williamsburgh,  and 
they  were  employed  in  all  the  labor  of  the  siege  of  York- 
town  and  were  present  at  the  surrender  on  the  19th  of 
October. 

The  news  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities  was  announced 
in  the  camp  of  the  brigade  April  19th  1783,  and  the 
"Jersey  line  "  were  discharged  November  3d  1783. 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1776  soldiers  of  this 
State,  as  officers  or  enlisted  men,  began  to  join  organiza- 
tions raised  directly  by  authority  of  Congress  or  of  other 
States.  Men  from  Morris  county  were  found  particular- 
ly in  two  of  these  regiments,  known  as  Spencer's  regi- 
ment and  the  commander-in-chief's  guard. 

By  authority  of  Congress  Colonel  Oliver  Spencer,  an 
officer  in  the  State  troops  as  well  as  in  the  militia,  organ- 
ized a  battalion  or  regiment  for  the  continental  army 
about  the  time  the  second  establishment  was  completed. 
Composed  as  it  was,  nearly  if  not  entirely  of  Jerseymen, 
it  is  often  referred  to  as  the  "  fifth  battalion,  Jersey  line." 
The  strength  of  this  command  appears  to  have  been 
about  170  men,  although  a  return  dated  March  1779 
shows  but  14c  soldiers  in  the  regiment.  The  following 
is  a  roster  of  its  officers: 

Oliver  Spencer,  colonel;  Eleazer  Lindsley,  lieutenant- 
colonel  (resigned  and  William  Smith  was  appomted); 
John  Burrowes,  captain  and  major;  James  Bonnell,  ad- 
jutant; John  McEwen,  ensign  and  quartermaster;  Jabez 
Campfield,  surgeon;  John  Darcy,  surgeon's  mate;  Benja- 
min Weatherby,  captain;  James  Brodenck,  captain;  John 
Sandford,  captain;  William  Bull,  captain;  William  Crane, 


captain;  Abraham  Nealy,  captain;  Archibald  Dallas, 
captain;  Anthony  Maxwell,  lieutenant  and  captain;  Rob- 
ert Pemberton,  lieutenant  and  captain;  James  Bonnell, 
lieutenant,  adjutant  and  captain;  David  Kirkpatrick, 
lieutenant  and  captain;  John  Orr,  lieutenant;  Peter 
Taulman,  lieutenant;  Finch  Gildersleeve,  lieutenant;  Wil- 
liam Sitcher,  lieutenant;  Uzal  Meeker,  lieutenant;  Barne 
Ogden,  lieutenant;  Andrew  Thomson,  ensign;  John 
Reed,  ensign;  Moses  Ogden,  ensign. 

Colonel  Oliver  Spencer,  who  commanded  this  regiment, 
was  the  son-in-law  of  Robert  Ogden,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  Continental  Congress  of  1765  and  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  safety  in  1776,  and  was  a  brother-in  law  of 
Robert  Ogden  jr.  (prominent  and  zealous  in  the  councils 
of  the  State  and  in  advancing  means  to  assist  its  cause), 
of  Colonel  Matthias  Ogden,  of  the  first  regiment,  and  of 
Captain  (afterward  Governor)  Aaron  Ogden.  One  of  his 
daughters,  Elizabeth,  married  Ebenezer  Blachly,  and 
another,  Sophia,  married  Major  Mahlon  Ford,  prominent 
men  in  this  county. 

Jabez  Campfield,  surgeon  of  the  regiment,  was  a  res- 
ident of  Morristown,  and  for  many  years  after  the  close 
of  the  war  surrogate  of  the  county.  During  Sullivan's 
expedition  against  the  Seneca  Indians  Dr.  Campfield  kept 
a  diary,  which  has  been  published  by  the  New  Jersey 
Historical  Society  in  the  third  volume  of  its  proceedings, 
New  Series,  and  in  which  a  detailed  account  of  the  move- 
ments of  the  troops  is  given.  The  doctor  left  Morristown 
to  join  the  regiment  May  23d  1779,  and  returning  ar- 
rived at  his  own  house  October  2nd. 

John  Darcy,  surgeon's  mate,  was  afterward  a  prominent 
physician  of  Hanover,  and  particularly  successful  as  a 
surgeon.  He  commanded  a  brigade  of  militia  in  the  war 
of  1812.  He  was  the  father  of  General  John  S.  Darcy, 
of  Newark.  He  was  at  this  time  under  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and,  having  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Campfield, 
accompanied  him  to  the  war.  Dr.  Wickes,  in  a  sketch  of 
Dr.  John  Darcy,  in  his  history  of  the  medical  men  of 
New  Jersey,  says:  "The  regiment  with  which  he  was 
connected  was  in  the  army  under  immediate  command  of 
General  Washington,  concerning  whom  and  General 
Lafayette  the  doctor  during  his  life  related  to  his  friends 
niany  incidents  of  interest  which  occurred  while  he  was 
associated  with  these  distinguished  generals.  When 
Lafayette  visited  this  country  in  1825  he  inquired  par- 
ticularly after  'young  Surgeon's  Mate  Darcy;'  and  when 
on  a  certain  occasion  he  was  introduced  to  a  relative  of 
the  doctor's  the  general,  attracted  by  the  name  and  being 
informed  of  the  relationship  to  his  old  friend,  embraced 
him  cordially." 

The  commander-in-chief's  guard,  continental  army, 
called  also  "the  life  guard"  and  "  Washington's  body 
guard,"  was  a  distinct  organization  of  picked  men.  It 
consisted  of  180  men,  and  its  first  officer  was  Caleb  Gibbs, 
of  Rhode  Island,  captain,  commandant.  William  Colfax, 
of  Pequannock  township,  was  a  lieutenant  at  the  organ- 
ization, and  was  the  successor  of  Gibbs,  ranking  as  cap- 
tain. The  soldiers  were  all  selected  from  the  ranks  of 
the  army,  their  good  character  and  soldierly  bearing 
being  a  prerequisite  to  their  receiving  this  honor.  Every 
State  was  represented  in  the  "  guards."  Its  motto  was 
"  Conquer  or  Die." 


32 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  V. 


MORRIS  COUNTY  MILITIA  IN  THE  REVOLUTION — INCIDENTS 
OF  THE  WAR. 


HE  militia  organizations  are  not  to  be  con- 
fused with  the  troops  of  the  continental 
army.  The  act  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
regulating  the  militia  passed  August  i6th 
177s  provided  for  two  regiments  and  one 
battalion  for  Morris  county;  and,  "minute  men" 
having  been  raised  in  the  counties  of  Morris, 
Sussex  and  Somerset,  Congress  followed  the  suggestion 
and  recommended  all  the  counties  to  do  the  same.  The 
two  regiments  of  militia  were  called  the  eastern  and 
western  battalions.  Morris  county  was  to  have  six  com- 
panies of  minute  men,  who  were  held  in  constant  readi- 
ness on  the  shortest  notice  to  march  to  any  point  where 
assistance  might  be  required.  They  were  to  furnish 
themselves  with  "'a  good  musket  or  firelock  and  bayonet, 
sword  or  tomahawk,  a  steel  ramrod,  worm,  priming  wire 
and  brush  fitted  thereto,  a  cartouch  box  to  contain  23 
rounds  of  cartridges,  twelve  flints,  and  a  knapsack." 
Each  man  was  to  keep  at  his  house  one  pound  of  powder 
and  three  of  bullets.  Many  of  these  minute  men  having 
joined  the  continental  army,  on  the  29th  of  February 
.1776  they  were  dissolved  as  a. separate  organization,  and 
incorporated  in  the  militia. 

The  following  notes,  taken  from  the  "Boteler  Papers," 
show  the  organization  and  officers  of  the  Morris  county 
minute  men: 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  committee  of  the  county  of 
Morris,  at  the  house  of  Captain  Peter  Dickerson,  at 
Morristown,  on  Thursday  the  14th  day  of  September 
A.  D.  1775  (present,  William  Winds,  Esq.,  William  De 
Hart,  Esq.,  Silas  Condit,  Ellis  Cook,  Peter  Dickerson, 
Jonathan  Stiles,  Esq.,  Jacob  Drake),  the  committee, 
having  inspected  and  examined  the  several  muster  rolls, 
6  companies  of  minute  men  of  the  county  of  Morris, 
and  finding  that  a  sufficient  number  of  minute  men  as  is 
directed  by  the  Congress  have  enlisted,  do  recommend 
to  the  committee  of  safety  or  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
New  Jersey  the  following  officers  to  be  commissioned,  to 
wit: 

"William  Winds,  Esq.,  as  colonel;  William  De  Hart, 
Esq.,  as  lieutenant-colonel;  Mr.  David  Bates,  as  major; 
Mr.  Joseph  Morris,  as  adjutant;  Mr.  Timothy  Johnes, 
as  surgeon. 

"Of  the  first  company:  Captain,  Samuel  Ball;  first 
lieutenant,  Daniel  Baldwin;  second  lieutenant,  Moses 
Kitchel;  ensign,  David  Tuttle. 

.  "Of  the  second  company:  Captain,  Silas  Howell;  first 
lieutenant,  Joseph  Lindsley;  second  lieutenant,  Richard 
Johnston. 

"Third  company:  Captain,  David  Thompson;  first 
lieutenant,  Noadiah  Wade;  second  lieutenant,  Isaac 
Morris;  ensign,  Samuel  Day. 

"Fourth  company:  Captain,  Ebenezer  Condit;  first 
lieutenant,  Benoni  Hathaway;  second  lieutenant,  Moses 
Prudden;  ensign,  Joseph  Beach. 

"  Fifth  company:   Captain,  Jacob  Drum;  first  lieuten- 


ant,  Joshua   Gordon;    second  lieutenant.   Levy  Howel; 
ensign,  Caleb  Horton  jr. 

"Sixth  company:  Captain,  Robert  Gaston;  first  lieu- 
tenant, Josiah  Hall." 

It  is  probable  from  the  names  of  these  officers  that  the 
first  company  was  raised  in  the  Hanover  neighborhood, 
the  second  in  Madison  and  Morristown,  the  third  in 
Mendham,  the  fourth  in  Morristown,  the  fifth  in  Roxbury 
and  the  sixth  in  Rockaway. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  battalion  of  minute 
men  of  the  county  of  Morris,  on  Thursday  the  14th  day 
of  September,  A.  D.  1775.  Present:  William  De  Hart, 
Captain  Ebenezer  Condict,  Lieutenant  Moses  Prudden, 
Ensign  Caleb  Horton,  Ensign  Richard  Johnston,  Ensign 
Samuel  Day,  Lieutenant  Noadiah  Wade,  Captain  Samuel 
Ball,  Lieutenant  Moses  Kepore,  Captain  Jacob  Drum, 
Lieutenant  Josiah  Hall,  Lieutenant  Daniel  Baldwin,  Lieu- 
tenant Joseph  Lindsley,  Captain  Silas  Howell,  Ensign 
David  Tuttle,  Lieutenant  Benoni  Hathaway. 

"  William  De  Hart,  Esq.,  was  chosen  moderator,  Jacob 
Drum  clerk.  '  Voted  unanimously  that  we  will  nominate 
to  the  committee  three  field  officers  and  an  adjutant, 
which  field  officers  when  commissioned  we  will  freely 
serve  under.  William  Winds  was  unanimously  recom- 
mended as  colonel;  William  De  Hart,  Esq.,  was  unani- 
mcpusly  recommended  as  lieutenant-colonel;  Mr.  David 
Bates  was  recommended  as  major;  Joseph  Morris  was 
recommended  as  adjutant. 

"  The  foregoing  is  an  account  of  our  proceedings  this 
day,  which  we  humbly  offer  to  the  committee  of  the 
county  of  Morris,  and  desire  their  recommendation  of 
those  officers  therein  nominated  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress or  committee  of  safety  of  New  Jersey  to  be  com- 
missioned." 

In  June  1776  the  Continental  Congress  requested  the 
colony  of  New  Jersey  to  furnish  3,300  militia,  to  form 
part  of  13,800  to  reinforce  the  army  at  New  York. 
Colonel  Nathaniel  Heard  was  appointed  brigadier  gen- 
eral to  command  these  levies,  which  were  to  consist  of 
five  battalions.  Morris  and  Sussex  were  to  furnish  one 
of  these  battalions,  and  the  regimental  officers  were: 
Ephraim  Martin,  colonel;  John  Munson,  lieutenant- 
colonel;  Cornelius  Ludlow,  major;  Joseph  King,  adju- 
tant; Joshua  Gordon,  quartermaster;  Jonathan  Horton, 
surgeon;  David  Ervin,  surgeon's  mate. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Munson  lived  near  Rockaway,  on 
the  Hibernia  road,  and  was  engaged  in  the  iron  business. 
He  was  afterward  colonel  of  the  "  western  battalion  "  of 
Morris.  Major  Ludlow  had  been  first  major  of  the 
"eastern  battalion"  of  Morris.  Surgeon  Horton  had 
been  surgeon  of  the  ''western  battalion"  of  Morris,  and 
was  afterward  a  surgeon  in  the  continental  army. 
General  Heard's  brigade  in  September  1776  numbered 
160  officers  and  1,762  enlisted  men. 

On  the  i6th  day  of  July  1776  Congress  requested  the 
convention  of  New  Jersey  to  supply  with  militia  the 
places  of  two  thousand  men  of  General  Washington's 
army,  who  had  been  ordered  to  march  into  New  Jersey 
to  form  the  flying  camp.  On  the  i8th  of  July  an  ordi- 
nance -was  passed  detaching  that  number  from  the 
militia  for  that  purpose.  It  was  resolved  that  the  two 
thousand  militia  should  compose  four  battalions,  con- 
sisting of    thirty  companies,   of   sixty-four  men   each. 


MILITIA  ORGANIZATION— THE  BATTLE  OF   SPRINGFIELD. 


33 


They  were  only  to  be  held^for  one  month  from  the  time 
of  their  joining  the  flying  camp. 

One-half  of  the  militia  were  ordered  to  be  detached 
August  nth  1776,  and  called  out  for  immediate  service, 
to  be  relieved  by  the  other  half  every  month.  One  di- 
vision of  the  militia,  detached  from  every  organization  in 
the  State,  was  ordered  to  march  with  all  dispatch  to  join 
the  flying  camp,  for  one  month's  service.  The  second 
division  was  held  ready  to  relieve  them,  to  be  itself  re- 
lieved in  turn.  On  this  basis  of  monthly  classes  in 
active  service  the  militia  were  held  during  the  continuance 
of  the  war. 

An  act  for  better  regulating  the  militia  was  passed 
March  15th  1777.  It  organized  the  force  more  strictly 
than  formerly,  and  defined  the  duties  and  powers  of  of- 
ficers, etc.  The  organization  was  still  further  improved, 
and  the  last  ordinance  was  repealed  by  an  act  of  April 
14th  1778.    This  also  divided  the  militia  into  two  brigades. 

On  the  8th  of  January  1781  the  militia  were  formed  into 
three  instead  of  two  brigades.  Those  "  of  the  counties 
of  Bergen,  Essex,  Morris  and  Sussex,  and  of  those  parts 
of  the  counties  of  Middlesex  and  Somerset  lying  on  the 
northern  and  eastern  side  of  the  Raritan  River,  and  of  the 
south  branch  of  the  same,"  were  to  compose  the  upper 
brigade. 

The  governor  of  the  State,  June  27th  178:,  was  author- 
ized to  call  out  a  part  of  the  militia,  and  continue  them 
in  service  three  months,  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating 
with  the  continental  army.  Such  men  were  exempted 
from  service  for  nine  months  next  ensuing. 

Companies  of  artillery  and  troops  of  horsemen  from 
time  to  time  organized  in  sundry  townships  or  cities,  by 
direction  of  the  governor  or  by  special  law  enacted  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State. 

General  Stryker  well  says:  "  The  good  service  per- 
formed by  the  militia  of  this  Stale  is  fully  recorded  in 
history.  At  the  fights  at  Quinton's  Bridge,  Hancock's 
Bridge,  Three  Rivers,  Connecticut  Farms  and  Van 
Neste's  Mills  they  born  an  active  part;  while  at  the  bat- 
tles of  Long  Island,  Trenton,  Assunpink,  Princeton,  Ger- 
mantown,  Springfield  and  Monmouth  they  performed 
efficient  service  in- supporting  the  continental  line." 

The  eastern  battalion,  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  jr.  com- 
manding, was  detailed  to  cover  Washington's  retreat 
across  New  Jersey  after  the  evacuation  of  New  York  in 
1776 — a  service  which  was  accomplished  with  honor  and 
success.  The  campaign  was  known  among  the  troops  as 
"mud  rounds." 

The  most  considerable  engagement,  however,  in  which 
the  New  Jersey  militia  were  concerned  was  the  battle  of 
Springfield,  where  the  attempt  of  Knyphausen  to  reach 
Morristown  was  met  and  foiled  principally  by  militia.  An 
excellent  account  of  this  battle  is  contained  in  the  follow- 
ing letter  to  the  governor  from  General  Maxwell,  who 
commanded  the  New  Jersey  brigade: 

"  Jersey  Camp,  near  Springfield, 

14th  June  1780. 
"  Diar  Goxiernor, 

"You  will  find  by  the  inclosed  that  I  had  written  to 


your  excellency  on  the  6th  inst.  The  person  who  was 
to  have  delivered  it  halted  at  Elizabethtown,  and  before 
daylight  was  alarmed.  We  were  alarmed  also  by  12 
o'clock,  and  had  marched  near  your  house  when  intelli- 
gence was  received  that  the  enemy  were  landing  in 
force,  with  artillery  and  dragoons,  and  that  their  num- 
ber would  be  at  least  5,000.  I  thought  Elizabethtown 
would  be  an  improper  place  for  me.  I  therefore  retired 
toward  Connecticut  Farms,  where  Colonel  Dayton  joined 
me  with  his  regiment.  I  ordered  a  few  small  parties  to 
defend  the  defile  near  the  farm  meeting-house,  where 
they  were  joined  and  assisted  in  the  defense  by  some 
small  bodies  of  militia.  The  main  body  of  the  brigade 
had  to  watch  the  enemy  on  the  road  leading  to  the  right 
and  left  toward  Springfield,  that  they  might  not  cut  off 
our  communications  with  his  excellency  General  Wash- 
ington. Our  parties  of  continental  troops  and  militia  at 
the  defile  performed  wonders.  After  stopping  the  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy  near  three  hours  they  crossed  over 
the  defile  and  drove  them  to  the  tavern  that  was  Jere- 
miah Smith's;  but  the  enemy  were  at  that  time  reinforced 
with  at  least  1,500  men,  and  our  people  were  driven  in 
their  turn  over  the  defile  and  obliged  to  quit  it.  I,  with 
the  whole  brigade  and  militia,  was  formed  to  attack  them 
shortly  after  they  had  crossed  the  defile,  but  it  was 
thought  imprudent,  as  the  ground  was  not  advantageous 
and  the  enemy  very  numerous.  We  retired  slowly 
toward  the  heights  toward  Springfield,  harassing  them  on 
their  right  and  left,  till  they  came  with  their  advance  to 
David  Meeker's  house,  where  they  thought  proper  to 
halt.  Shortly  after  the  whole  brigade,  with  the  militia, 
advanced  their  right,  left  and  front  with  the  greatest 
rapidity,  and  drove  their  advance  to  the  main  body.  We 
were  in  our  turn  obliged  to  retire,  after  the  closest  action 
I  have  seen  this  war.  We  were  then  pushed  over  the 
bridge  at  Springfield,  where  we  posted  some  troops,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  a  field-piece  commanded  by  the 
militia  the  enemy  were  again  driven  back  to  their  former 
station,  and  still  further  before  night.  Never  did  troops, 
either  continental  or  militia,  behave  better  than  ours  did. 
Every  one  that  had  an  opportunity  (which  they  mostly 
all  had)  vied  with  each  other  who  could  serve  the  coun- 
try most.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  day  the  militia 
flocked  from  all  quarters,  and  gave  the  enemy  no  respite 
till  the  day  closed  the  scene.  At  the  middle  of  the 
night  the  enemy  sneaked  off  and  put  their  backsides  to 
the  sound  near  Elizabethtown.  Our  loss  was  one  ensign 
killed  and  three  lieutenants  wounded,  seven  privates 
killed,  twenty-eight  wounded  and  five  missing.  The 
militia  lost  several  and  had  a  number  wounded.  We 
have  good  reason  to  believe,  from  the  number  of  dead 
left  on  the  ground,  and  from  the  information  of  many  of 
the  inhabitants  where  they  had  their  dead  and  wounded, 
that  they  lost  three  times  the  number  we  did.  General 
Stirling  is  among  their  wounded  and  thought  to  be  dan- 
gerous, with  Count  Donop  killed,  a  son  or  nephew  of  the 
general  who  met  the  same  fate  at  Red  Bank.  I  am 
credibly  informed  that  47  of  the  enemy  dead  were  found 
the  next  day  scattered  through  the  woods  and  fields,  be- 
side those  whom  they  themselves  had  buried  and  carried 
off  the  first  day.  The  main  body  of  the  enemy  now  oc- 
cupy the  ground  by  the  old  point  and  De  Hart's  house. 
Their  advanced  parties  are  as  far' as  the  Elizabethtown 
bridge. 

"  I  am,  with  much  respect  and  esteem,  your  Excellency's 
most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"Wm.  Maxwell." 

The  following  is  a  roster  of  the  field  and  staff  of  the 
two  Morris  county  battalions,  first  organized  in  1775,  but 
reorganized  in  1776. 


34 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Eastern  Battalion. — Colonels:  Jacob  Ford  jr.,  Nov. 
27th  1776;  died  of  pneumonia  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  Jan. 
loth  1777,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors  by  order 
of  General  Washington.  Ellis  Cook;  lieutenant-colonel 
Jan.  13th  1776;  lieutenant-colonel  "  detached  militia," 
July  i8th  1776;  colonel,  Feb.  ist  1777;  resigned  Nov. 
6th  1777.  Sylvanus  Seeley;  captain  in  Colonel  Martin's 
regiment  June  14th  1776;  first  major  eastern  battalion 
May  23d  1777;  colonel  Nov.  13th  1777. 

Lieutenant-Colonels:  Cornelius  Ludlow;  first  major 
Jan.  13th  1776;  major  in  Martin's  battalion  June  14th 
1776;  lieutenant-colonel  May  23d  1777;  resigned  Nov. 
13th  1777,  disabled.  Eleazer  Lindsley;  second  major 
Jan.  i3tli  1776;  lieutenant-colonel  1777;  also  lieutenant- 
colonel  continental  army.  Benoni  Hathaway;  captain  in 
eastern  battalion;  second  major  ditto  Sept.  9th  1777; 
lieutenant-colonel  ditto  Nov.  13th  1777;  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  Van  Dyke's  regiment  Oct.  9th  1779. 

First  Majors:  Richard  Johnson;  captain  Eastern  bat- 
talion; first  major  Nov.  13th  1777;  resigned.  Daniel 
Brown;  captain  in  eastern  battalion;  first  major  Mch. 
27th  1776. 

Second  Majors:  Henry  Axtell;  resigned,  Joseph 
Lindsley,  Mch.  27th  1778. 

Adjutant,  John  Doughty,  Jan.  13th  1776. 

Quartermaster,  Frederick  King. 

Surgeon,  Timothy  Johnes,  Feb.  19th  1776. 

Western  Battalion.— QoXontW.  Jacob  Drake;  resigned 
to  become  member  of  General  Assembly.  William  Winds, 
Nov.  30th  1776;  brigadier-general  of  militia  Mch.  4th 
1.777;  resigned  June  loth  1779;  also  colonel  ist  battalion 
ist  establishment  continental  army.  John  Munson; 
lieutenant-colonel  in  Colonel  Martin's  regiment  June 
14th  1776;  colonel  western  battalion  May  15th  1777. 

Lieutenant-Colonels:  Robert  Gaston,  May  isth  1777; 
resigned.  John  Starke;  second  major  May  isth  1777; 
lieutenant-colonel  Oct.  7th  1778;  resigned  May  23d. 
1782.  Nathan  Luse;  captain;  lieutenant-colonel  June 
2ist  1782. 

First   Major:    Samuel    Sears    (or   Sayres),    May    isth 

1777- 

Second  Majors:  Daniel  Cook;  promoted  from  captam 
Sept.  29th  1781;  resigned  May  23d  1782.  Jacob  Shuler, 
June  2ist  1782. 

Quartermasters:  Mahlon  McCurry  and  Matthew  Mc- 
Courrey. 

Surgeon:  Jonathan  Horton,  Feb.  28th  1776;  also  sur- 
geon in  Colonel  Martin's  battalion  June  29th  1776,  and 
surgeon  continental  army. 

Besides  the  staff  officers  named  in  the  above  rosters 
there  were  from  Morris  county  the  following  staff  officers: 
Constant  Victor  King,  ensign,  lieutenant  and  adjutant; 
Cornelius  Voorhees,  ensign,  adjutant  and  commissary  of 
issues;  Zebedee  Cook,  quartermaster;  Jacob  Arnold, 
John  Stiles  and  Jonathan  Stiles,  paymasters;  Barnabas 
Budd,  surgeon  in  General  Winds's  brigade,  September 
12th  1777. 

The  following  were  captains  of  militia,  but  the  com- 
pany, and  in  some  cases  the  battalion,  to  which  they  be- 
longed cannot  now  be  ascertained.  The  letter  E  or  W 
following  the  name  shows  whether  the  man  belonged  to 
the  eastern  or  western  battalion: 

Job  Allen,  W.  and  E.;  Jacob  Arnold,  E.,  also  captain 
of  a  troop  of  light  horse;  Stephen  Baldwin,  E.;  Elisha 
Barton,  E.;  David  Bates,  E.;  Augustine  Bayles,  E.;  Wil- 
liam Bayley,  E.;  Joseph  Beach,  E.,  April  19th  1777; 
Enoch  Beach;  Abner  Bedell;  John  Bigelow'  William 
Brittin,   E.;  Job  Brookfield  (also  ensign);  Ezra  Brown; 


William  Campfield;  Zophar  Games,  W.,  first  lieutenant 
continental  army;  Benjamin  Carter,  E  ;  Samuel  Carter, 
E  •  Hugh  Colwall,  E.  (also  lieutenant);  Ezekiel  Crane, 
w'-  Jacob  Crane,  E.;  Joshua  Crane,  E.;  Josiah  Crane, 
E  •'  Artemas  Dav,  W.;  Stephen  Day,  E.;  John  De  Bow, 
E  •  Thomas  Dickerson,  W.;  Peter  Dickmson;  Jacob 
Drum  (also  captain  in  Colonel  Stewart's  battalion  of 
minute  men,  February  isth  1776);  Abner  Fairchild,  E.; 
Elijah  Freeman;  Jacob  Card,  W.;  Robert  Gaston  (also 
captain  in  continental  army);  George  Hager,  W.;  Josiah 

Hall,  E.  (of  Denville);  Isaac  Halsey,  E.;  Harris, 

E.;  Samuel  Hinman,  E.;  Caleb  Horton,  W.:  Nathaniel 
Horton,  W.;  Stephen  Jackson;  James  Keen,  E.;  Thomas 
Kinney;  Obadiah  Kitchel,  E.;  Matthew  Lane,  E.,  also 
lieutenant;  Peter  Layton,  E.;  John  Lindsley,  E.,  also 
lieutenant;  William  Logan,  also  lieutenant,  W.;  Benjamin 

Minard,  E.;  Morris,  W.;  Moses  Munson,  E.,  also 

forage  master;  Stephen  Munson,  E.,  also  lieutenant; 
Samuel  Ogden;'  John  Oliver,  E.;  Samuel  Oliver,  E.; 
Garret  Post;  William  Salmon,  W.;  Peter  Salmon,  W.; 
■   Slaight,  W.,  also  lieutenant;  Peter    Slingerland, 


Tieuter 


E.,  also  TTeutenant;  James  Stewart,  W.;  Uriah  Sutton, 
also  lieutenant;  Peter  Tallman,  W.;  Nathaniel  Terry, 
W.  (also  lieutenant);  Jacob  Theiiar;  David  Thompson; 
Timothy  Tuttle,  ensign  August  6th  1777,  captain  April 
2nd  1781;  Israel  Ward,  E.;  Jonas  Ward,  E.  (also  cap- 
tain Essex  Co.,  of  Parsippany);  Jonathan  Ward,  E.; 
William  Welch,  W.;  Joseph  Wright,  E. 

The  following  were  lieutenants  from  Morris  county 
(battalion  indicated  by  E  or  W,  as  above): 

Aaron  Biglow,  W.;  George  Bockover,  E.  (also  in  Sus- 
sex county);  Caleb  Crane;  John  Crane,  first  lieutenant, 
E.,  April  19th  1777,  in  Captain  Beach's  company;  Wil- 
liam Fairchild;  Phineas  Farrand,  Captain  Minard's  com- 
pany, E.;  Ezra  Halsey,  E.;  Matthias  Harris,  W.;  Giles 
Lee^  first  lieutenant;  Paul  Lee  (also  wagon  master); 
Edward  Lewis;  Benjamin  Lindsley,  second  lieutenant, 
E.,  April  19th  1777,  Captain  Beach's  company;  Eleazer 
Luse,  W.;  Howell  Osborn,  W.;  J.  Osborn,  E.;  Thomas 
Osborn,  E.,  Captain  Baldwin's  company;  John  Pipes, 
first  lieutenant,  Heard's  brigade,  June  i6th  1776,  also 
continental  army;  Abraham  Post,  E.;  Matthew  Raynor, 
E.;  John  Robarts,  E.;  Simon  Van  Ness,  E.  (Captain 
De  Bow's  company);  Christopher-  Walmsley,  E.;  D. 
Wilson;  Josiah  Ward. 

The  following  were  ensigns: 

Samuel  Allen,  April  19th  1777,  Captain  Beach  s  com- 
pany; Josiah  Burnett,  E.,  wounded  in  leg  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  September  isth  1777;  Joshua  Guerin,  E.;  James 
Lum;  Abraham  Rutan,  E.,  Captain  Layton's  company; 
Martin  Tichenor,  E.,  Captain  Baldwin's  company. 

An  independent  organization,  which  was  raised  en- 
tirely in  the  county,  and  won  for  itself  an  enviable  dis- 
tinction for  its  long  and  faithful  service  and  brilliant 
achievements,  was  the  company  known  as  Arnold's  Light 
Horse.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  original  enlist- 
ment paper  of  this  command: 

"  We  the  subscribers  do  voluntarily  enlist  ourselves  in 
the  comjjany  of  light  horse  belonging  to  the  county  of 
Morris,  Thomas  Kinney,  Esq.,  captain,  and  do  promise 
to  obey  our  officers  in  such  service  as  they  shall  appoint, 
as  agreeable  to  the  rules  of  the  Provincial  and  Continenal 
Congress.  Witness  our  hands  May  loth  1775.  Jacob 
Arnold,  James  Serring,  Epenetus  Beach,  James  Smith, 
Silas  Stiles,  Patrick  Darcy,  John  Losey,  Benjamin  Free- 
man jr.,  Samuel  Allen,  Stephen  Baldwin,  Elijah  Freeman, 
David  Edmiston,  John  Crane,  George  O'Hara,  Silas 
Hand,  Jabez  Tichenor,  Jabez   Beach,  Robert  Gould  jr.. 


ARNOLD'S  LIGHT  HORSE— REVOLUTIONARY  ANECDOTES. 


35 


James  Ford,  Samuel  Denman,  Peter  Parret,  George 
Minthorn,  John  Cook,  Samuel  Bolsbury.  Adam  Bosts, 
John  Milen,  Conrod  Hopler,  Abraham  Ha'haway,  John 
Winters,  Samuel  Wighton,  John  "Van  Winker,  Aaron 
Parsons." 

Captain  Kinne)'  shortly  afterward  resigned  and  Arnold 
took  his  place.  While  the  above  list  shows  the  original 
members  of  the  company  there  were  many  others  who 
joined  it  afterward.  John  Blowers,  Ephraira  Carnes,  J. 
C.  Canfield,  Joseph  Butler,  John  Canfield  and  John 
Ester  are  named  as  some  of  these  recruits.  Blowers  in 
an  afifidavit  found  among  the  "  Condict  papers,"  before 
referred  to,  gives  a  good  idea  of  the  men  who  composed 
this  force,  and  of  the  services  they  performed.  He  says 
he  served  first  under  Captain  Jacobus: 

"  The  company  of  militia  was  drawn  up  to  have  a  draft 
made  from  them  to  join  the  troops  on  Long  Island. 
Blovvers  stepped  forward,  saying  he  would  not  be  drafted 
but  would  volunteer,  and  was  at  once  followed  by  Samuel 
Farrand,  John  Ester,  Philip  Price  and  as  many  more  as 
were  required  of  the  company.  Jacobus  had  command. 
They  were  marched  through  Newark  to  New  York, 
where  they  were  six  weeks  laying  up  works,  after  which 
they  were  marched  to  Amboy,  where  there  were  other 
Jersey  militia. 

"  On  his  return  home,  finding  militia  duties  likely  to 
be  frequent,  he  joined  Arnold's  force.  Ste|)hen  Baldwin 
was  a  trooper  there  and  did  duty  as  a  sergeant — an  active 
and  good  soldier.  The  whole  company,  except  when 
the  enemy  were  strong  and  in  case  of  sudden  alarm,  was 
not  often  together,  but  was  divided  and  subdivided 
— two,  -four,  five,  eight,  ten,  etc.,  together — as  circum- 
stances required.  AVere  often  used  as  videttes  to  watch 
the  movements  and  carry  orders  and  tidings  of  the 
enemy.  To  tr<rin  and  discipline,  were  often  assembled. 
Each  man  found  his  own  horse  and  equipments.  Knew 
Baldwin  in  service  every  month  during  the  first  two 
years.  Troop  lay  at  Morristown  when  Lee  was  made 
prisoner  at  Basking  Ridge.  Had  his  horse  stolen  from 
him  at  Parsippany,  and  the  man  who  brought  tidings  of 
Lee's  capture  to  Morristown  rode  it  and  Blowers  recov- 
ered it.  Blowers  and  a  part  at  least  of  the  troop  served 
at  Millstone,  Second  River,  on  Raritan  River,  at  Spring- 
field, Connecticut  Farms  (where  Hessians  were  taken, 
early  in  the  war),  at  Elizabethtown  often,  at  Newark,  and 
Aquacknunk.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  SpringSeld  and 
Monmouth.  In  winter  '76-7,  when  Winds  lay  at  Van 
Mullinen's  near  Quibbletown,  he  was  stationed  on  the 
Raritan  at  the  house  of  one  Ten  Eyck.  Did  duty  at 
Trenton  and  Princeton  carrying  orders.  At  Hackensack 
had  like  to  have  been  taken  prisoner  near  a  British  fort 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Hackensack.  The  troop  did  not 
do  duty  by  monthly  turns,  as  infantry,  but  were  in  con- 
stant watchful  duty  as  videttes  and  express  carriers  to 
the  end  of  the  war." 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Provincial  Congress  there  is 
mention  made  of  an  appropriation  to  Thomas  Kinney  for 
expenses  in  escorting  Governor  Franklin  to  Connecticut 
— a  service  exceedingly  hazardous. 

From  these  Condict  papers  many  interesting  facts  con- 
cerning the  services  of  the  militia  and  the  frequency  with 
which  they  were  called  out  can  be  gathered.  Take  for 
example  the  affidavits  of  James  Kitchel,  who  entered  the 
service  at  the  request  of  his  father,  Abraham  Kitchel, 
Esq.,  August  I  St  1776,  when  but  seventeen  years  old, 
under  Captain  Isaac  Halsey,  in  Colonel  Ford's  regiment. 


He  marched  first  to  Elizabethtown,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  taken  sick  and  brought  home  by  his  friends, 
being  gone  in  all  four  months.  He  enlisted  under  Cai)- 
tain  Josiah  Hall  in  January  1777,  for  three  months, 
when  the  British  lay  at  New  Brunswick,  and  was  stationed 
at  Quibbletown.  He  was  in  several  engagements  at  Ash 
Swamp,  Woodbridge,  Quibbletown  and  other  places.  He 
served  one  month  under  Captain  Charles  Ogden  in  the 
summer  of  1779,  and  lay  guarding  the  lines  at  Pompton 
and  building  a  fort  there.  One  month  he  served  under 
Captain  Stephen  Jackson,  at  Elizabethtown,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1777;  one  and  a  half  months  under  Captain 
Joseph  Beach,  guarding  Morris  jail,  when  twenty-one 
men  were  confined  there  under  sentence  of  death,  and 
two  were  hung  by  Sheriff  Carmichael.  In  the  fall  of  1777 
he  served  under  Captain  John  Bigelow,  near  Hackensack, 
and  was  in  the  attack  upon  a  British  fort  at  Pollyfly 
under  General  Winds.  In  1779  he  served  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  Blazing  Star  and  Trembly 's  Point,  during  the  sum- 
mer and  fall,  under  Captain  Bates,  Colonel  Thomas  and 
General  Williamson.  In  1780  he  served  at  Elizabethtown 
one  month,  under  Captain  Horton. 

Henry  Wick  (on  whose  farm  the  Revolutionary  army 
encamped  in  1780-81}  was  at  one  time  captain  of  a  Morris 
county  company  of  cavalry,  which  did  good  service  dur- 
ing the  war.  He  was  frequently  detailed  as  guard  of 
Governor  Livingston  and  of  the  privy  council.  At  one 
time  near  Camptown  one  of  the  members  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  Caleb  Camp,  was  surprised  by  a  party  of 
British  infantry  at  his  own  home,  and  while  he  was  de- 
liberating as  to  the  possibility  of  getting  to  his  horse  in 
the  barn,  and  so  away,  Captain  Wick's  company  charged 
in  upon  them  and  put  the  enemy  to  flight,  though 
superior  in  numbers.  The  dead  were  found  for  three 
miles  in  the  course  of  their  flight. 

From  Dr.  Tutlle's  "  Revolulionary  Fragments,"  pub- 
lished about  thirty  years  since  in  the  Sentinel  of  Freedom, 
we  take  these  incidents  of  the  war: 

Mrs.  Eunice  Pierson,.  daughter  of  Abraham  Kitchel, 
stated  to  the  doctor  that  her  uncle,  Aaron  Kitchel,  was 
peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the  tories,  and  that  on  several 
occasions  attempts  were  made  to  capture  him.  She  said 
that  a  price  was  laid  on  his  head.  To  one  scene  she 
was  an  eye  witness.  One  dark  night  the  family  was  sur- 
prised by  the  entrance  of  several  noted  tories,  com- 
pletely armed.  There  could  be  no  mistake  about  their 
intentions,  and  high  words  ensued,  in  which  Mr.  Kitchel 
gave  them  to  understand  that  he  was  not  afraid  of  them. 
At  last,  cooling  down  a  little,  they  asked  for  cider,  and 
he  treated  them  liberally.  In  the  meantime  Mrs.  Kitchel, 
with  real  womanly  shrewdness,  perceiving  that  no  time 
was  to  be  lost,  pushing  her  little  niece,  Eunice,  toward 
the  bedroom  door,  said,  aloud,  "This  is  no  place  for 
you;  you  must  go  to  bed."  She  followed  her  into  the 
room,  closed  the  door  and  raised  the  Avindow;  Eunice 
was  lifted  out  and  told  to  hurry  as  fast  as  her  feet  would 
carry  her  to  her  grandfather's  house,  some  rods  distant, 
and  tell  Jiim  to  come  up  with  all  the  help  he  could 
muster.     "  I  tell  you,  I  was  a  great  coward  in  the  dark 


36 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


in  those  squally  times,"  said  the  old  lady,  "  and  I  was 
not  long  in  going."  Fortunately  three  of  his  sons  were 
with  the  grandfather,  and  the  tories,  waking  up  sud- 
denly to  the  sense  of  their  having  been  caught  napping, 
took  to  their  heels. 

^  David  Gordon,  who  lived  to  a-  very  great  age  and  was 
for  many  years  sexton  of  the  Rockaway  Presbyterian 
church,  was  in  the  service,  and  among  the  many  anec- 
dotes he  told  was  the  following  account  of  a  march  his 
company  made  to  Newark  from  Morristown  —  a  fine 
illustration  of  the  democracy  of  the  times,  even  among 
soldiers,  and  also  the  power  of  proper  motives!  The 
captain  halted  his  company  and  thus  addressed  them- 
"  Brother  soldiers,  we  must  get  to  Newark  to-night,  and 
we  cannot  do  it  and  march  in  a  body.  Let  every  man 
make  his  way  as  best  he  can,  and  if  we  get  there  each 
one  of  you  shall  have  half  a  gill  of  rum  for  tea."  "  Oh, 
captain,"  roared  his  followers,  "  call  it  a  gill,  and  then 
we  can  do  it !"  "Well,  a  gill  it  shall  be,  then,"  said  the 
captain;  "but  halt  when  you  get  this  side  of  Newark, 
and  let  us  march  into  town  as  brother  soldiers  should, 
together  and  in  order  !"  The  march  was  accordingly 
accomplished  by  each  "on  his  own  hook,"  and  the 
valiant  captain  had  the  pleasure  of  entering  Newark  at 
the  head  of  his  company  in  the  "  brother  soldier"  way. 
In  the  night  the  men  were  roused  up  and  embarked  in 
boats,  and  were  rowed  down  the  Passaic  in  perfect 
silence.  They  landed  on  the  salt  meadows  and  marched 
up  to  a  little  village,  probably  Bergen.  The  object  of 
this  expedition  Dr.  Tuttle  inferred  to  have  been  to  break 
up  a  gang  of  tories,  some  of  whom  were  captured  ^nd 
carried  to  Morristown. 

Among  the  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Springfield  was  a 
disagreement  between  General  Heard  and  Colonel  Hath- 
away, the  latter  accusing  his  superior  of  having  unne- 
cessarily retired  from  the  field.  The  following  is  a 
verbatim  copy  of  the  charges  he  preferred,  which  shows 
that  the  gallant  colonel  could  use  his  sword  probably 
better  than  his  pen: 

"  Morristown,  15  July,  1780. 
"  To  his  Exelencey  the  Governor — 

"  I  send  you  in  Closed  Severel  charges 
which  I  Charg  B.  D.  Haird  with  while  he  comanded  the 
Militare  Sum  Time  in  june  Last  at  Elizebeth  Town 
farms  which  I  pray  His  Exilency  would  Call  a  Court  of 
inquiry  on  these  Charges  if  his  Exilency  thinkes  it  worth 
notising  from  your  Hum 

Ser 
Benoni  Hathaway 
"  To  exilencey  the  Governor  Lut.  Coll." 

"  This  Is  the  Charges  that  I  bring  against  General 
Haird  While  he  Comanded  the  Militia  at  Elizabethtown 
farms  sum  time  in  Jun  last  1780. 

"  I  Charg  is  for  leaving  his  post  and  Marching  the 
Trups  of  their  post  without  order  and  Leaving  that  Pass 
without  aney  gard  between  the  Enemy  and  our  Armey 
without  giving  aney  notis  that  Pass  was  open  Between 
three  and  fore  Ours.  2  Charg  is  Retreating  in  Disorder 
Before  the  Enemy  without  ordering  aney  Reqr  gard  or 
flanks  out  leading  of  the  Retreat  Him  Self.  3  Charg  is 
for  marching  the  Trups  of  from  advantiges  peace  of 
ground  wheare  we  mit  Noyed  them  much   and  Lickley 


prevented  thear  gaining  the  Bridge  at  Fox  Hall  had  not 
the  Trups  Bin  ordered  of  which  prevented  our  giving  our 
armey  aney  assistence  in  a  Time  of  great  Destris. 

"  4  Charg  is  for  marching  the  Trups  of  a  Boat  one 
mile  from  aney  part  of  the  Enemy  and  Taken  them  upon 
an  Hy  mountan  and  kept  them  thear  till  the  Enemy  had 
gained  Springfeald  Bridge. 

"List  of  Evidence:  Coll  Van  Cortland,  Wra.  Skank 
the  Brigad  Major,  Capt.  Benjman  Cartur,  Capt.  Nathanal 
Norton,  Adjt  Kiten  King,  Major  Samuel  Hays,  Leutnant 
Backover." 


Dr.  Ashbel  Green,  son  of  Dr.  Green  of  Hanover,  and 
afterward  president  of  Princeton  College,  was  a  volunteer 
in  the  Morris  county  militia,  and  served  under  General 
Heard  when  he  was  left  with   three   brigades  to  guard 
New  Jersey;  Washington,  with   the  main   army,  having 
gone   up  to  West   Point.     In  his  biography  is  a   very 
graphic  account  of  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  drive  the 
enemy  from   Elizabethtown   Point,   undertaken  under  a 
very  false  impression  as  to   their  numbers.     The  militia 
behaved  with  great  steadiness,  advancing  under  a  heavy 
artillery  fire,  and  only  showed  want  of  discipline  in  firing 
at  some  redcoats  who  were  being  brought  in  as  prison- 
ers, supposing  them  to  be  the  enemy  advancing  in   force. 
He  stated  that  his  colonel,  who  was  a  very  brave  but  a 
very  profane  man,  rode  forward  and  backward  before  his 
regiment,  and  in  a  loud  voice  threatened  to  kill  the  first 
man  who  should  fire  another  gun  until  he  gave  the  order. 
Mr.  Green  contrasts  the  conduct  of  his  colonel  with  that 
of  his  captain,  Enoch  Beach,  who  was  a  deacon  in  his 
father's  congregation,  and  a  man  of  distinguished  piety. 
He  stood  before  his  company  with  the  greatest   calmness 
and  composure,  and  scarcely  spoke  at  all,  unless  it  was 
to  drop  now  and  then  a  word  of  encouragement  to  his 
men  while  they  were  waiting  orders  to  advance.     The 
troops  were  drawn  off  in  good  order  by  moving  the  mil- 
itia in  such  a  way  as  to  give  the  enemy  the  idea  that  an 
attack  was  to  be  made  in  another  quarter.     The  enemy's 
numbers  were  far  superior  to  those  of  General  Heard. 

There  were  some  tories  in  the  county,  and  they  did 
great  damage  to  the  people;  not  by  their  acts  of  open 
hostility,   but  by  murdering  and  plundering,  mostly  at 
night  and  in  small  gangs.     The  party  led  by  the  infamous 
Claudius   Smith   was  as  much  dreaded  as    any.     At  one 
time    thirty-five  of  these  men   were   confined  in  Morris 
jail.     Two  of  them,  Iliff  and  Mea,  were  hung,  and  the 
remainder  were  branded  in  the  hand  and  released.     Those 
of  the  more  respectable  citizens  who  espoused  the  royal 
cause  left  the  country  and  their  estates  were  confiscated. 
Alexander  Carmichael  and  Aaron  Kitchel,    as  commis- 
sioners, advertised  for  sale  on  Tuesday  March  30th  1779, 
at  the  house  of  Jacob  Arnold,   in   Morristown,  the  real 
estate  of  Thomas  Millidge,  Stephen  Skinner,  John  Troop, 
John    Steward,    Ezekiel    Beach,    Joseph    Conlifi^,    John 
Thornburn,    Asher    Dunham,    Richard   Bowlsby,   Philip 
Van   Cortland,  Samuel  Ryerson,  Jacob    Demarest,  Isaac 
Hornbeck,  William   Howard  and  Lawrence  Buskirk,  an 
inquisition  having  been  found  and  final  judgment  entered 
against  them.     These  men  were  the  prominent  loyalists 
of  the  county.     Millidge  had  been  elected  sheriff  and 


AFTER  THE  REVOLUTION. 


37 


but  for  his  political  sympathies  would  have  been  much 
respected  and  deservedly  so. 

The  women  of  Morris  county  were  not  at  all  behind 
the  men  in  their  patriotism  and  in  genuine  sacrifices  for 
their  country.  They  nobly  sustained  and  encouraged 
their  fathers,  brothers,  husbands  and  sons  in  their  work; 
and  in  the  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  in  manufactur- 
ing clothing  for  the  destitute,  and  in  tilling  the  soil  while 
the  men  were  in  the  ranks,  they  contributed  their  full 
share  to  the  good  cause.  The  story  of  Anna  Kitchel,  of 
Whippany,  sister  of  Captain  Timothy  Tuttle  and  wife 
of  Uzal  Kitchel,  is  well  known.  Being  urged  by  a  timid 
deacon  to  procure  a  British  protection  she  told  him, 
"  Having  a  husband,  father  and  five  brothers  in  the 
American  army,  if  the  God  of  battles  do  not  care  for  us 
we  will  fare  with  the  rest  !" 


CHAPTER    VI. 


RECOVERING     FROM     THE    REVOLUTION — MORRIS     COUNTY 
MEN    IN    THE    WAR    OF    l8l2. 


>  HE  war  left  the  people  of  the  colonies  in  a 
dreadfully  impoverished  state.  Many  who 
had. been  wealthy  when  the  war  broke  out 
were  reduced  to  poverty.  Officers  and  men 
.  returned  to  their  homes  with  very  little  but  the 
glory  of  their  achievements  to  console  or  support 
them.  The  money  issued  by  authority  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  was  so  depreciated  as  to  be  practically 
worthless.  The  pressure  from  the  outside  which  had 
kept  the  colonies  united  and  made  the  general  govern- 
ment respected  was  now  withdrawn,  and  the  sense  of 
having  delivered  themselves  from  the  control  of  a  power- 
ful foreign  nation  made  men  independent  in  feeling  and 
impatient  of  restraint.  The  country  was  in  more  danger 
in  1783  than  in  1776,  and  the  posterity  of  that  genera- 
tion have  reason  to  be  more  grateful  for  the  good  sense 
of  the  men  of  that  day,  which  led  them  to  unite  in  the 
formation  of  a  constitution  and  in  agreeing  to  live  by  it, 
than  to  their  courage  and  self-sacrifice  in  the  struggle  with 
Great  Britain,  great  as  that  courage'  and  self-sacrifice 
were.  But  not  only  was  danger  of  anarchy  and  confu- 
sion to  be  dreaded.  The  war  had  had  a  demoralizing 
effect  upon  officers  and  men.  The  restraints  of  religion 
had  become  irksome,  infidelity  had  made  rapid  progress 
and  intemperance  had  greatly  increased.  It  is  the  uni- 
versal report  of  the  decade  next  succeeding  the  peace 
that  the  state  of  morals  and  religion  which  then  prevailed 
was  most  alarming,  and  Morris  county  was  no  exception 
to  the  general  rule.  It  was  the  day  of  Paine's  ''  Age  of 
Reason,"  which  found  a  soil  well  adapted  to  it  in  the 
minds  of  men  flushed  with  victory  and  restive  under 
control.  Previous  to  the  war  liquors  were  imported  from 
abroad,  and  were  used  in  comparative  moderation.     After 


the  peace  distilleries  were  found  established  in  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  drunkenness  prevailed  to  an  extra- 
ordinary extent  and  among  all  classes  of  people.  Some 
particular  industries  had  been  unduly  stimulated,  others 
had  been  abandoned;  and  it  was  several  years  before 
business  became  readjusted  and  the  old  order  of  things 
resumed. 

But  the  people  of  Morris  county  were  in  many  respects 
fortunate.  The  enemy  had  not  devastated  their  fields  or 
burned  their  dwellings.  They  had  every  element  of  wealth 
in  themselves,  and  they  were  not  long  in  turning  their 
attention  to  developing  the  resources  they  possessed.  Be- 
fore the  end  of  the  century  the  county  had  grown  wonder- 
fully. Forges  and  mills  were  built  or  rebuilt  on  the  many 
streams.  Houses  of  a  more  comfortable  and  pretentious 
style  took  the  place  of  the  log  cabins  which  had  been  the 
usual  habitations  of  the  people.  New  lands  were  cleared 
and  better  roads  made.  In  1794  a  great  revival  of  re- 
ligion swept  over  the  country,  to  be  succeeded  by  other 
revivals  in  1806  and  1818.  Schools  were  established 
throughout  the  country,  and  high  schools  at  Morristown 
where  young  men  were  fitted  for  college.  Newspapers 
were  published,  the  first  one  in  Chatham  in  1781,  called 
The  New  Jersey  Journal,  by  Shepherd  KoUock,  a  refugee 
from  Elizabethtown;  afterward,  in  1797,  the  Morris 
County  Gazette,  and  in  1798  the  Genius  of  Liberty,  at 
Morristown. 

In  1780  the  funeral  of  Jacob  Johnson,  in  Morristown, 
drew  together  a  large  concourse  of  people,  who  followed 
the  remains  from  beyond  Speedwell  to  the  old  church. 
In  this  procession  there  was  but  one  vehicle,  and  that 
was  used  for  carrying  the  body.  All  the  rest  were  on 
foot  or  on  horseback.  Dr.  Johnes  and  the  attending 
physicians,  each  with  a  linen  scarf  around  his  shoulders, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  led  the  procession 
on  horseback. 

In  the  diary  of  Joseph  Lewis,  a  wealthy  citizen  of 
Morristown,  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Johnes  and  clerk  of  the 
county,  is  the  entry:  July  23d  1784-— "Robert  Morris, 
Esq.,  set  out  for  Brunswick,  being  one  of  the  committee 
appointed  to  meet  committees  from  other  counties  to 
consult  and  devise  some  plan  for  establishing  trade  and 
commerce  at  Amboy."  What  came  of  this  project  is 
unknown.  Elizabethtown  no  doubt  continued  to  be  the 
shipping  point  for  this  county  until  Newark  was  made 
nearer  by  its  better  means  of  communication. 

In  this  same  diary,  under  date  of  October  3d  1786, 
Mr.  Lewis  says:  "  I  went  in  company  with  the  court  and 
sundry  of  our  respectable  inhabitants  to  wait  on  the 
Chief  Justice  Brearly  from  White  tavern  to  this  place. 
We  returned  in  procession,  in  the  following  order,  on 
horseback:  ist,  the  constables;  2nd,  coroners;  3d,  sheriff; 
4th,  chief  justice,  in  his  carriage;  sth,  judges  of  the 
pleas;  6th,  justices;  7th,  clerks;  Sth,  citizens."  No 
doubt  the  members  of  the  procession  were  all  on  horse- 
back except  the  chief  justice;    and  this  attention  to  the 


judge  coming  to  hold  a  general  jail  delivery  was  intended 
to  impress  the  people  with  the  majesty  of  the  law. 

To  show  how  elections  were  conducted  in  those  early 


38 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


days  take  another  quotation  from  this  diary:  Tuesday 
October  loth  1786— "This  day  I  served  as  clerk  of  the 
general  election.  Judge  Stiles  conducted  the  election. 
Colonel  Hathaway,  David  Tuttle,  Justice  Ross,  William 
Winds  and  Nathaniel  Terry  were  inspectors,  and  Will 
Canfieldand  Henry  Can  field  as  clerks:  Abraham  Kitchel, 
Esq.,  was  elected  a  counselor;  Aaron  Kitchel,  Esq., 
Colonel  Cooke  and  Colonel  Starke,  assemblymen;  Jacob 
Arnold,  Esq.,  sheriff,  and  Enoch  Beach  and  Victor  King, 
coroners."  The  election  of  candidates  for  the  State 
convention  to  ratify  the  federal  constitution  lasted  from 
Tuesday  November  27th  to  Saturday  December  ist  1787, 
and  resulted  in  the  election  of  William  WoodhuU,  John 
Jacob  Faesch  and  General  William  Winds. 

The  death  of  General  Washington  was  the  most  notable 
event  which  closed  the  century.  The  newsi:^apers  of  the 
day  were  heavily  lined  and  mark  the  very  general  ev- 
idence of  sorrow  throughout  the  land.  In  every  town 
meetings  were  held  and  appropriate  addresses  made. 
Rev.  John  Carle's  address,  delivered  at  Rockaway,  De- 
cember 29th  1799,  was  printed  by  Jacob  Mann,  and  a 
copy  is  still  in  existence.  The  speaker  drew  a  com- 
parison between  his  subject  and  Moses,  and  but  echoed 
the  sentiments  of  his  hearers  and  of  other  orators  in 
speaking  of  Washington  as  "the  greatest  man  that  hath 
graced  the  present  century  in  any  part  of  the  world." 

When  the  war  of  1812  broke  out  the  militia  of  the 
county  was  organized  in  four  regiments  of  infantry  and 
one  squadron  of  cavalry.  The  regiments  of  infantry 
were  commanded  by  Lieutenant- Colonels  Silas  Axtell, 
John  Smith,  Joseph  Jackson  and  Lemuel  Cobb,  and  the 
brigade  formed  by  them  was  coramancled  by  Brigadier- 
General  John  Darcy.  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  Camp- 
field  commanded  the  squadron  of  horse.  The  militia 
were  assembled  on  the  call  of  the  general  two  or  three 
times  each  year,  and  were  in  a  fair  state  of  efficiency. 
There  were  three  uniforined  companies — Captain  Car- 
ter's company  of  riflemen  from  Madison  or  Bottle  Hill, 
Captain  Halliday's  company  of  Morris  rangers,  and  Cap- 
tain Brittin's  fusileers,  of  Chatham. 

On  the  15th  of  May  1812  Captain  Carter's  company 
paraded  on  Morris  Green,  with  250  of  the  militia,  who 
were  assembled  for  that  purpose  and  were  described  as  a 
well-disciplined,  handsome  body  of  inen.  Both  that 
company  and  the  rangers  stood  ready  to  volunteer  their 
services  at  a  moment's  warning.  Meantime  recruiting 
was  going  on  for  the  United  States  service,  and  Captain 
Scott  of  the  new  establishment  had  about  sixty  men  and 
Captain  Hazard,  of  the  new,  about  thirty  enlisted.  The 
Jersey  regiment,  to  which  no  doubt  many  Morris  county 
volunteers  belonged,  numbering  in  all  about  800  men, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Brearly  commanding,  struck  its  tents 
at  Fort  Richmond,  on  Staten  Island,  on  Tuesday  August 
i8th,  and  embarked  for  Albany.  It  reached  the  encamp- 
ment at  Greenpoint  (Greenbush?),  near  Albany,  "in  good 
health  and  gpirit.s,''  on  the  22nd,  and  on  November  12th 
the  camp  there  was  broken  up  and  the  regiment  marched 
northward  to  the  Canada  frontier. 

November  i6th  1812  Governor  Aaron  Ogden,  in  view 


of  particular  instructions  addressed  to  him  by  the  gen-eral 
commanding  at  New  York,  called  upon  all  uniformed 
companies  to  hold  themselves  ready  on  twenty-four 
hours'  notice  to  take  the  field.  The  enemy's  fleet  threat- 
ened the  city  then,  and  at  intervals  afterward  during  the 
war.  The  militia  regiments  of  this  State  relieved  each 
other  in  duty  at  Jersey  City,  Sandy  Hook  and  the  High- 
lands, in  readiness  to  meet  the  invader. 

In  September  the  third  regiment  of  Morris  militia  was 
called  into  active  service  and  marched  to  Sandy  Hook. 
It  was  in  the  United  States  service  from  September  17th 
to  November  30th  1812,  when  the  men  were  mustered 
out  and  returned  home.  The  roster  of  the  field  and  staff 
of  this  regiment  was  as  follows: 

Lieutenant-colonel,  Joseph  Jackson;  majors,  Peter 
Kline  and  Daniel  Farrand;  adjutant,  William  McFar- 
land;  quartermaster,  Joseph  Edsall;  paymaster,  Jonas 
Wade  ;  surgeon,  Reuel  Hampton  ;  sergeant  major, 
Thomas  C.  Ryerson;  quartermaster  sergeant,  Isaac 
Wade. 

There  Avere  six  coinpanies,  as  follows:  Captain  John 
Hinchman's  company,  81  men;  Captain  Samuel  Dem- 
arest's,  64  men;  Captain  Abner  Dodd's,  61  men;  Captain 
William  Corwine's,  74  men;  Captain  Stephen  Baldwin's, 
70  men;  Captain  Peter  Cole's,  75  men;  total,  433  officers 
and  men. 

August  i2th  1814  General  James  J.  Wilson,  in  command 
at  the  seacoast,  accepted  the  service  of  the  three  volun- 
teer uniformed  companies,  together  with  185  officers  and 
men  who  were  to  be  taken  from  the  other  militia.  The 
militia  of  Morris  and  Sussex  Avere  to  be  formed  into  one 
regiment,  and  this  regiment  was  to  be  one  of  three  com- 
manded by  Brigadier-General  William  Colfax.  Agree- 
ably to  orders  of  ihe  governor  of  the  State  the  three 
uniformed  companies  marched  off  on  Saturday  morning, 
September  3d,  for  Harsimus,  near  Paulus  Hook,  where 
they  were  to  be  stationed  for  a  time.  In  the  notice  of 
their  leaving  it  is  added,  "  The  greatest  cheerfulness  and 
animation  prevailed  among  them,  and  they  appeared  to 
entertain  a  just  sense  of  the  nature  of  the  duties  re- 
quired of  them  and  of  the  honor  of  performing  those 
duties  with  resolution  and  firmness." 

The  following  are  the  rolls  of  these  three  companies, 
which  formed  part  of  Colonel  John  Frelinghuysen's 
regiment: 

Captain  William  Brittin's  company,  which  was  in  the 
United  States  service  from  September  ist  1814  to  De- 
cember 3d  1814:  Captain,  William  Brittin;  lieutenant, 
Elijah  Ward  (appointed  quartermaster  September  7th); 
ensign,  Lewis  Carter:  sergeants— Ichabod  Bruen,  William 
Thompson,  Joseph  Day,  Alexander  Bruen;  corporals- 
Caleb  C.  Bruen,  Ellas  Donnington,  Richard  R.  Elliot, 
Charles  Townley  3d;  drummer,  Jonathan  Miller;  pri- 
vates—John T.  Muchmore,  Alva  Bonnel  (Joel  Bonnel 
went  as  his  substitute),  Seth  Crowell,  Samuel  M.  Crane 


Robertson. 

Roll  of   Captain    Samuel  Halliday's   Morris   rangers, 
which  company  was  in  the  service  of  the  United  States 


TROOPS  IN  1812-14. 


39 


from  the  ist  of  September  to  the  2nd  of  December  1814: 
Captain,  Samuel  Halliday;  lieutenant,  Benjamin  Lindsley 
jr.;  ensign,  Joseph  M.  Lindsley;  sergeants — Matthew  G. 
Lindsley,  William  H.  Wetmore,  Joseph  Byram  jr.,  Ber- 
nard McCormac;  corporals — Stephen  Sneden,  William 
Dalrymple,  Samuel  P.  Hull,  Stephen  C.  Ayers  (John 
Odell  substitute);  drummer,  Stpplien  James;  lifer,  Silas 
Ogden;  privates — Samuel  Beeis,  Jerry  Colwell,  David 
Cutter,  Charles  M.  Day,  Benjamin  Denton,  Peter  Dore- 
mus,  Steplien  P.  Freeman,  Lewis  Freeman,  Sylvester  R. 
Guerin,  Horatio  G.  Hopkins,  Luther  Y.  Howell,  Ezekiel 
Hill,  John  Hand,  Joseph  M.  Johnson,  Abraham  Ludlow, 
David  Lindsley,  Ira  Lindsley  (David  Beers  substitute), 
Moses  Lindsley,  Roswell  Loniis,  Lewis  March,  John 
Meeker,  John  Nestor  jr.',  David  Nestor,  Elij.ih  Oliver, 
Byram  Prudden,  Maltby  G.  Pierson,  Eleazer  M.  Pierson, 
Jabez  Rodgers,  Ezra  Scott,  Ebenezer  Slibbins,  Peregrine 
Sanford,  Seth  C.  Schenck,  Charles  Vail,  Isaac  M.  Wooley. 
Roll  of  Captain  Carier's  riflemen,  who  were  in  the 
United  States  service  from  September  ist  to  December 
2nd  1814:  Captain,  Luke  Carter;  lieutenants — David  W. 
Halstead,  William  Brewster  (discharged  September  19th 
i8i4\  Charles  Carter;  sergeants — Benjamin  F.  Foster, 
Elijah  Canfield,  Harvey  Hopping,  David  Tompkins; 
corporals — Calvin  Sayres,  Samuel  Hedges,  John  B. 
Miller,  Moses  Baldwin;  musicians — Daniel  Brewster, 
Luther  Smith;  privates — Lewis  Baker,  Cyrus  Hall,  Squire 
Burnet,  William  Canfield  (died  October  3d  1814),  Malilon 
Carter,  Ellis  Cook,  Samuel  Cory,  Moses  Condit,  John 
Dixon,  John  Fairchild,  Clark  Freeman,  John  French, 
'J'horaas  Genung,  Elam  Genung,  Whilfield  Hopping, 
Robert  W.  Halstead,  Aaron  M.  Jacobus,  Jacob  Ogden, 
Richard  Rikeman,  Joseph  Smiihson,  John  Simpson, 
Ephraim  C.  Simpson,  William  Tucker  (deserted),  Stephen 
C.  Woodruff,  John  Glover. 

The  regiment  of  militia  which  went  to  the  Hook  at 
about  the  same  time  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  John  Seward,  and  was  in  the  United  States  ser- 
vice from  about  September  ist  18 14  to  December  gih 
1814.     The  following  is  a  roster  ofthe  field  and  staff: 

Lieutenant-colonel,  John  Seward;  majors — Jonathan 
Brown,  John  L.  Anderson,  Benjamin  Rosenkrans;  adju- 
tant, Ebenezer  F.  Smith;  paymaster,  David  Thompson 
jr.;  surgeon,  Hampton  Dunham;  surgeon's  mate,  Timothy 
S.  Johnes;  sergeant  major,  Richard  Reed;  quartermaster 
sergeants — Jonas  L.  Willis,  Nathaniel  O.  Condit  (np- 
pointed  quartermaster  September  13th  1814);  drum  major, 
William  Fountain;  fifer,  John  S.  Smith;  waiters— Israel 
Seward,  waiter  to  the  colonel;  Benjamin  Ayres,  waiter  to 
the  surgeon;  Matto  Derbe,  waiter  to  the  surgeon's  mate. 

There  were  fourteen  companies,  which  were  in  service 
as  follows — the  precise  dates  of  their  musters  in  and  out 
not  being  the  same:  Captains  William  Vliet  and  Benja- 
man  Coleman's  company,  September  9th  to  December 
6th;  Captain  Joseph  Budd's,  September  9th  to  December 
5th;  tlie  companies  of  Captains  Vancleve  Moore,  Robert 
Perrine,  Charles  South,  John  S.  Darcy,  Thomas  Teas, 
dale  and  George  Beardslee,  from  September  6th  to  De- 
cember .sth;  Captain  Alexander  Reading's,  September 
8th  to  December  5th;  Captain  Abraham  Webb's,  Sep- 
tember 3d  to  December  4th;  Captain  Daniel  Kilburn's, 
September  ist  to  December  sth;  Captain  William  Drum's, 
September  3d  to  December  6th;  Captain  William  Swaze's, 
September  8th  to  December  7th. 

On  Sunday  the  nth  of  September  the  uniformed  com- 
panies of   General   Colfax's  brigade,   numbering   1,200 


men,  paraded  and  marched  to  "  high  ground  "  to  hear 
Rev.  Dr.  Stephen  Grover,  of  Caldwell,  preach  to  them. 
About  the  20th  the  brigade  removed  from  Paulus  Hook 
to  the  heights  of  Navesink,  where  and  at  Sandy  Hook  it 
remained  until  the  last  of  November,  when 'the  men  were 
paid  off  and  ordered  home.  They  arrived  in  Morristown 
Saturday  evening  December  7th  1814,  and  Halliday's 
Rangers  paraded  on  the  8th  and  were  given  a  public  din- 
ner. 

A  singular  incident  of  this  war  was  the  volunteering  on 
the  part  of  about  four  hundred  citizens  of  Washington, 
Chester,  Mendham  and  Morris  to  labor  a  day  on  the 
fortifications  of  New  York.  In  the  A''c7cj  York  Gazette 
of  September  10th  1814  is  this  acknowledgment  of  their 
service:  "We  have  the  satisfaction  again  to  notice  the 
distinguished  and  practical  patriotism  of  our  sister  State 
New  Jersey.  Between  four  and  five  hundred  men  from 
Morris  county,  some  from  a  distance  of  nearly  fifty  miles, 
headed  by  their  revered  pastors,  were  at  work  yesterday 
on  the  fortifications  of  Harlem.  Such  exalted  and  dis- 
tinguished patriotism  deserves  to  be  and  will  be  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  by  the  citizens  of  New  York,  and 
recorded  in  the  pages  of  history,  to  the  immortal  honor 
of  the  people  of  that  State." 

The  war,  as  might  have  been  expected,  stimulated  cer- 
tain manufactures,  our  commerce  with  foreign  nations 
being  almost  entirely  cut  off.  The  Mount  Hope  furnace 
was  started  up,  and  Dr.  Charles  M.  Graham  advertised 
December  30th  1812  that  the  Hibernia  furnace  would  be 
thereafter  conducted  by  him.  Matthias  Denman,  Abra- 
ham Wooley  and  Samuel  Adams  had  been  previously  his 
partners  in  its  operation.  He  also  advertises  thirty-five 
casks  of  New  Jersey  made  copperas  of  the  first  quality, 
at  the  Hibernia  store,  for  cash  or  grain  at  New  York 
prices.  The  copperas  was  manufactured  at  the  copperas 
mine  near  Green  Pond,  where  Job  Allen  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  carried  on  the  business.  The  end  of 
the  war  put  an  end  to  this  industry  and  it  never  was  re- 
vived. 


CHAPTER   VIL 


THE   IRON    INDUSTRY    OF    MORRIS   COUNTY — EARLIEST 
ENTERPRISES — FORGES   AND    BLOOMARIES. 


HE  history  of  the  iron  industry  of  Morris 
county  reaches  back  almost  to  its  first  set- 
tlement. We  have  no  positive  knowledge  of 
any  actual  settlement  in  the  county  until 
about  1700.  Yet  in  17 14  the  tract  em- 
bracing the  Dickerson  mine  was  taken  up  on 
^  account  of  its  minerals,  from  the  proprietors  of 
West  Jersey,  by  John  Reading,  who  in  1716  sold  it  to 
Joseph  Kirkbride;  and  it  is  a  matter  of  tradition  that 
previous  to  that  time  the  ore  was  manufactured  into  iron 
by  the  owners  of  forges,  who  were  allowed  to  help  them- 


40 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


selves  without  charge.  The  presence  of  the  ore  was 
known  to  the  Indians  yet  earlier  than  this;  and  their 
name  for  the  locality  "  Suckasuna  "  (or,  as  some  have  it, 
"  Sock-Soona "),  meaning  "black  stone"  or  "heavy 
stone,"  has  been  given  to  the  plains  which  extend  to  the 
westward  of  the  hills  wherein  the  mine  is  situated. 
Arrow-heads  and  utensils  of  various  kinds  made  of  iron 
by  the  Indians  have  been  picked  up  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

It  is  altogether  probable  that  the  presence  of  ore  in 
great  abundance,  the  forests  which  covered  the  whole 
land,  ready  for  the  collier,  and  the  abundant  waterfalls 
of  the  many  rivers  and  brooks  which  traversed  the 
mountainous  region  were  the  chief  inducements  which 
led  the  first  settlers  into  its  wildernesses.  It  is  a  circum- 
stance which  has  not  failed  to  impress  itself  upon  those 
familiar  with  the  records  of  the  proprietors  of  East  Jersey 
that  among  the  first  lands  to  be  taken  up  or  purchased, 
especially  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  were  the 
lots  containing  waterfalls,  and  where  veins  of  ore  cropped 
out  on  the  surface,  afterward  pieces  of  natural  meadow, 
and  last  of  all  the  surrounding  hills. 

In  the  "  brief  account  of  the  province  of  East  Jersey, 
in  America,  published  by  the  present  proprietors "  in 
1682,  it  is  said:  "What  sort  of  mines  or  minerals  are  in 
the  bowels  of  the  earth  after-time  must  produce,  the 
inhabitants  not  having  yet  employed  themselves  in  search 
thereof;  but  there  is  already  a  smelting  furnace  and  forge 
set  up  in  this  colony,  where  is  made  good  iron,  which  is 
of  great  benefit  to  the  country."  This  furnace  and  forge 
were  probably  the  iron  works  at  Tinton  Falls,  in  Mon- 
mouth county,  and  the  quotation  shows  that  the  minerals 
of  Morris  county  had  not  yet  been  discovered.  Of  the 
seven  "  considerable  towns  "  mentioned  as  being  in  East 
Jersey  none  are  west  of  Orange  Mountain,  and  the  whole 
region  was  no  doubt  an  unbroken  wilderness. 

The  first  forge  within  the  present  bounds  of  Morris  of 
which  we  have  any  knowledge  was  erected  at  Whippany, 
on  what  was  then  called,  by  its  Indian  name,  the  Whip- 
panong  River,  just  above  the  bridge  which  crosses  the 
stream  nearly  in  front  of  the  church.  Tradition  fixes  as 
early  a  date  as  17 10  for  its  erection.  Mr.  Green  in  his 
history  of  the  Hanover  church  speaks  of  the  old  building 
in  the  Whippany  graveyard  as  "about  100  rods  below 
the  forge  which  is  and  has  long  been  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Old  Iron  Works."  It  was  no  doubt  a  very  small 
and  rude  affair,  where  good  iron  was  made  free  from  the 
ore  by  smelting  it  with  charcoal,  and  without  any  of  the 
economical  appliances  even  of  the  bloomaries  of  a  hun- 
dred years  later.  The  ore  was  brought  to  it  from  the 
Succasunna  mine  in  leather  bags  on  horseback,  and  the 
iron  was  carried  to  market  at  tide  water  in  bars  bent  to 
fit  a  horse's  back — the  only  method  of  transportation. 
A  single  horse,  it  is  said,  would  carry  from  four  to  five 
hundred  pounds  fifteen  miles  in  a  day.  Not  a  vestige  of 
this  forge  now  remains,  and  its  builder  is  unknown.  The 
conjecture  is  that  John  Ford  and  Judge  Budd  built  it. 
An  aged  Presbyterian  clergyman.  Rev.  Isaac  Todd,  of 
Ocean  county,  who  is  still  living,  and  is  a  descendant  of 


Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  says  the  ancestor  of  the  Morris 
county  Fords  was  John  Ford,  of  Woodbri.dge.  While  in 
Philadelphia  in  17 10,  as  a  representative  of  his  church  to 
the  presbytery,  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Judge  Budd, 
who  had  a  large  estate  in  Morris  county.  Budd  offered 
Ford  a  large  tract  of  land  if  he  would  remove  to  Monroe, 
between  Morristown  and  Whippany,  an  offer  which  was 
accepted. 

Following  up  the  Whippany  River  forges  were  erected 
soon  after  near  the  site  of  Morristown,  of  the  same  char- 
acter as  the  Whippany  forge,  and  getting  their  supply  of 
ore  from  the  same  source.  One  was  located  just  north 
of  what  is  now  called  Water  street  and  near  Flagler's  mill, 
called  the  Ford  forge.  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  who 
probably  built  this  forge,  and  afterward  forges  on  the 
two  branches  of  the  Rockaway,  was  called  by  Peter 
Hasenclever  "one  of  the  first  adventurers  in  bloomary 
iron  works."  All  the  forges  near  Morristown  were  ex- 
tinct in  1823. 

The  first  forge  at  Dover  was  built,  it  is  said,  by  John 
Jackson  in  1722,  on  what  is  still  called  Jacks9n's  Brook, 
near  the  present  residence  of  Alpheus  Beemer.  Jackson 
purchased  a  tract  of  527  acres  of  one  Joseph  Latham, 
including  the  site  of  this  forge  and  much  of  the  land 
west  of  Dover.  The  venture  was  not  a  successful  one, 
however,  and  in  1757  the  forge  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Josiah  Beman,  and  the  farm  into  those  of  Hartshorne 
Fitz  Randolph. 

It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  that  in  1743  a  tract  of  91 
acres  was  located  by  Joseph  Shotwell  which  covered 
most  of  the  village  of  Dover,  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
from  where  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  crosses  it  to 
below  Bergen  street,  and  it  was  said  to  be  at  a  place 
called  the  "  Quaker  Iron  Works."  In  1769  Josiah  Be. 
man,  "  bloomer,"  mortgages  to  Thomas  Bartow  the  same 
tract,  "  being  that  which  John  Jackson  formerly  lived  on 
and  whereon  the  forge  and  dwelling  house  which  was  his 
did  stand,"  and  which  land  was  "  conveyed  to  him  by 
Joseph  Prudden  by  deed  dated  April  7th  i76r;  except- 
ing out  of  this  present  grant  nine  acres  on  which  the 
forge  stands  sold  by  him  to  Robert  Schooley."  It 
further  appears  from  other  deeds  that  the  indebtedness 
secured  by  this  mortgage  was  contracted  in  1761,  prob- 
ably when  the  purchase  was  made  of  Prudden.  In  1768 
Joseph  Jackson  and  his  son  Stephen  purchased  of  Robert 
Schooley  one  fire  in  this  forge.  The  next  year  Joseph 
Jackson  conveyed  his  interest  in  the  forge  to  his  son. 
Josiah  Beman,  the  owner  as  it  appears  as  early  as  1761 
of  this  Dover  forge,  was  a  brother  of  David  Beman  of 
Rockaway,  the  brother-in-law  of  General  Winds  and  the 
grandfather  of  the  late  Thomas  Green  of  Denville.  He 
lived  in  the  long,  low  house  in  the  village  of  Dover  still 
standing  on  the  north  side  of  the  mill  pond.  He  is 
described  as  a  man  of  great  piety,  a  regular  attendant 
upon  the  church  at  Rockaway  and  of  very  simple  habits. 
Stephen  Jackson  learned  his  trade  of  him,  and  in  1764 
bought  the  last  year  of  his  tinie  of  him  for  ^100 — then 
considered  a  large  sum — and  with  Andrew  King  leased 
ai5d  carried  on  the  forge  for  a  time.     If  is  said  the  two 


EARLY  IRON  FORGES. 


41 


young  men  kept  bachelors'  hall,  doing  their  own  cooking, 
which  was  of  the  simplest  kind,  by  turns.  In  a  few  years 
they  both  had  capital  to  go  into  business  for  themselves, 
and  both  became  prominent  iron  manufacturers.  Beman 
sold  his  forge  to  Canfield  &  Losey  in  1792,  and  the  new 
firm  enlarged  the  business  by  the  erection  of  rolling- 
mills,  etc. 

In  1748  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  river  at  Rocka- 
way  was  located  by  Colonel  Jacob  Ford,  and  the  tract 
was  said  to  include  "  Job  Allen's  iron  works."  In  1767 
letters  of  administration  of  Job  Allen's  estate  were  granted 
to  Colonel  Jacob  Ford,  his  principal  debtor;  tending  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  pioneer  ironmaster  of  Rockaway 
had  been  no  more  successful  than  his  neighbor  at  Dover. 
These  iron  works  were  built,>as  near  as  can  now  be  as- 
certained, in  1730. 

The  little  dam  in  the  middle  of  the  upper  pond  and 
covered  ordinarily  by  water  was  that  on  which  this 
earliest  structure  depended  for  its  supply  of  water.  In 
1774  Joseph  Prudden  jr.,  of  Morristown,  conveyed  to 
Thomas  Brown  and  John  Cobb  one  fire  in  this  forge,  ihe 
other  being  in  the  possession  of  David  Beman.  May 
30th  1778  Cobb  &  Brown  convey  the  same  fire,  with  the 
appurtenances,  "  coal  yards,  dams  and  ponds,"  to  Stephen 
Jackson.  In  1780,  January  2nd,  David  Beman  conveyed 
his  half  of  the  forge  to  John  Jacob  Faesch;  and  January 
ist  1782  Stephen  Jackson  conveyed  his  part  also  to  him. 
Faesch  retained  possession  of  the  works  until  his  death, 
when  they  were  bought  back  by  Stephen  Jackson.  In 
181 2  Stephen  Jackson  devised  this  forge  to  his  sons  Wil- 
liam and  John  D.  Jackson;  but  both  interests  were 
purchased  by  their  brother  Colonel  Joseph  Jackson,  who 
had  since  1809  been  the  owner  of  the  lower  forge 
at  Rockaway.  By  him  it  was  sold  in  1850  to  his 
son-in-law  Samuel  B.  Halsey,  to  whose  heirs  it  still 
belongs. 

It  is  evident  that  about  the  years  1748-50  a  great  ad- 
vance was  made  in  the  manufacture  of  iron.  In  1741  a 
humble  "  representation  "  was  made  by  the  Council  and 
House  of  Representatives  to  the  governor  of  the  province, 
Lewis  Morris,  setting  forth  the  abundance  of  iron  ore 
and  the  conveniences  for  making  the  same  into  pig  and 
bar  iron  which  existed,  and  that  with  proper  encourage- 
ment they  could  probably  in  some  years  wholly  supply 
that  necessary  commodity  to  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
"  for  which  they  become  annually  greatly  indebted  to 
Sweden  and  other  nations  ";  but  that  hitherto  they  had 
"made  but  small  advantage  therefrom,  having  imported 
but  very  inconsiderable  quantities  either  of  pig  metal  or 
bar  iron  into  Great  Britain,  by  reason  of  the  great  dis- 
couragement they  be  under  for  the  high  price  of  labor 
and  the  duties  by  act  of  Parliament  on  these  commodities 
imported  from  his  Majesty's  plantations  in  America. 
That  should  it  please  the  British  Legislature  to  take  off 
the  duties  at  present  payable  on  importations,  and  allow 
such  bounty  thereon  as  to  them  in  their  great  wisdom 
might  seem  reasonable,  the  inhabitants  of  this  and  other 
of  his  Majesty's  colonies  in  North  America  would  be 
thereby  the  better  enabled  to  discharge  the   respective 


balances  due  by  them  to  their  mother  country,  and  greatly 
to  increase  the  quantities  of  her  manufactures  by  them 
exported  (as  their  return  would  be  in  those  only);  where- 
by the  annual  debt  by  her  incurred  to  Sweden  and  other 
foreign  nations  for  iron  would  be  considerably  lessened, 
and  the  navigation  and  ship-building  throughout  the 
British  dominions  greatly  encouraged  and  enlarged." 

This  very  humble  petition  seems  to  have  had  no  im- 
mediate leffect;  but  in  1750  an  act  of  Parliament  was 
transmitted  to  the  governor  of  the  colony  entitled  "  an 
act  to  encourage  the  importation  of  pig  and  bar  iron  from 
his  Majesty's  colonies  in  America,  and  to  prevent  the 
erection  of  any  mill  or  other  engine  for  slitting  or  rolling 
of  iron,  or  any  plating  forge  to  work  with  a  tilt  hammer, 
or  any  furnace  for  making  steel,  in  any  of  the  said  colon- 
ies." The  act  corresponded  with  its  title;  and,  while  it 
permitted  the  colonists  to  manufacture  and  send  to  the 
mother  country  pig  and  bar  iron  under  certain  regula- 
tions, it  strictly  forbade,  under  penalty  of  ;^20o,  the 
erection  of  any  such  mill  as  was  intended  to  be  prohib- 
ited. They  might  make  the  crude  article,  but  they  must 
send  it  to  the  mother  country  to  be  reduced  to  such 
shape  as  to  fit  it  for  use.  The  forge  man  could  make 
the  iron  bloom,  but  he  must  send  it  across  the  Atlantic 
to  be  rolled  into  the  nail  rods  and  horseshoe  iron  he  and 
his  neighbors  required  for  their  own  use. 

The  governors  were  ordered  to  report  the  mills,  etc., 
then  erected,  and  accordingly  Governor  Belcher  reported 
that  there  were  in  New  Jersey  that  year  one  mill  for 
slitting  and  rolling  iron,  in  Bethlehem  township,  Hunter- 
don county;  one  plating  forge  at  Trenton  and  one 
furnace  for  making  steel  in  Trenton — of  which  only  the 
plating  forge  was  then  used;  and  besides  these,  the 
governor  adds,  "  I  do  also  certify  that  from  the  strictest 
inquiry  I  can  possibly  make  there  is  no  other  mill  or 
engine  for  slitting  and  rolling  of  iron,  or  plating  forge 
which  works  with  a  tilt  hammer,  or  furnace  for  making 
steel,  within  his  Majesty's  province  of  New  Jersey." 

Whether  as  one  of  the  effects  of  this  law  or  not,  several 
forges  were  built  in  the  county  about  the  time  it  went 
into  operation.  Colonel  Jacob  Ford,  of  Morristown,  in 
1750  "took  up  "or  located  the  falls  of  the  east  branch 
of  the  Rockaway  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  proceeded  to  erect 
two  forges  there.  The  same  year  he  purchased  the  falls 
on  the  same  stream  at  Denmark,  where  the  "Burnt 
Meadow  forge  "  was  built.  It  is  called  "  John  Harri- 
man's  Iron  Works  "  in  1764,  but  a  few  years  afterward 
was  owned  by  Jacob  Ford  jr.  In  1749  Jonathan  Osborn 
purchased  the  falls  midway  between  Denmark  and  Mt. 
Pleasant,  and  built  what  is  known  as  Middle  forge — the 
site  of  which  is  now  owned  by  the  United  States.  All 
these  forges  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Fords  before  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

There  was  also  a  forge  about  half  a  mile  below  Lower 
Longwood  in  existence  at  the  time  of  the  war,  which  was 
called  "  Ford's  forge,"  which  was  extinct  in  1823;  but 
exactly  when  it  was  built  cannot  be  ascertained.  In  a 
deed  made  in  1803  from  Samuel  Tuthill  to  John  P.  Losey 
mention  is  made  of  the  bridge  that  crosses  the  Rockawpy 


42 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


River  "  a  little   above   where   the   old    Speedwell  forge 
formerly  stood." 

About  this  time,  that  is  to  say  from  1750  to  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  were  also  erected  many 
other  ancient  forges.  One  stood  on  the  Whippany  River 
near  Morristown,  railed  the  Carmichael  forge,  and  one 
at  Malapardis,  about  three  miles  northeast  of  Morristown. 
Both  of  these  were  extinct  before  this  century  began. 
The  Hathaway  forge  on  the  Whippany,  close  to  the 
Morris  and  Essex  Railroad,  and  about  a  mile  west  of 
Morris  Plains  station,  was  built  by  Captain  James  Keene, 
who  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  who 
ran  it  until  1780.  Jonathan  Hathaway,  from  whom  it 
took  its  name,  owned  and  ran  it  for  over  twenty-five 
years,  then  Benjamin  Holloway  until  1806,  when  it  was 
burned  down.  It  was  rebuilt,  but  a  fresliet  in  1821 
broke  away  the  dam  and  it  was  not  again  in   operation- 

On  Den  Brook,  a  tributary  of  the  Rockaway,  were 
built  Shongum  forge,  owned  by  Deacon  John  Hunting- 
ton; Ninkey  forge  (owned  by  Abraham  and  John  Kin 
ney  in  1796  and  sold  as  their  property  in  1799  to  Caleb 
Russel),  built  and  rebuilt  several  times;  Coleraine  (or 
Cold-rain)  forge,  lower  down  the  stream;  and  still  lower 
Franklin  forge,  built  by  John  Cobb,  Thomas  Brown  and 
Stephen  Jackson  just  previous  to  the  war.  Hubbard  S. 
Stickle,  who  has  just  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years,  and  who  himself  built  one  forge  and  assisted 
in  building  several  others,  said  he  could  remember  when 
all  four  of  these  forges  were  running. 

Colonel  James  W.  Drake  writes  in  1854  that,  "princi- 
pally for  the  purpose  of  consuming  the  surplus  wood, 
four  forges  for  manufacturing  iron  were  at  different 
times  erected  in  the  township  of  Mendham,  but  the  fires 
of  all  of  them  have  been  long  extinguished.  The  ore 
for  their  supply  was  almost  entirely  furnished  by  the 
well  known  Suckasunny  mine.  A  small  amount  of  ore 
was  at  one  time  supplied  by  a  mine  in  the  village  of 
Water  Street,  but  at  length  the  use  of  it  was  abandoned, 
as  iron  could  not  be  made  of  it."  From  an  old  map 
made  in  1823,  showing  the  forges  active  and  extinct  in 
Morris  county  at  that  time,  it  appears  that  these  forges 
were  the  "Rushes"  and  "Mendham"  forges,  on  the 
north  branch  of  the  Raritan;  "Leddle's  forge,"  on  a 
branch  of  the  Passaic;  and  "  Rye"  forge,  on  the  Whip- 
pany river  at  Water  Street,  all  extinct.  The  mine 
spoken  of  by  Colonel  Drake  was  reopened  and  worked 
extensively  since  the  last  war  by  Ario  Pardee  and  other 
lessees  of  the  owner,  Madison  Connet. 

In  1751  John  Johnston  bought  of  the  proprietors  the 
falls  of  the  Beach  Glen  Brook  at  Beach  Glen,  and  built 
the  forge  known  for  many  years  as  ''  Johnston's  iron 
works."  It  was  sold  by  Job  Allen  to  Benjam.in  Beach 
and  Henry  Tuttle  December  30th  1771,  and  Beach 
shortly  after  bought  out  his  partner  and  continued  to 
operate  it  until  his  death.  Benjamin  Beach  (son  of 
Abner  Beach)  is  described  as  a  self-made  man,  who, 
beginning  with  very  small  means,  by  integrity,  industry 
and  systematic  perseverance  acquired  a  large  estate, 
owning  at  the  time  of  his  death  over  a  thousand  acres  of 


land.  Beach  Glen  before  it  was  so  called,  in  honor  of 
himself,  was  called  Horse  Pound,  because  the  early  set- 
tlers, by  building  a  fence  from  one  high  hill  to  the  other, 
formed  a  pound  into  which  they  drove  their  wild  horses 
to  catch  them.  From  Benjamin  Beach  the  forge  de- 
scended to  his  two  sons  Chilion  and  Samuel  Searing; 
and  the  site  is  still  in  the  family,  being  owned  by  Dr. 
Columbus  Beach,  the  son  of  Chilion.  The  dam  was 
swept  away  by  a  freshet  in  1867,  and  has  never  been 
rebuilt. 

There  was  also  an  old  forge  at  Troy,  near  the  present 
residence  of  Andrew  J.  Smith,  built  probably  by  John 
Cobb.  It  (or,  rather,  its  site— for  the  forge  has  gone 
down)  is  still  owned  in  part  by  some  of  the  descendants 
of  Cobb,  one-half  being  owned  by  Andrew  J.  Smith, 
whose  father,  Ebenezer  F.  Smith,  ran  it  as  late  as  i860. 
There  was  also  an  old  forge  at  the  head  of  Speedwell 
Pond,  and  another  at  the  present  dam  at  Speedwell 
where  Arnold  &  Kinney  erected  their  slitting-mill. 
Colonel  Ford  is  said  to  have  been  the  builder  of  these.   • 

White  Meadow  was  also  a  place  of  importance  at  lh"s 
time.  A  lot  was  located  here  in  1753  by  David  Beman, 
probably  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  forge,  and  he  and 
Thomas  Miller  were,  no  doubt,  the  builders  of  one. 
They  or  one  of  them  conveyed  to  John  Bigalow  and 
Aaron  Bigalow;  for  in  1769  the  Bigalows  gave  a  mort- 
gage of  one-half  of  the  forge  "  which  was  built  at  the 
place  called  White  Meadow."  October  i8th  1774  the 
Bigalows  gave  a  mortgage  on  a  tract  of  142^  acres 
(including  the  lot  returned  to  Beman),  said  to  be  a 
tract  which  Thomas  Miller  bought  of  Thomas  Barton 
and  David  Beman,  and  conveyed  to  said  Bigalows  by 
deed  of  even  date  with  the  mortgage.  From  the  Biga- 
lows it  fell  into  the  possession  of  Abraham  Kitchel,  who 
conveyed  it  to  Bernard  Smith  (the  friend  of  Faesch)  in 
1792.  Smith  was  obliged  to  part  with  it,  and  sold  it  to 
Isaac  Canfield  in  1802. 

About  a  mile  below  White  Meadow  was  the  forge  well 
known  as  "  Guinea  forge,"  built  by  Colonel  John  Munson 
before  1774.  A  recital  by  Benjamin  Beach  and  Abrahan 
Kitchel,  in  the  minutes  of  the  board  of  proprietors  in 
1785,  quotes  an  application  of  Munson  and  Benjamin 
Beach  in  1774  for  a  large  tract  of  land  lying  near  these 
works,  which  tells  the  history  of  this  forge  for  the  ten 
years  previous,  as  follows: 

"  To  the  Honorable  the  Council  of  Proprietors — A 
tract  of  land  [was]  surveyed  by  Thomas  Millige  to  Ben- 
jamin Beach  and  Colonel  John  Munson  of  about  2,600 
acres,  but  no  deed  has  been  given  nor  moneys  paid 
except  the  surveying,  recording,  &c.  Colonel  Munson, 
being  unable  to  carry  on  his  forge,  sold  his  forge  and 
right  to  procure  a  deed  in  his  name  to  Joshua  Winget, 
who  sold  the  same  to  Samuel  Crane.  Crane  sold  to 
Abijah  Sherman,  and  when  Sherman  broke.  Crane  took 
the  forge  again  and  now  Crane  proves  insolvent.  Mr. 
Beach  does  not  expect  to  take  more  than  half  of  the 
land  surveyed  and  recorded  as  above.  Colonel  Munson, 
not  being  able  to  attend,  prays  that  his  contract  may  be 
void.  Abraham  Kitchel  and  Mark  Walton  will  take 
Colonel  Munson's  part  provided  they  can  have  it  for  a' 
reasonable  sum." 


EARLY  FORGES— ANDREW  KING— PETER  HASENCLEVER. 


43 


With  White  Meadow  forge  Guinea  forge  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Abraham  Kitchel,  who  conveyed  it  in  1791  to 
Bernard  Smith,  who  conveyed  it  to  Isaac  Canfield  in 
1802.  Both  these  forges  were  afterward  owned  by 
Colonel  Thomas  Muir,  whose  family  still  own  White 
Meadow  and  the  mine  and  large  tracts  surrounding. 
Guinea  forge  was  bought  by  Hubbard  S.  Stickle,  who 
owned  its  site  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Both  forges 
have  long  been  down. 

The  capacity  of  the  forges  built  before  the  Revolution 
may  be  judged  from  a  petition  presented  to  the  House 
of  Assembly  in  September  1751,  by  the  owners  of  bloom- 
aries  in  the  county  oT  Morris,  "  setting  forth  that  they 
humbly  conceive  their  bloomaries  are  not  comprehended 
in  the  late  law  for  returning  the  taxables  of  the  province; 
and  that  there  are  many  bloomaries  in  the  said  county 
that  don't  make  more  than  five  or  six  tons  of  iron  in  a 
year;  and  that  therefore  the  profits  of  such  forges  cannot 
pay  any  tax,  but  m'any  of  them  on  the  contrary  must  be 
obliged  to  let  their  works  fall  if  any  tax  be  laid  on  them; 
and  praying  the  House  will  rather  encourage  so  publick 
a  benefit,  and  instead  of  laying  a  tax  grant  a  small 
bounty  upon  every  ton  of  bar  iron  fitted  for  market,  and 
a  receipt  of  the  same  being  shipped  for  London  pro- 
duced to  the  treasurer,  according  to  a  late  act  of  Par- 
liament." No  action  appears  to  have  been  taken  upon 
this  petition. 

The  ore  for  these  forges  continued  to  be  taken  princi- 
pally from  the  Dickerson  mine,  on  account  of  its  greater 
richness  and  purity,  though  the  great  Jugular  vein  at 
Mount  Hope  and  the  vein  at  Hibernia  had  become 
known.  The  forgemen  constituted  a  class  by  them- 
selves, handing  down  in  many  instances  from  father  to 
son  the  trade  they  lived  by.  It  was  a  day  of  simple 
habits  and  men  lived  on  the  plainest  fare.  Morristown 
was  the  chief  source  of  supply,  and  many  of  the  men 
made  the  trip  on  foot  from  the  upper  part  of  the  county 
to  that  place  once  a  week  to  get  their  supplies.  From 
Henry  Baker,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  we  have  this  incident  of 
his  grandfather,  Andrew  King,  who  was  one  of  Colonel 
Ford's  forgemen  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  who  at  one  time 
leased,  as  we  have  stated,  the  Dover  forge  of  Josiah 
Beman. 

On  one  of  his  visits  to  Morristown  for  supplies  the 
store  keeper  recommended  to  him  tea  as  a  new  article  of 
diet,  which  he  would  find  very  agreeable.  He  took  a 
package  of  it  home,  with  a  very  general  idea  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  it  should  be  prepared  for  the  table,  and  his 
good  wife,  who  had  never  seen  the  article  before,  attempted 
to  make  a  pudding  of  it.  The  bag  in  ^yhich  she  had  se- 
cured it  burst  in  the  boiling,  and  with  great  difficulty  she 
succeeded  in  keeping  it  within  bounds  during  the  cook- 
ing. Of  course  no  one  could  eat  the  unpalatable  dish, 
and  on  being  asked  how  he  liked  it  when  in  Morristown 
again  he  replied  they  did  not  want  any  more  of  it.  When 
he  described  the  use  they  had  sought  to  make  of  it,  it 
created  no  little  amusement  in  the  store.  He  said  they 
"could  neither  eat  the  pudding  nor  drink  the  broth." 
However,  he  was  persuaded  to  make  a  new  trial,  and 


with  more  definite  instructions,  and  with  wooden  cups 
and  saucers  and  a  new  package  the  use  of  the  beverage 
was  inaugurated  under  more  favorable  auspices. 

This  Andrew  King  was  a  man  of  excellent  character 
and  thoroughly  understood  his  busiriess.  By  his  industry 
and  thrift  he  acquired  considerable  property,  and  he  died 
when  over  90  years  of  age,  in  Dover,  where  he  owned  a 
house  and  farm  on  the  hill  south  of  the  Morris  and 
Essex  depot.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Jeremiah 
Baker,  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  A  son,  John  King,  acted  as 
clerk  for  Faesch  at  Mt.  Hope  and  for  Stotesbury  at  Hi- 
bernia, and  finally  in  1802  went  with  Nathan  and  David 
Ford  to  Ogdensburg,  where  they  were  the  pioneers. 
Preston  King,  who  it  will  be  remembered  was  at  one  time 
collector  of  the  port  of  New  York,  and  committed  suicide 
by  jumping  from  a  ferryboat  in  the  North  River,  was  a 
son  of  this  John  King. 

An  incident  to  illustrate  the  capacity  of  these  early 
forges  is  thus  narrated  by  the  late  William  Jackson: — 
While  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  owned  and  worked  the  Middle 
forge  he  lived  at  Morristown.  One  Saturday  evening  he 
returned  home  in  fine  spirits  and  said  to  his  wife:  "  Now, 
wife,  you  must  make  one  of  your  largest  short  cakes,  for 
I  have  made  one  of  the  largest  loops  ever  made  in  the 
county.  How  much  do  you  think  it  weighed  ?"  he  asked 
his  wife.  Of  course  she  could  not  tell  and  asked  him 
how  much.  He  answered,  "  It  weighed  28^  pounds  ! 
was  not  that  a  big  one  !" 

Peter  Hasenclever,  a  German  born  at  Remscheid,  in 
1 7 16,  came  to  this  country  about  1764  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  London  Company.  Within  three  years  he  is 
said  to  have  built  a  furnace  at  Charlotteburgh  (on  the 
borders  of  Morris  county)  and  three  miles  further  down 
stream  a  "  finery  forge,"  with  four  fires  and  two  ham- 
mers, capable  of  making  250  tons  of  bar  iron  a  year 
single  handed  and  from  300  to  350  tons  double  handed; 
and  a  mile  lower  down  still  a  second  forge,  of  equal  ca- 
pacity. He  introduced  many  improvements  in  the  manu- 
facture of  iron  and  increased  the  capacity  of  the  forges. 
Governor  Franklin  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Lord  Stirling,  Colonel  John  Schuyler,  Major  Tunis  Day 
and  James  Grey,  to  examine  into  his  acts  in  behalf  of  his 
company,  with  whom  he  had  gotten  into  difficulty.  This 
commission,  reporting  at  Newark  July  8th  1768,  testified 
to  the  perfection  of  his  iron  works  and  to  the  fact  that  he 
had  introduced  many  improvements  in  the  manufacture 
of  iron,  some  of  which  had  been  adopted  in  England. 
They  said:  "  He  is  the  first  person  that  we  know  who 
has  so  greatly  improved  the  use  of  the  great  natural 
ponds  of  this  country  as  by  damming  them  to  secure 
reservoirs  of  water  for  the  use  of  iron  works  in  the  dry 
season,  without  which  the  best  streams  are  liable  to  fail 
in  the  great  droughts  we  are  subject  to."  They  further 
said  that  he  was  the  first  to  make  old  cinder  beds  profit- 
able; that  he  improved  the  furnaces  by  building  the  in- 
walls  of  slate  instead  of  stones,  which  seldom  lasted 
longer  than  a  year  or  two,  and  by  placing  the  stack  under 
roof;  that  he  only  used  overshot  wheels,  and  "  around 
the   hammer-wheel,  shafts    with    strong   cast-iron  rings, 


44 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


whose  arms  served  as  cogs  to  lift  the  hammer  handle." 
The  commission,  whose  members  were  all  interested  in 
iron  works  and  mines,  and  so  able  to  speak  authoritatively, 
said  these  contrivances  were  new  ones — "  at  least  they 
are  new  in  America."  It  may  be  interesting  to  know 
that  Hasenclever  was  justified  by  a  decision  of  Lord 
Thurlow  in  England  after  a  long  litigation,  and  that  he 
was  so  successful  as  a  linen  manufacturer  in  Silesia  that 
he  refused  as  advantageous  invitation  from  Benjamin 
Franklin  to  return  to  America. 

After  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  especially  in  the  de- 
cade preceding  and  in  that  following  1800,  many  new 
forges  were  built,  of  larger  size  and  some  of  them  prob- 
ably occupying  sites  of  others  which  had  gone  down. 
In  a  letter  written  to  Richard  Henry  Lee  in  1777  Wash- 
ington states  that  in  "  Morris  county  alone  tliere  are  be- 
tween eighty  and  one  hundred  iron  works,  large  and 
small."  Unless  the  writer  counted  each  fire  of  every 
forge  it  is  impossible  to  verify  this  statement  by  locating 
the  iron  works,  or  even  then  unless  some  of  those  known 
to  have  been  built  at  a  later  period  were  built  on  sites  of 
■  older  forges.  Charcoal  furnaces  had  been  built  before 
the  war,  but  while  ore  and  charcoal  were  so  abundant, 
and  the  work  of  refining  so  little  understood,  there  was 
sufficient  demand  for  bloomary  iron  to  make  work  for  all 
the  forges;  and  the  time  of  greatest  prosperity  among  the 
bloomaries  was  the  earlier  part  of  this  century  and  before 
anthracite  coal  came  into  use. 

Besides  the  forges  mentioned,  some  of  which  were  still 
in  operation,  the  principal  other  forges  of  the  county 
after  the  war  were  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  the  head  waters  of  the  west  branch  of  the 
Rockaway  River  we  have  nearest  its  source  the  Hopewell 
forge,  near  the  boundary  line  of,  if  not  within,  Sussex 
county.  It  was  built,  tradition  says,  by  Colonel  Samuel 
Ogden,  of  Boonton,  and  was  probably  rebuilt  by  Samuel 
G.  I.  De  Camp  about  181 2.  It  has  long  been  idle,  and 
is  going  to  ruin. 

The  next  forge,  a  mile  below  Hopewell,  called  "Russia," 
was  built  before  1800,  and  was  long  known  as  William 
Headley's  forge.  Prof.  Cook  places  its  erection  as  early 
as  1775.  It  was  an  old  forge  in  1806,  when  it  was  owned 
by  William  Fichter.  It  was  owned  in  1828  by  Joseph 
Chamberlain,  and  is  now  by  Jetur  R.  Riggs.  Colonel 
Samuel  Ogden  conveyed  the  land  on  vvhich  it  was  built 
to  Thomas  Keepers  in  1800;  and  Mrs.  Davenport, 
Thomas  Keepers's  daughter,  says  that  there  were  forges 
here  and  at  Hopewell  before  1800,  which  were  called 
"  Upper  and  Lower  Farmingham  forges."  Situate  as 
Russia  forge  is,  just  where  the  river  issues  from  the 
mountains  with  a  fall  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet,  the  site 
was  a  most  desirable  one  and  was  probably  early  taken 
up. 

The  next  forge,  a  mile  lower  down,  was  called  the 
"  Swedeland  forge."  It  was  built  by  John  Dow,  Cor- 
nelius Davenport  and  Jacob  Riker,  before  1800.  Dow 
was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  enterprise.  In  1806  Colonel 
John  Stanburrough  took  possession  of  the  premises,  and 
he  operated  the  forge  more  or  less  at  intervals  until  his 


death,  which  occurred  in  1862.  He  took  the  premium 
of  the  Morris  County  Agricultural  Society  over  fifty 
years  ago  for  making  a  ton  of  octagon  iron  in  the  shortest 
time.  The  premium  was  a  silver  oup,  which  is  held  as 
an  heirloom  in  the  family  by  his  youngest  daughter,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Dalrymple,  of  Branchville,  N.  J.  The  forge 
has  been  repaired  by  Albert  R.  Riggs,  its  present  owner, 
and  is  now  in  a  better  state  of  preservation  than  any 
other  forge  in  Jefferson  township. 

The  next  forge,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  below 
Swedeland,  is  Petersburg.  This  is  a  very  old  forge,  some 
placing  its  erection  as  early  as  1730.  The  land  was  lo- 
cated for  Robert  Hunter  Morris  and  James  Alexander, 
June  3d  1754.  Jonah  Austin  mortgaged  to  Abraham 
Ogden,  October  ist  1777.  one  quarter  interest  in  the 
forge  and  lot  called  "  Petersburg."  It  has  also  been 
called  "  Arnold's  "  forge,  having  once  been  owned  by 
Jacob  Arnold,  of  the  Speedwell  iron  works.  It  has  been 
transferred  many  times,  but  has  now  gone  to  decay.  The 
site  is  owned  by  Lev/is  Chamberlain. 

On  a  branch  of  the  Rockaway  River  which  comes  in 
from  the  east  below  Petersburg  is  built  the  "  Hard  Bar- 
gain "  forge,  now  owned  by  Stephen  Strait.  It  stands 
on  the  same  tract  originally  as  the  Petersburg  forge,  from 
which  it  is  distant  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  an  air  line. 
It  was  built  about  1795,  by  an  association  of  persons 
among  whom  were  John  Dow,  Christian  Strait,  John 
Davenport  and  others.  Though  a  one-fired  forge  it  had 
at  one  tmie  nine  partners.  In  1828  it  belonged  to  Adams 
&  Dean.  The  buildings  are  still  in  good  repair,  but  have 
long  been  disused. 

Passing  down  the  Rockaway  River  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  we  come  next  to  Woodstock  forge.  This  is  of 
comparatively  recent  origin,  having  been  built  about  the 
year  1825,  by  Ephraim  Adams,  James  L.  Dickerson  and 
Stephen  Adams.  The  tract  of  land  (1,748  acres)  upon 
which  it  stands  was  returned  to  Skinner  &  Johnson  for 
Thomas  Kinney  in  1774.  This  forge  never  made  a  large 
quantity  of  iron,  the  fall  in  the  stream  being  insufficient 
to  give  proper  hammering  capacity  to  draw  out  the  iron 
when  made.  It  belongs  to  Zopher  O.  Talmadge,  who 
uses  it  as  a  distillerv. 

The  next  forge  below  Woodstock  is  the  Upper  Long- 
wood  forge,  which  stands  in  the  same  tract  of  1,748 
acres  as  the  Woodstock.  It  is  a  very  old  forge  and 
large  quantities  of  iron  have  been  made  there.  John 
De  Camp  became  its  owner  about  1798  and  it  is  said  to 
have  been  rebuilt  by  him  on  a  new  foundation,  a' freshet 
having  carried  out  the  old  works.  De  Camp,  who  carried 
on  the  forge  until  1817,  was  a  brother  of  Joseph,  Lemuel 
and  David  De  Camp,  all  of  whom  were  more  or  less  en- 
gaged in  iron  manufacture.  An  anchor  shop  was  at  one 
time  attached  to  this  forge,  in  which  large  quantities  of 
anchors  were  manufactured  and  many  men  employed. 
The  forge  buildings  have  fallen  or  been  torn  down,  and 
the  property,  containing  some  2,00c  acres  of  land,  is  now 
owned  by  John  Kean,  of  Elizabeth. 

The  next  forge  in  order  and  a  mile  lower  down  the 
stream  is  the   Lower  Longwood  forge,  standing  on  the 


FORGES  ON  THE  ROCKAWAY. 


45 


same  tract  of  1,748  acres  above  mentioned.  It  is  said 
to  have  been  built  by  Ebenezer  Tuttle  and  Grandin 
Morris,  about  1796,  and  bought  by  Canfield  &  Losey 
in  1806.  From  them  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Black- 
well  &  McFarlan.  It  is  now  the  property  of  John  Hance, 
but  has  long  ceased  to  be  a  forf;,e. 

Below  Lower  Longwood  was  the  old  Speedwell  or 
Ford  forge,  already  spoken  of. 

For  much  of  the  above  information  respecting  the 
forges  on  the  upper  Rockaway  we  are  indebted  to 
Horace  Chamberlain,  of  Oakridge,  formerly  a  member 
of  the  Legislature  from  this  county,  a  gentleman  whose 
local  knowledge  and  lifelong  experience  as  a  surveyor 
have  made  him  very  familiar  with  the  history  especially 
of  the  northerly  part  of  the  county. 

Next  in  order  is  the  "  Valley  forge,"  within  sight  of 
the  track  of  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad,  which  was 
built  by  Jared  Coe  and  Minard  Lefever,  probably  before 
or  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  Prof.  Cook  places  the 
date  at  1780.  It  came  into  the  hands  of  Canfield  &  Losey 
about  1800,  and  was  burned  down  in  i8r4.  Jeremiah 
Baker,  the  son-in-law  of  Andrew  King,  and  who  had 
already  commenced  to  acquire  the  large  property  which 
he  afterward  possessed,  built  it  up  with  an  agreement  to 
purchase;  but  after  working  it  for  a  year  Canfield  & 
Losey  took  it  back,  and  Baker  bought  it  a  second  time  of 
Blackwell  &  McFarlan,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  bus- 
iness and  property  of  Canfield  &  Losey,  in  1817.  This 
was  with  an  understanding  that  Blackwell  &  McFarlan 
should  take  all  the  iron  he  made.  In  1828  it  again 
burned  down,  and  was  rebuilt  by  Mr.  Baker.  In  1875  it 
was  burned  a  third  time,  \vhile  rented  by  Messrs.  Mc- 
Clees,  of  New  York,  from  Henry  and  William  H.  Baker, 
to  whom  their  father  had  devised  it.  It  has  not  been 
rebuilt. 

The  next  forge  on  the  west  branch,  and  just  before  its 
junction  with  the  east  branch  of  the  Rockaway,  is  Wash- 
ington forge,  which  was  built  by  Charles  Hoff  and  his 
brother-in-law  Joseph  De  Camp  about  the  year  1795. 
Charles  Hoff  sold  his  half  to  Joseph  Hurd  in  1808,  and 
the  De  Camp  heirs  theirs  10  Joseph  Dickerson,  who  owned 
the  whole  in  1828.  It  was  run  by  Henry  McFarlan 
until  within  a  few  years. 

Beginning  at  the  head  waters  of  the  east  branch  of  the 
Rockaway  River,  or,  as  it  is  called,  Burnt  Meadow 
Brook,  the  first  forge  was  the  "  Burnt  Meadow  forge,"  or 
"Denmark,"  owned  by  Harriman  &  Sayre,  and  Jacob 
Ford  jr.,  as  we  have  seen,  in  its  beginning.  In  1806  the 
Fords  sold  to  Benjamin  Holloway,  who  built  the  present 
or  last  forge.  Hubbard  S.  Stickle  stated  that  he  man- 
aged for  Holloway  from  December  1806  to  December 
1807,  while  it  was  being  built.  The  old  forge  had  then 
entirely  disappeared.  Holloway  failed  in  1818,  and  in 
1823  It  was  bought  by  George  Stickle  (father  of  Hubbard 
S.  Stickle),  who  sold  it  in  182  r  to  John  Hardy.  John 
M.  Eddy  bought  in  1841  and  carried  it  on  for  several 
years,  when  it  fell  into  the  possession  of  Edward  R. 
Biddle,  then  the  owner  of  Mt.  Hope.  It  finally,  in  1858, 
came  to  the  possession  of  Ernest  Fiedler,  of  New  York 


city,  to  whose  heirs  it  still  belongs.      It  has  long  been 
disused. 

About  forty  years  ago  "  Big  "  Samuel  Merritt  built  a 
forge  on  a  little  brook  running  out  of  Gravel  Dam, 
on  what  is  called  the  Garrigus  place,  near  Denmark; 
but  it  was  a  small  affair  and  soon  abandoned. 

The  next  forge  down  the  stream  was  "  Middle  forge," 
already  mentioned.  In  1773  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen. 
conveyed  this  forge  to  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  jr.,  and  in 
1778  the  executors  of  Jacob  Ford  jr.  conveyed  it  to  John 
Jacob  Faesch,  who  ran  it  in  connection  with  his  works  at 
Mount  Hope  until  his  death,  June  28th  1800.  General 
John  Doughty,  as  commissioner  appointed  to  sell  the 
lands  of  Faesch,  conveyed  it  to  Moses  Phillips  jr..  who 
rebuilt  and  ran  the  forge  for  a  number  of  years.  Under 
him  it  was  called  the  "  Aetna  forge."  In  1839  it  came 
into  the  hands  of  Samuel  F.  Righter,  who  conveyed  it  in 
r8s3  to  his  brother  George  E.  Righter.  He  ran  it  till 
within  a  few  years,  when  it  was  permitted  to  go  to  decay. 
The  United  States  purchased  the  forge  seat  in  1880  with 
the  large  tract  of  land  around  it  of  Mr.  Righter,  and  the 
government  is  now  putting  up  extensive  powder  maga- 
zines there.  For  this  purpose  no  other  place  was  found 
to  contain  equal  advantages.  It  was  very  easy  of  access 
to  the  seaboard,  possessed  a  valuable  water  power,  and 
the  tract  was  as  secluded  as  could  be  desired. 

The  next  forge  is  the  Mount  Pleasant  forge,  already 
spoken  of.  Here  were  at  one  time  a  four-fire  forge 
above  the  bridge  and  a  smaller  one  below.  The  upper 
or  large  forge  was  down  before  the  beginning  of  this 
century;  the  lower  one  was  standing  to  within  a  few 
years. 

The  Rockaway  River  after  the  union  of  its  two 
branches  flows  first  through  Dover,  where  were  the  old 
Josiah  Beman  forge  and  Schooley's  forge  (the  Quaker 
iron  works),  already  mentioned,  and,  it  is  said,  a  forge 
built  by  Moses  Doty.  Of  these  only  one  survived  to 
the  present  century  and  became  merged  in  the  extensive 
iron  works  of  Canfield  &  Losey,  which  will  be  spoken  of 
hereafter. 

Below  Dover  the  first  forge  on  the  Rockaway  River 
was  the  old  iron  works  of  "  Job  Allen,"  where  is  the 
present  forge  at  Rockaway,  of  which  an  account  has 
been  given. 

The  lower  forge  at  Rockaway  was  built  by  Stephen 
Jackson,  after  he  had  sold  his  interest  in  the  upper  one 
and  found  Faesch  unwilling  to  sell  it  back  to  him.  He 
had  served  as  captain  of  militia  cavalry  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  in  the  severe  winter  of  1780-1  was  occu- 
pied with  his  company  reconnoitering  the  enemy's  lines 
below  Short  Hills.  In  this  service  he  contracted  a  pul- 
monary disease  which  he  supposed  would  terminate 
fatally,  and  in  this  belief  sold  his  forge  to  Faesch. 
Afterward,  recovering  his  health,  he  tried  in  vain  to  re- 
purchase it.  A  freshet  in  the  winter  of  1794-5  formed 
an  ice  dam  below  the  upper  dam  and  on  his  own  land. 
He  was  prompt  to  act  on  this  suggestion,  building  the 
next  year  the  lower  dam  and  forge  at  Rockaway,  which 
he  sold  in  rSog  to  his  son  Joseph.     It  remained  in  his 


46 


History  of  morris  county. 


possession  until  1852,  when  he  conveyed  it  with  the 
rolling-mill  to  Freeman  Wood.  It  was  never  afterward 
used  as  a  bloomary  forge.  It  was  used  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  steel,  but  only  for  a  short  time,  and  was  then 
suffered  to  fall  to  pieces  after  the  last  war. 

A  mile  below  the  village  of  Rockaway  a  stream  joins 
the  Rockaway  River,  coming  from  the  north,  known  as 
Beaver  Brook.  It  is  made  up  of  three  principal  streams 
—the  White  Meadow  Brook,  upon  which  were  built  the 
White  Meadow  forge  and  Guinea  forge  already  men- 
tioned; the  Beach  Glen  Brook,  upon  which  were  the 
Hibernia  forge  and  the  Beach  Glen  forge  (the  old 
"Johnson  iron  works");  and  the  Meriden  Brook,  upon 
which  were  the  Durham  forge,  the  Split  Rock  forge  and 
the  two  Meriden  forges. 

Hibernia  forge  was  built  by  William  Scott  after  the 
furnace  there  went  down.  It  ran  but  a  short  time,  and 
has  been  gone  for  forty  years  at  least.  Of  the  Beach 
Glen  forge  mention  has  already  been  made. 

Durham  forge,  at  Greenville,  was  built  by  Ebenezer 
Cobb,  about  the  year  1800.  Its  site  belongs  to  the  estate 
of  Andrew  B.  Cobb,  deceased;  but  though  the  dam  still 
retains  a  pond  there  is  nothing  left  of  the  forge  but  the 
heavy  castings,  which  vegetation  has  almost  covered  up. 

The  Split  Rock  forge. was  built  about  1790,  by  a  Mr, 
Farrand.  It  was  bought  by  Colonel  Lemuel  Cobb,  and 
formed  part  of  that  large  tract  of  about  3,000  acres  at 
Split-rock  which  was  divided  among  his  three  heirs — 
Andrew  B.  Cobb,  Mrs.  William  C.  H.  Waddell  and  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Howell.  The  forge  in  the  division  fell  to 
Andrew  B.  Cobb,  and  still  forms  a  part  of  his  estate. 
The  old  bloomary  fires,  however,  have  been  replaced  by 
a  Wilson  deoxidizer,  which,  by  a  process  that  introduces 
the  ore  heated  and  mingled  with  heated  pulverized  char- 
coal to  three  fires  arranged  around  one  stack,  makes  a 
charcoal  bloom  similar  to  that  of  the  old-fashioned  fire, 
but  much  more  rapidly. 

Of  the  two  forges  at  Meriden,  one  on  the  north  side 
and  the  other  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  road,  the 
upper  one  was  built  shortly  after  Split  Rock  and  possibly 
by  the  same  parties,  the  lower  one  by  Peter  Hiler,  about 
1820.  Colonel  John  Hinchman,  of  Denville,  once  owned 
this  lower  forge;  from  him  it  passed  to  John  Righter,  of 
Parsippany.  Both  forges  have  been  down  for  many 
years. 

Below  the  mouth  of  Beaver  Brook,  at  Denville,  Den 
Brook  enters  the  Rockaway  from  the  southwest.  Upon 
this  stream  were  the  Shongum,  Ninkey,  Cold-rain  and 
Franklin  forges,  which  have  been  mentioned. 

Near  the  Rockaway  River  in  Rockaway  Valley,  on  a 
brook  coming  from  the  hills  on  the  west,  James  Dixon 
built  in  1830  the  forge  which  was  operated  for  about 
thirty  years  by  him  and  his  two  sons  Cyrus  and  William. 

On  another  little  stream  which  joins  the  Rockaway  at 
Rockaway  Valley,  and  about  two  miles  north  of  the 
Valley  church,  a  forge  was  built  by  John  Deeker  about 
1825  and  called  Deeker's  forge.  It  was  running  to 
within  a  few  years  of  the  last  war. 

Following   down    the    Rockaway   the   next   forge    is 


Powerville  forge,  built  in  1794  by  William  Scott.  In 
1836  Scott  built  the  rolling-mill  on  the  same  property. 
In  the  division  of  Colonel  Scott's  real  estate  this  fell  to 
his  son  Elijah  D.  Scott,  who  by  deed  and  devise  con- 
veyed it  to  Thomas  Willis,  in  whose  family  the  property 
still  remains.  The  forge  is  yet  in  working  order,  though 
like  the  one  at  Rockaway  used  principally  for  working 
over  scrap. 

Three  miles  below  Powerville  on  the  Rockaway  is  Old 
Boonton,  of  whose  slitting-mill  mention  will  be  made 
hereafter.  In  connection  with  this  mill  was  a  four-fire 
forge,  which  long  survived  the  other  mills  and  was  in  op- 
eration until  a  late  date. 

Besides  the  forges  mentioned  there  were  in  the  county 
several  others.  Benjamin  Roome  writes  that  Simon  Van 
Ness  had  a  forge  on  the  Morris  county  side  of  the  Pe- 
quannock  River,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  above  Bloom- 
ingdale,  which  was  worked  by  Robert  Colfax  as  late  as 
about  181 1,  when  a  freshet  tore  it  to  pieces  and  it  was  not 
rebuilt. 

In  1821-2  Hubbard  S.  Stickle  built  the  Montgomery 
forge,  on  Stone  Meadow  Brook,  a  tributary  of  the  Pe- 
quannock,  about  two  miles  above  Stony  Brook.  It  is 
no  longer  in  operation.         < 

About  the  same  time  Timber  Brook  forge  was  built 
near  Greenville,  on  Copperas  Brook,  a  stream  running 
north  into  the  Pequannock,  by  John  Dow.  It  was  owned 
in  1828  by  George  Stickle,  and  afterward  by  Matthias 
Kitchel.  Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Kitchel  it  has  been  suf- 
fered to  go  to  decay. 

On  the  stream  running  south  into  Lake  Hopatcong 
were  built  two  forges.  The  upper  one,  called  the  "  Well- 
done  " — since  shortened  into  Weldon — forge,  was  built 
by  Major  Moses  Hopping,  probably  about  1800.  The 
land  was  located  in  1793.  The  forge  now  belongs  to 
Hon.  William  E.  Dodge,  of  New  York.  The  lower 
forge  was  built  shortly  before  the  other,  probably  in 
1795,  by  Daniel  and  Joseph  Hurd,  and  called  by  them 
"  New  Partners." 

On  the  Musconetcong  River  there  were  several  forges, 
but  mostly  on  the  Sussex  side  of  the  river. 

June  5th  1764  Benjamin  and  Thomas  Coe  deeded  to 
Garret  Rapalye  "  all  one  half  of  a  certain  forge  with  one 
fire,  and  one  equal  undivided  half  part  of  five  acres  of 
land  which  was  surveyed  for  the  use  of  s'd  forge,  with 
half  of  the  stream  or  water  only  (excepting  what  the  saw- 
mill now  standing  upon  the  same  premises  draw),  stand- 
ing, lying  and  being  upon  Musconetcong  River,  in  the 
province  of  New  Jersey  aforesaid,  near  the  uppermost 
falls  below  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Pond."  January  ist 
1768  Rapalye  leased  to  Joseph  and  John  Tuttle,  who 
were  brothers  and  living  then  in  Hanover,  his  iron  works 
for  five  years  at  ^300  a  year,  reserving  the  right  to  build 
a  furnace  on  one  end  of  the  dam.  The  Tuttles  were  to 
deliver  all  the  iron  they  made  to  Rapalye  in  New  York 
for  _;^28  per  ton  for  refined  iron,  and  ^^24  per  ton  for 
Whippany  or  bloomed  iron,  but  the  prices  to  vary  with 
changes  in  the  market.  This  lease  was  so  onerous  that 
it  caused  the  failure  of  the  Tuttles. 


FORGES  ON  THE  RARITAN  AND  PEQUANNOCK. 


47 


In  the  New  Jersey  Gazette,  1778,  is  noticed  the  sale  of 
a  large  tract  of  land  "  at  the  head  of  the  Musconetcong 
River,  about  35  miles  from  Elizabethtown  and  4  from 
Suckasunny  Plains,  containing  about  3,000  acres,  having 
on  it  a  large  forge  with  four  fires  and  two  hammers,  * 
*  *  which  is  now  under  lease  for  eight  and  a  half  tons 
of  bar  iron  per  annum."  Rapalye  mortgaged  this  forge 
to  a  London  merchant,  and  on  foreclosure  of  this  mort- 
gage it  was  sold  in  1809  by  the  sheriff  to  Thomas  Cad- 
wallader,  a  lawyer  of  Philadelphia.  September  25th 
181 1  Cadwallader  sold  it  to  James  and  John  R.  Hinch- 
man,  for  $1,000. 

William  Jackson  wrote  that  the  Brooklyn  forge  was 
built  by  Phineas  Fitz  Randolph  previous  to  1800,  and 
carried  on  by  him  and  James  Hinchman  for  many  years. 
In  1828  it  was  said  to  be  the  property  of  Charles  F.  Ran- 
dolph. 

The  Stanhope  forges  were  built  by  Silas  Dickerson, 
brother  of  Governor  Mahlon  Dickerson,  soon  after  Brook- 
lyn forge  was  built.  They  were  carried  on  by  him  until  he 
was  killed  in  the  nail  factory  which  he  had  just  built,  in 
1807. 

On  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan  there  were  at  least 
three  forges.  William  Stephens  built  one  in  1840  about 
a  mile  below  Budd's  Lake,  which  was  in  operation  but  a 
few  years,  when  it  went  down.  George  Salmon  owned 
one  at  Upper  Bartleyville,  which  was  running  as  late  as 
1862;  and  .at  Bartleyville  was  the  old  forge  known  as 
"  Welsh's  forge,"  which  ran  down  about  1840.  Professor 
Cook  gives  the  date  of  its  erection  asji79o. 

There  is  located  on  an  old  map  (1823)  the  site  of  an 
"extinct  forge,"  called  Eaton,  near  Bartleyville,  and 
another  below  the  junction  of  the  north  and  south 
branches,  called  "  Casterline's." 

On  the  north  branch  at  Flanders  was  an  old  forge, 
built  by  William  Hinchman  in  1802,  and  which  ran  for 
about  forty  years.  In  181 2  he  advertised  in  the  7l/i??-w- 
town  Herald  a  large  amount  of  property  for  sale,  includ- 
ing "  an  excellent  two-fire  forge,  in  complete  repair,  for 
making  bar  iron,  with  workmen's  houses,  orchards, 
gardens,  &c." 

On  Black  River  were  also  three  forges — one,  whose 
ruins  are  remembered  by  old  people — about  a  mile  above 
the  grist-mill  of  the  late  General  Cooper;  one  at  Hackle- 
barney,  which  was  running  until  a  late  date,  and  one 
about  a  mile  below  Hacklebarney,  which  has  long  gone 

to  decay. 

At  Shippenport  was  built  in  1844  a  forge,  to  run  by 
the  waste  water  of  the  Morris  Canal  in  summer  and  by  a 
small  natural  stream  at  other  seasons.  This  forge  was 
greatly  enlarged  by  Anson  G.  P.  Segur  a  few  years  ago, 
and  it  is  still  in  working  order. 

Of  the  forges  on  the  Pequannock  River,  which  is  the 
northerly  boundary  line  of  the  county,  it  is  proper  to 
give  some  account,  though  the  buildings  were  not  on  the 
Morris  county  side  of  the  river.  Horace  Chamberlain 
has  furnished  the  following  information  concerning  them: 

Before  the  river  leaves  Sussex  county,  at  the  head  waters 
was  Canistear  forge,  worked  at  one  time  by  'Squire  Adam 


Smith  and  the  Day  brothers.  It  has  long  since  gone  into 
disuse.  Below  this  forge  is  "  Margoram  forge,"  so  named 
from  its  former  owner  Stephen  F.  Margoram.  It  was 
carried  away  by  the  freshets  of  1850.  Mr.  Margoram 
said  to  Mr.  Chamberlain,  after  that  event,  that  he  had 
been  trying  to  get  out  of  the  iron  business,  but  the 
freshets  had  closed  him  out.  Going  down  the  river,  just 
below  the  junction  of  its  two  branches,  near  Snufftown, 
are  the  ruins  of  another  old  forge — probably  the  creation 
of  the  enterprising  spirit  of  John  O.  Ford,  one  of  the 
leading  forgemen  of  his  day.  It  was  called  "  New 
forge,"  and  from  this  it  may  be  supposed  it  was  built 
after  the  others;  but  they  were  all  of  them  comparatively 
recent. 

Farther  down  the  river  but  still  in  Sussex  county  is 
"  Windham  forge."  The  corner  of  the  counties  of  Mor- 
ris and  Passaic  in  the  line  of  Sussex  county  is  a  rock 
marked  "  M.  S.,"  on  the  edge  of  the  stream,  about  four 
chains  below  this  forge.  Windham  was  built  by  John  O. 
Ford  and  run  by  him  and  his  sons,  the  last  one  of  whom 
was  Sidney  Ford,  who  finished  his  career  as  an  iron- 
maker  there.  After  Sidney  Ford  left  it  Frederick  W. 
Dellecker,  formerly  surrogate  of  the  county,  became  the 
owner,  and  from  him  it  passed  to  Albert  R.  Riggs,  its 
present  owner.  It  is  the  only  forge  on  the  Pequannock 
which  is  still  in  working  order. 

Next  in  order  down  the  stream  are  the  ruins  of  the 
old  "  Warner  forge,"  so  called  from  the  Warner  broth- 
ers, who,  associated  with  a  man  named  Hoops,  under  the 
firm  name  of  "  Warner  &  Hoops,"  purchased,  improved 
and  enlarged  the  forge  about  the  year  1840,  and  after 
several  years'  unsuccessful  operation  vacated  the  prem- 
ises and  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  their  native  State. 
The  site  is  now  owned  by  Peter  Tracy. 

Two  or  three  hundred  yards  down  the  stream  was  the 
"  Methodist  forge,''  in  after  years  known  as  "  John  Lewis 
forge."  By  whom  and  when  it  was  built  is  unknown, 
but  it  was  probably  built  by  John  O.  Ford.  After  Mr. 
Lewis  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Daniel  Hulme  and 
after  him  of  Ebenezer  W.  Temple.  It  is  now  owned  by 
his  brother  William  Temple. 

Stockholm,  next  in  order,  some  two  or  three  hundred 
yards  farther  down  the  stream,  was  probably  one  of  John 
O.  Ford's  enterprises.  It  remained  in  the  Ford  family 
until  carried  away  by  the  freshets  in  1850  while  being 
worked  by  Horace  Ford,  one  of  the  sons  of  John  O. 
Ford.  The  three  last  mentioned  forges  are  all  on  a  tract 
of  492.22  acres  returned  in  1800  and  known  as  John 
O.  Ford's  large  tract. 

About  three-eighths  of  a  mile  down  said  stream,  where 
the  mountains  seemingly  diverge  to  the  right  and  left  to 
give  room  for  that  valley  of  farming  land  known  as 
Newfoundland,  we  come  to  what  is  called  in  common 
parlance  the  "  Gregory  forge,"  from  its  founder,  Samuel 
S.  Gregory,  who  gave  it  the  more  classic  name  of  "  Car- 
thage." One  of  the  lots  of  this  forge  property  was  lo- 
cated in  1763.     It  now  belongs  to  Jetur  A.  Riggs. 

The  Pequannock  River  after  leaving  the  mountains 
flows  more  slowly  and  sluggishly  along,  now  to   the  right 


48 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  now  to  the  left,  through  the  farming  and  meadow 
lands  some  six  or  seven  miles  to  the  village  of  New- 
foundland, the  center  of  which  is  the  hotel  of  John  P. 
Brown.  At  this  village  a  small  forge  was  erected  about 
forty  years  ago  by  an  association  of  persons,  among 
whom  were  the  late  Peter  B.  Brown  and  Ebenezer  Cobb. 
It  stands  on  a  tract  of  320.16  acres  returned  for  James 
Alexander  and  Robert  H.  Morris,  October  25th  1754. 
This  forge  has  been  called  "  'Squire  Cobb's  forge," 
"  Cobb  &  Bigalow's  forge,"  and  '"  Bigalow  &  Dceker's 
forge,"  and  sometimes  "  Tobacco  forge  "  from  its  limited 
power.  Its  present  owner,  John  W.  Bigalow,  has  con- 
verted it  into  a  saw-mill. 

About  a  mile  above  Brown's  hotel  Cedar  Brook,  flow- 
ing from  the  north,  joins  the  Pequannock;  up  this  brook 
about  a  mile  was  the  celebrated  Clinton  iron--  works  (so 
called  in  honor  of  De  Witt  Clinton),  built  by  William 
Jackson  in  1826  and  in  the  six  years  following.  Though 
entirely  in  Passaic  county  it  was  a  Morris  county  enter- 
prise and  undertaken  by  Morris  county  men.  William 
Jackson  was  a  son  of  Stephen  Jackson  of  Rockaway,  and 
had  but  recently,  with  his  brother,  built  the  rolling-mill 
there.  Selling  out  his  interest  in  the  Rockaway  mill  he 
entered  this  then  perfectly  wild  forest  region,  erected  a 
saw-mill,  forge  and  blast  furnace,  sawed  timber  and  made 
iron,  which  he  carted  to  Dover  and  Rockaway  for  mar- 
ket. The  first  blast  was  made  under  the  supervision  of 
John  F.  Winslow,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Jackson,  afterward 
one  of  the  i)roprietors  of  the  Albany  iron  works.  It 
commenced  October  4th  1833  and  continued  until  Feb- 
ruary 5th  1834.  The  second  blast  commenced  May  9th 
1834,  and  ended  April  29th  1835.  The  third  and  final 
blast  commenced  August  25th  1835,  and  ended  January 
30th  1836.  Mr.  Jackson  employed  many  men  and  teams 
in  the  transportation  of  his  lumber  and  iron  to  their 
destination,  and  the  returning  trips  were  made  with  ore. 
He  made  roads  and  built  dwelling  houses  and  out-build- 
ings for  his  men  and  teams  and  such  as  were  necessary 
for  his  business;  also  a  grist-mill.  An  anchor  shop  was 
built  and  anchors  were  made.  While  the  works  were 
being  constructed  iron  fell  one  half  or  more  in  price,  ow- 
ing to  the  tariff  legislation,  and  Mr.  Jackson  was  obliged 
to  stop  operations.  All  the  works  have  long  been  idle. 
Forge,  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  have  disappeared,  but  the 
furnace  stack  still  stands.  The  water  power  is  a  splendid 
one  and  the  water,  descending  in  three  or  four  falls  be- 
tween one  and  two  hundred  feet,  presents  a  beautiful  and 
romantic  place  to  visit. 

Mr.  Winslow  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  Erastus  Corning.  The  "  Monitor," 
which  met  the  "  Merrimac  "  off  Fortress  Monroe  in  1861, 
was  built  by  them  and"  actually  owned  by  them  at  the 
time  of  its  wonderful  victory. 

About  two  miles  below  Mr.  Brown's  is  Charlotteburgh, 
or  Charlottenburg,  as  it  is  generally  called;  so  named,  it 
is  said,  in  honor  of  Queen  Charlotte.  Here,  as  has  been 
said,  the  London  Company  had  its  furnaces,  etc.,  before 
the  Revolutionary  war.  The  property  was  long  in  the 
possession  of  Chilion  Ford  De  Camp  and  his  son  Edward 


De  Camp,  both  Morris  county  men — the  latter  a  son-in- 
law  of  Colonel  William  Scott,  owner  at  one  time  of  Hi- 
bernia,  Povverville,  etc.  It  is  now  owned  by  Hon.  Abram 
S.  Hewitt. 

A  mile  below  Charlotteburgh  was  a  small  one-fire-forge, 
erected  by  the  late  John  Smith  in  1850,  at  a  place  called 
Smith's  Mills.  But  little  .iron  was  made  here — hardly 
enough  to  make  a  cinder  bank — and  it  long  ago  went 
to  destruction. 

The  next  forge  down  the  stream  is  the  Bloomingdale 
forge,  owned  by  Martin  John  Ryerson,  near  the  old 
Ogden  furnace.     It  is  not  now  in  operation. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


CHARCOAL     FURNACES — POMPTON,     HIBERNIA,     MT.     HOPE 
AND    SPLIT    ROCK. 


HE  first  furnace  within  the  present  limits  of 
Morris  county  was  probably  the  one  built  at 
Bloomingdale,  about  a  mile  above  Pompton, 
by  the  Ogdens.  Benjamin  Roome,  for  many 
years  a  deputy  surveyor  of  the  board  of  pro- 
prietors, and  who  has  been  engaged  all  his  life  in 
surveying  and  searching  titles  in  Morris  and 
Passaic,  ascribes  its  erection  to  them.  He  states  that  he 
saw  the  stack  still  looking  fair  seventy  years  ago.  It  was 
close  to  the  high  bank,  about  one-eighth  of  a  mile  below 
where  Stony  Brook  empties  into  the  Pequannock.  The 
Midland  Railroad  now  passes  just  in  front  of  its  site.  It 
has  not  been  in  blast  since  1800,  and  must  have  been 
built  many  years  before.  It  is  now  gone.  The  Ogdens 
were  from  Newark,  and  were  the  pioneers  in  furnace- 
building  in  this  section,  as  well  as  in  the  manufacture  of 
iron  generally.  April  15th  1740  Cornelius  Board  sold  to 
Josiah  Ogden,  John  Ogden  jr.,  David  Ogden  sen.,  David 
Ogden  jr.  and  Uzal  Ogden,  all  of  Newark  and  called  the 
"  Ringwood  Company,"  sixteen  acres  of  land  at  Ring- 
wood,  where  they  built  the  furnace  afterward  purchased 
of  them  in  1764  by  Peter  Hansclever  for  the  London 
Company.  The  Ringwood  Company  was  thus  the  pre- 
decessor of  the  London  Company.  Josiah  Ogden  and 
David  Ogden  were  brothers,  and  David  had  sons.  John, 
David  and  Uzal.  Josiah  had  a  son  named  David  and  one 
named  Jacob.  It  is  quite  probable  that  the  David  Ogden 
jr.  was  the  son  of  Josiah  Ogden,  and  the  same  afterward 
known  as  the  Old  Judge,  and  whose  sons — Samuel, 
Abraham  and  Isaac — were  men  of  mark  in  their  day, 
Samuel  being  in  partnership  with  or  succeeding  his  father 
in  Old  Boonton. 

November  27th  1766  John  Ogden  and  Uzal  Ogden  of 
Newark  mortgaged  to  Thomas  Pennington  and  Ferdi- 
nand Pennington,  of  Bristol,  England,  several  tracts  in 
the  counties  of  Bergen  and  Morris,  and  among  the  rest  a 
tract  at  Bloomingdale   partly  in   Morris  and  partly  in 


POMPTON  AND  HIBERNIA  FURNACES. 


49 


Bergen,  conveyed  to  them  in  two  lots — one,  containing 
137.64  acres,  by  Philip  Schuyler  and  wife,  August 
ist  1759;  'he  other,  containing  34  acres,  by  Guilliam 
Batolf,  October  1765.  It  is  altogether  probable  that  on 
this  tract  the  furnace  stood  and  that  the  deeds  to  the 
Ogdens  indicate  when  it  was  built. 

After  the  sale  in  1764  to  the  London  Company  by  the 
Ogdens  we  meet  frequently  with  their  names  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  iron  business  of  Morris  county.  Samuel 
Ogden  resided  at  Boonton.  April  17th  1776  Joseph 
Hoff  speaks  of  a  moulder  whom  he  desired  to  obtain 
having  been  applied  to  by  Messrs.  Ogden,  of  Pompton 
furnace,  to  work  at  that  business.  It  seems  from  this 
that  the  Ogdens  after  locating  at  Old  Boonton  still  had 
their  furnace  at  Pompton. 

HIBERNIA    FURNACE. 

If  the  Bloomingdale  furnace  was  not  built  before  1765 
then  the  first  one  in  the  county  was  the  Hibernia  furnace 
— styled  in  its  beginning  "  The  Adventure."  A  very  in- 
teresting sketch  of  this  enterprise  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  has  been  written  for  the  May  1880  meeting 
of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  by  Rev.  Joseph  F. 
Tuttle,  D.  D.,  and  published  in  the  6th  volume  of  the 
society's  proceedings.  Much  of  the  material  used  in 
making  up  this  sketch  is  taken  from  that  article. 

Hibernia  is  situated  about  four  miles  north  of  Rocka- 
way  and  is  now  connected  with  it  by  a  railroad.  Horse- 
pond  Brook,  coming  from  between  high  hills  on  the  west, 
here  falls  into  a  little  valley  almost  surrounded  by  other 
hills.  On  the  northeast  side  of  this  valley  and  from  the 
side  of  one  of  these  hills  the  celebrated  vein  of  iron  ore 
outcropped.  Here  John  Johnston  obtained  his  ore  for 
his  "  iron  works  "  at  Beach  Glen,  without  troubling  him- 
self as  to  ownership.  May  17th  1753  Joshua  Ball 
located  the  level  ground  on  which  is  built  the  village  of 
Hibernia,  his  tract  covering  both  sides  of  the  brook  and 
a  strip  sixteen  chains  long  up  the  face  of  the  northerly 
hill,  containing  the  outcrop,  with  a  view,  no  doubt,  of 
including  the  vein  of  ore  for  that  distance.  July  ist 
1761  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  located  a  lot  of  1.87  acres 
on  the  vein  next  northeast  of  the  Ball  survey.  It  is  de- 
scribed as  "lying  upon  Horse  Pond  Mountain,  which  is  on 
the  east  side  of  Horse  Pound  Brook;"  and  the  metes  and 
bounds  begin  ninety-four  links  from  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Ball's  survey,  "  upon  a  mine  called  Horse  Pound 
mine."  The  land  about  this  tract  was  afterward  located 
by  Samuel  Ford,  and  disputes  frequently  arose  as  to  its 
boundaries,  by  reason  of  the  uncertainty  of  its  descrip- 
tion and  the  variations  of  the  magnetic  needle,  by  which 
the  lines  were  run  and  which  was  entirely  untrustworthy 
in  the  presence  of  such  large  bodies  of  magnetic  iron 
ore.     The    mine   on    this  lot   is    still  called  the  "  Ford 

mine." 

April  6th  1765  and  June  25th  1765  five  tracts  were  re- 
turned to  Samuel  Ford,  four  containing  ten  acres  each 
and  one  containing  10.34  acres,  which  were  "about 
one  mile  and  a  half  above  John  Johnston's  iron  works." 
They  were  upon   the  vein  of  ore  and   upon   the  stream 


above  the  Ball  survey.  They  were  located  evidently  for 
the  purpose  of  building  the  furnace,  and  the  work  was 
immediately  begun;  for  November  23d  1765,  in  describ- 
ing a  tract  of  land  returned  to  Henry  Tuttle,  farther  up 
the  stream,  it  was  said  to  be  "about  three  fourths  of  a 
mile  from  the  new  furnace  called  the  Adventure." 

Though  the  lands  were  returned  to  Ford  alone,  yet 
this  was  probably  for  greater  convenience  only,  as  Octo- 
ber 28th  1765  Ford  and  his  wife  Grace,  by  two  deeds  of 
that  date,  conveyed  one  third  of  the  several  lots  so  lo- 
cated to  James  Anderson  and  another  third  to  Benjamin 
Cooper,  retaining  the  other  third.  Of  James  Anderson 
very  little  can  be  gathered  except  the  recital  in  the  deed 
to  him  that  he  was  from  Sussex  county.  The  other  two 
partners  became  notorious  for  their  crimes,  which 
brought  one  under  sentence  of  the  gallows,  and  made  the 
other  a  fugitive  for  his  life.  Samuel  Ford  was  a  nephew 
of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  and  Cooper  was  a  son  of 
Daniel  Cooper,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county.  Both 
were  found  to  be  engaged  in  counterfeiting;  and  Ford  is 
supposed  to  have  been  concerned  in  the  robbery  of  the 
treasury  at  Amboy,  in  1768.  Ford  was  the  master  spirit; 
and  Cooper,  when  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  hung,  at 
the  September  term  of  the  Morris  court,  in  the  year  1773, 
charged  his  misfortune  to  his  partner.  The  history  of 
this  crime  and  the  fate  of  its  perpetrators  is  related  in 
another  part  of  this  book. 

September  17th  1765  a  lot  of  20.39  acres  adjoining 
the  Ball  survey  was  returned  to  Thomas  Stites,  and  by 
him  conveyed  to  Lord  Stirling;  and  the  next  year  and 
in  1768  and  1769  several  other  tracts  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Hibernia  were  returned  to  Lord  Stirling.  Three  of 
them  located  in  1766  are  said  to  be  for  the  purpose  of 
conveying  them  to  James  Anderson  and  Benjamin 
Cooper.  There  is  no  record  of  the  transaction;  but  it 
would  seem  from  these  locations,  and  from  the  fact  that 
in  177 1  a  suit  was  brought  against  Stirling,  Benjamin 
Cooper  and  Samuel  Ford,  that  Anderson  had  sold  his 
interest  to  Stirling  about  this  time.  From  a  letter 
written  by  Cooper  while  in  Morristown  jail  under  sen- 
tence of  death  it  also  appears  that  Ford  had  that  year 
conveyed  his  interest  to  Stirling,  and  that  he  (Cooper) 
had  done  the  same.  The  letter  was  written  in  his  dire 
extremity  with  a  view  to  interest  Stirling  in  his  welfare, 
and  pretending  that  he  could  be  of  great  assistance  to 
him  if  his  Hfe  was  spared,  and  could  show  him  wherein 
Ford  was  overreaching  him  in  the  sales.  Taking  all 
these  circumstances  into  account  it  is  probable  that  m 
1 771  Stirling  became  the  sole  owner  of  Hibernia. 

William  Alexander,  or  Lord  Stirling,  as  he  is  generally 
called,  was  a  man  of  high  character  and  standing,  and 
very  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  State.  His  biog- 
raphy, written  by  his  grandson,  Hon.  William  A.  Duer, 
has  been  published  by  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society; 
but  a  brief  account  of  his  life  may  properly  be  inserted 
here.  He  was  born  in  1726,  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
the  son  of  James  Alexander,  a  fugitive  from  Scotland  on 
account  of  his  adherence  to  the  house  of  Stuart.  On 
the-  breaking   out   of   the   French  war   in    1755    young 


5° 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Alexander  became  the  aide-de-camp  of  General  Shirley, 
and  he  served  in  that  capacity  during  the  greater  part  of 
the  war.  In  1737  the  earldom  of  Stirling  became  vacant, 
and  on  the  death  of  his  father,  who  made  no  claim  to  it 
although  eniitled  to  do  so,  William  Alexander  preferred 
his  claim,  and  in  1757  went  to  England  to  press  his  suit 
in  person.  In  America  his  right  to  the  title  was  never 
questioned.  In  1761  he  returned  to  America,  and  shortly 
after  built  the  mansion  at  Basking  Ridge  in  which  he  after- 
ward resided.  He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Provincial 
Council  and  held  that  office  till  the  Revolution.  He  was 
also  surveyor-general  of  the  State.  On  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  he  was  commissioned  as  colonel  of  a  regiment 
of  Somerset  militia  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New 
Jersey;  but  before  the  regiment  could  be  gotten  ready 
he  was  appointed  by  Congress  to  take  command  of  two 
regiments  in  the  continental  service.  March  ist  1776  he 
was  commissioned  by  Congress  to  be  a  brigadier-general 
and  was  stationed  at  New  York.  At  the  battle  of  Long 
Island  he  was  captured,  with  a  force  of  about  four  hun- 
dred Marylanders,  part  of  his  command,  with  which  he 
had  attacked  a  superior  force  under  Cornwallis  in  order 
to  enable  the  main  body  of  his  men  to  escape.  On  the 
19th  of  February  1777  he  was  promoted  by  Congress  to 
be  a  major-general,  and  as  such  served  with  distinction 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Albany,  January  15th 
1783,  in  consequence  of  fatigue  of  body  and  mind,  to 
which  his  arduous  military  service  had  exposed  him. 

F'rom  the  building  of  the  Adventure  furnace  in  1765 
until  1775  the  business  of  making  iron  was  carried  on; 
but  to  what  extent  we  have  no  record.  After  1775  we 
have  some  account  of  its  operations  in  the  letters  of  Jo- 
seph and  Charles  Hoff,  who  were  Lord  Stirling's  man- 
agers at  Hibernia,  and  whose  letters  to  their  principal 
have  been  preserved.  In  that  year  Joseph  Hoff,  a 
brother-in-law  of  Benjamin  Cooper,  came  from  Hunter- 
don county  to  take  charge  of  the  works.  He  was  assisted 
at  first,  and  at  his  death,  in  1777,  succeeded  by  his 
brother  Charles  Hoff  jr.,  who  was  in  turn  assisted  by  a 
younger  brother  John.  Charles  Hoff  continued  to  be 
manager  at  Hibernia  until  1781,  when  he  removed  to 
Mount  Pleasant,  at  which  place  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  181 1.  Extracts  from 
his  letters  will  best  give  the  history  of  matters  during  the 
busy  scenes  of  the  war.  The  works  of  the  London  Com- 
pany had  been  burned,  and  the  furnace  at  Hibernia  and 
that  recently  erected  at  Mount  Hope  became  important 
to  both  the  army  and  people. 

On  May  17th  1775  Joseph  Hoff  writes  to  Robert 
Erskine,  the  manager  for  the  London  Company  at  Char- 
lotteburgh,  Long  Pond  and  Ringwood,  and  in  his  letter 
says: 

"  I  lately  received  a  letter  from  Messrs.  Murray,  N.  Y., 
informing  me  that  all  the  powder  in  that  place  had  been 
secured  for  the  safety  of  the  province  in  case  matters 
were  to  come  to  such  desperate  lengths  as  that  they  must 
have  recourse  to  blows  with  the  parent  State.  Alarmed 
at  this  piece  of  news  I  went  immediately  to  New  York  to 
know  what  was  to  be  done  with  the  works,  they  being 
lately  put  in  blast,  a  large  stock  of  wood  cut  and  great 


number  of  hands  employed  at  the  coaling  and  other 
business,  and  not  more  than  five  weeks  ore  now  raised. 
They  answered  me  that,  although  the  most  diligent 
search  has  been  made  for  powder,  not  a  single  pound 
was  to  be  had;  but  that  a  little  before  this  general  stop- 
page took  place  %  cwt.  had  been  sent  for  us  to  Eliza- 
bethtown,  which  they  hoped  would  serve  us  as  a  tem- 
porary relief  till  more  could  be  had.  I  went  immediately 
to  Elizabethtown,  where  I  found  the  committee  of  that 
place  had  seized  on  all  the  powder  we  had  there  and 
would  not  suffer  it  to  be  removed  in  this  exigency." 

The  letter  further  states  that  in  case  the  powder  is  not 
to  be  had  he  will  be  obliged  to  adopt  a  measure  "  disa- 
greeable to  both  of  us,"  and  prevent  Erskine  "  from,  tak- 
ing oar  from  the  upper  part  of  the  mine  called  Lord 
Stirling  vein,"  which  he  was  doing  under  permit  of 
Colonel  Ogden.  Colonel  Samuel  Ogden,  who  is  the  one 
referred  to,  claimed  an  interest  in  the  Ford  mine.  But 
this  threat  did  not  produce  the  desired  effect.  Erskine 
visited  Ogden  at  once  at  Old  Boonton  and  Ogden  main- 
tained his  right  to  the  ore. 

Under  date  of  May  25th  1775  Hoff  writes  to  Stirling: 
"  The  furnace  goes  well,  as  do  all  the  other  branches  of 
business.  We  have  made  70  tonus  iron  already,  but  not 
more  than  four  or  five  tonns  gone  down.  I  wrote  you 
we  received  two  casks  of  powder  from  E.  Town." 
Again  he  writes,  "  The  furnace  goes  extremely  well — we 
shall  make  at  least  twenty  tons  weekly." 

April  17th  1776  Hoff  writes  to  Messrs.  Murray  that 
"  Lord  Stirling  told  me  he  would  find  us  work  at  casting 
cannon  that  would  weigh  from  25  to  30  cwt.,  which  are 
9  or  12  pounders;  these  we  can  do,  but  not  heavier." 
He  further  inquires  as  to  quantity  and  price,  and  says, 
"  It  will  do  to  engage  at  45'  or  43;^  proc.  [proclamation 
money]  per  ton  provided  we  have  the  making  the  balls 
for  the  cannon,  and  they  should  alway  go  together."  In 
May  the  manager  drops  the  subject  of  cannon  to  write: 
"  Our  people  are  so  distressed  for  rum  that  I  believe  I 
must  have  one  hogshead,  let  the  price  be  what  it  will. 
They  must  pay  accordingly.  I  hope  you  will  not  forget 
about  the  powder."  June  9th  1776  he  writes:  "  All  the 
miners  have  been  quite  idle  for  want  of  powder.  The 
furnace  will  soon  get  ahead  of  us,  using,  the  ore  so  fast, 
when  it  will  be  impossible  for  the  miners  to  keep  her 
going." 

Under  the  same  date  he  writes  that  himself  and  Faesch 
are  anxious  to  receive  the  moulds  for  the  cannon,  etc., 
which  had  not  yet  arrived.     August  3d  Mr.  Hoff  writes: 

"  Last  night  we  made  a  trial  at  casting  one  of  the  guns, 
but  unfortunately  for  us  we  brought  the  furnace  too  low 
and  it  missed  in  the  breech.  All  the  rest  was  sound  and 
good.  We  have  had  to  make  a  good  many  preparations; 
our  clay  was  bad.  However,  we  are  not  discouraged, 
but  willing  to  try  again,  being  convinced  that  the  iron 
will  answer.  I  have  now  to  inform  you  that  we  shall  set 
about  it  with  all  the  vigor  imaginable.  We  shall  not, 
however,  cast  any  more  till  we  have  all  things  in  readi- 
ness. We  propose  to  have  twelve  or  fourteen  of  the 
moulds  ready  by  the  last  of  next  week,  after  which  the 
moulder  assures  me  he  will  make  three  or  four  a  day  till 
the  whole  are  finished.  But  as  a  most  enormous  expense 
attends  the  business  it  will  not  be  in  our  power  to  make 
the  small  guns  under  7d.'  York  money  per  pound.     If 


MILITARY  WORK  AT  HIBERNIA— HESSIAN  LABORERS. 


SI 


the  general  consents  thereto  you  will  please  by  the  return 
of  the  post  to  inform." 

Under  date  of  August  31st  1776  Mr.  Hoff  writes  to 
Colonel  Moylan: 

"A  certain  Mr.  Thomas  Ives  apply'd  to  me  to  make  a 
number — say  36  or  38  three-pounder  cannon  for  the 
giindolers.  We  had  two  ready  for  trial  some  two  days 
past.  I  wrote  twice  to  Mr.  Ives  to  come  up  for  that 
end,  but  not  hearing  from  him  I  yesterday  charged  the 
cannon  with  two  full  cartridges  made  up  for  the  three- 
pounder  and  two  balls,  and  have  the  pleasure  to  inform 
you  it  stood  and  is  undoubtedly  good.  I  made  no  agree- 
ment with  Mr.  Ives  as  to  the  price,  and  as  a  most  enor- 
mous expense  attends  the  business  I  do  not  choose  to  go 
on  till  I  hear  from  you.  I  have  consulted  with  Mr. 
Faesch  and  Messrs.  Ogden,  ironmasters,  and  we  are  clear 
that  we  cannot  make  cannon  at  less  than  ^^o  proc.  per 
ton  and  powder  to  prove  them.  If  you  consent  to  allow 
me  that  price  I  will  immediately  engage  a  set  of  mould- 
ers and  drive  on  the  business  with  spirit.     We  can  make, 

1  believe,  from  three  to  nine  and  perhaps  twelve-pound- 
ers. I  would  be  much  obliged  for  your  answer  by  the 
return  of  the  Morristown  post." 

Colonel  Stephen  Moylan,  to  whom  this  letter  was  ad- 
dressed, was  an  Irishman,  a  brave  patriot  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary army,  at  Cambridge  atWe  de  camp  of  Washing, 
ton,  made  commissary  general  in  March  1776,  but  soon 
resigned  for  want  of  exact  business  habits,  and  re-entered 
the  line  as  a  volunteer.  He  saw  much  service  and  was 
brevetted  brigadier  general.  He  died  in  Philadelphia, 
April  nth  [811. 

Under  date  of  November  14th  1776  Mr.  Hoff  writes  to 
Colonel  Knox  (chief  of  artillery  under  Washington):  "  I 
wrote  you  a  few  days  past  that  in  consequence  of  your 
letter  of  10th  ult.  we  had  got  everything  in  readiness  and 
had  cast  several  tons  of  the  shot,  but  that  it  was  alto- 
gether out  of  my  power  to  get  them  carted.  We  have 
now  upwards  of  35  tons  made,  and  as  the  furnace  is  doing 
no  other  business  shall,  I  hope  [be  able]  to  complete  the 
order.  Every  preparation  of  moulds,  flasks  &c.  for  the 
grape  shot  is  now  finished,  and  we  shall  soon  have  a  good 
assortment  of  each  kind." 

The  next  letter  is  from   Charles  Hoff,  is  dated  July 

2  7lh  1777  and  is  directed  to  Governor  Livingston,  beg- 
ging him  to  give  Colonel  John  Munson — who  had  charge 
of  the  militia  for  that  part  of  the  county  and  was  about 
to  levy  a  draft  for  the  army — such  orders  as  would  ex- 
empt his  workmen.  He  speaks  of  a  former  exemption 
given  by  General  Washington,  and  says,  "  We  made  the 
last  year  for  public  service  upwards  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  tons  of  shot  of  different  kinds."  October  7th 
1777  an  act  was  passed  in  the  Legislature  exempting  25 
men  from  draft  at  Hibernia.  March  4th  1778,  Charles 
Hoff  writes  to  Lord  Stirling:  "  The  pig  metal  I  have 
sold,  some  for  ;^i2,  some  for  ;^is,  some  for  ;^2o  and 
some  for  ;^3o  per  ton.  The  stipulated  price  according 
to  the  act  is  ;^2o;  please  inform  me  how  I  must  act  in 
that  case.  The  forges  in  this  part  of  the  country  many 
of  'em  are  turned  from  the  blooming  to  refining,  and  pig 
metal  of  course  in  great  demand.  There  is  also  a  great 
demand  for  hollow  ware  of  all  kinds,  also  salt  pans,  forge 
plates  &c." 


March  2olh  1778  Hoff  wrote  to  Lord  Stirling  in  regard 
to  going  into  blast,  thinking  it  better  to  put  it  off,  owing 
to  the  scarcity  of  men,  coal,  &c. — "Don't  your  lordship 
think,  as  the  blast  is  not  likely  to  continue  so  long  as 
usual,  to  put  off  blooming  till  the  pasture  become  good, 
so  that  the  teams  can  get  their  living  in  the  woods,  with- 
out being  at  the  expense  of  feeding  them  ?"  He  also 
says,  "  If  ye  lordship  could  send  us  some  of  the  regular 
and  Hessian  deserters  that  don't  choose  [to  enlist]  into 
the  continental  service  and  depend  on  working  in  the 
country,  to  amount  to  30  or  40,  I  would  do  my  endeavor 
to  make  'em  serviceable." 

The  next  letter  in  regard  to  the  employment  of  de- 
serters and  Hessians  gives  the  reason  why  quite  a  large 
number  of  Hessians  were  sent  to  Morris  county.  There 
are  descendants  of  these  "  hated  foreign  mercenaries  " 
still  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  iron  works  to  which  their 
ancestors  were  brought  to  work  a  hundred  years  ago. 

"William  Winds,  Esq.,  Briadier-General. 

"  Being  in  possession  of  .a  furnace  as  manager  thereof, 
commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  Hibernia 
Furnace,  helongins  to  the  Right.  Hon.  William  Earl  of 
Stirling,  Major- General  in  the  service  of  X.ht  United  States 
of  America,  situate  in  the  county  of  Morris  and  State  of 
New  Jersey,  which  is  employed  for  the  continent  in  cast- 
ing all  sorts  of  military  stores,  which  we  have  engaged  to 
furnish  with  as  speedily  as  possible,  I  find  it  therefore  es- 
sentialy  necessary  to  employ  a  number  of  workmen  for 
that  purpose;  and,  as  I  am  informed  that  a  good  many 
deserters  both  of  the  British  troops  and  Hessians  are 
come  in  and  sent  to  Philadelphia,  I  have  sent  the  bearer 
— my  brother  John  Hoff — on  purpose  and  given  him  full 
power  hereby  to  engage  as  many  men  as  he  thinks  proper, 
such  as  are  used  to  cut  wood  in  the  winter  season  and 
can  assist  in  the  coaling  business  during  the  summer 
season,  and  a  few  other  tradesmen;  where  they  shall  meet 
with  the  best  encouragement  and  treatment,  provided 
they  make  good  several  enagagements  to  which  they  will 
be  called.  And  whatever  agreements  and  promises  the 
said  John  Hoff  does  make  the  same  shall  be  punctually 
fulfilled  by  me  the  subscriber, 

"  Charles  Hoff  Jun. 

"Hibernia  Iron  Works,  July  ^th  1778." 

In  the  written  instructions  which  were  sent  with  Ber- 
nard Smith,  who  represented  Mr.  Faesch,  and  with  John 
Hoff  it  is  said  that  they  wanted  for  Hibernia  from  fifteen 
to  twenty-five  men  used  to  wood-cutting,  coaling  and 
labor  suitable  for  iron  works,  a  good  blacksmith,  a  good 
wheelwright,  one  or  two  good  carpenters  and  one  or  two 
good  masons,  as  many  as  possible  to  be  Englishmen  or 
those  who  could  speak  that  tongue. 

July  loth  1778  Mr.  Hoff  writes  to  Lord  Stirling  that 
"  Mr.  Taylor  of  Durham  furnace,  in  Pennsylvania,  wrote 
Mr.  Faesch  and  me  he  had  a  complete  set  of  moulds  for 
hollow  ware  to  dispose  of  reasonable.  Mr.  Faesch 
recommended  it  much  to  me  to  buy  'em,  in  partnership 
with  him,  for  the  works.  We  have  done  so  and  brought 
them  from  Pennsylvania;  the  price  was_^20Q,  and  at  this 
time  we  are  sensible  they  would  not  be  made  under 
_^6oo;  there  is  from  a  2-o«nce  grapeshot  to  a  32-lb. 
shot,  moulds  from  i  gall,  pots  to  40  or  50  gallons,  4 
different  stove  moulds  and  moulds  of  every  other  kind." 

In  the  same  letter  he  comolains  that  he  cannot  get 


8 


52 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


supplied  with  flour  and  horse  feed  within  40  or  50  miles, 
and  thinks,  considering  the  public  benefit  of  his  work, 
that  the  quartermaster-general  might  supply  him. 

The  letters  of  the  Hoffs  end  here,  but  it  is  well  known 
that  the  furnace  continued  in  operation  throughout  the 
war  and  manufactured  war  material  for  the  army.  The 
most  notable  event  which  happened  in  this  period  was 
the  robbery  of  the  Hoffs  in  the  spring  of  1781.  A  gang 
of  robbers  entered  the  house  while  the  family  were  at 
supper  and  stole  silver,  jewelry,  linen  and  clothing. 
They  took  horses  also  and  got  away  safely  with  their 
plunder;  but  one  at  least,  James  Babcock,  was  afterward 
taken  and  hung.  The  county  was  infested  with  gangs  of 
tories  and  lawless  men,  and  others  besides  the  Hoffs 
suffered  from  their  visits.  Robert  Ogden,  of  Sparta,  in 
Sussex  county,  was  robbed  in  a  similar  way. 

It  is  supposed  the  same  gang  who  robbed  the  Hoffs 
attempted  to  rob  Colonel  John  Seward,  but  failed.  It  is 
said  that  the  colonel  fortified  himself  in  a  block-house, 
and  that  on  one  cold  night  at  about  midnight  a  man  rode 
up  to  his  door  and  hailed,  desiring  to  see  the  colonel, 
who  instead  of  opening  the  door  caught  up  his  rifle  and 
opened  a  hole  through  which  he  could  look  out.  He 
discovered  a  man  mounted  on  a  fine  horse,  without  a 
saddle  and  with  rope  stirrups.  He  at  once  knew  his 
man,  and,  placing  his  rifle  without  noise  in  the  hole  be- 
tween the  logs,  fired.  Instantly  all  was  still.  The  horse 
being  frightened  left  the  door,  but  was  found  the  next 
morning  eating  at  the  colonel's  haystack,  with  a  dead 
man  fastened  in  his  rope  stirrups  under  his  feet.  The 
horse  proved  to  be  a  stolen  one.  How  many  other  ras- 
cals accompanied  the  one  killed  was  not  known;  but  the 
colonel  was  avoided  by  the  gang  ever  after. 

The  history  of  the  works  at  Hibernia  for  the  twenty 
years  succeeding  the  Revolution  is  involved  in  ob- 
scurity. Lord  Stirling's  affairs  after  his  death  were  found 
to  be  so  much  involved  that  his  property  was  publicly 
sold  by  the  sheriff.  In  1774  he  had  applied  to  the  board 
of  proprietors  for  the  purchase  of  the  large  tract  surround- 
ing his  works  at  Hibernia,  extending  as  far  as  Copperas 
Mountain  and  Greenville  and  known  as  the  Hibernia 
tract.  The  board  had  consented  to  the  sale  and  directed 
a  survey  to  be  made.  April  15th  1785  Mr.  Parker  laid 
before  the  board  a  letter  from  Colonel  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, which  he  received  on  the  Monday  previous,  inform- 
ing him  that  he  had  purchased  the  Hibernia  iron  works 
of  Messrs.  Murray,  Sanson  &  Co.;  that  he  had  been  in- 
formed that  the  purchase  money  of  3,000  acres  agreed 
for  with  Lord  Stirling  had  never  been  paid,  and  that  he 
was  willing  to  purchase  the  same  agreeably  to  the  original 
contract.  September  13th  1787  a  report  was  made  to 
the  board  that  the  surveys  for  Thompson  were  not  yet 
completed;  but  April  loth  1788  there  was  a  report  of  a 
survey  made  by  Lemuel  Cobb  of  4,365.43  acres,  subject  to 
deductions,  to  be  conveyed  to  Benjamin  Thompson  and 
his  associates  at  ^^20  per  100  acres. 

April  14th  1 791  an  agreement  was  made  by  Mr.  Ruther- 
ford, president  of  the  board,  and  Mr.  Parker  to  sell  to 
John  Murray  and  John  Stotesbury  lands  surveyed  by 


Lemuel  Cobb,  to  accommodate  Hibernia  iron  works  with 
coal  and  wood,  at  £20  per  100  acre^,  with  interest  from 
May  ist  1788.  The  tract  had  been  returned  to  John 
Stevens,  late  president  of  the  board,  in  trust  to  convey  it 
to  Murray  &  Stotesbury,  and  a  deed  had  to  be  made 
from  his  heirs-at-Iaw  to  Mr.  Rutherford,  then  the  presi- 
dent of  the  board,  to  carry  out  the  agreement.  The  re- 
turn included  5,222.44  acres,  but  after  deducting  866.86 
acres  of  prior  locations  included  therein  there  were  left 
4.355-58  acres. 

Prudden  Ailing,  sheriff  of  Morris  county,  on  an  execu- 
tion on  a  judgment  obtained  at  the  April  term  of  1768, 
by  Waddell  Cunningham  and  others  against  Lord  Stirling, 
sold  to  Lemuel  Cobb,  by  deed  dated  February  i6th  1791, 
the  several  tracts  which  made  up  the  Hibernia  tract  for 
;^3o.  It  was  probably  to  complete  the  title  about  to  be 
made  to  Murray  or  Stotesbury. 

William  Jackscn  stated  that  Ross  &  Bird  carried  on 
the  Hibernia  furnace  until  Stotesbury  came  into  posses- 
session  of  it;  but  who  they  were  or  how  long  they  had 
possession  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain.  John  Stotes- 
bury, who  appears  to  have  come  into  possession  in  1791, 
was  of  Irish  descent,  and  is  described  as  a  high  liver,  of 
very  genial  habits  and  popular  in  the  community.  He 
was  an  officer  in  the  continental  army  and  had  a  brother 
in  the  British  army,  on  Lord  Howe's  staff.  He  served 
at  Trenton  and  Princeton,  and  was  wounded  at  Brandy- 
wine.  He  owned  a  pew  in  the  Rockaway  church,  where 
he  attended  with  his  family.  He  had  two  daughters,  one 
of  whom  married  Hon.  Philemon  Dickerson,  of  Paterson. 
Stotesbury  introduced  Irish  employes  at  his  works,  sup- 
planting the  Germans,  who  went  over  to  Mt.  Hope,  ex- 
cepting those  who  found  places  in  the  mountains  beyond. 
George  Shawger,  Charles  Winters,  William  Barton,  Pater 
Sanders  and  Jacob  Bostedo  were  some  of  those  who  re- 
mained on  their  lands,  and  whose  descendants  continue 
to  own  and  reside  on  them.  Mr.  Bostedo  was  a  very 
good  man,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Morris  county  pres- 
bytery to  preach.  Stotesbury  failed  in  1798  and  died 
shortly  afterward. 

The  title  of  the  property  was  made  to  John  Murray 
for  the  large  tract  surrounding  the  Hibernia  property,  by 
Walter  Rutherford,  December  8th  1792,  and  the  several 
lots  on  which  the  furnace  stood  by  William  Shute 
and  his  wife.  May  9th  1796.  After  Murray's  death, 
August  isth  [809,  his  executors  made  an  agreement  to 
convey  thewhole  property  to  Dr.  Charles  M.  Graham,  of 
New  York.  This  gentleman  was  the  ■  owner  of  the 
"Copperas  tract"  near  Green  Pond,  where  Job  Allen 
made  copperas  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  he 
himself  carried  on  the  copperas  manufacture  very  exten- 
sively during  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent, 
a  strong  adherent  of  the  Stuarts  and  a  man  of  great  enter- 
prise. Graham  built  up  the  furnace,  and  then  assigned 
his  agreement  for  a  conveyance  to  Samuel  Thompson, 
Peter  Thompson  and  William  Spencer,  who  received  the 
deed  dated  January  ist  1815  from  Murray's  executors. 
The  men  who  thus  took  possession  of  the  property  were 
described   by  Hubbard  S.   Stickle  as  young  men,  who 


MOUNT  HOPE  FURNACE— JOHN  JACOB  FAESCH. 


53 


undertook  the  business  with  spirit;  but  the  times  were 
against  them  and  they  soon  failed.  The  furnace  went 
down,  and  it  has  never  been  rebuilt.  The  mortgage 
given  to  Graham  was  foreclosed  and  the  property  bought 
by  Benjamin  Rogers  in  1819.  He  sold  off  considerable 
of  the  land  in  lots,  and  May  i8th  1821  conveyed  the 
balance  to  Colonel  William  Scott,  who  built,  a  forge  upon 
the  old  furnace  dam.  A  freshet  swept  the  dam  away 
and  the  forge  was  suffered  to  go  to  decay.  On  the  death 
of  Colonel  Scott,  in  1842,  this  property,  with  a  large 
amount  of  other  real  estate  which  he  had  gathered  to- 
gether in  the  course  of  his  busy  life,  was  divided  among 
his  children.  The  Hibernia  mines  so  divided,  and  which 
included  all  of  the  vein  except  the  lower  mine  (which  be- 
longed to  Benjamin  Beach)  and  the  old  Ford  mine,  have 
since  developed  immense  wealth  and  are  still  among  the 
chief  mines  in  the  county. 

MOUNT    HOPE    FURNACE. 


The  third  furnace   built   within   the  limits   of  Morris 
county  was  at  Mount  Hope,  and  it  was  running  more  or 
less  continuously  for  a  period  of  fifty  years.      When  the 
large    survey  was  made  of   what   is   called   the    Mount 
Hope  tract  in  1772,  of  6,271.06  acres,  there  were   some 
twenty-two  prior  locations  within  its  limits.      The  tract 
began  on  the  mountain  between  Rockaway  and  Dover, 
ran  down  to  near  the  old  Dr.  King  place  in  Rockaway, 
thence  almost  parallel  to  the   Morris  Canal  to  near  the 
westerly  side  of    the  Rockaway  Presbyterian    cemetery, 
thence  to  near  White  Meadow  and  from  there,  with  many 
turns,  to   a   point  between   Denmark  and   Middle  forge; 
thence  down   to  Mount  Pleasant,  and   so  across  by  the 
Baker  &   Richards  mine    to  a  point    on    Mount   Hope 
avenue  in  ihe  easterly  suburbs  of  Dover,  and  so  to  the 
Rockaway  River  near  the  "  point  of  the  mountain,"  and 
thence  back  on  the  Rockaway  Mountain  to  the  place  of 
beginning.    Nearly  all  the  lots  excepted  were  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Rockaway  and    Dover,  and   at   the    Mount 
Hope  mines.     The  earliest  location  near  the  present  vil- 
lage  of    Mount  Hope  was  the  lot  returned  to  Samuel 
Gardiner  in  1749,  at  the  same  time  and  recorded  on  the 
same  page  as  the  Osborn  location  of  Middle  forge.     By 
Gardiner  it  was  sold  to  Abner  Beach,  and   by   him  to 
Jacob  Ford.     It  was  on  the  northwest  side  of  Rockaway 
River,  and  on  a  small  brook  which  runs  into  the  north- 
west corner  of   the  "Hunting    Meadow,"   as   the   great 
meadow  at  Mount  Hope  was  then  called,  and  contained 
26.26  acres.      Probably  after  Jacob  Ford  had  purchased 
this  lot  he  proceeded  to  locate  lands  in  its  neighborhood, 
taking  up   in   1750,   at  the  same  time  he   took   up  the 
Burnt  Meadow  forge   lot,   96.72    acres,  "situate  in  the 
meadow  well  known  as  the  Hunting  Meadow,"  and  26.23 
acres  adjoining  the  Gardiner  lot.     In  1754  he  located  ten 
acres  more  to  the  east  of  the  Gardiner  lot,  in  1757  142 
acres    more,  and  shortly  afterward    58.80   acres  on   the 
road  leading  from  "  David  Beman's  to  what  is  called  the 
Middle  forge,"  and    10.41   acres  "  on  both   sides  of  the 
road  leading  from    David    Beman's  iron    works    to  the 
Burnt  Meadow  forge." 


Colonel  Ford  no  doubt  purchased  the  property  for  its 
mines — which  were  then  well  known  and  which  he  needed 
to  supply  his  forges — and  for  the  meadow,  which  yielded 
abundant  hay  for  his  teams.  In  1768,  February  28th,  he 
conveyed  the  whole  property,  including  the  seven  lots  so 
purchased  or  located  by  him,  to  his  son  Jacob  Ford  jr., 
who  took  up  his  residence  there.  In  1772,  however, 
John  Jacob  Faesch,  having  severed  his  connection  with 
the  London  Company,  came  to  Mount  Hope,  and,  taking 
a  long  lease  of  the  lands  owned  by  Ford,  purchased  from 
the  proprietors  the  great  Mount  Hope  tract  surrounding 
them,  already  mentioned,  and  began  the  building  of  the 
furnace.  He  afterward  purchased  Middle  forge  and 
Rockaway  forge,  leased  Mount  Pleasant  forge  and  the 
Boonton  mills,  and  carried  on  the  iron  business  on  a 
large  scale. 

John  Jacob  Faesch,  who  thus  became  one  of  the  most 
noted   ironmasters  of  the  county,  was  a  man  whose  in- 
fluence was  long  and  widely  felt.     He  was  born  in  the 
canton  of  Basle,  Switzerland,  in  the  year  1729,  and  came 
to  America  in   1764,   under   an   arrangement  made  with 
Francis  Casper  Hasenclever  on  behalf  of  his  brother, 
Peter  Hasenclever,   the  general  manager  and   superin- 
tendent of  the  London  Company,  as  the  manager  of  their 
iron  works.     The   agreement   was   for  seven  years,  and 
Hasenclever   stipulated   to  pay   Faesch's,  his  wife's  and 
servants'  passage  and  deliver  them  and  their  goods  and 
effects  safely  in  America,  with  the  expenses  of  Faesch 
from  New  Wood,  where  he  lived,  to  Remsheid,  where  the 
agreement  was  made;  to  pay  him  2,500  guilders  per  an- 
num Rhenish,  to  begin  on  the  first  day  of  his  journey;  to 
give  him  a  tenantable  dwelling  house,  with  meadow  for 
pasturing  two  or  four  kine;  that  he  might  engage  in  other 
business,  but  not  to  the  prejudice  of  the  company's  inter- 
ests; and  that  he  was  not  to  be  under  command  of  any 
one   except  the  members  of  the  company,  but    should 
have  direction  over  all  the  forges,  mines  and  iron  works 
that  were  erected  or  occupied  or  should  thereafter  be 
undertaken.     In   fact,   it  was  a  very  liberal   agreement 
and  proves  how  valuable  his  services  were  thought  to  be. 
In    accordance  with  this  agreement  Faesch  came  to 
this  county,  and  was  first  placed  by  Hasenclever  at  Ring- 
wood,  where  he  resided  and  acted  as  manager.      In  1768 
the  works  at  Charlotteburgh  were  placed  in  his  charge, 
and  afterward  the  works  at  Long  Pond.     Trouble  arose, 
however,  between  Hasenclever  and  the  other  members  of 
the  company.      He  was  considered  too  extravagant,  and 
in  other  respects  a  bad  manager.      At  all  events  Robert 
Erskine  was  appointed  to  succeed  him,  and  arrived  in 
this  country  June  5th  177 1.      Faesch  resented  the  treat- 
ment of  his  friend  Hasenclever,  and  left  the  service  of 
the  company  in  June  1772,  his  term  of  seven  years  having 
expired.      He  had  already  made  arrangements  to  take 
the  Mount  Hope  property. 

Faesch  is  described  as  a  very  generous  and  large- 
hearted  man,  but  very  aristocratic  in  his  ideas.  He  gave 
liberally  to  the  church,  so  much  so  that  in  a  subscription 
made  in  i78r  a  prominent  man  in  the  Rockaway  congre- 
gation subscribed  "  as  much  as  any  in  the  parish  except 


54 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Esq.  Faesch."  It  is  said,  however,  that  he  supported 
religion  only  as  a  means  of  keeping  the  lower  classes  in 
subjection.  He  and  one  Jacob  Hertel  were  naturalized 
by  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature,  in  1766.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was  an  ardent  Whig,  taking 
an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  his  day.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  convention  to  ratify  the  federal  constitution, 
held  December  nth  1787,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of 
the  county  judges.  Mr.  Stickle  described  him  as  of 
medium  stature,  and  said  he  had  often  seen  him  passing 
through  Rockaway,  his  carriage  driven  by  inen  in  livery, 
with  outriders  also  in  livery.  He  always  stopped  at 
Bernard  Smith's,  who  was  a  countryman  and  friend  of 
his.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Brinckerhoff,  sister  of 
George  Brinckerhoff,  who  was  the  father  of  the  late  Mrs. 
Dr.  Fairchild,  of  Parsippany.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Faesch 
died  February  23d  1788  at  Morristown,  where  Faesch 
had  resided  since  the  war,  in  the  powder  magazine,  which 
he  changed  into  a  house.  The  next  month  after  his 
wife's  death  he  moved  to  Old  Boonton,  where  he  lived 
till  his  death.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Susan  (Kearney) 
Lawrence,  widow  of  a  brother  of  Captain  Lawrence, 
U.  S.  N. 

The  lease  for  Mount  Hope  was  made  by  Colonel 
Jacob  Ford,  "  of  Pequanack,"  of  the  first  part,  and  John 
Jacob  Faesch  and  Daniel  Wrisberg,  of"  the  same  place, 
of  the  second  part;  was  dated  February  23d  1773,  vvas 
to  continue  forty-two  years  from  the  first  day  of  Aprii 
then  last  past  (1772),  and  reserved  an  annual  rent  of 
;^4oo  at  8  shillings  the  ounce.  The  rent  is  indorsed  as 
paid  to  January  nth  1777,  the  date  of  Colonel  Ford's 
death.  In  after  years  Faesch  complained  of  the  rent  a^ 
burdensome  and  that  the  properly  was  not  as- valuable  at 
he  had  supposed.  To  this  remonstrance  Judge  Gabriel 
Ford,  son  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford,  made  a  written  repl) 
which  fully  sets  forth  the  condition  of  the  property  when 
the  lease  was  made.  He  says:  "There  was  then  a 
meadow  of  100  tons  of  timothy  a  year  and  the  pasturage 
of  the  same  after  it  was  mowed,  60  or  70  acres  of  upland, 
an  orchard  400  best  grafted  trees,  an  elegant  dwelling- 
house,  cost  _^i,40o,  a  fine  pond  of  water,  dams  and 
troughs,  complete,  and  a  good  grist-mill,  rented  for  _;^4o 
per  year;''  that  "Mr,  Faesch  was  not  ignorant  of  a  con- 
stant confluence  of  water  into  it  [the  mine]  while  my 
father  had  it,  inasmuch  as  a  pump  must  be  pretty  con- 
stantly at  Avork  to  leave  the  mines  at  liberty;"  and  while 
Mr.  Faesch  complained  of  spending  ;^i, 200  "in  driving 
on  a  level  to  draw  off  the  water,"  near  ;i£'8oo  of  it  had 
been  deducted  from  his  annual  rent;  that  if  Mr.  Faesch 
"  had  been  as  well  skilled  in  farming  as  in  the  manage- 
ment of  iron  works  the  disasters  (as  he  terms  the  failure 
of  the  hay  crop)  would  not  have  happened  in  so  eminent 
a  degree;"  that  "  in  order  to  accommodate  liim  genteelly 
there  was  erected  upon  the  premises  an  elegant  dwelling- 
house,  which,  cost  upwards  of  _;^i,4oo;"  that  "on  the 
premises  stood  an  exceedingly  good  hemp-mill  and 
grist-mill,  which  together  might  have  cost  ;^8oo — these, 
being  useless  to  Mr.  Faesch,  are  demolished;"  that  "the 
prices  of  iron  have  been  often  double  and  sometimes 


considerably  more  and  so  stands  at  present."  The  reply 
concludes  with  an  offer  to  abate  ;;^ioo  or  ^^125  from 
the  annual  rent. 

Who  Daniel  Wrisberg  was  or  what  became  of  him  is 
not  known.  After  1773  there  is  no  mention  of  him,  and 
the  deed  for  the  large  tract  was  made  to  Faesch  alone. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  he  died  before  the  war  and  left 
;^ioo  to  the  Rockaway  church  provided  he  should  be 
buried  under  the  pulpit,  which  was  done.  There  is  no 
record,  however,  confirming  the  story. 

The  furnace  was  built  in  1772,  under  the  eye  of  its 
experienced  owner,  and  was  in  good  wo)king  order  when 
the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out.  We  have  not  a  letter 
book  giving  the  details  of  its  operations,  but  from  the 
frequent  reference  to  Mr.  Faesch  in  Hoff's  letters  fiom 
Hibernia,  as  well  as  from  other  sources,  it  is  certain  that 
large  quantities  of  cannon,  shot  and  iron  utensils  were 
manufactured  there  and  that  more  men  were  employed 
than  at  Hibernia. 

The  tories  made  many  attempts  to  rob  the  house  of 
Faesch  at  Mount  Hope  and  to  destroy  his  property;  but 
after  the  battle  of  Trenton  and  the  capture  of  the  Hes- 
sians, it  is  said,  he  made  an  arrangement  with  General 
Washington  to  keep  thirty  of  the  prisoners  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  These  he  kept  employed  in  chopping  wood, 
etc.,  keeping  trusty  men  about  him  who  were  furnished 
with  30  stand  of  arms  by  the  government,  which  were 
always  kept  in  perfect  order.  These  secured  him  from 
molestation.  In  the  "instructions"  to  Bernard  Smith 
on  the  part  of  Faesch  and  to  John  Hoff  on  the  part  of 
his  brother,  already  spoken  of,  when  they  were  sent  to 
engage  these  prisoners,  25  or  30  men  were  asked  for  for 
.Mount  Hope,  "such  as  are  used  to  wood  cutting,  coaling 
and  labor  suitable  for  iron  works,  two  good  carpenters,  one 
wheelwright,  two  blacksmiths,  two  masons;  if  you  can  meet 
with  a  young  man  or  boy  that  can  shave,  dress  hair, 
wait  on  table,  take  care  of  horses,  etc.,  get  him,  if  possi- 
ble an  Englishman  or  one  that  talks  both  languages." 
"  If  any  or  all  of  'em  has  guns  advise  them  to  bring  them 
along;  they'll  be  allowed  a  generous' price  here  for  'em, 
and  also  all  accoutrements  in  the  military  way."  "It 
would  also  be  advisable  for  you  to  inquire  for  Captain 
Debauk  and  the  rest  of  the  gentlemen  that  were  prison- 
ers at  Mount  Hope,  as  they'll  be  of  infinite  service  to 
you."  "  Mr.  Faesch  wants  a  good  beer-brewer  and  dis- 
tiller, that  is  a  genteel,  sober,  honest  and  industrious 
man — if  possible  an  Englishman — as  he  has  good  con- 
veniences for  that  business;  he  is  willing  if  he  can  get  a 
man  he  can  confide  in  to  take  him  into  partnership." 

October  7th  1777  an  act  was  passed  exempting  fifty 
men  at  Mount  Hope  and  twenty-five  at  Hibernia  from 
military  duty.  In  the  preamble  it  is  stated  "  that  it  is 
highly  expedient  that  the  army  and  navy  should  be  fur- 
nished as  speedily  as  possible  with  cannon,  cannon  shot, 
refined  bar  iron,  shovels,  axes  and  other  implements  of 
iron,  which  the  furnaces  at  Mount  Hope  and  Hibernia, 
with  the  forges  at  Brookland,  Mount  Pleasant,  Longwood 
and  Middle  forge,  so  called  from  their  local  situation  and 
other  circumstances,  are  well  adapted  to  supply;    and 


LATE  MANAGERS  OF  MOUNT  HOPE. 


55 


whereas  John  Jacob  Faesch,  Esq.,  the  proprietor  and  con- 
ductor of  Mount  Hope  iron  works,  and  Charles  Hoff  jun., 
superintendent  of  the  Hibernia  furnace,  by  their  memorial 
have  set  forth  that  the  said  works  have  been  for  some 
time  past  employed  in  providing  the  aforesaid  articles  for 
public  use,"  the  act  provides  that  Faesch  might  enroll 
any  number  of  men  less  than  fifty  to  be  employed  in  the 
iron  works  at  Mount  Hope,  Brookland,  Longwood, 
Mount  Pleasant  and  Middle  forge;  and  that  Hoff  might 
enroll  twenty-five  men  to  be  employed  at  Hibernia  fur- 
nace. These  men  were  to  be  fully  armed,  equipped  and 
disciplined  by  Faesch  and  Hoff,  but  were  not  to  be 
obliged  to  attend  musters  or  to  leave  the  works  unless 
the  county  should  be  invadrd.  This  act  was  repealed  in 
1779 — probably  after  the  Hessians  had  been  introduced. 
After  Faesch  removed  to  Morristown,  and  no  longer 
personally  superintended  his  furnace,  etc.,  his  business 
became  less  profitable  and  finally  brought  him  in  debt. 

William  Jackson  stated  as  a  fact  of  his  personal  knowl- 
edge— and  we  use  his  own  language — that  while  Faesch 
was  still  carrying  on  Mount  Hope,  and  Stotesbury 
Hibernia,  Chilion  Ford  kept  a  store  in  Rockaway  in  the 
house  south  of  the  main  street  and  near  the  Hibernia 
railroad,  and  on  him  orders  were  drawn  by  each  company 
to  its  workmen,  who  came  down  each  Saturday  to  draw 
their  supplies  for  a  week  at  a  time.  Every  man  appeared 
with  his  jug,  and  the  first  thing  was  a  half  gallon  of 
rum  to  each  man,  and  the  balance  of  their  orders  in 
the  necessaries  of  life.  After  their  sacks  were  filled  a 
general  treating  took  place,  after  which  they  moved  off 
over  the  bridge  on  their  way  home.  When  they  crossed 
the  race  bridge  and  arrived  at  their  parting  point  another 
big  drink  must  be  had  all  round,  by  which  time  "  the 
critter  "  began  to  work,  and  then  the  national  elements 
(Dutch  and  Irish,  with  a  mixture  of  American  by  way  of 
variety)  brought  on  a  general  fight,  which  lasted  a  short 
time,  when  the  hatchet  was  buried  and  all  united  in 
another  drink  and  left — each  on  his  winding  way,  the 
women  and  boys  bringing  up  the  rear. 

July  28th  1788 -Sheriff  Arnold  conveyed  to  Gabriel 
Ford,  after  a  sale  made  under  a  judgment  recovered  by 
the  executors  of  Jacob  Ford  sen.  against  the  executors 
of  Jacob  Ford  jr.,  deceased,  the  seven  tracts  of  land 
"  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Mount  Hope,  in  the 
possession  of  John  Jacob  Faesch,  Esq.,  as  tenant  there- 
of," and  May  loth  1793  Judge  Ford  conveyed  the  whole 
to  Faesch,  so  ending  the  lease.  Faesch  died  May  29th 
1799,  and  is  buried  at  Morristown  by  the  side  of  his  wife 
and  his  two  sons,  John  Jacob  jr.,  who  died  in  1809,  and 
Richard  B.,  who  died  in  1820.  The  two  sons  and  one 
daughter  died  single.  Besides  these  Mr.  Faesch  left  one 
daughter,  who  married  William  H.  Robinson  of  New 
York,  and  who  died  leaving  two  daughters,  one  of  whom 
married  Robert  J.  Girard. 

After  Faesch's  death  his  two  sons  continued  to  carry 
on  the  business;  but  the  creditors  of  their  father  became 
dissatisfied  and  filed  a  bill  in  chancery  February  21st 
1801  to  compel  a  sale  of  the  lands  of  Faesch  in  satisfac- 
tion of  their  claims.     A  list  of  the  property  alleged  to 


have  belonged  to  him  at  his  death  includes  the  Mount 
Hope  and  Middle  forge  tracts  (containing  together  7,600 
acres),  the  Rockaway  forge,  the  Jackson  or  Jacobs  mine, 
a  mine  at  Long  Pond,  a  share  in  the  Morris  Academy 
and  several  small  lots.  His  Mount  Hope  lands  included 
the  Richards,  Allen  and  Teabo  mines,  none  of  which 
except  perhaps  the  Richards  were  then  developed.  The 
result  of  this  suit  was  the  appointment  of  General  John 
Doughty,  of  Morristown,  a  special  commissioner  to  sell 
these  lands.  He  was  engaged  for  several  years  in  divid- 
ing them  up  and  disposing  of  them.  The  homestead  at 
Mt.  Hope,  with  831  acres  around  it,  including  the  mines, 
meadow  and  furnace,  was  sold  September  25th  1809  for 
$7,655  to  Moses  Phillips  jr.,  of  Orange  county,  New 
York.  The  land  so  conveyed  is  what  is  generally  known 
now  as  the  Mount  Hope  tract.  Then  or  soon  after 
Moses  Phillips  became  the  owner  of  Hickory  Hill  tract, 
Middle  forge  tract,  the  Bartow  tract,  which  lies  south  of 
Middle  forge,  and  other  lands,  making  up  about  2,600 
acres.  He  did  not  reside  at  Mount  Hope  himself,  but 
sent  his  sons  Henry  W.  Phillips  and  Lewis  Phillips  to 
manage  the  property — giving  them  an  agreement  of 
purchase. 

In  18:4  the  property  was  leased  to  a  company  consist- 
ing of  Robert  McQueen,  Abraham  Kinney  and  Eliphalet 
Sturtevant  and  known  as  McQueen  &  Co.  They  re- 
paired the  old  stack  after  it  had  lain  idle  for  fifteen  years, 
and  did  a  thriving  business,  making  pig  iron  and  all  kinds 
of  hollow  ware.  Kinney  and  Sturtevant  were  not  in  the 
concern  long  and  their  place  was  taken  by  Colonel 
Thomas  Muir,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  McQueen.  The 
first  lease  lasted  seven  years,  and  it  was  renewed  for  five. 
Alexander.  Norris,  who  then  lived  close  by,  fixes  the  date 
of  the  beginning  of  the  lease  by  the  fact  that  when  peace 
was  declared  in  1815  they  had  a  flag  hoisted  in  the  top 
of  the  furnace,  which  had  not  yet  been  started.  Mr. 
Norris  says  the  last  blast  was  made  in  the  fall  of  1827, 
after  which  the  furnace  was  permitted  to  lie  idle,  and 
finally  to  go  down.  While  operating  Mount  Hope 
Colonel  Muir  purchased  the  White  Meadow  tract  and 
made  it  his  residence.  He  continued  to  reside  there 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  September  28th  1855. 

November  29th  1831,  by  act  of  Legislature,  the  Mount 
Hope  Mining  Company  was  incorporated,  the  incorpor 
ators  being  Samuel  Richards,  Moses  Phillips,  Samuel  G. 
Wright  and  Thomas  S.  Richards.  The  capital  stock 
was  fixed  at  $60,000.  In  April  previous  Moses  Phillips 
had  conveyed  to  Samuel  Richards  and  Samuel  G.  Wright 
a  two-thirds  interest  in  the  tract  of  831  acres,  and  two- 
thirds  of  all  the  minerals  in  the  adjoining  lands,  owned 
by  him  at  the  time.  After  the  incorporation  of  the  com- 
pany all  three  of  the  owners  conveyed  to  the  company, 
which  has  ever  since  been  the  owner.  The  stock  has 
changed  hands,  but  no  transfers  have  been  made  by 
ordinary  deeds  of  conveyance.  By  supplements  to  its 
charter  the  company  was  allowed  to  build  a  railroad  to 
Rockaway  (which  was  done),  to  construct  furnaces,  mills, 
etc.,  and  to  increase  its  capital  stock  to  $300,000.  This 
is  no  longer  a  manufacturing  property,  but  is  one  of  the 


56 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


most  extensive  and  productive  mineral  properties  in  the 
State.  Edward  R.  Biddle  became  the  owner  of  the  stock 
several  years  after  the  formation  of  the  company,  and  by 
him  it  was  sold  to  Moses  Taylor  and  his  associates  about 
the  year  1855,  for  $80,000,  which  was  considered  a 
marvelous  price  at  the  time. 

SPLIT    ROCK    FURNACE. 

The  only  other  charcoal  furnace  within  the  bounds  of 
Morris  county  was  built  at  Split  Rock  by  the  late  Hon. 
Andrew  B.  Cobb,  of  Parsippany,  about  1862.  Mr.  Cobb 
was  a  son  of  Colonel  Lemuel  Cobb,  the  well  known  sur- 
veyor of  the  board  of  proprietors,  and  both  by  inherit- 
ance and  purchase  became  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of 
land  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  much  of  it 
covered  with  wood.  He  was  also  the  owner  of. the  Split 
Rock  mine.  To  make  his  wood  and  ore  available  he  built 
the  furnace  near  his  forge.  It  made  but  a  few  tons  of 
iron,  however,  before  it  went  out  of  blast,  and  has  since 
been  idle.  It  was  found  unprofitable  in  this  day  of  an- 
thracite furnaces. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


SLITTING    AND    ROLLING    MILLS — ANTHRACITE    FURNACES 
AND    FOUNDRIES. 


HE  act  of  Parliament  passed  in  1749,  already 
alluded  to,  was  intended  to  prevent  the  con- 
struction of  any  slitting  or  rolling  mills  in  the 
province,  and  continued  in  force  until  the 
time  of  the  Revolution.  Every  mill  built 
while  this  law  was  in  force  had  to  be  built  covertly. 
In  spite  of  the  law,  however,  a  slitting-mill  was 
erected  at  Old  Boonton,  by  David  Ogden  or  his  son 
Samuel  Ogden,  about  the  year  1770.  In  a  deed  given 
for  it  in  1805  the  "  slitting-mill  lot "  was  said  to  have 
been  conveyed  to  Samuel  Ogden  by  Thomas  Peer  by 
deed  dated  August  6th  1770,  and  this  was  probably  the 
date  of  its  erection.  The  Ogdens  had  by  this  time  sold 
out  their  Ringwood  property  to  the  London  Company 
and  turned  their  attention  to  Morris  county. 

For  the  purpose  of  concealment  the  mill  built  by  the 
Ogdens  was  so  constructed  that  the  upper  part  was  a 
grist-mill,  while  the  slitting  works  were  underneath.  It 
stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  river;  and  the  shape  of  the 
ground,  which  rose  abruptly  from  near  the  river's  edge, 
made  the  erection  of  such  a  building  very  feasible.  The 
entrance  to  the  mill  was  from  the  hillside,  and  in  the 
room  thus  entered  was  the  run  of  stones  for  grinding 
grain;  and  it  was  so  arranged  that  the  room  below  could 
be  closed  up  entirely,  and  upon  little  warning,  so  as  to 
give  no  sign  of  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  used.  An 
Enghshman  named  Campsen,  one  of  the  ancestors  of  the 
Righter  family  at  Parsippany,  was  the  architect.  It  is 
said  that  Governor  William  Franklin  visited  this  place, 


having  been  informed  that  one  of  the  prohibited  mills  was 
being  carried  on  here  by  stealth.  Colonel  Ogden  received 
the  governor  and  his  suite  with  great  hospitality,  and  iri- 
sisted  on  their  dining  immediately  on  their  arrival.  This 
the  governor's  party  were  not  unwilling  to  do,  as  they 
had  made  a  long  and  fatiguing  journey.  At  the  table, 
which  was  lavishly  spread,  choice  liquors  circulated 
freely;  and  the  governor  was  not  only  unable  to  find  any 
"  slitting-mill "  in  Boonton,  but  indignant  at  the  "  un- 
founded slander."  It  was  reported  that  Franklin  had  an 
interest  in  it  himself,  which  might  account  for  his  not 
seeing  too  much. 

The  mill  was  probably  a  small  affair.     At  its  best  it 
was  only  an  apology  for  an  iron-mill,  as  they  could  only 
roll  out  bars  of  iron  or  slit  them  from  the  sizes  drawn 
by  the  forgemen.     Their  heating  furnace  was   designed 
to  use  dry  wood,  so  that  nothing  better  than  a  red  heat 
could  be  produced,  "leaving  the  rods  or  hoops  when 
rolled  or  slit  about  as  red  as  a  fox,"  as  one  said  who  had 
seen   the  mill  in   operation.     It  was  carried  on  by  the 
Ogdens    in   connection  with  a  forge   and  other  works 
through  the  war  and  until  1784.    In  1778  Samuel  Ogden 
advertises  in  the  New  Jersey  Gazette  rod  and  sheet  iron 
for  sale  at  Boonton.     It  seems  that  Samuel  Ogden  was 
the  principal  owner,  as  his  name  most  frequently  occurs 
in  connection  with  it;  but  Isaac   Ogden  and   Nicholas 
Hoffman  each  owned  a  sixth  interest,  which  was  bought 
May  I  St  1784  by  Samuel  Ogden   from  Abraham  Kitchel, 
agent  for  Morris  county,  on  inquisition  found  January 
ist  1777  against  Isaac  Ogden,  and  September  21st  1777 
against   Hoffman,  they  having  joined   the   army  of  the 
king.     Kitchel  conveys  as  the  property  of  each  of  these 
loyalists  one-sixth  of  the  slitting-mill,  rolling-mill,  coal- 
houses,  dwelling-houses,  raceways,  dams,  etc.,  and  speaks 
of  a  forge — the  property  of  Samuel  Ogden.     The  same 
year,    1784,   March    ist,   Samuel  Ogden  of    New  York, 
merchant,  leases  to  John  Jacob  Faesch,  of  Mount  Hope, 
the  moiety  of  several  tracts  at  Boonton  for  twenty-one 
years,   under  an   arrangement  that  they  should  jointly 
erect  a  "  four-fire  forge  and  forge  hammers  with  a  trip 
hammer  at  the  place  wheire  the  old  forge,  which  is  now 
pulled  down,  at  Boonton  aforesaid,  formerly  stood,"  the  • 
management  of  the  forge  and  also  of  the  grist-mill  to  be 
joint.     The  rent  reserved  was  _;^5o  New  York  currency 
in  silver  or  gold,  reckoning  Spanish  milled  dollars  at  8 
shillings  each  and  English  guineas  at  37  shillings  and  4 
pence  each.     Wood  was  to  be  furnished  for  the  supply 
of  "  said  forge,  and  other  iron  manufactories  to  be  car- 
ried on  at  Boonton  by  the  parties,"  off  the  premises  of 
said  Ogden  at  nine  pence  per  cord. 

October  8th  1805,  on  the  expiration  of  this  lease, 
Samuel  Ogden  and  Euphemia  his  wife,  of  Newark,  con- 
veyed to  John  Jacob  Faesch  and  Richard  B.  Faesch,  the 
sons  of  John  Jacob  Faesch  sen.,  who  had  died  in  1799, 
the  whole  property  at  Boonton.  They  carried  on  the 
business  but  a  short  time,  and  the  works,  with  the  excep- 
lion  of  the  forge,  which  continued  to  be  operated  by  John 
Righter,  then  its  owner,  until  a  comparatively  recent  date, 
were  suffered  to  fall  into  disuse. 


SPEEDWELL  AND  DOVER  IRON  MILLS, 


57 


Thomas  C.  Willis,  of  Powerville,  whose  father  was 
superintendent  of  the  heating  furnace  at  Old  Boonton  in 
1800,  and  who  was  himself  born  there,  said  that  in  his 
childhood  there  were  at  Old  Boonton,  on  the  easterly 
bank  of  the  river,  a  rolling-mill,  a  slitting-mill  and 
a  saw-mill.  The  iron  used  in  these  mills  was  taken 
from  the  healing  furnaces,  rolled  and  slitted  on  a 
single  heat.  On  the  westerly  bank  of  the  river,  near  the 
bend,  were  a  large  potash  factory,  a  nail-cutting  factory, 
a  grist-mill  and  a  blacksmith  shop.  On  the  same  side, 
opposite  the  slitting-mill,  stood  a  large  bloomary,  con- 
taining four  fires  and  two  trip  hammers.  A  large  build- 
ing containing  eight  refining  furnaces  stood  upon  the  spot 
where  the  forge  afterward  stood. 

Another  gentleman,  whose  memory  reaches  back 
almost  as  far,  says  that  there  were  three  dams  across  the 
river  below  the  present  road  and  one  above. 

SPEEDWELL. 

The  second  slitting-mill  in  the  county  was  built  at 
Speedwell,  by  Jacob  Arnold  and  John  Kinney,  about  the 
time  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  is  impossible  to  fix 
the  date  more  exactly.  .In  the  New  Jersey  Gazette,  pub- 
lished in  1778,  is  notice  of  Arnold,  Kinney  &  Co.  opening 
a  store  in  Morristown,  "  next  door  to  Colonel  Henry 
Remsen's,"  showing  the  partnership  to  have  existed  at 
that  date.  Both  men  had  been  and  were  prominent  in 
the  county.  Arnold  kept  the  hotel  in  Morristown  where, 
in  January  1777,  Washington  took  up  his  winter  quarters, 
and  which  is  still  standing,  on  the  northwest  side  of  the 
public  square.  He  commanded,  as  has  been  stated,  the 
troop  of  horse  known  as  "Arnold's  light  horse,"  a  detach- 
ment of  which  did  duty  as  guard  for  Governor  Livingston. 
Kinney  had  been  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  had  had  some 
experience  in  the  iron  business.  The  venture  was  a  per- 
fect failure.  It  is  said  that  after  the  whole  had  been  con- 
structed, through  some  defect  which  they  could  not 
remedy,  the  machinery  entirely  failed  to  do  its  work. 
The  debts  contracted  in  its  erection  pressed  the  partners 
and  the  property  was  sold.  Enoch  Beach,  as  coroner 
(Arnold  being  sheriff)  sold  the  interest  of  Jacob  Arnold 
January  nth  1796  to  Dr.  Timothy  Johnes,  who  sold  to 
Stephen  Vail  in  1807.  The  interest  of  Kinney  had  also 
been  sold,  and  a  deed  from  James  C.  Canfield  and  wife  to 
Stephen  Vail  in  1814  for  this  half  speaks  of  all  the  new 
buildings  which  Stephen  Vail,  William  Campfield  and 
Isaac  Canfield  have  erected  since  the  deed  to  Vail  in 
1807,  viz.:  trip-hammer  works,  blacksmith  shop,  coal 
house,  turning  shop,  etc.  From  the  ruin  of  a  second 
partnership  Stephen  Vail  came  out  the  owner  of  the  whole 
property  at  Speedwell,  and  under  his  management  it  be- 
came an  important  manufactory.  The  work  done  here 
has  been  mostly  for  the  southern  and  South  American 
trade,  in  the  shape  of  sugar-mills,  coffee  hullers,  etc.  It 
if  said  the  boiler  of  the  first  ocean  steamer  that  crossed 
the  Atlantic  was  forged  here  and  the  first  cast-iron  plow 
made  in  America  was  made  here.  In  1853  the  Speedwell 
iron  works  were  being  carried  on  by  Hon.  George  Vail, 
son  of  Judge  Stephen  Vail,  and  Isaac  A.  Canfield,  grand- 


son of  the  judge,  and  were  visited  by  Dr.  Tuttle,  who 
wrote  a  description  of  them  for  the  New  York  Tribune. 

At  that  time  there  was  made  at  the  works  a  great 
variety  of  articles — press  screws,  car  wheels  and  axles, 
mill  machinery,  etc.  Six  moulders  were  employed  in  the 
foundry,  eight  men  in  the  blacksmith  shop,  ten  in  the 
machine  shops,  and  these  with  other  laborers  made  up  an 
aggregate  of  forty-five,  whose  wages  would  amount  to 
some  $14,400  per  annum.  The  works  used  then  annually 
200  tons  of  anthracite  coal,  100  tons  of  bituminous  coal, 
ICO  tons  of  Scotch  pig  and  100  tons  of  American  pig,  95 
tons  wrought  iron,  1,400  pounds  of  cast  steel  and  1,000 
pounds  of  brass,  copper,  etc.  The  annual  product  was 
estimated  at  $50,000.  Judge  Vail  died  in  1864,  leaving 
these  works  to  his  executors  in  such  a  manner  that  they 
cannot  be  sold  and  can  only  be  operated  by  certain  per- 
sons who  are  named.  For  this  or  for  some  other  reason 
they  have  lain  idle  for  several  years. 

DOVER   MILL. 

The  third  slitting  or  rolling-mill  erected  in  the  county 
was  at  Dover.  In  1792  Israel  Canfield  and  Jacob  Losey, 
forming  the  well-known  firm  of  Canfield  &  Losey,  bought 
from  Josiah  Beman  his  forge,  etc.  Soon  afterward  they 
built  the  dam  where  it  is  now,  and  erected  the  forge 
which  was  standing  until  within  a  few  years,  when  the 
building  was  transferred  to  other  use.  They  built  also 
a  rolling  and  slitting-mill  after  the  model  of  the  Old 
Boonton  mill,  and  heated  their  iron  with  wood  in  the 
same  way.  Soon  after  the  erection  of  their  rolling-mill 
they  built  a  factory  for  cutting  nails,  the  heading  of 
which  was  done  in  dies  by  hand.  Besides  the  property 
in  Dover  they  purchased  and  leased  large  quantities  of 
land,  mines  and  forges,  and  carried  on  the  iron  business 
on  what  was  then  considered  a  grand  scale.  It  must  be 
remarked,  however,  that  while  business  flourished  in 
Dover  the  place  was  notorious  for  its  infidelity  and  con- 
sequent wickedness.  Many  of  its  prominent  citizens 
were  open  adherents  of  Tom  Paine,  and  they  gloried  in 
disseminating  his  sentiments  among  all  classes. 

In  1817  the  firm  of  Canfield  &  Losey  failed,  and 
Blackwell  &  McFarlan,  iron  merchants  of  New  York, 
who  were  creditors  of  the  concern,  purchased  the  whole 
property.  With  the  iron  works  passed  also  nearly  the 
whole  site  of  Dover,  the  Longwood  forge  and  tract,  and 
the  mines  which  the  old  firm  had  developed.  The  village 
of  Dover  was  laid  out  by  Messrs.  Blackwell  &  McFarlan 
as  it  is  at  present — on  either  side  of  the  straight,  wide 
street  called  Blackwell  street,  with  other  streets,  named 
after  the  counties,  crossing  it  at  right  angles.  From  an 
advertisement  of  the  company  in  a  newspaper  published 
in  1827  it  appears  that  the  iron  works,  then  in  full  opera- 
tion, consisted  of  three  rolling-mills  and  two  chain  cable 
shops.  Jacob  Losey  was  the  resident  agent  of  the  confi- 
ipany,  the  members  of  which  still  lived  in  New  York. 

To  the  firm  of  Blackwell  &  McFarlan  succeeded  as 
owner  of  the  Dover  property  Henry  McFarlan,  son  of 
Henry  McFarlan  sen.,  one  of  the  members  of  the  old 
firm.     Dr.  Tuttle  visited  the  works  in   1853,  and  gives  us 


S8 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


this  statement  of  the  business  done  for  the  year  ending 
April  J  St  of  that  year:  Octagon  bars  rolled  into  rivet  rods 
|4  to  ^  inch;  round  and  various  sizes  of  merchant  iron, 
392^  tons;  boiler  rivets  made  from  the  above,  735,746 
pounds,  a  little  more  than  328  tons;  anthracite  coal  con- 
sumed, 1,000  tons.  The  octagon  iron  was  worth  $55  per 
ton,  making  the  raw  material  used  worth  $21,287.  The 
coal  cost  about  $4,300.'  The  amount  of  wages  paid  was 
about  $11,000,  among  twenty-five  hands,  and  the  product 
of  the  whole  work  was  valued  at  $50,000. 

In  addition  to  the  rolling-mill  and  rivet  factory  Mr. 
McFarlan  had  furnaces  for  converting  Swedes  and  English 
iron  into  steel.  The  following  is  the  list  for  the  year 
above  specified:  Converted  and  rolled  into  spring  steel 
from  Swedes  and  English  iron,  1,000  tons;  toe  cork  or 
shoeing  steel.  32^  tons;  American  bar  steel,  16  tons. 

The  superintendent  of  the  works,  who  furnished  to  Dr. 
Tutlle  this  information,  was  Guy  M.  Hinchman.  He  was 
born  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  November  29th  1795.  I"  1810  he 
removed  to  Morris  county,  taking  up  his  residence  at 
Succasunna.  When  only  23  years  of  age  he  was  the 
owner  and  operator  of  the  Mount  Pleasant  mine.  From 
1823  to  1834  he  was  engaged  in  business  in  New  York, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Dover,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  acting  as  superintendent  of  the  iron 
works  until  1869,  when  Mr.  McFarlan  ceased  to  operate 
them.  He  was  a  man  of  great  activity,  a  kind-hearted, 
courtly  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  yet  keeping  pace 
with  and  aiding  in  all  social  and  public  improvements. 
He  died  February  13th  1879,  retaining  all  his  faculties 
until  the  last. 

Henry  McFarlan  drove  the  mill  from  1830,  when  his 
father  died,  to  1869.  He  leased  the  property  in  1875  to 
Wynkoop  &  O'Conner,  who  ran  it  only  a  short  time, 
claiming  that  the  raising  of  a  dam  below  the  mill  by  the 
Morris  Canal  Company  had  so  far  affected  the  power  of 
the  mill  as  to  render  it  comparatively  useless.  This 
question  is  now  and  has  been  for  several  years  in  the 
courts.  In  1880  Mr.  McFarlan  sold  the  mills,  and  they 
are  now  operated  by  the  Dover  Iron  Company,  who  have 
put  in  steam  engines  and  are  driving  the  works  with 
vigor.  Hon.  George  Richards  is  the  president  of  the 
company,  and  under  his  efificient  management  ihe  works 
give  employment  to  a  large  number  of  operatives  and 
turn  out  large  quantities  of  fish  plates  and  other  railroad 
material. 

ROCKAWAY   ROLLING-MILL. 

January  26th  1822  Colonel  Joseph  Jackson  and  his 
brother  William  entered  into  an  agreement  to  build  a 
rolling-mill  on  the  colonel's  land  in  Rockaway,  to  be 
driven  by  water  from  an  extension  of  the  lower  forge 
dam.  This  agreement  was  to  continue  for  twenty-one 
years,  when  the  colonel  was  to  have  the  mill  at  its  ap- 
praised value.  The  brothers  had  previously  rented  a 
mill  in  Paterson,  and  William  Jackson  made  the  following 
memorandum: 

"  The  first  bar  of  round  and  square  iron  ever  rolled  in 
this  county  was  done  by  Colonel  Joseph  Jackson  and  my- 


self, in  the  old  rolling-mill  at  Paterson,  then  owned  by 
Samuel  and  Rosweli  Colt,  in  the  year  1820,  under  our  con- 
tract to  furnish  the  United  States  government  with  a  cer- 
tain quantity  of  rolled  round  and  hammered  iron  at  the 
navy  yard  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  which  we  succeeded  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  government.  Our  experiments 
at  rolling  round  and  square  iron  induced  us  to  build  the 
rolling-mill  at  Rockaway  in  1821  and  1822.  Messrs. 
•Blackwell  &  McFarlan,  owners  of  the  Dover  rolling-mill 
and  forge,  seeing  our  success,  proceeded  to  alter  and  re- 
build their  rolling-mill  for  rolling  all  kinds  of  iron,  which 
they  completed  about  the  same  time.  We  finished  our 
rolling-mill  in  November  1822." 

In  1826  William  sold  out  to  his  brother  his  interest 
and  commenced  the  erection  of  the  forge,  furnace,  etc., 
at  Clinton.  Left  the  sole  owner  of  the  mill  Colonel 
Jackson  proceeded  to  extend  his  operations,  and  devel- 
oped a  large  iron  business.  He  was  already  or  soon  after 
became  the  owner  of  the  two  forges  with  five  fires  at 
Rockaway,  and  of  the  Swedes,  Teabo  and  Jackson  mines. 
In>  1830  he  built  a  second  mill  upon  the  same  dam.  He 
expended  money  liberally  but  with  judgment  in  new 
machinery,  and  in  experiments  to  test  the  qualities  of  the 
various  ores  and  the  best  methods  of  working  them.  His 
works  were  a  market  for  the  various  forges  in  the  county, 
and  the  finished  product  was  mostly  carted  to  tide  water 
by  his  teams,  which  returned  with  supplies.  The  Morris 
Canal,  during  the  boating  season,  brought  anthracite  coal 
from  the  Lehigh  Valley;  but  so  long  as  he  continued  his 
business  his  teams  were  on  the  road  between  Rockaway 
and  Newark.  He  built  a  steel  furnace  near  the  canal,  in 
which  blistered  steel  was  made  from  the  iron  bars.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  enterprise  and  determination,  and 
continued  to  carry  on  his  mill  through  the  various  vicissi- 
tudes of  the  iron  business  until  1852,  when  he  sold  the 
mill,  lower  forge  and  steel  furnace  properties  to  Freeman 
Wood. 

Mr.  Wood  proceeded  to  enlarge  the  mill,  putting  in 
steam  engines,  etc.  February  12th  1855  the  Rockaway 
Manufacturing  Company  was  organized,  its  incorporators 
being  Freeman  Wood,  George  Hand  Smith,  Lyman  A. 
Chandler,  Theodore  T.  Wood  and  Nathaniel  Mott.  The 
property  was  transferred  to  it  August  14th  the  same  year. 
This  company  made  a  bad  failure  a  few  years  after,  and 
the  Morris  County  Bank,  one  of  the  principal  creditors, 
became  the  real  owner  of  the  mills  as  mortgagee.  By 
the  bank  the  property  was  rented  to  James  Horner,  who 
manufactured  steel  there  until  just  after  the  war,  when 
he  removed  his  business  to  Pompton.  November  3d 
1862  Theodore  Little,  as  master  in  chancery,  conveyed 
the  property  to  John  H.  Allen,  who,  February  27th  fol- 
lowing, conveyed  it  to  Thomas  E.  Allen  and  Israel  D. 
Condit.  They  ran  it  a  couple  of  years,  when  Mr.  Allen 
conveyed  his  half  to  his  partner,  Mr.  Condit.  Mr. 
Condit  has  been  tlie  owner  ever  since,  with  the  exception 
of  two  or  three  years,  when  it  vvas  owned  by  Adoniram 
B.  Judson,  the  deed  to  him  being  dated  January  19th 
1867  and  the  deed  back  to  Mr.  Condit,  which  was  made 
by  the  sheriff,  being  dated  February  13th  187 1.  Mr. 
Judson  operated  the  works  under  the  name  of  the  Jud- 
son Steel  and  Iron  Works,  himself,  James  L.  Baldwin 


POWERVILLE  AND  BOONTON  IRON  WORKS. 


59 


and  George  Neimus  being  the  incorporators.  The  in- 
corporation act  was  approved  February  26th  1868.  The 
concern  is  now  being  operated  by  the  American  Swedes 
Iron  Company,  organized  in  August  1881,  which  is  using 
Wilson's  process  for  the  manufacture  of  wrought  iron 
directly  from  the  ore,  which  is  obtained  from  Block 
Island.  The  history  of  the  works  for  the  last  eighteen 
years  has  been  that  of  unsuccessful  experiment  for  the 
most  part — many  new  processes  for  making  iron  and 
steel  having  been  attempted  without  profitable  results. 
C.  T.  Raynolds,  H.  R.  Raynolds  and  Colonel  G.  W. 
Thompson  are  the  principal  men  in  the  present  company. 

THE    POWERVILLE    ROLLING-MILL. 

This  mill,  which  was  early  owned  by  Colonel  William 
Scott,  whose  name  has  been  frequently  mentioned,  was 
carried  on  by  him  until  his  death,  when  it  fell  in  the  di- 
vision of  his  estate  to  his  son  Elijah  D.  Scott.  By  him 
it  was  in  part  devised  and  in  part  deeded  to  Thomas  C. 
Willis,  who  carried  it  on  until  his  death,  in  1864,  in  con- 
nection with  his  forge.  Dr.  Tuttle,  in  his  review  of  the 
iron  manufactures  of  the  county  in  1853,  speaks  of  the 
admirable  economy  with  which  it  was  conducted.  Per- 
•  haps  no  mill  in  the  county  at  that  time  paid  better  inter- 
est on  the  capital  invested,  which  Mr.  Willis  estimated  at 
$50,000.  The  profitableness  of  the  concern  was  owing 
to  the  careful  management  and  also  to  the  kind  of  iron 
made,  which  was  mostly  hoop  iron,  then  very  profitable. 
It  was  estimated  that  the  mill  used  about  500  tuns  of 
blooms  a  year,  of  coal  600  tons,  and  the  product  in  hoop 
and  rod  iron  was  about  450  tons,  which  averaged  at  that 
time  $100  per  ton.  Mr.  Willis  was  a  man  deservedly 
popular  with  all  who  had  dealings  with  him  and  highly 
esteemed  and  respected  throughout  the  county. 

The  mill  is  now  owned  principally  by  Benjamin  F. 
Howell,  the  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Willis,  who  leases  the  forge 
for  the  manufacture  of  scrap  blooms.  The  rolling-mill  is 
not  at  present  in  operation. 

ANTHRACITE    FURNACES. 

BOONTON. 

In  1830  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Company,  incorporated 
under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  dated  November  7th 
1829  (the  incorporators  being  William  Green  jr.,  Apollos 
R.  Wetmore  and  David  W.  Wetmore),  commenced  the 
erection  of  the  extensive  iron  works  at  Boonton  two  miles 
above  the  old  slitting-mill  of  the  Ogdens.  These  have 
grown  to  be  by  far  the  largest  and  most  complete  in  the 
county.  At  first  the  works  were  under  the  supervision 
and  management  of  Messrs.  Green  and  Wetmore,  who 
were  large  iron  dealers  in  New  York;  afterward  of  Wil- 
Jiam  Green  and  Lyman  Dennison,  forming  the  firm  of 
Green  &  Dennison.  The  whole  village  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  store  and  two  or  three  dwelling  houses  be- 
longed exclusively  to  the  company.  In  the  beginning 
most  of  the  works  were  under  one  roof.  They  consisted, 
says  Isaac  S.  Lyon  in  his  sketch  of  the  town,  of  a  rolling- 
mill,  a  number  of  puddling  and  heating  furnaces,  an  old 


fashioned  trip-hammer,  a  slitting  machine  and  a  small 
foundry.  They  were  mostly  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  sheet,  hoop  and  bar  iron.  There  was  a  refinery  also, 
below,  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 

There  was  a  small  furnace  built  in  1833,  which  was 
first  lighted  by  the  ladies  residing  at  the  agent's  house, 
on  the  afternoon  of  February  27th  1834.  What  is  now 
called  No.  i  furnace,  which  uses  anthracite  coal,  was 
built  about  1848.  The  furnace  of  1833  was  of  course  a 
charcoal  furnace;  for  George  Crane  of  Yniscedwin  iron 
works,  in  Wales,  did  not  bring  his  experiments  with  an- 
thracite to  success  until  1838,  the  difficulty  being  in  all 
previous  trials  that  only  a  cold  blast  had  been  used.  In 
the  March  1838  number  of  the  Journal  of  the  American 
Institute  the  editor  says  in  a  note:  "A  sample  has  been 
shown  us  of  good  iron  made  solely  by  means  of  anthracite 
coal.  It  is  the  result  of  a  long  course  of  experiments,  as 
we  are  informed."  The  next  number  of  the  journal  con- 
tains a  report  from  Mr.  Crane  of  his  successful  work. 

David  Thomas  was  with  Mr.  Crane  in  Wales,  and  as 
his  agent  came  to  this  country  and  started  the  Crane  iron 
works,  at  Catasauqua,  Pa.  His  son  Samuel  Thomas  su- 
perintended the  erection  of  the  Boonton  furnace  until  he 
left  it  to  build  the  Thomas  Iron  Company's  furnaces  at 
Hokendauqua,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  George  Jen- 
kins, who  continued  till  his  death  at  Boonton  in  charge 
of  the  furnaces. 

For  some  reason  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Company  failed, 
and  its  property  was  sold  by  the  sheriff  July  19th  1852. 
The  stockholders  lost  every  cent  of  their  investment,  but 
every  debt  due  to  outsiders  was  fully  paid.  The  pur- 
chaser was  Dudley  B.  Fuller,  the  principal  creditor,  to 
whom  it  is  said  the  company  owed  $165,000.  Mr.  Fuller 
some  time  after  took  into  partnership  with  him  James 
Cowper  Lord,  forming  the  firm  of  Fuller  &  Lord.  This 
firm  continued  to  own  and  operate  the  works  until  the  firm 
was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Fuller,  which  occurred 
in  1868.  Mr.  Lord  died  in  1869.  The  works  were  car- 
ried on  a  short  time  by  the  executors  of  the  deceased 
partners,  but  at  length,  in  1876,  the  whole  interest  was 
purchased  by  the  estate  of  J.  Cowper  Lord,  which  is  still 
the  owner. 

In  1853,  when  Dr.  Tuttle  visited  these  works,  they 
were  being  operated  by  Fuller  &  Lord.  The  rolling-mill 
and  puddling  furnaces  covered  more  than  an  acre  of 
ground  exclusive  of  the  large  nail  and  spike  factory,  the 
coopering  mill  and  the  blast  furnace,  then  recently  built. 
The  Morris  Canal  and  Rockaway  River  at  Boonton  run 
nearly  parallel,  and  both  make  a  rapid  descent  to  the 
plains  below.  The  canal  by  an  inclined  plane  and  locks 
makes  a  difference  of  100  feet  between  its  upper  and 
lower  levels,  and  the  river  falls  a  still  greater  distance  in 
a  series  of  cascades.  These  circumstances  have  been 
made  the  most  of  by  the  builders  of  the  works  which  lie 
between  the  two.  The  coal,  ore  and  limestone  are  taken 
from  the  upper  level  of  the  canal  to  the  top  of  the  fur- 
nace ;  while  the  iron  product  passing  through  the  pud- 
dling, rolling,  heating  and  nail  mills,  is  put  up  in  kegs, 
made  on  the  ground   from   the  unsawed  timber,  and  is 


6o 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


ready  for  shipment  by  the  side  of  the  canal  at  its  lower 
level.  The  water  from  the  river  and  the  waste  water  of 
the  canal  furnish  motive  power.  William  G.  Lathrop 
was  then  the  general  manager,  and  his  long  experience 
made  the  business  profitable  and  constantly  increasing 
during  the  lives  of  the  two  partners. 

From  October  ist  1852  to  May  ist  1853,  a  period  of 
seven  months,  the  following  statistics  show  the  extent  of 
their  operations:  Pig  iron  puddled,  3,774  tons;  nail 
plate,  rolled,  3,000  tons;  spike  rods  rolled,  885  tons; 
scrap  iron  used,  784  tons;  ore  used  in  the  puddling  fur- 
naces, 1,000  tons;  anthracite  coal  consumed,  5,656  tons; 
amount  of  wages  disbursed,  about  $36,000.  During  the 
same  period  six  spike  machines,  employing  22  men  and 
boys,  made  1,874,000  pounds  or  836  tons  of  iron  spikes; 
73  nail  machines,  worked  by  100  hands,  produced  56,179 
casks  of  nails,  of  100  pounds  each,  making  a  total  of 
2,800  tons.  At  the  cooper  shop  casks  were  made  at  the 
rate  of  120,000  per  annum.  The  whole  establishment,  in- 
cluding blast  furnace,  etc.,  gave  employment  to  400 
hands,  whose  annual  wages  amounted  to  $120,000. 

A  correspondent  of  Harper's  Monthly  (J.  R.  Chapin), 
in  the  July  i860  number  of  that  magazine,  gives  a  very 
graphic  and  correct  description  of  the  Boonton  works  as 
they  then  were,  and  substantially  as  they  had  been  for 
the  seven  years  previous.  Up  to  that  time  there  had 
been  expended  on  the  works  about  half  a  million  of  dol- 
lars. In  1864  the  number  of  kegs  of  nails  turned  out 
was  173,000,  then  considered  a  larger  product  than  that 
of  any  similar  establishment  in  the  United  States.  Just 
before  the  war  the  owners  commenced  the  erection  of 
the  second  blast  furnace,  which  was  completed  after  the 
war  closed.  In  1872-3  the  works  touched  the  highest 
point  of  their  prosperity.  There  were  then  two  blast 
furnaces,  whose  yearly  capacity  was  20,000  tons,  under 
the  management  of  George  Jenkins,  in  wliich  the  con- 
cern continued  until  his  death,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  H.  C.  Jenkins;  the  large  mill,  under  Philip 
Wooten,  was  375  by  275  feet  in  size  and  contained  12 
double  puddling  furnaces,  one  scrap  furnace,  five  trains 
of  rolls,  two  squeezers,  four  nut  machines,  etc.,  etc.  The 
upper  nail  factory,  under  James  Holmes,  contained  100 
nail  machines,  producing  250,000  kegs  of  nails  per 
annum.  The  lower  nail  factory,  which  was  in  charge  of 
Nathaniel  Jones  and  which  commenced  in  1855,  con- 
tained 25  machines  and  produced  10,000  kegs  of  nails 
per  annum.  In  1875  this  mill  contained  50  machines, 
with  a  capacity  of  30,000  kegs  per  annum,  but  of  a 
smaller  size  than  those  made  at  the  upper  mill.  The 
saw-mill,  in  charge  of  George  M.  Gage,  turned  out  about 
3,000,000  staves  and  400,000  keg  heads  per  annum.  At 
the  cooper  shop,  of  which  Amzi  Burroughs  was  the 
superintendent,  the  staves  and  heads  were  put  up  ready 
to  be  filled  with  nails.  A  new  foundry  built  in  1857 
turned  out  about  400  tons  of  castings  each  year,  making 
all  that  were  required  for  the  uses  of  the  other  mills,  etc. 
It  was  under  the  superintendence  of  Paul  Glover.  G.  W. 
Eaton  was  outside  superintendent  and  Henry  W.  Crane 
had  charge  of  the  transportation.     The  whole  establish- 


ment was  thoroughly  organized  and  complete  in  itself. 
Over  700  men  and  boys  were  given  constant  employment. 
The  panic  of  1873,  occurring  as  it  did  shortly  after  the 
death  of  the  two  partners,  brought  about  a  complete  stag- 
nation of  business.  This  was  too  large  a  concern  to  be 
operated  by  any  one  man  of  less  than  enormous  capital. 
The  owners  of  the  property  could  not  agree  upon  a  suit- 
able rent  with  any  tenant  who  might  be  disposed  to  under- 
take it,  so  that  except  from  1873  to  1876,  when  it  was 
run  by  the  sons  of  Dudley  B.  Fuller,  and  a  short  time  in 
1880,  when  one  furnace  was  in  blast,  the  works  have  lain 
idle.  The  town,  depending  upon  this  single  industrj-, 
suffered  terribly  at  first  in  the  loss  of  its  citizens  and  the 
depreciation  of  property;  but  silk  mills  and  other  indus- 
tries have  since  been  set  on  foot  which  have  restored  to 
the  place  something  of  its  former  prosperity. 

PORT    ORAM. 

•  So  far  as  railroad  and  canal  facilities  are  concerned 
Port  Oram  is  that  place  in  the  county  best  adapted  for 
the  manufacture  of  iron.  The  Mojris  Canal  and  the 
Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  pass  through  the  place  and 
the  Mount  Hope  and  Chester  branches  terminate  here. 
In  addition  to  these  within  the  last  year  the  High  Bridge- 
branch  of  the  Central  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  Dover  and 
Rockaway  road,  connecting  with  the  Hibernia  Railroad, 
have  made  this  their  junction.  It  is  a  place  which  has 
grown  up  almost  entirely  since  the  war,  and  is  named 
from  Robert  F.  Oram,  who  laid  it  out. 

The  Port  Oram  Iron  Company  was  incorporated  March 
31st  1868,  its  incorporators  being  John  C.  Lord,  Robert 
F.  Oram,  William  G.  Lathrop,  C.  D.  Schubarth,  James 
H.  Neighbour,  W.  H.  Talcott,  J.  Covper  Lord,  Henry 
Day  and  Theodore  F.  Randolph,  and  the  possible  capital 
$300,000.  Nearly  all  these  gentlemen  were  connected  in 
some  way  with  the  owners  of  the  Boonton  iron  works, 
who  also  owned  the  Mount  Pleasant  and  other  mines  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood.  The  furnace  was  much 
larger  than  either  of  the  ones  at  Boonton,  its  capacity 
being  150,000  tons  yearly.  It  cost  with  the  land  and 
improvements  over  $200,000,  and  was  built  in  the  years 

1868  and    1869.     It  was  first  put  in  blast  August  27th 

1869  by  its  owners,  but  May  4th  1872  Ario  Pardee  leased 
the  furnace  for  four  years,  and  during  that  time  it  was  in 
very  successful  operation.  During  the  last  year  in  which 
it  was  run  it  produced  nearly  13,000  tons  of  iron. 

The  company  originally  issued  stock  to  the  amount  of 
$150,000,  which  was  entirely  consumed  in  the  construe-, 
tion  of  the  furnace  and  it  became  necessary  to  raise 
$100,000  additional;  this  was  done  by  issuing  bonds  to 
that  amount,  taken  almost  entirely  by  the  stockholders. 
In  January  1877  the  furnace  was  sold  under  foreclosure 
of  the  mortgage  given  to  secure  these  bonds,  and  bought 
in  for  the  bondholders,  who  reorganized  under  the  name 
of  the  Port  Oram  Furnace  Company.  It  is  now  out  of 
blast. 

Besides  the  furnace  there  is  at  Port  Oram  a  forge  built 
in  1877-8  by  John  Hance  and  Robert  F.  Oram,  where 
pig  iron  is  rapidly  refined  by  modern  and  improved  ma- 


PORT  ORAM  IRON  WORKS— CHESTER  FURNACE— UNION  FOUNDRY. 


6i 


chinery.  It  was  started  August  5th  1878.  The  forge  is 
now  in  operation,  employing  about  14  hands.  The 
"  run-out  "  connected  with  the  forge  has  not  been  in 
operation  recently.  In  detail,  there  are  here  one  6-twier 
run-out  furnace,  capable  of  producing  12  tons  per  day; 
four  double-twiered  fires  for  making  anthracite  blooms 
or  blooms  from  pig  iron,  the  four  fires  capable  of  produ- 
cing 200  tons  of  blooms  per  month;  and  four  scrap- 
bloom  fires,  capable  of  producing  200  tons  per  month; 
all  these  estimates  calculated  upon  double  time,  or  run- 
ning day  and  night.  Power  is  supplied  by  steam  boilers 
of  80  horse  power.  The  steam  hammer  has  a  drop 
weight  of  2,200  pounds,  stroke  30  inches.  Blast  is  pro- 
duced by  a  double  cylinder  perpendicular  blowing  en- 
gine, built  by  Wrin  &  Brother,  Lebanon,  Pa.,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,200.  The  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  $50,000, 
of  which  $32,000  was  expended  .in  the  erection  of  the 
forge,  leaving  $18,000  unissued.  The  officers  of  the  com- 
pany are  as  follows:  Robert  F.  Oram  president;  John 
Hance,  vice-president;  William  G.  Lathrop,  treasurer; 
Edward  Hance,  secretary. 

THE    CHESTER    FURNACE. 

The  Chester  furnace,  situated  west  of  Chester  village, 
was  built  in  1878  by  the  Jersey  Spiegel  Iron  Company, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  spiegel-eisen  out  of  residuum 
which  is  the  refuse  of  franklinite  after  the  zinc  is  extracted. 

The  project  was  abandoned,  however,  after  the  com- 
pletion of  the  furnace,  and  in  the  spring  of  1879  it  was 
leased  for  a  term  of  years  to  W.  J.  Taylor  &  Co.,  who  ran 
it  on  iron  until  the  summer  of  1880,  when  the  original 
stack,  which  was  11  feet  bosh  and  40  feet  high,  was  found 
to  be  too  small  to  be  profitable.  It  was  torn  down  by 
the  lessees  and  rebuilt  60  feet  high  and  13  feet  bosh,  and 
it  is  now  in  successful  blast,  averaging  a  production  of 
240  tons  per  week  red  short  mill  iron,  made  from  Chester 
sulphur  ores  after  roasting  in  the  Taylor  kilns,  brand 
"Jersey."  The  iron  ranks  very  high  as  a  mill-iron,  and 
is  used  mainly  for  sheets  and  plates,  and  also  as  a  mix- 
ture with  poor  cold-short  English  irons — one-third  of  this 
iron  mixed  with  two-thirds  of  Middlesborough  pig  making 
a  good  common  iron. 

STEPHENS    FURNACE. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad, 
iust  before  reaching  Drakesville  station  from  the  east,  is 
an  iron  furnace  and  smoke  stack  erected  in  1877  by  Wil- 
liam A.  Stephens,  after  a  patent  of  his  own.  The  process 
consists  in  introducing  the  ore,  pulverized  and  heated, 
from  the  top  of  the  furnace  to  the  main  fires  below,  and 
its  inventor  claimed  that  he  could  make  a  ton  of  iron 
with  a  ton  of  coal.  About  twenty  tons  of  iron  were  man- 
ufactured when  the  furnace  was  first  constructed,  but 
since  then  it  has  been  lying  idle. 

FOUNDRIES    AND    MACHINE    SHOPS. 

Besides  the  foundries  which  have  been  mentioned  in 
connection  with  furnaces  and  other  iron  works  there  have 
been  several  independent  establishments.  Some  of  these 
had  but  a  comparatively  short  existence.     About  the  year 


1835  Joseph  C.  Righter  built  one  at  Rockaway  on  Berry's 
Brook,  and  a  little  farther  up  the  stream  a  manufactory 
for  making  iron  axles.  The  foundry  is  still  standing,  but 
it  has  not  been  used  for  over  twenty  years  for  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  was  built.  It  belonged  to  the  late 
Richard  Stephens  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

THE    UNION    FOUNDRY. 

In  1845  James  Fuller  and  Mahlon  Hoagland  erected  a 
foundry  on  the  bank  of  the  canal  in  Rockaway,  which 
was  adapted  to  doing  a  large' business.  They  had  hardly 
gotten  their  works  in  complete  order  before  an  unlocked 
for  calamity  came  upon  them.  At  half-past  10  in  the 
evening  of  September  i8th  1850  a  fire  broke  out  which 
in  an  hour  or  two  reduced  their  buildings  to  ashes.  A 
large  quantity  of  finely  pulverized  charcoal  was  in  the 
corner  of  the  foundry,  and  it  is  supposed  that  while  the 
workmen  were  pouring  the  molten  iron  into  the  moulds 
some  sparks  fell  into  this  charcoal,  which  slowly  ignited 
until  it  was  all  aglow  and  from  which  fire  was  communi- 
cated to  the  building.  An  insurance  of  $3,500  did  little 
toward  making  up  a  loss  estimated  at  $20,000.  Sixty 
hands  were  thrown  out  of  employment.  Fuller  &  Co. 
had  been  filling  orders  frorn  Nova  Scotia  and  New 
Mexico.  They  were  then  preparing  castings  for  the  new 
planes  of  the  Morris  Canal.  The  fire  broke  up  the  firm; 
Mr.  Fuller  went  to  California,  and  died  on  his  way  home. 
Mr.  Hoagland  remained.  Freeman  Wood,  purchasing  , 
the  property,  built  it  over  and  rented  it  to  Aaron  D. 
Berry,  with  whom  Mr.  Hoagland  was  associated.  In 
1853  they  were  employing  forty-two  hands,  and  con- 
suming 500  tons  of  coal  and  500  tons  of  pig  iron  per 
annum.  More  than  100  tons  of  the  castings  for  the 
Crystal  Palace  in  New  York  were  made  here. 

From  Mr.  Wood  the  ownership  of  the  property  passed 
to  the  Morris  County  Bank,  with  the  rolling-mill  propeir- 
ty,  and  from  the  bank  Mr.  Hoagland  rented  for  a  time" 
and  finally  purchased.  Associated  with  him  in  the 
ownership  were  Robert  F.  Oram  and  William  G.  Lathrop. 
The  firm  was  called  the  Union  Foundry  Company,  and, 
though  in  1873  Mr.  Hoagland  became  the  sole  owner, 
the  buisness  is  still  carried  on  in  that  name.  For  several 
years  past  the  business  has  been  constantly  increasing, 
and  throughout  the  dull  times  of  1874-7  the  works  were 
in  constant  operation.  Heavy  rolls  etc.  are  made  here 
for  the  foreign  trade  and  for  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  Here  are  manufactured  also  the  ore  and  stone 
crushers  patented  by  Chas.  G.  Buchanan,  which  have 
proved  very  successful  wherever  tried.  Mr.  Buchanan 
has  very  recently  invented  a  train  of  magnetic  rolls  for 
the  separation  of  ore  from  its  impurities,  which  it  is 
claimed  will  make  many  ores  now  worthless  available  for 
iron-making.  The  Swedish  Iron  Company,  operating 
the  Rockaway  rolling-mill,  uses  these  rolls  to  purify  its 
sand  ore  at  Block  Island. 

THE   MORRIS   COUNTY    MACHINE    AND    IRON    COMPANY. 

This  company  was  organized   in   the  year  1868,  and 
has  erected  its   foundry  and  machine  shop  on  Sussex 


62 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


street  in  Dover,  near  the  site  of  the  foundry  which  Mr. 
McFarlan  sold  to  Alexander  Elliott  and  which  the  latter 
operated  until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  since. 
It  is  doing  a  large  business  and  gives  employment  to, 
about  sixty  hands.  Much  of  its  work  is  for  the  mines  in 
the  vicinity  of  Dover,  building  pumps,  engines,  air-com- 
pressors, etc.  Hon.  George  Richards  is  president, 
William  H.  Lambert  treasurer,  and  D.  B.  Overton  super- 
intendent. 

HARTLEY   FOUNDRY. 

This  very  complete  though  comparatively  small  estab- 
lishment is  built  on  the  site  of  the  old  Welch  forge,  near 
the  Bartley  station  of  the  High  Bridge  Railroad.  Its 
machinery  is  moved  by  water.  William  Bartley,  the  pro- 
prietor, is  the  owner  of  the  patent  "  Bartley  water  wheel," 
and  his  principal  business  is  its  manufacture.  It  is  a 
turbine  wheel  of  great  excellence.  For  power,  economy 
of  water  and  convenience  of  adjustment  it  is  unsurpassed. 


CHAPTER  X. 


IRON   MINES   OF   MORRIS   COUNTY. 


>N  speaking  of  the  iron  manufactures  it  has 
been  necessary  to  give  more  or  less  of  the 
history  of  some  of  the  principal  mines  con- 
nected with  them,  such  as  the  Dickerson, 
Mount  Hope  and  Hibernia  mines.  Prior  to 
about  the  year  1850  the  ore  mined  in  the  county 
was  manufactured  largely  in  the  county  and  was 
raised  for  that  purpose.  The  charcoal  furnaces  of  the 
last  century,  the  anthracite  furnace  at  Boonton  and  the 
charcoal  forges — always  running,  but  with  their  period 
of  greatest  activity  in  the  earlier  part  of  this  century — 
were  the  principal  consumers.  The  demand  for  ore  was 
comparatively  limited.  After  1850  the  demand  for  ore 
for  shipment  to  other  counties  of  this  State  and  to  other 
States  began  to  assume  importance,  and  that  demand  has 
increased  until  the  mining  of  ore  is  now  the  principal  de- 
partment of  iron  industry  in  the  county. 

Professor  George  H.  Cook,  State  geologist,  in  his  re- 
ports for  the  years  1879  and  1880  has  given  very  com- 
plete lists  of  all  the  mines  in  the  county  and  of  their  ca- 
pacity. He  arranges  the  mines  of  the  State  in  four  belts, 
nearly  parallel  with  each  other,  running  northeast  and 
southwest. 

ist,  the  Ramapo  Belt,  which  begins  near  Peapack,  in 
Somerset  county,  and  extends  in  a  northeast  direction  by 
Pompton  to  the  State  line.  It  is  about  two  miles  wide  at 
the  southwest  and  at  the  New  York  line  its  width  is  five 
miles.  Mine  Mountain,  Trowbridge  Mountain,  the  low 
mountains  between  Denville  and  Boonton,  the  mountain 
extending  from  Boonton  to  Pompton  and  the  Ramapo 
Mountain  are  all  in  this  belt.     The  belt  includes    the| 


following  mines  in  Morris  county:  the  Connet  mine  in 
Mendham  township,  already  mentioned,  and  supposed  to 
have  been  worked  in  the  last  century  to  some  extent;  the 
Beers  mine,  in  Hanover  township,  on  the  farm  of  John 
H.  Beers,  from  which  only  a  small  amount  of  ore  has  yet 
been  shipped;  the  Taylor  mine  and  the  mine  on  the 
Cole  farm,  Montville  township;  and  the  Kahart,  Lana- 
gan,  De  Bow,  Jackson  and  Ryerson  mines  in  Pequannock 
township,  which  have  not  been  operated  to  any  extent 
since  1874. 

2nd,  the  Passaic  Belt,  next,  to  the  northwest,  which  has 
a  nearly  uniform  breadth  of  about  five  miles.  It  includes 
the  principal  mines  of  the  county  and  State.  In  Chester 
township  are  the  Pottersville,  Rarick,  Langdon,  (R.  D.) 
Pitney,  Budd  &  Woodhull,  Topping,  Samson,  Hotel, 
Collis,  Creamer  ist,  Swayze,  Cooper,  Hacklebarney, 
Gulick,  Creager,  Hedges,  Dickerson  Farm,  Creamer  2nd, 
De  Camp,  Leake,  Daniel  Horton  and  Barnes  mines. 
Some  of  these  mines  have  never  been  developed,  others 
only  partially.  The  Swayze,  Gulick,  Cooper  and  Hackle- 
barney have  been  worked  successfully.  The  Cooper  mine 
was  opened  in  December  1879,  on  the  farm  of  the  late 
General  N.  A.  Cooper,  and  is  operated  by  the  Cooper 
Iron  Mining  Company  as  lessee.  It  is  under  the  super- 
intendence of  John  D.  Evans.  From  the  14th  of  De- 
cember 1879  to  the  1st  of  December  1880  over  12,000 
tons  of  ore  was  shipped,  and  the  supply  seems  almost 
limitless.  For  the  first  eeventy-five  feet  the  shafts  pass 
through  a  soft  granular  ore,  very  much  decomposed  and 
of  a  reddish  color,  after  which  a  rich  granular  blue  ore 
was  struck.  The  vein  is  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  wide. 
The  Hacklebarney  mine  is  an  old  mine,  but  on  account  of 
the  prevalence  of  sulphur  in  the  ore  was  not  worked  ex- 
tensively until  it  came  into  the  hands  of  its  present 
owners,  the  Chester  Iron  Company.  Over  20,000  tons  of 
ore  were  shipped  from  this  mine  during  each  of  the 
years  1879  and  1880.  The  low  percentage  of  phosphorus 
admits  the  use  of  this  ore  in  making  Bessemer  steel,  and 
it  has  been  worked  continuously  since  before  1873. 
There  are  several  veins  and  many  openings  on  this  prop- 
erty, which  may  be  considered  as  not  one  mine  but  sev- 
eral. The  High  Bridge  Railroad  has  a  branch  to  this 
mine,  largely  facilitating  the  transportation  of  the  ore. 

In  Randolph  township  are  the  following  mines:  Hen- 
derson, George  (or  Logan),  David  Horton,  De  Hart  and 
Lawrence  (worked  by  the  Reading  Iron  Company)  Dal- 
rymple  (worked  by  the  Crane  Iron  Company),  Trowbridge, 
Solomon  Dalrymple,  Cooper,  Munson,  Lewis,  Combs, 
Van  Doren,  Bryant  (owned  by  D.  L.  and  A.  Bryant,  and 
worked  by  the  Bethlehem  Iron  Company),  Connor  Fow- 
land,  Charles  King,  King  McFarland,  Evers  (worked  by  the 
Saucon  Iron  Company),  Brotherton  &  Byram  (worked  by 
the  Andover  Iron  Company),  Millen  (owned  by  the 
Boonton  Company),  Randall  Hill  (operated  by  the  Crane 
Iron  Company),  Jackson  Hill  (supposed  to  be  worked 
out),  Canfield's  Phosphatic  Iron,  Black  Hills,  Dickerson, 
Canfield,  Baker,  Irondale  (owned  by  the  New  Jersey  Iron 
Mining  Company,  and  which  includes  the  Spring,  Sul- 
livan, Corwin,  Stirling,  Hubbard,  North    River,  Harvey 


IRON  MINES  IN  RANDOLPH. 


63 


and  Hurd  mines),  Orchard  (owned  by  the  estate  of  J.  C. 
Lord),  and  Erb  and  Scrub  Oak  (which  are  owned  by  the 
Andover  Iron  Company), 

The  King,  Dickerson,  Black  Hills  and  Canfield  mines 
are  on  the  property  of  the.  Dickerson  Suckasunny  Min- 
ing Company,  and  include  the  famous  Dickerson  mine, 
which  is  still  in  succesful  operation.  In  the  Geology  of 
New  Jersey,  published  in  1868,  the  estimated  product 
of  this  mine  to  that  date  is  given  as  500,000  tons,  since 
which  time  300,000  have  been  raised,  making  a  grand 
aggregate  of  over  three-quarters  of  a  million  of  tons.  It 
is  at  present  leased  by  Ario  Pardee,  and  the  ore  is  shipped 
mostly  to  his  furnaces  at  Stanhope.  There  are  slopes  in 
this  mine  over  900  feet  in  length,  and  the  big  vein  is 
over  25  feet  wide  in  some  places.  The  ore  commands  a 
ready  sale  on  account  of  its  richness,  and  brings  a  large 
royalty  to  the  owners  of  the  mine.  The  Dickerson 
Suckasunny  Mining  Company  was  incorporated  February 
24th  1854,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $300,000,  its  corpora- 
tors being  Philemon  Dickerson,  Mahlon  D.  Canfield, 
Frederick  Canfield,  Jacob  Vanatta,  Edward  N.  Dicker- 
son,  Silas  D.  Canfield  and  Philemon  Dickerson  jr.,  de- 
visees, or  interested  for  the  devisees  of  Governor  Mah- 
lon Dickerson,  the  late  owner  of  the  mine;  and  their  ob- 
ject was  to  continue  the  ownership  of  the  property  in 
the  family,  with  more  convenient  management.  This 
mine,  as  has  already  been  stated,  was  "  located  "  by  John 
Reading  in  1715  on  West  Jersey  right,  and  sold  by  Read- 
ing to  Joseph  Kirkbride  in  1716.  Johathan  Dickerson, 
the  father  of  Governor  Mahlon  Dickerson,  began  to  pur- 
chase of  the  Kirkbride  heirs  in  1779,  and  in  partnership 
with  Minard  La  Fevre  he  purchased  nearly  the  whole. 
His  son  Mahlon  purchased  of  his  father's  heirs  in  1807 
and  bought  out  La  Fevre  and  the  remaining  Kirkbride 
heirs.  During  the  remainder  of  his  life  he  continued  to 
operate  the  mine,  residing  on  the  premises  after  his  re- 
turn from  Philadelphia  in  1810.  It  afforded  him  ample 
means  for  the  indulgence  of  his  literary  tastes  and  be- 
nevolent projects,  and  to  lead  unembarrassed  a  public 
life  embracing  higher  political  distinctions  than  have 
been  attained  by  any  other  citizen  of  the  county. 

Dr.  Tuttle,  who  visited  the  mine  in  1853,  the  year  of 
tne  governor's  death,  says:  "The  appearance  of  the  vein 
is  very  singular.  It  looks  as  if  some  powerful  force  from 
beneath  had  split  the  solid  rock,  leaving  a  chasm  of  from 
six  to  twenty-five  feet,  and  that  the  ore  in  a  fused  state 
had  been  forced  into  this  chasm  as  into  a  mould.  But 
at  the  place  where  the  ore  was  first  seen  there  is  a  sort 
of  basin  with  a  diameter  of  thirty  feet.  This  was  full  of 
ore,  which  looks  as  if  the  melted  mass  had  gushed  over 
the  vein  and  flowed  into  this  basin,  as  we  sometimes  see 
the  melted  iron  run  over  from  a  mould  which  is  full." 

Next  to  the  Dickerson  mine  is  the  Byram  mine,  so 
called  from  John  Byram,  who  purchased  it  about  forty 
years  ago,  when  its  principal  value  seemed  to  be  in  a 
venerable  apple  orchard.  His  explorations  for  ore  were 
very  successful,  and  in  the  last  thirty  years,  during 
which  time  it  has  been  under  lease,  it  has  produced  an 
immense  amount  of  ore.     The  old  mine  slope  is  900  feet 


long.  The  vein  averages  from  six  to  seven  feet  in  width. 
A  narrow-gauge  railway  runs  from  the  mine  to  Ferro- 
monte,  carrying  the  ore  to  the  High  Bridge  Railroad,  by 
which  it  is  sent  to  the  furnace  of  the  Andover  Iron  Com- 
pany, the  lessee. 

The  Millen  mine,  near  the  Byram,  was  sunk  to  a  depth 
of  120  feet  and  produced  about  4,000  tons  of  ore  in  1853. 
It  was  then  owned  by  Green  cfe  Dennison,  and  with  their 
Boonton  works  it  passed  from  them  to  Fuller  &  Lord, 
and  thence  to  the  estate  of  J.  Cowper  Lord,  deceased. 

The  Baker  mine  on  the  same  range  is  on  the  farm  pur- 
chased by  Henry  and  William  H.  Baker  from  Stephen 
De  Hart  in  1847.  It  was  not  extensively  developed  until 
sold  by  the  Bakers,  June  6th  1873,  to  Selden  T.  Scran- 
ton  and  Isaac  S.  Waterman.  It  is  now  operated  and 
owned  by  the  Lackawanna  Iron  and  Coal  Company. 

Of  the  Irondale  mines  all  have  been  idle  of  late  years 
except  the  Stirling  and  Hurd  mines,  which  are  leased  to 
the  Thomas  Iron  Company.  Some  of  these  mines — as 
for  example  the  Stirling  and  one  formerly  called  the 
Jackson  mine,  from  its  owner,  Stephen  Jackson — are  of 
great  antiquity,  having  been  worked  with  profit  in  the 
last  century. 

The  Stirling  mine  shoot  has  been  followed  about  1,500 
feet,  on  a  gentle  pitch  to  the  northeast,  with  an  average 
thickness  of  six  feet  of  ore.  The  height  of  the  shoot  was 
ninety  feet  in  1879,  when  it  was  producing  about  1,200 
tons  per  month. 

The  Hurd  mine  was  opened  in  1872,  by  the  Thomas 
Iron  Company.  In  1874  a  subterranean  stream  of  water 
prevented  working  it  to  its  full  capacity  and  finally  led 
to  a  stoppage.  Similar  difficulty  was  met  with  in  the 
Harvey  and  Orchard  mines.  To  relieve  these  mines  and 
all  those  about  Port  Oram  the  Orchard  and  Irondale 
adit  was  projected.  It  was  a  tunnel,  having  its  mouth 
between  the  canal  and  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad 
between  Port  Oram  and  Dover  and  extending  westerly. 
In  a  description  of  it  given  by  L.  C.  Bierwirth,  mining 
engineer  and  agent  of  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Mining 
Company,  in  the  geological  report  of  1879  it  is  stated 
that  it  was  commenced  in  April  1877,  by  the  New  Jersey 
Iron  Mining  Company,  the  Thomas  Iron  Company  and 
the  trustees  of  the  estate  of  J.  Cowper  Lord,  to  drain 
their  mines.  The  mouth  of  the  discharging  ditch  is  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Rockaway  River,  and  the  ditch  and  main 
adit  had  been  carried  up  in  April  1879  on  the  southwest 
side  of  the  railroad  3,667  feet,  the  ditch  being  983  feet  and 
the  adit  2,684  feet.  At  present  there  are  795  feet  of 
open  cut,  2,888  feet  of  the  main  line  and  1,100  feet  of 
the  Irondale  branch,  which  will  be  350  feet  longer  when 
complete.  It  is  five  feet  wide  and  ascends  three-quarters 
of  an  inch  in  100  feet.  The  ground  encountered  has 
generally  been  coarse  gravel,  with  numerous  boulders 
and  occasional  beds  of  quicksand.  The  effect  on  mines 
over  1,500  feet  distant  has  been  remarkable,  and  wells  in 
the  neighborhood  have  been  entirely  dried  up. 

In  Rockaway  township  in  the  Passaic  belt  are  the  fol- 
lowing mines:  Johnson  Hill,  Hoff,  Dolan,  Washington 
Forge,  Mount  Pleasant,  Baker  (Dolan),  Richards,  Allen, 


64 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Teabo,  Mount  Hope  (including  Hickory  Hill),  Swedes, 
Sigler,  White  Meadow,  Beach,  Hibernia,  Beach  Glen, 
Tichenor,  Righter,  Meriden,  Cobb,  Split  Rock  Pond, 
Greenville,  Chester  Iron  Company,  Davenport's,  Green 
Pond  or  Copperas,  Howell,  Kitchel  and  Charlottenburg. 

The  Johnson  Hill  and  Hoff  mines  are  on  the  Moses 
Tuttle  property  at  Mount  Pleasant,  the  one  falling. to 
Mrs.  Jane  De  Camp  and  the  other  to  Mrs.  Hannah  Hoff 
in  the  division  made  in  1822  of  the  Tuttle  property.  The 
Johnson  Hill  mine  is  owned  by  Ephraim  Lindsley,  of 
Dover,  and  has  not  developed  a  large  deposit.  The 
Hoff  mine  has  been  worked  almost  continuously  since 
1872  by  the  Chester  Iron  Company,  who  leased  from  the 
heirs  of  Hannah  Hoff.  The  Company  shipped  about 
6,000  tons  of  ore  in  half  of  the  year  1880,  and  the  ca- 
pacity of  the  mine  for  the  present  year  was  estimated 
at  15,000  tons.  The  openings  indicate  a  succession  of 
shoots  which  pitch  to  the  northeast.  The  ore  is  very 
solid  and  clean  and  said  to  be  especially  adapted  to  soft 
foundry  iron. 

The  Dolan  mine,  belonging  to  Bishop  Dolan,  has  not 
been  extensively  developed. 

The  Mount  Pleasant  mine  is  an  old  one,  having  been 
worked  to  some  extent  by  Moses  Tuttle.  Guy  Hinch- 
man  purchased  the  property  in  1818,  and  the  mine  was 
worked  until  the  shafts  reached  a  depth  which  prevented 
their  being  worked  to  profit  at  the  then  prices  of  ore 
and  methods  of  mining.  It  afterward  came  into  the 
hands  of  Green  &  Dennison,  of  the  Boonton  Company, 
and  since  then  it  has  been  in  almost  continuous  success- 
ful operation.  It  now  belongs  to  the  estate  of  J.  Cow- 
per  Lord,  deceased.  The  ore  is  very  rich  and  clean. 
The  depth  of  the  east  mine  in  1879  was  600  feet. 

The  Washington  Forge  mine,  worked  by  the  Carbon 
Iron  Manufacturing  Company,  is  on  the  old  Washington 
Forge  lot  of  Hoff  &  Hoagland.  The  length  of  the  vein 
on  this  property  is  not  very  great  and  there  is  a  prospect 
of  its  soon  being  exhausted. 

The  Baker  mine,  to  the  northeast  of  the  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, was  worked  by  the  Allentown  Iron  Company  until 
1877,  when  the  large  vein  suddenly  "  pinched  out  "  in 
the  bottom  and  the  lessees  were  unable  to  discover  its 
continuation,  if  any.  This  large  vein  is  to  the  east  of  the 
Mount  Pleasant  vein,  which  also  crosses  the  property  and 
which  has  been  worked  to  some  extent.  The  Allentown 
Iron  Company  was  sued  in  1877  by  the  Thomas  Iron 
Company,  which  owns  the  Richards  mine,  adjoining,  for 
alleged  overworking;  and  the  suit  occupied  the  time  of  a 
court  and  jury  for  over  a  month  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber 1877,  resulting  finally  in  a  disagreement.  The  suit 
was  at  last  compromised  and  settled.  The  shafts  on 
this  large  vein  were  sunk  about  300  feet,  and  the  vein 
was  in  its  widest  place  twenty-five  feet  wide.  The  ore 
was  exceedingly  rich  and  pure,  comparing  favorably  with 
the  Dickerson  and  best  Mount  Hope  ores. 

The  Richards  mine  is  very  old  and  is  named  from 
Richard  Faesch,  who  purchased  it  of  his  father's  estate. 
This  mine,  the  Allen,  Teabo,  Mount  Hope,  Hickory 
Hill  and   Swedes  are  all  on  the  old  Mount  Hope  tract 


purchased  by  Faesch  in  1772.  The  Richards  mine  was 
worked  and  operated  by  the  Dover  Company  and  its  suc-" 
cessors,  Blackwell  &  McFarlan,  and  by  Henry  McFarlan, 
was  sold  to  its  present  owners,  the  Thomas  Iron  Com- 
pany, October  30th  1856.  It  is  only  since  the  latter, 
change  of  ownership  that  its  wealth  has  been  fairly  de- 
veloped. There  are  two  veins  in  this  property,  as  on  the 
Baker;  the  southeastern  is  the  larger  and  the  one  princi- 
pally worked.  The  ore  is  sent  to  the  company's  furnaces 
at  Hokendauqua,  Pa. 

The  Allen  and  Teabo  mines  and  the  820  acres  on 
which  they  are  found  were  purchased  of  General  Doughty 
by  Canfield  &  Losey  in  the  sale  of  the  Faesch  lands. : 
From  them  the  property  passed  to  Goble  &  Crane,  and 
by  them  it  was  conveyed  to  Joseph  and  William  Jackson. , 
The  Jacksons  divided  the  property  between  them  in 
1828,  the  Allen  mine  as  it  is  now  called  falling  to  William 
and  the  Teabo  to  Joseph  Jackson.  The  presence  of  ore 
was  discovered  on  this  tract  by  Jonathan  Wiggins  many 
years  ago;  but  in  1826  Colonel  Jackson  marked  out  a 
place  and  set  one  William  Teabo  to  work,  with  the 
promise  that  if  he  found  ore  the  vein  should  be  named 
after  him.  The  vein  was  reached  in  about  30  feet  and- 
Ihe  name  of  Teabo  has  been  attached  to  the  mine  ever 
since.  Colonel  Jackson  worked  the  mine  for  his  forges 
until  185 1,  when  he  sold  it  to  Samuel  B.  Halsey,  who  sold 
it  the  next  year  to  the  Glendon  Iron  Company,  its  present 
owners.  For  many  years  after  the  Glendon  Company 
purchased  it  it  lay  idle  and  was  supposed  to  have  been 
exhausted;  but  the  discovery  that  another  vein  crossed 
the  property  revived  operations,  and  for  several  years  it 
has  yielded  annually  a  large  amount  of  very  rich  iron 
ore, 

The  Allen  mine  was  sold  by  William  Jackson,  June  ist 
1830,  to  Caleb  O.  Halstead  and  Andrew  Brown  in  ignor- 
ance of  its  mineral  value,  and  December  27th  1848  it  was 
sold  to  Jabez  L.  Allen,  who  developed  the  rich  veins 
which  crossed  it.  He  sold  it  January  loth  1868  to  Con- 
rad Poppenhusen,  for  $100,000,  and  it  is  now  owned  by 
the  New  Jersey  Iron  Mining  Company.  It  has  been 
operated,  however,  for  many  years  by  the  Andover  Iron 
Company,  and  is  under  the  management  of  Richard 
George. 

The  Mount  Hope  mines  have  perhaps  produced  more 
ore  than  any  other  in  the  county.  As  we  have  stated, 
they  were  worked  by  Jacob  Ford,  to  supply  his  forges  on 
the  east  branch  of  the  Rockaway,  before  1770,  and  by 
John  Jacob  Faesch,  to  supply  his  furnace  and  forges,  to 
1800.  From  Faesch  they  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Phillipses,  and  from  them  to  the  Mount  Hope  Mining 
Company.  Edward  R.  Biddle,  owning  or  controlling  the 
stock  of  this  company,  about  1852  transferred  or  sold  it  to 
the  present  owners,  Moses  Taylor  and  others,  who  are 
also  the  principal  stockholders  of  the  Lackawanna  Iron 
and  Coal  Company.  In  effect  the  property  is  owned  by 
the  last  named  company.  It  is  estimated  that  r,ooo,ooo 
tons  of  ore  have  been  taken  from  this  mine  since  it  was 
first  opened.  The  great  Jugular  vein  originally  jutted 
out  of  the  ground  like  a  cliff,  on  the  north   side  of  the 


IRON  MINES  IN  ROCKAWAY  TOWNSHIP. 


65 


-  road  west  of  the  Mansion  House.  It  is  of  great  width 
and  developed  for  an  enormous  distance.  Besides  this 
vein  there  are  at  least  four  other  large  developed  veins  on 
the  property. 

The  Swedes  mine,  so  called  from  the  quality  of  the 
iron  made  from  the  ore,  is  on  the  original  Mount  Hope 
tract,  but  to  the  east  of  the  range  of  the  mines  just  men- 
tioned, and  between  Rockaway  and  Dover.  It  was  dis- 
covered as  early  as  1792  or  1794  by  one  John  Howard, 
who  was  in  the  employ  of  Stephen  Jackson  and  mining 
at  Hibernia.  One  Saturday  he  was  returning  to  his  home 
in  Dover  with  his  week's  provisions  when,  instead  of  fol- 
lowing the  road,  he  crossed  through  the  woods.  Setting 
down  his  provisions  and  a  compass  he  carried,  to  rest,  he 
"noticed  the  needle  standing  nearly  east  and  west.  He 
communicated  the  fact  to  his  employer,  who  told  Mr. 
Faesch.  After  Faesch's  death  Mr.  Jackson  purchased  a 
large  body  of  land  from  the  Mount  Hope  tract  near 
Rockaway,  including  the  land  on  which  this  attraction 
was  discovered.  After  the  death  of  Stephen  Jackson 
this  property  came  into  the  possession  of  his  son,  Colonel 
Joseph  Jackson,  who  developed  the  mine,  driving  in  a 
'tunnel,  etc.  October  ist  1847  Colonel  Jackson  sold  it 
to  Green  &  Dennison,  of  the  Boonton  Company,  who 
operated  it  extensively.  The  Boonton  blast  furnace  was 
run  principally  on  this  ore  for  one  hundred  and  twenty 
weeks  at  one  time.  This  mine  was  very  convenient  for 
the  Boonton  Company,  because  the  mouth  of  the  adit  or 
tunnel  was  on  the  bank  of  the  Morris  Canal,  and  trans- 
portation was  easy  down  that  canal  about  ten  miles  to 
the  company's  furnace.  Since  the  war,  however,  the 
mine  has  been  abandoned. 

The  White  Meadow  mine  was  known  before  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  mine  lot  being 
''  taken  up "  at  that  early  date.  No  doubt  ore  was 
obtained  from  it  to  use  in  the  White  Meadow  and  other 
forges  by  Beman,  Munson  and  the  other  forgemen  of 
that  date.  Still  the  vein  is  narrow,  and  though  the  ore 
is  of  excellent  quality  the  mine  has  not  been  steadily 
worked.  It  was  leased  in  1853  to  the  Boonton  Iron 
Company  under  a  lease  which  obligated  them  to  raise 
2,000  tons  per  annum.  It  then  belonged  to  Colonel 
Thomas  Muir,  and  is  now  owned  by  his  son  Peter  Muir, 
his  daughter  Mrs.  Ann  J.  Hoagland',  and  his  son-in-law 
Mahlon  Hoagland. 

Adjoining  the  White  Meadow  tract  are  lands  of  Dr. 
Columbus  Beach,  on  which  the  White  Meadow  vein  has 
been  traced  and  an  opening  made  called  the  Gidd  mine. 
It  was  last  operated  by  the  Musconetcong  Iron  Company. 

The  Hibernia  mines  are  upon  one  vein,  extending  at 
least  two  miles  in  length.  Where  it  cropped  out  of  the 
south  side  of  the  hill  at  Hibernia  it  was  operated  by 
Samuel  Ford,  Stirling  and  those  who  preceded  them,  and 
adjoining  to  the  northeast  the  "  Ford  mine  ''  was  opera- 
ted as  we  have  seen,  by  Jacob  Ford  and  his  lessees  and 
grantees.  But  those  operations  were  small  compared 
with  the  mining  of  the  last  thirty  years.  Taking  them  in 
order,  the  mine  to  the  southwest  is  the  Beach  mine, 
owned  by  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Mining  Company,  for- 


merly by  Conrad  Poppenhusen,  who  purchased  of  Dr.  C. 
Beach.  It  was  first  opened  about  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  is  now  being  operated  by  the  Andover  Iron  Com- 
pany. Next  to  this  is  the  "  Theo.  Wood  mine,"  the 
oldest  opening  of  them  all,  and  covering  the  vein  on  the 
side  and  foot  of  the  Hibernia  hill.  It  formerly  belonged 
to  the  two  sons  of  Benjamin  Beach,  Chilion  and  Samuel 
Searing  Beach.  The  share  of  Chilion  was  bought  by  his 
son  Columbus,  and  Thomas  Willis,  of  Powerville,  pur- 
chased the  other  half.  Dr.  Beach  and  Willis  sold  the 
mine,  January  nth  1853,  to  Theodore  Wood  for  $14,000, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  an  excellent  sale;  but  in  1865 
it  was  sold  to  Conrad  Poppenhusen  for  five  times  that 
amount.  It  belongs  now  to  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Mining 
Company,  which  leases  it  to  the  Andover  Iron  Company. 
With  the  other  mines  owned  or  leased  by  the  latter  com- 
pany it  is  under  the  management  of  Richard  George. 
Next  in  order  is  the  Old  Ford  mine,  now  owned  by  the 
Glendon  Iron  Company.  This  company,  being  the 
lessee  of  the  mines  beyond,  has  not  driven  its  Ford  mine 
so  rapidly  as  those  leased  by  the  company,  holding  it  in 
reserve.  Next  to  this  mine  are  the  Crane  mine,  belong- 
ing to  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Crane,  one  of  the 
daughters  of  Colonel  William  Scott,  and  the  De  Camp 
mine,  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Mrs.  Augusta  De  Camp, 
wife  of  Edward  De  Camp  and  another  one  of  the 
daughters  of  Colonel  Scott.  Both  of  these  mines  and 
the  Upper  Wood  mine  are  and  have  been  for  many  years 
leased  and  operated  by  the  Glendon  Iron  Company, 
whose  general  superintendent'  and  manager  is  George 
Richards,  of  Dover.  The  Upper  Wood  mine,  so  called 
from  having  once  been  owned  by  Theodore  T.  Wood, 
and  to  distinguish  it  from  the  one  under  the  hill,  for- 
merly belonged  to  Elijah  D.  Scott,  a  son  of  Colonel 
William  Scott.  Beyond  the  Upper  Wood  mine  is  the 
Willis  mine,  which  was  once  the  property  of  Araminta 
Scott,  another  of  the  daughters  of  Colonel  Scott.  It  is 
now  operated  by  the  Bethlehem  Iron  Company  and  be- 
longs, as  does  also  the  Upper  Wood  mine,  to  the  New 
Jersey  Iron  Mining  Company. 

An  underground  railroad  has  been  constructed  from 
the  foot  of  the  hill  northeast  upon  or  in  the  vein  through 
the  bowels  of  the  mountain,  which  brings  the  product  of 
all  the  upper  mines  to  the  terminus  of  the  Hibernia 
Railroad,  on  which  all  the  ore  of  the  Hibernia  mines 
goes  to  market.  The  tonnage  of  this  road,  almost  en- 
tirely made  up  of  the  product  of  these  mines,  was  99,123 
tons  in  1879. 

The  Beach  Glen  mine  is  at  Beach  Glen,  near  the  site 
of  the  old  Johnston  iron  works  and  east  of  the  old  pond. 
It  was  formerly  the  property  of  Colonel  Samuel  S.  Beach, 
who  sold  it  to  Samuel  B.  Halsey  and  Freeman  Wood. 
They  sold  it  for  $4,000  to  the  Boonton  Company,  from 
whom  it  has  come  to  the  possession  of  the  estate  of 
James  Cowper  Lord,  deceased.  It  was  not  in  operation 
from  1875  to  1879.  There  are  two  large  veins  on  the 
property,  which  have  been  worked  to  a  depth  of  from  100 
to  130  feet.  The  mine  has  been  very  productive,  yielding 
large  quantities  of  ore. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  Cobb  mine,  east  of  the  Split  Rock  Pond  is  an  old 
mine,  owned  and  worked  for  many  years  before  his  death 
by  Judge  Andrew  B.  Cobb.  It  still  belongs  to  his  estate, 
and  with  the  forge  at  Split  Rock  is  under  lease  to  William 
D.  Marvel,  of  New  York. 

The  Split  Rock  Pond  mine  was  opened  within  the  last 
few  years  by  William  S.  De  Camp,  on  the  property  of 
Benjamin  F.  and  Monroe  Howell,  at  the  head  of  Split 
Rock  Pond.  Two  veins  of  good  size  not  fifty  feet  apart 
have  been  opened  upon,  with  a  good  quality  of  ore. 
Transportation  must  be  by  wagons  to  Boonton  or  Beach 
Glen,  which  prevents  development  except  when  prices  of 
iron  rule  high. 

The  mines  of  the  Chester  Iron  Company  (that  on  the 
Halsey  tract  now  owned  by  A.  S.  Hewitt,  the  Canfield  or 
Pardee  mine,  the  Davenport  mine,  the  Green  Pond  or 
Copperas  mine,  belonging  to  the  estate  of  Andrew  B. 
Cobb,  Howell's  mine,  Kitchel's  mine,  lately  Bancroft's, 
and  the  Charlottenburg  mine)  are  all  upon  what  appears 
to  be  one  vein,  having  its  principal  openings  at  the  Cop- 
peras works.  The  vein  lies  under  and  along  the  east  side 
of  Copperas  Mountain,  and  extends  with  more  or  less  in- 
terruption from  the  Pequannock  River  to  Denmark. 
Most  of  the  ore  is  strongly  impregnated  with  sulphur, 
which  prevented  its  being  used  by  the  old  forges  for 
making  iron.  The  absence  of  phosphorus  makes  it  very 
valuable,  however,  for  making  Bessemer  steel.  The 
mines  were  operated  by  Job  Allen  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  by  Dr.  Charles  Graham  during  the  war  of  1812, 
and  large  quantities  of  the  ore  taken  out  for  making  cop- 
peras. A  little  was  probably  also  used  for  making  iron. 
In  1873  leases  were  made  of  this  mine  to  William  S. 
De  Camp,  who  transferred  them  almost  at  once  to  the 
Green  Pond  Iron  Mining  Company.  A  railroad  was 
built  to  the  Midland  Railroad,  and  over  6o,coo  tons  of 
iron  have  been  taken  out  by  the  tenants  in  the  last  eight 
years.     The  mines  are  not  now  in  operation. 

The  Musconetcong  Belt  covers  t  he  remainder  of  the 
county  to  the  northwest  of  the  Passaic  belt  (the  Pequesi 
Belt,  the  fourth  mentioned  by  Professor  Cook,  lying  en- 
tirely outside  of  the  county).  It  includes  the  following 
mines  in  Morris  county:  In  Washington  township.  Sharp, 
Kann,  Hunt  Farm,  Stoutenberg,  Fisher,  Marsh,  Dickin- 
son, Hunt,  Lake,  Naughright,  Sharp,  Rarick,  Hopler  and 
Poole;  in  Mount  Olive  township,  Shouse,  Cramer,  Smith, 
Appleget,  Smith  Lawrence,  Mount  Olive  or  Solomons, 
Drake  and  Osborne;  in  Roxbury  township.  Hilts,  Baptist 
Church,  King,  High  Ledge  and  Gove ;  in  Jefferson 
township,  Davenport,  Nolands,  Hurdtown,  Apatite, 
Hurd,  Lower  Weldon,  Weldon,  Dodge,  Ford,  Scofield, 
Fraser,  Duffee  and  Shongum. 

Many  of  these  mines  are  simply  opened  and  their  real 
value  not  developed.  Some  of  them  in  Jefferson  have 
been  operated  extensively.  The  Hurd  mine,  leased  by 
the  Glendon  Iron  Company  of  the  estate  of  John  Hurd, 
has  perhaps  produced  the  largest  quantity  of  the  best 
ore.  The  shoot  is  60  feet  high  and  40  feet  wide,  and  the 
slope  has  reached  a  length  of  1,450  feet.  The  ore  is 
shipped  by  way  of  the  Ogden  Mme  Railroad  and  Lake 


Hopatcong,  and   thence  to  the   company's  furnaces  at 
Glendon,  Pa. 

Through  the  kindness  of  G.  L.  Bryant,  of  the  High 
Bridge  Railroad,  of  H.  W.  Cortright,  superintendent  of 
the  Ogden  Mine  Railroad,  and  of  John  S.  Gibson,  of  the 
Iron  Era,  we  have  obtained  the  amount  of  ore  shipped 
from  the  county  or  from  one  part  of  the  county  to  Chester 
furnace  for  the  year  ending  July  ist  1881  over  the  High 
Bridge,  Ogden  Mine  and  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroads — the  Ogden  Mine  connecting  through 
Lake  Hopatcong  with  the  Morris  Canal.  The  amounts 
are  as  follows:  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Rail- 
road, 297,359  tons  9  cwt.;  Ogden  Mine  Railroad,  72,668 
tons  13  cwt.;  High  Bridge  to  Chester,  18,386  tons;  High 
Bridge  to  Phillipsburg,  161,135  '^""^  5  cwt.;  total,  549,- 
549  tons  7  cwt. 

Besides  this  amount  should  be  added  what  is  shipped 
from  the  Dickerson  mine  to  Stanhope  and  that  which  is 
sent  over  the  New  Jersey  Midland  Railroad.  Professor 
Cook  estimates  the  entire  ore  product  of  the  State  for 
the  year  1880  at  800,000  tons.  If  the  amount  is  the  same 
from  July  ist  1880  to  July  ist  r88i  then  Morris  county 
produces  over  two-thirds  of  all  the  ore  mined  in  the  State. 

From  the  "  Census  of  the  Production  of  Iron  Ore  in 
the  United  States  "  compiled  from  the  official  figures  for 
the  bulletin  of  the  Iron  and  Steel  Association,  we  extract 
the  following:  There  were  nineteen  mines  in  the  country 
which  produced  over  50,000  tons  each  during  the  census 
year,  two  of  which  are  in  Morris  county.  First  in  order 
is  the  Cornwall  Ore  Bank,  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  with 
a  production  of  280,000  tons.  The  eleventh  in  rank  is 
the  Hibernia  mine,  in  this  county,  with  a  production  of 
85,623  tons,  and  the  nineteenth  is  the  Mount  Hope  mine, 
with  a  production  of  50,379  tons. 

■  Eleven  counties  produce  55.14  per  cent,  of  the  entire 
product,  of  which  Marquette  county,  Mich.,  is  credited 
with  17.14  per  cent.  The  three  leading  counties  and 
their  product  are:  Marquette,  Mich.,  1,374,812;  Essex, 
N.  Y.,  630,944;  Morris,  N.  J.,  568,420.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  county  of  Morris  produced  about  three- 
quarters  of  all  the  iron  ore  raised  in  New  Jersey.  Sus- 
sex county  produced  70,365  tons,  and  Warren  county, 
50,214  tons. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


TRAVEL    AND    TRANSPORTATION — TURNPIKES — THE   MOR- 
RIS    CANAL RAILROADS. 


Y  the  end  of  the  last  century  the  increased 
business  and  population  of  the  county  de- 
manded better  roads  than  had  thus  far  suf- 
ficed.    The  pack  saddle  had  been  supplanted 
by   wheels,    and   tolerable   roads  through    the 
county  had  been  built,  but  from  the  county  to 
the  seaboard  the  want  of  something  better  was 
The  first  turnpike  company  in  the  county  was  the 


TURNPIKES  AND  STAGE  LINES. 


67 


Morris  Turnpike  Company,  which  was  chartered  March 
9th  1801.  Its  corporators  were  Gabriel  H.  Ford,  David 
Ford  and  Israel  Canfield,  and  its  object  was  declared  to 
be  the  erecting  and  maintaining  of  a  good  and  sufficient 
turnpike  road  from  Elizabethtown,  in  the  county  of  Es- 
sex, through  Morristown,  in  the  county  of  Morris,  and 
from  thence  into  the  county  of  Sussex.  The  act.  of  in- 
corporation is  very  much  like  a  modern  railroad  act,  and 
provided  for  tolls  to  be  charged,  condemnation  of  lands, 
etc.,  etc.  The  road  was  actually  built,  entering  Morris 
county  at  Chatham,  and,  passing  through  Madison  in 
almost  a  straight  line,  ran  to  nearly  opposite  Washing- 
ton's headquarters  in  Morristown;  passed  through  Mor- 
ris and  Spring  streets  and  Sussex  avenue  in  Morristown, 
and  so  on  through  Walnut  Grove,  Succasunna  Plains, 
Drakesville  and  Stanhope  to  Newtown. 

February  23d  1804  Elias  Ogden,  Joseph  Hurd  and 
John  De  Camp  were  made  corporators  of  a  new  turnpike 
company,  to  be  called  the  Union  Turnpike  Comj^any, 
which  had  for  its  object  the  building  a  road  from  Mor- 
ristown through  Dover  and  Mount  Pleasant,  and  from 
thence  to  Sparta,  in  the  county  of  Sussex.  The  com- 
pany was  to  commence  building  the  road  at  Sparta  and 
work  eastward.  Under  the  auspices  of  this  company 
the  pike  was  made  which,  coming  east  from  Sparta,  ran 
through  Woodport,  Hurdtown,  Berkshire  Valley,  Mount 
Pleasant  and  Dover,  to  Morristown.  February  4th  1815 
the  company  was  allowed  by  act  of  Legislature  to  raise 
^7,500  by  lottery  to  pay  its  debts,  and  it  is  of  record  that 
a  road  near  Stanhope  was  built  with  money  raised  in 
this  manner. 

March  12th  1806  the  Newark  and  Mount  Pleasant 
Turnpike  Company  was  incorporated,  its  incorporators 
being  Joseph  T.  Baldwin,  Nathaniel  Beach,  Isaac  Pier- 
son,  Hiram  Smith  and  Joseph  Jackson.  This  road  en- 
tered the  county  at  Cook's  Bridge  and,  passing  through 
Whippany  and  Littleton,  fell  into  the  Union  turnpike  at 
Pleasant  Valley,  near  Dover.  It  was  abandoned  as  a 
turnpike  before  1833. 

March  3d  1806  a  company  was  chartered  to  build  a 
turnpike  from  Morristown  to  Phillipsburg,  with  a  branch 
from  Schooley's  Mountain  passing  by  the  celebrated 
mineral  springs  to  Hackettstown.  The  incorporators 
were  David  Welsh,  George  Bidleman,  Nicholas  Neighbour, 
Ebenezer  Drake,  Israel  Canfield,  James  Little,  John  Mc 
Carter,  Edward  Condict,  Harry  Cooper,  and  Samuel 
Sherred,  and  it.  was  ealled  the  Washington  Turnpike 
Company.  It  built  the  road  which,  leaving  Morristown  by 
the  court-house,  is  still  the  principal  road  to  Mendham; 
running  thence  through  Chester,  by  the  late  General 
Cooper's  mills,  to  German  Valley,  and  so  up  Schooley's 
Mountain,  through  Springtown,  to  the  mountain  hotels, 
where  it  branched,  the  "  spur  "  going  north  to  Hacketts- 
town and  the  main  line  continuing  through  Pleasant 
Grove  toward  Phillipsburg.  In  1823  the  property  of  this 
company  was  sold  by  the  sheriff  to  James  Wood,  who 
owned  the  road  until  1842,  when  he  made  a  reconvey- 
ance to  the  company.  Mr.  Wood  also  owned  the  fran- 
chises etc.,  of  the  Union  Turnpike  Company,  which  had 


been  sold  to  Sylvester  D.  Russel  and  by  his  widow  re- 
leased to  him.  The  executors  of  Mr.  Wood  sold  his 
interest  in  it  in  1852  to  A.  C.  Farmington  and  others, 
who  reorganized  the  company. 

At  the  same  time,  March  3d  1806,  the  Paterson  and 
Hamburg  Turnpike  Company  was  organized,  which 
built  the  turnpike  that,  beginning  at  Aquacknonk  Land- 
ing, in  Essex  county,  passed  through  Paterson  to  Pomp- 
ton,  and  so  up  the  valley  of  the  Pequannockto  Newfound- 
land, and  on  to  Hamburg  in  Sussex.  The  corporators 
named  in  the  act  were  Joseph  Sharp,  John  Seward, 
Robert  Colfax,  Martin  J.  Ryerson,  Charles  Kinsey, 
Abraham  Godwin,  Abraham  Van  Houten,  John  Odie 
Ford  and  Jacob  Kanouse. 

November  14th  1809  the  Parsippany  and  Rockaway 
Turnpike  Company  was  incorporated,  Tobias  Boudinot, 
Israel  Crane,  Benjamin  Smith,  Lemuel  Cobb,  John 
Hinchman  and  Joseph  Jackson  being  the  incorporators. 
It  began  at  Pine  Brook,  ran  up  through  the  Boudmot 
■  Meadows — the  dread  of  all  travelers  until  filled  in  through 
their  entire  length — Troy,  Parsippany,  Denville,  Rocka- 
way, and  across  the  mountain  to  Mount  Pleasant,  where 
it  joined  the  Union  turnpike.  July'  22nd  1822  this  turn- 
pike was  abandoned  as  such  and  was  laid  out  by  survey- 
ors of  the  highway  as  a  public  road,  and  it  is  still  the 
main  thoroughfare  from  that  part  of  the  country  to  New- 
ark etc. 

February  nth  181 1  the  Newark  and  Morris  Turnpike 
Company  was  chartered,  John  Doughty,  Benjamin  Pier- 
son,  Caleb  Campbell,  Seth  Woodruff,  Moses  W.  Combs 
and  Jabez  Pierson  being  the  incorporators.  The  road 
was  to  pass  through  South  Orange  to  Bottle  Hill  (Madi- 
son) or  to  Morristown. 

The  Columbia  and  Walpack  Turnpike  Company  was 
incorporated  in  1819. 

These  turnpikes  had  a  great  influence  in  developing 
the  resources  of  the  county — how  great  they  who  live  at 
the  present  day  of  steam  railroads  can  hardly  appreciate. 
They  were  not  profitable  to  the  incorporators,  and  the 
benefit  which  accrued  from  them  was  to  the  community 
at  large. 

Some  idea  can  be  gotten  of  the  means  of  communica- 
tion in  those  days  by  the  stage  route  advertisements. 
April  3d  1798  Pruden  Ailing  and  Benjamin  Green 
advertise  the  Hanover  stage  to  run  from  William  Par- 
rot's to  Paulus  Hook  (Jersey  City)  every  Tuesday, 
stopping  at  Munn's  tavern  in  Orange  and  William 
Broadwell's  in  Newark,  returning  the  succeeding  day. 
The  fare  was  one  dollar.  At  the  same  time  Benjamin 
Freeman  and  John  Halsey  advertised  stages  to  run  from 
Morristown  to  New  York  every  Tuesday  and  Friday, 
returning  every  Wednesday  and  Saturday.  The  stage 
started  from  Benjamin  Freeman's  at  6  in  the  morning, 
stopped  at  Stephen  Halsey's  at  Bottle  Hill  and  Israel 
Day's  at  Chatham,  and  from  thence  to  Mr.  Roll's,  at 
Springfield,  from  whence  the  stage  went  to  Paulus  Hook 
by  Newark,  but  passengers  desiring  to  go  by  Elizabeth- 
town  Point  could  have  a  conveyance  furnished.  The 
fare  to  the  Hook  was  $1.25,  and  to  Elizabethtown  $1. 


68 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Ten  years  after,  May  30th  1808,  John  Halsey  adver-' 
tised  a  stage  from  Morristown  to  Elizabethtown  Point, 
to  start  from  his  house  at  Morristown  at  6  a.  m.  Mon- 
days, Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  to  arrive  at  the  Point  for 
the  first  boat  and  to  return  each  succeeding  day.  The 
fare  was  ^r.  A  four-horse  stage  ran  to  "  Powles  Hook" 
as  usual  on  Tuesdays  and  Fridays  of  each  week;  and  the 
next  year  (April  4th  1809)  John  Burnet  &  Co.  advertise 
a  stage  to  run  from  Seth  Gregory's  tavern,  on  Morris 
Plains,  through  Morristown,  Whippany,  Hanover,  Orange 
and  Newark,  to  the  "  city  of  Jersey,"  starting  at  6  a.  m. 
Mondays  and  Thursdays  and  returning  the  succeeding 
days.  They  claimed  that  the  route  was  shorter  than  any 
other  and  was  on  the  turnpike  nearly  all  the  way.  The 
fare  was  §1.50. 

In  181 2  William  Dalrymple's  stages  were  carrying 
people  from  Lewis  Hayden's  tavern  to  Elizabethtown 
Point  three  times  a  week  for  §t  each,  and  from  the  Point 
they  took  steamer  to  New  York.  December  22nd  of  this 
year  notice  is  taken  of  Governor  Ogden's  beautiful 
steamer,  just  completed,  which  went  from  Elizabeth  to 
Amboy  on  Friday,  December  19th,  to  take  out  papers. 
Returning  she  made  the  distance  of  thirteen  or  fourteen 
miles  in  iivo  Jwurs.  The  machinery,  "  which  differs  in 
many  respects  from  any  heretofore  built,"  was  made  by 
Daniel  Dod,  of  Mendham,  a  very  celebrated  inventor  and 
clock-maker. 

Sixteen  years  later,  April  26th  1828  McCoury,  Drake 
&  Co.  advertised  a  stage  "to  run  through  in  one  day  and 
by  daylight,"  for  §2  fare,  from  New  York  to  Easton,  via 
Elizabethport,  Morristown  and  Schooley's  Mountain 
Springs.  Passengers  could  leave  New  York  by  the 
steamer  "  Emerald  "  at  6  a.  m.,  and  returning  leave 
Easton  at  4  a.  m.  and  arrive  in  New  York  at  6  p.  m. 
While  this  was  the  through  route  the  Morris  and  Ne^^' 
York  mail  stages  left  Morristown  ^Mondays,  Wednesdays 
and  Fridays,  and  went  by  way  of  Hanover  and  Orange  to 
Newark,  whence  passengers  were  taken  to  the  city  by 
steamboat.  They  arrived  at  New  York  at  3  p.  m.,  and 
returning,  at  Morristown  at  5  p.  m.  The  fare  through 
was  $1.25. 

Ten  years  later  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  was  in 
operation,  and  there  was  an  improvement  in  point  of 
time  and  comfort,  but,  as  will  be  observed,  little  in  the 
cost  of  travel. 

The  idea  of  making  the  Morris  Canal  was  first  con- 
ceived by  George  P.  McCulloch,  of  Morristown,  while  on 
a  fishing  excursion  to  Lake  Hopatcong,  well  known  as 
the  Great  Pond.  This  lake  was  925  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea,  and  originally  covered  an  area  of  five  square 
miles.  To  dam  up  its  outlet  and  luisband  the  winter 
rains,  and  then  lead  the  accumulated  waters  westward 
down  the  valley  of  the  Musconetcong  to  the  Delaware) 
and  eastward  to  and  down  the  valleys  of  the  Rockaway 
and  Passaic  to  Newark,  was  the  object  he  thought  at- 
tainable. The  region  to  be  traversed  was  rich  in  its 
mineral  products,  and  iron  was  manufactured  in  abund- 
ance in  the  fifty  forges  and  three  furnaces  which  were 
still  in   existence.      Thirty  forges  and   nine  furnaces  in 


this  neighborhood  had  fallen  into  disuse,  principally  for 
lack  of  cheap  transportation.  Mr.  McCulloch  attempted 
to  interest  the  State  in  his  project,  and  by  an  act  of  No- 
vember 15th  1822  the  Legislature  appointed  him,  with 
Charles  Kinsey,  of  Essex,  and  Thomas  Capner,  commis- 
sioners with  authority  to  employ  a  scientific  engineer  and 
surveyor  to  explore,  survey  and  level  the  most  practicable 
route  for  this  canal  and  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  cost 
thereof.  The  commissioners  reported  in  1823  and  re- 
ceived the  thanks  of  the  Legislature;  but  the  latter  could 
not  be  induced  to  make  it  a  State  affair,  and  left  it  to 
private  enterprise. 

Mr.  McCulloch  communicated  an  account  of  the 
enterprise  to  Cadwallader  D.  Colden  in  1832,  in  which 
he  speaks  as  follows  of  Professor  Renwick,  of  New  York, 
who  planned  the  construction,  as  well  as  of  others  con- 
cerned in  the  business: 

"  Be  it  here  broadly  stated  that  up  to  ihe  time  when 
the  Morris  Canal  became  a  Wall  street  speculation  lie 
was  considered  by  every  person  connected  with  the  en- 
terprise as  the  chief  engineer;  and  that  without  his  zeal, 
talent  and  science  it  would  not  within  our  day  and 
generation  have  emerged  beyond  a  scheme  transmitted 
to  a  more  liberal  and  enlightened  posterity. 

"In  April  1823  I  went  to  Albany,  and  with  Governor 
Clinton's  concurrence  obtained  from  the  Legislature  of 
the  State  of  New  York  a  grant  of  its  engineers  to  join  in 
the  Morris  survey.  But  even  this  co-operation  did  not 
seem  to  me  sufficient  to  counteract  the  apathy  of  friends 
or  the  prejudices  and  party  spirit  of  opponents.  I  there- 
fore wrote  to  Mr.  Calhoun,  then  secretary  of  war,  for  the 
aid  of  General  Bernard  and  Colonel  Totten,  heads  of  the 
U.  S.  engineer  department.  This  reinforcement,  with 
the  volunteer  services  of  General  Swift,  constituted  a 
weight  of  authority  sufficient  to  overpower  cavil,  igno- 
rance and  hostility.  From  Albany  I  proceeded  with 
Judge  Wright,  chief  engineer  of  the  Erie  Canal,  to 
Little  Falls,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  Mr.  Beach  to 
take  the  levels  and  survey  the  route,  having  previously 
conversed  with  him,  and  agreed  with  Professor  Renwick 
to  entrust  him  with  that  task. 

"The  spring  and  summer  of- 1823  were  spent  by  me  in 
collecting  topographical  and  statistic  information,  as  also 
in  reconnoitering  the  various  routes,  in  company  with  the 
inhabitants  of  their  vicinity.  Here  a  singular  fact  should 
be  stated,  that  the  plain  good  sense  and  local  information 
of  our  farmers  staked  out  the  most  difficult  passes  of  the 
boldest  canal  in  existence,  and  that  in  every  important 
point  the  actual  navigation  merely  pursues  the  trace  thus 
indicated.  In  July  1823  Mr.  Beach  appeared  for  the 
first  time  on  the  scene  of  action,  guided  by  Mr.  Renwick, 
to  whom  the  deliberative  department  was  confided." 

December  31SI  1824  the  "Morris  Canal  and  Banking 
Company  "  was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  of  ^r, 000,000 
for  the  purpose,  as  stated  in  the  preamble,  of  constructing 
a  canal  to  unite  the  river  Delaware  near  Easton  with  the 
tide  waters  of  the  Passaic.  Jacob  S.  Thompson,  of  Sus- 
sex, Silas  Cook,  of  Morris,  John  Dow,  of  Essex,  and 
Charles  Board,  of  Bergen,  were  the  incorporators  named 
in  the  act;  and  George  P.  McCulloch  and  John  Scott, 
of  Morris  county,  Israel  Crane,  of  Essex,  Joseph  G. 
Swift,  Henry  Eckford  and  David  B.  Ogden,  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  were  appointed  commissioners  to  receive  sub- 
scriptions to  the  stock.      The  company  was  also  allowed 


MORRIS  CANAL— MORRIS  AND  ESSEX  RAILROAD. 


69 


to  do  a  banking  business  in  connection  Avith  its  canal,  and 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  expended  on  the  canal. 

Relative  to  the  financial  features  introduced  in  the 
organization  through  stock-jobbing  influences  Mr.  Mc- 
Culloch  speaks  as  follows: 

"  It  may  be  well  here  to  remark  that,  anticipating  the 
danger  of  throwing  the  whole  concern  into  the  control  of 
mere  foreign  capitalists,  the  draft  of  a  charter  provided 
that  a  certain  number  of  directors  should  be  chosen 
resident  in  each  county  penetrated  by  the  canal.  *  *  * 
Several  gentlemen  from  Wall  street  had  volunteered 
their  good  offices  and  very  kindly  took  post  in  the  Tren- 
ton lobby  after  my  departure.  Upon  their  suggestion 
the  draft  of  the  charter  was  transformed  into  its  present 
shape,  nor  did  I  receive  the  most  distant  hint  of  any 
alteration  until  the  bill  was  finally  passed.  A  company 
was  formed  and  myself  included  in  its  direction.  'J'he 
precarious  position  of  a  canal  coupled  to  a  bank  and 
diri;cted  by  men  of  operations  exclusively  financial  )vas 
obvious.  The  interests  of  the  country  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  iron  manufacture  were  merged  in  a  reckless 
stock  speculation.  I  did  all  in  my  power  to  arrest  this 
perversion,  but  soon  found  myself  a  mere  cipher,  stand- 
ing alone,  and  responsible  in  public  opinion  for  acts  of 
extravagant  folly,  which  I  alone  had  strenuously  opposed 
at  the  board  of  directors.  *  *  *  l  clung  to  the  sinking 
ship  until  every  hope  of  safety  had  vanished,  and  then 
vacated  my  seat  by  selling  out,  thus  saving  myself  from 
ruin,  if  not  from  loss.  From_  the  moment  the  charter, 
altered  without  my  knowledge,  was  obtained,  the  whole 
affair  became  a  stock-jobbing  concern,  the  canal  a  mere 
pretext;  my  efforts  to  recall  the  institution  to  its  duty 
were  regarded  as  an  intrusion,  and  every  pains  was  taken 
to  force  me  to  retire."     *     *     * 

"  Not  only  was  the  project  itself  first  conceived  by  me, 
but  I  employed  five  years  in  exploring  the  route  and  con- 
ciliating friends.  The  newspaper  articles,  the  correspond- 
ence to  obtain  information,  the  commissioners'  report, 
and  an  endless  catalogue  of  literary  tasks  were  from  my 
hand.  I  claim  to  have  single-handed  achieved  the  prob- 
lem of  rendering  popular,  and  accomplishing,  a  scheme 
demanding  vast  resources  and  stigmatized  as  the  dream 
of  a  crazed  imagination." 

The  route  of  the  canal  was  selected  and  the  estimate  made 
by  Major  Ephraim  Beach,  under  whose  direction  the  work 
was  executed.  The  greatest  difficulty  experienced  was 
in  the  inclined  planes,  which  were  not  in  successful  op- 
eration until  many  costly  experiments  were  made.  The 
first  completed  was  at  Rockaway,  and  passed  a  boat 
loaded  with  stone,  computed  to  weigh  fifteen  tons,  from 
the  lower  to  the  upper  level,  52  feet,  in  twelve  minutes. 
It  was  not  considered  complete  either  in  mechanism 
or  workmanship,  and  it  was  not  till  1857  that  the  present 
plane  was  adopted  there. 

The  canal  was  completed  from  Easton  to  Newark,  90 
miles,  iri  August  1831.  It  was  estimated  to  cost  $817,- 
000-^it  actually  cost  about  ^2,000,000.  The  canal  was 
adapted  to  boats  of  25  tons  only,  whicli  in  many  cases 
proved  too  heavy  for  the  chains  of  the  planes.  The  pas 
sage  from  Easton  to  Newark  was  said  to  have  been  per- 
formed in  less  than  five  days.  There  were  twelve  planes 
and  17  locks,  aggregating  an  elevation  of  914  feet,  the 
highest  planes  being  those  of  Drakesville  and  Boonton 
Falls,  which  were  each  80  feet.  The  continuation  of  the 
canal  to  Jersey  City  was  not  completed  until  1836.     To 


meet  the  payments  in  constrticting  the  canal  the  company 
borrowed  in  Holland  $750,000,  which  was  known  as  the 
"  Dutch  loan,"  and  secured  its  indebtedness  by  a  mort- 
gage on  the  canal.  This  mortgage  the  company  was  un- 
able to  pay,  and  a  sale  under  foreclosure  was  had,  by  which 
the  regular  stockholders  lost  their  stock,  the  unsecured 
creditors  their  debts,  and  the  State  of  Indiana,  which  held 
a  second  mortgage,  much  of  its  loan.  The  canal  was  bought 
in  by  Benjamin  AVilliamson,  Asa  Whitehead  and  John  J. 
Bryant,  October  21st  1844,  for  $1,000, coo.  The  pur- 
chasers reorganized  the  company  under  the  same  name, 
and  the  new  company  immediately  undertook  the  en- 
largement of  the  capacity  of  the  can:l,  which  has  been 
carried  on-  more  or  less  every  year  since.  While  in  its 
beginning  its  boats  carried  loads  of  25  or  30  tons,  they 
now  carry  loads  of  65  and  even  70  tons.  Its  tonnage 
(as  appears  by  the  reports  to  the  stockholder.s)  had  in- 
creased from  58,259  tons  in  1845,  when  only  open  part 
of  the  year,  and  109,505  in  1846,  to  707,572  in  1870. 
Its  receipts  for  tolls  and  other  sources  in  1845  were 
$18,997.45;  in  1846  $51,212.39;  in  1870  $391,549.76. 

On  the  4th  of  May  187 1  the  Morris  Canal  Company 
made  a  perpetual  lease  of  the  canal  and  works  to  the  Le- 
high Valley  Railroad  Company, — a  Pennsylvania  cor- 
poration, that  desired  it  as  an  outlet  to  tide  water.  This 
company  has  since  operated  and  treated  the  canal  as  its 
own. 

The  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  Company  was  incor- 
porated by  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  January  29th 
1835,  the  incorporators  named  in  the  act  being  James 
Cook  and  William  N.  AVood,  of  Morristown,  William 
Brittin,  of  Madison,  Jeptha  B.  Munn,  of  Chatham,  Israel 
D.  Condict,  of  Milburn,  John  J.  Bryan  and  Isaac  Bald- 
win. The  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  $300,000,  with 
power  to  increase  it  to  $500,000,  and  the  professed  object 
of  the  company  was  to  build  a  railroad  from  one  or  more 
places  "  in  the  village  of  Morristown  "  to  intersect  the 
railroad  of  the  New  Jersey  Railroad  and  Transportation 
Company  at  Newark  or  Elizabethtown.  The  rate  for 
freight  was  limited  to  six  cents  per  ton  for  each  mile,  and 
for  passengers  at  six  cents  for  each  passenger  per  mile. 
A  provision  was  also  inserted  in  the  charter  that  the 
State  might  take  the  road  at  its  appraised  value  fifty 
years  after  its  completion.  The  next  year  the  company 
was  authorized  to  build  lateral  roads  to  Whippany,  Boon- 
ton,  Denville,  Rockaway  and  Dover,  and  to  increase  its 
stock  $250,000.  In  1838  the  company  was  allowed  to 
borrow  money  for  the  jnirposes  of  its  road,  and  in  1839 
to  increase  the  par  value  of  the  shares  from  $50  to  $75. 
Besides  those  named  in  the  act  of  incorporation  there 
were  prominent  and  active  in  forwarding  this  enterprise 
from  the  beginning  Hon.  Lewis  Condict,  of  Morristown, 
Jonathan  C.  Bonnel,  of  Chatham,  and  James  Vanderpool, 
of  Newark  (father  of  Beach  Vanderpool,  afterward  for 
so  many  years  treasurer  of  the  road).  The  difficulties  met 
with  in  building  the  road  were  numerous  and  formidable, 
and  were  only  overcome  by  enlisting  in  its  behalf  all  who 
lived  upon  its  proposed  route.  Changes  were  made  in 
its  location  to  gain  it  friends,  and  the  directors  exhausted 


70 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COtlNTV. 


every  effort  to  carry  the  work  to  a  successful  termination. 
They  frequently  pledged  their  individual  credit  to  supply 
the  necessary  funds.  The  engineer  was  Captain  Ephraira 
Beach,  who  had  been  the  engineer  of  the  Morris  Canal. 
The  track  was  at  first  the  "  strap  rail,"  consisting  of  a 
fiat  bar  of  iron  spiked  on  the  edge  of  timb&rs  running 
parallel  with  the  road  bed,  and  causing  occasional  acci- 
dents by  loose  ends  curling  under  the  wheels  and  some- 
times going  through  the  bottom  of  the  cars.  There  was 
at  the  outset  no  idea  of  its  ever  being  a  "  through  road  " 
across  the  State,  or  of  the  immense  traffic  of  the  present 
day  ever  passing  over  it.  The  engines  were  small  and 
two  sufficed  to  do  the  work.  The  depot  at  Morristown 
was  on  De  Hart  street,  the  railroad  approaching  it 
through  the  present  Maple  avenue — formerly  called  Rail- 
road avenue  and,  before  the  time  of  the  railroad,  Canfield 
street.  At  Newark  the  cars  were  hauled  from  the  depot 
on  Broad  street  through  Center  street  to  the  track  of  the 
New  Jersey  Railroad  at  tlie  Center  street  depot. 

The  business  done  by  the  new  road  was  not  sufficiently 
remunerative  to  pay  for  its  construction  or  to  induce 
capitalists  to  loan  the  company  money  as  it  needed,  and 
in  1842  the  road  with  its  franchises  was  sold,  chiefly  to 
pay  about  $50,000  or  $60,000  due  its  directors  for  money 
advanced  by  them.  The  sale  was  so  made,  however, 
that  all  the  original  stockholders  had  an  opportunity  to 
come  in  and  redeem  their  stock  (a  privilege  which  a  ma- 
jority availed  themselves  of)  and  all  the  debts  of  the 
company  were  paid. 

A  reorganization  followed,  and  the  new  company  at 
once  proceeded  to  relay  the  road  with  iron  rails  of  more 
modern  pattern,  and  to  make  other  and  greater  improve- 
cents.  In  1845  the  continuation  of  the  road  to  Dover, 
agreeably  to  the  supplement  of  the  charter  passed  in 
1836,  was  undertaken.  There  being  some  doubt  as  to 
the  power  of  the  company  to  build  the  road  after  the 
lapse  of  so  many  years,  an  act  of  the  Legislature  was 
obtained  in  1846  reaffirming  and  continuing  the  com- 
pany's priviliges  and  allowing  it  to  build  a  road  from 
Dover  to  Stanhope.  Work  was  at  once  begun,  and  in 
July  1848  the  road  was  completed  to  Dover,  an  event 
which  was  celebrated  by  a  grand  dinner  at  the  latter 
place.  To  get  beyond  Morristown  the  road  was  taken 
up  from  the  "Sneden  place,"  below  Governor  Randolph's 
to  De  Hart  street,  and  laid  anew  where  it  still  runs.  Con- 
templating to  run  from  Denville  directly  to  Dover,  the 
people  of  Rockaway  contracted  to  give  the  right  of  way 
from  Denville  to  "  Dell's  Bridge,"  where  the  switch  is 
now  between  Rockaway  and  Dover,  if  the  road  was  laid 
through  their  place,  which  agreement  was  fulfilled. 

Dover  was  the  end  of  the  route  for  a  year  or  two,  but 
in  1850  the  further  continuation  of  the  road  was  begun, 
and  in  1853  or  thereabouts  it  was  finished  to  Hacketts- 
town.  Here  the  work  rested  until  1861,  when  the  road 
was  completed  across  the  State  to  Phillipsburg. 

The  tedious  method  of  getting  through  Newark  to 
the  New  Jersey  Railroad  by  horse  power  was  submitted 
to  until  185 1,  when  the  company  was  authorized  to  con- 
tinue its  road  to   Hoboken.     In  did  not,  however,  do 


this  at  once,  but  made  an  arrangement  with  the  New 
Jersey  Railroad  to  run  a  branch  of  that  road  over  the 
Passaic  to  the  present  Morris  and  Essex  depot,  so  that 
trains  ran  by  steam  uninterruptedly  through  Newark  and 
so  on  to  the  New  Jersey  Railroad,  and  as  formerly  to 
to  Jersey  City.  It  was  not  until  1863  that  the  com- 
pany built  its  own  road  to  Hoboken,  getting  an  act 
passed  in  1864  to  enable  it  to  buy  the  Passaic  bridge, 
etc.,  of  the  New  Jersey  Railroad. 

In  1866  an  arrangement  was  made  to  lease  the  road  to 
the  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  Railroad  Company,  and 
it  was  the  intention  to  make  it  a  part  of  a  great  through 
route  to  the  west;  an  enterprise  which  entirely  failed, 
owing  to  the  failure  of  Sir  Morton  Peto  or  the  other 
parties  interested.  December  loth  1868  a  lease  was 
made  to  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Rail- 
road Company,  which  is  still  in  force.  By  it  the  lessees 
agree  to  operate  the  road,  making  it  a  part  of  their  own 
line  to  tide  water,  and  to  guarantee  the  payment  of  inter- 
est on  its  funded  debt  and  at  least  7  per  cent,  per  annum 
dividends  on  its  stock. 

Many  collateral  or  branch  roads  have  been  built  to  the 
main  line.  Shortly  after  the  continuation  to  Hacketts- 
town  the  Sussex  Railroad  was  built  from  Newton  to 
Waterloo,  hitherto  owned  and  managed  by  a  separate 
board  of  directors  and  kept  entirely  distinct  from  the 
main  line.  In  1864  the  people  of  Boonton  were  accom- 
modated with  a  branch  from  Denville  to  take  the  place 
of  the  stage  line  which  had  previously  been  their  means 
of  conveyance.  This  was  largely  through  the  influence 
of  J.  C,  Lord,  half  owner  of  the  Boonton  Works  and  a 
director  in  the  Morris  and  Essex.  The  Chester  Railroad 
was  constructed  in  1867,  mainly  through  the  efforts  of 
Major  Daniel  Budd,  by  the  Chester  Railroad  Compan)', 
an  organization  distinct  in  name  but  in  reality  an  ad- 
junct to  the  Morris  and  Essex  road.  Shortly  afterward 
the  Hibernia  Railroad,  which  was  built  during  the  war 
from  Hibernia  to  the  Morris  Canal  at  Rockaway  as  a 
horse  road,  was  extended  to  the  Morris  and  Essex  line 
and  made  a  steam  road.  It  is  a  separate  corporation  in 
every  respect,  the  Morris  and  Essex  not  owning  or  con- 
trolling its  stock.  The  Ferromonte  Railroad  is  a  spur  of 
the  Chester  road  built  in  1869  to  the  Dickerson  mine. 
The  Mount  Hope  Railroad,  from  Port  Oram  via  the 
Richards,  Allen  and  Teabo  mines  to  Mount  Hope,  was 
built  just  after  the  war,  to  carry  the  immense  ore  freights 
of  these  mines  along  its  route.  It  supplanted  in  use  a 
tram  railway  from  Mount  Hope  to  the  canal  at  Rocka- 
way. 

Since  the  Morris  and  Essex  has  been  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad 
Company  very  great  changes  have  been  made  in  it.  The 
Paterson  branch,  beginning  at  Dell's  Bridge  over  Mill 
Brook  between  Rockaway  and  Dover,  and  running 
thence  with  double  track  to  Denville,  where  it  crosses 
the  main  line,  thence  to  Boonton,  mostly  on  the  bed  of 
the  old  "Boonton  branch,"  and  so  by  way  of  Paterson  to 
the  tunnel;  the  new  Hoboken  tunnel,  and  the  double  track- 
ing of  the  old  road  its  whole  length  except  between  Mor- 


MINOR  RAILROADS— EARLY  CHURCHES. 


71 


ristown  and  Rockaway,  have  been  the  work  of  the  lessees. 
The  expense  of  these  improvements  and  additions  has 
been  charged  to  the  Morris  and  Essex  road,  so  that, 
while  its  stock  and  bonds  amounted  at  the  time  of  the 
lease  to  about  $12,000,000,  they  now  amount  to  about 
$36,000,000. 

Besides  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  and  the 
branches  mentioned  in  connection  therewith,  there  are 
in  the  county  of  Morris  the  New  Jersey  Midland 
Railroad,  which  skirts  the  northern  edge  of  Pequannock, 
Jefferson  and  Rockaway  townships;  the  Greenwood 
Lake  Railroad,  which  crosses  Pompton  Plains;  the 
Green  Pond  Railroad,  which  is  a  branch  of  the  New 
Jersey  Midland  running  from  Charlotteburgh  to  the 
Copperas  mine;  the  High  Bridge  Railroad,  a  branch  of 
the  Central  of  New  Jersey,  running  from  High  Bridge 
through  German  Valley  and  McCainsville  to  Port  Oram, 
with  a  spur  to  Chester;  the  Dover  and  Rockaway  Rail- 
road, connecting  the  High  Bridge  Railroad  at  Port  Oram 
with  the  Hibernia  Railroad  at  Rockaway;  and  the  Ogden 
Mine  Railroad,  running  from  the  Ogden  and  Hurd  mines 
to  Lake  Hopatcong — all  built  since  the  last  war,  and 
which  properly  come  within  the  province  of  the  histories 
of  the  several  townships  in  which  they  lie. 


CHAPTER   Xn. 


RELIGIOUS    AND    EDUCATIONAL    INTERESTS. 


JN  1765  there  were  in  the  county,  according  to 
the  historian  Samuel  Smith,  fourteen  houses 
of  worship.  There  were  nine  erected  by  the 
Presbyterians — those  of  Hanover,  organized 
in  April  1818,  and  then  presided  over  by  Dr. 
Jacob  Green;  Mendham,  where  Rev.  Francis 
Peppard  preached;  Morristown,  organized  from 
Hanover  in  1738,  and  whose  pastor  was  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Timothy  Johnes,  who  began  his  ministry  in  1743 
and  who  maintained  his  connection  with  the  church  till 
his  death,  in  1798;  Madison,  where  Rev.  Azariah  Hor- 
ton  was  pastor;  Parsippany,  Rockaway  and  Chester,  at 
that  time  without  settled  pastors.  The  other  two  Pres- 
byterian churches  were  probably  at  Sucasunna  and  near 
Basking  Ridge.  The  Evangelical  Lutherans  at  German 
Valley  had  erected  a  church  there  in  1745.  The  Baptists 
had  built  a  church  at  Morristown  in  1752,  and  the  Con- 
gregationalists  a  church  at  Chester  in  1747.  The  Quaker 
meeting-house  about  a  mile  south  of  Dover,  erected  at 
that  time,  is  still  standing.  The  Rogerines,  a  peculiar, 
fanatical  sect,  had  at  that  time  an  organization,  most  of 
the  members  living  upon  Schoole>'s  Mountain.  It  be- 
came extinct  before  or  about  the  beginning  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  Not  till  1771  did  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church  of  Pompton  Plains  erect  an  edifice  on  the  Morris 
county  side  of  the  riven 


Under  the  leading  of  Dr.  Jacob  Green,  in  1780,  he 
with  three  other  ministers  withdrew  from  the  Presbytery 
of  New  York  and  formed  what  was  called  the  Presbytery 
of  Morris  county.  For  twelve  years  it  stood  alone;  but 
in  1792  the  Westchester  Presbytery  was  formed,  and  in 
1793  the  Northern  Presbytery,  and  the  name  "Associ- 
ated "  was  adopted.  They  were  properly  Congregational 
bodies,  not  holding  the  authority  of  synod  and  being 
Presbyterians  in  little  but  in  their  name.  One  of  the  first 
ministers  ordained  by  this  Morris  County  Presbytery  (in 
1783)  was  Joshua  Spalding,  said  by  Dr.  Johnson,  of  New- 
burgh,  to  have  been  the  means  of  converting  more  souls 
than  any  other  man  since  Whitefield's  day.  Rev.  Albert 
Brundage,  who  was  taken  under  care  of  the  presbytery 
in  1715,  was  one  of  the  last.  In  1830  the  Presbytery  of 
Westchester,  the  last  of  this  group  of  Associated  presby- 
teries, ceased  to  exist.  Their  history  has  been  only  par- 
tially preserved;  but  enough  remains  to  show  that  they 
were  instrumental  in  doing  a  great  amount  of  good  in  a 
region  which  required  a  class  of  ministers  who  were 
willing  to  endure  hardship,  and  whose  work  was  quite  as 
acceptable  although  their  education  had  been  not  of  the 
best.  These  men  were  ordained  by  these  Associated 
■presbyteries,  and  this  was  one  cause  of  their  separation 
from  the  synod. 

In  Alden's  "New  Jersey  Register"  of  1812  it  is  said 
that  the  churches  and  pastors  of  that  day  were  as  follows: 

Presbyterian — Black  River  or  Chester,  Rev.  Lemuel 
Fordham;  Hanover,  Rev.  Aaron  Condict;  Mendham, 
Rev.  Amzi  Armstrong;  Morristown,  Rev.  Samuel  Fisher- 
Rockaway,  Rev.  Barnabas  King;  Pleasant  Grove  and 
Hackettstown,  Rev.  Joseph  Campbell;  Boonlon  and 
Pompton,  vacant. 

Baptist — Morris  and  Randolph,  vacant. 

Methodist — Asbury  charge,  which  embraced  a  part  of 
this  county,  had  as  ministers  James  Moore,  Charles  Reed 
and  John  Van  Schaick. 

Congregational — Split  Rock  and  Newfoundland,  Rev. 
Jacob  Bostedo;  Chester  and  Schooley's  Mountain,  Rev. 
Stephen  Overton. 

The  Society  of  Friends  held  meetings  at  Mendham. 

The  history  of  these  various  churches  and  of  those 
which  were  afterward  organized  will  be  found  in  more  or 
less  detail  in  the  sketches  of  the  different  townships. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  all  the  churches  at  present  in 
the  county,  and  the  names  of  their  respective  pastors: 

Presbyterian — Morristown,  First  church,  Rev.  Rufus  S. 
Green  (now  resigned);  Morristown,  South  street. church. 
Rev.  Albert  Erdman,  D.  D.;  Chatham,  vacant;  Dover, 
Rev.  W.  W.  Holloway;  Boonton,  Rev.  Thomas  Carter; 
Madison,  Rev.  Robert  Aikman,  D.  D.;  Whippany,  Rev. 
David  M.  Bardwell;  New  Vernon,  Rev.  Nathaniel  Conk- 
lin;  Parsippany,  vacant;  Succasunna,  Rev.  Elijah  W. 
Stoddard,  D.  D.;  Chester,  Rev.  Jaines  F.  Brewster; 
Mendham,  First  church.  Rev.  I.  W.  Cochran;  Mendham, 
Second  church,  Rev.  James  M.  Huntting  jr.;  German 
Valley,  Rev.  E.  P.  Linnell;  Mt.  Freedom,  Rev.  W.  W. 
Holloway  sen.;  Flanders,  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Fox;  Hanover 
Rev.  James  A.  Ferguson;    Mt.  Olive,  Rev.  O.  H.  Perry 


72 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Deyo;  Rockaway,  Rev.  Jaraes  O.  Averill;  Pleasant  Grove, 
Rev.  Burtis  C.  Megie,  D.  D. 

Methodist  Episcopal — Rev.  J.  H.  Knowles,  presiding 
elder;  Morristown,  Rev.  S.  L.Bowman,  D.  D.;  Rockaway, 
Rev.  E.  H.  Conklin;  Dover,  First  church,  Rev.  H.  D. 
Opdyke;  Dover,  Second  church,  Rev.  William  H.  Mc- 
Cormick;  Dover,  free  church.  Rev.  Mr.  Tamblyn; 
Walnut  Grove  and  Mill  Brook,  Rev.  C.  L.  Banghart; 
Port  Oram  and  Teabo,  Rev.  J.  B.  McCauIey;  Mount 
Hope,  Rev.  C.  W.  McCormick;  Succasunna,  Rev.  J. 
Thomas;  Flanders  and  Drakestown,  Rev.  D.  E.  Frambes; 
Mendham,  Rev.  J.  R.  Wright;  Hibernia,  Rev.  G.  T. 
Jackson;  Denville  and  Rockaway  Valley,  Rev.  W.  Cham- 
berlain; Boonton,  Rev.  J.  A.  Kingsbury;  Parsippany  snd 
Whippany,  Rev.  John  Faull;  Madison,  Rev.  W.  I.  Gill. 
Protestant  Episcopal — St.  Peter's,  Morristown,  Rev. 
Robert  N.  Merritt;  Church  of  the  Redeem.er,  Morris- 
town,  Rev.  George  H.  Chadwell;  St.  John's,  Dover, 
Rev.  David  D.  Bishop;  St.  John's,  Boonton,  Rev.  John 
P.  Appleton;  Grace,  Madison,  Rev.  Robert  C.  Rogers; 
St.  Mark's,  Mendham,  Rev.  Levi  Johnston. 

Roman  Catholic — Church  of  the  Assumption,  Morris- 
town,  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Flynn;  St.  Vincent's,  Madison, 
Rt.  Rev.  W.  M.  Wigger,  D.  D.,  Rlv.  Joseph  Rolando; 
Our  Lady  of  Mt.  Carmel,  Boonton,  Rev.  Patrick  F. 
Downes;  St.  Mary's,  Dover,  Rev.  James  Hanly;  St. 
Joseph's,  Mendham,  Rev.  James  P.  Poels;  St.  Elizabeth's 
Convent,  Madison,  Rev.  Dennis  McCartie;  St.  Cecilia's, 
Rockaway,  Rev.  Father  Kennealy;  St.  Bernard's,  Mt. 
Hope,  Patrick  A.  McGahon. 

Baptist — Morristown,  Rev.  Addison  Parker;  Drakes- 
town,  no  pastor;  Millington,  Rev.  Peter  Sibb;  Schooley's 
Mountain,  Rev.  M.  M.  Fogg. 

Reformed — Boonton,  Rev.  O.  H.  Walser;  Montville, 
Rev.  James  Kemlo;  Pompton  Plains,  Rev.  J.  H.  White- 
head. 

Congregational — Chester,  Rev.  Frank  A.  Johnson; 
Stanley,  Rev.  Rollin  G,  Stone;  Morristown,  Rev.  Mr. 
Pan  n  ell. 

Lutheran — German  Valley,  vacant. 
African  Methodist  Episcopal —  Morristown,  Rev.  A.  H. 
Newton. 

The  Morris  County  Sabbath-School  Association  was 
organized  about  twenty  years  ago,  and  held  its  nineteenth 
annual  meeting  at  Rockaway  on  October  5th  1881. 
The  following  are  its  officers;  President,  Hon.  Nathan- 
iel Niles,  Madison;  vice-presidents.  Rev.  T.  H.  Landon, 
Succasunna;  Hon.  A.  M.  Treadwcll,  Madison;  Rev.  F.  A. 
Johnson,  Chester;  Robert  N.  Cornish,  Esq.,  Gillette; 
Rev.  R.  S.  Green,  Morristown;  Rev.  J.  H.  Whitehead, 
Pompton  Plains;  Rev.  A.  Hiller,  German  Valley.  Sec- 
retary and  treasurer,  George  E.  Righter,  Parsippany. 
Recording  secretary,  George  W.  Howell,  Littleton.  Town- 
ship secretaries — Boonton,  George  D.  Meeker,  Boonton; 
Chatham,  F.  A.  Bruen,  Madison;  Chester,  P.  J.  Crater, 
Chester;  Hanover,  Joseph  D.  Doty,  Littleton;  Jefferson, 
J.  S.  Buck,  Woodport;  Mendham,  Rev.  I.  W.  Cochran, 
Mendham;  Montville,  Richard  Duryea,  Boonton;  Morris, 
Walter   A.    Searing,    Morristown;    Mount   Olive,    D.  A. 


Nicholas,  Flanders;  Passaic,  John  S.  Tunis,  New  Vernon; 
Pequannock,  John  F.  Post,  Pompton;  Randolph,  D.  S. 
Allen,  Dover;  Rockaway,  E.  P.  Beach,  Rockaway;  Rox- 
bury,  L.  F.  Corwin,  Succasunna;  Washington,  Rev.  E.  P. 
Linnell,  German  Valley.  The  executive  committee  con- 
sists of  the  above  named  officers  and  township  secretaries, 
the  county  secretary  being  chairman. 

The  repoits  of  the  township  secretaries  for  the  year 
1880  are  summarized  as  follows.  All  but  seven  of  the 
schools  are  held  throughout  the  year. 


Township. 


Bonntoii 

Uhiitliiiiii 

CliuPtiir 

Hiuiiiver 

Jefferson 

Mendham 

Montville ... 

Morris 

Mount  Olive 

Passaic 

Pequannock, 
liandulpb  — 
Koolcaway... 

Koxbuvy 

Washington., 


& 

u 

It 

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1 

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C 
C  i 

s 

ii.Oi- 

Si- 

OO) 

a  CO 

0  c 

c 

.0 

nS 

•^ 

0  = 
> 

a; 

a 
3 

£  2 

•z.-;:. 

< 

<! 

'^ 

z; 

4 

m 

50 

395 

115 

8 

11 

lit 

110 

0.22 

177 

7 

8 

f)i 

52 

300 

149 

ii 

n 

78 

12G 

402 

130 

20 

8 

41 

52 

273 

44 

1 

8 

57 

O'i 

281 

79 

8 

h 

44 

55 

234 

74 

11 

201) 

222 

1,008 

378 

22 

1 

48 

54 

2.59 

02 

G 

0 

58 

04 

303 

47 

6 

4 

31 

43 

178 

00 

2 

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142 

130 

893 

300 

94 

13 

132 

13!l 

747 

298 

7 

6 

00 

00 

;i38 

74 

8 

8 

72 

TO 
1305 

390 

110 

2.097 

17 

127 

1.193 

0,023 

209 

lg 

To 

g  c  a 
o=:o 


?13fl0 
14.50 

7  00 
14.50 

5  50 

5  00 
24  00 

7  CO 

8  50 
2  75 

1125 

18  30 

4  00 

14  91 


EDUCATION. 

In  every  neighborhood  in  the  county  there  is  evidence 
of  private  schools  having  been  established  at  the  same 
time  that  churches  were  organized;  and  two  high  schools 
were  established  in  Morristown  before  1800.  An  account 
of  these  schools  and  of  the  progress  in  education  in  each 
township  must  be  looked  for  in  the  local  histories.  A 
few  words  will  suffice  for  such  matters  as  pertain  to  the 
county  at  large. 

On  the  29th  of  October  1799  tliere  was  a  meeting  of 
the  citizens  of  the  county  at  the  hotel  of  George  O'Hara, 
in  Morristown,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  up  a  petition 
or  adopting  some  means  to  solicit  of  tlie  Legislature  then 
in  session  "the  all  important  object,  the  establishment 
of  public  schools  by  law  through  the  State." 

In  1817  an  act  was  passed  creating  a  fund  for  the  sup- 
port of  public  schools,  which  act  was  modified  by  subse- 
quent enactments  during  the  next  ten  years.  The  friends 
of  education  held  a  public  meeting  at  the  Slate-house  in 
Trenton  November  nth  1828,  which  directed  the  appoint- 
ment of  committees  to  thoroughly  examine  the  public 
schools  of  this  State.  Charles  Ewing,  John  N.  Simpson 
and  Theodore  Frelinghuysen  formed  the  central  commit- 
tee, and  made  an  elaborate  and  extensive  report  of  the 
result  of  their  investigations.  Of  Morris  county  the 
committee  reported: 

"  The  committee  have  received  an  interesting  report  of 
the  state  of  education  in  this  county,  from  its  active  and 
zealous  central  committee.  This  report  is  complete  as 
regards  Morris,  Hanover,  Chatham,  Jefferson,  Roxbury, 
Washington,  Chester  and  Mendham;  deficient  as  it  re- 
spects Randolph,  and  partial  with  regard  to  Pequannock 
townships.     It  is  probable  that  this  county  more  richly 


SCHOOLS— POLITICAL  PARTIES. 


73 


enjoys  the  advantages  and  blessings  of  education  tlian 
any  other  in  the  State.  Sixty-nhie  schools  and  2,411 
scholars  are  reported,  and  making  a  probable  estimate 
for  the  parts  not  reported  there  are  about  82  schools  and 
2,800  scholars  in  the  co.unty.  Many  of  these  schools  are 
kept  up  during  the  winter  only.  Female  teachers  are  in 
many  places  employed  to  instruct  small  children  in  Ihe 
summer.  The  price  of  tuition  varies  from  $1.50  to  $2 
per  quarter.  Reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  are  taught 
in  the  common  schools;  the  languages  and  the  higher 
branches  of  English  education  are  taught  in  several 
academies,  which  are  included  in  the  above  number. 
The  character  of  the  teachers  is  generally  good.  *  * 
*  Their  qualifications  are  in  too  many  instances  not  so 
good  as  might  be  wished,  but  it  is  not  often  that  they  are 
grossly  deficient." 

"With  respect  to  the  number  of  children  not  educated, 
the  committee  are  not  able  to  state  anything  definite.  In 
some  townships  there  are  said  to  be  very  few  who  are 
not  sent  to  school  a  part  of  the  year;  in  one  about  30 
are  mentioned  who  are  destitute  of  instruction,  in  another 
120,  many  of  whose  parents  are  not  able  to  give  them 
such  an  education  as  would  be  proper  in  their  station  in 
life.  A  neighborhood  in  one  of  the  townships,  having 
about  25  children,  is  represented  as  destitute.  In  another 
township  nearly  150  were  ascertained  who  were  not  at- 
tending schools.  The  population  of  this  county  was 
21,368  at  the  last  census.  If  we  allow  that  one-fifth  of 
this  population  ought  to  go  to  school  at  least  a  part  of 
the  year  (in  New  York  it  is  estimated  that  one-fourth  of 
the  whole  population  go  to  school  a  part  of  the  year], 
then  there  ought  to  be  more  than  4,000  scholars  instead 
of  2.800  above  mentioned.  The  committee  feel  inclined 
to  believe  that  tliey  do  not  exceed  the  boundaries  of 
probabih'ty  when  they  estimate  that  there  are  at  least  600 
children  in  the  county  destitute  of  adequate  means  and 
opportunities  of  receiving  any  valuable  amount  of  edu- 
cation." 

As  a  result  of  this  movement  the  first  general  common 
school  act  was  passed,  February  24th  1829,  directing  the 
trustees  of  the  school  fund  to  make  appropriations  among 
the  several  counties  and  ordering  a  division  of  the  town- 
ships into  districts  and  the  appointment  of  three  trustees 
in  each  district. 

This  law  was  altered  and  amended  from  time  to  time, 
and  education  in  each  township  was  left  almost  entirely 
to  the  people  of  that  township  until,  in  1867,  the  act  pro- 
viding for  a  general  system  of  public  instruction  was 
passed.  Under  this  act  county  superintendents  were  ap- 
pointed, with  a  State  board  of  education,  and  a  more 
uniform  system  and  practice  were  adopted.  This  law, 
modified  by  subsequent  enactments,  is  still  in  force.  Un- 
der it  the  first  county  superintendent  for  this  county  was 
Robert  De  Hart.  He  was  succeeded  by  Remus  Robin- 
son, and  he  by  John  R.  Runyon.  His  successor  was 
Lewis  G.  Thurber,  who  was  appointed  in  1875  and  is 
the  present  incumbent.  Mr.  Thurber  furnishes  us  the 
following  statistics. of  the  public  schools  for  the  year: 

Number  of  school-houses  owned,  no,  rented,  2,  total 
IJ2:  number  of  school  rooms,  155;  children  from  5  to 
t8,  inclusive,  14,120;  value  of  school  property,  1224,900; 
amount  of  money  appropriated  for  schools  for  the  year 
beginning  September  ist,  1881,  $61,368.44;  amount  of  dis- 
trict tax  in  1881,  $22,484.40;  total  amount  appropriated 
and  raised  by  tax,  $83,852.84. 


CHAPTER  XIIL 


POLITICAL    PARTIES    AND    CANDIDATES — OFFICERS    AND 
REPRESENTATIVES. 


HEN  the  Federal  party  lost  its  influence  in 
the  nation  through  the  unpopular  measures 
of  the  Adams  administration,  Morris  coun- 
ty went  with  the  current.  In  1798  Abraham 
Kitchel  was  elected  to  the  Council  on  the 
Republican  ticket  over  Mark  Thompson,  the 
Federal  candidate,  by  a  vote  of  r,7S4  to  302,  and 
the  parties  maintained  about  the  same  relative  strength 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1808,  on  the  Congressional 
ticket,  the  Republicans  polled  2,412  votes  and  the  Fed- 
eralists 487.  In  1820  there  was  no  Federal  ticket  in  the 
field.  Jesse  Upson  was  elected  to  the  Council  without 
opposition,  and  the  candidates  for  Assembly  were  all 
Republicans.  What  was  called  the  "farmers'  ticket"  for 
Assembly  succeeded,  and  the  "convention  ticket"  for 
Congress  was  elected. 

When  the  contest  arose  between  Jackson  and  Clay 
and  the  Republican  party  divided,  Morris  county  at  first 
sided  against  Jackson;  but  in  the  Congressional  election 
of  January  1831,  when  the  State  went  "  Republican  "  by 
r,ooo  majority,  the  county  gave  the  Jackson  candidate 
40  majority.  The  Jackson  townships  were  Morris, 
Washington,  Roxbury,  Jefferson,  Randolph  and  Chester. 
The  townships  of  Chatham,^  Hanover,  Pequannock  and 
Mendham  were  anti-Jackson.  In  the  fifty  years  which 
have  since  elapsed  the  political  complexion  of  these 
townships  has  changed  but  little.  The  strength  of  the 
Democratic  party  has  been  as  a  general  thing  in  the 
townships  which  voted  for  Jackson  in  1831,  and  the 
Whig  and.  afterward  the  Republican  party  have  been 
strongest  in  the  others.  In  1832,  when  the  State  gave 
374  Jackson  majority,  Morris  county  gave  131.  The  fol- 
lowing was  the  vote  (N.  R.  represents  National  Repub- 
lican; Jackson  is  designated  by  J.):  Mendham — N.  R. 
171,  J.  70;  Jefferson — N.  R.  78,  J.  170;  Hanover — N.  R. 
409,  J.  216;  Morris — N.  R.  255,  J.  303;  Pequannock — 
N.  R.  478,  J.  209;  Roxbury — N.  R.  106,  J.  221;  Chester 
— N.  R.  63,  J.  183;  Randolph— N.  R.  98,  J.  141;  Chat- 
ham— N.  R.  174,  J.  104;  Washington — N.  R.  114,  J.  191; 
total — N.  R.  1,947,  J.  1,811.  Four  years  afterward  the 
county  gave  170  Whig  majority. 

In.the  "hard  cider"  campaign  of  1840  the  county  went 
strong  for  Harrison.  The  townships  in  his  favor  gave 
the  following  majorities:  Mendham  64,  Chatham  131, 
Morris  118,  Hanover  155,  Pequannock  327 — total  795. 
For  Van  Buren  Chester  gave  74,  Randolph  42,  Jefferson 
77,  Roxbury  155  and  Washington  83— total  43T  majority. 
When  Clay  ran  against  Polk  in  1844  the  county  voted 
for  Clay.  The  Whig  majorities  were:  In  Mendham  loi, 
Chatham  no,  Morris  53,  Hanover  203,  Pequannock  298, 
Randolph  3  and  Rockaway  96— total  865.     The  Demo- 


74 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


cratic  majorities  were:  In  Chester  97,  Jefferson  67, 
Washington  72  and  Roxbury  187— total  433.  In  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1848  the  county  gave  2,889 
votes  for  the  Taylor  electors,  and  2,425  for  his  opponent. 

In  1852  the  Pierce  electors  received  2,800  votes  in  the 
county  and  the  Scott  electors  2,548.  George  Vail  for 
Congress  received  2,822,  and  William  A.  Coursen,  the 
Whig  candidate,  2,515. 

In  1856  the  Buchanan  electors  received  3,008  votes, 
Fillmore  696  and  Fremont  2,309.  William  Alexander 
(Democratic)  received  3,062,  and  William  A.  Newell  (A. 
and  R.)  2,961;  George  T.  Cobb  (Democratic)  was 
elected  senator  by  184  majority. 

In  i860,  it  will  be  remembered,  there  were  four  elect- 
oral tickets  in  the  field.  The  Republicans  had  seven 
electors,  who  received  3,484  votes.  There  were  four 
Democratic  electors  who  were  supported  by  all  those 
opposed  to  the  Republican  ticket  and  who  voted  a  fus- 
ion ticket,  who  received  3,304  votes.  The  three  "straight 
Democratic"  electors  not  on  the  fusion  ticket  received 
585  votes,  and  the  fusion  electors  supported  only  by  the 
fusionists  received  2,735  votes.  Edsall  (Republican)  for 
Congress  received  3,480  votes  against  3,315  for  George 
T.  Cobb  (Democratic).  The  latter  was,  however,  elected 
by  the  vote  of  the  remainder  of  the  district. 

During  the  war  the  county  almost  always  was  Dem- 
ocratic. In  1862  Governor  Joel  Parker  received  3,359 
votes,  and  Marcus  L.  Ward  2,938.  In  1863  William 
McCarty  (Democratic)  received  3,179  votes  for  clerk, 
against  2,742  for  his  antagonist,  Richard  Speer.  In  1864 
the  McCIellan  electors  received  3,587  votes  and  the 
Lincoln  electors  3,222. 

In  1865  Marcus  L.  Ward,  Republican  candidate  for 
governor,  received  3,702,  and  Theodore  Runyon  (Dem- 
ocratic) 3,506;  George  T.  Cobb  (Republican)  was  elected 
senator  over  Milliard  by  243  majority. 

In  1866  Hon.  John  Hill  ran  against  Andrew  Jackson 
Rogers  for  Congress,  and  was  elected,  Morris  county 
giving  him  652  majority. 

In  1867  the  only  officers  running  through  the  county 
besides  the  coroners  were  the  candidates  for  sheriff.  The 
Democrats  elected  their  men — James  W.  Briant  sheriff 
by  430  majority,  and  James  W.  Ballentine  surrogate  by 
548  majority. 

In  the  presidential  election  of  1868  the  Grant  electors 
received  4,283  votes  and  the  Seymour  electors  3,974. 
John  I.  Blair  (Republican)  received  141  majority  for 
governor,  Hill  355  majority  for  Congress  over  Rafferty, 
and  George  T.Cobb  was  elected  senator  by  425  majority. 

In  1870  there  was  an  election  for  State  senator  to  till 
the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  George  T.  Cobb.  Dr. 
Columbus  Beach  was  elected,  receiving  4,844  votes,  and 
his  antagonist,  j.  W.  Searing,  3,751.  John  Hiil  for  Con- 
gress beat  Rafferty  in  the  county  by  1,355  majority. 

In  187 1  there  were  dissensions  in  the  Republican 
party — the  party  dividing  into  the  two  factions  of 
"  Heavy  Weights  "  and  "  Light  Weights  " — and  the  Dem- 
ocrats carried  the  county.  Walsh,  the  Republican  candi- 
date for  Congress,  carried  the  county  by  38  majority, 


while  Cutler  (Democratic)  was  elected  State  senator  by 
530  majority. 

In  1872  Grant  carried  the  county  against  Greeley  by 
1,387  majority;  Phelps  for  Congress  beat  Woodruff  by 
1,336  majority,  but  Charles  A.  Gillen  (Democratic)  was 
elected  surrogate  by  334  majority. 

In  1873  the  only  county  officers  running  besides  the 
coroners  were  the  candidates  for  sheriff  and  clerk.  Hoff- 
man (Dem.)  for  sheriff  received  3,444  votes,  and  Phoenix 
(Rep.)  2,997;  McCarty  (Dem.)  for  clerk  3,523,  and 
Nicholas  (Rep.)  2,905. 

In  1874  George  A.  Halsey  (Rep.)  received  4,571  votes 
for  governor,  and  Judge  Bedle  (Dem.)  received  4,505. 
At  the  same  timeHon.  Augustus  W.  Cutler  had  40  majority 
in  the  county  over  W.  Walter  Phelps,  the  Republican 
candidate  for  Congress,  and  John  Hill  (Rep.)  was  elected 
State  senator. 

In  1875  there  was  no  senator  or  congressman  to  elect, 
and  Pierson  A.  Freeman  (Rep.)  was  elected  sheriff  by  a 
vote  of  3,710  against  3,225  for  Charles  A.  Harden  (Dem.) 

In  1876  President  Hayes  received  64  majority  in  the 
county;  but  Augustus  W.  Cutler  carried  it  for  Congress 
by  a  majority  of  115. 

In  1877  the  Democrats  carried  the  county  for  Gov- 
ernor McCIellan  by  342  majority,  and  for  Canfield,  State 
senator,  by  412. 

In  1878  the  tide  was  reversed,  Voorhees  (Rep.)  for 
Congress  carrying  the  county  by  693  majority. 

In  1879  there  were  no  county  officers  voted  for.  Of 
the  assemblymen  two  Republicans  and  one  Democrat 
were  elected,  as  has  been  the  case  for  the  past  ten  years 
and  more. 

In  1880  there  was  a  very  active  campaign,  there  being 
a  president,  governor,  congressman  and  State  senator  to 
elect.  Garfield  received  682  majority;  Potts  for  gov- 
ernor, 693  majority;  Hill  for  Congress,  593  majority, 
and  Youngblood  for  State  senator,  551  majority — all 
Republicans. 

This  is  the  proper  point  at  which  to  introduce  lists  of 
the  officers  of  the  county  and  its  representatives  in  State 
and  national  legislative  bodies.  They  are  as  follows 
with  the  year  of  appointment  or  election: 

Sheriffs. — Prior  to  the  Revolution  sheriffs  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  and  held  their  office  during  his 
pleasure.  The  appointments,  so  far  as  they  can  now  be 
ascertained,  were  as  follows: 

Thomas  Clark,  1739;  Elijah  Gillett,  1744;  Caleb 
Fairchild  (filed  bond),  1748;  John  Kinney,  1749;  John 
Ford,  1752;  Daniel  Cooper  jr.,  removed  April  1761; 
Samuel  Tuthill,  wV^  Cooper,  1761;  Daniel  Cooper  jr., 
1767;  Jonathan  Stiles  (in  office),  177 1;  Thomas  Kinney, 
1773;  Thomas  Millage,  1776.  (The  constitution  adopted 
July  2nd  1776  provided  for  an  annual  election  of  sheriffs 
and  coroners,  but  they  were  to  be  ineligible  for  re-election 
after  three  years;  the  following  each  served  one  or  more 
series  of  three  years,  beginning  with  the  year  given.) 
Alexander  Carmichael,  1776;  Richard  Johnson,  1779; 
Jacob  Arnold,  1780,  1786;  William  Leddel,  1783;  Pruderi 
Ailing,  1789;  John  Cobb,  1792;  Hiram  Smith,  1794; 
William  Campfield,  1796;  Israel  Canfield,  1799;  Lewis 
Condict,    1801;     Edward    Condict,    1804;     David   Car- 


COUNTY  OFFICERS. 


75 


michael,  1807;  David  Mills,  18 10;  Samuel  Halliday, 
1813;  David  Mills,  1816,  Jacob  Wilson,  1819,  1825; 
Elijah  Ward,  1822;  Joseph  M.  Lindsley,  1827;  Elijah 
Ward,  1828;  George  H.  Ludlow,  183 1;  Colin  Robertson, 
1834;  Benjamin  McCoury,  1837;  Jeremiah  M.  De  Camp, 
1840;  Thomas  L.  King,  1843;  Henry  D.  Farrand,  1846; 
Abraham  Tapi)en,  1849;  William  W.  Fairchild,  1852; 
William  H.  Anderson,  1855;  Samuel  Vanness,  1858; 
Garrett  De  Mott,  1861;  Joseph  W.  Coe,  1864;  James  W. 
Briant,  1867;  James  Vanderveer,  1870;  Jesse  Hoffman, 
1873  (under  the  amended  constitution  sheriffs  were 
elected  after  1874  for  three  years);  Pierson  A.  Freeman, 
1875;  William  H.  McDavit,  1878;  William  H.  Howell, 
1881. 

County  Clerks. — Samuel  Governeur  appears  by  the 
minutes  to  have  been  clerk  from  the  formation  of  the 
county,  in  1739,  to  1765.  He  was  appointed  clerk  of 
Morris  county  by  Governor  Hardy  February  2nd  1762, 
to  serve  during  good  behavior.  Augustus  Moore  was 
deputy  clerk  "in  1765  and  to  September  1766.  Samuel 
Tuthill  was  clerk  from  September  1766  to  October  1776. 
After  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  in  1776  the  county 
clerks  were  appointed  by  joint  meeting  in  the  years  men- 
tioned below: 

Silas  Condict,  1776,  1781;  Joseph  Lewis,  1782;  Caleb 
Russel,  1787,  1792,  1797,  1802;  John  McCarter,  1805; 
Edward  Condict,  1808;  Robert  McCarter,  1813;  Robert 
H.  McCarter,  1818;  Zephaniah  Drake,  1823;  David  Day, 
1828;  Joseph  Dalrymple,  1833;  David  B.  Hurd,  1838; 
George  H.  Ludlow,  1843. 

The  constitution  of  1844  provided  for  the  election  of 
the  county  clerks  by  the  people  every  five  years.  Clerks 
were  so  elected  as  follows: 

Albert  Stanburrough,  1848,  1853;  Samuel  Swayze, 
1858;  William  McCarty,  1863;  Richard  Speer,  1868; 
William  McCarty,  1873;  Melvin  S.  Condit,  1878. 

Surrogates. — Prior  to  1784  surrogates  were  appointed 
by  the  governor  acting  as  surrogate  general,  who  named 
as  many  for  the  office  as  he  saw  fit,  they  being  really  his 
clerks.  The  appointments  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained 
were  as  follows:  Uzal  Ogden,  surrogate  of  Morris  and 
Essex,  1746;  Jeremiah  Condy  Russell,  Morris  and  Essex, 
1753;  Richard  Kemble  and  Abraham    Ogden,  surrogates 

of  Morris  county,    1768;  Joseph   Lewis, to    1785. 

By  an  act  approved  December  i6th  1784  it  was  directed 
that  the  ordinary  should  appoint  but  one  deputy  or  sur- 
rogate in  each  county.  Under  this  act  Jabez  Canipfield 
served  from  1785  to  1803;  John  McCarter  1803  to  1807; 
David  Thompson  1807  to  1822.  November  28th  1822  an 
act  was  passed  directing  that  the  surrogates  should  be 
elected  in  joint  meeting,  and  should  hold  their  office  for 
five  years.  Under  this  act  there  were  appointed:  David 
Thompson  jr.,  1822  (resigned  November  9th  1826); 
James  C.  Canfield,  1826;  Jacob  Wilson,  1827;  William 
N.  Wood,  1833,  1838,  1843.  The  constitution  of  1844 
provided  for  an  election  of  surrogates  by  the  people,  to 
hold  their  office  for  five  years.  They  have  been  elected 
as  follows:  Jeremiah  M.  De  Camp,  1847;  Frederick 
Dellicker,  1852,  1857;  Joseph  W.  Ballantine,  1862,  1867; 
Edwin  E.  Willis,  1872;  Charles  A.  Gillen,  1877. 

Prosecutors  of  the  Pleas.— Btiore  1824  the  attorney 
general  appears  to  have  acted  for  the  State,   and  in  his 


absence  the  court  appointed  some  lawyer  of  the  county 
to  act  temporarily  for  him.  After  1824  they  were  ap- 
pointed as  follows: 

George  K.  Drake,  Dec.  20  1824  and  Dec,  7  1825; 
Jacob  W.  Miller,  Dec.  27  1826;  Henry  A.  Ford,  March 
14  1832;  James  A.  Scofield,  Oct.  27  1837,  Oct.  28  1842 
and  Feb.  4  1847;  Vancleve  Dalrymple,  March  12  1852; 
Augustus  W.  Cutler,  March  17  1857;  Henry  C.  Pitney, 
Feb.  6  1862;  Alfred  Mills,  Feb.  6  1867;  Frederick  A. 
De  Mott,  Feb.  6  1872  and  Feb.  21  1877;  George  W.  For- 
syth, Jan.  27  1880. 

County  Judges. — Prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  consti- 
tution of  1776  justices  of  the  peace  were  appointed  by 
the  governor  and  acted  also  as  county  judges,  a  commis- 
sion being  issued  to  them  or  some  of  them  from  time  to 
time  to  hold  courts  of  oyer  and  terminer.  They  held 
office  during  life  or  until  superseded.  From  the  record 
of  their  appointment  or  of  their  acting  as  judges  we  get 
the  following  list: 

March  25  1740,  John  Budd,  Jacob  Ford,  Abraham 
Kitchel,  John  Lindley  jr.,  Timothy  Tuttle,  Samuel  Swe- 
sey;  Sept.  16  1740,  Gershom  Mott,  Daniel  Cooper,  Isaac 
Vandine,  Ephriam  Price,  Abraham  Vanacken;  Sept.  20 
1743,  John  Anderson,  Henry  Stewart,  David  Luce; 
March  26  1745,  James  Stewart;  March  24  1747,  Abra- 
ham Van  Campen;  April  28  1749,  Ebenezer  Byram, 
Robert  Gould,  Benjamin  Hathaway,  John  Pettet,  Jo- 
seph Kitchel,  William  Henry;  Sept.  17  1751,  Samuel 
Smith;  March  26  1754,  Joseph  Tuttle,  Robert  Goble; 
Dec.  21  1756,  Joseph  Hynds;  March  11  1760,  Samuel 
Tuthill,  Lemuel  Bowers,  Thomas  Day,  John  Carle,  Jo- 
seph Beach,  Israel  Younglove;  March  8  1763,  Benjamin 
Day;  Sept.  25  1764,  Josiah  Broadwell. 

The  commission  issued  April  30  1768  seems  to  include 
all  the  above  who  were  still  acting,  and  was  as  follows: 

Joseph  Tuttle,  Daniel  Cooper  (superseded  Aug.  18 
1774),  Robert  Goble,  Samuel  Tuthill,  Robert  Gould,  Jo- 
seph Kitchel,  Jacob  Ford,  David  Luce,  Samuel  Bowers, 
John  Carle  jr.,  Benjamin  Day,  Josiah  Broadwell,  Sam- 
uel Wells;  Benjamin  Cooper  (superseded  Jan.  22  1774), 
William  Kelly,  Samuel  Grandine,  Moses  Tuttle,  Jacob 
Ford,  jr.;  Aug.  26  1768,  Peter  Kemble,  Lord  Stirling; 
March  29  1770,  David  Thompson,  Samuel  Ogden;  Feb. 
15  i77r.  Constant  King;  March  24  1773,  Robert  Ers- 
kine,  John  Jacob  Faesch,  Henry  Mandeville;  March  19 
1774,  Johathan  Stiles;  March  18  1775,  Philip  Van  Cort- 
land; April  28  1775,  Abraham  Ogden;  May  31  1775, 
Thomas  Eckley,  Thomas  Millige;  July  27  1775,  Daniel 
Cooper  jr. 

Under  the  constitution  of  1776  the  county  judges  were 
to  be  appointed  in  joint  meeting  and  to  hold  their  offices 
for  five  years.  In  1844  the  number  for  each  county  was 
restricted  to  five,  and  in  1855  to  three.  The  following 
are  the  appointments  after  1776: 

Jacob  Ford,  1776;  Samuel  Tuthill,  1776,  1788,  1793, 
1798;  Joseph  Kitchell,  1776;  John  Carle,  1776,  1781, 
1786,  1791;  David  Thomjjson,  1776,  1779,  1789,  1794, 
1796,  1797;  Benjamin  Halsey,  1776,  1781  (resigned  in 
1785);  Samuel  Roberts,  1777;  Jonathan  Stiles,  1782; 
Abraham  Kitchel,  1782,  1797,  1803;  William  WoodhuU, 
1782,  1788,  1793,  1798,  1803,  1808,  1813,  1818;  Silas 
Condict,  1785,  1790,  1799;  Aaron  Kitchel,  1785;  John 
Jacob  Faesch,  1786,  1791,  1796;  Ellis  Cook,  1793,  1795; 
John  Doughty,  1795,  1800,  1805,  1812;  David  Welsh, 
1798,  1801,  1804,  1809,  1814,  1819;  Robert  Colfax,  1799, 
1812,  1818,  1822;    Joseph    Lewis,  1800;    Hiram    Smith, 


11 


76 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


1800;  John  Cobb,  1803;  Benjamin  Ludlow,  1803;  Jon- 
athan Ogden,  1805,  1812;    Silas  Cook,  1806,  1812,  1817, 

1821,  1826,  1833,  1838,  1843;  Cornelius  Voorhees,  1807; 
Edward  Condict,  1807,  1824,  1829,  1834,  1839;  William 
Munro,  1808,  1813,  1818,  1822,  1824,  1829,  1831,  1836, 
JesseUpson,  1808,  1813,  1818,  1823,1828;  Benjamin  Smith, 
1808,  1813,  1818,  1820;  Mahlon  Dickerson,  1811;  Eb- 
enezer  Coe,  1812;  Benjamin  Pierson,  1812;  Israel  Can- 
field,  1812;  John  G.  Cooper,  1812,  1817,  1822;  Eb- 
enezer   H.  Pierson,  1813;    Joseph    Jackson,  1813,  1818, 

1822,  1827,  1829,  1831,  1836,  1841;  Henry  W. 
Phillips,  1813;  Lemuel  Cobb,  1813,  1822,  1827;  Lot 
Dixon,  181 5;  Lewis  Condict,  i8r8;  Joseph  Hedges, 
1820;  William  B.  Patterson,  1820;  David  Mills, 
1822;  Daniel  Horton,  1822,  1827;  Cornelius  Lud- 
low, 1823;  -  James  Wood,  1825,  1830,  1837; 
David    Thompson,    1828;  Daniel    Hopping,   1828,   1832, 

1837,  1842;  Lemuel  Neighbour,  1828;  William  Logan, 
1829,  1834,  1843;  Silas  Lindsey,  1829,  1836;  William 
Brittin,  1829,  1833,  1839,  1845,  1850;  Stephen  Vail,  1829, 
1834;  Isaac  Quimby,  1829,  1834,  1836;  Joseph  Smith, 
1829,  1833,  1839;  Thomas  Dickerson,  1832;  Benjamin 
Crane,  1832,  1850,  1854;  Ephraim  Marsh,  1832,  1837, 
1842;  John  Hunt,  1833,  1838,  1843;  Andrew  B.  Cobb, 
1833,  1838,  1843;  William  Jackson,  1833;  Francis  Child 
jr.,  1833,  1843,  1851;  Stephen  Congar,  1833,  1838,  1843; 
Charles    Ford,    1833,    1838,    1843;  Silas    Condict,    1833, 

1838,  1843;  Ebenezer  F.  Smith,  1833,  1839;  David  W. 
Miller,  (833,  1838,  1843;  Benjamin  Roome,  1833;  Jeptha 
B.  Munn,  1833,  1843;  William  Dellecker,  1834;  Nicholas 
Arrowsmith  jr.,  1835;  John  A.  Bleecker,  1836,  1843; 
William  Babbit,  1837,  1842;  Stephen  Salmon,  1839; 
Peter  A.  Johnson,  1839;  John  J.  Young,  1840;  Aaron 
Doty,  1840;  Benjamin  P.  Lum,  1840;  Samuel  Hilts, 
1840;  George  R.  Colfax,  1841;  Joseph  Lovell,  1841; 
Archer  Stephens,  1843;  Jacob  Welch,  1843;  Henry  P. 
Green,  1843;  Richard  W.  Stites,  1843;  John  F.  Smith 
and  Jacob  Hann,  1843;  Lawrence  Hagar,  Squier  Lum 
and  Nathan  A.  Cooper,  1844;  Stephen  Clark,  Jacob 
Wilson,  Joseph  C.  Righter  and  Cornelius  W.  Mandeville, 
1844;  Samuel  B.  Halsey,  1846;  William  A.  Duer,  1847; 
Calvin  Howell,  1848;  Robert  F.  Wilson,  1849;  Joseph 
Dalrymple,  1852,  1857;  Cummings  McCarty,  1853;  Sam- 
uel O.  Breant,  1858;  Ira  C.  Whitehead,  1859;  James  H. 
Fancher,  1862;  John  W.  Hancock,  1864;  Lewis  B.  Cobb, 
1867;  James  S.  Fancher,  1868;  David  W.  Dellecker, 
1869,  1877;  John  L.  Kanouse,  1872;  Benjamin  O.  Can- 
field,  1873;  Freeman  Wood,  1874,  1879. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  February  26th  1878  ope 
of  the  three  judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  was  to 
be  thereafter  a  counselor  at  law,  to  be  the  president  judge 
of  the  court  and  to  hold  his  office  for  five  years.  Under 
this  act  Hon.  Francis  Child  was  appointed  February  26th 
1878. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — From  1776  to  1844  the  justices 
of  the  peace  of  each  county  were  appointed  in  joint 
meeting,  to  hold  their  office  for  five  years,  and  were  con- 
sidered county  officers.  Besides  those  who  were  also 
judges,  and  whose  names  appear  as  such,  there  were  ap- 
pointed for  Morris  county  the  following: 

Robert  Gould,  1776;  Aaron  Stark,  1776,  1777;  Samuel 
Wills,  1776;  John  Waldruff,  1775;  Moses  Tuttle,  1776; 
Jacob  Doley,  1776;  Constant  King,  1776;  Henry  Mande- 
ville jr.,  1776,  1777,  1781,  1783;  Matthew  Burnet,  1776; 
John  Brookfield,  1776,  1781;  Jonathan  Stiles  (resigned 
January  loth  1779),  1776,  1781;  David  Brewin,  1776; 
Daniel  Cooper  jr.,  1876,  1781;  Benjamin  Howell,  1776, 
1781;    John  Jacob  Faesch,  1776,  1781;    Elijah  Horton, 


1776,  1782;  Jacob  Gould,  1777,  1782,  1787;  Stephen 
Day,  1777,  1782;  John  Cobb  (resigned  October  2nd  1778), 
1777;  William  Young,  1777,  1782  (resigned  August  13th 
1784);  Aaron  Kitchel,  1777,  1782;  Seth  Babbitt,  1777, 
1782;    William    Ross,    1778;    William   Woodhull,    1780, 

1790,  179s,  1803,  1806,  1808;  David  Thompson,  1781; 
Jacob  Minton,  1781;  Abraham  Kitchel,  1782;  Benjamin 
Lindsley  (resigned  August  3tst  1784),  1782;  Joseph 
Wood,  1782;  John  Stark,  1783,  1789,  1794,  1799;  Ebene- 
zer Tuttle  (resigned  June  ist  1786),  1783;  Eleazer  Linds- 
ley, 1783;  Daniel  Cook,  1784,  1789;  John  Riggs,  1784; 
Jacob  Shuiler,  1786;  William  Logan,  1786;  Cornelius 
Voorhees,  1787;  Caleb  Russell,  1787;  Hiram  Smith, 
1788;  Moses  Tuttle  (resigned  November  23d  1790),  1788; 
David  Welsh  jr.,  1789,  1794,  1799,  1804,  1809,  1814,  1819; 
Alexander  Carmichael,  1790,  1795;  Enos  Ward,  1791; 
Nathaniel  Terry,  1791;  John  Debow,  1791;  John  Salter, 

1791,  1796;  Stephen  Jackson,  1791;  Artemas  Day,  1791; 
William  Corwine,  1792,  1797,  1803,  1808,  1813;  John 
Kitchel,  1792;  Abraham  Fairchild,  1792,  i797> 
1803;  Ellis  Cook,  1793;  Ebenezer  Cae,  1793,  1798, 
1804,  1809,  1814,  1819,  1824;  Jabez  Campfield, 
i793>  1798;  Hiram  Smith,  1793;  Simeon  Broad- 
well,  1793;  George  Bockover,  1794,  1799;  John 
Cobb,  1794,  1799,  1803;  Joseph  Lewis,  1796; 
Benjamin  Beach,  1796,  1801,  1806,  1811;  Robert  Colfax, 
1796,  1812,  1818,  1822;  Ebenezer  Drake,  1796,  1801; 
John  De  Camp,  1796,  1801,  1806,  1812,  1817;  Joshua 
Jennings,  1797;  Aaron  Ball,  1798,  1803;  Nicholas  Em- 
mons, 1798,  1803,  1808;  Ziba  Hazen,  1799;  Nicholas 
Mandeville,  1799,  1803,  1808,  1813,  1818;  Nicholas 
Neighbour,  1799,  1804,  1809,  1814;  Israel  Lum,  1799, 
1804;  Daniel  Horton,  1801,  1806,  1812,  1816,  1821,  1826; 
Joseph  Hedges,  1801,  1806,  1812;  Abraham  Kitchel, 
1803;  Benjamin  Ludlow,  1803;  Richard  Johnson,  1803, 
1808,  1813,  1818;  Jesse  Upson,  1803,  1808,  1813,  1818, 
1823,  1828;  William  Munro,  1803,  1808, 1818,  1822,  1824, 
1833,  1834  (resigned  1835);  Benjamin  Condit,  1803,  1808, 
1813,  1818,  1823,  1828;  Daniel  Hurd,  1803,  1808;  Ben- 
jamin Lamson,  1803,  1808,  1813;  Jacob  Miller,  1804; 
John  Doughty,  1805,  1812;  Jonathan  Ogden,  1805,  1812; 
David  Pier,  1805,  1810;  Silas  Cook,  1805,  1812,  1817, 
1826,  1833,  1838,  1843;  Peter  Smith,  1805,  181  t;  Daniel 
Hopping,  1805,  1810,  1816,  1820,  1825,  1832;  Benjamin 
Smith,  1806,  1811,  1813,  1816,  1818,  1819  (resigned  1820); 
Preserve  RigRS,  1806,  1811;  Isaac  Lindsley,  1806,  1811; 
Cornelius  Voorhees,  1807;   Edward  Condict,  1807,  1812, 

1817,  1822,    1824,   1827,    1829,    1834;  Lot   Dixon,   1807, 

1812,  1817;  Joseph  Halsey,  1807;  David  S.  Bates, 
1807;  Ezekiel  Kitchel,  1808;  Philip  Schuyler, 
1808;    John     Kelso,     1808;     Henry    Cooper    jr.,    1808, 

1813,  1818;  William  Spencer,  1809,  1813  (resigned  1814); 
Benjamin  Pierson,  1809,  1814,  1819;  Mahlon  Dickerson, 
181 1 ;  Thomas  Van  Winkle,  181 1,  1816,  1820,  1825,  1832, 
1837;  Thomas  Parrot,  1811,  1818;  Thomas  Logan  jr., 
i8i2,  T817,  1821;  Stephen  Dickerson,  1812,  1817,  1821, 
1826,  1831,  1836;  John  Smith,  1812,  1817,  1820;  Israel 
Canfield,  1812;  John  G.  Cooper,  1812,  1817,  1822; 
Ebenezer    H.    Pierson,    1813;    Joseph    Jackson,    1813, 

1818,  1822,  1827;  Henry  W.  Phillips,  1813;  Lemuel 
Cobb,  1813.  1818,  1822,  1827;  John  Stark  "3d,  1813; 
Cornelius  Davenport,  1813;  Lawrence  Henn,  1813; 
Jacob  B.  Drake,  1813;  William  Woodhull,  1813, 
1818;  Elijah  Ward,  1814,  1818,  1835,  1844; 
Leonard  Neighbour,    1814,    1819,  1824;  Obadiah  Crane, 

1814,  1819;  David  Mills,  1814,  1818  (resigned  1819), 
1822;  Silas  Lindsley,  1815,  1820,  1825,  1830;  Jacob 
Drake  jr.,  1815,  1820;  Jacob  Demouth,  1815,  1820,  1826, 
1832;  Jonathan  Miller,  1815,  1820,  1825,  1838,  1843; 
Lambert  Bowman,  1815;  William  Babbit,  1815,  1820, 
1825,    1831,   1837,    1842;  Samuel  S.  Beach,  1816;  Aaron 


JUSTICES— MEMBERS  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE. 


77 


Ball,    1816;  Paul   Drake,  1816,  1825;  Squier  Lum,  1816, 
1821,  1826,  1831,  1836,  1842;  David  Miller,  1817;  David 
Day,  1817,  1821,  1826,  1836,  1842;  Abraham  Cook,  1817 
Jacob  Weise,  1817;  Lewis  Condit,i8i8;  John  Sharp  3d 

1818,  1824,  1829,  1834;  Gabrier  Johnson,  1819,  1823 
1828;  Joseph    Hedges,    1819;  William    Dellecker,   1819, 

1823,  1828,  1833;  Ephraim  P.  Stiles,  1818;  Joseph  Smith 

1819,  1824,   1829,   1839;  Ebenezer  Smith,  1820;  Robert 
"-Staght,  1820;  Nicholas  Arrowsmith  jr.,  1821,  1826,  1836 

John  Smith  of  Roxbury,  182 1;  Richard  Grey,  182 1 
1826,    1830    (resigned);  Benjamin    P.    Lum,  1822,   1827 

1832,  1837,  1841,  1842;  Samuel  Weise,  1822;  Cornelius 
Ludlow,  1822,  1827;  Benjamin  Crane,  1822,  1827,  1832 
"Stephen  Congar,  1822,  1827,  1832,  1837,  1842;  Aaron 
Kitchel,  1822,  1827;  William  Logan,  1822,  1827,  1832 
David  Thorp,  1822,  1827;  John  Hunt,  1823,  1828,  1837 
1842;  Peter  Kemple,  1823,  1828,  1833,  1839;  Aaron  Sal- 
mon, 1823,  1832,  1837,  1842;  Isaac  Quimby,  1824,  1829 
1834;  William    Thompson,    1824;    Ebenezer   F.    Smith 

1824,  1829,  1833,  1834;  Thomas  Dickerson,  1824,  1829 
Samuel     Sayre     of     Roxbury,      1825;       James     Wood 

1825,  1830,  1837;  Azariah  Carter,  1825,  1830 
1836,  1843;  Benjamin  Rome  jr.,  1825,  1833;  Peter 
Freeman,  1825,  1830;  Sylvanus  Cooper,  1826,  1831;  John 
Sherman,  1826,  1836;  John  F.  Smith,  1826,  1831,  1832 
David  Thompson,  1828;  Lemuel  Neighbour,  1828;  George 
H.  Ludlow,  1828;  Daniel  L.  Tuttle,  1828;  Zephaniah 
Drake,  1829;  Matthias  Kitchel,  1829,  1834,  1839;  Wil- 
liam De  Hart,  of  Pequannock,  1829;  Andrew  Pearce, 
1829;  William  Brittin,  1829,  1834;  Nathaniel  Corwin, 
1829,  1834;    Jacob  Welsh  of  Washington  township,  1829, 

1834,  1839;  Alexander  Dickerson,  1829,  1834,  1839; 
Stephen  Vail,  1829,  1834;  John  A.  Bleecker,  1829,  1834; 
-Charles  Freeman,  1829;  Joseph  Dalrymple,  1829;  Robert 
K.  Tuttle,  1829,  1834,  1843;  Daniel  Thompson  jr.,  1829; 
Simeon  Lindsley,  1830,  1835,  1844;  Henry  Stephens, 
1830;  Peter  A.  Johnson,  1830,  1835,  1840;  George  R. 
•Colfax,  1830,  1833,  1836,  1840;  Moses  Beach,  1831;  John 
Righter,  1831,  1836;  Isaac  ISeach  jr.,  1831;  John  W. 
Hancock,  1831;  George  Trimmer  jr.,  1831,  1836;  Daniel 
McCorraick,  1831;  David  Horton,  1831;  Michael  Arrow- 
smith,  1831;  Joseph  Jackson,  1831,  1836,  1841;  Andrew 
Fleck,  1831;  Nelson,  Howell,  1832;  Morris  Hager,  1832; 
James  M.  Fleming,  1832,  1838;  Cornelius  Mandeville, 
1832;  Isaac  Whitehead,  1832;  Robert  Hand,  1832;  Isaac 
Ball,  1832;  Ephraim  Marsh,  T832;  Stephen  Salmon,  1833, 
1838,  1843;    John    Debow,   1833,   1838;    Silas   C.  Clark, 

1833,  1838;  Jacob  Johnson,  1833;  Daniel  Runyon,  1833, 
1838,  1843;  Francis  Stickle,  1833;  Samuel  Sayre  of  Mor- 
ris, 1833;  William  Headley,  1833;  Stephen  O.  Guerin, 
1833;  John  Welsh,  1833;  Robert  C.  Stephens,  1833,  1838, 
1843;  William  O.  Ford,  1833,  1838,  1839,  1843;  Calvin 
Dixon,  1833,  1838;  Loammi  Moore,  1833,  1838;  Francis 
Child  jr.,  1833;  Silas  Condict,  1833,  1843;  Samuel  Hilts, 
1833,  1838,  1843;  Calvin  Thompson,  1833;  David  W. 
Miller,  1833,  1843;  Stephen  R.  Haines,  1833;  William 
Jackson,  1833;  John  Seward  jr.,  1833,  1838;  William 
Spriggs,  1833;  Isaac  Mead,  1833;  John  Mott  jr.,  1833; 
Nathan  A.  Cooper,  1834;  John  Hardy,  1834;  Daniel  P. 
Merchant,  1834;  Calvin  D.  Smith,  1834;  John  S.  Ballen- 
tine,  1834;  Jeptha  B.  Munn,  1834;    Jonathan  Thompson, 

1835,  1843;  Rheace  Nicholas,  1835,  1843;  James  Ely,  1835; 
Samuel  Hedges,  1835,  1843;  John  M.  Losey,  1835;  Moses 
A.  Brookfield,  1836,  1843;  Henry  Kennedy,  1836;  Mah- 
lon  Pitney  jr.,  1836,  1841;  Samuel  C.  Caskey,  1836,  1844; 
David  Burnet  jr.,  1836;  Josiah  P.  Knapp,  1836;  Elisha 
Bard,  1836;  John  Garrigus  jr.,  1836,  1841;  Henry  Ste- 
vens, 1837,  1842;  John  T.  Young,  1837;  William  Allen, 
1837;  Nathaniel  F.  Douglass,  1837,  1842;  Archer  Ste- 
phens, 1837;  1842;  Isaac  Bird,  1838,  1843;  Henry  Cole, 
1838,    1843;  Aaron    Doty,    1838,    1843;    Charles    Ford, 


1838,1843;  DavidT.  Cooper,  1838,  1843;  Henry  J.  Hoff- 
man, 1839;  Calvin  Howell,  1839;  Martin  S.  Moore,  1839; 
Morris  Sharp,  1839;  Samuel  Swayze,  1839;  Robert  Al- 
bright, 1839,  1844;  Enos  Davenport,  1839;  John  Dal- 
rymple, 1839;  Silas  L.  Condict,  1839;  James  F.  Hopping, 
1839;  Benjamin  L.  Condict,  1840;  David  Crater  jr.,  1840; 
Jared  Howell,  1840;  William  B.  La  Fever,  1840;  Elisha 
B.  Mott,  1840;  Moses  Cherry,  1840;  Jacob  Holloway, 
1840;  Joseph  C.  Harvey,  Abraham  C.  Canfield,  Hubbard 
S.  Stickle,  John  Wells,  William  Nichols  and  William  P. 
Brittin,  1841;  John  J.  Youngs,  Andrew  Flock,  James  R. 
Dennison,  1842;  William  M.  Clark,  1843,  resigned  1845; 
Wickliff  H.  Genung,  John  Seward  jr.,  David  Sandford, 
David  Burnet,  James  Ely,  John  J.  Ballentine,  Jacob 
Swackhamer,  Thomas  Coe,  Thomas  Landron,  Cummins 
McCarty,  William  Little,  Michael  McLane,  Joseph  Cole- 
man, David  S.  De  Camp,  Gilman  T.  Cummings,  William 
B.  Johnson,  Josiah  B.  Knapp  and  William  H.  Dickerson, 
1843;  Henry  Kennedy,  Cornelius  W.  Mandeville,  Eli- 
phalet  Drake,  Moses  Beam,  John  Gray,  Alfred  Vanduyne, 
Jacob  Powers,  William  T.  Munroe,  Jacob  Drake,  Stephen 
W.  T.  Meeker,  David  Allen  and  Timothy  Southard,  1844. 

The  constitution  of  1844  provided  for  the  election  of 
justices  of  the  peace  by  the  people  of  each  township. 

Members  of  the  Council  (elected  annually  under  the 
first  constitution). — Silas  Condict,  1776-80;  John  Carle, 
1781-84;  John  Cleves  Symmes,  1785;  Abraham  Kitchel, 
1786-88,  1793,  1794,  1798-1800;  William  Woodhull,  1789, 
1790;  Ellis  Cook,  1791, 1792,  179s;  David  Welsh,  1801-6; 
Benjamin  Ludlow,  1807-14;  Jesse  Upson,  1815-22  (vice- 
president  1818-22;  Silas  Cook,  1823-27  (vice-president 
in  1827);  Edward  Condict,  1828-30;  James  Wood,  1831, 
1832,  1840,  1841;  Mahlon  Dickerson,  1833;  William 
Munro,  1834;  Jeptha  B.  Munn,  1835,  1836;  William  Brit- 
tin, 1837,  1838;  Jacob  W.  Miller,  1839;  Ezekiel  B. 
Gaines,  1842;  John  H.  Stanburrough,  1843. 

State  Senators. — John  B.  Johnes,  1845-47;  Ephraim 
Marsh,  1848-50  (president  in  1849  and  1850);  John  A. 
Bleeker,  1851-53;  Alexander  Robertson,  1854-56;  An- 
drew B.  Cobb,  1857-59;  Daniel  Budd,  1860-62;  Lyman 
A.  Chandler,  1863-65;  George  T.  Cobb,  1866-70;  Colum- 
bus Beach,  1871;  Augustus  W.  Cutler,  1872-74;  John 
Hill,  1875-77;  Augustus  C.  Canfield,  1878-80;  James  C. 
Youngblood,  1881. 

Assemblymen. — Under  the  first  constitution,  adopted 
July  2nd  1776,  each  county  was  entitled  to  three  assem- 
blymen, who  were  elected  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
October,  the  Assembly  convening  on  the  second  Tues- 
day thereafter.  In  1815  Morris  county  was  authorized 
to  elect  four  members  of  Assembly,  but  the  number 
three  was  restored  in  i860.  The  county  was  first  dis- 
tricted in  1852,  Chatham  and  Morris  townships  com- 
posing the  first  district,  Hanover  and  Pequannock  the 
second,  Jefferson,  Rockaway  and  Roxbury  the  third,  and 
Chester,  Mendham,  Randolph  and  Washington  the  fourth. 
In  i860  the  county  was  redistricted,  to  conform  to  the 
reduced  representation,  as  follows:  ist  district,  Chatham, 
Chester,  Mendham  and  Morris;  2nd,  Hanover,  Pequannock 
and  Rockaway;  3d,  Jefferson,  Randolph  and  Roxbury.  The 
subsequent  arrangement  of  districts  has  been  as  follows: 
1867 — ist  district,  Chatham,  Hanover,  Morris  and  Pas- 
saic; 2nd,  Jefferson,  Pequannock,  Randolph  and  Rock- 
away; 3d,  Chester,  Mendham,  Roxbury  and  Washing- 
ton. 1868 — ist  district,  Chatham,  Hanover,  Mendham, 
Morris  and  Passaic;  2nd,  Boonton,  Jefferson  and  Rock- 


78 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


away;  3d,  Chester,  Randolph,  Roxbury  and  Washington, 
1871 — ist  district,  Chathann,  Hanover,  Montville  and 
Morris;  2nd,  Boonton,  Jefferson,  Pequannock  and  Rock- 
away;  3d,  Chester,  Mendham,  Passaic,  Randolph,  Rox- 
bury and  Washington.  An  act  redistricting  the  county 
as  follows  in  1878  was  repealed  in  1879 — 1st  district, 
Chatham,  Chester,  Mendham,  Morris  and  Passaic;  2nd, 
Boonton,  Hanover,  Montville,  Pequannock  and  Rocka- 
way;  3d,  Jefferson,  Mt.  Olive,  Randolph,  Roxbury  and 
Washington.  By  an  act  of  March  21st  1881  Mt.  Olive 
and  Roxbury  were  attached  to  the  2nd  district.  In  the 
following  list  of  members  of  Assembly  from  Morris  county 
the  district  represented  by  the  ■  member  is  indicated  by 
its  .number  following  his  name,  and  the  territory  repre- 
sented can  be  ascertained  by  reference  to  the  dates 
above: 

Jacob  Drake,  1776-78;  Ellis  Cook,  1776,  1777,  1779, 
1781-92;  William  Woodhull,  1776,  1777;  Abraham 
Kitchel,  1778,  1779;  David  Thompson,  1778,  1795; 
Alexander  Carmichael,  1779;  William  Winds,  1780;  John 
Carle,  1780;  Eleazer  Lindsley,  1780;  Aaron  Kitchel, 
1781,  1782,  1784,  1786-90,  1793,  1794,  1797,  1801-04,  1809; 
John  Starke,  1781-83,  1785-88,  1791,  1795;  Jonathan 
Dickerson,  1783;  Jacob  Arnold,  1784,  1785,  1789,  1790; 
Hiram  Smith,  1791,  1792;  Silas  Condict,  1791-94,  1796- 
98,  1800  (speaker  1792-94,  1797);  John  Wurts,  1792; 
David  Welsh,  1783,  1784,  1786,  1797,  1800;  John  Debow, 
1795;  John  Cobb,  1796;  William  Corwin,  1798,  1799, 
1801-03;  Cornelius  Voorheese,  179,8,  1800;  William  Camp- 
field,  1799;  Jonathan  Ogden,  1802-04;  Jesse  Upson,  1804- 
06;  Lewis  Condict,  1805-09  (speaker  1808,  1809);  George 
Tucker,  1805;  Nicholas  Neighbour,  i8o6-c8;  Stephen 
Dod,  1807-12;  Jeptha  B.  Munn,  1810-12,  1814;  Nicholas 
Mandeville,  1810,  1813-15;  Mahlon  Dickerson,  1811-13; 
Leonard  Neighbour,  1813,  1831;  David  Thompson  jr., 
1814-22  (speaker  1818-22);  Benjamin  Condit,  1815,  1816, 
i8ig;  Ezekiel  Kitchel,  1815,  1816;  Samuel  Halliday, 
1816-18;  John  S.  Darcy,  1817,  1818;  Benjamin  Mc- 
Curry,  1817,  1821,  1822,  1824;  William  Brittin, 
1818,  1819-24,  1832;  Silas  Cook,  1819,  1820;  Wil- 
liam Munro,  1820,  1821,  1823,  1828-30;  Benja- 
min Smith,  1820,  1822,  1823;  George  K.  Drake, 
1823-26  (speaker  1825,  1826);  John  Scott,  1824; 
Ebenezer  F.  Smith,  1825;  Joseph  Dickerson,  1825,  1826; 
Ephraim  Marsh,  1825- 27;  John  D.  Jackson,  1826;  David 
Mills,  1827;  Stephen  Thompson,  1827;  Walter  Kirkpat- 
rick,  1827;  Joseph  Jackson,  1828-30;  Charles  Hillard, 
1828-30;  John  Hancock,  1828-30;  Elijah  Ward,  1831; 
Thomas  Muir,  1831,  1833,  1834;  James  Cook,  1831, 1835; 
Samuel  Beach,  1832;  Jacob  W.  Miller,  1832;  Joseph 
Smith,  1832;  Joseph  Dickerson  jr.,  1833,  1834;  Henry 
Hillard,  1833-35;  Silas  Lindsley,  1833,  1834;  Isaac 
Quimby,  1835;  John  D.  Jackson,  1835;  John  A.  Bleeker, 
1836;  William  Dellicker,  1836;  Alexander  Dickerson, 
1836;  William  Logan,  1836;  Lewis  Condict,  1837,  1838 
(speaker);  Silas  Tuttle,  1837,  1838;  Robert  C.  Stephens, 
1837,  1838;  Ezekiel  B.  Gaines,  1837,  1838;  Abraham 
Brittin,  1839,  1840;  Ebenezer  F.  Smith,  1839,  1840;  Jacob 
Weise,  1839;  Paul  B.  Debow,  1839,  1840;  James  W. 
Drake,  1840,  1841;  Samuel  B.  Halsey,  1841,  1842 
(speaker  1842);  William  Stephens,  1841,  1842;  Thomas 
C.Willis,  1841;  David  T.  Cooper,  1842,  1848,  1849; 
James  Clark,  1842,  1843;  John  M.  Losey,  1843;  Samuel 
Willett,  1843;  George  Vail,  1843;  Timothy  Kitchel, 
1845;  Matthias  Kitchel,  1845,  1846;  Henry  Seward,  1845, 
1846;  George  H.  Thompson,  1845,  1846;  Calvin  Howell, 
1846,  1847;    Richard  Lewis,  1847;     Charles  McFarland, 


1847;  Samuel  Hilts,  1847;  Samuel  Van  Ness,  1848,  1849; 
Edward  W.  Whelpley,  1848,  1849  (speaker  1849);  An- 
drew J.  Smith,  1848,  1849;  John  L.  Kanouse,  1850,  1854; 
Andrew  B.  Cobb,  2,  1850,  1854;  Freeman  Wood,  1850; 
George  H.  Thompson,  1850;  Cornelius  B.  Doremus, 
1851,  1852;  Horace  Chamberlain,  1851;  Jonathan  P. 
Bartley,  1851;  Josiah  Meeker,  1851;  John  D.  Jackson, 
3, 1852,  1853;  Cornelius  S.  Dickerson,  1852,  1853;  Robert 
Albright,  1,  1852,  1853;  William  P.  Conkling,  i,  1854, 
1855;  William  Logan,  3,  1854,  1855;  Aaron  Pitney, 
4,  1854,  1855;  Edward  Howell,  2,  1855,  1856;  Wil- 
liam M.  Muchmore,  i,  1856;  William  A.  Carr, 
3,  1856,  1857;  Daniel  Budd,  4,  1856,  1857;  Benja- 
min M.  Felch,  1,  1857;  Richard  Speer,  2,  1857,  1858; 
Lyman  A.  Chandler,  3,  1858;  John  Naughright,  4,  1858; 
1858,  1859;  A.  H.  Stanburrough,  1,  1859;  James  H.  Ball, 
2,1859,  i860;  Eugene  Ayers,  i,  i860;  Nelson  H.  Drake, 
3,  1860-62;  Nathan  Horton.  4,  i860,  1861;  William  W. 
Beach,  i,  1861;  John  Hill,  2,  1861,  1862,  1866  (speaker); 
Jacob  Vanatta,  1,  1862,  1863;  William  J.  Wood,  2,  1863; 
Jesse  Hoffman,  3,  1863-65,  Henry  C.  Sanders,  i,  1864; 
John  Bates,  2,  1864,  1865;  Alfred  M.  Treadwell,  1,  1865, 
James  C.  Yawger,  1,  1866,  1867;  Elias.M.  White,  3,  1866; 
1867;  Lewis  Estler,  2,  1867;  Daniel  Coghlan,  i,  1868; 
George  Gage,  2,  1868;  Jesse  M.  Sharp,  3,  1868-70; 
Theo.  W.  Phoenix,  i,  1869,  1870;  Columbus  Beach,  2, 
1869,  1870;  Nathaniel  Niles,  1,  1871,  1872  (speaker); 
William  B.  Lefevre,  2,  1871,  1872;  Aug.  C.  Canfield,  3, 
1871-73;  William  H.  Howell,  1,  1873,  1874;  Jacob  Z. 
Budd,  2,  1873,  1874;  Elias  M.  Skellenger,  3,  1874-76; 
J.  C.  Youngblood,  1,  1875,  1876;  Edmund  D.  Halsey,  2, 
1875,  1876;  A.  C.  Van  Duyne,  i,  1877;  C.  O.  Cooper,  2, 
1877,  1878;  C.  P.  Garrabrant,  3,  1877,  1878;  Joshua  S. 
Salmon,  2,  1878;  Charles  F.  Axtell,  i,  1879,  1880;  James 
H.  Bruen,  2,  1879,  1880;  Holloway  W.  Hunt,  3,  1879, 
1880;  William  C.  Johnson,  1,  1881,  1882;  John  F.  Post^ 
2,  i88r,  1882;  Oscar  Lindsley,  3,  1881,  1882. 

United  States  Senators. — Aaron  Kitchel,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Rachel  Kitchel,  born  in  Hanover  in  1744,  died  June 
25th  1820.  For  a  sketch  of  his  life  see  Rev.  H.  D. 
Kitchel's  history  of  Robert  Kitchel  and  his  descendants. 

Mahlon  Dickerson,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  Dicker- 
son,  born  April  17th  1770,  died  October  4th  1853;  sena- 
tor from  March  4th  1817  to  March  3d  1833. 

Jacob  W.  Miller,  born  in  1802,  died  September  30th 
1862;  senator  from  March  4th  1841  to  March  4th  1853. 

Theodore  F.  Randolph,  born  in  New  Brunswick,  June 
24th  1826;  senator  from  March  4th  1871;  to  March  ^d 
1881.  ^ 

Congressmen. — Silas  Condict,  1781-84;  born  March  7tb 
1738,  died  September  18th  1801. 

Aaron  Kitchel,  1791-93,  1794-97.  1799-1801;  also- 
United  States  senator. 

Lewis  Condict,  1811-17,  1821-33;  speaker  of  the 
House;  born  March  1773,  died  May  26th  1862. 

Bernard  Smith,  son  of  Bernard  Smith,  of  Rockaway,. 
1819-21;  died  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  July  i6th  1835,  aged 
59- 

George  Vail,  born  in  1803,  died  May  23d  1875;  repre- 
sentative 1853-57  (33d  and  34th  Congresses). 

George  T.  Cobb,  born  October  13th  1813,   killed  by  a 
railroad    accident    near    White    Sulphur    Springs     Va. 
August  6th  1870;  representative  1861-63  (37th  Congress)' 

Augustus  W.  Cutler,  born  1829;  representative  1875- 
79  (44th  and  45th  Congresses). 

John  Hill,  born  1821;  representative  1867-73,  1881-85 
(40th,  41st,  42nd  and  47th  Congresses). 

MILITIA    OFFICERS. 

The  militia  of  Morris  county  after  the   Revolutionary 


MILITIA  OFFICERS  AFTER  THE  REVOLUTION. 


79 


war  was  organized  in  four  regiments  of  infantry,  each 
commanded  by  one  lieutenant  colonel  and  two  majors, 
to  form  one  brigade,  to  be  commanded  by  a  brigadier 
general;  and  one  squadron  of  cavalry  to  form,  with  a 
squadron  from  Essex  county,  one  regiment,  to  be  com- 
manded by  a  lieutenant  colonel.  June  5th  1793  the  field 
officers  of  these  regiments  were  all  appointed  in  joint 
meeting — some  of  the  appointments  being  no  doubt  re- 
appointments. In  1799  the  militia  act  seems  to  have 
been  revised,  but  the  same  number  of  field  officers  were 
retained. 

The  following  is  a  roster*  of  the  militia  as  far  as  can 
be  ascertained.  Immediately  following  the  name  is  the 
date  of  commission;  "res."  stands  for  resigned  and 
"  prom."  for  promoted. 

Brigadier  Generals. — John  Doughty,  res.  Oct.  30  1800. 
Pruden  Ailing,  Nov.  13  1800;  res.  1806.  Benjamin  Lud- 
low, Mch.  12  1806;  prom.  maj.  gen.  2nd  div.  Nov.  25 
i8og.  John  Darcy,  Nov.  25  1809;  res.  Feb.  17  1815. 
Solomon  Doughty,  Feb.  17  1815.  John  Smith,  Feb.  13 
1818;  res.  Dec.  9  1823.  John  S.  Darcy,  Dec.  9  1823. 
Cornelius  W.  Mandeville,  Jan.  24  1834. 

FIRST    OR   MIDDLE    REGIMENT. 

Colonels. — Charles  T.  Day,  Oct.  31  1833.  Jabez  Beers, 
Mch.  10  1836. 

Lieutenant  Colonels. — Jacob  Arnold,  June  5  1793;  res. 
Oct.  31  1806.  Nehemiah  Losey,  Nov.  25  1806;  res.  Nov. 
2  1809.  Silas  Axtell,  Nov.  25  1809;  res.  Feb.  17  1815. 
Solomon  Boyle,  Feb.  17  1815;  res.  Feb.  ri  1818.  Wil- 
liam Brittin,  Feb.  13  1818;  res.  Mch.  i  1828.  Stephen 
D.  Hunting,  Mch.  i  1828;  res.  Nov.  8  1828.  James  W. 
Drake,  Feb.  20  1828. 

Majors  1st  Battalion. — Benjamin  Ludlow,  June  5 
1763;  promoted  Mch.  12  1806.  David  Lindsley,  Mch. 
12  1806;  res.  Nov.  2,  1809.  Solomon  Boyle,  Nov.  25, 
1809;  prom.  Feb.  17  1815.  William  Brittin,  Feb.  17, 
1809;  prom.  Feb.  13,  1818.  Halsey  Miller,  Feb.  17 
1819;  res.  Mch.  i  1820.  Charles  Freeman,  Mch.  i  1820. 
Stephen  D.  Hunting,  Dec.  20  1824;  prom.  Mch.  i  1828. 
John  S.  Budd,  Mch.  i  1828;  res.  Feb.  20  1829.  Wil- 
liam W.  Clark,  Feb.  20  1829.  William  R.  Bradley,  Mch. 
4  1835.     Benj.  R.Robinson.  Mch.  10  1836. 

Majors  2nd  Battalion. — John  Kinney,  June  5  1793; 
res.  1804.     Nehemiah  Losey,  Nov.  29  1804;  prom.  Nov. 

25  1806.  Silas  Axtell,  Nov.  25  1806;  prom.  Nov.  25 
1809.  Grover  Youngs,  Nov.  25  1809;  res.  Feb.  6  1817. 
Samuel  Halliday,  Feb.  6  1817;  res.  Nov.  21  1820.  Lewis 
Loree,  Nov.  21  1820;  res.  Nov.  23  1822.  Silas  Miller, 
Nov.  23  1822;  res.  Oct.  26  1827.     James  W.  Drake,  Oct. 

26  1827;  prom.  Feb.  20  1828.  Daniel  C.  Martin,  Feb. 
20  1829;  prom.  Feb.  27  1830  to  cavalry  regiment.  Wil- 
liam Tuttle  jr.,  Feb.  27  1830.  Samuel  L.  Axtell,  Oct. 
31  1834.     Philip  Riley,  Mch.  10  1836. 

SECOND,    UPPER    OR    WESTERN    REGIMENT. 

Colonels.— V)z.v\&  W.  Miller,  Feb.  28  1838;  res.  Mch. 
12  1839.     Henry  Halsey,  Mch.  12  1839. 

Lieutenant-Colonels.— ]d^r\  Stark;  res.  May  23  1782. 
Nathan  Luse,  June  21  1782.  Amos  Stark,  June  5  1793. 
James   Cook,  res.  Nov.  2    1809.      John    Budd,  Nov.  25 


*  The  author  acknowledges  valuable  services  rendered  in  compiling 
these  lists  by  James  S.  MoDanolds,  State  librarian;  Adjutant  General 
WUliam  S.  Stryker,  Assistant  Adjutant  General  James  D.  Kiger,  and 
Hon.  Henry  C.  Kelsey,  secretary  of  State. 


1809;  res.  Nov.  2  1811.  John  Smith,  Nov.  2  i8ii;prom. 
Feb.  13  1818.  Benjamin  McCoury,  Feb.  13  1818;  res. 
Nov.  23  1822.  Nathan  Horton  jr.,  Nov.  23  1822;  res. 
Oct.  28  1825.  Hugh  Bartley,  Dec.  27  1825;  res.  Feb. 
26  1830.     Charles  Hilliard,  Feb.  27  1830. 

Majors  xst  Battalion. — David  Welsh,  June  5  1793;  res. 
Oct.  25  1793.  David  Miller,  Feb.  ig  1794;  res.  Oct.  30 
1799.  Leonard  Neighbour,  Oct.  30  1799;  res.  Nov.  2 
1809.  Benjamin  McCoury,  Nov.  25  1809;  prom.  Feb.  13 
r8i8.  Nathaniel  Horton,  Feb.  13  1818;  prom.  Nov.  23 
1822.  Elijah  Horton,  Dec.  9  1823;  res.  Mch.  i  1828. 
Henry  Kennedy,  Mch.  i  1828. 

Majors  2nd  Battalion. — James  Cook,  June  5  1793. 
John  Smith,  Nov.  25  1809;  prom.  Nov.  2  181 1.  Cad- 
wallader  Smith,  Nov.  2  1811;  res.  Mch.  i  1820.  Joseph 
Budd,  Mch.  I  1820;  res.  Dec.  9  1823.  Hugh  Bartley, 
Dec.  9  1823;  prom.  Dec.  27  1825.  Charles  Hilliard, 
Dec.  27  1825;  prom.  Feb.  27  1830.  Thomas  Landon, 
Feb.  27  1830;  res.  Feb.  15  1831.  Arthur  Valentine,  res. 
Mch.  4  1833.     John  Caskey,  Mch.  4  1835. 

THIRD    OR    NORTHERN    REGIMENT. 

Lieutenant- Colonels. — Chilion  Ford,  June  5  1793;  died. 
Kbenezer  H.  Pierson,  Feb.  26  1801;  res.  Nov.  i  1804. 
Joseph  Jackson,  Nov.  29  1804;  res.  Feb.  6  1817.  John 
Scott,  Feb.  6  1817;  res.  Nov.  15  1820.  Samuel  S.  Beach, 
Nov.  15  1820;  res.  Dec.  9  1823.  John  H.  Stanburrough, 
Dec.  9  1813;  res.  Oct.  28  1825.  John  C.  Doughty,  Dec. 
7  1825;  res.  Nov.  8  1828.  Thomas  Muir,  Nov.  8  1828. 
Thomas  Coe,  Mch.  4  1835.  Nathaniel  Mott,  Feb.  28 
1838. 

Majors  ist  Battalion. — Samuel  Minthorn,  June  5  1793; 
Benjamin  Jackson,  Nov.  23  1795;  res.  Joseph  Jackson, 
Feb.  26  1801;  prom.  Nov.  29  1804.  William  Lee,  Mch. 
12  1806;  res.  Feb.  19  1813.  John  Hinchman,  Feb.  19 
1813.  Samuel  S.  Beach,  Feb.  6  1817;  prom.  Nov.  15 
1820.  John  P.  Cook,  Nov.  15  1820.  Frederick  De 
Mouth,  Dec.  7  1825;  res.  Nov.  6  1829.  Joseph  Hinch- 
man, Feb.  27  1830.     Peter  Coe,  Feb.  15  1831. 

Majors  2nd  Battalion. — Cornelius  Hoagland,  June  5 
1793;  removed.  Joshua  Jennings;  Feb.  26  1801;  res. 
Nov.  3  1803.  Joseph  Hurd,  Nov.  3  1803.  Joseph  Hop- 
ping, Feb.  9  1814.  John  Lewis,  res.  Oct.  31  1816.  Mo- 
ses Hopper,  res.  Nov.  15  1820.  John  H.  Stanburrough, 
Nov.  15  1820;  prom.  Dec.  9  1823.  John  C.  Doughty, 
Dec.  9  1823;  prom.  Dec.  7  1825.  Thomas  Muir,  Dec. 
7  1825;  prom.  Nov.  8  1828.  William  Minton,  Jan.  30 
1829;  res.  Mch.  4  1835.     Rober:  Muir,  Feb.  27  1840. 

FOURTH    OR     LOWER    REGIMENT. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. — Pruden  Ailing,  June  5  1793; 
prom.  Nov.  13  1800.  Hiram  Smith,  Nov.  13  1800;  res. 
Feb.  26  1801.  John  Darcy,  Feb.  26  1801;  prom.  Nov. 
25  1809.  Lemuel  Cobb,  Nov.  25  1809;  res.  Feb.  17  1815. 
John  S.  Darcy,  Feb.  17  1815;  prom.  Dec.  9  1823.  Eze- 
kiel  B.  Gaines,  Dec.  9  1823;  res.  Dec.  20  1824..  James 
Quiraby,  Dec.  20  1824.  Cornelius  W.  Mandeville,  Mch. 
1  1828;  Francis  Nafee,  Feb.  26  1834.  Samuel  Demo- 
rest,  Feb.  28  1838. 

Majors  1st  Battalion. — Hiram  Smith,  June  5  1793; 
prom.  Nov.  13  1800.  Lemuel  Cobb,  Feb.  26  tSoo; 
prom.  Nov.  25  1809.  Wm.  A.  Mandeville,  Feb.  19  i8ri. 
Ezekiel  B.  Gaines,  Mch.  i  1820;  prom.  Dec.  9  1823. 
Cornelius' W.  Mandeville,  Dec.  9  1823;  prom.  Mch.  i 
1828.  Francis  Neafer  (or  Nafee),  Mch.  i  1828;  prom. 
Feb.  26  1834.     Samuel  F.  Righter,  Feb.  28  1838. 

Majors  2nd  Battalion. — Evert  Van  Gilder,  June  5  1793; 
res.  Feb.  26  1801.  Luke  Miller,  Feb.  26,  1801;  res.  Oct. 
30  1805.  Daniel  Farrand,  Mch.  12  1806;  res.  Feb.  10 
1816.     Josiah    Winds,    Feb.  6    1817.     James   Quimby, 


12 


8o 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Nov.  23  1821;  prom.  Dec.  20  1824.  Stephen  Young, 
Dec.  7  1825;  res.  Feb.  15  1831.  David  F.  Halsey,  Feb. 
28  1838. 

MORRIS   CAVALRY. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. — Morris  and  Sussex:  Abram  Kin- 
ney. Abraham  Shaver,  Nov.  24  1801;  res.  Oct.  31  1806. 
William  Campfield,  Dec.  2  1807. 

Colonels  ^ih  New  Jersey  Cavalry. — Joseph  Cutler,  Feb. 
13  1818;  prom,  general  of  cavalry  Feb.  23  1843.  Nathan 
A.  Cooper,  Feb.  23  1843;  pi'om.  Daniel  Budd,  Sept.  8 
1857-   . 

Majors  of  Squadron. — William  Campfield,  Oct.  30 
1799;  prom.  Dec.  2  1807.  Isaac  Campfield,  Dec.  2  1807; 
res.  Feb.  3  1811.  David  Mills,  Feb.  3  1811;  res.  Feb.  11 
1818.  William  W.  Miller,  Nov.  23  1822.  Timothy  Con- 
diet,  Dec.  9  1823.  Daniel  C.  Martin,  Feb.  27th  1830; 
res.  Jan.  24  1834.  Nathan  A.  Cooper,  Jan.  24  1834; 
prom.  Feb.  23  1843.  Daniel  Budd  jr.,  Nov.  10  1843; 
prom.  Sept.  8  1857. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  there  was  a  re- 
vival of  the  militia  system,  and  the  following  appoint- 
ments were  made  in  what  was  called  the  First  regiment: 
George  D.Brewster,  lieutenant-colonel,  Aug.  2  i86i;res. 
Richard  M.  Stites,  major  May  18  1863;  colonel  Mch.  2 
1862;  res.  Joseph  B.  De  Camara,  lieutenant-colonel 
April  12  1862;  res.  John  R.  Runyon,  major  Apr.  12 
1862;  lieutenant-colonel  Sept.  25  1862.  James  M. 
Brown,  colonel  May  18  1863;  res.  Edwin  Bishop,  col- 
onel Aug.  29  1863. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


OPENING  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR — FIRST  VOLUNTEERS — LADIES 
AID  SOCIETIES. 


r^J-'SN  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  Morris  county  con 
tributed  her  full  share.  When  Sumter  was 
fired  upon  there  were  but  three  uniformed 
militia  companies  in  the  county — the  Na- 
tional Guards  of  Boonton,  Captain  Edwin  K. 
Bishop;  the  Morris  Greys,  Captain  William  Dun- 
can, and  the  Ringgold  Artillery,  Captain  Richard  M. 
Stites.  The  militia  system  had  fallen  into  disuse,  and 
the  parade  of  one  of  these  companies  was  a  novelty. 

On  Monday  evening,  April  22nd  1861,  three  days  after 
the  Baltimore  riot,  a  mass  meeting  was  held  in  Washing- 
ton Hall,  Morristown,  at  which  Hon.  George  T.  Cobb 
presided.  Speeches  were  made  by  Hon.  Jacob  W. 
Miller,  Jacob  Vanatta,  Theodore  Little,  Rev.  G.  D.  Brew- 
erton  and  Colonel  Samuel  F.  Headley.  Patriotic  res- 
olutions of  the  most  decided  character  were  proposed 
and  unanimously  carried.  Unqualified  support  was 
promised  to  the  administration,  and  a  committee  consist- 
ing of  AVilliam  C.  Baker,  Dr.  Ebenezer  B.  Woodruff  and 
Jacob  Vanatta  was  appointed  to  receive  contributions  of 
money  to  aid  in  equipping  volunteers  and  providing  for 
their  families.     Over  $2,600  was  subscribed  on  the  spot. 


This  meeting  was  the  first  of  many  held  throughout  the 
county.  In  every  village  mass  meetings  were  held  and 
flags  were  raised.  A  flag  was  raised  upon  Morris  green 
May  31st  1861,  when  the  companies  of  Captains  Bishop, 
Duncan  and  Stites  paraded  together.  They  soon  after 
disbanded.  Many  of  the  men  had  become  impatient, 
and  in  squads  had  enlisted  in  companies  which  were 
going  to  the  front.  Captain  Bishop  with  part  of  his 
company  went  from  Newark  with  Company  H  of  the  2nd 
New  Jersey. 

For  some  reason  no  sufficient  effort  was  made  to  raise 
a  company  within  the  county,  and  its  young  men  enlisted 
as  volunteers  in  companies  organizing  in  Newton,  Plain- 
field,  Newark  and  New  York.  On  Tuesday,  May  21st, 
Captain  Ryerson's  Company  B,  from  the  2nd  New  Jersey 
volunteers,  passed  through  Morristown  on  its  way  from 
Newton  to  Trenton.  In  it  and  in  Company  I  3d  New 
Jersey  volunteers  there  vi'ere  32  Morris  county  men. 
Others  had  gone  in  Companies  D  of  the  3d  New  Jersey, 
H  of  the  2nd  New  Jersey,  the  Excelsior  brigade  of  New 
York,  etc.  The  following  partial  list  is  taken  from  the 
papers  of  that  time: 

Company  B  2nd  N.  J. —  F.  D.  Sturtevant,  Joseph  G. 
Sturges,  Charles  H.  Carroll,  Silas  R.  Roff,  Charles  H. 
Stephens,  James  Armstrong,  John  W.  Armstrong,  Thomas 
F.  Anderson,  George  McKee  (wounded  in  July  1862), 
Isaac  I.  Tompkins,  Albert  W.  Thompson  (died),  Edward 
Snow,  David  Hart. 

Company  H  2nd  N.  J. —  Emery  A.  Wheeler,  Daniel 
W.  Tunis,  John  S.  Sutton,  Theodore  A.  Baldwin,  Daniel 
Bowditch. 

Company  D  ^d  N.  J. — John  H.  Smith,  George  Blanch- 
ard,  W.  Scott  McGowan,  Anthony  Perrv,  Elijah  Sharp, 
W.  H.  Cole  (killed  September  7  1861),  Sergeant  William 
S.  Earles  (afterward  in  the  15th  N.  J.). 

There  had  also  gone  to  other  companies  or  regiments: 

W.  H.  Alexander,  W.  Beers  and  Lewis  B.  Baldwin, 
Company  K  2nd  N.  J.;  W.  H.  Willis,  Company  I  3d  N. 
J.;  Mahlon  M.  Stage  and  Noah  C.  Haggerty,  Company 
G  ist  N.  J.;  Isaac  King,  James  M.  Stone,  John  Ford  jr., 
Daniel  Guard,  David  Johnson,  William  Hedden,  James 
Dolan,  Edward  Totten,  Hampton  Babbitt,  James  Quim- 
by,  William  Valentine;  Excelsior  brigade — John  Starr 
Jabez  Wingate,  Peter  H.  Flick,  W.  H.  Stickle,  Charles 
H.  Till,  D.  M.  Farrand,  Andrew  Hand,  Augustus  C. 
Stickle  (afterward  adjutant  3d  N.  J.  cavalry).  Sergeant 
Sylvester  L.  Lynn,  Co.  C  8th  N.  J.;  died  Dec.  15  '64  of 
wounds  received  Nov.  5  '64. 

A  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  was  organized  by  the  ladies  of 
Morristown,  of  which  Mrs.  Nelson  Wood  was  president, 
Mrs.  Sherman  Broadwell  vice-president,  Mrs.  Vancleve 
Dalrymple  treasurer,  and  Miss  Robinson  secretary.  The 
society  throughout  the  war  labored  incessantly  in  making 
clothing  etc.  for  the  soldiers  and  raising  money  and  com- 
forts for  the  sick  in  hospital.  Similar  societies,  and  al- 
most if  not  quite  as  efficient,  were  organized  in  all  the 
other  principal  towns  in  the  county. 

May  2nd  186 1  a  home  guard  was  raised  at  Morristown, 
consisting  of  some  of  the  principal  citizens,  many  of  them 
exempt  from  military  service. 

July  nth  1861  a  number  of  youth  organized  them- 
selves into  a  company  called  the  Ellsworth  Light  Infantry 
and  chose  the  following  officers:  Captain,  Rev.  G.  Doug. 


FIRST  UNION  SOLDIERS. 


las  Brewerton;  ist  lieutenant,  Robert  S.  Turner;  2nd 
lieutenant,  John  R.  McCauley  (afterward  of  the  i^th 
N.  J.). 

Among  officers  from  Morris  county  during  the  Rebel- 
lion whose  records  do  not  appear  in  the  rolls  below  were 
Lindley  H.  Miller,  major  46th  infantry  U.  S.  C.  T.;  S. 
G.  I.  De  Camp,  major  and  surgeon,  retired  from  active 
service  August  27th  1862;  General  Ranald  S.  Mackenzie, 
regular  army,  and  Lieutenant  Commander  Henry  W, 
Miller,  U.  S.  navy;  Alexander  S.  Mackenzie,  lieutenant 
U.  S.  N.;  Captain  (afterward  Commodore)  John  De 
Camp,  U.  S.  N.;  Captain  W.  L.  Gamble,  U.  S.  N.;  Major 
Thomas  T.  Gamble,  U.  S.  Vols.  There  were  also  many 
enlisted  men  scattered  among  organizations  of  which  no 
account  is  here  given.  Admirals  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers  and 
William  Radford,  U.  S.  N.  were  residents  of  Morris 
county  previous  to  the  war. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


COMPANY     K     7TH     N.    J. — CAPTAIN     SOUTHARD  S    ENGIN- 
EERS— CAPTAIN     DUNCAN'S     COMPANY. 


N  July  24th  186 1  the  President  made  his  sec- 
ond call  for  three-years  men,  and  the  quota 
allotted  to  this  State  was  four  regiments. 
Under  this  ■  call  Captain  James  M.  Brown 
raised  Company  K  of  the  7th  N.  J.,  the  first 
distinctively  Morris  county  company.  In  the 
first  week  64  men  were  enlisted,  and  the  company 
soon  had  its  full  complement.  The  first  colonel  of  the 
7th  was  Joseph  W.  Revere;  he  was  promoted  brigadier 
general  October  2Sth  1862,  and  was  succeeded  as  colonel 
by  Lewis  R.  Francine,  and  the  latter  in  July  1863  by 
Francis  Price  jr.,  Colonel  Francine  having  been  killed  at 
Gettysburg,  where  Colonel  Price  was  severely  wounded. 
The  latter  was  brevetted  brigadier-general.  Timothy  D. 
Burroughs,  sergeant  in  Company  D,  was  commissioned 
quartermaster  sergeant  September  6th  1864. 

The  men  were  first  together  as  a  company  at  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  Morristown,  on  the  evening  of 
October  ist,  when  Captain  James  M.  Brown  was  pre- 
sented with  sword,  sash  and  pistol,  by  Alfred  Mills,  Esq.; 
and  Rev.  David  Irving  presented  each  member  with  a 
copy  of  the  New  Testament  and  Psalms,  in  behalf  of  the 
Morris  County  Bible  Society.  The  church  was  filled 
with  the  largest  audience  ever  compressed  within  its 
walls,  while  hundreds  left  the  doors  of  the  building, 
unable  to  obtain  standing  room. 

The  next  morning  the  company  started  for  Trenton, 
being  escorted  to  the  depot  by  Fairchild's  drum  corps 
and  by  No.  3  Fire  Engine  Company.  A  large  assemblage 
was  gathered  to  see  the  company  off.  It  was  mustered 
at  Trenton  the  next  day  and  left  the  same  evening  for 
Washington.     There  the  7th   lay  encamped  at  Meridian 


Hill  till  December  1861,  when  it  joined  General  Hooker's 
force  near  Budd's  Ferry,  Md.,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
3d  brigade  of  his  division. 

The  winter  was  spent  in  drilling  and  watching  the 
enemy  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Potomac,  with  the 
monotony  broken  by  frequent  artillery  duels.  April  5th 
Hooker's  division  broke  camp  and  took  transports  to  the 
peninsula.  April  23d  found  this  brigade  throwing  up 
earthworks  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery  at  York- 
town.  May  5th  the  company  fought  at  Williamsburg,  in 
a  drenching  rain,  where  the  men  stood  their  ground  after 
their  ammunition  was  used  up,  taking  more  from  the 
dead  and  wounded.  They  were  under  fire  five  hours 
without  getting  relieved.  Captain  Brown  was  very 
severely  wounded;  Corporal  Joseph  S.  Watkins  was 
mortally  wounded,  dying  May  31st  following.  Several 
others  were  wounded.  In  the  Excelsior  brigade  Jabez 
C.  Wingate,  Peter  H.  Flick  and  W.  H.  Stickle  were  killed, 
and  four  other  Morris  county  men  wounded.  The 
company  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  and  the 
Seven  Days'  fight.  After  lying  at  Harrison's  Landing 
until  August  isth  the  division  retraced  its  steps  to 
Yorktown  and  took  transports,  arriving  at  Alexandria 
August  24th.  August  26th  the  7th  went  by  rail  to  War- 
renton  Junction.  Hooker's  division  marched  the  next 
morning  down  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad  to 
Bristow  Station,  attacked  Ewell's  division  of  Jackson's 
command,  drove  him  toward  Bull  Run  and  captured  his 
baggage.  August  29th  and  30th  the  7th  took  part  in  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  September  ist  in  the 
battle  of  Chantilly,  where  General  Phil.  Kearney  was 
killed.  After  this  the  company  did  guard  duty  along  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad  until  November  28th, 
when  it  started  for  Falmouth,  reaching  that  place  some 
two  weeks  before  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  and 
taking  part  in  it. 

At  Chancellorsville,  May  5th  1863,  the  7th  regiment 
captured  five  colors  and  three  hundred  prisoners  from 
the  enemy.  The  flags  were  taken  from  the  1st  Louisiana, 
2 ist  Virginia,  2nd  and  i8th  North  Carolina  and  an 
Alabama  regiment.  The  2nd  North  Carolina  regiment 
was  captured  almost  entire. 

The  next  move  for  Company  K  was  the  long  march  to 
Gettysburg,  and  on  July  2nd  the  regiment,  supported  a 
battery  near  the  peach  orchard,  when  the  enemy  charged 
on  the  3d  corps,  of  which  the  7th  was  a  part.  Company 
K  lost  15  men  wounded  (three  mortally),  and  two  taken 
prisoners,  on  the  first  day  of  the  battle.  The  captain 
and  both  lieutenants  were  wounded.  With  a  second  ser- 
geant in  command  the  company  was  in  the  fight  of  the 
next  day. 

The  next  engagement  in  which  the  7th  took  part  was 
at  Manassas  Gap,  Virginia,  and  after  that  it  was  engaged 
at  McLean's  Ford  in  the  Bull  Run  River,  with  some 
mounted  infantry.  Next  came  the  battle  of  Mine  Run, 
and  then  winter  quarters  at  Brandy  Station.  The  New 
Jersey  brigade  was  now  in  the  2nd  army  corps. 

May  4th  1864  the  troops  broke  camp,  and  on  May  5lh, 
6th  and  7th  we  find  Company  K  fighting  in  the  Wilder- 


History  of  morris  county. 


ness,  a  densely  wooded  tract  of  table-land  stretching 
from  the  Rapidan  almost  to  Spottsylvania  Court-house. 
May  8th  the  regiment  moved  to  a  spot  near  Todd's 
Tavern,  where  it  remained  until  the  loth,  when  (our 
army  having  cleared  the  Wilderness  and  concentrated 
around  Spottsylvania  Court-house)  it  took  a  position 
on  the  right.  On  the  nth  the  company  was  under 
heavy  fire,  and  at  dawn  of  the  12th  of  May  the 
2nd  corps  charged  the  enemy,  capturing  30  cannon 
and  Johnson's  rebel  division.  In  this  battle  —  the 
severest  of  the  war — the  7th  New  Jersey  met  with 
severe  loss  in  officers  and  men.  The  regiment 
aided  in  hauling  off  the  captured  guns,  and  Captain 
Crane,  of  Company  C,  of  Morris  county,  with  a  squad  of 
his  men,  succeeded  in  manning  one  of  the  captured 
guns  and  training  it  on  the  enemy.  For  hours  the  fight 
raged  with  unexampled  fury,  and  it  was  not  until  mid- 
night that  General  Lee  left  the  victors  in  possession  of 
the  works  captured.  On  the  15th  the  brigade  was  called 
upon  to  repel  an  attack  on  our  pickets,  and  met  with 
some  loss.  May  i6th,  at  North  Anna  River,  the  company 
was  again  under  fire,  a  division  of  Longstreet's  corps 
having  possession  of  both  sides  of  Chesterfield  bridge. 
On  May  26th  the  regiment  took  part  in  the  flank  move- 
ment toward  Richmond,  skirmishing  along  the  Tolopoto- 
my  and  reaching  Cold  Harbor,  where,  on  June  3d,  it 
participated  in  the  assault  upon  the  enemy's  main  line. 
On  the  7th  of  June  the  brigade  was  entrenched  at  Baker's 
Mills,  and  from  this  point  it  moved  swiftly  to  the  James, 
crossed  the  river  June  14th,  and  arrived  before  Peters- 
burg the  following  day,  supporting  Smith's  corps  of 
Butler's  army.  On  the  16th  General  Grant  delivered  an 
assault  with  all  his  forces.  The  fight  was  desperate,  and 
the  loss  to  the  7th  N.  J.  was  very  severe.  On  the  i8th 
General  Grant  ordered  another  assault,  when  the  enemy's 
lines  were  pushed  back  three  quarters  of  a  mile.  Later 
in  the  day  the  brigade  charged  again  in  front  of  the 
Hare  House,  but  was  swept  back  by  a  withering  fire,  leav- 
ing its  dead  and  wounded  between  tlie  two  lines.  Hun- 
dreds of  the  wounded  died  in  sight  and  hearing  of  their 
comrades,  crying  out  for  help  and  for  water;  they  could 
not  be  reached,  the  enemy  refusing  a  flag  of  truce. 

June  23d,  General  Grant  having  determined  to  turn 
the  enemy's  right,  the  corps  advanced  through  a  wooded 
country,  and,  as  it  failed  to  make  connection  with  the 
6th  corps,  the  enemy  got  in  the  rear,  capturing  eight 
prisoners  from  Company  K.  The  corps  fell  back  and 
established  a  line  a  little  further  to  the  rear.  The  brig- 
ade remained  in  the  trenches  until  July  12th.  On  the 
26th  it  crossed  the  James  to  Deep  Bottom,  where  the 
corps  attacked  the  enemy  and  captured  four  cannon.  It 
then  quietly  returned  to  Petersburg,  and  held  the  front 
line  of  works  when  the  mine  was  exploded,  July  30th. 

August  1 2th  the  corps  moved  again  to  Deep  Bottom, 
with  more  or  less  skirmishing  and  fighting.  This  was  a 
feint  to  try  to  make  the  rebel  authorities  recall  their 
troops  from  before  Washington.  August  i8th  the  New 
Jersey  7th,  with  the  rest  of  the  corps,  returned  to  the 
entrenchments. 


August  2Sth  the  regiment  was  moved  to  Ream's  Sta- 
tion to  help  the  remainder  of  the  corps,  which  was  en- 
gaged there.  The  next  affair  in  which  the  7th  took  part 
was  the  advance  of  the  picket  lines  about  i  o'clock  a.  m. 
of  September  loth.  The  picket  duty  was  dangerous  here. 
The  regiment  when  not  on  picket  was  quartered  in  Fort 
Davis,  on  the  Jerusalem  plank  road,  but  even  there 
stray  balls  would  come  into  the  tents  at  night,  wound- 
ing men  oftentimes  while  sleeping. 

October  7th  Lieutenant  Gaines  and  the  old  members 
of  Company  K — about  eight  in  number — who  did  not  re- 
enlist,  were  mustered  out  of  service  at  Trenton,  and, 
honorably  discharged,  returned  to  their  homes. 

With  Colonel  Price  still  commanding,  the  regiment 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  and  in  the  last 
campaign,  culminating  in  the  surrender  of  General  Lee, 
April  gth  1865. 

During  the  war  this  company  took  part  in  the  follow- 
ing engagements,  all  in  Virginia  excepting  Gettysburg: 

Siege  of  Yorktown,  April  and  May  1862;  Williams- 
burg, May  5th  1862;  Fair  Oaks,  June  ist  and  2nd  1862; 
Seven  Pines,  June  25th  1862;  Savage  Station,  June  29th 
1862;  Glendale,  June  3olh  1862;  Malvern  Hill,  July  ist 
and  August  5th  1862;  Bristow  Station,  August  27th 
1862;  Bull  Run  (second),  August  29th  and  30th  1862; 
Chantilly,  September  ist  1862;  Centreville,  September 
2nd  1862;  Fredericksburg,  December  13th  and  14th 
1862;  Chancellorsville,  May  3d  and  4th  1863;  Gettys- 
burg, July  2nd  and  3d  1863;  Wapping  Heights,  July  24th 
1863;  McLean's  Ford,  October  15th  1863;  Mine  Run, 
November  29th  and  30th  and  December  ist  1863;  Wil- 
derness, May  5th-7th  1864;  Spottsylvania,  May  8th-i8th 
1864;  North  Anna  River,  May  23d  and  24th  1864;  To- 
lopotomy  Creek,  May  30th  and  31st  1864;  Cold  Harbor, 
June  ist-5th  1864;  Before  Petersburg,  June  i6th-23d 
and  July  30th  1864;  Deep  Bottom,  July  26th  and  27th 
1864;  North  Bank  of  James  River,  August  isth-i8th 
1864;  Fort  Sedgwick,  September  loth  1864;  Poplar 
Spring  Church,  October  2nd  1864;  Boydton  Plank  Road 
(capture  of  Petersburg),  April  2nd  1865;  Amelia  Springs, 
April  6th  1865;  Farmville,  April  6th  and  7th  1865;  Ap- 
pomattox, April  9th  1865. 

COMPANY   K.* 

OFFICERS. 

In  the  following  record  of  the  officers  of  Company  K 
the  first  date  given  is  that  of  commission  or  enrollment. 
If  another  immediately  follows  it  is  the  date  of  muster. 
Where  but  one  is  given  the  two  date  were  the  same.  The 
period  for  which  the  officer  entered  the  service  was  three 
years,  when  not  otherwise  mentioned. 

Cfl/to«.f.— James  M.  Brown,  Oct.  3  '61;  wounded  at 
Williamsburg  and  Fredericksburg;  prom,  major  icth 
reg.  July  21  '62.  William  R.  Hillyer,  July  21  '62  Jan 
13  '63;  appointed  ist  lieut.  Oct.  3  '61;  dis.  Sept.  9  '64  for 
wounds.  Sylvester  W.  Nafew,  Mar.  28  '65,  Apr  20  '6<- 
m.  o.  July  17  '65.  i'     3' 

First  Lieutenants.— Michatl    Mullery,  July  21  '62   Jan 
13  '63;  appointed  2nd  lieut.  Oct.  3  '61;  captain  Company 
1  July  24  63;  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  killed  at  Peters- 


*  In  all  these  lists  the  following  abbreviations  are  used,  besides  tho=e 
which  will  be  recognized  as  denoting  the  different  ranks  and  arms  of 
the  service:  pro.,  promoted;  v.r.  c,  veteran  reserve  corps;  die,  dis- 
charged ;  m.  o.,  mustered  out ;  dr.,  drafted :  tr.,  transferred. 


COMPANY  K  SEVENTH  N.  J.  VOLUNTEERS. 


burg.     Stanley  Gaines,    Aug.    i    '63,    Mar.    31   '64;    ap- 

appointed  ist  sergt.  Sept.  15  '6j;    2nd  lieut.  July  21  '62; 

wounded  at  Gettysburg;  m.  o.   Oct.  7  '64.     Henry  W. 

Baldwin,  Apr.  29  '65,  May  19th  '65;  m.  o.  July  22  '65. 
Second  Lieutenants. — Ellis    T.  Armstrong,  Dec.  21  '63, 

Mar.  31  '64;  appointed  sergt.  Sept.  15  '61;   ist  sergt.  July 

21  '62;    re-enlisted    Jan.    4  '64;    dis.    Aug.    17  '64   for 

wounds.     George  H.  Millen,  Mar.  28  '65,  Apr.  14  '65; 

m.  o.  July  17  '65. 

First  Sergeants. — Napoleon  B.  Post,  Aug.  22  '61;  m.o. 

July  22  '65. 

Sergeants. — Merritt   Bruen,  Sept.   15  '61,  Oct.  2    '61; 

pro.  Q.  M.  sergt.  Nov.  22  '61;  quartermaster  June  27  '64; 

died  at  Petersburg.     Ira  W.  Corey,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2 

'61;  pro.  capt.  Co.  H  nth  reg.  Aug.  15  '62.     Samuel  R. 

Connett,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61;  pro.  2nd  lieut.  Co.  C 
TSth    reg.    Aug.    12    '62;     wounded    at    Williamsburg. 

Stephen  H.  Bruen,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61  ;•  pro. 
com.  sergt.  Sept.  i  '62;  quartermaster  Aug.  26  '64. 
Timothy  D.  Burroughs,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61;  re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4  '64;  pro.  Q.  M.  sergt.  Sept.  6  '64.  Con- 
rad F.  Smith,  Mar.  2  '65,  i  year;  m.  o.  July  17  '65. 
Julius  B.  Bartlett,  Mar.  2  '65,  i  year;  m.  o.  July  10  '65. 
Eugene  Pollard,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61;  appointed  cnrp. 
Aug.  4  '62;  re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64;  prom.  com.  sergt.  Oct. 
2  '64;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Chesterfield  Bridge. 

Corporals. — Calvin  T.  Stickle,  Mar.  4  '65,  i  year;  tn.  o. 
July  17  '65.  John  P.  Smith,  Mar.  2  '65,  i  year;  m.  o. 
July  17  '65.  Peter  Fisher,  Mar.  2  '65,  i  year;  m.  o.  July 
17  '65.  Patrick  Cavanaugh,  Mar.  i  '65,  i  year;  m.  o. 
July  17  '65.     James  E.  Babbitt. 

JDischarged. — (These,  as  also  those  transferred  and 
deceased,  were  all  three-years  men,  and  were  commis- 
sioned or  enrolled  Sept.  15,  and  mustered  Oct.  2,  1861.) 
Sergt.  Joseph  D.  Marsh  jr.;  dis.  Oct.  13  '62,  for  dis- 
ability. Corporals:  George  Kingsland;  dis.  Mar.  24  '63, 
for  disability.  Theodore  W.  Bruen;  dis.  Jan.  12  '63,  for 
disability.  John  J.  Gruber;  dis.  Feb.  5  '63,  to  join 
regular  army;  appointed  corp.  Aug.  4  '62.  Musician 
James  M.  Woodruff;  dis.  Nov.  30  '61,  for  disability. 
Wagoner  Charles  B.  Trelease;  dis.  June  15  '62,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Transferred. — Sergeants:  William  McKee;  to  v.  r.  c, 
Sept.  30  'dy,  dis.  therefrom  Oct.  i  '64;  wounded  at 
Chancellorsville.  Joseph  Ward;  to  Co.  C,  Oct.  i  '64; 
re-enlisted  Jan.  2  '64.  Edwin  Hall;  to  Co.  C;  re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  Sylvester  L.  Lynn;  to  Co.  C;  re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4  '64;'  killed  before  Petersburg.  George 
H.  Millen;  to  Co.  C;  re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  Cor- 
porals: Theodore  P.  Bayles;  to  v.  r.  c,  Sept.  30  '63; 
dis.  therefrom  Nov.  24  '65.  George  W.  Derrickson;  to 
v.  r.  c,  Sept.  30  '63;  re-enlisted  Sept.  3  '64;  dis.  as  sergt. 
July  6  '65.  B.  W.  Dempsey;  to  Co.  C,  Oct.  i  '64;  re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4  '64;  prisoner  at  Andersonville.  John  L. 
Denton;  to  v.  r.  c,  Mar.  31  '64;  dis.  Oct.  3  '64;  wounded 
at  Gettysburg.  Abel  Gruber;  to  Co.  C;  wounded  at 
Gettysburg;  captured  before  Gettysburg;  confined  at 
Andersonville.      Musician  A.  L.  D.  Miller;    to  5th  reg. 

band. 

ZlzVi/.— Corporals  :  Joseph  S.  Watkins;  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  Va.,  May  31  '62,  of  wounds.  Andrew  C. 
Halsey;  at  Washington,  June  20  '64,  of  wounds;  re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4  '64;  appointed  corp.  Feb.  6  '64.  Joseph 
O.  Spencer;  killed  before  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  16  '64; 
appointed  corp.  Mar.  i  '()z;  re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  Mu- 
.sician  George  W.  Cranraer;  at  Budd's  Ferry,  Md.,  June 
24  '62,  of  typhoid  fever. 

PRIVATES. 

In  the  following  list  the  figure  following  the  name  indi- 
cates the  number  of  years  for  which  the  man  enlisted. 


Where  not  otherwise  noted  those  who  enlisted  for  three 
years  were  enrolled  Sept.  15th  and  mustered  in  Oct.  2nd 
1861  and  mustered  out  Oct.  7th  1864;  and  those  who 
enlisted  for  one  year  were  enrolled  and  mustered  in  the 
first  week  of  March  1865  and  mustered  out  July  17th 
1865. 

Henry  Angleman.  Andrew  Anderson,  i;  m.  o,  June 
13  '65.  Leo  Bachtold,  i.  J.  C.  Ballentine,  3;  pro.  com. 
sergt.  Nov.  i  '62.  William  Bassell,  i.  Henry  Baum,  i. 
William  W.  Brant,  3.  Austin  Brown,  i.  John  N.  and  T. 
W.  Bruen,  3.  Stephen  A.  Cannon,  3.  Joseph  Carmon. 
David  Cargill,  i;  m.  o.  July  14  '65.  Waldemar  Chris- 
tianson,  i.  John  Cronin,  i.  George  Curtis,  musician,  i. 
Christian  Doublin,  i.  W.  H.  Dutcher.  Hey  ward  G. 
Emmel,  3;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville.  Henry  Feeder, 
i;  m.  o.  July  22  '65.  Charles  Fischer,  i.  George 
Flandrow,  i.  Augustus  I.  FoUiot.  John  Gamble,  i. 
Abraham  Garrabrant,  i.  Christopher  Gerhardt,  i.  Emile 
Grell,  I.  Edward  Gross,  i.  Jacob  Haider,  i.  John 
H.  Haley,  3.  William  Harrison,  i.  Samuel  Hess,  i. 
Lewis  Herman,  i;  enrolled  and  mustered  in 
Aug.  29  '64;  m.  o.  June  30  '65.  George  Hiller,  i. 
Wesley  D.  Hopping.  Daniel  Jackson,  3.  Jacob  James, 
i;  enrolled  and  mustered  in  Feb.  28 '65.  Jacob  John, 
i;  m.  o.  Aug.  11  '65.  John  G.  Kaut,  i.  Peter  B. 
Kelly.  Christopher  Killian,  i.  William  Killian,  i. 
Jacob  Koch,  I.  John  Lay,  i.  William  Lehman,  i; 
m.  o.  Aug.  30  '65.  James  Lord,  i.  Andrew  Mack,  i. 
John  McCasey,  i.  Lewis  H.  McClintock,  i.  Frederick 
Miller,  i.  J.  L.  Miller.  John  Murphy,  i.  Thomas 
R.  Murray,  x.  John  Narin,  i.  Charles  W.  Nelson,  mu- 
sician, I.  Loren  Nichols,  i.  Calvin  Nix,  3;  wounded 
at  Williamsburg.  George  Norton,  i;  m.  o.  June  5  '65. 
Joseph  Parker,  i.  John  Partenfielder,  i.  August  Par- 
tushcky,  I.  Adolph  Pineus,  i.  Francis  A.  Pollard,  3; 
appointed  sergt.  Sept.  13  '61;  deserted  Jan.  30 '63;  re- 
turned Mar.  20;  private  Feb.  i  '63.  Henry  Roberts,  i. 
Hugh  P.  Roden,  musician,  3.  Samuel  Rushton,  i.  John 
Rutan,  3.  August  Sauer,  i.  Matthias  Schmidt,  i. 
George  Schnabel,  i.  Frederick  Schroder,  i.  Daniel 
Settler,  i.  Charles  Smith,  i.  Gilbert  Smith,  i;  enrolled 
and  mustered  in  Feb.  28  '65.  James  Smith,  i.  William 
T.  Spencer,  3;  prom,  sergt.  maj.  Nov.  5  '63.  David 
Thompson,  i.  John  Thompson,  i.  Headly  Thompson; 
captured  before  Petersburg.  William  Till,  3.  Charles 
Tucker,  3.  John  Wander,  i;  enrolled  and  mustered  in 
Feb.  27  '65.  Mark  White,  i.  Joseph  Ward;  captured 
at  Gettysburg.  Henry  Wilson,  i;  enrolled  and  mus- 
tered in  Feb.  25  '65  for  2  years;  m.  o.  May  31  '65.  John 
Wolf,  I.  George  Yetter,  i;  enrolled  and  mustered  in 
Feb.  28  '65;  m.  o.  June  5  '65. 

Discharged. — (These  were  all  three-years  men,  and 
most  of  them  were  enrolled  Sept.  15  and  mustered  in 
Oct.  2  '61;  any  other  date  of  enrollment  or  muster  is 
given  after  the  name.  The  cause  of  discharge  if  not 
otherwise  stated  was  disability).  Isaac  N.  Abrams;  dis. 
May  20  '62.  Isaac  J.  Archer,  Feb.  8  '62;  dis.  Oct.  9  '62. 
Nicholas  Atkins;  dis.  June  9  '62.  Charles  Conklin;  dis. 
Aug.  18  '62.  William  Cook,  Aug.  19  '62;  dis.  Feb.  9*63. 
Alexander  Davenport;  dis.  June  g  '62.  George  Dunster. 
Andrew  W.  Gary;  dis.  Nov.  5  '62.  Orlando  K.  Guerin; 
dis.  Oct.  13  '62.  George  Hedden;  dis.  June  13  '62. 
John  Hunton,  Apr.  12  '64;  dis.  May  28  '64.  Charles 
Johnson;  dis.  Mar.  4  '63;  wounded  at  Bristow  Station. 
Hiram  Kayhart;  dis.  June  13  '62.  John  F.  Kent; 
dis.  June  25  '62.  John  Knapp  ;  dis.  June  13 
'62.  Thomas  Lynch;  dis.  Nov.  5  '62,  from  wounds 
received  at  Williamsburg,  Va.  James  L.  Marsh; 
dis.  June  9  '62.  Aaron  Parsons;  dis.  Dec.  29  '62; 
wounded  at  Williamsburg.      Theodore  Searing,  Aug.  18 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


'62;  dis.  Nov.  20  '63;  wounded  at  Gettysburg.  Thomas 
Seeley,  Feb.  22  '64;  dis.  Apr.  2  '64.  Henry  Smith;  dis. 
Nov.  30 '61.  John  C.  Smith;  dis.  Sept.  2 '62;  prom,  lieut. 
33d  N.  J.  Alonzo  Tompkins;  dis.  Feb.  5  '63,  to  join 
regular  army.  Anthony  Van  Order;  dis.  June  23  '62. 
John  H.  Webb,  Feb.  3  '64;  dis.  Apr.  2  '64.  James 
Wright;  dis.  Dec.  12  '61. 

Transferred. — (The  date  immediately  following  the 
name  in  this  list  is  that  of  enrollment;  the  second  date, 
if  any,  is  that  of  muster  in;  where  but  one  is  given  they 
were  the  same.  The  figure  following  the  date  indicates 
the  number  of  years  for  which  the  man  enlisted.  In 
most  cases  the  transfer  was  to  Co.  C,  Oct.  i  '64,  and  that 
will  be  understood  to  be  the  case  where  not  otherwise 
stated).  Lemuel  Adams,  Feb.  17  '62,  3.  George  F. 
Bayles,  Dec.  11  '61,  3;  to  v.  r.  c;  dis.  Dec.  12  '64; 
wounded.  Gilbert  D.  Blanchard,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2 
'61,  3;  died  at  Andersonville.  Loran  L.  Bodeli,  Aug. 
19  '63,  Aug.  20  '63,  3;  to  V.  r.  c,  Jan.  15  '64;  cjis.  as  corp. 
July  25  '65.  Elijah  D.  Bruen,  Jan.  23  '62,  3;  to  Co.  C, 
Oct.  I  '64;  re-enlisted  Feb.  14  '64;  died  at  Ander- 
sonville. Nathan  Buell,  Oct.  7  '63,  Oct.  8  '63, 
3.  Orson  T.  Crane,  June  15  '64,  3;  to  Co. 
C.  John  Cusick,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61,  3; 
re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  Charles  H.  Davis,  Aug.  18  '62, 
Aug.  19  '62,  3.  Augustus  De  Forrest,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct. 
2  '61,  3;  re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  Aaron  S.  Degroot,  Jan. 
28  '64,  3;  wounded  near  Cold  Harbor.  James  Dona- 
hue, Feb.  3  '64,  3.  Joseph  J.  Dunn,  Jan.  28  '64,  3. 
Matthias  Everson,  Jan.  28  '64,  3.  John  Farrell,  Dec.  29 
'63,  Dec.  30  '63,  3.  Abraham  K.  Ferris,  Sept.  15  '5i, 
Oct.  2  '61,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Mar.  31  '64;  re-enlisted  May  6 
'64;  dis.  Oct.  27 '66;  appointed  corp.  Sept.  15 '61;  private 
Nov.  I  '63.  William  J.  Flanagan,  Dec.  30  '63,  Dec.  31 
'63,  3.  Arthur  Ford,  Feb.  3  '64,  3;  died  at  Andersonville. 
Daniel  Frazier,  Dec.  28  '63,  3.  James  Haley,  Feb.  5  '64, 
]''eb.  6  '64,  3.  Stephen  D.  Hall,  Jan.  21  '64,  3.  Daniel 
Hand,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '6r,  3;  re-enlisted  -Mar.  10*64; 
wounded  before  Petersburg.  James  Hart,  Sept.  3  '64, 
I.  Ansemas  Helbert,  Jan.  23  '64,  Jan.  26  '64,  3.  Theo- 
dore Jacobus,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  '61,  3;  to  v.  r.  c;  dis. 
Oct.  5  '64.  Peter  M.  Kane,  Oct.  6  '62,  3;  wounded  at 
Gettysburg  and  Spottsylvania.  Farrand  S.  Kitchel,  Jan.  4 
'64,  3.  John  Landigan,  Feb.  i  '64,  3.  William  E.  Loper, 
Feb.  8  '64,  3.  John  L.  Loree,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61,  3;  re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4 '64.  William  Loughran,  Mar.i6  '65,1;  to  Co. 
A.  George  T.  Lynch,  Dec.  30  '63,  3;  to  Co.  B.  Thomas 
Mack,  Apr.  8  '65,  3;  to  Co.  B.'  James  Maher,  Apr.  8 
'65,  i;  to  Co.  G.  James  McKenzie,  Mar.  i  '65,  i;  to 
Co.  G.  Thomas  McKnight,  Feb.  15  '64,  3;  to  Co.  C. 
John  Moran,  Sept.  5  '64,  1;  to  Co.  K,  12th  reg.  Pat- 
rick Murphy,  Mar.  4  '65,  i;  to  Co.  D.  Benjamin  Norton, 
Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61,  3;  re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  Wil- 
liam E."  Phipps,  Feb.  23  '64,  3.  John  J.  Provost,  Feb.  11 
'64,  3;  to  Co.  H.  John  A.  Recanio,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2 
'61,  3;  captured  at  Gettysburg;  died  in  Belle  Isle 
prison.  John  Sergeant,  Feb.  2  '64,  3.  Thomas  K.  Sex- 
ton, Feb.  22,  '64,  3.  Richard  Shannon,  Apr.  11  '65,  i; 
to  Co.  G.  Lionel  Sheldon,  Sept.  29  '63,  Sept.  30  '63,  3. 
George  Shipman,  Nov.  7  '62,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Feb.  15  '64; 
deserted  Oct.  7  '64.  John  Slingerland,  Sept.  15  '61, 
Oct.  2  '61;  wounded  at  Williamsburg;  deserted 
Nov.  I  '62  ;  returned  to  duty  Apr.  7  '63  ;  re- 
enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  Theodore  F.  Smith,  Sept.  15  '61, 
Oct.  2  '61,  3;  re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  John  Speer,  Dec. 
31  '63,  3-  Isaac  Steelman,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61,  3; 
to  V.  r.  c.  Jan.  15  '64;  dis.  Oct.  i  '64.  Chilion  Thomp- 
son, Jan.  21  '64,"  3.  David  H.  Thompson,  Sept.  15  '61, 
Oct.  2  '61,  3.  John  W.  Till,  Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61,  3; 
re-enlisted  Jan.  4  '64.  De  Witt  Van  Order,  Sept.  15  '61, 
Oct.  2  '61,  3;    appointed  corp.  Aug.  3   62;    private  May 


15  '63;  re-enlisted  Jan.  4 '64.  Jacob  C.  Vanderhoof, 
Sept.  15  '61,  Oct.  2  '61,  3;  to  V.  r.  c.  Sept.  i  '63;  dis.  Oct. 
10  '64,  Theodore  Van  Pelt,  Jan.  27  '64,  Jan.  28  '64,  3. 
Jacob  F.  Welsh,  Apr.  8*65,  i;  to  Co.  E.  John  W. 
Wilday,  Jan.  27  '64,  3.  James  H.  Woodruff,  Jan.  18  '64, 
3.     John  W.  Wright,  Feb.  2  '64,  3. 

Died. — (These,  with  two  exceptions,  which  are  indi- 
cated, were  three-years  men.  The  date  immediately 
following  the  name  is  that  of  enrollment  and  muster  in. 
When  this  is  omitted  the  man  was  enrolled  Sept.  15  and 
mustered  Oct.  2  '61.)  Theron  A.  Allen,  of  fever,  at  Jer- 
sey City,  June  7  '62.  Drake  Aumick,  Dec.  31  '63;  died 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  June  24  '64.  Edgar  Barber,  Dec. 
22  '63;  killed  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5  '64.  Charles  Y. 
Beers,  Aug.  18  '62;  died  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  6  '63, 
of  wounds.  Jabez  Beers,  Jan,  28  '64;  killed  before 
Petersburg,  Va.,  June  16  '64.  Moses  A.  Berry,  of  pneu- 
monia, at  camp  on  lower  Potomac,  Md.,  Jan.  29  '62. 
George  W.  Blakely,  at  New  York,  July  28  '62.  Cyrus 
Carter,  of  disease,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Dec.  6  '62.  Albert 
T.  Emory,  Feb.  i  '64;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  i 
'64.  Jacob  S.  Hopping,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  i6  '62,, 
of  wounds  received  there.  Robert  L.  Jolly;  appointed 
corp.  Sept.  15  '61;  sergt.  Aug.  4*62;  private  May  15  '63; 
died  at  Gettysburg,  July  22  '(>i,  of  wounds  received 
there.  Hendrick  Kinklin,  Mar.  2  '65,  i  year;  died  of 
dysentery  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  July  3  '65.  William  Long, 
at  Fairfax  Court-house,  Va.,  Aug.  31  '62.  John  R.  Lyon, 
Sept.  3  '62,  of  wounds  received  at  Bull  Run,  Va.  Lemuel 
A.  Marshall,  Mar.  22  '62;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
Nov.  I  '62.  John  McDonough,  Dec.  22  'by,  died  at 
Washington,  May  26  '64,  of  wounds  received  at  Spott- 
sylvania, Va.  Charles  B.  Molt;  killed  at  Chancellors- 
ville,  Va.,  May  3  '63.  George  W.  Peer,  at'Yorktown, 
Va.,  May  13  '62,  of  typhoid  fever.  Allen  H.  Pierson, 
near  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  19  '64,  of  wounds  received 
before  Petersburg  June  17;  re-enlisted  Mar.  10  '64. 
Spafford  Sanders,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Budd's  Ferry,  Md., 
Apr.  19  '62.  John  H.  Tillotson,  of  typhoid  fever,  at 
Budd's  Ferry,  Md.,  Apr.  28  '62.  Jacob  Wilse)',  Mar.  i 
'65,  I  year;  died  at  Alexandria,  July  6  '65.  Joseph  C. 
Spencer;  killed  before  Petersburg.  James  M.  Woodruff; 
killed  at  Mine  Run. 

CAPTAIN   SOUTHARD'S   ENGINEERS. 

The  next  company  to  leave  the  county  was  that  of 
Major  (then  Lieutenant)  H.  M.  Dalrymple,  who  raised  a 
part  of  Captain  Southard's  company  for  the  8th  engineer 
corps — Company  K  of  the  ist  regiment  of  New  York 
engineers.  The  company  was  entirely  made  up  of  New 
Jersey  men.  Its  captain,  Henry  L.  Southard,  was  a  Jer- 
seyman  by  birth  and  son  of  the  late  Senator  Southard  of 
this  State.  He  was  killed  while  on  duty  at  Bermuda 
Hundred,  Va.,  in  May  1864.  Lieutenant  Henry  M.  Dal- 
rymple, also  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  succeeded  to  the 
command  and  retained  it  during  the  operations  in  front 
of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  until  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice in  December  1864,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
three  years'  service. 

The  company  served  with  the  regiment  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  South,  engaging  in  all  the  various  operations 
under  Generals  Sherman,  Hunter,  Mitchell  and  Gilmore. 
It  participated  in  the  siege  of  Pulaski,  the  battle  of 
Pocataligo,  the  expedition  to  Charleston  under  Hunter, 
and  the  siege  of  Fort  Sumter  and  Charleston  under  Gen- 
eral Gilmore,  erecting  the  famous  Swamp  Angel  battery, 


UNION  COMPANIES  FROM  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


85 


which  threw  the  first  messengers  of  death  into  Charles- 
ton. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1864  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  the  Army  of  the  James  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  Ber- 
muda Hundred,  and  did  hard  work  under  General  Grant 
in  his  operations  in  front  of  Petersburg  and  Rich- 
mond. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  names  of  the  Morris  county 
volunteers  who  entered  this  company: 

Henry  M.  Dalrymple,  Frederic  B.  Dalrymple,  John 
Franks,  Samuel  McNair,  William  H.  Lounsbury,  Hiram 
Tharp,  Joseph  Scudder,  Wellinpiton  Bryant,  Amadee  B. 
Pruden,  Edward  De  Camp,  Wesley  Chidester,  Mahlon 
Parsons,  William  H.  Porter,  Thomas  M.  Palmer,  John 
Wright,  Charles  J.  Pownall,  William  G.  Denman,  George 
W.  Skillborn,  Charles  Stevens,  Edward  Tucker,  William 
Thompson,  John  W.  Mills,  Elijah  W.  Grandin,  Benja- 
min C.  Durham,  William  Tuttle,  Jacob  B.  Willis,  Alvah 
Handville,  John  Oliver,  Daniel  Brown,  William  S.  Can- 
non, Edward  Cobbett,  Edward  W.  Cobbett,  Moses  Corby, 
James  K.  Dalrymple,  Caleb  M.  Emmons,  Alonzo  Edgar, 
Evans  Jones,  Abram  Kinnecutt,  Ira  Lewis,  George  W. 
Lewis,  George  Lindsley,  Thomas  Levigs,  Joseph  Miller, 
James  McCormick,  William  McQuaid,  Theodore  Nun- 
gesser,  John  N.  Nungesser,  Thomas  N.  Nichols,  William 
H.  Tucker,  Edward  Tester,  James  Tyms,  Charles  M. 
Thomas,  Samuel  Tebo,  George  Vanderhoof,  Lewis  Weise, 
John  Powers,  George  L.  Valentine,  James  C.  Vale, 
Thomas  E.  Wolfe,  Edward  Wolfe,  Charles  Lewis,  Manuel 
Decker. 

THE   PRESIDENT'S   GUARD. 

Captain  William  Duncan,  of  the  Morris  Greys,  being 
unable  to  get  his  company  accepted  in  a  New  Jersey 
regiment,  raised  one  for  the  District  of  Columbia  volun- 
teers, to  be  attached  to  the  President's  guard.  On  the 
28th  day  of  January  1862  he  left  Morristown  with  70 
men  of  whom  42  were  from  Boonton.  On  their  departure 
they  were  addressed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellison  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Irving.  A  large  concourse  was  assembled  to  see 
them  off.     The  following  is  the  roll  of  the  company: 

Captain,  William  Duncan;  first  lieutenant,  George 
"Willenbucher;  sergeants — Theodore  Riley  (ist),  W.  W. 
Carroll,  Abram  Kingsland,  Elias  Millen,  Joseph  Smith; 
corporals — Jacob  R.  Peer,  Jesse  Jennings,  Anthony 
Adams,  John  Moreland,  Sam  Brooks,  Josiah  Davison, 
Barney  McMackin,  A.  M.  Halliday;  privates — W.  M. 
Atkins,  Daniel  Benjamin,  Aaron  E.  Bonnell,  William  Bab- 
cock,  William  R.  Bishop,  William  Bryan.  Henry  Bronson, 
James  Burk,  Charles  Conklin,  Daniel  Carey,  Patrick 
Clark,  John  Conley,  Daniel  S.  Cravet,  James  Daley,  Ar- 
thur Drew,  Franklin  Eghan,  Horace  Elmer,  Charles 
Evans,  Henry  C.  Fedes,  Charles  Grinder,  Abraham  Gu- 
lick,  William  Gray,  Nicholas  Hill,  William  Hopler,  S.  B. 
Harrison,  Samuel  Horner,  Robert  Hudson,  Joseph  Hart- 
man,  Henry  D.  lanson,  John  Jennings,  Joshua  Jenkins, 
Michael  Kennedy,  John  W.  Kelley,  John  Lovvery,  James 
List,  Cornelius  Miller,  G.  B.  Phineas  Meyers,  Thomas 
Murphy,  Thomas  E.  Miller,  David  Marston,  James  Mc- 
Coy, Peter  McFarland,  James  McNulty,  George  Oliver, 
Peter  Peer,  Nelson  Peer,  Merinus  Peer,  George  W.  Pier- 
son,  Timothy  L.  Palmer,  Mitchel  Robear,  Elias  J.  Roff, 
Harry  Reese,  George  Sharp,  Edward  J.  Smith,  Garret 
Smith,  Whitaker  Taylor,  Jacob  N.  Thatcher,  Ira  Van 
Orden,  John  Vanduyne,  James  T.  Vanduyne,  George 
Weir,  George  M.  Whitehead,  Frank  Wildeman,  James 
^\'■hit'ten,  Theodore  Wilkins,  William  Young. 


CHAPTER   XVL 


THE    ELEVENTH    NEW     JERSEY    REGIMENT — BATTLES    AND 
LOSSES    OF   COMPANIES   E    AND    H. 


?N  May  1862  the  governor,  in  anticipation  of 
™j(  the  call  for  300,000  three-years  men  which 
VM^^  was  made  July  7th,  authorized  the  recruiting 
S^^^i  °^  ™^"  for  the  nth  New  Jersey  volunteers. 
Captain  Dorastus  B.  Logan  at  once  cora- 
ls ^  menced  raising  a  company,  afterward  mustered  as 
"  Company  H  of  that  regiment.  On  the  i8th  of  June 
he  took  29  men  to  the  rendezvous.  Camp  Olden  at  Trenton. 
When  the  call  came  from  the  governor,  July  8th,  in  pur- 
suance of  the  President's  call  of  the  day  before,  for  four 
regiments,  this  company  was  rapidly  filled.  At  the  same 
time  Thomas  J.  Halsey  of  Dover  began  the  raising  of 
Company  E  for  the  same  regiment.  He  was  commis- 
sioned major  September  14th  1863.  Robert  McAllister 
was  colonel.  The  i  ith  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  Aug.  i8th  and  left  Trenton  for  Washington  Aug 
25th.  After  remaining  near  Washington  till  Nov.  i6th  the 
regiment  was  attached  to  Gen.  Carr's  brigade,  Sickles's 
division  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  served  through  the 
war,  participating  in  the  following  engagements,  all  in 
Virginia  excepting  Gettysburg: 

Fredericksburg,  December  13th  and  14th  1862;  Chan- 
cellorsville,  May  3d  and  4th  1863;  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July 
2nd  and  3d  1863;  Wapping  Heights,  July  24th  1863; 
Kelly's  Ford,  November  8th  1863;  Locust  Grove,  Nov. 
27th  1863;  Mine  Run,  November  29th  1863;  Wilderness, 
May  5th-7th  1864;  Spottsylvania,  May  8th-i8th  1864; 
North  Anna  River,  May  23d  and  24th  1864;  Tolopotomy 
Creek,  May  30th  and  31st  1864;  Cold  Harbor,  June  ist- 
■5th  1864;  Baker's  Mills,  June  loth  1864;  before  Peters- 
burg, June  i6th-23d  and  July  30th  1864;  Deep  Bottom, 
July  26th  and  27th  1864;  North  Bank  of  James  River, 
Aug.  I4th-i8th  1864;  Ream's  Station,  Aug.  25th  1864; 
Fort  Sedgwick,  September  i8th  1864;  Poplar  Spring 
Church,  Oct.  2nd  1864;  Boydon  Plank  Road  (capture  of 
Petersburg),  April  2nd  1865;  Amelia  Springs,  April  6th 
1865;  Farmville,  April  6th  and  7th  1865;  Appomattox, 
April  gth  1865. 

Following  are  the  records  of  the  Morris  county  com- 
panies in  the  nth  regiment; 

COMPANY    E. 

OFFICERS. 

The  following  ofificers  were  commissioned  or  enrolled 
at  the  dates  immediately  following  their  names,  and  all 
but  one  of  them  for  the  period  of  three  years.  Where  but 
one  date  is  given  it  was  also  that  of  muster-in.  Where 
two  are  given  the  last  is  the  date  of  muster-in.  The  date 
of  muster-out,  where  not  otherwise  indicated,  was  June 
6th  1865: 

Captains. — Thomas  J.  Halsey,  Aug.  19  '62;  prom, 
major  Sept.  14  '6-i,.  Edward  E.  S.  Newberry,  Nov.  17 
'63,  Jan.  7  '64;  enlisted  as  private  Co.  D  3d  N,  J.;  prom, 
ist  iieut.  Aug.  19  '62;  resigned  captaincy  Jan.  28  '64  to 


86 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


accept  commission  in  veteran  reserve  corps.  Charles  F. 
Gage,  June  26  '64,  July  20  '64;  appointed  ist  lieut.  Co. 
G  Dec.  5  '63;  brevet  major  Apr.  g  '65. 

First  Lieutenants. — William  H.  Egan,  Oct.  5  '63,  Oct. 
3t  '63;  appointed  ist  sergt.  July  22  '62;  ist  lieut.  Co.  H 
Oct.  5  '63;  transferred  from  Co.  H  Jan.  i  '64;  killed  at 
Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,  May  12  '64.  Cyprian  H. 
Rossiter,  Oct.  25  '64,  Nov.  19  '64;  appointed  2nd  lieut. 
Co.  B  Sept.  18  '64;  commissioned  captain  Co.  F  June  13 
'65;  not  mustered. 

Second  Lieutenants — Silas  W.  Volk,  Aug.  19  '62;  re- 
signed Dec.  10  '6t^.  Joseph  C.  Baldwin,  Feb.  18  '63, 
Mar.  i6,  '63;  transferred  from  Co  F  Apr.  16  '64;  killed 
at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,  May  12  '64.  Charles 
A.  Oliver,  June  26  '64,  July  20  '64;  formerly  sergt.  Co.  I; 
pro.  ist  lieut.  Co.  K  Oct.  23  '64.  Titus  Berry  jr.,  Oct. 
23  '64,  Nov.  19  '64;  appointed  corp.  Aug.  9  '62;  sergt. 
Sept.  I  '63;  commissioned  adj.  June  18  '65;  not  mus- 
tered. » 

First  ^i?r^i?a/?/.— Augustus  Tucker,  sergt.  Aug.  18  '62; 
ist  sergt.  Nov.  i  '63. 

Sergeants. — Amos  H.  Schoonover,  Sept.  13  '64,  for  i 
year;  pro.  2nd  lieut.  Co.  C  Sept.  18  '64.  Alpheus  Iliff, 
Corp.  July  15  '62;  sergt.  July  i  'by,  commissioned  2nd 
lieut.  Co.  B  May  22  '65  and  ist  lieut.  Co.  H  June  13  '65, 
but  not  mustered.  Thomas  D.  Marbacker,  July  19  '62; 
appointed  corp.  Aug.  20  '63;  sergt.  Nov.  i  '63.  Edward 
J.  Kinney,  Aug.  i6  '62;  appointed  corp.  Aug.  20  '63; 
sergt.  Sept.  8  '64;  dis.  May  3  '65. 

Corporals. — Morris  L.  Ackerman,  Aug.  18  '62;  dis. 
May  3  '65.  Absalom  S.  Talmadge,  Aug.  18  '62;  dis. 
May  3  '65.  George  Zindle,  Aug.  18  '65;  appointed  corp. 
July  I  '64;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Leonard  V.  Gillen,  Aug.  16 
'62;  appointed  corp.  July  i  '64.  James  Brannin,  Aug.  18 
'62;  corp.  Oct.  I  '64.  Bishop  W.  Mainis,  July  28  '62, 
July  29  '62;  corp.  Oct.  6  '64;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Charles 
H.  Johnson  jr.,  Aug.  18  '62;  corp.  Nov.  i  '64.  Frederick 
Cook,  Aug.  16  '62;  corp.  Nov.  i  '64. 

Died. — Sergeants:  Charles  Brandt,  Aug.  5  '62;  died  of 
scurvy  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Oct.  31  '64;  appointed 
corp.  Aug.  5  '62;  sergt.  Aug.  i  '53.  James  McDavitt, 
Aug.  16  '62;  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3  '63. 
Eliphalet  Sturdevant,  August  18  '62;  died  in  hospital  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  13  'b^,,  of  wounds  received  there. 

PRIVATES. 

The  date  of  enrollment  and  muster-in  and  the  number 
of  years  for  which  the  man  enlisted  follow  the  name;  the 
date  of  muster-out  was  June  6  '65  if  nothing  appears  to 
the  contrary. 

Charles  H.  Aber,  Aug.  18  '62,  3.  Joseph  H.  Berry, 
Aug.  18 '62,  3.  Sarhuel  Bozegar,  Sept.  27*64,  i;  dr. 
Holmes  Brittin,  Sept.  26  '64,  i;  dr.;  dis.  May  3  '65. 
Oliver  Bruch,  Aug.  12  '64,  3.  Thomas  Bush,  Sept.  i  '64, 
I.  Lewis  A.  De  Camp,  Aug.  18  '62,  3.  Patrick  Gal- 
lagher, Aug.  14 '62,  3.  Jacob  Genther,  July  22  '62;  3. 
John  H.  Gilbert,  July  25  '62,  3.  Charles  E.  Guard,  Aug. 
18  '62,  3.  Matthias  and  Peter  Henderson,  Sept.  21  '64, 
3;  dr.  Charles  Hulse,  Sept.  27  '64,  i;  dr.  Philip  Jayne, 
Aug.  18  '62,  3.  Joseph  C.  Johnson,  Sept.  27  '64,  i;  dr. 
Robert  and  Zacharinh  Johnson,  Sept.  28  '64,  1;  dr.  Ben- 
jamin H.  Joiner,  sergt.  July  22  '62,  3;  private  Sept.  i'  62. 
Jonathan  C.  Knowles,  Aug.  2  '62,  3.  John  Litz,  Aug.  8 
'64,  i;  dis.  May  30  '65.  Lewis  M.  Lorey,  Aug.  30  '64,  i. 
William  Lowery,  Sept.  27  '64,  i;  dr.  Albert  P.  Lyon, 
Aug.  16  '62,  3.  David  Marley,  Sept.  i  '64,  i;  m.  o.  Aug. 
13  '65.  Joseph  McNear,  Sept.  5  '64,  i;  tr.  from  Co.  G. 
George  M.  Merritt,  musician,  Aug.  18  '62.  James  P. 
Myers,  July  ig  '62,  3.  John  O'Dell,  Aug.  18  '62,  3.  E. 
W.  Philhower,  wagoner,  July  25  '62.     Albert  T.  Phillips, 


Aug.  29  '64,  I.  Richard  J.  Porter,  Sept.  26  '64,  i;  dr. 
Henry  Rinkler,  Mar.  2  '65,  3.  Samuel  Robinson,  Aug. 
18  '62,  3;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Samuel  Rose,  Sept.  27  '64,  i; 
dr.;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Alonzo  B.  Searing,  Aug.  18  '62,  3. 
Lambert  Sharp,  July  23  '62,  3.  Frank  E.  Shilstone, 
Aug.  16  '64,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65.  George  Smith,  Sept.  27 
'64,  i;  dr.  James  Smith,  Sept.  21  '64,  i;  dr.  Solomon 
Soper,  Sept.  27  '64,  i;  dr.;  dis.  May  3 '65.  William 
Throckmorton  and  Joseph  E.  Wainwright,  Sept.  27  '64, 
I ;  dr.  Joseph  W.  Walton,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;  dis.  May  3  '65. 
William  Wood,  Aug.  16  '62,  3.  Gilbert  D.  Young,  Aug. 
16  '62.  3.     William  Young,  Aug.  16  '64,  i. 

Discharged  (for  disability  where  no  other  cause  is 
given). — George  Apgar,  July  29  '62,  3;  dis.  Dec.  28  '63. 
Henry  C.  Cook,  Aug.  11  '62,  3;  dis.  Dec.  29  '62.  Jacob 
Egerter,  July  29  '62,  3;  dis.  Apr.  4  '64.  James  M.  Ford, 
Aug.  16  '62,  3;  dis.  Sept.  25  '63.  Marcus  S.  Ford,  Aug. 
16  '62,  3;  dis.  Oct.  13  '63.  James  Henderson,  Aug.  18 
'62,  3;  dis.  Mar.  19  '63.  Louis  Lambert,  Sept.  27  '64,  i; 
dis.  Sept.  8  '64  to  accept  commission  in  20th  N.  Y. 
Stephen  Lefifler,  Aug.  16  '62,  3;  dis.  Feb.  2  '()i.  William 
Minton,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;  dis.  Dec.  15  '64.  Steinzilo 
Monice,  Aug,  18  '62,  3;  dis.  Feb.  19  '63.  William  A. 
Murphy,  Aug.  13  '63,  3;  dis.  Jan.  6  '64.  Octavus  L. 
Pruden,  Aug.  16,  '62,  3;  dis.  October  23  '63  to  join  reg- 
ular army.  Richard  Shauger,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;  dis.  Nov. 
29  '62.  Zadoc  Sperry,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;  dis.  Aug.  14  '63. 
John  Talmadge,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;  dis.  Jan.  15  '63.  John 
H.  Wilson,  Aug.  16  '62,  3;  dis.  Apr.  14  '64.  Joseph 
Zindle,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;    dis.  Feb.  28  '63. 

Transferred. — David  B.  Alpaugh,  Jan.  28  '64,  3;  to  v. 
r.  c.  Apr.  27  '65;  dis.  June  ig  '65.  Elias  H.  Blanchard, 
Aug.  16  '62,  3;  to  V.  r.  c.  Mar.  15  '64.  Charles  Bow- 
man, Aug.  5  '62,  3;  to  V.  r.  c.  July  i  '64;  dis.  June  29 
'65.  John  Burk,  Aug.  14  '63,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Feb.  15  '64; 
dis.  Aug.  14  '65.  William  Burns,  Oct.  8  '64,  i;  to  Co.  B 
12th  N.  J.  Charles  Davis,  Oct.  10  '64,  i;  to  Co.  I  12th 
N.  J.  John  Farnum,  Aug.  16  '64,  3;  to  Co.  B  12th  N. 
J.  John  W.  Ford,  Aug.  16  '62,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Aug.  i  '63; 
dis.  Nov.  12  '63.  William  F.  Hogbin,  Aug.  12  '64,  3;  to 
Co.  B  1 2th  N.  J.;  dr.  James  Howden,  June  15  '64,  3;  to 
Co.  B  i2th  N.  J.  Thomas  Kelly,  June  13  '64,  3;  to  Co. 
B  i2th  N.  J.  James  King,  Aug.  16  '62,  3;  to  v.  r.  c. 
Sept.  I  'bT^.  William  King,  June  16  '64,  3;  to  Co.  B  12th 
N.  J.  Charles  A.  Kinney,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Aug. 
10  '64;  dis.  June  29  '65.  Joseph  H.  Lee,  July  19  '64,  3; 
to  Co.  B  i2th  N.  J.;  dr.  David  Lundy,  June  16  '64,  3; 
to  Co.  B  1 2th  N.  J.  Henry  McLane,  Sept.  i  '64,  i;  to 
Co.  B  12th  N.  J.  Waldemar  M.  Melchert,  June  11  '64, 
3;  to  Co.  B  i2th  N.  J.  William  Osborn,  Aug.  18  '62,  3; 
to  V.  r.  c.  Sept.  30  '64;  dis.  July  13  '65.  Armstrong 
Powell,  Aug.  15  '64,  3;  to  Co.  B  12th  N.  J.;  dr.  William 
Reiser,  Feb.  24  '65,  i;  to  Co.  A  12th  N.  J.  James  Riley, 
Oct.  7  '64,  i;  to  Co.  B  12th  N.  J.  Thomas  Scattergood, 
Mar.  31  '63,  3;  to  V.  r.  c.  Sept.  30  '64;  dis.  July  24  '65. 
George  Schoonover,  Feb.  25  '65,  i;  to  Co.  B  12th  N.  J. 
Killian  Schulze,  Sept.  2  '64,  i ;  to  Bat.  A.  John  Smith, 
Oct.  8  '64,  i;  to  Co.  B  12th  N.  J.;  dr.  John  Sullivan, 
Aug.  16  '64,  3;  to  Co.  A.  John  F.  Sullivan,  June  15  '64, 
3;  to  Co.  B  i2th  N.  J.  Mahlon  D.  Talmadge,  Aug.  16 
'62,  3;  to  V.  r.  c.  Sept.  I  '63;  dis.  June  29  '65.  Reuben 
E.  Talmadge,  Aug.  16  '62,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  March  15  '64; 
dis.  June  30  '65.  Samuel  Taylor,  May  10  '64,  3;  to  Co. 
B  1 2th  N.  J.;  dr.  Alva  S.  Valentine,  Sept.  i  '64,  i;  to 
Co.  M  3d  N.  J.  cav.  James  J.  Van  Orden,  Aug.  18  '62, 
3;  to  v.  r.  c.  April  26  '65;  dis.  Jane  2g  '65.  Isaac  Wool- 
verton,  June  17  '62,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Mar.  23  '64;  dis.  June 
23  '65;  appointed  sergt.  June  17  '62;  private  Sept.  i  'dj,. 
James'K.  Youmans,  Aug.  18  '62,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Jan.  15 
'64;  dis.  July  3  '65. 

Died. — (With  the  exception  of  Mr.  Atkinson  these  men 


COMPANIES  E  AND  H  ELEVENl^H  N.  J. 


entered  the  service  for  three  years;  the  date  of  enroll- 
ment and  muster-in  follows  the  name).  James  Atkinson, 
Sept.  27  '64;  dr.  for  i  year;  missing  at  Boydton  Plank 
Road,  Va.,  Oct.  27  '64.  Joshua  Beach,  Aug.  18  '62;  died 
of  scurvy  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Aug.  i  '64.  John  Cook, 
July  23  '62;  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3  '63 
David  Daley,  June  17  '62;  missing  at  Gettysburg,  Pa , 
July  3  '63.  James  F.  Gibson,  July  24  '62;  died  of 
chronic  diarrhoea  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  Mar.  4  '65,  while  on 
a  furlough.  Peter  Hann,  Aug.  12  '62;  killed  at  Chancel- 
lorsville, Va.,  May  3  '63.  William  W.  Hoffman,  July  29 
'62;  died  of  disease  at  Richmond,  Va.,  Apr.  12  '64. 
William  Horton,  Aug.  18  '62;  killed  at  Chancellorsville, 
Va.,  May  3  '63.  Charles  Mann,  Aug.  5  '62;  killed  at 
Locust  Grove,  Va.,  Nov.  27  '63.  John  Mann,  Aug.  12 
'62;  died  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  11  '6^,  of  wounds 
received  there.  Jacob  Miller,  Aug.  18  '62;  missing  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3  '63.  Thomas  Murray,  June  17 
'62;  died  at  Washington,  May  28  '63,  of  wounds  received 
at  Chancellorsville.  Riley  O'Brien,  June  17  '62;  killed 
at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3  '63."  Isaac  O'Dell,  Aug. 
16  '62;  died  of  chronic  diarrhoea  near  Falmouth  Va., 
Mar.  9  '63.  Daniel  H.  Palmer,  Aug.  16  '62;  died  at 
Washington,  June  23  '63,  of  wounds  received  at  Chancel- 
lorsville. William  B.  Phillips,  Aug.  12  '62;  captured  b_e- 
fore  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22  '64;  died  at  Florence,  S. 
C,  Nov.  15  '64.  James  Ridgeway,  Aug.  10  '64;  dr.; 
died  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  at  New^  York,  Nov.  9  '64. 
Elihu  F.  Rose,  corp.,  Aug.  18  '62;  killed  at  Spottsylvania, 
Va.,  May  10  '64.  C.  M.  Shauger,  Aug.  18  '62;  died  of 
typhoid  fever  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  March  29  '63.  James 
W.  Smith,  July  29  '62;  died  of  intermittent  fever  near 
Alexandria,  Va.,  Nov.  26  '62.  William  H.  Sweet,  Aug. 
18  '62;  missing  at  Chancellorsville,  May  3  '63.  Cyrus 
L.  Talmadge,  Aug.  18  '62;  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 
Sept.  2  '64.  Thomas  Tinney,  Aug.  16  '62;  killed  at  Get- 
tysburg, Pa.,  July  2  '63.  Gilbert  Young,  July  16  '62; 
died  of  smallpox,  at  Washington,  Dec.  8  '62. 

COMPANY    H. 

OFFICERS. 

The  following  were  commissioned  or  enrolled,  and 
mustered  in  for  three  years'  service,  at  the  dates  follow- 
ing their  names: 

Captains. — Dorastus  B.  Logan,  Aug.  13  '62,  Aug.  14 
'62;  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2  %j,.  Ira  W.  Cory, 
July  3  '63,  Oct.  23  '63;  appointed  sergt.  Co.  K  7th  N. 
J.;  ist  lieut.  Aug.  13  '62;  on  detached  service  at  draft 
rendezvous,  Trenton;  m.  o.  June  5  '65. 

First  Lieutenants. — William  H.  Egan,  Oct.  5  '()t„  Oct. 
31  '63;  appointed  ist  sergt.  Co.  E;  tr.  to  that  company 
Jan.  I  '64.  Alexander  Cummings,  Nov.  13  '63,  Nov.  24 
'62,\  appointed  ist  sergt.  June  17  '62;  2nd  lieut.  Sept.  20 
'63;  tr.  from  Co.  K  Jan.  i  '64;  dismissed  May  8  '65. 

Second  Lieutenant — William  E.  Axtell,  Aug.  13  '62, 
Aug.  14  '62;  resigned  Sept.  29  '63,  from  wounds  received 
at  Gettysburg;  commissioned  ist  lieut.  July  2  '63;  not 
mustered. 

First  Sergeants. — Alonzo  M.  Merritt,  sergt.,  July  26 
'62;  ist  sergt.  Jan.  i  '64;  sergt.  major  May  13  '64.  Wat- 
son P.  Tuttle,  corp.  June  17  '62;  ist  sergt.  June  i  '64; 
sergt.  major  Sept.  i  '64.  Michael  J.  Southard,  July  5 
'62;  pro.  corp.  May  4  'by,  ist  sergt.  Oct.  i  '64;  captured 
and  paroled;  dis.  Apr.  28  '65. 

Sergeants.— '^\\X\2iXa.  S.   Stout,  June  17  '6z;  appointed 


corp.  Sept.  I  '63;  sergt.  Jan.  i  '64;  m.  o.  June  6  '65. 
Peter  Stone,  Aug.  6  '62;  appointed  corp.  Jan.  i  '64; 
sergt.  Sept.  i  '64;  commissioned  2nd  lieut.  Co.  B  June  13 
'65;  not  mustered.  George  W.  Hedden,  June  26  '62; 
pro.  corp.  Feb.  i  '63;  sergt.  Oct.  i  '64;  m.  o.  June  6 
'65. 

Corporals. — Nathaniel  Clark,  July  21  '62;  pro.  corp. 
May  4  '63;  m.  o.  June  6  '65.  Lambert  Riker,  June  17 
'62;  pro.  corp.  Sept.  i  '63;  m.  o,  June  6  '65.  John  J. 
Sites,  July  5  '62;  pro.  corp.  Aug.  i  '63;  dis.  May  3  '65. 
George  A.  Stevens,  June  17  '62;  m.  o.  June  6  '65.  Wil- 
liam S.  Goarkee,  July  9  '62;  pro.  corp.  Oct.  i  '64;  m.  o. 
June  6  '65. 

Musician. — William  Y.  Kelly,  July  5  '62;  m.  o.  June  6 
'65- 

Discharged. — Sergeant  Thomas  S.  Mitchell,  enrolled 
and  mustered  June  17  '62;  dis.  Mar.  19  '63  for  disability. 
Musician  William  H.  Egbert,  enrolled  and  mustered  Aug. 
14  '62;  dis.  for  disability  Jan.  t6  '63.  Wagoner  David 
H.  Thomas,  enrolled  and  mustered  June  17  '62;  dis.  Jan. 
9  '63  for  disability. 

Transferred  {dait  of  enrollment  and  muster  following 
the  name). — Sergeants:  Silas  C.  Todd,  June  17  '62;  to 
v.  r.  c.  Aug.  6  '64;  dis.  June  17  '65.  Henry  C.  Wood- 
ruff, July  21  '62;  to  V.  r.  c.  Sept.  30  '64;  dis.  July  6  '65; 
appointed  corp.  July  21  '62;  sergt.  Apr.  i  '6^,.  Corporals: 
Erastus  H.  Rorick,  Aug.  6  '62;  to  v.  r.  c.  July  i  '63;  dis. 
Aug.  19  '64;  prom.  corp.  Sept.  i  '62.  Oliver  Ayres,  July 
5  '62;  to  V.  r.  c.  Dec.  7  '63;  dis.  Oct.  3  '64;  prom.  corp. 
Jan.  I  '63. 

Died. — John  V.  Lanterman,  ist  sergt.,  enrolled  and 
mustered  June  17  '62;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court- 
house, Va.,  May  12  '64.  Daniel  Bender,  sergt.,  enrolled 
and  mustered  June  17  '62;  killed  at  Chancellorsville,Va., 
May  3  '63.  Charles  W.  Buck,  corp.;  enrolled  and  mus- 
tered July  30  62,  died  of  debility,  on  furlough,  at  Wash- 
ington, Mar.  13  '63.  John  S.  Harden,  corp.,  enrolled  and 
mustered  July  14  '62;  died  of  congestion  of  the  brain 
near  Fort  Ellsworth,  Va.,  Oct.  9  '62.  John  Fleming, 
Corp.,  enrolled  and  mustered  July  9  '62.;  appointed  corp. 
Oct.  9  '62;  killed  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  June 
16  '64. 

PRIVATES. 

The  date  immediately  following  these  names  is  that  of 
enrollment  and  muster.  The  figure  1  after  the  date 
shows  that  the  man  entered  the  service  for  one  year;  in 
other  cases  the  term  of  enlistment  was  three  years.  The 
date  of  muster-out  was  June  6  1865,  where  nothing  ap- 
pears to  the  contrary. 

John  Anderson,  June  24  '62.  Albert  L.  Axtell,  July 
5  62.  Solomon  G.  Cannon,  June  17  '62;  captured  and 
paroled;  dis.  May  12  '65.  John  Caspar,  Sept.  i  '64,  i; 
dis.  May  3  '65.  Jacob  S.  Clawson,  Aug.  i  '62.  Christian 
Clevel,  Aug.  17  '64;  dis.  June  12*65.  Joseph  L.  Decker, 
July  19  '62.  Timothy  Furl,  July  9  '62.  Daniel  C.  Hig- 
gins,  June  16  '64;  dis.  Apr.  8  '65.  John  Hoffman,  Sept. 
I  '64;  dis.  Apr"  28  '65.  George  Horton,  July  5  '62. 
Joseph  R.  Mackey,  July  5  '62;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Lewis 
N.  McPeake,  Aug.  15  '62;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Morris  Myers, 
Sept.  28  '64,  I.  John  Motti,  Sept.  26  '64,  i.  George 
Murphy,  corp.  June  17  '62;  private  Jan.  i  '63:  dis.  May 
3  '65.  Hans  T.  Olson,  Sept.  28  '64,  i.  Bartley  Owen, 
July  23  '62;  captured  and  paroled;  dis.  May  12  '65. 
Michael  Raiter,  Sept.  28  '64,  i.  Jacob  Schneider,  Sept. 
28  '64,  I.  William  Southard,  July  5  '62.  Antoine  Stael, 
Sept.  28  '64,  I,      Henry  Stibling,  Sept.  26  '64,  i.      John 


13 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Stone,  Sept.  28  '64,  i.  John  V.  Stout,  June  17  '62. 
James  Sweeney,  June  20  '62.  Thomas  Welsh,  Sept.  26 
'64,  I. 

Discharged. — (The  date  of  enrollment  and  muster  fol- 
lows the  name.  All  but  one  were  three-years  men.  The 
cause  of  discharge  was  physical  disability  where  no  other 
is  given).  Joshua  Barber,  July  30 '62;  dis.  Oct.  20  '64. 
for  wounds  received  at  Spnttsylvania.  Henry  Bayard, 
June  II  '64;  dis.  May  30  '65,  for  woimds  received  at 
Boydton  Plank  Road,  Va.,  Oct.  27  '64.  George  Brown, 
Sept.  I  '64;  dishonorably  discharged  Mar.  i  '65.  Dennis 
Crater,  July  16  '62;  dis.  May  3  '65,  for  wounds  at  Spott- 
sylvania.  Edward  Emerson,  Sept.  28  '64,  i  year;  dis. 
July  12  '65,  for  wounds  at  Fort  Morton,  Va.,  Nov.  5  '64. 
George  W.  Jackson,  June  17  '62;  dis.  Jan  14  '63.  James 
N.  Jarvis,  June  26  '62;  dis.  Dec.  30  '62.  Constant  V. 
King,  Aug.  I  '62;  dis.  Aug.  27  '63.  Patrick  King,  July 
26  '62;  dis.  Dec.  3  'd^x,,  for  wounds  at  Gettysburg.  Mar- 
shall Love,  Aug.  14  '62;  dis.  July  21  '63.  -George  H. 
McDougall,  June  17  '62;  dis.  Jan.  23  '63.  Reuben 
O'Dell,  June  28  '62;  dis.  Mar.  25  '65.  Robert  D.  Owen, 
July  21  '62;  dis.  Jan.  9  '63.  Timothy  K.  Pruden,  June 
17  '62;  dis.  Dec.  15  'b^,  for  wounds  at  Gettysburg.  Ed- 
ward Rich,  July  5  '62;  dis.  Apr.  25  '63.  David  A. 
Riker,  July  24  '62;  dis.  Dec.  24  '62.  William  Rowley, 
July  5  '62;  dis.  April  25  '63.  William  Shack,  July  30 
'62;  dis.  Jan.  5  '63.  William  Sullivan,  July  2  '62;  dis. 
Jan.  5  '(iT,.  John  Wright,  June  24  '62;  dis.  Aug.  15  '64. 
Theodore  F.  Wolfe,  June  17  '62;  dis.  Jan.  5  'Qi2>- 

Died  (The  date  of  enlistment  and  muster  follows  the 
name.  The  period  of  enlistment  was  three  years,  except 
in  a  single  case). — Levi  P.  Baird,  July  5  '62;  killed  near 
Chancellorsville,  May  3  '6^.  Edward  Barber;  Aug.  i  '62; 
killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2  '63.  Simeon  Brooks, 
July  2  '62;  died  of  chronic  diarrhoea  near  Falmouth,  Va., 
Feb.  I  '63.  Bingham  Cartwright,  Aug.  i  '61;  died  of 
debility  near  Falmouth,  Va,,  Jan.  18  'd^.  Levi  Cart- 
wright,  Aug.  T  '62;  died  of  diphtheria  near  Alexandria, 
Va.,  Dec.  15  '62.  Timothy  Cummings,  Aug.  14  '62;  died  of 
dysentery  near  Fort  Ellsworth,  Va.,  Oct.  27  '62.  Daniel 
Decker,  June  28  '62;  died- of  typhoid  fever  near  Falmouth, 
Va.,  Feb.  7  '62-  William  A.  Decker,  Aug.  6  '62;  died  at 
Washington  May  30  '63,  of  wounds  received  at  Chancel- 
lors-ville;  prom.  corp.  May  4  '63.  William  De  Groat,  July 
5  '62;  died  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels  near  Falmouth, 
Va.,  Dec.  25  '62.  Edward  Dorsay,  July  5  '62;  died  of  in- 
flammation of  the  bowels  near  Fort  Ellsworth,  Va.,  Oct. 
16  '62.  William  Halsey,  July  5  '62;  missing  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  July  2  '63.  Francis  M.  Hendershot,  July  18 
'62;  died  of  chronic  diarrhoea  Sept.  26  '64,  on  James 
River.  Peter  Hendershot,  July  5  '62;  died  of  debility 
near  Falmouth,  Va.,  Jan.  2  '63.  Richard  Henderson, 
Aug.  6  '62;  died  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs  near  Fal- 
mouth, Dec.  30  '62.  John  Henry  Klein,  Oct.  10  '64,  i 
year;  missing  at  Boydton  Plank  Road,  Va.,  Oct.  27  '64; 
died  of  fever  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  Feb.  7  '65.  Ferdinand 
Martin,  June  15  '64;  died  at  City  Point,  Va.,  Dec.  4  '64, 
of  woimds  near  Petersburg.  William  Potts,  June  17  '62; 
died  of  chronic  diarrhoea  at  Washington,  Oct.  i  '63. 
Charles  W.  Prickett,  June  28  '62;  died  of  chronic  diar- 
rhoea at  Washington,  May  18  '65.  Joseph  P.  Robare, 
July  31  '61;  died  at  Potomac  Creek  hospital,  Va.,  May 
3  '6^,  of  wounds  at  Chancellorsville.  John  C.  Sharp, 
June  17  '62;  died  of  heart  disease  near  Fort  Ellsworth, 
Va.,  Nov.  18  '62.  Henry  South,  July  2  '62;  killed  at 
Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3  '6;^.  David  Talmadge,  July 
30  '62;  missing  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22  '64.  Wil- 
liam W.  Tuttle,  July  26  '62;  died  of  typhoid  fever  near 
Fort  Ellsworth,  Va..  Nov.  6  '62.  James  AI.  Woodruff, 
Tune  17  '62;  killed  at  Locust  Grove,  Va.,  Nov.  27 
•63. 


CHAPTER  XVIL 


THE    BRILLIANT    RECORD    OF    COMPANIES    C    AND    F    15TH 
N.    J.    VOLUNTEERS. 


HE  15th  regiment  of  New  Jersey  volunteer 
infantry  was  raised  in  the  summer  of  1862, 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State,  three 
companies  going  from  Sussex  county,  two 
each  from  Morris,  Hunterdon  and  Warren 
and  one  from  Somerset.  The  men  were  of  a  high 
grade  of  character  and  intelligence,  and  were  dis- 
ciplined by  veteran  officers.  The  colonels  of  the  regi- 
ment at  different  times  were  Samuel  Fowler,  A.  C.  M. 
Pennington  jr.  (never  mustered)  and  William  H.  Pen- 
rose. Edmund  D.  Halsey  was  commissioned  adjutant 
January  ist  1864,  having  been  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany D,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  F,  sergeant 
major,  and  private  in  Company  K. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  in  on  the  25th  of  August 
1862  and  immediately  went  to  the  front.  Its  first  duty 
was  building  fortifications  at  Tenaliytown,  Md.,  Lee  be- 
ing then  on  his  northern  march  which  was  stopped  by 
the  battle  of  Antietara.  At  the  end  of  September  the 
15th  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  from  this  lime 
to  the  close  of  the  war  it  shared  the  hard  work,  the  de- 
feats and  the  victories  of  that  great  army,  being  attached 
to  the  first  brigade,  first  division,  sixth  corps. 

The  regiment  was  first  under  fire  at  Fredericksburg, 
December  13th  1862,  having  crossed  the  Rappahannock 
below  the  town  and  occupied  a  ravine,  behaving  admira- 
bly under  a  cannonade  by  which  several  were  wounded. 
The  next  mornmg,  before  daylight,  the  isth  was  de- 
ployed as  skirmishers,  within  hearing  of  the  voices  of  the 
enemy.  At  sunrise  the  skirmish  line  opened  fire.  In  the 
bloody  battle  thus  introduced  the  Morris  county  com- 
panies fared  less  hardly  than  some  portions  of  the  line, 
but  Sergeant  Major  Fowler  and  Alexander  S.  Sergeant 
of  Company  F  were  killed  and  several  were  severely 
wounded.  The  next  morning  the  regiment  was  relieved 
by  the  121st  New  York. 

The  tedious  "'  mud  march  "  which  followed  the  Fred- 
ericksburg disaster  preluded  a  dismal  winter  in  camp  at 
White  Oak  Church,  typhoid  fever  prevailing  and  making 
sad  inroads  upon  the  companies  from  Morris,  who  were 
thereafter  notably  fortunate  in  the  matter  of  health. 

The  next  fighting  was  the  Chancellorsville  campaign. 
This  took  the  15th  across  the  Rappahannock  River  be- 
low Fredericksburg  as  before,  the  regiment  forming  the 
extreme  left  of  the  sixth  corps  in  the  action  of  May  3d, 
supporting  a  battery  and  aiding  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  turning  the  left  flank  of  Hooker's  army.  In  this 
service  the  15th  suffered  considerable  loss.  Advancing 
in  the  afternoon  to  Salem  Church  this  regiment  drove 
the  enemy  by  a  gallant  charge,  and  held  its  ground  till 
ordered  back  at  night.     It  is  believed  that  after  this"  en- 


THE  FIFTEENTH  NEW  JERSEY  VOLUNTEERS. 


S9 


counter  few  regiments  besides  tlie  isth  New  Jersey  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  off  all  their  wounded.  This  noble 
achievement  in  the  case  of  the  15th  is  largely  credited  to 
the  brave  and  tireless  exertions  of  the  chaplain.  The 
next  day  the  army  began  its  retreat  to  the  old  camp. 

In  the  movement  at  Fredericksburg  in  June  to  divert 
the  attention  of  the  enemy  the  15th  covered  the  crossing 
of  the  Rappahannock  River,  removing  the  pontoon  bridge 
in  the  face  of  the  enemy  and  in  a  driving  rain.  It  fought 
at  Gettysburg,  and  participated  in  the  advances  and  re- 
treats that  consumed  the  latter  part  of  1863. 

The  following  winter  was  passed  in  camp  at  Brandy 
Station,  Va.,  in  picket  and  fatigue  duty,  interrupted  by 
an  expedition  of  the  brigade  to  Madison  Court-house, 
which  involved  no  fighting.  A  log  church  edifice  was 
built  in  the  camp,  in  which  literary  as  well  as  religious 
exercises  were  held;  a  "church"  of  130  members  was 
organized,  to  which  46  were  added  by  conversion. 

The  regiment  broke  camp  on  the  4th  of  May  1864, 
and  immediately  plunged  into  the  terrible  Wilderness 
campaign.  On  the  8th,  with  the  3d  N.  J.,  the  15th  made 
a  splendid  charge  at  Spottsylvunia  Court-house,  to 
develop  the  position  and  strength  of  the  rebel  force.  It 
was  repulsed  with  terrible  loss,  loi  men  being  killed  or 
wounded.  The  next  day  the  15th  and  the  ist  had  a 
sharp  encounter  with  the  rebel  skirmishers  in  a  movement 
on  the  enemy's  right  flank.  On  the  loth  these  regiments 
drove  in  the  rebel  skirmish  line,  but  were  stopped  by  the 
fortifications  at  the  "  bloody  angle."  They  were  re- 
inforced and  renewed  the  attack,  but  were  again  repulsed, 
the  entrenchments  of  the  enemy  at  this  point  being  one 
of  the  strongest  field  works  ever  attacked  by  the  army. 
On  the  same  day  the  sixth  corps  carried  a  part  of  the 
enemy's  line,  but  had  to  abandon  it  and  many  prisoners, 
on  account  of  the  repulse  of  the  other  troops,  attacking 
on  either  hand.  The  two  regiments  mentioned,  however, 
held  the  ground  taken  by  them  till  relieved  after  dark. 

On  the  1 2th  the  6th  corps  assaulted  the  "bloody 
angle,"  with  the  islh  regiment  on  the  extreme  right  of 
the  front  line.  Charging  through  a  murderous  fire,  this 
regiment  broke  through  the  strong  line  of  the  enemy, 
capturing  prisoners  and  a  stand  of  colors.  Unsupported, 
and  enfiladed  from  neighboring  works  not  taken,  the 
brave  little  Union  force  was  compelled  to  retire,  having 
lost  more  than  one-half  of  the  rank  and  file  and  seven  of 
its  best  officers.  "  Out  of  429  men  and  14  line  officers, 
who  crossed  the  Rapidan  on  the  4th,  only  122  men  and 
four  line  officers  remained." 

The  isth  shared  in  the  advance  to  Petersburg  which 
followed  the  retreat  of  the  rebels  from  Spottsylvania,  and 
afterward  fought  under  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley.  At  Hanover  Court-house  the  decimated  ranks 
were  in  part  filled  with  the  re-enlisted  veterans  of  the 
2nd,  and  at  Cold  Harbor  the  re- enlisted  veterans  of  the 
3d  were  added,  the  original  term  of  service  of  those  or- 
ganizations having  expired.  On  the  17th  of  August  this 
regiment  so  stubbornly  held  in  check  the  army  of  Early 
and  Longstreet  that  the  latter  actually  formed  for  an 
attack  in   the  belief  that  Sheridan's  whole  force  was  be- 


fore them.  One  confederate  brigade  was  enough  to 
scatter  the  thin  skirmish  line  of  the  Jerseymen,  but  the 
latter  yielded  only  with  the  most  stubborn  resistance, 
some  of  the  15th  holding  their  ground  so  long  as  to  be 
surrounded  and  captured. 

At  the  battle  of  Opequan,  on  the  19th  of  September 
1864,  this  regiment,  in  the  opinion  of  a  division  com- 
mander, saved  the  day  by  holding  a  hill  and  checking 
the  advance  of  the  enemy  during  a  temporary  reverse  to 
the  Union  line,  after  which  Sheridan's  men  rallied  to  one 
of  the  most  important  victories  of  the  war. 

At  Fisher's  Hill,  September  22nd,  the  ist  New  Jersey 
brigade,  by  a  most  brilliant  charge,  carried  a  rebel 
stronghold,  capturing  a  num.ber  o(  guns;  and  at  Cedar 
Creek  on  the  19th  of  October  occupied  the  most  advanced 
and  difficult  position,  one  of  the  field  officers  of  the  15th 
being  killed  and  the  other  two  wounded,  while  the  rank 
and  file  suffered  severely.  After  this  battle  the  regiment 
rejoined  the  army  before  Petersburg,  and  participated  in 
the  capture  of  that  city  and  Richmond  and  other  closing 
events  of  the  war.  It  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Lee  at  Appomattox,  April  9th,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
Hall's  Hill,  Va.,  June  22nd  1865.  One  of  the  field  offi- 
cers of  the  15th,  from  whom  we  have  derived  the  fore- 
going facts,  summarizes  the  brilliant  record  of  the  regi- 
ment as  follows: 

"  In  the  death  grapples  of  army  with  army,  from  1862 
to  1865,  it  bore  the  stars  and  stripes  with  honor  and  dis- 
tinction. No  regiment  fought  with  more  tenacious  cour- 
age, or  presented  a  more  steady  and  unbroken  front  to 
the  foe.  Where  the  fire  was  hottest,  the  charge  most  im- 
petuous, the  resistance  most  stubborn,  the  carnage  most 
fearful,  it  was  found.  It  was  never  ordered  to  take  a  po- 
sition that  it  did  not  reach  it.  It  was  never  required  to 
hold  a  post  that  it  did  not  hold  it.  It  never  assaulted  a 
line  of  the  enemy  that  it  did  not  drive  it.  It  never 
charged  a  rebel  work  that  it  did  not  reach  it.  *  *  * 
Such  a  record  must  be  traced  in  blood.  When  the  roll 
is  called,  three  hundred  and  sixty-one  times  it  must  be 
answered — '  Dead  on  the  field  of  honor.'  " 

The  statistics  of  this  regiment  are  as  follows: 
Officers  at  muster-in,  38;  enlisted  men  ditto,  909; 
officers  gained,  72;  enlisted  men  gained,  852;  total 
strength,  1,871;  officers  mustered  out,  18;  enlisted  men 
mustered  out,  398;  died  of  disease,  99;  died  of  wounds, 
247;  died  in  prison,  15;  total  deaths,  361. 

The  engagements  in  which  the  regiment  participated 
were  the  following,  all  in  Virginia  where  not  otherwise 
indicated: 

Fredericksburg,  December  13th  and  14th  1862  and 
May  3d  1863;  Salem  Heights,  May  3d  and  4th  1863; 
Franklin's  Crossing,  June  6th-i4th  1863;  Gettysburg, 
Pa.,  July  2nd  and  3d  1863;  Fairfield,  Pa.,  Jnly  5th 
1863;  Funktown,  Md.,  July  loth  1863;  Rappahannock 
Station,  October  12th  and  November  7th  1863;  Mine 
Run,  November  30th  1863;  Wilderness,  May  5th-7th 
1864;  Spottsylvania,  May  8th-i6th  1864;  North  and 
South  Anna  River,  May  24th  1864;  Hanover  Court- 
house, May  29th  1864;  Tolopotomy  Creek,  May  30th 
and  31st  1864;  Cold  Harbor,  June  ist-iith  1864;  Before 
Petersburg,  J Lin&  i6th-22nd  1864;  Weldon  Railroad,  June 
23d  1864;  Snicker's  Gap,  July  i8th  1864;  Strasburg, 
August  15th  1864;  Winchester,  August  17th  1864; 
I  Charlestown,  August  21st  1864;  Opequan  September  19th 


90 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


1864;  Fisher's  Hill,  September  21st  and  22nd  1864; 
New  Market,  September  24th  1864;  Mount  Jackson, 
September  2Sth  1864;  Cedar  Creek  and  Middletown,  Oc- 
tober 19th  1864;  Hatcher's  Run,  February  sth  1865; 
Fort  Stedman,  March  2Sth  1865;  capture  of  Petersburg, 
April  2nd  1865;  Sailor's  Creek,  April  6th  1865;  Farni- 
ville,  April  7  th  1865. 

Below  are  rolls  of  the  Morris  county  companies  in  the 
iSth  regiment: 

COMPANY  C. 

OFFICERS. 

These  men  entered  the  service  for  three  years.  Imme- 
diately following  the  name  is  the  date  of  commission  or 
enrollment;  the  date  of  muster-in  was  August  25th  1862, 
where  no  second  date  is  given;  and  the  date  of  muster- 
out- June  22nd  1865,  if  not  otherwise  stated. 

Captains. — Ira  J.  Lindsley,  Aug.  15  '62;  killed  at  Salem 
Heights,  Va.,  May  3  '63.  Lewis  Van  Blarcom,  June  19 
'63,  July  I  '63;  appointed  ist  lieut.  Co.  D  Aug.  15  '62. 
and  captain  May  8  '64;  dis.  Dec.  15  '64,  for  wounds, 
Herman  Lipfert,  Sept.  14  '62,  Oct.  3  '62;  tr.  from  Co  E. 
2nd  N.  J.  May  29  '64;  dis.  Aug.  10  '64,  as  supernumer- 
ary. James  H.  Comings,  Dec.  31  '64,  Jan.  26  '65;  ap- 
pointed ist  lieut.  Co.  A  July  3  '64;  brevet  major  Apr.  2  '65. 

First  Lieutenants. — Erastus  H.  Taylor,  Aug.  15  '62; 
dis.  July  22  '63,  for  disability.  William  W.  Van  Voy, 
Nov.  4  'i>2,\  appointed  2nd  lieut.  Co.  I  Aug,  15  '62; 
killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,  May  12  '64. 

Second  Lieutenants. — Samuel  R.  Connett,  Aug.  12  '62; 
appointed  sergt.  Co.  K  7th  N.  J.;  ist  lieut.  Co.  A  Apr. 
7  '63;  resigned  June  20  '63.  George  Martin,  Apr.  7  '63, 
Apr.  24  '63;  formerly  ist  sergt.  Co.  B;  dismissed  Oct.  5 
'63.  Henry  R.  Merrill,  July  3  '64,  Dec.  1  '64;  formerly 
ist  sergt.  Co.  H. 

First  Sergeant. — Andrew  J.  Brannin;  corp.  Aug.  8 
'62;  ist  sergt.  Jan.  i  '65;  died  Aug.  19  '73. 

Sergeants. — John  P.  Crater,  July  10  '62;  pro.  2nd  lieut. 
Co.  D  Mar.  18  '63;  wounded  May  3  '63;  pro.  ist  lieut. 
Co.  E  Nov.  4  '63;  capt.  Co.  K,  July  3  '64;  brevet  major 
April  2  '65.  William  F.  Parrish,  July  10  '62;  wounded 
at  Salem  Heights  May  3  '63;  pro.  sergt.  major  Apr.  i  '65. 
Menrath  Weyer  jr.,  corp.  Aug.  7,  '62;  sergt.  Apr.  9  '63; 
ist  lieut.  Co.  F  July  3  '64.  John  Efner,  July  10  '62; 
corp.  July  I  '63;  sergt.  Nov.  i  '64.  Robert  Lyon,  July 
31  '62;  wounded  at  Salem  Heights  May  3  '63;  sergt. 
Jan.  I  '65.  Charles  H.  Guerin,  July  29  '62. ,  George 
Hull,  Aug.  9  '62;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May  '64; 
sergt.  May  i  '65.  Israel  D.  Lum,  wounded  at  Spottsyl- 
vania, May  9  '64. 

Corporals. — Augustus  S.  Hopping,  Aug.  13  '62;  pro. 
corp.  Apr.  9  '63.  Lewis  L.  Davis,  Aug.  9  '62;  wounded 
at  Spottsylvania,  May  '64;  pro.  corp.  May  i  '65.  Charles 
W.  White,  July  19  '62;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Manuel  Johnson, 
Aug.  II  '62;  wounded  May  12  '64;  pro.  corp.  Jan.  i  '(it,; 
dis.  June  28  '65.  Cyrus  Estill,  Aug.  9  '62;  pro.  corp. 
May  I  '65.  George  F.  Wardell,  Aug.  14  '62;  pro.  corp. 
May  I  '65.  John  A.  Clift,  Aug.  11  '62;  wounded  at 
Opequan,  Sept.  19  '64;  pro.  corp.  May  12  '65;  m.  o. 
May  31  '65.  Edwin  A.  Doughty;  wounded  at  Salem 
Heights,  May  3  '63. 

Discharged. — William  Beers,  corp.  Aug.  9  '62;  dis. 
Nov.  20  '63,  for  wounds  received  May  3  '63;  arm  am- 
putated. Thomas  E.  Bennett,  musician,  July  26  '62;  dis. 
Jan.  14  '64.  Albert  C.  Dildine,  musician,  July  30  '62; 
dis.  Jan.  4  '64. 

Transferred. — John  A.  Brown,  ist  sergt.,  July  10  '62; 
wounded  May  3  'di;  tr.  to  v.  r.  c.  Mar.  15  '64;  dis.  June 
30  '65.  Samuel  Rubadow,  corp.,  Aug.  2  '62,  to  Co.  H; 
sergt.  Nov.  5  '63;    color  sergt.;    killed  at  Spottsylvania, 


May  9  '64.  David  W.  Kithcart,  corp.,  Jan.  4  '64;  from 
Co.  D;  appointed  corp.  Nov.  i  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  D  2nd  N. 
J.  June  21  '65. 

Died.—]Q\\x\  P.  Van  Houten,  ist  sergt.,  July  10  '62; 
killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,,May  12  '64; 
appointed  ist  sergt.  Mar.  i  '64.  Oscar  Brokaw,  corp., 
Aug.  7  '62;  killed  at  Salem  Heights,  Va.,  May  3  '63. 
Lee  Chardavayne,  corp.,  Aug.  20  '61;  killed  at  Cold 
Harbor,  Va.,  June  3  '64;  tr.  from  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  Wil- 
liam Trelease,  Aug.  7  '62;  missing  (probably  killed)  at 
Laurel  Hill,  Va.,  May  8  '64;    appointed  corp.  May  i  '64. 

PRIVATES. 

With  a  few  exceptions,  which  are  noted,  these  men  en- 
listed for  three  years,  in  the  latter  part  of  July  or  early  in 
August  1862:  were  mustered  in  August  25th  following, 
and  mustered  out  June  2nd  1865: 

William  B.  Bailey,  missing  at  Spottsylvania  May  '64. 
Ezra  T.  Baldwin,  appointed  corp.  Aug.  9  '62;  private 
Jan.  I  '63.  Emanuel  Barton;  wounded  at  Salem  Heights 
May  3  '(^2,.  William  T.  Boyd.  John  H.  Brundage;  dis. 
Aug.  24  '65.  George  P:  Condict;  on  detailed  service. 
John  S.  Cook.  Edwin  A.  Doty;  appointed  corp.  July 
30  '62;  private  Apr.  30  '64-  William  Efner.  Silas  P. 
Genung.  Silas  J.  Guerin;  dis.  May  3  '61.  James  H. 
Hathaway.  Dennis  Heffern;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania 
May  '64.  George  W.  Hiler.  Hugh  H.  Layton.  Charles 
H.  Lewis.  Israel  D.  Lum;  appointed  sergt.  Aug.  7  '62; 
private  Oct.  9  '64.  Jacob  L.  Mattox.  John  R.  Mc- 
Cauley  jr.,  prom.  com.  sergt.  Jan.  i  '64;  ist  lieut.  Co.  D 
Feb.  9  '65;  brevet  capt.  Apr.  2  '65.  Robert  T.  McGowan. 
James  H.  Mills.  Jacob  L.  Morrison.  Patrick  B.  Murphy, 
musician;  wounded  at  Salem  Heights,  May  3  '63.  John 
N.  Naylor;  dr.;  mustered  Mar.  21  '65  for  one  year;  tr. 
from  Co.  D;  dis.  May  17  '65.  Albert  B.  Nicholas. 
Henry  Rose,  enlisted  and  mustered  July  8  '61;  tr.  from 
Co.  K  3d  N.  J.;  m.  o.  Aug.  10  '64.  William  Scott. 
Stephen  Smith,  wagoner.  Silas  Trowbridge;  wounded 
at  Spottsylvania,  May  '64.  Lewis  Turner;  wounded  at 
Spottsylvania,  May  '64.  Samuel  Tyler;  enlisted  and  mus- 
tered Sept.  25  '61;  tr.  from  Co.  G  3d  N.  J.;  m.  o.  Sept. 
25  '64.  Henry  A.  Westfall;  wounded  at  Strasburg,  Va., 
Aug.  15  '64;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Albert  W.  Whitehead. 
John  B.  Wilson,  enlisted  and  mustered  Aug.  26  '61;  tr. 
from  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  May  29  '64;  m.  o.  Sept.  12  '64. 

Discharged  (for  physical  disability  if  not  otherwise 
stated). — Lorenzo  Anderson;  dis.  Apr.  20  '63;  died  Apr. 
20  '63.  Benjamin  Booth,  enlisted  and  mustered  Dec.  31 
'63;  tr.  from  Co.  A;  dis.  Mar.  29  '64.  Halsey  Brannin, 
wounded  at  Salem  Heights,  May  3  '63;  dis.  Dec.  29  '64. 
James  H.  Cyphers;  dis.  May  4 '64.  Mulford  B.  Day; 
dis.  Apr.  28  '63.  Robert  Gray,  enlisted  and  mustered 
Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  from  Co.  D;  dis.  Mar.  29  '64.  Alfred 
Hopler;  dis.  Mar.  24  '63,  from  wounds  at  Fredericks- 
burg, Va.,  Dec.  13  '62.  Cornelius  ■  Hull,  enlisted  and 
mustered  Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  from  Co.  D;  dis.  Mar.  29  '64. 
Joseph  D.  King;  dis.  Jan.  19  '63.  Charles  Maxfield; 
dis.  Dec.  26  '62.  Daniel  A.  Porter,  enlisted  and  mus- 
tered Jan.  4 '64;  tr.  fromCo.  D;  dis.  Mar.  29 '64.  Erastus 
Rynearson;  dis.  Mar.  8  '64.  Abraham  Sawyer;  dis.  Jan. 
19  '63-  John  W.  Thompson;  dis.  Apr.  22  '64.  George 
Van  Houten;  dis.  Jan.  19  '63.  Robert  Whitham;  lost 
an  arm  at  Fredericksburg  May  3  '63;  dis.  Sept.  23  '63, 

Transferred. — (In  this  paragraph  the  dates  of  enlist- 
ment and  muster  immediately  follow  the  name;  in  most 
cases  they  were  the  same.  Next  follows  the  number  of 
years  for  which  the  man  entered  the  service.  The  trans- 
fer was  to  Co.  D  2nd  N.  J.,  June  21  '65,  where  not 
otherwise  mentioned).  Alfred  M.  Armstrong,  July  29  '62, 
Aug.  25  '62,  3;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May  '61;  tr! 
to  V.  r.  c,  Sept.  30  '64;  dis.  July  8  '65.      George  Baker, 


COMPANIES  C  AND  F  FiFtEENtH  N.  J.  VOLUNTEERS. 


9i 


Mar.  24  '65,  I.      George  Barnes,  Mar.  i  '65,  i;    tr.  from 
Co.  K.     Luke  Barton,  May  11  '64,  3.     Frederick  Bauer, 
Apr.  5  '65,  i;  tr.  from  Co.  H.     Robert  Blair,  Apr.  7  '65, 
3.     Owen  Boehen,   Apr.   8  '65,    i.     William  B.   Brown, 
Mar.  I  '65,  i;  tr.  from  Co.  K.     James  H.  Bruen,  Oct.  10 
'64,  I.      George   Campbell,   Sept.    21  '64,   i;    to  Co.   K. 
Albert  Chaffer,  Mar.  i  '65,  i;    tr.  from  Co.  K.      Nelson 
Cook,  Aug.  13  '62,  Aug.  25  '62,  3;  to  V.  r.  c,  Jan.  15  '64; 
dis.  June  24  '65.     William  Cook,   Feb.  6  '65,  i;  tr.  from 
Co.  B.     Aaron  R.  Corson,  Apr.  3  '65,  i;  tr.  from  Co.  B. 
Jacob  D.  Dalrymple,  Aug.  25  '64;  to  Co.  H.     Samuel  D. 
Doty,  July  21  '62,  Aug.  25  '62,  3;  wounded  at  Spottsyl- 
vania.  May  '64;  tr.  to  v.  r.  c,  Jan.  i  '65;  dis.  Aug.  15  '65. 
Alonzo  Dow,  Aug.  25  '64,  3;  to  Co.  H.      Edward  Flan- 
nery.  Mar,  i  '65,  i;  tr.  from  Co.  K.     Jacob  Fooze,  Sept. 
3  '64,  i;  to  Co.  K.     Corydon  C.  Force,  Aug.  7  '62,  Aug. 
25  '62,  3;  to  V.  r.  c,  Jan.  7  '65;  dis.  July  21  '65.     Clem- 
ens Gansz,   Mar.   27  '65,    i;    tr.   from   Co.  H.     Michael 
Herwick,  Apr.  5  '65,  i;    tr.  from  Co.  K.      John   Hynes, 
Apr.  8  '65,  I.     David  P.  Ingle,  Jan.  4  64,  3;  tr.  from  Co. 
A.     Patrick  Kelly,  Mar.  25  '61,  i.      Frederick  Koblenz, 
Mar.  24  '65,  i.     Jacob  Kramer,  Mar.  24  '65,  3.      Henry 
Laugers,  George    Lauf   and    Louis    Long,   Mar.  25  '65. 
George  Mahoney,  Apr.  8  '65,  i.     John  J.  Mason,  Oct.  10 
'64,    I.      John    McDowell,    Mar.    23    '65.      William    B. 
McGill,  Apr.  6 '65,  i;     to  Co.  G.      Thomas    McGovern, 
Mar.  24  '65.     John  McGraw,  Apr.  7'  65,  3.     John  Miller, 
Feb.  14  '65,  I.      John   H.  Nicholas,  Aug.  7  '62,  3;    to  v. 
r.  c.  Nov.  15  '63;  dis.  July  27  '65.     Joseph  Noe,  Mar.  24 
'65,   I.     George   H.   Percy,   Aug.  12  '62,  Aug.  25  '62,  3; 
wounded  at  Salem  Heights  May  3  '63;   tr.  to  v.  r.  c.  Jan. 
15   '64;     dis.  July   13   '65.      John    Pettit,  Apr.  8  '65,  i. 
Patrick  Roach,  Mar.  25  '65,  i.     John  M.  Ryde,  Mar.  24 
'65,  I.      David  Sand  and  Lewis  D.   Sandborn,  Mar.  25 
'65,    I.       Charles    Schmidt,    Mar.    24    '65,    i.       Francis 
Sheldon  and  Thomas  A.  Shipps,  Mar.  25  '65,  i.     Walter 
A.   Sidener,   Jan.  4  '64,  3;    tr.    from    Co.    B.     Stephen 
Smack,  Aug.  5  '62,  3;    to  v.  r.  c.  Apr.  i  '65;    wounded 
May  3  '63,  in  hand;     dis.  June  21  '65.      Sidney  Stout, 
Aug.  25  '64,  i;  to  Co.  H.     Crosby  Sweeten,  Mar.  22  '65, 
i;  dr.     John  Tyson,  Aug.  7  '62,  Aug.  25  '62,  3;  wounded 
May  3  '63;    tr.  to  v.  r.  c.  June  15  '64;     dis.  Sept.  26  '64. 
John  Van  Eren,  Jan.  2  '64,  4;   tr.  from  Co.  A.     Christian 
Wagner,  Mar.  24  '65,  i. 

Died. — (These  men  entered  the  service  for  three  years, 
and  in  nearly  all  cases  were  enrolled  in  July  or  August 
1862  and  mustered  August  25th  1862.  Where  the  dates 
were  otherwise  they  are  given).  William  B.  Briggs; 
missing  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  8  '64;  probably 
killed.  Franklin  Camp;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  near 
White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  Dec.  24  '62.  I'rancis  Cunning- 
ham; died  of  typhoid  fever,  near  White  Oak  Church, 
Va.  Dec.  16  '62.  Edward  M.  Day;  killed  at  Cold  Har- 
bor' Va.,  June  i  '64.  Randolph  Earles;  died  at  Wash- 
ington, b.  C,  Dec.  '22  '62,  of  wounds  at  Fredericksburg, 
Dec.  13  '62.  Daniel  Estill;  died  of  typhoid  fever  near 
Brandy  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  28  '63.  George  Fenner,  May 
29  '61;  missing  at  Winchester,  Va.,  Aug.  17  '64;  tr.  from 
Co.  G  3d  N.  J.  Edgar  S.  Farrand;  killed  at  Spottsyl- 
vania Court-house,  Va.,  May  12  '64.  Smith  C.  Gage; 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  May  14  '63,  of  wounds  re- 
ceived at  Salem  Heights,  Va.,  May  3  '63.  John  Gay, 
Tan  4  '64;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,  May 
12  '64;  tr.  from  Co.  D.  Andrew  J.  Genung;  killed  at 
Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,  May  12  '64.  Qumcy 
Grimes;  died  of  disease  at  Warrenton,  Va.,  Sept.  8 
'6^  Theodore  Guerin;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  near 
White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  Feb.  23  '63.  Jeremiah  Hay- 
cock: killed  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  8  '64.  Otto 
Heimelsback,  May  28  '61;  killed  at  Cedar  Creek,  Va., 
Oct   19  '64;  tr.  from  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.     James  H.  Hiler; 


killed  at  Salem  Heights,  Va.,  May  3  '63.  Alfred  Hopler; 
wounded  Dec.  13  '62  at  Fredericksbutg;  died  in  hospital 
in  Philadelphia,  March  24  'dj,  Virgil  Howell;  died  of 
typhoid  fever,  near  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  Dec.  20  '62. 
Moses  Laramie;  captured  at  Spottsylvania,  May  '64; 
died  of  scurvy,  at  Anderson ville,  Ga.,  Nov.  20  '64.  John 
Miller;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,  May 
12  '64.  William  Oliver;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va., 
June  I  '64.  Thomas  Phipps;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  at 
"windmill  Point,  Va.,  Jan.  31  '63.  Edwin  H.  Reger,  Feb. 
27  '64;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Va.,  May  12 
'64.  William  Reynolds;  died  of  fever,  near  Petersburg, 
Va.,  Feb.  5  '65.  John  Rutan;  killed  at  Spottsylvania 
Court-house,  Va.,  May  12  '64.  William  M.  Shipman; 
killed  at  Salem  Heights,  Va.,  May  3  '63.  Samuel  T. 
Sidener;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  near  White  Oak  Church, 
Va.,  Dec.  26  '62.  William  E.  Simpson;  wounded  May  3 
'63;  killed  at  Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  Oct.  19  '64.  Matthias 
Sona,  Jan.  4  '64;  died  at  Winchester,  Va.,  Sept.  19  '64, 
of  wounds  received  at  Opequan.  William  Storms;  killed  at 
Salem  Heights, Va.,  May  3  '63.  Peter  J.  Vanderhoof ;  died 
of  typhoid  fever  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  Dec.  28  '62. 

COMPANY     F. 

OFFtCERS. 

Captains. — George  C.  King,  mustered  Aug.  25  '62;  re- 
signed April  7  '63,  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.;  died  at 
Chester.  Thomas  P.  Stout,  pro.  April  26  '(^t,  from  ist 
lieut.  Co.  A;  wounded  May  3d  '63,  at  Salem  Heights, 
Va.;  tr.  to  v.  r.  c.  Nov.  i  '63.  Ellis  Hamilton,  pro.  Nov. 
4  '63  from  ist  lieut.  Co.  E;  wounded  May  6  '64  in  Wil- 
derness,.  Va.;  died  of  wounds  May  27  '64.  James  W. 
Penrose,  pro.  July  27  '64  from  ist  lieut.;  April  i  '63 
from  private  U.  S.  A. 

First  Lieutenants. —  Owen  H.  Day,  pro.  Aug.  25  '62 
from  color  sergt.  3d  N.  J.;  pro.  capt.  Co.  I  Jan.  ig  '63. 
John  H.  Vanderveer,  mustered  as  2nd  lieut.  Aug.  25  '62; 
ist  lieut.  April  14  '63;  resigned  July  28  '63.  Menrath 
Weyer,  pro.  July  3  '64  from  sergt.  Co.  C;  tr.  to  C(3.  E 
2nd  N.  J.  June  22  '65. 

Second  Lieutenants. — Gaston  Everit,  April  14  '63  from 
Co.  I  7th  N.  J.;  resigned  May  24  '63.  Edmund  D.  Hal- 
sey,  commissioned  June  '63;  pro.  ist  lieut.  Co.  D  before 
being  mustered.  James  Van  Antwerp,  pro.  from  ist 
sergt.  Co.  E  Sept.  28  '64;  pro.  ist  lieut.  Co.  I  Feb.  9 
'65.  Morris  S.  Hawn  jr.,  sergt.  Co.  B  April  17  '65;  tr.  to 
Co.  D  2nd  regiment  June  21  '65. 

Sergeants. — Enos  G.  Budd;  wounded  May  9  '64,  at 
Spottsylvania,  Va.;  pro.  ist.  lieut.  Co.  C  July  3  '64;  not 
mustered;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Manning  F.  McDougal,  killed 
June  I  '64  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.  Phineas  H.  Skellinger, 
wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  8  '64;  died  from 
wounds,  May  27  '64.  Elias  H.  Carlisle;  killed  June  4 
'64,  at  Cold  Harbor.  Andrew  F.  Salmon,  wounded  May 
12  '64,  at  Spottysvania,  Va.;  died  of  wound  May  20  '64, 
at  Fredericksburg. 

Corporals. — Lewis  H.  Salmon;  pro.  sergt.  April  i  '63; 
wounded  May  12  '64  at  Spottsylvania.  ■  John  L.  Larri- 
son;  wounded  May  3  '63  at  Salem  Heights;  pro.  sergt. 
Oct.  I  '63;  captured  a  rebel  flag  May  10*64.  Alexander 
T.  Beatty;  died  Feb.  10  '63,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  of 
disease.  John  R.  McCain;  dis.  for  disability  March  23 
'64;  died  of  disease  in  June  '64.  William  H.  Bowman; 
died  June  i  '63,  of  fever,  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va. 
John  Parliament.  George  W.  Laskie:  deserted  Nov.  11 
'63,  from  hospital  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.  George  S.  M. 
WoodhuU;  wounded  May  3  '63  at  Saleni  Heights,  Va. ; 
pro.  sergt.  Oct.  i  '64. 

Musicians. — William  H.  Smith  and  Theodore  F.  Swayze, 
drummers;  dis.  Feb.  17  '64,  at  Brandy  Station,  by  special 
order  of  the  War  Department. 


02 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


PRIVATES. 

Lewis    Ammerman;    died   of    disease   at   White    Oak 
Church,  Va.,  Mch.  3r,  '63.     Joseph  Anthony;  wounded 
May  12  '64  at  Spotlsylvania,  Va.     Amos  G.  Bali;  tr.  to 
V.  r.  c.  Jan.  13  '65.    John  P.  Bean;  dis.  Jan.  3  '63  at  White 
Oak  Church,  for  disability.     Henry  H.  Berry;  wounded 
May  12  '64,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.    John  W.  Berry;  killed 
at  Spottsylvania,  Va.  (Gault  House),  May  17  '64.     Felix 
Cash;  wounded  at  Salem  Heights,  Va.,  May  3  '63;  died 
of  wounds  May  15  '63,  at  Potomac  Creek.     Warren  N. 
Clawson;    died    at   Washington,    May    20    '64.     Charles 
Covert;  killed  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  8  '64.     John 
Carlile,  wounded  June  2  '64,  at  Cold   Harbor,  Va.;  pro. 
Corp.   March    i   '65.     Thomas  Clark;  deserted  Mch.   18 
'63,  at  White  Oak   Church.      Henry  B.   Crampton;    on 
detailed  service.     Josejih  V.  M.  Crampton;  dis.  for  dis- 
ability June  21  '63,  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.     Joseph 
Crater;    pro.   corp.   April    i    '6;^;    wounded    May   8   '64. 
Charles  Davenport;  tr.  to  v.  r.  c.  March  15  '64.    William 
Davenport;  deserted  Sept.  6  '62,  from  Camp  Morris,  D.  C. 
John  Dee;  teamster.    AVilliam  H.  K.  Emmons;  pro.  corp. 
April  I  '63;  tr.  to  color  guard  June  i  '63;  wounded  in 
foot  May  12  '64,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va,;  returned  to  the 
guard  Dec.  26  '64.     George  D.  Foulds;  killed  at  Spott- 
sylvania, Va.,  May  12  '64.     Isaiah  D.  Frutchey;  wounded 
May  12  '64,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.     Jeremiah  Foley;  tr. 
to  v.  r.  c.  Sept.   21   '63.     George  R.  Geddes;  wounded 
May  3  '63,  at  SaJem  Heights,  Va.;  pro.  corp.  Sept.  i  '64. 
William  Gulick;  dis.  for  disability  A])ril  21,  '63,  at  White 
Oak    Church,    Va.;    died    Aug.    24    '8r.     Jacob    Guest; 
wounded   Sept.  19  '64,  at  AVinchester,  Va.     John   Grey; 
on  detailed  service.     George  R.  and  John  Hall;  team- 
sters.    Charles  Heck;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  March 
30  '64,  of  disease.     Zeno  A.  Hawkins;  dis.  April  27  '6^, 
at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  for  disability.     Alonzo   Hed- 
den;    pro.   corp.  Dec.    29   '62;    wounded  May   8   '64,  at 
Spottsylvania.     James  Hoover.     Anthony  Hopler;  died 
Jan.  5  '63,  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  of  fever.     James 
M.  Ingle;  wounded   May  12  '64,   at  Spottsylvania;  dis. 
for  wounds  Jan.   10  '65.      Abraham  Jacobus;    wounded 
May    7  2    '64,    at    Spottsylvania,    Va.      Benjamin    Kane; 
wounded   May   3   '63,   at  Salem   Heights,   Va.;    dis.   for 
wound  Oct.  23  '63.     W'hitfield  Lake;  wounded  and  miss- 
ing (probably  killed),  May  12   '64,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. 
Jacob   Lamerson;  died  Feb.  18  '63,  of  disease,  at  White 
Oak  Church,  Va.     David  C.   Lance;  wounded   May  12 
'64,  at  Spottsylvania.     James  Laterette;  wounded  May 
12  '64,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.     Daniel   Morgan;  lost  arm 
May  3   '63,   at    Fredericksburg,   Va.;    dis.    Oct.    27   '63. 
Charles    Milligan;    pro.    sergt.    Sept.    i    '64  from    corp.; 
killed    Sept.    19    '64,    at   Winchester,    Va.      Samuel    L. 
Meeker;  on  recruiting  service  for  one  year.     William  W. 
Opdycke;  wounded  May  3   '63,  at  Salem  Heights,  Va.; 
after  return  detailed   as  teamster.      Andrew  Opdycke; 
wounded   May  12   '64,  at   Spottsylvania,  Va.     Frank  H. 
O'Neil;    wounded   and  taken   prisoner  Aug.    17   '64,  at 
Winchester,  Va.;  released  Mch.  9  '65.     Joseph  Osborne; 
on   detailed  service.     William  H.  Parliament;    deserted 
July  10   '63,   at  Funkstown,   Md.     Jacob  A.   Peckwell; 
killed   at   Spottsylvania,  Va.,    May   12   '64,     George  C. 
Reid;  slightly  wounded  Dec.  14 '62;  on  recruiting  duty 
one   year.       William    H.    Rarick;    dis.    for    rheumatism 
March  17 '64,  at  Newark,  N.  J.    Ezekiel  Rarick.    William 
H.  Sergeant;  died  March  17  '63,  at  ^Vhite  Oak  Church, 
Va.,  of  disease.     Alexander  S.  Sergeant;  killed  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, Va.,  Dec.  13  '62.     James  Sprague;  killed  at 
Fredericksburg,  Va.,  in  the  morning  of  May  3  '63.     John 
Scales;  on  detailed  service,  quartermaster's  department. 
Frederick  Starr;    ambulance  corps;    died  at  Rockawaj-, 
N.  J.,  April  24  '74.     Peter  J.  Sutton;  missing  in  action 
Aug.  17  '64,  at  Winchester,  Va.;  died  at  Lynchburg,  Va., 


Oct.  18  '64.  John  D.  Salmon;  died  March  27  '63,  at 
White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  of  fever.  David  Todd;  died 
March  5  '63,  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  of  general  de- 
bility. Peter  Van  Arsdale;  dis.  Sept.  5  '63,  at  Washmg- 
ton,  D.  C,  for  disability.  Isaac  Van  Arsdale;  died  Sept. 
22  '64,  from  wounds  received  Sept.  ig  '64.  Benajah  D. 
Wear;  died  May  9  '63,  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  of 
disease.  Lawrence  H.  Weise;  wounded  May  12  '64,  at 
Spottsylvania,  Va.  Elias  Williamson;  killed  at  Spott- 
sylvania, May  12  '64.  John  AVilliamson;  dis.  Nov.  28 
'6;^,  for  disability. 

RECRUITS. 

On  Thursday,  January  20th  1864,  some  twenty  re- 
cruits from  Morris  county  joined  the  15th  regiment,  and 
during  the  winter  others  from  Morris  and  Sussex.  "J"he 
following  is  a  list  of  them  and  the  companies  to  which 
they  were  assigned: 

Wesley  M.  Ayres,  Co.  D,  Jan.  4  '64;  missing  in  action 
May  8  '64.     William  P.  Bryan,  Co.  A,  Feb.  29  '64;  tr.  to 
Co.  F  2nd  N.  J.,  June  21  '65.     Jonathan  B.  Bowman,  Co. 
A,  Jan.  4  '64;'  tr.  to    Co.  D;    dis.  Mar.   27  '64.       Jacob 
Beam,  Co.  A,  Jan.  21  64;    killed  May  8  '64.      Benjamin 
Booth,  Co.  A,  Dec.  31  '63;  tr.  to  Co.  C;  dis.  Mar.  29  '64. 
John    Bowman,  Co.   D,  Jan.    19   '64;    died   June    20  of 
wounds    received    June    i  '64.       David    Cantrell,  Co.  A, 
Dec.  15  '63;  tr.  to  Co.  I;  transferred  to  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J., 
June    21    '65.      Andrew    C.    Clauson,    Co.    A;    deserted 
Aug.  25  '62;  returned.     William  C.  Cearfoss,  Co.  H,  Jan. 
6  '64;  killed  May  12  '64.       Nelson  L.  Cole,  Co.  I,  Jan.  4 
'64;    tr.  to  Co.  K  2nd  N.  J.,  June  21  '65.     John  Card  jr., 
Co.  K,  Feb.  25  '64;    tr.  to  C^o.  H  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65. 
.'Vndrew    Deeker,   Co.    D,   Jan.   4  '64;    dis.  Apr.    13  '64. 
David  L.  Denee,  corp.,  Co.   D,  Dec.  29  '6;^;    tr.  to  Co.  I 
2nd  N.  J.       Benjamin   Drake,  Co.  D,  Dec.  29  '63;    died 
Feb.  22  '64  of  disease.     Levi  Deeker,  Co.  K,  Feb.  25  '64; 
tr.  to  Co.  H  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65.     John  Evans,  Co.  A, 
May  '64;  missing  May  12    '64.     Joseph  C.  Everett,  Co. 
A,  Jan.  6  '64;    killed  May  12  '64.       Lorenzo  D.  Fulford, 
Co.  D,  Dec.  29  '63;  missing  May  8  '64.     William  Gulick, 
Co.  A.,  Feb.  25  '64;    tr.  to  Co.  F  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65. 
Robert  Gray,  Co.  D,  Jan.  4  '64;     tr.  to  Co.  C;    dis.  Mar. 
29  '64.       John    Gay,  Co.  D;    tr.  to  Co.  C;   killed  May  12 
'64.     John  M.  Goucher,  Co.  D,  Jan.  4  '64;  died  Mar.  24 
'64  of  disease.     Van  Meter   P.  Hammitt,  Co.  A,  Nov.  12 
'63;  tr.  to  Co.  G  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65.     Abraham  Hen- 
dershot,  Co.  A,  Dec.  17  '63;  tr.  to  Co.  D;    died  in  rebel 
prison  in  Danville  Jan.  6  '65.     John  Hopkins,  Co.  A,  Nov. 
19  '63;  tr.  to  Co.  D;  died  June  18 '64  of  wounds  received 
May  12      Charles  Hand,  Co.  B,  Jan.  4  '64;  dis.  June   17 
'65.     Cornelius    Hull,  Co.  D,  Jan.    4  '64;    tr.    to    Co.  B; 
dis.  Mar.   29  '64  for  disease.     Gustave  Hartwig;  tr.  from 
Co.  E  2nd.  Stephen  Hawkins,  Co.  D,  Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  to  v.  r. 
c.  Jan.   I   '65.     Patrick  Hughes,    Co.    D,   Dec.    30    '63; 
killed  May  8  '64.     Lemuel  Hardick,  Co.  I  Jan.  4  '64;  tr. 
to  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65.     Uriah  Hardick,  Co.  I, 
Dec.  29  '63;  tr.  to  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65.     George 
Heaney,  Co.  G,  Jan.  2  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  G  2nd  N.  J.  June 
21  '65.     Henry  J.  Hendershot,  Co.  G  Jan.   18  '64;  tr.  to 
Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65.     David  P.  Ingle,  Co.  A 
Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  C;  tr.  to  Co.  D  2nd  N.  J.  June  21 
'65.     Alfred  B.  Jackson,  Co.  A,  Jan.  2  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  D; 
killed  May  8  '64.      Abram    Johnson  jr.,  Co.  A,  Nov.  19 
'63;  tr.  to  Co.  D;  killed  May  8  '64.      Bernard  Johnson, 
Co.  A,  Dec.  31  '6y,     tr.  to  Co.  D;     died  May  20  '64  of 
wounds  received  May  8.     James  M.  Jervis,  Co.  D,  Jan. 
2  '64;  dis.  at  Camp  Parole  Apr.  28  '64.     James  Johnson, 
Co.  D,  Dec.  28  '63;     died  July  6  '64  of  typhoidfever,  at 
Philadelphia.      Daniel  W.  Kithcart,  corp.  Co.  D,  Jan.  4 
'64;  tr.   to   Co.   C;    tr.  to  Co.  D   2nd   N.  J.  June   2  '65. 
Amos  C.  Keepers,  Co.  C,  Jan.  4  '64;  dis.  Mar.  27  '64. 


THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  N.  J.  VOLUNTEERS. 


93 


John  Knapp,  Co.  K,  Dec.  22  '63;  deserted  May  10  '64  at 
Spottsylvania.      William    H.    List,    Co.    I,  Dec.  29  '63; 
killed  June  i  '64.     Joseph  Langdon,  Co.  A,  Dec.  14  '63; 
tr.  to  Co.  I;  tr.  to  U.  S.  N.  Apr.  8  '64.      Jacob  Lawson, 
Corp.,  Co.  I,  Jan.  4  '64;     tr.  to  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  June  21 
'65.      Peter  Langdon,  Co.  D,  Feb.  12  '64;    died  June  25 
'64  of  wounds  received  May  12;  tr.  from  Co.  C  2nd  N.  J. 
John    Moser,   Co.  A,  Feb.  24  '64;     dis.  June  7  '65  for 
wounds  received  May  12  '64.      Thomas  McGarvey,  Co. 
A,  Dec.  19  '63;  tr.  to  Co.  D;  dis.  Apr.  13  '64  by  medical 
board.     Patrick  Mullens,  Co.  A,  Nov.  19  '63;     tr.  to  Co. 
D;  killed  May  12  '64.     John  H.  Mott,  Co.  13,  Jan.  5  '64; 
dis.  Dec.  24  '64  for  disease.      John  Moran,  Co.  D,  Dec. 
31  '63;  killed  May  12  '64.     Mordecai  Mott,  Co.  D,  Dec. 
29  '63;    died  of  consumption   June   9  '64,  on   furlough. 
William  Myers,  Co.  I,  Jan.  2  '64;  died  of  disease  at  Ciiy 
Point,  July  I  '64.      John  Ozenbaugh,  Co.  I,  Dec.  29  '63; 
dis.  Mar.  27  '64  for  disease.      Daniel   A.  Porter,  Co.  D, 
Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  C;  dis.  Mar.  29  '64.    Isaac  Paddock, 
Co.    K,    Feb.     25     '64;    tr.     to     Co.     H     2nd     N.    J. 
June     2t     '65.     John     Rouch,    Co.     A,    Feb.    26    '64; 
deserted  June  3  '64  at  Cold  Harbor.  Edwin  H.  Reger,  Co. 
C,  Feb.    27   '64;     killed    May    12    '64.     Ezekiel    Rarick, 
Co.  F,  Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  F  2nd  N.  J.  June  21   '65. 
Charles  E.  Smiley,  Co.  A,  Feb.  24  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  F  2nd 
N.  J.     Charles  B.  Stewart,  Co.  A,  Dec.  16  '63;  tr.  to  Co. 
I;  tr.  to  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  June  21  '65.     John  C.  Staats, 
Co.  A,  Jan.   6  '64;   died  at  Andersonville  Sept.  17  '64. 
Theodore  Stamcts,  Co.  A,  Feb.  24  '64;  missing  May  6  '64; 
supposed  killed.     Walter  A.  Sidener,  Co.  B,  Jan.  4  '64; 
tr.  to  Co.  C;  tr  to  Co.  D  2nd  N.  J.  June  28  '65.     William 
F.  Sidener,  Co.  B,  Jan.  4  '64;  killed  May  12  '64.     Mat- 
thias Sona,  Co.  C,  Jan.  4  '64;  died  Sept.  19  '64,  of  wounds; 
tr.  from  Co.  E  2nd.    Samuel  S.  Str-ifford,  Co.  D,  Dec.  31 
'63;  dis.  Mch.  31  '64,  by  medical  board.     Guthrie  Strat- 
ton,  Co.  D,  Dec.   28  63;  tr.  to  Co.  I;  dis.  Mch.  27  '64. 
Lewis  Stalter,  Co.  I,  Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  E  2nd  N.  J.  June 
21  '65.     Amzi  Straight,  Co.  K,  Feb.  25  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  H 
2nd  N.  J.  June  2  1  '65.     John  Van   Eiten,  Co.  A,  Jan.  2 
'64;   tr.  to  Co.  C;  tr.  to  Co.  D,  2nd  N.  J.     John  White, 
Co.  A,  Feb.  24  '64;  dis.  June  20  '65.  Watson  "Wintermuie, 
Co.  A,  Feb.  29  '64;    tr.  to  Co.  D;    tr.  to  Co.  I  2nd  N.  J. 
June  21  '65.    Augustus  Whitney,  Co.  A,  Jan.  4  '64;  died 
June  14  '64,  of  wounds  received  May  8  '64;  tr.  from  Co. 
E  3d  N.  J.     William  A.  Ward,  Co.  D,  Dec.  29  '63;  killed 
May  12  '64.    Jacob  Wireman,  Co.  L  Jan.  4  '64;  tr.  to  Co. 
E  2nd  N.  J.    William  Wilson,  Co.  K,  Oct.  g  '63;  died  at 
Sandy  Hook,  Md.,  Sept.  4  '64,  of  wounds  received  Aug. 
15  '64,  at  Strasburg,  Va.     Charles  V.  Young,  Co.  D,  Jan. 
13  '64;  died  iu  ambulance  June  i  '64. 


CHAPTER   XVHL 


HISTORY    OF    THE    27TH    NEW    JERSEY    VOLUNTEER  INFAN- 
TRY— THE    CUMBERLAND    RIVER   DISASTER. 


*N  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  act  of 
July  22nd  1861  a  draft  of  10,478  nine-months 
men  was  made  August  4th  1862  in  this  State, 
and  the   allotment  for  this  county  was,  650 
men.     The   arrangements   for  the  draft  did 
not  interfere  with  volunteering,  and  from  Morris 
county  companies  were  at  once  raised  in  this  way 
for  the  27tli  regiment,  viz.:  Company  B,  Captain  John 


T.  Alexander,  from  Randolph  and  Washington;  Com- 
pany C,  Captain  Nelson  H.  Drake,  from  Roxbury;  Com- 
pany E,  Captain  August  D.  Blanchet,  from  Chatham, 
Hanover,  etc.;  Company  G,  Captain  James  Plant,  from 
Pequannock;  Company  I,  Captain  Alfred  H.  Condict, 
from  Morris  and  Chester;  Company  L,  Captain  Henry 
F.  Willis,  from  Rockaway. 

George  W.  Mindel  was  colonel  of  the  regiment.  Au- 
gustus D.  Blanchet  was  commissioned  major  September 
23d  1862,  being  promoted  from  the  captaincy  of  Com- 
pany E.  J.  Henry  Stiger  was  assistant  surgeon  of  this 
regiment,  as  also  of  the  33d. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  September  19th  1862,  and 
left  the  State  for  Washington  October  loth  1862.  On 
arriving  there  it  encamped  on  Capitol  Hill,  and  soon  af- 
ter at  Alexandria,  where  it  was  assigned  to  the  2nd  bri- 
gade of  Casey's  division,  defending  Washington.  On  the 
ist  of  December  it  went  to  the  front  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  being  assigned  to  the  gih  corps.  In  that  con- 
nection it  was  engaged  at  Fredericksburg,  December 
13th  and  14th  1862.  In  February  1863  the  corps  went 
to  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  meet  a  threatened  movement 
of  the  enemy.  In  the  following  month  the  27th  was  de- 
tached from  the  9th.  corps  and  sent  to  the  west.  On  its 
way  home  after  the  expiration  of  its  term  it  remained  in 
Pittsburg  and  Harrisburg  ten  days  to  aid  if  needed  in 
repelling  Lee's  invasion  of  Pennsylvania.  The  regiment 
was  mustered  out  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  July  2nd  1863. 

The  principal  loss  of  the  regiment  occurred  May  6lli 
1863,  as  related  below  substantially  in  the  words  of  a 
member  of  the  regiment,  who  wrote  from  near  Somerset, 
Ky.,  four  days  after  the  affair: 

"Last  Tuesday  we  received  a  lot  of  tents  borrowed 
from  a  cavalry  regiment.  We  had  hardly  pitched  them 
when  a  most  bountiful  storm  visited  us,  but  my  tentmates 
and  myself  were  prudent  men,  for  we  built  our  house  up- 
on a  rock.  The  storm  had  just  passed  over  when  our 
adjutant  ordered  tents  to  be  struck  and  line  of  march 
formed  in  fifteen  minutes.  In  less  than  the  allotted  time 
the  27th  was  in  line,  ready  for  the  word.  The  mud  in  the 
road  was  deep,  and,  as  it  is  very  'unmilitary'  to  let  down 
fences  and  walk  on  the  sod,  we  splashed  through  it  until 
about  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  when  we  encamped  on  a  hill  at 
whose  foot  flowed  a  splendid  stream  of  clear  cold  water. 
Here  Dayton  and  I  fired  a  mammoth  brush  heap,  by 
which  we  cooked  our  bacon,  boiled  our  coffee,  and  dried 
our  tents  and  blankets. 

"  In  the  morning  bright  and  early  we  started  for  the 
Cumberland  River,  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles.  We 
reached  its  banks  at  3  o'clock  p.  M.  The  means  of 
ferrying  us  over  was  flat  boats — or,  rather,  coal  barges — 
thirty  feet  long.  To  prevent  the  boats  being  washed 
down  by  the  current  two  ropes  were  stretched  across 
like  a  letter  V,  the  two  uniting  in  one  on  the  opposite 
shore.  The  means  of  propelling  us  consisted  of  six  men 
placed  in  the  bow  of  the  boat,  who  would  grab  the  rope, 
pull,  let  go  and  grab  sgain.  The  upper  rope  was  used 
by  the  infantry,  while  the  artillery  and  transportation 
train  were  carried  over  by  the  lower  boat.  All  the  com- 
panies with  the  exception  of  parts  of  companies  C,  B,  and 
L  had  passed  over  without  accident.  Fifty  or  sixty  men 
were  carried  over  at  each  trip.  Captain  Alexander  was 
in  command  of  Company  L.  The  boat  that  contained 
these  companies  had  reached  within  forty  feet  of  the  07- 


94 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


posite  bank  when  the  men  at  the  bow  lost  hold  of  the 
rope  and  could  not  regain  it.  The  boat  started  down 
stream,  driven  by  a  rapid  current.  The  men  became 
panic  stricken  and  rushed  to  the  opposite  end  of  the  boat, 
which  caused  it  to  sink,  and  in  less  time  than  it  has  taken 
me  to  write  this  account  the  whole  boat-load  was  swept 
by  the  lower  rope  into  the  rapid  Cumberland.  Those 
who  could  swim  were  seized  by  the  death  grasp  of  those 
who  could  not  swim.  It  was  an  awful  sight.  May  God 
spare  me  from  being  again  a  spectator  of  such  a  scene. 
The  men  had  on  their  cartridge  boxes,  filled  with  sixty 
rounds,  and  were  fully  armed,  and  equipped  with  tents, 
overcoats,  blankets  etc.,  which  hindered  many  from  sav- 
ing themselves.  I  saw  Captain  Alexander  and  Orderly 
Sergeant  Wiggins  go  down.  Company  B  lost  three  men. 
Company  C  nine  and  Companies  L  and  A  twenty. 

"After  the  accident  we  remained  on  the  bank  a  day  for 
the  purpose  of  recovering  the  bodies  that  might  float  to 
our  side  of  the  river,  as  the  rebels  held  the  otber  side." 

The  following  are  rolls  of  the  Morris  county  com- 
panies in  the  27th.  The  men  named  entered  the  service 
for  nine  months,  and  as  a  rule  were  enrolled  or  com- 
missioned September  3d  and  mustered  in  September  19th 
1862,  and  mustered  out  July  2nd  1863.  The  exceptions 
are  indicated. 

COMPANY     B. 

OFFICERS. 

Captains. — John  T.  Alexander,  commissioned  Sept.  6 
'62,  mustered  Sept.  19  '62;  drowned  in  Cumberland 
River,  near  Somerset,  Ky.,  May  6  '63.  Nathaniel  K. 
Bray,  commissioned  and  rnustered  May  7  '63;  appointed 
ist  lieut.  Co.  D  Sept.  3  '62. 

First  Lieutenant. — Jacob  M.  Stewart,  commissioned 
Sept.  6  '62;  mustered  Sept.  19  '62. 

Second  Lieutenant. — George  Hance,  commissioned  Sept. 
6  '62;  mustered  Sept.  ig  '62. 

First  Sergeant. — Theodore  McEachron;  appointed 
sergt.  Sept.  3  '62;   ist  sergt.  May  12  '63. 

Sergeants. — Morris  H.  Taylor,  Jan.  i  '63;  corp.  Sept.  20 
'62.  Isaac  Clark,  Sept.  20  '62;  corp.  Sept.  3  '62.  Frank 
Merchant,  Jan.  i  '63;  corp.  Sept.  3  '62.  Charles  Min- 
gus.  May  12  '63;  corp.  Sept.  3  '62. 

Corporals  (with  date  of  commission  as  such). — Samuel 
Smith,  Sylvester  C.  Hulbert  and  Daniel  K.  Henderson, 
Sept.  20  '62.  Henry  B.  Allen,  Nov.  15  '62;  mustered  in 
Oct.  16  '62.  Joseph  Hiler  and  William  H.  Ort,  Feb.  7 
'62,-  John  Johnson,  March  2  '63.  Alexander  L.  Mott, 
May  12  '63. 

Died. — Albert  D.  Wiggins,  ist  sergt.;  drowned  in 
Cumberland  River,  near  Somerset,  Ky.,  May  6  '63. 

PRIVATES. 

Jacob  Abers  (musician).  Peter  K  Abers  (wagoner). 
Henry  B.  Anthony.  Moses  Beach.  Theodore  Beam. 
George  Bolton;  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  William  Bon- 
nell.  Joseph  and  William  Bournan.  Thomas  S.  Boyd. 
Samuel  P.  Broadwell.  Isaac  H.  Burnett.  Francis  Cain. 
Johnson  Clark.  Charles  Conrad.  James  Convey;  must- 
ered in  Oct.  16  '62.  Charles  Y.  and  Lewis  H.  Cook. 
David  E.  and  Ira  C.  Cooper.  John  B  Crane  and  Peter 
Cruyse;  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  David  Davenport. 
Cyrus  and  Martin  Dixon.  Patrick  Donahue;  mustered 
in  Oct.  16 '62.  David  Eagles.  Ezekiel  A.  Frace.  Hud- 
son H.  Gillen.  Henry  Hann.  Joseph  S.  Hart.  An- 
drew Hockenbury.  Lemuel  and  Mannus  Hoffman. 
Leonard  N.  Howell.  George  W.  Hulburt;  appointed 
sergt.  Sept.   3  '62;  private  Jan.  i  '63.     John   H.   Kaun- 


miller.  Nathaniel  Lawrence.  George  D.  and  James  H. 
Losey.  Andrew  J.  and  James  H.  Miller.  F.  P.  and 
Thomas  A.  Moore.  Theodore  F.  Mott;  appointed  sergt. 
Sept.  3  '62;  private  Jan.  i  '6^,.  Alfred  and  Samuel 
Nunn.  Daniel  Parks.  David  L.  Powers.  George  W. 
Sayre,  musician.  John  and  William  Schuyler.  James 
Seguine.  John  Shawger;  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62. 
Erastus  H.  Sofield.  Jacob  B.  Swayze;  mustered  in  Oct. 
16  '62.  Jacob  J.  Tallman.  David  A.  Trowbridge. 
Garrett  Vandroof.  Peter  Vanderveer;  mustered  in  Oct. 
16  '62.  Whitfield  H.  Voorhees.  Leonard  F.  Wack. 
George  H.  Wolfe.  Samuel  A.  Wolfe;  mustered  in  Oct. 
16 '62.     Hiram  C.  Woods.     George  H.  and  Ira  W.  Young. 

Discharged  (for  disability). — James  Nunn;  dis.  Mar. 
16  '63;  appointed  corp.  Sept.  3  '62;  private  Nov.  i  '62. 
William  Pulis,  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62;  dis.  Feb.  2  '63. 
George  W.  Shaffer,  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62;  dis.  Mar. 
27  '63.  David  Squires;  dis.  Nov.  16  '62.  James  L. 
Talmadge;  dis.  Jan.  17  '()t,.  Gabriel  Tebo,  mustered  in 
Oct.  t6  '62;  dis.  Jan.  5  '63. 

Died. — Erastus  Brant,  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62;  drowned 
in  Cumberland  River,  near  Somerset,  Ky.,  May  6  '63. 
William  Daly;  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  Feb.  20  '63.  Wil- 
liam D.  Hopler;  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Aquia  Creek,  Va., 
II  '63.  Daniel  D.  Tuttle;  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  Mar.   i  'G^. 

COMPANY    C. 

OFFICERS. 

Captains. — Nelson  H.  Drake,  commissioned  Sept.  6 
and  mustered  Sept.  19  '62;  resigned  Oct.  13  '(it,.  David 
S.  Allen,  commissioned  Oct.  14  and  mustered  Oct.  24 
'62;  appointed  2nd  lieut.  Sept.  6  '62. 

First  Lieutenant. — Ferdinand  V.  Wolfe,  commissioned 
Sept.  6  and  mustered  Sept.  19  '62. 

Second  Lieutenants. — Robert  W.  Simpson,  commissioned 
Oct.  14  and  mustered  Oct.  24  '62;  formerly  sergt.  Co.  H 
2nd  N.  J.;  pro.  ist  lieut.  Co.  K  Dec.  23  '62.  Henry 
A.  McLaughlin,  commissioned  and  mustered  Dec.  23  '62; 
ist  sergt.  3  '62;  resigned  Mar.  9  '(st,.  Isaac  Bonnell  jr., 
commissioned  Mar.  10  '63;  formerly  ist  sergt.  Co.  D; 
prom,  ist  lieut.  Co.  D  May  7  '63.  George  W.  Price, 
commissioned  and  mustered  May  7  '63;  formerly  ist 
sergt.  Co.  D. 

First  Sergeant. — Thomas  Ripley,  appointed  Jan.  1  '63; 
sergt.  Sept.  3  '62. 

SergeantsX^-nxoWt^  Sept.  3  and  mustered  Sept.  19  '62). 
— Thomas  L.  King.  Abram  Skinner,  appointed  sergt. 
Apr.  24  '63.  Thomas  Canar,  sergt.  Jan.  i  '63;  previously 
corp.  Abram  Magee,  sergt.  Jan.  i  '63;  tr.  from  Co.  F. 
Theodore  Neighbour,  appointed  corp.  Dec.  i  '62;  sergt. 
Jan.  I  '63;    pro.  sergt.  major  Apr.  20  '63. 

Corporals  (enrolled  Sept.  3  and  mustered  Sept.  19  '62; 
appointed  corp.  at  the  date  following  their  names).— 
Daniel  Van  Fleet,  Apr.  24  '63.  Marcus  R.  Meeker. 
Joseph  Allen.  Sherwood  Culver,  May  7  '()t,.  William 
K.  Caskey.  David  W.  Welsh.  Henry  Salmon,  Jan.  i 
'63.     Arthur  Edner,  Apr.  16  '62. 

i?/!?^.— Corporal  Augustus  W.  Salmon,  of  direase,  at 
Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.,  Nov.  30  '62.  Corporal  Charles 
Stephens,  drowned  in  Cumberland  River,  Ky.,  May  6'  63. 

PRIVATES. 

Morris  Aider.  John  L.  Allen.  Daniel  P.  Apgar.  Edward 
S.  Apgar.  Jacob  Appleget.  James  Arnet.  David  and  Philip 
Beam.  Peter  Bird  jr.  Robert  H.  and  William  Blair.  Mi- 
chael Brisland,  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  Henry  Case 
wagoner.  Frederick  S.  Clawson.  D.  Judson  Cook;  pro! 
hospital  steward  Jan.  i  '63.    Morris  Coss;  tr.  from  Com- 


ROLLS  OF  THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  N.  J.  VOLUNTEERS. 


95 


pany  A.  Joseph  K.  Davis.  Lee  Davis;  appointed  sergt. 
Sept.  3  '62;  private  Jan.  i  '63.  Marcus  R.  De  Camp. 
John  M.  Dickerson.  Zachariah  D.  Drake.  Louis 
Fancher.  David  Fhike.  Nathan  C.  French.  Jacob 
Gess.  Benjamin  P.  Jackson.  John  W.  Jackson.  Joseph 
W.  Jones.  George  A.  Lawrence.  George  R.  Leport. 
Eliphalet  Lyon.  Robert  McPhersop.  Jesse  Miller. 
Henry  Niper.  Thomas  Patterson.  Patrick  Pepper. 
Stephen  Pierson.  Ezekiel  Rarick.  Thomas  Reed. 
Edwin  H.  and  Elisha  E.  Reger.  Samuel  M.  Rheinhart. 
Jetur  A.  Riggs,  corp.  Sept.  3  '62;  private  Oct.  16  '62. 
Samuel  Sharp.  Charles  and  John  Spencer.  Elias  H. 
Stephens.  Peter  Stump.  David  W.  Thomas.  George 
S.  Trimmer.  William  Weire.  Thomas  Wilson.  Alexander 
S.  and  John  C.  Woodruff.  Charles  Woolverton.  Jacob 
W.  Yauger. 

Discharged  for  Disalii/ity.^Anthony  Hayward,  at 
New  York,  Feb.  18  '63.  John  Hilts,  at  Washington, 
Mar.  10  '63.     Elijah  Niper,  at  New  York,  Jan.  9  '63... 

Died  (where  not  otherwise  stated,  drowned  in  the 
Cumberland  River,  as  related  on  page  93). — Joseph  R. 
Arch,  of  disease,  at  Washington,  Feb.  9  '63.  Frederick 
Cratsley,  of  disease,  at  Somerset,  Ky.,  May  31  '63.  Ed- 
ward Dolen.  Alonzo  J.  Jackson,  of  laryngitis,  at  Wash- 
ington, Mar.  17  '63.  John  B.  McPeak.  George  W. 
Sovereign,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Washington,  Jan.  27  '63. 
Amos  G.  Stephens.  Benjamin  Stoney.  Andrew  J. 
Willetts.  Martin  V.  B.  Williamson,  of  disease,  at  Wash- 
ington, Mar.  7  '63.  Matthias  Williamson,  of  disease,  at 
Wheeling,  West  Va.,  June  19  '63.     Andrew  J.  Youngs. 

COMPANY    E. 

OFFICERS. 

Captains. — Augustus  D.  Blanchet,  commissioned  Sept. 
3  and  mustered  Sept.  19  '62;  pro.  major  Sept.  23  '62. 
Hudson  Kitchel,  commissioned  Oct.  i  and  mustered  Oct. 
16  '62;  2nd  lieut.  Sep.  3  '62;  resigned  Nov.  12  '62. 
George  W.  Crane,  commissioned  and  mustered  Nov.  11 
'62;   ist  lieut.  Sept.  4  '62. 

First  Lieutenants. — Edward  S.  Baldwin,  Nov.  11*62; 
pro.  capt.  Co.  K  Dec.  23  '62;  2nd  lieut.  Co.  K  Sept.  13 
'62.  James  Peters,  Dec.  23  '^2;  2nd  lieut.  Co.  F  Sept. 
II  '62. 

Second  Lieutenants.— Hzy'iA  B.  Muchmore,  commis- 
sioned Oct.  I  and  mustered  Oct.  16  '62;  dis.  March  i 
"63,  for  disability;  ist  sergt.  Sept.  3  '62.  Edward  W. 
Schofield,  Mar.  i  '6y,  sergt.  Sept.  3  '62;  ist  sergt.  Oct. 
16  '62. 

First  Sergeant.— K.  H.  Mulford,  Mar.  i  '6y,  sergt. 
Sept  3  '62. 

Sergeants. — Robert  A.  Halliday,  Oct.  16*62;  previously 
corp.  John  W.  Brown.  Philip  M.  Thompson.  James 
Vannia,  Mar.  i  '63;  previously  corp. 

Corporals. — Elias  H.  Carter.  William  H.  Hyland. 
Thomas  Woods;  appointed  Oct.  16  '62.  Matthias  Bur- 
nett. George  M.  Tuttle,  Michael  Cummings  and  Charles 
Noonan,  appointed  March  i  '63,  Albert  T.  Tappan,  dis. 
for  disability,  at  Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  I.,  March  19  '63. 
John  H.  Eldridge,  dis.  for  disability,  at  Philadelphia, 
Jan.  29  '63. 

PRIVATES. 

John  Ahrens;  mustered  in  Oct.  i6  '62.  Louis  Bassett. 
John  M.  Beach.  Daniel  Berry.  Samuel  J.  Betts. 
Charles  Brant.  Manning  C.  Broadwell.  Joseph  L. 
Bryan.  David  Burr.  Harman  Ciscoe.  Henry  S.  Clark. 
John  Daily.  Thomas  Doyle.  John  Eakley.  Hercules 
Edwards.  Lewis  Etsell.  Theodore  F.  Garrison.  Wil- 
liam Garrison.  Barnabas  C.  Goucher.  Lewis  F.  Greg- 
ory.    Ezra  P.  Gulick.     Bruno  Hagg.     Samuel  L.  Hop- 


kins. Moses  W.  Johnson.  Warren  S.  Kelly.  William 
Kincaid.  Jared  L.  Kitchel,  musician.  Thomas  Knowles. 
Lemuel  Lawrence;  died  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Newport 
News,  Va.,  March  19  '63.  William  Lockwood.  John  A 
Lyon.  Samuel  Magee.  Daniel  Maher.  John  McNeal. 
Michael  Mohair.  Benjamin  C.  Morris.  Jared  C.  Morris. 
Sylvester  W.  Morris.  James  Noonan.  John  O'Brien. 
William  H.  O'Neill.  Jacob  Ortell.  Samuel  Par- 
sons, wagoner.  Jacob  Phoenix;  corp.  Sept.  3  '62; 
private  Oct.  i  '62.  Ion  Rawlins.  William  H.  Rick- 
ley.  Philip  Ryan.  Ralph  G.  Schenck.  George  W. 
Shelly.  Patrick  Sheridan.  Robert  Smith.  Elijah 
T.  Squier.  Aranon  M.  Stanford.  Frederick  Stein- 
hauser.  Andrew  J.  Taylor.  John  M.  Taylor.  Henry 
D.  Todd.  Theodore  D.  Tompkins.  David  E. 
Totten.  Charles  H.  Tunis;  corp.  Sept.  3  '62;  private 
Oct.  I  '62.  Harvey  Tunis.  Alexander  Vandonia,  mu- 
sician. Edmond  Van  Orden.  Joseph  H.  Vreeland. 
James,  John  and  Patrick  Walsh.  Luther  T.  Ward.  John 
H.  Whitehead.     Lewis  C.  Wood.     Charles  Young. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Nathaniel  Haycock,  at 
Washington,  Feb.  27  '63.  Ebenezer  F.  Lockwood,  at 
Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  L,  March  19  '63.  Peter  Rawson, 
at  Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.,  Dec.  i  '62.  Hugh  Wylie,  at 
Washington,  Jan.  26  '63. 

COMPANY    G. 

OFFICERS. 

Captain. — James  Plant,  commissioned  Sept.  i  '62. 

First  Lieutenant. — George  S.  Esten,  commissioned 
Sept.  I  '62. 

Second  Lieutenants. — George  Anthony,  commissioned 
Sept.  I  '62;  resigned  Dec.  22  '62.  Joseph  A.  Proctor; 
commissioned  and  mustered  Dec.  23  '62;  sergt.  Sept.  3  '62. 

First  Sergeants. — George  Forbes;  pro.  2nd  lieut.  Co. 
F  Dec.  23  '62.  Emmett  L.  Ellithorp;  sergt.  Sept.  3  '62; 
ist  sergt.  Dec.  23  '62;  2nd  lieut.  Co.  K  Jan.  15  '63. 
George  Carlough;  Jan.  15  '63;  sergt.  Sept.  3  *62. 

Sergeants  (all  but  the  last  appointed  corporals  Sept.  3 
'63). — George  W.  D.  Courter  and  Obadiah  S.  Parker, 
Dec.  23  '62.  Charles  Brezette,  Feb.  i  *63.  David 
Dawson. 

Corpo)-als. — Thomas  T.  Richards.  Gabriel  Parrott. 
Elijah  B.  Hamma.  James  H.  Doremus.  Cornelius  H. 
Van  Ness.  George  Gleason  and  Paul  H.  Mandeville, 
appointed  corp.  Dec.  23  '62.  Thomas  H.  Northwood; 
prom.  corp.  Feb.  i  '63' 

PRIVATES. 

Joseph  Bajoe.  S.  Y.  Baldwin.  Charles  E.  Blowers. 
Dennis  Brown.  Stephen  Carman.  David  E.  and  Ed- 
ward Conklin.  Asa,  George  S.  and  James  H.  Cook. 
Stephen  A'  Cooper.  John  W.  Crane,  musician.  George 
B.  Cummins.  John  K.  Darrah.  Hudson  Davenport, 
Eli  B.  Dawson,  musician.  Peter  Dempsey.  Jeremiah 
Doremus.  James  Dwyer.  Mark  Evarts  jr.  Erastus 
Fields.  John  Filleo,  John  W.  Fredericks.  Robert 
Galloway.  Peter  J.  and  William  Gould.  John  Grady. 
Henry  J.  Hill.  Joseph  and  Joshua  Hillas.  Daniel 
Hines.  James  Holly.  William  Husk.  A.  R.  and  Gar- 
rett Jacobus.  Cornelius  H.  and  William  H.  Kayhart. 
Napolean  Laflam,  wagoner.  John  Lepard.  Conrad 
Lines.  Charles  E.  Looker.  Lyman  Mandeville.  Edward 
McConnell.  George  McNeal.  George  and  John  Morgan, 
John,  John  H.  and  Joseph  H.  Myers.  Louis  Paradise. 
William  P.  Parrott.  Joseph  Peare.  Peter  Pero.  Abra- 
ham Pierson.  John  J.  Provost.  Samuel  Reeves.  George 
Richardson.  Michael  Schaaf.  Henry  Shinehouse.  John 
Stillwell.     John  and  Thompson  Taylor.     Eugene  Valley. 


u 


96 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


George  G.,  Henry  G.,  Martin  B.  and  Richard  H,  Van 
Duyne.  Henry  J.  Vanness.  John  H.  Van  Riper.  John 
Walley.  John  and  William  Whitten.  William  Worman. 
John  M.  Yatman. 

Discharged. — William  H.  Conklin,  May  28  '63,  for  dis- 
ability. William  H.  Davenport,  April  10  '63,  for  chronic 
rheumatism.  John  U.  Jacobus,  March  12  '63,  for  disa- 
bility. 

Died. — Abraham  Cooper,  of  consumption,  at  Washing- 
ton, Jan.  3  '63.  Richard  C.  Hyler,  of  consumption,  near 
Stanford,  Ky.,  April  25  '63.  Alfred  Miller,  of  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs,  at  Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.,  Nov.  8  '62. 
Louis  Robere,  of  consumption,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Va., 
April  6  '63. 

COMPANY    I. 

OFFICERS. 

Captain. — Alfred  H.  Condict;  commissioned  Sept.  4 
'62. 

First  Lieutenants. — Peter  Churchfield;  commissioned 
Sept.  4  '62;  resigned  April  19  '63.  David  H.  Ayres; 
commissioned  and  mustered  April  20  '63;  2nd  lieut. 
Sept.  4  '62. 

Second  Lieutenant. — John  H.  Medcraft;  commissioned 
and  mustered  April  20  'dy,  sergt.  major  Sept.  19  '62. 

First  Sergeant. — J.  Warren  Kitchel. 

Sergeants. — Charles  T.  Borland.  David  R.  Emmons 
jr.  William  Van  Houten.  Stephen  Pierson;  mustered 
in  Oct.  16  '62;  Corp.  Sept.  3  '62;  sergt.  Nov.  i  '62;  2nd 
lieut.  Co.  D  March  4  '63. 

Corporals. — Jacob  W.  Searing.  Amzi  A.  Beach. 
Walter  Condict;  pro.  corp.  Nov.  15  '62.  James  L.  Willi- 
son.  Charles  A.  Sutton.  Theodore  L.  Cory.  George  L. 
McDowell. 

PRIVATES. 

Peter  Ammerman.  David  Baird.  Lewis  A.  and  Wil- 
liam A.  Bedell.  James  Booth.  Thomas  Bowman.  Jo- 
seph G.  Carpenter.  Peter  Carroll.  Martin  T.  Clawson. 
Charles  L.  Clement;  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  John 
Cody.  Stephen  Cooper.  Henry  H.  Corwin.  Caleb  A. 
Cory.  A.  L.  De  Hart.  Henry  H.  Emmons.  Benjamin 
P.  Ford.  Chileon  Goble.  Lucius  P  Harmas,  musician. 
William  L.  Hathaway.  John  G.  Hempstead,  wagoner. 
William  Hodgson.  William  K.  Hoffman.  John  T.  Hor- 
ton.  George  P.  Howard.  William  F.  Jacobus;  mustered 
in  Oct.  16  '62.  Lewis  Johnson.  Edward  C.  Jolly. 
Abraham  M.  Langes.  Charles  G.  Loree.  Cyrus  Lyons. 
Patrick  Maloney.  Simon  Marcell;  mustered  in  Oct.  16 
'62.  Frank  H.  McGoldrich.  Newton  A.  Merritt.  Wil- 
liam Moneypenny.  Samuel  and  William  H.  Moore. 
William  Morland.  David  Paul.  William  H.  Percy. 
Eben  N.  and  George  H.  Pierson.  Amos  and  Edw'ard 
W.  Pruden.  Aaron  Ralph.  George  W.  Redding. 
Theodore  F.  Reeve;  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  John 
Sanders.  Thomas  Scudder.  James  S.  Skellenger. 
Samuel  K.  Smack.  C.  F.  Smack;  musician.  Amos  and 
Philip  Smith.  James  S.  and  Seymour  Teets.  William 
Thomas.  John  H.  and  Stephen  Totten.  Joseph  Trow- 
bridge. William  J.  Turner.  Elijah  Van  Duyne.  H. 
L.  and  Samuel  E.  Whitenack.  Charles  Williams.  George 
N.  Willis.  Henry  Witkoff.  William  Wortman.  John 
D.  Wyckoff.     John  Zimmerman. 

Discharged  (for  disability).  —  Theodore  H.  Egbert, 
June  19  'd'i.  Gershom  W.  Gillum,  Mar.  17  '63.  John 
A.  Hopkins,  Feb.  6  'dT,.  Andrew  Morris,  June  ig  '63. 
John  T.  Reed,  Feb.  23  'dT,.  Theodore  L.  Van  Dorn, 
May  22  'dT,.     Peter  B.  Whitenack,  Nov.  30  '62. 

Died. — John  Cogan,  of  apoplexy,  March  23  'd-^,  at 
Baltimore.     Stephen  Doty,  of  small  pox,  at  Washington, 


Apr.  17  '63.  W.  H.  H.  Hames,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  Va.,  Mar.  7  'dj,.  Harvey  G.  Howell,  of  bron- 
chitis, at  Washington,  Feb.  16  '63.  William  Sargeant,  of 
congestion  of  the  brain,  at  Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  I., 
Feb.  28,  '63. 

COMPANY  L. 

OFFICERS. 

Captains. — Henry  F.  Willis;  commissioned  Sept.  2,  '62; 
mustered  Sept.  22  '62;  pro.  major  May  i  '63.  Jacob 
McConnell;  commissioned  and  mustered  May  i  '63; 
appointed  2nd  lieut.  Co.  K,  Nov.  11  '62;    ist  lieut.  Jan. 

IS  '63. 

First  Lieutenants. — Stephen  H.  Marsh;  commissioned 
Sept.  2  '62;  mustered  Sept.  22  '62;  pro.  capt.  Co.  F, 
Jan.  15,  '63.  Joseph  C.  Bower;  commissioned  and  mus- 
tered May  I  '63;  2nd  lieut.  Sept.  2  '62. 

Second  Lieutenant. — Henry  Lumsden  ;  enrolled  and 
mustered  May  i  'dy,    ist  sergt.  Sept.  3  '62. 

First  Sergeant. — Lemuel  C.  Smith,  May  i  '63;  sergt. 
Sept.  3  '62. 

Sergeants  (all  but  the  first  appointed  corporal  Sept.  3 
'62). — Barnabas  K.  Hall.  Thomas  A.  Zeak,  Jan.  20  'dy 
William  G.  Mitchell,  May  i  '63.  John  D.  Allison,  June 
8-63. 

Corporals. — David  H.  Gardner.  Jacob  H.  Blanchard, 
Mar.  I  '63.  George  R.  Todd.  David  Degraw,  Mar.  15 
'63.  Morris  H.  Shauger,  Apr.  8  '63.  William  H.  Daven- 
port, May  I  '63.  Miller  Smith  and  Wilmot  D.  Wear, 
June  8  '63. 

Discharged. — Jacob  Van  Winkle,  corp.,  for  disability. 
Mar.  10  'dT,. 

Died. — James  M.  Freeman,  sergt.,  of  typhoid  fever,  at 
Hickman's  Bridge,  Ky.,  June  8  '63.  William  Howell, 
Corp.,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Baltimore,  Apr.  1 1  '63. 

PRIVATES. 

Manning  Blanchard.  Jonathan  Brannin.  James  Col- 
ligan.  Owen  Conley,  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  James 
H.  Crane.  Edward  Davenport.  David  Davis.  James 
Gallagher.  Abram  L.  Gordon.  John  Hamilton.  Lewis 
Hamilton,  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  C.  H.  Hopping, 
wagoner.  Frederick  F.  Hulmes.  Benjamin  F.  Knapp. 
Theodore  H.  Marsh.  Edwin  P.  Merritt,  musician. 
William  C.  Mills.  John  W.  Morgan.  Harrison  Morse. 
Phineas  B.  Myers.  John  Partington.  Calvin,  Hezekiah 
and  Peter  Peer.  Manning  R.  Roll.  John  Rowe.  Wil- 
liam H.  Savacool.  Amos  Sayre,  musician.  Thaddeus 
B.  Schofield.  William  Scribner.  William  W.  Shauger. 
Moses  E.  Smith,  mustered  in  Oct.  16  '62.  Thomas  D. 
Smith.  John  Spear.  Levi  R.  Stickle.  Jacob  Switzer! 
Andrew  J.  Tuers.  John  Vanderbilt  jr.  Anthony  Van 
Orden.     Lewis  Ward.     Charles  W.  Winget. 

Discharged  {lor  disability). — Abner  Bastedo,  Apr.  7  '63. 
Cyrus  Demouth,  Mar.  2  '63.  James  D.  Kitchel,  Dec.  i 
'62.  Nicholas  Lash,  June  19  '63.  Anthony  F.  Snover, 
Feb.  22  '63.  Caleb  Winget,  June  19  '63.  Gilbert  Zeak, 
Dec.   I  '61. 

Died. — Gideon  Bastedo  and  Joseph  Class,  drowned  in 
Cumberland  River,  Ky.,  May  6  '63.  James  H.  Collard, 
of  typhoid  fever,  at  Washington,  Jan.  8  '63.  Joseph 
Degraw,  of  dysentery,  near  Stanford,  Ky.,  May  2  '63. 
Lemuel  Degraw  and  Jesse  Demouth,  drowned  in  Cum- 
berland River,  Ky.,  May  6  'dy  Thomas  Demouth,  of 
typhoid  fever,  at  Washington,  Jan.  26  'dy  William 
Demouth,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  near  Newport  News  Va. 
Mar.  I  '63.  John  Denike,  of  pneumonia,  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  Va.,  Mar.  31  '63.  James  H.  Fuller  and  Levi  O. 
Green,  drowned  in  Cumberland  River,  Ky.,  May  6  '6^. 
William  Haycock,  of  chronic  diarrhea,  near   Newport 


"  EMERGENCY  MEN  "—CO.  K  FIRST  N.  J.  VOLUNTEERS. 


97 


News,  Va.,  Mar  15  '63.  Henry  Kanouse,  of  pleurisy, 
near  Stanford,  Ky.,  Mar.  20  '63.  John  McCloskey. 
Barnabas  K.  Miller,  Edward  Nichols,  William  Ockobock, 
Thomas  Odell,  James  O'Neil,  Rolson  Peer,  Wilson  Pit- 
tenger,  Eliakim  Sanders,  George  Shauger,  James  Shaw, 
Samuel  H.  Smith,  and  William  H.  Weaver,  drowned  in 
Cumberland  River,  Ky.,  May  6  '63. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


DRAFTINC 


EMERGENCY    MEN    — COMPANY    K    1ST    N.    J. 
— COMPANY   I    33D    N.    J. 


'UGUST  15th  1863  there  was  an  allotment 
made  of  the  draft;  3,026  white  and  loi 
colored  men  were  required  in  the  county. 
Some  changes  and  credits  were  afterward 
made,  and  the  number  finally  drawn  was 
611,  divided  as  follows:  Morris  44,  Pequan- 
nock  45,  Chatham  64,  Hanover  86,  Randolph  4, 
Mendham  21,  Chester  14,  Jefferson  45,  Roxbury  91, 
Washington  74,  Rockaway  123. 

In  February  1865  there  were  333  men  to  be  drafted 
for,  but  before  the  draft  was  completed  the  victory 
before  Petersburg  caused  the  order  of  April  13th  that 
drafting  should  cease. 

March  26th  1864  Captain  D.  H.  Ayers,  who  had 
served  in  the  27th  and  had  been  recruiting  for  the  33d, 
had  filled  a  company  for  the  5th  N.  J.  to  the  minimum 
number.  He  was  mustered  as  captain  in  that  regiment, 
April  13  th  1864. 

May  2nd  1864  a  new  company  of  "home  guards"  was 
organized  at  Morristown— Captain  Fred.  Dellicker,  First 
Lieutenant  Horace  Ayers,  Second  Lieutenant  D.  D. 
Craig. 

June  15th  1863,  the  rebel  army  having  invaded  Mary- 
land, and  then  threatening  Harrisburgh,  Governor  Cur- 
tin  of  Pennsylvania  called  upon  the  governors  of  the 
the  neighboring  States  for  aid.  June  17th  Governor 
Parker  called  for  volunteers  from  this  State,  and  ten 
companies  of  30-day  men  volunteered  for  the  "  Pennsyl- 
vania emergency.''  A  company  was  raised  in  Morris 
county,  known  as  Company  E  N.  J.  militia.  Captain 
George  Gage,  which  was  enrolled  and  mustered  June 
27th  and  discharged  July  24th.  It  went  to  Harrisburgh 
and  remained  there  until  the  victory  of  Gettysburg  ren- 
dered its  stay  no  longer  necessary. 

The  following  is  a  roll  of  the  company: 

George  Gage,  captain;  William  A.  Halstead,  first  lieu- 
tenant; J.  E.  Parker,  second  lieutenant;  James  L.  Marsh, 
first  sergeant;  D.  W.  Tunis,  John  T.  Kent,  John  C. 
Smith  and  John  W.  Phoenix,  sergeants;  James  M.  Bon- 
sall,  Charles  F.  Axtell,  George  McKee,  Joseph  H.  Tillyer, 
George  Vanhouten,  L.  D.  Babbitt,  James  Allen  and 
Lyman  B.  Dellicker,  corporals ;  Elwyn  Bentley  and 
Charles  H.  Green,  musicians;  Erastus  D.  Allen,  George 
W.  Anthony,  George  F.  Ballentine,  Jabez  Beers,  Andrew 


Bennett,  D.  W.  Bowdisb,  Edward  P.  Brewster,  George 
Brewster,  Charles  Burns,  E.  F.  Cavanagh,  Francis  Childs, 
William  Cook,  S.  B.  Cooper,  Marcus  F.  Crane,  John  S. 
and  John  N.  De  Hart,  Aaron  S.  Degroot,  Galin  Egbert, 
William  C.  Emmett,  Barnard  Finegan,  Arthur  Ford, 
Edwin  D.  and  Robert  Green,  Charles  M.  HoUoway, 
George  H.  Hutchinson,  David  Lewis,  John  Ross,  James 
D.  Stevenson,  George  E.  Voorhees,  George  H.  Welch- 
man,  Robert  Wighton,  C.  H.  Wilson,  Job  Wright,  James 
C.  Youngblood. 

While  Captain  Gage's  company  of  militia  was  absent 
in  Pennsylvania  a  "  peace  meeting  "  was  held  on  Morris 
green,  which  was  addressed  by  Chauncey  Burr  and  others. 
During  the  speaking  news  of  the  victories  of  Vicksburg 
and  Gettysburg  arrived,  and  the  meeting  dispersed  in 
confusion.  A  large  loyal  meeting  was  held  in  the  same 
place  the  same  evening  to  celebrate  the  victories  of  the 
eastern  and  western  armies. 

COMPANY    K    ist    N.  J. 

The  same  month  two  companies  were  recruited  for  the 
ist  N.  J.,  then  in  the  field — Company  G  (Captain  Ed- 
ward Bishop,  First  Lieutenant  Daniel  Dillen,  Second 
Lieutenant  Daniel  L.  Hutt)  and  Company  H  (Captain 
Richard  Foster,  First  Lieutenant  George  Carlough,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  William  Miller).  As  separate  companies 
these  men  did  not  enter  the  service,  but  from  them  a  new 
company  was  formed,  under  Captain  Foster,  which 
joined  the  ist  N.  J.  as  Company  K  in  January  1864,  in 
time  to  serve  honorably  and  suffer  severely  in  the  "  bat- 
tle summer,"  and  to  be  in  at  the  death.  The  company 
organization  was  disbanded  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  4th 
1864,  and  the  men  were  transferred  to  Companies  K  and 
F  4th  N.  J.  The  following  is  the  muster  roll  of  the 
company: 

OFnCERS. 

Captain. — Richard  Foster;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania, 
Va.,  May  12  '64;  died  in  hospital  at  Washington,  June 

^5  '64- 

First  Lieutenant. — William  Muir;  honorably  m.  o.  Aug. 
9  '64. 

Second  Lieutenant. — William  Milnor;  wounded  at  Cold 
Harbor,  June  2  '64;   dis.  for  disability. 

Sergeants. — Jacob  L.  Hutt  (ist);  tr.  and  reduced  to  the 
ranks  in  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.,  June  4  '64;  pro.  ist  lieut.  Co. 
C  4th  N.  J.,  and  assigned  command  of  the  ist  bat.;  pro. 
Capt.  Co.  A  ist  bat.;  m.  o.  June  29  '65.  William  O. 
Smith;  tr.  and  reduced  to  the  ranks  in  Company  K  4th 
N.  J.,  June  4  '64.  Samuel  M.  Mattox;  in  general  hos- 
pital from  Mar.  25  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  and  re- 
duced to  the  ranks.  Samuel  J.  Nixon;  missing  at  Spott- 
sylvania, Va.,  May  12  '64.  Robert  Galloway;  tr.  and  re- 
duced to  the  ranks  in  Co.  K  4th  N.  J. 

Corporals. — Richard  H.  Van  Duyne  (ist);  wounded  at 
Spottsylvania  May  12  '64;  died  in  hospital.  William 
Jones;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness  May  6  '64.  John 
Whitten;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  May  12  '64.  John  B. 
Magee;  wounded  in  the  Wilderness  May  5  '64.  James 
McGory;  killed  in  Wilderness  May  6  '64.  Anton  Hubler; 
dis.  for  disability  Mar.  18.  John  A.  Peer;  wounded  in 
the  Wilderness  May  5  '64.  Edward  McConnel;  tr.  to 
Co.  K  4th  N.  J. 

PRIVATES. 

John  Agen;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.     James  H.  R.  Ap- 


98 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


gar;  missing  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  Ebenezer 
Apgar;  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  i  '64.  George 
Adair  and  Joseph  Anson;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  Jeter 
R.  Auey;  missing  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  Thomas 
Beddon,  com.  clerk,  and  Dennis  Brown,  missing;  wounded 
at  Spottsylvania,  May  9  '64.  John  Bowers;  wounded  at 
Spottsylvania,  May  10  '64.  Robert  Beam;  wounded  at 
Cold  Harbor,  June  2  '64.  John  H.  Beaman;  wounded 
at  Spottsylvania,  May  12  '64.  Jacob  Z.  Berry;  rejected 
by  examining  board  at  Woolford  Ford,  Va.  Edward 
Carty;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  5  '64.  Patrick 
Carey;  killed  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6 '64.  James  Casey; 
detailed  in  ambulance  corps.  Abraham  C.  Conover; 
wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May  10  '64.  John  E.  and 
Thomas  H.  Cook;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6 
'64;  latter  died.  James  H.  Crane;  killed  at  the  Wilder- 
ness, May  5  '64.  John  W.  Crane,  drummer;  absent, 
sick,  from  May  4  '64.  George  Crawford;  killed  at  the 
Wilderness,  May  5  '64.  Peter  Cassidy,  Michael  Cum- 
mings,  Horace  Dodd  and  William  Drenner,  tr.  to  Co.  K 
4th  N.  J.  Thomas  G.  Davis;  killed  at  the  Wilderness, 
May  5  '64.  Samuel  N.  Ellsworth  and  Samuel  T.  Ellicks; 
tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  Henry  Fitzinger;  wounded  at 
the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  Michael  Fitzimmonds  and 
John  W.  Ford;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  William  W. 
Gearey;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  Mil- 
berry  Grandon  and  George  Hilbert;  deserted  at  Camp 
Perrin,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  Feb.  i  '64.  Jacob  H.  Hamma; 
tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  Thomas  Headland;  wounded  at 
Cold  Harbor,  June  i  '64.  Ezra  H.  Hile;  wounded  at 
Spottsylvania,  May  12  '64.  Charles  A.  Hughson;  wounded 
at  Spottsylvania,  May  12  '64;  died  in  general  hospital. 
Leonard  N.  Howell;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May  12 
'64.  James  W.  Howell;  missing  at  the  Wilderness,  May 
6  '64.  Patrick  Healey;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness, 
May  6  '64.  Emmanuel  Holman  and  Peter  Jackson;  tr. 
to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  John  Kelley;  missing  at  Spottsyl- 
vania, May  12  '64.  Daniel  Knott;  wounded  at  Cold 
Harbor,  June  2  '64.  Jacob  S.  Kunckle;  tr.  to  Co.  K 
4th  N.  J.  Jonathan  P.  Loree;  wounded  at  Spott- 
sylvania, May  12  '64;  died  of  wounds  May  30  '64. 
Charles  Munn;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  James  Milner; 
missing  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  Henry  Maynard; 
wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  Daniel  Mc- 
Henry;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  James  McLucky; 
wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  4  '64.  Thomas  Murphy; 
wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  John  Miller; 
missing  at  Spottsylvania,  May  9  '64;  died  in  Anderson- 
ville  prison.  George  Nix;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness, 
May  5  '64;  died  in  general  hospital.  Peter  O'Conner 
and  Jaremiah  Oliver;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  Clifton 
Peer;  absent,  sick,  from  March  26  '64.  Thomas  Ryan; 
wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  5  '64.  Peter  Rawson; 
absent,  sick,  from  March  25  '64.  Bernard  Riley;  wound- 
ed at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  Anthony  Robertson; 
tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  Mortimer  Roberts;  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64;  died  in 
prison.  Martin  Siver;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May 
6  '64.  Hiram  Siver;  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  2 
'64.  Patrick  Sheridan;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May 
12  '64.  Michael  Slam;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.;  killed 
at  Winchester,  Aug.  17  '64.  Garret  C.  Smith;  detailed 
in  pioneer  corps.  Robert  Smith;  wounded  at  Spottsyl- 
vania, May  12  '64.  John  L.  Stagg;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th 
N.  J.  Garret  Speer;  absent,  sick,  in  general  hospital. 
Fordham  0.  Schuyler;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  Charles 
Schuyler;  missing  at  the  Wilderness,  May  5  '64.  John 
Smith  ;  deserted  at  Woodford's  Ford,  Va.,  Feb.  19. 
Nelson  Teets;  wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64. 
John  Tice;  absent,  sick,  from  March  i.  Patrick  Toole 
and  John  H.  Tucker;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.     Peter  Tur- 


ner and  Ward  Vanderhoof;  absent,  sick,  from  May  4. 
William  S.  Van  Fleet;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May 
12  '64;  died  of  wounds  in  general  hospital.  Cornelius  R. 
Van  Voorhees;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  Richard  Vincent; 
missing  at  the  Wilderness,  May  6  '64.  John  Van  Ordeh; 
absent,  sick,  from  May  4.  Manning  Wear  and  Henry 
Whitten;  tr.  to  Co.  K  4th  N.  J.  William  A.  Wright; 
absent,  sick,  from  May  5. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Killed  in  action,  7;  died  from  wounds,  12;  wounded 
and  survived,  30;  missing  in  action,  8;  absent,  sick, 
10;  discharged  for  disability,  i;  deserted,  3;   total,  71. 

Commissioned  officers,  3;  enlisted  men,  99;  total,  102; 
deduct  71;  total  for  duty,  31. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  battles  in  which  this  company 
was  engaged.  All  were  fought  in  Virginia,  and  all  before 
Hatcher's  Run  in  1864: 

Wilderness,  May  5-7;  Spottsylvania,  May  8-10;  Spott- 
sylvania Court-house,  May  12-16;  North  and  South  Anna 
River,  May  24;  Hanover  Court-house,  May  29;  Tolo- 
potomy  Creek,  May  30;  Cold  Harbor,  June  i-io:  Before 
Petersburg  ("  Weldon  Railroad"),  June  23;  Snicker's 
Gap,  July  18;  Strasburg,  Aug.  15;  Winchester,  Aug.  17; 
Charlestown,  Aug.  21;  Opequan  Creek,  Sept.  19;  Fisher's 
Hill,  Sept.  21,  22;  New  Market,  Sept.  24;  Mount  Jack- 
son, Sept.  25;  Cedar  Creek  and  Middletown,  Oct.  19; 
Hatcher's  Run,  Feb.  5;  Fort  Steedman,  Mar.  25;  Cap- 
ture of  Petersburg,  Apr.  2;  Sailor's  Creek,  Apr.  6;  Farm- 
villc,  Apr.  7;  Lee's  surrender,  Appomattox,  Apr.  9. 

COMPANY   I   OF    THE    33d    N.  J. 

volunteer  infantry  was  chiefly  composed  of  Morris 
county  men.  The  colonel  was  George  W.  Mindel.  Wil- 
liam H.  Lambert  was  adjutant  for  about  six  months  from 
July  13th  1863,  and  was  succeeded  by  Stephen  Pierson. 
The  regiment  was  mustered  in  at  Newark,  by  com- 
panies, in  August  and  September  1863,  for  three  years  or 
the  war,  and  left  the  State  September  8th  for  Washington. 
It  soon  marched  into  Virginia,  and  encamped  at  Warren- 
ton.  Here  it  was  assigned  to  the  nth  corps,  and  re- 
mained until  September  25th,  when  the  corps  started  for 
the  west,  to  become  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land. It  1864  it  went  "  marching  through  Georgia"  with 
Sherman.  The  engagements  in  which  it  took  part  were 
as  follows: 

Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  November  23d  1863;  Mission 
Ridge,  Tenn.,  November  24th  and  25th  1863;  Mill  Creek 
Gap,  Ga.,  May  8th  1864;  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15th  and  16th 
1864;  New  Hope  Church,  Ga.,  May  2Sth  to  June  ist  1864; 
Pine  Knob,  Ga.,  June  15th  and  i6th  1864;  Muddy 
Creek,  Ga.,  June  17th  and  i8th  1864;  Gulp's  Farm,  Ga., 
June  22nd  1864;  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  June  27th 
1864;  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  July  20th  1864;  Siege  of 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22nd  to  September  2nd  1864;  Siege 
of  Savannah,  Ga.,  December  iith-2ist  1864;  Averys- 
boro,  N.  C,  March  i6th  1865;  Bentonville,  S.  C,  March 
i8th-2oth  1865. 

The  following  is  a  roll  of  Company  I: 

OFFICERS. 

Where  not  otherwise  mentioned  in  the  following  para- 
graphs the  officers  of  Company  I  were  enrolled  or  com- 


COMPANY  I  THIRTY-THIRD  N.  J.  VOLUNTEERS. 


99 


missioned  at  the  dates  immediately  following  their  names; 
mustered  in  August  29th  1863,  for  three  years'  service, 
and  mustered  out  July  7th  1865. 

Captain. — Samuel  F.  Waldron,  Aug.  29  '63;  killed  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Nov.  23  '63.  Nathaniel  K.  Bray; 
commissioned  Dec.  20  '63;  mustered  Jan.  i  '64;  pro. 
major  April'4  '65.  Joseph  P.  Couse,  commissioned  April 
4  '65;  mustered  April  29  '65;  appointed  ist  lieut.  Co.  A 
Sept  25  '64. 

First  Lieutenant. — J.  Warren  Kitchel;  commissioned 
Aug.  22  '63. 

Second  Lieutenants. — Francis  Child;  wounded  July  20 
'64;  pro.  ist  lieut.  Co.  B  Sept.  25  '64.  Orlando  K. 
Guerin;  commissioned  Nov.  i  '64;  mustered  Jan.  26  '65; 
appointed  Q.  M.  sergt.  Sept.  5  '63;  transferred  to  Com- 
pany C;  died  in  1881.  William  L.  Geary;  commissioned 
May   16  '65;  not  mustered;  brevetted  capt.  U.  S.  Mar. 

13  '65- 

First  Sergeants. — John  C.  Smith,  Aug.  13  '63;  pro. 
ist  lieut.  Co.  AJune6  '64.  Theodore  Manee,  Jan.  i'65; 
sergt.  Aug.  24  '63. 

Sergeants. — James  Connor,  July  i  '64;  corp.  Aug.  20 
'6-3.  Thomas  Shephard,  Apr.  i  '65;  previously  corp.; 
dis.  May  3  '65.  George  Hager,  Apr.  i  '65;  corp.  Aug. 
18  '63.  Peter  Dienen,  May  i  '65;  corp.  Aug.  24  '63. 
Levi  Smith,  enrolled  Feb.i6  '64;  corp.;  sergt.  Jan.  i  '65; 
dis.  May  3  '65. 

Corporals. — Edward  Blake,  Aug.  22  '63.  Martin  Dol- 
phin, Aug.  25  '63.  John  Phillips;  enrolled  Aug,  27  '63; 
corp.  Apr.  i  '65.  Michael  Stager;  enrolled  Aug.  28  '6y, 
corp.  May  i  '65.  Frederick  W.  Studdiford;  enrolled 
May  4  '64;  corp.  May  i  '65;  tr.  from  Co.  K.  John  M. 
Bennett;  enrolled  Aug.  22  '63;  corp.  May  i  '65.  James 
A.  Burr,  Sept.  6  '64,  for  i  year;  corp.  Jan.  i  '65;  dis. 
Apr.  28  '65. 

Discharged. — William  R.  Frazer,  sergt.;  enrolled  Aug. 
27  '63;  dis.  Mar.  31  '65,  for  disbility. 

Transferred. — Theodore  F.  Rogers,  sergt.;  enrolled 
Aug.  10  '63;  tr.  to  V.  r.  c.  Mar.  15  '65;  dis.  July  18  '65. 
Charles  Fengar;  enrolled  Aug.  23  '63;  tr.  to  v.  r.  c. 

Died. — David  Russell,  sergt.;  enrolled  Aug.  4  '63; 
died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Dec.  8  '64.  John 
McArdle,  corp.;  enrolled  Aug.  18  'by,  killed  at  Pine 
Knob,  Ga.,  June  16  '64. 

PRIVATES. 

The  first  date  following  these  names  is  the  date  of  en- 
rollment; the  second,  if  any,  that  of  muster-in;  in  most 
cases  they  were  the  same.  The  figure  following  the  date 
indicates  the  number  of  years  for  which  the  man  enlisted. 
The  men  were  mustered  out  in  June  or  July  1865. 

William  R.  Adams,  musician,  Aug.  10  '63,  3.  James 
Allen,  Aug.  12  '62,,  3;  Aug.  23  '63;  prom.  com.  sergt. 
Sept.  5  '6t,.  John  Anys,  Jan.  9  '64,  3;  Jan.  11  '64;  dis. 
May  3  '65.  George  F.  Ballentine,  Aug.  10  '67,,  3;  Aug. 
29  '63.  William  Bannon,  Aug.  4  '6t„  Aug.  29  '63;  dis. 
May  12  '65.  Lawrence  Bergen,  corp.,  Aug.  26  '63,  3; 
private  June  25  '65.  Daniel  Berry,  Sept.  6  '64,  i;  dis. 
Apr.  28  '65.  Charles  Bird,  Oct.  27  '64,  i.  George 
Bowen,  Apr.  13  '65,  i;  dr.;  dis.  May  3 '65.  Lionel 
Brooks,  May  4  '64,  3.  Milton  Brooks,  Feb.  8  '64,  3. 
Jefferson  Brutzman,  Oct.  11  '64,  i;  tr.  from  Co.  B. 
J.  A.  Burr.  C.  H.  Chapman,  Sept.  7  '64,  i;  dis.  Apr.  28  '65. 
Samuel  D.  Coombs,  Aug.  21  '63,  Aug.  29  '63,  3;  dis.  May 
3  '65.  Samuel  P.  Davis;  Apr.  11  '65,  i.  Peter  Degraw; 
Dec.  29  '63,  3;  tr.  from  Co.  E.  Christopher  Devine, 
corp.;  Aug.  25  '63;  private  June  28  '65.  Thomas  Dough- 
erty; Aug.  29  '63.  Evan  B.  Edmunds;  Apr.  12  '65,  i; 
dis.  May  3  '65.     Horace  B.  Fletcher;  Sept.  13  '64,  i;  dis. 


Apr.  28  '65.  Mark  Fobs,  Aug.  28  '6y  3;  musician. 
Barnabas  C.  Goucher;  Nov.  24  '6y,  Dec.  5  '6t„  3;  dis; 
May  4  '65.  John  W.  Green,  Aug.  25  '63,  Aug.  29  '62,,  3; 
dis.  May  3  '65.  Michael  Haggerty;  Aug.  22  '62,,  3; 
dis.  May  3  '65.  Thomas  Hayden;  Aug.  29  '63,  3. 
dis.  May  3  '65.  Hugh  Hefferman;  Feb.  21  '65,  i; 
transferred  from  Co.  B.  FredericK  Holland;  Aug. 
25  '63,  Aug.  29  '63,  3.  James  Johnson,  Sept. 
23  '64,  i;  dis.  April  28  '65.  Henry  F.  Jones;  Aug.  26 
'63,  3;  dis.  May  3  '65.  William  Kaine;  Jan.  17  '65,  i. 
Nathaniel  Kiser;  Sept.  7  '64,  i;  dis.  April  28  '65.  Jo- 
seph Lang;  Oct.  15  '64,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65.  John  Lein- 
inger;  Oct.  18 '64,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65.  Abraham  Lynn; 
Aug.  1 8   '63,  Aug.  29  '6y  3.     Adolphe  Machowof;  April 

14  '65,  3;  dis.  May  3  '65;  tr.  from  Co.  K.  Anthony 
Mares;  June  15  '64,3;  dis.  May  3 '65.  Andrew  McCain; 
Aug.  20  '63,  Aug.  29  '62,  3;  dis.  May  12  '65.  John  Mc- 
Donald; Aug.  18  '63,  3.  Bernard  McManus;  Aug.  24 
'63,  3;  dis.  May  3  '65.  William  McNeil;  Aug.  24  '63,  3; 
dis.  May  3  '65.  John  L.  Megill,  musician;  Aug.  15  '63. 
Ernst  H.  Meyers;  Oct.  15  '64,  i.  Charles  Miller;  April 
13  '65,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65.  William  Miller;  April  7  '65, 
I.  Nicholas  Moore;  Aug.  8  '6^,  Aug.  29  '6^,  3.  Josiah 
Mullen;  March  29 '65,  i;  dis.  May  3 '65.  James  Murchie; 
Oct.  15  '64,  I.  James  Murtough;  Oct.  19  '64,  i;  dis. 
May  3  '65.  Gottlieb  Prob;  Aug.  28  '63,  3;  m.  o.  July 
27  '65.  John  G.  Propst;  Aug.  27  '63,  3;  dis.  May  3  '65. 
Philip  Y.  Redding;  Aug.  18  '63;  wounded  at  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  July  20,  '64.  Jacob  Riker;  Sept.  23 
'64,   i;  tr.   from   Co.   E  35 th  N.  J.     William  Ryan;  Oct. 

15  '64,  I.  Moody  A.  Sandburn;  Sept.  21  '64,  i;  dis. 
April  28  '65.  Valentine  Sealand;  Sept.  22  '64,  i;  dis. 
April  28;  tr.  from  Co.  D.  Herman  Seibert;  April  6  '65, 
I.  William  Shiell;  Oct.  15 '64,  i.  Edward  Smith;  Aug. 
19  '63,  Aug.  29  '62,,  3;  tr.  to  v.  r.  c,  May  3  '64;  returned 
to  Co.  March  2  '6.s.  Richard  D.  Soden;  corp.  Aug.  25 
'63,  Aug.  29  '63,  3;  private  May  i  '65;  dis.  May  3  '65. 
Lewis  Stage;  Jan.  30  '65,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65;  tr.  from  Co. 
C.  William  R.  Stelling;  Oct.  11  '64,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65. 
Michael  Taggart;  April  12  '65,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65.  John 
Weiderberger;  Oct.  19  '64,  i.  Joseph  Weil;  Aug.  12  '63, 
3.  Peter  Wendel;  Oct.  21  '64,  1.  Wilbur  Wetsel;  Aug. 
10  '63,  Aug.  29  '63,  3;  dis.  May  12  '65.  James  Wood; 
Jan.  6  '65,  i;  dis.  May  3  '65;  tr.  from  Co.  A. 

Discharged  (for  disability). — William  Fagan;  enrolled 
Aug.  17  '63;  dis.  June  14  '64.  William  Herbert;  en- 
rolled Aug.  II  '63;  dis.  Aug.  3  '64.  William  H.  Kelly; 
enrolled  Aug.  10  '63;  dis.  April  2  '65. 

Transferred. — (The  date  of  enlistment  and  muster  and 
the  number  of  years  for  which  the  man  enlisted  follow 
the  name.  The  transfer  was  to  Company  C  where  not 
otherwise  stated.)  Joseph  Aspinwall;  Sept.  7  '64,  i. 
Abraham  Benjamin;  Dec.  29  '63,  3;  from  Co.  E  and  to 
V.  r.  c.  Abner  B.  and  Charles  Bishop,  i.  Richard  C. 
Burris,.  I.  Ambi  and  Lewis  Conklin.  Michael  Conlon; 
Mar.  31  '65,  i;  to  Co.  A.  Horace  Davis;  Sept.  7  '64,  r. 
Erastus  Degraw;  Sept.  23  '64,  i;  to  Co.  H.  William 
Drew;  Sept.  7  '64,  i.  George  Ely;  Feb.  28  '65,  3;  to 
Bat.  E.  John  Fuller;  April  4  '65,  i.  Michael  Galey; 
Sept.  14  '64,  i;  to  Co.  A.  Robert  J.  Harrison;  Aug.  24 
'64,  3;  to  V.  r.  c,  April  i  '65;  dis.  July  20  '65.  William 
Healey;  Sept.  28  '64,  i;  to  Co.  K.  John  Heusefall; 
Sept.  7  '64,  i;  to  Co.  K.  John  Kennedy;  Oct.  11  '64,  i; 
to  Co.  K.  William  Margeson;  Sept.  7  '64,  i.  William 
Masker;  Aug.  20  '63,  3;  to  v.  r.  c.  Mar.  20  '65.  Ernst 
Mayer;  Sept.  9  '64,  i;  to  Co.  F  35th  N.  J.  Charles  E. 
Mayo;  April  4  '65,  i.  Nathan  Parliament;  Sept.  7  '64,  i. 
Charles  Ryerson;  Aug.  26  '63,  3;  wounded  June  23  '64, 
at  Kenesaw  Mountain;  tr.  to  v.  r.  c,  Jan.  16  '65;  dis! 
July  25  '65.  Charles  H.  Wood;  Mar.  7  '65,  i;  to  Co.  d! 
Died. — (Enrolled  and  mustered  in  August  1863  when 


100 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


not  otherwise  stated,  and  for  three  years.)  Charles 
Anys;  Jan.  9  '64;  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Feb.  13 
'65,  of  wounds  received  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  July 
20  '64.  John  Braan;  Jan.  7  '64;  died  of  disease,  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  18  '64.  Martin  Braan;  Jan.  7 
'64;  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  July  20  '64.  James 
Butler;  of  disease,  at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.,  Mar.  29  '65. 
Frederick  Ehrnest;  Dec.  29  '63;  killed  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Ga„  July  20 '64.  Thomas  Farrell;  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  July  12  '64,  of  wounds  received  at  Pine  Knob, 
Ga.,  June  t6  '64.  Andrew  Folt;  of  typhoid  fever,  Jan. 
9  '64.  Joel  Jones;  of  chronic  diarrhea,  at  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  Nov.  5  '63.  Martin  Krom;  of  disease,  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  Mar.  12  '64;  Edmund  Leaver;  of  typhoid 
fever,  at  Lookout  Valley,  Ga.,  Jan.  23,  '64.  John  Per- 
sonett;  of  disease,  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  June  17  '64. 
August  Shawagar;  of  wound,  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  Sept.  17 
'63.  Abraham  Vanderhoof;  killed  at  Pine  Knob,  Ga., 
June  16  '64.  Thomas  Williams;  enrolled  Nev.  27  '63; 
killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  July  20  '64.  Arazi 
Willis;  Jan.  5  '64;  died  of  dropsy,  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 
Sept.  I  '64.  Louis  Witte;  drowned  in  Tennessee  River, 
Nov.  '6^. 


CHAPTER   XX. 


THE    39TH    NEW  JERSEY  VOLUNTEERS ROLL  OF  COMPANY 

K LIST    OF    PATRIOT    DEAD. 


1  HIS  regiment  was  raised  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember 1864,  the  rendezvous  being  Camp 
Frelinghuysen,  Newark,  and  was  principally 
recruited  in  Essex  county.  Company  K  was 
raised  in  Morris  county,  recruited  and  commanded 
by  Captain  D.  S.  Allen.  Although  he  was  the 
last  to  obtain  a  recruiting  commission,  and  labored 
under  the  disadvantages  of  distance  from  rendezvous,  his 
was  the  first  company  of  the  command  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service,  having  recruited  its  full  quota  in 
about  fifteen  days.  Company  K  with  four  other  com- 
panies, under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  James 
Close,  went  to  the  "  front  "  in  October,  encamping  at 
City  Point,  Va.,  and  in  about  two  weeks  these  were 
joined  by  the  remaining  five  companies  of  the  regiment. 
They  remained  here  working  on  entrenchments  for  about 
two  weeks.  A.  C.  Wildrick  of  the  United  States  army 
came  and  took  command  as  colonel,  and  William  T. 
Cornish,  formerly  of  the  15th  N.  J.  volunteers,  as  major 
of  the  regiment. 

The  force  changed  camp  about  November  ist  and 
went  to  Poplar  Grove  Spring,  near  Petersburg,  where 
the  39th  was  assigned  to  the  9th  army  corps.  There 
being  at  this  time  continuous  picket  firing  and  skirmish- 
ing the  men  got  their  first  smell  of  gunpowder  very  soon, 
and  listened  to  the  roaring  of  artillery  and  musketry 
alternating  with  frequent  calls  of  the  long  roll.  Company 
K  was  in  a  few  days  called  to  support  an  engagement  a 
short  distance  to  the  left;  it  was  not  called  into  action, 
but  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  effects  of  an 


engagement,  as  many  of  the  wounded  were  carried  past 
the  ranks. 

About  the  first  of  December  the  company  moved  into 
and  took  charge  of  Fort  Davis,  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
the  rebels  shelling  it  "pretty  lively."  Here  the  men  did 
picket  duty  in  the  entrenchments  and  drilled  in  the  rear 
of  the  fort.  They  remained  in  this  fort,  with  very  little 
occurring  except  the  regular  incidents  of  camp  life,  and 
occasionally  a  man  wounded  on  the  picket  line,  until  the 
2nd  day  of  April  1865,  when  the  final  long  roll  was 
beaten,  and  the  regiment  marched  out  of  the  fort  about 
1 1  o'clock  at  night  to  take  its  position  for  the  attack  on 
Petersburg  the  following  morning.  A  detail  of  ten  men 
from  each  company,  making  100  men,  under  Captain  D. 
S.  Allen,  preceded  this  movement  and  went  forward  to 
the  skirmish  line.  Although  it  was  dark  a  sharp  engage- 
ment took  place  on  the  skirmish  line,  in  which  Captain 
Allen  was  disabled,  and  Lieutenant  Mason,  of  Company 
H,  was  killed;  this  occurred  about  2  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  brigade  containing  the  39th  made  a  short  de- 
tour to  the  right,  and  in  the  general  attack  of  that  mem- 
orable morning  planted  the  colors  of  the  39th  N.  J.  on 
the  rebel  fort  in  its  front.  Company  K  had  the  position 
of  honor,  being  the  color  company  of  the  regiment  by 
choice.  After  Captain  Allen  was  detached  and  sent  for- 
ward with  the  special  detail  to  the  skirmish  line  the 
command  of  Company  K  devolved  upon  First  Lieuten- 
ant Jacob  McConnell,  who  proved  himself  a  worthy  suc- 
cessor. In  this  two-days  engagement  Company  K  lost 
its  share  of  killed  and  wounded. 

Although  this  regiment  was  recruited  during  the  time 
of  paying  large  bounties  it  can  be  said  to  the  credit  of 
Company  K  that  there  only  three  deserters,  and  Com- 
pany K  reported  a  stronger  and  heartier  lot  of  men  and 
consequently  more  fit  for  duty  than  any  other  company 
in  the  regiment,  being  made  up  of  hardy  Morris  county 
men.  In  recalling  the  career  of  this  fine  company  Cap- 
tain Allen  says: 

"Although  seventeen  years  have  passed  away  I  have 
not  forgotten  the  kindly  feelings  toward  me  entertained 
by  the  men  of  Company  K,  many  of  whom  have  answered 
the  last  roll  call;  I  shall  ever  hold  in  grateful  remem- 
brance all  of  this  little  band,  and  my  devout  wish  is  that 
we  may  all  be  registered  on  the  roll  of  the  Great  Com- 


mander." 

Below  is  a  roll  of 


COMPANY   K. 


OFFICERS. 


The  ofificers  of  Company  K  were  mustered  in  as  well 
as  commissioned  or  enrolled  in  September  1864,  for  one 
year,  and  with  one  or  two  exceptions  were  mustered  out 
in  June  1865. 

Captain. — David  S.  Allen. 

First  Lieutenant. — Jacob  McConnell. 

Second  Lieutenant. — John  Shippee. 

First  Sergeant. — Francis  D.  Sturtevant. 

Sergeants.— ^o\iTi.  N.  Young.  Edward  Y.  Trowbridge. 
George  W.  Harris.     Caleb  J.  Broadwell. 

C<7;-/»w/y.— James  H.  De  Poe.  Daniel  Matthews. 
Morgan    R.    Davies      George    Burtt;    dis.    May   3    '65. 


COMPANY  K  THIRTY-NINTH  N.  J.— THE  DEAD. 


lOI 


Charles  H.  Emmons.     John  W.  Nichols;  dis.  May  3 
Henry  Parsons.     Bernard  J.  Storms. 


'6S- 


PRIVATES. 


The  following  enlisted  in  September  1864,  for  one 
year's  service,  were  mustered  in  September  23d  1864, 
and  were  mustered  out  in  June  or  July  1865;  with  a  few 
exceptions,  which  are  noted. 

EstillBeatty;  dis.  May  3'6s.    William  J.  Belcher.    Wil- 
liam Bishop.  John  W.Blake;  mustered  Oct.  i  '64.  Joseph 
C.  Bower;    dis.  May  3  '65.      Terrence    Brannin.     R.  H. 
Brientnall;     prom.  Q.  M.  sergt.   Oct.   11  '64.      William 
Bugbee.     John  E.  Burres.      George  Carey.      Lewis   H. 
Cook.      William    J.   Cook.      J.  V.  P.  Coonrod 
Corby.      John    M.    Crain.      Jacob    and    Joseph   Crum. 
Rinehart    H.   Davis;    dis.  Apr.    28  '65.      David  M.  De 
Camp;  dis.  Apr.  28  '65.      William  Degraw.      Isaiah  De- 
mont.      Cornet  Deinouth;  enlisted  and  mustered  Jan.  5 
'65;  dis.  Apr.  28  '65.     Amos  J.  and  Edward  L.  Emmons. 
Albert  C,  Jacob  H.  and  Joseph  W.  Fichter.      Daniel  S. 
Force.      A.  B.  Ford;    dis.  Apr.  28  '65.      John    Gervin. 
Nathaniel  Gillum;  mustered  in  Oct.  i  '64.      WilKam  P. 
Hart.      William  Henyon.      William  S.  Hulme.      David 
Huyler.       William     H.    Jones.       Abiather     L.    Kynor. 
Marcus   Lamison.     Samuel    Larue;  mustered   in   Oct.  i 
'64.     Joshua  A.  Lobdell;    mustered  in  Oct.  i  '64;  prom, 
com.  sergt.  Oct.  11  '64.    George  D.  Losey.    John  A.  Love; 
dis.   May    3  '65.       Marshall    Love.       Charles    L.    Love, 
wagoner.     Henry  and  William  H.  Marlatt.      Charles  W., 
Mahlon  J.  and  William  C.  Mills.     John  More.     John  W. 
Morgan.     James  Morrison.     John  Morrison;  dis.  May  3 
'65.      Joseph    Morse  jr.      Joseph  J.  Nichols.      Charles 
Nixon;  dis.  Apr.  28  '65.      Silas  H.  Olmsted;  dis.  May  3 
'65.     David  Palmer.     Isaac  N.  Pruden.     Asher  T.  Quier. 
George  W.  Scripture.     David  S.  Searing.     Samuel  Sharp. 
James    Snyder.     Charles    Taylor.     William  Tillyer,  mu- 
sician; dis.  May  3  '65.     George  D.  Totten.      Israel  Van 
Norwick.     James  S.,  Samuel  and    Silas   B.  Van  Orden. 
.Horace    F.  Wallace.     Henry   Whitehead.      William    H. 
Williams.    Hiram  C.  Wood.    David  and  James  O.  Wright. 
Trans/erred  (first  date  that  of  enlistment  and  muster). 
— John  J.  and  Winfield  S.  Carter,  Apr.  10  '65;  from  Co. 
A,  and  to  33d  N.  J.  June  15  '65.     John  R.  Cutting.  Apr. 
8  '65;  to  Co.  G.      Theodore  Demouth,  Jan.  26  '65;    to 
33d  N.  J.  June  IS  '65.      George    Farling,  Apr.  8  '65;  to 
Co.  G.     Robert  McNabb;  Apr.  10  '65;  to  Co.  H.     John 
F.  Reiley  and  Philip  Ryan;  Apr.  8  '65;  to  Co.  C.     Daniel 
Shawger,  Feb.  9  '65 ;  to  Co.  B.     Leonard  Sous,  Apr.  8  '65 ; 
to  Co.  F.      Aaron  A.  Tebo,  Apr.  13  '65;    to  33d  N.  J. 
,  Jnne  15  '65. 

Died  (these  were  one  year's  men,  and,  excepting  the  first, 
were  enlisted  and  mustered  in  September  1864). — Noah 
O.  Baldwin,  enrolled  Jan.  5  '65;  killed  before  Petersburg, 
Va.,  Apr.  2  '65.  John  Conklin;  died  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
Apr.  10  '65,  of  wounds  received  before  Petersburg  Apr. 
2  '65.  Abram  Earl;  died  at  Alexandria,  Va..  May  6  '65, 
of  wounds  received  before  Petersburg.  Thomas  Plum- 
stead;  killed  before  Petersburg,  Va.,  Apr.  2  '65. 

THE    DEAD. 


Besides  the  casualties  noted  in  the  foregoing  records 
we  are  furnished  with  the  following  partial  list  of  the 
soldiers  of  Morris  county  who  died  in  the  service- 

Seventh  Regiment.— (Most  of  these  men  were  from 
Morristown,  and  that  fact  is  indicated  by  the  letter  M 
following  their  names.  All  but  two  were  members  of 
Company  K.)     Erastus  J.  Ackley;  died  at  Georgetown, 


1861.  Theron  A.  Allen,  M.;  died  1862.  Charles  Y. 
Beers,  M.;  killed  at  Gettysburg.'  Jabez  Beers,  M.; 
killed  at  Petersburg,  1864.  Merrit  Bruen,  Madison; 
died  at  City  Point,  Va.,  1864.  Moses  Berry;  died  in 
Maryland,  1861.  Cyrus  Carter,  1862.  James  Brown,  M. 
(Company  C);  killed  at  Gettysburg.  John  Dempsy 
(Company  H);  killed  at  Gettysburg.  John  Dougherty, 
Wilderness,  1864.  Arthur  Ford,  M.;  died  in  Anderson- 
ville  prison,  1864.  Andrew  Halsey,  M.;  died  at  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  1864.  Jacob  Hopping,  Hanover;  killed  at 
Gettysburg.  Robert  Jolly,  M.;  killed  at  Gettysburg. 
Sylvester  Lynn,  Mendham;  died  at  Petersburg,  1864. 
John  R.  Lyon,  Bull  Run,  Va.,  1862.  William  Long, 
New  Vernon;  died  near  Fairfax  Court-house,  Va.,  1862. 
Charles  B.  Mott,  M.;  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  1863.    Lemuel 

Caleb-|  Marshall,  1862.  J.  Miller,  killed  at  Chesterfield  Bridge, 
Va.,  1864.  Allen  Pierson,  M  ;  Petersburg,  1864.  George 
Pier,    1862.     John   A.   Recanio,  M.;    Belle    Isle    prison, 

1862.  Spafford  Sanders,  1862.  Joseph  L.  Spencer, 
Chatham;  killed  at  Petersburg,  1864.  John  Tillotson, 
1862.  Joseph  Watkins,  M.;  died  of  wounds,  Williams- 
burg, Va.,  1862.  J.  Wright;  died  Sept.  8  1864,  in  An- 
dersonville  prison. 

Fifteenth  Regiment  (Company  F  if  not  otherwise  indi- 
cated).— John   W.  Berry,    Flanders;    killed   at  Spottsyl- 
vania,    1864.     William    Broad  well,   Co.   B;    lost    arm    at 
Salem   Heights,    Va.,    May   3    1863.     EHas    H.   Carlile, 
Chester;    killed    at    Cold    Harbor,    1864.      Felix    Cash, 
Chester;  died  of  wounds,  Potomac  Creek,  1864.     War- 
ren N.   Clausen,   Flanders;    died  at  Washington,   1864. 
Charles  Covert,  Fox  Hill;   killed  at  Spottsylvania,  1864. 
George    D.    Foulds,    Roxbury;    killed  at   Spottsylvania, 
1864.     Charles  Heck,  German  Valley;  died  at  Washing- 
ton,  1864.     Anthony  Hoppler,  German  Valley;  died  at 
White  Oak  Church,'  1863.     Whitefield  Lake,  Schooley's 
Mountain;    Spottsylvania,    1864.     Ira  Lindsley,  Morris- 
town,  Company  C;  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  1865. 
Manning  F.  McDougall,  Chester;   killed  at  Cold  Harbor, 
1864.     John   R.  McKain,   Mount  Olive,   1864.     Charles 
Milligan;  killed   at  Winchester,  1864.     Jacob   A.   Peck- 
well,  Flanders;  killed   at  Spottsylvania,  1864.     John   D. 
Salmon,   Flanders;    died    at  White    Oak  Church,   1863. 
Andrew    F.    Salmon,    Flanders  ;     Spottsylvania,     1864. 
Phineas    F.    Skellinger,    Chester ;    Spottsylvania,    1864. 
William  H.  Sergeant,  Budd's  Lake;  died  at  White  Oak 
Church,    1863.     Alexander   S.    Sergeant,    Budd's    Lake; 
killed    at    Fredericksburg,    1863.       James   W.    Sprague, 
Flanders;  killed  at  Fredericksburg,  1863.     Peter  J.  Sut- 
ton, Fox  Hill;  died  in  prison,  1863.    David  Todd,  Lesser 
Cross  Roads;  died  at  White  Oak  Church,  1863.     Isaac 
Vanarsdale,  Lesser  Cross  Roads;  died  of  wounds,  1864. 
John  Van  Houghton,  Morristown,  Company  C;  killed  at 
Spottsylvania,    1864.     Benjamin    D.    Wear,    White    Oak 
Church,    1863.     Elias   Williamson,    Flanders;    killed   at 
Spottsylvania,  1864.     Edward  A.  Simpson,  Company  C; 
Shenandoah,  1864.     Lewis  Aramerman,  Chester;  died  at 
White  Oak  Church.     Oscar  Brokaw,  Chatham,  Company 
C;  Chancellorsville.     Alexander  Beatty;   died  at  Wash- 
ington, 1863.     William  Bowman,  Ralstontown;  Spottsyl- 
vania,  1864.     Franklin   Camp,  Whippany,   Company  C; 
White  Oak  Church,  1863.     Jacob  Lamerson,  Flanders; 
White  Oak  Church,  1863.     Edward  Day,  Chatham,  Com- 
pany C;    killed   at   Cold    Harbor,  Va.,    1864.     Andrew 
Genung,  Chatham,  Company  C;  killed  in  1864.     James 
Hiler,    Company   C;    Chancellorsville,    1863.     Jeremiah 
Haycock,  Mine  Hill,  Company  C;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor, 
1864.     Frank  Cunningham  and  Virgil  Howell,  Company 
C;  died  at  White  Oak  Church,  1863.     Jonathan  Loree; 
killed  in  the  Wilderness,   1864.     Thomas  Phipps,  Com- 
pany C;  died  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  1863.     William 
Storms,  Company  C;  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  1863. 


102 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment. — Stephen  Doty,  Morristown, 
Company  I,  1863.  Samuel  Smith,  Company  K.  and  Al- 
bert Wiggins,  Company  B;  drowned  in  Cumberland  River, 
May  6  1863.  W.  H.  H.  Haines  and  John  Cronan,  New 
Vernon,  Company  I;  died  at  Newport  News.  Louis 
Gregory,  Hanover,  Company  E.  Robert  Lee.  Lemuel 
Lawrence,  Mendham,  Company  E.  Augustus  Salmon, 
Flanders,  Company  C;  died  at  Washington  1863. 

Miscellaneous. — James  M.  Woodruff,  Mendham,  nth 
N.  J.;  killed  at  Mine  Run,  Va.,  1864.  D.  B.  Logan, 
Succasunna,  nth  N.  J.;  killed  at  Gettysburg.  William 
Potts,  Morristown,  nth  N.  J.;  died  in  hospital,  1862. 
John  D.  Evans,  Morristown,  Company  G  8th  N.  J,;  killed 
ai  Cold  Harbor.  David  Cooper,  8th  N.  J.;  killed  at 
Gettysburg.  Isaac  D.  Dickerson,  Malapardis,  Company 
E  i2oth  N.  Y;  died  near  Bealton,  Ya.,  Sept.  9  1863. 
Theodore  Cooper,  Morristown,  6th  N.  J.;  killed  at  Fort 
Pickens,  Fla.,  in  Dec.  1861.  Captain  Charles  W.  Can- 
field,  Morristown,  2nd  U.  S.  cavalry,  killed  in  Virginia. 
Alfred  Axtell,  Morristown,  Company  D  i6th  Mich.; 
killed  at  Petersburg,  1864.  Charles  Carrell,  Morristown, 
Company  B  2nd  N.  J.;  died  in  hospital.  Edward  F. 
Cavanaugh,  Morristown,  Company  B  2nd  N.  J.;  died  at 
Columbus,  Kas.  William  Cole,  Morristown,  3d  N.  J.; 
killed  in  1861.  J.  L.  Doty,  Morristown,  ist  N.  J.  cavalry; 
died  after  leaving  Belle  Isle  prison.  Theodore  Edwards. 
Morristown,  ist  N.  J.  cavalry;  died  in  Belle  Isle  prison, 
James  L.  Freeman,  Morristown,  2nd  D.  C.  volunteers; 
died  in  1862.  John  M.  Lewis,  Morristown,  9th  N.  J.; 
hospital  steward;  died  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  Nov.  7  1862. 
Willie  Morehouse,  Morristown,  37th  N.  J.;  killed  at 
Petersburg,  Va.  Lindsley  H.  Miller,  Morristown,  U.  S. 
C.  T.,  1864.  Patrick  McShane,  Company  E  4th  N.  Y. 
cavalry.  Samuel  McNair,  Morristown,  Company  K  ist 
N.  Y.  engineers;  died  in  South  Carolina.  John  O'Don- 
nell,  Morristown,  Company  B  2nd  N.  J.;  killed  at  Salem 
Heights,  Va.  George  A.  Perrine,  Morristown,  Company 
B  162nd  N.  Y.;  died  in  Louisiana,  1862.  George  B. 
Wear,  Morristown,  Company  B  2nd  N.  J.  cavalry;  died 
Feb.  25  1864,  from  hardship  in  prison.  Spencer  Wood, 
Morristown,  4th  N.  J.  cavalry;  killed  at  Petersburg,  1864. 
Michael  Cummings,  Morris  Plains,  ist  N.  J.  artillery; 
killed.  James  Mathews,  Company  B  ist  artillery.  A.  W. 
Thompson,  Company  B  2nd  N.  J.;  died  at  White  Oak 
Church,  1863.  William  Wottman,  Chester,  Company  A 
5th  N.  J.;  killed  at  Petersburg,  1864.  William  Wear, 
Company  A  sth  N.  J.;  died  in  1864.  Albert  Collins, 
Company  B  ist  artillery;  died  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Job 
De  Hart,  Morristown,  N.  Y.  regiment;  died  at  New  Or- 
leans, 1864.  Stephen  D.  Fairchild,  17th  Wis.;  died  at 
Washington.  Philip  Keller,  3d  N.  J.  cavalry.  Moses 
Miller,  Company  A  32nd  U.  S.  C.  T.;  died  in  hospital. 
Abram  Earl,  Company  K  39th  N.  J.;  died  at  Alexandria, 
Va.,  May  7  1865.  Hampton  Whitehead,  9th  N.  J.;  killed 
Mar.  14  1862,  near  Newbern,  N.  C.  John  M.  Powers, 
Company  G  ist  Pa.  reserve  corps;  killed  at  South  Moun- 
tain, Sept.  14  1862.  Corporal  Ezra  S.  Day,  30th  N.  J.; 
died  Feb.  21  186^,  at  Belle  Plain. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


A    SKETCH    OF    THE    GEOLOGY    AND    PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY 
'  OF    MORRIS    COUNTY. 


By  F.  a.  CANiaJEtD. 


HIS  county  is  located  in  what  is  known  as  the 
Highlands  of  New  Jersey.  The  surface  is 
quite  irregular,  varying  from  175  feet  above 
the  sea  level  in  the  southeastern  part  to  over 
1,200  feet  in  the  northern. 
Commencing  at  the  southeasterly  boundary,  the 
^  change  in  elevation  of  the  surface  is  gradual 
until  the  bases  of  the  mountain  ranges  running  near  Mor- 
ristown and  Boonton  are  reached,  beyond  which  the  sur- 
face is  very  much  broken.  The  distinction  is  drawn  be- 
tween the  terms  "  mountains  "  and  "'  mountain  ranges," 
the  "  ranges  "  being  made  up  of  a  series  of  partially  de- 
tached mountains.  The  ranges  run  generally  in  a  north- 
easterly and  southwesterly  direction,  while  the  mountains 
themselves  follow  a  more  northerly  course.  The  moun-- 
tains  are  peculiar  in  the  fact  that  they  rise  gradually  at 
the  northeastern  end,  and,  running  with  undulating  crests, 
fall  abruptly  at  the  southwestern  extremity. 

In  point  of  size  the  chief  mountain  ranges  are  School- 
ey's  and  Green  Pond,  but  by  far  the  most  important  in 
an  economic  point  of  view  is  the  range  of  hills  that  lies 
next  to  and  to  the  southeast  of  the  Green  Pond  mountain 
range.  This  belt  bears  nearly  all  the  iron  ore  deposits 
of  the  county.  A  few  deposits  are  worked  in  the  moun- 
tains immediately  west  of  the  Green  Pond  range,  of  which 
the  Hurd  and  Ford  mines  are  the  most  important. 

The  geological  structure  is  not  very  complicated;  for, 
while  the  different  formations  are  divided  by  great  periods 
of  time,  the  members  of  the  geological  column  are  but 
few,  as  many  of  the  intervening  groups  have  no  represent- 
atives among  the  rocks  of  this  county.  The  greater  por- 
tion of  the  county  is  underlain  by  rocks  that  belong  to 
the  oldest  geological  formation  known  in  the  world. 
This  formation  is  termed  the  "  Azoic  " — meaning  "  ab- 
sence of  life  " — and  includes  all  the  syenites,  gneiss,  or 
granitic  rocks,  the  crystalline  limestones,  and  the  magnetic 
iron  ores.  The  magnetic  iron  ores  constitute  but  an  ex- 
tremely small  percentage  of  the  Azoic  rocks,  yet  they  are 
the  most  important  member  of  the  group,  and  occur  in 
beds  that  are  truly  conformable  to  the  inclosing  rocks. 
These  bodies  of  ore  are  not  veins,  according  to  the 
modern  definition  of  the  term,  but  are  of  sedimentary 
origin.  Generally  they  are  lenticular  in  shape.  They  are 
not  continuous  horizontally,  and  their  extent  vertically  is 
uncertain.  Considerable  difference  of  opinion  has  long 
existed  as  to  the  origin  of  these  deposits.  Some  experts 
believe  that  the  beds  are  true  veins  of  igneous  origin, 
having  been  formed  by  the  injection  of  mineral  matter, 
while  in  a  melted  condition,  between  the  walls  of  gneiss. 


FORMATION  OF  IRON  ORE  BEDS— THE  AZOIC  ROCKS. 


103 


It  is  true  that  there  are  evidences  of  the  action  of  heat, 
but  most  geologists  at  the  present  day  hold  that  these 
ores  are  as  sedimentary  in  origin  as  the  rocks  in  which 
they  are  found. 

A  brief  description  of  the  probable  process  by  which 
these  ore  beds  were  formed  will  not  be  without  interest. 
Protoxide  of  iron  exists  in  many  rocks,  and  when  brought 
in  contact  with  carbonic  acid  or  some  organic  acid  it 
combines  with  it,  forming  what  chemists  call  proto-salts 
of  iron.  These  salts  are  readily  soluble  in  water,  which 
by  leaching  them  out  carries  them  to  some  pond  hole 
where  the  current  of  the  stream  is  checked.  Continued 
exposure  of  these  salts  to  the  atmosphere  causes  them  by 
chemical  affinity  to  take  up  or  combine  with  more  oxy- 
gen, forming  sesqui-oxide  of  iron,  which  is  insoluble  in 
water.  This  action  takes  place  at  the  surface  of  the 
water  and  betrays  its  presence  by  a  metallic  film,  show- 
ing the  prismatic  colors,  which  floats  until  the  accumula- 
tion becomes  so  great  as  to  sink  to  the  bottom  in  the 
form  of  a  yellow  precipitate  of  sesqui-oxide  of  iron  or, 
commonly  speaking,  iron  rust.  An  ironmaster  would 
call  it  bog  ore  or  brown  hematite;  a  mineralogist,  limon- 
ite.  Chemically  pure  limonite  consists  of  59.92  per  cent, 
metallic  iron,  25.68  per  cent,  oxygen,  and  14.40  per  cent, 
water.  As  soon  as  a  film  of  sesqui-oxide  of  iron  settles 
another  begins  to  form,  and  this  action  goes  on  continu- 
ally. After  this  product  the  description  of  the  process 
must  necessarily  become  somewhat  hypothetical.  It  is 
supposed  that  a  great  mass  of  this  limonite  has  been  de- 
posited on  the  bottom  of  some  large  sheet  of  water,  and 
through  some  action  of  nature  such  as  a  subsidence  of 
the  surface,  or  an  elevation  of  the  surrounding  country, 
or  violent  storms,  the  process  of  deposition  ceases  and  an 
influx  of  mud  and  sand  takes  place,  covering  the  limonite 
with  material  many  feet  in  thickness.  The  weight  of 
this  covering  would  solidify  the  ore  and  force  the  greater 
part  of  the  free  water  from  it.  Limonite  in  this  condi- 
tion occurs  at  Beattystown,  N.  J. 

The  14.40  per  cent,  of  water  that  is  in  chemical  com- 
bination with  the  iron  cannot  be  expelled  by  pressure 
alone,  but  another  agent  now  acts  in  concert  with  pres- 
sure, namely  heat.  The  source  of  this  heat  is  uncertain, 
but  its  presence  is  proven  by  the  products  of  fusion, 
found  with  the  ore.  Pressure  and  heat  together  expel 
the  last  traces  of  water  from  the  limonite,  and  leave  a 
residue  that  is  an  anhydrous  sesqui-oxide  of  iron.  This 
is  true  hematite,  and  if  pure  consists  of  70  per  cent,  of 
metallic  iron  and  30  per  cent,  of  oxygen.  It  is  an  im- 
portant ore,  but  is  not  found  in  this  county  in  paying 
quantities.  If  while  the  ore  is  subjected  to  the  above 
mentioned  agencies  some  element  like  carbon — having  a 
greater  affinity  for  oxygen  than  the  iron  has — be  present, 
a  partial  reduction  takes  place;  the  ore  yields  a  small 
percentage  of  its  oxygen  to  the  carbon,  becoming  richer 
in  metallic  iron,  and  is  then  called  magnetic  iron  ore,  or 
magnetite — a  name  given  on  account  of  the  property  it 
has  of  influencing  a  magnetic  needle  or  compass.  Pure 
magnetite  can  contain  but  72.4  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron 
ore  and  27.6  per  cent,  of  oxygen. 


The  extent  and  importance  of  this  ore  to  this  county 
will  be  treated  under  a  special  heading. 

While  all  of  the  above  mentioned  reactions  and  trans- 
formations are  taking  place,  the  mud  and  sand  that  were 
above  and  below  the  ore  have  been  subjected  to  the  in- 
fluence of  the  same  agencies,  and  what  once  existed  in 
layers  of  soft  material  becomes  a  hard  stratified  rock. 
The  cooling  of  the  earth  causes  it  to  shrink,  and  the 
crust,  being  hardened  by  more  rapid  cooling,  cannot 
contract  sufficiently  without  forming  wrinkles  or  folds  on 
the  surface.  This  throws  the  horizontal  strata  of  rock 
and  ore  up  on  edge  or  in  a  partially  inclined  position,  so 
that  what  once  formed  the  bottom  of  a  lake  may  have  be- 
come a  hill  or  mountain. 

The  Azoic  rocks  of  this  county  are  almost  without  ex- 
ception stratified,  with  a  general  strike  from  the  north- 
east to  the  southwest,  and  generally  with  a  dip  to  the 
southeast,  the  dip  varying  from  horizontal  to  perpendic- 
ular. The  term  "  strike "  means  the  direction  of  the 
edges  of  the  strata  with  reference  to  the  points  of  the 
compass,  and  in  most  cases  it  corresponds  with  the  axes 
of  the  mountains.  The  term  "dip"  is  applied  to  the 
vertical  angle  formed  by  the  plane  of  the  strata  with  a 
horizontal  plane,  and  is  always  taken  at  right  angles  to 
the  strike.  The  southeastern  boundary  of  the  Azoic 
rocks,  after  keeping  a  very  direct  course  from  the  Hudson 
River,  crosses  Passaic  county  nearly  on  the  line  of  the 
Ramapo  River,  and  enters  Morris  county  near  Pompton; 
keeping  the  same  course,  it  passes  just  east  of  Boonton 
and  west  of  Morris  Plains.  A  short  distance  west  of  the 
latter  place  the  line  makes  a  short  turn  to  the  east,  the.n 
runs  due  south  until  it  reaches  Morristown,  where  it 
bends  to  the  southwest  and,  resuming  its  general  course, 
passes  into  Somerset  county  in  the  direction  of  Bernards- 
ville.  A  description  of  this  boundary  is  necessarily 
somewhat  inaccurate,  and  the  line  appears  more  regular 
than  it  probably  is;  in  fact  it  is  but  a  description  of  the 
bases  of  the  mountains  and  hills  on  the  eastern  border  of 
the  formation.  This  indefiniteness  exists  because  of  the 
great  burden  of  earth  that  covers  the  lower  part  of  this 
formation. 

Following  the  line  between  the  counties  of  Morris  and 
Somerset  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  point  where  the 
eastern  border  of  the  gneiss  leaves  the  county,  no  break 
in  the  formation  occurs  until  a  small  patch  of  the  mag- 
nesian  limestone  and  a  spur  of  Triassic  sandstone  are 
reached  near  the  stream  that  flows  through  Peapack. 
This  gap  is  a  little  more  than  two  miles  in  width.  On 
the  west  side  the  gneiss  appears  again,  and  may  be  fol- 
lowed continuously  on  the  line  between  Morris  and 
Hunterdon  counties  almost  to  the  Warren  county  line, 
with  the  single  exception  of  a  bed  of  limestone,  about 
half  a  mile  in  width,  lying  immediately  west  of  the  foot 
of  Fox  Hill,  in  German  Valley.  The  Musconetcong 
River  forms  the  boundary  between  Morris  and  Warren 
counties  from  a  point  just  south  of  Stephensburg  to  Wat- 
erloo, and  runs  the  entire  distance  on  a  narrow  belt  of 
blue  limestone,  which  separates  the  county  line  from  the 
northwestern  border  of  the  Azoic  rocks  by  a  fraction  of 


104 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


a  mile.  The  line  between  Morris  and  Sussex  counties  is 
formed  by  the  Musconetcong  River  from  Waterloo  to 
Lake  Hopatcong,  and  by  the  lake  to  Woodport,  from 
which  place  an  arbitrary  line  runs  straight  to  a  point  near 
Snufftown,  where  it  meets  the  head  waters  of  the  Pequan- 
nock  River.  This  entire  distance  is  underlain  by  Azoic 
rocks.  The  Pequannock  River  forms  the  division  line 
between  Morris  and  Passaic  counties,  and  flows  in  a 
southeasterly  direction.  For  a  short  distance  after  it 
becomes  the  county  line  the  river  passes  over  Azoic  rocks, 
and  then  crosses  a  belt  of  more  modern  rcicks  that  be- 
long to  the  Lower  Silurian  period.  These  are  known  as 
Potsdam  sandstone  or  Green  Pond  Mountain  rock  and 
Hudson  River  slate.  This  belt  of  Paleozoic  rocks  is 
about  four  miles  wide.  The  stream  leaves  the  sandstone 
just  north  of  Charlotteburgh  and,  continuing  its  south- 
easterly course,  flows  over  gneissic  rocks  until  it  reaches 
their  eastern  boundary  near  Pompton.  The  territory  in- 
cluded in  the  boundaries  that  have  just  been  described 
covers  nearly  three  quarters  of  the  total  area  of  the  county, 
and,  after  excepting  a  few  deposits  all  of  which  are  com- 
paratively small,  the  entire  surface  is  underlain  with 
gneiss  or  syenite. 

The  last  member  of  the  Azoic  rocks  is  the  white  lirne- 
stone,  which  occurs  sparingly  in  two  places.  One  deposit 
is  near  Montville,  where  it  is  associated  with  asbestos, 
fibrous  (chysotile)  and  massive  serpentine.  This  bed  is 
worked  by  the  Boonton  Iron  Company  for  limestone  for 
the  company's  furnaces.  The  other  deposit  is  on  the 
Sanders  farm  near  Mendham. 

Rising  in  the  geological  column,  the  next  period  repre 
sented  by  the  rocks  of  this  county  is  the  Lower  Silurian, 
which  includes  the  Potsdam  sandstone,  the  Hudson 
River  slate  and  all  of  the  remaining  limestones. 

The  sandstones,  being  the  lowest,  should  be  considered 
first.  This  material  varies  greatly  in  structure  and  tex- 
ture. In  some  places  it  consists  of  an  extremely  hard 
conglomerate  made  up  of  large  pebbles,  giving  it  a  beau- 
tiful mottled  appearance,  and  would  make  a  fine  building 
stone  if  it  were  less  difficult  to  dress.  Sometimes  it  oc- 
curs in  large  thin  slabs,  with  fine  grain  and  free  from 
pebbles,  and  makes  a  fair  substitute  for  rough  flagging. 
This  rock  is  also  found  in  the  form  of  sand.  This  for- 
mation, rising  near  Cornwall,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  runs 
in  a  southwesterly  direction  across  that  county,  enters 
New  Jersey  just  west  of  Greenwood  Lake,  crosses  Pas- 
saic county,  and  passes  into  Morris  county  at  Newfound- 
land. At  this  point  the  formation  is  about  two  miles 
wide  and  of  low  elevation,  being  crossed  by  the  Pequan- 
nock River.  The  formation  rises  rapidly  as  it  proceeds 
toward  the  southwest.  Three  miles  from  Newfoundland 
it  forms  two  high  ridges  known  as  Green  Pond  Mountain 
and  Copperas  Mountain.  The  latter  is  parallel  to  and 
east  of  the  former.  Green  Pond  lies  between  tliem,  at 
an  elevation  of  1,069  ^^^^  above  sea  level. 

Copperas  Mountain  rises  just  west  of  Charlotteburgh 
and  runs  about  six  miles,  to  Denmark,  where  it  falls  pre- 
cipitously^ allowing  the  passage  of  Green  Pond  Brook. 
The  sides  of  the  mountain   are  very  steep,  being  often 


perpendicular  cliffs  or  ledges  of  rock.  It  takes  its  name 
from  the  iron  mines  near  its  base,  which  were  formerly 
worked  for  copperas — a  sulphate  of  iron.  Green  Pond 
Mountain  rises  near  Newfoundland,  and  continues  with- 
out interruption  until  it  reaches  Baker's  Mill,  where  it 
disappears  below  the  level  of  the  valley  of  the  Rockaway 
River,  which  crosses  the  formation  at  this  place.  The 
west  side  of  this  mountain  is  very  steep,  being  impassable 
in  places.  At  Petersburg  and  Milton  there  is  a  ppur  or 
offshoot  of  conglomerate  on  the  west  side  of  the  valley. 
This  forms  what  is  known  as  Bowling  Green  Mountain, 
and  is  separated  on  the  surface  from  Green  Pond  Moun- 
tain by  a  bed  of  slate,  under  which  the  formation  is  con- 
tinuous. South  of  the  Rockaway  River  at  Baker's  Mill 
the  sandstones  are  found  in  four  isolated  deposits.  The 
first  deposit  makes  its  appearance  between  Duck  Pond 
and  the  bridge  where  the  Chester  Railroad  crosses  the 
Morris  Canal,  extends  in  a  southerly  direction,  and 
gradually  rising  forms  a  low  hill,  steep  toward  the  east 
and  sloping  gently  westward.  The  Morris  Canal  and 
the  public  highway  follow  the  base  of  the  hill  closely 
as  far  as  McCainsville,  where  the  formation 
falls  suddenly  below  the  plain,  allowing  the  passage 
of  the  Morris  Carial,  Black  River,  and  a  branch 
of  the  Longwood  Valley  Railroad.  At  this  extremity 
the  stratification  is  strongly  marked,  and  quarries  yield- 
ing good  building  stones  have  been  opened.  Fine  spec- 
imens of  curved  slabs,  formed  by  the  folding  of  the  rocks, 
are  found  here.  To  the  northwest  of  the  first  deposit 
lies  the  second,  on  the  foot  of  Brookland  Mountain.  The 
Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  crosses  it  a  short  distance  ber 
low  the  Drakesville  depot,  by  an  excavation  commorily 
known  as  the  "  White  Rock  cut,"  the  name  being  sugr. 
gested  by  the  color  of  the  stone.  At  this  place  the  rock 
appears  as  a  typical  sandstone,  being  fine-grained  and 
friable.  The  third  deposit  forms  the  hill  which  rises  near 
the  canal,  west  of  McCainsville.  It  forms  the  western 
boundary  of  Succasunna  Plains,  to  a  point  a  short  dis- 
tance south  of  the  road  leading  to  Drakesville,  and  here 
it  is  lost  under  a  heavy  burden  of  earth.  About  a  mile 
further  south  it  reappears,  forming  the  fourth  deposit, 
the  outlines  of  which  are  traced  with  great  difficulty,  ss 
the  outcrops  are  rare.  The  fourth  deposit  stops  at 
Flanders,  and  is  the  last  of  this  series  that  is  found  in 
the  county.  In  this  deposit  the  last  traces  of  a  rocky 
texture  have  disappeared,  and  the  material  occurs  in  the 
form  of  white  sand.  Large  quantities  have  been  dug 
and  sent  away  by  the  Boonton  Iron  Company  and  by 
private  individuals,  to  be  used  as  a  lining  for  furnaces,  as 
it  is  very  refractory. 

Boulders  of  Potsdam  sandstone  occur  near  German 
Valley,  and,  although  never  found  in  situ,  it  may  exist 
underneath  the  limestones  of  the  valley. 

All  of  these  deposits  may  be  connected  with  one  an- 
other, but  the  burden  of  earth  which  divides  the  outcrops 
is  so  great  that  the  question  of  the  continuity  of  the  for^ 
mation  will  always  be  an  open  one. 

Mount  Paul,  near  Mendham,  is  an  isolated  peak  of  this 
sandstone. 


MAGNESIAN  LIMESTONE— HUDSON  RIVER  SLATE. 


105 


Immediately  above  the  Potsdam  sandstone  comes  the 
Magnesian  limestone — a  name  given  on  account  of  an 
important  constituent,  it  being  nearly  half  carbonate  of 
magnesia,  pure  limestone  containing  carbonate  of  lime 
only.  The  magnesian  limestones  of  this  county  are  gen- 
erally hard,  compact  and  fine-grained,  and  are  free  from 
fossils.  Their  color  varies  from  almost  black  to  gray; 
generally  it  is  of  a  bluish  tint.  The  color  is  due  to  the 
presence  of  organic  matter,  as  the  limestone  burns  white. 

The  largest  deposit  in  the  county  is  in  German  Valley, 
which  place  it  underlies  from  the  foot  of  Fox  Hill  to  the 
foot  of  Schooley's  Mountain.  This  bed  is  elongated, 
with  an  axis  parallel  to  and  nearly  coincident  with  the 
prolonged  axis  of  the  Potsdam  sandstones  just  described. 
It  extends  from  about  a  mile  northeast  of  Naughright- 
vilk  to  about  a  mile  southwest  of  California  in  Hunter- 
don county,  crossing  the  county  line  at  Middle  Valley. 
The  extremities  are  about  nine  miles  apart;  its  greatest 
width  is  about  half  a  mile.  It  is  extensively  worked  for 
lime  for  farming  purposes,  and  considerable  quantities 
are  used  in  the  blast  furnaces  at  Chester  and  Boonton. 

The  second  bed  of  this  variety  of  limestone  in  point  of 
size  is  part  of  a  large  deposit  which  extends  from  south- 
west of  Bloomsbury,  in  Hunterdon  county,  to  Waterloo 
in  Sussex  county,  a  distance  of  some  twenty-five  miles 
along  the  valley  of  the  Musconetcong  River.  The  part 
which  is  in  Morris  county  lies  between  the  river  and  the 
foot  of  Schooley's  Mountain.  The  brown  hematite 
mined  at  Beattystown  is  found  in  this  formation. 

The  next  in  the  scale  of  importance  is  the  deposit  that, 
rising  a  short  distance  south  of  Peapack,  in  Somerset 
county,  runs  northerly  and  enters  the  county  just  west  of 
the  line  between  Mendham  and  Chester  townships.  In 
crossing  the  county  line  it  bends  suddenly  to  the  north- 
east, occupies  the  valley  east  of  Mount  Paul,  skirts  along 
the  base  of  the  mountain,  crosses  the  valley  of  Indian 
Brook,  and  disappears  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
northwest  of  the  village  of  Mendham.  The  greatest 
length  of  the  deposit  is  about  six  miles — four  and  a  half 
&f  which  are  in  this  county — and  the  greatest  breadth 
about  half  a  mile.  It  is  partially  bounded  on  the  west 
and  northwest  by  Triassic  shales  and  Potsdam  sandstones, 
while  the  remaining  boundaries  are  gneiss.  Quarries  on 
this  deposit  have  yielded  large  quantities  of  lime  for  fer- 
tilizing and  building  purposes. 

The  remaining  deposits  are  those  at  Middle  Forge. 
Two  of  these  have  been  worked;  both  are  small  and  lie 
on  the  conglomerate.  One  is  near  the  forge  pond,  on 
>the  side  next  the  Green  Pond  Mountain,  and  is  about 
450  feet  long.  The  other,  farther  south,  lies  at  the  foot 
of  the  same  mountain,  near  the  place  where  the  highway 
from  Berkshire  Valley  to  Mount  Hope  turns  to  the  east 
to  cross  the  valley.  These  quarries  were  the  source  of 
the  limestone  used  in  the  furnaces  that  were  formerly 
operated  at  Mount  Hope.  The  small  deposit  of  magne- 
sian limestone  lying  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading 
-from  Stanhope  to  Budd's  Lake  is  not  in  place,  but  is 
merely  a  boulder. 

Fossiliferous  limestone  lies  above  the  magnesian  lime- 


stone and  below  the  Hudson  River  slate,  and,  while  ex- 
isting in  large  deposits  in  other  parts  of  New  Jersey,  it 
occurs  but  sparingly  in  this  county.  Its  presence  is 
worthy  of  note,  as  it  is  a  member  of  the  rocks  of  this 
period.  The  only  deposits  are  found  scattered  along  the 
western  base  of  the  Green  Pond  Mountain,  from  Upper 
Longwood  to  Woodstock,  and  along  the  eastern  base 
between  Newfoundland  and  Green  Pond.  The  rock  is 
very  friable  and  full  of  indistinct  fossils,  and  is  generally 
too  impure  to  be  of  much  economic  value. 

Hudson  River  slate  is  another  rock  noteworthy  only 
on  account  of  its  representing  a  formation  that  has 
greater  importance  elsewhere  in  the  State.  Instead  of 
appearing  as  a  typical  slate,  valuable  for  roofing  purposes, 
it  occurs  as  a  hard,  dark  colored  rock,  with  crooked 
seams,  which  cause  it  to  break  in  irregular  masses.  It  is 
refractory,  and  resists  the  action  of  time  to  a  great  de- 
gree. The  sole  deposit  of  slate  in  Morris  county  rises  at 
the  State  line,  between  Greenwood  Lake  and  Bearfort 
Mountain;  runs  parallel  to  the  mountain  side,  contracting 
on  its  approach  to  the  town  of  West  Milford;  and  thence 
gradually  expanding  to  near  the  county  line,  spreads  out 
and  divides  about  the  north  end  of  the  Green  Pond 
Mountain  formation.  The  eastern  branch  is  narrow,  and 
after  crossing  the  county  line  ends,  after  following  for 
about  a  mile  the  valley  of  the  stream  that  rises  near 
Green  Pond  and  flows  into  the  Pequannock  River.  The 
western  branch  is  also  narrow  until  it  passes  Newfound- 
land, when  it  suddenly  expands  to  the  west  and  enters 
the  county  with  a  width  of  about  two  miles.  It  holds 
this  width  as  far  as  Russia,  and  then  commences  to  di- 
minish in  breadth;  at  Milton  its  western  boundary  jumps 
suddenly  to  the  east,  being  crowded  over  by  the  sand- 
stone of  Bowling  Green  Mountain,  until  it  is  only  half  a 
mile  wide.  From  Petersburg  it  follows  the  valley  of  the 
Rockaway  River,  gradually  growing  narrower  and  dis- 
appearing at  Upper  Longwood.  The  eastern  boundary 
is  nearly  straight,  being  formed  by  the  foot  of  Green 
Pond  Mountain,  on  which  this  deposit  lies. 

A  great  break  in  the  geological  column  now  presents 
itself.  None  of  the  rocks  belonging  to  the  Upper  Si- 
lurian, to  the  Devonian  or  Old  Red  Sandstone,  to  the 
Carboniferous  with  its  coal  measures,  nor  to  the  Permian 
period,  have  been  found  in  the  county.  The  next  for- 
mation to  be  considered  is  the  Triassic  or  New  Red 
Sandstone.  This  is  the  age  in  which  reptiles  first  made 
their  appearance,  fishes  being  the  highest  order  of  life 
that  had  existed  heretofore.  This  name  is  given  to  the 
period  because  in  Germany  this  formation  is  composed 
of  three  kinds  of  rock,  viz.:  Bunter  Sandstein,  Muschel- 
kalk  and  Keuper. 

In  geographical  extent  the  Triassic  rocks  of  the  county 
are  exceeded  only  by  those  of  the  Azoic  period.  The 
northwestern  border  of  the  formation  crosses  Passaic 
county  nearly  on  the  line  of  the  Ramapo  River,  and 
enters  Morris  county  at  Pompton;  thence  running  on  a 
very  direct  southwesterly  course  it  passes  through  the 
city  of  Boonton,  and  on  to  Morris  Plains;  there  it  turns 
to  the  south  and  swings  around  the  foot  of  Trowbridge 


io6 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Mountain,  resumes  at  Morristown  its  former  course,  and 
follows  the  road  to  Bernardsville  until  it  crosses  the 
county  line.  This  it  will  be  seen  is  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  gneiss.  The  sandstones  lie  upon  the  older  rocks 
throughout  the  entire  distance.  There  are  no  other  boun- 
daries to  this  formation  in  the  county,  as  the  county  line 
cuts  off  but  a  fragment,  as  it  were,  of  a  belt  of  sandstone 
which  is  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  miles  wide,  and 
which,  rising  near  Cornwall,  N.  Y.,  crosses  New  Jersey, 
and  passes  into  Pennsylvania.  The  materials  composing 
this  formation  are  either  red  shales  or  red  sandstones, 
the  latter  being  largely  used  for  building  purposes  under 
the  name  of  "  freestone."  A  black  shale  is  found  at 
Boonton,  which  furnishes  fine  specimens  of  fossil  fish, 
and  small  layers  of  bituminous  matter  resembling  coal. 
Below  the  town  and  near  the  river  slabs  of  rock  may  be 
obtained  bearing  tracks  or  the  imprints  of  the  feet  of  ex- 
tinct reptiles.  These  remains  correspond  exactly  with 
those  found  in  the  Triassic  rocks  of  Connecticut. 

Trap  rocks  in  the  form  of  dykes  or  ridges  are  char- 
acteristic of  the  Triassic  formation.  The  largest  out- 
crop of  this  material  found  in  the  county  is  the  ridge 
which  rises  near  the  village  of  Chatham,  runs  south- 
westerly to  Myersville,  where  it  turns  more  to  the  west- 
ward, crosses  the  county  line  near  Millington,  and  disap- 
pears at  Liberty  Corner.  This  ridge  is  known  as  "  Long 
Hill."  Its  length  is  about  eleven  miles  (eight  of  which 
are  in  this  county)  and  the  average  width  is  about  one- 
third  of  a  mile. 

The  outcrop  of  trap  second  in  importance  is  part  of  a 
formation  which  rises  near  Pine  Brook,  and  running 
north  forms  Hook  Mountain;  keeps  this  course  for  four 
miles,  then  turns  with  a  large  sweep  to  the  east,  and 
leaves  the  county  at  Mead's  Basin. 

The  only  other  deposits  are  two  short  ridges  located 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county;  the  larger,  ris- 
ing near  Green  Village,  runs  northwesterly  for  a  short 
distance,  then  turns  due  west  and,  widening  gradually  for 
two  miles  to  about  half  a  mile  in  breadth,  continues  on 
the  same  course  for  about  another  mile,  widens  rapidly  to 
one  and  a  half  miles  and  then  disappears.  The  other 
outcrop  runs  northerly  from  the  same  town  for  three 
miles;  the  southerly  half  is  about  half  a  mile  in  width, 
the  other  part  swings  to  the  west  and  narrows  rapidly 
until  it  disappears. 

This  ends  the  description  of  the  fixed  rocks,  as  none  of 
the  rocks  of  the  later  geological  periods  are  found  in  this 
county. 

The  remaining  feature  to  be  described  is  the  structure 
of  the  surface,  and  in  preparing  this  part  of  the  geology 
of  Morris  county  liberal  drafts  have  been  made  on  the 
State  Geological  Report  for  the  year  1880.  This  report 
describes  the  results  of  glacial  action  throughout  the  en- 
tire State,  and  treats  of  the  subject  exhaustively.  It  is 
highly  recommended  to  the  reader  who  may  desire  a 
more  detailed  account  than  the  following. 

Disregarding  the  ledges  or  outcrops  of  a  rocky  nature, 
the  surface  is  made  up  of  earth,  clays,  sands,  gravels,  and 
boulders.     The  earths  may  be  the  result  of  the  decompo- 


sition and  disintegration  of  the  rocks  lying  in  place  under- 
neath, and  such  earths  can  readily  be  distinguished  by  the 
presence  of  rocky  fragments  having  rough  surfaces  and 
sharp  edges;  or  they  are  made  up  from  materials  brought 
from  a  distance  and  redeposited  through  the  agency  of 
water  and  ice. 

It  is  impossible  to  determine  the  time  when  the  decom- 
position began  from  which  the  earths  now  in  place  are 
derived;  probably  as  soon  as  the  rocks  were  thrown  into 
their  present  positions.  The  action  of  air,  water  and 
frost  has  never  ceased,  but  goes  on  continually,  and  it  is 
to  this  feature  that  the  sustained  fertility  of  the  soil  is 
greatly  due.  Certain  elements  essential  to  plant  life  are 
constantly  set  free  and  offered  to  the  plant  in  such  a  con- 
dition that  they  may  be  readily  absorbed.  These  earths 
may  be  termed  "  native,"  and  are  found  only  where  the 
surface  was  not  exposed  to  glacial  action. 

The  transported  materials  belong  to  what  is  known  as 
the  glacial  period,  and  are  included  in  the  term  "drift." 
During  the  glacial  period  the  ice  field  now  found  in  the 
extreme  northern  latitudes  extended  southward  until  it 
covered  the  northern  part  of  New  Jersey  to  a  depth  of 
nearly  one  thousand  feet,  but  leaving  the  highest  moun- 
tains bare.  Farther  north  it  reached  a  depth  of  several 
thousand  feet.  This  field  of  ice  moved  from  north  to 
south  with  a  creeping  motion,  the  front  part  constantly 
melting  away  as  it  was  pushed  forward  by  the  mass  of 
material  behind,  and  any  movable  object  was  irresistably 
carried  along  by  the  flow.  By  this  means  a  vast  quantity 
of  rock  was  torn  from  its  place  and  transported  greater 
or  less  distances,  often  many  miles.  The  action  being  a 
grinding  one  the  corners  and  edges  of  the  rocks  were 
soon  broken  and  worn  off,  forming  boulders,  and  the 
fragments  exposed  to  the  same  influence  were  ground 
into  pebbles,  gravels  or  sands.  The  surface  of  the  rocks 
in  situ  suffered  accordingly,  and  in  many  places  in  the 
county  the  summits  of  the  mountains  are  worn  and 
rounded,  often  showing  grooves  and  scratches  as  evidences 
of  the  grinding  action.  The  term  "  glacial  drift "  may 
be  applied  to  all  the  debris  resulting  from  the  glacial 
action,  but  for  convenience  its  use  is  confined  to  such 
materials  as  are  thoroughly  intermingled,  while  the  term 
"  modified  glacial  drift "  is  used  to  denote  such  mate- 
rials as  have  been  subjected  to  the  action  of  water,  and 
by  it  have  been  rearranged  in  the  form  of  stratified  beds. 
There  is  no  distinction  made  in  regard  to  the  materials 
composing  the  two  kinds  of  drift;  sometimes  the  two 
formations  lie  side  by  side. 

As  the  glacier  melted  away  at  the  south  and  retreated 
northward  it  left  the  materials  that  it  carried  or  pushed 
forward,  depositing  them  somewhat  as  they  had  been 
grouped  on  or  under  the  ice.  The  southern  limit  of  the 
drift  deposits  is  marked  by  a  line  of  ridges,  heaps,  or 
mounds,  which  is  known  as  the  "  terminal  moraine." 

The  most  southerly  point  of  the  terminal  moraine  found 
in  New  Jersey  is  at  Perth  Amboy,  from  whence  it  takes 
a  north-northwesterly  course  to  the  trap  ridges  near 
Scotch  Plains;  there  it  turns  to  the  northeast,  and  keeps 
this  course  as  far  as  Summit;  turns  at  this  point  to  the 


TEtE  DRIFT  FORMATION— WATEk  COURSES. 


167 


west  and  northwest,  and  crossing  the  Passaic  River 
enters  this  county  at  Stanley.  Hugging  the  northeastern 
end  of  Long  Hill  it  now  swings  to  the  northwest,  turns 
at  Morristown  to  the  north,  and  follows  the  line  of  the 
gneiss  and  red  sandstone  as  far  as  Morris  Plains;  thence 
it  runs  on  the  west  side  and  near  the  track  of  the  Morris 
and  Essex  Railroad  as  far  as  Denville.  At  Denville  the 
line  is  broken,  but  from  deposits  of  drift  found  near 
Ninkey  and  Shongum  it  would  appear  that  the  glacier 
had  extended  up  the  valley  of  Den  Brook  for  several 
miles.  From  Denville  to  Dover  the  line  of  drift  follows 
the  contours  of  the  hills,  but  not  connectedly,  the  deposits 
being  isolated  in  many  cases.  At  Dover  the  formation 
is  shown  in  the  little  tableland  on  which  the  Orchard 
street  cemetery  is  located.  Rounding  the  high  hill  west 
of  Dover  the  line  of  drift  follows  up  the  valley  of  Jack- 
son Brook  from  the  silk  mill  to  the  lower  part  of  Iron- 
dale,  and  from  here  again  turns  to  the  north  and  swings 
by  Port  Oram  and  around  Dunham's  Hill  as  far  as  the 
Scrub  Oak  mine;  thence  runs  across  the  north  end  of 
Succasunna  Plains  to  a  point  near  where  the  Chester 
Railroad  crosses  the  canal,  and  thence  swinging  around 
by  Duck  Pond  passes  on  to  a  point  near  the  Drakesville 
depot.  From  here  the  course  of  the  moraine  passes  by  a 
tortuous  route  by  Budd's  Lake  to  Hackettstown,  and 
there  leaves  the  county. 

The  limits  of  this  article  are  too  confined  to  allow  more 
than  a  brief  notice  of  the  more  striking  features  of  this 
formation.  The  ridge  from  Long  Hill  to  Morristown  is 
quite  level  on  top,  and  being  of  a  light,  porous  soil,  free 
from  large  rocks,  it  is  well  suited  for  building  sites.  These 
advantages  have  already  attracted  a  large  amount  of 
wealth.  Morristown  and  Madison  are  partly  on  this 
ridge.  It  forms  the  divide  between  the  watersheds  of 
the  Whippany  and  the  west  branch  of  the  Passaic  River. 
Its  average  height  above  sea  level  is  about  375  feet. 

Mount  Tabor  is  also  composed  of  drift  material.  The 
gravel  pit  at  the  intersection  of  Clinton  and  McFarlan 
streets  in  the  city  of  Dover  affords  a  fine  section  of  drift. 
The  tableland  west  of  Dover  on  which  St.  Mary's  church 
is  built  belongs  to  this  formation.  The  moraine  hill 
which  extends  from  Dunham's  hill  toward  Duck  Pond 
forms  the  divide  between  the  head  waters  of  the  Passaic 
and  Raritan  Rivers.  The  finest  examples  of  moraine 
hills  are  found  in  Berkshire  Valley. 

A  noteworthy  feature  of  the  effect  of  glacial  action  on 
the  topography  of  the  county  is  seen  in  the  changes  that 
it  has  made  in  the  drainage  of  the  streams  by  reversing 
the  direction  of  the  flow.  The  original  Green  Pond 
Brook  ran  northeast  to  the  Pequannock  River,  but  a 
glacial  dam  prevents  this  and  forces  the  water  to  make 
its  escape  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  lake.  The  natural 
outlet  of  Lake  Hopatcong  was  through  the  Raritan 
River,  but  a  bed  of  drift  near  Hopatcong  station 
closed  this  channel  and  raised  the  water  till  it  found  an 
exit  by  the  way  of  the  Musconetcong  Valley  to  the  Dela- 
ware. Canfield  Island  was  formed  at  the  same  time. 
The  original  outlet  of  Budd's  Lake  fed  a  stream  which 
ran  into  the  Musconetcong  near  Stanhope;  a  dam  of 


drift  shut  this  passage,  and  now  the  surplus  water  escapes 
to  the  Raritan.  The  drainage  of  Succasunna  Plains  was 
in  pre-glacial  times  to  the  northeast  to  the  Rockaway 
River,  but  the  moraine  above  referred  to  turned  the 
water  in-to  the  Raritan.  Burnt  Meadow  Brook  once 
flowed  into  the  Rockaway  near  Baker's  Mill,  but,  being 
turned  by  a  mass  of  drift,  it  passes  over  the  lowest  part 
of  the  dam  at  Mount  Pleasant  and  meets  the  same  river 
below  Port  Oram. 

This  reversal  of  the  water  courses  is  easily  explained 
when  the  condition  of  things  during  the  glacial  epoch  is 
understood.  The  flow  of  the  ice  fields  came  from  the 
north,  and  on  reaching  a  river  acted  as  a  dam,  and  back- 
ing the  water  up  forced  it  to  find  a  passage  in  some 
other  direction,  which  was  necessarily  to  the  southwest, 
the  mountain  ranges  preventing  its  escape  elsewhere. 
As  the  ice  retreated  it  left  behind  the  vast  deposits  of 
drift,  which,  though  smaller  than  the  glaciers,  were 
sufficient  to  control  the  flow  of  the  streams,  and  in 
many  cases  made  permanent  the  changes  effected  by  the 
ice. 

Morris  county  is  well  supplied  with  water;  three  of  the 
largest  streams  in  the  State  find  their  sources  here,  and 
with  their  tributaries  so  subdivide  the  surface  that  there 
are  no  large  areas  unprovided  for.  The  system  of  water- 
courses may  be  divided  into  three  parts,  viz.:  the  water- 
sheds of  the  Musconetcong,  the  Raritan  and  the  Passaic 
Rivers. 

The  Musconetcong  rises  near  the  Ford  mine,  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  and  there  bears  the  name  of  Weldon 
Brook.  It  flows  into  Lake  Hopatcong,  and  thus  be- 
comes a  feeder  to  the  Morris  Canal,  which  draws  its 
supply  from  this  lake.  The  Musconetcong  receives  the 
drainage  of  the  west  slope  of  Brookland  and  Schooley's 
Mountains,  flows  to  the  southwest  and  empties  into  the 
Delaware. 

The  Raritan  is  split  into  three  parts,  viz.:  the  "south 
branch,"  Black  or  Lamington  River,  and  the  "  north 
branch."  The  first  flows  through  Flanders  and  German 
Valley;  the  second,  or  middle  branch,  flows  through 
Succasunna  Plains  and  Hacklebarney;  and  the  third,  or 
north  branch,  rising  near  Mount  Freedom,  flows  through 
Calais  and  Roxiticus.  All  of  these  streams  leave  the 
county  before  they  come  together. 

The  third  system  is  that  of  the  Passaic  River,  which 
may  be  divided  into  the  Passaic  River  proper,  the 
Whippany,  the  Rockaway  and  the  Pequannock  Rivers. 
The  Passaic  rises  near  Mendham,  flows  south  for  about 
two  miles  to  the  county  line,  which  it  forms  from  this 
point  to  Two  Bridges,  a  distance  of  over  forty  miles,  and 
receives  directly  all  the  drainage  south  of  Morristown 
and  as  far  east  as  Madison.  The  country  north  and  east 
of  Morristown  forms  the  watershed  of  the  Whippany, 
which,  rising  near  Mount  Freedom,  flows  through  Brook- 
side,  Morristown  and  Whippany,  drains  the  Troy  Mead- 
ows and  empties  into  the  Rockaway  River  at  Hanover 
Neck.  The  Rockaway  rises  in  Sussex  county,  enters 
this  county  near  Hopewell,  flows  southwest  through 
Longwood   and   Berkshire   Valleys,  following  the  west 


toS 


ttlSTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


base  ot  Green  Pond  Mountain,  around  which  it  turns 
at  Baker's  Mill,  and  taking  a  isoutheasterly  course 
fempties  into  the  Passaic  River  at  Hanover  Neck.  It  re 
ceives  the  Burnt  Meadow  Brook  and  Jackson  Brook  near 
Dover,  and  the  Whippany  River  about  half  a  rriile 
from  its  junction  with  the  Passaic,  and  flows  through 
Dover,  Rockaway,  Powerville  and  Bobnton,  furnishing 
valuable  water  power  at  these  places.  The  Pequannock 
River  rises  in  the  Waywayanda  Mountains,  in  Sussex 
county^  and  does  not  enter  Morris  county,  but  forms  the 
boundary  line  from  a  point  near  Snufftown  to  Two 
Bridges,  where  it  meets  the  Passaic,  a  distance  of  nearly 
thirty  miles.      This  river  receives  the  drainage  of  all  the 


northeastern  part  of  the  county,  and  is  largely  used 
for  manufacturing  purposes  at  Bloomingdale  and 
Pompton. 

The  soils  of  this  county  are  generally  very  productive, 
especially  on  the  hills  that  furnish  native  earth,  as  this 
material  seefns  to  have  the  power  of  resuscitating  itself  if 
allowed  to  test  from  time  to  time,  and  properly  worked 
in  the  meantime.  The  yield  of  the  limestone  soils  will 
compare  favorably  with  that  of  any  other  part  of  the 
State.  The  open  and  porous  soils  are  more  easily  ex- 
hausted, and  require  the  renewal  of  fertilizers  from  year 
to  year,  which  if  furnished  render  the  soil  very  pro- 
ductive. 


CITY,  VILLAGE  AND  TOWNSHIP  HISTORIES. 


MORRISTOWN. 


By  Bbv.  Rubus  S.  Geeen. 


^ORRISTOWN*,  the  county  seat  of  Morris 
county,  is,  like  Zion  of  old,  "  beautiful  for 
situation."  It  nestles  among  tlje  hills,  of 
which  no  less  than  five  ranges  furnish  most 
charming  building-sites.  The  drives  about 
the  city  are  unsurpassed  in  variety  and 
loveliness.  Add  to  its  natural  beauty 
purity  of  air  and  water,  and  freedom  from,  debt,  and 
we  have  the  causes  which  have  dotted  these  hills  with 
elegant  villas,  and  which  are  attracting  rnore  and  more 
the  wealth  and  culture  of  neighboring  cities.  The  death 
rate  is  less  than  15  for  1,000  inhabitants.  The  town 
lies  thirty  miles  due  west  from  New  York  city.  The 
Green  is  371  feet  above  the  ocean  level. 

The  population  of  Morris  township,  with  Morristown, 
has  grown  pretty  steadily  during  the  period  of  census 
returns.  These  have  been  as  follows:  1810,3,753;  1820, 
3,524;  1830,  3,536;  1840,  4,006;  1850,  4,997;  i860,  5,- 
985  (182  colored);  1870,  5,673  (239  colored);  1875,  6,- 
950  (285  colored);   1880,  6,837  (Morristown,  5,418). 

The  statistics  of  property,  taxation,  etc.,  in  1881  were 
as  follows:  Acres  in  the  township,  9,125;  valuation  of 
real  estate,  $4,360,000;  personal  property,  $1,365,000; 
debt,  $325,000;  polls,  1,570;  State  school  tax,  $13,751; 
county  tax,  $12,832.42;  road  tax,  $7,000;  poor  tax,  $300. 
On  the  29th  of  March  1684  David  Barclay,  Arthur 
Forbes  and  Gawen  Lawrie  wrote  to  the  Scots  proprie- 
tors respecting  this  part  of  the  country:  "  There  are  also 
hills  up  in  the  country,  but  how  much  ground  they  take 
up  we  know  not;  they  are  said  to  be  stony,  and  coverefj 


*  In  preparing  the  folio-wing  pages  for  '.the  "  Illustrated  History 
of  Morris  pounty  "  the  compiler  desires  first  of  all  to  thank  the  many 
■who  have  cheerfully  aided  him.  Without  this  aid  it  would  have  been 
impossible  for  him,  burdened  with  the  care  of  a  large  church 
ai}4  parish,  to  have  performed  $he  work.  He  has  made  free  use  of  the 
materials  placed  in  his  han^i  "o*  hesitating  to  adopt  the  language, 
where  it  suited  his  purpose,  as  well  as  to  record  the  facts  furnished. 
Tp  stste  this  is  due  as  much  to  himself  as  tp  the  friends  who  have  as- 
sisted him.  He  will  venture  to  say  that,  from  the  time  and  care  he  has 
expended,  as  well  as  from  the  trustworthy  character  of  the  materials 
he  has  had  ^it  his  disposal,  he  hopes  f ev.,  if  any.  iijf portant  errors  will  be 
discovered.  He  has  oonabi^ntiously  sought  to  ma^e  these  pages  a  reli- 
able history. 


with  wood,  and  beyond  them  is  said  to  be  excellent  land." 
This  would  indicate  that  this  region  was  at  that  tirrie 
ierra  incognita. 

But  little  definite  information  can  be  obtained  concern- 
ing the  first  settlers  of  the  township  of  Morris.  They 
probably  came  from  Newark,  Elizabeth,  Long  Island  and 
New  England.  This  much  the  names  which  first  meet 
us  would  seem  to  indicate.  The  same  uncertainty  at- 
taches to  the  date  of  their  settlement.  In  the  year  1767 
the  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  third  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Hanover,  wrote  a  history  of  that  church,  which 
still  survives  in  manuscript,  in  the  preface  of  which  he 
says  that  "about  the  year  17 10  a  few  families  removed 
from  Newark  and  Elizabeth,  &c.,  and  settled  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Passaic  River,  in  that  which  is  now  Morris 
county."  In  the  East  Jersey  Records,  Liber  F  3,  p.  28, 
at  Trenton,  there  appears  the  copy  of  a  deed  of  a  tract 
of  land  within  the  bounds  of  this  township,  consisting  of 
967  37  acres,  which  was  conveyed  on  the  ist  of  June 
1769  by  "the  Right  Hon.  William,  Earl  of  Sterling,  and 
Lady  Sarah,  Countess  of  Stirling,"  for  the  sum  of  ^^2,902 
to  Colonel  Staats  Long  Morris,  of  New  York.  The  deed 
says  this  tract  was  originally  surveyed  in  17 15. 

In  the  same  year  the  land  on  which  Morristown  is 
built  was  surveyed  to  Joseph  Helby,  Thomas  Stephenson 
and  John  Keys  or  Kay.  The  last  named  had  2,000  acres, 
and  each  of  the  others  1,250  acres.  Keys's  claim  em- 
braced the  land  now  occupied  by  the  park.  That  of 
Helby  ran  from  George  W.  Johnes's  toward  Speedwell, 
and  southwest  to  the  former  residence  of  General 
Doughty.  That  of  Stephenson  included  the  Revere  and 
neighboring  farms.     We  append  the  deed  to  Kay: 

"  By  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  ye  Council  of  Proprietors, 
bearing  date  ye  tenth  day  of  march  last  past,  I  have  sur- 
veyed this  Tract  or  Lott  of  land  unto  John  Kay  within 
ye  VVestern  Division  of  ye  Province  of  New  Jersey,  in  ye 
Last  indian  purchases  made  of  ye  Indians  by  ye  said 
Proprietors;  Situate  upon  &  near  a  Branch  of  Passamisfe 
River  Called  whipene.  beginning  at  a  small  hickory 
corner  standing  near  a  Black  oak  marked  K,  ten  cha: 
distance  from  a  corner  of  Wm.  Pens  Lands;  thence  Nortji 


no 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


west  one  hundred  sixty  &  fiva  cha:  crossing  ye  said 
Whipene  to  a  corner  white  oak  marked  also  K;  thence 
South  west  one  hundred  twenty  and  seven  cha:  &  twenty 
five  link  to  a  poast  for  a  corner  under  ye  side  of  a  hill 
called  mine  mountain;  from  thence  Southeast  one  hun- 
dred sixty  &  five  cha:  to  a  poast;  then  North  East  one 
hundred  twenty  seven  cha:  &  twenty  five  links,  &  by 
ye  bound  of  Govn.  Pens  land  to  ye  place  of  beginning; 
Containing  Two  thousand  acres  of  Land  besides  one 
hundred  acres  allowance  for  Highways;  surveyed  April  ye 
28th  1 7 15  pr  me  R  Bull  Survy. 

"Ye  22  of  August  1715  Inspected  &  approved  of  by 
ye  Council  of  Prbprs.  and  ordered  to  be  Entered  upon 
Record. 

"  Tests,  John  Wills  clerk." 

We  cannot  be  far  out  of  the  way  in  placing  the  date  of 
the  first  settlement  of  Morristown  back  nearly  or  quite 
to  1 7 10,  as  found  in  the  manuscript  history  of  the  Rev. 
Jacob  Green. 

We  know  not  when,  where,  or  by  whom  the  first  house 
was  built.  It  stood,  no  doubt,  near  the  bank  of  the 
Whippany,  where  the  grist-mill,  the  saw-mill  and  the 
forge  were  soon  erected.  The  Indians  had  not  then 
disappeared  from  the  region  ;  while  game  abounded 
along  the  streams,  and  bears,  wolves  and  panthers 
roamed  through  the  forests. 

The  motive  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  the  place 
by  these  early  pioneers  was  probably  the  betterment  of 
their  temporal  prospects^many  of  them  being  drawn 
hither  by  the  iron  in  which  the  mountains  abounded. 
To  their  praise  be  it  said,  however,  that  they  were  a 
God-fearing  people.  Religion  had  a  controlling  voice  in 
all  their  movements.  It  was  the  religious  element  that 
led  the  New  Englanders  and  the  Scotch  and  the  Irish  to 
this  province,  whose  fundamental  condition  guaranteed 
the  largest  liberty  of  conscience  to  all  settlers;  it  was 
here  that  many  came  to  be  freed  from  the  spiritual  des- 
potism which  galled  them  at  home,  and  to  certain  locali- 
ties some  repaired  to  test  their  favorite  scheme  of  a  pure 
church  and  a  godly  government  in  which  power  was  to 
be  exercised  only  by  those  who  were  members  of  the 
church,  and  where  everything  in  active  antagonism  with 
this  principle  was  to  be  removed.  On  this  basis  Newark 
and  a  few  other  towns  were  founded.  Those  who  came 
into  this  region  from  older  settlements  where  religion 
was  deemed  vital  to  the  best  interests  of  the  people 
brought  with  them  the  sacred  love  of  liberty  and  of 
truth,  and  the  highest  regard  for  religious  institutions, 
which  was  operative  here  as  elsewhere  in  honoring  the 
Sabbath  and  the  sanctuary  and  in  regulating  social  and 
domestic  life. 

Among  the  regulations  made  by  the  Duke  of  York  for 
settlers  in  this  province,  under  which  regulations  Morris- 
town  was  probably  settled,  we  find  the  following,  respect- 
ing the  support  of  the  gospel:  "  Every  township  is  obliged 
to  pay  their  own  minister,  according  to  such  agreement  as 
they  shall  make  with  him,  and  no  man  to  refuse  his  own 
proportion;  the  minister  being  elected  by  the  major  part 
of  the  householders  and  inhabitants  in  the  town." 

Such  being  the  character  of  the  people,  we  are  not 
surprised  to  find  a  church  established  as  early  as  17 18. 


This  was  in  Hanover — the  church  of  which  the  Rev. 
James  A.  Ferguson  is  the  pi-esent  pastor.  To  this  house 
of  worship  the  people  of  West  Hanover  (Morristown) 
resorted  until  the  year  1733.  By  that  time,  the  number 
of  inhabitants  having  largely  increased  and  the  distance 
being  so  great,  the  desire  became  general  to  have  a 
church  of  their  own,  which  was  accomplished  a  few 
years  later,  when  the  First  Presbyterian  church  began  its 
long  career. 

In  1738  the  village,  if  it  might  be  so  named,  was  cen- 
tered mainly  in  Water  street,  though  Morris  street  might 
boast  of  an  occasional  hut,  and  perhaps  two  or  three 
might  be  found  amidst  the  clearings  of  the  Green.  Else- 
where the  forest  trees  were  standing,  and  what  is  now  the 
park  could  boast  of  the  giant  oak,  the  chestnut  and  other 
noble  specimens  of  growth.  The  woods  around  were 
visited  by  the  panther  and  the  bear,  while  wolves  in  great 
numbers  answered  each  other  from  the  neighboring  hills. 
The  sheep  and -cattle  were  brought  into  pens  for  the 
night.  Roads  were  scarcely  known.  The  bridle  path  or 
Indian  trail  was  all  that  conducted  the  occasional  trav- 
eler to  Mendham,  who  saw  on  his  way  thither  a  mill,  a 
blacksmith's  shop  and  two  dwellings — in  three  separate 
clearings.  There  was  scarcely  a  better  path  to  Basking 
Ridge.  There  were  no  postal  routes,  no  newspapers  and 
but  few  books  to  instruct  and  amuse.  Life  was  then  a 
reality.  In  the  new  settlement  every  one  had  to  be  busy 
in  order  to  procure  such  comforts  and  necessaries  as  were 
required.  Frugal  habits  and  simple  manners  distinguished 
their  every  day  life;  and  their  domestic  relations  partook 
more  of  the  patriarchal  and  less  of  the  commercial,  for 
worldly  prosperity  had  not  been  sufficient  to  create  that 
jealous  distinction  of  rank  with  which  we  are  so  often 
charged  as  a  community.  Religion  had  a  moulding  in- 
fluence upon  the  household,  and  from  dearth  of  news 
often  formed  the  principal  topic  of  converse  between 
neighbors.  The  Sabbath  was  rigidly  kept,  and  the  church 
was  regularly  frequented. 

One  church,  as  yet  without  a  pastor,  two  public  houses, 
a  grist  and  saw-mill,  a  forge,  a  few  scattered  houses,  an 
almost  endless  forest  wherein  still  lingered  the  Indian 
and  wild  beast,  a  law-abiding  and  God-fearing  people — 
these  are  the  known  conditions  of  that  early  time. 

TOWNSHIP  HISTORY  TO  THE  REVOLUTION. 

We  come  now  to  the  second  period  of  our  history, — 
from  the  formation  of  the  township  to  [|the  beginning  of 
the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

The  original  name  of  Morristown  was  West  Hanover. 
This  appears  from]the  minutes,  of  .the  Synod ^,of  Phila- 
delphia, to  which  we  shall  have  occasion  again  to  refer. 
As  late  as  1738  this  name  occurs  in  the  synod's  minutes. 
It  was  also  called  New  Hanover,  as  appears  from  the 
licenses  granted  by  the  county  court  to  keep  public 
houses.  A  record  in  the  first  volume  of  minutes  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas  for  Morris  county,  which  is 
printed  on  page  21,  fixes  the  date  of  the  adoption  of  the 
present  name  of  the  township  as  March  25th  1740. 

Of  this  period  between  the  formation  of  the  township 


SUNDAY  IN  OLD  MORRISTOWN— FORD  THE  COUNTERFEITER. 


311 


and  the  war  of  the  Revolution  little  more  need  be  said. 
The  town  grew  but  slowly.  Some  improvements  were 
made.  A  Baptist  church  was  organized  and  built  and  a 
court-house  erected.  A  steeple  was  added  to  the  Pres- 
byterian church  and  a  bell  placed  in  it. 

The  needs  of  the  people  were  few,  and  their  mode  of 
living  was  simple.  Indications  are  not  wanting,  however, 
of  the  presence  and  gradual  increase  of  families  of  wealth 
and  culture,  who  gave  to  the  town  a  reputation,  which  it 
still  retains,  of  being  "  aristocratic." 

Sunday  was  the  great  day  of  the  week..  Good  Pastor 
Johnes,  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  could  see  his 
congregation  coming  through  the  forest  from  the  neigh- 
boring farms,  not  riding  in  wagons,  but  (if  the  distance 
was  too  great  to  walk)  on  horseback,  the  wife  behind  her 
husband  on  the  pillion,  while  the  children  managed  to 
cling  on  them  as  best  they  could.  The  women  were 
clothed  in  homespun,  from  the  fruits  of  that  industry 
which  has  given  the  name  of  "  spinster  "  to  the  unmar- 
ried daughters  of  the  family,  showing  their  constant  oc- 
cupation. In  the  winter  they  brought  their  footstoves, 
filled  with  live  coals,  to  put  under  their  feet  during  ser- 
vice, while  the  men  disdained  such  an  approach  to  ef- 
feminacy. If  there  was  an  evening  service  each  family 
brought  one  or  two  candles,  and  persons  sat  holding 
them  during  the  meeting;  for  even  candlesticks  on  the 
walls  and  pillars  were  not  then  provided.  But  though 
the  men  could  bravely  sit  with  cold  feet  in  the  winter, 
they  did  not  hesitate  to  take  off  their  coats  in  the  heat  of 
summer,  and  if  sleep  seemed  likely  to  overpower  them 
they  would  stand  up  and  thus  remain  until  the  inclination 
to  drowsiness  had  passed.  The  men  sat  together  upon 
one  side  of  the  house,  and  the  women  and  children  upon 
the  other  side,  separated  from  each  other  by  the  broad 
aisle.  The  young  people  occupied  the  galleries,  the 
young  men  and  boys  upon  one  side  of  the  church,  the  young 
ladies  and  girls  upon  the  other.  This  necessitated  the 
appointment  of  certain  men  of  grave  and  staid  aspect  to 
sit  m  the  galleries  to  preserve  order. 

There  is  one  item  of  history,  however,  which  falls 
within  this  period,  which  can  scarcely  be  passed  over, 
and  which  we  may  place  under  the  head  of 

COUNTERFEITERS. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  there  should  be  at  least  one 
blot  upon  the  fair  history  of  Morristown.  We  would  fain 
pass  it  by,  but  truth  is  inexorable,  and  the  historian  has 
no  choice.  The  following  account  is  for  the  most  part 
a  condensation  from  two  articles,  to  which  the  reader  is 
referred  for  fuller  details — one  by  William  A.  Whitehead, 
on  "  The  Robbery  of  the  Treasury  in  1768  "  {Proceedings 
of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  Vol.  V.,p.  49),  and 
the  other  by  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  D.  D.,  on  the 
"  Early  History  of  Morris  County  "  {Proceedings  of  the 
New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  Second  Series,  Vol.  II., 

P-  is)- 

Samuel  Ford  was  the  leader  of  a  notorious  gang  of 

counterfeiters,  who  infested  this  region  just  previous  to 

the  war  of  the  Revolution.      He  was    the  grandson  of 


widow  Elizabeth  Lindsley,  the  mother  of  Colonel  Jacob 
Ford.  His  father's  name  was  also  Samuel.  His  mother 
was  Grace,  the  daughter  of  Abraham  Kitchel,  of  Han- 
over, and  sister  of  Aaron,  the  Congressman.  Her  great- 
grandfather was  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson  sen.,  of  Newark. 
His  family  connections  were  therefore  of  the  best  and 
most  respectable.  Most  of  his  companions  in  villainy 
also  stood  high  in  society.  These  were  Benjamin 
Cooper,  of  Hibernia,  son  of  Judge  Cooper,  before  whom 
he  was  afterward  tried  for  his  crime;  Dr.  Bern  Budd,  a 
leading  physician  in  Morristown,  and  a  prominent  mem- 
ber in  its  society;  Samuel  Haynes,  and  one  Ayres,  of 
Sussex  county,  both,  as  was  also  Cooper,  justices  of  the 
peace;  David  Reynolds,  a  common  man  with  no  strong 
social  connections;  and  others  whose  names  will  appear 
as  we  proceed. 

Ford  had  followed  the  business  of  counterfeiting, 
which  he  pleasantly  called  a  "money-making  affair,"  for 
a  number  of  years  before  he  began  operations  in  this 
vicinity.  In  1768  he  was  arrested  by  the  authorities  of 
New  York  on  a  charge  of  uttering  false  New  Jersey  bills 
of  credit;  but  we  cannot  find  that  he  was  ever  brought 
to  trial.  Shortly  after  this  he  went  to  Ireland  to  improve 
himself  in  his  profession,  this  being  his  second  trans- 
atlantic trip  in  the  prosecution  of  his  business.  Ireland 
was  reputed  to  furnish  at  this  time  the  most  skillful 
counterfeiters  in  the  world.  Here  Ford  became,  it  is 
said,  "  a  perfect  master  of  the  business."  He  returned 
to  this  country  in  1772,  and  at  once  set  to  work  on  an 
extensive  scale.  He  established  himself  about  midway 
between  Morristown  and  Hanover,  in  a  swamp  island  on 
the  Hammock.  For  the  greater  part  of  the  year  the  sur- 
rounding water  was  a  foot  deep.  Through  this  swamp 
Ford  was  obliged  to  creep  on  his  hands  and  knees  to  get 
to  his  work.  He  would  leave  his  house  at  daylight  v/ith 
his  gun,  as  if  in  pursuit  of  game,  and  thus  unwatched 
would  attain  his  secret  resort;  for  this  practice  was  so 
.much  in  accordance  with  the  idle  life  he  had  apparently 
always  led  that  it  excited  neither  surprise  nor  remark. 
Still  it  was  difficult  for  people  to  understand  how  a  man 
whose  only  ostensible  means  of  livelihood  were  a  few 
acres  of  swampy  land,  the  cultivation  of  which  moreover 
was  sadly  neglected,  could  wear  the  aspect  of  a  thriving 
farmer  with  plenty  of  money.  In  one  way  and  another 
suspicion  was  aroused;  and  at  last,  on  the  i6th  of  July 
1773,  Ford  was  arrested  and  lodged  in  the  county  jail. 
That  very  night,  however,  or  the  day  following,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  effecting  his  escape,  being  aided  by  a  confed- 
erate by  the  name  of  John  King,  who  in  all  probability 
was  the  same  "  John  King"  who  was  "  late  under-sheriff 
of  Morris  county."  His  position  gave  him,  of  course, 
every  facility  to  aid  his  companion  in  crime.  Nor  did 
Sheriff  Kinney  escape  the  charge  of  implication  in  this 
matter.  He  was  afterward  indicted  for  remissness  of 
duty  in  allowing  the  escape  of  so  dangerous  a  prisoner. 
The  privy  council  regarded  him  as  "blamable  for  neg- 
ligence in  his  office,  respecting  the  escape  of  Ford,"  and 
advised  the  governor  "  to  prosecute  the  said  indictment 
at  the  next  court." 


16 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Ford  first  fled  to  a  lonely  spot  on  the  mountain,  be- 
tween Mount  Hope  and  Hibernia,  and  hid  himself  in  a 
deserted  colliery,  called  "  Smultz's  Cabin."  Sheriff  Kin- 
ney with  a  posse  of  men  sought  him  there,  but  so  leisure- 
ly that  when  he  reached  the  cabin  the  bird  had  flown. 
From  Hibernia  Ford  fled  southward,  boldly  paying  his 
way  with  his  spurious  Jersey  bills  and  counterfeit  coin. 
At  last  he  reached  Green  Briar  county,  among  the  moun- 
tains of  Virginia,  where  he  settled  and  assumed  the  name 
of  Baldwin.  Here  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  silversmith, 
forming  a  partnership  with  another  man.  During  a  se- 
vere illness  he  disclosed  his  real  history  to  his  partner's 
wife,  who  so  sympathized  with  him  that  after  his  recov- 
ery and  the  death  of  her  husband  she  married  him,  and 
thus  became  his  third  living  wife.  His  first  wife,  as  we 
have  seen,  was  Grace  Kitchel,  of  Hanover.  While  in 
Ireland,  perfecting  himself  in  his  "  profession,"  he  mar- 
ried an  Irish  girl,  with  whom  he  is  said  to  have  received 
considerable  money.  She  came  to  this  country  with  him, 
and  was  well  nigh  crazed  on  finding  that  he  already  had 
a  wife  and  children.  She  is  said  afterward  to  have  mar- 
ried an  Irishman,  and  lived  for  many  years  in  Whippany. 

The  pursuit  of  Ford  was  not  of  a  very  diligent  charac- 
ter. When  his  whereabouts  became  known  in  the  course 
of  time  it  does  not  appear  that  he  was  molested.  His 
oldest  son,  William  Ford,  and  Stephen  Halsey  (son  of 
Ananias)  visited  him  in  Virginia,-  where  they  found  him 
with  "a  great  property,"  a  new  wife,  and  some  promising 
young  Baldwins;  and  thus  the  possible  ancestor,  so  the 
historian  suggests  of  the  Virginia  Baldwins  who  have 
figured  in  public  life.  To  his  son  and  Mr.  Halsey  he 
seemed  to  be  a  "  most  melancholy  man."  He  professed 
to  them  a  deep  penitence  for  his  sins,  and  a  grace  which 
led  to  a  religious  life;  the  sincerity  of  which  we  may  how- 
ever be  permitted  to  doubt,  as  it  did  not  lead  him  to 
abandon  his  adulterous  relations  and  do  justice  to  the 
excellent  woman  in  New  Jersey  whom  he  had  left  to  support 
herself  and  his  family  without  a  farthing's  aid  from  him. 

At  the  time  of  Ford's  arrest  and  escape  several  other 
persons  were  taken  up  on  suspicion  of  being  connected 
with  him  in  his  "  money-making  scheme."  On  the  4th 
of  August  1773  ^  special  term  of  oyer  and  terminer  was 
held  for  the  purpose  of  eliciting  information  respecting 
the  parties  implicated  and  the  extent  of  their  guilt.  On 
the  14th  one  of  those  concerned,  that  he  might  mitigate 
his  own  punishment,  made  a  partial  confession,  and  was 
followed  by  another  who  gave  a  full  and  explicit  state- 
ment of  all  the  details.  The  swamp  was  examined  and 
the  press  found,  together  with  a  set  of  plates  for  printing 
the  bills  of  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  New 
Jersey;  a  quantity  of  type  and  other  materials,  and  a 
leather  wrapper  in  which  the  money  was  kept.  The  late 
Sheriff  Robertson  of  Morris  county  became  the  owner  of 
the  house  in  which  Ford  lived,  on  the  Hammock,  and  in 
repairing  it  found  some  of  Ford's  counterfeiting  tools  in 
the  walls,  where  many  years  before  he  had  secreted  them. 
But  the  confessions  of  which  we  have  spoken  led  to 
other  results  than  the  discovery  of  the  counterfeiters' 
paraphernalia.     Men  who  occupied  high  positions  in  so- 


ciety were  arrested.  Their  names  have  already  been 
given — Cooper,  Budd,  Haynes,  Reynolds  and  Ayers. 
The  last  was  of  Sussex,  and  was  tried  in  that  county. 
The  other  four  were  arraigned  in  the  old  court-house  at 
Morristown  on  the  19th  of  August  1773.  A  thousand 
people  were  thought  to  be  within  its  walls,  and  among 
them  all  scarcely  an  eye  could  be  found  which  did  not 
exhibit  some  tokens  of  sympathetic  sorrow.  Having 
pleaded  guilty,  the  sentence  was  now  to  be  pronounced 
upon  them,  viz.  that  upon  the  17th  of  September  follow- 
ing they  should  expiate  their  crime  upon  the  gallows. 
One  of  the  magistrates  before  whom  the  case  was  tried, 
was  father  of  one  of  the  culprits.  The  best  families  and 
society  in  the  county  had  representatives  in  the  number 
of  the  condemned.  But  the  sentence  thus  faithfully  pro- 
nounced was  not  to  be  as  faithfully  executed.  The  re- 
spectability of  the  culprits  and  their  influential  connec- 
tions were  made  to  bear  with  great  effect  upon  the  par- 
doning power.  The  day  fixed  for  their  execution  ar- 
rived, and  Reynolds,  who  seems  to  have  been  really  the 
least  guilty  of  the  lot,  but  who  alone  unfortunately  for 
himself  had  no  influential  friends,  suffered  the  ignomini- 
ous death  to  which  he  had  been  sentenced;  while  the 
other  three  were  remanded,  and  finally  in  December, 
after  a  number  of  respites,  Governor  Franklin  gave  them 
a  full  pardon. 

Dr.  Budd  continued  to  live  in  Morristown  until  his 
death,  from  putrid  fever,  December  14th  1777,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-nine.  So  great  was  his  reputed  skill  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  that  he  still  found  many  ready 
to  employ  him.  One  of  his  patients,  a  very  inquisitive 
woman,  the  first  time  she  had  occasion  for  his  services 
after  his  pardon,  asked  him  very  naively  "  how  he  kind 
of  felt  when  he  came  so  near  being  hanged."  His  answer 
is  not  recorded. 

This  "  money-making  scheme  "  of  Ford  and  his  com- 
panions has  a  wider  than  local  interest  from  its  con- 
nection with  the  robbery  of  the  treasury  of  East  Jersey 
at  Perth  Amboy,  on  the  night  of  the  21st  of  July  1768,' 
in  which  ^^6,570  9s.  4d.  in  coin  and  bills  were  stolen. 
Cooper,  Haynes  and  Budd,  under  sentence  of  death  for 
counterfeiting,  as  above  narrated,  made  confessions 
which  pointed  to  Ford  as  the  planner  and  prime  mover 
of  this  bold  and  successful  villainy,  the  first  of  whom 
admitted  having  received  ^300  of  the  stolen  money. 
Ford  strenuously  denied  the  charge;  but  his  denial  could 
scarcely  counterbalance  the  confessions  just  noticed.  He 
was  never  tried  for  the  crime,  having  fled,  as  already  seen, 

beyond  the  reach  of  the  law  before  the  confessions  were 
made. 

The  career  of  this  bad  man  is  the  one  foul  blot  upon 
our  local  history,  bringing  disgrace  to  the  town,  and  sor- 
row of  heart  to  the  estimable  family  of  which  he  was  a 
most  unworthy  representative. 

THE     REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

PATRIOTS    OF    MORRIS    COUNTY. 

The  period  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  forms  a  chapter 
by  itself  in  the  local  history  of  Morristown,  a  chapter  to 


MORRISTOWN  PATRIOTS  IN   1775. 


113 


which  the  leading  historians  of  those  eventful  years  have 
paid  too  little  attention.  This  neglect  will  justify  a 
somewhat  full  account  of  this  memorable  period.  Rev. 
Samuel  L.  Tuttle,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Madison  from  1854  to  1862,  and  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Rockaway 
from  1848  to  1862,  and  since  that  time  president  of 
Wabash  College,  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  have  done  much 
to  preserve  the  revolutionary  history  of  this  region. 
Valuable  articles  from  their  pens  upon  this  subject  may 
be  found  in  The  Historical  Magazine,  published  at  Mor- 
risania,  N.  Y.,  by  Henry  B.  Dawson,  in  the  numbers  for 
March,  May  and  June  1871.  To  these  articles  we  are 
largely  indebted  in  the  preparation  of  this  sketch. 

When  the  war  of  the  Revolution  began  the  village  of 
Morristown  numbered,  it  is  said,  about  250  inhabitants, 
while  in  the  redion  about  was  a  thriving  and  somewhat 
populous  farming  community.  From  the  rolls  of  the 
church,  which  good  Pastor  Johnes  so  carefully  kept,  and 
from  the  records  of  the  court,  we  are  able  to  determine 
pretty  fully  these  early  names.  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen., 
Colonel  Jacob  Ford  jr.,  Dr.  Jabez  Campfield,  Major  Jo- 
seph Lindsley,  Jacob  Johnson,  Silas  Condict,  Rev. 
Timothy  Johnes  and  John  Doughty  were  among  the 
leading  citizens,  while  the  names  of  Prudden,  Pierson, 
Fairchild,  Freeman,  Howell,  Allen,  Day,  Dickerson, 
King,  Wood,  Lum,  Cutler,  Beach,  Tichenor,  Hathaway, 
Frost,  Blatchley,  Crane,  Coe,  Munson,  etc.,  are  of  fre- 
quent occurrence. 

The  Hathaway  and  Johnes  families  owned  and  oc- 
cupied property  to  the  north  of  the  town,  the  Ford  fam- 
ily to  the  east.  General  John  Doughty  to  the  south,  and 
Silas  Condict  and  his  brothers  to  the  west.  Colonel 
Jacob  Arnold,  of  "  Light  Horse  "  fame,  was  keeping  tav- 
ern on  the  west  side  of  the  park,  in  the  building  now 
owned  by  P.  H.  Hoffman;  while  Colonel  Jacob  Ford 
had  just  built  the  mansion  in  which  Washington  passed 
a  winter,  and  which  is  now  known  as  the  "  Head- 
quarters." 

The  financial  condition  of  the  people  at  that  time  was 
far  from  prosperous,  but  they  were  none  the  less  zealous 
in  their  attachment  to  the  cause  of  freedom  and  desire 
for  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  While  the  great  mass  of 
the  inhabitants  were  Whigs,  there  were  nevertheless  a 
few  tories.  An  amusing  incident  is  told  of  "an  English 
immigrant,"  residing  in  Hanover,  "  a  man  of  considerable 
property  and  not  a  little  hauteur,  who  had  drunk  deeply 
into  toryisra,"  who  held  "  many  an  ardent  controversy  " 
with  "  Parson  Green  "  on  the  subject  of  American  inde- 
pendence. Ashbel  Green,  the  parson's  son,  heard  the 
talk  and  afterward  saw  this  tory  standing  up  in  the  church 
on  a  Sunday,  while  the  minister  read  his  confession  of 
the  sin  of  toryism;  being  earnestly  moved  thereto  by  the 
rumor  that  some  of  the  hot  bloods  of  Morristown  had 
threatened  him  with  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers.  This 
was  in  the  forenoon;  in  the  afternoon  the  culprit  rode 
rapidly  to  the  said  "  neighboring  town  "  to  get  Dr.  Johnes 
to  read  for  him  the  same  confession  there,  which  the 
doctor  at  last  convinced  him   was   unnecessary.      The 


courts  were  less  forbearing  to  tories,  from  the  records  of 
which  it  appears  they  had  either  to  "  repent  or  perish." 

On  the  nth  of  January  1775  the  Legislature  met  at 
Perth  Amboy.  The  representatives  from  Morris  county 
were  Jacob  Ford  and  William  Winds.  It  is  quite 
evident  from  the  proceedings  that  the  Assembly  and  the 
governor  were  by  no  means  in  accord.  In  fact  their 
views  were  as  wide  apart  as  the  poles.  Cortland  Skinner, 
of  Perth  Amboy,  was  speaker.  On  the  13th  of  January 
the  governor  addressed  the  Assembly;  his  speech  was 
short,  but  was  pointed  and  filled  with  suggestive  warn- 
ings of  the  fatal  consequences  of  treason.  The  speech 
was  read  twice  after  its  delivery  and  then  "'committed" 
to  a  committee  of  the  whole  house.  Before  this  action  a 
"  committee  of  grievances,"  consisting  of  ten  members, 
was  appointed,  Jacob  Ford,  from  Morris  county,  being  a 
member.  This  committee  or  any  three  of  them  were 
authorized  to  meet  at  such  times  and  places  as  they 
might  think  proper  to  appoint,  either  during  the  sitting 
of  the  Assembly  or  at  any  other  time.  The  address  of 
the  governor  had  given  the  Assembly  much  trouble,  as 
that  body  in  a  committee  of  the  whole  house  had  spent 
several  days  considering  it  and  in  preparation  of  a  reply. 
In  his  rejoinder  the  governor  declined  further,  argument. 
The  following  resolution,  passed  at  a  meeting  of  the 
county  committee  of  observation  held  in  Hanover,  Feb- 
ruary 15th  1775,  's  but  the  prelude  to  the  drama  of  sacri- 
fice and  suffering  so  soon  to  be  enacted: 

^^  Resolved  unanimously,  that  this  committee  will,  after 
the  first  day  of  March  next,  esteem  it  a  violation  of  the 
seventh  article  of  said  association  if  any  person  or  per- 
sons should  kill  any  sheep  until  it  is  four  years  old,  or 
sell  any  such  sheep  to  any  person  who  he  or  they  may 
have  cause  to  suspect  will  kill  them  or  carry  them  to 
market;  and  further  that  they  will  esteem  it  a  breach  of 
said  article  if  any  inhabitant  of  this  township  should  sell 
any  sheep  of  any  kind  whatsoever  to  any  person  dwelling 
out  of  this  county,  or  to  any  person  who  they  may  have 
cause  to  suspect  will  carry  them  out  of  this  county,  with- 
out leave  first  obtained  of  this  committee." 

No  toothsome  lamb  to  tickle  the  palates  of  these  stout- 
hearted patriots,  while  the  wool  from  the  backs  of  the 
live  animals  was  needed  to  make  the  necessary  garments 
for  themselves  and  their  families.  No  woolen  fabrics 
for  them  from  the  looms  and  factories  of  their  oppressors, 
while  they  could  shear  and  children  could  pick  and  wives 
and  daughters  could  card  and  spin  and  weave  the  wool 
of  the  native  sheep  into  cloth.  No  linen  or  cordage  from 
across  the  water  if  they  could  raise  hemp  and  flax.  The 
same  committee  at  the  same  meeting  also  provided  pro- 
tection of  a  certain  sort  for  the  consumer  of  domestic 
manufactures.  While  they  urged  the  care  and  growth  of 
fabrics  for  home  consumption  and  placed  the  tariff  of 
public  opinion  most  strongly  on  the  wares  of  their  great 
enemy,  they  protected  the  consumer  from  exorbitant 
prices.  So  they  resolved  that  "  if  any  manufacturer  of 
any  article  made  for  home  consumption  or  any  vender  of 
goods  or  merchandise  in  this  township  shall  take  advan- 
tage of  the  necessities  of  his  country,  by  selling  at  an 
unusual  price,  such  person  shall  be  considered  an  enemy 
to  his  country;  and  do  recommend  it  to  the  inhabitants 


114 


HISTORY  OF  kORRtS  COUNTV. 


of  this  township  to  remember  that  after  the  ist  of  March 
next  no  East  India  tea  is  to  be  used  in  any  case  whatso- 
ever." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  one  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing of  Morristown's  "  leading  citizens  "  was  Colonel  Jacob 
Ford.  The  past  and  present  prominence  of  the  Ford 
family  in  local  history  warrants  the  insertion  of  the  fol- 
lowing genealogical  note.  In  the  diary  of  the  late  Hon. 
Gabriel  H.  Ford,  son  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  jr.,  was 
found  the  following  entry: 

Thursday,  22sf  Jicne  1849. — ^  census  was  taken  in  the 
years  177T  and  1772  in  the  British  provinces  of  America, 
and  deposited,  after  the  Revolution,  as  public  archives, 
at  Washington;  but  their  room  becoming  much  wanted, 
those  of  each  province  were  delivered  to  the  members  of 
Congress  from  it,  to  cull  what  they  chose,  preparatory  to 
a  burning  of  the  rest.  General  Mahlon  Dickerson,  then 
a  member  from  New  Jersey,  selected  some  from  the 
county  of  Morris,  and  sent  rae  yesterday  a  copy  verbatim 
of  one  entry,  as  follows;  "Widow  Elizabeth  Lindsley, 
mother  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Axford,  in  old  England;  came  into  Philadelphia  when 
there  was  but  one  house  in  it;  and  into  this  province 
when  she  was  but  one  year  and  a  half  old.  Deceased  April 
2rst  1772,  aged  91  years  and  one  month."  I  always  un- 
derstood in  the  family  by  tradition  from  her  (whose  short 
stature  and  slender,  bent  person,  I  clearly  recall,  having 
lived  in  the  same  house  with  her  and  with  my  parents,  in 
my  grandfather's  family,  at  her  death  and  before  it)  that 
her  father  fled  from  England  when  there  was  a  universal 
dread  of  returning  popery  and  persecution,  three  years 
before  the  death  of  Charles  the  Second,  A.  D.  1682,  and 
two  years  before  the  accession  of  James  the  Second,  in 
1684;  that  while  landing  his  goods  at  Philadelphia  he 
fell  from  a  plank  into  the  Delaware  river  and  was 
drowned  between  the  ship  and  the  shore,  leaving  a 
family  of  young  children  in  the  wilderness.  That 
she  had  several  children  by  her  first  husband,  whose 
name  was  Ford,  but  none  by  her  second  husband, 
whose  name  was  Lindsley;  at  whose  death  she  was  taken 
into  the  family  of  her  son,  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  and 
treated  with  filial  tenderness  the  remaining  years  of  her 
life,  which  were  many.  I  am  in  the  85th  year  (since  Jan- 
uary last)  of  my  age,  being  born  in  1765,  and  was  7  years 
old  at  her  death. 

Her  son.  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  was,  as  we  have 
seen,  one  of  the  judges  of  "  the  inferior  court  of  common 
pleas  for  Morris  county"  in  1740,  and  for  many  years 
thereafter  he  appears  to  have  delivered  the  charges  to 
the  grand  jury,  and  was  not  infrequently  a  member  of 
the  lower  house  in  the  Provincial  Assembly.  His  second 
son  and  namesake  was  not  less  prominent  than  his  hon- 
ored father.  Though  a  young  man  he  had  been  previous 
to  the  war  intrusted  with  difficult  missions  by  the  State, 
which  he  had  faithfully  executed.  But  his  name  comes 
into  special  prominence  as  the  builder  of  an  important 
powder-mill,  on  the  Whippany  River,  near  Morristown, 
the  exact  location  of  which  we  regret  we  have  been  un- 
able to  ascertain.  Early  in  the  year  1776,  as  may  be 
gathered  from  the  Boteler  papers  in  the  New  Jersey  his- 
torical library,  he  "  offered  to  erect  a  powder-mill  in  the 
county  of  Morris,  for  the  making  of  gunpowder,  an  article 
so  essential  at  the  present  time  ";  and  the  Provincial 
Congress  agreed  to  lend  him  ;^2,ooo  of  the  public  money 
for  one  year,  without  interest,  on  his  giving  "  satisfactory 


security  for  the  same  to  be  repaid  within  the  time  of  one 
year  in  good  merchantable  powder  ";  the  first  installment 
"  of  one  ton  of  good  merchantable  powder  "  to  be  paid 
"  on  first  of  July  next,  and  one  ton  per  month  thereafter 
till  the  sum  of  ^2,000  be  paid."  This  "  good  merchant- 
able powder  "  did  excellent  service  in  many  a  battle 
thereafter,  and  wasone  of  the  main  reasons  of  the  re- 
peated but  fruitless  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  reach  Mor- 
ristown. That  the  brilliant  services  of  Colonel  Ford 
were  appreciated  at  the  time  may  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  American  Archives,  Vol.  III.,  1,259,  1,278  and  r,4ig. 

Such  an  attempt  was  made  but  a  few  months  after  the 
powder-mill  was  put  into  operation.  But  the  man  who 
was  capable  of  making  "  good  merchantable  powder  " 
was  capable  of  using  it  and  thus  defending  his  invaluable 
mill.  On  the  fourteenth  of  December  1776  the  enemy 
reached  Springfield,  where  they  were  met  by  Colonel 
Ford's  militia,  numbering  seven  hundred,  with  such 
spirit  that  they  were  glad  to  relinquish  their  design  of 
reaching  Morristown,  and  retreat  the  next  day,  under 
General  Leslie,  "  toward  Spank-Town."  On  the  13th  of 
the  same  month,  the  day  before  the  engagement  at 
Springfield,  a  company  of  British  dragoons  had  pene- 
trated as  far  as  Basking  Ridge,  where  they  captured  Gen- 
eral Charles  Lee. 

These  incidents  lead  to  a  correction  of  the  prevalent 
mistake  that  no  portion  of  the  American  army  was 
in  camp  in  this  vicinity  until  after  the  battle  of  Prince- 
ton. On  the  20th  of  December  1776  Washington  wrote 
to  the  president  of  Congress  that  he  had  "  directed  the 
three  regiments  from  Ticonderoga  to  halt  at  Morristown, 
in  Jersey  (where  I  understand  about  eight  hundred  militia 
had  collected),  in  order  to  inspirit  the  inhabitants,  and, 
as  far  as  possible,  to  cover  that  part  of  the  country." 
These  were  "  eastern  regiments,"  and  were  led  hither 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Vose.  They  were: 
"  Greaton's  regiment,  about  250  men;  Bond's  do.,  100; 
Porter's  do.,  170;  in  all  520  men."  In  a  letterof  General 
McDougall  to  Washington,  bearing  date  December  19th 
1776,  he  says  he  came  to  Morristown  the  day  after  Gen- 
eral Lee  was  captured  at  Basking  Ridge,  and  that  Vose 
arrived  at  Morristown  "  day  before  yesterday,"  which 
was  therefore  the  17th  of  December.  General  Washing- 
ton did  not  reach  Morristown  until  the  7th  of  the  follow- 
ing month.  The  importance  of  Colonel  Ford's  powder- 
mill  in  the  estimation  of  both  friend  and  foe  was  doubt- 
less the  main  reason  why  Washington  ordered  these 
eastern  regiments  to  remain  in  Morristown  at  a  time 
when  he  so  greatly  needed  them.  The  absence  of  a  Morris 
county  regiment  in  the- north,  who  were  in  the  regular 
service  under  the  command  of  Colonel  William  Winds,  it 
should  be  said,  had  largely  diminished  the  local  means  of 
defense,  and  rendered  necessary  the  presence  of  these 
eastern  regiments.  Colonel  Ford's  militia  doubtless  re- 
mained under  arms  until  the- arrival  of  Washington.  On 
the  22nd  of  December  he  led  them  home  from  Chatham, 
where  they  had  remained  to  watch  the  movements  of 
the  enemy.  On  the  31st  of  the  same  month  they  were 
on  parade,  only  a  week  before  the  arrival  of  Morristown's, 


WASHINGTON  AT  ARNOLD'S— THE  SMALLPOX  HOSPITALS. 


IIS 


greater  guest.    It  is  not  probable  that  they  had  disbanded 
before  that  time. 

Washington's  first  winter  in  morristown. 

Washington  reached  Morristown  January  7th  1777. 
The  memorable  campaign  which  had  just  closed;  the  re- 
treat through  New  Jersey,  known  as  "the  mud  rounds;" 
the  brilliant  victories  of  Trenton  and  Princeton,  need  not 
be  here  related.  On  the  4th  of  January  the  battle  of 
Princeton  was'  fought,  and  three  days  afterward  the 
American  army  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Morristown 
and  vicinity...  Washington  himself  located  at  the  Arnold 
tavern.  This  historic  building  is  still  standing,  though 
considerably  altered  since  it  sheltered  its  illustrious 
guest.  It  is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  Green,  or 
what  is  now  called  Park  place,  and  is  occupied  on  the 
first  floor  by  the  grocery  store  of  Adams  &  Fairchild,  the 
clothing  store  of  P.  H.  Hoffman  and  jewelry  store  of  F. 
J.  Crowell,  At  that  time  it  was  a  two-storied  house. 
The  first  floor  was  divided  into  four  rooms,  with  a  hall 
running  through  the  center  from  front  to  rear.  Wash- 
ington, according  to  Mr.  Tuttle,  occupied  the  two  rooms 
on  the  south  side,  where  is  now  the  grocery  store,  using 
the  front  room  as  a  general  office  and  sitting  room  and 
the  back  for  a  sleeping  apartment. 

The  present  owner  of  the  building,  P.  H.  Hoffman, 
says  Washington  slept  in  the  front  room  over  his  store; 
where  the  grocery  store  is  was  only  one  room — the  par- 
lor. The  hall  through  which  the  great  man  was  wont  to 
pass  was  recently  fitted  up  as  a  store,  and  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  jeweler  above  mentioned.  Among  the  tradi- 
tions concerning  the  occupancy  of  this  house  by  Wash- 
ington is  one  that  he  was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of 
freemasonry  in  this  building,  though  some  accounts  say 
it  was  in  a  different  building  but  occurred  while  his 
headquarters  were  in  this  one.  This  tradition  will,  how- 
ever, appear  further  on  to  have  no  foundation  in  fact. 

Those  were  dark  days  for  Washington  and  his  fellow 
patriots.  He  had  scarcely  settled  in  his  new  quarters 
before  trouble  began.  Four  days  after  his  arrival  he  was 
called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  brave  and  noble  Colonel 
Jacob  Ford  jr.  On  the  parade  of  the  31st  of  December, 
to  which  reference  has  already  been  made.  Colonel  Ford 
was  seized  "  with  a  delirium  in  his  head  and  was  borne 
off  by  a  couple  of  soldiers,  after  which  he  never  rose 
from  his  bed."  He  died  January  nth  1777,  at  the  early 
age  of  nearly  thirty-nine  years,  being  born  February  rgth 

1738. 

Thus  died,  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness  and  in  the 
vigor  of  his  manhood,  one  of  the  most  promising  and 
brilliant  men  whom  Morristown  and  Morris  county  ever 
produced.  On  January  27th  1762  he  married  Theodo- 
cia,  daughter  of  Rev.  Timothy  Johnes,  who  afterward 
became  the  hostess  of  Washington  in  his  second  winter 
at  Morristown,  in  the  house  now  celebrated  as  the 
"  Headquarters."  Colonel  Ford  was  buried,  by  the  order 
of  Washington,  with  the  honors  of  war.  On  the  igth  of 
the  same  month  his  father.  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  died 
of  fever,  at  the  age  of  73,  being  born  April  13th  1704. 


Death  made  fearful  inroads  that  memorable  winter, 
both  in  the  army  and  among  the  citizens.  On  the  nth 
of  January  1777,  the  same  day  the  younger  Ford  died* 
the  death  of  Martha,  widow  of  Joshua  Ball,  from  small- 
pox, is  recorded,  the  sad  forerunner  of  the  darkest  year 
this  community  ever  saw.  There  were  two  more  deaths 
during  the  month  from  the  same  disease;  and  then  the 
roll  rapidly  increased  until  in  that  one  year  it  had  reached 
68  deaths  from  smallpox.  No  age  or  condition  was 
spared.  The  infant,  the  mother,  the  father,  the  youth,  the 
aged,  the  bond,  the  free,  were  reckoned  among  its  victims. 

But  smallpox  was  not  the  only  disease  working  havoc 
in  that  dread  year.  Putrid  sore  throat,  dysentery,  and 
other  maladies  swelled  the  death  roll  of  the  parish  to  the 
astounding  number  of  205,  exclusive  of  all  who  died  in 
the  army. 

"An  establishment,"  says  Sparks,  "  for  inoculation  was 
provided  near  Morristown  for  the  troops  in  camp;  one 
at  Philadelphia  for  those  coming  from  the  south,  another 
in  Connecticut,  another  in  Providence."  Rev.  Samuel 
L.  Tuttle,  in  his  "  Sketch  of  Bottle  Hill  during  the  Rev- 
olution "  [Historical  Magazine),  however,  has  clearly 
shown  that  this  was  not  "  an  establishment,"  but  a  series 
of  inoculating  hospitals  in  the  towns  of  Morris  and  Han- 
over. From  him  we  learn  that  one  of  these  hospitals 
was  the  house  which  stood  at  that  time  on  the  farm  of 
the  late  John  Ogden,  about  two  miles  south  of  Morris- 
town. The  house  was  -then  owned  and  occupied  by 
Elijah  Pierson,  and  for  several  months  it  was  continually 
filled  with  both  soldiers  and  citizens,  who  repaired 
thither  in  order  to  guard  themselves,  by  inoculation, 
against  the  smallpox.  "  I  have  been  informed,"  says 
Mr.  Tuttle,  "  by  some  of  the  Brookfield  family,  residing 
but  a  little  distance  from  the  Lowantica  camp  ground, 
that  they  received  it  from  their  Revolutionary  ancestors, 
who  lived  and  died  on  the  ground,  that  during  the  same 
winter  there  was  a  small  encampment  on  the  hill  back  of 
the  Bonsall  mansion,  a  short  distance  north  of  the  place 
last  described  [Pierson's];  and  it  has  seemed  to  me  not 
improbable  that  there  was  an  arrangement  also  made  for 
inoculating  the  army." 

The  old  First  Presbyterian  and  Baptist  churches,  the 
predecessors  of  the  present  buildings,  were  not  exempt 
from  the  necessities  of  this  terrible  scourge.  They,  too, 
were  turned  into  smallpox  hospitals  for  soldiers.  Under 
date  of  September  i6th  1777,  when  the  plague  had  been 
stayed,  we  find  in  the  trustees' book  of  the  former  church 
the  following  minute: 

"Agreed  that  Mr.  Conklin,  Mr.  Tuthill,  Mr.  Lindsly 
&  Mr.  Stiles  or  any  two  of  them  wait  upon  some  of  the 
Docts.  of  the  Hospital  in  Morristown  &  apply  for  a 
resignation  of  the  meeting  house,  and  if  obtained  then  to 
apply  to  the  Commanding  Officer  at  this  post  to  remove 
the  troops  thence;  &  at  their  discretion  to  proceed  further 
in  cleansing  and  refitting  the  house  for  Public  Worship 
&  to  make  report  of  their  progress  in  the  premises  at  their 
next  meeting." 

It  would  appear  that  the  progress  made  in  the  premises 
was  not  altogether  satisfactory,  for  under  date  of  July 
13th  1778  appears  this  entry: 


ii6 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


"July  13th  1778  the  Trustees  met  at  Doer.  Tuthill's; 
present,  Mr.  Conklin,  Mr.  Tuthill,  Mr.  Stiles,  Mr.  Linds- 
ley,  Mr.  Mills  &  the  President;  agreed  that  Mr.  Tuthill, 
Mr.  Stiles  &  Mr.  Mills  be  a  committee  to  wait  on  Doct. 
Draper  &  inform  him  of  the  Law  of  this  State  Relative 
to  Billeting  of  Soldiers,  &  that  the  committee  or  either 
of  them  be  Impowered  to  prosecute  such  Person  or  Per- 
sons who  may  take  possession  of  the  meeting  house  or 
other  property  of  the  Trustees  contrary  to  the  said  Law, 
&  that  they  make  report  what  they  have  done  in  the 
premises  to  this  Board  at  their  next  meeting." 

As  the  army  left  here  in  May  1777  we  may  infer  from 
this  last  minute  that  the  church  was  retained  as  a  hospital 
for  those  incapacited  by  sickness  from  the  severities  of 
active  warfare.  If  this  be  so  the  pastor  and  people  were 
obliged  for  a  year  and  a  half  to  worship,  as  we  know 
they  did  a  part  of  the  time,  in  the  open  air. 

An  incident  of  special  interest  to  the  ivriter  of  this 
article  may  be  mentioned  in  this  connection.  He  has 
heard  his  mother  relate  the  old  stories  which  her  father, 
Nehemiah  Smith,  told  her  when  a  child  of  his  experience 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Although  she  does  not  re- 
member the  name  of  Morristown,  yet  these  stories  are  so 
circumstantial  as  to  leave  no  doubt  in  her  mind  that  he 
was  a  smallpox  patient  in  the  old  church  of  which  the 
writer  was  lately  the  pastor.  In  the  work  of  inoculation, 
to  which  the  people  seriously  objected,  Washington  was 
greatly  aided  by  the  influence  of  the  ministry,  especially 
of  Dr.  Johnes  and  Parson  Green. 

How  large  the  death  roll  in  the  army  was  cannot  now 
be  ascertained,  but  that  hundreds  were  swept  away  by 
the  plague  cannot  be  doubted. 

Disease,  however,  was  not  the  only  cause  of  anxiety  to 
the  guest  of  the  "  Arnold  tavern."  Very  soon  after 
reaching  here  he  wrote  the  following  letter,  which  reveals 
another  serious  source  of  alarm: 


"Headquarters,  Morristown,  January  31st  1777. 

"  The  great  countenance  and  protection  shown  and 
given  to  deserters  by  persons  in  the  different  neighbor- 
hoods from  whence  they  originally  came  has  made  that 
vice  so  prevalent  in  the  army  that,  unless  some  very  ef- 
fectual measures  are  fallen  upon  to  prevent  it,  our  new 
army  will  scarcely  be  raised  before  it  will  again  dwindle 
and  waste  away  from  that  cause  alone. 

"  I  know  of  no  remedy  so  effectual  as  for  the  different 
States  immediately  to  pass  laws  laying  a  very  severe  pen- 
alty upon  those  who  harbour  or  fail  to  give  information 
against  deserters,  knowing  them  to  be  such,  and  strictly 
enjoining  all  justices  of  the  peace  and  officers  of  the 
militia  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  over  and  apprehend  "all 
such  persons  as  shall  return  from  the  army  without  a 
discharge. 

"  In  order  that  this  most  salutary  measure  may  be  car- 
ried speedily  into  execution,  I  have  not  only  desired 
Congress  to  recommend  it  to  the  different  States,  but 
have  myself  wrote  circular  letters  to  them  all,  pressing 
their  compliance  with  my  request.  Desertion  must  cease 
of  course  when  the  offenders  find  they  have  no  shelter. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient servant.  Go.  Washington. 

"  To  the  Hon.  the  representatives  of  the  State  of  New 
Jersey." 

Then,  too,  Washington  was  not  altogether  satisfied 
with  the  position  of  Morristown  as  a  place  for.  locating 


his  army.  On  reaching  here  he  writes:  "The  situation 
is  by  no  means  favorable  to  our  views,  and  as  soon  as  the 
purposes  are  answered  for  which  we  came  I  think  to  re- 
move, though  I  confess  I  do  not  know  how  we  shall  pro- 
cure covering  for  our  men  elsewhere,"  That  he  did  not 
soon  remove,  and  that  he  returned  here  for  another 
winter,  would  indicate  that  as  he  became  more  familiar 
with  the  topography  of  the  county  his  early  impression 
of  "  the  unfavorable  situation  "  was  changed. 

January  13th,  scarcely  a  week  after  his  arrival  here,  he 
wrote  two  letters  to  Lord  Howe,  on  the  subject  of  "  the 
barbarous  usage  "  our  soldiers  and  sailors  were  receiving 
in  New  York,  "  which  their  emaciated  countenances 
confirm."  "  Did  he  not  endeavor  to  obtain  a  redress  of 
their  grievances,"  he  writes  "  he  would  think  himself  as 
culpable  as  those  who  inflict  such   severities  upon  them." 

The  correspondence  which  passed  between  these  two 
distinguished  persons  during  the  winter  had  in  the  midst 
of  all  its  seriousness,  if  tradition  may  be  believed,  an  oc- 
casional vein  of  humor.  Howe  is  said  to  have  sent  to 
Washington,  at  one  time,  a  copy  of  Watts's  version  of 
the  one  hundred  and  twentieth  Psalm,  as  follows: 

"  Thou  God  of  love,  thou  ever  blest. 
Pity  my  suffering  state ; 
When  wilt  thou  set  my  soul  at  rest 
From  lips  that  love  deceit  ? 

"  Hard  lot  of  mine !  my  days  are  cast 
Among  the  sons  of  strife, 
"Whose  never  ceasing  brawlings  waste 
My  golden  hours  of  life. 

"  O !  might  I  change  my  place. 
How  would  I  choose  to  dwell 
In  some  wide,  lonesome  wilderness. 
And  leave  these  gates  of  hell !" 

To  this,  it  is  said,  Washington  returned  Watts's  version 
of  the  one  liundred  and  first  Psalm,  entitled  "  The 
Magistrate's  Psalm,"  containing  the  following  pointed 
verses: 


"  In  vain  shall  sinners  strive  to  rise 
By  flattering  and  malicious  lies ; 
And  while  the  innocent  I  guard 
The'bold  offender  sba'nt  he  spared. 

"  The  impious  crew,  that  factious  liand. 
Shall  hide  their  heads,  or  quit  the  land ; 
And  all  who  break  the  public  rest. 
Where  I  have  power,  shall  be  supprest." 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  F.  Tuttle  states  that  he  received  the  above 
tradition  from  two  entirely  distinct  sources. 

Still  another  trouble  weighed  heavily  upon  the  anxious 
heart  of  Washington.  The  term  of  enlistment  of  many 
of  his  troops  was  about  to  expire;  and  most  earnest  let- 
ters were  sent  "  to  the  council  of  safety,''  '"  to  the  presi- 
dent of  Congress,"  "  to  the  governors  of  the  thirteen 
States,"  calling  for  more  men  and  munitions.  On  the 
26th  of  January  he  wrote:  "  Reinforcements  come  up  so 
extremely  slow  that  I  am  afraid  I  shall  be  left  without 
any  men  before  they  arrive.  The  enemy  must  be  igno- 
rant of  our  numbers,  or  they  have  not  horses  to  move 
their  artillery,  or  they  would  not  suffer  us  to  remain  un- 
disturbed." 

One  of  the  members  of  "  the  council  of  safety  "  was 
Silas  Condict,  of  this  town.  The  following  letter  of  his 
is  not  without  interest: 


TORY  SPIES  AT  MORRISTOWN— GAMBLING  IN  CAMP. 


T17 


"  MoRRiSTOWN,  April  7th  1777. 

"  Dear  Sir, — This  day  I  received  your  favor  of  the  23d 
ult.,  wherein  you  acquaint  me  that  I  have  been  appointed 
one  of  the  council  of  safety.  I  am  much  concerned  that 
you  have  so  few  members  attending  at  this  critical  season; 
and,  although  it  is  extremely  difficult  at  present  for  me 
to  leave  home  (my  family  being  inoculated  and  not  yet 
through  the  smallpox),  yet  I  will  come  at  any  time 
rather  than  public  business  should  suffer,  on  notice  being 
given  me  that  it  is  necessary.  Colonel  De  Hart  told  me 
to-day  that  the  battalion  had  arranged  its  officers,  and 
only  wanted  an  opportunity  to  present  it  for  commission. 
The  colonel  says  that  he  has  at  General  Washington's  re- 
quest examined  several  of  the  prisoners  now  in  jail  here, 
and  that  it  will  be  best  for  the  council  of  safety  to  sit  in 
this  county  soon;  and  if  this  is  thought  proper  I  think  it 
will  be  best  to  sit  either  at  Mendham  or  at  Captain 
Dunn's,  in  Roxbury,  as  the  army  is  still  at  Morristown, 
and  it  will  be  inconvenient  to  sit  there. 

"  I   am,  with   great   respect,  your  most   obedient  and 
humble  servant, 

"  Silas  Condict. 

"  His  Excellency  Gov.  Livingston." 

The  jail,  as  Mr.  Condict's  letter  informs  us,  was  full  of 
prisoners.  These  were  spies,  tories,  and  dangerous  char- 
acters. The  i)resence  of  such  persons  was  another 
source  of  annoyance  and  anxiety.  But  their  cunning  was 
not  always  successful.  Dr.  Tuttle  relates  an  anecdote 
which  he  had  from  G.  P.  McCulloch,  who  heard  it  from 
General  Doughty,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  residing  in 
Morristown.  A  certain  man  was  employed  by  Washing- 
ton af  a  spy,  to  gain  information  concerning  the  enemy, 
but  it  was  suspected  that  he  carried  the  enemy  more 
news  than  he  brought  to  those  in  whose  employ  he  was. 
General  Greene,  who  acted  as  quartermaster-general,  oc- 
cupied a  small  office  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Green, 
where  the  drug  store  of  Geiger  &  Smith  now  is.  One 
day  Colonel  Hamilton  was  in  this  office  when  the  sus- 
pected spy  made  his  appearance.  The  colonel  had  pre- 
pared what  purported  to  be  a  careful  statement  of  the 
condition  of  the  army,  both  as  to  numbers  and  munitions, 
making  the  numbers  much  more  flattering  than  the  actual 
facts.  Leaving  this  statement  on  the  table,  apparently 
by  mistake.  Colonel  Hamilton  left  the  office,  saying  he 
would  return  in  a  few  minutes.  The  spy  instantly 
seized  the  paper  as  a  very  authentic  document,  and  left 
with  it  for  parts  unknown.  It  was  supposed  that  this 
trick  did  much  to  preserve  the  army  from  attack  that 

winter. 

Still  another  source  of  trouble  is  apparent  from   the 

following  "  general  order:" 

"  Headquarters,  Morristown,  8th  May  1777. 
"  As  few  vices  are  attended  with  more  pernicious  con- 
sequences than  gaming — which  often  brings  disgrace  and 
ruin  upon  officers,  and  injury  and  punishment  upon  the 
soldiery — and  reports  prevailing  (which  it  is  to  be  feared 
are  too  well  founded)  that  this  destructive  vice  has 
spread  its  baleful  influence  in  the  army,  and  in  a  peculiar 
manner  to  the  prejudice  of  the  recruiting  service,  the 
■commander-in-chief,  in  the  most  pointed  and  explicit 
terms,  forbids  all  officers  and  soldiers  playing  at  cards, 
dice,  or  at  any  games  except  those  of  exercise,  for  diver- 
sion; it  being  impossible,  if  the  practice  be  allowed  at  all, 
to  d'iscriminate  between  innocent  play  for  amusement 
and  criminal  gaming  for  pecuniary  and  sordid  purposes. 


"  Officers  attentive  to  their  duty  will  find  abundant 
employment  in  training  and  disciplining  their  men,  pro- 
viding for  them,  and  seeing  that  they  appear  neat,  clean 
and  soldierlike.  Nor  will  anything  redound  more  to  their 
honor,  afford  them  more  solid  amusement,  or  better  answer 
the  end  of  their  appointment,  than  to  devote  the  vacant 
moments  they  may  have  to  the  study  of  military  authors. 

"  The  commanding  officer  of  every  corps  is  strictly  en- 
joined to  have  this  order  frequently  read  and  strongly 
impressed  upon  the  minds  of  those  under  his  command. 
Any  officer  or  soldier,  or  other  persons  belonging  to 
or  following  the  army— either  in  camp,  in  quarters,  on 
the  recruiting  service,  or  elsewhere— presuming,  under 
any  pretence,  to  disobey  this  order,  shall  be  tried  by  a 
general  court  martial.  The  general  officers  in  each 
division  of  the  army  are  to  pay  the  strictest  attention  to 
the  due  exercise  thereof. 

"The  adjutant-general  is  to  transmit  copies  of  this 
order  to  the  diff'erent  departments  of  the  army.  _  Also, 
to  execute  the  same  to  be  immediately  published  in  the 
gazettes  of  each  State,  for  the  information  of  officers  dis- 
persed on  the  recruiting  service. 

"  By  his  Excellency's  command, 

"  Morgan  Connor,  Adj.  pro  tem." 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  under  all  these  depress- 
ing circumstances  the  troubled  heart  of  Washington 
turned  for  support  and  comfort  to  the  God  of  all  strength, 
to  the  God  of  nations  and  of  battles.  We  are  not  sur- 
prised, therefore,  that  as  the  time  of  the  communion 
drew  near,  which  was  then  observed  semi-annually, 
Washington  sought  good  Pastor  Johnes,  and  inquired 
of  him  if  membership  with  the  Presbyterian  church  was 
required  "as  a  term  of  admission  to  the  ordinance." 
The  doctor's  reply  was,  "Ours  is  npt  the  Presbyterian 
table,  but  the  Lord's  table,  and  we  hence  give  the  Lord's 
invitation  to  all  his  followers,  of  whatever  name."  This 
pleased  and  satisfied  the  general,  and  on  the  coming  Sab- 
bath, in  the  cold  air,  he  was  present  with  the  congrega- 
tion assembled  in  the  orchard  in  the  rear  of  the  parson- 
age, the  house  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Eugene  Ayers,  on 
Morris  street;  and  in  the  natural  basin  still  found  there 
he  sat  down  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  remem- 
brance of  redeeming  love  obtained  no  doubt  relief  from 
the  scenes  that  appalled  and  the  cares  that  oppressed  him. 
The  common  opinion  is  that  the  Lord's  Supper  was  ad- 
ministered in  the  church.  This  is  so  stated  in  Sparks's 
life  of  Washington  and  by  other  writers,  but  the  true 
version  is  as  already  given.  The  church  was  occupied 
by  invalid  troops  till  the  close  of  the  year  1777,  if  not  till 
some  time  in  1778,  as  the  records  of  the  trustees  show. 
This  was  the  only  time  after  his  entrance  upon  his  public 
career  that  Washington  is  certainly  known  to  have  par- 
taken of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

(For  the  proof  of  this  interesting  historical  incidenl 
the  reader  is  referred  to  The  Record  ior  ]m\t  a.x\A  Kn- 
gust  1880.) 

Washington  was  a  frequent  attendant  upon  these  open- 
air  meetings.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  according  to 
an  account  handed  down  by  Doctor  Johnes,  Washington 
was  sitting  in  his  camp  chair,  brought  in  for  the  occasion. 
During  the  service  a  woman  came  into  the  congregation 
with  a  child  in  her  arms;  Washington  arose  from  his 
chair  and  gave  it  to  the  woman  with  the  child. 


ii8 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  Rev.  O.  L.  Kirtland,  a  former  pastor  in  this  town, 
in  a  letter  to  the  Fi-esbyterian  Magazine,  and  copied  in 
The  Record  ior  '^nne  1880,  relates  the  following,  which 
not  only  reveals  the  terrible  trials  of  that  winter,  but  the 
character  of  Washington,  and  the  great  secret  of  his 
power  over  the  army: 

"  Soon  after  I  came  to  Morristown,  in  1837  I  think,  I 
visit'ed  ray  native  place,  and  met  there  an  old  man, 
bowed  down  with  a^e,  leaning  tremblingly  upon  the  top 
of  his  staff.  His  name  was  Cook.  In  my  early  child- 
hood he  had  been  the  physician  in  my  father's  family. 
As  the  old  man  met  me,  he  said,  '  You  are  located  in 
Morristown,  are  you  ?'  '  Yes,  sir.'  '  I  was  there  too,' 
said  the  doctor,  once;  '  I  was  under  Washington  in  the 
army  of  the  Revolution.  It  was  hard  times  then — hard 
times.  There  was  a  time  when  all  our  rations  were  but  a 
single  gill  of  wheat  a  day.  Washington  used  to  come 
round  and  look  into  our  tents,  and  he  looked  so  kind, 
and  he  said  so  tenderly,  '  Men,  can  you  bear  it  ?'  '  Yes, 
general,  yes,  we  can,'  was  the  reply;  'if  you  wish  us  to 
act,  give  us  the  word,  and  we  are  ready.'  " 

Tradition  relates  that  Washington  amidst  all  his  other 
troubles  during  that  dreadful  winter  was  not  himself  ex- 
empt from  the  hand  of  disease.  He  had,  it  is  said,  a 
dangerous  attack  of  quinsy  sore  throat,  so  that  his  friends 
felt  serious  apprehensions  about  his  recovery.  In  this 
fear  they  asked  him  to  indicate  the  man  best  fitted  to 
succeed  him  in  the  command  of  the  army,  and  without 
hesitation  he  pointed  to  General  Nathaniel  Greene. 

Thus'  that  ever- memorable  season  wore  away.  The 
homes  of  our  citizens  vvere  filled  with  the  soldiers  billeted 
upon  them,  and  for  whom  they  had  to  provide.  Suffer- 
ing, deprivation,  disease  and  death  were  upon  every 
hand.  Never  were  these  combinations  of  evils  better 
calculated  to  undermine  the  courage  of  all  concerned  in 
the  struggle;  and  yet  their  faith  in  God  never  failed. 
Washington  was  not  an  unmoved  spectator  of  the  griefs 
about  him,  and  often  might  be  seen  in  Hanover  and 
Lowantica  Valley  cheering  the  faith  and  inspiring  the 
courage  of  his  suffering  men.  His  labors  were  very 
heavy  in  the  southeast  room  of  the  "Arnold  tavern:" 
urging  on  Congress  the  necessity  of  tendering  an  oath  of 
allegiance  to  all  the  inhabitants  and  outlawing  those  that 
refused  it;  now  advising  and  inspiring  his  generals — 
Benedict  Arnold  among  them,  but  too  base  to  be  elevated 
by  his  communion  with  the  great  spirit  of  the  age;  now 
hurrying  forward  the  enlistment  of  troops  and  the  col- 
lection of  munitions;  now  teaching  Lord  Howe  some 
lessons  in  humanity  by  the  law  of  retaliation;  "  although," 
says  he,  "I  shall  always  be  happy  to  manifest  my  disin- 
clination to  any  undue  severities  toward  those  whom  the 
fortune  of  war  may  chance  to  throw  into  my  hands." 
His  situation  is  extremely  trying,  for  on  the  2nd  of  March 
he  writes:  "  General  Howe  cannot  have  *  *  *  less 
than  ten  thousand  men  in  the  Jerseys.  *  *  *  Our 
number  does  not  exceed  four  thousand.  His  are  well 
disciplined,  well  officered  and  well  appointed;  ours  raw 
militia,  badly  officered  and  under  no  government."  The 
balance  sheet  thus  struck  seemed  to  be  against  him. 
But  then  Robert  Morris,  the  great  finaneier  of  the 
Revolution,    did   not    express   himself    too    strongly   in 


writing  that  very  winter  to  Washington:  "Heaven  no 
doubt  for  the  noblest  purposes  has  blessed  you  with  a 
firmness  of  mind,  steadiness  of  countenance,  and  patience 
in  sufferings,  that  give  you  infinite  advantages  over  other 
men." 

About  the  end  of  May  Washington  led  his  army  from 
Morristown  to  engage  in  the  campaign  of  1777,  made 
memorable  by  the  bloody  reverses  of  Chad's  Ford  and 
Germantown. 

Washington's  second  winter  at  morristown. 

We  pass  over  fhe  intervening  time  between  Washing- 
ton's leaving  Morristown  in  May  1777  and  his  return  to 
it  in  December  1779.  The  duty  of  selecting  the  winter 
quarters  in  the  latter  year  had  been  committed  to  General 
Greene,  who  had  reported  two  places  to  the  commander- 
in-chief,  the  one  at  Aquackanock,  the  other  within  four 
miles  of  Morristown.  Greene  preferred  the  former,  but 
Washington's  preference  was  the  latter.  On  the  7th  of 
December  1779  he  writes  to  Governor  Livingston  from 
Morristown  that  "  the  main  army  lies  within  three  or 
four  miles  from  this  place."  And  on  the  15th  he  ordered 
Generals  Greene  and  Duportail  "  to  examine  all  the 
grounds  in  the  environs  of  our  present  encampment  for 
spots  most  proper  to  be  occupied  in  case  of  any  move- 
ment of  the  enemy  toward  us,"  the  positions  to  be  large 
enough  for  the  maneuvers  of  ten  thousand  men. 

On  the  ist  of  December  1779  Washington  became  the 
guest  of  Mrs.  Ford,  the  widow  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  jr. 
and  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Johnes. 

On  the  22nd  of  January  r78o  he  wrote  to  Quarter- 
master General  Greene,  whose  duty  it  was  to  provide  for 
the  comfort  of  the  commander-in-chief:  "  I  have  been 
at  my  present  quarters  since  the  ist  day  of  December, 
and  have  not  a  kitchen  to  cook  a  dinner  in — nor  is  there 
a  place  at  this  moment  in  which  a  servant  can  lodge  with 
the  smallest  degree  of  comfort.  Eighteen  belonging  to 
my  family  and  all  Mrs.  Ford's  are  crowded  together  in 
her  kitchen,  and  scarce  one  of  them  able  to  speak  for  the 
colds  they  have."  Soon  a  log  kitchen  was  built  at  the 
east  end  of  the  house  for  the  use  of  Washington's  family. 
At  the  west  end  of  the  house,  and  but  a  little  distance 
from  it,  another  log  cabin  was  built  for  a  general  office, 
which  Washington  occupied  particularly  in  the  day-time, 
with  Colonel  Alexander  Hamilton  and  Major  Tench 
Tighlman.  This  cluster  of  buildings  was  guarded  night 
and  day  by  sentinels.  In  the  field  southeast  of  the  house 
huts  were  built  for  Washington's  life  guards,  of  whom 
there  are  said  to  have  been  two  hundred  and  fifty,  under 
command  of  General  Colfax,  grandfather  of  Schuyler 
Colfax,  late  vice-president  of  the  United  States. 

Several  times  in  the  course  of  the  winter  false  alarms 
were  given  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  First  a  distant 
report  of  a  gun  would  be  heard  from  the  most  remote 
sentinel,  and  when  one  nearer,  and  so  on,  until  the  senti- 
nels by  the  house  would  fire  in  turn.  From  them  it 
would  be  communicated  on  toward  Morristown,  until  the 
last  gun  would  be  heard  far  to  the  westward  at  camp. 
Immediately  the  life  guard  would  rush  into  the  house, 


WASHINGTON  AT  THE  "HEADQUARTERS." 


119 


barricade  the  doors,  open  the  windows,  and  about  five 
men  would  place  themselves  at  each  window,  with  their 
muskets  brought  to  a  charge,  loaded  and  cocked  ready 
for  defense.  There  they  would  remain  until  the  troops 
were  seen  marching,  with  music,  at  quick  step  toward  the 
mansion.  During  one  of  these  alarms  an  amusing  inci- 
dent occurred  tending  to  show  the  coolness  of  Washing- 
ton. One  evening,  about  midnight,  when  some  of  the 
younger  ofificers  were  indulging  themselves  over  their 
wine,  in  the  dining-room,  an  alarm  was  given.  A  guest,  a 
young  man  from  New  York,  something  of  a  bon  vivant, 
was  in  much  trepidation,  and  rushing  out  into  the  entry 
exclaimed,  "  Where's  the  general  ?  Where's  the  general?" 
Washington,  just  then  coming  down  stairs,  met  him,  and 
in  moderate  tones  said,  "  Be  quiet,  young  man,  be  quiet." 

Timothy  Ford,  a  son  of  Washington's  hostess,  was  a 
severe  sufferer  all  that  winter  from  the  effects  of  a  wound 
received  in  a  battle  the  previous  fall;  and  among  other 
pleasing  courtesies  we  are  told  that  every  morning  Wash- 
ington knocked  at  Timothy's  door,  and  asked  how  the 
young  soldier  had  passed  the  night.  There  was  some- 
times scarcity  at  the  headquarters  as  well  as  in  the  camp, 
as  the  following  anecdote  will  show:  ''  We  have  nothing 
but  the  rations  to  cook,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Thompson,  a  very 
worthy  Irishwoman,  and  housekeeper,  to  General  Wash- 
ington. "  Well,  Mrs.  Thompson,  you  must  cook  the  ra- 
tions, for  I  have  not  a  farthing  to  give  you."  "  If  you 
please,  sir,  let  one  of  the  gentlemen  give  me  an  order  for 
six  bushels  of  salt."  "Six  bushels  of  salt;  for  what?" 
"  To  preserve  the  fresh  beef,  sir."  One  of  the  aids  gave 
the  order,  and  next  day  his  excellency's  table  was  amply 
provided.  Mrs.  Thompson  was  sent  for,  and  told  she  had 
done  very  wrong  to  expend  her  own  money,  for  it  was 
not  known  when  she  could  be  repaid.  "  I  owe  you," 
said  his  excellency,  "  too  much  already  to  permit  the 
debt  being  increased,  and  our  situation  is  not  such  as  to 
induce  very  sanguine  hope."  "  Dear  sir,"  said  the  good 
old  lady,  "  it  is  always  darkest  just  before  daylight,  and 
I  hope  your  excellency  will  forgive  me  for  bartering  salt 
for  the  other  necessaries  now  on  the  table."  Salt  was 
eight  dollars  a  bushel  and  could  always  be  exchanged 
with  the  country  people  for  articles  of  provision. 

A  sketch  of  Washington  now  before  me,  says:  "He 
(Washington)  sometimes  smiled,  but  is  not  recollected  to 
have  been  seen  laughing  heartily  except  on  one  occasion. 
This  was  when  he  was  describing  Arnold's  escape,  and 
giving  an  account  of  his  ludicrous  appearance  as  he  gal- 
loped from  the  Robinson  House,  near  West  Point,  to 
embark  on  board  the  enemy's  vessel."  Dr.  Tuttle  in  his 
paper  on  "Washington  at  Morristown,"  says: 

"  The  late  General  John  Doughty  of  Morristown  was 
an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  knew  Washing- 
ton both  winters  he  spent  at  Morristown.  He  often  told 
his  friends  that  he  never  heard  of  Washington's  laughing 
loud  but  once  during  the  two  winters.  The  exception 
was  one  that  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1780,  when 
Washington  had  purchased  a  young  spirited  horse  of 
great  power,  but  which  was  not  broken  to  the  saddle.  A 
man  in  the  army,  or  town,  who  professed  to  be  a  perfect 
horseman,  and  who  made  loud  proclamation  of  his  gifts 


in  that  line,  solicited  and  received  permission  from  the 
general  to  break  the  horse  to  the  saddle.  Immediately 
back  of  Southside,  below  Market  street  was  a  large  yard, 
to  which  Washington  and  his  friends  went  to  see  the 
horse  receive  his  first  lesson.  After  many  preliminary 
flourishes,  the  man  made  a  leap  to  the  horse's  back,  but 
no  sooner  was  he  seated  than  the  horse  made  what  is 
known  as  a  '  stiff  leap,'  threw  down  his  head  and  up  his 
heels,  casting  the  braggart  over  his  head  in  a  sort  of 
elliptical  curve.  As  Washington  looked  at  the  man,  un- 
hurt but  rolling  in  the  dirt,  the  ludicrous  scene  overcame 
his  gravity  and  he  laughed  aloud  so  heartily  that  the  tears 
ran  down  his  cheeks." 

Count  Pulaski  frequently  exercised  his  corps  of  cavalry 
in  front  of  the  headquarters.  He  was  an  expert  horse- 
man, and  performed  many  feats  of  skill.  He  would  some- 
times while  his  horse  was  on  full  gallop  discharge  his 
pistol,  toss  it  in  the  air,  catch  it  by  the  barrels,  and  throw 
it  ahead  as  if  at  an  enemy.  With  his  horse  still  on  a 
jump,  he  would  lift  one  foot  out  of  the  stirrup,  and  with 
the  other  foot  in,  bend  to  the  ground  and  recover  the 
weapon.  Some  of  the  best  horsemen  in  the  army,  be- 
longing to  the  Virginia  Light  Horse,  attempted  to  imitate 
the  feat;  they  would  be  successful  in  three  or  four  trials 
as  far  as  to  catch  the  pistol;  none,  however,  were  able  to 
pick  it  up,  but  in  trying  they  got  some  severe  falls. 

An  officer  who  was  with  the  army  in  Morristown  thus 
gives  his  impressions  of  the  commander-in-chief,  while 
partaking  of  the  hospitalities  of  his  table  : 

"  It  is  natural  to  view  with  keen  attention  the  counten- 
ance of  an  illustrious  man,  with  the  secret  hope  of  dis- 
covering in  his  features  some  peculiar  traces  of  the  excel- 
lence which  distinguishes  him  from,  and  elevates  him 
above,  his  fellow  mortals.  These  expectations  are  real- 
ized in  a  peculiar  manner  in  viewing  the  person  of  Gen- 
eral Washington.  His  tall,  noble  stature  and  just  pro- 
portions, his  fine,  cheerful,  open  countenance,  simple  and 
modest  deportment,  are  all  calculated  to  interest  every 
beholder  in  his  favor,  and  to  command  veneration  and 
respect.  He  is  feared  even  when  silent,  and  beloved 
even  while  we  are  unconscious  of  the  motive.  The  table 
was  elegantly  furnished  and  provisions  ample,  though 
not  abounding  in  superfluities.  The  civilities  of  the 
table  were  performed  by  Colonel  Hamilton  and  the  other 
members  of  the  family,  the  general  and  lady  being  seated 
at  the  side  of  the  table.  In  conversation  his  excellency's 
expressive  countenance  is  peculiarly  interesting  and  pleas- 
ing; a  placid  smile  is  seen  frequently  on  his  lips,  but  a 
loud  laugh,  it  is  said,  seldom  if  ever  escapes  him.  He  is 
polite  and  attentive  to  each  individual  at  table,  and  re- 
tires after  the  compliments  of  a  few  glasses.  Mrs.  Wash- 
ington combines,  in  an  uncommon  degree,  great  dignity 
of  manner  with  the  most  pleasing  affability,  but  possesses 
no  striking  mark  of  beauty." 

Among  the  letters  that  were  written  by  Washington 
that  winter  was  one  to  "Major  General  Arnold"  in  an- 
swer to  his  letter  asking  "  leave  of  absence  from  the  army 
during  the  ensuing  summer,"  on  account  of  his  health. 
Washington  wrote,  "  You  have  my  permission,  though  it 
is  my  expectation  and  wish  to  see  you  in  the  field;" 
then,  alluding  to  the  birth  of  a  son,  he  says,  "  Let  me 
congratulate  you  on  the  late  happy  event.  Mrs.  Wash- 
ington joins  me  in  presenting  her  wishes  for  Mrs.  Arnold 
on  the  occasion." 

How  little  either  of  the  parties  to  these  felicitations 


17 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


could  forsee  the  future!  Before  that  infant  was  six 
months  older  his  mother  was  raving  like  a  maniac  over 
her  husband's  infamy,  and  the  name  of  Arnold  had  be- 
come a  stench  in  the  nostrils  of  every  American  patriot. 

An  important  incident  of  that  time  must  not  be  for- 
gotten. We  learn  that  on  the  i8th  of  April  i78o~the 
French  minister,  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  and  Don  Juan 
de  Miralles,  a  distinguished  Spanish  gentleman,  repre- 
senting his  court  before  our  Congress,  arrived  at  Morris- 
town.  That  was  a  great  day  in  the  Wick  farm  camp 
when  these  two  distinguished  foreigners  were  to  be  re- 
ceived. Even  soldiers  who  had  neither  shoes  nor  coats 
looked  cheerful,  as  if  the  good  time  so  long  expected  was 
now  at  hand.  Washington  had  many  plans  to  lay  before 
these  representatives  of  two  powerful  allies,  and  of 
course  time  did  not  hang  heavily.  On  the  24th  Baron 
Steuben,  the  accomplished  disciplinarian  to  whose  severe 
training  our  army  owed  so  much,  had  completed  his 
preparations  for  the  review  of  four  battalions.  This  par- 
ade probably  took  place  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of 
Morristown.  An  eye  witness  makes  a  large  draft  on  his 
stock  of  adjectives  in  describing  the  review.  "A  large 
stage "  he  says  "  was  erected  in  the  field,  which  was 
crowded  with  officers,  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  distinc- 
tion from  the  country,  among  whom  were  Governor  Liv- 
ingston of  New  Jersey  and  lady.  Our  troops  exhibited 
a  truly  military  appearance,  and  performed  the  evolu- 
tions in  a  manner  which  afforded  much  satisfaction  to 
the  commander-in-chief,  and  they  were  honored  with 
the  approbation  of  the  French  minister  and  all  present. 

Our  enthusiastic  witness  forgot  to  say  whether  Baron 
Steuben  did  or  did  not  bring  forward  on  that  brilliant  oc- 
casion any  of  the  patriots  who  had  no  shoes  or  coats  ; 
but  probably  they  did  duty  in  camp  that  day,  while  those 
who  were  better  clothed,  but  no  better  disposed,  flaunted 
before  spectators  their  gayest  war-plumage!  In  the  even- 
ing General  Washington  and  the  French  minister  at- 
tended a  ball  provided  by  our  principal  officers,  at  which 
was  present  a  numerous  collection  of  ladies  and  gentle- 
men of  distinguished  character.  Fireworks  were  also 
exhibited  by  the  officers  of  the  artilery,  so  that  doubt- 
less that  night  of  the  24th  of  April  1780  was  a  very 
merry  night :  rockets  exploded,  cannons  occasionally 
roared  like  thunder,  and  some  very  curious  inventions 
whirled  and  snapped  to  the  delight  of  some  thousands 
who  did  not  attend  the  ball.  O'Hara's  parlors  were  as 
light  as  they  could  be  made  with  good  tallow  candles,  re- 
quiring to  be  snuffed. 

But  while  all  this  was  passing  where  was  "  that  distin- 
guished gentleman,  Don  Juan  de  Miralles?"  We  learn 
that  he  visited  the  Short  Hills  on  the  igth  or  20th  of 
April.  When  Baron  Steuben  on  the  24th  of  April  was 
reviewing  the  four  battalions  to  the  delight  of  Wash- 
ington, De  la  Luzerne,  and  others,  and  that  night,  while 
the  fireworks  were  flashing  their  eccentricities  in  the 
darkness,  and  the  sounds  of  music  and  dancing  were 
heard  at  O'Hara's,  Don  Juan  de  Miralles  was  tossing 
with  death  fever.  Four  days  afterward  he  died,  and  on 
Llie  29th  of  April  his  funeral  took  place,  in  a  style  never 


imitated  or  equalled  in  Morristown  since.  Dr.  Thatcher 
exhausted  all  his  strong  words  in  expressing  his  admira- 
tion of  the  scene,  and  doubtless  would  have  used  more 
had  they  been  at  hand.     Hear  him: 

"I  accompanied  Dr.  Schuyler  to  headquarters  to  at- 
tend the  funeral  of  M.  de  Miralles.  The  deceased  was  a 
gentleman  of  high  rank  in  Spain,  and  had  been  about 
one  year  a  resident  with  our  Congress  from  the  Spanish 
court.  The  corpse  was  dressed  in  rich  state  and  exposed 
to  public  view,  as  is  customary  in  Europe.  The  coffin 
was  most  splendid  and  stately,  lined  throughout  with  fine 
cambric,  and  covered  on  the  outside  with  rich  black 
velvet,  and  ornamented  in  a  superb  manner.  The^top  of 
the  coffin  w^s  removed  to  display  the  pomp  and  grandeur 
with  which  the  body  was  decorated.  It  was  a  splendid 
full  dress,  consisting  of  a  scarlet  suit,  embroidered  with 
rich  gold  lace,  a  three-cornered  gold-laced  hat,  a  genteel- 
cued  wig,  white  silk  stockings,  large  diamond  shoe  and 
knee  buckles,  a  profusion  of  diamond  rings  decorated 
the  fingers,  and  from  a  superb  gold  watch  set  with  dia 
raonds  several  rich  seals  were  suspended.  His  excel- 
lency General  Washington,  with  several  other  general 
officers,  and  members  of  the  Congress,  attended  the 
funeral  solemnities  and  walked  as  chief  mourners.  The 
other  officers  of  the  army  and  numerous  respectable  citi- 
zens formed  a  splendid  procession,  extending  about  one 
mile.  The  pall-bearers  were  six  field  officers,  and  the 
coffin  was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  four  officers  of  the 
artillery  in  full  uniform.  Minute-guns  were  fired  during 
the  procession,  which  greatly  increased  the  solemnity  of 
the  occasion.  A  Spanish  priest  performed  service  at  the 
grave  in  the  Roman  Catholic  form.  The  coffin  was 
enclosed  in  a  box  of  plank,  and  in  all  the  profusion  of 
pomp  and  grandeur  was  deposited  in  the  silent  grave  in 
the  common  burying  ground  near  the  church  at  Morris- 
town. A  guard  is  placed  at  the  grave  lest  our  soldiers 
should  be  tempted  to  dig  for  hidden  treasure." 

This  pompous  funeral,  so  pompously  described,  was 
quite  in  contrast  with  the  funeral  procession  which  the 
previous  week  entered  the  same  burying  ground.  The 
neighbors  and  friends  of  Jacob  Johnson,  who  had  been  a 
bold  rider  in  Arnold's  troop  of  light  horse,  made  a  long 
procession.  Dr.  Johnes  and  the  physician  led  the  pro- 
cession on  horseback,  and  the  only  wagon  present  was 
used  to  convey  the  coffin  to  the  graveyard.  At  the  house 
the  pastor  drew  heavenly  consolation  for  the  afflicted 
from  the  word  of  God,  and  at  the  grave  dismissed  the 
people  by  thanking  them  for  their  kindness  to  the  dead. 
And  had  Dr.  Johnes  officiated  at  the  funeral  of  General 
Washington  his  services  would  have  been  just  as  simple 
and  unostentatious.  These  two  funerals  made  no  un- 
interesting feature  in  the  social  life  of  Morristown  when 
Washington  spent  his  last  winter  there. 

No  one  has.  studied  more  fully,  or  written  more  care- 
fully, the  Revolutionary  history  of  Morristown  than  the 
Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  D.  D.,  former  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Rockaway,  and  now  president  of 
Wabash  College.  In  the  interest  of  our  readers  we  can 
not  do  better  than  to  reproduce  here,  with  his  permission, 
a  portion  of  an  article  from  his  pen,  entitled  "  Washing- 
ton in  Morris  county,  New  Jersey,"  published  in  The 
Historical  Magazine  for  June  1871. 

On  the  30th  of  November  1779  General  Greene,  the 
quartermaster-general,  wrote  from  Morristown  to  one  of 


THE  CAMP  AT  KIMBALL  HILL. 


the  quartermasters  of  New  Jersey  that  "  we  are  yet  like 
the  wandering  Jews  in  search  of  a  Jerusalem,  not  having 
fixt  upon  a  position  for  hutting  the  army;"  and  he  says 
that  he  has  described  two  favorable  positions  to  the 
commander-in-chief,  "  the  one  near  Equacanock,  the 
other  near  Mr.  Kemble's,  four  miles  from  this  place." 
The  next  day  he  writes  to  the  same  gentleman  that  "  the 
general  has  fixed  upon  a  place  for  hutting  the  army  near 
Mr.  Kimball's,  within  about  four  miles  of  this  town.  His 
reasons  for  this  choice  are  unnecessary  to  be  explained, 
but  whatever  they  are  they  will  prove  very  distressing  to 
the  quartermaster's  department.  *  *  *  i  beg  you  will 
set  every  wheel  in  motion  that  will  give  dispatch  to 
business."  His  predictions  concerning  the  commissary 
were  fulfilled  more  literally  than  he  himself  dreamed  of. 

The  position  actually  chosen  is  one  of  the  finest  lo- 
calities in  Morris  county,  and  can  be  reached  by  two 
roads.  The  one  principally  traveled  that  winter  is  the  old 
road  to  Mendham,  over  "  Kimball's  Hill,"  as  it  is  called 
to  this  day.  The  camping  ground  is  about  four  miles 
southwest  from  Morristown.  Following  the  Basking 
Ridge  road  four  miles,  through  a  region  famous  for  its 
excellent  soil  and  fine  scenery,  with  the  mountain  on 
your  right,  you  come  to  the  Kimball  property,  now  owned 
by  H.  A.  Hoyt,  Esq.  Here  you  turn  to  the  right  and 
ascend  the  highlands  for  a  mile,  and  you  are  on  the 
ground  which  must  be  considered  as  consecrated  by  the 
unparalleled  hardships  of  the  American  army.  The  dif- 
ferent camps  where  were  quartered  the  troops  from  New 
England,  the  middle  and  the  southern  States  were  on  the 
lands  which  then  belonged  to  Mr.  Kimball  and  Mr. 
Wick,  including  some  one  thousand  acres.  The  house 
on  the  Wick  property  is  still  standing,  very  much  as  it 
was  in  that  winter,  and  it  is  worthy  of  a  brief  description. 
It  is  on  the  crown  of  the  hill,  whence  you  descend  west- 
ward to  Mendham  and  eastward  to  Morristown.  In  front 
of  the  house  was  an  old  oack  locust — cut  down  in  1870 — at 
least  two  feet  and  a  half  in  diameter;  and  at  the  east 
end  is  the  largest  red  cedar  I  have  ever  seen.  Both 
these  trees  were  standing  in  1780.  In  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  house  are  several  immense  black  cherry 
trees,  which  belong  to  the  same  period.  The  house 
itself  is  nearly  square,  and  is  built  in  the  old  style  of 
New  England  houses,  with  a  famous  large  chimney-stack 
in  the  center.  The  very  door  which  swung  then  is  there 
still,  hanging  on  the  same  substantial  strap-hinges,  and 
ornamented  with  the  same  old  lion-headed  knocker. 
Passing  through  this  door,  which  fronts  southward,  you 
come  into  a  hall  some  eight  feet  wide,  its  width  being 
just  the  same  as  the  thickness  of  the  chimney.  Turning 
to  the  right,  you  pass  from  the  hall  into  the  ordinary 
family  room,  and  to  the  left  into  the  parlor.  A  door 
from  the  family-room  and  the  parlor  leads  you  into  the 
kitchen,  which  is  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the 
house.  The  fire-places  of  these  three  rooms  all  belong 
to  the  one  huge  stone  stack  in  the  center;  and  every- 
thing about  them  remains  as  it  then  was.  They  would 
alarm  modern  economists  by  their  capacity  to  take  in 
wood  by  the  cord.  The  spaces  above  the  old  mantel- 
trees  are  filled  up  with  panel-work,  and  in  the  parlor 
evidently  were  once  quite  fine,  especially  for  that  day. 
On  the  north  side  of  the  parlor  is  a  door  leading  into  the 
spare  bedroom,  with  which  is  connected  an  amusing  in- 
cident. 

Great  difficulty  was  experienced  in  the  sprmg  of  1780 
in  procuring  teams  to  remove  the  army  stores,  and  horses 
for  cavalry.  Mr.  Wick's  daughter,  Tempe,  owned  a 
beautiful  young  horse,  which  she  frequently  rode,  and 
always  with  skill.  She  was  an  admirable  and  a  bold 
rider.  One  day,  as  the  preparations  for  removing  the 
army  vyere  progressing.    Miss   Wick   rode   her   favorite 


horse  to  the  house  of  her  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Leddel,  on 
the  road  to  Mendham;  and  on  her  return  was  accosted 
by  some  soldiers,  who  commanded  her  to  dismount  and 
let  them  take  the  horse.  One  of  them  had  seized  the 
bridle-reins.  Perfectly  self-possessed,  she  appeared  to 
submit  to  her  fate,  but  not  without  a  vain  entreaty  not  to 
take  her  favorite  from  her.  She  then  told  them  she  was 
sorry  to  part  with  the  animal,  but  as  she  must,  she  would 
ask  two  favors  of  them;  the  one  was  to  return  him  to 
her  if  possible,  and  the  other  was,  whether  they  returned 
him  or  not,  to  treat  him  well.  The  soldiers  were  com- 
pletely thrown  off  their  guard,  and  the  reins  were  re- 
leased, they  supposing  she  was  about  to  dismount,  than 
which  nothing  was  farther  from  her  intentions;  for  no 
sooner  was  the  man's  hand  loose  from  the  bridle  than  she 
touched  her  spirited  horse  with  the  whip,  and  he  sped  from 
among  them  like  an  arrow.  As  she  was  riding  away,  at 
full  speed,  they  fired  after  her,  but  probably  without  in- 
tending to  hit  her;  at  any  rate,  she  was  unharmed.  She 
urged  her  horse  up  the  hill,  at  his  highest  speed,  and 
coming  round  to  the  kitchen  door,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  house,  she  sprang  off  and  led  him  into  the  kitchen, 
thence  into  the  parlor,  and  thence  into  the  spare  bed- 
room, which  had  but  one  window,  and  that  on  the  west 
side.  This  was  secured  with  a  shutter.  The  soldiers 
shortly  after  came  up  and  searched  the  barn  and  woods 
in  vain.  Miss  Wick  saved  her  horse  by  keeping  him  in 
that  bed-room  three  weeks,  until  the  last  troop  was  fairly 
off.  The  incident,  which  is  authentic,  shows  the  adroit- 
ness and  courage  of  the  young  lady,  who  afterwards  be- 
came the  wife  of  William  Tuttle,  an  officer  in  the  Jersey 
brigade  during  the  entire  war. 

The  descriptions  of  the  different  camps  which  are  to  be 
given  are  quite  imperfect,  but  interesting;  and,  such  as 
they  are,  are  derived  from  the  late  Captain  William  Tuttle, 
who  was  stationed  with  the  Jersey  troops  during  that 
winter.  It  cannot  be  sufficiently  regretted  that  some 
friendly  pen  was  not  ready  to  record  the  conversations  of 
this  fine  old  soldier,  an  officer  in  the  Third  Jersey  regi- 
ment and  perfectly  acquainted  with  all  the  localities  of 
the  encampment  on  Kimball  Hill.  He  was  20  years  old 
at  the  time,  and  from  the  conclusion  of  the  war  until  his 
death,  in  1836,  he  resided  most  of  the  time  either  on  the 
Wick  farm  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Very  often 
would  he  go  over  the  ground,  especially  with  his  young 
relatives,  pointing  out  the  precise  spots  occupied  by  the 
different  troops,  and  filling  up  hours  with  thrilling  anec- 
dotes connected  with  that  winter;  but  these  conversa- 
tions no  one  was  at  the  pains  to  record,  and  now  they 
are  hopelessly  gone.  He  enlisted  in  the  regular  service 
in  1777,  and  remained  in  it  until  peace  was  declared. 
He  suffered  the  exposures  of  winter  quarters  at  Middle 
Brook,  Valley  Forge,  and  Kimball  Hill;  was  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Chad's  Ford,  Germantown,  Brandywine,  Mon- 
mouth, Springfield,  and  "others  of  less  note;"  was  with 
Lafayette  in  his  Virginia  campaign;  and  was  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown;  and  yet  his  careless  relatives  culpably  have 
suffered  his  history  to  be  shrunk  into  the  compass  of  his 
own  meager  but  modest  affidavit  in  the  pension  office. 

As  good  fortune  will  have  it,  a  former  tenant  on  the 
Wick  farm  occupied  it  several  years  before  Captain  Tut- 
tle's  death;  and,  in  company  with  the  old  gentleman, 
frequently  passed  over  the  camp  grounds.  Under  Mr. 
Mucklow's  direction  a  small  party  of  us  passed  over  the 
various  points  of  interest.  Taking  the  old  Wick  house 
as  the  starting  point,  we  crossed  the  road,  and,  following 
in  a  southwest  direction,  came  into  a  tract  of  timber  on 
an  easy  slope  and  extending  to  a  living  spring  brook.  In 
the  upper  end  of  the  woods,  near  the  brook,  we  found 
the  ruins  of  several  hut-chimneys.  Following  the  side 
hill,  in  the   same   direction  as  the  stream,  that  is  in  a 


122 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


southeast  course,  we  found  quite  a  large  number  of  these 
stone  chimneys,  and  in  some  of  them  the  stones  seem 
to  be  just  as  the  soldiers  left  them.  At  qne  point  we 
counted  two  rows  containing  forty  chimneys;  some  of 
them  evidently  belonging  to  double  huts.  Just  below 
these  we  came  into  a  fine  level  opening,  almost  bare  of 
trees,  and  which  may  have  been  grubbed  clean  of  stumps 
and  roots  for  a  parade  ground.  A  few  rods  higher  up 
the  side  of  the  hill  were  other  ruins,  extending  with 
some  degree  of  regularity  around  the  face  of  the  hill,  in 
a  curve,  until  the  row  was  terminated  at  a  brook  on  the 
east  side,  which  puts  into  the  stream  already  mentioned. 
On  the  crown  of  the  hill  is  another  row  of  ruins;  and 
Captain  Tuttle  informed  our  guide  that  the  cleared  field 
on  the  hill  was  once  covered  with  similar  remains.  Thus 
far  we  counted  196  of  these  and  had  been  over  the 
ground  occupied  by  the  Jersey  brigade.  Frequently  did 
Captain  Tuttle  relate  the  fact  that  he  had  seen  the  paths 
leading  from  the  Jersey  camp  to  the  Wick  hoifse  marked 
with  blood  from  the  feet  of  the  soldiers  without  shoes! 

On  the  same  side  of  the  road,  and  near  to  it,  is  a 
cleared  field.  In  this  field  a  spring  brook  rises,  around 
which  the  hill  slopes  in  the  form  of  a  horseshoe.  On  the 
north  side  of  this  was  a  slaughter-house,  and  a  little  low- 
er down  on  the  same  side  are  the  remains  of  the  huts 
built  for  the  commissary  department,  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  a  beautiful  spring.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  brook 
we  found  several  ruins,  which,  with  those  just  mentioned, 
amounted  to  23.  On  the  ground  of  the  slaughter-house 
Mr.  Mucklow  plowed  up  an  old  bayonet. 

Crossing  the  road,  directly  opposite  this  point  we  came 
into  a  cleared  field,  which  is  in  the  southern  slope  of 
Fort  Hill.  Along  the  road  fence  is  a  row  of  stones 
which  were  in  the  hut  fire-places,  and  which  were  drawn 
off  to  clear  the  ground  for  plowing;  but  higher  up  in 
the  woods  are  several  remains.  East  of  this  lot  and  lower 
down  the  hill  is  an  open  field,  in  which  we  saw  several 
rows,  in  regular  order,  containing  sixty  fire-places;  and 
thence,  following  the  curve  of  the  hill  in  a  northeast 
course,  in  regular  rows,  we  counted  100  more.  We  were 
informed  that  the  remains  are  to  be  seen  around  the  en- 
tire hill,  but  want  of  time  forbade  our  pursuing  the  in- 
quiry farther. 

We  now  ascend  Fort  Hill,  around  the  sides  of  which 
we  had  been  walking  for  some  time.  It  is  shaped  like  a 
sugarloaf,  and  from  the  northeast  to  the  southeast  its 
sides  are  very  steep,  making  the  ascent  not  a  little  diffi- 
cult. I  was  on  this  point  in  the  spring,  before  the  leaves 
had  put  out,  and  the  viev/  from  it  is  surpassingly  beauti- 
ful. Fort  Hill  is  one  of  the  most  commanding  points  in 
Morris  county.  Westward  you  can  see  the  Schooley's 
Mountain  range,  and,  as  I  fancied,  the  mountains  along 
the  Delaware.  Southward  is  a  fine  range  of  highlands, 
in  the  midst  of  which  is  Basking  Ridge  (where  General 
Lee  was  captured),  so  distinct  that  with  a  glass  you  can 
tell  what  is  doing  in  its  streets.  Southeast  of  you  Long 
Hill  and  Plainfield  Mountain  stretch  far  in  the  distance, 
from  the  top  of  which  you  may  see  from  New  York  to 
New  Brunswick,  if  not  to  the  Delaware.  East  of  you 
are  the  Short  Hills,  so  famous  as  the  watchtower  of 
freedom  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  on  which 
night  and  day  sentinels  were  observing  the  country  along 
the  Hackensack,  Passaic  and  Raritan,  and  even  to  New 
York  and  the  Narrows.  Northeast  you  can  see  the  two 
twin  mountains  in  the  vicinity  of  Ringwood,  and  beyond 
that  the  blue-tinged  mountains  toward  Newburgh.  Be- 
tween these  prominent  points  are  intervening  landscapes 
beautiful  as  the  eye  ever  rested  on. 

At  the  east  and  northeast,  on  the  top  of  Fort  Hill,  are 
some  remains  not  like  those  we  had  previously  examined. 
They  evidently  were  not  the  ruins  of  breastworks,  but 


seem  to  have  been  designed  to  prepare  level  places  for 
the  free  movements  of  artillery;  and  a  close  inspection 
shows  that  cannon  stationed  at  those  two  points  on  the 
hill  top  would  sweep  the  entire  face  of  the  hill  in  case  of 
an  attack.  This  undoubtedly  was  the  design.  In  the 
immediate  vicinity  are  the  remains  of  quite  a  number  of 
chimneys,  of  huts  probably  occupied  by  a  detachment  of 
artillerymen. 

Passing  down  the  west  side  of  Fort  Hill,  toward  the 
old  house,  we  came  into  what  has  always  been  called  the 
Jockey  Hollow  road,  at  a  place  which  tradition  points  out 
as  the  spot  where  Captain  Billings  jvas  shot,  when  the 
Pennsylvania  troops  mutinied,  on  New  Year's  day  1781. 
The  aged  mother  of  Robert  K.  Tuttle,  of  Morristown, 
pointed  out  a  black  oak  tree  by  the  roadside  as  near  the 
spot  where  the  unfortunate  man  was  shot  down  and 
buried  in  the  road  where  he  was  killed.  Mrs.  Tuttle  was 
at  the  time  living  on  a  part  of  the  Wick  farm,  so  that 
the  tradition  is  undoubtedly  true. 

We  now  returned  to  the  house  in  order  to  visit  Hos- 
pital field,  as  it  is  still  called,  and  also  the  Maryland  field, 
so  called  because  the  Maryland  troops  were  there  en- 
camped during  the  winter  of  177980.  These  fields  are 
about  half  a  mile  north  from  the  house.  Hospital  field  is 
on  the  slope  of  a  high  hill,  facing  east  and  southeast;  and 
at  the  bottom  is  a  fine  spring  brook,  in  the  vicinity  of 
which  were  huts  for  the  hospitals.  Of  these  there  are  no 
remains,  as  the  plough  has  long  since  obliterated  them; 
but  near  by  is  a  most  interesting  place  marked  by  a  grove 
of  locust  trees,  planted  to  protect  the  graves  from  the 
plough.  Here  are  two  rows  of  graves  where  were  buried 
:hose  who  died  at  the  hospitals  that  winter.  A  granite 
monument  ought  to  be  built  immediately  there,  to  com- 
memorate those  unnamed  men  who  died  in  the  service  of 
their  country.  The  length  of  space  occupied  by  the 
graves,  as  far  as  can  now  be  seen,  is  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy  feet,  thus  making  a  single  row  of  graves 
about  three  hundred  and  forty  feet  long.  The  graves 
evidently  are  near  together,  so  that  quite  a  large  number 
must  have  died  in  the  hospitals  that  winter.  Whether 
there  was  any  other  burying  ground  used  it  is  impossible 
now  to  determine;  but  it  is  very  probable  that  the  hill- 
sides in  the  vicinity  contain  many  graves  which  will  re- 
main unknown  until  the  morning  of  the  resurrection. 

Directly  east  from  Hospital  field,  on  a  hill  opposite, 
the  Maryland  troops  and  perhaps  the  Virginia  were 
"  hutted;"  but  we  were  assured  that  no  remains  are  left, 
as  the  ground  has  all  been  ploughed,  so  that  we  did  not 
visit  it.  In  all  we  had  counted  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  chimney  foundations,  marking  the  sites  of  as  many 
huts,  besides  many  which  inadvertently  we  omitted  to 
count.  We  must  have  seen  more  than  four  hundred  in 
all;  and  I  am  thus  particular  in  describing  their  positions 
because  a  few  years  more  may  entirely  obliterate  all  traces 
of  the  camps  on  Kimball  Hill. 

If  we  return  to  the  top  of  Fort  Hill,  and  cast  the  eye 
over  the  prominent  points  already  mentioned,  we  shall 
perceive  how  admirably  they  are  adapted  for  the  purpose 
of  spreading  alarm  by  means  of  beacon-fires.  The 
ranges  of  the  Short  and  Long  hills  and  Plainfield  Moun- 
tain on  the  southeast  and  east,  Schooley's  Mountain  on 
the  west,  the  mountains  near  Ringwood  and  along  the 
New  York  line  on  the  north  and  northeast,  all  are  as  dis- 
tinct as  light-houses.  Very  early  in  the  war  there  was  a 
beacon  station  on  the  Short  Hills,  near  the  country  resi- 
dence of  the  late  Bishop  Hobart;  but  in  the  winter  of 
1778-9  Washington  communicated  to  the  governor  of 
New  Jersey  a  plan  for  establishing  these  beacons 
throughout  the  State;  and  in  accordance  with  his  re- 
quest, on  the  9th  of  April  1779  General  Philemon  Dick- 
erson,  one  of  the  most  able  militia  officers  in  the  State, 


THE   PATRIOT  BEACOJsr  LIGHTS— StiFfERIKG  AT  KLIMBALL  HILT,. 


1:^1 


was  instructed  to  carry  the  plan  into  effect.     Hitherto  no 
traces  of  a  written  plan  have  been  found,  but   there  can 
be  no  doubt  as  to  some  of  the  locations.     That  on  the 
Short  Hills  is  remembered  by  persons  still  living  [1854] 
from    whom    the    Rev.    Samuel    L.    Tuttle    derived    the 
account  he  gives  of  the  matter.     "On  that  commanding 
elevation,"  writes  Mr.  Tuttle,  in  his  lecture  on   Bottle 
Hill  during  the  Revolution,  "  the  means  were  kept  for 
alarming  the  inhabitants  of  the  interior  in  case  of  any 
threatening  movement  of  the  enemy  in  any  direction.    A 
cannon,  an  eighteen-pounder — called  in  those  times  '  the 
old  sow ' — fired  every  half  hour,  answered  the  object  in 
the  daytime  and  in  very  stormy  and  dark  nights;  while 
an  immense  fire  or  beacon  light  answered  the  end  at  all 
other  times.     A  log  house  or  two    *    *    *    were  erected 
there  for  the  use  of  the  sentinels,  who  by  relieving  one 
another  at  definite  intervals  kept  careful  watch  day  and 
night,  their  eyes  continually  sweeping  over  the  vast  ex- 
tent of  country  that  lay  stretched  out  like  a  map  before 
them.     The  beacon  light  was  constructed  of  dry  wood, 
piled  around  a  high  pole;  this  was  filled  with  combustible 
materials,  and  a  tar-barrel  was  placed  upon  the  top  of 
the  pole.     When  the  sentinels  discovered  any  movement 
of  the  enemy  of  a  threatening  character,  or  such  tidings 
were  brought  them   by  messengers,  either  the  alarm  gun 
was  fired  or  the  beacon  light  kindled,  so  that  the  tidings 
were  quickly  spread  over  the  whole  region.     There   are 
several  persons  still  living  in  this  place  who  remember  to 
have  heard  that  dismal  alarm  gun,  and  to  have  seen  those 
beacon  lights  sending  out  their  baleful  and  terrific  light 
from  that  high  point  of  observation;  and  who  also  re- 
member to  have  seen  the  inhabitants,  armed  with  their 
muskets,  making  all  possible  haste  to  Chatham  bridge 
and  the  Short  Hills." 

That  there  was  a  system  of  beacon  lights  there  can  be 
no  doubt,  although,  unfortunately,  the  most  of  those  are 
dead  who  could  give  us  information  about  it,  and  there 
are  no  documents  describing  the  various  points  where 
these  lights  were  kindled.  Of  one  we  have  some  knowl- 
edge. Seven  miles  north  of  Morristown,  near  the  present 
railroad  depot  at  Denville,  is  a  mountain  which  rises 
abruptly  to  a  considerable  height,  from  which  you  can  see 
the  Short  Hills.  On  this  point  there  was  a  beacon  light, 
managed  by  Captain  Josiah  Hall,  whose  descendants  still 
reside  in  the  vicinity.  A  fire  from  this  point  would  be 
seen  from  the  top  of  Green  Pond  Mountain,  several 
miles  farther  north;  and  a  fire  on  that  mountain  would 
probably  reach  the  portion  of  Sussex  county  where  the 
.brave  Colonel  Seward,  grandfather  of  Senator  Seward, 
resided.  Tradition  says  that  such  was  the  case;  and 
that  often  at  night  the  tongue  of  fire  might  be  seen  leap- 
ing into  the  air  on  the  Short  Hills,  soon  to  be  followed 
by  brilliant  lights  on  Fort  Hill,  on  the  Denville  moun- 
tain, the  Green  Pond  Mountain,  and  on  the  range  of 
mountains  on  the  Orange  county  line.  To  many  it  has 
seemed  inexplicable,  and  it  was  so  to  the  enemy,  that 
they  could  not  make  a  movement  toward  the  hills  of 
Morris  without  meeting  the  yeomen  of  Morris,  armed 
and  ready  to  repel  them.  I  have  conversed  with  several 
old  men  who  have  seen  the  roads  coverging  on  Morris- 
town  and  Chatham  lined  with  men  who  were  hurrying  off 
to  the  Short  Hills,  to  drive  back  the  invaders.  The 
alarm  gun  and  the  beacon  light  explain  the  mystery; 
and,  as  an  illustration  of  scenes  frequently  witnessed,  I 
may  give  an  incident  in  the  life  of  an  old  soldier,  by  the 
name  of  Bishop,  who  was  living  at  Mendham.  He  was 
one  morning  engaged  in  stacking  his  wheat,  with  a  hired 
man  when  the  alarm  gun  pealed  out  its  warning.  ''I 
must  go,"  exclaimed  Bishop.  "You  had  better  take 
care  of  your  wheat,"  said  his  man.  Again  they  heard 
the  dull,  heavy  sound  of  the  alarm  gun;  and  instantly 


Bishop  slid  down  from  the  stack,  exclaiming,  "I  can't 
stand  this.  Get  along  with  the  grain  the  best  way  you 
can.  I  'm  off  to  the  rescue  !  "  Hastily  he  packed  a 
small  budget  of  provisions;  and,  shouldering  his  musket, 
in  a  few  minutes  he  was  on  the  way  to  Morristown.  He 
says  that  on  his  way  there  he  found  men  issuing  from 
every  road,  equipped  just  as  they  left  their  fields  and 
shops,  so  that  by  the  time  he  reached  town  he  was  one 
of  a  large  company.  Here  they  were  met  by  a  messenger 
who  said  the  enemy  was  retreating.  It  was  by  such 
alacrity  that  it  came  to  be  a  boast  of  the  Morris  county 
people  that  the  enemy  had  never  been  able  to  gain  a 
footing  among  these  hills.  They  frequently  made  the 
attempt,  but  never  succeeded.  Once,  as  it  is  said,  for 
the  purpose  of  exchanging  prisoners,  a  detachment  did 
reach  Chatham  bridge,  which  was  guarded  by  brave 
General  Winds,  to  whom  the  braggart  captain  sent  word 
that  he  proposed  to  dine  next  day  in  Morristown.  The 
message  called  out  the  somewhat  expressive  reply  that  if 

he  dined  in  Morristown  next  day  he  would  sup  in  

(the  place  infernal)  next  night  ! 

So  far  as  possible  let  us  now  relate  the  facts  which 
show  the  sufferings  and  heroism  of  our  soldiers  on  Kim- 
ball Hill  the  winter  of  1779-80.  On  the  9th  of  December 
General  Greene  wrote:  "  Our  hutting  goes  on  rapidly, 
and  the  troops  will  be  under  cover  in  a  few  days.  The 
officers  will  remain  in  the  open  field  until  the  boards 
[from  Trenton]  arrive,  and  as  their  sufferings  are  great 
they  will  be  proportionably  clamorous."  The  New  Eng- 
land troops  on  the  9th  of  that  month  were  at  Porapton; 
and  Doctor  Thatcher,  in  his  Military  Journal,  says:  "  On 
the  14th  we  reached  this  wilderness,  about  three  miles 
from  Morristown,  where  we  are  to  build  huts  for  winter 
quarters."  The  severity  of  the  winter  may  be  inferred 
from  Doctor  Thatcher's  description:  "  The  snow  on  the 
ground  is  about  two  feet  deep  and  the  weather  extremely 
cold;  the  soldiers  are  destitute  of  both  tents  and  blankets, 
and  some  of  them  are  actually  barefooted  and  almost 
naked.  Our  only  defense  against  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather  consists  of  brushwood  thrown  together.  Our 
lodging  the  last  night  was  on  the  frozen  ground.  Those 
officers  who  have  the  privilege  of  a  horse  can  always 
have  a  blanket  at  hand.  Having  removed  the  snow  we 
wrapped  ourselves  in  great  coats,  spread  our  blankets  on 
the  ground  and  lay  down  by  the  side  of  each  other,  five 
or  six  together,  with  large  fires  at  our  feet,  leaving  orders 
with  the  waiters  to  keep  it  well  supplied  with  fuel  during 
the  night.  We  could  procure  neither  shelter  nor  forage 
for  our  horses;  and  the  poor  animals  were  tied  to  the 
trees  in  the  woods  for  twenty-four  hours,  without  food 
except  the  bark  which  they  peeled  from  the  trees." 
"  The  whole  army  in  this  department  are  to  be  engaged 
in  building  log  huts  for  winter  quarters.  The  ground  is 
marked,  and  the  soldiers  have  commenced  ;cutting  down 
the  timber  of  oak  and  walnut,  of  which  we  have  great 
abundance.  Our  baggage  has  at  length  arrived;  the  men 
find  it  very  difficult  to  pitch  their  tents  in  the  frozen 
ground;  and,  notwithstanding  large  fires,  we  can  scarcely 
keep  from  freezing.  In- addition  to  other  sufferings  the 
whole  army  has  been  seven  or  eight  days  entirely  desti- 
tute of  the  staff  of  life;  our  only  food  is  miserable  fresh 
beef,  without  bread,  salt  or  vegetables." 

The  general  fact  that  that  winter  was  one  of  terrible 
severity  is  well  known;  but  we  may  obtain  more  vivid 
ideas  of  this  fact  by  a  few  details.  In  the  New  Jersey 
Gazette  of  February  9th  1780,  published  at  Trenton,  the 
editor  says:  "  The  weather  has  been  so  extremely  cold 
for  nearly  two  months  past  that  sleighs  and  other  car- 
riages now  pass  from  this  place  to  Philadelphia  on  the 
Delaware,  a  circumstance  not  remembered  by  the  oldest 
person   among  us."     As  early  as  the  18th  of  December 


124 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


1779  an  officer  who  visited  some  of  the  smaller  encamp- 
ments along  the  hills  in  the  vicinity  writes:  "  I  found  the 
weather  excessively  cold."  On  the  14th  of  January  Lord 
Stirling  led  a  detachment  against  the  enemy  on  Staten 
Island;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  isth  he  crossed  on 
the  ice  from  Elizabethtown  Point.  The  Hudson  was  so 
bridged  with  ice  as  to  permit  foot  passengers  to  cross 
from  New  York  to  Hoboken  and  Paulus  Hook. 

But  the  unparalleled  depth  of  snow  added  to  the  intense 
sufferings  of  the  soldiers.  On  the  14th  of  December,  as 
Thatcher  says,  the  "  snow  was  two  feet  deep."  On  the 
28th  of  December  an  officer  says  in  the  New  Jersey 
Gazette,  "  While  I  am  writing  the  storm  is  raging  without." 
But  the  great  storm  of  the  winter  began  on  the  3d  of 
January,  when  the  greater  part  of  the  array  were  not 
protected  by  the  huts,  which  were  not  yet  ready  for  oc- 
cupation. Doctor  Thatcher  thus  describes  the  storm  : 
"  On  the  3d  inst.  we  experienced  one  of  the  most  tre- 
mendous snow  storms  ever  remembered;  no- man  could 
endure  its  violence  many  minutes  without  danger  to  his 
life.  Several  marquees  were  torn  asunder  and  blown 
down  over  the  officers'  heads  in  the  night,  and  some  of 
the  soldiers  were  actually  covered  while  in  their  tents 
and  buried,  like  sheep,  under  the  snow.  My  comrades 
and  myself  were  roused  from  sleep  by  the  calls  of  some 
officers  for  assistance;  their  marquee  had  blown  down, 
and  they  were  almost  smothered  in  the  storm  before  they 
could  reach  our  marquee,  only  a  few  yards,  and  their 
blankets  and  baggage  were  nearly  buried  in  the  snow. 
We  (the  officers)  are  greatly  favored  in  having  a  supply 
of  straw  for  bedding;  over  this  we  spread  all  our  blankets, 
and  with  our  clothes,  and  large  fires  at  our  feet,  while 
four  or  five  are  crowded  together,  preserve  ourselves 
from  freezing.  But  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  soldiers 
can  scarcely  be  described;  while  on  duty  they  are  un- 
avoidably exposed  to  all  the  inclemency  of  the  storm 
and  severe  cold;  at  night  they  now  have  a  bed  of  straw 
on  the  ground  and  a  single  blanket  to  each  man;  they 
are  badly  clad  and  some  are  destitute  of  shoes.  We  have 
contrived  a  kind  of  stone  chimney  outside,  and  an  open- 
ing at  one  end  of  our  tents  gives  us  the  benefit  of  the 
fire  within.  The  snow  is  now  from  four  to  six  feet  deep, 
which  so  obstructs  the  roads  as  to  prevent  our  receiving 
a  supply  of  provisions.  For  the  last  ten  days  we  received 
but  two  pounds  of  meat  a  man,  and  we  are  frequently  for 
six  or  eight  days  entirely  destitute  of  meat  and  then  as 
long  without  bread.  The  consequence  is  the  soldiers  are 
so  enfeebled  from  hunger  and  cold  as  to  be  almost  un- 
able to  perform  military  duty  or  labor  in  constructing 
their  huts.  It  is  well  known  that  General  Washington 
experiences  the  greatest  solicitude  for  the  sufferings  of 
his  army  and  is  sensible  that  they  in  general  conduct 
with  heroic  patience  and  fortitude." 

This  storm  continued  for  several  days,  accompanied 
with  violent  winds,  which  drifted  the  snow  so  that  the 
roads  were  impassable.  So  deep  was  the  snow  that  in 
many  places  it  covered  the  tops  of  the  fences,  and  teams 
could  be  driven  over  them.    Under  date  of  January  22nd 

1780  an  officer  on  Kimball  Hill  wrote  the  following  lively 
description  of  the  condition  of  the  army  in  consequence 
of  this  storm  :  "We  had  a  fast  lately  in  camp,  by  general 
constraint,  of  the  whole  army;  in  which  we  fasted  more 
sincerely  and  truly  for  three  days  than  we  ever  did  from 
all  the  resolutions  of  Congress  put  together.  This  was 
occasioned  by  the  severity  of  the  weather  and  drifting  of 
the  snow,  whereby  the  roads  were  rendered  impassable 
and  all  supplies  of  provision  cut  off,  until  the  officers 
were  obliged  to  release  the  soldiers  from  command  and 
permit  them  to  go  in  great  numbers  together  to  get  pro- 
visions where  they  could  find  them.  The  inhabitants  of 
this  part  of  the  country  discovered  a  noble  spirit  in  feed- 


ing the  soldiers  ;  and,  to  the  honor  of  the  soldiery,  they 
received  what  they  got  with  thankfulness,  and  did  little 
or  no  damage." 

The  manuscript  letters  of  Joseph  Lewis,  quartermaster 
at  Morristown,  prove  this  description  to  be  truthful.  On 
the  8th  of  January  he  wrote  :  "We  are  now  as  distressed 
as  want  of  provision  and  cash  can  make  us.  The  soldiers 
have  been  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  robbing  the  in- 
habitants, to  save  their  own  lives."  On  the  next  day  he 
wrote  :  "  We  are  still  in  distress  for  want  of  provisions. 
Our  magistrates,  as  well  as  small  detachments  from  the 
army,  are  busy  collecting  to  relieve  our  distresses,  and  I 
am  told  that  the  troops  already  experience  the  good 
effects  of  their  industry.  We  are  wishing  for  more  plen- 
tiful supplies."  And,  in  real  distress,  he  writes  under 
the  same  date:  "The  sixty  million  dollars  lately  collected 
by  tax  must  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  superintendent 
for  the  new  purchases.  You  will  therefore  have  but  little 
chance  of  getting  cash  until  more  is  made.  If  none  comes 
sooner  than  by  striking  new  emissions  I  must  run  away 
from  Morris  and  live  with  you  at  Trenton,  or  some  other 
place  more  remote  from  this,  to  secure  me  from  the  al- 
ready enraged  multitudes." 

On  the  8th  of  January  General  Washington  wrote  from 
the  Ford  mansion,  the  comforts  of  which  mubt  have 
made  the  sufferings  of  his  soldiers  seem  the  more  awful  : 
"  The  present  state  of  the  army,  with  respect  to  provis- 
ions, is  the  most  distressing  of  any  we  have  experienced 
since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  For  a  fortnight  past  the 
troops,  both  officers  and  men,  have  been  almost  perishing 
for  want.  They  have  been  alternately  without  bread  or 
meat  the  whole  time,  with  a  very  scanty  allowance.^  of 
either,  and  frequently  destitute  of  both.  They  have 
borne  their  sufferings  with  a  patience  that  merits  the  ap- 
probation and  ought  to  excite  the  sympathy  of  their 
countryman.  But  they  are  now  reduced  to  an  extremity 
no  longer  to  be  supported."  This  letter,  which  was  ad- 
dressed to  "the  magistrates  of  New  Jersey,"  is  one  of  the 
noblest  productions  of  his  pen;  and  right  nobly  did  those 
thus  feelingly  addressed  respond  to  the  appeal.  And  in 
this  none  were  superior  to  the  people  of  Morris  county, 
on  whom  of  necesssity  fell  the  burden  of  affording  imme- 
diate relief,  and  whose  efforts  did  not  cease  when  this 
was  effected.  On  the  20th  of  January  Washington  wrote 
to  Doctor  John  Witherspoon  that  "  all  the  counties  of 
this  State  that  I  have  heard  from  have  attended  to  my 
requsition  for  provisions  with  the  most  cheerful  and  com- 
mendable zeal;  "  and  to  "  Elbridge  Gerry,  in  Congress," 
he  wrote:  "The  exertions  of  the  magistrates  and  inhabi- 
tants of  this  State  were  great  and  cheerful  for  our  relief." 
Irihis  Military  Journal  (page  182)  Doctor  Thatcher  speaks 
with  enthusiasm  of  "  the  ample  supply  "  of  food  furnished 
by  "the  magistrates  and  people  of  Jersey;"  and  Isaac 
Collins,  editor  of  the  New  Jersey  Gazette,  on  the  19th  of 
January  says  :  "With  pleasure  we  inform  our  readers 
that  our  army,  which,  from  the  unexpected  inclemency 
of  the  season  and  the  roads  becoming  almost  impassable, 
had  suffered  a  few  days  for  want  of  provisions,  are,  from 
the  spirited  exertions  now  making,  likely  to  be  well  sup- 
plied." 

Provisions  came  with  a  right  hearty  good  will  from  the 
farmers  in  Mendham,  Chatham,  Hanover,  Morris,  and 
Pequannock  ;  and  not  only  provisions,  but  stockings  and 
shoes,  coats  and  blankets.  "  Mrs.  Parson  Johnes  "  and 
"  Mrs.  Counsellor  Condict,"  with  all  the  noble  women  in 
the  town,  made  the  sewing  and  knitting  needles  fly  on 
their  mission  of  mercy.  The  memory  of  the  Morris 
county  women  of  that  day  is  yet  as  dehghtful  as  the 
"smell  of  a  field  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed  !  "  and  this 
tribute  to  their  worth  is  not  woven  up  of  fictions,  but  of 
facts,  gathered  from  living  lips;  and  therefore  never  may 


FESTIVITIES  AT  THE  "HEADQUARTERS." 


those  women  perish  from  the  memory  of  their  admiring 
and  grateful  descendants. 

The  generosity  of  which  we  have  spoken  is  much  en- 
hanced by  the  fact  that  the  people  supposed  themselves 
to  be  giving,  and  not  selling  their  provisions.  According 
to  the  prices — continental  currency — affixed  to  various 
articles  by  the  magistrates  of  Morris  county  in  January 
1780,  they  gave  away  thousands  of  dollars  to  soldiers  at 
their  tables  ;  and  as  for  provisions,  nominally  sold,  they 
were  paid  for  either  in  continental  bills  or  certificates, 
both  of  which  they  considered  as  nearly  worthless.  Their 
opinion  of  the  bills  was  not  wrong,  since  after  the  war 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  were  left  on  their  hands, 
which  were  never  redeemed;  but  many  of  them  made  a 
serious  mistake  in  their  estimate  of  the  certificates, 
which  were  redeemed  with  interest.  Yet  many  of 
these  men  threw  these  certificates  away  as  worthless, 
and  esteemed  themselves  as  doing  an  unpaid  duty  to 
their  country. 

It  is  interesting  to  ascertain  the  prices  of  various  arti- 
cles used  in  the  camp  that  winter.  On  the  27th  of  Jan- 
uary Quartermaster  Lewis  wrote:  "The  justices,  at 
their  meeting,  established  the  following  prices  to  be 
given  for  hay  and  grain  throughout  the  county  [of  Mor- 
ris], from  the  ist  of  December  1779  to  the  ist  of  Febru- 
ary next,  or  until  the  regulating  act  take  place.  For  hay, 
ist  quality,  ;!^ioo  per  ton;  2nd,  ;^8o;  3d,  ^50;  for  one 
horse,  24  hours,  $6;  for  one  horse,  per  night,  $4;  wheat, 
per  bushel,  $50;  rye,  $35;  corn,  $30;  buckwheat  and 
oats,  $20.  This  certainly  is  rather  a  startling  "price 
current;"  but  it  was  only  in  keeping  with  such  signficant 
advertisements  as  frequently  appeared  in  the  papers  of 
that  day:  "  one  thousand  dollars  "  for  the  recovery  of 
"my  negro  man  Toney;"  or  "thirty  Spanish  milled 
dollars  for  the  recovery  of  my  runaway  Mu- 
latto fellow  Jack."  "  Forty  paper  dollars  were 
worth  only  one  in  specie;"  and  the  fact  in- 
creases our  wonder  alike  at  the  patriotism  of  the  people 
and  soldiers,  which  was  sufficient  to  keep  the  army  from 
open  mutiny  or  being  entirely  disbanded. 

To  leave  this  gloomy  side  of  the  picture  a  little  while, 
it  is  well  to  record  the  fact  that  on  the  28th  of  December 
1779,  while  the  snow  "  storm  was  raging,"  Martha  Wash- 
ington passed  through  Trenton,  on  her  way  to  Morris- 
town;  and  that  a  troop  of  gallant  Virginians  stationed 
there  were  paraded  to  do  her  honor,  being  very  proud  to 
own  her  as  a  Virgmian,  and  her  husband  also.  She 
spent  New  Year's  day  in  Morristown;  and  now,  in  the 
Ford  mansion,  you  may  see  the  very  mirror  in  which  her 
dignified  form  has  often  been  reflected.  The  wife  of  the 
American  commander-in-chief  received  her  company, 
did  the  honors  of  her  family,  and  even  appeared  occa- 
sionally at  the  "  assembly  balls  "  that  winter  dressed  in 
American  stuffs.  It  is  a  pleasing  anecdote  which  was 
once  told  me  by  the  late  Mrs.  Abby  Vail,  daughter  of 
Uzal  and  Anna  Kitchel.  Some  of  the  ladies  in  Han- 
over, and  among  them  "  the  stately  Madame  Budd," 
mother  of  Dr.  Bern  Budd,  dressed  in  their  best,  made  a 
call  on  Lady  Washington,  and,  as  one  of  them  afterward 
said,  "  we  were  dressed  in  our  most  elegant  silks  and 
ruffles,  and  so  were  introduced  to  her  ladyship.  And 
dont  you  think,  we  found  her  with  a  speckled  homespun 
apron  on,  and  engaged  in  knitting  a  stocking!  She  re- 
ceived us  very  handsomely,  and  then  resumed  her  knit- 
ting. In  the  course  of  her  conversation  she  said  very 
kindly  to  us,  while  she  made  her  needle  fly,  that  Ameri- 
can ladies  should  be  patterns  of  industry  to  their  coun- 
trywomen; *  *  *  *"  we  must  become  independent 
of  England  .by  doing  without  those  articles  which  we  can 
make  ourselves.  Whilst  our  husbands  and  brothers  are 
examples  of  patriotism,  we   must  be  examples  of  indus- 


try!"    "I  do  declare,"  said  one  of   them  afterward,  "I 
never  felt  so  ashamed  and  rebuked  in  my  life!" 

From  documents  not  very  important  in  themselves  we 
sometimes  derive  impressive  lessons.  The  original  of 
the  following  subscription  for  assembly  balls  in  Morris- 
town  that  winter  is  still  in  possession  of  the  Biddle  family, 
on  the  Delaware:  "The  subscribers  agree  to  pay  the 
sums  annexed  to  their  respective  names  and  an  equal 
quota  of  any  further  expense  which  may  be  incurred  in 
the  promotion  and  support  of  a  dancing  assembly  to  be 
held  in  Morristown  the  present  winter  of  1780.  Sub- 
scription moneys  to  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  a  treasurer 
hereafter  to  be  appointed."  The  sum  paid  in  each  case 
was  "400  doll's,"  and  the  contributors  were  as  follows: 
Nath.  Greene,  H.  Knox,  John  Lawrence,  J.  Wilkinson, 
Clement  Biddle,  Robt.  H.  Harrison,  R.  K.  Meade, 
Alex.  Hamilton,  Tench  Tighlman,  C.  Gibbs,  Jno.  Pierce, 
The  Baron  de  Kalb,  Jno.  Moylan,  Le  Ch.  Dulingsley, 
Geo.  Washington,  R.  Clairborne,  Lord  Stirling,  Col. 
Hazen,  Asa  Worthington,  Benj.  Brown,  Major  Stagg, 
James  Thompson,  H.  Jackson,  Col.  Thomas  Proctor,  J. 
B.  Cutting,  Edward  Hand,  William  Little,  Thos.  Wool- 
ford,  Geo.  Olney,  Jas.  Abeel,  Robert  Erskine,  Jno. 
Cochran,  George  Draper,  J.  Burnet. 

The  amounts  thus  paid  constitute  the  somewhat  im- 
posing sum  of  $13,600  "  for  the  support  of  a  dancing 
assembly  the  present  winter  of  1780."  Now  I  frankly 
confess  that  this  paper  produced  an  uncomfortable  sensa- 
tion in  my  mind,  by  the  somewhat  harsh  contrast  between 
the  dancing  of  the  well-housed  officers,  at  O'Hara's  tavern 
and  the  "  hungry  ruin"  at  Kimball  Hill.  The  assembly  was 
not  so  well  set  off  with  gas-lights  and  fashionable  splendor 
as  many  a  ball  in  our  day.  No  doubt  it  was  rather  a 
plain  affair  of  its  kind;  and  yet  it  reminds  one  that,  while 
these  distinguished  men  were  tripping  "  the  light  fantas- 
tic toe  "  in  well-warmed  rooms,  there  were  at  that  very 
time,  as  Captain  William  Tuttle  often  told  it,  a  great 
many  tents  in  which  there  were  soldiers  without  coats  and 
barefoot,  shivering  and  perishing  in  the  fearful  storms 
and  colds  of  that  same  "present  wmter  of  1780;"  and 
that  there  were  paths  about  the  camps  on  Kimball  Hill 
that  were  marked  with  real  blood  expressed  from  the 
cracked  and  frozen  feet  of  soldiers  who  had  no  shoes! 

However,  I  do  not  allude  to  this  contrast  as  peculiar 
to  that  place  and  those  men,  for  feasting  and  starvation, 
plenty  crowned  with  wreaths  of  yellow  wheat  and  gaunt 
famine  wreathed  in  rags  and  barefoot,  dancing  and  dying, 
are  facts  put  in  contrast  in  other  places  beside  O'Hara's 
and  Kimball  Hill,  and  at  other  times  than  "the  present 
winter  of  1780." 

The  principal  object  of  introducing  the  subscription 
paper  here  is  to  show  the  kind  of  currency  on  which  our 
Revolution  was  compelled  to  rely.  Here  we  find  the 
leading  men  in  Morristown  paying  a  sum  for  the  dancing 
master  and  landlord,  the  ministers  of  a  little  amusement, 
which  nominally  is  large  enough  for  the  high  figures  of 
Fifth  avenue  millionaires;  but  a  closer  inspection  shows 
that  the  sum  $13,000  was  not  worth  as  much  as  three  hun- 
dred silver  dollars.  Doctor  Thatcher  says  significantly:  "I 
have  just  seen  in  the  newspaper  an  advertisement  offering 
for  an  article  forty  dollars.  This  is  the  trash  which  is  tend- 
ed to  requite  us  for  our  sacrifices,  sufferings,  and  priva- 
tions while  in  the  service  of  our  country.  It  is  but  a 
sordid  pittance,  even  for  our  common  purposes  while  in- 
camp;  but  those  who  have  families  dependent  on  them  at 
home  are  reduced  to  a  deplorable  condition."  The 
officers  of  the  Jersey  troops,  in  their  memorial  to  the 
Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  declare  that  "  four  months' 
pay  of  a  soldier  would  not  procure  for  his  family  a  bush- 
el of  wheat;  that  the  pay  of  a  colonel  would  not  purchase 
oats  for  his    liorse;  that  a   common   laborer  or  express- 


126 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


rider  received  four  times  as  much  as  an  American  offi- 
cer." 

If  such  were  their  circumstances  let  us  rather  admire 
than  condemn  these  brave  men  at  Morristown,  who  were 
striving  to  invest  the  stern  severities  of  that  winter  with 
something  of  the  grayer  and  more  frivolous  courtesies  of 
fashionable  life. 

As  for  fighting,  there  was  but  little,  the  principal  expe- 
dition being  the  descent  of  a  detachment  on  Staten  Island, 
under  Lord  Stirling.  The  expectations  raised  by  this 
expedition  are  quite  flatteringly  told  in  an  unpublished 
letter  of  Joseph  Lewis,  quartermaster.  He  writes,  un- 
der date  of  "January  15th  1780,"  that  he  had  orders 
from  General  Greene  to  procure  three  hundred  sleds  to 
parade  Friday  morning  at  this  post  and  at  Mr.  Kim- 
ble's. *  *  *  *  I  (iifj  not  fail  to  exert  myself  on  the 
occasion,  and  the  magistrates  gained  deserved  applause. 
About  five  hundred  sleds  or  sleighs  were  collected,  the 
majority  of  which  were  loaded  with  troops,  artillery,  &c. 
These  sleds  and  as  many  more  are  to  return  loaded  with 
stores  from  the  British  magazines  on  Staten  Island,  ex- 
cept some  few  that  are  to  be  loaded  with  wounded  Brit- 
ish prisoners.  About  3,000  troops  are  gone,  under  the 
command  of  Lord  Stirling,  with  a  determination  to  re- 
move all  Staten  Island,  bag  and  baggage,  to  Morris- 
town!" 

This  expedition  failed  of  realizing  its  object,  because 
the  enemy,by  some  means,had  been  put  on  his  guard.  Still, 
Collins  of  the  New  Jersey  Gazette  was  sure  it  would 
"show  the  British  mercenaries  with  what  zeal  and  alacrity 
the  Americans  will  embrace  every  opportunity,  even  in  a 
very  inclement  season,  to  promote  the  interest  of  the 
country  by  harassing  the  enemies  to  their  freedom  and 
independence."  And  on  the  22nd  of  that  January  Quarter- 
master Lewis  wrote  in  quite  a  subdued  tone:  "I  sup- 
pose you  have  heard  of  the  success  of  our  late  expedi- 
tion to  Staten  Island.  It  was  expensive  but  answered  no 
valuable  purpose.  It  showed  the  inclination  of  our  in- 
habitants to  plunder."  This  expedition  was  at  a  time 
when  "  the  cold  was  intense;"  about  500  of  the  soldiers 
had  their  feet  frozen. 

The  enemy,  by  the  way  of  retaliation,  on  the  25th  of 
January  crossed  to  Elizabethtown  and  burned  the  town- 
house  and  Presbyterian  church.  They  also  "plundered 
the  house  of  Jecaniah  Smith."  The  same  night  another 
party  "  made  an  excursion  to  Newark,  surprised  the 
guard  there,  took  Mr.  Justice  Hedden  out  of  his  bed; 
and  would  not  suffer  him  to  dress;  they  also  took  Mr. 
Robert  Niel,  burnt  the  academy,  and  went  off  with  pre- 
cipitation." Rivington's  Royal  Gazette  speaks  of  this 
Justice  Hedden  as  "  a  rebel  magistrate  remarkable  for 
his  persecuting  spirit." 

It  was  marvelous  that  Hedden  survived  that  march,  in 
such  weather,  from  Newark  to  New  York;  but  the  tough 
man  was  nerved  thereto  by  his  brutal  captors. 

But  have  the  troops  enough  to  eat?  General  Greene's 
letter  to  "  the  colonel  of  the  Morristown  malitia  "  gives 
us  a  most  sorrowful  answer.  "  The  army,"  writes  Greene 
in  January,  "is  upon  the  point  of  disbanding  for  want  of 
provisions,  the  poor  soldiers  having  been  for  several  days 
without  any,  and  there  not  being  more  than  a  suffi- 
ficiency  to  serve  one  regiment  in  the  magazine.  Pro- 
visions are  scarce  at  best,  but  the  late  terrible  storm,  the 
depth  of  the  snow,  and  the  drifts  in  the  roads  prevent 
the  little  stock  from  coming  forward  which  is  in  readiness 
at  the  distant  magazines.  This  is,  therefore,  to  request 
you  to  call  upon  the  militia  officers  and  men  of  your  bat- 
talion to  turn  out  their  teams  and  break  the  roads  frorn 
between  this  and  Hackettstown,  there  being  a  small  quan- 
tity of  provisions  there  that  cannot  come  until  that  is 
done.     The  roads  must  be  kept  open  by  the  inhabitants, 


or  the  army  cannot  be  subsisted;  and  unless  the  good 
people  immediately  lend  their  assistance  to  forward  sup- 
plies the  army  must  disband.  The  direful  consequences 
of  such  an  event  I  will  not  torture  your  feelings  with  a 
description  of;  but  remember  the  surrounding  inhab- 
itants will  experience  the  first  melancholy  effects  of  such 
a  raging  evil." 

On  the  nth  of  January  Greene  wrote:  "Such  weather 
as  we  have  had  never  did  I  feel,"  and  the  snow  was 
so  deep  and  drifted  "  that  we  drive  over  the  tops  of 
the  fences."  He  then  describes  the  sufferings  of  the 
soldiers,  and  adds:  "They  have  displayed  a  degree  of 
magnanimity  under  their  sufferings  which  does  them  the 
highest  honor."  On  the  loth  of  March  Joseph  Lewis  tells 
his  superior  officer:  "  I  should  be  happy  to  receive  about 
fifty  thousand  dollars  to  persuade  the  wagoners  to  stay  in 
camp  until  May,  which  will  prevent  the  troops  from  suf- 
fering." And  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month  he  again 
writes:  "  I  am  no  longer  able  to  procure  a  single  team  to 
relieve  the  distresses  of  our  army,  to  bring  in  a  supply  of 
wood,  or  forward  the  stores  which  are  absolutely  neces- 
sary. *  *  *  I  wish  I  could  inhabit  some  kind  retreat 
from  those  dreadful  complaints,  unless  I  had  a  house 
filled  with  money  and  a  magazine  of  forage  to  guard  and 
protect  me.  Good  God!  where  are  our  resources  fled? 
We  are  truly  in  a  most  pitiable  situation  and  almost  dis- 
tracted with  calls  that  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  answer." 

But  there  is  another  fact  which  adds  a  deeper  shade  to 
this  picture  of  suffering,  since  from  Thatcher's  Military 
Journal  we  have  this  sentence,  in  which,  with  no  liftle  ex- 
ultation, he  says:  "  Having  to  this  late  season— February 
14th  —  in  our  tents  experienced  the  greatest  incon- 
venience, we  have  now  the  satisfaction  of  taking  posses- 
sion of  the  log  huts  just  completed  by  our  soldiers,  where 
we  shall  have  more  comfortable  accommodations,"  and 
yet  in  March  he  says:  "  Our  soldiers  are  in  a  wretched 
condition  for  want  of  clothes,  blankets  and  shoes,  and 
these  calamitous  circumstances  are  accompanied  by  a 
want  of  provisions." 

From  these  letters,  written  by  actual  witnesses,  we  are 
able  to  gather  enough  of  facts  to  aid  us  in  appreciating 
the  condition  of  the  army. 

I  may  appropriately  close  this  historical  monograph 
with  an  original  letter  of  Washington,  which  has  never 
yet  been  published,  and  which  is  a  very  striking  com- 
mentary on  the  difficulties  of  his  position  the  last  winter 
he  was  in  Morristown.  It  was  found  among  some  old 
papers  in  the  possession  of  Stephen  Thompson,  Esq.,  of 
Mendham,  a  son  of  Captain  David  Thompson,  who  is  re- 
ferred to  in  this  article.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the 
great  snow  storm  which  caused  such  distress  in  camp 
began  on  the  3d  of  January  1780.  The  famine  which 
threatened  the  army  caused  Washington  to  write  a  letter 
"to  the  magistrates  of  New  Jersey,"  which  is  published 
in  Sparks's  edition  of  the  Writings  of  Washington.  A 
copy  of  that  letter  was  inclosed  in  the  letter  which  is 
now  published  for  the  fi-rst  time.  It  is  a  valuable  letter, 
as  showing  that  Washington's  "  integrity  was  most  pure, 
his  justice  most  inflexible." 

Headquarters,  Morristown,  January  8th  1780. 

"  Sir, — The  present  distresses  of  the  army,  with  which 
you  are  well  acquainted,  have  determined  me  to  call  upon 
the  respective  counties  of  the  State  for  a  proportion  of 
grain  and  cattle,  according  to  the  abilities  of  each. 

"  For  this  purpose  I  have  addressed  the  magistrates  of 
every  county,  to  induce  them  to  undertake  the  business. 
This  mode  I  have  preferred,  as  the  one  least  inconvenient 
to  the  inhabitants;  but,  in  case  the  requisition  should  not 
be  coinplied  with,  we  must  then  raise  the  supplies  our- 
selves in  the  best  manner  we  can.  This  I  have  signified 
to  the  magistrates. 


CLOSING  REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS. 


127 


"I  have  pitched  upon  you  to  superintend  the  execu- 
tion of  this  measure  in  the  county  of  Bergen,  which  is  to 
furnish  two  hundred  head  of  cattle  and  eight  hundred 
bushels  of  grain. 

"  You  will  proceed,  then,  with  all  dispatch,  and  call  on 
the  justices;  will  deliver  the  inclosed  address,  enforcing  it 
with  a  more  particular  detail  of  the  sufferings  of  the 
troops,  the  better  to  convince  them  of  the  necessity  of 
their  exertions.  You  will,  at  the  same  time,  let  them  del- 
icately know  that  you  are  instructed,  in  case  they  do  not 
take  up  the  business  immediately,  to  begin  to  impress  the 
articles  called  for  throughout  the  county.  You  will  press 
for  an  immediate  answer,  and  govern  yourself  accordingly. 
If  it  be  a  compliance,  you  will  concert  with  them  a  proper 
place  for  the  reception  of  the  articles  and  the  time  of  the 
delivery,  which  for  the  whole  is  to  be  in  four  days  after 
your  application  to  them.  The  owners  will  bring  their 
grain  and  cattle  to  this  place,  where  the  grain  is  to  be 
measured  and  the  cattle  estimated  by  any  two  of  the 
magistrates,  in  -conjunction  with  the  commissary,  Mr. 
Voorhees,  who  will  be  sent  to  you  for  the  purpose,  and 
certificates  given  by  the  commissary,  specifying  the  quan- 
tity of  each  article  and  the  terms  of  payment.  These 
are  to  be  previously  settled  with  the  owners,  who  are  to 
choose  whether  they  will  receive  the  present  market 
price — which,  if  preferred,  is  to  be  inserted — or  the  mar- 
ket price  at  the  time  of  payment.  Immediately  on  re- 
ceiving the  answer  of  the  magistrates  you  will  send  me 
word  what  it  is. 

"  In  case  of  refusal  you  will  begin  to  impress  till  you 
make  up  the  quantity  required.  This  you  will  do  with 
as  much  tenderness  as  possible  to  the  inhabitants,  having 
regard  to  the  stock  of  each  individual,  that  no  family 
maybe  deprived  of  its  necessary  subsistence.  Milch  cows 
are  not  to  be  included  in  the  impress.  To  enable  you  to 
execute  this  business  with  more  effect  and  less  incon- 
venience, you  will  call  upon  Colonel  Fell  and  any 
other  well  affected  active  man  in  the  county,  and  en- 
deavor to  engage  their  advice  and  assistance.  You  are 
also  authorized  to  impress  wagons  for  the  transportation 
of  the  grain. 

"  If  the  magistrates  undertake  the  business,  which  I 
should  infinitely  prefer  on  every  account,  you  will  en- 
deavor to  prevail  upon  them  to  assign  mills  for  the  re- 
ception and  preparation  of  such  grain  as  the  commissary 
thinks  will  not  be  immediately  needful  in  the  camp. 

"  I  have  reposed  this  trust  in  you  from  a  perfect  con- 
fidence in  your  prudence,  zeal  and  respect  for  the  rights 
of  citizens.  While  your  measures  are  adapted  to  the 
emergency,  and  you  consult  what  you  owe  to  the  ser- 
vice, Jam  persuaded  that  you  will  not  forget  that,  as  we 
are  compelled  by  necessity  to  take  the  property  of  cit- 
izens for  the  support  of  the  army,  on  whom  their  safety 
depends,  you  should  be  careful  to  manifest  that  we  have 
a  respect  for  their  rights,  and  wish  not  to  do  anything 
which  that  necessity,  and  even  their  own  good,  do  not 
absolutely  require. 

"  I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect  and  esteem, 
"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  Go.  Washington." 
Washington  left  Morristown  in  the  early  part  of  June. 
On  the  loth  of  June  he  was  at  Springfield,  where  he  had 
his  headquarters  until  the  21st,  on  which  day,  with  the 
exception  of  two  brigades  under  General  Greene,  the 
whole  army  was  marching  slowly  toward  the  Hudson  via 
Pompton.  On. the  6th  of  June  General  Knyphausen  had 
attempted  to  reach  Morristown.  He  landed  at  Eliza- 
bethtown  Point  and  proceeded  as  far  as  Connecticut 
Farms;  but  was  met  so  warmly  by  General  Maxwell  and 


"  his  nest  of  American  hornets  "  that  he  beat  a  hasty 
retreat.  During  this  incursion  Mrs.  Caldwell,  wife  of  a 
chaplain  in  our  army,  was  wantonly  murdered  in  her  own 
house.  When  the  enemy  learned  the  troops  were  on  the 
march  they  made  another  attempt  to  reach  Morristown 
and  on  the  23d  of  June  the  vigilant  sentinels  on  the 
Short  Hills  discovered  signs  of  invasion  and  gave  the 
alarm.  On  that  day  the  battle  of  Springfield  was  fought. 
Washington  heard  of  the  invasion  when  near  Pompton 
and  hastened  back,  with  a  body  of  troops,  to  support 
Greene;  but  the  enemy,  after  having  forced  back  the 
Americans  and  burned  Springfield,  finding  they  were 
likely  to  be  surrounded  by  a  superior  force,  retired. 

The  following  pasquinade,  in  ridicule  of  this  British 
attempt  to  reach  Morristown,  was  publicly  posted  in  New 
York  city,  August  12th  1780,  and  afterward  printed  in 
the  Political  Ma^avAne,  London,  1781,  pages  290,  291: 

"  Old  Knip— (Knyphausen) 
And  old  Clip— (Gen.  Robertson) 
Went  to  the  Jersey  shore 
The  rebel  rogues  to  beat ; 
But  at  Yankee  Farms 
They  took  the  alarms 
At  little  harms, 
And  quickly  did  retreat. 

Then  after  two  da.ys'  wonder 
Marched  boldly  to  Springfield  town. 
And  sure  they'd  knock  the  rebels  down ; 

But  as  their  foes 

Gave  them  some  blows. 

They,  like  the  wind, 

Soon  changed  their  mind. 

And  in  a  crack 

Eeturned  back 

From  not  one  third  their  number !" 

The  remarkable  fact  remains  that  the  enemy  never 
reached  our  county,  except  now  and  then  a  marauding 
party. 

MUTINY    AMONG    THE    TROOPS. 

Although  the  main  army  left  Morristown  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1780,  this  point  was  of  too  great  importance  to 
leave  entirely  undefended.  The  local  militia  and  some 
other  forces  still  remained.  It  was  on  the  first  day  of  the 
following  year,  January  ist  1781,  that  the  mutiny  of  the 
Pennsylvania  troops,  under  General  Wayne,  the  "  Mad 
Anthony"  of  the  Revolution,  occurred.  These  troops, 
2,000  in  number,  had  enlisted  for  three  years,  "'or  during 
the  war."  There  was  no  thought  that  the  war  would  last 
longer  than  three  years;  and  the  phrase  "or  during  the 
war  "  meant,  they  claimed,  that  they  should  be  dismissed 
at  its  expiration  in  case  it  did  not  last  three  years. 
Their  officers  gave  to  it  the  other  construction,  that  they 
had  enlisted  for  the  war,  no  matter  how  long  it  might 
continue. 

Added  to  this  cause  of  dissatisfaction  was  the  fact  that 
they  had  received  no  pay  for  twelve  months,  and  were 
without  necessary  clothing  and  food.  These  circum- 
stances were  sufficient  to  excite  a  spirit  of  insurrection, 
which  on  the  date  above  mentioned  manifested  itself  in 
open  revolt. 

On  a  preconcerted  signal  the  whole  line,  except  a  part 
of  three  regiments,  paraded  under  arms  without  their 
officers,  marched  to  the  magazines  and  supplied  them- 


18 


128 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


selves  with  provisions  and  ammunition;  and,  seizing  six 
field  pieces,  took  horses  from  General  Wayne's  stable  to 
transport  them.  The  officers  of  the  line  collected  those 
who  had  not  yet  joined  the  insurgents  and  endeavored  to 
restore  order;  but  the  revolters  fired  and  killed  a  Captain 
Billing,  and  wounded  several  other  officers,  and  a  few 
men  were  killed  on  each  side.  The  mutineers  com- 
manded the  party  who  opposed  them  to  come  over  to 
them  instantly,  or  they  should  be  bayoneted,  and  the 
order  was  obeyed. 

General  Wayne  endeavored  to  interpose  his  influence 
and  authority,  urging  them  to  return  to  their  duty  till 
their  grievances  could  be  inciuired  into  and  redressed. 
But  all  was  to  no  purpose,  and  on  cocking  his  pistol  they 
instantly  presented  their  bayonets  to  his  breast,  saying: 
"We  respect  and  love  you;  often  have  yau  led  us  into 
the  field  of  battle,  but  we  are  no  longer  under  your  com- 
mand; we  warn  you  to  be  on  your  guard;  if  you  fire  your 
pistol,  or  attempt  to  enforce  your  commands,  we  shall 
put  you  instantly  to  death." 

Finding  both  threats  and  expostulation  in  vain.  Gen- 
eral Wayne  resolved  to  accompany  his  men,  and  ordered 
his  quartermaster  to  supply  them  with  provisions. 

That  these  troops  were  inspired  by  no  traitorous  sen- 
timents is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
hearing  of  the  mutiny,  sent  two  emissaries,  a  British  ser- 
geant, and  a  New  Jersey  tory  by  the  name  of  Ogden,  to 
offer  them  flattering  inducements  to  place  themselves 
under  the  protection  of  the  British  government.  These 
offers  were  spurned,  and  the  two  emissaries  in  due  time 
handed  over  to  General  Wayne.  They  were  eventually 
tried  as  spies,  convicted,  and  immediately  executed. 

On  the  4th  of  January  the  mutineers  reached  Prince- 
ton, where  they  were  met  by  a  committee  of  Congress, 
and  their  demands  satisfied. 

The  Jersey  troops  were  not  proof  against  the  example 
of  their  Pennsylvania  comrades,  as  appears  from  the 
private  journal  of  William  S.  Pennington.     He  writes: 

"Monday,  zzd  [oi  January  1781),  we  received  informa- 
tion that  the  Jersey  line  had  followed  the  example  of 
Pennsylvania  in  mutinying,  in  consequence  of  which  a 
detachment  of  artillery,  consisting  of  three  3-pounders, 
to  be  commanded  by  Captain  Stewart,  was  ordered  to 
parade  immediately.  I  was  ordered  to  join  the  above 
detachment  vice  Ailing. 

25th. — This  day  the  detachment  marched  to  Smith's 
Cove,  and  halted  for  the  night. 

26th. — This  day  we  marched  to  Ringwood,  and  joined 
a  detachment  under  Major  General  Howe. 

"Saturday,  2-]th. — This  day  the  above  detachment 
marched  at  i  o'clock,  and  at  daylight  surrounded  the 
Jersey  encampment  near  Pompton,  where  the  mutineers 
were  quartered.  No  other  terms  were  offered  to  them 
than  to  immediately  parade  without  their  arms.  General 
Howe  likewise  sent  them  word,  by  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Barber,  that  if  they  did  not  comply  in  five  minutes  he 
would  put  them  all  to  the  sword,  rather  than  run  the  risk 
of  which  they  surrendered.  Upon  which  the  general 
ordered  a  court  martial  in  the  field  to  try  some  of  their 
leaders,  three  of  whom,  namely,  Grant,  Tuttle,  and 
Gilmore,  were  sentenced  to  suffer  death.  Grant,  from 
■^ome  circumstances  in  his  behavior,  was  pardoned. 
Tuttle  and  Gilmore  were  immediately  executed.     The 


mutineers  returned  to  their  duty,  and  received  a  general 
pardon." 

THE  MORRISTOWN  GHOST. 

Shortly  after  the  Revolution  considerable  local  history 
was  made  by  the  appearance  of  the  far-famed  Morristown 
Ghost. 

It  is  not  remarkable  that  the  people  of  a  century  ago 
should  have  believed  in  witches  and  hobgoblins.  We 
need  not  enumerate  the  causes  of  this  superstitious 
credulity.  The  fact  is  that  which  now  concerns  us.  The 
staid  people  of  this  vicinity  were  no  exception  to  the 
general  belief  of  that  time  in  ghosts.  The  more  recent 
freedom  of  our  community  from  this  superstition  is 
probably  due  as  much  to  the  exposure  of  his  ghostship, 
which  we  propose  to  relate,  as  to  the  advanced  enlighten- 
ment of  the  age. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  a  book  appeared 
of  which  the  following  is  the  title  page: 

"  The  Morristown  Ghost;  an  Account  of  the  Beginning, 
Transactions,  and  Discovery  of  Ransford  Rogers,  who 
seduced  many  by  pretended  Hobgoblins  and  Apparitions, 
and  thereby  extorted  money  from  their  pockets.  In  the 
County  of  Morris  and  State  of  New  Jersey,  in  the  year 
1788.     Printed  for  every  purchaser — 1792." 

Who  wrote  and  who  published  this  pamphlet  can  not 
now  be  certainly  ascertained.  Some  supposed  that 
Rogers  himself  wrote  it,  in  order  to  increase  his  revenues 
and  also  to  punish  the  Morristown  people  for  their 
treatment  of  him.  From  the  resemblance  of  the  type 
and  paper  to  that  used  in  the  New  Jersey  Journal  of 
that  date  the  suspicion  is  not  unwarranted  that  the 
pamphlet  was  published  by  Sheppard  Kollock,  of 
EHzabethtown. 

The  names  of  many  prominent  persons  in  the  com- 
munity figured  in  this  pamphlet.  It  is  not  difficult  there- 
fore to  believe  the  tradition  that  the  edition  so  far  as 
possible  was  bought  ^p  and  destroyed.  Such  things, 
however,  refuse  to  die.  David  Young,  "  Philom.,"  whose 
name  figured  so  conspicuously  on  the  title  pages  of  half 
the  almanacs  of  forty  years  ago,  accidentally  found  a  copy 
of  the  work  in  Elizabeth;  and  thus  in  1826  appeared 
"The  Wonderful  History  of  the  Morristown  Ghost; 
thoroughly  and  carefully  revised.  By  David  Young, 
Newark.  Published  by  Benjamin  Olds,  for  the  author. 
J.  C.  Totten,  Printer." 

In  1876  a  fac-simile  copy  of  the  original  history  of  the 
Morristown  ghost,  "  with  an  appendix  compiled  from  the 
county  records,"  was  pubHshed  by  L.  A.  and  B.  H.  "Yoght 
and  it  can,  we  believe,  still  be  secured  from  them. 

The  affair  created  intense  excitement  at  the  time,  and 
not  a  little  merriment  at  the  expense  of  those  so  cleverly 
duped.  A  few  years  later  it  furnished  the  materials  of  an 
amusing  comedy,  which  was  played  at  a  public  exhibition 
in  Newark,  the-  author  of  which,  if  tradition  may  be 
trusted,  was  a  son  of  Rev.  James  Richards,  D.  D.,  a 
former  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  this 
place. 

In  the  following  account  of  this  humbug  we  suppress 


THE  MORRISTOWN  GHOST. 


129 


the  names  of  the  duped,  as  they  are  not  generally  known 
and  some  of  their  descendants  are  with  us  unto  this  day. 
It  was  a  common  opinion  at  that  time  that  large  sums 
of  money  had  been  buried  during  the  Revolutionary  war 
by  tories  and  others  in  Schooley's  Mountain.  It  was 
supposed  to  be  thus  concealed  to  protect  it  on  the  one 
hand  from  confiscation  by  the  colonists,  or  on  the  other 
from  the  demands  of  the  war.  Many  of  these  tories 
never  returned  to  their  homes,  while  many  of  the  other 
class  died  during  the  contest;  their  treasures  being,  so  it 
was  believed,  still  under  the  ground. 

Moreover  these  treasures  were  guarded  by  the  spirits, 
so  that  no  one  could  obtain  them  who  did  not  possess 
the  art  of  dispelling  spirits. 

In  the  summer  of  1788  two  Morris  county  men,  travel- 
ing through  Smith's  Clove,  New  York,  fell  in  with  a  school 
teacher  from  Connecticut,  one  Ransford  Rogers.  These 
men  had  long  been  in  search  of  some  one  who  possessed 
sufficient  power  to  recover  the  Schooley's  Mountain 
treasure.  Rogers  professed  to  have  a  "  deep  knowledge 
of  chymistry  "  and  all  the  sciences,  which  gave  him,  he 
claimed,  the  power  to  raise  and  dispel  good  or  evil 
spirits.  Visions  of  speedy  fortune  rose  before  the  two 
travelers,  and  they  urged  him  to  accompany  them  to 
Morristown;  this,  after  a  modest  refusal,  he  consented 
to  do,  they  promising  him  a  school  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  accordingly  came  to  Morristown  and  was  installed  as 
school  teacher  about  three  miles  from  the  town,  on  the 
Mendham  road;  the  school-house  stood  on  the  hill  near 
where  is  now  the  residence  of  Samuel  F.  Pierson.  He 
took  charge  of  this  school  early  in  August,  but  being  im- 
portuned to  exhibit  his  art  he  found  he  needed  an  ac- 
complice and  accordingly  went  back  to  New  England  for 
one,  returning  in  September.  Rogers  now  gathered  his 
believers,  to  the  number  of  about  eight,  and  held  a  secret 
meeting;  he  assured  them  the  treasure  was  there,  and  that 
it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  raise  and  consult  the  guard- 
ian spirits  before  it  could  be  obtained;  this  he  assured 
them  he  was  able  to  do,  and  at  the  close  of  the  con- 
venticle enjoined  them  to  refrain  from  all  immorality 
lest  the  spirits  should  be  provoked  and  withhold 
the  treasure.  The  members  of  the  company,  trans- 
ported with  dazzling,  golden  visions,  communicated  their 
hopes  to  friends,  and  their  number  was  soon  increased  to 
forty.  Rogers  pretended  to  have  frequent  meetings  with 
the  spirits,  and,  to  strengthen  the  faith  of  the  weak,  com- 
pounded substances  Avhich  being  thrown  into  the  air 
would  explode,  producing  various  extraordinary  and 
mysterious  appearances,  which  the  spectators  believed  to 
be  caused  by  supernatural  power;  others  were  buried  in 
the  earth,  and  after  a  certain  time  would  occasion  dread- 
ful explosioiis,  which  in  the  night  appeared  very  dismal 
and  caused  much  timidity.  The  company  was  impatient 
of  delay,  and  wished  to  proceed  in  quest  of  the  promised 
riches.  A  night  was  appointed  for  a  general  meeting, 
and  though  very  stormy  all  were  there,  some  riding  as 
much  as  twelve  miles  for  the  purpose  of  attending.  The 
spirit  now  appeared,  and  told  them  they  must  meet  on  a 
certain    night    in  a  field   half   a   mile    from  any  house, 


where  they  must  form  certain  angles  and  circles,  and  not 
get  outside  the  boundary  of  the  same,  on  pain  of  extirpa- 
tion.     On   the   appointed   night    they   assembled,    and 
about  half  past  ten  went  within  the  circle,  and  forming 
a  procession  marched  round  and  round.    They  were  sud 
denly   shocked  by  a  terrible   explosion  in   the  earth,  a 
short  distance  from  them,  caused  as  above  stated  but  at- 
tributed by  them  to  supernatural  causes.     Im.mediately 
the  pretended   ghosts  made  their    appearance,  hideous 
groans  were  heard,   and  they  conversed  with  Rogers  in 
the  hearing  of  the  company.     The  spirits  informed  them 
that  in  order  to  obtain  the  treasure  it  would  be  neces- 
sary for  the  members  to  deliver  twelve  pounds  apiece  to 
them  (the  spirits)  as  an  acknowledgment.     The  company 
were  adjured  to  acknowledge  Rogers  their  leader.     The 
pretended    "ghosts"  had  machines  over  their, mouths 
which  so  changed  their  voices  that  they  were  unrecogniz- 
able.    This  was  in  November  1788.     Frequent  meetings 
were  now  held  and  at  all  some  "  manifestations  "  took 
place,   such  as  groans,  rappings,  jingling  of  money,  and 
sometimes  a  voice  saying  "  Press  Forward!"     These 
spirits  favored  specie  payment  and  refused  to  take  the 
"  loan   paper "  which    was    at  that  time   current  in  New 
Jersey.     But  the  members  of  the  company,  being  confi- 
dent  of  speedy  reimbursement,  would   give  almost  any 
discount  to  obtain  the  hard  cash.     In  March,  therefore, 
the   money  was  nearly  all  paid,  and  several  of  the  most 
credible  gentlemen  of  the  company  were  called  out  of 
bed  at  night  by  pretended  spirits,  and  directed  how  to 
proceed.     They  now  convened,  privately  as  usual,  and 
with   various   "  manifestations "    were  told   they    should 
receive  the   treasure  the  first  of  May.     The  appointed 
time  soon  came,  and  the  whole  company  assembled  in  an 
open  field,  in  the  aforementioned  circles,  and  awaited  the 
ghosts;  these  soon  made  their  appearance,  but  at  a  small 
distance  from  the  circle.     "  They  exhibited  symptoms  of 
great   choler   and    uttered    the    most    horrible    groans, 
wreathing  themselves   into   various    postures  which  ap- 
peared   most    ghastly    in    the   circumambient    darkness. 
They  upbraided  the  company  with  the  utmost  severity, 
declaring  that  they  had  not    proceeded   regularly,  that 
some  of  them  were  faithless,  and  that  several  things  had 
been  divulged  which  ought  to  have  been  kept  profoundly 
secret ";    that  the  wicked    disposition   of    many  of  the 
company  and   their  irregular  proceedings  had  debarred 
them  from  receiving  the  treasures  at  present.     The  of- 
fended ghosts  appeared  so  enraged  that  all  thoughts  of 
money  were  forgotten,  and  the  members  looked  to  Rogers 
only  for  protection.     He   appeared  as  much  frightened 
as  the  rest,  and  was  scarcely  able  to  appease  the  spirits; 
after  a  variety  of  ceremonies,  however,  he  succeeded  in 
dispelling  the  apparitions,   and   tranquillity   once  more 
reigned  within  the  circle.     The  company  dispersed  still 
believing  in  Rogers,  and  confident  the  spirit  would  re- 
turn and  conduct  them  to  their  anticipated  fortunes.    So 
ended  the  first  lesson. 

If  Rogers  had  stopped  here  and  now  he  might  have 
been  feared  and  respected  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 
But  such  was  not  the  case.     During  the  winter  in  which 


13a 


History  of  morris  county. 


the  preceding  events  were  taking  place  Rogers  had  given 
up  his  school  and  moved  into  Morristown.  Here  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  two  young  men  recently  from 
Yankeedom,  and  they  by  some  means  became 
privy  to  his  "ghostly"  secrets.  They  wished  to 
enter  the  company  but  he  refused  to  admit 
them.  They  now  persuaded  him  to  undertake  a  second 
venthre.  This  he  agreed  to  do,  and  accordingly  met 
five  persons  whom  they  had  induced  to  join  in  the  enter- 
prise. The  old.  tricks  of  groans  and  peculiar  noises 
were  resorted  to,  also  a  new  one,  viz.:  Each  one  of  the 
company,  the  plotters  included,  took  a  sheet  of  paper 
from  a  pile,  and  wrapping  it  around  his  wrist  held  it  out 
at  the  door,  for  the  spirit  to  write  upon.  After  holding 
them  thus  a  considerable  time  they  withdrew  them  and, 
having  previously  huddled  the  papers  together,  exam- 
ined them,  when  lo!  on  one  was  written  a  time  when 
they  were  to  convene  and  receive  further  directions 
from  the  spirit!  It  is  needless  to  say  one  of  the  plot- 
ters had  previously  prepared  this  paper.  On  the  ap- 
pointed night  they  met  at  Rogers's  house,  and  having 
first  united  in  prayer  each  took  a  sheet  of  paper  again, 
and  proceeding  to  a  field  near  the  house  they  drew  a 
circle,  and  with  one  arm  raised  fell  on  their  faces  and 
continued  in  prayer  with  their  eyes  closed,  that  the 
spirit  might  enter  the  circle  and  write  on  the  papers. 
After  a  time  they  returned  to  the  house,  when,  after 
shuffling  the  papers  together,  one  was  found  to  contain 
writing,  so  elegant  they  did  marvel  exceedingly!  The 
import  of  the  paper  was  that  the  company  must  be  in- 
creased to  eleven  members,  each  of  whom  must  pay  the 
spirit  twelve  pounds  gold — the  old  amount.  Rogers  now 
determined  the  scheme  should  be  conducted  under  a  re- 
ligious garb,  and  he  visited  church  members  in  the  char- 
acter of  "the  spirit  of  a  just  man,"  enjoining  them  to 
join  the  company.  In  this  way  he  increased  the  num- 
ber to  about  thirty-seven,  mostly  religious  men.  Indi- 
vidual members  frequently  received  nocturnal  visits  from 
the  "spirits"  and  were  told  to  "pray  without  ceasing," 
"  look  to  God  "  etc.  All  the  old  tricks  were  resorted  to 
to  keep  up  the  faith.  Finally,  when  part  of  the  money  had 
been  paid,  Rogers  presented  each  man  with  a  parcel  of 
burnt  bones,  powdered,  which  he  told  them  was  dust  of 
the  spirits'  bodies,  which  he  had  received  from  them  as  a 
sign  of  their  approbation.  This  was  to  be  carefully 
guarded  and  not  to  be  opened.  The  spirits  advised  all 
to  drink  liquor  freely,  and  as  a  quantity  of  this  was  al- 
ways provided  it  is  to  be  feared  these  church  members 
did  not  always  return  home  sober.  Rogers  even  com- 
pounded pills,  of  which  each  person  must  take  one  and 
then  drink  freely  to  prevent  serious  effects — this  by  the 
spirits'  orders. 

All  has  worked  well  so  far;  now  comes  the  explosion. 
One  of  the  aged  members,  having  occasion  to  leave 
home,  through  forgetfulness  left  his  parcel  of  powder 
behind.  His  wife  found  it,  and  out  of  curiosity  broke  it 
open;  but,  perceiving  the  contents,  feared  to  touch  it, 
lest  peradventure  it  should  have  some  connection  with 
witchcraft;  she  went  immediately  to  Rev.  Mr. ,  for 


his  advice  on  the  subject.  When  her  husband  returned 
he  was  terrified  at  what  she  had  done,  declaring  he  was 
ruined  forever.  She  now  insisted  on  knowing  the  con- 
tents, and,  after  promising  to  keep  it  secret,  was  told  the 
story.  She  thereupon  declared  he  was  serving  the  devil, 
and  refused  to  keep  the  secret,  saying  it  was  her  duty  to 
put  an  end  to  such  proceedings.  This  alarmed  Rogers, 
and  he  and  his  accomplices  were  now  more  busy  than 
ever  appearing  as  spirits.  At  last  Rogers,  having  imbibed 
too  much,  appeared  to  converse  with  a  gentleman  one 
night,  but  made  several  blunders.  The  man's  wife  no- 
ticed this,  but  the  man  did  not.  Next  morning,  however, 
he  arose  early,  and  where  the  pretended  spirit  had  been 
he  had  found  tracks  of  a  man,  which  he  followed  to  a 
fence  near  by  and  there  found  a  horse  had  been  tied. 
Rogers  was  now  tracked  down,  arrested,  and  confined  in 
jail.  He  protested  innocence,  was  bailed  out  and  attempt- 
ed to  leave  the  State,  was  again  arrested,  and  confessed. 
Most  of  his  followers  remained  firm  before^  but  were 
compelled  to  believe  his  own  confession.  Rogers  soon 
made  his  escape,  how  is  not  related.  He  had  kept  up  the 
imposture  about  a  year,  and  swindled  his  dupes  to  the 
tune  of  $1,300. 

The  moral  of  the  Morristown  Ghost  is  too  apparent  to 
need  to  be  stated. 

THE   CHURCHES. 

In  our  history  for  the  present  century  we  shall  have 
occasion  in  detailing  modern  institutions  often  to  go 
back  for  their  beginnings  to  the  last  century.  We  begin 
with  the  churches.     First  in  order  of  time  is 

THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  desire  of  some  to  divide  the  Hanover  church,  re- 
ferred to  on  page  no,  was  strenuously  opposed  by  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  parish.  To  quiet  matters  a  resort 
was. had  to  the  casting  of  lots,  which  resulted  against  the 
proposed  division.  To  this  decision,  however,  this  branch 
of  the  congregation  would  not  submit.  For  their  action 
in  this  matter,  though  they  gained  their  point,  yet  the 
church  when  organized  called  them  to  account.  A  public 
confession  was  required  from  Joseph  Coe,  John  Lindsley, 
Joseph  Prudden,  Matthew  Lum,  Uriah  Cutler,  Stephen 
Freeman,  Peter  Condit,  Jacob  Ford,  Joseph  Howard, 
Benj.  Bailey,  Philip  Condit,  &c.  The  whole  affair  was 
carried  up  to  synod  in  1733,  who  strongly  disapproved 
of  the  casting  of  lots,  and  resolved  that  in  their  poverty 
and  weakness  it  might  be  very  advisable  for  the  people 
of  West  Hanover,  at  least  for  some  time,  to  join  them- 
selves with  the  congregations  of  East  Hanover  and  Bask- 
ing Ridge  "as  may  be  most  convenient,  until  they  as  well 
as  the  said  neighboring  congregations  be  more  able  to 
subsist  of  themselves  separately."  Yet  if  reunion  was 
impracticable  "the  synod  judge  that  the  people  of  West 
Hanover  be  left  to  their  liberty  to  erect  themselves  into 
a  separate  congregation."  No  doubt  knowing  the  tem- 
per and  state  of  feeling  in  this  part  of  his  field  of  labor 
this  deliverance  of  synod  was  in  no  way  satisfactory  to 
Mr.  Nutman,  the  pastor  at  Hanover,  for  at  the  same  ses- 


RELIGIOUS  BfiGlNNINGS  AT  MORKlSTOWN. 


131 


sion  of  the  body  he  asked  for  a  dismission  from  his  pres- 
bytery if  this  action  was  enforced  of  forming  a  separate 
congregation;  whereupon  the  synod  earnestly  recom- 
mended the  Presbytery  of  East  New  Jersey  to  labor  with 
the  people  of  West  Hanover  to  effect  a  reconciliation, 
and  if  this  was  impossible  then  to  dismiss  Mr.  Nutman 
upon  his  application.  The  next  year  the  matter  again 
came  before  the  synod  in  the  reading  of  the  minutes, 
when  the  use  of  lots  was  condemned;  and  yet  say  they: 
"We  are  afraid  that  much  sin  has  been  committed  by 
many  if  not  all  that  people  in  their  profane  disregard  of 
said  lot,  and  therefore  excite  them  to  reflect  upon  their 
past  practices  in  reference  thereunto  in  order  to  their 
repentance." 

This  implied  censure  in  no  way  healed  the  breach. 
There  had  been  too  much  said  and  done  on  both  sides 
again  to  work  in  concert;  so  that,  independent  of  the 
counsellings  of  synod,  this  branch  of  the  congregation 
made  application  to  that  body  on  the  following  year  for 
the  ordination  of  one  who  had  recently  come  among 
them.  The  synod  referred  the  matter  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia.  In  May  1736  the  people  pressed  the 
presbytery  to  proceed  in  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Cleverly, 
when  they  directed  the  congregation  to  appoint  a  day 
and  give  them  due  notice,  that  they  might  attend  properly 
to  the  business.  For  some  cause  no  day  was  designated; 
so  that  the  presbytery  in  August  1737  rhet  here,  but 
found  opposition  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  people  to 
his  settlement.  In  virtue  of  this  state  of  things  they 
urged  him  to  seek  another  field  of  labor,  and  wrote  to 
the  rector  of  Yale  College  to  send  a  candidate,  giving  as 
a  reason  that  they  knew  no  other  way  to  supply  them. 
This  advice  to  Mr.  Cleverly  was  not  taken,  as  he  re- 
mained in  Morristown  till  his  death,  in  December  1776. 
He  never  married.  His  small  property  became  nearly 
exhausted  toward  the  close  of  life  and  he  was  reduced  to 
hardships. 

The  synod  in  1738,  finding  the  difficulties  still  existing 
and  anxious  to  bring  the  case  to  a  final  issue,  appointed 
a  large  committee,  which  met  on  the  26th  of  July,  at 
Hanover.  The  members  present  were  Andrews,  of  Phil- 
adelphia; Gilbert  Tennent,  of  New  Brunswick;  William 
Tennent,  of  Freehold;  John  Cross,  of  Basking  Ridge; 
Crowell,  of  Trenton,  and  Treat,  of  Abington.  An  open- 
ing sermon  was  preached  by  Gilbert  Tennent  from  Ezek. 
xi.  19,  "  I  will  give  them  one  heart."  The  eastern  part 
were  still  anxious  for  a  union  if  it  could  be  had  on  rea- 
sonable terms.  To  this  the  western  portion  were  how- 
ever averse,  and  represented  according  to  truth  that  they 
were  much  increased  in  number,  being  nearly  one-half 
abler  than  they  were;  and  the  committee,  finding  that 
they  both  were  better  able  to  support  the  gospel,  unani- 
mously concluded  that  there  should  be  two  seperate  so- 
cieties, and  that  no  further  attempts  should  be  made  to 
merge  them  in  one,  and  in  this  dicision  all  parties  ex- 
pressed their  entire  satisfaction. 

In  those  days,  however,  it  was  not  an  easy  matter  to 
find  a  pastor,  and  as  Mr.  Cleverly  still  resided  here  he  no 
doubt  officiated  occasionally  or  regularly  until,  in  1742,  a 


pastor  was  chosen.  Previous  to  this  time,  apart  from 
the  minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  we  can  find 
no  trace  of  the  state  of  this  church  in  any  of  its  eccle- 
siastical movements. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  the  Rev.  Timothy 
Johnes,  his  pastorate  beginning  August  13th  1742  and 
continuing  to  the  time  of  his  death,  covering  over  half  a 
century.  He  was  of  Welsh  descent;  was  born  in  South- 
ampton, Long  Island,  May  24th  1717,  and  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1737,  from  whence  in  1783  he  received 
the  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity.  Mr.  Webster,  in  his 
history  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  says:  "Of  the  period 
between  his  leaving  college  and  going  to  Morristown  we 
have  seen  no  notice,  except  that  in  that  perilous  time, 
when  some  haply  were  found  fighting  against  God,  those 
who  separated  from  the  first  parish  in  New  Haven  wor- 
shiped in  the  house  of  Mr.  Timothy  Johnes."  From 
this  it  would  appear  that  he  studied  theology  at  New 
Haven.  He  was  no  doubt  licensed  by  the  Congrega- 
tional body,  and  came  to  Morristown  by  means  of  the 
letter  of  presbytery  to  the  president  of  the  college  or  by  a 
subsequent  request  to  the  same.  Tradition  asserts  that 
he  labored  for  a  short  period  on  Long  Island  in  some  of 
the  vacant  churches.  With  Mr.  Johnes  this  church  as- 
sumes historic  character,  shape  and  life,  as  from  the 
date  of  his  settlement  the  church  records  begin.  Though 
for  a  time  the  entries  of  sessional  business  are  meager, 
yet  they  are  sufficient  to  indicate  the  presbyterial  char- 
acter of  the  church  in  its  government  and  relations. 

The  strength  of  the  church  in  numbers  and  wealth  at 
its  organization  cannot  now  be  learned.  Rev.  Samuel 
L.  Tuttle,  in  his  history  of  the  Madison  Presbyterian 
Church,  another  off-shoot  of  Hanover,  a  few  years  later, 
says:  "In  or  about  1740  a  small  and  very  feeble  church 
was  organized  and  established  in  Morristown."  But  it 
would  seem  from  the  action  of  the  committee  of  synod, 
as  well  as  from  the  whole  course  of  procedure  of  this 
section  of  the  church,  that  they  were  able  from  the  be- 
ginning to  support  the  gospel.  There  were  102  in  full 
communion  when  Mr.  Johnes  was  installed  pastor,  by  no 
means  "a  very  feeble  church;"  small  in  comparison  with 
the  power  it  has  since  attained,  but  by  no  means  to  be 
ranked  in  those  days  among  the  feeble  churches  in  the 
land. 

The  names  of  these  102  members  are  appended,  with 
the  addition  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain  of 
the  date  of  their  death  or  burial: 

John  Lindley,  died  March  9  1750,  aged  50.  Elizabeth 
Lindley,  his  wife,  buried  April  21  1772,  aged  91.  John 
Lindley  jr.,  died  September  10  1784,  aged  56.  Sarah 
Lindley,  his  wife.  Jacob  Fford,  died  January  19  1777, 
born  April  13  1704.  Hannah  B  ford,  his  wife,  buried  July 
31  1777,  aged  76.  Joseph  Prudden,  buried  September  27 
1776,  aged  84.  Joanna  Prudden,  his  wife.  Caleb  Fair- 
child,  buried  May  3  1777,  aged  84.  Anna  Fairchild,  his 
wife,  buried  April  8  1777,  aged  86.  Joseph  Coe.  Judith 
Coe,  his  wife.  Joseph  Coe  jr.  Esther  Coe,  his  wife. 
Solomon  Munson,  buried  February  8  1803,  aged  78. 
Tamar  Munson,  his  wife,  buried  January  28  1779,  aged  79. 
Benjamin  Pierson,  died  August  2  1783,  aged  81.  Patience 
Pierson,  his  wife,  died  January  7  1785,  aged  77.  Stephen 


132 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Freman,  buried  August  2  177 1,  aged  84.  Hannah  Freman, 
his  wife,  buried  July  22  1779,  aged  85.  Matthew  Lum, 
buried  May  21  1777,  aged  70.  Susanna  Lam,  his  wife, 
died  May  23  1758,  aged  63.  Peter  Cundit,  buried  July  11 
1768,  aged  69.  Phebe  Cundit,  bis  wife,  buried  July  26 
1768,  aged  65.  Philip  Cundit,  died  December  23  1801, 
aged  92.  Mary  Cundit,  his  wife,  buried  September  30 
1784,  aged  72.  Joseph  Howard.  Mary  Howard,  his 
wife,  buried  January  30  1782,  aged  79.  Sarah,  wife  of 
Samuel  Ford.  Benjamin  Bailey,  buried  March  20 
1783,  aged  83.  Letitia  Bailey,  his  wife,  buried 
August  II  1781,  aged  78.  Samuel  Nutman. 
Abigail  Nutman,  his  wife.  James  Cole.  Phebe  Cole,  his 
wife.  Benjamin  Coe.  Rachel  Coe,  his  wife,  buried  De- 
cember 20th  1776,  aged  58.  Thomas  Kent.  Ebenezer 
Mahurin.  ,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Mahurin.  Uriah  Cut- 
ler, buried  February  5th,  1795,  aged  86.  Timothy  Mills, 
died  March  4th  1803,  aged  85.  Job  Allen,  of  Rocka- 
way.  John  Clark.  Abigail  Clark,  his  wife.  Benjamin 
Beach,  of  Rockaway;  suspended  May  26th  1756.  Abner 
Beach,  of  Rockaway;  suspended  May  8th    1752.     Jonah 

Arstin. ,  his  wife.     Zeruiah,  wife  of  Isaiah  Wines, 

"  now  of  Captain  Samuel  Day,"  buried  December  21st 
1776,  aged  56.  Sarah,  wife  of  Isaac  Price.  Martha, 
wife  of  Cornelius  Arstin.  Susanna,  wife  of  Caleb  Tich- 
enor.  Sarah,  wife  of  James  Frost.  Mary,  wife  of  Isaac 
Clark.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  More.  Ann,  wife  of 
Alexander  Robards.  Ann  Allen,  widow.  Sarah,  wife  of 
Abraham  Hathaway.  Bethiah,  wife  of  Thomas  Wood, 
buried  November  7th  1773,  aged  74.  Experience,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Conger,  buried  September  30th  1784,  aged  73. 
Charity,  wife  of  Benjamin  Shipman.  Phebe,  wife  of 
Shadrach  Hathaway.  ,  wife  of  John  Jonson.  Cath- 
arine, wife  of  Peter  Stagg. ,  wife  of  Eliacam  Suerd. 

Mary  Burt.  Comfort,  wife  of  Joseph  Stiles,  died  June 
17th  1785,  aged  76.  Joanna,  wife  of  Peter  Prudden. 
Samuel  Sweasy.  Susanna  Sweasy,  his  wife,  buried  Nov- 
ember 5th  1776,  aged  80.  Joseph  Fowler's  wife  Hannah. 
Hannah,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Johnson.  Martha,  wife  of. 
John  Fford.  Abigail,  wife  of  Jonathan  Conklin,  "  now 
of  Samuel  Bayles."  Charles  Howell,  died  June  i8th  1759, 
aged  38.  Deborah,  wife  of  Charles  Howell,  died  De- 
cember 19th  1765,  aged  43.  Daughter  (?)  of  Charles 
Howell.  Doctor  Elijah  Jillet.  Jane,  wife  of  Doctor 
Jillet.  Elder  Morris,  of  Basking  Ridge.  Mary,  his  wife. 
Abraham  Campfield's  wife  (Sarah);  buried  July  22nd  1783. 
Phebe,  Joshua  Ball's  wife.  Elizabeth  Kermicle,  widow. 
Nathan  Ward's  wife.  Jemima,  wife  of  Deacon  Matthew 
Lum.  Samuel  Baldwin,  of  Mendham.  Rebecca,  Zach. 
Fairchild's  wife.  Elizabeth,  Captain  Clark's  wife.  Wife 
of  Samuel  Mills  (Sarah),  buried  January  isth  1785,  aged 
61.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  Gauden.  Mattaniah  Lyon, 
died  February  2nd  1794,  aged  69. ,  his  wife.  Alex- 
ander Johnson's  wife.  Silas  Halsey.  Abigail,  his  wife; 
buried  March  26th  1777,  aged  60.  Bathiah,  Benjamin 
Halsey's  wife,  died  January  23d  1785,  aged  62.  John 
MacFeran,  buried  November  22nd  1778,  aged  80.  Eliza- 
beth, his  wife,  buried  September  13th  1778,  aged  77. 
Nathan  Price.  Peter  Prudden,  buried  A\m[  21st  1777, 
aged  55. 

At  the  head  of  this  list  stands  the  following: 

"The  number  and  names  of  the  persons  that  were  in 
full  communion  when  the  church  was  first  collected  and 
founded,  together  with  the  number  of  those  that  came 
since  from  other  churches,  with  their  removal." 

The  first  entry  upon  this  roll  after  those  above  given  is: 

"Aug.  15  1765,  Naomi,  wf.  of  John  Laporte,  turned 
from  the  Anabaptists  and  received  on  ye  foot  of  her 
being  a  member  of  that  ch.  in  good  standing." 


Thus  it  would  seem  that  all  named  previous  to  this 
date  were  in  full  communion  when  Mr.  Johnes  assumed 
charge  of  the  church. 

The  names  on  this  list  (and  the  same  may  be  said  of 
those  upon  deeds)  clearly  point,  as  already  indicated,  to 
a  New  England  origin. 

On  the  8th  of  September  1756  a  charter  of  incorpora- 
tion was  granted  the  church  by  Jonathan  Belcher,  the 
captain-general  and  governor  of  the  province  of  New 
Jersey.  This  charter  may  be  seen  in  full  in  TAe  Record 
for  January  1880. 

The  following  is  the  preface  to  the  trustees'  book, 
which  then  began  to  be  kept: 

"  A  Record  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Trustees  in  and 
for  the  Presbyterian  Chh  &  Congregation  at  morristown, 
in  Vertue  of  a  Charter  granted  to  the  said  Chh.  &  Con- 
gregation by  his  Excellency  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esqr., 
Captain  General  and  Governor  in  Cheif  in  and  over  his 
majesties  Province  of  Nova  Cesarea  or  New  Jersey  and 
territories  thereon  Depending  in  America,  Chancellor  and 
Vice  admiral  in  the  same,  &c.,  which  Charter  was  granted 
the  eighteenth  of  September,  in  the  twenty-ninth  year  of 
his  majesties  Reign,  1756,  the  expense  of  which  Charter, 
being  about  seven  Pound  Proc.  was  Raised  by  Publick 
Contribution  Excepting  the  writing  of  Sd  Charter,  which 
was  Generously  done  by  Ezekiel  Cheever,  member  of  Sd 
Society. 

"  The  Incorporated  Trustees,  Viz.:  messiurs.  Benjamin 
Hatheway,  President;  Benjamin  Bayles,  Thomas  Kent, 
Benjamin  Coe,  Charles  Howell,  Sam'l  Robarts  &  henry 
Primrose,  on  the  Receiving  the  Charter  at  the  ministers 
hous  from  the  hands  of  Mr.  Johnes,  who  had  Been  De- 
siered  and  was  Principally  Concerned  in  obtaining  the 
Sd  Charter,  the  Trustees  by  a  Vote  did  then  and  there 
appoint  Sam'l  Robarts  the  Corporation  Clark." 

The  first  church  edifice  was  no  doubt  reared  before 
the  coming  of  Mr.  Johnes.  It  was  a  wooden  building 
nearly  square,  with  shingled  sides,  and  stood  a  few  rods 
east  of  the  present  structure,  on  land  given  by  Benjamin 
Hathaway  and  Jonathan  Lindsly  for  a  parsonage  and 
burial  ground.  On  January  24th  1764  the  trustees 
granted  permission  to  erect  a  steeple,  125  feet  in  height, 
and  agreed  that  Colonel  Ford  should  have  "  the  care, 
management  and  oversight  "  of  the  work.  In  this  tower 
a  bell  was  hung,  the  gift  tradition  says  of  the  king  of 
Great  Britain.  It  had  on  it  the  impress  of  the  British 
crown  and  the  name  of  the  makers — "  Lister  &  Pack  of 
London  fecit."  The  same  bell  still  rings  out  its  sum- 
mons to  the  house  of  God,  though  recast  some  20  years 
ago.  The  vane  of  the  steeple  was  afterward  given  to  the 
old  academy  at  New  Vernon. 

The  increasing  number  of  members  made  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  building  a  necessity,  which  was  accordingly 
done  in  1774. 

A  still  further  increase  of  membership,  the  growing 
population  of  the  town,  and  the  hard  usage  to  which  the 
church  had  been  put  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  as 
a  hospital  for  the  army,  led  after  much  discussion  to  the 
conclusion  to  build  a  new  edifice.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
parish,  held  October  8th  1790,  the  final  plans  were 
adopted  and  committees  appointed.  The  church  was  to 
be  75  feet  long,  55  wide,  the  steeple  20  feet  square,  9  of 


MORRISTOWN'S  FIRST  CHURCH  AND  PASTOR. 


133 


which  were  to  be  taken  from  the  main  building,  leaving 
an  audience  room  66  feet  in  length.  Judge  Condict, 
Dr.  Johnes  jr.,  Dr.  Jabez  Campfield,  Squire  Carraichael, 
Squire  Lindsly,  Mr.  Phillips,  Jonathan  Dickerson,  Major 
Lindsly,  Deacon  Allen,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Mills  and  Mr. 
Halsey  were  appointed  a  committee  of  direction.  The 
said  committee  were  to  have  leave  to  apply  to  the  Legis- 
lature for  the  privilege  of  a  lottery  to  raise  a  sum  of 
money  equal  to  the  expense  of  building  the  new  meeting- 
house— a  method  of  procedure  very  common  in  those 
days.  If  this  application  were  ever  made  it  was  refused, 
as  we  hear  no  more  about  it.  ' 

In  a  memorandum  book  of  one  of  the  committee  for 
the  purchasing  of  materials  we  have  the  following  entry: 
"  Timber  to  be  all  white  oak,  cut  in  old  moon   of  Dec, 

Jan'y  or  Feb'y,  and  delivered  on  the  Green  by  the 

day  of  next.  Nov.  1790."  The  work  was  com- 
menced in  the  spring  of  1791.  The  head  carpenter  was 
Major  Joseph  Lindsly,  assisted  by  Gilbert  Allen,  both 
elders  in  the  church  and  men  of  great  moral  worth  and 
highly  beloved  by  the  congregation.  The  frame  was 
raised  on  September  20th  1791,  and  on  several  successive 
days,  some  2cc  men  assisting  in  the  work. 

The  first  site  selected  for  the  building  was  in  the  grave- 
yard not  far  from  the  old  church;  this  fact  is  gathered 
from  an  account  book  of  that  date,  which  has  been  very 
mnch  mutilated  but  in  which  is  the  following  entry: 
"William  Cherry  Cr.  by  one  day's  work  done  in  the 
graveyard  towards  the  foundation  where  the  house  was 
first  ordered  to  be  built,  5s."  The  site  was  changed 
chiefly  through  the  agency  of  Dr.  Jabez  Campfield,  but 
the  reason  is  not  known.  The  location  has  never  given 
satisfaction  and  several  attempts  have  been  made  to 
move  the  church;  but  without  success,  and  it  will  no 
doubt  stand  where  it  is  until  superseded  by  a  new  house 
of  worship. 

From  the  diary  of  Joseph  Lewis,  Esq.,  we  take  the  fol- 
lowing: "Thursday,  Augt.  18  1791. — This  afternoon, 
agreeably  to  notice  given,  the  congregation  met  to  lay 
corner  stones  of  the  new  meeting-house.  Rev.  Dr. 
Johnes  laid  the  S.  W.  corner  of  the  house;  Rev.  Mr. 
Collins,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Cooly,  S.  E.  do.;  the  deacon,  N.  E. 
do.;  elders,  N.  W.  do.;  trustees,  N.  W.  do.  of  the  steeple; 
managers,  S.  W.  do. 

Different  parts  of  the  work  were  sold  at  public  vendue 
to  the  lowest  bidder,  with  the  provision  that  if  any 
person's  contract  amounted  to  more  than  he  had  sub- 
scribed toward  the  building  he  should  wait  until  the 
money  could  be  collected,  or  take  orders  upon  those  sub- 
scribers who  were  not  working  out  their  subscriptions. 
The  managers  kept  an  account  with  every  one  who  sub- 
scribed or  worked;  some  of  the  entries  are  curious  and 
interesting.  Perhaps  nothing  could  better  illustrate  one 
feature  of  the  difference  between  the  rehgion  of  the  past 
and  the  present  than  the  following  entries,  the  first  from 
the  managers'  day-book  and  the  second  from  some  stray 
leaves,  which  were  probably  connected  with  it:  "Daniel 
Phoenix  jr.,  cr.  by  13  gills  of  rum  furnished  the  hands 
t'lis  day,  2  shillings  2  pence."    This  was  in  the  beginning 


of  the  work;  the  next  is  February  2,  1794:  "  Meeting- 
House  dr.  to  Joseph  Marsh,  for  licker  for  raising  gallery" 
13  shillings. 

On  November  26th  1795  the  congregation  worshiped 
in  this  house  for  the  first  time,  though  it  was  not  until 
several  months  afterward  that  the  whole  was  completed. 
The  pulpit  was  not  finished  and  furnished  until  some 
time  in  1796,  when  this  fell,  as  in  later  times,  to  the 
ladies,  who  collected  from  their  own  sex  the  sum  of  $125 
"  for  the  purpose,"  as  their  subscription  paper  ran,  "of 
dressing  the  pulpit,  getting  curtains  for  the  large  win- 
dows of  the  meeting-house,  a  new  funeral  pall,  and  a 
gown  for  the  minister.''  In  the  following  year  the  walls 
were  whitewashed  and  "  the  inside  of  the  church  ordered 
to  be  a  light  blue."  Gradually  the  whole  was  finished,  at 
a  cost  considerably  over  $10,000.  We  have  heard  the 
sum  stated  at  $12,000. 

This  for  the  times  was  a  great  undertaking.  Com- 
menced soon  after  the  close  of  the  protracted  war  with 
Great  Britian,  when  taxes  were  heavy  and  must  be  paid, 
when  the  country  was  burdened  with  debt,  paper  money 
the  only  currency,  nearly  every  farm  mortgaged,  and 
when  creditors  ran  from  their  debtors,  afraid  of  the  con- 
tinental money,  when  a  silver  dollar  was  scarcely  seen 
and  gold  was  if  anything  rarer — yet  steadily  was  the 
work  prosecuted  in  the  midst  of  the  most  trying  dis- 
couragements, while  the  willingness  of  the  people  to  be 
taxed  nearly  f  10,000  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the 
expenditure  shows  a  noble  spirit;  and  the  readiness  with 
which  so  many  came  forward — over  360  persons  in  all — 
to  contribute  to  the  undertaking  reveals  the  fact  that 
more  were  willing  to  share  and  bear  the  burdens  of  the 
sanctuary  than  at  present.  The  communicants  at  that 
time  numbered  but  little  more  than  half  of  the  subscri- 
bers, as  scarcely  40  pews  were  reserved  for  sacramental 
days. 

The  later  history  of  this  church  will  be  sufficiently  no- 
ticed under  the  successive  pastorates,  which  we  now 
proceed  to  recount. 

I.  Rev.  Timothy  Johnes,  D.D. ,htgdin\\\s  labors  Au- 
gust 13th  1742;  was  ordained  and  installed  February  9th 
1743;  continued  pastor  until  his  death.  In  1791  he 
fractured  his  thigh  bone  by  a  fall,  which  confined  him 
for  months  to  his  bed,  and  made  him  a  cripple  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  After  more  than  a  year's  confine- 
ment he  was  able  to  attend  public  worship.  Aided  by 
one  or  two  of  his  elders  he  reached  the  desk,  where, 
seated  on  a  high  cushioned  chair,  he  would  occasionally 
address  the  people.  In  this  condition  he  preached  in 
1793  his  half-century  sermon  to  a  crowded  assembly, 
who  came  from  all  quarters  to  hear  it.  His  text 
was,  "  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my 
course,"  etc.  In  the  delivery  of  that  discourse  he  mani- 
fested unusual  animation,  and  in  the  closing  prayer  he 
seemed  to  breathe  out  his  whole  soul  in  fervent  petition 
for  the  peace,  prosperity  and  salvation  of  his  people. 
The  service  was  closed  by  singing  the  71st  Psalm — "  God 
of  my  childhood  and  my  youth,"  etc.  In  reading  the 
first  verse,  said  an  eye-witness,  "his  voice  began  to  falter 


134 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  became  tremulous.  He  proceeded  with  much  emo- 
tion, while  the  tears  trickled  over  his  venerable  cheeks, 
and  before  he  could  utter  the  last  line  his  voice  seemed 
to  die  away  admidst  the  sobs  and  tears  of  the  whole  as- 
sembly." 

Seldom  did  he  address  his  people  after  this.  In  the 
following  winter,  as  he  was  riding  to  church  on  Sabbath 
morning,  his  sleigh  was  upset  a  short  distance  from  his 
house,  which  broke  his  other  thigh  bone.  He  was  car- 
ried to  his  home,  and  never  left  it  till  he  was  removed  by 
the  hands  of  others  to  the  graveyard.  He  died  Septem- 
ber isth  1794,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age,  the  S2nd  of  his 
pastorate  and  54th  of  his  ministry. 

His  tombstone  bears  the  following  inscription:  "As 
a  Christian  few  ever  discovered  more  piety — as  a  minis- 
ter few  labored  longer,  more  zealously  or  more  success- 
fully than  did  this  minister  of  Jesus  Christ." 

During  his  pastorate  of  over  half  a  century  he  received 
into  the  church  600  members  and  572  half-way  members, 
officiated  at  2,827  baptisms,  and  948  marriages,  and  dis- 
ciplined 170  members. 

.  Those  who  desire  to  see  the  first  four  of  the  above  lists 
may  find  them  in  full  in  successive  numbers  of  The 
Record. 

The  last  list  contains  many  curious  things.  A  few 
samples  are  given. 

Some  difficulty  seems  to  have  early  arisen  between 
Timothy  Peck  and  one  Nutman  on  the  one  side  and 
William  Shipman  on  the  other,  and  the  two  former  must 
have  wished  to  have  the  latter  turned  out  of  the  church, 
and  made  an  accusation  against  him  with  that  intention; 
for  the  session  declares  it  finds  the  charge  groundless, 
and  then  goes  on  to  say  (intimating  that  Shipman  had 
complained  of  losing  a  steer):  "As  to  Peck  and  Nutman 
taking  away  .the  steer,  it  doth  not  appear  but  that  " 
they  "had  a  toleration  for  their  action,  though  at  ye 
same  time  they  are  to  blame  in  going  at  such  a  time 
when  as  appears  they  were  apprehensive  sd.  Shipman 
was  not  at  home;  and  also  for  saying  they  were  sorry  he 
was  not  at  home,  though  it  doth  not  appear  the  property 
of  the  steer  was  fixed  to  any."  It  was  adjudged  that 
said  Peck  and  Nutman  should  "  pay  sd.  Shipman  for 
wintering  the  steer,  according  to  his  demands,  and  also 
that  they  should  pay  him  forty  shillings,  as  or  in  lieu  of 
his  quota  of  some  household  goods." 

Members  were  disciplined  as  follows: 

January  3d  1760,  Mr. "and  wife  for  partaking  of 

stolen  watermelon;"  "July  26  1766, for  a  premedi- 
tated fist  quarrel;"    "January  i    1772, for  taking 

hold  of  an  antient  man  &  member  of  ye  ch.,  and 
shaking  him  in  an  unchristian  &  threatening  manner;" 

"June  30  1786, &  wife  for  ye  premature  marriage 

of  wife's  sister  after  first  wife's  death."  A  frequent 
cause  of  discipline  was  intemperance,  which  slew  its 
victims  then  as"  now.  In  all  these  cases  the  record  shows 
the  kindly  heart  and  wise  discretion  of  the  pastor. 

The  moulding  influence  of  this  honored  minister  of 
Christ  upon  this  whole  section  of  country  warrants  a 
somewhat  elaborate  review  of  his  official  life  and  work. 


This  cannot  be  better  given  than  in  the  following  sketch 
by  the  Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  taken  from  a  manual  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  prepared  and  published  by 
him  in  1828,  while  pastor  of  the  church: 

"  Dr.  Johnes  has  left  nothmg  except  the  general  im- 
pression of  his  labors  on  the  minds  of  the  church  and 
congregation,  by  which  the  nature  and  value  of  his  ser- 
vices can  now   be   distinctly  known.       [Only  one  of  his 
sermons  has  ever  been  printed,  which   may  be  found  in 
the  Record  iox  October  1880.     The  writer  of  this  has  in 
his  possession  a  number  of  MS.  sermons,  but  few  of  which 
are   still   in    existence.— R.  S.  G.]      The  fact,  however, 
that  he  received  the  highest  honors  of  a  college  deserved- 
ly ranking  among  the  first  in  the  United  States,  and  that 
at  a  time  when  literary  degrees   were  not  conferred  in- 
discriminately, and  were  therefore  proof  of   merit,  is  a 
sufficient  evidence  that  his  standing  in  the  ministry  was 
of  a  very  respectable  order,  and  that  he  was  well  known 
in  the  American  churches.     He  was  a  man  of  respectable 
literary  attainments,  but  was  rather  distinguished  for  his 
fidelity  as  a  pastor.      As  a  preacher  he  is   said  to  have 
been  clear,  plain,  practical    and    persuasive.      His   dis- 
courses were  rather  an  affectionate  appeal  to  the  heart 
than    profound    and    elaborate     disquisitions     on     ab- 
struse    points     of    theology.       He     aimed     rather     to 
win  men  to  the  practice  of   holiness  than  to  terrify  and 
denounce    them.      Though    faithful    in    reproving   and 
warning,  yet  it  was  with   mildness  and  in  the  spirit  of 
true  Christian  affection.     He  suffered  no  public  vice  to 
escape  without  reproof;  but  the  reproof  was  administer- 
ed in  order  that  he- might  show  them  a  more  excellent 
way.    He. seemed  to  have  come  to  his  people,  particular- 
ly towards  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry,  as  an  affection- 
ate Christian  pastor;  their  father,  counsellor,  and  friend. 
No  man  could  have  had  a  better  claim  to   the  title  of 
"  father  in  the  gospel;"  and  no  man,  probably,  would  have 
used  the  influence  thus  derived   more  to  the  practical 
benefit  of  the  people.     Though  not  elaborate,  or  remark- 
ably profound,  or  highly  eloquent  in  the  pulpit,  yet  Dr. 
Johnes  had  the  faculty  of  instilling  successfully  the  prin- 
ciples of  religion  into  the  minds  of  the  people.     He  was 
much  with  them.    He  visited  much  from  house  to  house. 
He  had  become  acquainted  with   the  circumstances  of 
every  family.     He  had  the  moulding  and  training  of  the 
congregation.    He  had  the  power,  therefore,  of  stamping 
his    own    sentiments  on  their  minds.     Beloved  as  their 
pastor,  and  venerated  as  their  spiritual   father,  his  sen- 
timents  on    religion   were    always    received    with   high 
respect,  and  almost  uniformly  with   cordial  approbation. 
He  endeavored   to  bring  religion   home  to  the  business 
and  bosoms  of  men — to  associate  it  with  their  ordinary 
notions  of  living — of  bargain  and  sale — of  social  and  polit- 
ical  intercourse — with  all  their  attachments,  hopes  and 
fears.     By  being  much  with  the  people,  and  by  a  faculty 
of  adapting  his  instructions  to  their  circumstances  and 
capacities,  he  labored   successfully  to  instill  into   their 
minds  pure  sentiments,  to  form  them  to  good  habits,  and 
to  train  them  up  to  the  practice  of  holy  living.     The 
consequence  was  that  at  his  death  there  were  probably  few 
congregations  that  were  so  thoroughly  instructed  in  all 
that  pertained  to  the  practical  duties  of  religion.     Dr. 
Johnes  was  eminently  a  peacemaker.      His  respectable 
standing,  his   high    character,  his   long    experience,    his 
practical  wisdom,  and  his   undoubted  integrity  secured 
the  confidence  of  the  people  and  led  them  to  listen    with 
profound  deference  to  him  as  the  arbiter   of   their   dis- 
putes.    Without  interfering  farther  than  became  him   as 
the  venerable   pastor  of   a   people   in    the   controversies 
which  arise  in  neighborhoods,  he   yet  contrived  success- 
fully to  suppress  a  spirit  of  litigation  and  to  produce   an 
adjustment  of  difficulties  in  consistency  with  the  laws  of 


REV,   DR.  TIMOTHY  JOHNES— DR.  RICHARDS'S  PASTORATE. 


rSS 


affection  and  concord.  Habits  of  litigation  he  regarded 
as  eminently  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of  the  gospel, 
and  he  therefore  labored  that  his  people  might  endeavor 
to  hold  "  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace." 
Nor  did  he  labor  in  vain.  He  was  regarded  as  the  tried 
friend  of  his  people,  and  they  unhesitatingly  reposed 
with  confidence  on  his  judgment. 

"  Dr.  Johnes  was  a  warm  and  decided  friend  to  revi- 
vals of  religion.  He  received  his  education  in  the  time 
of  President  Edwards  and  Whitefield  and  the  Tennants. 
He  came  to  this  place  in  the  period  of  the  greatest  ex- 
citement on  the  subject  of  religion  that  this  country  has 
ever  known.  Many  of  the  older  inhabitants  of  this 
place  can  still  recollect  the  interest  with  which  he  read 
to  his  congregation  accounts  of  revivals  in  other  parts  of 
the  country.  He  labored  and  prayed  fervently  that  his 
own  congregation  might  be  brought  also  to  a  participa 
tion  of  the  blessings  that  descended  on  other  parts  of  the 
land.  His  sentiments  on  this  subject  are  recorded  in  in- 
cidental notices  attached  to  the  names  of  those  who 
were  added  to  the  church  during  these  seasons  of  special 
mercy.  In  one  place  he  says,  '  These  the  sweet  fruits 
of  the  wonderful  effusion  of  God's  adorable  grace  began 
on  our  sacrament  day,  July  ist  1764.'  In  another, 
'those  that  follow  the  ingatherings  of  the  divine  harvest 
in  1774 — sweet  drops  of  the  morning  dew.' 

"  Few  men  have  ever  been  more  successful  as  ministers 
of  the  gospel  than  Dr.  Johnes.  To  have  been  the  instru- 
ment of  founding  a  large  and  flourishing  church;  to  have 
been  regarded  as  its  affectionate  father  and  guide;  to 
have  established  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  and  formed 
the  people  to  respect  its  institutions;  to  have  produced 
that  outward  order  and  morality  and  love  of  good  insti- 
tutions now  observable  in  this  congregation,  was  itself 
worthy  of  the  toils  of  his  life.  In  being  permitted  to 
regard  himself  as,  under  God,  the  originator  of  habits 
and  good  institutions  which  are  to  run  into  coming  gen- 
erations, he  could  not  but  look  upon  his  toils  as  amply 
recompensed. 

"  But  he  was  permitted  also  to  see  higher  fruit  of  the 
labor  of  his  ministry.  It  pleased  a  gracious  God,  not  only 
to  grant  a  gradual  increase  of  the  church,  but  also  at  two 
different  times  to  visit  the  congregation  with  a  special 
revival  of  religion.  The  first  occurred  in  1764.  This 
commenced,  as  has  been  noted,  on  the  sacrament  day, 
July  ist.  The  fruits  of  this  revival  were  the  admission 
to  the  church,  within  the  space  of  about  a  year,  of  ninety- 
four  persons.  Of  the  characteristics  of  this  revival  little 
is  known,  except  that  it  was  a  work  of  deep  feelmg, 
much  anxiety,  awful  apprehensions  of  the  nature  of  sin 
and  of  the  justice  of  God,  impressive  solemnity,  and 
sound  and  thorough  hopeful  conversions  to  God.  The 
second  revival  commenced  in  1774.  As  the  result  of 
this  about  fifty  were  added  to  the  church.  In  1790  there 
was  another  season  of  unusual  excitement  on  the  subject 
of  religion,  and  about  forty  were  united  to  the  church." 

2.  Rev.  Aaron  C.  Collins  was  settled  January  6th  1791  as 
colleague  pastor  of  Dr.  Johnes;  he  was  dismissed  after  a 
brief  and  unpleasant  pastorate,  September  2nd  1793. 

3.  Eev.  James  Richards,  D.D.,  was  settled  May  ist  1795, 
and  dismissed  April  26th  1809.  Like  Dr.  Johnes,  Dr. 
Richards  was  of  Welsh  descent.  He  was  born  at  New 
Canaan,  Conn.,  October  29th  1767.  He  labored  first  as  a 
licentiate  at  Ballston,  N.  Y.,  and  afterward  supplied  two 
small  congregations  on  Long  Island.  On  the  21st  of 
July  1794  a  call  from  this  church  was  made  and  put  into 
his  hands,  in  which  he  was  offered  $440  salary  in 
quarterly  payments,  the  use  of   the    parsonage    and   fire 


wood.  This  was  in  due  time  accepted  by  him,  and  on 
the  ist  of  May  1795  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor 
of  the  church  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  Dr. 
McWhorter,  of  Newark,  preached  the  ordination  sermon 
from  Acts  xx.  24.  Dr.  Rogers,  of  New  York,  presided; 
Mr.  Austin,  of  Elizabeth  gave  the  charge  to  the  people. 
In  the  year  1801  he  received  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  from  Princeton  College,  and  in  1805,  at  the  age  of 
37,  was  chosen  moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  November  1795  the  old  church  was  taken  down, 
vacated,  and  sold  in  lots.  A  good  part  of  it  was  con- 
verted into  a  distillery  and  cider-mill  on  Water  street, 
So  great,  so  it  was  said,  was  the  attachment  of  many  of 
the  members  for  it  that  they  could  not  refrain  from  vis- 
iting it  in  its  new  location.  On  November  26th  1795  Mr. 
Richards  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  new  and  pres- 
ent house. 

The  old  plan  of  rating  and  collecting  was  now  discon- 
tinued; and  in  its  place  the  pews  were  sold  and  assessed. 
The  number  purchasing  or  renting  pews  was  158,  and 
the  sum  paid  was  $533-35.  The  expenses  for  1797,  ac- 
cording to  an  old  memorandum,  were:  Salary,  $440; 
sweeping  the  church,  $15;  sexton,  $15;  cake  for  wood 
cutters,  $19;  printing,  $2;  "Cyder,"  $5.62.  Total, 
I496.62.  Cake  and  cider  formed  it  would  appear  no 
inconsiderable  part  of  the  sum  total  of  expenses.  The 
minister  was  promised  so  much  salary,  parsonage  and 
fire-wood.  The  "  wood-frolick,"  as  it  was  called,  was  a 
great  event  in  the  parish.  It  brought  together  the 
greater  part  of  the  congregation,  the  ladies  preparing 
supper  at  the  parsonage,  which  was  heartily  enjoyed  by 
those  who  were  busy  during  the  day  in  bringing  together 
the  year's  supply  of  fuel  for  their  minister,  which  aver- 
aged about  40  cords.  We  find  the  amounts  expended 
by  the  parish,  for  these  frolics  in  1797,  as  seen  above, 
to  be  for  cake  and  cider,  $24.62;  in  1798,  bread  and  beef, 
$18.94;  in  1799,  I  cwt.  of  flour  and  200  lbs.  of  beef, 
$10.83. 

The  spinning  visit  was  similar  in  character,  though  we 
do  not  find  that  it  was  attended  with  expense  to  the 
parish.  By  this  means  there  were  collected  together 
various  amounts  of  linen  thread,  yard  and  cloth,  pro- 
portioned to  the  "  gude  "  wife's  ability  or  generosity. 
The  thread  was  woven  into  cloth  for  the  use  and  comfort 
of  the  pastor  and  his  family,  and  as  it  was  not  always  of 
the  same  texture  and  size  it  sometimes  puzzled  the 
weaver  to  make  the  cloth  and  finish  it  alike. 

The  meagerness  of  Mr.  Richards's  salary  was  a 
source  of  great  perplexity  to  him  as  the  expenses  of  his 
growing  family  increased,  and  finally  led  to  his  accepting 
a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Newark,  N.  J. 
During  his  pastorate  of  fourteen  years  he  admitted  to  the 
church  on  examination  214,  and  on  certificate  29.  He 
baptized  444,  and  solemnized  251  marriages.  At  the 
time  of  his  dismission  the  church  numbered  298  members 
in  full  communion. 

Mr.  Richards  remained  in  Newark  fifteen  years,  when 
he  resigned  his  charge  to   accept   the  professorship  of 


136 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


theology   in   the   theological  seminary  at  Auburn,  N.  Y. 
Here  he  remained  until  his  death,  August  2nd  1843. 

4.  Rev.  Samuel  Fisher,  D.  D.,  settled  August  gth  1809; 
dismissed  April  27th  1814. 

Jonathan  Fisher  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  was  taken  sick  in  the  performance  of  his  duties, 
and  died  of  camp  fever  in  this  town  in  March  1777, 
three  months  before  the  birth  of  his  son  Samuel,  the 
successor  of  Mr.  Richards.  He  was  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery  in  the  rear  of  the  church.  Samuel  was  born  in 
Sunderland,  Mass.,  June  30th  1777;  graduated  at  Wil- 
liams College  in  1799,  and  afterward  filled  the  position 
of  tutor  in  the  college  for  some  time.  He  was  ordained 
November  ist  1805,  and  settled  over  the  Congregational 
church  of  Wilton,  Conn.,  from  whence  he  was  called  to 
this  church.  He  was  an  able  minister  and  laborious  pas- 
tor, yet  the  political  excitement  of  the  time  was  such  that 
he  gave  offense  in  certain  sermons  preached  in  1812 
(which  he  afterward  published  to  show  the  groundlessness 
of  the  charges  made  against  him);  this  finally  led  to  the 
resignation  of  his  charge.  The  last  person  he  receive'd 
into  the  communion  of  the  church  was  an  aged  woman 
who. thirty-seven  years  before  had  attended  his  father  in 
his  last  illness.  While  here  he  officiated  at  86  marriages 
and  279  funerals.  There  were  added  to  the  church  in 
thh  same  time  65  on  profession  and  32  by  certificate. 
His  congregation  embraced  and  he  visited  in  his  pastoral 
work  over  500  families.  In  the  years  1811  and  1812  he 
took  a  census  of  the  village  and  township,  and  found  the 
number  of  white  males  to  be  466,  females  511,  blacks 
134 — total,  i,iii;  inhabitants  out  of  the  village — white 
males  1,018,  females  1,020,  blacks  68 — total,  2,106;  in 
3113,217.  Number  of  baptized  persons  in  the  village, 
152;  in  the  country,  378;  total,  530.  Church  members 
in  the  village,  102;  in  the  parish,  out  of  the  village,  206; 
total,  308. 

5.  Eev.  William  A.  McDowell,  D.  D.;  settled  Decem- 
ber 13th  1814;  dismissed  October  23d  1823.  Dr.  Mc- 
Dowell was  born  at  Lamington,  N.  J.,  in  May  1789; 
studied  at  Elizabethtown  under  Mr.  Henry  Mills,  a  son 
of  this  church  and  afterward  professor  in  the  theological 
seminary  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.;  graduated  at  Princeton  in 
1809  and  was  then  tutor  in  the'  same;  entered  the  first 
class  in  the  theological  seminary  at  Princeton  in  1812; 
was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Bound 
Brook  December  22nd  1815,  where  he  remained  less  than 
a  year.  His  pastorate  in  Morristown  was  highly  success- 
ful, and  large  numbers  were  added  to  the  church,  130  in 
1822.  The  severe  labors  of  this  great  revival  seriously 
affected  his  health,  never  vigorous.  He  was  obliged  to 
go  south;  and  shortly  after  this,  receiving  a  call  to 
Charleston,  S.  C,  he  felt  constrained  on  the  ground  of 
health  to  accept  it.  He  died  in  this  place,  September 
17th  1851,  having  shortly  before  returned  here  to  put 
himself  under  the  care  of  his  old  physician,  Dr.  Johnes. 
During  his  pastorate  of  nearly  nine  years  271  were  added 
to  the  church  on  profession,  and  46  by  letter— 317  in  all. 

In  1816  a  Sabbath-school  was  established  in  connec- 
tion with  the  church.     Before  this   a  few  active  friends 


met  on  Sabbath  to  instruct  the  colored  people,  which 
may  be  considered  as  the  first  movement  in  this  section 
for  planting  that  institution  which  God  has  so  much  hon- 
ored and  blessed  to  both  teacher  and  scholar.  The 
school  of  this  church  was  first  under  the  superintend- 
ance  of  one  or  two  devoted  ladies,  assisted  by  an  eflfi- 
cient  corps  of  teachers,  among  whom  we  find  the  names 
Mills,  Condit,  Johnson,  Johnes,  Schenck,  etc.,  all  ladies. 

In  1819  a  lecture  room,  the  predecessor  of  the  pres- 
ent one,  was  built  under  the  management  and  super- 
vision of  John  Mills. 

In  1822  stoves  and  lamps  were  first  introduced  into 
the  church.  The  former  innovation  was  very  much  op- 
posed by  a  few  as  leading  to  effeminacy.  Their  fathers 
and  mothers  had  faithfully  attended  the  sanctuary  with- 
out any  such  comforts,  being  satisfied  with  the  smell  of 
fire  from  the  foot  stoves.  One  good  man  affirmed  that 
they  had  always  trusted  Providence  for  keeping  warm 
and  should  do  so  still;  opposition  was  slight,  however, 
and  stoves  and  lamps  were  soon  fixtures  in  the  church, 
at  an  expense  of  $254.  Previous  to  this  when  the 
church  was  lighted,  which  was  but  seldom,  it  was  done 
by  candles  taken  by  different  members  of  the  congre- 
gation. Opposition  to  stoves  was  on  a  par  with  the  re- 
pugnance of  many  to  insuring  the  church,  which  was 
deemed  a  wanton  disregard  of  God's  providence  and  an 
act  that  boded  no  good.  These  wood  stoves  continued 
till  1835,  when  they  were  found  insufficient  for  warm- 
ing the  building;  coal  stoves  were  then  substituted  and 
were  used  until  the  furnaces  were  introduced.  The 
lamps  remained  until  1842,  when  others  were  purchased 
sufficient  to  give  a  fine  light  over  the  whole  church. 
These  were  rendered  useless  by  the  introduction  of  gas. 

6.  Rev.  Albert  Barnes;  ordained  and  installed  Feb. 
8th  1825,  dismissed  June  8th  1830.  Mr.  Barnes  graduated 
at  Hamilton  College,  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  in  1820.  His  theo- 
logical studies  were  pursued  at  Princeton.  This  was 
Mr.  Barnes's  first  pastorate,  and  to  hisMaster's  work  here 
he  consecrated  all  his  powers.  His  sermons  were  close, 
pungent,  discriminating  and  pointed,  making  no  com- 
promises with  sin,  and  fearlessly  uttered.  The  greatest 
commotion  was  excited  in  the  early  part  of  his  ministry 
by  his  decided  and  unflinching  course  on  temperance. 
That  great  work  was  begining  to  occupy  the  thoughts  of 
many.  Here  he  found  drinking  customs  in  vogue,  and 
distilleries  dotted  all  over  the  parish.  Within  the  limits 
of  his  pastoral  charge  there  were  19  places  where  ardent 
spirits  were  made  and  20  where  they  were  sold.  To  arrest 
the  evils  that  are  ever  associated  with  this  vice,  and  re- 
move if  possible  the  curse  from  the  community,  he  early 
called  the  attention  of  his  people  to  the  subject  by  a  se- 
ries of  sermons  in  which  he  appealed  to  their  reason,  con- 
science and  religion,  and  sought  to  lead  them  to  an 
abandonment  of  social  drinking  usages,  and  of  the 
places  where  intoxicating  drinks  were  manufactured  and 
sold.  Some  engaged  in  the  traffic  were  first  indignant 
at  his  interference  and  radical  measures,  and  after  listen- 
ing to  his  discourse  determined  never  again  to  be  pres- 
ent to  listen  to  another;    but  at  the  time  for  the  delivery 


PASTORS  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  MORRISTOWN. 


137 


ot  the  next  sermon  they  were  in  their  places  anxious  to 
hear  what  he  would  say,  and  at  last  so  convinced  were 
they  of  the  injury  that  they  were  doing  to  the  morals  of 
the  place  and  the  happiness  of  families  that  soon  17  of 
the  distilleries  were  closed,  and  not  long  after  his  de- 
parture the  fires  of  the  other  two  went  out. 

Here  also  commenced  that  system  of  early  rising  and 
literary  labor  which  resulted  in  his  well  known  commenta- 
ries on  the  Bible.  He  devoted  the  hours  from  4  to  9 
o'clock  in  the  morning  to  this  work.  Here  also  was 
■preached  and  published  the  sermon  called  "The  Way  of 
Salvation,"  which  was  greatly  instrumental  in  his  being 
called  to  the  First  church  of  Philadelphia,  and  which 
from  its  statements  in  regard  to  certain  doctrines  led  to 
discussion,  opposition,  censure,  trial  and  a  temporary 
suspension  of  his  ministerial  duties  and  finally  to  the  di- 
vision of  the  Presbyterian  church  into  the  Old  School  and 
New  School  branches. 

No  man  has  left  his  impress  upon  this  congregation 
more  than  Mr.  Barnes.  He  came  here  in  his  youthful 
vigor,  and  God  largely  owned  his  labors,  and  few  minis- 
ters have  had  a  more  attached  people  than  his  parish- 
ioners, who  loved  him  for  his  excellencies,  revered  him 
for  his  piety  and  have  followed  his  afterlife  with  undevi- 
ating  interest;  296  were  admitted  to  the  church,  228 
on  profession  and  68  by  certificate. 

He  was  installed  pastor  over  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia  on  the  2Sth  of  June  1B30,  where 
he  remained  to  his  death,  Dec.  24th  1870. 

7.  Rev.  Charles  Hoover;  settled  February  8th  1832; 
dismissed  March  loth  1836.  According  to  its  report  to 
the  General  Assembly  the  church  under  the  pastorate  of 
Mr.  Hoover  was  the  largest  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
On  June  26th  1833  Mr.  Hoover  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  church  at  New  Vernon,  drawn  mainly  from  this 
society;  30  were  dismissed  that  year  from  this  church 
and  several  during  the  next  two  years.  That  enterprise 
received  material  aid  in  the  erection  of  a  building  from 
this  church. 

8.  Rev.  Orlando  L.  Kirtlandj  settled  March  23d  1837; 
dismissed  August  26th  1840.  One  of  the  first  acts  of  the 
new  pastor  was  to  make  a  corrected  list  of  the  members 
of  the  church.  The  number  found  to  be  in  actual  com- 
munion was  453.  Mr.  Kirtland  was  dismissed  to  become 
the  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  organized 
under  him  in  this  place. 

9.  Rev.  A.  Henry  Diimont,  D.  D.j  settled  January  20th 
1841;  dismissed  July  9th  1845.  During  the  four  and  a 
half  years  of  this  pastorate  in  were  received  by  letter 
and  on  profession  into  membership  of  the  church. 

On  September  ist  1845  a  call  was  made  and  presented 
to  Rev.  Jonathan  B.  Condict,  which  was  not  accepted. 

10.  Rev.  Alexander  R.  Thompson;  ordained  and  in- 
stalled January  14th  1846;  dismissed  July  28th  1847. 

11.  Rev.  James  Richards,  D.  D.;  settled  December 
28th  1847;  dismissed  April  isth  1851.  Mr.  Richards  was 
the  son  of  the  second  pastor  of  the  church.  He  added 
to  the  church  19  on  profession  and  53  by  letter. 

12.  Rev.  John  H.  Townley;  settled  December  27th  1851; 


died  February  5th  1855.  Mr.  Townley  came  here  from 
the  church  at  Hackettstown.  He  labored  faithfully  and 
zealously,  and  God  blessed  his  labors;  but  consumption 
had  marked  him  as  its  victim,  and  cut  him  off  in  the 
midst  of  his  usefulness  and  years.  He  was  born  at  West- 
field,  N.  J.,  in  March  1818.  The  following  minute  is 
quoted  from  the  session-book:  "That  as  a  pastor  his 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  and  his  excellencies  of  life 
and  character  have  made  him  a  rich  blessing  to  this 
church  and  congregation."  During  his  pastorate  85  were 
received  into  communion  with  the  church,  50  by  letter 
and  35  on  profession.  In  February  1852  Hon.  J.  Phillips 
Phcenix  presented  the  church  with  a  town  clock  at  a 
cost  of  $450. 

13.  Rev.  David  Irving,  D.  D.;  settled  November  5th 
1855;  dismissed  May  loth  1865.  Dr.  Irving's  pastorate 
here  was  largely  blessed;  376  were  added  to  the  church, 
168  by  letter  and  208  by  profession.  He  largely  stimu- 
lated the  church  in  benevolence.  Bringing  with  him  the 
true  missionary  spirit  from  his  experience  as  a  missionary 
in  India,  he  infused  the  same  spirit  into  the  people. 
Under  him  the  church  became  noted  for  its  liberality, 
a  distinction  which  it  has  continued  to  maintain.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  say  that  since  his  dismission  from  this 
church  he  has  been  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

14.  Rev.  Gavin  Langmuir;  settled  July  17th  1866;  dis- 
missed September  9th  1868.  Mr.  Langrauir  came  here 
directly  from  Princeton  Seminary.  His  health  soon  gave 
way;  and  after  laboring  about  three  months  he  was  sent 
to  Europe  by  the  church,  where  he  remained  until  his 
resignation.  He  is  at  present  pastor  of  the  American 
church  at  Florence,  Italy. 

15.  Rev.  John  Abbott  French;  settled  December  21st 
1868;  dismissed  January  31st  1877.  Mr.  French's  pastor- 
ate was  highly  successful.  He  added  to  the  church  336 
in  all,  128  by  letter  and  208  on  profession.  He  resigned 
to  accept  a  call  to  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Chicago,  111.  After  laboring  there  for  three  years  he 
was  obliged  to  resign  because  of  ill  health,  and  he  still 
remains  for  the  same  reason  unsettled. 

16.  Rev.  Rufus  Smith  Green  began  his  labors  here 
June  17th  1877,  and  was  installed  on  the  i8th  of  the  fol- 
lowing month.  Under  his  pastorate,  which  closed  Oc- 
tober nth  1881,  131  were  added  to  the  church,  77  by  let- 
ter and  54  on  profession. 

Officers  of  the  Church. — The  present  officers  are: 
Ruling  Elders — Enoch  T.  Caskey,  Joel  Davis,  Henry  M. 
Dalrymple,  Wm.  D.  Johnson,  Wayland  Spaulding,  Wm. 
W.  Stone,  James  Richards  Voorhees,  Lebbeus  B.  Ward, 
Aaron  D.Whitehead,  Joseph  H.  Van  Doren,  Theodore  Lit- 
tle, clerk.  Deacons — Victor  Fleury,  Henry  M.  Olmstead. 
Trustees — Aurelius  B.  Hull  (president),  Thos.  C.  Bush- 
nell,  Wm.  E.  Church,  Edward  Pierson,  Henry  C.  Pitney, 
Joseph  H.  Van  Doren  (clerk).  Treasurer  of  parish,  A.  B. 
Hull;  clerk  of  parish,  James  R.  Voorhees;  superintend- 
ent of  Sunday-school,  Wm.  D.  Johnson;  sexton,  Francis 
L.  Whitehead.  The  present  membership  of  the  church 
is  600;  number  in  the   Sunday-school,   450;    congrega- 


138 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


tional  expenses  for  year,  $6,500;  beneficence  for  year, 
$9,000. 

We  append  a  complete  list  of  ruling  elders  of  the  First 
Church  from  its  organization,  with  the  date  of  taking 
office: 

1747 — Joseph  Prudden,  Matthew  Lum,  John  Lindsley, 
Joseph  Coe,  Jacob  Ford;  1752 — Abner  Beach;  1754 — 
Solomon  Munson,  Daniel  Lindsley;  1761 — Daniel  Mor- 
ris, Timothy  Mills,  Matthias  Burnet;  1769 — John  Ayres, 
John  Lindsley  jr.;  1770 — Ezra  Halsey;  1777 — Joseph 
Lindsley,  Gilbert  Allen,  Philip  Condict,  Jonas  Phillips; 
1785 — Joseph  Prudden  jr.,  Caleb  Munson,  Philip  Linds- 
ley, Ezra  Halsey;  1792 — Isaac  Prudden,  Samuel  Free- 
man, Jesse  Cutler,  Matthias  Crane;  1805 — Henry  Vail, 
David  Lindsley,  Zophar  Freeman,  James  Stevenson; 
1812 — Stephen  Young,  Jacob  Pierson,  Lewis  Mills,  Peter 
A.  Johnson;  1826 — Timothy  Tucker,  William  Enslee, 
George  K.  Drake,  Frederick  King,  Jonathan-  Thompson, 
Jonathan  Oliver;  1832 — Stephen  A.  Prudden,  Jonathan 
D.  Marvin,  John  B.  Johnes,  M.  D.,  John  R.  Freeman, 
Jonathan  Pierson,  Sylvester  R.  Whitehead,  John  W. 
Cortelyou;  1843 — Ezra  Mills;  1846 — Ira  Condict  White- 
head; 1857 — David  Olyphant,  Richard  W.  Stevenson, 
M.  D.;  1859 — Joel  Davis,  Theodore  Little;  1870 — 
Henry  M.  Dalrymple,  James  D.  Stevenson;  1871 — Leb- 
beus  B.  Ward,  Austin  Requa,  William  W.  Stone,  Enoch 
T.  Caskey,  Joseph  H.  Van  Doren,  William  G.  Anderson; 
1880 — Aaron  D.  Whitehead,  James  Richards  Voorhees, 
William  D.  Johnson,  Wayland  Spaulding. 

THE    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

The  Baptist  is  the  second  of  the  Morristown  churches 
in  point  of  age.  It  was  formed  August  nth  1752.  On 
the  8th  of  the  previous  June  eleven  persons  obtained 
dismission  from  the  church  at  Piscataway,  and  were 
organized  by  Elders  Isaac  Eaton,  Benjamin  Miller  and 
Isaac  Steele  into  "  The  Baptist  Church  at  Morristown.'' 
Their  names  were  Daniel  Sutton,  Jonas  Goble,  John 
Sutton,  Melatiah  Goble,  Jemima  Wiggins,  Daniel  Wal- 
ling, Ichabod  Tomkins,  Sarah  Wiggins,  Mary  Goble, 
Naomi  Allen  and  Robert  Goble.  On  the  19th  of  August 
they  held  their  first  meeting  for  business,  elected  a 
deacon  and  clerk,  and  although  destitute  of  a  pastor 
made  arrangements  for  public  worship  and  the  observ- 
ance of  the  ordinances.  The  house  occupied  for  wor- 
ship was  a  small  building  a  mile  or  two  south  of  the 
village,  on  the  road  to  New  Vernon,  in  which  direction 
the  principal  part  of  the  membership  appears  to  have 
lived.  This  house  was  occupied  until  May  1771,  when  a 
new  building  was  dedicated  on  the  site  upon  which  the 
present  church  stands. 

Malcom  Brookfield,  of  Newark,  has  in  his  possession 
an  old  memorandum  book,  kept  by  his  grandfather,  John 
Brookfield,  from  which  we  learn  that  February  15th  1769, 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Morristown,  it  was 
concluded  that  subscription  papers  be  drawn  up  as 
soon  as  possible  for  the  building  of  a  new  meeting-house 
"  on  Morristown  Green."  If  ;^2oo  were  signed,  ex- 
clusive of  what  the  church  members  gave,  they  were  to 
go  on  with  the  building.  The  following  subscriptions 
were  made: 

Zopher  Gildenshaw,  13s.  iid.;  Jeams  Brookfield,  los. 
lod.;    Jeams   Miller,  is.  9d.;    Benjamin    Goble,  9s.  8d.; 


Robard  (Robert?)  Goble,  £2  sd.;  Elijah  Person,  9s.  2d.; 
Captain  Stark,  £1  3s.  gd.;  Ephriem  Goble,  £i  is.;  John 
Linsly,  6s.  2d.;  Fradreck  King,  ;^2  i6s.  2d.;  Joseph 
Wood,  £2  los.  6d.;  Garshom  Goble,  £1  6s.  lod.;  John 
Brookfield,  £^  2s.  gd.;  Samuel  Serin  and  Zopher  Free- 
man, in  part,  £1  i8s.  gd.;  Moses  Monson,  £\  5s.  lod.; 
Anais  Holsey,  £6  los.  4d.;  Gilbard  Allien,  £1  4s.  3^.; 
William  Goble,  £1  gs.  gd:;  Hanah  Lincton,  ss.  6d.;  Jon- 
athan Wood,  13s.  5d.;  Solomon  Monson,  4s.  2d.;  Solomon 
Sbuthard,  £z  i8s.  6d.;  Aaron  Stark  Jun.,  £(i  13s.  iid.; 
Peter  Jollomons,  £(i  3s.  3d-;  John  Stark,  £\  is.;  Jacob 
Allien  and  John  Allien,  £z  17s.;  Daniel  Congar,  ss. 
id.;  Abraham  Person,  2S.;  John  Lepard,  gs.  gd.;  Thomas 
Wood,  2S.;  Waitstill  Monson,  19s.  6d.;  Gorge  Goble,  is. 
id.;  Joseph  Fairchild,  ss.  iid.;  Anney  Wilkison,  £\  2s. 
2d.;  Benjamin  Goble  by  Jemimey  Day,  £1  7s.  7d.; 
Moses  Person,  £\  i6s.  6d.;  John  Conkling,  £i  3s.; 
John  Shadwick,  is.  id.;  Abraham  Ludlow,  los.  gd.; 
Jeams  Hill,  £1  153.  8d.;  Robard  Goble,  i^s.  sd.;  Wil- 
liam CuUen,  £2,.     Total,  ^76  igs. 

"Aaron  Curnit  also  gave  ^^8  Proc.  and  ;^i2  Lite." 

During  the  encampment  of  Washington  here  this 
building,  like  that  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  was 
used  as  a  hospital  for  the  sick  of  the  army. 

After  seventy  years  of  service  a  new  edifice  was  felt  to 
be  a  pressing  necessity.  It  was  thought  best  to  change 
the  location;  and  build  the  new  house  at  Littleton.  Ac- 
cordingly, at  a  church  meeting  held  April  24th  1840,  the 
trustees  were  "  authorized  to  offer  the  meeting-house  and 
lot  for  sale,  and  to  give  title  therefor.''  In  accordance 
with  this  decision  they  commenced  negotiations  with  a 
committee  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  (then 
about  being  organized)  for  the  disposal  of  the  property, 
at  the  price  of  $2,500,  reserving  the  cemetery  adjoining. 
The  terms  of  sale  were  agreed  upon,  except  that  the  com- 
mittee demanded  a  part  of  the  cemetery.  To  this 
the  church  would  not  agree,  and  the  negotiations  were 
consequently  concluded.  This  failure  to  dispose  of  their 
property  prevented  the  removal  to  Littleton.  They  now 
commenced  the  erection  of  a  new  meeting-house,  which 
was  dedicated  on  the  8th  of  October  1845.  During 
the  time  of  building  they  worshiped  by  invitation  in 
the  session-house  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  In 
1857  the  church  was  improved  and  enlarged.  On  the 
27th  of  January  the  following  year  it  was  rededicated, 
and  it  is  still  occupied  by  the  congregation. 

The  church  roll  shows  the  following  numerical 
strength:  in  1752  organized  with  11  members;  in  1826, 
45  members;  in  1834,35;  in  1847,  42;  in  1853,  116;  in 
i860,  132;  in  1868,  177;  in  1872,  ig4;  present  member- 
ship, 173. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows: 

1.  Rev.  John  Gano,  from  May  1754  to  Sept.  2Sth 
I7S7- 

2.  Hev.  Ichabod  Tomkins,  Nov.  6th  i7Sg  to  Jan.  8th 
1761.  Mr.  Tomkins  was  one  of  the  constituent  members 
of  the  church.  He  was  ordained  on  the  first  of  the 
dates  opposite  his  name,  and  died  on  the  last,  a  prey  to 
that  then  dread  disease  the  smallpox.  Some  of  his  de- 
scendants are  still  counted  as  worthy  members  of  the 
church  to  which  he  so  briefly  ministered. 

3.  Rev.  John  Walton,  from  June  17th   1767  to  Oct,  ist 


PASTORS  OF  THE  MORRISTOWN  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 


139 


1770.  Like  )iis  predecessor  he  was  ordained  at  the 
time  of  his  installation  over  the  church,  and  after  a  brief 
pastorate  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  same  foul  disease.  It 
was  during  his  pastorate  that  the  present  site  of  the 
church  was  purchased  and  an  edifice  commenced,  the 
completion  of  which  he  did  not  live  to  see. 

4.  Rev.  Reune  Runyon,  from  Oct.  2nd  1771  to  1780. 
He  was  not  ordained  when  he  assumed  charge  of  the 
church,  and  remained  a  licentiate  until  June  1772.  His 
pastorate  fell  in  those  terrible  times  which  tried  men's 
souls.  From  the  meager  records  which  remain  we  judge 
that  he  was  a  brave  man  and  true,  loyal  to  his  country,  as 
well  as  faithful  to  his  God.  In  1780  he  accepted  a  call 
to  the  mother  church  at  Piscataway,  of  which  he  had 
formerly  been  a  member. 

5.  Rev.    David   Luffbtiry,    from    1787 .     Little   is 

known  of  his  pastorate.  The  year  previous  to  his  settle- 
ment, on  the  27th  of  Sept.  1786,  a  considerable  number 
of  members  residing  in  the  neighborhood  of  Schooley's 
Mountain  were  dismissed  to  form  an  independent  church, 
which  was  constituted  under  the  name  of  Schooley's 
Mountain  Church. 

6.  Rev.  Duvid  J ayne  supplied  the  church  once  a  month 
during  the  year  1791.  In  August  of  this  year  it  was  voted 
to  join  the  New  York  Association,  and  to  send  delegates 
to  the  convention  of  churches  to  meet  in  that  city  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  said  association.  From  its  organiza- 
tion to  the  present  time  the  church  has  been  united  with 
the  Philadelphia  connection. 

7.  Rev.  William  Vanhorne,  from  1792  to  1807.  Mr. 
Vanhorne,  however,  like  his  predecessor,  supplied  the 
pulpit  only  once  a  month,  being  during  the  time  the  pas- 
tor of  the  Scotch  Plains  church.  The  same  arrangement 
was  continued  for  another  year  by  the 

8.  Rev.  John  Ellis,  from  1808  to  1809;  he  was  serving 
the  church  at  Mount  Bethel  as  its  pastor. 

9.  Rev.  John  Lamb,  from  April  ist  181 1  to  1812. 

10.  Rev.  Samuel  Trott,  from  August  30th  1812  to  June 

1815. 

11.  Rev.  John  Boozer,  from  181 7  to  1821. 

12.  Rev.  Samuel  Trott,  from  1821  to  October  1826. 
Upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Trott  in  1815  he  removed  to 
Kentucky.  Returning  from  that  State  about  the  time  of 
Mr.  Boozer's  resignation,  he  was  again  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  church,  a  mark  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held;  though  it  was  said  he  was  not  with- 
out enemies,  owing  to  the  rigid  Calvinistic  views  with 
which  his  sermons  abounded. 

Following  the  second  dismissal  of  Mr.  Trott  the  church 
remained  for  eight  years  without  a  pastor.  The  mem- 
bership was  reduced  to  thirty- five,  of  whom  only  six  were 
males,  and  of  these  six  only  two  resided  in  town.  The 
members  were  widely  scattered,  some  living  ten  miles 
from  the  church.  It  seemed  as  though  the  organization 
must  be  abandoned.  But  a  few  brave  spirits,  among 
whom  were  Deacons  John  Ball,  Ezekiel  Howell  and  John 
Hill,  with  brother  William  Martin,  were  unwilling  to  see 
their  beloved  church  die,  and  so  they  prayed  and  toiled 
.  on.     Near  the  close  of  1834  a  call  was  given  to 


13.  Rev.  William  Syni,  who  was  pastor  from  1834  to 
April  ist  1839.  Mr.  Sym  was  a  great  help  to  the  church, 
and  succeeded  in  strengthening  it.  He  went  from  here 
to  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Newark,  N.  J. 

14.  Rev.  W.  H.  Turton,  from  1839  to  October  1847. 
During  this  pastorate  the  new  edifice  of  which  mention 
has  already  been  made  was  built.  Mr.  Turton  was  a 
zealous  pastor,  and  under  him  the  church  acquired  a 
greater  strength  than  it  had  ever  before  attained.  He 
removed  from  here  to  Elizabeth. 

14.  Rev.  W.  B.  Tolan,  from  July  1848  to  July  1853. 
On  the  i8th  of  July  1852  the  church  celebrated  its  hun- 
dredth anniversary,  at  which  Mr.  Tolan  preached  an 
interesting  historical  discourse.  He  was  dismissed  to  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Rahway,  N.  J. 

15.  Rev.  Washington  Kingsley,  from  January  8th  1854 
to  September  1854. 

16.  Rev.  Josiah  Hatt,  from  October  4th  1854  to  June 
i6th  1857.  The  latter  date  was  the  day  of  his  death,  he 
being  the  third  minister  who  died  in  the  service  of  this 
church. 

17.  Rev.  C.  D.  W.  Bridgman,  from  January  27th  1858 
to  April  i860.  Mr.  Bridgman  was  installed  on  the  same 
day  that  the  renovated  and  enlarged  church  was  dedi- 
cated. Though  his  pastorate  here  was  brief  yet  his 
marked  abilities  greatly  strengthened  the  church.  He 
was  dismissed  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church 
at  Jamaica  Plains,  Mass.  His  successful  pastorate  at 
Albany,  and  more  recently  in  New  York  city,  where  he 
now  is,  is  too  well  known  to  need  more  than  mention. 

18.  Rev.  G.  D.  Bremerton,  from  March  1861  to  Sep- 
tember 1 86 1. 

19.  Rev.  J.  B.  Morse,  from  1862  to  October  29th  1863, 
when  he  was  dismissed  to  Bunker  Hill  church,  Charles- 
town,  Mass. 

20.  Rev.  A.  Pinney,  from  April  ist  1864  to  April  ist 
1868. 

21.  Rev.  E.  D.  Bentley,  from  November  1868  to  July 
6th  1873.  Mr.  Bentley  was  called  from  here  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Norwalk,  Conn., 
where  he  still  is. 

22.  Rev.  J.  Henry  Gunning,  from  February  ist  1874 
to  March  25th  1877.  Titusville,  Pa.,  was  the  next  home 
of  Mr.  Gunning.  He  is  now  successfully  laboring  at 
Nyack,  N.  Y. 

23.  Rev.  J.  V.  Stratton,  from  October  ist  1877  to 
April  30th  1880.  In  October  of  the  same  year  Mr. 
Stratton  removed  to  Waltham,  Mass.,  where  he  was  set- 
tled over  the  First  Baptist  Church. 

24.  Rev.  Addison  Parker,  the  present  pastor,  came 
here  in  May  1881,  removing  from  Palmyra,  N.  Y. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are:  Pastor,  Rev. 
Addison  Parker;  deacons,  John  O.  Hill,  David  F. 
Moore,  Isaac  R.  Pierson;  church  clerk,  Isaac  R.  Pier- 
son  ;  trustees,  L.  C.  Tompkins  (president),  James  P. 
Sullivan  (treasurer),  Isaac  R.  Pierson  (secretary),  F.  J. 
Mather,  William  Lewis,  Jeremiah  Stalter,  William  Hobbs; 
superintendent  of  Sunday-school,  Isaac  R.  Pierson. 


140 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  property  of  the  church  is  unencumbered,  and  is 
valued  at  |25,ooo. 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

This  is  the  third  oldest  in  the  sisterhood  of  our  local 
churches.  The  organization  was  effected  in  1826,  and 
rapidly  advanced  in  numbers  and  influence.  In  the 
great  revival  of  1827-8  over  two  hundred  joined  the  so- 
ciety on  probation.  It  was  a  time  of  great  excitement 
on  the  subject  of  religion.  Stores  were  closed  for  sev- 
eral days,  and  the  people  gave  their  whole  attention  to 
religious  matters.  Anthony  Atwood  and  the  father  of 
Dr.  D.  W.  Bartine,  afterward  pastor  of  the  church,  con- 
ducted the  services.  Previous  to  this  jMorristown  was 
simply  an  appointment  in  a  large  circuit. 

The  first  church  building  erected  by  the,  Methodists 
was  a  two-story  brick  structure,  about  40  by  60  feet,  with 
a  gallery  on  three  sides,  pulpit  on  the  north  end,  and 
choir  gallery  opposite;  located  where  the  brick  stables 
are  now,  nearly  opposite  the  Farmers'  Hotel.  It  fronted 
on  Market  street.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  1827, 
and  the  dedication  occurred  on  the  14th  of  October  in 
that  year.  The  Rev.  Noah  Levings,  of  New  York, 
officiated,  preaching  from  Eph.  xi.  20-22. 

The  second  church  was  a  white  frame  edifice,  having 
a  basement,  erected  on  the  lot  of  Jacob  Mann;  the  cor- 
ner stone  was  laid  in  1840,  the  dedication  occurring  in 
1841.  Sermons  were  preached  by  Rev.  Charles  Pittman 
and  Rev.  Anthony  Atwood.  This  building  was  donated 
by  the  family  of  Hon.  George  T.  Cobb  to  the  African 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  it  is  now  in  use  by 
them  on  Spring  street. 

The  third  church  building  was  devised  and  the  corner 
stone  laid  in  1866,  Rev.  J.  T.  Crane,  D.  D.,  pastor;  and 
in  1870  Bishop  Janes  dedicated  the  church,  assisted  by 
Rev.  Dr.  John  McClintock  and  Bishop  R.  S.  Foster,  then 
both  members  of  the  faculty  at  Drew  Theological  Semi- 
nary, Madison.  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  A.  Buttz,  now  president 
of  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  was  then  the  pastor. 
This  magnificent  structure  is  mostly  the  munificent  gift 
of  Hon.  George  T.  Cobb,  who  died  before  its  completion. 
Mr.  Cobb  contributed  about  $100,000  toward  it.  The 
church  is  built  of  conglomerate,  or  "pudding"  stone 
(purple  clay,  interspersed  with  white  pebbles),  found  in 
this  vicinity,  and  so  far  as  known  nowhere  else.  It  was 
doubtless  deposited  here  in  the  glacial  period  of  the 
earth's  formation.  The  trimmings  are  of  native  and 
Maine  granite.  The  style  of  architecture  is  the  solid 
old  Norman.  Towering  over  the  entrance  is  a  noble 
spire  150  feet  high.  Inside  everything  is  of  the  most 
solid  description.  The  wood-work  is  butternut  of  a  light 
shade,  trimmed  with  black  walnut.  The  windows  are  of 
stained  glass.  There  are  front  and  side  galleries,  and 
the  total  seating  capacity  is  about  1,100.  A  wing,  built 
across  the  rear  of  the  church,  contains  Sunday-school, 
lecture  and  class  rooms,  and  pastor's  study.  In  a  brick 
building  in  the  rear  are  the  sexton's  residence  and  church 
parlors.  The  parsonage  is  next  door  to  the  church  on  the 
south  side.     The  whole  property  is  valued  at  $175,000. 


The  Philadelphia  Conference  in  1826  embraced  Mor- 
ristown;  in  1837,  by  a  division  of  that  body  and  its  terri- 
tory, Morristown  fell  into  the  New  Jersey  Conference, 
and  in  1857,  by  another  division,  this  church  and 
charge  were  assigned  to  the  Newark  Conference,  as  at 
present. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  successive  pastors  from 
the  organization  of  the  church  to  the  present  date,  with 
the  years  of  their  respective  service: 

George  Banghart,  J.  Thompson,  1826;  George  Bang- 
hart,  Anthony  Atwood,  1827;  D.  Bartine,  Anthony  At- 
wood, 1828;  Nathaniel  Porter,  1829;  John  Potts,  1830, 
1831;  John  Kennady,  1832;  D.  Parish,  1833;  J.  Dandy, 
1834;  Anthony  Atwood,  1835,  1836;  James  M.Buckley, 
1837;  Francis  A.  Morrell,  1838,  1839;  William  Hawley, 
1840;  David  W.  Bartine,  1841,  1842;  Lewis  T.  Maps, 
1843,  1844;  Thomas  M.  Carroll,  1845,  1846;  Manning 
Force,  1847;  Jefferson  Lewis,  1848;  Caleb  A.  Lippin- 
cott,  1849,  1850;  Samuel  Vansant,  1851,  1852;  Elwood 
H.  Stokes,  1853,  1854;  John  K.  Shaw,  1855,  1856;  Rob- 
ert B.  Yard,  1857,  1858;  C.  S.  Vancleve,  1859;  M.  E. 
Ellison,  i860,  1861;  L.  R.  Dunn,  D.  D.,  1862,  1863;  J. 
T.  Crane,  D.  D.,  1864-66;  Henry  A.  Buttz,  D.  D.,  1867- 
69;  J.  K.  Burr,  D.  D.,  1870-72;  D.  W.  Bartine,  D.  D., 
1873-75;  S.  Van  Benschoten,  D.  D.,  1876-78;  S.  L.  Bow- 
man, D.  D.,  1879-81. 

The  following  have  been  the  presiding  elders  of  the 
district:  Manning  Force,  1826,  1833-40;  L.  M.  Coombs, 
1827,    1828;  Charles   Pitman,    1829-32;    John  S.  Porter, 

D.  D.,  1841-44,  1856-59;  Daniel  Parish,  1845-47;  Thomas 
Sovereign,  1848-51;  'I'homas  M.  Carroll,  1852-55;  C.  S. 
Vancleve,  i860,  1861,  1865;  Alexander  L.  Brice,  1862- 
64;  Charles  Larew,  1866-69;  M.  E.  Ellison,  1870-73; 
Thomas  H.  Smith,  1874-76;  R.  Vanhorn,  1877-79;  J. 
H.  Knowles,  A.  M.,  1880,  1881. 

The  Sabbath-school  was  organized  in  1829,  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel Porter,  pastor,  acting  as  superintendent.  He 
was  followed  in  this  office  by  James  Cook,  the  first  lay- 
man who  assumed  its  duties,  and  he  by  Erastus  Moses, 
John  Reeves,  Moses  A.  Brookfield,  David  Morrow,  Asa 
A.  Barnes,  Thomas  K.  Ross,  John  V.  Bentley,  Samuel  F. 
Headley,  Isaac  Bird,  George  T.  Cobb,  Ichabod  Searing, 
and  Francis  A.  Day,  the  present  incumbent.  The  male 
teachers  at  the  organization  of  the  school  were  George 
King,  James  James,  Daniel  Meeker,  Peter  McDermot, 
Jacob  O.  Burnett,  and  George  Adams  (colored).  The 
female  teachers  were  Mary  L.  Mann,  Martha  Condit, 
Susan  Guerin,  Maria  B,  Laing,  Emily  S.  Chamberlin, 
Phebe  Towland,  Eunice  Minton,  Ellen  Humphreyville, 
Electa  Vale,  and  Mary  Halsey.  The  infant  class  was 
organized  in  1854,  with  15  scholars,  by  Mrs.  I.  H.  Tot- 
ten,  who  in  1859  resigned  the  position;  there  were  then 
80.  The  officers  of  the  Sunday-school  in  1881  were: 
superintendent,  Francis  A.  Day;  assistant,  J.  Searing 
Johnson;  secretary,  —  Hall;  treasurer,  S.  W.  Vancleve; 
librarians,  G.  H.  Quayl,  Isaac  Van  Fleet,  Charles  Beach, 
W.  L.  Corriell,  D.  H.  Rodney,  C.  G.  Van  Gilder. 

The  church  organization  for  1881  was:  Pastor — Rev. 
S.  L.  Bowman;  trustees — James  M.  Bonsall  (president), 

E.  L.  Dobbins,  E.  L.  Pruden,  Wilbur  F.  Day,  W.  B. 
Skidmore,  Charles  W.  Roberts,  James  E.  Parker;  stew- 
ards— F.  A.  Day,  S.  W.  Vancleve,  Lewis  A.  Vogt,  James 
V.  Bentley,  Samuel  Eddy,   Edwin  Ross,  Aaron  Schenck, 


EPISCOPAL  AND  PRESBYTERfAN  CHURCHES,  MORRISTOWN. 


141 


David  H.  Rodney;  recording  steward,  S.  W.  Vancleve; 
treasurers — Wilbur  F.  Day  for  the  trustees,  A.  Schenck 
for  the  stewards;  class  leaders — George  Green,  J.  Sear- 
ing Johnson,  J.  E.  Parker,  Mrs.  W.  L.  Pruden,  John  W. 
Thompson,  J.  Hazen  Stiles;  local  preacher.  Rev.  B.  N. 
Reed;  exhorters — Stephen  Day,  Thomas  Fry,  Abraham 
Van  Gilder,  W.  Rosevear-  The  present  number  of 
members  is  516;  probationers,  40. 

ST.  Peter's  (episcopal)  church. 

The  first  time  the  service  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  was  used  in  Morristown,  so  far  as  is  known,  was 
in  the  summer  of  1812.  At  that  time  Bishop  Hobart,  of 
New  York,  was  visiting  Mr.  Rogers  at  Morristown,  and, 
by  invitation  of  the  officers  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  he  officiated  one  Sunday  in  their  church,  preach- 
ing and  using  the  Episcopal  service. 

For  two  summers,  in  or  about  1820  and  1821,  the 
Episcopal  service  was  used  in  the  large  room  of  George 
P.  McCuUoch's  boarding  school  on  Sundays,  by  Mr. 
Cummins,  the  assistant  teacher  in  the  school,  who  was 
an  Episcopal  minister. 

For  about  two  years  previous  to  the  establishment  of 
the  parish,  in  the  year  1827,  there  was  a  missionary 
station  here.  Services  were  held  in  the  old  Baptist 
church. 

The  first  missionary  was  Rev.  John  Croes,  son  of 
Bishop  Croes.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Benjamin 
Holmes,  who  became  rector  of  the  parish  when  it  was 
started  in  1827.  While  thus  officiating  here,  as  mission- 
ary and  afterward  as  rector,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  hold- 
ing service  here  on  Sunday  morning,  and  at  Orange  in 
the  afternoon.  At  Orange  he  started  St.  Mark's  church, 
and  when  he  resigned  the  rectorship  here  he  became 
rector  of  that  church,  where  he  remained  until  his  death. 

From  the  Jerseyman  we  clip  the  following  notices,  the 
first  from  the  issue  of  December  27th  1826: 

Public  Notice. — The  subscribers,  members  of  the  con- 
gregation of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Morris- 
town, in  the  county  of  Morris,  and  State  of  New  Jersey, 
for  the  purpose  of  incorporating  themselves,  and  becom- 
ing a  body  politic  and  corporate  in  law,  agreeably  to  the 
laws  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  do  hereby  give  notice 
that  a  meeting  will  be  held  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house 
in  Morristown  aforesaid,  being  their  usual  place  of  meeting 
for  public  worship,  on  Monday  the  first  day  of  January 
next,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a 
number  of  the  said  congregation,  not  exceeding  seven,  to 
be  trustees  of  the  same,  pursuant  to  the  laws  of  New 
Jersey  in  such  case  made  and  provided.  Dated  Morris- 
town Dec.  4th  1826.— Benjamin  Holmes,  Sylvester  D. 
Russell,  Henry  A.  Ford,  Dayton  I.  Car.field,  Mary  Og- 
den,  Elizabeth  Kemble,  Catharine  Kemble,  Catharine 
Doughty,  Frances  Ford,  L.  D.  Parson,  B.  Shaw,  Timothy 
S  Johnes,  Silas  C.  Cutler,  L.  Ayers,  Samuel  C.  Burnet, 
J  W  Miller,  John  R.  Brown,  S.  P.  Hull,  Jacob  M.  Kmg, 
Thomas  Richards,"  Benjamin  Douglass,  John  Nystrom, 
John  Boykin,  Wm.  B.  Paterson,  Dan'l  C.  Martm,  George 
P  McCulloch,  Abm.  C.  Canfield,  Z.  W.  Conckhn,  John 
E  Canfield,  John  Young,  James  Cook,  Lewis  Hayden, 
Charles  Freeman,  Charles  H.  Ogden,  Stephen  Freeman, 
Henry  Mooney,  Jacob  Drake,  J.  L.  Jones. 

"The  corner  stone  of  the  new   Episcopal  church  m 


South  street  will  be  laid  this  afternoon.  Service  to 
commence  at  3  o'clock  precisely. — Jerseyman,  Nov.  14th 
1828. 

"The  Prostestant  Episcopal  Church,  which  has  lately 
been  erected  in  this  town  will,  by  divine  permission,  be 
consecrated  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God  on  Thurs- 
day the  4th  of  December  next,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Croes.  Divine  service  will  commence  at  11  o'clock 
A.  M.  A  collection  will  be  taken  up  to  assist  in  defray- 
ing the  expenses  of  the  building. — Jerseyman,  Novem- 
ber 26th  1828. 

The  list  of  rectors  of  St.  Peters  is  as  follows:  Benjamin 
Holmes.June  ist  1829  to  Feb.2ist  1831 ;  Hewlet  R.  Peters, 
March  28th  1831  to  Aug.  6th  1834;  Wm.  I.  Kip,  July  13th 
1835  to  Nov.  2d  1836;  Reuben  L  Germaine,  April  30th 
1837  to  Oct.  13th  1839;  Wm.  Stanton,  May  13th  1840  to 
April  14th  1847;  Chas.  W.  Rankin,  Sept.  13th  1847  to 
June  13th  1853;  Rev.  Robt.  N.  Merritt,  D.  D.,  Sept.  28th 
1853  to  the  present  time. 

St.  Peter's  Church  was  admitted  into  the  convention 
of  the  diocese  of  New  Jersey  at  the  meeting  of  the  con- 
vention held  at  Paterson  the  30th  and  31st  of  May  1827. 
Its  first  officers  were: 

Trustees — Sylvester  D.  Russell,  Dayton  I.  Canfield, 
Henry  A.  Ford,  Timothy  S.  Johnes,  John  Boykin; 
wardens — Sylvester  D.  Russell  and  Dayton  I.  Canfield; 
vestrymen — Henry  A.  Ford,  John  Boykin,  Samuel  P. 
Hull,  Timothy  S.  Johnes,  John  R.  Brown,  Jacob  W. 
Miller,  Charles  H.  Ogden. 

The  church  was  reincorporated  April  12th  1830,  with 
the  following  officers: 

Wardens — Dayton  I.  Canfield  and  Henry  A.  Ford; 
vestrymen— John  Boykin,  Timothy  S.  Johnes,  Jacob  W. 
Miller,  John  R.  Brown,  Jacob  W.  King.  Isaac  W.  Can- 
field,  Jacob  Wilson,  John  Nystrom,  Edwin  E.  Ford. 

The  present  officers  are: 

Rector— Rev.  Robert  N.  Merritt,  D.  D.;  wardens- 
Alfred  Mills,  Henry  W.  Ford;  vestrymen— Charles  H. 
Dalrymple,  John  D.  Guerin,  Henry  W.  Miller,  Henry 
Shaw,  John  M.  Cuyler,  Charles  Y.  Swan,  Edward  V.  B. 
Kissam,  Winfield  Poillon;  superintendent  of  Sunday- 
school,  Alfred  Mills. 

The  number  of  members  is  about  200. 

In  1858  the  church  was  enlarged  by  adding  a  chancel 
at  the  southwest  end,  since  which  time  it  has  been  a  free 
church. 

THE    SOUTH    STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

is  the  fifth  in  our  galaxy  of  churches.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  session  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  held  Janu- 
ary 26th  1 841,  the  following  paper,  signed  by  146  persons, 
was  presented: 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  respectfully  request  of  the  ses- 
sion of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church,  Morristown,  a  dis- 
mission from  said  church,  with  a  recommendation  to  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  to  be  organized  in  Morris- 
town." 

The  action  taken  is  best  stated  in  the  words  of  session; 
"Whereupon  it  was  resolved,  unanimously,  that  the  above 
request  be  granted,  and  that  the  persons  named  be  dis- 


142 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


missed  to  be  organized  into  a  new  church,  and  when  so 
organized  their  relation  to  this  church  will  cease." 

At  a  meeting  of  session  held  June  8th  1841  60  other 
persons  were  dismissed  for  the  same  purpose. 

Rev.  Orlando  L.  Kirtland  was  dismissed  trom  the  pas- 
torate of  the  First  church  August  26th  1840,  and  became 
the  pastor  of  the  new  organization,  although  he  was  not 
installed  until  some  time  after. 

The  first  service  was  held  in  the  upper  room  of  the 
old  academy  on  Sunday  February  21st  1841,  in  which 
place  the  meetings  continued  to  be  held  until  the  14th  of 
October  of  the  same  year,  when  the  new  house  of  wor- 
ship was  dedicated,  and  the  pastor  was  installed.  On 
the  17th  of  May  1841  the  first  board  of  trustees  was 
elected,  consisting  of  John  B.  Johnes,  Lewis  B.  Stiles, 
Ephraim  Young,  Jonathan  H.  Smith,  Francis  Child,  B. 
O.  Canfield,  and  Stephen  Vail.  On  the  27th  of  the  same 
month  Jabez  Mills,  John  W.  Poineer  and  William  B. 
Johnson  were  elected  ruling  elders.  On  the  ist  of  June 
1841  the  church  was  duly  organized  under  the  name  of 
"  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,"  by  a  committee  of 
the  then  presbytery  of  Elizabethtown,  consisting  of  Revs. 
David  Magie  and  Nicholas  Murray  and  Elders  Richard 
Townley  and  James  F.  Meeker.  The  first  communion 
service  was  celebrated  June  6th  in  the  old  Academy 
hall. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  parish  held  May  17th  1841  it  was 
unanimously  agreed  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  erection  of 
a  house  of  worship.  Joseph  M.  Lindsley,  Ephraim 
Young,  Enoch  Ketchum,  John  W.  Poineer  and  William 
B.  Johnson  were  chosen  as  a  building  committee.  They 
selected  Mr.  Poineer  as  treasurer,  at  an  annual  salary  of 
twelve  and  a  half  dollars.  The  first  thing  in  order  was 
to  secure  a  site  on  which  to  build.  Several  lots  were 
offered,  among  them  one  on  the  lower  end  of  Elm  street, 
near  the  depot;  another  on  High  street,  about  opposite 
Prospect  street;  the  Baptist  church  property,  and  the  lot 
upon  which  they  finally  built.  At  that  time  this  lot  was 
in  a  very  different  condition  from  that  which  it  now  pre- 
sents. Where  the  parsonage  stands  was  a  deep  and  muddy 
ravine,  reaching  across  South  street,  and  forming  a  very 
low  hollow.  The  lot  was  owned  by  Israel  Russel,  and 
upon  it  stood  an  old  frame  building  which  had  been 
used  as  a  printing  office  by  Henry  P.  Russel,  the  pub- 
lisher of  the  Palladium  of  Libei-ty  and  later  of  the  Morris- 
town  Herald.  He  had  moved  to  better  quarters  on  the 
Green,  and  the  building  was  then  occupied  by  a  family. 
The  trustees  authorized  B.  O.  Canfield  and  Francis  Child 
to  sell  the  building  for  what  it  would  bring.  Moses 
Cherry  was  the  purchaser,  for  the  sum  of  $25.  He 
moved  it  to  Bank  street,  where  it  still  stands,  being  a 
part  of  the  Fennel  house,  at  the  lower  end  of  that  street. 

On  April  19th  1841  Israel  Russell  gave  his  deed  to 
John  W.Poineer  for  this  property,which  is  described  in  the 
deed  as  containing  1.62  acres,  having  196.02  feet  frontage 
on  South  street.  The  price  paid  was  $2,500.  Poineer  con- 
veyed it  to  the  trustees  of  the  church  July  14th  1841. 

Ths  plan  for  building  adopted  was  that  of  the  Third 
Presbyterian     Church     of     Newark.        Ground      was 


broken  on  the  7th  of  April  and  on  the  27th 
of  May  the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  appropri- 
ate ceremonies.  Rev  Alfred  Chester  delivering  the  ad- 
dress. Messrs.  Lindsley  and  Young  were  the  boss  car- 
penters, with  the  following  assistants:  Ezra  Cooper,  Wm. 
L.  Crowell,  Sevalon  Mulford,  Charles  Marsh,  E.  L. 
Lounsbury,  Samuel  Bailey,  Enoch  Ketchum  and  some 
others.  Benj.  H.  Lindsley  was  the  boss  mason.  The  work 
was  done  by  local  mechanics,  and  largely  without  pay. 

Members  of  the  church  sent  their  teams,  wagons,  carts 
and  men  to  aid  in  the  work.  Thus  the  cellar  was  dug, 
and  the  sand  taken  therefrom  was  used  to  fill  the  bog- 
hole  where  the  parsonage  now  stands.  Thus  also  the 
stone  was  quarried  and  hauled  and  the  timber  drawn, 
most  of  which  was  hewn  in  the  big  swamp,  and  sawed  at 
Samuel  Roberts's  mill,  near  Green  Village.  John  M. 
Moore  oversaw  this  part  of  the  work.  Jarzel  Turner 
made  the  iron  bolts  by  which  the  rafters  and  beams 
were  solidly  secured. 

A  bell  was  presented  by  Judge  Stephen  Vail,  and  a 
clock  and  Bible  by  Mrs.  Vail. 

At  the  dedication,  October  14th  1841,  the  music  formed 
one  of  the  chief  attractions.  Jacob  Jenkins,  a  school- 
master, acted  as  chorister.  The  accompaniment  consisted 
of  a  concert  flute,  played  by  W.  W.  Fairchild;  a  violin, 
played  by  James  Noyes,  and  a  bass  viol,  played  by  Wm. 
Day.  The  lady  members  of  the  choir  numbered  22, 
all  of  whom  were  unmarried.  Among  them  were  Emily 
and  Phoebe  Day,  Mary  and  Jane  Conklin,  Harriet  and 
Henrietta  Johnson,  Mary  WooUey,  Anne  and  Abby 
Smith,  Nancy  Johnson  (now  Mrs.  Lewis  Pierson  jr.), 
Abby  Johnson  (now  Mrs.  C.  H.  Johnson),  Phebe  Conk- 
lin (later  Mrs.  W.  W.  Fairchild),  Kezia  Elmer,  Harriet 
Lindsley  (later  Mrs.  H.  Jones  of  Newark)  and  Miss  Grey 
(now  Mrs.  Daniel  Alexander).  Among  the  gentle- 
men were  Dr.  Theodore  Johnes,  Stewart  Elmer,  Edward 
T.  Lyon,  John  Smith,  Lewis  Pierson  jr.,  C.  H.  Johnson, 
Aram  Johnson,  A.  H.  Condit,  Wm.  McMurty,  Edward 
Thompson,  Daniel  Alexander  and  Wm.  Jaggers.  Such 
satisfaction  did  their  efforts  give  that  they  afterward 
gave  two  grand  concerts  for  the  benefit  of  the  church. 
The  three  instruments  above  named  continued  to  be 
used  in  the  choir  for  two  years  or  more,  until  they 
were  superseded  by  a  seraphine.  The  seraphine  in  turn 
gave  way  to  a  small  second-hand  organ,  which  in  i860 
was  sold  to  the  church  at  Branchville,  Sussex  county,  for 
$200,  and  a  new  instrument,  built  by  Hall  &  Labagh  of 
New  York,  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 

The  cost  of  the  building  and  lot  was  estimated  at  $10,- 
840,  and  upon  this  sum  an  assessment  of  10  per  cent,  was 
fixed  to  meet  current  expenses. 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Kirtland  continued  to  Oc- 
tober 185 1.  During  this  time,  not  including  the  original 
207  from  the  First  church,  there  were  added  to  the  church 
by  letter  T40  and  on  profession  123;  total  263. 

Rev.  James  C.  Edwards  was  the  second  pastor  of  the 
church.  He  was  installed  in  January  1852  and  dismissed 
in  April  i860.  During  his  pastorate  143  persons  were 
received  into  membership,  59  by  letter  and  84  on  profes- 


SOUTH  STREET  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  MORRISTOWN— OTHER  CHURCHES. 


143 


sion.  Mr.  Edwards  died  here  June  28th  1880,  aged,  73, 
having  previous  to  his  death  resided  in  town  about  three 
years. 

Rev.  Arthur  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  the  third  pastor,  was  in- 
stalled in  November  186 1,  and  dismissed  in  October 
1868.  The  additions  to  the  church  during  his  incum- 
bency were,  by  letter  91,  on  profession  no;  total  201. 

December  27th  1864  a  parish  meeting  was  held  to  con- 
sider the  question  of  enlarging  the  church  building.  At 
an  adjourned  meeting,  held  January  5th  1865,  the  follow- 
ing were  appointed  a  building  committee:  Dr.  E.  B. 
Woodruff,  Messrs.  Gordon  Burnham,  Matthew  Mitchellj 
H.  O.  Marsh  and  S.  S.  Halsey.  The  original  dimensions 
of  the  church  were  46  feet  front  by  72  feet  deep.  They 
extended  it  26  feet  and  8  inches,  added  a  wing  and  en- 
larged the  tower.  Silas  Norris  was  the  contractor  for 
the  woodwork,  and  John  Thatcher  did  the  painting. 
These  improvements  cost  $11,032.83.  A  debt  of  $S,ooci 
remained  on  the  work,  which  was  paid  off  the  following 
year.  i 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  called  from  here  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chicago,  111.,  where  hq 
remained  until  last  year,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  June 
1861  the  church  was  transferred  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Passaic,  and  received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Newark,  under  the  name  of  "  The  South  Street  Church 
of  Morristown." 

Rev.  Albert  Erdman,  D.  D.,  the  fourth  and  present 
pastor,  was  installed  in  May  1869.  During  his  pastorate, 
up  to  September  ist  1881,  there  were  added  to  the 
church  by  letter  202,  and  on  profession  244;  total  446; 
making  in  all  1,260  persons  who  have  been  members  of 
the  church  since  its  organization. 

In  June  1872,  by  vote  of  the  church,  the  plan  of  the 
limited  term  of  eldership  was  adopted,  with  a  session  of 
nine  elders  arranged  in  three  classes,  the  full  term  of  ser- 
vice being  three  years.  The  year  previous  a  bench  of 
six  deacons  was  chosen  on  the  basis  of  the  same  plan. 

On  Wednesday  January  loth  1877  the  church  edifice 
was  totally  consumed  by  fire.  The  cause  was  supposed 
to  be  a  defective  chimney,  although  some  thought  it  the 
work  of  an  incendiary — an  attempt  of  this  sort  having 
been  made  a  few  months  before.  On  Sunday  January 
14th  services  were  held  in  the  public  school  chapel,  when 
an  appropriate  sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor.  The 
First  church  offered  the  use  of  its  chapel  for  the  Wednes- 
day evening  meeting,  which  offer  was  accepted.  At  the 
completion  of  Lyceum  Hall,  May  ist  1877,  the  church 
moved  into  it,  and  continued  to  hold  its  services  there 
until  the  dedication  of  its  new  edifice. 

Stecs  were  immediately  taken  to  build.  The  building 
committee  consisted  of  J.  W.  Roberts,  William  L.  King, 
Hampton  O.  Marsh,  George  H.  Danforth,  Dr.  P.  C. 
Barker,  E.  A.  Graves  and  Matthew  Mitchell.  The  com- 
mittee adopted  the  plans  of  J.  C.  Cady,  of  New  York, 
and  commenced  work  on  the  21st  of  June,  when  ground 
was  broken. 

The  total  cost  of  the  building    was  $45,600,. towar4 


which  the  trustees  received  $23,000  insurance  On  the  old 
building.  The  balance  was  raised  by  subscription  in  the 
congregation.  The  result  is  a  building  unsurpassed  in 
beauty  by  any  church  edifice  in  the  State.  Being  built 
at  a  time  when  materials  and  labor  were  at  the  lov/est 
point,  it  could  scarcely  be  duplicated  at  the  present  time 
for  $100,000. 

The  style  of  the  building  may  be  described  as  late 
Byzantine.  The  auditorium  will  seat  about  1,000  per- 
sons, and  is  without  galleries.  In  the  rear  are  the  Sun- 
day-school rooms  and  pastor's  study.  The  church  was 
dedicated  July  12th  1878,  the  sermon  being  preached  in 
the  afternoon  of  that  day  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hoge,  of  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  from  Psalm  xxvi.  8. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  congratulatory  addres- 
ses were  made  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  R.  S.  Green,  Rev. 
Robert  Aikman,  D.  D.,  Rev.  I.  W.  Cochran,  Rev.  Theo- 
dore F.  White,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Thomas  Carter  and  J.  C. 
Cady. 

The  following  persons  have  served  the-church  as  ruling 
elders:  Jabez  Mills,  John  W.  Poineer,  William  B.  John- 
son, Absalom  Woodruff,  M.  D.,  Amos  Prudden,  Ezra  J. 
Cooper,  Amzi  Cary,  Edwin  Graves,  Isaac  R.  Noyes,  Ed- 
ward J.  Danforth,  Heman  Mead,  J.  W.  Roberts,  Charles 
G.  Hazeltine,  M.  C.  G.  Witte. 

The  present  officers  are:  Pastor — Rev.  Albert  Erdman, 
D.  D.;  ruling  elders,  Matthew  Mitchell,  John  C.  Hines, 
P.  H.  Hoffman,  F.  G.  Burnham,  E.  A.  Graves,  W.  L.  R. 
Haven,  S.  L.  Young,  Joseph  F,  Randolph;  deacons — 
Wm.  S.  Babbitt,  Theodore  Ayres,  F.  W.  Owen,  Chas.  W. 
Ford,  F.  H.  Fairchild,  A.  G.  Hazletine;  trustees— E.  A. 
Graves,  president;  P.  C.  Barker,  M.  D.,  George  H.  Dan- 
forth, P.  H.  Hoffman,  Wm.  L.  King,  H.  O.  Marsh,  and 
J.  W.  Roberts;  Sunday-school  superintendent,  Joseph 
F.  Randolph;  sexton,  James  Paul. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  543;  of  the 
Sunday-school,  400;  congregational  expenses  for  year, 
$6,900;  benevolent  contributions,  $7,121. 

A.  M.  E.  CHURCH. 

t 

The  colored  people  have  a  church  of  their  own.  They 
first  organized  in  December  1843,  and  built  a  small 
church  on  Spring  street,  in  which  they  worshiped  uiitil 
1874,  when  the  present  place  of  worship  was  built.  It  is 
a  neat  frame  building,  with  a  basement,  which  is  occupied 
by  the  colored  school.  There  are  51  communicant 
members.  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton  is  the  present  pastor; 
George  Yates  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 

CHURCH    OF    THE  ASSUMPTION. 

The  first  Catholic  church  in  Morristown  was  built  in 
1847;  it  was  a  small  wooden  building  capable  of  seating 
about  300  people,  and  is  now  used  by  the  parish  school. 
At  that  time  there  was  but  one  Catholic  church  in  the 
the  county — at  Madison — to  which  people  used  to  go,  on 
foot,  from  distances  as  great  as  20  miles.  The  congre- 
gation was  at  first  too  poor  to  support  a  pastor,  and  was 
supplied  from  Madison  for  several  years.  A  priest  was 
finally  stationed  here,  but  had  charge  of  churches  which 


20 


144 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


had  been  established  at  Mendham  and  Basking  Ridge 
also;  this  continued  until  1871,  when  the  congregation 
here  had  grown  so  large  as  to  require  all  the  time  of  the 
priest,  and  the  other  places  were  accordingly  dropped 
from  this  charge.  The  increase  in  the  congregation 
made  a  new  and  larger  church  necessary,  and  the  present 
edifice  was  erected  in  1772.  It  is  of  the  best  red  brick, 
122  feet  long  by  52  wide.  In  front  the  appearance  is 
very  handsome,  the  roof  rising  to  a  sharp  point,  sur- 
mounted by  a  fine  stone  cross.  There  is  a  tower  on  the 
left  hand,  or  Madison  street  corner,  which  reaches  an 
elevation  of  125  feet,  capped  by  a  spire.  This  tower  is 
14  feet  square  at  the  base,  and,  like  the  building, 
is  of  brick  with  stone  facings.  The  church  proper 
has  two  side  wings;  the  outer  edges  of  the  roof 
of  which  are  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  while 
the  inner  edges  are  six  feet  from  the  lower  sides  of  the 
roof  of  the  main  building.  The  roof  is  covered  with 
slate  in  ornamental  colored  bands.  The  windows  are  of 
stained  glass.  Inside  the  church  is  finished  in  yellow 
pine  oiled;  handsome  carved  drop  pillars  support  the 
roof.  The  main  altar  is  in  the  center;  on  the  right  is 
one  dedicated  to  St.  Joseph,  and  on  the  left  one  to  the 
Virgin  Mary.  Over  the  entrance  is  an  organ  and  choir 
gallery.  The  pews  of  the  church  will  seat  nearly  a  thou- 
sand persons.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  about  $40,000. 
The  congregation  numbers  one  thousand.  There  is  a 
parish  school,  with  three  departments,  supported  by  the 
church. 

Father  James  Sheeran  was  priest  from  187 1  until  his 
death,  April  3d  1881.  He  was  succeeded  in  June  of  the 
same  year  by  Father  Joseph  M.  Flynn. 

CHURCH   OF    THE    REDEEMER. 

The  idea  of  forming  a  second  Episcopal  congregation 
in  Morristown  took  shape  in  the  year  1852.     The  origi- 
nators of  the  movement  were  Lieut.  C.  P.  R.  Rodgers, 
U.  S.  A.;  Alfred  Vail,  Samuel  P.  Hull,  E.  T.  Lyon,  John 
Hone,  W.  A.  Duer  and  Henry  S.  Hoyt.    These,  together 
with  others  not  mentioned,  met  on  the  17th  of  June  to 
take  the  initiatory  steps  toward  the  formal  organization 
of  a  parish,  to  be  known  under  the  name  of  The  Church 
of  the  Redeemer.     The  vestry  chosen  on  this  occasion 
consisted  of  W.  A.  Duer  and  Alfred  Vail,  wardens;  and 
Samuel  P.  Hull,  Edward  T.  Lyon,  Henry  S.  Hoyt,  John 
Hone  and  C.  P.  R.  Rodgers,  vestrymen.     Subsequently 
Dr.  John. P.  Schermerhorn  was  elected  a  member  of  this 
body.     Meanwhile  the  necessary  measures  were  adopted 
which  resulted  in  securing  the  incorporation  of  the  new 
parish  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  canons 
of  the  discese  and  the  laws  of  the  State.     August  7th  the 
Morristown  Academy  was  secured  for  the  purpose,  and 
regular  services  begun,  a  lay-reader  serving  in  the  absence 
of  any  ordained  minister.      Some   four  weeks   later  the 
Rev.  James  H.  Tyng,  a  presbyter  of  New  Jersey,  but  re- 
siding in  the  city  of  New  York,  was  requested  to  officiate. 
He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  on  the  first  Sunday  in 
September  preached   and  administered    the  holy  com- 
munion.    The  next  Saturday,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry, 


he  was  unanimously  elected  rector,  and  immediately  as- 
sumed the  duties  of  that  position.  At  this  time  the 
trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  came  forward 
with  the  kindly  offer  of  their  session  room  as  a  temporary 
place  of  worship  for  the  new  organization.  The  hospi- 
tality thus  considerately  extended  was  gratefully  received. 
In  accordance  with  it  the  congregation  removed  from  the 
academy  to  the  above  building,  and  continued  to  worship 
there  so  long  as  the  necessities  of  their  case  required. 

Immediate  effort,  however,  was  begun  to  secure  a 
more  permanent  home.  During  the  winter  plans  were 
obtained,  and  a  lot  for  a  church  edifice.  The  site  se- 
lected was  the  one  now  occupied  by  the  Church  of  the 
Redeemer,  but  the  building  itself  has  since  then  under- 
gone some  alteration,  an  organ  chamber  being  added  to 
the  west  transept  in  1879  and  again  in  the  present  year, 
1881.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1853  the  actual  work  of 
erecting  the  structure  determined  upon  was  undertaken. 
By  September  4th  sufficient  progress  had  been  made  to 
warrant  occupation.  Accordingly  on  this  Sunday  the 
first  service  was  held  in  the  almost-completed  church. 
Somewhere  about  this  date,  it  would  seem,  Mrs.  Peter 
Stuyvesant  presented  to  the  parish  a  communion  service. 
It  is  still  in  the  church's  possession  though  not  now  in 
use.  Prayer  books  etc.  for  the  chancel  were  donated  by 
Mrs.  August  Belmont.  The  organ  and  other  furniture 
were  the  gift  of  several  ladies  of  the  congregation.  The 
edifice  itself  was  completed  in  1854,  and  on  the  14th  of 
October  was  visited  for  the  first  time  by  Bishop  Doane 
and  consecrated.  The  rectory  which  now  stands  in  the 
rear  of  the  church  was  placed  upon  the  property  so  late 
as  187 1,  during  the  incumbency  of  the  Rev.  W.  G. 
Sumner,  now  professor  of  political  economy  at  Yale 
College. 

We  append  a  list  of  the  successive  rectors  of  the  par- 
ish, prefixing  to  each  name  the  date  when  the  call  was 
extended:  September  1852,  Rev.  J.  H.  Tyng;  September 
1858,  Rev.  S.  F.  Cornell;  November  1861,  Rev.  J.  Bolton; 
December  1863,  Rev.  John  G.  Ames;  April  1866,  Rev.  T. 
G.  Clemson;  October  1868,  Rev.  Charles  C.  Fiske;  Septem- 
ber 1876,  Rev.  W.  G.  Sumner;  February  1873,  Rev. 
Samuel  Hall;  July  1880,  Rev.  George  H.  Chad  well. 

The  parish  now  numbers  53  families  and  114  com- 
municants. The  present  officers  are:  Rev.  George  H. 
Chadwell,  rector;  John  Hone,  senior  warden;  John  E. 
Taylor,  junior  warden;  vestrymen— George  W.  Colles, 
C.  A.  Edwards,  J.  J.  Derry,  J.  Smith  Dodge,  Charles  e! 
King,  E.  C.  Lord,  V.  B.  King,  S.  H.  Little,  James 
Maury;  treasurer,  John  E.  Taylor;  clerk,  George  W. 
Colles;  organist,  C.  A.  Muir;  sexton,  Theodore  Egbert; 
Sunday-school  superintendent,  J.  E.  Taylor;  librarians, 
James  Maury,  Lemuel  E.  Miller. 

Officers  of  the  Woman's  Parochial  Aid  and  Missionary 
Society:  President,  Miss  Benson;  vice  president,  Mrs. 
Chadwell;  secretary,  Miss  J.  E.  Dodge;  treasurer  Mrs 
S.  H.  Little. 

MORRIS   PLAINS    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

People   upon    "  the  Plains "   attended   until  recently 


CHURCHES  AND  CEMETERIES.  OF  MORRISTOWN. 


145 


upon  the  services  of  the  churches  in  town.  A  Sunday- 
school  was  early  organized  here,  and  taught  almost  ex- 
clusively by  women.  A  few  years  ago  Rev.  Dr.  Oliver 
Crane  began  to  preach  gratuitously  to  the  people  with 
good  results.  May  loth  1874  a  Presbyterian  church  was 
organized,  and  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Feagles  was  invited  to  labor 
in  it  as  a  stated  supply.  He  remained  with  it  nearly  a 
year.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gardner, 
who  remained  from  May  1875  to  June  1876.  Qn  the 
ist  of  October  1876  Rev.  James  W.  Hillman  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church.  Mr.  Hill- 
man  resigned  his  pastorate  in  the  fall  of  1878. 

Rev.  R.  S.  Feagles  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the 
church  for  the  second  time,and  began  his  labors  December 
ist  1878.  He  resigned  in  August  1881,  and  the  church  is 
at  present  without  a  pastor.  It  has  but  two  elders,  Nehe- 

miah  H.  Johnson,  and Colman. 

A  neat  and  commodious  edifice  has  been,  built  free  of 
debt.     It  was  dedicated  Dec.  21st  1877. 

THE  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH 

was  organized  May  i8th  1880,  with  33  members,  21 
with  letters  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
12  on  profession  of  faith. 

The  church  was  dependent  upon  supplies  until  the  ist 
of  May  1 88 1,  when  a  call,  which  was  accepted,  was 
issued  to  Rev.  C.  H.  H.  Pannell  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

The  clerk  is  S.F.Beach.  The  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school is  D.  L.  Pierson.  The  present  membership  of 
the  church  is  38,  that  of  the  Sunday-school  75.  The 
church  meets  in  a  hall  on  Market  street. 

CEMETERIES. 

Previous  to  1855  the  Presbyterians  interred  their  dead 
in  the  graveyard  in  the  rear  of  the  First  church,  the 
Baptists  theirs  in  the  rear  of  their  church,  the  Episco- 
palians in  the  graveyard  of  St.  Peter's  church,  and  the 
Methodists  in  a  graveyard  on  the  Basking  Ridge  road. 
A  list  of  burials  in  the  two  yards  first  named  was  kept 
between  the  years  1768  and  1806,  and  published  in  a 
quaint  old  book  called  the  "  Bill  of  Mortality,"  of  which 
the  following  is  the  title  page: 

BILL    OF    MORTALITY. 

Being  a  Register  of  all  the  Deaths  which  have  occurred 
iu  the  Presbyterian  and  Baptist  congregations  of  Morris- 
Town,  New-Jersey,  for  Thirty-Eight  Years  past.— Con- 
taining (with  but  few  exceptions)  the  cause  of  every  de- 
cease.—This  register,  for  the  first  twenty-two  years,  was 
kept  by  the  Rev.  Doctor  Johnes,  since  which  time  by 
William  Cherry,  the  present  Sexton  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Morris-Town.—"  Time  brushes  off  our  hves 
with  sweeping  wings."— Hervey.  Morris-Town,  Printed 
by  Jacob  Mann,  1806. 

Note.— Those  marked  thus*were  Church  Members— 
thusfBaptists— thus*t  Baptist  Church  Members. 

A  supplement  was  afterward  added  bringing  the  list 
down  to  181 2. 

After  the  formation  of  the  Evergreen  Cemetery  Asso- 


ciation burials  in  the  Baptist  and  Methodist  yards  were 
discontinued.  The  other  two  are  still  used.  The  "  Bill 
of  Mortality  "  contains  a  mournful  list  of  1,675  burials 
between  the  years  1768  and  1806. 

The  Catholics  have  until  recently  buried  their  dead  in  a 
graveyard  near  their  church,  but  in  the  fall  of  1875  they 
secured  fifteen  acres  of  land  on  the  Whippany  road,  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  town,  and  had  it  dedicated  as  a  cem- 
etery. 

FIRST    CHURCH    YARD. 

The  oldest  of  our  cemeteries  is  that  in  the  rear  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  The  pastor  of  that  church 
has  an  incomplete  list  of  over  4,000  burials  in  it.  Large 
numbers  of  soldiers  were  buried  in  it  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  of  whom  he  has  no  knowledge.  Large 
trenches  were  dug,  and  the  dead  laid  in  them  in  rows. 
Old  military  buttons  have  been  dug  up  in  quantities. 
The  same  is  true  of  the  Baptist  yard. 

The  oldest  stone  in  the  cemetery  has  the  following 
inscription:  "Her  Lyes  ye  Body  of  Martha  Wife  of 
Abraham  Parson  Aged  About  23  Years  Deed  Janry  2d 
1731."  Other  epitaphs  worthy  of  preservation  abound, 
of  which  we  note  a  few: — 

"SACRED  To  the  memory  of  JOHN  DOUGHTY, 
Captain  of  Artillery  in  the  American  Revolutionary 
Army.     He  died  September  i6th  1826,  Aged  75  years." 

"  IN  Memory  of  PETER  DICKERSON,  Member  of 
the  first  Provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey  in  1775, 
afterwards  captain  of  the  2nd  company  3d  Regiment  of 
the  Jersey  Brigade  of  the  Revolutionary  Army  of  1776. 
He  was  born  at  Southold,  on  Long  Island,  in  the  year 
1724;  removed  to  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  with  his 
three  brothers — Thomas,  Joshua  and  Daniel — and  one 
sister,  Elizabeth,  about  the  year  1745;  and  died  on  the 
loth  day  of  May  1780,  in  the'seth  year  of  his  age." 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  Jun., 
son  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  Sen.  He  was  born  19  Feb- 
ruary anno  Domini  1738,  and  departed  this  life  10  Janu- 
ary A.  D.  1777;  and,  being  then  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  was  interred  with  military  honors." 

"  This  tomb  is  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  our  beloved 
brother  Richard  Brinkerhoff  Faesch.  He  was  second 
son  of  John  Jacob  and  EHzabeth  Faesch;  was  born  igth 
of  July  1778,  and  departed  this  life  25th  of  October 
1820." 

"  Ici  reposent  les  restes  d' Elizabeth  Madelaine  Siette  de  la 
Rousseliere,  epouse  de  Louis  Paubelj  nee  a  St.  Benoit,  Isle 
de  Bourbon,  le  6me  Aout  1763,  et  decedee  a  Bottle  Hill, 
Nouveau  Jersey,  le  i2me  Mars  1818.  Sa  grande  piete  et 
sa  resignation  a  la  volonte  de  Dieu  font  la  consolation  de 
son  mari  et  de  ses  en/ants,  qui  ne  cesseront  de  la  pleurer." 

As  usual  in  such'places,  the  poetrie  muse  was  by  no 
means  neglected.  On  one  stone  appears  the  following 
pathetic  exhortation: 

"  Come  see  ye  place  where  I  do  I7 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I 
As  I  be  now  soon  you  will  be 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me." 


1 40 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Here  is  another: 

"  O  my  dear  wife,  do  think  of  me 
Although  we'm  from  each  other  parted, 
O  do  prepare  to  follow  me 
Where  we  shall  love  forever. 

Farewell,  my  children  and  my  love, 
Till  we  do  meet  again  above; 
But  when  in  this  yard  my  grave  you  see 
O,  my  dear  friends,  do  think  of  me. 
My  time  was  short,  no  warning  given, 
And  I  hope  to  meet  you  all  in  Heaven." 

THE   EVERGREEN    CEMETERY    ASSOCIATION 

was  organized  in  May  1855,  under  the  "act  authorizing 
the  incorporation  of  rural  cemetery  associations."  Hon. 
George  T.  Cobb  presented  the  association  twenty  acres 
of  land  about  a  mile  north  of  Morristown  on  the  Horse 
Hill  road,  now  called  Water  street.  Twenty-five  acres 
more  have  since  been  added.  The  spot  was  happily 
chosen;  the  scenery  presented  to  view  from  Landscape, 
Fountain  and  other  avenues  is  highly  picturesque,  em- 
bracing a  large  portion  of  Morristown,  the  position  of 
the  churches,  the  court-house,  the  stately  headquarters 
and  many  beautiful  private  residences.  The  Whippany 
river  flows  in  the  windings  near  the  base  of  the  grounds. 
Mount  Washington  or  Ihe  Kimball  Mountain,  with  its 
historic  interest,  and  varied  undulations,  can  be  seen  as 
far  as  New  Vernon.  The  Loantica  hills,  the  Orange, 
Shongum  and  Watnong  mountains  in  the  distance  fill  up 
the  background,  and  present  to  the  visitor  a  scene  of 
landscapes  varied  in  interest  and  of  extraordinary  beauty. 
The  natural  beauties  of  the  spot  are  enhanced  by  the 
good  judgment  used  in  artificial  embellishments.  There 
are  many  handsome  monuments,  among  them  that  of 
Morristown's  benefactor  George  T;  Cobb. 

The  cemetery  is  controlled  by  nine  trustees,  three  of 
whom  are  chosen  annually  by  the  lot-owners.  The  pres- 
ent officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  E.  B.  Woodruff, 
M.  D.;  vice-president,  Theodore  Ayers;  treasurer,  By- 
ram  C.Guerin;  secretary,  John  B.  Ayers;  superintendent, 
Samuel  Muddell.  The  number  of  interments  to  July 
i6th  1881  was  1,923. 

HOTELS. 

The  first  knowledge  which  we  have  of  hotels  in  the 
town  is  derived  from  the  records  of  the  court.  In  1738, 
at  the  May  court  of  Hunterdon  county,  which  then  em- 
braced all  the  territory  from  Trenton  (where  the  court- 
house was)  to  Port  Jervis,  we  find  that  the  petitions  of 
Jacob  Ford  and  Abraham  Hathaway  to  renew  their 
licenses  to  keep  public  houses  in  "  New  Hanover  "  for 
the  ensuing  year  were  granted,  showing  that  the  place 
was  large  enough  at  that  time  for  two  hotels,  however  it 
might  be  for  one  church. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  two  taverns  which  came 
into  prominence  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  One 
of  these  was  owned  and  kept  by  Colonel  Jacob  Arnold, 
who,  as  commander  of  a  squadron  of  light  horse  during 
the  war,  did  efficient  service.  This  hotel  was  the  head- 
quarters of  General  Washington  during  the  time  of  his 
first  encampment  here,  in   the  winter  of  1777,  The, 


other  caterer  to  the  wants  of  the  public  was  George 
O'Hara,  at  whose  tavern  were  held  the  famous  "  assembly 
balls,"  already  described,  of  the  army  during  Washing- 
ton's second  encampment  here,  in  the  winter  of  1779-80. 

Nothing  further  under  this  head  needs  special  mention 
until  about  the  middle  of  the  present  century.  By  this 
time  Morristown  had  become  widely  celebrated  for  its 
healthfulness,  and  had  begun  to  be  a  favorite  resort  for 
invalids.  The  numbers  became  so  great  and  the  accom- 
modations so  inadequate  that  the  late  William  Gibbons, 
then  of  Madison,  was  solicited  by  gentlemen  in  New  York 
to  erect  a  suitable  public  boarding-house  and  hotel  with 
modern  improvements.  After  mature  deliberation  Mr. 
Gibbons  acceded  to  the  proposition,  and  during  the 
years  1842  and  1843  he  erected  a  splendid  large  brick 
and  brown  stone  hotel  on  the  south  side  of  the  public 
square,  and  called  it  the  "  Morris  County  House,"  after- 
ward changed  to  the  "  New  Jersey  Hotel,''  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1845.  This  was  a  magnificent  struct- 
ure, and  an  ornament  to  the  town,  covering  an  area  about 
equal  to  A.  T.  Stewart's  up-town  store  in  New  York.  It, 
together  with  the  stables,  etc.  (all  of  which  were  built  of 
brick,  in  the  most  substantial  manner),  cost  its  owner 
about  $200,000,  on  which  there  was  no  insurance,  and 
all  of  which  was  a  total  loss,  except  the  stables.  When 
this  building  burned  the  loss  to  Morristown  was  several 
times  greater  than  to  Mr.  Gibbons.  It  was  over  twenty 
years  before  possession  could  be  had  of  the  ground 
to  rebuild  upon.  At  the  time  of  the  fire  there  were  a 
large  number  of  guests  in  the  house,  all  of  whom  were 
saved  but  one  (a  Mr.  Bailey),  who  was  burned  to  death. 

On  the  8th  of  December  1881  a  similar  fire  oc- 
curred, of  which  one  of  the  New  York  papers  of  the  9th 
gave  substantially  the  following  account: 

The  only  fire  that  has  been  attended  with  loss  of  life 
in  forty  years  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  occurred  yesterday 
morning.  A  large  frame  building  in  South  street,  near 
Elm,  belonging  to  the  Wood  estate,  rented  for  the  past 
ten  years  by  the  Misses  Hunter,  and  kept  by  them  as  a 
boarding-house,  was  totally  destroyed,  and  two  of  the  in- 
mates were  burned  to  death.  The  alarm  was  given  at 
6  o'clock  by  several  of  the  servants,  who  had  been  to 
early  mass  and,  on  returning,  found  the  flames  under  full 
headway.  The  rest  of  the  large  family  were  still  in  their 
beds,  unconscious  of  danger.  Lizzie  Ketch,  one  of  the 
servants,  ran  from  room  to  room,  as  far  as  she  could, 
alarming  the  inmates,  many  of  whom  were  saved  through  . 
her  exertions.  The  brave  girl  sacrificed  her  own  life  in 
this  thoughtfulness  for  others.  She  was  lost  in  the  con- 
fusion. It  is  supposed  that  she  was  blinded  by  the  smoke 
and  flame  and  suffocated  on  her  way  out.  The  other 
victim  was  Mrs.  Walsh,  40  years  of  age,  the  widow  of  a 
captain  in  the  United  States  navy,  and  daughter  of  George 
Wood,  of  Fifth  avenue  in  this  city.  Her  escape  was  cut 
off  by  the  fire,  and  while  hesitating  to  jump  from  a  win- 
dow she  is  supposed  to  have  fainted  and  been  overtaken 
by  the  flames. 

A  partial  list  of  present  hotels  and  boarding-houses  is 
appended: 

Mansion  House;  United  States  Hotel,  Park  place,  A. 
E.  Voorhees;  Park  House,  Park  place,  S.  W.  Luse;  Far- 
mers' Hotel,  Market  street,  George  Hedden;  City  Hotel, 


MORRISTOWN  HOTfitS— fiARLY  FIRE  COMPANIES. 


'147 


Sweedwell  avenue,  John  H.  Halsted;  Avenue  House, 
Mendham  avenue,  Mrs.  Nellie  Duncan;  Duncan  House, 
Morris  street,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Lindsley;  Losey  House,  Mt. 
Kemble  avenue,  Mrs.  Ogden;  there  are  a  number  of 
others.  During  the  summer  months  Morristown  has  in 
its  various  hotels,  boarding-houses  and  private  residen- 
ces ubout  1,500  transient  residents. 


The  Mansion  House,  Morristown. 

The  Mansion  House,  situated  on  Washington  street 
near  the  court-house,  is  probably  one  of  the  oldest  hotel 
properties  in  the  county.  B.  C.  Guerin  bought  it  in  1864, 
built  new  stables,  sheds  and  carriage  houses,  and  rebuilt 
and  refitted  the  old  house.  He  kept  it  until  1878.  Then, 
in  response  to  a  desire  of  the  citizens  for  a  better  hotel, 
Mr.  Guerin  undertook  the  construction  of  the  present 
Mansion  House.  It  accommodates  from  80  to  100 
guests.  It  is  of  pressed  brick,  with  hard  wood  floors, 
heated  with  steam,  lighted  with  gas,  and  has  electric  bells 
connected  with  each  room,  a  bath  room  on  each  floor 
and  all  other  modern  improvements.  Mr.  Guerin  opened 
the  old  house  December  nth  1864,  and  the  new  one 
December  nth  1878.  He  has  always  kept  a  large  livery 
stable  in  connection  with  the  house.  This  property  was 
considerably  run  down  when  he  bought  it.  Since  then 
it  has  done  a  large  business. 

FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  first  fire  association  of  Morristown  was  organized 
July  26th  1797.  Its  officers  were:  Samuel  Tuthill,  mod- 
erator ;  Joseph  Lewis,  clerk;  Alexander  Carmichael, 
Caleb  Russell,  Colonel  Benoni  Hathaway,  Moses  Estey, 
Captain  David  Ford,  and  Dr.  William  Campfield,  execu- 
tive committee.  How  efficient  this  association  proved 
and  how  long  it  continued  we  are  unable  to  state. 

The  next  trace  we  find  of  a  fire  company  is  in  the 
Palladium  of  Liberty,  August  i6th  1815,  in  the  following 
notice:  "The  Morris  Fire  Company  will  please  recollect 
that  their  annual  meeting  is  the  first  Monday  in  Septem- 
ber; they  will  please  to  meet  at  N.  Bull's  [tavern]  in  the 
afternoon  at  6  o'clock.  It  is  hoped  that  there  will  be 
a  general  attendance  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and 
that  the  committee  appointed  to  procure  ladders,  hooks, 
&c.  &c.,  will  be  able  to  make  a  full  report."  At  this 
meeting  the  following  officers  were  elected:  President, 
Israel  Canfield;  treasurer,  Henry  P.  Russell;  secretary. 


William  Beach  ;  directors,  Daniel  Phoenix,  William 
Dixon,  Charles  Carmichael,  David  Mills,  Andrew  Meek- 
er, Benjamin  Lindsley,  William  Campfield,  Mahlon  Ford, 
and  James  Willis. 

That  this  was  a  different  company  from  the  one  organ- 
ized in  1797  is  apparent  from  an  editorial  in  the  same 
paper  a  year  or  so  before,  urging  upon  the  citizens  the 
necessity  of  forming  such  a  company,  that  the  town 
might  have  some  protection  against  fires. 

This  second  company  was  short-lived,  as  appears  from 
an  editorial  in  the  Palladium  April  17th  1817.  After 
speaking  of  a  fire  in  town  it  says,  "  We  hope  measures 
will  speedily  be  taken  to  reorganize  the  sometime-since 
defunct  fire  company."  This  kindly  advice  was  heeded. 
In  December  of  the  same  year  Lewis  Mills,  Charles 
Carmichael,  and  William  Dixon,  committee,  called  a 
meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  and  electing 
officers  for  the  Morristown  Fire  Association.  The  after 
history  of  this  association  we  have  been  unable  to  obtain. 

Anothercompany  was  organized  in  1836,  and  purchased 
a  hand  engine  for  $250.  A  year  later  a  second  company  was 
formed,  and  a  second  hand  engine  was  bought.  This  same 
year  (Feb.  27th  1837)  an  act  was  passed  incorporating 
the  Morristown  Fire  Association,  which  immediately  took 
charge  of  the  apparatus  of  the  two  companies.  This  asso- 
ciation had  power  to  raise,  by  taxation,  a  small  sum  of 
money  annually  to  meet  its  expenses.  It  continued  in 
existence  until  the  present  Morristown  Fire  Department 
was  organized  under  a  provision  of  the  charter. 

Aug.  7th  1867  the  Morristown  Fire  Department  was 
organized,  under  an  act  of  the  common  council.  Col. 
Richard  M.  Stites,  to  whose  energy  the  department 
chiefly  owes  its  existence,  was  appointed  chief  engineer. 
This  office  he  held  until  Nov.  5th  1875,  when  he  resigned. 
Chas.  McCullum  was  his  successor,  but  filled  the  office 
only  until  the  following  June,  when  Mr.  Stites  was  reap- 
pointed by  the  council,  at  a  salary  of  $300  per  annum, 
the  duties  of  the  position  being  found  to  be  too  onerous 
to  be  performed  without  compensation.  Mr,  Stites  again 
resigned  on  July  6th  1877,  and  was  succeeded  by  Wm. 
Y.  Sayre,  who  filled  the  office  to  June  1879.  Wm.  A. 
Halsted  was  chief  engineer  from  June  6th  1879  to  June 
1880,  since  which  time  James  A.  Bonsall  has  been  chief. 
The  salary  of  the  chief  is  %\o  per  month. 

The  first  assistant  engineers  have  been  Ellis  T.  Arm- 
strong, 1867,  1868;  Wm.  H.  Voorhees,  1869-73;  Alfred 
Cranston,  1873-77;  James  M.  Bonsall,  1877-80;  Harrie 
A.  Freeman,  since  June  1880.  Second  assistant  engin- 
eers: Chas.  McCullum,  1873-75;  Wm.  J.  Cooper,  1877-80; 
Isaac  G.  Arnold,  since  June  1880. 

The  department  consists  of  the  following  organizations: 

I.  Fire  Wardens. — This  company  is  limited  to  twenty 
men.  It  has  no  apparatus,  but  is  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  compliance  with  the  fire  ordinances  and 
regulations  of  the  council,  inspecting  or  prohibiting  the 
storage  of  combustible  materials,  protecting  the  appar- 
atus of  the  department  when  in  use,  and  acting  as  police 
at  times  of  fires.  Organized  August  13th  1867.  The 
present  number  of  members  is  19.     William  Y.  Sayre  was 


148 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


foreman  from  1867  to  1876;  James  W.  Carrell,  1877-79; 
James  Dixon,  1880;  William  Lewis,  1881. 

2.  Itidependent  Hose  Company  was  organized  August 
13th  1867.  It  is  entitled  to  and  has  30  members.  The 
successive  foremen  have  been  George  H.  Doren,  Mahlon 
Bayles,  George  W.  Derrickson,  Charles  H.  McCullum, 
Charles  H.  Green,  Hayward  G.  Emmell,  James  M.  Bon- 
sall,  J.  Frank  Lindsley,  James  R.  Voorhees,  Eugene 
Carrell,  George  H.  Quayle  and  Frederick  E.  Babbitt. 
The  present  officers  are:  Frederick  E.  Babbitt,  foreman; 
J.  Brad.  Stevens,  assistant;  Frank  Mulford,  secretary 
and  treasurer;  Eugene  Carrell,  steward.  The  hose- 
house  is  on  Market  street. 

3.  Washington  Engine  Company,  No.  2,  was  reorganized 
May  ist  1872.  The  foremen  since  the  reorganization 
have  been:  John  W.  Hays,  1872,  1873;  William  J.  Snud- 
den,  1873-75;  John  M.  Moore,  1875-77;  William  J. 
Snudden,  1877,  1878;  Theodore  S.  Mulford,  1878-80; 
Charles  H.  Green,  since  August  loth  1880.  The  present 
officers  are:  Foreman,  Charles  H.  Green;  assistant  fore- 
man, John  Romaine;  secretary,  A.  K.  Field;  treasurer, 
Amos  Prudden;  steward,  Frank  Chilar;  engineer,  D.  L. 
Allen;  assistant  engineer,  William  J.  Snudden.  The 
number  of  men  is  38.  The  steamer  for  this  company 
was  bought  October  14th  1879,  and  is  worth  $3,000.  The 
engine-house  is  on  Market  street. 

4.  Niagara  Engine  Company,  No.  2,  was  organized 
August  loth  1869.  The  following  foremen  have  served: 
George  W.  Crocker,  1869,  1870;  Sidney  W.  Stalter,  1870- 
79;  Thomas  F.  CHfford,  1879,  1880;  James  C.  Mullen, 
1880,1881.  The  present  officers  are:  Foreman,  Thomas 
F.  Clifford;  assistant  foreman,  E.  V.  Dempsey;  secretary, 
Thomas  Welsh;  treasurer,  John  W.  Hess;  janitor,  Wil- 
liam McCombs;  engineer,  William  C.  Paul;  assistant 
engineer,  William  T.  Meeker.  The  present  number  of 
men  is  39;  the  full  number  is  60.  The  cost  of  the  engine 
was  $3,750.     The  engine-house  is  on  Speedwell  avenue. 

5.  Resolute  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  i,  was  or- 
ganized June  14th  1869.  It  is  entitled  to  60  and  has  at 
present  41  members.  The  foremen  have  been:  William  A. 
Halsted,  1869-76;  E.  D.  Allen;  WilHam  Becker  jr.,  1877, 
1878;  H.  A.  Freeman,  1879;  E.  J.  Thatcher,  1880.  The 
officers  in  1881  were:  Foreman,  E.  J.  Thatcher;  assistant 
foreman,  F.  B.  De  Bois;  clerk,  WilHam  K.  Norris;  treas- 
urer, William  A.  Halsted;  steward,  Edward  Babbington; 
committee  of  inquiry — William  K.  Norris,  J.  E.  Stiles 
and  George  Udall. 

From  1876  to  his  death,  April  20th  1881,  Augustus  W. 
Bell  was  president  of  the  company.  That  office  is  now 
filled  by  H.  A.  Freeman. 

The  cost  of  apparatus  is  about  $1,200.  The  truck- 
house  is  on  Speedwell  avenue. 

''The  Exempt  Firemen's  Association  of  Morristown  " 
was  incorporated  February  2Sth  1875.  The  incorporators 
were  William  Y.  Sayre,  Isaac  G.  Arnold,  Richard  M. 
Stites,  Charles  McCullum,  William  H.  Voorhees,  Sidney 
W.  Stalter,  Samuel  K.  Smack,  Isaac  Van  Fleet,  Charles 
H.  Green,  Hayward  G.  Emmell,  Mancius  H.  C.  Jennings 
and  Louis  H.  Atno. 


"  The  object  of  this  association  shall  be  to  provide 
means  for  the  relief  of  distressed,  sick  or  disabled  mem- 
bers thereof  and  their  immediate  families;  and  in  case  of 
fire  to  render  such  assistance  as  the  officers  of  the  asso- 
ciation may  deem  proper  to  direct,  by  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  constituted  authorities  of  this  town." 

Mr.  Stites  has  been  the  only  president.  The  following 
is  the  present  board  of  officers:  President,  Richard  M. 
Stites ;  vice-president,  Charles  McCullum ;  secretary, 
Charles  H.  Green ;  trustees— B.  C.  Guerin,  John  Thatcher 
and  Eugene  Troxell;  standing  committee — E.  D.  Allen, 
John  M.  Moore  and  James  Dickson.  The  number  of 
members  is  80. 

Fire  Department  Charitable  Fund. — On  the  9th  of 
March  1869  there  was  passed  "  an  act  to  incorporate  the 
trustees  of  the  Morristown  Fire  Department  Charitable 
Fund  for  the  relief  of  indigent  and  disabled  firemen  and 
their  families."  The  fund  began  with  $75,  and  has  now 
reached  the  sum  of  $1,500.  The  following  have  served 
as  presidents  of  these  trustees:  Richard  M.  Stites  (1869- 
78),  Isaac  G.  Arnold  and  John  M.  Moore.  The  follow- 
ing are  the. present  officers:  President,  William  Y.  Sayre; 
secretary,  John  M.  Moore;  treasurer,  William  R.  McKay; 
trustees — William  Y.  Sayre,  John  M.  Moore,  John  D. 
Guerin  and  Luther  M.  Baird. 

The  present  department  is  excellent  and  efficient. 
Many  of  the  best  citizens  are  members  of  it,  and  their 
constant  aim  is  to  maintain  a  high  standard  of  morality 
and  efficiency. 

SCHOOLS. 

That  the  advantages  of  higher  education  were  appreci- 
ated by  our  early  townsmen  may  be  inferred  from  a 
record  in  the  old  session  book  of  the  first  Presbyterian 
church,  which  shows  that  in  1769,  the  trustees  of  the 
College  of  New  Jersey  (Princeton)  having  represented  to 
the  presbyteries  that  the  interest  of  their  capital  was  in- 
adequate to  the  annual  necessary  expenses  of  the  college, 
the  following  subscriptions  were  made  by  the  church 
named:  Rev.  Timothy  Johnes,  ;^9;  Jacob  Ford,  ;^2i; 
Deacon  Matthias  Burnet,  £^^;  Captain  Timothy  Mills, 
^6;  Elder  Daniel  Lindsley,  jQi;  Abraham  Ogden,  j[^y. 
Elder  John  Lindsley,  J[^y,  Joseph  Wood,  ^d;  Henry 
Gardiner,  i6s.;  Nathan  Reeve,  j[^i;  John  Ayres,  £^<); 
Thomas  Kenney,  ^y,  William  De  Hart,  ^i;  Thomas 
Morrell,  ^^4  los.;  Jonas  Phillips,  _;^4  los.;  Isaac  Pierson, 
jT^y,  Jonathan  Cheever,  ^\;  Peter  Condict,  Peter  Prud- 
den, Moses  Prudden  and  Joseph  Prudden,  £,2.  iis.  each; 
Benjamin  Pierson,  jC^^;  Samuel  Tuthill,  jT^y,  Silas  Con- 
<^'ct,  ;^3;  Ezra  Halsey,  elder,  £,\i.;  Samuel  Robarts,  £^y, 
Augustine  Bayles,  ^^3;  Mrs.  Phebe  Wood,  ^^3;  Jonathan 
Stiles,  £^\  15s.;  Captain  Benjamin  Halsey,  los.;  total, 
i^i4o  5s. 

In  1787  further  subscriptions  were  made  for  Princeton, 
of  which  the  principal  were  the  following:  Caleb  Russell, 
$22;  Joseph  Lewis,  $11;  Silas  Condict,  $42;  Jonathan 
Dickerson,  $16;  John  Mills,  $9. 

The  first  authentic  information  which  we  can  find  con- 


MORRISTOWN'S   FIRST  SCHOOLS— MORRIS    ACADEMY. 


149 


earning  our  local  schools  is  in  the  trustees'  book  of  the 
first    Presbyterian  Church,  in  the  following  minutes: 

"January  12  1767,  the  trustees  being  called  and  met  at 
the  School  hous  henry  Primrose  Joseph  Stiles  and  Ben- 
jamin Coe  absent  Proseaded  and  chose  Benjaman  Bayle 
President  and  Gave  Lieve  than  a  school  hous  might  be 
Built  on  the  Green  Near  whair  the  old  hous  Now  Stand- 
eth." 

"  Octob  7  1 77 1  the  trustees  met  at  Doct  tuthills  Esq. 
Sam  Robarts  absent  and  agreed  that  the  money  that  Mr. 
Watt  Left  to  the  town  Should  be  Laid  out  towards  Purt- 
chasing  utensils  for  the  communian  Table  also  that  the 
school  hous  how  on  Peter  Hackees  Land  be  Removed 
onto  the  Parsonage  Land  and  there  to  Remain  During 
the  Pleasure  of  the  trustees  and  then  Lyable  to  be  Re- 
moved." 

Who  the  teachers  were  we  have  no  means  of  ascertain- 
ing. On  the  roll  of  members  of  the  above  named  church 
appear  the  names  of  Mrs.  Dow  and  Doritheah  Coop- 
er, "  school  madams, "-who  were  received  into  the  church, 
we  judge  in  1774,  from  some  sister  church. 

As  a  sample  of  what  these  early  schools  were  we  sub- 
join a  description  of  a  common  school  about  three  miles 
from  Morristown,  as  given  by  Mahlon  Johnson,  who 
lived  to  the  goodly  age  of  four  score  years  and  two  and 
died  December  20th  1857: 

"  The  school  building  was  constructed  of  logs,  and  in- 
stead of  glass  for  windows  sheep  skins  were  stretched 
over  apertures  made  by  sawing  off  an  occasional  log. 
These  windows  had  one  virtue — they  were  an  effectual 
screen  to  prevent  pupils  from  being  interrupted  in  their 
exercises  by  what  was  going  on  outside.  The  time  was 
regulated  by  an  hour-glass,  and  they  drank  their  water 
from  a  tumbler  made  of  cow's  horn  or  ground  shell. 
Arithmetic  was  not  taught  in  classes,  but  the  pupils 
ciphered  when  they  were  not  reading,  spelling  or  writing. 
The  latter  branches  were  taught  in  classes.  A  chalk 
line  or  a  crack  in  the  floor  was  the  mark  they  were  re- 
quired to  toe.  The  common  school  was  hardly  consid- 
ered a  school  in  those  days  unless  the  whack  of  the 
ruler  or  the  whistle  of  the  whip  was  frequently  heard." 

THE    MORRIS   ACADEMY 

was  organized  November  28th  1791.  This  was  done  by 
24  gentlemen,  who  subscribed  each  one  share  of  £2<^ 
for  the  purpose.  The  subscribers  were  Caleb  Russell, 
Israel  Canfield,  Daniel  Phoenix  jr.,  Alexander  Car- 
michael,  Gabriel  H.  Ford,  Timothy  Johnes  jr.,  Moses 
Estey,  Jabez  Campfield,  William  Campfield,  Aaron 
C.  Collins,  Jonathan  Hathaway,  John  Jacob  Faesch, 
Richard  Johnson,  John  Kinney,  Abraham  Kinney,  Isaac 
Canfield,  George  Tucker,  David  Ford,  Nathan  Ford, 
Theodorus  Tuthill,  John  Mills,  Joseph  Lewis,  Jacob 
Arnold,  Chilion  Ford. 

The  first  board  of  proprietors  consisted  of  Jabez 
Campfield,  president;  Caleb  Russell,  first  director; 
Gabriel  H.  Ford,  second  director ;  Nathan  Ford,  third 
director;  Daniel  Phoenix  jr.,  treasurer;  and  Joseph 
Lewis,  clerk.  Mr.  Campfield  resigned  at  the  expiration 
of  one  month,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Russell. 

The  contract  for  building  the  academy  was  let  to 
Caleb  Russell  for  ;^S20.  The  lot  was  purchased  from 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  as  appears  from  the 
trustees'  book: 


"  At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  at  the  house  of  Caleb 
Russell,  Esq.,  5th  day  of  September  1792,  the  president, 
Mr.  Lindsley,  Mr.  Ford,  Mr.  Mills,  Mr.  Johnson  and  Mr. 
Ogden  being  met,  a  deed  being  made  out  for  one  hun- 
dred feet  of  land  in  front  and  one  hundred  and  thirty 
feet  deep  on  the  hill  opposite  the  Conners  land,  agree- 
able to  a  vote  of  the  parish  requesting  the  trustees  to  act 
discretionary  on  this  affair,  the  22nd  Feb.  1792 — the 
said  deed  was  then  signed,  conveying  twenty-nine  hun- 
dredths of  an  acre  of  land  to  the  proprietors  of  the 
intended  academy  for  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds  Jersey 
money.  Caleb  Russell,  Esq.,  gave  his  obligation  for 
said  sum." 

After  the  building  was  completed  Caleb  Russell, 
although  he  was  clerk  of  the  county  and  had  a  variety 
of  other  business  to  attend  to,  consented  to  take  charge 
of  the  academy  as  principal.  On  the  5th  of  November 
1792  the  school  opened,  with  33  scholars,  as  follows: 
Elias  Riggs,  Stephen  Thompson,  Anthony  Day,  Henry 
P.  Russell,  Henry  Axtell,  David  Bates,  Munson  Day, 
Charles  Russell,  Ezra  Halsey,  Richard  B.  Faesch,  Jacob 
Stiles,  Jacob  Lewis,  Timothy  J.  Lewis,  James  Wood, 
Nancy  Lewis,  Betsey  Estey,  David  Estey,  Phcebe, 
daughter  of  Jeduthan  Day,  Sally  Conklin,  Hannah 
Hathaway,  Eleazur  Hathaway,  George  W.  Cook,  Thomas 
Kinney,  Henry  Mills,  David  Stites,  William  Beach,  John 
B.  Johnes,  Alexander  Phoenix,  Silas  Day,  Robert  M. 
Russell,  Eliza  P.  Russell,  Charles  Freeman,  Chilion 
Stiles. 

Mr.  Russell  continued  in  full  charge  of  the  school 
until  the  close  of  1795,  and  in  partial  charge  until  Aug- 
ust 1797.  He  graduated  in  1770  at  Princeton  College, 
and  studied  law  with  Judge  Robert  Morris,  of  New 
Brunswick.  He  was  appointed  clerk  of  Morris  county 
four  terms  of  five  years  each.  He  died  in  office  June 
8th  1805,  aged  56  years.  Under  him  the  academy  took 
a  very  high  rank,  attracting  scholars  from  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Trenton,  New  Brunswick,  Amboy,  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  and  many  other  places.  From  November  5th 
1792  to  April  1795  ^^  ^'^^  ^  total  of  269  scholars.  In 
the  eighth  volume  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  New  Jersey 
Historical  Society  the  names  of  these  students,  together 
with  those  of  their  parents,  are  given  in  full.  Among 
them  will  be  found  many  who  afterward  distinguished 
themselves  in  Church  and  State. 

Mr.  Russell  was  assisted  by  Elias  Riggs,  Henry  Ax- 
tell, and  John  Ball,  who  were  among  his  first  pupils,  and 
also  by  John  Woodruff. 

The  prices  of  tuition  were:  For  languages,  mathemat- 
ics and  surveying,  2Ss.  per  quarter;  for  French,  3os.@4os. 
per  quarter;  for  English  studies,  12s.,  iss.@i6s.  per 
quarter. 

Mr.  Russell  was  succeeded  in  August  1797  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Whelpley,  who  continued  in  charge  until  1805 
He  was  a  New  England  man,  and  until  coming  here  was 
a  Baptist.  Here  he  relinquished  his  intention  of  becom- 
ing a  Baptist  minister,  and  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
church.  In  1802  or  1803  he  delivered  a  discourse  in  the 
First  church,  in  which  he  gave  the  reasons  for  his  change 
of  views.  He  was  quite  widely  known  as  a  writer.  In 
1806  he  published   "  An  Historical  Compend,"   in   two 


'5° 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


volumes,  which  were  printed  by  Henry  P.  Russell  of  this 
place.  He  removed  from  here  to  New  York  city  about 
1810  or  i8ii,  and  shortly  afterward  published  a  volume 
called  the  "  Triangle,"  a  theological  work  in  which  the 
leaders  and  views  of  what  was  afterward  known  as  the 
Old  School  theology  were  keenly  criticised  and  ridiculed. 
The  book  caused  a  great  sensation  in  its  day,  and  did 
not  a  little  toward  hastening  the  division  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  into  Old  and  New  School. 

Mr.  Whelpley  was  too  strict  a  disciplinarian  to  give 
entire  satisfaction  to  all  the  patrons  of  his  school.  Op- 
position to  him  became  so  marked  that  in  1800  and  1801 
a  new  institution  was  organized,  called  the  Warren 
Academy,  and  opened  under  the  charge  of  James  Steven- 
son, who  was  succeeded  in  the  principalship  by  John 
Ford.  The  building,  which  stood  in  the  northeast  part 
of  the  town,  was  accidentally  burned  March  6th  1803.  It 
was  rebuilt  with  brick  on  the  Morris  Green,  on  a  lot 
purchased  from  the  trustees  of  the  First  church,  where 
now  stands  the  Park  House.  It  continued,  however,  but 
;i  few  years,  and  the  property  was  sold. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Whelpley,  in  1805,  he 
opened  a  private  select  school  in  his  own  house,  which 
was  well  patronized,  principally  by  familiesfrom  New 
York  and  the  south.  Among  his  students  were  two  of 
his  sons,  who  afterward  became  ministers;  one  of  them, 
Philip  Melancthon,  becoming  the  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York  city.  Mr.  Whelpley 
died  in  New  York  city,  July  15th  1817. 

From  1793  to  1820,  with  the  exception  of  three  or  four 
years,  an  annual  theatrical  exhibition  was  given  by  the 
scholars  of  the  academy.  The  popularity  of  these  exhi- 
bitions may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  the  average 
yearly  income  from  them  was  about  $210,  which 
sufficed  to  keep  the  building  in  excellent  repair,  and 
purchase  many  needed  articles,  among  other  things  a 
bell  in  1798,  from  John  Jacob  Faesch's  Boonton  iron 
works 

The  following  advertisements,  copied  from  the  Palla- 
dium of  Liberty,  1809,  will  serve  as  a  specimen  of  these 
popular  theatricals: 

"  Dramatic  Exhibition. — On  Thursday  and  Monday 
evenings,  the  5th  and  9th  of  October  next,  will  be  repre- 
sented by  the  students  of  Morris  Academy  Cumberland's 
Celebrated  Comedy  of  The  West  Indian;  to  which  will 
be  added  High  Life  Below  Stairs,  an  excellent  farce. 
Doors  will  be  open  at  half-past  five.  Admittance  25 
cents." 

"  Exhibition. — On  Monday,  the  third  day  of  April, 
the  students  of  the  Warren  Academy  will  present  Kotze- 
bue's  Much-Admired  Comedy  The  Wild  Goose  Chase. 
To  gratify  the  wishes  of  a  respectable  body  of  people, 
instead  of  a  Farce,  on  this  occasion,  a  few  select  iieces  will 
be  spoken  before  and  after  the  Comedy;  and  on  Friday, 
the  7th,  the  Wild  Goose  Chase  repeated,  to  which  will 
be  added  The  Weather-Cock." 

The  expenses  of  these  entertainments  were  not  great, 
as  we  may  see  from  the  following: 


"  Morristown,  N.  J.,  Sept.  8,  1795. 
"  Proprietors  of  Morris  Academy,  DR. 

£      s. 

"  To  6  lb.  candles  at  is.  lod.,  o         11 

"    I  gal.  wein,  o         10 

Paid  door  keepers,  i  12  " 

Who  drank  the  "  wein  "  we  are  not  informed,  but 
suppose  it  was  the  door  keepers,  as  it  was  customary  in 
those  days  thus  to  stimulate  these  dignitaries  to  the  faith- 
ful discharge  of  their  official. duties. 

Space  forbids  dwelling  at  length  upon  the  administra- 
tion of  the  successors  of  Mr.  Whelpley.  The  academy 
continued  for  more  than  sixty  years  to  be  the  great  insti- 
tution of  the  town,  attracting  large  numbers  of  scholars 
from  near  and  far,  and  exerting  an  influence  which  has 
given  this  town  a  high  reputation  for  intelligence. 

Previous  to  the  opening  of  the  public  school  in  Decem- 
ber 1869  J.  Henry  Johnson,  then  principal,  had  over  100 
pupils.  The  academy  was  then  for  a  time  closed,  and 
the  building  unused.  The  proprietors  finally  sold  the  lot 
to  the  directors  of  the  library  and  lyceum  for  $10,000, 
taking  stock  to  that  amount  in  the  new  enterprise,  on 
condition  that  rooms  be  reserved  in  the  new  building  for 
a  classical  school  for  boys.  The  school  was  reopened  in 
September  1878,  under  the  principalship  of  Wayland 
Spaulding,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College.  Mr.  Spaulding 
severed  his  connection  with  the  academy  in  June  1881, 
after  which  the  directors  secured  the  services  of  An- 
drew J.  West,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College,  who 
assumed  charge  in  September  1881. 

The  successive  presidents  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
academy  have  taken  the  office  as  follows:  Jabez  Camp- 
field,  January  nth  1792;  Caleb  Russell,  1792;  Alexan- 
der Carmichael,  1793;  Jabez  Campfield,  1800;  John 
Doughty,  1805;  Gabriel  H.  Ford,  1815;  Rev.  Wm.  A. 
McDowell,  1816;  Sylvester  D.  Russell,  1823;  Rev. 
Albert  Barnes,  1826;  Rev.  Chas.  Hoover,  1832;  Lewis 
Condict,  1834;  Rev.  H.  A.  Dumont,  1839;  Lewis  Mills, 
1841;  Henry  A.  Ford,  1854;  Rev.  R.  N.  Merritt,   1865. 

Since  the  transfer  of  the  property  to  the  directors  of 
the  library  and  lyceum  the  school  has  been  under  the 
care  of  a  committee  of  that  body,  consisting  of  A.  B. 
Hall,  H.  C.  Pitney  and  Alfred  Mills. 

We  wish  we  might  be  as  explicit  with  reference  to  the 
principals  of  this  institution.  The  minutes  of  the  pro- 
prietors are  singularly  lacking  in  information  concerning 
the  teachers  employed  in  the  school. 

The  appended  list  of  principals  is,  we  fear,  inaccurate. 
The  minutes  being  deficient  we  have  sought  the  files  of 
newspapers,  but  in  vain.  The  memories  of  the  "oldest 
inhabitants  "  conflict  so  essentially  that  we  cannot  rely 
upon  them;  only  where  we  have  been  sure  of  dates  have 
we  incorporated  them. 

Caleb  Russell,  1792-97;  Samuel  Whelpley,  1797-1805; 
Daniel  Mulford;  Henry  Mills;  Wm.  A.  Whelpley,  181 1; 
Ira  C.  Whitehead;  James'D.  Johnson,  resigned  in  1821; 
Rev.  Asa.  Lyman,  engaged  in  1821;  Rev.  Alfred  Chester; 
D.  A.  La  Rue;  James  L.  Baker;  Mr.  Blauvelt,  resigned  in 
1852;  John  Paul,  engaged  in  1852;  Mr.  Harrison;  E.  A. 


MORRISTOWN  SCHOOLS. 


151 


Allen,  resigned  in  1855;  Herman  Mead,  1855;  J.  Henry 
Johnson,  1861  to  1870;  (interregnum;)  Wayland  Spauld- 
ing,  1878-81;    Andrew  J.  West,  the  present  principal. 

THE    PUBLIC    SCHOOL 

on  Maple  avenue  was  opened  in  December  1869.  The 
school  is  principally  due  to  the  generosity  of  the  late 
George  T.  Cobb,  to  whose  large-hearted  liberality  Mor- 
ristown  owes  so  much.  He  gave  the  lot  on  which  the 
building  stands,  and  in  addition  f  io,occ  in  money. 

In  the  chapel  is  a  beautiful  tablet  dedicated  to  his 
memory. 

The  whole  cost  of  the  building  was  $55,000,  and  it  is 
an  ornament  to  the  town. 

The  control  of  the  school  is  vested  in  a  board  of  edu- 
cation, of  nine  members,  three  of  whom  are  chosen 
yearly,  which  has  power  to  make  rules,  expel  disobedient 
scholars,  appoint  teachers,  &c.  The  present  board  of 
education  is:  John  D.  Guerin,  president;  Stephen  Pier- 
son,  M.  D.,  treasurer;  Hon.  Augustus  W.  Cutler,  Hamp- 
ton O.  Marsh,  George  W.  CoUes,  Joseph  W.  Ballentine, 
Joseph  F.  Randolph,  George  W.  Forsyth,  and  L.  Dayton 
Babbitt.  The  secretary,  Edward  C.  Lyon,  is  not  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board. 

The  teachers  are:  W.  L.  R.  Haven,  principal;  Miss 
Minnie  L.  Bottom,  vice-principal;  Mrs.  Ophelia  K.  Dix, 
Misses  Rebecca  W.  Thompson,  Mary  L.  Easton,  Hattie 
C.  Youngblood,  Phebe  A.  Day,  Emma  E.  Hackett,  Mag- 
gie T.  Daly,  Kate  S.  Fennell,  Etta  M.  Briant,  Annie  F. 
Shaw,  Florence  Hawthorne,  Clara  E.  Brown,  and  Mr. 
W.  L.  Brown  (colored). 

Mr.  Haven  has  been  principal  since  the  opening  of  the 
school.  The  scholars  number  about  600.  The  expenses 
for  the  year  ending  June  ist  1881  were  115,326.71. 

The  colored  children  are  taught  separately  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  A.  M.  E.  church  building  on  Spring  street, 
and  are  under  the  control  of  the  board  and  subject  to  the 
same  rules  as  the  others.  Before  the  erection  of  the 
present  public  school  building  there  were  three  small 
district  schools  in  the  town,  one  at  the  corner  of  Speed- 
well and  Sussex  avenues,  one  at  the  corner  of  the  Green 
and  Water  streets,  and  one  on  Franklin  street. 

THE    PRIVATE    SCHOOLS 

of  Morristown  have  been  numerous  and  of  a  high  grade. 
Early  in  the  present  century  Mrs.  Phebe  Scribner 
(widow  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Scribner,  an  officer  in  the 
Revolutionary  army)  came  here  with  her  daughters 
Esther,  Elizabeth,  and  Anna,  and  opened  a  boarding 
school  for  young  ladies.  They  removed  in  1814  to  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  and  were  succeeded  by  the  Misses  Gallau- 
det.  Miss  R.  D.  Jenison,  and  after  "her  by  John  M.  Bene- 
dict, then  again  by  Mrs.  Stone,  and  more  recently  by  the 
Misses  Emmell,  Miss  Woodward,  and  Miss  Longwell. 
This    school   was  during   the    summer   of     1881  finally 

closed. 

A  rival  school  tc  Mrs.  Scribner's  was  established  by 
Mr?.  Wetmore  in  the  next  house,  the  one  now  owned  by 
George  W.  King,  on  South  street. 


Miss  M.  L.  Mann  and  her  sister,  daughters  of  Jacob 
Mann,  taught  for  a  dozen  years  or  more  a  very  successful 
school.  At  the  same  time  with  the  Misses  Mann,  in  1822, 
Miss  Phebe  Babbitt  opened  a  school  on  Bridge  street 
(now  Speedwell  avenue),  nearly  opposite  Mrs.  Schenck's. 
A  little  later  a  Lancasterian  school  was  established  by 
William  Woolley.  Miss  H.  M.  Mills  opened  a  school  in 
1831.  The  following  advertisements  taken  from  the 
Palladium  of  Liberty  bear  a  still  earlier  date. 

"Mr.  Barthelemy  continues  to  teach  the  French  and 
Italian  languages  at  the  new  Warren  Academy,  in  which 
the  trustees  have  granted  him  a  convenient  room  for 
that  purpose. — April  21st  1808." 

Another  of  about  the  same  date: 

"  Morris-Town  French  Academy. — Mr.  Martin, 
lately  from  New  York,  informs  the  Ladies  and  Gentle- 
men of  Morris-Town  and  its  vicinity  that  he  will  open 
his  French  school  on  Thursday  the  26th  inst.  [June  1808] 
from  five  to  eight  in  the  morning  for  young  men,  and 
from  nine  to  twelve  for  young  ladies.  A  few  young  gen- 
tlemen may  be  received  as  boarders  in  the  family,  where 
French  is  generally  spoken.  Private  lessons  in  the  course 
of"  the  day.     English  taught  to  foreigners." 

Query — how  many  young  men  of  to-day  would  Mr. 
Martin  be  able  to  induce  to  rise  at  5  for  the  charms  of 
French  ? 

"  Evening  School.— On  Monday  the  2nd  November 
next  [i8o8]  Mr.  Dutton  will  open  his  evening  school  in 
the  Warren  Academy,  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  read- 
ing, writing,  arithmetic  and  Italian  book-keeping  on  mod- 
erate terms,  and  in  the  most  approved  methods." 

The  Morris  Female  Institute  was  incorporated  in  August 
i860.  The  original  subscription  amounted  to  $16,050, 
of  which  $15,600  was  collected.  The  trustees  were 
William  C.  Baker,  George  T.  Cobb,  Theodore  Little,  E. 
W.  Whelply,  John  Hare,  Theodore  T.  Wood  and  Jesse 
Smith. 

The  lot  cost  $3,800.  The  main  building  (the  plan  being 
modified  on  account  of  the  depression  of  businesss  follow- 
ing the  commencement  of  the  war)  was  let  by  contract 
to  Cyrus  Pruden,  in  behalf  of  himself,  Muchmore  and 
Lounsbury  and  other  mechanics,  who  formed  a  syndicate, 
for  $11,960.  The  property  had  cost,  prior  to  the  recent 
addition,  which  was  substantially  a  completion  of  the 
original  plan,  $17,700  in  round  numbers.  It  was  leased 
to  Mr.  Charles  G.  Hazeltine  for  five  years,  commencing 
May  ist  1862. 

He  continued  to  occupy  it  until  it  was  leased,  April 
ist  1877,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  E.  Dana,  who  is  its  present 
successful  principal.     The  recent  additions  cost  $ti,ooo. 

Successful  boys'  schools  have  been  taught  by  George 
P.  McCulloch,  Rev.  Alfred  Chester,  Rev.  Samuel  N. 
Howell  and  others. 

The  city  has  at  present  among  others  the  following 
schools:  Morris  Academy,  South  street;  public  school, 
Maple  avenue;  Morris  Female  Institute,  South  street; 
young  ladies'  school,  Maple  avenue,  Mrs.^.  W.  Steven- 
son preceptress;  Miss  Bostwick's  school  for  young  ladies. 
Maple  avenue;  kindergarten,  De  Hart  street,  Miss  Em- 


152 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


ma  Campbell  preceptress;  Sisters  of  St.  John  the  Baptist 
school  (Episcopal),  Maple  avenue;  Roman  Catholic 
school,  Maple  avenue. 

EDITORS  AND  PRINTERS. 

On  the  24th  of  May  1797  the  first  number  of  the  first 
newspaper  of  Morristown  was  issued.  Caleb  Russell  was 
the  prime  mover  in  this'  enterprise,  having  purchased  a 
printing  press  and  secured  the  services  of  Elijah  Cooper, 
a  practical  printer,  to  attend  to  the  details  of  the  busi- 
ness. The  name  of  the  paper  was  the  Morris  County 
Gazette,  and  it  was  issued  by  E.  Cooper  &  Co.  Cooper  re- 
mained until  November  of  the  same  year,  when  he  left, 
and  Mr.  Russell  continued  sole  editor.  Early  in  1798  he 
invited  Jacob  Mann,  who  had  learned  the  printing  busi- 
ness of  Sheppard  Kollock  in  Elizabethtown,  to  come  to 
Morristown  and  take  charge  of  the  paper.  The  Morris 
County  Gazette  was  continued  until  the  15th  of  May  1798, 
when  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Genius  of  Liberty. 
This  paper  was  edited  by  Jacob  Mann  until  May  14th  1801, 
when  he  retired  and  went  to  Trenton,  where  he  con- 
ducted the  Trenton  True  American,  in  company  with 
Jarnes  J.  Wilgon.  Mr.  Russell  then  gave  the  entire  estab- 
lishment of  the  press  and  newspaper  to  his  son,  Henry 
P.  Russell,  who  continued  it  for  several  years. 

The  Genius  of  Liberty  was  succeeded  by  the  Morris- 
town Herald,  which  was  edited  and  published  by  Henry 
P.  Russell  from  1813  to  1820,  when  Mr.  Russell  removed 
to  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  the  paper  was  discontinued. 

In  1808  we  find  Jacob  Mann  once  more  in  Morristown, 
and  the  editor  of  a  new  paper  called  the  Palladium  of 
Liberty,  the  first  number  of  which  was  issued  March  31st 
of  that  year.  Mr.  Mann  continued  to  edit  the  Palladium 
until  January  1832,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  N.  H. 
White.  Mr.  White  probably  proved  a  failure,  as  Mr. 
Mann  in  a  few  months  resumed  charge  of  the  paper,  and 
toward  the  close  of  the  year  made  room  for  E.  Cole  and 
J.  R.  Eyers.  Early  in  1833  Cole  retired,  leaving  Eyers 
sole  editor  and  proprietor.  June  4th  1834  Mr.  Eyers 
changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Morris  County  Whig. 

The  Jerseyman  made  its  first  appearance  October  4th 
1826,  under  the  editorship  of  Samuel  P.  Hull.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  position  until  1852,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Alansoii  A.  Vance,  who  purchased  the  paper  in  that 
year  and  became  its  editor.  In  1869  Mr.  Vance  sold  a 
half  interest  to  L.  O.  Styles,  who  still  continues  its  pub- 
lication. The  Jerseyman  is  the  leading  Republican  paper 
in  the  county.     The  office  is  on  Park  place. 

The  True  Democratic  Banner  is  owned  by  Mrs.  L.  C. 
Vogt,  and  edited  by  her  two  sons,  Louis  A.  and  LeClerc. 
It  was  established  in  1838  by  Louis  C.  Vogt.  Mr.  Vogt 
came  here  about  1836,  having  learned  the  printing  busi- 
ness in  the  office  of  the  Commercial  Advertiser  of  New 
York.  He  started  a  paper  in  that  year,  called  The  Demo- 
cratic Banner.  Some  misunderstanding  arising  with  his 
patrons,  he  started  The  True  Democratic  Banner  in  the 
year  aboved  named.  This  is  the  leading  Democratic 
organ  in  the  county.  Its  office  is  in  the  Banner  building 
on  Washington  street. 


The  Morris  Republican  was  established  May  8th  1872, 
by  F.  L.  Lundy.  It  was  short-lived,  continuing  only 
until  July  1877,  when  Mr.  Lundy  removed  from  town.  It 
was  very  ably  conducted  during  its  brief  existence. 

The  Morris  County  C^rtf;2zV/(f  was  begun  November  2nd, 
1877,  under  the  charge  of  T.  J.  O'Donnell.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded after  a  few  months  by  D.  H.  Prime  &  Co.  Joshua 
Brown,  the  present  editor,  took  charge  of  the  paper 
January  21st  1880.  The  Chronicle  is  independent  in 
politics.  Its  office  is  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Court  streets. 

The  Record  can  scarcely  be  called  a  newspaper,  being 
devoted  entirely  to  local  history.  It  was  begun  in 
January  1880  under  the  editorship  of  Rev.  R.  S.  Green, 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  issued 
monthly.  It  has  printed  a  list  of  nearly  1,000  marriages, 
2,000  baptisms  of  children,  and  2,000  deaths  in  the  last 
century,  besides  a  list  of  members  of  the  First  church 
up  to  1800,  two  historical  sermons  by  the  Rev.  David 
Irving,  D.  D.,  and  many  other  valuable  articles.  It  has 
been  largely  serviceable  in  the  writing  of  the  present 
history. 

Before  passing  from  this  subject,  although  not  directly 
belonging  to  it,  two  or  three  facts  deserve  mention.  In 
the  early  part  of  this  century  Morristown  achieved  con- 
siderable distinction  for  the  number  of  books  here  printed. 
Jacob  Mann,  Henry  P.  Russell  and  Peter  A.  Johnson 
took  the  lead  in  this  worthy  enterprise. 

One  of  these  books  is  a  complete  Bible,  together  with  the 
Apocrypha,  published  by  Jacob  Mann  in  1805.  Though 
not  as  famous  as  the  "  Wicked  "  and  the  "  Breeches  " 
Bibles,  it  has  nevertheless  attained  quite  a  notoriety  from 
a  mistake  which  has  secured  for  it  the  name  of  "  the 
Arminian  Bible."  The  mistake  occurs  in  Heb.  vi.  4, 
which  in  this  Bible  reads,  "  For  it  is  possible  for  those 
who  were  once  enlightened,  *  *  *  jf  (j^gy  gj^^jj  f^jj 
away,  to  renew  them  again  unto  repentance." 

Another  is  "  An  Historical  Compend,"  in  two  volumes 
by  Samuel  Whelpley,  A.  M.,  principal  of  Morris  Academy, 
printed  at  Morristown  in  1806,  by  Henry  P.  Russell. 
These  volumes  becam.e  deservedly  popular  iti  their  day 
and  reached  a  goodly  circulation.  At  the  end  of  the 
second  volume  is  appended  a  list  of  233  subscribers  to 
the  work,  with  the  places  of  their  residence. 

Another  of  these  early  issues  of  the  local  press  was  "  A 
Syllabus  of  Lectures  on  the  Visions  of  the  Revelation,"  by 
Rev.  Amzi  Armstrong,  A.  M.,  "  Minister  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  Mendham,  N.  J.,"  which  was  published 
in  1815  by  Peter  A.  Johnson,  and  printed  by  Heilry  P. 
Russell. 

Another  fact  worthy  of  mention  in  this  connection  has 
to  do  with  one  whose  inventive  genius  and  artistic  skill 
may  be  said  to  have  revolutionized  the  art  of  printing. 
In  January  1818  Joseph  A.  Adams  came  to  this  town  and 
entered  the  printing  office  of  Jacob  Mann  as  an  appren- 
tice. He  remained  here  seven  years,  during,  which  time 
he  mastered  all  the  details  of  the  business,  and  if  we  may 
judge  from  his  after  history  a  good  deal  in  addition 
thereto.     He  went  from  here  to  New  York  city,  where  he 


THE  INVENTOR  OF  ELECTROTYPY— THE  MORRISTOWN  WATERWORKS. 


^53 


soon  became  a  skillful  wood-engraver.  Some  of  his  at- 
tempts in  this  line  while  still  here  are  preserved  by  his 
old  friends.  In  1839  he  commenced  experiments  in 
electrotyping  plates  from  wood-cuts,  and  succeeded  so 
well  that  in  1841  an  engraving  was  reproduced  by  this 
process  and  printed  in  Mapes's  Magazine.  In  this  great 
invention  of 

ELECTROTYPY 

the  name  of  Joseph  A.  Adams,  the  apprentice  of  Jacob 
Mann,  publisher  of  the  Palladium  of  Liberty,  takes  first 
rank.  Not  only  was  he  the  inventor,  but  to  him  belongs 
the  chief  credit  of  bringing  it  to  its  present  state  of  per- 
fection. By  continued  experiments  he  secured  at  last  a 
full  and  perfect  current  for  a  long  time,  and  an  equaliza- 
tion of  the  action  of  the  battery  until  it  was  nearly  ex- 
hausted of  its  acid.  He  also  invented  an  entirely  new 
process  for  covering  wax  moulds  in  a  few  minutes  with  a 
coat  of  copper,  for  which,  on  the  29th  of  January  1870,  a 
patent  was  granted  him. 

On  the  igth  of  April  in  the  same  year  he  patented 
the  "  Electric  Connection  Gripper,"  whereby  the  metal 
pan  is  taken  entirely  out  of  the  current  of  electricity,  and 
the  copper  is  precipitated  only  upon  the  mould. 

For  a  long  time  he  was  connected  with  the  Harpers, 
and  he  had  the  whole  charge  of  the  engravings  in  their 
famous  Bible  of  1843.  In  iht  American  Art  Review  {yo\. 
I.,  number  6,  April  1880),  published  by  Estes  &  Lauriat, 
of  Boston,  is  an  article  from  the  pen  of  W.  J.  Linton, 
which  describes  the  work  of  Mr.  Adams  and  accords  to 
him  the  highest  praise,  not  only  for  his  inventive  genius, 
but  for  his  marked  ability  as  an  artist.  Mr.  Adams 
died  September  17th  1880,  aged  78  years.  He  was  the 
uncle  of  James  Sylvester  Adams,  of  the  firm  of  Adams  & 
Fairchild,  Morristown. 

POST-OFFICE. 

Morristown  has  had  but  few  postmasters.  The  first 
was  Frederick  King,  commissioned  early  in  1782  by  Post- 
master General  Ebenezer  Hazard.  Henry  King,  his  son, 
succeeded  him  on  the  14th  of  June  1792,  receiving  his 
commission  from  Postmaster  General  Timothy  Pickering. 
He  held  the  ofifice  42  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Ed- 
ward Condict,  who  was  commissioned  the  loth  of  April 
1834  under  the  administration  of  Andrew  Jackson. 
Since  then  the  following  have  held  the  ofifice:  Jacob  M. 
King,  Augustus  Carmichael,  Jason  King,  Joseph  I.  Roy, 
Philip  W.  Crater,  Nathan  B.  Luse  (1853-61),  A.  A.  Vance 
(1861-75),  and  John  R.  Runyon,  the  present    incumbent. 

The  business  of  the  office  has  considerably  more  than 
doubled  in  the  last  ten  years.  For  the  quarter  ending 
December  31st  1880  it  amounted  to  $2,048. 

WATERWORKS. 

Among  the  attractions  and  advantages  of  Morristown 
as  a  place  of  residence  its  excellent  and  abundant  water 
supply  is  not  the  least  prominent. 

On  Nov.  i6th  1799  a  charter  of  incorporation  was 
granted  to  the   following  "proprietors    of    the    Morris 


Aqueduct:"  John  Doughty,  Wm.  Campfield,  James  Rich- 
ards, David  Ford,  Aaron  Pierson,  John  Halsey,  Wm. 
Johnes,  Gabriel  H.  Ford,  Henry  King,  Caleb  Russell, 
Daniel  Phoenix  jr.,  Israel  Canfield,  Benjamin  Freeman, 
David  Mills,  George  O'Hara,  Rodolphus  Kent,  Joseph 
Lewis,  Lewis  Condict,  Abraham  Canfield,  Samuel  Og- 
den,  Elijah  Holloway,  Edward  Mills,  Wm.  Tuttle,  Mat- 
thias Crane,  Jonathan  Dickerson,  and  Daniel  Lindsley. 

From  an  editorial  in  the  Genius  of  Liberty,  Nov.  21th 
1799,  we  condense  the  following:  "  An  aqueduct,  four 
miles  in  length  including  its  various  branches,  has  been 
laid  and  completed  in  this  town  since  the  20th  of  June 
last.  The  fountain  is  100  feet  above  the  town,  on  the 
north  side  of  a  small  mountain  covered  with  wood_ 
The  pipe  has  been  laid  3  feet  under  ground,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  between  $2,000  &  $3,000.  The  work  was  execu- 
ted by  Pelatiah  Ashley,  of  West  Springfield,  Mass." 

This  "  fountain  "  was  on  the  "  Jockey  Hollow  "  road 
(about  one  mile  from  town),  where  one  of  the  reservoirs 
is  now  situated.  The  water  was  conducted  from  there  to 
the  town  through  brick  tile.  How  many  years  this  was 
continued  we  cannot  say,  but  are  informed  that  for  many 
years  the  aqueduct  was  a  dry  one,  and  Morristowu'"  was 
again  left  dependent  on  wells,  and  so  continued  until  the 
chartered  right  was  purchased  by  James  Wood,  who  re- 
paired it  and  laid  chestnut  logs  of  two  inches  bore  as  the 
aqueduct,  and  had  a  small  distributing  "  reservoir  " — a 
wooden  cistern,  capable  of  holding  one  hundred  barrels 
of  water— in  town,  on  the  Jockey  Hollow  road,  now 
Western  avenue. 

In  1846  John  F.  Voorhees  became  the  proprietor  of 
the  aqueduct;  he  relaid  it  with  cement  pipe,  and  built  a 
distributing  reservoir  eighteen  feet  square,  on  Fort  Non- 
sense, where  the  present  one  is  situated. 

In  1869  the  present  proprietors — still  ajoint  stock  com- 
pany— purchased  it,  and  under  their  care  the  supply  has 
been  steadily  enlarged.  There  are  besides  the  distribut- 
ing reservoir,  which  is  on  the  eminence  southwest  of  the 
court-house,  three  other  reservoirs;  viz.,  one  near  the 
Jockey  Hollow  road,  of  the  capacity  of  forty  thousand 
barrels;  one  in  Jones's  Ravine,  near  the  Mendham  road, 
capacity  sixty  thousand  barrels;  and  a  third,  by  far  the 
largest,  a  few  rods  above  the  last  mentioned  in  the  same 
ravine,  which  is  of  the  capacity  of  five  hundred  thousand 
barrels  and  was  completed  during  the  year  1880.  Great 
pains  are  taken  to  exclude  all  stagnant  and  surface  water, 
and  to  keep  the  reservoirs  perfectly  free  from  mud  and 
vegetable  matter  and  filled  with  pure  spring  water,  which 
before  entering  the  mains  is  exposed  to  the  action  of  the 
atmosphere  in  the  form  of  spray  as  far  as  practicable. 

This  aeration  has  been  found  to  be  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance and  the  result  is  a  quality  and  purity  of  water 
believed  to  be  unsurpassed  elsewhere. 

There  are  twelve  miles  of  mains,  supplying  all  districts 
within  the  city  limits,  and  as  the  supply  of  water  is  ample 
and  the  head  of  sufficient  altitude  the  contiguous  neigh- 
borhoods and  towns  will  naturally  seek  to  share  in  the 
advantages  presented,  of  which  disposition  there  are 
already  important  indications. 


154 


HtSTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTS?'. 


The  directors  of  the  company  are  Henry  C.  Pitney, 
president;  Hampton  O.  Marsh,  William  L.  King,  Aurelius 
B.  Hull  and  Edward  Pierson,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

COUNTY    BUILDINGS. 

The  first  Morris  county  court-house  and  jail  was  built 
in  1755.  It  was  a  small  log  building,  and  is  said  to  have 
stood  near  the  middle  of  the  present  Green. 

The  wants  of  the  county,  however,  soon  outgrew  this 
primitive  structure.  From  the  trustees'  book  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  we  append  the  following  min- 
utes: 

"May  17  1770  the  trustees  being  Duely  Called  and 
met  at  the  county  hous  and  agreed  to  Convey  a  Part  of 
the  meating  hous  Land  to  the  freeholders  of  the  County 
of  morris  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Court  hous 

"  June  7  1770  the  trustees  met  &  Gave  a  Deed  for  one 
acre  of  Land  on  which  the  Court  hous  Standeth  to  three 
majestrets  and  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  of  morris." 

The  house  was  shortly  afterward  built,  and  stood 
nearly  opposite  the  United  States  Hotel,  the  front  stand- 
ing about  the  middle  of  the  present  street,  which  was 
then  only  a  narrow  lane.  It  was  a  one-story  frame  build- 
ing, the  sides  as  well  as  the  roof  of  which  were  shingled. 
In  1776  a  second  story  was  added.  Near  it  stood  the 
pillory,  which  was  last  used  in  1796.  The  county  paid 
the  trustees  of  the  church  ^5  for  this  one  acre  of  land, 
"  strict  measure." 

A  feature  of  the  jail  was  the  "  debtors'  room."  In 
this  room  was  an  old-fashioned  open  fireplace  of  the 
times;  about  half  way  up  the  chimney  iron  bars  were 
placed  across  to  stop  unlawful  egress.  One  Uriah  Brown, 
being  placed,  in  "  durance  vile  "  by  his  creditors,  was 
left  locked  in  for  the  night,  but  early  next  morning  the 
deputy  sheriff,  whose  apartments  were  in  the  building, 
was  awakened  by  a  knock  at  his  door,  and  there  stood 
Brown,  waiting  to  come  in,  as  he  said  he  was  afraid  of 
being  arrested  as  a  jail  breaker.  He  refused  to  tell  how 
he  got  out,  so  the  deputy  supposed  some  one  had  stolen 
his  keys  and  let  him  out;  but  next  morning,  and  again 
the  next,  Brown  was  at  the  door;  then  they  thought  he 
had  a  devil  in  him  and  were  going  to  chain  him,  when  he 
acknowledged  he  had  succeeded  in  loosing  a  bar  in  the 
chimney,  which  enabled  him  to  get  out,  but  he  could  not 
get  back  the  same  way. 

The  court-house  and  jail  answered  the  purposes  of  the 
county  until  1827,  when  the  present  building  was  com- 
pleted. 

In  the  July  term  of  that  year  the  dedicatory  services 
took  place,  as  appears  from  the  books  of  the  court,  as 
follows: 

"Mom's  Commnn  Pleas,  July  Term  1827. — The  Hon. 
George  K.  Drake,  William  Halsey,  Theodore  Freling- 
huysen,  Henry  A.  Ford  and  Jacob  W.  Miller,  Esqs.,  the 
committee  appointed  by  the  court  to  form  a  plan  of 
arrangements  to  be  carried  into  effect  at  the  opening  of 
the  new  court-house  in  Morristown,  in  the  term  of  Sep- 
tember next,  having  met,  and  appointed  Hon.  George 
K.  Drake  chairman,  and  Jacob  W.  Miller  secretary,  the 
following  arrangements  are  respectfully  submitted  to  the 
court: 


"  That  the  procession  be  formed  in  the  following 
order:  i,  music;  2,  sheriff;  3,  board  of  chosen  free- 
holders; 4,  building  committee;  5,  master  builders;  6, 
clergy  and  orator;  7,  gaoler  and  crier;  8,  constables;  9, 
coroners;  10,  justices  of  the  supreme  court;  11,  judges 
of  the  common  pleas;  12,  justices  of  the  peace;  13,  clerk 
and  surrogate;  14,  attorney  general  and  prosecutor;  15, 
members  of  the  bar;  16,  grand  jury;  17,  petit  jury;  18, 
county  collector  and  assessors;   19,  citizens. 

"  Order  of  dedication:  i,  open  with  prayer;  2,  address; 
3,  prayer;  4,  opening  the  courts  in  due  form  of  law;  5, 
calling  and  swearing  the  grand  jury;  6,  charge  to  the 
grand  jury;  7,  adjournment  of  court  to  the  next  day." 

The  programme  was  carried  out  as  above  given.  The 
address  was  delivered  by  Henry  A.  Ford,  and  was 
printed  in  full  in  The  Jerseyman  of  October  24th  1827. 

The  court-house  is  on  the  south  side  of  Washington 
street,  between  Western  avenue  and  Court  street.  It  is 
of  brick,  painted  white,  with  brown  stone  trimmings.  It 
is  partly  of  the  Ionic  style  in  architecture,  two  stories 
high,  with  basement.  A  cupola  in  which  hangs  a  bell 
ornaments  the  roof.  Over  the  entrance  is  a  statue  of 
Justice  with  the  traditionary  sword  and  balance  in  her 
hands.  The  natural  beauty  of  the  building  is  increased 
hy  its  surroundings;  standing  on  high  ground  it  overlooks 
the  Green  and  the  main  part  of  the  town.  On  the  first 
floor  are,  at  the  right  of  the  hall,  sheriff's  private  apart- 
ments; left,  the  sheriff's  offices;  in  the  rear  on  either  side 
are  cells.  A  separate  building  of ,  stone,  containing  the 
work-house  and  additional  cells,  is  in  the  rear,  on  the 
west  side.  The  court-room  occupies  half  the  second 
story  and  has  a  gallery.  In  the  other  half  are  jury  rooms 
and  rooms  of  the  sheriff's  family.  In  the  front  part  of 
the  basement  are  the  kitchens,  etc.,  in  the  rear  the  dark 
and  dismal  dungeons,  where  contumacious  prisoners  are 
subdued. 

The  surrogate's  and  clerk's  offices  are  separated  from 
the  court-house  by  the  jail  yard;  they  face  on  Court 
street,  and  were  built  in  1847.  The  building  is  of  red 
brick,  two  stories  high.  Each  office  has  two  fireproof 
vaults.  On  the  second  story  is  a  hall  called  the  County 
Hall,  and  in  it  meet  the  board  of  freeholders  and  grand 
jury. 

TRAVELING    FACILITIES. 

The  younger  generation  knows  little  or  nothing  of  the 
pleasures  of  stage  coaches  and  bad  roads.  Previous  to 
1838  Morristonians  reached  the  outside  world  only  by 
this  luxurious  method  of  travel. 

Benjamin  Freeman  claims  the  honor  of  running  the 
first  stage  from  this  place  to  Powles  Hook  (Jersey  City). 
This  was  in  1798,  or  possibly  1797.  For  $1.25  the  trav- 
eller could  start  from  here  at  6  a.  m.  on  Tuesday  or 
Friday,  and  be  drawn  by  four  horses  through  Bottle 
Hill  (Madison),  and  thence  to  Chatham,  where  "if  he  felt 
disposed  he  could  take  breakfast,"  thence  to  Springfield, 
Newark,  reaching  Powles  (also  spelled  Paulus)  Hook 
some  time  the  same  day  according  to  circumstances.  On 
Wednesday  or  Saturday  he  could  return  by  the  same 
route,  and  at  the  same  price. 

John     Halsey    soon    entered    into    partnership    with 


LIBRARIES  AT  MORRISTOW'N— TRAVELING  FACILITIES. 


155 


this  primitive  Jehu.  The  profits  of  the  enterprise  must 
have  been  considerable,  for  the  following  year,  1799, 
Matthias  Crane  started  a  rival  stage.  We  doubt  however 
whether  the  rivalry  of  Matthias  gave  the  original  firm 
much  anxiety,  as  he  could  only  muster  two  horses.  But 
other  competitors  arose.  The  columns  of  the  papers  of 
those  early  days  abound  with  flaming  advertisements  of 
these  rival  concerns,  not  omitting  descriptions  of  the 
beauties  of  tlneir  various  routes.  The  majority  of  them 
ran  to  Powles  Hook,  but  some  only  to  Newark,  and 
others  to  Elizabethtown  Point,  from  which  places  the 
passengers  were  transported  by  boat  to  New  York. 

In  1838  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  was  complet- 
ed as  far  as  Morristown,  which  was  then  the  terminus. 
The  depot  was  in  DeHart  street  near  Maple  avenue  and 
the  route  taken  was  along  Maple  avenue  until  near  the 
Catholic  church,  thence  across  to  Madison  avenue  and 
then  to  the  line  of  the  present  route.  Eleven  trains  ar- 
rive at  this  station  daily  for  and  from  New  York.  Seven 
trains  daily  leave  for  stations  westward,  and  the  same 
number  arrive  here  from  those  stations.  The  time  table 
distance  of  Morristown  from  New  York,  via  express 
train,  is  one  hour  and  twenty-five  minutes.  An  elegant 
new  depot  is  at  this  writing  (September  ist  1881)  rapidly 
approaching  completion. 

LIBRARIES. 

The  first  library  in  Morris  county  was  established  in 
1792.  On  the  2ist  of  September  of  that  year  11  inhabit- 
ants of  the  county  met  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Free- 
man, at  Morristown,  and  "  advised  and  consulted  "  upon 
the  propriety  of  organizing  a  society  which  should  be 
called  "  The  Morris  County  Society  for  the  Promotion 
of  Agriculture  and  Domestic  Manufactures." 

Captain  Peter  Layton  (a  relic  of  the  Revolution)  was 
chosen  chairman,  and  Colonel  Russell  clerk.  The  con- 
stitution presented  was  rather  defective.  A  committee 
•was  appointed  to  revise  it.  The  meeting  then  adjourned 
to  meet  at  Mr.    Freeman's  house    on    September   25th 

1792. 

One  hundred  people  were  present  at  this  meeting.  Sam- 
uel Tuthill  was  installed  chairman,  with  Colonel  Russell 
again  clerk.  The  constitution  was  read  as  revised,  and 
was  adopted.  From  it  we  take  (Art.  VIII.)  the  follow- 
ing: "  Upon  the  application  of  any  member  of  the  society 
for  a  book  he  shall  deliver  him  one,  and  at  the  same 
time  take  a  promissory  note  for  the  same,  to  be  returned 
in  one  (i)  month  from  the  time,  on  paying  one  shilling 
for  every  week  over  time."  On  October  7th  1793  this 
was  amended,  and  the  librarian  was  only  to  keep  an  ac- 
count of  the  book  taken.  Article  XL  informs  us  that 
the  dues  were  one  dollar  a  year,  "  to  be  paid  on  the  first 
Monday  in  October  of  each  year,"  and  that  the  stock 
was  transferable.  Ninety-seven  of  those  present  then 
signed  the  constitution,  and  a  good  portion  of  these  paid 
several  dollars  over  the  dues  for  the  sake  of  encourage- 
ment.    The  total  receipts  were  $227. 

On  October  ist  1792  the  election  of  officers  came  off. 
Samuel    Tuthill   was   elected   president;    Joseph  Lewis, 


vice-president;  Dr.  William  Campfield,  secretary;  W. 
Canfield,  librarian;  Israel  Canfield,  treasurer.  Six  gentle- 
men were  then  elected  a  committee  of  correspondence. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  society  purchase  three  books, 
and  a  stamp  for  marking  all  books.  "  They  then  ad- 
journed." The  next  meeting  was  April  ist  1795,  at 
which  the  by-laws  were  read  and  adopted,  from  which 
we  learn  that  the  librarian  was  to  be  at  the  library  to  de- 
liver books  on  all  days,  Sundays  excepted,  from  6  a.  m.  to 
9  P.  M.,"  and  "that  he  shall  collect  all  dues  in  specie." 
The  society  started  with  96  volumes.  At  the  end  of  the 
year  the  treasurer  reported  $35.47  on  hand,  and  an  addi- 
tion of  20  volumes  to  the  library. 

MORRIS  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION. 

The  society  thus  organized  went  along  swimmingly 
until  1812,  when  a  "Morris  Library  Association''  was 
started,  and  the  "  Association  for  the  Promotion  of  Agri- 
culture and  Domestic  Manufactures  "  merged  in  it. 

February  3d  1812  a  party  of  gentlemen  met  at  Bull's 
Hotel  and  agreed  to  the  measures  necessary  for  the  or- 
ganization of  a  library,  and  adjourned  until  February 
24th,  on  which  day  G.  H.  Ford  was  elected  president 
and  secretary.  A  seal  was  ordered  to  be  engraved.  At 
the  next  meeting,  April  6th,  they  elected  Jabez  Campfield 
librarian.  They  received  also  a  communication  from 
the  president  of  the  "Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Agri- 
culture and  Domestic  Manufactures,"  who  wished  to  sell 
out  the  old  organization.  The  proposition  was  duly  ac- 
cepted. The  inventory  showed  123  names,  which  were 
to  be  placed  on  the  new  company's  books,  together  with 
396  volumes,  and  other  articles,  amounting  to  $656.55. 
At  this  meeting  a  code  of  laws  was  read  and  adopted 
which  was  to  govern  the  library.  It  allowed  a  person 
holding  a  share  to  have  a  book  out  not  longer  than  one 
month,  for  which  each  year  he  was  to  pay  50  cents. 

It  also  recognized  strangers  and  non-possessors  of 
shares,  but  charged  them  extravagant  prices  for  allowing 
them  the  use  of  books.  No  subsequent  meeting  is  re- 
corded until  February  nth  1815,  but  all  this  time  the 
library  was  in  good  running  order.  This  meeting  was  of 
little  importance.  In  1820  an  amendment  was  made  to 
the  code  of  laws  that  any  person  paying  one  dollar  was 
entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  a  stockholder.  From  the 
report  of  the  librarian  for  1820,  the  first  report  since  its 
organization,  we  gather  the  following:  The  amount  of 
script  taken  was  $417.  The  first  year  (1812)  144 
books  were  taken  out,  at  a  fee  to  the  librarian  of  six 
cents  each,  and  in  1820  600  were  taken  out,  at  two  cents 
each. 

In  1823  a  number  of  shares  were  confiscated  by  the 
association  and  advertised  for  public  sale  in  the  Palladi- 
um of  Liberty.  They  were  all  sold  except  four.  In 
1825  the  trustees  presented  Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  with  one  of  these 
(No.  i)  shares,  "  to  be  used  by  him  so  long  as  he  may 
remain  pastor  of  the  said  church,"  and  not  subjected  to 
yearly  annuity.  Mr.  Barnes  accepted  the  share,  and  was 
elected  a  trustee. 


is6 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


APPRENTICES     LIBRARY. 

The  next  library  for  public  benefit  at  Morristown  was 
instituted  June  i6th  1848.  The  books  and  chattels  of  the 
former  organization  were  purchased  by  the  infant  asso- 
ciation, which  started  with  the  brightest  prospects  im- 
aginable. This  library  was  begun  solely  for  the  benefit 
of  the  apprentices  of  Morris  county. 

From  the  constitution,  which  is  a  finely  written  article, 
by  Dr.  R.  W.  Stevenson,  we  learn  that  the  capital  stock 
of  the  association  was  limited  to  fifteen  hundred  dollars, 
divided  into  shares  of  three  dollars  each,  half  of  which 
was  in  three  months  subscribed. 

The  library  started  with  fifteen  hundred  volumes,  rang- 
ing, with  many  and  frequent  gaps,  from  Mother  Goose 
to  the  English  Encyclopedia,  and  was  considered  for  the 
times  a  very  good  collection.  The  library  rooms  were  in 
the  building  now  used  by  James  Douglas  as  a  drug 
store. 

The  association  with  various  vicissitudes  lived  from 
1848  until  1851.  This  library  did  without  doubt  a  great 
deal  of  good.  It  had  at  closing  some  twenty-five  hundred 
volumes,  from  the  ancient  books  of  the  "Society  for  the 
Promotion  of  Agriculture  and  Domestic  Manufactures  " 
to  the  ''  latest  edition  of  Shakespere,  in  eight  volumes." 

THE   MORRIS   INSTITUTE 

succeeded  the  Apprentices'  Library  Association.  It 
lived,  however,  but  a  short  time.  It  was  founded 
February  nth  1854,  with  G.  T.  Cobb  as  its  president 
and  J.  R.  Runyon  its  secretary.  They  rented  rooms 
in  "Mr.  Marsh's  building,'*  which  is  now  called 
Washington  Hall.  They  purchased  or  rented  all  the 
books  of  the  Apprentices'  Library,  and  in  addition  had  a 
reading  room  with  some  of  the  prominent  weekly  and 
monthly  periodicals.  But  the  enterprise  was  not  a  suc- 
cess, the  books  were  old  and  the  privilege  of  reading  cost 
so  much  that  but  few  availed  themselves  of  it.  The  so- 
ciety dissolved  in  two  years  and  all  the  books  were  stored 
away  in  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Court  and  Wash- 
ington streets.  Soon  afterward  this  took  fire  and  about 
half  of  the  books  were  destroyed.  The  rest  were  stored 
in  a  safer  place,  where  they  remained  until  they  were 
claimed  for  the  "new  library." 

MORRISTOWN    LIBRARY    AND    LYCEUM. 

The  subject  of  a  public  library  began  to  be  agitated  in 
1861.  A  number  of  meetings  were  held  by  those  most 
interested;  but  the  excitement  of  those  days  of  war  pre- 
vented action  for  some  time.  In  1865  interest  in  it  took 
definite  shape.  Toward  the  close  of  the  year  a  circular 
was  sent  out  to  prominent  citizens,  as  follows: 

"Dear  Sir, — At  a  meeting  held  at  Washington  Hall  on 
Tuesday  evening  December  26th,  with  reference  to  a 
public  library,  the  undersigned  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  mature  and  report  a  plan.  They  will  not  be 
prepared  until  a  later  day  than  the  one  to  which  the 
meeting  was  adjourned.  Their  report  will  be  ready  to 
be  presented  at  a  meeting  to  be  held  on  Monday  evening 
January  8th,  at  7^  o'clock  p.  m.,  at  Washington  Hall. 
The  subject  of  a  public  library  is  one  of   the  greatest 


importance,  and  you  are   particularly  invited  to  attend 
the  meeting  on  Monday  January  8th  1866." 

This  was  signed  by  John  Whitehead,  John  F.  Voor- 
hees,  William  C.  Caskey,  William  S.  Babbitt,  R.  N.  Mer- 
ritt,  J.  T.  Crane,  E.  J.  Cooper,  George  T.  Cobb  and 
Alfred  Mills. 

The  charter  of  incorporation  was  granted  March  6th 
1866,  and  Alfred  Mills,  John  Whitehead  and  William  C. 
Caskey  were  appointed  commissioners  to  receive  sub- 
scriptions to  the  capital  stock,  which  was  restricted  to  a 
sum  not  exceeding  $50,000.  When  ten  thousand  of  this 
amount  had  been  subscribed  a  meeting  of  stockholders 
was  held  and  a  board  of  seven  directors  chosen. 

The  directors  hold  office  one  year,  and  elect  a  presi- 
dent, secretary  and  treasurer.  The  stock  is  divided  into 
shares  of  $25  each,  and  is  free  from  all  taxation.  When 
the  time  came  to  look  for  a  building  site  it  was  found 
there  was  none  on  the  Green  except  at  a  price  which  was 
considered  impracticable.  The  Morris  Academy  was 
standing,  dilapidated  and  unused,  on  South  street,  and 
the  stockholders  therein  offered  to  assign  their  stock  to 
the  Library  and  Lyceum  for  an  equal  nominal  value  in 
its  stock — the  lot  to  be  taken  at  a  valuation  of  $10,000 — 
on  condition  that  a  room  be  reserved  in  the  new  build, 
ing  for  a  classical  school  for  boys.  This  was  agreed  to, 
and  it  was  decided  that  a  stone  building  should  be 
erected  on  this  site.  Plans  were  submitted,  and  that  of 
Colonel  George  B.  Post  of  New  York  city  was  adopted. 
A  beautiful  specimen  of  stone,  found  on  the  property  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  Morris  aqueduct,  near  ihs  Jockey 
Hollow  road,  was  selected;  this  the  aqueduct  company 
generously  gave.  Ground  was  broken  in  February  1875, 
and  the  laying  of  the  foundation  was  begun  in  the  follow- 
ing May;  work  was  pushed  rapidly,  and  the  building  was 
inclosed    early  the  ensuing  winter.     The  building  cost 

$S5.°°°- 

The  public  opening  occurred  August  14th  1878.  Each 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  has  been  from  the  con- 
ception of  the  enterprise  until  the  present  time  active  and 
efficient;  and  the  result  is  a  noble  institution,  unsurpassed 
by  any  in  the  State,  and  of  which  the  citizens  may  well  be 
proud.  Special  praise  is  due  to  J.  Warren  Blatchly,  now 
deceased,  for  his  donation  by  will  of  $5,000  for  the 
purchase  of  books;  to  William  L.  King  for  his  untiring 
energy  in  the  interest  of  the  library,  and  for  his  generous 
gifts  to  it,  amounting  in  all  to  about  $20,000;  to  John 
Whitehead  for  the  time  and  pains  bestowed  in  the  selec- 
tion, purchase  and  arrangement  of  books,  and  preparation 
of  the  catalogue;  and  to  William  S.  Babbitt,  the  efficient 
secretary  of  the  institution. 

Oil  portraits  of  Messrs.  King  and  Blatchly,  painted  by 
J.  Alden  Weir,  have  recently  been  placed  in  the  library 
by  friends  of  the  institution. 

From  the  last  annual  report  we  take  the  following: 
Total  number  of  accounts  during  the  year,  332;  volumes 
in  library,  8,280;  added  during  the  year,  557;  issued 
during  the  year,  14,078;  visits  to  the  reading  room, 
11,170;  more  recent  additions  make  the  present  number 
of  volumes  about  10,000. 


MASONIC  LODGES  AT  MORRISTOWN— FEMALE  CHARITABLE  SOCIETY. 


157 


The  board  of  directors  consists  of  William  L.  King, 
president;  John  Whitehead,  vice-president;  W.  S.  Bab- 
bitt, secretary;  John  E.  Taylor,  treasurer;  Henry  C. 
Pitney,  Alfred  Mills,  Theodore  Little,  Aurelius  B.  Hull, 
Samuel  Eddy. 

The  board  was  increased  in  June  1879  from  seven 
members  to  nine,  the  present  number.  At  the  same  time 
the  capital  stock  vi^as  increased  from  ^50,000  to  $100,000. 

LODGES    AND    SOCIETIES. 

FREE  AND  ACCEPTED  MASONS. 

Cincinnati  Lodge,  No.  3. — The  "American  Union 
Lodge  " — an  army  lodge — had  its  warrant  granted  Feb- 
ruary 15th  1776  by  Colonel  Richard  Gridley,  deputy 
grand  master  of  Massachusetts,  to  certain  brethren  of  the 
"Connecticut  line.''  At  the  close  of  the  year  1779  it 
was  located  with  Washington's  army  at  this  place. 

On  the  27th  of  December  1779  a  meeting  of  the  above 
named  lodge  was  held  to  celebrate  the  festival  of  St. 
John  the  Evangelist;  and  the  record  shows  the  presence 
of  sixty-eight  brethren,  including  General  Washington. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  Lafayette  was  initiated  at  this 
meeting. 

It  is  very  commonly  stated  that  General  Washington 
was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  masonry  while  in  camp 
here,  and  the  room  in  the  old  Arnold  tavern  where  the 
ceremony  of  initiation  took  place  is  pointed  out.  Truth 
compels  us  to  disturb  this  pleasant  local  tradition.  Gen- 
eral Washington  was  a  mason  previous  to  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  The  books  of  Freder- 
icksburg Lodge,  No.  4,  have  the  following  entries:  "  Nov. 
6th  1752. — Received  George  Washington;  his  entrance 
^2  3s."  "March  3d  1753. — George  Washington  passed 
fellow-craft."  "Aug.  4th  1753.— At  a  meeting  of  Fred- 
ericksburg Lodge,  No.  4,  transactions  of  the  evening  are: 
George  Washington  raised  Master  Mason;  F.  P.  Willford, 
W.  M.;  R.  S.  Chew,  S.  W.;  C.  B.  Willford,  J.  W."  While 
in  Morristown  steps  were  taken  by  the  members  of  the 
American  Union  Lodge  for  the  appointment  of  a  grand 
master  over  all  the  colonies,  and  it  was  signified  by  the 
committee  having  the  matter  in  charge  that  General 
Washington  was  their  choice  for  general  grand  master. 
Nothing,  however,  ever  grew  out  of  it,  each  State  after- 
ward establishing  a  grand  lodge  of  its  own,  presided  over 
by  a  separate  grand  master. 

On  December  i8th  1786  a  convention  of  master  ma- 
sons was  held  at  New  Brunswick  for  the  purpose. of  es- 
tablishing the  grand  lodge  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
At  a  communication  held  at  New  Brunswick  January 
30th  1787  a  dispensation  was  granted  for  three  months 
to  certain  master  masons  to  open  a  lodge  at  Morristown, 
to  be  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  4. 
On  the  2nd  of  April  1787  the  dispensation  was  canceled, 
and  a  warrant  issued  by  the  grand  lodge,  which  warrant 
was  subsequently  (on  the  sth  of  July  1796)  returned  on 
account  of  the  non-attendance  of  members. 

A  warrant  was  issued  November  loth  1812  to  twelve 
master  masons  to  open  and  hold  a  lodge  at   this  place, 


under  the  name  St.  Tammany's  Lodge,  but  this  was  also 
returned  after  a  few  years. 

On  the  Sth  of  November  1803  a  warrant  was  granted  to 
James  Burras,  W.  M.;  Wm.  Bailey,  S.  W.;  and  John 
Sturtevant,  J.  W.,  to  hold  a  lodge  at  Montville,  in  this 
county,  to  be  called  "  Cincinnati  Lodge,  No.  17,"  No- 
vember nth  1806  permission  was  granted  by  the  grand 
lodge  to  change  the  place  of  meeting  to  Hanover  (Whip- 
pany),  where  it  continued  to  meet  until  December  26th 
1844,  when  it  was  removed  to  Morristown,  under  dispen- 
sation of  the  M.  W.  grand  master.  The  number  of  the 
lodge   was  changed  from  17  to  3  November  8th  1842. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  W.  masters  of  the  lodge 
since  its  organization: 

1803,  1804,  James  Burras;  1805-8,  John  T.  Bentley; 
1809-14,  Jeptha  B.  Munn;  1815-18,  Abraham  Reynolds; 
1819,  John  S.  Darcy;  1820-22,  William  Scott;  1823,  1824, 
Royal  Hopkins;  1825,  1826,  James  Quinby;  1827,  William 
McFarland;  1828,  Stephen  Fairchild;  1829-34,  1842-45, 
1848,  1849,  James  Clark;  1835-37,  1846,  George  Vail; 
1838,  Albert  G.  Hopping;  1847,  185 1,  1854,  Jabez  Beers; 
1850,  W.  C.  Mott;  1852,  1853,  Davis  Vail;  1855,  1856, 
Thus.  B.  Flagler;  1857,  Wm.  H.  James;  1858,  1859,  Job  J. 
Lewis;  1860-63,  John  S.  Stiger;  1864,  1865,  Alanson  A. 
Vance;  1866,  1867,  1869,  1876,  James  V.  Bentley;  1868, 
Chas.  H.  Dalrymple;  1870,  Roswell  B.  Downing;  1871, 
Henry  M.  Dalrymple;  1872,  Richard  M.  Stites;  1873, 
Jacob  O.  Arnold;  1874,  Eratus  D.  Allen;  1875,  John  W. 
Hays;  1877,  James  W.  Carrell;  1878,  1879,  Wm.  Becker 
jr.;    1880,  1881,  Sidney  W.  Stalter. 

THE    FEMALE    CHARITABLE    SOCIETY 

of  Morristown  was  organized  on  the  13th  of  August 
1813.  Mrs.  Samuel  Fisher,  wife  of  the  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  was  first  directress,  Mrs. 
Israel  Canfield  second  directress,  Mrs.  Arden  treasurer, 
and  Miss  A.  M.  Smith  secretary.  The  board  of  mana- 
gers were  Mrs.  Mills,  Mrs.  Ford,  Mrs.  Phoenix,  Mrs. 
Edwards,  Mrs.  Mann  and  Mrs.  Vail.  Mrs.  Silas  John- 
son succeeded  Mrs.  Fisher  as  first  directress,  but  re- 
signed the  office  at  the  end  of  two  years,  and  Mrs 
McDowell  was  chosen  in  her  place. 

In  the  year  1830  Mrs.  George  P.  McCuUoch  was  elected 
first  directress  of  the  society,  and  she  remained  its 
honored  and  beloved  head  for  nearly  thirty-four  years. 
Mrs.  McCulloch  died  in  1864,  and  Mrs.  George  T.  Cobb 
was  chosen  to  fill  her  place. 

The  semi-centennial  of  the  society  was  held  in  1863. 
At  the  annual  meeting  in  November  1879  Mrs.  Cobb 
resigned  the  presidency  of  the  society  .because  of  ill 
health,  and  Mrs.  J.  W.  Miller  was  elected  first  directress. 
Mrs.  Miller  has  been  a  member  of  the  charitable  society 
sixty  years,  filling  the  various  offices  of  manager,  second 
directress,  etc.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  McCulloch, 
who  for  so  many  years  directed  the  society's  affairs. 

The  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  J.  W.  Miller,  first 
directress;  Mrs.  Albert  Erdman,  second  directress;  Mrs. 
R.  W.  Stevenson,  secretary;  Mrs.  Eugene  Ayers,  treas- 
urer; board  of  managers— Mrs.  L.  N.  Hitchcock,  Mrs. 
Henry  Shaw,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Ward,  Mrs.  Theodore  Little, 
Mrs.  H.  C.  Pitney,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Lord,  Miss  Benson,  Mrs. 
F.  G.  Burnham,  Miss  Rowe,  Mrs.  S.  F.  Headley,  Mi.  s 


158 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Watson,  Mrs.  G.  Werts;  honorary  managers — Mrs.  R.  N. 
Merritt,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Green,  Mrs.  Chadwell,  Mrs.  Bowman. 
The  society  distributed  during  the  past  year  $616.82 
in  charities. 

ODD    FELLOWS. 

Roxiticus  Lodge  of  I.  O.  of  O.  F.  was  instituted  Sep- 
tember nth  1849  and  continued  to  1863.  It  was  re- 
organized in  March  187 1,  and  is  still  in  existence.  We 
judge  that  it  is  quite  unappreciative  of  the  importance  of 
its  history  to  after  generations,  as  we  made  not  less 
than  six  applications  to  it,  but  all  in  vain,  for  whatever 
is  worthy  of  record  in  its  past  and  present  existence.  We 
regret  this  for  the  sake  of  those  unborn  generations. 

Its  present  officers  are:  N.  G.,  Alfred  M.  Armstrong; 
V.  G.,  Edward  Cobbett;  secretary,  Charles  R.  Lindsley; 
treasurer,  John  McGowan;  district  deputy  of  Morris 
county,  William  Lewis.  The  present  number  of  members 
is  50. 

The  lodge  meets  Wednesday  nights  in  the  Bell  build- 
ing. 

GRAND    ARMY    OF    THE    REPUBLIC. 

The  first  post  of  the  grand  army  in  Morristown  was 
organized  September  3d  1868,  and  was  known  as  Phil. 
Sheridan  Post,  No.  18,  Department  N.  J.,  G.  A.  R. 
The  name  was  afterward  changed  to  Ira  J.  Lindsley 
Post,  No.  18,  in  honor  of  Captain  Ira  J.  Lindsley,  Com- 
pany C  isth  N.  J.  volunteers,  who  fell  in  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  May  3d  1863.  The  officers  of  the 
post  were:  Commander,  Samuel  J.  Hopkins;  S.  V.  C, 
James  M.  Brown;  J.  V.  C,  Heyward  G.  Emmell;  adju- 
tant, George  W.  Uerrickson;  quartermaster,  Ellis  T. 
Armstrong;  S.  M.,  Charles  P.  Case;  Q.  M.  S.,  John 
Moreland. 

The  post  surrendered  its  charter  in  1874. 

Winfield  Scott  Post,  No.  24,  was  organized  July  14th 
1879.  The  name  of  the  post  was  changed  on  the  death 
of  General  Torbett  to  A.  T.  A.  Torbett  Post,  No.  24, 
G.  A.  R.,  there  being  a  large  number  of  his  old  brigade 
members  of  the  post.  The  present  officers  are:  Com- 
mander, Heyward  G.  Emmell;  S.  V.,  William  S.  Earls; 
J.  v.,  James  Shawger;  surgeon,  Stephen  Pierson,  M.  D.; 
chaplain,  Theodore  Searing;  adjutant,  L.  P.  Hannas; 
quartermaster,  William  Becker  jr.;  officer  of  the  day, 
Edward  Cobbett;  officer  of  the  guard,  Alonzo  Hedden; 
Q.  M.  S.,  George  Pierson;  S.  M.,  E.  A.  Doty. 

The  post  numbers  about  fifty  men. 

women's   EMPLOYMENT    SOCIETY. 


This  society  was  organized  in  1873,  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  poor  and'  worthy  women  in  town  by  giving  to 
them  such  work  as  they  could  perform  and  paying  them 
a  generous  price  for  it.  It  was  designed  thus  to  culti- 
vate a  proper  self-respect  among  the  poor,  and  remove 
the  pauperizing  influence  of  alms-giving.  In  this  respect 
the  society  has  done  an  excellent  work.  According  to 
the  last  annual  report  it  paid  out  for  work  during  the 
year  over  $700,   and   sold  garments  to   the  amount  of 


nearly  f8oo.  Its  total  receipts  for  the  year  ending 
November  ist  1880  were  $1,338.66,  and  expenditures 
$1,288.81. 

The  officers  are:  First  directress,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Hunt; 
second  directress,  Mrs.  P.  C.  Barker;  treasurer,  Mrs.  E. 
C.  Lord;  secretary.  Miss  J.  E.  Dodge;  managers — Mrs. 
W.  E.  Bailey,  Miss  Benson,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Colics,  Mrs.  J. 
Smith  Dodge,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Ford,  Mrs.  Hillard,  Miss  M. 
Lord,  Mrs.  R.  W.  Lyon,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Miller,  Mrs.  Henry 
Shaw,  Mrs.  George  Vail,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Ward;  honorary 
manager,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Miller. 

YOUNG    men's   christian    ASSOCIATION. 

For  a  number  of  years  before  the  organization  of  this 
association  its  various  branches  of  work  (including  read- 
ing-room) were  carried  on  by  the  young  men  of  the  two 
Presbyterian  churches.  The  reading-room  was  over  the 
store  of  W.  S.  Babbitt.  The  expenses  of  this  organiza- 
tion were  jointly  borne  by  the  churches  just  named. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  had  its  rise  in 
a  preliminary  conference  of  young  men  of  the  different 
churches  at  a  private  house  in  December  1873.  This 
led  to  the  formal  organization  of  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  on  the  2nd  of  January  1874,  in  the  Bap- 
tist Church  of  Morristown.  On  that  occasion  over  100 
men  assembled  and  61  members  were  enrolled. 

The  presidents  of  the  organization  have  been  as  fol- 
lows: J.  V.  Bentley,  Wm.  E.  Church,  Frederick  Wooster 
Owen,  Jonathan  W.  Roberts,  George  E.  Voorhees,  James 
P.  Sullivan  and  John  Edward  Taylor,  the  present  incum- 
bent; vice-presidents,  Isaac  R.  Pierson,  Wm.  E.  Church, 
W.  F.  Day,  J.  E.  Parker,  Wm.  D.  Johnson,  Isaac  Pierson 
and  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer.  The  first  recording  secre- 
tary was  M.  W.  Stoll,  the  first  treasurer  the  lamented 
George  L.  Hull.  The  first  executive  committee  consis- 
ted of  Geo.  E.  Voorhees,  J.  J.  Davis,  L.  E.  Miller,  E.  E. 
Marsh,  Isaac  R.  Pierson,  Levi  J.  Johnson,  W.  F.  Day,  J. 
Searing  Johnson,  W.  S.  Babbitt  and  E.  A.  Muir. 

The  year  1876  saw  the  association  initiating  and  suc- 
cessfully concluding  the  scheme  for  freeing  the  African 
M.  E.  church  from  debt.  It  is  a  significant  fact  that 
Morristown  at  large  contributed  through  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
$3,800  for  that  purpose,  fully  acquiring  the  church  prop- 
erty and  vesting  its  official  control  in  the  association. 

In  this  same  memorable  year  the  association  held  361 
prayer  meetings  in  Morristown  and  vicinity,  induced  the 
citizens  to  feed  the  poor  on  Thanksgiving  day  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $200,  prepared  the  way  for  the  "  mission 
chapel"  movement,  and  distributed  loo  Bibles  and  about 
1,500  tracts. 

In  1877  the  association  became  an  incorporated  body. 
In  January  i88o  the  "coffee-room  and  gymnasium  "  and 
"  evening  school "  movements  were  inaugurated,  and 
they  have  proved  highly  successful.  The  committee  in 
charge  of  the  former  was  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer,  T.  B. 
Nutting  and  J.  E.  Parker;  of  the  latter,  J.  H.  Van  Doren, 
W.  L.  R.  Haven,  S.  Moore  and  Theodore  Little. 

The  receipts  of  the  association  during  the  year  1880 
were  $1,  589.58;  the  expenditures  $909.32. 


ASSOCIATrONS  AT  MORRISTOWN— THE  GREEN. 


159 


The  officers  during  the  year  1881  were-  J.  E.  Taylor, 
president;  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer,  vice-president;  W.  S. 
Mulford,  corresponding  secretary;  U.  H.  Rodney,  re- 
cording secretary;  H.  T.  Hull,  treasurer;  executive  com- 
mittee— J.  H.  Van  Doren  (chairman),  George  G.  Ely 
(secretary),  William  K.  Norris,  George  W.  Colles,  William 
Lewis,  George  N.  Yates,  I.  R.  Voorhees,  William  S. 
Babbitt,  W.  F.  Day,  T.  B.  Nutting  jr.,  Lansing  Furman. 
Charles  A.  Edwards,  J.  D.  Guerin;  devotional  committee 
— Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  (chairman),  Truman  H.  Scott 
secretary),  (T.  B.  Nutting  jr.,  James  Welsh,  Isaac  R. 
Pierson,  William  D.  Johnson,  P.  H.  Hoffman,  H.  H. 
Fairchild,  Walter  N.  Coriell;  corporation — F.  W.  Owen 
(president),  I.  R.  Pierson  (secretary),  H.  T.  Hull  (treas- 
urer), J.  E.  Taylor,  George  E.  Voorhees,  P.  H.  Hoffman, 
W.  F.  Day,  A.  A.  Schenck,  William  D.  Johnson,  George 
Yates. 

THE   MORRISTOWN     LYCEUM 

was  organized  in  September  1879,  having  previously  ex- 
isted for  a  few  years  as  a  debating  society  under  the 
name  of  "  Young  Men's  Lyceum."  Its  object  was  to 
preserve  the  best  features  of  the  debating  society,  to  add 
a  reading  room  for  newspapers  etc.,  a  course  of  lectures, 
and  other  literary  entertainments. 

The  first  officers  were:  President,  Paul  Revere;  vice- 
president,  E.  A.  Quayle;  treasurer,  W.  B.  Wood;  record- 
ing secretary,  Mahlon  Pitney;'  corresponding  secretary, 
F.  Schraudenbach. 

The  office  of  president  has  since  been  filled  by  W.  W. 
Cutler,  C.  F.  Randolph  and  J.  B.  Vreeland. 

The  present  board  of  officers  is  as  follows:  President, 
J.  B.  Vreeland;  vice-president,  W.  B.  Wood;  recording 
secretary,  H.  Hillard;  corresponding  secretary,  W.  P. 
Fennell;  treasurer,  A.  W.  Bell;  members  of  executive 
committee— T.  C.  Bushnell,  W.  W.  Cutler. 

The  meetings  are  held  on  Monday  evening,  during  the 
winter.  A  commodious  and  well-furnished  room  in  the 
library  building  is  the  place  of  meeting.  A  course  of 
lectures  has  been  given  each  year,  and  a  public  debate 
held  just  prior  to  adjournment  for  the  summer. 

"THE    MORRISTOWN    GREEN." 

In  the  year  1771  (September  7th)  "  the  trustees,  Henry 
Primrose,  Benjamin  Bayles,  Benjamin  Cox,  Samuel  Rob- 
erts, Joseph  Stiles,  Samuel  Tuthill  and  Stephen  Conkling, 
in  consideration  of  ;£5  and  also  for  and  in  consideration 
that  the  justices  and  freeholders  of  iVEorris  county  and 
successors  do  constantly  and  continually  keep  full  and  in 
passable  repair  that  part  of  the  hereafter  mentioned  lot 
of  land  commonly  called  the  Gully  "  (a  portion  of  the 
present  "  Green  "),  deeded  "  one  acre,  strict  measure,  for 
the  sole  use  and  purpose  of  a  court-house,  gaol,"  etc- 
This  deed  specifies  "that  if  the  court-house  aforesaid 
shall  be  removed  to  any  other  place  then  this  indenture 
and  everything  herein  contained  to  be  void,  and  title  to 
the  aforesaid  lot  of  land  to  revert  to  said  Henry  Prim- 
rose," etc. 

About  1816  the  project  of  inclosinT  the  remainder  of 


the  land  now  embraced  in  the  park  for  the  purposes  of  a 
common  was  mooted.  It  was  owned  by  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church.  An  old  surveyor  by  the  name  of  Ed- 
ward Condict,  however,  laid  claim  to  it  as  unlocated 
land.  Finally  he  was  induced  to  forego  his  claim  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  the  church  was  ready  to  sell  the  land  for 
a  green  to  certain  citizens.  The  price  paid  was  f  1,600. 
The  deed  bears  date  of  April  ist  1816.  It  is  signed  by 
John  Mills,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  by 
those  who  had  subscribed  to  the  purchase  fund,  with  the 
amounts  given.  These  names  ought  to  be  preserved,  and 
we  consequently  append  them.  The  parties  of  the  sec- 
ond part  were  the  original  subscribers;  those  of  the  third 
part  later  subscribers. 

Parties  of  the  second  part:  Daniel  Phoenix,  $100; 
Lewis  Mills,  $100;  James  Wood,  $150;  Israel  Canfield, 
$200;  Samuel  Halliday,  $50;  P.  A.  Johnson,  $50;  Henry 
King,  $25;  Ebenezer  H.  Pierson,  $50;  David  Mills,  $25; 
Theodore  F.  Talbot,  $25;  Jonathan  Ogden,  $100;  Syl- 
vester D.  Russell,  $35;  Andrew  Hunt,  $25. 

Parties  of  the  third  part:  William  M.  O'Hara,  fio; 
Henry  P.  Russell,  $30;  the  bank,  Daniel  Phoenix  presi- 
dent, f5o;  Henry  I.  Browne,  $25;  Abm.  C.  Canfield, 
$25;  William  H.  Wetmore,  $25;  Loammi  Moore,  $50; 
Stephen  Halsey,  $5;  William  Dixon,  $50;  Charles  A. 
Pitney,  I5;  Lewis  Hayden,  $50;  Stephen  J.  Ogden,  $35; 
George  K.  Drake,  $ro. 

This  deed  is  recorded  in  Book  O  0  of  deeds,  page 
417,  etc. 

The  deed  provided  ''  that  no  dwelling  house,  store, 
shop  or  barn,  or  any  other  building  of  any  kind  should 
be  thereafter  erected  on  the  aforesaid  green  or  common, 
except  a  meeting-house,  a  court-house  and  jail,  and  a 
market-house."  These  last  specifications  did  not  seem 
so  important  to  the  more  recent  trustees  as  to  those 
whose  names  are  above  recorded.  Accordingly  in  1868 
they  reconveyed  the  property  to  the  trustees  of  the 
church,  who  immediately  transferred  it  back  to  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Green,  with  the  objectionable  specifications 
omitted,  thus  prohibiting  building  of  any  sort  upon  it; 
also  agreeing  when  a  new  church  is  built  to  place  its 
front  line  forty  feet  further  back  than  the  front  line  of 
the  present  edifice. 

The  Green  is  in  shape  a  square,  divided  by  walks  into 
eight  triangles.  It  contains  about  two  and  a  half  acres, 
and  the  distance  around  it  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Around 
this  square  are  situated  the  principal  business  places 
and  three  of  the  churches.  In  the  center  of  the  Green 
are  a  "  liberty  pole  "  and  a  rustic  summer-house  for  the 
band,  and  at  the  northeast  corner  the  soldiers'  monu- 
ment, of  which  notice  is  taken  elsewhere. 

LAFAYETTE'S    VISIT    TO     MORRISTOWN. 

Thursday  the  14th  of  July  1825  was  a  great  day  for 
Morristown  and  vicinity.  Preparations  had  for  a  long 
time  been  makiug  for  it.  As  far  back  as  the  previous 
September  a  pressing  invitation  had  been  extended  to 
General  Lafayette,  "  the  nation's  guest,"  to  visit  this 
place.  The  invitation  had  been  in  due  time  accepted, 
and  the  above  date  appointed  as  the  time  of  the.  visit. 
The  following  large  committee,  consisting  of  the  fore- 


9') 


i6o 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


most  men  of  the  community,  had  been  chosen  to  make 
the  necessary  arrangements:  General  John  Doughty, 
chairman;  Gabriel  H.  Ford,  James  Wood,  James  C.  Can- 
field,  Cornelius  Ludlow,  Colonel  Lemuel  Cobb,  Colonel 
John  H.  Glover,  Joseph  Dickerson  jr.,  Hon.  Mahlon 
Dickerson,  Lawrence  Hager,  Captain  Richard  Reed, 
Abraham  Brittin,  Hon.  Lewis  Condict,  George  K.  Drake, 
Captain  Daniel  C.  Martin,  S.  D.  Russell,  General  John 
S.  Darcy,  Silas  Cook,  Robert  Colfax,  Major  William  Hunt, 
Samuel  Sayre,Colonel  Benjamin  McCurry,Doctor  Jephtha 
B.  Munn,  Lewis  Mills,  Jacob  Mann,  secretary. 

The  arrangements  were  all  completed,  the  stand  was 
erected,  the  speakers  appointed,  the  military  in  readiness 
under  General  Darcy,  the  tables  in  Mr.  Sansay's  long 
room  spread  in  readiness  for  an  epicurean  feast  for  all 
who  could  pay  three  dollars  for  a  dinner  ticket,  while  the 
parlor  of  Mr.  Ogden  (by  whom  General  Lafayette  was 
to  be  entertained  while  here)  was  put  in  readiness  for  the 
ladies  of  the  town  to  whom  the  honored  guest  was  after 
the  dinner  to  be  introduced. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  a  booming  cannon  announced 
his  arrival  at  Whippany;  and  an  hour  later  a  second 
salute  told  the  expectant  throng  that  he  was  approaching 
Morristown.  He  came  accompanied  by  Governor  Wil- 
liamson, Colonel  Ogden  and  William  Halsey,  a  joint 
committee  from  Paterson  and  Morris,  a  deputation  from 
the  committee  of  arrangements  who  met  him  at  Whip- 
pany, and  a  military  escort  of  the  Morris  cavalry,  who  had 
joined  him  at  the  county  line.  He  was  conducted 
through  the  throng  directly  to  the  platform,  where  an, 
address  of  welcome  was  delivered,  to  which  he  briefly 
responded. 

The  band  played,  the  choir  sang  patriotic  airs,  the 
people  cheered,  and  the  general  no  doubt  felt  satisfied 
with  the  reception  which  Morristown  tendered  him, 
honorable  alike  to  himself  and  to  the  people  whose  guest 
he  was. 

THE   SPEEDWELL  WORKS 

were  built  about  1812,  by  Stephen  Vail.  They  were 
closed  shortly  after  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
12th  of  July  1864,  and  have  not  since  been  in  operation. 
Their  importance,  however,  during  the  period  of  their 
activity  warrants  a  somewhat  extended  account.  They 
are  located  a  mile  north  of  the  Morristown  Green.  They 
have  been  the  principal,  and  we  may  say  the  only,  manu- 
facturing interests  in  the  town. 

THE    VAIL    INVENTIONS. 

Speedwell  may  be  called  the  home  of  the  electro-mag- 
netic telegraph.  The  following  letter  from  Prof.  Morse 
has,  we  believe,  never  before  been  published: 

"  New  York,  November  25th  1862. 
"  My  Dear  Sir: 

"Your  favor  of  the  21st  inst.  is  this  moment  received. 
On  the  subject  upon  which  you  request  some  observa- 
tions I  would  say  that  I  well  remember  the  trials  made 
at  Speedwell  of  the  operations  of  the  telegraph.  The 
date,  January  6th  1838,  I  believe  to  be  correct  in  regard 
to  those  experiments.    In  1835  the  telegraph  was  operated 


in  my  rooms  in  the  university,  but  with  only  a  short  line 
of  wire.  Your  nephew,  Alfred  Vail,  was  shown  my  ex- 
periments in  1837,  he  being  then  a  student  in  the 
university,  and  he  took  from  that  time  a  strong  interest 
in  the  invention,  and  became  associated  with  me  in  labors 
and  expenses  and  profits  of  the  invention.  Through  this 
interest  of  Mr.  Alfred  Vail  I  was  furnished  with  the  pe- 
cuniary means  to  procure  a  greater  length  of  wire  and 
more  effective  instruments,  which  were  made  under  my 
superintendence  at  Speedwell.  Ten  miles  of  wire,  in  two 
spools  of  five  miles  each,  were  prepared  at  the  university 
to  exhibit  to  Congress  the  operations  of  the  telegraph  at 
Washington,  and  the  trial  at  Speedwell  was  made  when 
about  three  miles  of  the  wire  had  been  completed.  You 
will  see  in  Mr.  Alfred  Vail's  work,  "  The  American 
Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph,"  at  pages  74  and  75,  the  re- 
sults of  an  experiment  on  a  short  wire  of  1,700  feet,  which 
I  made  on  the  4th  of  September  1837,  in  the  university; 
but  the  line  of  about  three  miles  at  Speedwell  was  the 
longest  which  at  that  time  had  been  used. 
"  Yr.  mo.  ob.  sert., 

"Sam'l  F.  B.  Morse." 
"  To  Dr.  William  P.  Vail, 

"Johnsonburg,  N.  Jersey." 

On  the  nth  of  January  1838,  five  days  after  the  trial 
above  mentioned  was  made,  the  public  was  permitted  to 
see  the  wonderful  performance,  when  hundreds  came 
from  the  surrounding  country  to  witness  it. 

It  is  in  point  here  to  state  that  the  public  has  never 
done  justice  to  Alfred  Vail  for  the  part  he  took  in  this 
great  enterprise  of  giving  the  telegraph  to  the  worl'd. 
Nor  did  Prof.  Morse  himself  pursue  that  generous  course 
toward  him  which  Mr.  Vail  had  the  right  to  expect.  He 
claimed,  or  at  least  allowed  himself  to  receive,  all  the 
honor  of  the  inventions  of  Mr.  Vail,  which  the  latter  ab- 
stained from  claiming,  owing  to  a  delicate  sense  of  ob- 
ligation incurred  by  his  contract  with  Prof.  Morse,  "to 
devote  his  personal  services  and  skill  in  constructing  and 
bringing  to  perfection  as  also  in  improving  the  mechan- 
ical parts  of  said  invention,  *  *  *  without  charge 
for  such  personal  services  to  the  other  proprietors,  and 
for  their  common  benefit." 

Alfred  Vail  first  produced  in  the  new  instrument  the 
first  available  Morse  machine.  He  invented  the  first 
combination  of  the  horizontal  lever  motion  to  actuate  a 
pen  or  pencil  or  style,  and  the  entirely  new  telegraphic 
alphabet  of  dots,  spaces  and  marks,  which  it  necessitated. 
The  new  machine  was  Vail's,  not  Morse's.  To  Alfred 
Vail  alone  is  due  the  honor  in  the  first  place  of  inventing 
an  entirely  new  alphabet;  secondly,  of  inventing  an  en- 
tirely new  machine,  in  which  was  the  first  combination 
of  the  horizontal  lever  motion  to  actuate  a  pencil  or  pen 
style,  so  arranged  as  to  perform  the  new  duties  required 
with  precision,  simplicity  and  rapidity;  and,  thirdly,  of 
inventing,  in  1844,  the  new  lever  and  .  grooved  roller, 
which  embossed  into  paper  the  simple  and  perfect  alpha- 
betical characters  which  he  had  originated. 

Space  forbids  adducing  proofs  of  the  above  claims; 
for  them  we  would  refer  those  interested  to  the  follow- 
ing works,  where  they  will  find  the  claims  abundantly 
substantiated. 

"  Up  the  Heights  of  Fame  and  Fortune,"  by  F.  B. 
Read,  8vo.  Cincinnati,  1873. 


INVENTIONS  BY  ALFRED  AND  STEPHEN  VAIL. 


i6i 


New  York  Sun  for  September  z5th  1858;  an  article  by 
its  editor,  Moses  S.  Beach. 

Scribner's  Hours  at  Home, 'SiZ'^X.zmhe.x  \Z(>()\  an  article 
by  Dr.  William  P.  Vail. 

A  pamphlet  entitled  "  History  Getting  Right  on  the 
Invention  of  the  American  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph," 
1872. 

An  Historical  Sketch  of  Henry's  Contribution  to  the 
Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph,  etc.;  by  William  B.  Taylor 
(from  the  Smithsonian  Report  for  1878),  Washington; 
Government  Printing  Ofifice,  1879;  pages  84-87. 

From  the  last  named  work  we  quote  the  concluding 
paragraph  (p.  87):  "Surely  it  is  time  that  Alfred  Vail 
should  receive  the  tardy  justice  of  some  public  acknowl- 
edgment of  his  very  ingenious  and  meritorious  inven- 
tions in  telegraphy,  and  of  grateful  remembrance  par- 
ticularly for  his  valuable  contribution  to  the  '  Morse 
system  '  of  its  practically  most  important  element." 

Mr.  Vail  died  January  i8th  1859.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
directors  of  the  Magnetic  Telegraph  Company,  held  at 
Philadelphia  on  the  i6th  of  February  1859,  ifor  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  expression  to  their  feelings  in  view  of  his 
death,  the  Hon.  Amos  Kendall  said:  "If  justice  be  done 
the  name  of  Alfred  Vail  will  forever  stand  associated 
with  that  of  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse  in  the  history  of  the  in- 
vention and  introduction  into  use  of  the  electro-magnetic 
telegraph.  Mr.  Vail  was  one  of  the  most  honest  and 
scrupulously  conscientious  men  with  whom  it  has  ever 
been  my  fortune  to  meet." 

Mr.  Read  in  his  book  already  mentioned  relates  a  con- 
versation between  a  friend  of  Mr.  Vail  and  Professor 
Morse  during  the  last  sickness  of  the  latter,  in  March 
1872.  "  In  a  conversation  of  two  hours,"  says  this  friend 
of  Mr.  Vail,  "  he  [Professor  Morse]  several  times  said, 
'  The  one  thing  I  want  to  do  now  is  justice  to  Mr.  Vail' 
*  *  *  Just  four  weeks  from  that  day  he  passed  from 
earth;  and  I  have  never  heard  that  he  left  one  word  for 
it.  Indeed,  I  did  not  expect  that  he  would."  To  this 
statement  Mr.  Read  adds:  "  Here  we  leave  Professor 
Morse  and  his  relations  to  Alfred  Vail.  Our  only  pur- 
pose has  been  simply  to  bring  the  facts  concerning  this 
wonderful  invention  to  the  light  of  day." 

On  March  3d  1843,  one  minute  before  midnight  and 
the  adjournment  of  Congress,  the  "  telegraph  bill  "passed 
the  Senate,  having  already  been  acted  upon  by  the  lower 
house.  Prof.  Morse,  utterly  discouraged  and  wearied 
out  by  his  anxiety,  had  gone  to  his  lodgings,  having  given 
up  all  hope,  as  at  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  nearly  a  hun- 
dred bills  still  remained  upon  the  docket.  The  next 
morning,  as  he  was  about  to  sit  down  to  breakfast,  the 
servant  announced  that  a  young  lady  desired  to  see  him 
in  the  parlor.  It  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  L.  Ells- 
worth, a  college  classmate  of  Prof.  Morse.  She  had 
called  at  her  father's  request  to  announce  the  passage  of 
the  telegraph  bill.  As  an  appropriate  acknowledgment 
of  her  kindness  and  sympathy  Prof.  Morse  promised  that 
the  first  message  by  the  first  line  of  telegraph  between 
Washington  and  Baltimore  should,  be  indited  by  her. 
When  the  line  between  these  two  cities  was  completed  he 


apprised  her  of  his  readiness  to  comply  with  his  promise. 
A  note  from  her  enclosed  these  words:  "'  What  hath  God 
wrought."  And  this  was  the  first  dispatch  sent  over  the 
electro-magnetic  telegraph,  the  date  being  Monday  May 
27th  1844.  Alfred  Vail  was  the  operator  at  the  Wash- 
ington station,  and  H.  J,  Roger  at  Baltimore.  The  only 
one  remaining  of  these  two  original  instruments  has  been 
until  recently  preserved  at  the  "  Headquarters  "  in  Mor- 
ristown,  and  is  now  at  the  Metropolitan  Museum,  New 
York  city. 

An  item  from  Dr.  William  P.  Vail  may  not  be  out  of 
place  in  this  connection: 

"Allow  me  to  call  attention  to  a  matter  which  deserves 
a  place  in  the  History  of  Morris  County.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  this  century  Jeremiah  H.  Pierson,  of  Ramapo, 
N.  J.,  started  the  first  nail  factory  in  the  United  States, 
and  the  first  cut  nail  ever  made  in  this  country  was  made 
there.  Stephen  Vail,  then  a  very  young  man  and  a  born 
mechanic,  who  could  understand  a  machine  at  sight, 
heard  of  this  strange  thing  and  he  longed  to  see  it. 
Accordingly  he  went  to  Ramapo,  but  how  to  get  the 
coveted  sight  was  the  question,  as  it  was  against  the  law 
of  the  establishment  to  admit  spectators.  However  by 
some  means  he  found  his  way  inside,  in  the  character  of 
an  unskilled,  curious  country  boy,  and  wandered  around 
in  apparently  stupid  wonder  at  what  he  saw.  At  length 
Mr.  Pierson,  who  had  just  come  into  the  factory,  saw  the 
country  lad  intently  looking  at  the  cut  nail  machine. 
Instantly  waving  a  bandana  handkerchief,  he  beckoned 
him  to  the  entrance,  telling  him  very  bluntly  that  he  had 
no  business  there.  Making  an  affectedly  awkward 
a'pology  he  took  his  leave,  but  he  took  that  cut  nail  ma- 
chine away  with  him,  in  his  head.  He  had  seen  enough. 
Not  long  afterward  a  cut  nail  machine  was  at  work  in 
Dover,  Morris  county,  N.  J.  When  Mr.  Pierson  heard 
of  it  for  the  life  of  him  he  couldn't  tell  how  it  got  there. 
Many  years  afterward  Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Vail,  both 
bting  iron  men,  formed  an  acquaintance.  One  day  Mr. 
Vail  asked  Mr.  Pierson  if  he  knew  how  the  nail  factory 
in  Dover  came  to  be  started.  Of  course  Mr.  Pierson 
didn't  know;  whereupon  Mr.  Vail,  who  loved  a  joke  and 
a  hearty  laugh,  told  him  all  about  it,  and  then  they  en- 
joyed the  joke  and  the  laugh  together.  This  history 
Judge  Vail  gave  me  many  years  ago,  and  at  my  request 
he  repeated  it  to  me  a  short  time  before  he  died,  which 
was  in  1864,  at  the  ripe  age  of  84,  still  a  hale,  vigorous 
man." 

FIRST    STEAMSHIP    BOILER    AND    CAST-IRON   PLOW. 

The  fame  of  Speedwell  is  not  confined  to  the  tele- 
graph. It  has  the  honor  of  having  manufactured  the 
first  boiler  for  the  first  steamship  which  crossed  the 
Atlantic. 

The  London  Times  of  June  30th  1819  says:  "The  'Sa- 
vannah,' steam  vessel,  recently  arrived  at  Liverpool  from 
America,  the  first  vessel  of  the  kind  that  ever  crossed  the 
Atlantic,  was  chased  a  whole  day  off  the  coast  of  Ireland 
by  the  '  Kite',  revenue  cruiser  on  the  Cork  station,  which 
mistook  her  for  a  ship  on  fire." 

The  same  paper  on  June  21st  1819  contained  the  fol- 
lowing, credited  to  Marwade's  Comtnercial  Report  of  that 
week  : 

"  Among  the  arrivals  yesterday  at  this  port  we  were 
particularly  gratified  and  astonished  by  the  novel  sight  of 
a  fine  steamship,  which  came  around  at  7^  p.  m.  with- 


162 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


out  the  assistance  of  a  single  sheet,  in  a  style  which  dis- 
played the  power  and  advantage  of  the  application  of 
steam  to  vessels  of  the  largest  size,  being  350  tons  bur- 
den. She  is  called  the  ''Savannah,'  Captain  Rogers,  and 
sailed  from  Savannah,  Georgia,  United  States,  the  26th 
of  May,  and  arrived  in  the  Channel  five  days  since. 
During  the  passage  she  worked  the  engine  eighteen  days. 
Her  model  is  beautiful,  and  the  accommodations  for  pas- 
sengers elegant  and  complete.  She  is  the  first  ship  of 
this  construction  that  has  ever  undertaken  a  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic." 

Some  of  the  lighter  machinery  of  the  "  Savannah  "  was 
made  at  Elizabethtown.  The  heavier  parts  were  made 
at  Speedwell  by  Judge  Stephen  Vail,  the  father  of  Alfred 
Vail.  Dr.  William  P.  Vail,  the  brother  of  Stephen, 
writes  :  "  I  well  remember  seeing  parts  of  it  [the  engine] 
from  time  to  time  loaded  on  wagons  for  the  transporta- 
tion to  Elizabethtown  Point,  there  to  be  shipped  to  New 
York."     This  was  in  1819. 

Tradition  also  says  that  the  first  cast-iron  plow  was 
made  at  Speedwell.  In  answer  to  a  letter  of  inquiry  on 
this  point  Dr.  William  P.  Vail  writes  : 

"  As  to  when,  where,  and  by  whom  the  first  cast-iron 
plow  was  made,  I  can  tell  only  what  I  have  heard  from  an 
honored  relative,  Mr.  Jacob  Johnson,  who  lived  many 
years  an  active,  useful  and  respected  citizen  of  Newark, 
N.  J.,  but  who  was  a  native  of  Morris  county,  N.  J., 
learned  the  trade  of  a  printer  with  Jacob  Mann,  of  Mor- 
ristown,  the  editor  of  the  old  Palladium,  and  who  now 
sleeps  there  in  the  old  cemetery  of  the  First  Presbyter- 
ian church.  He  assured  me  that  his  father,  Mahlon  John- 
son, of  Littleton,  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  was  the  real  in- 
ventor of  the  cast-iron  plow,  which  was  afterward  pa- 
tented by  Freeborn,  of  New  York,  whose  name  it  bore. 
This  statement  I  have  no  doubt  is  altogether  correct." 

It  seems  a  pity  that  after  the  noble  history  of  the 
Speedwell  works  they  should  now  stand  disused  and  for- 
saken. 

BUSINESS  CORPORATIONS. 

BANKS. 

On  the, 17th  of  March  1812  Aaron  Kitchel,  Edward 
Condict,  Jonathan  Ogden,  Charles  Carmichael,  and 
Ebenezer  H.  Pierson,  commissioners,  opened  subscrip- 
tion books  for  the  State  Bank  at  Morris.  The  officers 
were:  President,  Daniel  Phoenix;  directors — John  Res- 
to  (?),  David  Welsh,  Isaac  Southard,  Richard  Hunt,  Wil- 
liam Brittin,  Solomon  Doty;  cashier,  H.  J.  Browne. 

This  bank  continued  business  for  a  number  of  years, 
in  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Park  place  and  Bank 
street,  now  belonging  to  the  estate  of  Aug.  W.  Bell.  It 
finally  went  into  bankruptcy. 

The  same  fate  overtook  the  old  Morris  County  Bank, 
which  for  a  considerable  time  carried  on  a  flourishing 
business  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  F.  S.  Freeman 
as  a  hardware  store.  It  was  incorporated  February  24th 
1836.  The  incorporators  were  Henry  A.  Ford,  Dayton 
I.  Canfield,  George  H.  Ludlow,  Joseph  Jackson,  Richard 
S.  Wood,  James  Wood,  Henry  Hillard,  Jephtha  B.  Munn, 
Silas   Condict,  Timothy  S.  Johnes,  Jonathan  C.  Bonnell, 


George  Vail,  and  William  Brittin.  The  capital  stock  was 
$100,000.  James  Wood  was  the  first  president.  After 
his  death  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Nelson  Wood. 

For  a  long  time  this  was  the  great  bank  of  the  county. 
In  the  financial  troubles  of  1857  it  was  obliged  to  sus- 
pend for  a  while,  but  was  able  to  meet  its  obligations 
in  full.  At  last,  however,  about  1865  or  1866  it  finally 
closed  its  doors. 

National  Iron  Bank. — This  bank  was  started  at  Rocka- 
way  in  1855  or  1856,  under  the  name  of  the  IronBankof 
Rockaway.  It  was  moved  to  Morristown  in  February 
1858.  Its  first  directors  after  the  removal  were  Simeon 
Broadwell  (president),  Horace  Ayers  (cashier),  C.  S.  Hulse, 
Samuel  W.  Corwin,  John  Bates,  James  Holmes,  George  S. 
Corwin,  Francis  Lindly  and  Henry  C.  Pitney.  Its  original 
capital  stock  was  $50,000, which  was  increased  to  $100,000, 
and  again  in  July  1871  to  $200,000,  at  which  figure  it 
still  remains.  Up  to  1865  this  was  a  State  bank,  since 
which  time  it  has  been  a  national  bank.  Mr.  Broadwell 
remained  president  until  1869,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  incumbent.  Mr.  Craig  became  cashier  in 
1861.  In  1870  the  present  banking  house  was  built,  at  a 
cost  (including  lot)  of  $40,000. 

The  present  officers  are  :  President,  Hampton  O. 
Marsh;  cashier,  Daniel  D.  Craig;  directors — Henry  C. 
Pitney,  George  E.  Voorhees,  H.  B.  Stone,  Edmund  D. 
Halsey,  James  S.  Coleman  and  Byram  K.  Stickle. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Morristown  was  organized 
April  4th  1865.  May  27th  1865  authority  was  given  by 
the  controller  of  the  currency  to  commence  the  business 
of  banking.  June  21st  1865  it  commenced  business,  with 
a  capital  of  $100,000.  The  first  board  of  directors  con- 
sisted of  Daniel  Budd,  William  G.  Lathrop,  John 
F.  Voorhees,  J.  Boyd  Headley,  Henry  M.  Olmstead, 
Theodore  Little,  Columbus  Beach,  George  T.  Cobb,  and 
Louis  B.  Cobb.  The  first  officers  were:  Theodore  Little, 
president;  Louis  B.  Cobb,  vice-president;  Joseph  H. 
Van  Doren,  cashier. 

The  present  capital  is  $100,000.  The  directors  are 
Theodore  Little,  Alfred  Mills,  William  G.  Lathrop, 
Charles  H.  Dalrymple,  David  A.  Nicholas,  Charles  E. 
Noble,  Edward  C.  Lord,  Augustus  Crane,  and  Robert  F. 
Oram. 

The  present  officers  are:  Theodore  Little,  president; 
Augustus  Crane,  vice-president;  Joseph  H.  Van  Doren, 
cashier. 

The  bank  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Park  place  and 
Washington  street. 

The  Morristown  Institution  for  Savings  was  incor- 
porated April  9th  1867,  by  George  T.  Cobb,  Austin 
Requa,  Lebbeus  B.  Ward,  Joseph  W.  Ballentine,  Augustus 
W.  Cutler,  Louis  B.  Cobb  and  William  C.  Caskey.  The 
first  deposit  was  made  May  25th  1867.  The  first  officers 
were:  President,  Louis  B.  Cobb;  vice-president,  Joseph 
W.  Ballentine;  secretary  and  treasurer,  J.  B.  Winslow. 

The  present  officers  are:  President,  Charles  E.  Noble; 
vice-president,  William  G.  Lathrop;  counsel,  Thodore 
Little;  treasurer,  D.  A.  Nicholas;  secretary,  E.  E. 
Crowell;     managers— William    G.    Lathrop,    Henry    M. 


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MAPIE  CUTTA&L,  RESIOCUCE   Or  MRS  WILLIAM  H  HOVkLA\ID    ^iOhRISTOWN   VJ 


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RESIDEMCEOK      iVIPii.R.V     W, FAIR  C  .-ILD,  HAMOVEB   ,TP,  MORRIS.,  CO.    N.J 


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MORRISTOWN  BANtCS— GAS  COMPANY— CORPORATE  HISTORY. 


163 


Olmsted,  Robert  F.  Oram,  John  R.  Runyoii,  Augustus 
Crane,  P.  C.  Barker  and  Alfred  Mills. 

The  business  of  the  bank  is  now  being  closed  up.  One 
hundred  cents  on  a  dollar  have  already  been  paid  to 
depositors,  and  there  will  be  a  surplus  of  about  $30,000. 
From  May  25th  1867,  when  the  first,  deposit  was  made, 
to  February  ist  1881,  when  deposits  ceased,  there  were 
deposits  amounting  to  over  $1,520,000.  The  largest 
amount  of  deposits  at  any  one  time  reached  above 
$540,000. 

The  Morris  County  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated 
March  3d  1874,  by  William  L.  King,  Henry  W.  Miller, 
Theodore  Ayers,  George  E.  Voorhees,  Henry  C.  Pitney, 
Thomas  B.  Flagler,  James  A.  Webb  and  Augustus  C. 
Canfield.  Mr.  King  was  elected  president  and  John  B. 
Byram  secretary  and  treasurer  on  the  7th  of  the  same 
month.  Mr.  King  was  president  until  the  ist  of  January 
1881.  Mr.  Byram  still  occupies  the  position  to  which  he 
was  first  elected.  The  president  is  Henry  W.  Miller; 
vice-president,  Aur.eliuS  B.  Hull;  managers — Augustus  C. 
Canfield.  Aurelius  B.  Hull,  Henry  C.  Pitney,  Charles  Y. 
Swan,  George  E.  Voorhees,  Philip  H.  Hoffman,  James  S. 
Coleman  and  Hampton  O.  Marsh. 

The  deposits  were  about  $200,000  until  February  ist 
1881,  when  the  Morristown  Institution  for  Savings  began 
to  wind  up  its  business,  since  which  time  they  have  in- 
creased until  at  present  (September  ist  1881)  they  are 
$500,000. 

THE    MORRISTOWN    GAS   LIGHT    COMPANY 

was  chartered  February  19th  1855,  Messrs.  John  F. 
Voorhees,  William  N.  Wood,  Albert  H.  Stanburrough, 
Augustus  W.  Cutler  and  George  T.  Cobb  being  the  in- 
corporators. The  first. gas  was  not  made  until  October 
1859.  The  business  of  the  company  has  so  increased  that 
it  has  been  necessary  to  augment  the  capital  stock  to  $40,- 
000.  Most  of  the  stores  and  the  more  opulent  private 
houses  have  discarded  the  lamp  for  the  safer,  more 
pleasant  and  more  brilliant  gas.  In  1874  the  receipts  of  the 
company  was  $17,628,  the  price  of  gas  being  $4.50  per 
thousand  feet.  In  1875  the  receipts  were  $17,347,  the 
price  being  $4  per  thousand.  Seventy  street  lamps  are 
supplied  with  gas  and  light  the  town  at  night.  The  gas 
works  are  at  the  corner  of  Water  and  Spring  streets. 

January  ist  1879  the  price  was  again  reduced,  being 
now  $3  per  thousand  feet.  The  gross  receipts  for  1880 
were  $14,650. 

The  present  officers  of  the  company  are:  President,  E. 
B.  Woodruff,  M.  D.;  secretary  and  treasurer,  Edward 
Pierson;  directors— E.  B.  Woodruff,  M.  D.,  H.  B.  Stone, 
E.  D.  Halsey,  James  R.  Voorhees,  Samuel  Pierson,  M.  D. 

MORRISTOWN'S  MUNICIPAL   HISTORY. 

The  act  to  incorporate  Morristown  was  approved  April 
6th  1865.     The  city  limits  are  as  follows: 

'^  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  New  Jersey,  That  all  that  tract  of  land  situ- 
ate lying  and  being  within  the  limits  and  boundaries 
hereinafter  mentioned  and  described— that  is  to  say:  be- 


ginning on  the  Basking  Ridge  road,  at  and  including  the 
house  of  Joseph  Thomson;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to' 
the  New  Vernon .  road,  to  and  including  the  house  of 
William  H.  Howland;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the 
Spring  Valley  road,  to  and  including  the  house  formerly 
owned  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Johnson  (and  known  as  the 
Bellevue  House);  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  Madi- 
son road,  to  and  including  the  house  of  John  Sneden; 
thence  in  a  straight,  line  to  the  Whippany  road,  to  and  in- 
cluding the  house  of  Mrs.  Joseph  M.  Lindsley;  thence  in 
a  straight  line  to  the  Horse  Hill  road,  to  and  including 
the  house  of  Mrs.  G.  Meeker;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to 
and  including  the  house  of  E.  Boonen' Graves;  thence  in 
a  straight  line  to  the  Morris  Plains  road,  to  and  includ- 
ing the  house  of  Gordon  Burnham;  thence  in  a  straight 
line  to  the  Walnut  Grove  road,  to  and  including  the 
house  of  Byron  Sherman;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the 
Mendham  road,  to  and  including  the  house  of  Jacob  T. 
Axtell;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning on  the  Busking  Ridge  road,  containing  about  one 
thousand  acres — shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  ordained, 
constituted  and  declared  to  be  a  town  corporate,  and 
shall  henceforth  be  called,  known  and  distinguished  by 
the  name  of  Morristown." 

This  act  was  amended  March  15th  1866  as  follows: 
"  r.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  New  Jersey,  That  the  first  section  of  the  act 
to  which  this  is  a  supplement  shall  be  so  amended  as  to 
include  within  the  boundaries  of  Morristown  the  dwell- 
ing-house of  John  T.  Foote  and  the  dwelling-house  of  J. 
Cowper  Lord;  and  that  next  after  the  words  'Joseph 
Thomson  '  in  said  section  the  words  'thence  in  a  straight 
line  to  New  Vernon  road  '  shall  be  stricken  out,  and  the 
words  '  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  and  including  the 
house  of  John  T.  Foote;  thence  in  a  straight  liiie  across 
the  New  Vernon  road,'  be  inserted;  and  further,  that  the 
words  in  said  section  '  to  and  including  the  house,  of 
Gordon  Burnham'  be  stricken  out,  and  instead  thereof 
the  words  '  to  and  including  the  house  of  J.  Cowper 
Lord'  be  inserted." 

The  city  is  governed  by  a  mayor,  recorder,  two  alder- 
men and  five  common  councilmen — all  unsalaried  offi- 
cers, and  elected  every  two  years.  A  marshal  and  two 
assistants  comprise  the  police  force.  The  other  ap- 
pendages of  local  government  machinery  are  clerk,  treas- 
urer, assessor,  collector,  street  commissioner,  city  sur- 
veyor and  police  justices,  all  of  whom  are  appointed  by 
the  common  council.  The  only  indebtedness  of  the  city 
is  $11,000  fire  bonds. 

On  the  other  hand  the  city  owns  unencumbered  prop- 
erty worth  $35,000.  The  city  tax  levy  for  the  year  end- 
ing April  1st  1881  was  a  little  more  than  $14,000; 

The  following  is  a  register  of  the  several  common 
councils  of  Morristown. 

Council  of  1865  (term  of  office  one  year;  council  elected 
May  8  and  sworn  May  g). — Mayor,  George  T.  Cobb;  re- 
corder, J.  Boyd  Headly;  aldermen — William  C.  Baker, 
Isaac  Bird;  councilmen Edwin  L.  Lounsbury,  Sam- 
uel S.  Halsey,  Silas  D.  Cory,  Victor  Fleury,  Sherwood  S. 
Atno;  clerk  and  treasurer,  James  V.  Bentley. 

Council  of  1866  (term  of  office  made  two  years). — 
Mayor,  George  T.  Cobb;  recorder,  William  C.  Baker,  did 
not  accept;  aldermen — Louis  B.  Cobb,  Isaac  Bird;  coun- 
cilmen— Hampton  O.  Marsh,  Silas  D.  Cory,  Victor 
Fleury,  Sherwood  S.  Atno,  Oswald  J.  Burnett;  clerk  and 
treasurer,  James  V.  Bentley. 

Council  of  1867. — Mayor,  George  T;  Cobb;  recorder, 


164 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Theodore  Ayers;  aldermen — Louis  B.  Cobb,  Jeremiah  F. 
Donaldson ;  councilmen — HamptonO. Marsh, Silas  D.Cory. 

Council  of  1868. — Mayor,  George  T.  Cobb;  recorder, 
Theodore  Ayers;  aldermen — Jeremiah  F.  Donaldson, 
Lewis  D.  Bunn;  councilmen — Oswald  J.  Burnett,  Joseph 
W.  Babbitt,  Victor  Fleury;  clerk  and  treasurer,  James 
V.  Bentley. 

Council  of  xZdcj. — Mayor,  George  T.Cobb;  recorder, 
Theodore  Ayers;  aldermen — Lewis  D.  Bunn,  Oswald  J. 
Burnett;  councilmen — Sidney  W.  Stalter,  William  A. 
Halsted,  Henry  M.  Dalrymple,  Charles  J.  Pierson,  Isaac 
G.  Arnold;  clerk  and  treasurer,  James  V.  Bentley. 

Council  of  iZto. — Mayor,  Samuel  S.  Halsey;  recorder, 
Theodore  Ayers;  aldermen — Oswald  J.  Burnett,  Richard 
Speer;  councilmen — Henry  M.  Dalrymple,  Charles  J. 
Pierson,  William  Y.  Sayre,  Benjamin  O.  Canfield,  George 
H.  Ross;  clerk  and  treasurer,  James  Y.  Bentley. 

Council  of  1871. — Mayor,  Samuel  S.  Halsey;  recorder, 
Henry  W.  Miller;  aldermen,  Richard  Speer,  William  L. 
King;  councilmen — William  Y.  Sayre,  Benjamin  O.  Can- 
field,  George  H.  Ross,  Eugene  Troxell,  Erastus  D.  Allen; 
clerk  and  treasurer,  Francis  R.  Atno;  from  July  18th 
187 1 — Sidney  W.  Stalter,  Elias  T.  Armstrong,  William  A. 
Halsted;  clerk  and  treasurer,  James  V.  Bentley. 

Council  of  1872. — Mayor,  Joseph  W.  Ballentine;  re- 
corder, Henry  W.  Miller;  aldermen — William  L.  King, 
William  C.  Caskey;  councilmen — Eugene  Troxell,  Eras- 
tus D.  Allen,  Edward  E.  Pierson,  Silas  Norris,  James 
Anderson;  clerk  and  treasurer,  Francis  R.  Atno. 

Council  of  1873. — Mayor,  Joseph  W.  Ballentine;  re- 
corder, Henry  W.  Miller;  aldermen,  William  C.  Caskey, 
James  P.  Sullivan;  councilmen — Edward  E.  Pierson, 
Silas  Norris,  James  Anderson,  John  D.  Guerin,  William 
W.  Fairchild;  clerk  and  treasurer,  Edward  C.  Lyon  from 
June  2nd  1873. 

Council  of  1874. — Mayor,  Alfred  Mills;  recorder, 
Henry  W.Miller;  aldermen — James  P.  Sullivan,  John 
Bird;  councilmen — John  D.  Guerin,  William  W.  Fair- 
child,  William  R.  McKay,  George  L.  Hull,  James  S. 
Adams;  clerk  and  treasurer,  John  D.  Canfield  from  June 
5th  1874. 

Coiincil of  \?>i^. — Mayor,  Alfred  Mills;  recorder,  John 
E.  Taylor;  aldermen — John  Bird,  Philip  H.  Hoffman; 
councilmen — William  R.  McKay,  George  L.  Hull,  James 
S.  Adams,  Isaac  G.  Arnold,  Thomas  B.  Pierson;  clerk 
and  treasurer,  John  D.  Canfield. 

Council  of  1876. — Mayor,  Theodore  Ayers;  recorder, 
John  E.  Taylor;  aldermen,  Philip  H.  Hoffman,  James  V. 
Bentley;  councilmen — Isaac  G.  Arnold,  Thomas  B.  Pier- 
son, Charles  E.  Noble,  Charles  H.  Dalrymple,  J.  Searing 
Johnson;  clerk  and  treasurer,  John  D.  Canfield. 

Council  of  1877. — Mayor,  Theodore  Ayers;  recorder, 
George  L.  Hull;  aldermen — James  V.  Bentley,  Julius  A. 
Drake;  councilmen — John  B.  Bryam,  Charles  H.  Dal- 
rymple, J.  Searing  Johnson,  William  R.  McKay,  Charles 
E.  Noble;  clerk  and  treasurer,  John  D.  Canfield. 

Council  of  \%']?>. — Mayor,  Theodore  Ayers;  recorder, 
George  L.  Hull;  aldermen — Julius  A.  Drake,  Daniel  H. 
Leek;  councilmen — John  B.  Bryam,  James  W.  Carrell, 
William  R.  McKay,  Thomas  B.  Pierson,  Louis  A.  Vogt; 
clerk  and  treasurer,  John  D.  Canfield. 

Council  of  1879. — Mayor,  Theodore  Ayers;  recorder, 
James  P.  Sullivan;  aldermen — L.  Dayton  Babbitt,  Daniel 
H.  Leek;  councilmen — James  N.  Coriell,  William  W. 
Fairchild,  John  Hone  jr.,  Thomas  B.  Pierson,  Louis  A. 
Vogt;  clerk  and  treasurer,  Edward  C.  Lyon. 

C"(7Z<««7i2/  1880.— Mayor,  Henry  W.  Miller;  recorder, 
James  P.  Sullivan;  aldermen — L.  Dayton  Babbitt,  George 
W.  Colles;  councilmen — James  N.  Coriell,  John  Hone 
jr.,  John  Thatcher,  Collins  Weir,  Joseph  York;  clerk  and 
treasurer,  Charles  H.  Green. 


Council  of  1881.— Mayor,  Henry  W.  Miller;  recorder, 
Richard  M.  Stites;  aldermen — John  C.  Beatty,  George 
W.  Colles;  councilmen— Charles  McCullum,  John  Thatch- 
er, George  W.  Vreeland,  Collins  Weir,  Joseph  York; 
clerk  and  treasurer,  Charles  H.  Green. 

City  Officers  for  1881. — Manning  Johnson,  assessor; 
Charles  H.  Mulford,  collector;  David  L.  Pierson,  street 
commissioner;  J.  Frank  Johnson,  city  surveyor;  Wil- 
liam J.  Easton,  police  justice;  Thomas  Malley,  marshal; 
Arthur  Hoops,  first  assistant  marshal;  Edward  White- 
head, second  assistant  marshal. 

The  health  board  of  the  city  consists  of  the  mayor, 
one  alderman,  and  one  common  councilman.  The  city 
clerk  acts  as  clerk  of  the  board.  The  marshal's 
duties  include  those  of  health  inspector.  The  board 
appoints  a  health  physician,  who  attends  to  the  needs 
of  the  indigent.  The  salary  of  this  office  is  $300 
per  year.     It  is  now  filled  by  James  C.  Lindsley,  M.  D. 

From  the  annual  report  of  the  controller  of  the  treas- 
ury of  the  State  for  the  year  ending  October  31st  1880 
we  append  the  financial  condition  of  the  township  and 
city  : 

Morris  Township. — Rate  of  tax  for  State  school  pur- 
poses, thirty-four  cents  per  $100  ;  rate  of  tax  for  county 
and  township  purposes,  twenty  cents  per  $100  ;  road, 
fourteen  cents  on  $100  ;  dogs,  forty  cents  per  capita  ; 
amount  of  tax  ordered  to  be  raised,  $37,707.80  ;  annual 
expenses  of  repairing  roads,  $7,000;  poor,  $300;  coun- 
sel's salary,  f  100  ;  elections,  $288  ;  commissioners  of  ap- 
peal $45,  besides  incidental  expenses  arising  as  occasion 
requires,  including  printing,  room  for  committee  meet- 
ings, etc. 

City  of  Morristown. — Amount  of  funded  debt,  $12,- 
000,  at  7  per  cent.,  contracted  for  the  establishment  of 
the  fire  department.  Falls  due,  $1,000  in  1881,  and 
$r,ooo  each  succeeding  year  until  paid.  Rate  of  tax  for 
local  purposes,  twenty-seven  cents  on  $100  ;  amount  of 
tax  ordered  to  be  raised,  $13,041.  In  addition  to  the 
above  the  corporation  of  Morristown  receives  66  per 
cent,  of  the-  road  tax  raised  in  Morris  township, 
amounting  in  1880  to  $4,620,  and  five-sixths  of  the  poor 
tax  raised  in  said  township,  amounting  in  1880  to  $250. 
The  annual  expense  of  police  is  $1,690 ;  board  of 
health,  $850  ;  interest  on  fire  bonds,  $940  ;  discounts, 
$300  ;  street  lamps,  $2,506.50  ;  fire  department,  $2,766  ; 
streets,  $6,858.50  ;  miscellaneous,  $2,100  ;  total  annual 
expense,  $18,011. 

PROMINENT   INSTITUTIONS. 

THE   MINARD    HOME. 

The  late  Abel  Minard  of  Morristown,  in  the  year  1870 
gave  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  a  valuable  property  for  the  purpose  of  affording  a 
christian  home  for: — 

1.  "The  female  children  of  foreign  missionaries  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  so  long  during  their  minority  as  their 
parents  may  be  engaged  in  their  work  as  such  mission- 
aries." 

2.  "  Female  orphans  and  half  orphans  who  are  chil- 
dren of  ministers  of  said  church." 

3.  "Such  other  female  orphans  or  half  orphans  as 
the  trustees  may  designate." 

The  property  consists  of  a  handsome  and  commodious 
brick  building,  in  every  way  adapted  to  the  purposes  for 


THE  MINARD  HOME,  MORRISTOWN— STATE  LUNATIC  ASYLUM. 


165 


which  it  has  been  erected.  The  rooms  are  all  pleasant 
and  airy,  heated  by  steam,  supplied  with  hot  and  cold 
water  and  wellfurnished.  The  property  is  valued  at 
about  |6o,ooo. 

The  Minard  Home  is  not  an  orphanage,  asylum  or 
charity  school,  but  a  home,  where  all  who  are  received  are 
recognized  as  members  of  the  family  of  the  missionary 
in  charge.  The  children  of  missionaries,  by  the  condi- 
tions of  the  donation,  are  entitled  to  its  advantages  first, 
and  the  other  classes  afterward  in  their  order;  the 
trustees  have  decided,  however,  to  admit  the  first  two 
classes  only  to  the  privileges  of  the  institution.  The  de- 
sign is  to  make  the  Home  all  mistionaries  can  desire 
when  they  are  seeking  the  best  place  to  leave  their 
daughters  while  they  are  absent  from  them. 

The  institution  has  been  incorporated  by  the  Legisla- 
ture under  the  corporate  name  of  the  "  The  Minard 
Home  of  Morristown,"  and  is  free  from  taxation  of  a 
sum  not  exceeding  f  100,000.  Its  management  is  vested 
in  a  board  of  eighteen  trustees,  who  are  appointed  quad- 
rennially by  the  General  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

The  Home  is  situated  on  South  street,  below  Madison 
avenue,  and  is  capable  of  accommodating  twenty-five 
wards. 

LUNATIC    ASYLUM. 

The  "  State  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at  Morristown  "  is 
located  about  three  miles  and  a  half  north  from  the  city, 
in  the  township  of  Hanover,  on  a  tract  of  land  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  extent.  It  is  a  massive  structure 
in  lineal  form,  built  of  gneiss,  of  a  light  gray  color, 
resembling  granite  in  solidity  and  texture.  It  was 
erected  by  the  State,  under  the  direction  of  commis- 
sioners appointed  for  the  purpose,  and  cost,  including 
the  lands,  etc.,  about  two  and  a  half  million  dollars. 
Work  on  the  building  was  commenced  in  the  spring  of 
1872,  and  the  building  was  opened  for  the  admission  of 
patients,  quite  complete,  on  the  17th  of  August  1876. 

The  structure  consists  of  a  central  edifice,  six  stories 
high,  and  four  principal  wings  on  either  side,  four  stories 
high,  with  two  at  each  extremity,  two  stories  high.  The 
latter  form,  with  the  fourth  wings  (which  are  at  right 
angles  with  the  first  three),  hollow  squares,  and  are  used 
for  the  more  excited  and  irregular  class  of  patients,  of 
each  sex. 

The  capacity  of  the  building  is  for  eight  hundred  pa- 
tients, together  with  the  resident  officers,  attendants  and 
assistants,  most  of  whom  reside  within  it  constantly. 

The  building  is  formed  to  so  large  an  extent  of  incom- 
bustible materials  that  it  is  practically  fire-proof.  This 
result  is  secured  by  the  use  of  stone  and  brick  in  the 
outer  and  inner  walls,  and  iron  floor  beams,  filled  be- 
tween with  brick  arches;  while  the  roofs  and  stairs  are 
constructed  of  slate,  with  ridges,  gutters,  hips,  valleys  and 
conductors  of  copper. 

Considering  the  great  size  of  the  building,  about  twelve 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  in  a  direct  line;  the  durable 
character  of  the  materials  of  which  it  is  composed,  and 
the  careful  workmanship  throughout,  it  may  be  truly  said 
that  it  has  few  equals  and_perhaps  no  superiors. 


The  center,  or  administrative  building;,  contains  rooms 
for  public  offices,  for  the  accommodation  of  resident 
officers,  a  chapel,  an  amusement  room,  kitchens,  etc. 
The  apartments,  passages,  fixtures,  etc.,  common  to 
the  various  wings  are  as  follows:  Central  corridors, 
with  rooms  on  either  side;  two  flights  of  stairs  of 
slate  near  each  extremity,  front  and  rear;  bedrooms  for 
patients  and  attendants;  dining  rooms  with  china  closets 
and  dumb  waiters;  a  sitting  room,  bath  and  closet  rooms; 
standpipes  for  water,  with  outlets  for  attaching  hose,  to 
be  used  in  case  of  fire  and  for  other  purposes. 

The  building  furnishes  arrangements  for  sixteen  full 
and  twenty  partial  subdivisions  of  each  sex,  which  are 
ample  for  the  classification  of  inmates. 

The  water  supply  is  from  springs  on  the  hillside,  one 
hundred  and  ten  feet  above  the  foundation  of  the  build- 
ing, where  are  located  storage  reservoirs,  with  a  capacity 
of  six  million  gallons.  The  house  is  lighted  by  coal  gas, 
made  on  the  premises,  and  warmed  by  steam  fixtures  of 
approved  arrangement  and  construction,  the  fuel  for 
which  is  delivered  directly  into  coal  vaults  at  the  boiler- 
house  from  cars  brought  over  a  spur  of  road  connecting 
with  the  main  line  at  Morris  Plains  station.  Other  and 
important  auxiliary  arrangements,  buildings,  fixtures  and 
machinery  exist  and  are  in  successful  operation.  Among 
the  most  important  of  these  is  the  boiler-house,  with 
eight  boilers  for  supplying  steam  for  all  purposes — power, 
warming  the  building,  cooking,  ventiliation,  &c.;  a  laun- 
dry with  all  its  departments;  shops  for  wood,  iron  and 
other  work;  also  a  mechanical  bakery,  with  adapted  fix- 
tures and  machinery  for  making  aerated  or  unfermented 
bread. 

It  may  be  added  in  regard  to  the  arrangements  for  the 
latter  object,  that,  so  far  as  is  known,  bread-making  by 
this  process  has  been  done  in  no  institution  except  the 
State  asylums  of  New  Jersey.  This  is  deemed  a  remark- 
able circumstance,  and  particularly  as  it  is  quite  certain 
that  bread  made  by  this  method  is  more  wholesome, 
cleanly  and  economical  than  any  other. 

As  before  stated,  the  building  is  warmed  by  steam 
throughout,  the  radiating  surfaces  being  placed  in  the 
cellar  stories  of  the  corridors  of  the  center  and  wings,  the 
warm  air  in  winter  and  the  cool  air  in  summer  passing 
over  and  through  them,  to  flues  in  the  corridor  walls,  and 
thence  to  all  parts  of  the  building  above.  The  ventila- 
tion is  accomplished  by  the  aid  of  force  and  exhaust 
power;  the  former  being  supplied  by  two  fans,  driven  by 
engines  which  are  duplicated,  and  the  latter  is  effected 
by  the  aid  of  two  upright  shafts  in  each  wing,  heated  by 
steam  coils.  The  course  of  the  foul  air,  in  its  passage 
outward,  is  through  flues  in  the  outer  walls,  the  direction 
from  the  rooms  being  downward,  through  openings  near 
the  floor,  to  horizontal  trunks  in  the  cellar  that  deliver 
the  air  at  the  bottom  of  the  aforesaid  heated  shafts. 

Samuel  Sloan  of  Philadelphia  was  the  architect  of  the 
building.  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  of  Morristown,  was 
superintendent  until  his  appointment  in  New  York  city 
as  commissioner  of  public  works  in  March  1875.  He 
was  succeeded  by  S.  H.  Moore,  of  Newark,  who  died 


1 66 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


after  holding  the  office  a  few  months.  R:  S.  Johnson 
was  contractor  for  masonry  and.  plastering.  Meeker  & 
Hedden,  of  Newark,  superintended  the  carpenter  work. 

The  general  government  of  the  institution  is  vested  in 
a  board  of  managers,  appointed  by  the  governor  and 
Senate;  while  the  daily  administration  of  its  affairs,  in- 
ternal and  external,  is  confided  by  the  managers  to  a 
medical  superintendent,  aided  by  medical  assistants, 
steward,  matron  and  treasurer,  all  but  the  last  being  resi- 
dents of  the  house. 

The  following  are  the  managers  of  the  asylum:  Francis 
S.  Lathrop,  Madison,  president;  Beach  Vanderpool, 
Newark;  Anthony  Reckless,  Red  Bank;  George  A. 
Halsey,  Newark;  William  G.  Lathrop,  Boon  ton;  John 
S.  Read,  Camden;  Joseph  D.  Bedle,  Jersey  City;  Samuel 
S.  Clark,  M.  D.  Belvidere;  Hiram  C.  Clark,  Newton,  sec- 
retary. 

The  resident  officers  are  as  follows:  Superintendent 
and  physician,  H.  A.  Buttolph,  M.  D.  LL.  D;  asistant 
physician,  Edwin  E.  Smith,  M.  D.;  second  assistant 
physician,  Thomas  M.  Lloyd,  M.  D.;  steward,  Martin  B. 
Monroe;  matron.  Miss  Mary  Tabor. 

From  the. fifth  annual  report  to  the  governor  of  the 
State,  dated  November  ist  1880,  we  gain  the  following 
additional  items  of  interest :  There  were  in  the  asylum 
during  the  year  687  patients — 335  males  and  352  females; 
total  number  of  patients  October  31st  1880,  586,  of  whom 
94  were  private.  From  the  opening  of  the  asylum,  August 
17th  1876,  to  the  date  of  the  report  999  received 
treatment — 493  males  arid  506  females;  130  had  died  in 
the  asylum,  35  during  the  year  reported.  The  pro- 
ducts of  the  farm,  garden,  dairy,  and  stock-yard  amounted 
in  the  year  to  over  $10,000.  Total  receipts  for  the  year, 
$142,776.25.     Total  expenditure,  $137,892  67. 

THE   soldiers'    MONUMENT 

stands  on  the  corner  of  the  "  Green "  facing  the  First 
Presbyterian  and  Methodist  Episcopal  churches.  It  was 
"erected  by  the  people  of  Morris  county  to  perpetuate 
the  memory  of  her  soldiers  and  sailors  who  fell  during 
the  great  civil  war."  This  monument  is  an  elegant  one 
of  Quincy  granite,  fifty  feet  high.  It  is  surmounted  by 
the  figure  of  a  "  soldier  boy  at  rest,''  eight  feet  high.  On 
the  shaft  are  inscribed  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which 
the  New  Jersey  troops  fought.  Around  the  die  are,  be- 
sides the  inscription  quoted  above,  ''  A  grateful  country 
mourns  the  loss  of  those  who  fell  in  her  defense,"  and 
"  Their  memory  shall  never  fade  who  fall  in  defense  of 
a  just  cause."  The  monument  was  unveiled  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  governor  and  other  dignitaries  of  the  State, 
July  4th  187 1.  Its  entire  weight  is  about  one  hundrecl 
tons  and  it  cost  $15,000.  It  has  been  admired  by  all 
■who  have  seen  it,  and  reflects  credit  on  the  patriotism  of 
the  people  of  the  county.  The  designer  and  builder  is 
H.  H.  Davis,  of  Morristowri. 

FORT    NONSENSE. 

The  hill  known  as  Mount  Washington,  or  Kimball 
Mountain,   ends   abrubtly-in   Morristown,  back  of   the 


court-house,  with  what  is  called  Fort  Nonsense.  There 
are  still  signs  of  work  having  been  done  here  as  if  in  prep- 
aration of  some  kind  of  a  defense.  There  are  two  ac- 
counts given  of  this  fort :  one  is  that  Washington  de- 
signed to  plant  cannon  there,  with  which  to  command 
the  entrances  of  the  town  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the 
enemy  ;  the  other  and  more  probable  account  is  that 
Washington,  finding  his  troops  needed  exercise,  both  for 
purposes  of  health  and  military  subordination,  set  them 
to  work  at  this  fortification,  as  if  it  were  a  matter  of  the 
utmost  importance  in  defending  the  stores,  the  people, 
and  the  army  itself.  Having  answered  its  design,  tradi- 
tion says,  Washington  asked  one  of  his  friends  what  the 
useless  fort  should  be  named;  the  reply  was,  "  Let  it  be 
called  Fort  Nonsense." 

Fort  Nonsense  is  a  pleasant,  cool,  shady  retreat  in  sum- 
mer. The  view  from  the  summit  is  a  very  fine  one.  East, 
west,  north  and  south  a  panorama  is  spread  out  before 
the  eye;  hill,  valley,  winding  stream,  solitary  farm  house, 
little  villages,  with  here  and  there  a  modest  spire — all 
this,  diversified  and  never  ending,  forms  a  scene  on  which 
the  eye  may  feast  hours  at  a  time.  On  a  clear  day,  with 
a  good  glass,  Staten  Island  and  other  places  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  New  York  can  be  seen  from  it. 

VSrASHINGTON'S   HEADQUARTERS. 

We  acknowledge  indebtedness  to  an  address  delivered 
by  ex-Governor  Randolph  at  the  formal  opening  of  the 
Headquarters,  July  5th  1875;  and  also  to  Rev.  J.  F. 
Tuttle's  paper  on  "Washington  at  Morristown,"  for  our 
account  of  this  famous  house. 

This  grand  old  historic  building  lies  on  a  gentle  eleva- 
tion half  a  mile  east  of  the  Green,  from  whence  it  can  be 
plainly  seen,  and  in  full  view  as  you  approach  the  town 
by  railroad.  Morris  avenue  (Whippany  road)  and  Wash- 
ington avenue  (branch  of  the  Madison  road)  unite  before 
the  house  and  form  Morris  street,  one  of  the  five 
thoroughfares  which  branch  out  from  the  Green  as  do 
spokes  from  a  wheel.  Nearly  opposite  the  Headquarters 
on  Washington  avenue  is  the  noble  mansion  of  Henry  W. 
Ford,  a  lineal  descendant  of  "  Jacob  Ford  jr." 

During  the  summer  of  1873  this  property,  so  long  and 
widely  known  from  its  historic  connections,  was  offered 
for  sale  in  order  to  settle  the  estate  of  the  late  Henry  A. 
Ford,  cf  Morristown,  who  had  been  its  owner.  A  few 
gentlemen  present  at  the  sale,  headed  by  ex-Governor 
and  U.  S.  Senator  Randolph  of  Morristown,  concluded 
to  purchase  it;  and  having  done  so  formed  an  asso- 
ciation known  as  the  "  Washington  Association  of 
New  Jersey,"  the  principal  object  of  which  is  to 
perpetuate  this  house  with  its  great  historic  associa- 
tions. The  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  granted  the 
association  a  very  liberal  charter;  among  its  pro- 
visions are  total  exemption  of  the  property  from  tax- 
ation; prohibition  to  the  erection  of  any  unsightly  object 
adjacent  thereto;  police  powers  upon  or  near  the  grounds 
and  the  semi-annual  payment  from  the  .State  treasury  of 
the  sum  of  $1,250  to  keep  the  Headqijarters  in  repair  and 
open   to   the  public.   .  The.  capital   stock- is  limited  to 


WASHINGTON'S  HEADQUARTERS,  MORRISTOWN. 


167 


$50,000.  This  stock  is  transferable  only  with  the  consent 
of  the  association,  and  then  only  to  a  male  descendant  of 
the  holder.  If  no  such  descendant  claims  it  within  five 
years  after  the  death  of  a  holder  the  stock  becomes  the 
property  of  the  State. 

As  you  approach  the  Headquarters  you  are  forcibly 
struck  with  the  beauty  of  its  position.  The  stars  and 
stripes  float  proudly  from  the  flagstaff  on  the  roof;  the 
terraced  lawn  in  front  is  studded  with  trees  and  orna- 
mented with  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  the  property  of  the 
State.  "  It  rarely  happens  that  art,  nature  and  circum- 
stance combine  in  elements  of  attractiveness.  .To  this 
place  belongs  the  infrequent  fortune  of  blending  much 
that  is  interesting  in  art,  more  that  is  charming  in  natural 
scenery,  and  most  that  is  stirring  in  circumstance." 

This  house  had  its  foundations  laid  in  1772  and  was 
occupied  by  the  Ford  family  in  1774.  They  builded 
well;  sledge  and  hammer  and  trowel  shaped  and  placed 
these  broad  foundation  stones  before  England's  king  had 
ceased  to  rule  the  land.  Axe  and  adze  hewed  out  gir- 
der and  beam  from  massive  oak,  that  yet  defies  the 
storms  of  a  century.  The  oaken  planks  that  make  the 
outer  walls,  caulked  like  the  hull  of  some  great  frigate, 
are  as  sound  as  when  they  sheltered  Washington  from  the 
terrible  storms  of  1779-80.  They  builded  well  !  The 
carved  work  about  the  doors  and  the  beautiful  cornices 
are  rare  specimens  of  elegance  in  woodwork;  it  would 
be  difficult  to  excel  their  chaste  design  to-day. 

The  same  oaken  doors  open  to  you  which  opened  to 
Washington;  the  massive  knocker  his  hand  was  wont  to 
touch  yet  waits  obedient  to  your  wish.  Raise  that 
knocker;  the  doors  are  opened,  and  now  the  floor  he 
trod  with  anxious  thought  and  weary  brain  you  tread  ! 

On  entering  one  naturally  thinks,  "What  a  wide  hall!  " 
This  hall  runs  directly  through  the  building;  it  is  fur- 
nished with  furniture  of  one  hundred  years  ago,  but  con- 
tains no  articles  of  special  interest.  The  front  room  on 
the  right  is  the  association  room,  and  is  interesting  only 
from  having  been  Washington's  reception  room.  The 
front  room  on  the  left  contains  the  more  interesting 
relics.  Herein  the  center  is  a  round  table,  of  plain  oak, 
which  was  Washington's  reception  room  table.  On  one 
side  is  his  secretary,  with  its  secret  drawers;  near  it  is  a 
plain  little  table — his  dispatch  table;  in  another  corner 
is  the  old  sideboard,  from  the  dining-room,  in  its  day,  un- 
doubtedly, an  elegant  piece  of  furniture.  There  is  the 
plain  but  substantial  old  camp  chest  left  here  by  Wash- 
ington, and  two  straight-backed  chairs  with  sheepskin- 
covered  bottoms — his  reception  chairs.  On  the  walls  are 
revolutionary  portraits  and  engravings,  among  others  a 
portrait  of  Paul  Revere,  and  with  it  his  commission  in 
the  British  army,  the  property  of  General  Joseph  W.  Re- 
vere, of  Morristown.  There  was  also  here  when  we  vis- 
ited it  a  "  seedling  magnolia  grandiflora,  from  a  tree 
planted  by  General  Washington  with  his  own  hands  at 
Mount  Vernon." 


Take  this  old  chair  which  Washington  once  used,  and 
seat  yourself  by  this  old  secretary  at  which  he  often 
wrote;  or  take  this  plain  little  table — a  favorite  with 
Washington  that  winter — on  which  he  is  said  to  have 
written  many  of  those  noble  letters  which  issued  from 
Morristown  that  winter;  look  at  the  very  ink  spots  on 
that  table,  said  to  have  been  left  by  him,  and  then  read 
carefully  the  letters  which  he  wrote  in  this  house;  let 
your  imagination  bring  back  the  past — not  only  Wash- 
ington, but  his  dignified  wife,  the  brilliant  Alexander 
Hamilton,  the  recreant  Quaker  but  magnificent  soldier 
Nathaniel  Greene,  the  stern  Steuben,  the  polished  Kos- 
ciusko, the  accomplished  Stirling,  the  noble  Knox,  and 
perhaps,  as  an  occasional  visitor,  Benedict  Arnold,  a  satan 
in  paradise — and  you  have  the  materials  with  which  to 
start  your  emotions,  however  lethargic  they  may  be. 

Having  recovered,  proceed  on  your  tour  of  inspection. 
In  the  rear  left  room  you  will  find  shov/  cases  filled  with 
old  books,  old  documents,  old  newspapers,  &c.  Here  is 
the  first  telegraph  instrument,  presented  by  Mrs.  Stephen 
Vail;  shoes  of  1776;  old  continental  and  colonial  cur- 
rency; several  old  swords  used  in  the  Revolution,  mus- 
kets captured  at  Trenton  and  Princeton;  "  soldier's  water 
bottle,"  a  small  tub-shaped  vessel,  capable  of  holding 
about  two  quarts;  Washington's  mail  bag,  resembling 
those  of  the  present,  but  open  on  the  side  instead  of  the 
end;  antique  furniture.  In  the  room  opposite  this  are 
more  show  cases  and  more  old  documents;  here  we  find 
"Mrs.  Alexander  Hamilton's  tea  caddy"  and  a  pair  of 
General  Putnam's  pistols,  with  case  and  ammunition 
pouch;  numerous  Indian  relics,  continental  currency  and 
coins,  and  a  copy  of  the  laws  passed  by  the  Legislature 
in  1800. 

As  you  go  up  stairs  you  enter  a  room  to  your  left,  in 
the  rear;  here  are  old  furniture,  old  spinning  wheels,  &c., 
with  no  particular  interest  except  their  age.  The  hall 
is  the  counterpart  of  the  one  down  stairs;  here  are  an 
ancient  clock  used  in  the  house  in  Washington's  time  • 
two  of  his  office  chairs,  and  much  other  old  furniture. 
The  most  interesting  room  on  this  floor  is  the  front  one 
on  the  southeast  side  of  the  hall,  which  was  Washington's 
bedroom  ;  here  over  the  fire  place  hangs  a  large  gilt- 
framed  mirror  used  by  Washington;  here  is  his  dressing 
bureau  and  washstand  ;  also  "  Lady  Washington's  mir- 
ror"— much  smaller  than  the  general's — and  her  dressing 
table,  all  very  plain.  In  the  room  in  the  rear  of  this  is  old 
furniture;  opposite  in  the  room  in  front  is  a  piece  of  the 
carpet  which  was  in  Washington's  bedroom  that  winter; 
here  is  more  antique  furniture,  some  of  it  very  fine.  If 
you  desire  to  go  up  into  the  attic  you  can  see  that  "the 
century  has  wrought  no  change  in  rafter  or  beam,  or 
floor  or  sheltering  oak."  All  appear  good  for  centuries 
to  come.  From  the  roof,  which  is  reached  through  a 
scuttle,  the  view  is  very  fine,  taking  in  the  mountains  to 
the  north  and  west,  the  new  asylum  and  other  points  of 
interest. 


i68 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Hon.  Theodore  F.  Randolph. 

The  New  Jersey  Randolphs — or  Fitz-Randolphs  as 
they  once  wrote  themselves — came  to  Middlesex  county> 
New  Jersey,  from  Barnstable,  Mass.,  in  1630,  to  which 
place  they  emigrated  from  Nottinghamshire,  England,  in 
1622.  They  were  of  the  emigrants  who  left  England  for 
"  conscience  sake  " — a  portion  of  the  name  landing  at 
Massachusetts  Bay  and  another  portion  in  Virginia,  dur- 
ing the  years  from  162 1  to  1630. 

The  Randolphs  of  England  have  had  a  prominent 
place  in  English  history  from  early  in  the  tenth  century, 
as  have  those  of  Scotland — from  whom  "  the  Bruce  " 
was  descended — in  Scottish  history. 

All  of  the  American  Randolphs  are  from  English  and 
Scottish  stock,  and  all  are  directly  descended  from  the 
"adventurers"  who,  sailing  from  England  in  1621-30, 
landed  in  Massachusetts  or  Virginia.  Most  of  those  who 
thus  came,  and  who  had  Scotch  blood  in  them,  wrote 
their  name  Fitz-Randolph,  while  those  of  unmixed  Eng- 
lish blood  retained  the  simple  name  of  Randolph. 

Theodore  F.  Randolph,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  June  24th  1826.  His 
father,  James  F.  Randolph,  was  for  forty  years  editor  of 
the  Fredonian,  and  was  its  founder.  He  also  filled  many 
ofifices  of  public  trust,  among  them  being  that  of  a  repre- 
sentative in  Congress  from  1824  to  1830  The  mother 
of  Theodore  was  the  daughter  of  Phiness  Carman,  and 
his  grandparents  were  active  revolutionists  during  the 
war  for  independence. 

Theodore  F.  Randolph  was  educated  at  Rutgers  gram- 
mar school,  New  Brunswick;  entered  upon  mercantile 
life  at  16  years  of  age,  and  spent  the  succeeding  ten 
years  as  a  clerk,  accountant,  and  principal  in  business, 
mostly  in  Southern  States.  During  his  school  days 
he  partly  learned,  in  spare  hours,  to  be  a  printer,  and 
was  also  given  a  subordinate  position  in  editorial  work. 

In  1852,  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  Mr.  Randolph  married  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  N.  D.  Coleman,  a  member  of  Congress 
from  the  Maysville  district,  Ky.  The  succeeding  year 
he  moved  to  Easton,  Pa.,  and  immediately  thereafter 
to  Jersey  City — engaging  in  the  business  of  mining  coal 
and  transporting  iron  and  ores. 

In  1859  Mr.  Randolph  was  elected  from  the  ist  district 
of  Jersey  City  to  the  House  of  Assembly  of  the  State 
Legislature.  By  his  party  friends  he  was  tendered  the 
speakership  of  the  House  at  this  session,  and  declined 
it.  The  session  of  1859-60  was  the  one  immediately 
preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war.  As  a  "war 
Democrat"  Mr.  Randolph  was  put  on  many  important 
committees — among  them  the  committee  on  Federal 
Relations,  which  reported  at  his  suggestion  the  bill  ap- 
pointing commissioners  to  the  peace  congress  of  1861. 
The  commission  was  strictly  non-partisan,  and  included 
the  leading  statesmen  of  both  political  parties  in  New 
Jersey. 

Mr.  Randolph  was  also  a  member  of  the  special  or  war 
session  of   1861.     It  convened  April  30th.     On  the  ist 


of  May  he  introduced  and  had  passed  the  first  bill  giv- 
ing relief  to  families  of  volunteers.  He  also  suggested 
and  advocated  many  of  the  principal  appropriation  bills 
during  this  session. 

In  October  i86r  Mr.  Randolph  was  elected  from  the 
county  of  Hudson  to  the  Senate  of  the  State  to  fill  a 
vacancy,  and  thereafter  was  mainly  in  charge  of  legisla- 
tion connected  with  federal  affairs  during  the  session  of 
1861-2.  In  August  1862  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Olden  the  commissioner  of  draft  for  Jersey  City  and 
Hudson  county.  This  office  he  held  till  the  close  of  the 
year,  sending  forward — as  volunteers,  however — several 
thousand  men.  In  November  1862  Mr.  Randolph  was 
re-elected  to  the  Senate  of  New  Jersey  for  three  years, 
receiving  6,300  of  the  6,400  votes  cast. 

During  this  term  beginning  with  1863  he  was  chairman 
and  a  member  of  the  committees  on  Finance,  Federal 
Relations,  Taxation,  etc.  He  began  during  this  term  the 
advocacy  of  a  more  equitable  system  of  taxation  between 
corporations  and  the  people,  resulting  somewhat  later  in 
powerful  antagonisms  to  him.  He  also  led  the  opposi- 
tion to  a  scheme  by  which  the  State  was  to  be  burdened 
with  nearly  $10,000,000  of  local  bounties;  and  intro- 
duced and  had  passed  the  first  relief  bill  which  extended 
equal  benefits  and  bounties  to  white  and  colored  volunteers. 

The  office  of  State  controller  was  created  in  1865,  at 
Mr.  Randolph's  suggestion,  the  bills  of  the  State,  amount- 
ing to  many  millions  of  dollars  since  the  war  had  opened, 
suggesting  this  additional  safeguard.  The  creation  of 
this  office  is  said  to  have  saved  half  a  million  of  dollars 
to  the  State  during  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence. 

In  1867  Mr.  Randolph  was  elected  president  of  the 
Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  Company,  resigning  the 
position,  however,  in  1869  upon  his  election  as  governor. 
During  his  presidency  there  was  completed  the  main 
line  across  the  State  to  Pennsylvania;  a  branch  road 
built  to  Chester;  an  extension  made  of  the  Montclair 
branch  and  the  Boonton  division  branch,  and  the  whole 
line  was  opened  to  the  coal  and  iron  trade,  nearly  doub- 
Hng  in  eighteen  months  the  gross  tonnage  of  the  com- 
pany and  its  money  receipts,  and  advancing  its  securities 
largely.  He  then  negotiated  the  existing  lease,  by  which 
the  Morris  and  Essex  stockholders  and  bondholders  are 
guaranteed  in  perpetuity  7  per  cent,  upon  par  values. 

In  January  1869  Mr.  Randolph  was  sworn  in  office  as 
governor  of  New  Jersey.  His  term  of  office— three 
years — was  filled  with  unusual  affairs,  and  they  can  only 
be  rapidly  alluded  to.  His  first  message— at  once  after 
his  inaugural— was  aimed  at  the  abolition  of  the  so-called 
Camden  and  Araboy  monopoly,  which  had  substantially 
controlled  State  affairs  during  the  previous  thirty  years. 

At  the  outset  of  his  administration  a  law  was  put  in 
force  which  forever  abolished  the  "  transit  duties  "  on 
passengers  and  freight  across  New  Jersey,  and  substan- 
tially concluded  the  hated  railway  monopoly  agreement 
with  the  State.  The  State  public  treasury,  moreover 
was  largely  benefited  under  the  operation  of  the  new  law. 

An  effort — powerfully  backed — was  made  in  1869  to 
"  bond  "  certain  cities  and  townships  of  the  State,  osten- 


GOVERNOR  RANDOLPH'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


169 


sibly  to  aid  in  railway  construction.  Some  favorable 
legislation  had  been  obtained  under  a  preceding  admin- 
istration, and  the  scheme  presented  in  1869  was  most 
specious  and  attractive  as  well  as  dangerous.  After  a 
severe  contest  and  several  vetoes  all  these  measures, 
involving  many  millions,  were  finally  defeated  by  the 
governor. 

During  1869  Governor  Randolph  advocated  and  ap- 
pointed the  first  "  Riparian  Commission."  The  labors 
-of  this  body  have  given  an  income  to  the  State  of  over 
.$3,000,000. 

In  1870  he  urged  the  passage  of  a  system  of  general 
laws  by  which  all  special  legislation  should  be  avoided. 
This  system  was  finally  adopted  by  the  State. 

The  more  noted  recommendation  of  Governor  Ran- 
•dolph  during  1870  was  that  which  was  contained  in  the 
annual  and  in  special  messages  to  the  Legislature  touch- 
ng  the  taxation  of  corporations.  In  these  he  urged  that 
corporate  capital,  being  the  possessor  of  special  privi- 
leges, was  peculiarly  the  subject  of  taxation.  These 
messages  gave  rise  to  much  controversy. 

During  this  period  the  Legislature  gave  authority  to 
the  governor  to  appoint  a  commission  to  remodel  the 
■State-house,  and  he  was  the  president  of  that  coramis- 
-sion,  which  began  and  completed  the  work. 

The  State  prison  inmates  had  been  a  source  of  large 
cost  to  the  treasury  for  many  years  prior  to  this  adminis- 
tration. The  shops  were  enlarged,  the  business  carried 
■on  in  them  reformed,  and  during  this  gubernatorial  term 
&  saving  to  the  State  of  more  than  $100,000  was  effected. 
A  disturbance  known  as  the  Bergen  Riot  occurred 
-during  1870.  Large  bodies  of  meruwere  opposing  each 
other  and  hundreds  of  trains  were  delayed.  The  riot, 
was  quelled  by  the  governor  without  serious  injury  to 
any  one,  and  the  conflicting  railway  companies  were 
•brought  into  court  to  settle  their  difficulties. 

The  legislative  session  of  187:  was  a  noted  one, 
principally  on  account  of  the  passage  of  "an  act  to 
reorganize  the  government  of  Jersey  City."  The 
act  was  vetoed  by  Governor  Randolph  in  a 
inessage  of  unusual  severity.  It  was  finally  passed  by 
a  strict  partisan  majority  over  the  veto.  Within  sixteen 
months  its  principal  advocate  was  in  State  prison, 
and  Jersey  City  has  ever  since  been  oppressed  by  wrongs 
which  that  charter  made  possible.  The  "'  election  bribe- 
ry law,"  which  was  most  effectively  enforced  in  every 
•county  of  the  State  by  Governor  Randolph,  was  written 
by  him  and  urged  upon  and  passed  by  the  Legislature 
•during  this  session. 

Of  other  public  acts  of  this  period  the  most  memor- 
able one,  perhaps,  is  that  known  as  the  "  Orange  Proc- 
lamation." It  was  occasioned  by  the  decision  of  a  body  of 
■Orangemen  to  parade  in  Jersey  City  on  their  anniversary 
<3ay  (July  12th),  which  action  was  promptly  met  by  others' 
purposing  to  prevent  the  parade.  A  highly  excited  con- 
-dition  of  affairs  in  New  York  city  aggravated,  no  doubt, 
the  contending  parties  in  New  Jersey.  Large  bodies  of 
men  were  known  to  be  gathering  for  unfriendly  purposes, 
and^  Governor  Randolph,  acting  upon  established  inform- 
ation, finally  issued  the  so-called  "Orange  Proclama- 
•tion."     It  asserted  the  right  of  peaceful  assemblage  by 


citizens,  irrespective  of  nationality,  creed  or  religion.  It 
warned  all  people  against  interference  with  such  right. 
It  commanded  all  officers  to  enforce  the  laws,  and, 
though  closing  with  a  rebuke  to  the  Orangemen  for  re- 
viving an  unnecessary  religious  and  political  feud,  of  no 
general  interest  to  Americans,  it  assured  the  people  that 
the  right  of  assemblage  would  be  asserted  and  protected 
"  at  any  cost."  The  proclamation  was  followed  by  an 
order  for  State  troops,  to  the  number  of  3,000.  The 
laws  were  enforced.  No  serious  injury  came  to  any  per- 
son in  New  Jersey,  although,  from  causes  the  same  and 
occurring  at  the  same  hours,  on  the  New  York  side  of 
the  Hudson  many  lives  were  unfortunately  lost. 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  Governor  Randolph  the 
Legislature  during  1869  gave  authority  for  the  purchase, 
with  the  governor's  approval,  of  a  site  for  a  new  lunatic 
asylum.  He  approved  of  the  site  near  Morris  Plains,  ap- 
pointed the  commissioners  to  prepare  plans  and  begin  the 
work,  and  took  an  earnest  and  active  part  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  great  edifice,  till  its  completion  and  occupancy. 
The  great  fire  at  Chicago  occurred  during  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph's administration,  and  he  promptly  issued  a  procla- 
mation, which  was  responded  to  so  promptly  and  gener- 
ously by  the  people  of  New  Jersey  that  car  loads  of 
clothing  and  provisions,  and  thousands  of  dollars,  were 
en  route  to  Chicago  before  the  flames  were  subdued. 

An  interesting  and  novel  case  occurred  toward  the 
close  of  the  administration.  The  chancellor  summoned 
Governor  Randolph  to  appear  before  him  in  court  to 
answer  touching  the  executive  action  on  a  certain  Legis- 
lative bill,  which  it  was  claimed  should  have  been  filed 
with  the  State  department,  and  thus  become  law.  The 
governor  denied  the  power  of  the  chancellor  to  inquire 
into  executive  action  or  non-action;  a  long  controversy 
occurred,  the  governor  maintaining  throughout  that  the 
executive  was  amenable  alone — as  to  his  official  acts — to 
the  Legislature. 

In  1875  Mr.  Randolph  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  in  which  he  served  the  term  of  six  years. 
Much  of  this  time  he  was  chairman  of  the  Military  Com- 
mittee, and  all  the  time  was  a  member  of  the  Committee 
on  Commerce.  He  was  on  various  other  committees,  as 
those  of  Education,  Civil  Service  Reform,  and  the  Cen- 
tennial Exhibition,  and  was  also  of  the  special  Senate 
committee  appointed  to  examine  the  political  frauds  in 
South  Carolina.  His  speeches — not  many  in  number — 
were  upon  the  Count  of  the  Electoral  Vote,  the  Centen- 
nial Exhibition,  the  Bi-Metallic  question  and  other  finan- 
cial ones,  the  case  of  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  the  Use 
of  Troops  at  Polling  Places,  etc.  They  are  of  recent 
history  and  therefore  do  not  need  special  reference.  The 
speech  upon  Mono-Metallism  had  an  especially  large  pub- 
lication and  circulation. 

Mr.  Randolph  has  filled  other  positions  not  herein  enu- 
merated, as,  a  delegate  to  national  and  State  conventions; 
chairman  of  the  Executive  National  Democratic  Com- 
mittee; president  of  the  Washington  Headquarters  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  he  is  one  of  the  founders;  trustee  of 
Rutgers  College  and  other  institutions;  and  director  of 
many  corporations  and  institutions  of  which  no  record 
has  been  given  us. 


lyo 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


AuRELius  B.  Hull. 

This  gentleman  descends  from  one  of  the  oldest  fimii- 
lies  in  New  England.  The  first  of  the  name  of  whom 
there  is  any  record  was  a  physician  living  in  England;  a 
son  of  whom  emigrated  and  settled  in  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  soon  after  the  settlement  of  that  colony.  One  of 
his  descendants  afterward  settled  in  Derby,  Conn.  The 
latter  had  seven  sons.  One  of  these,  Captain  Miles  Hull, 
was  great-great-grandfather  to  Aurelius  B.  He  located 
at  Cheshire,  Conn.,  and  raised  his  family  there.  His  son 
Miles  was  a  captain  of  Connecticut  militia  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  "  He  was  much  esteemed  by  officers  and 
men,  and  in  private  life  was  highly  respected  for  his 
sound  judgment  and  excellent  character." 

Dr.  Amzi  Hull,  son  of  the  latter,  was  born  in  Cheshire, 
about  1762.  He  was  proficient  in  the  science  of  medi- 
cine, and  during  his  short  practice  acquired  eminence  in 
his  profession.  He  died  October  3d  1795,  in  Woodbridge, 
Conn.  His  wife,  Mary  Ann,  was  a  daughter  of  James 
Kasson.  She  received  her  education  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Dr.  Belamy,  a  celebrated  divine  and  minister  in 
her  native  place,  Bethlehem,  Conn. 

To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  five  children,  one  of 
whom,  Aroetius  Bevil  Hull,  father  of  Aurelius  B.,  was 
born  in  Woodbridge,  Conn.,  October  12th  1788.  He 
was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1807;  subsequently 
taught  the  Wethersfield  Academy;  then  on  account  of  his 
health  went  to  South  Carolina,  and  afterward  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  teaching  in  the  families  of  Colonel  Fish- 
burne  and  Albert  Gallatin.  Returning  to  New  Haven 
he  was  tutor  at  Yale  from  1810  to  1816.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  October  1816.  May  5th  1817 
he  married  Abigail  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Aurelia  (Mills)  Darling,  of  New  Haven.  Mrs.  Hull's 
great-grandfather  was  an  officer  under  General  Wolfe,  in 
the  French  and  Indian  war.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Hull  preached  in  Brookfield  and  other  places  about  four 
years.  On  the  23d  of  May  1821  he  was  installed  pastor 
of  Old  South  Church,  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  for  five 
years,  to  the  time  of  his  death,  was  its  able  and  honored 
minister.     He  died  May  17th  1826. 

His  wife  survived  him  many  years.  She  died  in 
Brooklyn,  at  the  residence  of  her  son  Aurelius  B,  Hull, 
January  9th  i860. 

Of  six  children  only  two  are  now  living,  viz.:  the  Rev. 
Joseph  D.  Hull,  now  residing  in  West  Hartford,  Conn.; 
and  Aurelius  B.  Hull,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  latter  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  November 
ist  1819.  He  was  educated,  with  a  view  to  entering 
Yale  College,  at  the  high  school  in  New  Haven,  the 
academies  of  New  Canaan  and  Farmington,  Conn.,  and 
the  Washington  Institute,  New  York  city.  The  confine- 
ment of  study  not  agreeing' with  his  state  of  health  he 
decided  to  turn  his  attention  to  some  active  employment, 
and  through  the  influence  of  General  Heard,  of  Worces- 
ter, he  secured  a  position  in  the  store  of  Daniel  Hoi- 
brook,  at  Westboro,  Mass.  This  engagement  soon  term- 
inated by  the  death  of  Mr.  Holbrook  and  consequent 
closing  up  of  the  business.  In  1835  he  went  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  obtained  a  situation  in  the  East  India 
house  of  josiah  Dow  &  Co.,  157  Pearl  street.  In  1837 
he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  west.  After  visit- 
ing Sandusky,  O.,  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  and  while  there 


he  fell  in  with  William  K.  Strong,  of  the  firm  of  Tonnele 
&  Hall,  of  New  York  city.  He  had  brought  there  large 
quantities  of  woolen  manufactured  goods,  with  a  view  to 
disposing  of  them  in  the  western  markets.  An  arrange- 
ment was  made  with  Mr.  Hull  to  take  invoices  of  these 
goods  for  disposal  in  the  markets  of  Louisville  and  St. 
Louis.  This  venture  was  carried  out  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  his  employer. 

Returning  to  Pittsburg  he  secured  a  clerkship  in  the 
commission  house  of  Atwood,  Jones  &  Co.,  and  in  1841^ 
under  the  patronage  of  this  firm,  he  opened  in  his  owrk 
name  a  commission  house  in  Louisville,  Ky.  This  bus- 
iness was  eventually  given  up  for  the  purpose  of  entering 
the  employ  of  B.  A.  Fahnestock  &  Co.,  wholesale  drug- 
gists, of  Pittsburg.  After  a  series  of  successful  trips  ii> 
the  interest  of  this  firm,  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States,  Canada  and  the  eastern  provinces,  it  was  decided 
to  establish  a  branch  house  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
Mr.  Hull  became  its  sole  manager  March  25th  1843.  At 
first  only  a  commission  business  was  done,  but  in  1844  it 
was  decided  to  open  a  wholesale  drug  house  at  No.  4^ 
John  street,  corner  of  Dutch  street.  In  1852  it  was 
moved  to  51  Cliff  street.  A  branch  house  was  also  es- 
tablished in  Philadelphia. 

During  the  twenty-two  years  of  Mr.  Hull's  partner- 
ship with  this  house  the  business  was  conducted  under 
the  following  firm  names:  B.  A.  Fahnestock  &  Co.,  B.  A. 
Fahnestock,  Hull  &  Co.,  Fahnestock,  Hull  &  Co.,  B.  A. 
Fahnestock's  Son  &  Co.  They  always  ranked  among: 
the  most  successful  and  extensive  firms  in  their  line  in. 
the  country.  Of  the  consolidated  firm  of  1857  Mr.  Hull 
is  the  sole  survivor.  In  1865  he  sold  his  interest  and 
withdrew  from  active  business. 

In  the  years  1849  and  1850,  for  the  purpose  of  recruit- 
ing his  health,  he  took  an  extended  tour,  visiting  the 
principal  countries  of  Europe.  Though  withdrawn  since 
1865  from  active  participation  in  business,  Mr.  Hull,  by 
his  official  connection  with  a  number  of  prominent 
organizations,  has  been  kept  sufficiently  employed  to  be 
counted  a  "busy  man."  He  was  one  of  the  corporators- 
of  the  Continental  Insurance  Company,  and  has  ever 
since  its  organization  been  a  member  of  its  board  of 
directors.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Fidelity  and  Casualty- 
Company  of  New  York,  the  United  States  Warehouse 
Company,  and  the  New  Jersey  Zinc  and  Iron  Com- 
pany. He  is  vice-president  of  the  Morris  County- 
Savings  Bank,  Morristown,  and  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  Morris  aqueduct  of  that  place.  He  is  also  president 
of  the  Cayuta  Wheel  and  Foundry  Company,  at  Sayre^ 
Bradford  county,  Pa. 

During  his  business  career  in  New  York  and  up  to 
1870  Mr.  Hull  resided  in  Brooklyn.  He  then  moved  to 
Morristown,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
since  1836,  and  at  the  present  time  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Morristown,  of  which  he  is- 
one  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  treasurer.  He  married,. 
October  2Sth  1843,  Sarah  Morris,  daughter  of  Rev' 
James  W.  and  Harriet  A.  Tucker. 

Their  children  were:  Mary  Amanda,  born  January  7th 

1847,  died  May  15th  1847;  Charles  Aurelius,  born  May  26th 

1848,  secretary  of  the  Howard  Insurance  Company,  New 
York  city;  George  Lawrence,  born  May  8th  1850,  died 
April  29th  1879;  Harrie  Tucker,  born  October  25th  1858. 


?n>y'-'ou M-tiKiJl  ^  Sam D BmrcbsXi  Qt  ST 


tME  LIFE  OF  W.  L.  KlNG. 


tyi 


WILLIAM    L.  KING. 

William  Lewis  King  was  born  in  Morristown,  Morris 
county,  N.  J.,  on  the  30th  of  January  1806,  and  was  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Charlotte  Morrell  King.  He  was  the 
ninth  of  ten  children,  and  is  the  last  survivor  of  them. 
His  grandfather  Frederick  King  removed  to  Morristown 
from  Long  Island  in  1762.  Both  Frederick  and  Henry 
King  were  well  known  citizens  of  Morristown.  Fred- 
erick was  the  first  postmaster  at  Morristown,  and  his  son 
Henry  succeeded  him  in  the  office.  The  first  members  of 
the  King  family  who  came  to  this  country  settled  in 
Salem,  Mass.,  about  the  year  1650,  whence  one  branch 
removed  to  the  east  end  of  Long  Island. 

The  homestead  at  which  William  L.  and  all  his  bro- 
thers and  sisters  were  born  is  located  about  200  feet  east 
of  the  present  railroad  station  in  Morristown.  His  bro- 
thers Jacob  M.,  Frederick,  Henry  H.  and  Charles  M. 
King  were  well  known  among  the  business  men  of  this 
state  and  of  New  York. 

William  L.  had  the  advantage  of  a  good  English  edu- 
cation, with  some  instruction  in  the  ancient  classics  at  the 
old  Morris  Academy,  which  was  then  under  the  charge  of 
James  D.  Johnson  as  principal.  In  the  year  1821  he 
went  to  New  York  city,  as  clerk  for  Henry  Youngs,  who 
was  then  keeping  a  dry  goods  store  in  Broadway  near 
Chambers  street.  He  continued  with  Mr.  Youngs  until 
1824,   when  he  went  to  Richmond,  Va.,  as  clerk  for  his 


brother  Henry,  who  was  one  of  the  firm  of  King  & 
Richardson.  In  1829,  on  the  removal  of  King  &  Rich- 
ardson to  New  York,  he  went  with  them  to  the  latter 
city,  and  remained  with  them  until  the  dissolution  of 
their  firm  in  1832.  He  then  entered  the  office  of  Naylor 
&  Co.,  New  York,  that  firm  being  the  American  branch 
of  the  old  mercantile  house  of  Naylor,  Vickers  &  Co., 
steel  manufacturers,  of  Sheffield,  England.  In  the  year 
1843  he  became  American  partner  of  the  firm,  which  was 
then  doing  a  very  extensive  business  in  New  York  and 
Boston.  This  position  he  occupied,  residing  in  the  city 
of  New  York  and  giving  close  attention  to  business, 
until  the  autumn  of  1862,  when  he  withdrew  from  the 
firm  and  retired  from  active  business. 

In  1828,  while  living  in  Richmond,  William  L.  King 
connected  himself  with  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
that  city,  which  was  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev. 
William  J.  Armstrong.  After  removing  to  New  York  in 
1829  he  united  first  with  the  Spring  Street  church,  of 
which  Rev.  Henry  G.  Ludlow  was  pastor,  and  in  1843 
connected  himself  with  the  Mercer  Street  Presbyterian 
church,  which  was  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Skinner.  In  the  year  1852  he  took  an  active  part  in  es- 
tablishing a  "  boys'  meeting  "  for  wandering  street  boys. 
Several  of.  these  "  meetings  "  were  about  this  time  estab- 
lished in  the  upper  part  of  the  city  of  New  York.  To 
the  work  connected  with  these  meetings  Mr.  King  de- 
voted a  part  of  each  Sabbath  for  several  years.  The 
work  thus  commenced  has  grown  into  the  "  Children's 
Aid  Society,"  of  which  Mr.  King  was  one  of  the  founders, 
and  which  is  now  one  of  the  foremost  charities  of  the  city 
of  New  York.  The  great  success  of  this  society  is 
mainly  due  to  its  indefatigable  and  devoted  secretary 
and  manager,  Charles  L.  Brace. 

William  L.  King  married  Mary  Dabney  Hallam, 
daughter  of  Edward  Hallam,  of  Richmond,  Va.  They 
had  two  children  only — Harriet  Lincoln  King,  and  Mar-y 
Virginia  King. 

In  the  summer  of  1861  Mr.  King  went  to  Europe  with 
his  family,  for  the  benefit  of  their  health.  His  eldest 
daughter,  Harriet  L.,  died  on  the  8th  of  March  1862,  at 
Paris,  France.  On  account  of  the  delicate  health  of 
their  surviving  daughter  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  remained  in 
the  south  of  France  for  several  years. 

In  the  years  1866  and  1867  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  with 
their  daughter  traveled  in  Italy,  Spain  and  Germany, 
and  they  returned  home  by  way  of  England  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1867. 

Mr.  King's  detention  in  Eutope  during  the  civil  war 
was  very  trying  to  him.  He  took  great  interest  in  the 
progress  of  the  war  and  the  success  of  the  national  gov- 
ernment, and  remitted  funds  to  the  Sanitary  Commission. 
In  the  spring  of  1867  he  purchased,  through  the  agency 
of  his  brother  Charles  M.  King,  the  old  Lewis  place  in 
Morris  street,  Morristown,  and  moved  into  it  in  the 
autumn  of  that  year;  and  he  has  since  that  time  made  it 
his  residence. 

Since  his  removal  to  Morristown  Mr.  King,  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  all  public   and  benevolent    enterprises 


24 


172 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


there.  In  1871  and  1872  he  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mon council  of  Morristown.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  a  director  in  the  National  Iron  Bank  and  the  presi- 
dent of'the  Morris  County  Savings  Bank.  He  is  and  long 
has  been  a  trustee  of  the  South  Street  Presbyterian 
church  of  Morristown.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active 
of  the  founders  of  the  Morristown  Library  and  I>yceura, 
an  account  of  which  appears  on  another  page.  He  has 
been  its  president  from  the  beginning,  and  has  contributed 
very  largely  toward  the  funds  raised  for  erecting  the  build- 
ing and  carrying  through  the  enterprise.  Besides  that,  he 
has  given  a  great  deal  of  his  time  and  personal  care  to 
the  conduct  of  the  institution.  At  the  urgent  request  of 
many  of  his  friends  his  portrait  was  painted  in  the 
spring  of  1881  by  J.  Alden  Weir,  of  New  York  city,  and 
it  now  hangs  in  the  reading  room. 

Mr.  King's  kind  and  generous  spirit  and  actions  have 
endeared  him  to  all  his  townsmen,  and,  indeed,  to  all  who 
know  him. 


HON.    JACOB    VANATTA. 

Hon.  Jacob  Vanatta  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the 
Musconetcong,  near  Washington,  Warren  county,  New 
Jersey,  on  the  4th  day  of  June  1824.  He  early  devoted 
all  the  time  he  could  possibly  spare  to  study  and  the 
improvement  of  his  mind. 

He  had  always  desired  to  embrace  the  profession  of 
the  law,  and  in  1845  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Theo- 
dore Little  as  a  student.  He  was  licensed  as  an  attorney 
in  October  1849,  and  as  counsellor  in  February  1853. 
From  the  very  first  he  had  an  extended  and  lucrative 
practice.  He  quickly  assumed  a.leading  position,  and  in 
a  short  time  became  the  foremost  lawyer  in  Morris 
county.  There  has  scarcely  been  an  important  case 
tried  in  the  county  since  his  admission  to  the  bar  that  he 
has  not  been  connected  with.  In  ail  his  cases  he  was 
painstaking,  and  he  expended  upon  them  an  amount  of 
thought  and  labor  truly  wonderful.  His  practice  grew 
until  at  the  time  of  his  death  it  was  probably  the  largest 
in  the  State.  His  reputation  advanced  with  his  practice, 
and  for  years  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  New  Jersey 
bar,  as  an  able,  faithful,  conscientious  and  untiring 
advocate  and  counsel. 

During  the  later  years  of  his  life  Mr.  Vanatta's  time 
and  services  were  largely  monopolized  by  the  great 
corporations  of  the  country;  he  had  become  the  regular 
counsel  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western 
Railroad  Company,  the  Central  Railroad  Company,  and 
more  or  less  of  many  other  corporations,  and  his  engage- 
ments carried  him  frequently  before  the  highest  courts 
of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  and  the  United  States 
supreme  court 

Mr.  Vanatta  was  always  a  firm,  consistent  and  un- 
wavering Democrat.     He  was  the  recognized  head  of  the 


party  in  his  county,  and  all  over  the  State  was  for  years 
regarded  as  one  of  its  ablest  men.  In  1856  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  national  convention  that  nominated 
Buchanan.  In  the  memorable  struggle  of  i860  he  ad- 
hered to  the  fortunes  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  Douglas  State  committee;  as  such  he 
refused. to  join  the  fusion  ticket,  and  thus  succeeded  in 
dividing  the  electoral  vote  0/  the  State  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas.  During  the  war  he  followed 
his  chieftain,  and  was  throughout  a  war  Democrat.  At 
the  convention  which  nominated  General  McClellan  for 
governor  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  State  com- 
mittee, a  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Vanatta  held  few  public  positions;  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Houseof  Assemblyin  the  years  1862  and  1863, 
and  in  the  latter  year  was  a  candidate  for  the  nomination 
for  United  States  senator  against  the  late  William  Wright; 
only  failing  by  a  vote  or  two  in  the  Democratic  caucus. 
He  was  frequently  urged  to  accept  gubernatorial  or 
Congressional  nominations,  but  always  declined.  At  dif- 
ferent times  he  refused  tendered  positions  on  the  supreme 
bench  of  the  State.  •  He  was  appointed  attorney  general 
by  the  governor,  but  after  holding  the  office  for  about 
fifteen  months  was  compelled  to  resign  it,  because  of  the 
imrnense  pressure  of  his  private  practice. 

In  October  1852  Mr.  Vanatta  married  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Aaron  Dickerson,  of  Philadelphia;  she  was  also  a 
niece  of  General  Mahlon  Dickerson,  General  Jackson's 
secretary  of  the  navy  and  ex-governor  of  New  Jersey. 

In  private  life  Mr.  Vanatta  was  kind  and  obliging;  he 
was  a  safe  and  judicious  adviser,  a  faithful  and  steadfast 
friend,  a  good  citizen  and  an  honest  man.  His  life  was 
doubtless  sacrificed  to  his  unwearied  zeal  and  industry  in 
his  profession.  At  the  same  time  his  whole  life  furnished 
a  remarkable  instance  of  what  ability  attended  with  in- 
dustry and  study  can  accomplish  in  overcoming  adverse 
circumstances. 

The  malady  which  occasioned  Mr.  Vanatta's  death 
was  Bright's  disease  of  the  kidneys.  He  died  at  his  res- 
idence in  Morristown,  April  30th  1879.  The  funeral 
services,  held  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  were  at- 
tended by  the  State  officers,  judges  of  the  supreme  court, 
and  men  eminent  in  every  walk  of  life.  Impressive  dis-. 
courses  were  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Rufus  S.  Green,  pas- 
tor of  the  church,  and  the  Rev.  David  Irving,  D.  D.,  a 
former  pastor. 

Resolutions  setting  forth  in  fitting  terms  the  high  esti- 
mate in  which  the  deceased  was  held  by  his  colleagues 
were  passed  at  meetings  of  the  Essex  county  and  Morris 
county  bars.  The  addresses  of  Theodore  Little,  Hon. 
Augustus  W.  Cutler,  Alfred  Mills,  Frederick  A.  De  Mott 
and  James  H.  Neighbour,  delivered  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Morris  county  bar,  were  most  eloquent  and  touching 
personal  tributes  to  the  eminent  worth  and  character  of 
their  late  colleague  and  brother,  and  a  most  fitting  ex- 
pression of  their  personal  grief  at  the  loss  occasioned  by 
his  death. 


^S'^M'  -fl- ?■<>"' 


=*=©*- 


RESIDENCE   OF    THE    LATE    HO  N  ,  JACOB  V/1NATTA,M0RRIST0WN.  N  J 


'^"^t  z^^ 


RESIDENCE     OF     V.  B,  KING,    MAPLE   AVE,.  MORRISTOWN,  N.J. 


HON.  GEORGE   VAIL. 


Hon.  George  Vail,  son  of  Judge  Stephen  Vail,  was 
born  in  Speedwell,  Morristown,  N.-J.,  in  July  1809.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  Morristown  Academy,  sit- 
uated-where  the  Library  and  Lyceum  building  now 
stands.  Early  in  life  he  became  interested  in  the  Speed- 
well iron  works,  as  a  partner  of  his  father.  The  pros- 
perity and  high  reputation  of  these  works  were  due  to 
the  energy,  diligence  and  practical  knowledge  of  the  bus- 
iness possessed  by  father  and  son.  It  was  at  Speedwell 
that  Prof.  Morse  made  his  successful  experiments  in  tel- 
egraphy, through  the  valuable  assistance  and  suggestion 
of  Judge  Vail  and  his  sons  George  and  Alfred. 

George  Vail  was  for  many  years  an  active  and  influen- 
tial Democratic  leader.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture ;  twice  elected  to  Congress;  was  for  several  years 
consul  at  Glasgow,  Scotland;  and  for  five  years  judge  of 
the  court  of  errors  and  appeals  of  New  Jersey.  He  was 
sent  as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  the  World's  Fair  in 
London  in  1851.  He  was  also  one  of  the  original  com- 
missioners selected  to  procure  a  site  for  the  new  asylum 
building.  He  was  a  member  of  Cincinnati  Lodge 
(masonic),  of  Morristown,  and  was  at  one  time  master  of 
the  lodge,  and  subsequently  senior  grand  warden  of  the 
grand  lodge  of  New  Jersey.  The  following,  written  of 
him  by  one  who  knew  him  well,  gives  a  just  estimate  of 
the  general  character  of  Judge  Vail: 


"Although  possessed  of  wealth,  which  enabled  him  to 
gratify  the  ambition  for  display  so  inherent  in  poor  hu- 
man nature,  he  was  always  plain  and  simple  in  his  habits 
and  tastes.  Never,  perhaps,  did  one  pride  himself  less 
than  he  on  beautiful  possessions  and  surroundings.  He 
loved  that  others  should  have  them.  His  house  was  al- 
ways open  to  those  who  approached  him  properly.  For 
the  poor  and  needy  he  had  an  open  heart  and  an  open 
hand.  Not  long  before  his  death  he  contributed  a  hand- 
some sum  to  the  disabled  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  as  I  was  informed,  though  not  by  himself.  He 
had  a  tender  and  sympathetic  nature.  This  trait  re- 
vealed itself  under  circumstances  that  involved  consider- 
able sacrifice  of  time  and  labor,  as  I  have  good  reason  to 
know." 

Mr.  Vail  was  of  splendid  physique,  and  his  large,  mas- 
sive and  portly  person  gave  promise  of  many  more  years 
of  robust  life.  His  quiet,  unpretentious  disposition  was 
quite  in  contrast  and  altogether  unlooked  for  in  one  of 
such  commanding  presence. 

After  several  weeks  of  illness  he  died  at  his  residence 
in  Speedwell,  May  23d  1875. 

Judge  Vail  left  a  wife,  and  two  daughters  by  a 
former  marriage.  The  latter  are  married  and  re- 
side in  London,  England.  Mrs.  Vail  is  a  resident  of 
Morristown. 


176 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


HON.    L.    B.  WARD. 

Hon.  Lebbeus  Baldwin  Ward  was  born  in  Chatham 
township,  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  April  7th  1801.  His 
grandfather  came  from  Virginia  and  settled  at  Morris 
Plains,  Morris  county,  about  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. His  father,  Silas  Ward,  was  born  there  October 
19th  1767.  He  married  Phebe,  daughter  of  Lebbeus  and 
Mary  (Baldwin)  Dod.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  settled  in  the  township  of  Mendham,  Morris 
county,  just  before  the  Revolution.  He  was  attached  to 
the  Revolutionary  army  during  the  whole  war,  with  the. 
rank  of  captain  of  artillery.  A  more  extended  account 
of  this  Revolutionary  patriot  will  be  found  in  the  history 
of  Mendham  township,  in  another  portion  of  this  volume. 

To  Silas  and  Phebe  Ward  were  born  nine  children.  Of 
the  three  sons  John  Dod  and  Samuel  Shipman  (twins), 
brothers  to  Lebbeus  Baldwin,  are  deceased.  Only  three 
of  the  sisters  are  living,  viz.:  Mrs.  Hannah  Miller  and 
Elizabeth  Caroline,  living  in  Elizabeth  City,  N.  J.,  and 
Mrs.  Phebe  Greene,  living  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.  Silas  Ward 
died  October  12th  1862,  his  wife  September  23d  1831, 
both  at  Elizabeth  City. 

When  Lebbeus  B.  was  nine  years  of  age  his  father 
moved  from  Chatham  and  settled  near  Elizabeth,  where 
he  carried  on  a  farm,  and  also  engaged  in  milling.  Young 
Ward  received  his  education  in  the  Adelphi  Academy  at 
Elizabeth.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  and  became  a  partner  with  his  brothers 
John  D.and  Samuel  Shipman  Ward,  in  the  manufacture 
of  steam  engines  for  the  steamers  which  were  then  be- 
ginning to  multiply  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River  and  the 
lakes.  The  business  was  a  large  and  prosperous  one,  and 
the  reliable  cliaracter  and  untiring  energies  of  the  broth- 
ers gave  them  a  large  share  of  it. 

They  were  the  first  to  banish  liquors  completely  from 
their  workshops,  and  were  all  along  warm,  consistent  and 
liberal  friends  of  the  temperance  cause,  and  indeed  of 
every  good  cause.  The  brothers  were  prominent  among 
those  who  organized  and  were  for  years  liberal  support- 
ers of  the  American  Presbyterian  church  of  Montreal. 
While  a  resident  of  the  city  Mr.  Ward  was  a  director  in 


the  City  Bank,  also  in  the  Montreal  and  St.  John  Rail- 
road Company,  and  became,  in  order  to  hold  the  latter 
position,  as  required  by  the  laws  of  the  province,  a  Brit- 
ish subject. 

In  1837  he  left  Montreal,  and  during  that  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  took  an  extended  tour  through  England 
Scotland  and  most  of  the  countries  in  Europe.  With  a 
view  of  informing  himself  in  regard  to  the  modes  em- 
ployed for  the  manufacture  of  wrought  iron,  he  visited 
many  of  the  large  iron  works  of  England  and  Scotland, 
and  brought  away  with  him  much  valuable  information 
upon  that  subject.  Upon  his  return,  in  1839,  he  settled 
in  New  York  city,  and  established  his  iron  works  on  the 
Hudson  River,  at  59th  street.  He  was  the  first  to  intro- 
duce into  this  country  the  production  of  heavy  wrought 
iron  work,  such  as  steamboat  shafts,  cranks,  etc.  He  re- 
ceived a  gold  medal  from  the  American  Institute,  for  a 
"  large  wrought  iron  shaft  "  for  an  ocean  steamer.  These 
works  were  carried  on  by  him  until  1852,  when  he  re- 
tired from  business. 

Mr.  Ward  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  New 
York  for  two  sessions.  He  introduced  and  secured  the 
passage  of  the  bill  incorporating  the  New  York  Juvenile 
Asylum.  He  was  chairman  of  its  building  committee 
and  was  one  of  its  active  managers.  In  1858  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  police  commissioners.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  and  a  director  in  the  National  Broadway 
Bank,  also  in  the  Importers'  and  Traders'  Bank.  He 
has  been  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for 
nearly  forty  years,  and  for  twenty  years  was  a  member  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions.  In  1865  he  left  New  York  and  trav- 
eled abroad,  making  an  extended  tour  of  the  old  country. 
Upon  his  return  he  settled  in  Morristown,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Here,  as  elsewhere  during  his  whole  life, 
Mr.  Ward  has  identified  himself  with  all  interests  which 
have  for  their  object  the  betterment  of  society.  He  is  a 
member  and  elder  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Morristown.  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Ward,  professor  in  Albany 
Medical  College,  and  Willard  P.  Ward,  living  in  Georgia 
and  owning  large  interests  in  iron  mines  in  that  State, 
are  his  only  children. 


BOONTON 


By  Hon.  John  L.  Kanouse. 


^  HIS   township  was   formed  from  territory  set 
off  from  Pequannock  in  1867,  and  in  area  is 
the   smallest  in   the  county.     Except  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  town  of  Boonton,  and  in  that 
part  of   Rockaway  Valley  coming  within   its 
3unds,  this  township  has  but  little   arable   land. 
The  northern  and  northeastern  sections  of  it  con- 
sist mostly  of  rough  and  hilly  wood  and  pasture  land. 

In  the  eastern  part  there  is  a  ridge  of  rough  land  called 
Mine  Ridge.  The  existence  of  iron  ore  at  this  place 
was  known  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago,  and  some 
openings  were  made,  which  doubtless  gave  origin  to  its 
name.  Within  the  past  ten  years  several  mines  have  been 
opened  along  this  ridge,  and  considerable  ore  taken  out, 
the  quality  of  which  is  said  to  be  superior.  But  for 
some  reason  the  mining  of  it  thus  far  has  not  been  very 
profitable,  and  recently  little  has  been  done  toward  fur- 
ther developement. 

On  the  southern  edge  of  this  township,  near  the  mouth 
of  a  small  brook  running  into  the  Rockaway  River,  is  a 
a  ledge  of  soft  gray  sandstone  containing  in  its  crevices 
or  seams  fossil  fish.  Several  explorations  for  these  fos- 
sils were  made  many  years  ago,  and  some  very  handsome 
specimens  were  obtained.  But  the  greatest  effort  was 
made  about  three  years  ago  by  a  professor  from  Colum- 
bia College,  who  spent  some  time  and  considerable 
money  digging  and  blasting.  His  labor  was  rewarded  by 
obtaining  a  large  number  of  perfect  and  very  valuable  spec- 
imens. That  part  representing  the  fish  is  a  black,  hard 
substance  resembling  coal,  showing  the  whole  form  of  the 
fish,  with  the  fins,  tail,  and  soles,  very  perfectly.  When 
placed  on  a  hot  coal  fire  this  black  substance  burns  with 
a  blaze  and  smoke,  emitting  an  odor  like  bitumiaous 
coal. 

Northeast  from  and  near  to  the  town  of  Boonton  is  a 
large  elevation  of  ground,  the  highest  point  of  which  is 
said  to  be  nine  hundred  and  forty  feet  above  tide  water. 
Many  years  ago  there  stood  upon  the  summit  a  large 
chestnut  tree,  dead,  into  which  it  is  said  some  persons 
climbed  about  twenty-five-feet  and  with  the  aid  of  a  glass 
plainly  saw  the  ocean  at  Sandy  Hook.  It  is  quite  prob- 
able that,  were  it  not  for  the  intervening  of  the  first 
mountain  rajnge  at  Montclair,  the  elevation  at  this  point 


would  be  sufficient,  by  simply  standing  on  the  summit, 
to  see,  in  a  clear  day,  Staten  Island  and  the  waters  of 
Newark  and  New  York  bays.  Standing  on  this  elevated 
spot  on  a  bright' summer  day  and  with  a  clear  atmos- 
phere, the  view  spread  before  us  is  truly  grand  and 
charming,  one  that  needs  only  to  be  seen  to  be  appre- 
ciated and  remembered.  It  is,  as  it  were,  a  panorama 
diversified  by  mountains,  hills  and  valleys,  rivers  and 
rivulets,  green  pastures  with  roving  cattle,  patches  of 
forest  and  orchard,  amid  broad  cultivated  acres,  green 
with  growing  crops  and  waving  with  the  golden  harvest. 
Presently  we  hear  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  tireless  loco- 
motive, as  it  rapidly  approaches  from  the  east  with  its 
train  of  living  freight  and  speeds  away  toward  the  far 
west  and  the  lakes  at  the  north.  Then  again  we  hear  a 
heavy  rumbling  sound,  and  behold  a  ponderous  loco- 
motive moving  more  slowly  toward  the  east,  with  its 
train  of  a  hundred  cars  loaded  with  coal,  destined  to 
feed  the  almost  ceaseless  fires  of  the  busy  factories  and 
furnaces.  Near  by  we  observe  the  channel  of  the  Mor- 
ris Canal,  its  water  glittering  in  the  rays  of  the  sun,  as 
we  trace  it  miles  away,  in  the  distance  appearing  like  a 
track  of  silver  through  the  green  fields  and  amid  the  hills 
and  valleys  in  its  course  to  tide  water.  The  scene  is  not 
only  thus  varied,  but  extended.  Looking  south  the  eye 
reaches  across  the  valley  of  the  Passaic,  to  the  moun- 
tains in  the  rear  of  Orange  and  Montclair.  Looking  east 
we  have  before  us  this  valley  for  sixteen  miles,  to  the 
break  in  the  mountain  range  at  Paterson;  and  through 
this  break,  looking  on  over  the  valley  of  the  Hacken- 
sack,  the  Palisade  mountain  range  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Hudson  is  distinctly  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  al- 
though distant  nearly  thirty  miles.  Turning  westward, 
the  villages  of  Whippany,  Madison,  Chatham,  and  the 
Summit  are  visible  in  the  distance;  and  still  more  to  the 
west  the  eye  meets  the  hilltops  in  Somerset  and  Hun- 
terdon. 

About  fifty  years  ago  the  land  in  this  locality  was  un- 
inclosed,  and  used  by  the  neighboring  farmers  as  a  pas- 
ture in  common,  mostly  for  sheep,  of  which  large  flocks 
would  congregate  on  that  elevated  range  as  their  favorite 
resort.  One  night  a  number  of  dogs  made  great  havoc 
among  them,  killing  a  large  number;  so  that  the  dead  and 


25 


178 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


mortally  wounded  were  carted  home  by  the  wagon-load, 
for  the  purpose  of  saving  the  pelts.  This  led  to  calling 
the  place  Sheep  Hill,  a  name  which  has  ever  since  been 
retained. 

By  the  census  of  1870  Boonton  township  contained  a 
population  of  3,432  white  and  26  colored;  total  3,458. 
In  1875  the  population  was  3,535  white  and  41  colored; 
total  3,576.  In  1880  the  total  population  was  2,682, 
showing  a  decrease  of  776  as  compared  with  the  year 
1870.  This  falling  off  was  mainly  in  the  town  of  Boon- 
ton,  and  is  attributable  to  the  stoppage  of  the  extensive 
iron  industry  there  since  1876.  There  is  a  population  of 
only  about  400  in  the  township,  outside  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  town  of  Boonton. 

The  resources,  taxes,  etc.,  of  the  township  in  1881 
were  thus  indicatec'  by  the  assessors:  Acres,  3,490;  valu- 
ation of  real  estate,  $867,925;  personal  pro'perty,  $130,- 
550;  debt,  $16,650;  polls,  515;  State  school  tax,  $2,500; 
county  tax,  $2,333;  bounty  tax,  $2,418.61;  road  tax,  $r,- 
500;  poor  tax,  $150. 

The  Town  of  Boonton. 

This  town  includes  within  its  corporate  bounds  con- 
siderable space  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  which  is 
in  Hanover  township;  and  the  total  present  population 
of  the  town  itself,  including  East  and  West  Boonton,  may 
be  estimated  at  fully  2,500. 

The  town  is  situated  on  elevated  tableland,  about  five 
hundred  feet  above  tide  water,  at  a  break  in  the  hills 
through  which  the  Rockaway  River  flows  over  a  perpen- 
dicular fall  and  a  succession  of  rapids,  making  in  half  a 
mile  a  descent  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  The 
river  here  forms  the  dividing  line  between  the  townships 
of  Boonton  and  Hanover.  The  corporate  limits  of  the 
town  embrace  considerable  territory  on  the  western  or 
Hanover  side, but  the  greater  part  of  the  town  is  on  the  east- 
ern side  of  the  river.  Its  elevated  position  gives  a  com- 
manding view  over  a  region  of  country  from  twelve  to 
twenty  miles  in  extent,  looking  southerly,  easterly  and 
westerly.  Its  pure  air,  good  waters,  fine  scenery,  pleas- 
ant drives,  good  roads,  and  healthful  climate  render  it  to 
many  a  desirable  place  of  residence.  It  is  ten  miles 
northeast  of  Morristown,  sixteen  miles  west  of  Paterson 
and  nineteen  miles  northwest  of  Newark,  with  all  of 
which  places  it  is  connected  by  rail,  and  with  Newark  by 
a  good  wagon  road  which  for  more  than  half  the  distance 
has  a  Telford  pavement.  The  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad  passes  through  here  to  Hoboken, 
to  which  place  the  distance  is  29  miles,  and  the  time  by 
express  trains  one  hour.  There  are  six  trains  daily  go- 
ing east  and  six  west,  all  stopping  at  this  place.  The  ex- 
press trains  between  New  York  and  Binghamton  and  Os- 
wego go  by  this  route.  Notwithstanding  the  depression 
following  the  stoppage  of  the  iron  works  in  1876,  and  the 
loss  in  the  next  four  years  of  nearly  800  in  population, 
Boonton  is  a  place  of  considerable  business  enterprise. 
It  has  seven  stores  keeping  a  general  stock  of  merchan- 
dise; one  hardware  store,  four  groceries,  two  drug,  three 
clothing,  three  fancy  goods  and  two  jewelry  stores,  three 


millinery  shops,  three  boot  and  shoe  stores,  two  bakeries, 
one  news-room  and  stationery  store,  one  harness  manu- 
factory, one  carriage  manufactory,  one  machine  shop, 
four  blacksmith  shops,  three  butcher  shops,  one  lumber 
yard  and  three  coal  yards.  With  a  greater  diversity  of 
industry,  the  starting  again  of  a  portion  of  the  great  iron 
works,  and  some  reason  to  believe  that  the  whole  will 
soon  be  in  motion  again,  this  town  certainly  has  a  brighter 
future. 

Turnpike  and  Canal  Construction. 

The  construction  of  the  Morris  Canal  had  an  intimate 
connection  with  the  start  and  growth  of  this  place.  Prior 
to  1829  the  neighborhood  was  a  quiet  spot,  with  the 
grass  growing  in  the  middle  of  the  roads.  The  hill 
where  the  town  stands  was  then  mostly  a  rocky  wil- 
derness with  the  exception  of  one  small  cleared  field 
just  below  where  the  Presbyterian  church  stands,  and 
another  near  the  corner  of  Church  and  Main  streets,  on 
which  there  stood  a  log  house  occupied  by  a  family  of 
the  name  of  Fredericks.  This  spot  is  marked  by  some 
pear  trees  (probably  nearly  a  hundred  years  old)  still 
standing  near  the  residence  of  Jacob  Holmes. 

There  was  an  old  road  passing  through  to  Rockaway 
Valley,  a  rough  path  and  but  little  used,  leading  over  the 
hill  a  little  east  of  the  log  house  of  Fredericks  and  a  few 
rods  west  of  where  the  Presbyterian  church  stands;  pass- 
ing on  near  to  and  between  small  tracts  which  Charles 
Norway  and  Christopher  Loweree  had  purchased  and 
settled  many  years  before;  and  thence,  part  of  the  way 
through  a  very  dense  forest  called  the  Dark  Woods,  out 
to  its  junction  with  the  valley  road  near  the  residence  of 
Jacob  Kanouse  sen. 

In  1823  William  Scott,  who  had  just  prior  to  that 
bought  what  is  known  as  the  Old  Boonton  tract,  at  con- 
siderable expense  had  a  new  road  opened  and  graded 
leading  through  that  tract  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
and  near  to  the  falls,  toward  his  grist-mill  and  forge  at 
Powerville;  being  no  'doubt  prompted  by  a  desire  to 
bring  into  notice  the  fine  water  power  presented  by  the 
fall  in  the  river  at  this  place. 

At  this  time  the  construction  of  the  Erie  Canal  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  which  was  approaching  completion, 
was  awaking  great  public  interest,  and  thoughtful  minds 
were  considering  the  possibility  of  constructing  a  canal 
connecting  Easton,  on  the  Delaware,  with  tide  water  at 
Jersey  City,  with  a  view  to  developing  the  iron  interests 
of  the  northern  section  of  this  state,  and  providing  a 
che^ip  way  of  transporting  anthracite  coal,  a  new  kind  of 
fuel,  then  beginning  to  be  brought  into  use.  Because  of 
the  immense  cost,  and  the  great  elevations  to  be  over- 
come, the  practicability  and  financial  success  of  a  work  of 
that  kind  were  seriously  doubted.  Prominent  among 
those  in  Morris  county  who  took  an  active  interest  in 
this  project  were  George  P.  McCuUoch,  of  Morristown, 
and  Colonel  John  Scott,  of  Powerville,  a  brother  of 
William  Scott.  A  charter  for  a  company  to  build  the 
canal  was  obtained  December  31st  1824,  and  the  work 
of  construction  was  commenced  in  July  1825.     It  was  so 


THE  CANAL  IN  BOONTON— IRON  WORKS. 


179 


far  completed  in  1830  that  the  canal  may  be  said  to  have 
been  opened  to  Newark  in  that  year,  and  fully  for 
navigation  to  that  point  in  1831,  and  to  Jersey  City  in 
1836.  This  is  the  first  and  probably  the  only  canal 
where  inclined  planes  have  been  adopted  as  a  means  of 
transferring  boats  over  great  elevations  from  one  level 
into  another.  At  first  the  machinery  of  these  planes 
worked  rather  imperfectly,  at  times  causing  some  delay. 
The  ponderous  iron  chains  attached  to  the  cars  occa- 
sionally broke.  Such  an  accident  occurred  at  the 
inclined  plane  at  Boonton  shortly  after  the  opening  of 
the  canal  for  navigation.  A  boat  called  the  "  Electa," 
of  Rockaway,  owned  by  Colonel  Joseph  Jackson  and 
partly  loaded  with  merchant  iron,  was  on  its  way  to 
Newark,  having  on  board  the  captain,  his  wife  and  two 
children.  Just  as  the  boat  passed  the  summit  the  chain 
broke,  and  the  car  with  the  boat  ran  down  with  great 
velocity,  striking  the  water  with  such  force  as  to  throw 
an  immense  wave  over  the  towing  path,  which  carried 
the  boat  with  it  down  an  embankment  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  feet  in  height  and  landed  it  on  the  rocks 
below,  amid  some  trees  standing  there,  but  fortunately 
without  striking  any.  People  hastened  to  the  boat 
to  ascertain  the  fate  of  those  on  board.  On  opening 
the  cabin  door  the  wife,  with  her  two  children,  was 
found  sitting  there  rather  composedly,  and  uninjured. 
When  told,  what  had  happened  she  seemed  sur- 
prised, and  said  she  "  thought  the  boat  went  down  very 
swift,  but  supposed  that  was  the  way  the  thing  worked." 
This  heavy  chain  was  long  since  discarded  and  a  steel 
wire  rope  substituted,  which  has  proved  far  safer  and  in 
every  way  more  satisfactory.  Since  the  enlargement  of 
the  locks  sectional  boats  have  been  in  use,  which  can  be 
passed  over  the  suiftmit  of  planes  with  less  strain  upon 
the  machinery,  and  the  tonnage  has  been  increased  from 
eighteen  in  the  beginning  to  about  eighty  at  present. 
This  canal  passes  through  Boonton,  Montville  and  Pe- 
quannock  townships,  and  from  where  it  enters  at  Power- 
ville  to  where  it  leaves  near  Mead's  Basin,  a  distance  of 
about  nine  miles,  the  descent  is  three  hundred  and  fifty 
feet,  by  means  of  four  locks  and  four  inclined  planes. 

The   Iron  Works. 

When  the  canal  was  being  constructed  at  this  point 
the  company,  in  the  early  part  of  August  1829,  obtained 
from  William  Scott  a  deed  for  such  land  as  was  required, 
and  for  the  privilege  of  damming  the  river  above  the 
falls,  so  that  the  canal  might  be  fed  from  the  river 
at  this  place.  In  return  the  canal  company  cov- 
enanted with  Scott,  and  granted  to  him,  his  heirs 
and  assigns  the  privilege  of  using  the  canal  as  a 
race-way  for  conveying  water  to  mills  from  the 
dam  above  the  falls.  By  this  means  Scott  secured 
the  use  of  the  whole  head  of  water  at  this  point, 
immediately  available  through  a  race-way  and  from  a 
dam  built  entirely  at  the  cost  of  the  canal  company.  He 
had  it  in  his  power  to  use  not  only  the  natural  flow  of 
the  river,  but  also  the  feed  passing  through  the  canal,  be- 
ing bound  only  to  return  it  into  the  level  below  the  plane. 


This  was  a  master  stroke  of  policy  on  the  part  of  Scott; 
it  no  doubt  aided  him  very  much  in  disposing  of  this 
water  power,  and  added  largely  to  the  value  of  the  two 
hundred  acres  of  fend,  for  which  he  received  $5,000. 

A  short  time  before  the  completion  and  opening  of  the 
canal  to  Newark  some  capitalists  from  New  York  had  ex- 
amined this  location,  and  in  view  of  the  water  power 
available,  and  the  facilities  for  transportation  by  canal, 
concluded  to  purchase,  and  erect  extensive  iron  works. 
David  W.  Wetmore,  of  the  firm  of  Green  &  Wetmore,  deal- 
ers in  iron  and  hardware  in  New  York,  made  the  first 
purchases  of  land,  two  hundred  acres  from  William  Scott 
and  several  smaller  tracts  from  Daniel  T.  Peer,  among 
which  was  one  of  about  ten  and  a  half  acres,  lying  between 
the  river  and  the  inclined  plane  on  the  canal,  and  bounded 
by  the  river  on  the  west,  and  the  canal  on  the  east.  On  this 
tract  the  rolling-mills,  puddling  furnaces  and  foundry 
stand.  The  two  hundred  acres  bought  of  Scott  com- 
menced on  the  river  above  the  ten  and  a  half  acres  pur- 
chased of  Peer,  and  extended  eastward,  including  the 
greater  part  of  the  ground  where  the  northern  part  of 
the  town  stands.  These  several  tracts  of  land  purchased 
by  David  W.  Wetmore  in  his  own  name  were  on  the  30th 
of  November  1830  conveyed  by^him  to  the  New  Jersey 
Iron  Company,  a  stock  company  organized  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  and  operating  these  works. 

The  erection  of  the  iron  works  was  commenced  in 
September  1829,  and  completed  so  that  iron  was  first 
rolled  in  them  in  May  1831.  The  first  machinery  was 
imported  from  England  and  arrived  June  loth  1830. 
The  first  workmen,  puddlers  and  rollers  came  from  Eng- 
land in'  June  1830,  and  others  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
same  year.  As  a  preliminary  step  houses  had  to  be 
built  for  the  employes,  and  a  number  of  buildings  were 
erected  under  the  hill  and  opposite  where  the  Boonton 
Iron  Company's  office  stands.  One  of  these  was  used  as 
a  store  to  furnish  supplies.  One  of  the  first  dwellings 
erected  was  quite  a  large  building  to  be  used  as  a  board- 
ing-house, which,  old  and  dilapidated,  is  still  standing  on 
tho  east  side  of  Main  street,  just  above  the  falls.  The 
erection  of  other  buildings,  on  what  are  now  Main  and 
Church  streets,  followed  soon.  This  was  the  start  of 
Boonton,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  town  would  have 
existed  to-day  if  the  project  of  the  Morris  Canal  had  not 
been  pushed  to  a  successful  completion.  The  grounds 
where  the  factories  and  furnaces  stand,  in  the  beginning 
naturally  rough  and  uninviting,  would  probably  never 
have  been  selected  for  the  location  of  a  great  manufactur- 
ing industry  in  the  absence  of  adequate  means  for  heavy 
and  cheap  transportation. 

There  is  a  perpendicular  fall  in  the  river  of  about 
thirty  feet.  The  iron  works  are  located  a  short  distance 
below,  in  a  narrow  valley  between  the  canal  and  the 
river,  and  about  eighty  feet  below  the  level  of  the  water 
in  the  dam  above  the  falls.  The  water  to  drive  the 
works  is  taken  from  the  canal  at  the  head  of  the  plane, 
and  is  used  three  times  before  reaching  the  level  at  the 
foot  of  the  plane,  and  once  more  between  that  level  and 
the  river,  making  in  all  four  times  in  a  fall  of  about  one 


[So 


HiStORY  OF  MORRlS  COtJNTY. 


hundred  feet.  About  thirty  years  after  starting  these 
mills,  and  after  they  had  been  greatly  enlarged,  a  steam 
engine  was  put  up  to  aid  in  keeping  up  speed  when 
there  was  a  diminution  in  the  water  power  in  dry  sea- 
sons. These  mills  in  the  beginning  consisted  of  a  large 
rolling-mill  with  two  departments,  and  a  few  puddling 
and  heating  furnaces,  and  the  product  was  merchant  iron 
in  its  various  forms.  The  first  fuel  used  was  bituminous 
coal,  which  continued  in  use  six  or  seven  years,  until  an- 
thracite coal  was  substituted,  which,  being  much  cheaper 
and  readily  obtained  by  canal,  made  it  possible  to  manu- 
facture iron  more  cheaply.  In  1833  the  first  blast  fur- 
nace was  erected  here,  which  was  a  charcoal  furnace. 
It  stood  near  where  the  machine  shop  stands.  This  fur- 
nace consumed  about  one  thousand  bushels  of  charcoal 
per  day  and  produced  thirty-five  tons  of  pig  iron  per 
week.  In  a  few  years  the  scarcity  and  high  price  of 
charcoal,  and  the  discoveries  and  rapid  improvements 
made  as  to  the  use  of  anthracite  coal  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  iron,  rendered  the  operation  of  charcoal  fur- 
naces unprofitable,  and  this  one  ceased  to  be  used.  It  was 
about  this  time  that  these  works  were  mainly  devoted  to 
making  railroad  iron. 

This  business  was,  however,  of  short  duration,  and  the 
company  returned  to  making  sheet  iron  and  different 
forms  of  merchant  iron.  In  1848  the  first  anthracite 
blast  furnace  was  built,  where  it  now  stands.  It  was 
erected  under  the  supervision  of  Samuel  Thomas,  of  Cat- 
asauqua,  Pa.,  and  was  originally  thirty-six  feet  high  and  of 
thirteen  feet  bosh,  with  a  capacity  to  produce  five  thou- 
sand tons  of  pig  iron  per  annum.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
George  Jenkins  succeeded  Mr.  Thomas  in  the  superin- 
tendence of  the  furnace,  and  he  continued  in  that  posi- 
tion until  his  death,  which  occurred  suddenly  in  the  be- 
ginning of  1864.  Then  Henry  C.  Jenkins,  his  oldest 
son,  who  had  acquired  some  knowledge  of  the  business, 
was  promoted  to  the  place  which  his  father  had  so  suc- 
cessfully filled.  In  1865  this  furnace  was  repaired,  and 
made  forty-five  feet  high,  with  an  increased  capacity  of 
about  nine  thousand  tons  per  annum.  In  1868  an  ad- 
ditional furnace.  No.  2,  was  built,  with  a  height  of  sixty 
feet,  sixteen  feet  bosh,  and  a  capacity  of  twelve  thousand 
tons  per  annum.  In  1874  No.  i  furnace  was  rebuilt  and 
raised  to  the  height  of  seventy  feet.  The  total  capacity 
of  the  two  furnaces  is  estimated  at  twenty  thousand  tons 
per  annum.  There  are  two  large  steam  engines  standing 
between  the  two  furnaces,  which  with  a  large  water- 
wheel  are  used  in  making  blast. 

The  large  rolling-mill  first  erected,  which  had  been 
largely  added  to,  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1851,  but  was 
rebuilt  the  same  year. 

It  was  in  1848  that  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Company 
concluded  to  add  to  its  business  the  manufacture  of  cut 
nails.  Accordingly  in  the  next  year  it  erected  a  large 
factory  50  by  150  feet,  two  stories  high,  near  the  head  of 
the  inclined  plane.  This  was  fully  completed,  fitted 
with  machinery  and  put  in  operation  in  August  1851. 
The  price  of  nails  during  1851  and  1852  was  down  to  a 
low  figure— $3   and  $2.75  per  hundred— and  it  is  said 


some  sales  in  very  large  quantities  were  made  at 

lower   rates.     The   New  Jersey  Iron   Company,  ha> 

been  previously  embarrassed,  became  more  so  then, 

resolved  to  close  out  the  concern.     All  the  real  est 

including  the  iron   works,  was  sold    by  the    sheriff 

May  1852  to  Dudley  B.  Fuller  on  his  bid  (which  was 

only  one)  for  $160,000,  he    having  previously  taken 

that  was  personal  property  about  the  mills  and  facto 

at  an  appraisal  of  $125,000.     Mr.  Fuller  had  for  sevi 

years    prior    thereto    been    acting    as    the    commiss 

merchant   of  this  company,   and   thereby  the   comp, 

had    become    largely   indebted    to    him,    and    he    ■ 

compelled    for    self-protection    to    buy    the    prope 

At   the    time   he   made    the    purchase    Fuller   publi 

declared    that    he   would    discount    $20,000   from 

purchase  price  to  any  one  who  would  take  the  prope: 

But  no  one  appeared  to  accept  his  offer,   no   doubt 

cause  of  the  embarrassingly   low  prices  of  all  iron  p 

ducts  at  the  time.     Even  his  eminent  counsel,  A.  O.  '■ 

briskie  (as  he  afterward  told  the  writer),  feared  that  F 

ler  in  that  purchase  was  assuming  a  load  under  which 

would  stagger  and  finally  fall.     Fortunately    nails    ab( 

the  beginning  of  the  next  year  advanced   from   $2.75 

$3  per  keg,  and  continued  at  fair  prices  for  several  yes 

Thus  what  was  thought  to  be  a  mistake  on   the  part 

Fuller  proved  to  be  a  success.     Henceforth  these  woi 

appeared  to  move  with  increased   activity  in  every  ( 

partment.     A  new  nail   factory   was  started  below    I 

canal,    facilities    were    increased,    additional    buildii 

erected  and  important  repairs   and  alterations  made, 

tending  to  make  the  establishment  more    complete  a 

efficient    in   every  department.     Shortly    after   the  p 

chase  of  these  works  Mr.  Fuller  associated  with  him  a 

partner   James    Cowper    Lord,    a    son-in-law   of   Jan 

Brown,  the  banker,   under    the  firm    name  of  Fuller 

Lord.     In  1873  the  saw-mill,  lower  nail   factory,  cooj 

shop  and  several  large  drying  sheds,  with    two    milli 

staves,  were  burned;  and    in  place  of   them  new  buil 

ings  were  erected  in  the  same  year.     These   works  cc 

tinued  to  be  operated  under   the    same  firm  name  ur 

the  last  of  June  1876.     Mr.  Fuller  died  in  i868  and  IV 

Lord  in  1869,   but  by  provisions    under  their   wills  t 

works  continued  to  be  operated  until  1876.     In  the  si 

tlement  of  the  joint  interests  in  this  large  property  t 

estate  of  Mr.  Lord  came  into  the  sole  possession  of  t 

real   estate,  including  mills,    furnaces,  mines  and  oth 

property.     From  the  commencement  these  extensive  ir 

works  constituted  the  one  great  industry  and  nearly  t 

sole  dependence  of  this  place,  up  to  the  time  of  thi 

stoppage. 

It  may  be  of  interest,  and  give  a  more  just  conceptii 
of  the  extent  of  this  establishment,  to  speak  a  little  mo 
in  detail.  There  are  in  the  large  mill  twelve  dout 
puddling  furnaces,  seven  large  heating  furnaces,  fo 
trains  of  18-inch  and  two  trains  of  16-inch  rolls,  and  U 
rotary  and  two  crocodile  squeezers.  The  average  pr 
duction  of  puddle  bars  was  three  hundred  and  twen 
tons  per  week.  The  nut  mill  contained  four  furnac 
and  four  nut  machines.     In  the  two  nail  factories  the 


fiOONTON  IRON  WORKS  AND  SILK  MILLS. 


i8i 


were  150  nail  machines,  with  the  capacity  of  producing 
Virhen  run  to  the  full  extent  200,000  kegs  per  year.  There 
tvere  in  the  saw- mill  three  sets  of  stave  machines,  with  a 
capacity  of  20,000  staves  per  day.  For  this  1,000  cords 
of  chestnut  logs  were  required  each  year,  and  for  making 
the  heading  about  400.000  feet  of  whitewood  and  pine 
boards.  The  staves  were  piled  in  sheds  to  season  thor- 
oughly before  they  were  used  in  the  cooper  shop.  Over 
2,000,000  staves  and  over  900,000  keg-hoops  were  used 
in  turning  out  annually  an  average  of  about  150,000  kegs. 
From  seventy  to  eighty  kegs  were  considered  a  fair 
product  for  ten  hours'  work,  although  some  young  ex- 
perts have  been  known  to  turn  out  from  one  hundred  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  in  ten  hours.  The  mills,  fur- 
naces, foundry  and  various  shops  and  storehouses  cover 
fully  six  acres  of  ground.  As  a  motive  power  for  this 
vast  concern  1,500  horse  power  was  required,  and  was 
derived  from  four  large  overshot  waterwheels,  six  tur- 
bine wheels  and  three  steam  engines.  The  amount  of 
money  paid  out  monthly  in  1865  was  $30,000.  The 
monthly  payments  were,  however,  subject  to  considerable 
variation.  Beside  these  mills  the  company  owned  and 
operated  several  valuable  iron  mines,  from  which  a  sup- 
ply of  ore  was  obtained,  and  all  together  gave  employ- 
ment to  about  five  hundred  hands.  Such  was  the  nature 
and  extent  of  this  vast  industry,  that  gave  a  start  to 
Boonton  and  fostered  its  growth  for  forty-five  years.  At 
this  time  (November  i88r)  a  portion  of  these  works  has 
been  leased  to  a  responsible  party,  and  the  almost  un- 
broken stillness  that  has  reigned  within  the  walls  of  these 
mills  has  actually  been  disturbed  by  busy  hands  prepar- 
ing to  light  the  fires  and  start  the  hum  of  machinery  once 
more. 

At  Powerville,  a  riile  above  Boonton  on  the  Rockaway 
River,  a  forge  and  a  grist-mill  were  erected  by  Joseph 
Scott  early  in  the  beginning  of  this  century.  A  few 
years  afterward  his  second  son,  William,  became  a  joint 
owner  with  his  father.  After  the  death  of  Joseph  Scott, 
which  occurred  about  1827,  William  Scott  became  the 
sole  proprietor.  He  was  an  active,  enterprising  man, 
and  sought  to  make  improvements  in  the  manufacture  of 
iron.  He  was  to  a  great  degree  successful  in  accumulat- 
ing property,  and  became  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of 
land,  and  among  these  the  Hibernia  tract,  with  valuable 
iron  mines  from  which  he  procured  his  supply  of  ore. 
He  introduced  at  Powerville  a  method  of  separating 
the  pure  part  of  iron  ore  from  the  dross  by  first 
pounding  it  and  then  passing  it  over  large  mag- 
netic rollers.  This  was  with  a  view  to  improving 
the  quality  of  the  iron  and  increasing  the  yield 
With  a  };iven  quantity  of  fuel  used  in  smelting. 
William  Scott  died  at  the  time  when  anthracite  coal  was 
being  successfully  brought  into  use  for  puddling,  or  con- 
verting pig  into  wrought  iron.  This  new  use  of  anthra- 
cite, and  the  scarcity  and  high  price  of  charcoal,  have 
driven  the  old-fashioned  charcoal  bloomaries  out  of  ex- 
istence; save  here  and  there  one,  like  that  at  Powerville, 
which  has  been  kept  for  converting  scrap  iron  into 
blooms  by  the  use  of  charcoal.      Elijah  D.  Scott,  the 


only  son,  at  the  death  of  his  father  succeeded  to  the  own- 
ership of  the  forge  and  grist-mill,  and  he  with  Thomas  C. 
Willis  built  in  1846  a  small  rolling-mill,  which  was  used 
for  making  the  smaller  kinds  of  merchant  iron  from  char- 
coal blooms  made  in  the  forge.  Elijah  D.  Scott  died, 
leaving  by  his  will  the  forge,  rolling-mill,  grist-mill,  and 
all  the  property  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  to  Mr.  Willis, 
who  continued  to  operate  these  mills  as  before,  until  his 
death;  since  that,  the  forge  and  rolling-mill  have  been 
rented  and  employed  in  making  horseshoe  and  other 
kinds  of  merchant  iron  from  scrap  blooms  made  in  the 
forge.  Large  quantities  of  scrap  are  brought  by  canal 
and  by  railroad  from  New  York  for  that  purpose. 

About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Boonton,  on  the  road 
to  Montville,  H.  W.  Crane  built  a  mill  about  four  years 
ago,  which  is  used  for  the  manufacture  of  foundry-fa- 
cings, an  article  that  appears  to  be  in  brisk  demand,  as  the 
mill  is  kept  running  during  the  day  and  frequently  part 
of  the  night.  This  mill  is  driven  by  water  power  de- 
rived from  the  overflow  and  waste  gates  of  the  canal.  In 
Boonton,  on  the  south  side  of  Canal  street,  about  three 
years  ago  was  started  a  manufactory  of  pocket  cutlery, 
under  the  management  of  R.  M.  Booth.  This  mill  is 
driven  by  water  from  the  canal,  employs  about  twenty 
hands,  and  has  a  capacity  of  thirty-six  dozen  finished 
knives  per  day. 

Silk-Making. 

The  year  following  the  stoppage  of  the  iron  works  a 
number  of  enterprising  citizens,  believing  that  a  diver- 
sity of  industry  would  be  a  better  dependence  for  the 
town  than  one  great  branch,  as  heretofore,  put  their 
purses  together  and  erected  a  building  about  thirty  by 
seventy  feet  and  two  stories  high,  intended  for  a  branch 
of  the  silk  business,  for  doing  which  they  had  some  en- 
couragement from  parties  engaged  in  that  line.  The 
building  was  let  to  a  person  who  proposed  to  start  silk- 
weaving.  But  it  soon  turned  out  that  he  was  not  the 
man  for  the  place,  and  the  project  failed,  much  to  the 
disappointment  and  injury  of  those  who  started  it.  Thus 
the  matter  rested  until  about  two  years  ago;  when  a  firm 
in  Paterson,  of  substance  and  successful  business  enter- 
prise, was  induced  to  take  hold  of  it.  These  men  put  in 
steam  power  and  machinery  and  started  silk-winding.  In 
the  course  of  a  few  months  they  found  it  to  their  inter- 
est to  extend  their  facilities  by  an  addition  of  one  hun- 
dred feet  to  the  building,  which,  having  been  filled  with 
machinery,  is  now  occupied  by  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  hands.  This  whole  building  is  occupied  with  a 
primary  process  in  the  business,  where  the  inexperienced 
are  employed,  and  taught  to  be  "skillful  hard  silk  wind- 
ers." During  the  past  summer  the  firm  has  erected  a 
substantial  building  nearly  opposite  the  depot,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  40  by  200  feet,  four  stories  high  with  a 
high  attic.  There  are  also  several  other  large  buildings 
adjoining,  all  designed  to  make  one  mill,  which  is  to  be 
operated  by  steam,  warmed  by  steam,  and  lighted  by  gas 
made  in  an  adjoining  building  put  up  for  the  purpose. 
It  is  understood  to  be  the  purpose  of  the  proprietors  to 


182 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


make  this  factory  in  all  its  appointments  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  State.  It  will  doubtless  when  completed  require 
the  services  of  several  hundred  operatives. 

Postal  Facilities. 

Boonton  has  a  convenient  post-office  building,  cen- 
trally located  on  Main  street  and  fitted  up  with  modern 
improvements.  As  to  business  grade  this  office  ranks  in 
that  class  in  which  the  President  nominates  and  the 
Senate  confirms  the  appointment  of  postmasters.  The 
early  history  of  this  town  as  regards  postal  accommoda- 
tions was  rather  remarkable,  and  deserves  to  be  noted. 
For  sixteen  years  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Company  and 
citizens  of  this  place  were  obliged  to  go  with  and  for 
mail  matter  to  the  post-office  at  Parsippany,  three  and  a 
half  miles  distant,  three  times  per  week.  Yet  Boonton 
in  1834  had  a  population  of  four  hundred  and  in  1840 
fully  double  that  number,  and  its  amount  of  postal  mat- 
ter was  five  times  as  great  as  that  of  Parsippany  and  its 
vicinity.  In  1846,  on  the  gth  of  July,  the  post-office  at 
Montville  was  closed  and  removed  to  Boonton.  Edmund 
K.  Sargeant  was  postmaster  till  the  27th  of  November 
1849;  then  John  Hill  till  the  24th  of  May  1853,  when 
Mr.  Sargeant  was  reappointed.  He  continued  to  act 
till  his  successor,  Dr.  E.  B.  Gaines,  was  appointed  in 
1861.  Dr.  Gaines  served  about  ten  years,  when  E.  B. 
Dawson,  the  present  incumbent,  was  appointed. 

Churches. 

First  Presbyterian. — The  first  settlers  at  Boonton  were 
not  negligent  as  to  providing  means  for  religious  instruc- 
tion. Very  soon  after  the  mills  were  begun  religious 
meetings  were  appointed  for  Sunday,  at  which  the  Rev. 
John  Ford,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Parsippany,  at- 
tended and  officiated.  These  meetings  at  first  in  warm 
and  pleasant  weather  were  held  in  the  shade  of  a  grove 
and  at  private  dwellings.  In  1832  they  were  held  at  the 
district  school-house,  then  just  erected.  The  first  church 
organization  was  formed  July  ist  1832,  with  the  title 
"  Church  at  Boonton."  It  consisted  of  nineteen  mem- 
bers, nine  of  whom  were  natives  of  England  and  ten  of 
this  country;  of  the  latter  was  John  F.  Winslow,  the  first 
general  superintendent  of  the  iron  works.  They  con- 
tinued to  hold  meetings  in  the  district  school-house,  but 
before  the  close  of  that  year  concluded  to  take  measures 
for  the  erection  of  a  church  building.  The  county  rec- 
ords show  that  pursuant  to  notice  a  meeting  was  held  at 
the  school-house  on  the  loth  of  December  1832  to  elect 
trustees,  preparatory  to  the  incorporation  of  a  church  in 
accordance  with  a  law  of  the  State.  At  that  meeting 
James  H.  Woodhull,  Thomas  C.  Willis,  Samuel  Oakes, 
and  William  H.  Woodhull  were  chosen  trustees.  After 
subscribing  an  oath,  as  required  by  law,  they  signed  and 
filed  a  certificate  that  the  name  adopted  was  "  The  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Boonton,"  which  thereafter  was 
the  corporate  title  of  the  organization.  Decisive  steps 
were  at  once  taken  to  build  a  church,  and  in  1833  it  was 
erected,  on  a  plot  of  ground  donated  by  the  New  Jersey 
Iron    Company,    on    the   corner  of    Church  and    Birch 


streets,  where  the  present  church  stands.  The  Rev.  John 
Ford  and  several  other  ministers  supplied  the  pulpit 
until  July  1834.  On  the  rgth  of  July  the  same  year 
Rev.  Joseph  Vance  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  be- 
come the  pastor.  He  continued  his  labors  to  the  4th 
of  October  1838.  From  then  to  March  1840  the  pulpit 
was  occupied  by  occasional  supplies.  Then  Rev.  Cor- 
nelius S.  Conkling  was  the  pastor  to  November  30th 
1843.  Then  again  the  pulpit  was  vacant  except  as  sup- 
plied by  presbytery  till  May  1844,  when  Rev.  Daniel  E. 
Megie  accepted  a  call.  He  was  installed  on  the  29th  of 
the  same  month,  and  continued  his  pastorate  here  until 
September  1872,  when,  owing  to  his  failing  health,  he  re- 
signed. On  the  3d  of  January  1873  Rev.  Thomas  Car- 
ter, the  present  pastor,  was  installed.  After  his  resigna- 
tion Mr.  Megie  continued  to  reside  at  Boonton  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  May  1880,  about  thirty-six 
years  after  the  date  of  his  installment. 

The  church  erected  in  1833  was  35  by  55  feet,  and 
served  the  congregation  twenty-six  years,  when  it  was 
sold  and  removed  to  make  room  for  a  larger  structure. 
This  old  building  was  placed  by  the  purchasers  on  the 
opposite  side  of  Church  street,  and  under  the  name  of 
Washington  Hall  has  been  since  used  as  a  place  for  hold- 
ing public  meetings.  The  first  parsonage  of  this  congre- 
gation was  built  on  a  lot  on  the  south  side  of  Church 
street  in  the  year  1840,  and  was  first  occupied  by  the 
Rev.  Cornelius  S.  Conkling,  and  subsequently  by  the  Rev. 
Daniel  E.  Megie  for  many  years.  While  living  here  Mr. 
Megie's  first  wife  died.  He  married  Mrs.  Hester  Briggs, 
a  widow,  and  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mrs.  Briggs  had 
built  and  for  several  years  occupied  a  residence  on  the 
corner  of  Church  and  Birch  streets,  opposite  the  church. 
After  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Megie  removed  to  his 
wife's  residence,  and  the  parsonage  was  sold  soon  after. 
The  next  parsonage  was  built  about  the  year  1874,  on  a 
part  of  the  church  lot,  and  is  a  neat  and  commodious  ed- 
ifice of  moderate  dimensions,  costing  about  $6,000. 

The  new  church  edifice  was  built  in  1859,  and  as  first 
put  up  was  36  by  72  feet.  It  was  a  few  years  afterward 
greatly  enlarged  by  adding  to  the  width  on  each  side.  It 
has  a  tall  steeple,  and  on  account  of  its  location  and  size 
is  the  most  conspicuous  church  in  the  place. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Boonton  was  duly 
organized  on  the  sth  of  June  1853,  and  the  following 
names  were  signed  to  the  certificate  as  trustees:  George 
T.  Cobb,  John  Decker,  John  H.  Frampton,  John  Meyer 
jr.,  Samuel  B.  Shaubb,  Horace  E.  Taylor  and  William  T. 
Vanduyne.  On  the  24th  of  January  1854  Dudley  B. 
Fuller  and  James  Brown  of  New  York  donated  to  this 
church  a  lot  one  hundred  feet  square  on  the  east  side  of 
Cedar  street,  nearly  opposite  the  old  district  school- 
house.  The  same  year  they  erected  on  it  a  church  forty 
feet  square,  a  plain  building  costing  about  |i,6oo.  Sub- 
sequently a  parsonage  was  built  on  a  part  of  the  same 
lot,  costing  about  $1,800.  The  church  edifice  served  the 
congregation  about  sixteen  years,  when,  owing  to  an  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  members,  it  was  thought  advisa- 
ble to  provide  a  larger  building  and  to  obtain  a  more 


CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS  OF  BOONTON. 


183 


central  location.  Accordingly,  about  the  year  1868,  the 
residence  and  grounds  of  Dr.  Ezekiel  B.  Gaines,  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  just  above  William  street,  were  bought. 
The  intention  was  to  use  the  residence  as  a  parsonage, 
and  to  place  the  church  on  the  adjoining  lot.  The  erec- 
tion of  the  church  was  commenced  in  1868,  and  services 
were  held  in  the  basement  the  following  year.  The 
whole  building  was  not  fully  completed  till  1874.  The 
total  cost  of  the  church  edifice,  including  furniture,  is 
said  to  have  been  $18,000.  The  first  cost  of  the  property 
bought  from  Gaines  was  $9,000.  The  size  of  this  church 
on  the  ground  is  52  by  80  feet,  and  it  is  substantially  a 
two-story  building,  the  main  room  being  on  the  second 
floor,  with  a  high  basement.  The  audience  room,  in- 
cluding the  gallery  at  one  end,  is  51  feet  by  79,  and  the 
basement  lecture  room  is  50  feet  square. 

The  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel. — On  the  7th 
of  August  1848  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Company  deedi  d  to 
the  trustees  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Boonton  a  plot  of 
ground  on  the  corner  of  Birch  and  Green  streets,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  town.  On  this  was  erected  the  first 
Catholic  church  in  Boonton.  It  was  of  small  dimensions 
and  a  cheap  structure,  and  had  a  burial  ground  attached 
on  a  part  of  the  same  lot.  This  served  for  about  seven- 
teen years,  when  the  increasing  congregation,  desiring 
more  room,  procured  a  lot  on  the  opposite  side  of  Birch 
street  and  proceeded  to  erect  a  new  church,  which  was 
completed  in  a  few  years.  This  building  is  40  by  80 
feet,  with  a  tower  65  feet  high.  The  walls  are  of  stone, 
the  roof  slate,  and  the  windows  of  stained  glass.  It  has 
a  large  basement  room,  which  for  a  time  was  used  for  a 
week-day  school  separate  from  the  public  school  in  the 
town.  This  is  the  most  substantial  church  edifice  in 
Boonton  and  one  of  the  largest.  Its  cost  was  not  far 
from  $13,000. 

About  this  time  this  congregation  procured  a  suitable 
piece  of  ground,  on  the  eastern  outskirt  of  the  town  and 
near  the  foot  of  Sheep  Hill,  for  a  cemetery.  This  has 
been  inclosed  with  a  substantial  stone  wall,  and  the 
bodies  near  the  old  church  were  brought  here. 

The  first  lot  has  been  cleared  up,  and  on  it  has  been 
erected  a  neat  and  commodious  parsonage,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $s,ooo. 

On  the  20th  of  September  1864  this  society  became 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  "  The  Church  of  Our 
Lady  of  Mount  Carmel." 

St.  John's  Church. — The  first  Protestant  Episcopal 
church  in  Boonton  was  fully  organized  according  to  law 
on  the  4th  of  May  i860,  under  the  name  of  "St.  John's 
Church  in  Boonton,"  and  the  required  certificate  was 
filed,  signed  by  Francis  D.  Canfield,  minister,  and  George 
Anthony,  secretary.  Previous  to  this,  however,  there 
had  been  an  informal  orginization  of  this  denomination, 
and  religious  services  had  been  held  as  early  as  1856,  in 
a  small  building,  erected  by  Miss  Eliza  A.  Scott  as  a  ses- 
sion house  for  the  Presbyterian  church,  standing  on 
Church  street.  This  building  was  lengthened  and  fitted 
up,  and  was  used  by  St.  John's  church  several  years. 
About  the  year  1867  Fuller  &  Lord  donated  to  this  con- 


gregation a  large  and  handsome  lot  on  the  corner  of  Ce- 
dar and  Cornelia  streets.  On  this  was  erected  a  church 
edifice  of  moderate  dimensions,  in  gothic  style  and  rather 
plain  in  its  exterior.  A  neat  and  comfortable  parsonage 
was  built  on  a  portion  of  the  same  lot.  Rev.  Francis  D. 
Canfield  was  the  first  rector.  Rev.  Mr.  Sterns  the  next, 
and  the  third  the  Rev.  John  P.  Appleton,  the  present 
rector. 

The  Reformed  Church  at  Boonton. — The  church  last 
organized  in  Boonton  is  of  the  Reformed  denomination. 
Meetings  were  first  held  in  Washington  Hall  in  1867,  un- 
der the  lead  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Conklin,  of  the  church  at 
Montville.  On  the  2nd  of  February  1868,  at  a  meeting 
held  at  Washington  Hall  in  accordance  with  previous  no- 
tice, Timothy  W.  Crane  and  Albert  Crane  were  elected 
elders,  and  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  and  Francis  Room  dea- 
cons. On  the  6th  of  March  1868  this  society  became 
duly  organized,  by  the  elders  and  deacons  signing  and 
filing  a  certificate  in  accordance  with  law,  under  the 
adopted  name  of  "The  Reformed  Church  at  Boonton." 
Soon  afterward  measures  were  taken  to  procure  a  church 
edifice.  Some  years  prior  to  this  a  division  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Parsippany,  in  the  adjoining  township 
of  Hanover,  led  to  the  erection  of  the  second  church  edi- 
fice there.  This  was  occupied  but  a  few  years,  when,  the 
differences  that  led  to  its  erection  having  been  adjusted, 
this  second  church  ceased  to  be  used;  and,  the  creditors 
being  anxious  for  their  money,  this  building  was  sold  to 
the  Reformed  church  at  Boonton  and  removed  there. 

This  society  and  the  congregation  are  comparatively 
small,  but  financially  it  is  the  strongest  church  in  Boon- 
ton,  being  the  legatee  of  $10,000  by  the  will  of  Mrs. 
Eliza  A.  Crane  (formerly  Eliza  A.  Scott). 

Education. 

The  proprietors  of  the  iron  works  were  not  unmindful 
of  the  necessity  of  providing  for  the  education  of  the 
children  of  their  employes.  The  first  school  at  Boonton 
was  opened  in  1831,  in  a  part  of  a  dwelling-house  just 
built  nearly  opposite  where  the  Boonton  iron  works  office 
stands.  This  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Dean,  and  she 
was  paid  for  her  services  by  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Com- 
pany. A  school-house  was  erected  in  1831  on  what  is 
now  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Liberty  and  Cedar 
streets,  and  was  brought  into  use  in  1832.  This  building 
served  the  district  twenty  years.  The  last  teacher  who 
occupied  it  was  Marcus  W.  Martin,  teacher  in  the  year 
ending  in  June  1852.  His  salary  was  $350  per  year,  and 
that  year  the  school  was  free,  made  so  by  subscription. 
In  1851  a  larger  building,  of  brick,  was  erected  as  the 
public  school-house,  which,  greatly  enlarged  by  several 
additions,  is  now  in  use.  The  first  school-house  here, 
erected  fifty  years  ago,  is  still  standing,  and  with  some 
alterations  and  additions  is  occupied  as  a  dwelling. 

In  the  year  1850,  owing  to  the  growth  of  the  population 
of  Boonton,  the  school  room  became  overcrowded,  and 
some  were  asking  for  a  division.  The  township  superin- 
tendent, aware  of  what  had  been  done  at  Plainfield, 
Bloomfield,   Salem  and  Bridgeton  under   special  power 


1 84 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


given  by  the  Legislature  to  establish  free  schools, 
and  thinking  the  time  had  arrived  when  it  would  be 
most  to  the  advantage  of  the  people  of  Boonton  to 
remain  in  one  district  and  have  a  free  school, 
prepared  the  draft  of  a  bill  suited,  as  he  thought,  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  case;  and  in  November  of  that  year  he 
presented  it  for  consideration  at  a  public  meeting  called 
for  the  purpose,  and  accompanied  it  with  a  statement  of 
the  advantages  of  a  free  school.  The  proposition  and  the 
bill  as  presented  were  favorably  received,  and  after  fur- 
ther consideration  at  subsequent  meetings,  and  some 
amendments  suggested  and  adopted,  the  bill,  accompanied 
with  a  petition,  was  presented  to  the  next  Legislature. 
It  was  passed  in  March  185 1,  and  went  into  effect  im- 
mediately. Under  it  in  April  1851  William  G.  Lathrop 
James  Holmes  and  George  W.  Esten  were  elected  the  first 
board  of  trustees,  and  Henry  W.  Crane  was  elected 
clerk.  During  that  year  a  brick  building  of  suitable  size 
and  two  stories  in  height  was  erected,  on  a  suitable  plot 
of  ground  donated  by  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Company  for 
the  purpose.  It  was  completed  early  in  the  following 
year,  and  school  was  opened  in  it  on  the  19th  day  of 
July  1852,  under  Alonzo  B.  Corliss,  principal,  and  Miss 
Corliss,  assistant.  This  was  the  first  and  for  many  years 
the  only  free  school  in  Morris  county.  It  has  been  kept 
free  and  constantly  open  during  the  whole  of  each  school 
year  from  that  time  to  the  present,  and,  save  in  its  pro- 
portionate share  of  the  State  appropriation  of  public 
funds,  has  been  entirely  sustained  by  money  derived  from 
taxes  voluntarily  imposed  by  the  people  of  the  district. 
The  persons  first  chosen  as  school  ofificers  under  the  act 
of  185 1  are  still  living,  and  all  others  who  took  a  pi-om- 
inent  and  active  part  in  the  initiatory  steps  for  establish- 
ing this  free  school,  after  a  lapse  of  thirty  years,  are,  with 
three  exceptions,  still  living  to  testify  to  its  benefits,  and 
are  as  true  and  ardent  friends  as  ever  of  free  popular  ed- 
ucation. 

In  1853  an  association  of  the  teachers  of  Pequannock 
was  formed,  Boonton,  Montville  and  Pequannock  then 
being  in  one  township.  The  object  of  this  association 
was  self-improvement  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the 
business  of  teaching.  The  points  to  which  attention  was 
more  especially  directed  during  that  school  year  were  a 
thorough  examination  of  the  principles  of  arithmetic, 
and  a  critical  examination  of  the  principles  of  grammar 
as  applied  to  the  English  language.  The  township 
superintendent  participated,  and  at  the  request  of  the 
teachers  led  in  the  exercises.  The  subjects  for  consider- 
ation were  announced  before  the  meetings,  which  were 
held  monthly.  The  exercises  were  so  conducted  as  to 
engage  and  bring  into  use  the  individual  capacities  of  the 
members,  in  giving  in  precise  language  the  clearest  and 
best  explanation  of  each  point  under  consideration.  In 
this  way  all  became  interested  in  giving  close  attention, 
and  were  incited  to  careful  study  and  reflection,  which 
tended  to  produce  in  the  mind  of  each  clearer  concep- 
tions of  principle,  and  to  furnish  each  with  a  greater 
wealth  of  illustration.  The  working  of  this  association 
before  the  close  of  the  year  had  a  very  happy  and  notice- 


able effect,  not  merely  upon  the  teachers,  but  through 
them  upon  their  schools,  in  a  less  mechanical  but  more 
thorough  instruction  and  greater  interest  among  the 
pupils;  thus  furnishing  proof  that  the  best  way  to  elevate 
the  character  of  schools  is  to  elevate  the  character  of 
the  teachers.  Among  those  who  took  an  active  part  in 
that  association  were  Samuel  A.  Farrand,  then  principal 
of  the  Boonton  school,  since  a  graduate  of  the  State  nor- 
mal school,  and  now  principal  of  the  Newark  Academy; 
and  S.  A.  Felter,  then  a  teacher  in  the  school  at  Pine 
Brook,  and  since  a  graduate  of  the  State  normal  school' 
and  the  author  of  Felter's  series  of  arithmetics. 

Owing  to  the  rapid  growth  of  Boonton  during  eight  or 
nine  years  after  the  close  of  the  civil  war,  much  of  its 
population  had  spread  beyond  the  limits  of  the  school 
district  as  established  under  the  act  of  1851.  In  addi- 
tion to  this,  the  increased  number  of  departments  and 
the  large  number  of  pupils,  as  well  as  other  reasons, 
made  it  not  only  necessary  to  extend  the  boundaries  of 
the  district,  but  advisable  to  vest  the  control  and  man- 
agement in  a  board  of  education,  consisting  of  seven 
commissioners  in  place  of  three  trustees;  and  also  to 
have  provisions  under  which  evening  schools  might  be 
established  for  the  accommodation  of  those  whose  avoca- 
tions were  such  as  to  prevent  their  attendance  at  the  day 
schools.  The  gentleman  who  framed  the  act  of  185 1, 
under  which  the  free  school  was  established  and  had 
been  successfully  operated  twenty-four  years,  was  still 
living,  and  then  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees.  To 
him  was  assigned  the  labor  of  drafting  a  new  bill,  pro- 
viding for  necessary  changes  and  the  prospective  wants 
of  this  growing  district.  Accordingly  in  December  1874 
a  bill  with  suitable  provisions  was  prepared,  which,  being 
accompanied  by  petitions  and  without  remonstrance,  was 
presented  to  the  Legislature  at  its  next  session.  It  be- 
came a  law  and  went  into  effect  on  the  sth  of  April  1875. 
Under  this  special  act  the  school  at  Boonton  is  now 
operated.  This  school  is  graded,  and  occupies  two  build- 
ing— one,  the  main  building,  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town,  and  the  other,  a  primary  department,  in  the  south 
part.  There  are  in  all  nine  departments,  under  the 
charge  of  a  principal  and  nine  assistants.  Both  build- 
ings are  of  brick,  with  slate  roofs  and  two  stories  in 
height,  and  supplied  with  improved  modern  furniture. 

All  the  school  buildings  in  Boonton  township  are 
located  at  Boonton.  A  small  portion  of  the  school 
population  of  Boonton  township  in  the  western  and 
northern  parts  of  it  is  attached  to  adjoining  districts  at 
Powerville,  in  Hanover,  and  Rockaway  Valley,  in  Rock- 
away  township.  The  school  property  in  Boonton  is 
estimated  to  be  worth  $25,000.  For  several  years  prior 
to  1876  the  Catholics  maintained  a  separate  school  in 
this  place,  kept  in  the  basement  of  their  new  church. 
Since  the  stoppage  of  the  iron  works  this  has  been 
abandoned,  and  their  children  are  sent  to  the  public 
school. 

The  experience  of  thirty  years  under  the  operation  of 
a  free  school  at  Boonton  has  convinced  the  people  there 
that  no  town  becomes  the  poorer  by  taxing  itself  to 


BANDS  AT  BOONTON— CAUSES  OF  PROSPERITY. 


I8S 


educate  jts  children;  that  a  proper  and  thorough  system 
of  education  will  raise  its  moral,  social  and  intellectual 
position,  and  add  to  the  security  and  value  of  property; 
and  that  by  consolidation  and  keeping  strength  together 
better  schools  and  increased  means  of  instruction  can  be 
secured,  not  only  at  comparatively  less  cost,  but  with  far 
greater  advantages. 

Bands. 

For  a  quarter  of  a  century  Boonton  has  been  more  or 
less  noted  for  its  musical  attainments.  In  that  time  it 
has  had  several  fine  bands  of  music,  that  became  widely 
known,  through  services  rendered  at  various  public  meet- 
ings and  celebrations,  especially  during  that  most  excit- 
ing period  of  our  history,  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and 
the  subsequent  political  agitations.  The  first  band  was 
organized  about  the  year  1850,  under  the  name  "  Excel- 
sior." About  five  years  later  another  was  organized, 
called  the  "  Temperance  band."  Not  long  after  this,  be- 
cause of  some  disagreement,  the  Excelsior  band  was  dis- 
solved. This  resulted  in  the  formation  of  another,  called 
the  "  Washington  cornet  band,"  which  is  said  to  have 
been  one  of  the  finest  bands  Boonton  ever  had.  Whatever 
may  have  been  the  peculiar  merits  of  these  bands,  it  is  but 
just  to  say  that  the  people  have  reason  to  remember  them 
with  pleasure  and  gratitude,  for  the  cheering  and  inspirit- 
ing influence  of  their  music  on  the  many  occasions  of 
gloom  and  despondency,  rejoicing  and  excitement,  exper- 
enced  in  the  past  twenty  years. 

Causes  of   Prosperity. 

The  history  of  Boonton,  as  to  growth  in  population, 
and  results  in  a  moral  and  social  aspect,  contains  some 
features  deserving  special  notice.  Many  persons  seem 
impressed  with  the  belief  that  a  manufacturing  town 
must  necessarily  have  a  mixed  population,  a  majority  of 
whom  will  rank  low  as  to  intelligence  and  social  and 
moral  qualities.  One  of  the  marked  features  of  Boonton 
is  that  a  majority  of  its  citizens  own  the  dwellings  they 
live  in,  and  have  acquired  them  by  the  savings  from 
years  of  honest,  hard  labor  here;  and  the  general  appear- 


ance of  tidiness,  convenience  and.  orderly  surroundings 
indicate  the  existence  of  some  refinement  and  taste.  As 
to  the  intelligence  and  general  good  character  of  its  citi- 
zens, Boonton  undoubtedly  stands  ahead  of  most  manu- 
facturing towns.  The  question  naturally  arises,  why  is 
this  so  ?  It  appears  to  be  mainly  traceable  to  two 
causes. 

The  New  Jersey  Iron  Company  never  adopted  that  ex- 
clusive system,  characteristic  of  many  manufacturing  vil- 
lages, of  owning  all  the  dwellings,  holding  all  the  land, 
and  paying  employes  in  store  goods.  It  paid  monthly, 
and  in  cash,  and  induced  its  employes  to  obtain  homes  of 
their  own,  by  offering  lots  at  nominal  prices — from  $10 
to  $25 — and  some  assistance  in  money,  if  needed,  to  erect 
a  house  after  the  lot  had  been  cleared  and  improved;  the 
company  taking  pay  by  installments,  as  could  be  spared 
from  their  wages,  and  holding  the  deed,  to  be  delivered 
when  paid  for.  This  policy  tended  to  inculcate  habits 
of  industry  and  frugality,  and  to  induce  families  to  prac- 
tice economy,  virtues  that  contribute  to  form  manly  char- 
acter,and  tend  to  thrift  and  prosperity.  Thiswasonecause. 

The  other  is  the  free  public  school  established  thirty 
years  ago.  Fortunate  was  it  for  Boonton  when  it  was  de- 
cided in  1850  not  to  divide  the  district,  but  to  have  only 
one  school,  and  make  that  of  a  better  class — free,  graded 
and  with  more  branches  taught — thus  bringing  within  the 
reach  of  all  the  opportunity  of  obtaining  a  more  thorough 
education.  That  a  generation  has  grown  up  under  its 
influence  to  a  higher  degree  of  intelligence  is  manifest 
in  the  results.  Of  the  ten  teachers  now  employed,  seven 
have  been  trained  and  educated  in  that  school,  and  many 
of  its  graduates  have  gone  forth  and  engaged  in  teaching 
elsewhere,  with  credit  to  themselves  and  satisfaction  to 
their  employers.  Several  of  those  who  attended  this 
school  have  entered  the  learned  professions,  some  have 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  many  in  various 
trades  and  occupations  the  doors  of  which  would  have 
been  closed  to  them  but  for  their  educational  advantages 
in  that  public  school.  Such  are  some  of  the  historical 
lessons  presented  as  the  results  of  thirty  years  of  experi- 
ence at  Boonton. 


1 86 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


e/a^^' 


SAMUEL    L.  GARRISON. 


OAA^^^^^^^"^ 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  of  humble  parentage, 
near  Bridgeton,  Cumberland  county,  N.  J.,  on  the  8th  of 
February  1845.  When  he  was  very  young  his  parents 
removed  to  Bridgeton,  and  after  becoming  of  suitable 
age  Samuel  was  sent  to  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
He  was  an  apt  scholar,  and  the  progress  he  made  during 
the  few  years  he  was  able  to  attend  school  laid  the  foun- 
dation for  a  successful  career  in  the  profession  afterward 
chosen  by  him.  When  he  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age 
he  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  store,  and  he  continued 
as  such  for  two  years.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was 
urged  by  James  B.  Ferguson,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
West  Jersey  Pioneer,  published  in  the  city  of  Bridgeton, 
to  accept  a  position  in  his  ofifice.  After  some  reluctance 
the  lad  accepted  the  position,  and  in  about  three  years 
was  capable  of  performing  the  duties  of  foreman,  which 
he  did  for  about  one  year,  when  he  accepted  a  similar 
position  in  the  ofifice  of  the  Millville  RepiMican,  pub- 
lished in  the  city  of  Millville,  in  the  same  county.  After 
serving  as  foreman  for  three  or  four  years  he  became  as- 
sociate editor,  and  upon  him  devolved  most  of  the  labor 
of  the  office,  the  editor  having  many  outside  matters  to 
engage  his  attention.  Mr.  Garrison  performed  the  duties 
of  associate  editor  a  number  of  years.  He  made  many 
friends  by  his  obliging  manners,  and  was  warmly  attached 
to  the  people  of  Millville,  almost  all  of  whom  treated  him 
with  uniform  kindness. 

In  the  year  1872  he  was  offered  the  editorship  of  the 
Boonton  Weekly  Bulletin,  a  newspaper  resuscitated  from 


the  remains  of  one  of  the  same  name,  which 
had  suspended  publication  after  being  pub- 
lished less  than  two  years  in  Boonton  by  An- 
drew A.  Neal.  The  Bulletin  was  revived  in 
the  interests  of  the  Republican  party,  by  a 
number  of  prominent  Republicans  of  thetown, 
and  for  a  year  was  published  by  Dawson  & 
Garrison.  At  the  close  of  the  year,  on  the  ist 
of  September  1873,  this  partnership  was  dis- 
solved and  Mr.  Garrison  assumed  control  of 
the  publication  as  editor  and  publisher.  In 
the  year  1878  he  bought  up.  all  the  stock 
in  the  concern  and  became  proprietor 
also.  He  is  still  engaged  in  publishing  the 
Bulletin. 

Mr.  Garrison's  efforts  and  final  success  in 
pushing  forward  improvements  in  the  town 
during  the  dark  days  it  was  obliged  to  pass 
through  after  the  stoppage  of  the  great  iron 
works — the  only  industry  in  the  town  at  the 
time  of  their  stoppage — and  his  untiring  exer- 
tions to  introduce  new  industries  in  the  place, 
make  this  sketch  of  him  especially  appropriate 
as  a  part  of  the  history  of  Morris  county. 
The  following  sentence  in  a  notice  published 
in  the  Millville  Republican,  after  Mr.  Garrison 
assumed  control  of  the  Bulletin,,  shows  the 
editor's  opinion  of  him  as  an  advocate  of  local 
interests:  "  We  commend  Mr.  G.  to  the  people 
of  Morris  county  as  an  earnest  and  indefatiga- 
ble worker  for  local  interests,  and  hope  they 
will  give  hinf  substantial  aid  and  encourage- 
ment." 

The  closing  of  the  Boonton  iron  works  in 
June  1876  threw  out  of  employment  about 
seven  hundred  men  and  boys,  and  soon  many 
people  moved  away  from  the  town.  Now,  if 
ever,  was  the  time  for  determination  and  ac- 
tivity on  the  part  of  all  interested  in  the 
future  of  Boonton.  No  one  saw  this 
sooner  or  felt  it  more  forcibly  than  Mr. 
Garrison.  True  he  did  not  own  as  much  Boonton 
property  as  many  others,  but  he  labored  harder  to 
push  improvements  and  encourage  industries  than  many 
ot  the  property  holders,  who  were  fearful  of  increased 
taxation.  These  citizens  ought  to  have  known  that  im- 
provements would  enhance  the  value  of  their  properly, 
especially  so  the  establishment  of  new  industries.  The 
active  interest  taken  by  Mr.  Garrison  in  assisting  to  in- 
troduce the  silk  business  in  the  town  commends  him  to 
the  citizens  of  the  county,  to  which  this  industry  will  be 
one  of  the  most  valuable.  The  first  silk-mill  in  Morris 
county  was  erected  in  Boonton,  and  most  of  the  funds  to 
erect  it  were  solicited  by  Mr.  Garrison.  Strange  as  it 
may  appear,  the  improvements  made  in  the  town  from 
1876  to  i88i,  during  which  time  the  iron  works  were 
idle,  were  greater  than  had  been  made  for  many  years 
while  the  works  were  in  operation.  When  Mr.  Garrison 
first  came  to  Boonton  steps  were  being  taken  to  improve 
the  town,  but  the  stoppage  of  the  works  would  probably 
have  caused  an  entire  cessation  of  improvements  if  Mr. 
Garrison  had  not  advocated  pushing  them  forward. 
Then  Main  street  was  a  burlesque  on  the  name;  now  it 
is  a  pleasant  thoroughfare.  The  introduction  of  street 
lamps  was  due  in  a  great  measure  to  Mr.  Garrison's  ad- 
vocacy, both  in  his  paper  and  before  the  town 
council. 

Mr.  Garrison  is 
Episcopal   church, 

having  filled  a  number  of  important  and  responsible 
positions  in  connection  with  the  denomination.  He  also 
takes  great  interest  in  educational  matters,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Boonton  board  of  education. 


a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist 
in  which   he  takes  a  deep  interest. 


CHATHAM    TOWNSHIP. 


By  Rev.  Robert  Airman,  D.  D. 


HATHAM  TOWNSHIP*  was  formed  from 
Morris  and  Hanover,  in  the  year  1806.  It 
is  in  the  shape  of  a  wedge,  about  six  miles  in 
length  and  four  broad,  and  contains  twenty- 
three  and  a  half  square  miles  or  14,712  acres. 
It  is  bounded  north  by  Hanover;  on  the  east 
and  south  by  the  Passaic  River,  which  separates 
it  from  parts  of  Essex  and  Union  counties;  and  on  the 
west  by  Morris  and  Passaic  townships. 

The  population  of  the  township,  at  the  several  census 
dates  has  been  as  follows:  1810,2,019;  1820,1,832;  1830, 
1,874;  1840,  2,138;  1850,  2,436;  i860,  2, 968  (105  col- 
oredl;  1870,  3,715  (130  colored);  1875,  4>44°  ('4^  col- 
ored);" 1880,  4,277.  The  population  of  the  villages  in 
the  township  at  the  last  date  was:  Madison,  1,756; 
Chatham,  738;  Afton,  279. 

The  assessors'  statistics  for  1881  were  as  follows:  Acres, 
12,418;  valuation  of  real  estate,  $2,127,089;  personal  prop- 
erty, $574,735;  debt,  $87,680;  total  taxable  property, 
$2,614,144;  polls,  891;  State  school  tax,  $6,654.59;  county 
tax,  $6,212.19;  ^oad  tax,  $6,000;  poor  tax,  $300. 

In  the  southern  corner  of  the  township  is  a  portion  of 
the  Great  Swamp,  a  remarkable  formation,  probably 
the  bed  of  an  ancient  lake  or  pond,  whose  description 
more  properly  belongs  to  the  account  of  Passaic  town- 
ship, within  which  it  mainly  lies.  The  whole  swamp  was 
until  recently  covered  with  a  heavy  timber  growth,  but  it 
is  now  largely  cleared  and  drained,  the  upland  portions 
well  tilled,  and  much  of  it  excellent  meadow  land,  pro- 
ducing large  crops   of  lowland   hay.     About   2,560  acres 


*  The  author  of  the  history  of  Chatham  township  desires  to  express 
his  obligations  to  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Tuttle,  D.  D.,  president  of  Wabash  Col- 
lege, and  to  Hev.  Samuel  L.  Tuttle,  for  a  number  of  years  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Madison.  To  both  these  gentlemen  every  one 
who  gains  much  knowledge  of  the  early  history  of  this  part  of  New 
Jersey  will  have  to  confess  indebtedness.  Both  were  settled  pastors  in 
Morris  county,  and  with  genuine  antiquarian  enthusiasm  improved 
their  opportunities  to  gain  infoi-raation  while  yet  there  remained 
among  the  living  aged  men  and  women  who  remembered  old  historic 
scenes,  or  could  repeat  the  recollections  of  their  fathers  or  mothers. 
Rev.  S.  L.  Tuttle  has  left  a  large  manuscript  volume,  of  nearly  five  hun- 
dred pages,  filled  with  facts  and  anecdotes  of  the  early  days  of  the 
township,  and  especially  of  the  old  Bottle  Hill  church.  His  address  de- 
livered July  4th  1855,  entitled  "Bottle  Hill  during  the  Revolution," 
much  enlarged,  was  published  in  the  Historical  Magazine  in  1871.  Each 
of  these  is  a  thesaurus  of  information,  and  has  been  largely  drawn  upon 
for  the  early  portions  of  this  history. 


of  the  Great  Swamp  lie  in  Chatham  township.  It  is 
drained  by  the  Lowantica  River,  or  Black  Brook. 

On  the  southeast  of  the  township  is  a  fine  elevation  of 
land,  called  Long  Hill,  running  parallel  to  the  Passaic 
River,  of  the  valley  of  which  it  here  forms  the  northern 
and  eastern  crests,  affording  picturesque  and  beautiful 
views  of  one  of  the  most  charming  portions  of  the  State. 

The  principal  settlements  of  the  township  are  Colum- 
bia, Madison,  East  Madison,  Chatham  and  Stanley. 

One  of  the  earliest  settlers  at  Columbia  was  Thomas 
Eckley,  an  English  gentleman,  who  came  here  about  the 
year  1750.  He  purchased  500  acres  of  ground,  and 
built  a  house  of  considerable  elegance,  in  the  midst  of  a 
fine  park.  He  died  in  1793,  and  with  his  wife  was 
buried  in  the  Hanover  graveyard.  The  house  passed 
into  other  hands,  and  was  subsequently  burned  down. 
A  portion  of  the  grounds  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
C.  B.  Meeker  and  W.  J.  Meeker. 

Columbia  has  for  a  year  or  two  borne  the  name  of 
Afton,  the  change  having  been  made  10  distinguish  it 
from  another  village  of  the  same  name  in  the  State.  It 
is  a  beautiful  part  of  the  township,  delightful  for  resi- 
dences, and  the  land  fruitful  and  well  cultivated. 

The  0rigin.4L  Settlers 

of  this  region  were  New  Englanders,  mainly  Connecticut 
men  and  women,  whose  first  New  Jersey  homes  had 
been  made  in  Elizabeth  and  Newark,  as  is  shown  by  the 
coincidence  of  names  among  the  earlier  inhabitants  of 
these  places  with  our  own.  Rumors  of  vast  quantities 
of  iron  ore  imbedded  in  the  hills  beyond  reached  the 
ears  of  these  men,  and  attracted  them.-  This  ore  had 
been  long  known  to  the  Indians,  and  had  been  worked 
by  them  in  their  rude  way  into  implements  of  industry 
and  war.  Probably  also  the  fine  rolling  country,  with  its 
well-watered  valleys  and  promise  of  fruitful  harvests, 
drew  them  on. 

Large  purchases  of  land  were  made  from  the  old 
"New  Jersey  proprietors;"  and  about  twenty- two  years 
after  the  purchase  of  Elizabeth  by  Carteret — that  is, 
about  the  year  1685 — a  few  men  crossed  the  Newark 
Mountain,  then  called  the  "  Great  Watchung  Mountain," 
and  brought  civilization  into  these  hills  and  valleys. 


26 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  central  settlement  for  some  time  was  on  the  Whip- 
panong  River;  called  so  for  the  tribe  of  Indians  living 
hereabouts,  of  whom,  however,  as  of  other  indigenous 
Indians,  there  have  come  down  to  us  no  historical  ac- 
counts, and  almost  no  traditions.  This  indicates  that  be- 
tween the  whites  and  the  Indians  there  were,  happily,  no 
serious  conflicts,  to  leave,  as  in  many  ether  places,  bloody 
way-marks  on  the  early  records.  The  histories  of  peace 
have  usually  been  written  in  few  pages.  In  the  language 
of  one  of  New  Jersey's  distinguished  sons,  "  It  is  a  proud 
fact  in  her  history  that  every  foot  of  her  soil  has  been  ob- 
tained from  the  Indians  by  fair  and  voluntary  purchase 
and  transfer — a  fact  that  no  other  State  in  the  Union, 
not  even  the  land  which  bears  the  name  of  Penn,  can 
boast  of." 

The  township  of  Whippanong  was  constituted  in  the 
year  1700,  and  included  all  the  territory  now  embraced 
in  the  townships  of  Morris,  Chatham  and  Hanover. 

The  names  of  many  of  the  earliest  settlers  have  a  famil- 
iar sound  to-day— such' as  Carter,  Genung,  Miller,  Potter, 
Burnet,  Thompson,  Marsh,  Muchmore,  Roberts,  Day, 
Lum,  Bruen,  Lindsley,  Halsey,  Bonnel,  Cook,  Ward  and 
others.  Of  these  settlers  Benjamin  Carter  seems  to  have 
been  the  largest  landholder,  owning  most  of  the  land 
now  occupied  by  the  village  of  Madison.  His  residence 
was  a  few  rods  south  of  where  the  Presbyterian  church 
now  stands.  The  first  grist-mill  here  was  built  by  him, 
and  stood  in  the  valley  opposite  his  house  ;  the  mill  dam 
being  thrown  across  the  valley  and  flooding  the  land  to 
the  north,  making  a  considerable  stream  part  of  the  year, 
but  quite  dry  in  the  summer. 

The  original  blacksmith  appears  to  have  been  Ellis 
Cook,  whose  shop  occupied  the  site  of  the  old  and  now 
forsaken  academy  building.  Aaron  Burnet  settled  on  the 
spot  owned  by  the  late  John  B.  Miller,  and  died  there  at 
the  age  of  100  years;  the  house  has  disappeared.  His 
four  sons,  James,  Matthias,  William  and  Aaron,  lived  to 
advanced  age,  the  last  of  them  being  the  late  Matthias 
L.  Burnet,  who  passed  away  recently  in  his  93d  year. 
David  Bruen  came  from  Newark  and  built  upon  the  spot 
occupied  by  the  late  Captain  Mallaby. 

For  many  years  the  settlements  were  mere  hamlets, 
while  the  entire  surrounding  region  was  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  whose  only  inhabitants  were  wild  beasts  and 
Indians.  Here  and  there  a  more  enterprising  or  adven- 
turous settler  erected  a  dwelling  and  cleared  a  space  for 
a  future  civilization. 

When,  about  the  year  1718,  the  old  church  in  Whip- 
panong was  formed,  Morristown  had  hardly  begun  to  be  a 
village,  and  not  until  sixty  years  afterward  did  it  number 
two  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants.  Newark  had  been 
settled  forty  years,  and  had  a  population  of  less  than 
three  hundred.  Elizabethtown  was  the  center  of  trade 
for  the  whole  region,  and  although  small  was  yet  the 
most  influential  of  all  these  settlements.  What  is  now 
Springfield  contained  but  three  dwelling  houses.  Bloom- 
field,  Orange  and  Belleville  were  mere  outskirts  belong- 
ing to  Newark,  while  the  villages  of  Parsippan}-,  Hanover 
and  Chatham  were  not  yet  in  existence. 


For  many  years  after  the  first  settlers  came  the  country 
filled  up  very  slowly.  The  farmers  were  few,  houses 
were  widely  distributed  and  of  the  humblest  character, 
and  of  course  the  religious  and  educational  advantages 
were  extremely  limited.  No  marked  changes  seemed  to 
have  occurred  for  many  years. 

Production  and  Transportation. 

As  has  been  said,  the  iron  ore  abounding  in  the  hills 
of  Morris  county  was  a  principal  incentive  to  immigra- 
tion. Upon  the  tracts  of  land  purchased  of  the  New 
Jersey  proprietors  forges  were  erected  in  various  places. 
One  of  these  stood  near  the  present  grist-mill  in  Green 
Village,  another  near  the  grist-mill  in  Chatham  village, 
and  the  region  hereabouts  came  to  be  known  for  many 
years  by  the  name  of  "The  Old  Forges." 

The  ore  was  carried  from  the  mines  in  stout  leathern 
bags  on  the  backs  of  horses,  and  after  being  manufac- 
tured into  iron  the  bars  were  carried  in  the  same  way  to 
Elizabeth  and  Newark,  and  thence  forwarded  in  boats  to 
New  York.  This  business  not  only  had  much  to  do  with 
the  early  settlement  of  the  region,  but  soon  led  to  the 
opening  of  roads.  The  earliest  highway  leading  through 
Chatham  to  the  seaboard  was  that  long  known  as  "the 
old  road,"  which,  coming  down  from  Morristown  by  the 
residence  of  Judge  Lathrop,  passed  from  thence  to  the 
corner  of  the  road  leading  to  the  convent,  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  "Vernier;  then,  by  the  site  of  the  old  academy, 
down  the  hill,  past  the  lecture  room  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  along  the  present  track  of  the  railroad,  in  front 
of  the  house  now  occupied  as  a  home  for  invalids  by 
Mrs.  Van  Pelt,  down  toward  Chatham  by  the  house  of 
Mrs.  George  Ebling;  thence  over  the  Passaic  River  and 
Short  Hills,  through  Springfield  and  Connecticut  Farms 
to  Elizabethtown,  striking  the  seaboard  at  the  Kill  von 
Kull.  Communication  with  New  York  from  there  was 
by  means  of  row  boats  and  small  sailing  craft,  two  days 
being  frequently  consumed  in  going  from  Chatham  town- 
ship to  New  York. 

Other  thoroughfares  were  opened  gradually  and  later, 
but  may  as  well  be  designated  here.  The  main  road  to- 
ward the  south  was  the  one  now  leading  to  Green  Vil- 
lage, and  thence  to  Basking  Ridge,  PUickamin  and  the 
Delaware.  The  road  leading  northward  was  that  which 
passes  by  the  old  academy,  through  Columbia,  Whip- 
pany,  Troy  and  Pompton,  and  on  to  Fort  Lee  and  the 
Highlands  of  the  Hudson.  These  roads  formed  a  direct 
route  between  the  Delaware  and  the  Hudson  for  persons 
travehng  on  this  side  of  the  Newark  Mountain,  as  well 
as  for  those  coming  from  the  west  toward  the  ocean. 
These  roads  also  had  more  or  less  to  do  with  the  early 
development  of  this  region,  and  had  special  historic 
bearings.  Geographically,  Bottle  Hill  was  so  located 
that  during  the  Revolutionary  war  it  became  from  neces- 
sity a  witness  of  many  of  the  operations  and  a  large  sharer 
in  the  embarrassments  and  trials  of  that  eventful  struggle. 

The  history  of  the  roads  of  a  country  gives  a  pretty 
fair  indication  of  the  intellectual  and  social  life  and 
progress  of  that  country.     Chatham  township,  as  indeed 


ROADS  IN  CHATHAM  TOWNSHIP— THE  FIRST  CHURCH. 


189 


Morris  county  generally,  is  at  least  a  partial  illustration 
of  this  rule.  The  early  roads  of  course  were  rough,  and 
at  certain  seasons  of  the  year  almost  impassable.  Yet 
they  were  important  avenues  from  the  interior  to  great 
emporiums.  The  travel  from  the  up-country,  the  trans- 
portation of  produce  and  manufactures  was  by  stage  and 
by  large  four-horse  baggage  wagons.  Two  four-horse 
stages  passed  up  and  down  daily.  Rev.  Dr.  Ogden  states 
that  he  has  himself  counted  twenty  four-horse  covered 
wagons  coming  one  after  the  other  over  the  hills.  These 
would  usually  stop  over  night  in  Chatham  village  as  a 
half-way  house,  coming  and  going;  making  the  village 
lively,  and  the  business  of  the  two  leading  public  houses 
very  profitable.  To  reach  New  York  and  return  required 
two  days,  with  a  probable  third  day  for  the  transaction 
of  business.  The  increasing  travel  as  the  country  filled 
up  made  it  necessary  to  keep  the  roads  in  passable  con- 
dition; but  the  improvements  within  a  few  years  have 
been  very  great,  and  there  is  probably  no  part  of  New 
Jersey  where  better  roads  invite  to  finer  drives  than 
throughout  this  portion  of  the  State,  and  perhaps  none 
where  such  advantages  are  put  to  better  use. 

This  part  of  New  Jersey  can  hardly  be  said  to  have 
been  really  known  to  the  rest  of  the  country  until  October 
1837,  when  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  was  opened, 
bringing  into  connection  with  Newark  and  New  York 
these  hilly  and  picturesque  regions  on  the  line  of  the 
road,  and  giving  easy  access  to  romantic  lake  and  moun- 
tain scenery  in  other  parts  of  Morris  county.  This  was 
at  first  quite  an  unpretentious  road  as  to  all  its  appoint- 
ments, but  changes  came  with  later  days.  Among  these 
was  the  great  improvement  made  around  the  depot  at 
Madison  about  twenty-five  years  ago.  What  is  now  the 
square  was  then  a  mere  roadway.  On  the  north  side  of 
the  road  stood  the  town  hall,  the  M.  E.  church,  and 
several  private  houses.  The  grounds  on  which  these 
buildings  stood  were  purchased,  the  buildings  moved 
back  and  the  square  well  filled  in.  The  cost  of  this  im- 
provement was  $12,000,  one  half  of  which  was  raised 
among  the  citizens  and  one  half  borne  by  the  railroad 
company,  which  also  built  new  passenger  and  freight 
depots.  The  former  of  these  was  burnt  down  on  Sabbath 
evening  October  21st  1877,  and  the  present  comely  and 
commodious  building  has  been  built  in  its  place. 

The  railroad  is  very  circuitous,  but  all  the  more  pleas- 
ant for  that;  and  in  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  particu- 
larly in  the  early  fall,  presents  a  picture  of  great  beauty 
to  the  eye,  as  the  train  passes  under  the  slope  of  fine 
hills,  through  rich  rolling_lands,  with  such  views  as  open 
from  the  Short  Hills  and  other  points.  These  advan- 
tages soon  became  known  to  the  world  without,  and 
these  hills  and  valleys  began  to  lose  their  loneliness; 
until  now  from  Newark  to  Morristown,  and  even  beyond, 
there  is  a  continuous  line  of  rural  residences,  many  of 
them  the  convenient  homes  of  well-to-do  men  whose 
means  are  limited,  and  also  many  of  them  the  elegant 
and  costly  mansions  of  men  of  wealth.  The  writer  well 
remembers  his  first  impressions  of  Chatham  township, 
and  especially  the  sight  of  so  many  beautiful  knolls  of 


land  where  houses  could  be  placed  to  fine  advantage. 
Many,  of  these  knolls  are  now  occupied,  but  many  others 
invite  the  occupancy  of  those  who  love  good  views  and 
the  sweep  of  healthful  winds. 

For  some  years  past  it  has  been  the  growing  practice 
of  intelligent  physicians  to  commend  to  invalids  these 
hills.  The  elevation  of  the  township,  its  freedom  from 
malarious  influences,  and  the  purity  of  its  air  have  of  late 
years  been  making  it  the  resort  of  many  who  once  v/ere 
sent  to  distant  places  with  less  advantage;  and  indeed 
all  parts  of  Morris  coiinty  during  the  summer  are  more 
or  less  filled  up  with  residents  for  the  season,  or  tempo- 
rary boarders  who  wish  to  be  within  easy  distance  of 
the  city. 

One  who  at  any  season  of  the  year  watches  the  well- 
filled  trains  which  move  so  frequently  through  these 
towns  and  villages  will  be  impressed  with  the  new  life 
which  railroads  bring  to  such  regions;  no  inconsiderable 
portion  of  the  people  being  men  whose  homes  are  here 
with  their  families,  but  whose  daily  toil  is  in  Newark  or 
New  York.  That  this  has  made  a  vast  change  even  in 
the  external  aspects  of  the  country,  and  a  greater  one  in 
the  aspects  of  society,  the  condition  of  the  churches,  the 
educational  influences  abroad,  and  in  other  ways,  is 
manifest,  whatever  some  may  think  of  the  bearings  of 
all  these  changes. 

A  wonderful  result  of  this  railroad  opening  has  been 
the  rise  in  value  of  property  all  over  the  region  ;  and  es- 
pecially the  appreciation  of  the  choicer  sites,  so  many  of 
which  have  been  purchased  for  costly  houses.  There  are 
acres  here,  which  forty  years  ago  would  not  have  brought 
fifty  dollars,  which  to  day  several  thousand  dollars  would 
not  purchase."  A  great  deal  of  money  has  been  ex- 
pended in  the  improvement  of  grounds,  in  tasteful  archi- 
tecture, in  the  outward  adornment  of  lawns,  exquisite 
beds  of  plants  and  flowers,  and  rich  shrubbery  which 
beautify  the  dwellings  on  every  road  ;  while  the  roads 
themselves,  growing  better  every  year,  invite  to  beautiful 
drives  in  every  direction — indeed  the  drives  all  through 
Chatham  township  are  not  among  the  least  of  the  attrac- 
tions of  the  region. 

Educational  and  Religious  Beginnings. 

It  is  not  known  how  early  provision  was  made 
for  public  education,  but  no  doubt  the  pioneers,  who 
came  from  the  Puritan  stock,  followed  the  example  of 
New  England  and  "near  the  school-house  built  the 
church."  The  Rev.  Jacob  Green  at  the  time  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  was  fulfilling  his  long  and  able  ministry  in 
the  Hanover  church.  His  son,  Ashbel  Green,  about  the 
year  1780  was  a  teacher  in  the  district  school  of  Bottle 
Hill,  while  continuing  the  course  of  studies  which,  fol- 
lowed out,  fitted  him  afterward  for  the  position  of  presi- 
dent of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 

At  this  point  it  will  be  in  order  to  speak  of  the  origi- 
nal church  in  Chatham  township,  because  in  New  Jersey, 
as  in  New  England,  the  history  of  any  of  our  ancient 
churches  is  largely  the  history  of  the  community  up  to  a 
certain  stage. 


igo 


HISTORY  OF  MOkRIS  COUNTY.' 


As  to  the  earliest  religious  ordinances,  where  the  peo- 
ple met,  how  their  Sabbbath  services  were  conducted, 
who  preached  for  them,  we  are  left  to  conjecture.  But  we 
risk  nothing  in  believing  that  from  the  beginning  the  pub- 
lic worship  of  God  was  maintained;  that  in  private 
houses  and  in  barns  the  fathers  and  mothers  gathered 
their  families  together  on  the  Lord's  day,  to  hear  the 
glad  tidings  of  Christ  and  to  offer  public  thanksgiving 
and  prayer. 

For  about  thirty  years  after  the  first  settlers  crossed 
the  mountains  there  was  no  church  edifice,  nor,  so  far  as 
is  known,  any  church  organization  in  all  this  region. 
The  old  Presbyterian  church  at  Whippanong  had  the  honor 
of  precedence.  We  say  had,  for  the  old  church  is  not  in 
existence  now,  and  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the 
present  church  of  Whippany,  whose  edifice  .stands  on 
■quite  another  site,  and  the  organization  of  which  did  not 
take  place  for  more  than  a  century  afterward.  The 
original  deed  by  which  three  and  a  half  acres  were  given 
"  for  a  meeting-house,  school-house,  burying  ground  and 
training  field,"  begins  with  the  words:  "  I,  John  Bur- 
roughs, of  Whippanong,  in  the  county  of  Hunterdon,"  and 
bears  date  September  2nd  1718.  This  was  twenty  years 
before  the  organization  of  the  first  church  in  Morristown, 
which  is  the  eldest  child  of  this  old  mother. 

The  building  stood  on  the  present  burying  ground,  a 
little  northwest  of  the  gate.  It  was  a  much  smaller  and 
humbler  structure  than  either  of  the  very  plain  churches 
subsequently  built  on  Hanover  Neck  or  Bottle  Hill;  a  little 
shingled  house,  without  cupola  or  spire,  with  outside 
stairways  up  to  the  galleries.  It  has  long  since  passed 
away;  but  fifty  years  ago  its  foundation  walls  could  be 
plainly  traced,  and  twenty  years  later  there  "  was  a  hol- 
low which  clearly  marked  the  place  of  the  old  edifice." 
Surely  the  spot  is  worthy  of  an  enduring  monument. 

To  this  primitive  church,  from  all  the  wide  extent  of 
territory  round  about,  came  the  worshipers  of  that  early 
day.  The  villages  of  Hanover  Neck,  Parsippany,  New 
Vernon,  Mendham,  Boonton  and  Chatham  were  not  yet 
in  existence,  and  there  was  no  house  of  worship  of  any 
order  in  Rockaway,  Morristown^  Green  Village  or  Bottle 
Hill. 

Chatham  in  the  Revolution. 

Such,  as  we  have  described  them,  were  the  general 
aspects  of  this  region  during  the  period  which  preceded 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  people,  being  either 
directly  or  remotely  of  New  England  origin,  maintained 
the  love  for  civil  and  religious  freedom  which  brought 
the  Pilgrim  fathers  from  the  old  world  to  the  new.  They 
entered  with  enthusiasm  into  the  great  national  struggle, 
and  during:  the  long  years  of  the  war  bore  at  least  their 
full  share  in  its  sacrifices,  as  their  descendants  have 
shared  in  its  great  and  benign  results. 

President  Tuttle  calls  attention  to  the  "  singular  fact 
that  in  a  national  work,  Sparks's  '  Writings  of  Washing- 
ton,' on  the  map  of  military  movements  in  New  Jersey 
Bottle  Hill  is  not  even  put  down,  nor  any  reference  made 
to   the   main   encampment  that  winter   of    1776-7    near 


Bottle  Hill,  in  the  Lowantica  Valley.  Nor  is  any  allu- 
sion made  to  it  in  that  other  great  national  book  Los- 
sing's  '  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution.'  " 

Lowantica  Valley,  so  called  from  the  Indian  name  of 
the  brook  which  runs  through  it,  begins  near  Morristown, 
and  runs  southeast  for  about  five  miles  toward  Green 
Village.  It  is  now  more  commonly  called  Spring  Valley. 
It  is  beautiful  and  well  watered,  and  was  then  heavily 
timbered.  Of  the  stream  itself  Mr.  Tuttle  says:  "  It  is 
an  unusually  clear  stream,  formed  from  the  springs  which 
abound  in  the  valley,  and  which  gush  forth  in  all  their 
natural  purity  at  almost  every  step.  Flowing  down  in 
the  general  direction  of  the  valley  it  empties  into  the 
Passaic,  and  constitutes  thus  one  of  the  principal  sources 
of  that  river."  This  valley  was  chosen  by  Washington 
for  the  winter  quarters  of  the  army  during  the  winter  of 
1776-77.  For  this  purpose  the  valley  and  the  whole  re- 
gion round  about  were  admirably  adapted.  Among  the 
ranges  of  mountains  extending  from  the  Delaware  to  the 
Hudson,  it  had  easy  communication  with  the  posts  upon 
those  rivers;  several  prominent  peaks  enabled  the  patriots 
to  kindle  beacon  fires  from  Short  Hills  to  Bottle  Hill,  to 
Morristown  and  beyond  Denville,  so  that  the  movements 
of  the  British  troops  were  again  and  again  frustrated  as 
the  fires  on  the  mountain  top  and  the  signal  guns  from 
point  to  point  roused  the  inhabitants  and  called  the 
troops  to  arms.  This  whole  region  also  was  well  culti- 
vated, abounding  in  supplies  for  the  troops,  and,  perhaps 
more  than  all,  the  patriotism  of  the  inhabitants  of  Morris 
county  burned  clear  and  high,  giving  to  Washington  and 
the  American  army  true  sympathy  and  invaluable  practi- 
cal aid. 

It  was  early  in  the  war,  and  at  a  critical  time,  when 
the  army  came  here.  The  great  and  unexpected  suc- 
cesses at  Trenton  and  Princeton  had  encouraged  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  but  the  troops  were  in  a  very 
wretched  condition,  in  need  of  food  and  rest,  of  ammu- 
nition and  of  clothes. 

We  will  quote  here  at  some  length  the  words  of  Rev. 
Samuel  L.  Tuttle,  as  we  are  indebted  almost  solely  to 
him  for  all  these  interesting  facts,  which  he  gathered 
with  great  care  and  labor.  If  they  should  be  put  into 
other  words,  still  the  narrative  would  be  his: 

"  The  American  forces  were  in  fine  spirits,  and,  the 
winter  having  set  in,  Washington  determined  to  conduct 
them  into  winter  quarters.  He  led  them  from  Princeton, 
through  Pluckamin,  Basking  Ridge,  New  Vernon,  thence 
by  the  grist-mill  belonging  to  Mr.  Beaunlain  Boisaubin, 
near  Green  Village,  thence  around  the  corner  occupied 
by  Moses  Lindsley,  thence  along  the  road  from  Green 
Village  to  Morristown;  and  thence  over  to  the  ground 
which  had  been  selected  for  the  encampment  in  the 
valley  on  the  farms  now  belonging  to  A.  M.  Tredwell 
and  W.  M.  Kitchel.  The  number  of  the  troops  is 
nowhere  stated,  but  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  it  was 
about  three  thousand.  The  weather  at  the  time  was 
exceedingly  cold.  Pitching  their  tents  at  first  wherever 
they  could  find  places  for  them,  they  continued  to 
occu])y  them  until  they  were  able  to  construct  more 
substantial  and  comfortable  accommodations.  The 
center  of  the  ground  marked  out  for  the  encamp- 
ment   was  not  far  from   the   present    mansion   of   Mr. 


WASHINGTON'S  TROOPS  IN  CHATHAM  TOWNSHIP. 


191 


A.  M.  Tredwell.  The  ground  at  that  point  gradually 
desends  toward  the  southeast,  and  is  shielded  by  the 
crown  of  hill  back  of  it  from  the  severe  winds  and  storms 
from  north,  northeast  and  west.  A  little  south  of  it  runs 
the  Lowantica,  and  still  nearer  are  several  large  and  ex- 
cellent springs.  The  encampment  began  on  the  slope, 
west  of  the  spot  occupied  by  Mr.  Tredwell's  residence. 
One  principal  street,  between  four  and  five  rods  wide, 
was  laid  out  in  the  middle,  in  the  center  of  which  stood 
the  flagstaff,  which  by  this  time  had  come  to  be  called 
the  '  liberty  pole,'  from  the  top  of  which  floated  our  na- 
tional banner.  This  street  was  kept  in  excellent  condi- 
tion, and  was  used  as  a  parade  ground,  although  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  the  fine  level  space  on  the  hill, 
north  of  the  camp,  was  used  for  this  purpose  on  special 
occasions,  such  as  general  parades  and  reviews.  The 
general  direction  of  the  main  street  was  northwest  and 
southeast.  On  this  were  constructed  the  cabins  of  the 
officers,  which  were  somewhat  larger  than  those  which 
were  put  up  for  the  soldiers.  On  either  side  of  this  lead- 
ing avenue  were  one  or  two  other  streets  running  in  the 
same  general  direction,  and  about  forty  feet  in  width. 
On  these  the  cabins  of  the  soldiers  were  built,  in  some 
cases  single,  but  oftener  in  blocks  of  three,  four  and  five 
together;  whilst  outside  of  them,  especially  on  the  north- 
ern side,  others  were  constructed  without  any  special  ref- 
erence to  streets,  but  rather  in  reference  to  the  character 
of  the  ground,  the  side  hill  there  being  indented  with  sev- 
eral deep  gullies.  The  cabins — of  which  all  the  aged 
people  in  the  vicinity  agree  there  were  a  large  number, 
probably  as  many  as  three  hundred  in  all — were  made  of 
unhewn  logs  and  covered  with  rough  clapboards  split 
but  of  the  forest.  In  one  end  of  each  cabin  a  rough 
stone  fireplace  was  thrown  up,  surmounted  by  a  plastered 
stick  chimney,  while  in  the  other  end  of  each  structure  a 
board  bunk  was  erected  which  reached  across  the  entire 
end  of  the  cabin,  and,  filled  with  straw,  accommodated 
ten  or  twelve  soldiers.  Huge  fires  were  kept  continually 
blazing  day  and  night.  Several  very  large  cabins  were 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  commissary  de- 
partment, and  camp  stores;  and  these  are  believed  to 
have  been  located  on  the  southern  borders  of  the  camp, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  springs  referred  to.  In  that  part  of 
the  camp  were  also  the  cabins  of  the  sutlers,  who  drove 
a  brisk  trade  in  various  groceries,  especially  in  whiskey. 
A  little  farther  down  toward  the  stream  rude  sheds  were 
built  for  the  shelter  of  the  horses,  and  here  too  the  bag- 
gage and  artillery  wagons  were  drawn  up  in  lines.  On 
the  outermost  limits  of  the  encampment  several  log 
guard-houses  were  built  for  the  sentinels,  whose  duty  it 
was,  in  regular  beats,  to  pass  back  and  forth,  along  the 
four  sides  of  the  camp,  day  and  night." 

This  minute  account  was  derived,  by  the  author  of  it, 
from  several  aged  people  who  had  resided  all  their  lives 
in  or  near  the  valley,  and  who  distinctly  remembered  the 
camp  from  having  often  been  in  it  during  the  winter 
when  it  was  occupied.  It  will  be  interesting  to  the  pres- 
ent inhabitants  of  this  region,  who  can  easily  identify  the 
spots  where  lay  the  main  army  of  the  new  republic  through 
all  that  dismal  winter. 

In  addition  to  these  forces  three  regiments  of  New 
England  troops  were  posted  near  by,  to  be  in  readiness, 
if  need  be,  for  action  on  the  Delaware.  These  were  for 
the  most  part  billeted  in  private  houses  through  this 
"township.  Here  again  we  quote  the  words  of  Mr.  Tuttle, 
whose  information  came  from  aged  eye  witnesses,  and 
who  gives  us  an  animated  picture  of  the  times: 


"  Every  house  throughout  this  region  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  capacity  with  either  officers  or  soldiers.  Persons 
appointed  by  the  commander-in-chief  passed  through  the 
towns  and  examined  the  houses,  and,  without  much  con- 
sultation with  the  owners,  decided  how  many  and  who 
should  be  quartered  in  each;  often  without  even  going 
into  the  house,  these  persons  would  ride  up  to  the  door 
and  write:  'Col.  Ogden's  headquarters,'  'Major  Eaton's 
headquarters,'  'twelve  privates  to  be  billeted  here,'  'six 
officers  to  be  quartered  here,'  &c.,  and  generally  without 
much  regard  to  the  convenience  or  wishes  of  the  occu- 
pants the  arrangements  of  these  commissioners  were  car- 
ried out.  In  many  cases  the  best  rooms  were  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  troops,  while  the  families  owning  them 
retired  into  their  kitchens  and  garrets.  Boards  were  set 
up  on  the  floor,  across  the  side  of  the  room  opposite  to 
the  hearth,  just  far  enough  from  the  wall  to  admit  of  a 
person  lying  down  at  full  length.  This  space  was  then 
filled  with  good  wholesome  straw,  and  there  all  the  sol- 
diers billeted  in  a  house,  numbering  sometimes  six,  some- 
times twelve  and  sometimes  even  twenty,  crowded  in 
together,  and,  covering  themselves  each  with  a  single 
blanket,  while  the  fires  were  kept  burning,  defended 
themselves  as  best  they  could  from  the  severities 
of  those  stern  winter  nights.  In  some  cases  the'  soldiers 
had  their  meals  provided  by  the  families  with  which 
they  were  quartered,  while  in  others  they  drew  their 
rations  and  prepared  them  for  themselves,  as  is  generally 
done  in  camp." 

As  is  known  to  all,  Washington's  headquarters  were  in 
Morristown,  the  general  himself  being  housed  in  the 
hotel  kept  by  Colonel  Jacob  Arnold,  the  famous 
"light  horse"  commander,  as  related  on  page  115, 
and  with  him  there  or  in  other  houses  near  by  were 
some  of  his  most  eminent  generals  and  his  military  fam- 
ily; but  a  number  of  the  leading  officers  of  the  army  had 
their  homes  in  the  residences  of  the  best  families  in 
Chatham  township;  among  these  were  General  Wayne, 
General  Maxwell,  Colonel  Ogden,  Colonel  Barbour  and 
others.  "  In  some  cases  the  families  of  the  officers  were 
with  them,  and  in  this  way  a  very  pleasant  society  was 
kept  up  here  during  the  winter.'' 

These  burdens  seem  to  have  been  cheerfully  borne  by 
these  families.  "AaVon  Kitchel  and  his  father,  Joseph 
Kitchel,  of  Hanover,  gave  up  the  larger  of  their  two 
houses,  on  condition  that  the  old  people  might  have  the 
other,  required  only  to  take  care  of  three  sick  English 
prisoners.  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Ashbel  Green  remembered 
that  his  father's  family  consisted  of  nine  individuals;  and, 
as  well  as  can  '  be  recollected,  fourteen  officers  and  sol- 
diers were  quartered  in  the  same  building.  The-  Sayres, 
Richards,  Ely,  Beach,  Kitchel,  Smith,  Tuttle  and  othet 
families  were  served  in  the  same  way;  making  no  com- 
plaint." Dr.  J.  F.  Tuttle,  who  gives  the  above  particu- 
lars, makes  mention  of  Mrs.  Anna  Kitchel,  a  devout 
Christian  and  patriot  who,  having  rooms  and  free  pro- 
visions for  at  least  twelve  soldiers,  did  indeed  protest 
when  an  officer  attempted  to  billet  forty  hungry  fellows 
upon  them;  for  whom  however  they  hung  over  the  fire 
the  large  kettle  holding  half  a  barrel,  filled  with  meat  and 
potatoes  and  other  vegetables. 

Among  the  good  men  who  performed  high  service  here 
of  another-  kind  were  certain  clergymen  who  officiated 
as   army  chaplains.     It   is  well  known   that  the  general 


192 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


orders  of  Washington  to  the  army,  as  well  as  all  his  pub- 
lic papers,  breathe  the  spirit  of  humble  reverence  to  Al- 
mighty God. 

No  commander  would  be  more  sure  to  provide  relig- 
ious services  for  his  troops.  There  can  be  no  reasonable 
doubt  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Horton  was  called  to  this  service, 
well  known  as  he  was  for  his  sturdy  patriotism  and  cour- 
age. The  minister  whose  services  there  were  best  known 
was,  however,  the  famous  James  Caldwell,  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Elizabeth.  Dr.  Tuttle  says 
that  "on  the  Sabbath  when  the  weather  would  admit  of 
it  he  preached  to  the  soldiers  on  the  parade  ground,  from 
a  temporary  platform;  at  other  times  discharging  his 
high  office  in  the  cabins  of  both  officers  and  privates,  in 
conversing  with  individuals,  in  ministering  consolation 
and  instruction  to  the  sick  and  dying,  and  in  performing 
the  last  rites  of  religion  at  the  graves  of  those  who  had 
died. 

Here  it  may  be  said  that  such  ministrations  as  these 
were  greatly  needed  during  that  long  and  dreadful  win- 
ter. Added  to  the  many  hard  trials  of  the  camp,  that 
dread  scourge  smallpox  broke  out  among  the  troops. 
That  benign  discovery  vaccination  was  not  then  known, 
and  Washington  (February  5th  1777)  writes  to  Congress: 
"  The  smallpox  has  made  such  head  in  every  quarter 
that  I  find  it  impossible  to  keep  it  from  spreading  through 
the  whole  army  in  the  natural  way.  I  have  therefore 
determined  not  only  to  inoculate  all  the  troops  here 
that  have  not  had  it,  but  I  shall  order  Dr.  Shippen  to  in- 
oculate the  recruits  also,  as  fast  as  they  come  to  Phila- 
delphia." Dr.  Ashbel  Green,  who  was  then  a  youth  of 
about  seventeen  years,  says  in  his  autobiography: 
"The  troops  were  distributed  in  the  dwellings  of  the  in- 
habitants, and  the  surgeons  of  the  army  inoculated  both 
soldiers  and  citizens  free  of  charge.  The  disease  by  in- 
oculation was  so  light  that  there  was  not,  probably,  a 
day  in  which  the  army  could  not  have  been  marched 
against  the  enemy  if  it  had  been  necessary." 

Nevertheless  the  deaths  among  the  soldiers  must  have 
been  many.  One  or  two  churches  appear  to  have  been 
occupied  as  smallpox  hospitals,  and  a  number  of  private 
houses  were  set  apart  for  the  purpose  of  inoculation  and 
as  smallpox  hospitals.  One  of  these  was  a  house  on  the 
Green  Village  road  leading  from  Morristown  and  passing 
along  the  camp  ground;  the  house  was  then  owned  by 
James  Brookfield,  whose  devoted  wife,  as  Mr.  Tuttle  says, 
"  is  deserving  of  a  monument  for  the  self-sacrificing  efforts 
which  she  put  forth  to  relieve  the  sufferings  and  comfort 
the  last  hours  of  our  patriotic  soldiers  who  were  placed 
under  her  roof."  All  the  rooms  in  this  house  were  kept 
full  of  the  sick,  many  of  whom  died  and  were  buried  in 
the  orchard  about  five  hundred  yards  northwest  of  the 
house.  "  Nothing  now  remains  to  mark  the  place  of 
their  burial,  but  there  must  have  been  a  very  consider- 
able number  interred  there  during  that  fearful  winter." 

The  following  extract  from  Mr.  Tuttle's  address  pos- 
sesses great  interest: 

'■  The  principal  hospital  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp 
was  a  large  house  which    belonged  at  that  time   to  a 


German  gentleman  of  the  name  of  Harperee,  on  the 
farm  which  now  belongs  to  Mr.  J.  J.  Scofield,  on  the  old 
road  from  this  place  to  Morristown.  The  house  stood 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  the  above  thorough- 
fare, and  on  ground  which  sloped  toward  the  south,  so 
that  it  could  not  be  seen  from  the  road.  It  was  a  one- 
and-a-half-story  house,  having  four  rooms  on  the  lower 
floor  and  a  greater  number  on  the  upper,  about  one  and 
a  half  miles  northwest  of  the  center  of  the  camp;  and  in 
many  respects  admirably  adapted  to  the  object  for  which 
it  was  used.  Here  large  numbers  of  soldiers  at  different 
times  saw  the  last  of  earth.  The  place  where,  they  were 
buried,  it  is  said,  is  still  to  be  seen,  in  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  Harperee  farm.  A  triangular  piece  of  ground 
containing  at  least  three-quarters  of  an  acre,  surrounded 
by  an  old-fashioned  worm  fence,  and  filled  with  mounds 
as  closely  as  they  could  be  placed,  in  regular  rows,  was 
the  place  where  these  unfortunate  men,  unblest  with  the 
sympathy  of  wives  or  sisters  or  mothers,  were  committed 
to  the  dust." 

During  all  this  winter  the  inhabitants  of  this  region 
were  kept  in  a  continual  state  of  commotion.  A  com- 
pany of  armed  sentinels  were  kept  stationed  night  and 
day  on  Prospect  Hill,  a  crest  of  the  Short  Hills,  a  little 
off  the  main  road  leading  to  Springfield  and  nearly  in 
front  of  the  "  Hobart  mansion."  This  point  commands 
a  view  of  the  whole  region  east  of  the  mountain,  includ- 
ing New  York  Bay,  Staten  Island,  Newark,  Elizabeth 
and  Springfield,  so  that  all  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
in  all  these  directions  could  be  at  once  seen.  It  also 
commands  a  view  of  the  whole  region  west  of  the  moun- 
tain to  the  hills  behind  Morristown,  embracing  Basking 
Ridge  and  the  hills  on  the  south,  and  over  to  Whippany, 
and  across  the  State  line  to  the  mountains  of  Orange 
county,  N.  Y.  These  sentinals  had  here  an  eighteen- 
pounder  cannon,  known  everywhere  then  by  the  name  of 
"the  old  sow,"  which  was  fired  as  an  alarm  gun;  here 
also  they  constructed  a  beacon  'light  of  dry  rails,  built 
around  a  high  pole  and  surmounted  by  a  tar  barrel. 
Aged  people  relate  how  their  fathers  hurried  forth, 
hastily  arming  themselves,  when  the  report  of  the  old 
cannon  shook  the  hills,  or  when  the  beacon  light  blazed 
from  the  peak  and  was  answered  from  hill  to  hill  far  up 
the  country.  All  eyes  at  night  would  be  cast  toward  the 
Short  Hill  summit  ere  the  people  went  to  sleep. 

Mr.  Tuttle  draws  another  animated  picture,  thus: 

"  There  was  continual  excitement  and  solicitude.  The 
alarm  gun  was  firing,  or  the  beacon  light  was  burning,  or 
the  sounds  of  the  fife  and  drum  were  heard,  or  compan- 
ies of  soldiers  were  passing  and  repassing,  or  the  minute 
men  of  the  vicinity  were  hurrying  back  and  forth,  or  the 
commander  in  chief  and  his  suite  and  life-guards  were 
going  from  or  returning  to  headquarters,  or  some  general 
parade  was  taking  place  upon  the  camp  ground,  or  some 
tory  spies  were  seen  prowling  about,  or  some  company  of 
the  enemy's  troops  under  the  conduct  of  tory  guides  was 
committing  depredations  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
or  some  other  thing  of  a  similar  character  was  continu- 
ally occurring  to  keep  those  who  resided  here  in  a  state 
of  excitement  and  fear.  And  it  was  no  unusual  thing  to 
see  General  Washington  and  his  accomplished  lady, 
mounted  on  bay  horses,  and  accompanied  by  their  faith- 
ful mulatto  '  Bill,'  and  fifty  or  sixty  mounted  guards 
passing  through  the  village,  with  all  eyes  upon  them."      ' 

Army  life  is  no  friend  to  good  morals.     The  encamp- 


REVOLUTIONARY  PATRIOTS  OF  CHATHAM. 


193 


merit  of  the  American  army  here  was  no  exception  to 
this  rule.  The  autobiography  of  Dr.  Ashbel  Green  gives 
sad  proof  of  the  corruption  of  the  army,  both  ofificers  and 
men.  Gambling  was  almost  universal  in  the  camp,  and 
prevailed  also  in  the  private  houses  where  the  soldiers 
were  billeted.  Young  Green,  who  early  imbibed  the 
spirit  of  his  father,  became  a  patriot  and  was  enrolled 
among  the  minute  men,  although  the  highest  office  to 
which  he  attained  was  that  of  orderly  sergeant  in  the  mil- 
itia. Being  remarkably  intelligent,  and  connected  as  he 
was,  he  became  familiar  with  many  officers  of  rank  in  the 
American  army.  He  testifies  that  infidelity  prevailed 
extensively  among  them,  and  indeed  we  know  from  other 
sources  that  it  was  well  nigh  universal.  Green  himself 
caught  the  skeptical  spirit  and  was  not  rescued  from  his 
infidelity  for  several  years.  Dissatisfied  with  his  state 
of  mind,  after  reading  some  of  the  ablest  defenses  of 
Christianity,  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  fairest  way  to 
settle  the  question  was  by  an  examination  of  the  Bible 
itself.  Accordingly  he  took  up  the  New  Testament  as  if 
it  were  a  new  book,  with  candor  and  with  that  vigor  of 
thought  for  which  he  was  always  remarkable,  and  he  had 
not  gone  through  with  the  four  Evangelists  before  he 
abandoned  his  skepticism,  and  gave. his  life  to  the  high 
ends  which  occupied  all  his  subsequent  years. 

But  not  all  were  thus  led  who  came  under  these  hostile 
influences  of  the  day.  The  effect  of  that  winter's  en- 
campment was  disastrous  to  the  social  and  religious  con- 
dition of  the  whole  region;  not  more  fatal  was  the  small- 
pox, against  which  such  barriers  were  erected,  than  the 
spirit  of  infidelity  and  general  wickedness  which  seems  to 
have  spread  among  all  classes  of  the  people. 

Other  evils  were  experienced.  In  various  ways  many 
lives  were  lost,  some  of  them  those  of  valuable  citizens. 
"  It  is  a  fact  that  does  honor  to  our  ancestors  dwelling 
in  this  township  that,  while  they  were  doing  so  much  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  country,  by  opening  their 
doors  and  their  granaries  to  the  American  forces,-  all  of 
them  who  were  able  to  bear  arms  were  engaged  in  one 
way  or  another,  in  actively  opposing  the  movements  of 
the  enemy.  A  large  number  of  our  most  valuable  citi- 
zens enlisted  in  the  army  at  the  very  commencement  of 
the  war,  and  continued  with  it  through  all  its  various 
stages,  to  its  close."  Others  enlisted  as  "minute  men," 
ready  for  service  at  a  moment's  warning,  and  were  often 
called  to  service.  Mr.  Tuttle  in  his  Fourth  of  July  ad- 
dress gives  the  names  of  some  of  these  men;  and  it 
seems  fitting  that  in  this  history  of  Chatham  township, 
which  will  be  read  by  some  of  the  descendants  of  these 
men,  their  names  should  be  handed  down. 

"Among  them  were  Lieutenant  Silas  Hand,  John  Mil- 
ler, Samuel  Denman,  John  Cook,  George  Minthorn,  Ja- 
bez  Tichenor,  Lieutenant  Noadiah  Wade,  Surgeon  Peter 
Smith,  Captain  Benjamin  Carter,  Lieutenant  John  Rob- 
erts Luke  Miller,  Josiah  Burnet,  Jeremiah  Carter,  Cor- 
nelius Genung,  Captain  Thompson  of  the  New  Jersey 
artillery  (who  had  both  legs  shot  off  at  the  battle  of 
Springfield,  and  who  died  urging  his  company  never  to 
give  up  to  the  enemy),  Captain  Eliakim  Little,  also  of 
the  New  Jersey  artillery  (whose  company  by  desperate 
fighting  held  the  enemy  at  bay  for  two  hours,  until  they 


were  relieved  and  the  enemy  routed),  Samuel,  Paul  and 
John  Bonnel,  Robert  Pollard  (who  was  shot  through  the 
body  at  Connecticut  Farms,  and  yet  survived  many  years 
after  the  war  was  concluded),  Ephraim  Sayre,  James 
Brookfield,  Samuel  Day,  Ellis  Cook,  Caleb  Horton  (son 
of  the  first  pastor  of  this  village),  Joseph  Bruen,  Ben- 
jamin Harris,  Captain  William  Day,  Benjamin  Bonnel 
(who  assisted  in  carting  the  guns  which  were  captured 
by  our  troops  in  a  British  sloop  which  was  grounded  in 
the  Elizabethtown  Creek,  to  the  armory  at  Morristown), 
Lieutenent  Stephen  Day,  Captain  John  Howell,  Colonel 
Seeley,  and  others.  Of  the  famous  company  of  life- 
guards which  accompanied  Washington  through  all  his 
movements  during  the  war,  four,  at  least,  are  known  to 
have  been  residents  of  Bottle  Hill,  their  names  being 
Samuel  Pierson,  Benjamin  Bonnel,  Nathaniel  Crane  and 
Daniel  Vreeland,  all  of  whom  lived  several  years  after 
the  war  in  this  vicinity." 

Of  these  men,  Samuel  Pierson  was  a  fine  horseman, 
and  a  man  of  great  courage  and  strength,  whom  Wash- 
ington intrusted  with  several  important  and  perilous 
commissions.  In  carrying  out  one  of  these  during  the 
battle  of  Monmouth  Pierson  was  compelled  to  ride  right 
in  front  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  and  in  full  range 
of  their  guns  ;  two  horses  were  shot  under  him,  one  of 
which  in  falling  injured  the  rider's  leg,  but  he  was 
mounted  on  a  third  horse,  and  carried  out  the  command- 
er's orders.  Washington  warmly  commended  him,  and 
said,  "  I  feared  when  you  set  out  with  the  orders  that  I 
should  never  see  you  again." 

In  this  important  and  bloody  engagement  a  number 
of  the  leading  men  of  this  town  took  part,  among  whom 
was  Ephraim  Sayre,  a  deacon  of  the  church,  who  at  this 
time  was  an  officer  in  the  commissary  department.  When 
the  news  of  the  battle  was  received  here  there  was  great 
rejoicing,  the  young  men  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Bradford's 
classical  school  leading  the  demonstration  by  the  burning 
of  tar-barrels,  firing  of  guns,  and  illuminations. 

The  courage  and  privations  of  the  women  of  Chatham 
township  deserve  lasting  record.  Besides  the  burdens 
of  which  we  have  spoken,  and  the  anxiety  and  sorrow 
over  husbands  and  sons  in  battle  and  camp,  exposed  or 
dead,  many  of  them  all  through  the  war  actually  per- 
formed the  labors  of  men  upon  the  farm.  They  plowed 
and  harrowed  the  fields,  sowed  and  cut  the  grain  and  the 
erass,  threshed  out  the  grain,  and  took  it  to  the  mill ;  no- 
bly enduring  these  hard  toils  to  support  the  large  families 
dependent  on  them  while  husbands,  fathers,  brothers  and 
sons  were  far  off  in  camp  or  field. 

The  assessments  made  for  provisions  for  the  army 
were  burdensome,  and  sometimes  were  made  somewhat 
imperiously.  The  late  J.  H.  Woodruff,  of  Columbia,  tells 
of  an  account  given  by  his  grandmother,  "when  an  offi- 
cer came  to  their  house  and  went  through  it  from  cellar 
to  garret,  inspecting  all  their  provision;  and  after 
calculating  how  much  the  family  would  need  before  the 
next  crop  came  in  informed  them  that  an  officer  would  be 
there  soon,  to  whom  they  must  give  so  much  of  this  and 
so  much  of  that,  or  he  would  take  it  by  force. 

While  the  winter  of  iTjb-']  was  the  last-in  which  there 
was  a  regular  encampment  of  the  army  in  this  town,  yet 
the  inhabitants  were  by  no  means  free  from  the  sights 


194 


HISTORY  OF   MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  sounds  of  war.  During  the  next  winter  head- 
quarters were  at  Middle  Brook,  about  ten  miles  north- 
west of  New  Brunswick.  Many  officers  and  privates 
were,  however,  located  here:  some  of  them  perhaps  in 
the  cabins  which  remained  on  the  Lowantica,  but  the 
greater  number  billeted  as  before  in  private  houses,  and 
put  into  the  best  rooms.  Several  of  the  distinguished 
officers  of  the  army  made  their  headquarters  here. 

In  the  fall  of  this,  the  opening  year  of  the  war,  the 
New  Je>  sey  Journal — the  first  newspaper  ever  published 
in  the  State — was  removed  from  Elizabethtown  to 
Chatham.  Its  editor,  Sheppard  Kollock,  was  a  bold  and 
earnest  patriot,  and  neither  he  nor  his  journal  was  safe 
after  the  British  entered  Elizabethtown.  Mr.  Kollock 
judged  that  Chatham  was  as  safe  a  place  as  any,  and  a 
place  from  which  he  could  make  his  influence  felt  abroad. 
Hither  he  brought  his  types  and  presses,  and  occupied 
the  west  end  of  the  old  tavern  house;  in  the  garden  of 
which,  until  recent  years,  old  types  used  to  be  dug  up, which 
had  been  swept  out  by  the  printer  boys.  After  about 
three  years  Mr.  Kollock  purchased  the  building  in  Bottle 
Hill  where  Rev.  Mr.  Bradford's  famous  classical  school 
had  been  held,  Mr.  Bradford  having  removed  from  the 
place.  This  building  was  carried  down  to  Chatham  vil- 
lage, was  turned  into  a  printing  and  press  room,  and  from 
it  was  issued  that  staunch  old  paper  which  went  out  into 
all  parts  of  the  land,  exerting  a  powerful  influence  in  up- 
holding the  cause  of  independence  and  strengthening  the 
hands  of  Washington.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Kol- 
lock removed  back  to  Elizabethtown,  where  the  old 
paper  still  lives  in  pristine  vigor.  The  old  edifice  which 
was  put  to  such  honored  uses  by  Bradford  and  Kollock 
is  still  standing  in  Chatham,  opposite  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  is  occupied  as  a  dwelling  house.  Its  connec- 
tion with  Methodism  in  Chatham  will  be  mentioned  on  a 
future  page. 

In  the  year  1779,  on  the  13th  of  December,  a  large  de- 
tachment of  our  army  passed  through  Chatham  up  toward 
Bottle  Hill,  and  pitched  their  tents  for  the  night  on  either 
side  of  the  road,  reaching  from  the  old  meeting-house  on 
the  hills  to  the  grounds  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Seaman. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Richards,  who  is  remembered  by  many  here, 
used  to  describe  tlie  scene  as  she  saw  it  the  next  morn- 
ing, when  the  soldiers  were  preparing  breakfast,  and  the 
smoke  curled  through  the  valley  and  over  the  hills.  A 
large  number  of  officers  took  breakfast  at  her  father's 
house.  In  an  hour  or  two  they  struck  their  tents  and 
marched  toward  Kimball  Hill,  where  they  were  joined 
by  the  main  body  of  the  army,  coming  down  from  the 
north,  and  where  they  all  went  into  winter  quarters. 

During  that  winter  also  a  number  of  officers  and  many 
privates  were  quartered  here  as  before;  and  Washington, 
having  resumed  his  headquarters  at  Morristown,  was  seen 
often  to  pass  through  Bottle  Hill  and  Chatham,  to  take 
his  stand  on  Prospect  Hill,  where  with  his  glass  in  hand 
he  would  spend  hours  in  taking  observations.  On  one 
of  these  occasions  he  was  seen  to  be  accompanied  by 
America's  distinguished  friend  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette. 
The  signals  were  kept  in  readiness,  and  the  bridge  over 


the  Passaic  at  Chatham  was  kept  well  guarded.  This 
bridge  was  an  important  pass,  and  trusty  men  were 
placed  there  to  know  the  plans  and  purposes  of  all  who 
passed  over — for  the  times  were  perilous,  and  there  were 
traitors  and  tories  all  about.  Young  Ashbel  Green  was 
sentinel  there  at  one  time,  and  there  is  record  of  one 
man  who  was  summarily  shot  down  in  attempting  to  pass 
the  guard. 

The  mention  of  Lafayette  recalls  a  bright  episode  of 
those  dark  days.  Lieutenant  D'Anteroche,  one  of  the 
aids  of  the  marquis,  fell  in  love  with  Miss  Vanderpool, 
of  Chatham.  The  country  was  in  such  a  distracted 
state,  and  the  inhabitants  here  were  so  closely  watched, 
that  there  could  be  no  large  gatherings  of  any  kind,  and 
so  they  could  have  no  home  wedding,  but  came  with  their 
friends  to  the  parsonage  at  Bottle  Hill  and  were  there 
married,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Br.idford.  The  country  between 
Chatham  and  New  York  was  so  annoyed  by  the  enemy 
that  no  purchases  could  be  made  for  the  bride's  trous- 
seau, and  so  it  was  sent  to  her  from  France  by  the  lieu- 
tenant's friends. 

It  was  while  the  army  was  encamped  on  Kimball  Hill 
that  the  daring  attempt  was  made  to  capture  General 
Washington.  On  a  dark  and  stormy  night  a  party  of 
British  cavalry,  landing  at  Elizabeth  Point,  started 
toward  Morristown,  which  is  but  about  seventeen  miles' 
ride.  They  evaded  the  sentries  at  Short  Hills,  crossed 
the  Passaic  unperceived,  and  reached  Bottle  Hill;  but 
by  that  time  the  storm  had  increased,  and  a  crust  of  ice 
covering  the  snow  cut  their  horses'  feet,  and  compelled 
an  unwilling  and  hasty  return.  They  were  guided  by  an 
American,  but  who  he  was,  and  whether  he  was  a  traitor 
or  was  compelled  to  this  ignoble  service  is  not  known. 
The  attempt  when  it  became  known  startled  the  army 
and  the  people. 

It  was  during  this  winter  that  gallant  Lord  Stirling 
made  his  partially  successful  raid  on  the  enemy  on  Staten 
Island,  passing  on  his  way  to  and  from  Green  Village, 
Bottle  Hill  and  Chatham  by  daylight,  and  crossing  from 
Elizabethport  in  the  night. 

The  winter  of  1779-80  was  a  dark  period  of  the  war. 
Part  of  the  American  army  was  stationed  at  West  Point, 
but  the  principal  division  was  again  in  this  part  of  New 
Jersey,with  Washington  at  his  well  known  "headquarters" 
in  Morristown.  The  winter  set  in  early,  and  was  exces- 
sively severe,  the  cold  increasing  until  the  bay  of  New 
York  was  frozen  over.  It  is  said  to  have  been  the  se- 
verest winter  ever  experienced  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try. Speaking  of  this  time  Irving  says:  "The  dreary 
encampment  at  Valley  Forge  has  become  proverbial  for 
its  hardships;  yet  they  were  scarcely  more  severe  than 
those  suffered  by  Washington's  army  while  hutted  among 
the  heights  of  Morristown.  The  transportation  of  sup- 
plies was  obstructed,  the  magazines  were  exhausted  and 
there  was  neither  money  nor  credit  to  replenish  them. 
The  men  were  sometimes  without  meat,  sometimes  with- 
out bread,  sometimes  without  both.  Clothing  and 
blankets  were  scarce,  and  Wa.shington  writes:  '  Both  offi- 
cers and  men  have  been  almost  perishing  with  want.'  " 


BRITISH  RAIDS  TOWARD  CHATHAM. 


195 


At  one  time,  when  the  deep  snows  obstructed  the  main 
routes,  the  army  was  wholly  subsisted  by  local  help. 
Provisions  came  in  with  hearty  good  will  from  the 
farmers  in  Mendham,  Chatham,  Hanover  and  other 
places,  together  with  stockings,  shoes,  coats  and  blankets, 
while  the  women  met  together  to  knit  and  sew  for  the 
soldiers."  A  venerable  matron  of  Green  Village  used  to 
tell  how  "  on  winter  mornings  the  ordinary  work  of  the 
family  would  often  be  suspended,  and  the  time  spent  in 
baking  buckwheat  cakes  for  the  soldiers,  who  would  come 
and  beg  for  a  warm  breakfast."  It  is  such  a  picture  as 
this  that  brings  up  to  our  eyes  and  hearts  the  sad  yet 
grateful  memories  of  those  old  days. 

The  winter  passed  and  the  summer  opened  with  great 
excitement  and  alarm  to  this  region.  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral Knyphausen  was  in  command  in  New  York,  while 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  absent  with  the  army  and  the  fleet 
in  the  soxith.  A  recent  outbreak  in  the  American  camp 
had  come  to  his  ears,  and  encouraged  him  with  the  hope 
that  with  a  superior  force  he  could  push  out  to  Morris- 
town,  capture  the  main  depot  of  army  supplies,  and  drive 
"  the  rebels"  out  of  the  Jerseys.  He  calculated  also  on 
"the  general  discontent  among  the  people  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  expected  to  rally  back  the  inhabitants  to  their 
allegiance  to  the  crown."  On  the  night  of  June  5th, 
with  five  thousand  men,  part  of  them  the  famous  Cold- 
stream guards,  all  splendidly  appointed,  with  a  fine  sup- 
ply of  light  artillery,  Knyphausen,  having  sailed  down 
the  bay  to  Staten  Island,  crossed  the  Kill  von  Kull  and 
landed  at  Elizabethport.  Before  dawn  they  were  on 
their  way,  and  had  come  to  the  forks  of  the  road  leading 
into  the  town  when  a  solitary  American  sentinel  chal- 
lenged the  dark  mass  approaching,  and,  receiving  no  an- 
swer, fired.  That  shot  was  a  fatal  omen,  for  it  unhorsed 
Brigadier  General  Sterling,  who  was  in  advance  and  who 
was  carried  to  the  rear  mortally  wounded.  The  delay 
caused  by  this  gave  a  little  time  for  the  alarm  to  spread, 
and  for  Colonel  Dayton  with  his  hastily  armed  militia  to 
come  together  and  begin  to  harass  the  advancing  army, 
firing  at  them  from  behind  walls,  thickets  and  fences. 
Swift  news  came  up  to  the  Short  Hills,  the  old  eighteen- 
pounder  began  to  thunder,  the  ready  tar  barrel  was  pres- 
ently in  a  blaze,  and  signals  went  from  hill  to  hill.  The 
whole  country  was  at  once  intensely  excited,  and  the 
minute  men  and  the  militia  flocked  together  under  com- 
mand of  General  Maxwell,  a  ready  and  able  officer. 

Washington  at  once  set  his  forces  in  motion  to  secure 
the  passes  of  the  Short  Hills.  Maxwell  pushed  forward 
to  Connecticut  Farms,  and  was  joined  by  Colonel  Day- 
ton, who  was  retreating  and  annoying  the  enemy  step  by 
step.  The  British  artillery,  however,  came  to  the  front, 
and  our  forces  were  pushed,  backward  until  Springfield 
was  nearly  reached,  and  Knyphausen  paused  to  recon- 
noitre. He  found  the  village  occupied  by  Maxwell,  who 
had  rallied  his  forces  there,  the  militia  drawn  up.  to  dis- 
pute his  passage  over  the  river,  and  Washington  with  his 
whole  force  strongly  posted  among  the  passes  of  the 
Short  Hills.  It  was  now  toward  evening,  and  this  great 
array  of  disciplined  troops  had  been  held  in  check  and 


delayed  by  less  than  two  thousand  hastily  armed  militia 
till  it  was  too  late  and.  very  perilous  to  advance  farther. 
A  halt  was  called,  ground  chosen  for  the  night  and  pick- 
ets sent  out.  Washington  expected  an  attack  in  the 
morning,  but,  as  a  British  officer  with  the  army  wrote, 
"about  10  o'clock  the  whole  army  got  in  motion  and 
moved  off."  He  describes  the  retreat  as  a  very  wretched 
one.  "  It  was  the  darkest  night  I  ever  remember,  with 
the  heaviest  rain,  thunder  and  lightning  known  for  years; 
the  horfes  were  frightened  and  the  whole  army  had  once 
or  twice  to  be  halted.  Nothing  can  be  imagined  more 
awful.  The  terrible  thunder,  the  darkness,  the  houses  of 
Connecticut  Farms  in  a  blaze,  dead  bodies  on  the  road, 
and  the  dread  of  the  enemy  completed  the  scene  of 
horror." 

The  whole  vaunted  expedition  was  a  wretched  failure. 
Its  main  trophies  were  the  ashes  of  the  houses  and  church 
of  Connecticut  Farms,  first  pillaged  and  then  burned; 
and  the  dead  body  of  the  courageous  and  accomplished 
wife  of  Chaplain  Caldwell,  deliberately  shot  through  the 
breast  by  a  British  soldier,  as  she  was  sitting  with  two 
little  children  and  a  maid  in  an  inner  room  of  the  house. 
She  was  connected  with  the  choicest  families  of  New 
Jersey,  and  universally  and  deservedly  loved.  Caldwell 
was  with  Washington  that  night  in  the  Short  Hills.  His 
wife  had  remained  in  the  village  against  his  advice. 
Next  -morning  he  hastened  to  Connecticut  Farms  and 
found  the  village  in  ashes  and  his  wife  dead.  The  most 
reliable  account  of  this  sad  affair  says  that  Mrs.  Cald- 
well was  sitting  on  the  bed,  her  youngest  son  (Elias  Bou- 
dinot,  a  two-year-old  boy)  playing  on  the  floor,  and  the 
babe  (Maria)  in  the  arms  of  the  nurse.  The  nurse,  look- 
ing out  of  the  window,  said,  "  A  red-coat  soldier  has 
jumped  over  the  fence,  and  is  coming  with  a  gun."  The 
little  boy  called  out,  "  Let  me  see  !"  and  ran  toward  the 
window.  Mrs.  Caldwell  rose  from  the  bed,  and  at  that 
moment  the  soldier  fired  his  musket  at  her  through  the 
window;  it  was  loaded  with  two  balls,  which  both  passed 
through  her  body.  She  died  instantly.  The  babe,  Maria, 
grew  to  maturity,  married  a  New  York  merchant,  died  in 
a  good  old  age,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  in  Elizabeth,  beside  her 
father  and  mother. 

Knyphausen  was  greatly  stung  by  his  defeat,  and  lin- 
gered a  few  days  on  Staten  Island.  Just  then  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  returning  from  the  south  with  his  fleet  and  army, 
sailed  up  the  harbor  and  landed  his  troops  upon  the 
island.  Sir  Henry  determined  on  a  second  attempt, 
"hoping  to  get  possession  of  the  difficult  passes  and  de- 
files among  which  Washington's  army  was  so  securely 
posted,  and  which  constituted  the  strength  of  that  part  of 
the  county."  On  the  23d  of  June,  with  a  force  five 
thousand  strong,  a  large  body  of  cavalry  and  fifteen  or 
twenty  pieces  of  artillery,  his  army  crossed  the  Kill  von 
Kull,  and  by  early  morning  had  pushed  up  toward  Spring- 
field. Washington,  two  days  before,  having  reason  to 
fear  for  the  safety  of  West  Point,  had  moved  with  the 
main  body  of  his  troops  toward  Pompton;  but,  suspicious 
that   the   threat   upon  West    Point   was    a  feint,  moved 


27 


iq6 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


warily  and  slowly,  and  took  the  precaution  to  leave  Gen- 
eral Greene  in  force  at  Short  Hills.  When  about  eleven 
miles  beyond  Morristown,  at  Rockaway  Bridge,  he 
learned  that  Knyphausen  was  again  advancing  toward 
Morristown.  He  detached  a  brigade  to  Greene's  help  and 
fell  back  himself,  so  as  to  be  in  supporting  distance.  As 
the  morning  broke  the  British  approach  was  seen,  and 
again  the  eighteen-pounder  and  the  tar  barrel  on  Pros- 
pect Hill  were  fired,  and  again  the  whole  country  was 
aroused  as  before.  The  burning  of  Connecticut  Farms 
and  the  brutal  murder  of  Mrs.  Caldwell  had  exasperated 
the  people  almost  to  fury,  so  that  in 'greater  numbers 
and  under  better  discipline,  and  flushed  with  their  recent 
success,  the  militia  and  minute  men  joined  the  force 
under  Greene.  The  issue  was  as  before.  The  British 
entering  Springfield  found  the  continentals  strongly 
posted,  with  the  militia  guarding  all  the  passes,  and 
learned  also  from  their  scouts  of  the  approach  of  Wash- 
ington. There  was  some  severe  fighting  before  and  in 
the  village,  when  the  enemy  took  up  their  line  of  retreat, 
burning  Springfield  as  they  passed  through  and  the 
Presbyterian  church,  the  only  one  in  the  place.  They 
were  pursued  by  a  portion  of  the  regulars  and  the  mad- 
dened militia,  who  hung  upon  their  rear,  galling  them 
until  they  reached  Elizabethtown. 

It  was  in  the  heat  of  the  engagement  here  that  a  well 
known  incident  occurred,  with  a  touch  of  humor.  Par- 
son Caldwell  found  that  wadding  had  failed  some  of  the 
troops;  rushing  into  the  church  he  ran  out  again  with 
his  arms  full  of  hymn  books,  and,  flinging  them  among 
the  troops,  shouted  out,  "  Put  Watts  into  them,  boys  !  " 
A  very  good  use  of  the  hymn  books,  since  "  the  battle 
was  no  doubt  the  Lord's.''  During  that  night  the  British 
forces  crossed  the  creek  and  passed  to  Staten  Island; 
then  destroyed  their  bridge  of  boats,  and  never  made 
another  attempt  to  occupy  New  Jersey.  These  years  of 
trial  had  been  a  school  of  war  indeed,  had  made  veterans 
out  of  farmers,  and  stirred  all  patriotic  hearts  to  their 
depths. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  speaking  of  the  close  of  the 
campaign  of  1777,  and  of  the  way  in  which  Washington 
held  the  greatly  superior  forces  of  Cornwallis  in  severe 
check,  says:  "  There  was  presented  the  extraordinary 
spectacle  of  a  powerful  army  straitened  within  narrow 
limits  by  the  phantom  of  a  military  force,  and  never  per- 
mitted to  transgress  those  limits  with  impunity."  Irving 
speaks  of  the  British  army  as  "  held  in  check  by  Wash- 
ington and  his  handful  of  men,  castled  among  the  heights 
of  Morristown;''  and  in  closing  his  account  of  these 
memorable  days,  writes  thus:  "  These  ineffectual  at- 
tempts of  a  veteran  general  to  penetrate  these  fastnesses, 
though  at  the  head  of  a  veteran  force,  which  would  once 
have  been  deemed  capable  of  sweeping  the  whole  conti- 
nent before  it,  were  a  lasting  theme  of  triumph  to  the 
inhabitants;  and  it  is  still  the  honest  boast  among  the 
people  of  Morris  county  that  '  the  enemy  were  never  able 
to  get  a  footing  among  our  hills.'  " 

The  reminiscences  of  these  battles,  of  course,  were 
many.     Hundreds   who   were    not    called   to  take   arms 


rushed  down  to  the  summit  of  Short  Hills  to  witness  the 
engagements,  among  them  old  Parson  Green,  of  Hanover. 
The  late  Deacon  Ichabod  Bruen,  who  died  at  a  very 
advanced  age,  used  to  relate  how  when  he  was  six  years 
of  age  the  alarm  gun  was  heard  one  morning  in  Mr. 
Bradford's  school,  and  the  school  was  at  'once  dismissed. 
The  little  boy  ran  home — the  home  was  the  house  that 
stands  on  the  hill,  next  cast  of  the  residence  of  E.  W. 
Samson,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Henry  Brunz — 
and  found  that  his  father,  who  was  a  minute  man,  had 
gone  to  Springfield,  and  his  mother  was  busy  loading  up 
a  wagon  at  the  door  with  their  best  articles  of  furniture, 
fearing  it  might  be  necessary  to  carry  them  to  a  place  of 
safety. 

Many  of  the  men  of  this  township  were  in  these  battles. 
Some  of  them  were  killed  and  more  of  them  were 
wounded.  It  was  here  that  Captain  Thomas  of  the  ar- 
tillery had  both  legs  shot  off,  and,  lifting  himself  upon 
his  mangled  limbs,  waved  his  sword,  and  cried  as  he 
sunk  down  to  die,  "  Fight  on,  my  boys!  never  give  it  up!  " 
It  was  here  that  Eliakim  Little,  with  his  small  company 
and  a  few  pieces  of  artillery,  held  at  bay  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy  for  two  mortal  hours,  until  the  general  retreat. 
Many  others  died,  or  carried  the  wounds  of  that  hot 
fight  all  the  rest  of  their  days.  Several  of  our  wounded 
men  died  at  the  tavern  on  the  east  side  of  the  Passaic, 
opposite  Chatham.  British  officers  and  soldiers,  prison- 
ers, were  taken  to  Morristown,  on  their  way  stopping  at 
the  tavern  here  near  the  liberty  pole,  where  old  Mrs. 
Richards  said  she  saw  the  "  red  coats  "  moving  in  and 
out. 

The  gallant  conduct  of  Parson  Caldwell  in  this  battle, 
and  his  great  loss,  endeared  him  to  the  troops  and  the 
people  more  than  ever.  Whenever  he  came  here  he  had 
a  glad  welcome.  His  home  was  apt  to  be  that  of  his  be- 
loved friend  Deacon  Ephraim  Sayre,  in  whose  front 
room,  on  the  south  end  of  the  house,  he  used  to  preach. 
"  standing  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  room,  the 
people  of  the  whole  neighborhood  gathering  there  to  hear 
him."  The  house  of  Deacon  Sayre  referred  to  is  the  one 
now  occupied  by  D.  S.  Evans,  on- Academy  Hill,  the 
property  being  still  owned  by  the  descendants  of  the  old 
Christian' patriot.  Mr.  Tuttle  narrates  that  once  when 
Caldwell  was  about  to  preach  in  the  open  air,  in  Chat- 
ham, while  a  stage  was  in  process  of  erection,  an  old  sol- 
dier crowded  through  the  throng,  and  said,  "  Let  me 
have  the  honor  of  being  his  platform;  let  him  stand  on 
my  body;  nothing  is  too  good  for  Parson  Caldwell."  His 
popularity  indeed  with  all  the  patriots  throughout  this 
region  was  unbounded;  while  no  man  was  more  feared 
and  hated  by  the  tories  and  the  British,  unless  it  were  his 
parishioner  Governor  Livingston,  for  whose  capture  or 
whose  assassination  the  British  authorities  offered  a  re- 
ward. Those  who  would  know  more  of  Rev.  James 
Caldwell  will  find  further  particulars  in  Dr.  Murray's 
■'  Notes  Concerning  Elizabethtown,"  but  much  fuller  in- 
formation in  Dr.  E.  F.  Hatfield's  "  History  of  Elizabeth." 
He  was  a  remarkable  man,  whether  viewed  as  preacher 
pastor  or  patriot;  of  fine  ability,  of  most  unselfish  aims, 


LAST  PATRIOT  ENCAMPMENTS  IN  CHATHAM  TOWNSHIP. 


197 


fearless  courage  and  trust  in  God,  and  of  great  and  valu- 
able service  to  his  country.  He  was  murdered  at 
Elizabeth  Point,  by  a  man  named  Morgan,  "  one  of  the 
rebel  twelve-months  men."  When  the  news  of  Caldwell's 
death  reached  this  place  his  faithful  friend  Deacon 
Sayre  hastened  to  Elizabethtown,  and  brought  up  to 
Bottle  Hill  and  to  his  own  house  six  children  of  these 
murdered  parents.  Here  they  were  provided  for  until 
permanent  provision  was  made  for  them  elsewhere. 
These  children  cherished  a  great  reverence  for  their 
father's  friend,  calling  him  their  foster  father. 

General  Anthony  Wayne,  who  was  in  command 
at  the  time  of  the  mutiny  of  the  New  Jersey 
troops,  in  January  1781,  had  his  headquarters  at 
the  house  of  Deacon  Ephraim  Sayre.  "  The  gen- 
eral's life-guards  were  stationed  in  the  kitchen  in 
the  rear  of  the  main  house;  while  the  room  occupied 
by  the  general  was  the  front  room  on  the  north  end  of 
the  house.  A  small  mulatto  servant  accompanied  him  to 
wait  upon  him;  and  in  order  to  encourage  in  him  the 
martial  spirit  the  boy  was  fully  armed  and  equipped  with 
a  keen  wooden  sword,  which  he  took  great  pride  in  flour- 
ishing on  all  proper  occasions." 

In  August  1 781  Washington  was  about  to  close  up  the 
war,  having  cooped  up  Lord  Cornwallis  and  the  main 
British  army  in  Yorktown,  Va.  Orders  were  given  to. a 
French  regiment  and  a  New  Jersey  brigade  stationed  at 
West  Point  to  move  southward  to  Virginia  and  unite  there 
with  the  main  army  of  America  in  that  final  struggle.  In 
order  to  deceive  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  then-  holding  New 
York,  these  troops  were  orifered  to  form  an  encampment 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Passaic,  opposite  Chatham, and  in 
every  way  to  assume  the  appearance  of  being  perma- 
nently quartered  there,  and  with  the  probable  design  to 
an  attack  on  Staten  Island,  which  was  a  great  depot  of 
stores  for  the  British  army.  Accordingly  these  troops 
came  down  from  the  north  with  all  their  artillery  and  bag- 
gage wagons,  and  made  a  regular  encampment  on  the 
land  immediately  in  front  of  the  old  tavern,  on  the  south 
side  of  ttie  road  leading  over  Short  Hills  to  the  seaboard. 
Here  they  set  up  their  tents,  built  ovens,  and  made  all 
necessary  arrangements  for  a  great  force  of  men;  so  that 
the  impression  was  everywhere  made  that  not  these  troops 
alone  but  a  much  larger  body  would  be  permanently  here. 
The  enemy's  spies  were  around,  and  these  things  were 
soon  carried  to  the  British  camp,  creating  the  desired 
impression.  On  a  certain  evening  the  camp  looked  as 
usual;  fires  were  lighted,  sentries  were  set  and  the  sol- 
diers ready  for  the  night.  In  the  morning  every  soldier 
had  disappeared,  the  artillery  and  baggage  were  gone, 
and  nothing  was  left  behind  except  a  long  wooden  shed 
under  which  the  ovens  had  been  built.  The  troops 
passed  up  Union  Hill,  through  Green  Village  and  Basking 
Ridge  and  on  to  Yorktown,  and  gave  large  help  in  that 
last  act  of  the  war.  For  years  after  the  close  of  the 
war  the  ovens  stood,  as  mementoes  of  this  military 
ruse.  This  was  the  last  time  that  Chatham  township  saw 
any  considerable  army,  although  after  the  capture  of 
Cornwallis,  and  while  negotiations  were  pending,  a  few 


troops  and  a  number  of  officers  were  here.  The  old  par- 
sonage was  rented  and  occupied  by  Colonel  Barbour; 
Colonel  Matthias  Ogden  resided  with  Major  Luke  Miller, 
in  the  old  Miller  homestead  which  is  still  standing,  and 
Major  Woodruff  took  up  his  abode  with  Deacon  Sayre. 

So  the  winter  of  1782  passed  away,  the  sounds  of  war 
dying  out,  with  only  an  occasional  reminder  as  some  ex- 
press-rider would  dash  through  with  dispatches,  or  a 
company  of  soldiers  returned  north  or  south,  or  baggage 
wagons  were  driven  along  these  roads  leading  to  the 
great  centers. 

On  the  igth  of  April  1783,  exactly  eight  years  after  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  the  news  was  announced  that  articles 
of  peace  had  been  signed.  Six  weeks  after  that  the 
American  army  was  disbanded,  and  the  New  Jersey  sol- 
diers came  home.  The  old  log  cabins  in  Lowantica  Val- 
ley were  sold  at  auction,  many  of  them  being  taken  down 
and  set  up  for  various  uses  in  the  vicinity;  occupied, 
some  of  them,  for  half  a  century  afterward.  How  few 
who  ride  through  the  beautiful  valley  and  cross  its  stream 
think  of  the  old  scenes  enacted  there;  of  the  anxiety, 
sorrow  and  pain,  and  of  the  deaths  witnessed  there  a 
hundred  years  ago.  Time,  which  has  obliterated  the 
mounds  where  so  many  were  buried,  has  long  since 
blotted  out  the  names  of  nearly  all  of  these  unknown 
patriots. 

"  On  Fame's  eternal  camping  ground 
Their  silent  tents  are  spread ; 
And  Glory  guards,  with  solemn  round. 
The  bivouac  of  the  dead." 

It  has  seemed  to  the  writer  that  the  Revolutionary 
days  of  Chatham  township  deserved  and  demanded  the 
extended  notice  he  has  thus  given  them.  Then  was  the 
special  historic  era  of  this  whole  region,  the  period  of 
its  highest  honor,  and  also  of  its  greatest  sacrifices; 
those  were  the  days  unto  which  the  inhabitants  of  this 
place,  and  especially  the  descendants  of  the  men  and 
women  who  lived  and  suffered  then,  will  look  back  with 
interest  and  pride  to  the  latest  generations;  as  also  they 
will  long  continue  to  inherit  the  blessings  so  painfully  se- 
cured. 

Another  reason  for  an  extended  record  in  these  pages 
exists  in  the  fact  that,  while  this  local  Revolutionary 
history  is  among  the  most  interesting  of  all  connected 
with  the  war,  and  not  by  any  means  the  least  important, 
yet  no  general  history  of  the  war  gives  any  adequate  ac- 
count of  these  events;  indeed,  such  account  could  hardly 
be  expected  from  writers  who  have  to  survey  a  wide  na- 
tional field;  this  puts  us  under  deeper  obligations  to  such 
men  as  Dr.  J.  F.  Tuttle  and  his  lamented  brother,  to 
whose  labors  we  are  so  much  indebted,  and  also  makes  it 
obligatory  on  us  in  these  pages  to  enter  into  these  events 
with  some  fullness  of  detail. 

When  the  war  was  ended  this  part  of  the  State  bore 
many  marks  of  the  great  conflict.  Indeed,  deeper  traces 
were  left  on  hardly  any  other  section  of  the  country;  and 
here  as  elsewhere  society  emerged  but  slowly  out  of  the 
disasters  of  the  long  strife.  This  was  true  throughout 
the  land,  of  the  whole  period  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  for  many  years  after  it.     Society  was  unhinged, 


iqS 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


uncertainty  and  dismay  were  abroad,  young  men  were  in 
the  army,  family  ties  were  unloosed,  and  the  churches 
partook  of  the  calamities  of  the  times.  It  is  distressing 
to  look  over  the  ancient  church  records  of  those  times, 
and  to  see  how  constant  is  the  recurrence  of  cases  of  dis- 
cipline for  the  grosser  forms  of  sin;  and  this  continues, 
with  diminishing  frequency,  down  to  the  memory  of  many 
who  are  yet  living. 

Former  Physicians. 

The  early  physicians  here  were  men  of  note.  The 
earliest  of  whom  there  is  record  was  Rev.  Jacob  Green, 
of  Hanover.  As  is  well  known  not  a  few  clergymen  of 
that  day  were  also  among  the  best  physicians.  The  dis- 
tinguished Rev.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  of  Elizabeth,  con- 
temporary with  Green,  "  studied  and  practiced' medicine 
and  acquired  a  high  reputation  as  a  physician."  Green 
was  a  careful  student  and  practitioner  of  medicine.  His 
salary  being  small  his  people  encouraged  him,  saying  that 
country  congregations  could  not  have  ministers  unless 
ministers  would  take  some  care  to  provide  and  help  sup- 
port their  own  families;  and  voting  that  "  Mr.  Green 
practice  physick  if  he  can  bair  it  and  the  presbytery  ap- 
prove it."  He  practiced  all  through  this  region,  with 
much  reputation  and  success,  for  thirty  years. 

Dr.  Berne  (Bernardus)  Budd  was  an  early  and  dis- 
tinguished practitioner  here.  His  father  and  grand- 
father were  men  of  high  position  in  New  Jersey,  and  of 
great  landed  estates,  the  former  owning  the  lands  con- 
tiguous to  and  including  Budd's  Lake.  The  Budd  fam- 
ily was  quite  famous  for  the  number  of  medical  men  it 
produced.  Dr.  Berne  Budd  had  a  wide  reputation  as  a 
physician,  as  well  as  high  social  position.  Both  failed 
to  save  him  from  "  the  crime  of  counterfeiting  the  bills  of 
credit  of  the  province  of  New  Jersey."  For  this,  with 
four  others,  also  men  of  high  social  position,  the  doctor 
was  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  hung;  but  through 
the  efforts  of  influential  friends  these  were  all  reprieved 
on  the  morning  appointed  for  their  execution,  and  were 
subsequently  pardoned.  His  reputation  as  a  physician 
still  kept  him  in  large  practice.  In  1777  he  was  army 
surgeon  in  a  brigade  of  State  troops,  and  he  died  in 
December  of  that  year.  He  was  buried  at  Columbia 
Bridge,  but  his  grave  has  no  stone. 

Dr.  John  C.  Budd  succeeded  his  father,  Berne,  and 
practiced  here  for  many  years,  living  in  Chatham,  in 
what  is  known  as  Budd's  lane.  He  was  born  in  1762  and 
lived  to  a  great  age,  dying  in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  He 
is  very  well  remembered  by  many  of  the  people  here,  and 
is  usually  spoken  of  as  "  old  Doctor  Budd."  His  skill 
was  in  high  repute  and  his  practice  was  widely  extended, 
although  he  lacked  gentleness  of  manner,  and  was  pro- 
fane in  speech. 

Dr.  John  Darcy  (who  married  a  granddaughter  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Johnes  of  Morristown)  was  surgeon's  mate  in  Spen- 
cer's regiment  of  the  continental  army  in  1777.  This 
regiment  was  under  the  immediate  command  of  Wash- 
ington, of  whom  and  of  Lafayette  Dr.  Darcy  was  full 
of  anecdotes.    After  the  war  he  settled  in  Hanover,  prac- 


ticing in  Chatham  township,  especially  as  a  surgeon,  in 
which  department  he  stood  very  high,  his  services  being 
in  requisition  in  distant  places.  He  was  a  man  of  most 
estimable  qualities,  held  in  esteem  by  all  men.  He  died 
in  1822. 

During  the  latter  days  of  "  old  Dr.  Budd"  Dr.  Jeph- 
tha  B.  Munn  practiced  medicine  here,  and  also  Dr.  Na- 
than Bishop,  the  former  residing  in  Chatham,  the  latter 
in  Madison.  Dr.  Bishop's  failing  health  induced  him  to 
invite  into  partnership  Dr.  Henry  P.  Green,  who  came 
here  in  1828.  After  a  few  years  the  former  suffered  from 
a  stroke  of  paralysis  and  returned  to  Connecticut,  his 
native  state,  where  he  died.  This  left  Dr.  Green  with  a 
large  and  laborious  practice,  which  he  maintained  for 
thirty  years,  dying  October  15th  1858.  In  addition  to  his 
medical  cares  he  took  a  foremost  place  in  all  public 
plans,  being  an  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  for  many  years  the  president  of  its  board  of  trustees, 
and  greatly  interested  in  the  educational  interests  of  the 
town,  and  in  the  cause  of  temperance.  He  was  always  a 
courageous  and  outspoken  man,  and  his  influence  abides. 

St.  E-lizabeth's  Academy, 

Convent  Station,  is  the  mother  house  of  the  sisters  of 
charity  in  the  diocese  of  Newark. 

This  community  of  sisters  of  charity  was  established  in 
Newark  in  September  1859,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  R.  Bayley, 
who  applied  to  the  superiors  of  Mt.  St.  Vincent  for  sisters 
to  begin  the  foundation.  The  two  members  chosen  for  this 
important  work  were  Rev.  Mother  M.  Xavier,  the  present 
superioress,  and  Sister  M.  Catherine,  the  mother  assistant. 
To  the  former  we  are  indebted  for  this  account  of  the 
institution: 

The  building  selected  for  their  residence  was  the  old 
"  Ward  mansion  "  on  Washington  street,  of  which  the 
two  foundresses,  with  five  novices,  who  had  been  pre- 
paring for  this  foundation  by  a  novitiate  with  the  sisters 
of  charity  at  Cedar  Grove,  Cincinnati,  O.,  took  posses- 
sion on  the  feast  of  St.  Jerome,  September  30th  1859. 

Here  they  labored  some  time,  but  finding  the  building 
too  small  and  ill  adapted  for  the  purpose  of  novitiate  and 
boarding  school,  the  latter  of  which  was  necessary  for 
the  support  of  the  novitiate,  they  were  anxious  to  obtain 
a  larger  and  more  suitable  one;  and  they  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  purchasing  from  Bishop  Bayley  the  ''  Chegaray 
mansion,"  on  the  Madison  and  Whippany  road.  This 
property,  which  had  been  bought  four  years  previous  by 
Bishop  Bayley  for  a  college  and  diocesan  seminary,  was 
vacated  in  June  i860  and  the  pupils  transferred  to  South 
Orange,  where  the  present  college  of  Seton  Hall  is 
located. 

On  the  feast  of  the  Visitation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
July  2nd  i860.  Rev.  Mother  M.  Xavier  and  five  sisters 
took  formal  possession  of  the  Chegaray  mansion,  which 
has  ever  since  borne  the  title  of  "  St.  Elizabeth's  Acad- 
emy," a  boarding  school  for  young  ladies. 

The  number  of  pupils  rapidly  increasing  it  was  found 
necessary  to  erect  a  separate  building  solely  for  educa- 
tional purposes,  the  old  mansion  to  be  exclusively  used 


RESIDENCE     OF     W^•    C  .  JOH  N  SON,   CHATHA  M,  N  .J  . 


ST.  ELIZABETH'S  ACADEMY— CHATHAM  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


199 


for  the  community.  In  186-  a  commodious  brick  edifice 
100  feet'long,  50  feet  wide  and  60  feet  high  was  erected 
to  meet  the  exigencies.  In  about  two  years  thereafter  it 
became  necessary  to  build  a  chapel,  which  was  placed  on 
the  south  side  of  the  "  mansion."  The  sisters  then 
opened  a  school  for  young  boys,  known  as  "  St.  Joseph's 
Preparatory  Boarding  School  for  Boys,"  in  a  building 
erected  for  the  purpose  at  some  distance  frorn  the  con- 
vent. Here  boys  from  the  age  of  three  to  thirteen  years 
are  taught  the  requisites  for  admission  into  college. 
This  also  proved  a  decided  success,  and  it  is  to-day  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

Finding  the  distance  from  the  railroad  station  to  be  a 
.disadvantage  to  the  schools,  the  sisters  built  at  their  own 
expense  a  neat  frame  building  known  as  Convent  Station 
(since  removed  several  hundred  yards  nearer  Morristown 
and  considerably  enlarged  by  the  railroad  company),  at 
which  nearly  all  the  trains  stop  daily.  The  distance 
from  the  station  to  their  academy  was  thus  reduced  to 
fifteen  minutes'  walk. 

The  "  mansion,"  with  its  additions,  spacious  and  large 
though  they  were,  proved  in  course  of  time  totally  inade- 
quate to  the  growing  wants  both  of  sisters  and  pupils; 
hence  they  selected  a  site  on  higher  ground,  command- 
ing an  extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  and 
within  five  minutes'  easy  walk  from  Convent  Station, 
where  they  began  in  1878  the  erection  of  the  new  St. 
Elizabeth's  Academy,  of  which  the  following  is  a  general 
description: 

The  building  is  of  brown  stone,  granite  and  Philadel- 
phia pressed  brick.  It  has  a  frontage  of  476  feet,  the 
depth  to  the  rear  of  the  chapel  being  176  feet,  and  from 
its  size  and  fine  architectural  proportions  it  is  a  striking 
object  of  view  from  many  sections  of  the  surrounding 
country.  The  main  building,  seven  stories  high,  is  150 
feet  in  height  and  has  two  lateral  wings,  the  depth  of 
each  of  which  is  156  feet,  and  height  112.  The  wings 
are  five  stories  high. 

The  northern  wing  contains  an  auditorium  90  feet 
long,  50  feet  wide  and  30  feet  high.  The  other  stories  of 
this  wing  are  reserved  for  the  novitiate  of  the  sisterhood. 

The  southern  wing  contains  the  school.  The  basement 
serves  as  a  recreation  hall;  it  is  90  feet  long,  50  feet  wide 
and  15  feet  high.  The  first  story  is  for  the  study  hall, 
being  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the  last,  but  18  feet 
high.  The  third  story  serves  for  class  rooms  and  the 
fourth  is  utilized  as  dormitories. 

The  interior  of  the  main  building  is  grand  and  beauti- 
ful. The  building  is  heated  throughout  by  steam,  and 
nothing  that  could  tend  to  the  comfort  of  the  pupils  has 
been  forgotten. 

Across  the  corridor,  almost  opposite  the  landing  of  the 
grand  stairway,  is  the  door  which  opens  into  the  beauti- 
ful chapel,  which  is  of  modern  Gothic  architecture  and  is 
130  feet  deep  by  45  in  width,  and  40  feet  in  height.  The 
windows  are  beautifully  stained,  with  life-size  representa- 
tions of  religious  subjects.  The  most  noteworthy  paint- 
ings on  the  ceiling  are  the  representation  of  the  Assump- 
tion of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  of  the  annunciation,    and  of 


St.  Michael  the  archangel.  Upon  the  walls  within  the 
sanctuary  are  represented  the  ascension  of  our  Lord  and 
His  resurrection. 

Within  the  sanctuary  three  marble  altars  are  seen. 
The  high  or  center  altar  is  18  feet  in  height  and  is  a 
perfect  specimen  of  architectural  beauty.  The  side  altars, 
that  of  St.  Joseph  on  the  right,  and  that  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  on  the  left,  are  each  12  feet  high  and  are  in  gen- 
eral keeping  with  the  main  one.  The  ornamental  mosaic 
work  of  the  altars  is  composed  of  six  species  of  Italian 
marble  of  the  most  beautiful  and  costly  kind.  The  pil- 
lars and  ornaments  are  of  Mexican  onyx  and  Egyptian 
porphyry.  The  different  species  and  colors  of  the  mar- 
ble used  form  a  rare  combination  and  produce  a  grand  and 
imposing  general  effect. 

The  style  of  architecture  is  florid  ornamental  gothic, 
and  the  altar,  entire,  is  said  to  be  the  most  costly  and 
elegant  in  America.  During  the  twenty-two  years  since 
its  inception  the  sisterhood  has  been  gradually  increas- 
ing, and  it  now  numbers  over  350  members,  scattered  over 
the  State  of  New  Jersey. 

CHATHAM    VILLAGE. 

The  early  history  of  the  village  of  Chatham  forms,  of 
course,  part  of  the  general  history  and  settlement  of  the 
township,  which  has  been  given.  The  part  of  the  town 
lying  upon  the  Passaic  took  the  name  of  the  towa,  as  the 
upper  part  was  called  Bottle  Hill  and  afterward  Madison. 
Bonneltown  was  that  portion  lying  between  the  village 
proper  and  New  Providence.  Chatham  early  contained 
a  grist-mill  and  a  fulling-mill.  It  had  also  a  two-story 
academy  building,  in  which,  besides  the  district  school, 
public  religious  services  were  held  on  week  days,  and  oc- 
casional Sabbath  services,  there  being  no  church  building. 
The  early  settlers  of  Chatham,  being  nearly  all  Presby- 
terians, attended  church  in  Bottle  Hill;  some  also  in 
New  Providence  at  a  later  day,  and'  a  few  in  Hanover 
and  Springfield.     On  the  23d  of  October  1823  a 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 

was  organized,  and  a  building  fitted  up  for  worship, 
standing  near  the  Passaic  River,  and  the  Rev.  Asa  Ly- 
man, of  Morristown,  became  its  stated  supply.  Under 
the  labors  of  Mr.  Lynian  the  small  building  was  soon 
filled,  and  the  village  began  to  assume  a  new  and  better 
aspect.  In  1827  Mr.  Lyman  was  compelled  by  ill  health 
to  withdraw,  and  in  1828  the  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Ogden  be- 
gan his  labors,  being  installed  pastor  in  November  1828. 
In  this  field,  as  his  own  earliest  pastorate,  and  being 
himself  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  Dr.  Ogden  contin- 
ued his  uninterrupted  and  successful  labors  for  the  next 
forty-five  years,  resigning  his  charge  September  23d  1873. 
The  original  house  of  worship  soon  became  too  strait  for 
the  increasing  congregation,  and  in  the  spring  of  1832 
the  foundations  were  laid  of  a  larger  building,  which  was 
completed  and  dedicated  in  the  winter  following.  This 
building,  38  by  56  feet,  it  has  since  been  found  necessary 
to  enlarge,  and  it  has  now  a  seating  capacity  for  four  or 
five  hundred  persons. 


200 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Dr.  Ogden  wds  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  A.  V.  C.  John- 
son, who  Was  installed  November  6th  1873,  and  resigned 
on  account  of  ill  health  November  12th  1877.  Rev. 
William  F.  Anderson  was  ordained  to  this  charge  July 
iSth  1879,  and  resigned  his  pastorate  September  20th 
1881.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  each  of  these  pastors 
began  his  ministry  with  this  people. 

The  church  has  long  possessed  a  commodious  parson- 
age, and  a  few  years  ago  it  added  a  handsome  chapel, 
which  will  accommodate  about  two  hundred  persons. 
The  church  numbers  about  150  members,  with  a  flourish- 
ing Sunday-school  of  over  too  teachers  and  scholars. 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

About  the  time  when  the  present  Presbyterian  church 
edifice  was  erected  measures  were  taken  to  build  a  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  In  this  enterprise  Rev.  John 
Hancock  took  much  interest.  The  building  was  ded- 
icated in  1832,  and,  the  congregation  steadily  increasing, 
it  was  enlai'ged  and  otherwise  improved.  It  is  now  a 
firmly  established  church  of  about  70  members,  with  a 
Sunday-school  of  about  100  teachers  and  scholars.  Its 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  Samuel  Sargent,  a  graduate  of 
Drew  Theological  Seminary. 

In  this  connection  a  fact  may  be  recalled  which  is  not 
without  historic  interest.  Mr.  Tuttle,  when  giving  the 
account  of  the  building  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brad- 
ford, in  Bottle  Hill,  for  his  classical  school,  and  removed 
to 'Chatham  by  Sheppard  KoUock,  says:  "I  have  been 
told  by  Mr.  Enos  Bonnel,  an  aged  man  now  living  near 
Chatham,  that  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  service  that 
was  ever  held  in  the  township  was  held  in  that  building, 
just  after  it  had  been  vacated  by  Mr.  Kollock  as  a  print- 
ing office  and  a  little  after  the  proclamation  of  peace 
with  Great  Britain.  The  clergymen  who  officiated  were 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  Haggerty  and  Lynch."  In  this  build- 
ing Methodist  services  were  held  afterward,  but  only  oc- 
casionally, the  first  systematic  effort  was  as  given  above. 

ST.  Patrick's  ROMAN  catholic  church 

was  built  in  1872,  at  a  cost  of  somewhat  over  $4,000. 
The  land  on  which  it  is  built  was  purchased  in  1871  for 
$500.  It  is  a  brick  building.  It  was  used  as  a  school- 
house  until  1875,  when  additional  land  was  bought  at  a 
cost  of  $800,  arid  a  frame  school-house  was  built  there- 
on, at  a  cost  of  almost  $r,ooo.  The'  congregation  num- 
bers about  200,  and  the  school  children  about  35  or  40. 
The  average  annual  cost  of  conducting  the  school  was 
about  $600. 

improvements. 

Chathath  has  taken  upon  it  new  aspects  and  exhibits 
marks  of  imprdvefnent  on  every  hand.  It  has  700  inhabi- 
tants and' grows  steadily.  Old  buildings  are  being  re- 
built, and  new  ones  of  fine  proportions  and  beautiful  sur- 
roundings are- being  put  iip.  There  has  recently  been 
erected  a  large  arid  wellarranged'and  furnished-academy,' 
givirig  excellent  educational  advantages.'  In*  the  center 
of  the  village  is  a  large  and  commodious' boardirig-hou^fe'," 


with  accommodations  for  seventy  or  more  boarders. 
The  house  is  a  few  minutes  walk  from  the  depot,  with 
spacious  and  beautiful  grounds;  it  stands  well  in  from  the 
road  and  is  every  way  finely  adapted  to  its  purposes. 
There  are  found  two  flouring  mills,  a  paper  manufactory, 
three  blacksmiths'  shops,  two  harness  factories,  and  two 
greenhouses,  doing  a  prosperous  business. 

STANLEY. 

Stanley,  which  is  an  outgrowth  and  suburb  of  Chat- 
ham, has  of  late  years  been  largely  developed  by  the  bus- 
iness and  religious  enterprise  of  George  Shepard  Page. 
A  mill  property  was  purchased  by  him  and  an  active 
business  established,  which  has  been  continued  until  to- 
day, with  the  intermission  of  a  year  or  two  after  the  mill 
buildings  had  been  burned  down.  Mr.  Page  at  once  en- 
gaged in  zealous  Sabbath-school  work,  and  on  August 
5th  1867  organized  a  school  in  a  grove  on  the  hillside, 
which  in  the  winter  was  removed  to  the  upper  loft  of  an 
old  store  near  by.  The  school,  grew,  and  steadily  be- 
came a  power  for  good  in  the  neighborhood,  and,  it  being 
in  much  need  of  larger  and  better  quarters,  Mr.  Page 
built  and  furnished  for  its  accommodation  "Stanley 
Hall,"  so  naming  it  after  the  maiden  name  of  his  mother. 
The  very  natural  although  unanticipated  outcome  of  the 
school  and  its  various  adjunct  services  was,  first  (in  1872) 
a  regular  Sabbath  evening  service  in  the  hall,  and  on  Aug-, 
gust  15th  1873  the  organization  of  the  "Congregational 
Church  of  Stanley;"  the  district,  the  post-office  and  the 
church  all  associating  with  themselves  the  name  and  the 
work  of  the  Sunday-school  and  its  founder. 

The  Congregational  Church. — The  first  pastor  of  this 
church  was  Rev.  S.  F.  Palmer,  who  remained  two  years 
and  resigned  October  ist  1875.  Twenty-five  members 
were  added  during  his  ministry.  Rev.  E.  H.  Pearce, 
who  succeeded,  declining  a  call,  continued  as  acting  pas- 
tor nearly  a  year;  and  twenty-one  persons  were  received 
into  the  church  in  that  time.  Rev.  J.  O.  Wilson,  professor 
of  elocution  in  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  then  served 
the  church  as  acting  pastor  for  nearly  two  years,  under 
his  ministry  fourteen  members  being  added  to  the  church, 
Mr.  Wilson  withdrawing  from  the  charge  in  November 
1878.  Rev.  Rollin  S.  Stone,  of  the  New  York  and  Brook- 
lyn Association,  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  April 
25th  1879,  and  he  now  remains  in  charge.'  The, growth 
of  the  church  compelled  wider  plans,  and  the.  people 
d.eterminedto  build  a  church  edifice.  This  important 
work  has  been  carried  through,  and  on  the  9th  of  .Octo- 
ber 1881  "Stanley  Chapel"  was  dedicated.  The  build- 
ing stands  near  the  center  of  population,  on  the'  corner 
iof  the  turnpike  and  Hillside  avenue;  it  is  a '  most 
comely  and  comfortable  house  of  worship  and  was  dedi- 
cated free  of  debt. 

•  MADISON. 

I "  The  village  now  called  Madison  was  .early  arid  long 
iknown  as  Bottle  Hill.'  The.nam.e  indeed  yet,  lingers,  for 
loccasio'nally  an  aged 'man  haS  sa:id  to'the  wrilef  of  this 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  MADISON. 


sketch,  "You    are    pastor,  then,  of   the  old    Bottle    Hill 
church."     Of  the  origin  of  this  name   several   accounts 
have  been  given,  of  which  the  following  is  no  doubt  the 
correct  one:    The  first  tavern  in  the  place,  which  must 
have   been  a  very   rude  affair,  was   located  on   Academy 
Hill,  and  on  the  spot  where  now  stands  the  residence  of 
the  late   Miss  Lillys  Cook.     A  very  uncertain  tradition 
says  that  it  was  kept  by  an  Indian.     Its  sign  was  a  bottle 
suspended  from  a  corner  sign  post.     It  was  no  doubt  an 
honest   sign,  indicating  the   main  business  done  within. 
The  frankness  of  "mine  host  "  in  that  old  day  is  to  be 
commended,  and  ought  to  be  imitated  iaour  own  times. 
This  debated  point,  the  origin  of  the  old  name,  seems  to 
be   settled   by   Mr.  Tuttle,  who  in   his   manuscript  notes 
says:  "The  first  tavern  in  this  place  was  located  on  the 
Cook  corner,  by  the  academy,  and  this  was  designated 
by   a   bottle    suspended   on   a   sign  post  at  the  corner. 
Major  Miller,  who  died  here  about  three  years  since,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  90  years,  stated  repeatedly  that  he 
had  himself  seen  the  above  sign.     This  has  been  corrob- 
orated   to    me  by   Mr.  John   B.  Miller,  a   son   of  Major 
Luke  Miller,  and  other  aged  inhabitants  of  this  region." 
So,  whatever  other   more   dignified   accounts  have  been 
given,  it  is  to  be  feared  that  the  Madisonians  must  hum- 
bly submit  to  the  truth  of  history. 

How  early  that  old  tavern  passed  away  is  not  known. 
The  "  New  Jersey  Historical  Collections,"  published  in 
1844,  says  that  "the  first  iniblic  house  in  the  place  was 
kept  by  David  Brant  in  a  house  then  standing  where  now 
is  Mr.  Sherrill's  garden  [that  is,  the  spot  at  present 
occupied  by  the  houses  and  grounds  of  Caleb  Sniffen 
and  Charles  C.  Force];  and  as  that  went  down  Ananias 
Halsey  commenced  where  Mr.  Robert  Albright  now 
lives."  The  house  of  Robert  Albright  was  burned  in 
187 1.  It  was  on  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Dr.  Calvin 
Anderson.  We  have  the  authority  of  Mr.  Tuttle  for  say- 
ing that  when  the  war  of  the  Revolution  began  "the  vil- 
lage tavern  stood  where  the  house  of  Mr.  Robert  Albright 
now  stands,  and  was  kept  by  Daniel  Brown."  It  is  very 
likely  that  both  statements  are  correct,  and  that  Brown 
succeeded  Halsey  in  the  occupancy  of  the  hotel. 

This  continued  to  be  the  tavern  of  the  place  for  many 
years.  The  late  J.  H.  Woodruff,  of  Columbia,  in  the 
Jerseyman  gives  reminiscences  of  it  as  late  as  the  war  of 
1812:  "All  the  drafted  men  of  Morris  and  Sussex  coun- 
ties were  required  to  assemble  at  Madison,  to  be  mustered 
in.  The  place  of  meeting  was  the  old  Albright  tavern. 
There  was  a  large  open  space  in  front  of  the  house,  in 
the  rear  of  which  stood  the  sheds  and  stables.  The  men 
came  in  farm  wagons,  and  these  wagons  were  to  convey 
the  drafted  men  to  Jersey  City.  At  that  time  every 
able-bodied  man  between  18  and  25  was  enrolled  and 
obliged  to  train  three  times  a  day." 

The  village  flagstaff,  a  straight  tree  cut  from  the  forest, 
stood  opposite  the  tavern  and  in  front  of  where  the 
Presbyterian  lecture  room  now  stands;  and  from  it  floated 
for  many  years  the  English  flag,  until  that  was  replaced 
by  our  own  stars  and  stripes.  Near  the  staff,  and  under- 
neath the  flag,  stood  the  village  whipping  post;  the  em- 


blem of  loyalty  above,  that  of  justice  below.  Some  of 
our  aged  citizens  remember  when  certain  offenders  re- 
ceived their  condign  stripes  at  the  old  post. 

The  only  village  store  a  hundred  years  ago  was  kept 
by  Mrs.  Horton,  the  energetic  wife  of  the  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  It  was  in  a  very  humble  building, 
about  fifteen  feet  square,  put  up  on  the  corner  of  the 
parsonage  lot,  and  standing  on  the  spot  now  occupied 
by  the  dwelling  of  J.  A.  Webb.  Azariah  Carter,  who 
died  in  1855,  remembered  having  been  sent  by  his  mother 
to  make  purchases  there,  and  used  to  say  that  Mrs.  Hor- 
ton or  one  of  her  children  always  waited  on  him  from 
behind  the  counter.  The  times  were  hard,  and  thus  this 
excellent  helpmeet  eked  out  her  husband's  scanty  sti- 
pend. After  Mrs.  Horton  gave  up  storekeeping  the  lit-- 
tie  building  was  used  for  a  school;  the  late  Deacon 
Ichabod  Bruen  remembered  to  have  gone  there  in  his 
early  childhood. 

In  the  year  1804  the  turnpike,  or  principal  •  avenue 
through  the  village  of  Madison,  was  made.  About  seventy 
years  ago  a  blacksmith's  shop  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
academy  and  an  old  storehouse  occupied  the  site  of  the 
Presbyterian  lecture  room. 

As  to  the  change  in  the  name  of  the  village  the  facts 
seem  to  be  that  the  people  had  long  been  tired  of  it  and 
its  distasteful  associations,  so  that  a  change  had  been 
determined  on  early  in  the  present  century;  and  when 
the  academy  was  built  in  1809  it  was  called  the  Madison 
Academy,  as  now  appears  on  the  marble  tablet  in  front. 
Another  proof  of  this  accepted  change  is  seen  in  that 
familiar  and  unique  landmark  "  the  hickory  tree,"  stand- 
ing erect  and  tall  at  the  junction  of  four  principal  roads- 
In  front  of  the  tree,  nailed  to  two  uprights,  is  a  board 
tablet  on  which  may  be  read  as  a  heading,  "  South  Madi- 
son ";  and  under  this  the  words,  "This  tree  was  trans- 
planted in  the  year  1813;  for  the  inauguration  of  James 
Madison,  second  term,  as  President  of  the  United  States." 
Then  follow  directions:  "To  Stanley  and  Summit,  east; 
to  Madison  and  Chatham,  N.  E.;  to  New  Providence, 
south;  to  Morristown,  west;  to  Green  Village,  S.  W." 
But  it  Wiis  not  until  several  years  later  that  the  people 
met  and  unanimously  resolved  to  drop  this  odious  appela- 
tion  and  substitute  for  it  the  name  of  Madison,  in  honor 
of  the  fourth  president  of  the  United  States.  It  may 
be  added  that  a  strong  sentiment  pervaded  the  commun. 
ity  in  behalf  of  temperance,  and  this  gave  zest  to  the 
public  resolve. 

The  Old  BuRi-^iL  Ground. 
The  most  ancient  feature  of  the  place  then  as  now  was 
the  old  burial  ground  on  the  hill,  the  property  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Its  picturesque  situation  is  a 
credit  to  the  taste  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  Chatham 
township,  for  thither  for  many  years  they  came  from  all 
points  to  bury  their  dead.  The  old  church  stood  on  the 
crown  of  the  hill,  and  the  graves  of  the  old  parishioners 
were  all  around  it,  according  to  the  old  custom,  which  is 
slowly  passing  away,  but  which  will  always  have  so  many 
beautiful  and  tender  associations  to  commend  and  per- 
petuate it. 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


It  is  impossible  to  tell  when  the  first  interments  were 
made.  The  inscription  upon  the  tomb  of  Rev.  M.  Hor- 
ton  is  among  the  earliest  which  can  be  deciphered,  but 
there  are  stones  older  than  1777,  whose  dates  cannot  be 
made  out,  while  there  are  many  ancient  stones  broken  or 
decayed,  suggesting  but  not  perpetuating  older  memories. 

Many  of  these  stones  are  mere  fragments  of  what  must 
have  been  very  rude  monuments  at  first,  such  as  the 
poverty  of  those  times  could  only  afford.  As  the  town 
grew,  this  continuing  to  be  the  only  cemetery  for  years, 
graves,  were  multiplied,  and  more  stately  monuments 
began  to  be  erected,  and  in  due  time  the  removal  of  the 
old  church  enlarged  the  area.  This  city  of  the  dead  has 
become  populous  in  the  lapse  of  nearly  two  centuries,  so 
-that  for  many  years  it  has  been  difficult  to  dig  anywhere 
a  grave  without  running  the  risk  of  disturbing  ancient 
bones.  Two  years  ago  J.  A.  Webb  and  S.  W.  Burnet 
purchased  the  property  immediately  in  front  of  and  lying 
against  the  old  ground,  and  laid  out  new  grounds,  giving 
tQ  the  whole  added  beauty  and  convenience. 

In  the  year  1861,  at  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  Mr.  Tultle, 
the  appearance  of  the  cemetery  was  greatly  improved. 
A  new  fence  was  made,  a  handsome  iron  gateway  put  up, 
a  stone-arch  bridge  over  the  brook  took  the  place  of  the 
ruder  wooden  bridge,  and  a  massive  stone  wall  was  built 
to  protect  the  slope  on  the  railroad  cut.  The  cost  of 
this  improvement  was  $2,250.  It  was  made  under  the 
direction  of  the  parish,  but  the  whole  community  joined 
in  bearmg  the  expense. 

Schools  at  Madison. 

In  the  year  1809  the  old  academy  in  Madison,  on  the 
hill,  was  erected  by  a  joint-stock  company,  by  whom,  or 
their  representatives,  it  is  still  owned.  Within  its  walls 
have  been  taught  a  very  large  proportion  of  all  the  in- 
habitants of  this  immediate  region,  but  its  day  is  past, 
and  shrinking,  in  its  modest  proportions  and  plain  ap- 
pearance, before  its  large  and  well  appointed  successor, 
it  meekly  awaits  its  demolition. 

The  first  public  school-house  in  the  township  was  on 
the  corner  where  J.  A.  Webb  lives;  and  seems  to  have 
been  the  little  building  which  Mrs.  Horton  had  used  as  a 
store.  Among  those  who  taught  school  on  that  spot 
was  Dr.  Ashbel  Green.  Miss  Eliza  Schenck,  grand- 
daughter of  Seth  Crowell  of  Green  Village,  says  that 
she  had  often  heard  her  mother  tell  of  attending  the 
school  in  Bottle  Hill  kept  by  Ashbel  Green.  It  was 
very  difficult  to  keep  up  a  school  in  the  outlying  dis- 
tricts, even  for  a  few  months  in  a  year,  and  few  could 
learn  to  write.  She  and  some  others,  determined  to 
learn,  used  to  walk  daily  three  miles  from  Green  Village 
to  Bottle  Hill  to  acquire  that  accomplishment.  She 
also  added  that  "  pins  were  sometimes  so  scarce  that 
they  used  thorns  to  hold  their  clothing  together  instead 
of  pins." 

When  that  little  building  was  disused  a  school-house 
was  built  on  the  lot  nearly  opposite  the  Catholic  church, 
where  stood  the  house  of  Mrs.  Hunting,  which  was  burned 
to  the  ground  a  few  months  ago.     That  building  w-as 


moved  over  to  the  corner  occupied  then  by  Christian 
Weiss,  and  it  stands  there  to-day,  occupied  by  Simon 
Miller.  From  thence  the  school  was  removed  to  the 
academy  building  in  1809. 

There  are  three  district  schools,  with  excellent  school 
buildings,  one  of  which,  near  the  center  of  the  village, 
was  erected  a  year  ago,  at  a  cost  of  about  $17,000,  and 
is  in  every  way  a  complete  and  admirable  building.  All 
these  schools  are  well  managed,  and  all  have  well  selected 
district  libraries  connected  with  them.  There  is  a  well 
appointed  select  school  for  young  ladies,  with  a  new  and 
convenient  school-house,  recently  enlarged,  and  with' 
ground  inclosed.  It  is  popular,  and  successfully  man- 
aged, and,  in  addition  to  the  usual  English  studies, 
teaches  Latin  and  French,  with  drawing  and  painting. 
There  is  also  a  recently  organized  kindergarten,  which 
bids  fair  to  be  popular;  and  there  are  other  smaller 
schools  for  boys  and  girls  in  private  houses. 

The  French   Ei,ement. 

In  the  year  1793  there  came  hither  a  French  gentle- 
man, who,  followed  by  others  in  subsequent  years,  and 
by  his  own  descendants,  became  a  most  welcome  addi- 
tion to  our  population.  Mr.  Vincent  Boisaubin  was  an 
officer  in  the  body-guard  of  Louis  XVI.  Not  being  in 
sympathy  with  the  changes  then  threatening  the  institu- 
tions of  France,  he  obtained  leave  of  absence,  and  went 
to  the  Isle  of  Guadaloupe.  There  he  married,  and  bid- 
ding France  adieu  he  came  with  his  wife  to  America  and 
found  his  home  here.  The  families  of  Boisaubin  and 
Beaupland  now  here  are  his  descendents;  his  own  imme- 
diate family  numbering  nine  sons  and  daughters.  The 
memory  of  Vincent  Boisaubin  ir.  gratefully  and  pleas- 
antly cherished  among  all  the  older  people.  He  was  a 
man  of  fine  cultivation,  of  most  urbane  and  courteous 
bearing,  and  of  unbounded  benevolence.  He  was  the 
original  in  the  following  story,  which  has  appeared  in  sev- 
eral shapes:  When  a  group  of  neighbors  were  sympathiz- 
ing with  a  poor  man  on  the  sudden  death  of  his  cow,  Mr. 
Boisaubin,  putting  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  said,  "  I  am 
sorry  for  him  five  dollars;"  and  at  once  the  poor  man's 
loss  was  made  up.  The  writer  recently  was  mentioning  his 
name  to  one  of  the  oldest  citizens,  who  said  with  earn- 
estness, "Old  Vincent  Boisaubin!  He  was  one  of  the 
best  men  in  the  whole  country;"  and  went  on  to  tell  of  the 
way  in  which  this  French  gentleman  of  the  old  time  had 
given  him  generous  aid  in  his  early  business  life,  loaning 
money  and  refusing  interest;  with  many  similar  acts  of 
kindness  to  others.  Mr.  Tuttle  says:  "  For  many  years 
previous  to  the  erection  of  the  Catholic  church  here 
both  he  and  his  family,- with  other  French  families,  owned 
seats  and  were  frequent  worshipers  in  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Mr.  Boisaubin  purchased  and  resided  on  what  is  now 
the  Tredwell  property,  owning  also  large  tracts  of  land 
additional.  He  died  in  1834;  his  wife  died  before  him, 
and  they  lie  side  by  side  in  the  old  burial  ground  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Morristown.  ' 

The  French  families  who  once  resided  in  this  town- 


MADISON'S  FRENCH  CITIZENS— FORMER  SLAVES— DREW  SEMINARY. 


203 


ship  formed  for  a  while  an  important  element  in  its 
social  life.  Laville  Duberceau  lived  where  E.  V. 
Thebaud  lately  resided;  Dureste  Blanchet  in  the  house 
now  owned  by  Rev.  Mr.  Windeyer ;  Louis  Paubel, 
father-in-law  of  Mr.  Blanchet,  on  the  opposite  corner, 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Calmyer;  Mrs.  Sargent  and  after- 
ward Mr.  Leclere  where  Mr.  Webb  now  resides;  Mr. 
Souillard  and  afterward  Mr.  Le  Barton  where  Mr. 
Selmser  now  lives;  Eugene  Dupuy  lived  next  to  the 
Presbyterian  church,  on  a  part  of  what  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  Thebaud.  A  French  family  by  the  name  of 
Roche  lived  where  Dr.  Albright  now  resides  and  Mr. 
Cipriault  where  C.  T.  B.  Keep  resides.  Madame  Boisau- 
bin,  the  second  wife  and  widow  of  Beusant  Boisaubin, 
lived  in  the  house  owned,  and  until  recently  occupied, 
by  J.  S.  Paulmier;  this  lady  was  th'e  mother  of  Laville 
Duberceau.  Other  French  families  there  were;  but 
most  of  these  thus  named  returned  at  different  times  to 
France,  or  the  isles  of  Gaudaloupe  or  Martinique. 

The  Negro  Population. 

A  number  of  colored  families  came  here  with  these 
French  immigrants  as  servants,  and  some  of  their  de- 
scendants are  living  here  now,  intermarried  with  the 
other  colored  population.  Among  the  people  of  this  part 
of  New  Jersey  the  colored  population  has  always  formed 
a  pretty  distinct  class.  Bancroft  says:  "  Of  the  two 
Jerseys,  slavery  had  struck  deeper  root  in  East, 
from  the  original  policy  of  its  proprietors;  the 
humane  spirit  of  the  Society  of  Friends  ruled  opinion  in 
West  Jersey."  In  proof,  however,  that  the  type  of 
slavery  must  always  have  been  mild  here,  and  the  negro 
regarded  as  not  unworthy  of  trust,  we  may  recall  his  free 
enlistment  in  the  array  of  the  Revolution — at  least  among 
northern  soldiers.  Speaking  of  the  famous  battle  of 
Monmouth,  Bancroft  says:  "  Nor  may  history  omit  to 
record  that  of  the  Revolutionary  patriots  who  on  that  day 
periled  life  for  their  country  more  than  seven  hundred 
black  Americans  fought  side  by  side  with  the  white." 
Since  many  men  from  Chatham  township  fought  on  that 
field  it  is  quite  probable  that  some  of  the  seven  hundred 
blacks  were  from  here.  Slavery  being  gradually  abolished, 
many  not  being  freed  until  reaching  twenty-one  years, 
the  relics  of  the  old  days  linger  even  yet.  Of  the  aged 
black  people  now  living  here  nearly  all  were  born  in 
slavery;  and  it  is  pleasant  to  the  writer  to  say  that,  having 
several  of  these  old  slaves  among  his  parishioners,  and 
having  conversed  at  times  with  most  of  the  others  yet 
living,  he  has  almost  uniformly  heard  them  speak  m 
terms  of  affection  and  respect  of  their  old  masters  and 
mistresses.  These  old  servants  are  usually  in  comfort- 
able though  humble  circumstances,  can  generally  read 
and  are  very  apt  to  be  members  of  the  churches.  Their 
descendants  have  free  access  to  the  public  schools  and 
libraries,  and  with  freer  openings  to  the  various  indus- 
tries could  uplift  themselves  to  the  planes  of  life  occupied 
by  their  white  fellow  citizens. 

Drew  Theological  Seminary. 

In  the  year  1833   William  Gibbons  of  Elizabethtown 


purchased  the  large  tract  of  upland  lying  on  the  road  to 
Morristown  and  called  "  The  Forest,"  He  soon  after 
began  to  build,  and  in  the  year  1836  occupied  the  spa- 
cious and  noble  mansion  which  was  his  home  for  the  next 
eighteen  years.  Its  massive  appearance  and  generous 
proportions,  with  its  large  surroundings  of  ground,  fitted 
it  for  the  abode  of  wealth,  but  even  more  for  the  wider 
purposes  to  which  in  divine  providence  it  was  destined. 

In  the  year  1852  Mr.  Gibbons  died,  leaving  this  par- 
ticular property  to  his  son  of  the  same  name,  by  whom 
it  was  sold  in  the  year  1867  to  the  late  Daniel  Drew. 
The  subsequent  history  of  this  property  is  now  given 
under  the  head  of  the  Drew  Theological  Seminary. 

This  institution  is  one  of  the  chief  educational  results 
of  the  great  centenary  movement  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  1866.  Daniel  Drew,  who  had  long  been 
thinking  of  making  an  offering  to  the  church,  then  an- 
nounced his  intention  of  founding  a  theological  school. 
For  this  purpose  he  devoted  half  a  million  of  dollars, 
one  half  of  which  was  to  be  expended  upon  ground, 
buildings,  etc.,  while  the  other  was  to  constitute  a  per- 
manent endowment.  The  school  is  located  on  the  prop- 
erty known  as  "  The  Forest."  The  mansion,  known  as 
Mead  Hall,  150  feet  long  and  100  feet  wide,  contains  the 
chapel,  library,  reading  room  and  the  offices  and  lecture 
rooms  of  the  professors.  Asbury  Hall  is  devoted  as  a 
dormitory  to  the  students,  each  room  being  tastefully 
fitted  up,  and  supplied  with  every  necessity  for  the  com- 
fort of  the  occupant.  Embury  Hall  contains  the  society 
room,  dining  hall,  residence  of  matron,  and  a  number  of 
additional  rooms  for  students.  Mr.  Drew  caused  four 
houses  to  be  erected  for  the  use  of  the  professors,  at  a 
cost  of  $20,000  each.  The  school  was  formally  opened 
in  November  1867,  with  the  Rev.  J.  McClintock,  D.  D., 
as  president  and  professor  of  practical  theology,  and  the 
Rev.  D.  H.  Nadal,  D.  D,,  as  professor  of  historical  theol- 
ogy. Shortly  afterward  the  other  professorial  chairs 
were  filled;  that  of  systematic  theology  by  R.  S.  Foster, 
D.  D.;  of  exegetical  theology  by  James  Strong,  S.  T.  D.; 
of  New  Testament  exegesis  by  H.  A.  Buttz,  D.  D.  Eady 
in  the  year  1870  Dr.  McClintock  died,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  presidency  by  R.  S.  Foster,  D.  D.,  and  in 
the  chair  of  practical  theology  by  D.  P.  Kidder,  D.  D. 
J.  F.  Hurst,  D.  D.,  was  elected  to  fill  the  chair  made  va- 
cant by  the  death  of  Dr.  Nadal.  Dr.  Foster  having  been 
elected  bishop  in  1872,  Dr.  Hurst  was  chosen  president, 
and  John  Miley,  D.D.,  was  elected  to  the  vacant  chair  of 
systematic  theology.  In  May  1880  Dr.  Hurst  was  elected 
bishop,  and  his  chair  is  now  filled  by  G.  H.  Crooks, 
D.  D.  Dr.  Kidder  resigned  his  position  in  the  faculty  in 
the  early  part  of  1881,  and  S.  F.  Upham,  D.  D.,  was 
elected  to  fill  his  place.  At  the_  same  time  Dr.  Buttz  was 
made  president. 

In  1876  Daniel  Drew  failed,  and  being  unable  to  meet 
the  interest  on  $250,000,  the  endowment  being  held  by 
himself,  the  institution  was  without  any  income.  The 
trustees  resolved  to  appeal  to  the  church  for  an  endow- 
ment fund,  and  Dr.  Hurst  was  requested  to  take  charge 
of  subscriptions.     Through  his  efforts,  and  the  co-opera- 


28 


204 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


tion  of  his  colleagues,  not  only  has  the  original  amount 
been  secured,  but  subscriptions  have  been  received  for 
upward  of  $300,000, 

The  number  of  students  whose  names  are  found  in  the 
first  catalogue  is  18,  while  in  that  for  1880-81  there  are 
84.  The  total  number  of  graduates,  from  1869  to  1881, 
is  258,  and  they  are  found  in  nearly  all  the  conferences 
in  the  United  States,  while  many  others  are  doing  effi- 
cient work  in  foreign  mission  fields. 

The  course  of  study  embraces  the  five  departments 
indicated  by  the  above  professorships,  and  corresponds 
to  that  of  other  Protestant  theological  seminaries  of  this 
country.  It  occupies  three  years,  and  is  adapted  to  the 
literary  status  of  college  graduates.  The  instruction  is 
communicated  by  recitations  and  lectures,  which  are  held 
on  four  days  of  the  week,  Saturday,  Sunda^f  and  Mon- 
day being-  left  free  to  enable  the  students  to  engage  in 
preaching  and  other  evangelical  work  in  the  vicinity. 
The  yearly  term  of  study  is  from  the  third  Thursday  in 
September  to  the  third  Thursday  in  May,  with  a  fort- 
night's recess  at  the  Christmas  holidays.  Tuition  and 
the  use  of  the  rooms  and  of  the  library  are  free  to  all 
students  intending  the  ministry;  and  pecuniary  assist- 
ance, in  the  form  of  a  loan,  not  exceeding  f  100  a  year 
to  any  individual,  is  offered  to  rrieritorious  students  who 
depend  upon  their  own  exertions  for  an  education.  The 
students  board  together  in  a  club  managed  by  them- 
selves, one  of  their  number  being  appointed  commissary. 
The  cost  has  averaged  about  $2.50  per  week. 

Associations. 

Madison  Lodge  F.  and  A.  M.  was  organized  (under 
dispensation)  July  9th  1868.  It  was  regularly  chartered 
as  No.  93,  February  4th  1869.  There  were  seven  char- 
ter members.  The  first  officers  were  as  follows:  James 
W.  Tuttle,  W.  M.;  A.  H.  Tuttle,  S.  W.;  George  H. 
Hancock,  J.  W. ;  Rev.  James  M.  Tuttle,  treasurer;  Wil- 
bur F.  Morrow,  secretary;  William  H.  Gardiner,  S.  D.; 
John  Simpson,  J.  D.;  Peter  J.  Hiltmann,  tyler. 

The  following  named  persons  have  since  served  as 
W.  M.:  James  H.  Bunting,  Richard  H.  Travis,  Nick.  M. 
Goble,  Charles  L.  Chovy  (2  years),  Henry  C.  Ohlen, 
William  H.  Byram  (2  years),  Charles  B.  Frost,  Samuel 
Brant  and  Stephen  V.  Ohlen. 

The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  as  follows;; 
Charles  A.  Hoyt,  W.  M.;  Charles  Yeager,  S.  W  ;  James 
Helm,  J.  W.;  Horace   S.   Van   Wagner,  treasuer;  James 

A.  Post,  secretary;  W.  H.  Byram,   P.  M.,  S.  D.;   Charles 

B.  Gee,  J.  D.;  Charles  E.  Garrison,  chaplain;  Samuel  H. 
Cook,  S.  M.  of  C;  Benjamin  F.  Knapp,  J.  M.  of  C; 
John  Wilson,  tyler. 

The  present  membership  is  sixty-three.  The  regular 
meetings  of  the  lodge  are  on  the  second  and  fourth 
Thursday  of  each  month. 

A  Young  Mens  Christian  Association  was  established 
by  members  of  several  of  the  churches  in  the  year 
1873.  It  has  been  sustained  with  vigor  during  the  years 
which  have  followed.  It  rents  a  large  and  commodious 
room  for  its  public  and  prayer  meetings,  and  also  a  very 


convenient  reading  room,  and  has  a  library  of  several 
hundred  volumes,     ft  has  done  much  good. 

The  Business  of  the  Place 

has  been  steadily  growing.  The  mechanical  trades  are 
well  represented.  Carriage  and  wagon  making,  black- 
smithing  and  iron  work  of  other  kinds  and  tin  work  are 
carried  on,  and  there  are  masons  and  carpenters  of 
excellent  repute,  and  other  mechanics.  The  stores  are 
well  stocked  with  dry  goods  and  millinery,  groceries, 
feed,  hardware  and  shoes,  and  there  are  two  well  ap- 
pointed drug  stores,  bakeries,  etc. 

Within  a  few  years  a  specialty  has  been  made  of  the 
cultivation  of  flowers,  particularly  of  roses,  for  which  the 
soil  and  climate  here  are  said  to  be  especially  favorable. 
A  number  of  gardens  have  been  established,  which  send 
to  New  York  immense  numbers  of  flowers,  bringing 
large  returns  of  money.  That  of  T.  J.  Slaughter  is 
probably  the  most  extensive  and  complete  in  the  whole 
county. 

The  increase  of  capital  and  the  needs  of  trade  have 
recently  created  a  bank.  The  First  National  Bank-  of 
Madison  was  organized  in  August  and  went  into  opera- 
tion September  ist  1881.  It  has  a  capital  of  $50,000,  all 
taken  up.  Its  president  is  Jacob  S.  Paulmier,  and 
cashier  W.  F.  Morrow,  with  a  well  known  and  substan- 
tial board  of  directors. 

There  has  also  been  established  here  a  weekly  news- 
paper, the  Madison  Journal,  a  convenient  vehicle  of 
local  news  and  advertising,  and  now  in  the  fifth  year  of 
its  existence. 

There  is  a  roomy  and  well  kept  hotel,  the  Madison 
House,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  depot,  and  a  large 
and  popular  boarding-house — the  Ridgedale — with  a 
number  of  private  boarding-houses  in  the  village  and  its 
outskirts,  all  which  are  in  demand  for  summer  boarders. 

THE     MADISON    CHURCHES. 

PRESBYTERIAN. 

The  first  church  organized  in  what  is  now  Chatham 
township  was  the  present  Presbyterian  church  of  Madi- 
son. It  began  its  existence  in  troublous  circumstances, 
in  opposition  to  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery  of  New- 
ark, within  whose  ecclesiastical  bounds  it  lay,  and 
against  the  wishes  of  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  the  pastor  of 
the  old  Whippanong  church,  who  did  all  in  his  power  to 
arrest  the  new  movement,  and  from  whose  congregation 
the  new  church  was  formed.  Doubtless  the  poor  shep- 
herd could  ill  spare  any  part  of  his  flock  in  that  day  of 
small  things;  and  then,  but  a  few  years  before,  those 
members  of  the  old  church  who  resided  in  West  Hano- 
ver (as  Morristown  was  then  called)  had  withdrawn  and 
formed  their  feeble  church  against  the  same  strenuous 
opposition— although,  indeed,  Mr.  Green  was  not  con- 
cerned in  this,  not  haying  yet  come  to  Whippanong.  The 
distances  were  long,  many  of  the  people  being  obliged  to 
travel  six,  eight  and  even  ten  miles  to  attend  church. 

What  is  now  the  township  of  Chatham  was  then  part 


MADISON  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


205 


of  Hanover,  and  the  church  in  Bottle  Hill  was  organized 
under  the  name  of  the  "  Presbyterian  Church  of  South 
Hanover,"  which  was  its  ecclesiastical  designation  for 
the  succeeding  seventy  years.  The  exact  date  of  its  or- 
£;anization  cannot  be  stated,  nor  is  there  known  to  exist 
any  account  of  any  services  connected  with  its  new  life. 
This  is  no  doubt  owing  to  the  loss  and  probable  destruc- 
tion of  the  church  records  for  the  first  forty  years  of  its 
existence.  There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  move- 
ment began  in  the  year  1746,  and  that  the  church  was  or- 
ganized some  time  in  the  year  1747.  In  1817  the  name 
wrs  changed  to  "  The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  the 
Township  of  Chatham,"  which  name  it  bore  until  1846, 
since  when  it  has  been  called  "The  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Madison,"  the  name  Madison  having  been  officially 
given  to  the  place  about  fifteen  years  before. 

Its  first  elders  were  Paul  Day,  Joseph  Wood  and  John 
Pierson.  Its  members  were  few  and  nearly  all  of  them 
in  very  limited  circumstances,  and  able  to  do  little  toward 
the  maintenance  of  the  church.  For  nearly  two  years  they 
worshiped  in  private  houses,  or  in  barns,  and  in  pleasant 
weather  in  the  open  air.  In  1749  they  began  to  build, 
but  were  not  able  to  finish,  and  became  so  utterly  dis- 
heartened that  the  work  for  a  time  quite  ceased.  Then 
Luke  Carter  (son  of  Benjamin  Carter)  declared  that  if 
the  congregation  would  not  complete  the  work  he  would 
do  it  himself;  whereupon  a  rally  was  made,  the  building 
enclosed,  furnished  with  a  plain  pulpit,  and  very  rudely 
seated  with  boards  and  slabs.  It  might  perhaps  have  a 
happy  effect  upon  modern  worshipers  here  to  be  trans- 
ferred a  century  or  so  back  to  those  primitive  seats, 
where  neither  cushions  nor  sloping  backs  invited  to  re- 
pose, and  when  sermons  were  by  no  means  briefer  than 
they  are  now. 

In  this  incomplete  state  the  building  remained  fifteen 
years,  when  "  a  committee  was  appointed  to  superintend 
the  finishing  of  the  meeting-house,"  and  certain  persons 
had  permission  to  construct  pews  for  their  own  accom- 
modation in  different  parts  of  the  church,  and  instead  of 
the  original  slab  seats,  it  was  furnished  with  high-backed 
slips.  This  was  about  the  year  1765.  That  old  building 
was  a  very  simple  affair;  covered  on  all  sides  with  shin- 
gles, and  without  spire  or  cupola,  and,  except  the  sound- 
ing board  over  the  pulpit,  which  was  deep  blue,  wholly 
destitute  of  paint  within  and  without.  It  looked  not  un- 
like a  large,  old-fashioned  farm-house.  Here  and  there, 
in  remote  parts  of  New  Jersey  and  the  contiguous  States, 
there  yet  linger  a  few  of  these  old-time  structures,  sug- 
gestive both  of  the  poverty  and  the  piety  of  the  men  and 
women  who  built  their  unpretending  walls  in  troublous 
times. 

That  primitive  building  was  situated  on  the  crown  of 
our  burial  ground  hill,  two  or  three  rods  east  of  the  spot 
now  occupied  by  the  Gibbons  monument.  It  was  for 
the  next  seventy  years  the  only  house  of  public  worship 
within  the  township,  and  its  history  is  the  main  source  of 
information  that  comes  down  to  us  of  the  years  immedi- 
ately preceding  the  Revolution,  whose  events  gather 
largely  around  the  old  church. 


A  cut  of  this  old  building,  drawn  by  Rev.  Samuel  L. 
Tuttle,  and  engraved  for  him  on  wood,  is  pasted  into  his 
manuscript  "notes,"  and  is  seen  in  his  printed  history  of 
the  church. 

For  several  years  the  society  had  no  preacher,  depend- 
ing upon  the  presbytery  or  upon  some  occasional  young 
man  who  received  no  pay,  and  not  seldom  upon  the  ser- 
vices of  its  own  elders  and  leading  members.  Its  first 
regular  preacher  was  Nathaniel  Greenman,  a  young 
licentiate,  who  was  not  installed,  and  of  whose  two  years' 
work  here  no  record  has  come  down  to  us,  although  he  had 
a  long  and  honorable  record  in  other  parts  of  the  church. 

The  first  pastorate  over  the  church  and  the  longest  of 
all  was  that  of  Azariah  Horton,  beginning  about  1751 
and  ending  in  November  1776,  covering  all  the  stormy 
period  which  preceded  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and 
closing  just  as  the  war  itself  began  to  throw  churches  and 
society  into  dire  confusion.  For  the  reason  given  before 
no  particulars  of  Mr.  Horton's  pastorate  have  come  down 
to  us,  but  the  present  writer  has  been  enabled  to  gather 
some  interesting  particulars  of  his  personal  history — and 
he  was  a  man  of  influence  and  power  in  the  early  days  of 
this  place.  He  was  born  on  Long  Island,  in  1715,  came 
early  with  his  parents  to  New  Jersey,  graduated  from 
Yale  College  in  1735,  and,  declining  a  call  to  a  promising 
parish  on  Long  Island,  devoted  himself  to  labors  among 
the  Indians  on  the  east  end  of  the  island.  Mr.  Horton 
was  the  first  missionary  sent  to  the  heathen  by  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  being  commissioned  to  this  work  by  the 
New  York  presbytery,  but  supported  (as  were  David  and 
John  Brainerd)  by  "  the  Scottish  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel."  His  labors  were  blessed  at  the 
outset,  and  he  soon  baptized  thirty-five  Indians.  The 
fruit  of  his  work  remained  for  many  years,  in  two  Indian 
churches,  one  at  Poosepatuck  and  a  larger  one  at  Shin- 
necock,  which  churches  had  until  1812  a  succession  of 
Indian  pastors  in  the  well  known  Rev.  Samuel  Occum, 
of  the  Mohegan  tribe,  and  Revs.  John  and  Paul  Cuffee, 
of  the  Shinnecock  tribe. 

Mr.  Horton  came  to  Bottle  Hill  in  1751,  and  at  once 
took  rank  among  the  men  of  influence,  as  a  member  of 
the  Synod  of  New  York,  which  he  helped  to  organize, 
and  doing  much  for  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  which 
had  recently  been  founded. 

The  old  church  witnessed  many  memorable  scenes  as 
the  dark  Revolutionary  days  drew  on,  and  during  all 
their  progress.  Its  first  pastor  was  an  earnest  patriot, 
and,  like  his  intimate  friend  and  compatriot  Caldwell  of 
Elizabethtown,  maintained  from  his  pulpit  the  civil  and 
religious  rights  of  the  people.  Among  the  honored  min- 
isters of  that  day,  whose  influence  was  so  potent  in 
awakening  and  maintaining  the  sentiment  of  liberty, 
Azariah  Horton  was  not  the  least.  Under  the  old  sound- 
ing board  Caldwell  himself  often  preached,  and  it  was  a 
common  thing  to  see  the  soldier's  uniform  in  the  gallery, 
'('That  old  meeting-house  and  its  pioneer  minister  did 
not  a  little  to  prepare  those  who  dwelt  here  for  the  hon- 
ors as  well  as  the  trials  which  divine  providence  had  in 
store  for  them." 


2  o6 


kiSTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Horton  was  a  man  of  uncommon  force  of  char- 
acter, of  marked  ability,  and  a  fearless  opponent  of 
tyranny  whether  it  were  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  for  there 
were  both  in  his  day.  He  is  described  to  us  as  "  a  plain, 
short,  stout  and  very  benignant  man."  When  about 
sixty  years  of  age  he  withdrew  from  the  pastorate,  and 
about  a  year  after,  while  still  residing  here,  was  seized 
with  smallpox,  then  prevalent  among  the  American 
troops  quartered  here,  and  died.  Of  the  two  sons  of 
Mr.  Horton  one  gave  his  life  for  the  country,  being  killed 
in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Of  the  way  Mrs.  Horton  helped  her  husband,  and 
purchased  a  farm  besides,  by  keeping  a  corner  store  in 
the  village,  we  have  already  spoken.  The  remains  of 
this  admirable  couple  lie  in  the  old  cemetery,  the  grave 
covered  with  a  brown  freestone  slab  raised  on  pillars, 
and  upon  the  stone  is  inscribed:  "In  Memory  of  the 
Rev.  Azariah  Horton,  for  25  years  pastor  of  this  church. 
Died  March  27th  1777,  aged  62  years.  Also  Eunice,  his 
wife,  who  died  August  14th  1778,  aged  56  years."  The 
monument  stands  on  the  crown  of  the  hill,  just  at  the 
rear  of  the  old  foundation  walls,  and  but  a  few  feet  from 
where  stood  the  pulpit  from  which  the  old  pastor 
preached.  The  church  was  located  between  that  spot 
and  the  ravine  through  which  the  railroad  now  passes. 

In  the  year  1795  occurred  the  loss  of  all  the  records  of 
the  old  church,  covering  its  whole  former  history  from 
1747.  As  Mr.  Tuttle  says,  "  the  loss  will  never  cease  to 
excite  the  regrets  of  this  community."  By  it  have  for- 
ever gone,  for  the  most  part,  the  names  and  history  of 
all  the  early  members,  throwing  darkness  upon  the  inter- 
nal and  spiritual  history  of  the  church,  and  also  obliter- 
ating much  which  concerned  the  whole  neighborhood, 
the  state  of  society,  family  histories,  and  affairs  in  gen 
eral;  for,  as  we  have  said,  here  and  in  New  England  the 
history  of  an  ancient  church  is  largely  the  early  history 
of  the  community.  How  this  loss  occurred  can  never 
now  be  satisfactorily  known.  The  lapse  of  over  four 
score  years  leaves  us  in  the  dark,  and  leaves  also  in  ob- 
livion much  that  would  have  been  interesting  for  us  to 
know  and  to  hand  down  to  those  who  are  to  come  after 
us.  It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  such  a  man  as  Rev. 
Asa  Hillyer  did  not  gather  up  all  that  was  then  known; 
for  not  only  were  the  records  of  the  old  session  extant 
in  his  day — lost  or  destroyed  while  he  was  pastor — but 
there  were  then  living  men  and  women  whose  memories 
extended  to  the  very  organization  of  the  church. 

The  present  writer  has  in  his  possession,  as  the  pastor 
of  the  church,  a  quaint  old  folio  book  of  parish  records 
— or  records  of  the  annual  business  meetings  of  the  so- 
ciety or  congregation.  It  is  bound  in  heavy  parchment, 
and,  although  a  century  and  a  quarter  old,  is  in  excellent 
condition.     The  opening  record  is  as  follows: 

"South  hanover  Wednesday  ye  7th  of  September,  An- 
"  no  D  1757.  at  a  mealing  appointed  and  met  at  the 
"meaiting  house  and  proceeded  In  the  folowing  manor  By 
"v/ay  of  Voats.  Aaron  Burnet  modarator  Stephen  More- 
house Clark.''  At  this  "  meating  "  it  was  "  voated  that 
Mr.  Horton  shall  have  seventy  pounds  Sallery;"  also,  col- 


lectors were  appointed  "  to  endeavour  that  all  old  rear- 
ages  in  Mr  horton's  rats  [rates]  Be  made  good  to  him.." 
Next  year  we  read  that  "Benjamin  Ladner  was  appointed 
to  Leade  psalm  tune."  In  1759  it  was  "  voated  to  have 
pues  Bult  all  round  this  house  and  Seats  in  ye  midle." 
The  report  of  the  meeting  in  1759  gives  an  interesting 
proof  of  the  intimate  connection  of  church  and  State 
then  existing.  The  moderator,  clerk,  and  "Thomas 
genung,  assessor,"  with  two  other  persons,  were  appointed 
"  Collectors;"  and  it  is  added,  "  the  Assessor  is  to  Take 
the  Rateable  Estats  from  the  towne's  Booke."  This 
would  apparently  secure  the  application  of  the  Master's 
rule,  "  Every  man  according  to  his  several  ability." 

The  succeeding  year  saw  the  appointment  of  five  men 
"  to  stand  as  a  committee  to  have  the  care  of  seating  the 
meating  house,  and  all  other  afares  relating  to  this  par- 
ish." 

These  yearly  records  are  usually  extremely  brief,  many 
of  them  occupying  but  four  or  five  lines  of  writing;  and 
for  the  firsl  fifty  years  not  one  of  them  has  granted  to  it 
the  dignity  of  a  full  page  of  the  book.  Many  of  the 
entries  are  very  suggestive  of  the  poverty  of  the  people, 
and  illustrate  somewhat  the  general  habits  and  social  life 
of  those  who  came  from  wide  surroundings  to  worship 
in  the  old  church  on  the  hill.  There  was  not  money  to 
furnish  the  little  building  with  pews.  "  Josiah  Broad- 
well  and  Jacob  Morrall  are  permitted  to  build  a  pue  at 
the  west  end  of  the  meeting  house  and  Josiah  hand  and 
William  Burnet  a  pue  in  the  frontt  gallery  over  the  men's 
stairs."  In  1770  it  was  voted  "that  the  last  piece  of 
land  purchased  of  James  Burnet  for  a  parsonage  be  sold 
to  pay  for  what  the  parish  is  in  arrears."  In  1772  Josiah 
Broadwell  and  Paul  Day  are  appointed  a  committee  "  to 
go  to  Mr.  Horton  and  tell  him  we  will  do  our  utmost  to 
raise  your  salary  for  this  year,  but  see  no  prospect  of 
raising  a  salary  for  another  year."  Next  year  this  faith- 
ful man  is  asked  if  he  would  be  willing  to  stay  another 
year  "for  what  salary  we  can  raise  for  him,"  and  he  con- 
sented to  stay  that  year  and  several  more.  In  1774  a 
lottery  helped  the  financial  situation;  and  there  was  a 
vote  that  certain  "  contribution  money  now  on  hand  goto 
purchase  fencing  timber  for  the  parsonage."  That  year 
also  occurs  this  curious  and  suggestive  record:  "  At  a 
town  meeting  held  this  7th  day  of  September  1774  at  ye 
South  Meeting  House,  chose  assessors  to  carry  subscrip- 
tions to  raise  Mr.  Horton's  salary  for  another  year."  In 
1776  a  committee  was  appointed  to  go  to  the  "  prisbit- 
tery"  with  Mr.  Horton  upon  parish  affairs,  and  with  this 
ended  the  pastoral  troubles  and  labors  of  Azariah  Hor- 
ton, after  he  had  nursed  the  languid  infancy  of  the 
church,  and  guided  and  guarded  its  precarious  early  life 
for  nearly  twenty-five  years. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Horton,  and  for  about  fif- 
teen years,  the  church  seems  to  have  been  in  an  en- 
feebled and  distressed  condition.  It  had  two  pastors  and 
one  stated  supply  in  that  time,  while  there  were  long  in- 
tervals, making  over  five  years  in  all,  during  which  it  was 
without  any  settled  ministry  of  the  word.  The  church 
and  the  community  were  either  suffering  amidst  or  slow- 


PASTORS  OF  MADISON  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


20 


7 


ly  emerging  from  the  disasters  of  the  war.  Of  these  pas- 
tors one  was  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Bradford,  a  man  of  fine 
literary  attainments  and  uncommon  abiHty.  In  addition 
to  his  pastoral  charge  he  conducted  a  classical  school, 
which  gained  quite  a  reputation  in  its  day,  the  school 
building  standing  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  rail- 
road depot.  Mr.  Bradford  was  brother-in-law  to  Dr. 
Ashbel  Green,  president  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 
and  several  of  his  sons  were  men  of  distinguished  ability 
and  position. 

In  the  year  1785  a  committee  was  appointed  to  wait 
upon  Rev.  Alexander  Miller  (a  native  of  Scotland  and 
graduate  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  who  succeeded 
Mr.  Bradford  after  an  interval  of  about  a  year),  "to  see 
if  he  would  not  take  one  hundred  pounds  for  his  salary; 
if  not,  the  people  desire  he  may  be  dismissed,  for  they 
will  not  subscribe  toward  his  farther  support."  Mr.  Mil- 
ler's trials  and  the  people's  culminated  in  1786,  when  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  inform  him  that  "he  must  give 
up  his  present  obligation  and  begin  on  a  new  footing,  or 
the  people  will  carry  an  application  to  the  presbytery  for 
his  dismission." 

During  the  three  years  succeeding  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Miller  the  church  seems  to  have  sunk  to  its  lowest  con- 
dition. It  had  no  pastor,  and  depended  for  its  pulpit 
supplies  on  the  presbytery  of  New  York,  with  which  it 
was  at  that  time  connected.  It  is  evidence,  however,  of 
the  Christian  vigor  which  must  have  characterized  its 
leading  members  that  the  regular  ministrations  of  the 
Lord's  house  were  duly  maintained  through  all  those  dark 
days. 

It  was  at  this  time,  in  the  year  1789,  that  the  church 
in  the  good  providence  of  God  came  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Rev.  Asa  Hillyer.  And  by  a  providence  not 
less  kind  his  ministry  of  twelve  years  was  succeeded  by 
that  of  Matthew  La  Rue  Perrine,  lasting  nearly  ten  years; 
which  was  followed  by  the  sixteen  years  of  the  labors  of 
John  G.  Bergen.  These  were  all  men  of  eminent  piety, 
of  wisdom  and  ability,  and  consecrated  to  their  work. 
Their  pastorates,  covering  nearly  thirty-nine  years,  were 
blessed  with  powerful  revivals,  and  careful,  vigorous  ad- 
ministration, and  the  church  came  to  have  an  established 
character  and  position. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hillyer,  and  about  the 
year  1790,  the  Tuesday  evening  prayer  meeting  was  es- 
tablished; held  at  first  in  the  house  of  Deacon  Ephraim 
Sayre,  then  in  the  old  school-house,  and  afterward  in  the 
upper  room  of  the  academy,  where  it  continued  for  more 
than  forty  years,  when,  the  present  lecture  room  being 
built,  it  was  removed  thither.  The  Tuesday  evening 
prayer  meeting  is  thus  well  nigh  a  century  old. 

In  the  year  1817  the  first  Sunday-school  was  estab- 
lished here.  Elder  William  Thompson  had  been  perus- 
ing a  tract  on  the  subject  of  Sunday-schools;  he  read  it 
aloud  in  the  prayer  meeting,  greatly  interested  the  people 
and  immediately  the  school  was  begun.  Mr.  Thompson 
was  the  first  superintendent.  The  first  teachers  were 
Amelia  Bruen,  Lucinda  Bruen,  Lillys  Cook,  Priscilla 
Sayre  and  Nancy  Cook — no  men. 


In  1819,  by  "  a  formal  and  well  considered  vote  of  the 
parish,  the^rs^  sfove  vfa.s  introduced  into  the  sanctuary," 
a  committee  of  four  discreet  men  being  appointed  to  at- 
tend to  this  matter;  for  nearly  seventy  years  our  hardy 
ancestry  depended  on  the  heat  of  the  pulpit  for  all  the 
warmth  they  felt. 

The  most  memorable  events  of  these  years  of  which  we 
now  speak  were  the  great  religious  awakenings  which  oc- 
curred. One  of  the  most  remarkable  of  these  took  place 
during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Perrine,  in  1806.  "A  great 
concourse  of  people  assembled  in  and  around  the  church 
from  all  parts  of  the  surrounding  country."  Arrange- 
ments, therefore,  were  made  for  meetings  in  the  open  air, 
in  the  valley  in  the  rear  of  the  church.  A  large  farm 
wagon  formed  a  convenient  pulpit,  and  the  multitudes 
were  grouped  around  on  the  hill  slopes.  About  a  dozen 
ministers  were  present  as  preachers,  among  whom  were 
Drs.  Richards  of  Morristown,  Hillyer  of  Orange,  and 
McWhorter  and  Griffin  of  Newark.  Rev.  Jacob  Tuttle, 
father  of  Joseph  F.  and  Samuel  L.  Tuttle,  who  was  an 
eye  witness,  says:  "It  was  in  Madison  that  I  witnessed 
the  largest  religious  concourse  that  I  ever  witnessed  any- 
where. The  ground  north  of  the  old  church  was  admir- 
ably fitted  for  the  occasion.  It  was  a  hollow,  surrounded 
by  rising  ground  on  all  sides.  It  was  the  first  week  in 
July,  and  notice  was  given  of  the  meetings  for  several 
weeks  previously."  He  speaks  then  of  the  earnest  preach- 
ing and  the  listening  multitudes,  and  adds:  "I  look  back 
to  that  time  with  admiration  and  wonder  at  the  manifes- 
tations of  divine  power  which  were  seen  and  felt  at  that 
time  through  all  that  region.  Many  thousands  were 
turned  to  God,  a  large  number  of  whom  have  gone  home 
to  glory." 

The  sixteen  years  of  Mr.  Bergen's  ministry  were  also 
years  of  great  results.  At  the  close  of  the  first  year  a 
revival  commenced,  during  which  sixty-nine  persons 
made  public  confession  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  The  year 
1819  witnessed  another  work  of  grace.  During  1821-22 
(that  wonderful  season  of  divine  power  in  the  land) 
nearly  one  hundred  souls  were  added  to  this  church. 
This  last  revival  had  been  preceded  by  a  season  of 
declension  and  apathy,  which  induced  the  Presbytery  of 
Jersey  to  appoint  a  day  of  inquiry,  fasting  and  prayer, 
with  meetings  to  be  held  in  the  church  of  Madison. 
After  this  presbyterial  meeting  services  were  held  in 
different  parts  of  the  parish  for  about  four  months,  from 
November  to  March,  when  the  interest  developed  in  a 
sudden  way,  and  became  so  great  and  extensive  that 
from  five  to  seven  hundred  persons  assembled  night  after 
night,  and  this  continued  through  the  summer,  and  the 
meetings  were  kept  up  during  the  haying  and  harvest 
time.  About  ninety  united  with  this  church  as  the  fruits 
of  that  gracious  visitation. 

The  revival  of  1822  gave  the  impulse  that  led  to  the 
erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship,  although  the  subject 
of  enlarged  accommodations  had  been  before  the  people 
for  more  than  a  dozen  years.  The  long  conflict  between 
the  people  of  Chatham  and  Madison  about  the  site  of 
the  proposed  building  and  the  compromise  which  placed 


2o8- 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


it  where  it  stands  have  become  traditional.  The  truth 
seems  to  be  that  each  village  needed  a  church;  and  if 
this  fact  had  been  recognized  each  would  now  have 
its  church  edifice  at  the  true  center  of  its  population. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  new  building,  with  Mr.  Ber- 
gen's name  upon  it,  was  laid  May  i8th  1824,  and  the 
church  was  dedicated  on  the  i8th  of  May  1825.  Of  the 
demolition  of  the  old  historic  church  on  the  hills  Mr. 
Tuttle  gives  a  vivid  and  touching  account  in  his  unpub- 
lished manuscript,  and  his  church  history  contains  an 
account  of  the  completion  and  dedication  of  the  present 
one. 

The  church  attained  to  a  high  prosperity  under  Mr. 
Bergen.  He  was  quite  a  remarkable  man.  His  earliest 
known  ancestor  was  a  Norwegian  who  came  over  in  one 
of  Hendrick  Hudson's  ships  in  162 1.  This  ancesfor  mar- 
ried the  first  white  woman  born  on  Manhattan  Island, 
and  she  was  a  child  of  Huguenot  parents  who  fled  from 
France  on  account  of  religious  persecution  there.  Mr. 
Bergen's  own  mother  was  a  Scottish  Covenanter,  who 
came  to  this  country  fleeing,  with  others,  from  such 
swords  as  that  of  Claverhouse.  His  early  religious  life 
was  quite  remarkable;  so  was  his  work  here,  and  so  also 
his  long  subsequent  life.  A  few  years  after  the  opening 
of  the  new  church  some  internal  troubles  arose,  and,  to 
the  great  grief  of  nearly  all  his  people,  Mr.  Bergen  re- 
signed his  pastorate.  The  opening  attractions  of  the 
"great  west  "  also  drew  him  toward  new  and  illimitable 
fields,  and  "  he  took  up  his  westward  line  of  march  on 
the  22nd  of  September  1828,  in  presence  of  a  multitude 
of  his  people,  many  of  whom  accompanied  him  for  ten 
miles  on  his  way;  his  mother  and  her  husband  in  their 
own  dearborn,  he  and  his  wife  and  one  child  in  a  new 
gig,  and  his  other  children  in  a  traveling  carriage.  They 
were  forty  days  in  actual  travel  on  their  westward  way. 
Springfield,  Sangamon  county,  111.,  was  then  a  little  place 
of  two  hundred  people,  with  about  forty  houses,  mainly 
log  houses."  He  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  in  Springfield,  the  church  being  a 
child  of  his  own.  In  that  region  he  lived  and  labored, 
much  of  the  time  in  pioneer  work,  until  he  came  to  be 
known  as  the  "  Old  Man  of  the  Prairie  ";  and  his  serene 
and  venerable  aspect  grew  familiar  in  every  hamlet  of  the 
surrounding  country.  He  died  suddenly,  January  loth 
1872,  having  completed  his  8ist  year.  His  last  words 
•were,  "  Great  grace  !"  and  "  Blessed  !"  Although  it 
was  then  furty-four  years  since  Dr.  Bergen  resigned  the 
pastorate  of  this  church,  he  had  yet  survived  all  who  suc- 
ceeded him,  except  the  present  pastor. 

In  the  year  1804,  Mr.  Tuttle  tells  us,  the  entire  village 
of  Madison,  still  called  Bottle  Hill,  consisted  of  not 
more  than  twenty  dwelling  houses,  all  of  which  were 
standing  on  the  old  road.  Some  of  these  have  passed 
away;  among  them  the  old  parsonage,  which  stood  where 
now  is  the  middle  of  Green  avenue,  in  front  of  the  spot 
where  now  stands  the  house  of  Mrs.  John  R.  Mulford. 

The  history  of  this  old  parsonage  is  not  without  inter- 
est. As  aarly  as  1763  the  people  in  their  poverty  voted 
to  purchase  a  "piece  of  parssonnage  land,  for  the  use  of 


ihe  minister  of  this  parrish."  The  land  was  purchased, 
probably  with  a  dwelling  of  some  kind  upon  it,  which 
"  was  put  into  a  state  of  repair  for  the  minister."  Mr. 
Horton  seems  to  have  occupied  it;  and  here  did  he  and 
his  successors  continue  to  reside  until  the  year  1810; 
when,  the  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Perrine,  having  built  a  house 
for  himself  on  the  beautiful  knoll  now  occupied  by  Ed- 
gar Beaupland,  the  old  parsonage  was  sold  for  $2,350. 
It  was  built  upon  a  generous  scale;  a  large  double  house, 
originally  shingled  on  all  sides,  with  the  front  eaves  high, 
while  the  back  ones  were  so  low  that  they  could  easily 
be  reached  from  the  ground.  A  large  kitchen  stood  on 
the  south  end  of  the  house,  and  it  had  the  immense  old 
fireplace  and  chimney  of  that  day,  with  the  heavy  beams 
in  the  ceiling  left  uncovered.  Fifty  acres  of  land,  with 
a  barn,  were  attached  to  it.  It  stood  with  its  end  to  the 
street;  the  front  yard  was  over  a  hundred  feet  in  depth, 
and  the  back  yard  was  also  large,  and  both  were  full  of 
trees.  Some  of  these  are  still  standing  in  the  grounds  of 
Mrs.  Mulford.  It  came  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  Reuben 
Bishop,  from  whom  in  1829  it  was  purchased  by  Dr. 
H.  P.  Green.  In  1867,  when  Green  avenue  was  about 
to  be  opened,  the  house  was  sold  by  the  daughters  of  Dr. 
Green.  It  was  divided  into  three  parts,  of  which  the 
main  part  is  now  the  large  white  house  in  the  lumber 
yard;  another  part  was  moved  across  the  street  and  has 
since  been  torn  down,  and  the  third  part  was  moved  to 
Green  Village.  It  was  so  well  built  that  in  moving  the 
larger  part  to  the  lumber  yard  the  plastering  on  the  walls 
did  not  crack. 

The  parish  was  without  a  parsonage  for  the  next  forty- 
four  years.  Other  houses  yet  remain — as  the  house  of 
E.  U.  Samson,  that  of  Mr.  Brunz  (late  that  of  Ichabod 
Bruen),  the  house  on  Academy  Hill  (the  residence  of  the 
late  Miss  Lillys  Cook),  the  houses  owned  and  occupied 
by  the  late  John  B.  Miller  and  his  son  David  L.  Miller, 
and  others  still,  carefully  designated  by  Mr.  Tuttle — as 
they  were  in  the  year  1855. 

The  old  Presbyterian  church,  of  .Madison  has,  on  the 
whole,  had  a  prosperous  life  since  the  period  when  it 
ceased  to  be  alone.  The  Rev.  Clifford  S.  Arms  became 
pastor  in  1832  and  remained  such  for  nearly  nineteen 
years,  closing  a  fruitful  ministry  in  185 1.  His  pastorate 
was  blessed  with  several  powerful  revivals  of  religion, 
the  most  remarkable  of  which  occurred  at  the  commence- 
ment of  his  labors  here. 

To  Mr.  Arms  succeeded  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Tuttle,  after 
an  interregnum  in  the  pastorate  of  nearly  three  years. 
To  Mr.  Tuttle  the  church  and  the  town  are  indebted 
more  than  to  any  other  man  living  or  dead,  for  those  la- 
bors which  have  rescued  from  oblivion  and  embalmed 
in  memory  so  much  of  the  history  of  this  whole  town- 
ship. He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  general  affairs  of 
the  village;  some  of  the  most  important  public  improve- 
ments being  due  to  his  suggestion  or  largely  indebted  to 
him  for  their  success.  Extensive  alterations  in  the 
church  were  made  during  his  pastorate,  the  ladies  bear- 
ing the  burden  of  the  expense.  The  extensive  improve- 
ments made  in  the  old  cemetery  were  first  suggested  by 


.1. 


<i^ 


ir^Tm 


<=«4:^ 


ROMAN  CATHOLIC  AND  METHODIST  CHURCHES,  MADISON. 


209 


Mr.  Tuttle.  His  purchase  of  property  on  the  hill,  where 
the  cottage  built  by  him  still  stands,  led  to  the  great 
changes  and  improvements  in  that  part  of  the  town.  In 
the  costly  and  important  changes  which  have  made  the 
depot  square  what  it  now  is  he  led  the  way,  giving  liber- 
ally himself  and  using  his  whole  personal  influence.  Mr. 
Tuttle  resigned  his  pastorate  in  1862  and  entered  at  once 
into  the  service  of  the  American  Bible  Society  as  assist- 
ant secretary.  He  died  April  i6th  1866.  In  the  old 
burial  ground  lie  the  remains  of  Azariah  Horton,  Clif- 
ford S.  Arms  and  Samuel  L.  Tuttle;  around  them  lie  the 
generations  to  whom  they  preached.  Rev.  Albert  Man- 
dell  became  pastor  October  1st  1862,  and  after  a  minis- 
try of  seven  useful  years,  during  most  of  which  he  was  a 
courageous  invalid,  doing  his  work,  he  resigned  his 
charge,  and  died  in  October  1871   in  his  43d  year. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Robert  Aikman,  was  installed 
June  2nd  1869,  and  he  is  now  in  the  thirteenth  year  of 
his  ministry  in  Madison.  He  is  the  only  one  living  of  all 
who  have  been  pastors  of  the  old  church.  The  member- 
ship of  the  church  is  about  300. 

The  church  which  is  next  in  the  order  of  age  is  St.  Vin- 
cent's Roman  Catholic  church  of  Madison,  for  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  which  we  are  indebted  to  the  courtesy 
of  Rev.  W.  M.  Wigger,  D.  D.,  for  many  years  its  incum- 
bent as  priest,  and  who  has  recently  been  appointed 
bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Newark. 

ST.  Vincent's  roman  catholic  church  of  madison. 

The  first  mass  said  in  Madison  was  celebrated  in  1810, 
in  the  old  Duberceau  house  (now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Kelly),  on  the  convent  road.  The  priest  was  Father 
Viennet,  then  stationed  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  Barclay 
street,  New  York.  Father  Viennet  remained  some  days 
in  Madison,  having  come  on  a  visit  to  Mr.  Bamon,  who 
at  that  time  was  the  owner  of  the  Duberceau  house. 

The  property  on  which  the  old  parochial  house  for- 
merly stood  was  bought  from  John  Miller  by  a  French 
gentleman,  Lachapelle,  and  afterward  sold  by  him  to  six 
persons,  who  bought  it  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  resi- 
dence for  a  priest,  and  a  chapel.  For  some  years  the 
parlor  and  sitting-room  of  the  old  parsonage  formed  the 
chapel,  the  clergyman  occupying  the  upper  part  of  the 
house.  The  clergymen  who  officiated  previous  to  the 
erection  of  the  church  were  Messrs.  Erard,  Donohue, 
Ryder  and  J.  B.  Chabert.  When  there  was  talk  of 
building  a  church,  four  of  the  original  purchasers  trans- 
ferred their  rights  to  Messrs.  Amedie  Boisaubin  and  V. 
S.  K.  Beaupland,  as  trustees.  The  two  latter  made  an 
agreement  with  each  other  to  build  the  church,  sharing 
equally  the  expenses  over  and  above  the  amounts  col- 
lected otherwise.  Before  the  church  was  built  the  lot 
adjoining  the  parsonage,  and  on  which  the  church  now 
stends,  was  purchased. 

The  present  St.  Vincent's  church  was  commenced  in 
1838,  and  was  dedicated  in  1839,  by  Bishop  Dubois,  of 
New  York,  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Vincent,  Martyr. 
It  cost  $4,050.  The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was 
Father  Richard  Newell,  who  remained   till  the  close  of 


the  year  1842.  In  the  beginning  of  1843  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Monahan  was  appointed  to  succeed  Father  Newell,  and 
he  remained  till  the  middle  of  April  1844.  During  the 
latter  part  of  August  1844  the  Rev.  P.  Kenny  was  sent  to 
Madison  by  Bishop  Hughes.  In  the  beginning  of  the 
following  year,  however.  Father  Kenny  was  obliged  to  go 
south  on  account  of  his  health,  and  he  died  in  Charleston 
in  March  1845.  He  was  succeeded  by  Father  Senez  (the 
present  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  church,  Jersey  City),  who  re- 
mained till  April  1848.  The  Rev.  B.  J.  McQuaid  (the 
present  bishop  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.),  who  in  January  1848 
had  come  to  Madison  as  assistant  to  Father  Senez,  was 
then  appointed  pastor. 

He  continued  in  charge  of  the  parish  till  October  1853, 
when  good  Father  Madden,  well  remembered  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Madison  for  his  genial  and  kindly  disposi- 
tion, came  to  Madison.  He  was  pastor  of  St.  Vincent's 
for  almost  15  years,  He  died  of  apoplexy,  May  17th  1868, 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  A.  D'Arcy.  After  the 
death  of  the  latter,  April  24th  1869,  the  present  incum- 
bent, the  Rev.  W.  M.  Wigger,  was  appointed,  and  he  re- 
mained in  Madison  till  May  29th  1873,  when  he  took 
charge  of  St.  John's  Church,  Orange,  and  subsequently 
of  St.  Theresa's,  Summit.  In  the  interim  St.  Vincent's 
parish  was  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  P.  E.  Smyth,  the  pres- 
ent pastor  of  St.  Bridget's  church,  Jersey  City.  A  few 
months  after  the  return  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wigger  to  Mad- 
ison (January  loth  1876)  an  addition  of  25  feet  was 
built  to  St.  Vincent's  church,  at  a  cost  of  over  $2,000.  In 
1878  the  old  parsonage  was  sold  to  Brittin  Brothers;,  and 
the  present  parochial  house  was  built  at  a  cost  of  almost 

$5.ooo- 

The  number  of  parishioners  is  about  700. 

A  school  in  the  basement  of  St.  Vincent's  church  was 
commenced  in  1846,  during  the  ministration  of  Father 
Senez.  The  first  teacher  was  a  certain  Mr.  Howell.  The 
number  of  pupils  at  that  time  was  about  thirty.  In  1866 
Father  Madden  purchased  of  William  H.  Gibbons  a 
tract  of  land  on  the  convent  road  for  $1,000,  and  soon 
after  had  the  present  beautiful  brick  school-house  built 
thereon,  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  The  number  of  pupils  at 
present  is  135.  The  teachers  are  Mr.  E.  F.  McCarthy 
and  Miss  S.  Doyle. 

METHODISM    IN    MADISON. 

In  the  year  1844  the  foundations  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Madison  were  laid.  The  congrega- 
tion at  that  time  belonged  to  the  same  circuit  as  those  of 
Whippany,  Chatham  and  Green  Village,  and  the  ministers 
in  charge  were  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Lewis  R.  Dunn  and 
Israel  S.  Corbit.  For  several  years  before  this  occasional 
religious  services  had  been  held  in  the  upper  room  of  the 
school-house  in  East  Madison,  or  Genungtown,  as  it  was 
then  called.  The  first  regular  Methodist  service,  how- 
ever, was  held  in  a  long,  two-storied  building  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Railroad  avenue  and  Prospect  street,  opposite  to 
the  dwelling  of  Henry  Keep.  It  is  still  there,  although 
now  divided  into  several  houses.  It  was  then  used  by 
Mr.  Keep  as  a  manufactory  of  straw  hats  and   umbrellas, 


HISTORY  OF   MORRIS   COUNTY. 


the  lower  story  being  a  long  room  where  the  work  went 
on  and  where  twenty  or  more  girls  were  employed,  and 
the  upper  story  being  divided  into  sleeping  rooms  for 
the  employes.  Mr.  Keep  was  an  Englishman,  who  had 
made  his  home  here;  a  man  of  enterprise,  indomitable 
etiergy  and  a  large-hearted  piety.  He  was  an  influential 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  but  freely  opened 
the  large  room  for  the  services  of  the  Methodist 
church.  Every  Saturday  evening  the  room  was  cleared 
and  put  in  order  for  Sunday  service,  and  here  the 
gospel  was  preached  under  Methodist  ausi)ices  for  years. 

Among  many  others  who  preached  in  this  room,  as 
also  in  the  East  Madison  Academy,  was  a  well  remem- 
bered and  unique  man  of  Chatham  township,  John 
Hancock  by  name;  a  man  whose  character  may  be 
summed  up  in  the  words  which  describe  Barnabas — "a 
good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith."  He 
was  born  in  Springfield  in  1776;  left  fatherless  when  eight 
months  old,  he  was  carried  in  his  mother's  arms  when  she 
left  the  blackened  ruins  of  the  village,  burned  by  the 
British,  and  was  brought  here  by  her.  His  advantages 
were  few,  but  his  diligence  was  great.  The  first  book  he 
ever  owned  was  "  A  new  Geographical,  Historical  and 
Commercial  Grammar,  and  Present  State  of  the  Several 
Kingdoms  of  the  World.''  This  he  bought  for  $6,  all  ob- 
tained by  selling  hazel  nuts  gathered  in  the  evening  when 
his  work  was  done;  he  was  then  an  apprentice  in  Colum- 
bia.    This  book  he  mastered. 

He  early  began  to  write,  and  all  through  his  long  life 
.his  thoughts  flowed  into  rhyme  as  easily  as  into  prose, 
his  works  having  some  of  the  rude  quaintness  of  Bun- 
yan's.  His  early  religious  exercises  were  genuine  and 
deep.  He  joined  the  M.  E.  church  in  1801.  In  the 
class  meeting  he  learned  to  speak,  and  he  soon  went 
forth  into  school-houses,  private  dwellings  and  wherever 
a  door  was  open,  publishing  the  glad  tidings.  In  1803 
he  was  licensed  as  a  local  preacher,  in  1814  ordained  as 
deacon  and  in  1833  ordained  as  elder  by  Bishop  Hed- 
ding.  His  own  house,  as  soon  as  it  was  completed  in 
i8o3,was  opened  for  a  regular  preaching  place,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  such  until  1832.  For  the  rest  of  his  life, 
while  still  supporting  his  family  by  his  business  and  farm, 
he  preached  in  the  circuit  formed  by  Flanders,  Paterson, 
Newark,  Rahway  and  New  Providence;  in  heat  and  cold, 
in  sunshine  and  storm,  his  expenses  generally  more  than 
his  receipts,  but  the  traveler  ever  fulfilling  the  injunction 
"as  yt  go,  preach."  He  had  a  great  fund  of  humor, 
which,  however,  he  kept  within  bounds.  He  died  in 
great  peace,  in  full  possession  of  his  faculties,  in  his  78th 
year,  leaving  blessed  memories  behind  him  in  all  these 
neighborhoods.  Close  by  his  dwelling  Mr.  Hancock  had 
set  apart  a  portion  of  land  for  a  family  cemetery,  which 
in  his  will  he  made  a  "public  burial  place."  Near  the 
entrance,  and  in  full  view  of  all  who  pass  by,  may  still  be 
seen  a  square  board  tablet,  sustained  by  two  tall  posts, 
on  which  were  painted  in  large  yellow  letters,  now  partly 
obliterated,  some  homely  but  practical  lines,  written  by 
himself  and  commencing  thus: 

"  Ye  travelers  through  this  vale  of  strife. 
To  endless  death  or  endless  life, 
Here  you  may  learn  midst  joys  or  tears 
The  end  of  -worldly  hopes  or  fears." 

The  influence  of  John  Hancock  was  very  great  in  the 
early  life  of  Methodism  in  this  township. 

The  first  church  building  was  a  wooden  structure  50 


feet  by  ^d,  which  stood  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  depot 
square,  and  which  was  dedicated  February  20th  1845. 
Here  public  worship  was  maintained  for  the  next  twenty- 
six  years,  when  the  lot  and  building  were  sold  for  $7,600. 
The  building  now  forms  the  upper  stories  of  the  store  of 
Day,  Searing  &  Co.,  who  purchased  the  church  edifice 
and  made  the  changes  now  to  be  seen. 

In  the  year  1870  a  lot  adjacent  to  the  seminary  grounds 
was  presented  to  the  church  by  Daniel  Drew,  upon  which 
was  erected  the  present  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
The  building  is  of  brick,  in  Romanesque  style,  with 
towers  and  stained  windows;  the  spire  not  yet  finished. 
The  dedication  took  place  May  20th  1871.  The  dimen- 
sions are  80  by  52  feet,  with  a  front  of  60  feet,  and  the 
estimated  cost  is  about  thirty  thousand  dollars.  The 
church  here  is  the  natural  place  of  Subbath  worship  for 
the  faculty  and  students  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary, 
which  adds  to  the  importance  and  responsibility  of  the 
charge.  The  people  own  a  parsonage,  which  was  built 
in  1853  and  enlarged  in  1879,  a  commodious  and  com- 
fortable house.    The  present  incumbent  is  Rev.  W.  J.  Gill. 

GRACE     CHURCH. 

The  parish  of  Grace  church,  Madison,  was  organized 
in  September  1854,  in  conformity  with  the  constitution 
and  canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and  of 
the  diocese.  The  Rev.  John  A.  Jerome  received  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  take  charge  of  the  parish  for  one  year 
from  the  first  of  October  1854.  The  first  religious  ser- 
vices in  the  parish,  as  so  organized,  were  held  in  the 
building  known  as  "  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,"  on  Sunday  the 
8th  of  October,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jerome  officiating. 

Measures  were  soon  after  taken  for  the  purchase  of 
land  and  the  erection  of  a  church  building  upon  it;  and 
through  the  liberality  and  exertions  of  Judge  F.  S.  La- 
throp,  the  late  Alfred  M.  Tredwell  and  other  gentlemen 
of  the  parish,  the  present  building  was  erected,  and  it 
was  ready  for  divine  service  on  Sunday,  April  13th  1856. 

In  December  1855  the  Rev.  Samuel  Randall  received 
a  call  to  the  rectorship,  which  was  accepted  by  him  in 
February  1856,  and  on  the  third  Sunday  after  Easter — 
the  13th  of  April — he  entered  on  its  duties,  the  first  ser- 
vice being  held  in  the  church  on  that  day.  Mr.  Randall 
served  as  rector  of  the  church  until  his  death,  on  Easter 
Sunday,  April  20th  1862; 

He  was  succeeded  in  February  1863  by  the  Rev. 
Walter  Windeyer,  who  remained  rector  until  the  first  of 
January  1867,  when  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D. 
D.,  was  called  to  the  rectorship;  he  retained  the  position 
until  his  resignation,  on  the  first  of  October  1871. 

In  November  187 1  the  Rev.  Abbot  Brown  received 
and  accepted  a  call  to  the  parish,  and  he  resigned  in 
November  1872. 

In  April  1873  the  Rev.  D.  C.  Weston,  D.  D.,  was  called 
to  the  rectorship,  and  he  entered  upon  his  duties  on  the 
first  Sunday  in  June  of  that  year.  The  rectory  was  be- 
gun in  the  fall  and  completed  in  1874.  Dr.  Weston  re- 
mained rector  until  the  ist  of  December  1878,  when  he 
resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  '  He  was  succeeded  in 
April  1879  by  the  Rev.  R.  C.  Rogers,  the  present  rector.. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year  the  walls  of  the  new  chapel 
were  laid,  and  the  building  was  completed  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  A  large  portion  of  the  funds  for  the  new 
building  had  been  already  provided  during  the  rector- 
ship of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Weston. 


,,,.<:^^^^^>e^^  ^^ ,  ^ 


CHESTER   TOWNSHIP. 


By  Eev.  James  F.  Bkewsteb. 


HESTER  forms  one  of  the  southern  tier  of 
the  townships  of  Morris  county.  It  is 
bounded  north  by  Roxbury  and  Randolph, 
east  by  Mendham,  west  by  Washington  and 
south  by  Somerset  county.  It  was  formed 
from  Roxbury  in  1799.  The  village  of  Chester, 
formerly  called  Black  River,  is  twelve  miles 
west  of  Morristown.  It  contains  three  churches — one 
Presbyterian,  one  Congregational  and  one  Methodist; 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  houses  and  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  shops  and  stores,  and  had  a  population  in  1880  of 
705.  The  area  of  the  township  was  returned  by  the 
assessors  in  1881  as  17,487  acres.  The  land  is  rolling, 
rising  in  some  points  nearly  to  a  thousand  feet,  and  the 
soil  is  under  good  cultivation.  It  is  watered  by  Black 
River,  a  tributary  of  the  north  branch  of  the  Raritan.  It 
was  almost  entirely  an  agricultural  community  until 
within  the  last  fourteen  years,  during  which  extensive 
and  valuable  deposits  of  magnetic  iron  ore  have  been 
discovered  and  developed,  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  most 
important  mining  districts  of  New  Jersey.  It  is  the  ter- 
minus of  two  railroads — a  branch  of  the  Delaware,  Lack- 
awanna and  Western,  extending  from  Dover,  twelve 
miles,  and  a  branch  of  the  Central  Railroad  of  New 
Jersey,  extending  from  High  Bridge,  seventeen  miles. 
The  Continental  Railroad,  from  New  York  to  Omaha,  is 
surveyed  to  pass  less  than  a  mile  south  of  the  village  of 
Chester. 

The  village  was  laid  out  into  lots  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  last  century,  by  General  Horn,  who  purchased  the 
land  of  Zephaniah  Drake. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1830  was  1,321.  By 
the  census  of  1850  it  numbered  only  1,334;  in  i860  it 
was  1,585;  18.70,1,743;  1880,2,337.  By  the  last  assess- 
ment the  real  estate  was  valued  at  $954,595-  and  the 
personal    property    at    $456,880  —  making    a    total    of 

$1,411,475- 

Settlement. 

In  1713  and  1714,  while  Anne  was  yet  queen  of  Eng- 
land, this  tract  was  surveyed  and  run  into  plots,  and  was 
settled  by  emigrants  from  Easthampton  and  Southnid, 
Long  Island.    Among  the  earliest  names  we  find  Seward, 


Cooper,  Ilorton,  Luse,  Terry,  Skellenger,  Sweazy, 
Howell,  Brown  etc.  The  tract  still  belonging  to  the 
Cooper  family  was  purchased  in  17:3  from  Mr.  Daven- 
port, who  had  taken  up  the  land  from  the  province.  At 
the  same  time  came  to  Chester  the  ancestors  of  Hon. 
William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State  under  President 
Lincoln.  The  Fairclo  family,  who  figured  in  the  earlier 
days,  came  from  Scotland,  and  in  one  respect  were  well 
fitted  for  pioneers,  as  one  Deacon  Fairclo  is  said  to  have 
been  the  father  of  twenty-one  children. 

General  Nathan  A.  Cooper. 

The  Cooper  family  of  which  Nathan  A.  was  a  mem- 
ber descended  from  Sir  Astley  Cooper,  the  celebrated 
surgeon,  of  England.  Some  of  the  family  in  1700  set- 
tled on  Long  Island,  whence  Nathan  Cooper  came  to 
Roxiticus,  which  comprised  what  are  now  the  towns  of 
Mendham,  Chester,  Washington,  Mount  Olive  and  Rox- 
bury. He  purchased  1,600  acres  of  land,  made  a  clear- 
ing, and  erected  a  small  framed  house,  in  which  the  fara 
ily  resided  some  years.  His  son,  Nathan  Cooper,  was 
born  p-ebruary  22nd  1725,  and  was  married  in  1748  to 
Me'iit-ible  Seward,  great  aunt  to  ex-Secretary  of  State  Wil- 
liam H.  Seward.  They  had  six  children.  Nathan  built 
a  house  near  where  the  present  Cooper  mansion  stands. 
It  was  recently  demolished,  but  the  stone  steps  remain 
to  mark  the  site.  He  died  December  30th  1797.  His 
wife  died  April  15th  1812. 

Their  son,  Abraham  Cooper,  was  born  February  i8th 
1762.  He  was  married  in  1799  to  Anna  ^Vills.  Their 
children  were  Beulah  Ann  and  Nathan  A.  Abraham 
died  September  13th  1818,  and  his  wife  April  24lh  1856. 

Nathan  A.  Cooper,  the  subject  of  this  article,  was  born 
April  2Qth  1802.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
1843,  was  Mary  Henrietta,  youngest  daughter  of  Dr. 
John  W.  Leddel  of  Ralstontown.  Their  children  were 
Anna  E.,  Abram  W.,  Beulah  S.,  Mary  L.,  Tillie  R.,  Laura 
H.,  and  Nathan  A.;  all  of  whom,  as  well  as  their  mother, 
are  living.  General  Cooper  died  of  cardiac  rheumatism 
July  25th   1879. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  inherited  the  large  Cooper 
estate,  comprising  nearly  all  of  the  tract  originally  pur- 
chased by  his  ancestor.     This  is  now  owned  by  the  fifth 


212 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


generation  from  the  original  purchaser.  It  includes  ex- 
tensive farming  lands,  an  iron  mine,  operated  by  Marsh, 
Craig  &  Evans,  much  undeveloped  mineral  property, 
and  a  grist-mill. 

About  nineteen  years  ago  the  house  in  which  General 
Cooper  was  born  was  demolished,  and  the  present  ele- 
gant and  substantial  man<;ion  erected.  The  brick,  sand, 
lime  and  timber  used  in  building  this  house  were  all  pro- 
duced or  manufactured  on  the  Cooper  estate. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  always  an  active  and  prominent  man 
in  the  public  affairs  of  Morris  county.  He  was  thorough- 
ly conversant  with  the  political  history  of  the  country, 
and  politics  was  with  him  a  favorite  theme  of  discussion, 
though  from  choice  he  never  held  any  prominent  politi- 
cal office.  He  was  always  a  consistent  and  unwavering 
Democrat. 

He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  ability,  a  natural  ora- 
tor, of  imposing  appearance,  and  endowed  with  a  voice 
and  manner  at  once  commanding  and  impressive.  His 
conversational  powers  were  great.  His  memory  was 
wonderful.  He  forgot  nothing,  and  with  great  accuracy 
he  could  recall  the  dates  and  circumstances  of  events 
that  transpired  more  than  half  a  century  before. 

In  1854  he  was  commissioned  a  brigadier  general  of 
cavalry,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  oldest  gen- 
eral officer  in  the  State.  He  was  a  lover  of  horses  and  an 
expert  horseman.  He  had  great  fondness  for  field 
sports,  and  was  unexcelled  as  a  marksman.  He  was  a 
man  of  strict  and  unbending  integrity,  a  good  citizen,  and 
a  kind  husband  and  father. 

Travel. 

Very  early  Black  River  began  to  occupy  an  import- 
ant position  in  the  line  of  travel  between  New  York  and 
Easton,  Pa.  When  the  first  settlers  came  among  these 
hills  no  turnpike  was  yet  in  existence,  and  the  travel  was 
by  bridle  paths  which  had  been  worn  in  the  wilderness. 
As  late  as  1768  Rev.  William  WoodhuU  made  his  way 
into  the  parish,  of  which  he  became  pastor,  on  horse- 
back, with  his  wife  and  child  riding  on  the  same  horse 
behind  him.  The  first  spring  wagon  was  introduced  by 
James  Topping,  who  died  here  in  1874,  in  the  g4th  year 
of  his  age.  With  the  begin-ning  of  the  century  an  im- 
pulse was  given  to  the  work  of  facilitating  travel.  No  less 
than  54  turnpikes  were  chartered  by  the  State  between 
1800  and  1830,  among  them  the  Washington  turnpike,  from 
Morristown  to  Easton,  in  1806,  runnmg  through  Chester 
from  east  to  west.  In  Alden's  Register  for  1812  we  find 
that  Jared  Haines,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Chester,  was 
then  one  of  its  eight  directors.  The  proprietor  of  the 
first  line  of  stages  on  this  road  was  Zephaniah  Drake,  of 
Chester,  who  built  the  first  brick  building  in  the  town  in 
i8i2  and  kept  it  as  a  public  house.  This  is  still  the 
Chester  Hotel.  (;oaches  gorgeous  with  scarlet  and  gilt, 
and  drawn  by  lour  horses,  made  the  journey  from  Easton 
to  Paulus  Hook  and  back  again  once  a  week.  Subse- 
quently the  stages  ran  daily,  and  Chester  was  a  favorite 
station  for  refreshment  and  change  of  horses. 


The  Congregational  Church. 

The  first  settlers  of  Chester  were  men  of  strong  relig- 
ious character.  From  the  beginning  there  were  two  dis- 
tinpt  methods  of  church  order.  The  emigrants  from 
Southold  were  Congregational.  The  emigrants  from 
Easthampton  were  Presbyterian.  Both  classes  being 
men  of  decided  convictions,  churches  of  each  denomina- 
tion were  very  soon  organized,  and  they  have  continued 
side  by  side  to  the  present  day. 

The  annals  of  the  Congregational  church  tell  us  that 
as  early  as  1747  a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  with 
pews  and  galleries  capable  of  accommodating  an  audience 
of  400.  In  1803  this  building  was  demolished,  but  a  part 
of  its  timbers  still  exist  in  the  framework  of  a  barn  on 
the  premises  of  William  H.  Seward.  About  the  time  of 
the  building  of  the  first  church  the  excitement  which 
caused  the  separation  in  the  Congregational  churches  of 
Connecticut  and  Long  Island  reached  this  settlement, 
and  a  majority  became  "  Separates  "  or  "  Strict  Congre- 
gationalists,"  as  they  were  then  called.  These  Separates, 
it  is  said,  retained  the  doctrines  and  form  of  government 
of  the  regular  Congregational  churches,  protesting  against 
what  they  regarded  as  the  oppressive  and  wordly  influ- 
ence of  the  union  between  C!liurch  and  State,  especially 
in  Connecticut.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Samuel 
Sweazy,  who  ministered  to  the  church  about  twenty  years, 
until  1773,  when  he  removed  to  Mississippi,  near  Natchez. 

The  years  1777  and  1778  brought  stirring  times  to  New 
Jersey.  Chester  or  Black  River  was  off  the  line  of  con- 
flict, but  both  the  Congregational  and  Presbyterian 
churches  were  used  as  hospitals  for  disabled  soldiers. 
Regular  worship  was  suspended,  and  the  moral  and  relig- 
ious habits  of  the  people  suffered  greatly.  About  1779 
a  union  of  the  two  churches  was  attempted  under  Rev. 
David  Baldwin.  A  •covenant  was  mutually  subscribed  (of 
which  an  original  copy  is  still  preserved  in  the. archives 
of  the  Presbyterian  church)  entitled  "A  covenant  entered 
into  by  the  members  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Congrega- 
tional churches  in  the  town  of  Roxbury,  now  denomi- 
nated only  by  the  name  of  '  the  Church  of  Christ,'  "  and 
services  were  held  alternately  in  the  two  churches;  but 
the  attempted  union  failed. 

This  church  was  then  reorganized,  and  in  June  1785 
Rev.  James  Youngs  was  ordained  and  installed.  He  died 
in  November  1790,  aged  32.  The  church  records  have 
this  entry  concerning  him:  "All  accounts  go  to  prove 
him  a  most  amiable  man  and  a  sincere  and  devoted  Chris- 
tian." From  1790  till  1801  the  church  was  without  a 
regular  pastor. 

On  June  i6th  i8oi  Stephen  Overton  was  ordained  and 
installed,  and  in  1803  the  original  house  of  worship  was 
replaced  by  another  of  more  modern  appearance.  Mr. 
Overton's  pastorate  continued  until  March  1828,  and  he 
died  in  the  following  September.  The  church  records 
speak  of  him  as  possessed  of  strong  intellectual  powers 
and  endowed  vvith  a  vigorous  constitution.  He  traveled 
much,  preaching  sometimes  more  than  once  a  day  for 
weeks  in  succession. 


toc->^y     M    d'O-y/o 


ey/^' 


Ji^na-'  o:j Er.n.ili  &.  3ij':j:.10  Enrclrj  Scl'.i 


^}^ 


CHURCHES  OF  CHESTER  TOW^JSHIP. 


213 


From  its  formation  until  i8ro  the  church  and  pastor 
were  enrolled  as  members  of  "  The  Separate  Congrega- 
tional Convention  of  Connecticut  and  Long  Island."  In 
1810,  with  other  churches,  it  formed  a  new  and  similar 
convention,  which  in  1828  was  dissolved. 

In  the  autumn  of  1828  Rev.  Abner  Morse  became  act- 
ing pastor  of  the  church.  He  was  dismissed  at  his  own 
request  in  the  spring  of  1833.  From  August  1833  to  1835 
Rev.  Charles  Jones  officiated  as  acting  pastor.  In  grant- 
ing him  hifj  dismission  the  church  paid  him  a  high  com- 
pliment as  an  able  and  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel. 
Rev.  John  Fishpool,  a  native  of  Essex  in  England,  was 
stated  supply  of  the  church  Irom  October  1835  to  Octo- 
ber 1836.  From  1836  to  1840  the  church  was  supplied 
by  different  members  of  the  New  York  State  Congrega- 
tional Association,  with  which  it  had  now  become  con  ■ 
nected.  For  some  eight  months  in  1839  Rev.  Lewis  Ter- 
rill,  from  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  acted  as  stated  supply.  On 
December  15th  1841  Luke  I.  Stoutenburgh,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  a  licentiate  of  the  New  York  association, 
was  ordained  and  installed,  and  his  pastorate  continued 
until  December  1867.  In  1854  the  present  house  of  wor- 
ship was  erected.  In  December  1867  Rev.  Dr.  James  S. 
Evans,  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  was  called,  and 
he  was  pastor  of  the  church  from  June  1868  to  April 
1871.  From  September  1872  to  May  1875  Rev.  B.  F. 
Bradford  acted  as  stated  supply.  In  June  1875  the  con- 
gregation extended  a  call  to  Rev.  Frank  A.  Johnson,  a 
native  of  Boston  and  a  graduate  of  Hamilton  College 
and  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  of  New  York  city. 
He  was  installed  December  ijth  1875,  and  is  still  the  ac- 
ceptable and  beloved  pastor.  During  this  pastorate  a 
commodious  chapel  has  been  built,  the  church  has  been 
thoroughly  renovated  and  the  congregation  is  united  and 
prosperous. 

The  Presbyterian  Church. 

As  already  stated,  a  portion  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Black  River  were  Presbyterians  from  Easthampton,  Long 
Island.  Previous  to  1740  a  Presbyterian  house  of  wor- 
ship had  been  erected  between  Black  River  and  Mend- 
ham,  one  and  one  half  miles  west  of  Mendham.  In  1745 
the  church  building  was  erected  in  Mendham  village, 
and  the  Presbyterians  of  Black  River  soon  after  were  or- 
ganized into  a  church,  under  the  name  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Congregation  of  Roxbury,  and  erected  an  edifice 
about  a  mile  north  of  the  present  village  of  Chester.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  Samuel  Harker,  or  Harcour,  proba- 
bly of  Huguenot  descent.  He  graduated  at  Princeton 
College,  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  and  according  to  the  records  of  that  presby- 
tery was  ordained  and  installed  at  Roxbury,  on  Black 
River,  October  31st  1752.  He  was  therefore  probably 
the  first  pastor  installed  in  the  town.  He  is  mentioned 
in  Foote's  Sketches  of  North  Carolina,  where  some  of  his 
family  resided,  as  remarkable  for  size,  vigor  and  strength. 
Some  of  his  descendants  have  occupied  most  honorable 
positions.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Judge  Symraes, 
of  Marietta,  Ohio,  ^nd  was  mother-in-law  of  ex- President 


Harrison.  The  son  of  another  daughter  who  married  . 
Dr.  Caldwell,  of  Lamington,  N.  J.,  was  Rev.  Dr.  Cald- 
well, at  one  time  a  teacher  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 
and  for  more  than  thirty  years  president  (the  first)  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina.  In  an  autobiography  of 
Dr.  Caldwell,  published  at  Chapel  Hill  by  the  editors  of 
the  university  magazine,  reference  is  made  to  his  grand- 
father's settlement  at  Black  River  and  the  high  estima- 
tion in  which '  he  was  held  by  the  community.  Mr. 
Harker,  however,  unfortunately  entertained  some  doctri- 
nal errors,  which  caused  his  separation  from  the  church 
eleven  years  after  his  ordination.  The  presbytery  was 
about  to  proceed  against  him  in  1757  when  it  was  found 
that  he  had  left  his  charge  and  had  gone  for  a  time  as 
chaplain  in  the  army.  In  Hodge's  history  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  may  be  found  full  details  of  his  case 
and  his  final  deposition  from  the  ministry  by 
the  synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  in 
1763.  His  case  is  regarded  as  particularly  inter- 
esting as  an  illustration  of  the  early  practical  administra- 
tion of  Presbyterian  government.  Mr.  Harker  perished 
at  sea  by  the  foundering  of  a  ship,  with  his  son,  who  was 
on  his  way  to  England  to  receive  Episcopal  ordination. 
For  five  years  after  the  removal  of  Mr.  Harker  the  church 
was  under  the  care  of  presbytery,  but  without  a  regular 
pastor  until  the  fall  of  1768,  when  it  settled  Rev.  William 
Woodhull,  of  Brookhaven,  Long  Island.  He  graduated 
at  Princeton  College  in  the  class  of  1764,  and  studied 
theology  with  the  celebrated  Samuel  Buell,  of  Easthamp- 
ton, Long  Island.  With  his  brother  (afterward  Rev. 
John  Woodhull  of  Freehold),  he  attended  the  school  of 
Rev.  Caleb  Smith,  at  Newark  Mountains,  Orange,  N.  J. 
The  following  items  from  a  bill  still  preserved  in  the 
family  illustrate  the  school  bills  which  met  the  eyes  of 
the  fathers  in  the  last  century: 

"1757,  October  26th,  to  Billey's  wood  and  candles, 
i6s.;  to  ane  Newark  grammar,  2s.  6d.;  to  Clark's  Intro- 
duction for  making  Latin,  3s.;  to  an  old  hat  of  mine, 
5s.  2d.;  to  dressing  the  hat  by  Nehemiah  Baldwin,  2s.; 
paid  the  steward  for  Billey's  board,  ^£5  8g.  3d.;  to  a  taylor 

for  making  a  banyan,  5s.  3d.;  to yard  for  cloath  and 

trimming  for  banyan,  17s.  8d.;  to  one  Tully's  Orations 
for  Billey,  13s." 

A  few  years  after  his  settlement  Mr.  Woodhull  was 
obliged  to  give  up  his  pastorate  on  account  of  broncial 
trouble,  and  for  a  time  the  church  obtained  supplies 
from  presbytery.  He  afterward  opened  a  Latin  school, 
in  which  General  Mahlon  Dickerson,  secretary  of  the 
navy  under  General  Jackson,  was  a  scholar.  Mr.  Wood- 
hull  represented  Morris  county  as  Assemblyman  in  the 
first  Legislature  of  independent  New  Jersey,  which  met 
at  Princeton  in  August  1776.  He  was  elected  to  the 
same  position  in  1777-  In  the  Legislature  at  Perth  Am- 
boy  in  1789  and  in  that  at  Burlington  in  1790  he  again 
represented  Morris  county,  as  member  of  Council.  He 
was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  common  pleas  in  1808,  and 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  town  and  county  until  his 
death,  in  October  1824. 

During  the  stormy  period  of  the  American  Revolution 


214 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


the  church  was  again  without  a  settled  pastor.  Near  the 
end  of  the  war  was  made  the  unsuccessful  attempt  to 
unite  the  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  churches, 
already  referred  to.  Among  the  records  of  this  church 
is  a  paper  dated  May  24th  1786,  bearing  the  signatures 
of  sixty  male  members,  declaring  themselves  "  heads  of 
families  and  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Congre- 
gation of  the  Township  of  Roxbury,  and  supporters  of 
the  Gospel  in  said  Congregation." 

From  the  parish  records  of  1784  we  learn  that  a  call 
was  extended  to  Rev.  Nathan  Woodhull,  a  cousin  of  the 
former  pastor,  but  he  had  already  made  an  engagement 
at  Newtown,  Long  Island. 

In  1785  Rev.  Lemuel  Fordhani,  of  Long  Island,  was 
obtained  as  stated  supply,  and  in  1786  he  received  a 
unanimous  call.  As  with  Mr.  Woodhull,  his  time  was 
divided  between  Roxbury  and  Succasunna.  He  re- 
mained pastor  of  the  church  thirty  years.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1 8 15  by  Rev.  Jacob  Cassner,  a  native  of 
Liberty  Corner,  N.  J.,  and,  like  the  previous  ministers, 
a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  and  also  of  the  theo- 
logical seminary.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  first  Sun- 
day-school was  established  in  Chester  Academy,  by 
James  H.  Woodhull,  a  grandson  of  the  former  pastor. 
The  textbooks  were  the  Bible  and  the  Westminster 
Catechism.  Mr.  Cassner  gave  this  church  one-third  o( 
his  time,  preaching  at  Black  River,  German  Valley  and 
Fox  Hill.  He  was  succeeded  in  1818  by  Rev.  John 
Ernest  Miller,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  left  Chester  in  the 
spring  of  1823  for  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  of  Tomp- 
kinsville,  Staten  Island,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  same 
year  by  Rev.  Abraham  Williamson,  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  and  seminary. 
During  his  pastorate  of  thirty  years  important  changes 
occurred.  Two  colonies  swarmed  from  the  mother 
church.  In  1738  48  members  were  dismissed  to  organ- 
ize the  Presbyterian  church  of  Mt.  Olive,  and  in  1852  26 
were  dismissed  to  form  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Flanders. 

In  1851  the  congregation  abandoned  the  old  edifice  on 
the  hill  top  and  built  and  occupied  the  present  church 
in  the  village.  Mr.  Williamson  remained  in  chari;e  of 
the  church  until  1853,  in  the  autumn  of  which  year  Rev. 
George  M.  S.  Blauvelt  (son  of  Rev.  Dr.  William  Blauvelt, 
for  the  last  fifty-five  years  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Lamington,  N.  J.),  a  graduate  of  Princeton 
seminary,  began  a  pastorate  which  continued  until  Oc- 
tober 1856.  From  June  1857  Rev.  Josiah  Markle,  of  the 
college  and  seminary  at  New  Brunswick,  was  pastor  of 
the  church  for  nine  months,  until  April  1858.  In  the 
following  June  Mr.  James  F.  Brewster  (a  descendant  of 
Elder  William  Brewster,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Ply- 
mouth colony  of  1620),  a  graduate  of  Rutgers  College 
and  Princeton  Seminary,  became  the  stated  supply.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Passaic 
October  i2th  1858.  During  this  pastorate  the  parsonage 
has  been  built,  the  church  edifice  renovated,  and  a  hand- 
some chapel  erected — the  gift  of  James  E.  Hedges,  of 
Elizabeth,  N.  J. 


The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  the 
early  part  of  1881,  and  Rev.  E.  S.  Ferry,  of  Orange, 
N.  J.,  was  appointed  its  first  pastor.  For  five  or  six 
years  previous  services  were  held  with  more  or  less  reg- 
ularity in  the  village  academy,  by  the  pastors  of  the  Pea- 
pack  church.  During  the  winter  of  i88o-8i  the  M.  E. 
church  at  Bedminster  was  removed  and  erected  in  Ches- 
ter. This  house,  originally  a  Baptist  church,  was  bought 
by  Bishop  Janes  under  foreclosure,  and  donated  by  him 
to  the  Newark  Conference  in  1854.  It  was  given  by  the 
conference  to  the  Methodists  of  Chester  and  rededicated 
liere  in  July  1881. 

Education. 

The  work  of  education  has  kept  pace  with  that  of  re- 
ligion. The  earliest  school  of  which  we  have  any  record 
was  that  taught  by  Rev.  William  Woodhull  in  a  log  house 
near  his  residence,  and  which  was  broken  up  by  the  Rev- 
ulutionary  war.  He  received  a  few  boarders  into  his 
family,  for  whom  the  price  per  week  was  the  same  as  the 
market  price  of  a  bushel  of  wheat.  Private  schools  were 
early  held  in  the  residences  of  some  of  the  principal  in- 
habitants. One  of  the  first  of  these  was  taught  by  Miss 
Fhebe  Jagger,  of  Long  Island  (afterward  wife  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Burt,  of  Lamington,  N.  J.).  The  building  was  on 
the  Cooper  estate,  and  the  families  of  Cooper  and  Haines 
united  in  their  support. 

From  1800  to  1812  John  G.  Gardiner,  of  Connecticut, 
taught  a  school  in  the  village.  In  1812  we  find  his 
name  enrolled  as  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Jersey.  Another  teacher  was  Miss  Hester  Brackett,  af- 
terward wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  White,  of  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  New  York  city. 

The  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  established  a  public 
school  system  in  1829,  and  under  this  system  (modified 
in  1847)  the  town  was  divided  into  eight  districts,  and 
regulated  according  to  the  State  law.  At  the  Chester 
Cross-roads  a  substantial  stone  building  was  erected  in 
1830,  the  upper  part  of  which  was  used  as  a  chapel  by  the 
Congregational  society,  which  still  has  an  ownership  in  it. 

In  the  year  1854  William  Rankin,  who  had  been  teach- 
ing at  Deckertown,  N.  J.,  purchased  and  enlarged  the 
brick  hotel  and  established  a  classical  school.  This 
school  was  liberally  patronized  by  the  surrounding 
country  until  his  removal  to  Mendham,  in  October  1862. 
Mr.  Rankin  was  an  enthusiastic  and  successful  teacher. 
While  in  Chester  he  had  under  his  instruction  nearly  500 
scholars.  In  a  schedule  prepared  a  year  or  two  before 
his  death  he  tells  us  that  he  had  prepared  76  students 
for  college  and  150  for  teachers.  Fifty  of  his  students 
had  become  clergymen  (two  of  whom  were  foreign  mis- 
sionaries), thirty  lawyers  and  twelve  physicians.  He 
probably  taught  more  than  two  thousand  youth  in  New 
Jersey.  Rev.  L.  J.  Stoutenburgh,  Miss  Susan  Magie, 
Mrs.  M.  F.  Hoagland,  Rev.  P.  S.  Smith,  Mrs.  C.  Y.  Bak- 
er and  Rev.  J.  H.  McCandless  have  successively  been 
principals  of  "  The  Chester  Institute."     In  1869  Hon. 


7-v/V^-?^  ^5-^-^^  ' 


En^thijliMfCaM&^lmts.VS  Ba'rUy  He  KY 


MATERIAL  INTERESTS  OF  CHESTER— HON.  DANIEL  BUDD. 


215 


Daniel  Budd  erected  a  spacious  three-story  stone  build 
ing  for  the  use  of  the  school,  in  a  conspicuous  part  of 
the  village,  and  of  this  Miss  Magie  took  possession  in 
1870.  At  present  a  private  school  is  taught  in  the  chapel 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  under  control  of  the  pastor, 
Rev.  James  F.  Brewster. 

Industries — Iron  Mining. 

For  the  most  part  Chester  has  been  an  agricultural 
community.  In  early  times  its  abundant  fruit  employed 
several  distilleries.  Three  or  four  flouring-tnills  and 
four  or  five  saw-mills  have  long  been  in  operation. 
Previous  to  1827  a  woolen-mill  was  built  and  operated 
by  Stephen  R.  Haines,  on  the  Haines  estate,  on  Black 
River.  This  was  bought  in  1827  and  carried  on  by  Wil- 
liam Nichols,  of  Vermont.  The  business  was  continued 
by  his  son  William  H.  Nichols,  and  the  property  is  still 
held  in  the  family. 

From  1844  to  1861  John  and  Abraham  Van  Doren 
carried  on  a  manufactory  of  threshing  machines,and  in  185  7 
they  introduced  into  the  township  the  first  steam  engine. 
This  industry  is  still  carried  on  by  William  K.  Osborn. 

Chester,  however,  is  principally  important  for  its  min- 
ing wealth.  Its  hills  are  filled  with  deposits  of  magnetic 
iron  ore.  For  more  than  a  hundred  years  the  forge  at 
Hacklebarney  has  been  in  operation.  Hon.  Daniel  Budd, 
in  partnership  with  Mr.  Bartley,  carried  on  this  forge  for 
many  years.  Their  iron  was  classed  with  the  best  in  the 
State,  and  drawn  into  all  the  shapes  required  in  business. 
In  1867  mines  were  opened  in  various  places,  and  the 
mining  was  facilitated  by  the  building  of  the  Chester 
Railroad  in  1869.  The  veins  of  ore  have  been  opened 
on  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  different  properties,  and 
have  yielded  several  hundred  thousand  tons,  but  they  are 
yet  only  partially  developed.  There  are  four  or  five 
veins  running  through  the  township,  the  two  principal  of 
which  are  near  the  village  and  are  called  the  North  and 
South  veins.  The  ores  from  these  two  veins  are  low  in 
phosphorus  but  contain  sulphur,  and  yield  from  40  to  65 
per  cent,  of  iron.  When  separated  from  sulphur  they 
are  valuable  for  the  manufacture  of  Bessemer  steel,  on 
account  of  being  low  in  phosphorus. 

The  blast  furnace  is  treated  of  on  page  61.  It  employs 
about  100  men. 

Miscellaneous. 

In  1872  and  1873  the  tracks  (about  five  miles  long)  which 
connect  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad 
with  the  Hedges  mine  and  the  Hacklebarney  mine  were 
built  by  William  J.Taylor  &  Co.  A  part  of  the  road  was  on 
a  grade  of  1 76  feet  to  the  mile.  This  subsequently  came 
into  possession  of  the  Central  Railroad.Compjny  of  New 
Jersey,  who  completed  the  road  to  High  Bridge  in  1876. 
In  1881  this  track  was  extended  through  the  village  one 
and  one  half  miles  northeast  to  the  Swayzee,  Leek  and 
Cooper  mines;  and  surveys  were  made  with  a  view  to  ex< 
tending  it  to  Pottersville,  five  miles  to  the  south. 

The  earliest  physician  of  whom  record  is  left  was 
Joseph   Hedges,  M.  D.,  a  member  of  the  family  who 


settled  in  Easthampton,  Long  Island,  about  1649.  He 
came  to  Chester  about  1800,  and  married  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  William  Woodhull,  Their  descendants  to  the  third 
generation  have  continued  the  profession  in  Chester. 

Prospect  Lodge,  No.  24,  F.  &  A.  M.  was  removed 
from  Mendham  to  Chester  in  January  1874.  The  hall 
was  dedicated  during  the  same  winter.  This  lodge  num- 
bers 48  members,  of  whom  J.  M.  Drinkwater  is  the  pres- 
ent worshipful  master. 

Hon.  Daniel  Budd. 

Hon.  Daniel  Budd  was  one  of  the  most  influential  of 
the  citizens  of  Chester,  both  in  business  and  political  cir- 
cles. He  filled  many  positions  of  trust,  and  did  much  to 
develop  the  resources  and  increase  the  prosperity  of  his 
native  town.  Like  his  father  and  his  grandfather,  he 
lived  and  died  in  Chester,  and  the  activities  of  his  entire 
life  were  closely  identified  with  the  interests  of  his  ntive 
place.  His  ancestor,  John  Budd,  five  generations  before, 
emigrated  from  England  to  New  Haven,  about  the  year 
1632,  and  became  one  of  the  first  proprietors  of  that  set- 
tlement. He  subsequently  removed  to  Southold,  Long 
Island,  and  thence  to  Rye,  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. 

Daniel  Budd,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  moved  from  Rye,  N.  Y.,  together  with  his  father, 
John  Budd,  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  purchased  the  old  Budd  farm,  near  Black  River. 
His  mother  was  Mary  Strang  or  (L'Estrange),  daugh- 
ter of  a  French  Huguenot  who  fled  from  France,  on  ac- 
count of  religious  persecution,  in  the  days  of  Louis  XIV. 
and  found  refuge  at  New  Rochelle,  Conn.  Romantic 
stories  of  danger  and  escape  have  been  handed  down 
from  generation  to  generation.  This  Daniel  Budd  was 
for  a  long  time  assessor  of  the  township  of  Roxiticus, 
and  a  captain  in  the  reserves  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
On  one  occasion,  during  his  absence  on  duty,  his  house 
was  burned,  under  circumstances  which  led  to  the  sus- 
picion that  it  was  an  act  of  revenge,  on  the  part  of 
tories. 

Joseph  Budd,  son  of  this  Daniel  and  father  of 
Hon.  Daniel  Budd.  was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  commanded  his  company  at  Sandy  Hook  and  other 
places  of  defense.  His  wife  was  Joanna  Swayzee,  and 
after  her  husband  had  lost  his  health  in  the  war,  which 
he  never  recovered,  she  endeavored  bravely  to  fill  his 
place  in  many  of  the  active  duties  of  farm  life. 

Their  son  Daniel  was  born  June  8th  1809.  When  a 
boy  he  had  much  of  the  charge  of  his  invalid  father,  and 
after  his  death  remained  with  his  mother  upon  the  farm 
as  long  as  she  lived.  He  was  married  February  25th 
1847  'o  Mary  K.  Hunt,  daughter  of  John  Hunt  of  New- 
ton, Sussex  county,  and  sister  of  Hon.  Samuel  H.  Hunt. 
He  was  engaged  at  various  times  in  many  avenues  of 
active  business — being  a  farmer,  manufacturer,  surveyor, 
drover,  colonel  of  cavalry,  and  a  general  business  man, 
settling  estates  and  holding  positions  of  confidence.  He 
was  always  prominent  in  the  political  affairs  of  his  town- 
ship, and  for  many  years  was  returned  as  a  freeholder, 
and  in  the  board  of  freeholders  always  exercised 'a  com- 


2l6 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


manding  influence.  In  the  years  1856  and  1857  he  was 
a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  Legislature,  and  in  the 
years  i860,  1861  and  1862  he  filled  the  office  of  State 
senator.  While  senator  he  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  corporations,  and  a  member  of  other  import- 
ant committees,  and  was  chosen  State  director  of  the 
Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad.  For  many  years  he  car- 
ried on  the  business  of  manufacturing  malleable  iron, 
and  devoted  much  time  and  energy  to  the  developing  of 
the  mineral  resources  of  Chester.  To  him  may  be  attrib- 
uted largely  the  building  and  completion  of  the  Chester 
Railroad. 

He  was  a  friend  to  the  poor,  ever  ready  to  contribute 


to  their  wants,  and  to  assist  those  who  were  struggling  in 
business,  and  he  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  church 
and  of  public  enterprises.  He  erected  many  buildings 
for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  took  the  warmest  inter- 
est in  the  cause  of  education.  In  1869  he  erected  in 
the  village  a  large  three-story  stone  building  for  the  use 
of  a  boarding  school,  at  a  cost  of  many  thousand 
dollars. 

He  died  in  June  1873,  at  the  age  of  64,  leaving  a  wide 
breach  in  the  community  where  he  had  lived  and  labored; 
and  an  immense  concourse  of  people,  gathered  from 
various  parts  of  the  State,  accompanied  his  remains  to 
their  last  resting  place  in  the  cemetery  of  Pleasant  Hill. 


HANOVER   TOWNSHIP. 


By  Monroe  Howell. 


,  HE  territory  now  known  as  Hanover  township 
was  formerly  included  within  the  boundaries 
of  a  far  larger  extent  of  country,  which  under 
the  old  colonial  government  was  organized 
into  a  township  bearing  the  name  of  Whip- 
panong,  and  at  that  time  constituted  a  part  of  the 
county  of  Hunterdon. 
Whippanong,  now  changed  to  Whippany,  and  Parsip- 
panong,  now  changed  to  Parsippany,  are  doubtless 
names  of  aboriginal-  origin,  the  exact  signification  of 
which  is  uncertain;  although  it  may  safely  be  assumed, 
upon  evidence  contained  in  the  old  deed  for  the  Whip- 
pany burying  ground,  that  both  these  names  have  some 
reference  to  the  rather  important  streams  known  as 
Whippany  River  and  Parsippany  Brook.  The  township 
received  the  name  of  Hanover  in  the  year  1740,  and 
at  that  time  comprised  a  far  greater  than  its  present 
extent  of  territory.  The  final  touches  to  its  present  con- 
tour were  given  about  the  year  1844,  at  the  organization 
of  Ro':kaway  township.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
the  townships  of  Boonton  and  Rockaway,  on  the  east  by 
Montville  and  the  county  of  Essex,  on  the  south  by 
Chatham  and  Morris,  and  on  the  west  by  Morris  and 
Rockaway.  The  Rockaway  River  forms  the  boundary 
from  the  extreme  northerly  point  to  its  junction  with  the 
Passaic  at  or  near  Pine  Brook,  and  from  thence  it  has 
the  Passaic  for  its  boundary  to  the  confines  of  Chatham. 
The  assessors'  statistics  for  1881  were  as  follows: 
Area,  29,747  acres;  valuation  of  real  estate,  $1,742,641; 
personal  property,  $373,050;  debt,  $113,975;  total  valu- 
ation, $2,001,715;  polls,  828;  State  school  tax,  $5,095.58; 
county  tax,  $4,756.83;  road  tax,  $4,003. 

This  section,  as  indicated  by  the  watercourses,  has  a 
general  though  slight  inclination  to  the  east,  is  somewhat 
hilly  in  the  northwest,  gently  undulating  in  the  middle, 
and  consists  in  the  east  and  southeast  of  bottom  lands 
along  the  Passaic  and  its  tributaries.  Hydrographically 
considered,  this  township  belongs  to  the  basin  of  the 
Passaic,  which  important  river  receives  all  its  streams,  of 
which  the  most  important  are  the  Whippany  River  and 
Parsippany  and  Stony  brooks.  The  first  of  the  above 
named  streams  enters  the  township  from  Morris,  flows 
through  it  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  and  empties  into 
the  Rockaway  River,  about  a  mile  above  the  confluence 
of  that  stream  with  the  Passaic.     Its  volume  of  water  is 


considerable,  and  the  slope  of  its  bed  is  such  as  to  afford 
numerous  mill  sites,  advantage  of  which  has  been  taken 
since  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  region.  The.  second 
is  a  beautiful  rivulet,  having  its  rise  in  the  highlands  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  township;  and,  being  fed 
mostly  by  springs,  is  of  perennial  and  equable  flow.  Its 
continuous  though  gentle  fall  affords  several  mill  sites, 
which  were  early  economized.  The  third  takes  its  rise 
in  a  locality  known  as  Wheeler  Swamp,  pursues  a  short 
and  rapid  course,  and  empties  into  Whippany  River  at  or 
near  the  Caledonia  paper-mill.  This  stream  is  of  con- 
stant and  equal  flow,  affords  a  number  of  mill  sites,  and 
was  the  seat  of  ancient  manufacture. 

On  the  steep  banks  of  the  Rockaway  River,  in  a  for- 
mation of  red  sandstone,  may  be  seen  fossil  impressions  of 
fishes  of  various  kinds.  This  point  is  well  worthy  the 
attentions  of  geologists  and  other  specimen-seekers,  as 
well  as  of  those  who  enjoy  the  romantic  and  picturesque 
in  nature. 

This  township  was  in  former  years  relatively  much 
better  supplied  with  means  of  transportation  than  at 
present.  In  the  days  of  turnpikes  it  had  the  advantage 
of  being  traversed  by  two  such  thoroughfares,  and  a 
heavy  team  transit  was  effected  over  them  to  and  from 
the  great  market  of  New  York;  but  with  the  advent  of 
railroads  the  course  of  transportation  was  so  changed  as 
to  barely  touch  at  only  two  points  the  very  borders  of  its 
territory,  and  its  relative  distance  from  the  great  market? 
was  materially  lengthened.  The  speedy  opening  of  this 
region  to  the  advantages  of  railroad  transportation  would 
effect  a  surprising  advance  in  the  already  high  valuation 
of  real  estate. 

Settlement. 

Although,  from  the  lack  of  positive  evidence  in  the 
matter,  the  exact  date  of  the  settlement  of  this  region 
cannot  be  ascertained,  yet,  from  scattered  documents,  as 
well  as  from  reliable  tradition,  we  are  safe  in  setting  it 
down  as  a  little  antecedent  to  the  year  1700;  and  the 
first  settlement  was  undoubtedly  at  Whippany,  which 
place  was  also  the  first  settled  in  the  county  of  Morris. 
The  first  settlers  were  from  Newark,  Elizabeth,  New 
England  and  England,  drawn  hither  by  the  proximity  of 
ores  of  iron,  in  the  manufacture  of  which  they  at  once 
eqgaged.     Upon  the  Whippany  River  and  its  confluents 


2l8 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


at  least  five  forges  were  erected  at  an  early  date;  and  in 
the  earliest  documents  relating  to  the  matter  the  locality 
is  referred  to  as  the  "Old  Forge;"  but  to  which  of  these 
old  sites  can  be  awarded  the  palm  of  prior  occupancy  is 
uncertain — evidence,  however,  would  seem  to  point  to 
Whippany.  However  this  may  be,  many  years  could  not 
have  intervened  between  the  erection  of  the  first  and  last 
of  these,  as  all  of  them  were  at  work  at  an  early  date  in 
the  settlement,  and  all  appeared  of  equal  age.  The  whole 
region  around  these  localities  bears  traces  of  this  early 
industry.  In  recent  clearings  of  forests  which  must  have 
stood  a  century  or  more  the  black  soil  of  coal-pit  bottoms 
is  frequently  found,  and  long-buried  cinders  are  often  ex- 
humed in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  manufactories. 

Doubtless  after  the  forests  had  been  cleared  and 
burned  into  charcoal  other  settlers  were  soon  attracted 
to  this  locality  by  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the  advan- 
tages of  a  genial  climate.  So  early  as  the  year  1718  a 
church  edifice  was  erected  at  Whippany,  in  the  old  bury- 
ing ground,  this  plot  having  been  deeded  for  that  pur- 
pose by  one  John  Richards,  a  schoolmaster.  The  facts 
that  a  schoolmaster  was  already  a  resident  among  them 
and  that  a  permanent  church  organization  was  contem- 
plated must  lead  us  to  infer  the  existence  of  a  somewhat 
extended  and  localized  population  even  at  that  date. 
Indeed,  that  agricultural  enterprise  early  manifested  it- 
self would  seem  evident  from  an  old  deed  for  a  large 
part  of  Hanover  Neck,  a  narrow  strip  of  land  lying  be- 
tween the  lower  portion  of  the  Whippany  River  and  the 
Passaic.  This  tract  was  located  under  proprietary  au- 
thority by  Daniel  Cox  as  early  as  1715,  contained  1,250 
acres,  and  was  conveyed  by  one  Jonathan  Stiles  to  Jos- 
eph Tuttle  in  1734.  No  water  power  is  available  upon 
the  sluggish  streams  of  this  vicinity,  and  the  spot  must 
have  been  located  with  an  eye  to  agricultural  advan- 
tages readily  discerned  in  the  rich  and  easily  subdued 
soils  of  these  bottom  lands. 

Early  Celebrities. 

The  fact  that  large  manorial  estates  were  purchased 
and  occupied  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  the 
Revolution  indicates  a  state  of  society  compatible  only 
with  somewhat  continued  and  advanced  civilization.  Of 
these  manorial  seats  the  most  noted,  and  perhaps  at  that 
time  the  most  sumptuous  establishments  in  the  county, 
were  Irish  Lot,  near  Whippany,  the  residence  of  Captain 
Michael  Kearney  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  navy;  the 
Beaverwick,  near  Troy,  owned  by  Lucas  Von  Beaver- 
houdt,  and  the  Mansion  House  domain  at  Old  Boonton. 
The  dwellers  upon  these  famous  seats  kept  up  a  con- 
stant interchange  of  high-life  civilities,  rode  in  chariots, 
gave  costly  entertainments,  and  were  the  talk  of  the 
whole  country  about.  The  Kearney  mansion,  now  occu- 
pied by  Mahlon  Hubbard,  was  in  those  days  sub- 
stantially what  it  is  at  present  with  the  exception  of  the 
numerous  outbuildings  attached  to  these  lordly  abodes. 
The  Beaverwick  mansion  has  been  modernized  into  the 
comely  residence  of  B.  S.  Condit,  but  the  long  rows  of 
servants'  lodges  which  skirted,  either  side  of  the  ample 


lawn,  and  from  their  color  gave  to  the  place  the  Revolu- 
tionary title  of  the  "  Red  Barracks,"  have  long  since  dis- 
disappeared.  Of  the  Mansion  House  at  Old  Boonton 
but  a  small  portion,  in  a  very  dilapidated  state,  now  re- 
mains. The  family  names  of  all  the  former  owners  of 
those  abodes  have  faded  from  the  locality;  nothing  is 
left  to  perpetuate  them  saving  two  freestone  slabs  lying 
in  a  neglected  spot  at  Irish  Lot,  and  another  in  a  lonely 
corner  of  the  graveyard  at  Parsippany.  Sic  transit 
gloria  mundi. 

Captain  Michael  Kearney,  according  to  tradition,  was 
of  a  genial  and  jovial  disposition  and  a  high  liver,  as 
might  be  expected  of  a  captain  in  the  British  navy. 
His  domain,  well  stocked  with  choice  fruit,  was  so  ac- 
cessible to  the  less  favored  dwellers  upon  the  surrounding 
farms  as  to  seem  almost  a  common  possession.  Upon  a 
wide  uncultivated  portion  of  his  estate  whortleberries 
abounded,  and  at  the  season  of  their  gathering  it  was 
his  custom  to  give  a  sort  of  out-of-door  reception  to  the 
whole  neighborhood.  A  table  was  set  profusely  spread 
with  substantial  edibles,  and  liquors  indigenous  to  the  lo- 
cality were  bountifully  supplied.  These  seasons  were 
further  enlivened  by  music  and  dancing,  and  were  long 
remembered  and   talked  of  by  the  participants  therein. 

The  manor  of  Beaverwick  contained  more  than  a 
thousand  acres,  and  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Beaverhoudt 
about  the  year  1742.  The  estate  was  under  cultivation 
when  he  purchased  it,  and  while  in  his  possession  was 
worked  by  numerous  slaves  brought  from  the  West  In- 
dies, who  became  the  progenitors  of  quite  a  numerous 
colored  population,  of  whom  some  remain  in  the  locality 
at  the  present  day.  During  the  Revolution  this  seat  was 
much  resorted  to  by  the  officers  of  the  continental  and 
British  armies,  it  being  at  one  time  held  as  ntutral 
ground.  We  have  it  upon  good  authority  that  Washing- 
ton, Hamilton  and  other  notables  of  that  period  were 
often  entertained  under  its  hospitable  roof;  and  further 
we  have  it,  that  the  father  of  his  country  and  the  hero 
of  the  hatchet  did  most  dignifiedly  dance  a  minuet  with 
one  of  the  belles  of  the  neighborhood.  We  also  have  it 
upon  tolerably  good  authority  that  Major  Andre,  the 
British  spy,  mmaged  here  to  catch  sight  of  the  great 
leader  of  the  rebel  army,  possibly  with  an  evil  eye  to  his 
entrapment;  which  affair  was  brought  about  iii  this  wise: 
The  officers  of  the  contending  armies  being  admitted 
upon  equal  footing  to  the  hospitalities  of  the  Red  Bar- 
racks, it  so  happened  that  Major  Andre  was  there  visiting. 
Washington  and  some  members  of  his  staff  also  drew  up 
for  entertainment,  and  upon  Andre's  solicitation  he  was 
permitted  to  feast  his  eyes  upon  the  most  imposing  pres- 
ence of  the  age. 

The  following  items  from  the  New  Jersey  Gazette  at 
the  dates  given  may  prove  interesting  to  readers: 

"Lost,  between  Princeton  and  Beaverwick,  eight  miles 
from  Morristown,  a  dress  sword,  the  hilt  chased  work 
and  of  solid  silver,  a  red  belt  with  swivels,  one  half  of 
shell  broken  off.  Whosoever  will  leave  said  sword  with 
Mr.  Lott  at  Beaverwick,  or  with  Mrs.  Livingston  at  Prince- 
ton, shall  receive  ten  dollars  reward.     July  loth  1778." 


Hon.  Andrew  B.  Cobb. 

Col.  Lemuel  Cobb,  the  father  of  Andrew  B.,  was 
born  at  his  father's  home  near  Parsippany,  May  isth 
1762.  He  did  not  in  early  life  enjoy  even  ordinary  ad- 
vantages for  obtaining  an  education;  but  his  thirst  for 
practical  knowledge  and  the  indomitable  energy  of  his 
character  supplied  the  place  of  these  facilities.  It  is 
said  that  he  pursued  the  study  of  his  profession  (that  of 
a  civil  engineer  and  surveyor)  while  attending  a  saw-mill. 
In  thus  surmounting  the  obstacles  which  were  in  the  way 
of  his  early  advancement  he  developed  those  qualities 
which  fitted  him  for  his  subsequent  successful  career 
and  which  were  inherited  by  his  son.  Prominent  in 
military  affairs  and  in  politics  he  took  lively  interest  in 
the  development  of  the  locality,  was  long  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  court,  and  filled  other  places  of  trust.  He 
was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Mary,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Smith,  whose  only  surviving  child,  Eliza- 
beth, became  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Howell,  of  Troy.  His 
second  wife  was  Susan  Farrand,  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
Farrand,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  of  whom  two 
only  survived  him,  Julia  A.,  wife  of  W.  C.  H.  Waddell, 
and  Andrew  B.  His  third  wife  was  Elizabeth  Shaw,  by 
whom  he  had  no  children.  He  died  April  ist  1830.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  proprietors  of  the  eastern 
division  of  the  State,  and  for  many  years  the  surveyor- 
general  of  that  division.  In  the  practice  of  his  profession 
he  availed  himself  of  his  opportunities  for  acquiring 
land,  and  he  left  an  estate  of  more  than  ten  thousand 
acres,  which  he  devised  to  his  son  Andrew  B.  Cobb;  to 
Benjamin  Howell,  who  was  the  husband  of  his  daughter 
Elizabeth;  to  his  daughter  Maria,  whose  husband  was 
Walter  Kirkpatrick;  and  to  his  daughter  Julia  Ann,  the 
wife  of  William  Coventry  H.  Waddell.  Mrs.  Kirkpat- 
rick and  her  son  Eugene  died  before  her  father  and 
the  property  was  divided  between  the  other  three 
children. 

Andrew  Bell  Cobb  was  born  on  the  7th  of  June  1804, 
at  Parsippany,  Hanover  township,  in  the  house  where  he 
resided  till  his  death.  He  received  a  fine  academic  edu- 
cation. His  youth  was  passed  in  assisting  his  father  in 
the  care  of  his  landed  estate.  On  the  death  of  the  latter, 
April  ist  1831,  he  came  in  possession  of  a  large  portion 


of  that  estate,  including  the  homestead  at  Parsippany, 
and  commenced  the  active  career  which  he  followed 
through  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  attention  was  mainly 
devoted  to  the  management  and  improvement  of  his 
landed  possessions,  which  steadily  increased  with  the 
lapse  of  time.  Incidentally  he  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture, and  he  engaged  to  some  extent  in  mining.  He 
evinced  a  deep  interest  in  the  development  of  the  iron 
interest  in  the  county,  and  was  at  a  late  period  in  his 
life  an  iron  manufacturer.  He  erected  a  charcoal  blast 
furnace  at  "  Split  Rock."  He  was  always  active  in  the 
promotion  of  local  improvements. 

In  public  and  political  affairs  Mr.  Cobb  took  an  active 
part.  He  was  a  Whig  till  about  1853,  after  which  he 
acted  with  the  Democratic  party.  In  1838  he  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Morris 
county,  which  office  he  held  about  five  years.  In  1849 
and  1850  he  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  from 
this  county,  and  was  again  elected  in  1853,  though  his 
party  was  not  in  the  majority  in  his  district.  He  was  a 
leading  member  of  the  House  in  the  session  of  1854,  and 
was  active  in  promoting  the  legislation  of  that  session 
which  resulted  in  the  limitation  of  the  monopoly  of  the 
"Joint  Companies"  to  the  1st  of  January  1869.  In 
1856  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  where  he  served 
efficiently  during  three  sessions.  He  was  during  many 
years  a  member  of  the  board  of  proprietors  of  East 
New  Jersey. 

Judge  Cobb  had  much  individuality,  was  warm  and 
earnest  in  his  friendships,  and  very  decided  in  the  mani- 
festation of  his  dislikes  and  aversions.  He  had  many 
devoted  and  zealous  friends,  and  his  unquestionable  in- 
tegrity, his  manly  honor  and  the  generosity  of  his  nature 
compelled  the  respect  of  his  enemies.  He  was  a  man  of 
extensive  information  and  a' good  citizen. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth 
F.,  daughter  of  Captain  David  Kirkpatrick.  She  died 
December  nth  1857,  leaving  a  daughter,  now  the  widow 
of  Frederick  A.  De  Mott.  His  second  wife  was  Frances 
E.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Ogden  Condit.  Their  child- 
ren are  Andrew  Lemuel,  and  Elizabeth. 

In  1871  he  became  affected  with  paralysis,  which 
gradually  increased  till  his  death,  which  occurred  Janu- 
ary 31st  1873. 


PROMINENT  EARLY  RESIDENTS  OF  HANOVER. 


219 


"Old  Jamaica  spirit  and  Barbadoes  rum  by  the  hogs- 
head or  less  quantity;  best  London  lump  white  lead; 
black  horn  buttons;  and  an  excellent  farm  of  about  500 
acres  lying  at  Raritan.  To  be  sold  by  Abraham  Lott  at 
Beaverwick,  near  Morristown;  from  whom  may  also  be 
had  in  exchange  for  all  kinds  of  country  produce  the 
very  best  rock  salt.     August  29th  1778." 

"  Rod  and  Sheet  Iron  of  all  sizes  to  be  sold  by 
Samuel  Ogden  at  Boonton,  Morris  county,  New  Jersey. 
November  J 778." 

The  manor  of  Old  Boonton  was  also  during  "the 
time  that  tried  men's  souls"  a  place  of  frequent  resort 
to  the  officers  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  undoubt- 
edly camp  kettles  and  other  necessities  in  that  line 
were  there  manufactured  for  the  continental  army.  The 
place,  at  that  time  in  the  possession  of  the  Ogdens,  w:as, 
as  afterward,  appointed  with  reference  to  a  considerable 
degree  of  state,  as  will  appear  from  the  following 
description  by  one  who  remembered  it  in  its  palmy 
days:  "  Serpentine  pleasure  walks  studded  on  either 
side  by  fragrant  shrubbery  extended  along  the  hillsides 
even  as  far  as  the  main  road.  The  gardens  were  exten- 
sive, handsomely  laid  out,  and  filled  with  choice  fruit 
and  blooming  shrubbery.  Gushing  fountains  and  vine- 
clad  arbors  were  interspersed  throughout  all  these  richly 
embellished  grounds,  giving  to  this  enchanting  place  n 
novel  and  fairy-like  appearance."  These  incidents  and 
reminiscences  are  given  to  show  the  degree  of  civilization 
to  which  the  locality  had  attained  even  at  that  early 
date. 

Some  of  the  early  settlers  whose  descendants  still  re- 
main in  the  township  were:  Samuel  and  Joseph  Tuttle, 
from  the  north  of  England,  near  the  river  Tweed;  Joseph 
and  Abraham  Kitchel,  brothers,  and  Francis  Lindsley, 
all  from  England.  In  addition  to  these  might  be  men- 
tioned the  Baldwins,  Bowlsbys,  Stileses,  Thomases,  Cobbs 
and  Howells.  The  Baldwins  and  Bowlsbys  were,  doubt- 
less, among  the  very  first  settlers  in  the  township,  and 
held  possession  of  large  tracts  of  land,  as  is  evident  from 
old  deeds,  and  some  portions  of  these  large  possessions 
still  remain  in  the  direct  and  collateral  branches  of  these 
races. 

The  present  seat  of  John  L.  Baldwin  is  doubtless  a  por- 
tion of  the  old  domain,  still  held  not  only  in  the  family 
but  in  the  name.  The  ancient  residence  of  his  immediate 
ancestors  stood  a  short  distance  southwest  of  his  res- 
idence, and  traces  of  garden  culture,  together  with  an 
old  well,  mark  the  spot. 

Hannah  Woodruff  Baldwin,  wife  of  Elder  Job  Bald- 
win, and  grandmother  of  John  L.,  was  a  woman  of  strong 
practical  judgment  and  kindly  disposition,  and  moreover 
of  a  genial  temper,  and  the  mother  of  a  large  family. 
Her  decease,  at  a  good  old  age,  was  the  occasion  of  gen- 
eral sorrow,  and  in  the  old  churchyard  is  erected  a  suit- 
able memorial,  bearing  the  following  epitaph,  written  by 
her  eccentric  but  somewhat  gifted  son  Job: 

"  A  benefactress  to  the  poor, 
Dear  reader,  now  lies  sleeping  here." 


The  faultless  cadence  of  this  couplet  indicates  the 
possession'  of  the  more  than  ordinary  musical  taste  which 
was  largely  inherent  in  the  family,  as  evinced  by  the  said 
Job,  several  of  his  sisters,  and  their  descendants.  The 
Baldwins  emigrated  from  the  Puritan  settlement  of 
Newark,  as  did  the  Howells  and  Thomases. 

The  Cobbs  were  from  New  England  direct,  and  be- 
came possessors  of  large  tracts  of  land,  held  by  their 
descendants  to  this  day.  This  family  has  in  several  in- 
stances produced  men  of  uncommon  business  ability, 
among  whom  may  be  enumerated  the  late  George  T. 
Cobb,  of  Morristown,  and  the  late  Colon-el  Lemuel  Cobb, 
of  Parsippany,  of  the  last  of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  in 
connection  with  the  biography  of  his  son  Andrew  B. 

The  Kitchel  family,  some  of  which  still  hold  posses- 
;sion  of  portions  of  the  primitive  family  purchase,  has 
produced  several  instances  of  marked  ability,  of  whom 
may  be  mentioned  Prof.  William  Kitchel,  who  preceded 
Prof.  George  H.  Cook  as  State  geologist,  and  Aaron 
Kitchel,  member  of  the  United  States  Senate  from  1807 
to  1 81 1,  of  whom  a  short  biographical  sketch  is  here 
given. 

He  was  born  at  Hanover  in  1744.  Bred  to  a  farmer's 
life,  with  only  the  scanty  education  to  be  picked  up  at 
home,  his  enterprising  spirit  craved  a  more  active  and 
congenial  field  of  labor,  and  of  all  such  within  his  reach 
none  seemed  more  congenial  and  promising  than  the  life 
and  work  of  a  blacksmith.  To  this  trade  he  was  duly  ap- 
apprenticed,  but  his  master  proved  to  be  an  unthrifty  ]5e;- 
son,  and,  absconding,  left  the  business  and  liis  family  on  the 
hands  of  his  trusty  apprentice,  who  nobly  assumed  the 
care  of  the  forsaken  family  and  paid  off  the  debts. 
During  his  struggle  with  these  adverse  circumstances  he, 
by  reading  and  study,  enlarged  his  field  of  knowledge 
and  rapidly  rose  in  public  esteem  and  confidence.  In 
the  Revolutionary  struggle  he  early  espoused  the  cause 
of  freedom,  and  was  among  the  first  volunteers  in  the 
patriot  army.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  for 
some  years  in  the  State  Legislature.  In  1799  he  was 
elected  representative  in  Congress,  which  trust  he  held 
by  successive  elections  until  1807.  He  was  then  chosen 
United  States  senator,  in  which  capacity  he  served  four 
years,  being  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  ill  health. 
He  died  June  25th  1820,  and  lies  buried  in  Hanover 
churchyard. 

David  Young,  Philom.,  was  born  January  27th  1781,  at 
the  point  of  Hook  Mountain,  on  what  is  known  as  the 
Miller  place.  While  yet  a  mere  lad  he  exhibited  a 
decided  inclination  toward  those  studies  in  which  he  was 
afterward  to  excel,  and  many  anecdotes  are  current 
illustrative  of  this  bent  of  his  genius.  He  soon  out- 
stripped his  preceptors  in  mathematical  pursuits,  and 
commenced  a  course  of  independent  study.  With  his 
little  savings  he  would  purchase  books  and  instruments 
to  aid  him  in  the  gratification  of  a  desire  for  learn- 
ing which  in  him  was  a  passion.  He  wrote  articles 
for  the  New  York  papers  which  attracted  such  general 
attention  among  the  learned  that  a  French  savan 
wrote     requesting      him      to     undertake      some     very 


30 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


difficult  problem  which  had  long  puzzled  the  Best 
scholars  in  the  department  of  mathematics.  He  solved 
the  problem  satisfactorily,  and  set  the  price  of  his 
long  labor  at  the  modest  sum  of  $50.  He  received  sev- 
eral solicitations  to  go  abroad,  but  strenuously  persisted 
in  remaining  at  Hanover.  He  prepared  the  manuscript 
for  the  Farmer's  Alman.ic  published  by  Benjamin  Olds 
in  Newark,  which  popular  work  brought  him  sufficient 
to  supply  his  humble  wants.  He  also  wrote  the  original 
account  of  the  Morristown  Ghost,  a  rare  work,  as  the 
issue  was  suppressed  with  deference  to  the  feelings  of 
some  of  the  dupes  in  that  famous  affair.  About  the  year 
1825  Mr.  Younj;  delivered  in  many  places  in  New  Jersey 
a  lecture  on  the  laws  of  motion,  which  was  published 
in  pamphlet,  copies  of  which  are  still  extant.  He  was 
singularly  childlike  in  his  manner,  absent  minted  and  of 
extremely  tender  feelings.  He  died  February  13th  1852, 
and  lies  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  Hanover.  A  marble 
slab  marks  his  place  of  rest,  bearing  his  name,  the  date 
of  birth  and  death,  and  the  following  simple  epitaph: 

"  Farewell,  my  wife,  whose  tender  care 
Has  long  engaged  my  love; 
Your  fond  embrace  I  now  exchange 
I"or  better  friends  above." 

Rev.  John  Ford  was  born  at  Monroe  in  this  township 
in  1787.  While  still  a  lad  he  was  apprenticed  to  the 
trade  of  tanner  and  currier.  From  childhood  he  had 
evinced  an  insatiable  thirst  for  books  and  study.  His 
hours  for  recreation  and  often  his  hours  for  rest  were  de- 
voted to  reading.  In  his  nineteenth  year  he  was  hope- 
fully converted  to  Christ,  and  his  employer,  knowing  his 
studious  habits,  gave  him  the  remainder  of  his  time,  and 
encouraged  him  to  enter  upon  a  course  of  study  prepara- 
tory to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  entered  Princeton 
College,  having  prepared  for  the  senior  class;  graduated 
with  high  honors,  and  entered  into  active  life  as  a  teacher 
in  Bloomfield,  where  he  was  eminently  successful.  In 
conjunction  with  the  duties  of  his  calling  he  pursued  the 
study  of  theology  and  Hebrew.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newark,  and  in  1815,  not 
having  had  any  previous  experience  in  the  ministry,  he 
was  called  and  ordained  to  the  duties  of  the  pastorate  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Parsippany,  in  which  position 
he  remained  forty  years,  performing  all  its  duties  with 
Christian  zeal  and  earnestness.  He  died  December  31st 
1872. 

Dr.  John  Darby,  or  "  old  Dr.  Darby,"  who  owned  the 
premises  lately  in  the  possession  of  John  S.  Smith,  of 
Parsippany,  and  of  whom  mention  is  made  in  the  review 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  that  village,  was  a  native 
of  Elizabeth  in  this  State,  born  about  1725.  He  studied 
for  the  ministry,  was  licensed,  and  afterward  prepared 
himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine.  About  the  year 
1772  he  located  himself  at  Parsi|)pany,  practiced  medi- 
cine, and  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  old  church  when 
required.  He  was  twice  married,  and  was  the  father 
of  six  children.  His  oldest  daughter  by  the  first 
wife,  Hester  by  name,  was  married  about  1755  to  John 
Troupe,  a  member  of  the   family   after   whom  Troupe's 


bridge  in  Lower  Whippany  is  named,  which  family  re- 
sided on  the  spot  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Misses 
Elizabeth  and  Phebe  Johnson.  When  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  broke  out  this  Troupe  enlisted  in  the  king's 
service,  and  was  sent  to  the  south,  accompanied  by  his 
wife.  He  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  and  died  in  Charleston.  The  widow  afterward 
married  a  man  by  the  name  of  Ross,  and  with  him  went 
to  reside  in  Canada,  where  Ross  died.  After  the  death 
of  her  second  husband  she  contracted  a  third  marriage, 
with  a  Canadian  by  the  name  of  Guion.  Where  this 
man  Guion  died  is  not  certain,  but  about  1800  Mrs. 
Guion  married  one  John  Fox,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution- 
ary army,  who  held  a  captain's  commission  and  was  at 
the  battle  of  Monmouth.  Fox  seems  to  have  been  a 
very  versatile  creature — was  by  turns  a  preacher,  teacher 
and  merchant;  but,  not  proving  much  of  a  success  in 
these  pursuits,  he  at  last  became  a  farmer,  and  settled  on 
a  small  tract  of  land  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  which  bears 
his  nanne.  He  seems  to  have  sought  this  secluded  spot 
with  reference  to  its  fitness  for  conducting  the  contra- 
band business  of  counterfeiting,  in  which  he  there  en- 
gaged. His  abode  was,  however,  discovered,  and  he  was 
arrested,  tried,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  serve  seven 
years  in  State  prison.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term 
he  returned  to  his  farm,  lived  poor,  and  died  in  1815. 
His  wife  survived  until  1824.  She  died  in  the  re- 
ceipt of  a  pension  from  the  British  government.  The 
Foxes  were  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  at  Parsippany, 
but  no  slab  marks  the  spot  where  they  lie.  The  above 
sketch  is  given  upon  the  authority  of  reliable  documents, 
now  in  the  hands  of  Justice  William  H.  Grimes,  of 
Parsippany. 

Title  to  Lands. 

Shortly  before  the  grant  of  King  Charles  II.  to  the 
Duke  of  York,  which  was  made  on  the  22nd  day  of  Oc- 
tober 1664,  John  Bailey,  Luke  Watson  and  Daniel  Den- 
ton of  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  purchased  of  certain  Indian 
chiefs  on  Staten  Island  large  tracts  of  wild  lands,  which 
tracts  probably  embraced  lands  in  Hanover  township. 
Subsequently  the  proprietors  of  New  Jersey,  who  claimed 
these  tracts  under  the  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York,  re- 
sisted these  claims  under  the  Indian  title,  and  a  long  liti- 
gation was  the  consequence.  This  suit  was  finally  de- 
cided in  favor  of  the  proprietors,  and  those  who  had  pur- 
chased lands  under  Bailey  &  Co.  were  either  compelled 
to  renew  their  claim  under  the  proprietors  or  relinquish 
their  lands.  Probably  some  of  the  first  purchasers  of 
lands  in  this  township  were  implicated  in  this  lawsuit, 
but  to  what  extent  is  uncertain.  All  records  of  convey- 
ance previous  to  the  organization  of  the  county  of  Morris 
were  kept  at  Burlington  or  Perth  Amboy,  and  the  curi- 
ous in  these  matters  can,  no  doubt,  avail  themselves  of 
much  information  by  consulting  those  records. 

Characteristics  of   Population. 

The  population  of  this  township  at  the  several  census 
dates  has    been   as   follows:    1810,   3,843;    1820,  3^503; 


THE  PEOPLE  OF  HANOVER— VILLAGES  IN  THE  TOWNSHIP. 


221 


1830,  3,718;   1840,  3,908;  1850,  3,608;   i860,  3,476  (95 

colored);  1870,  3,624(109  colored);   1880,  4,138  (Littleton 
338,  Whippany  504). 

The  inhabitants  of  this  township  are  chiefly  the  off- 
spring of  the  primitive  settlers,  who,  as  before  stated, 
were  mainly  from  the  New  Englandish  settlements  of 
Newark  and  Elizabeth,  and,  like  their  ancestors,  present 
in  strong  relief  all  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  the  stock 
from  which  they  sprang.  The  sturdy  moral  and  relig- 
ious character  of  these  primitive  settlers,  evinced  in  the 
prominence  given  to  religious  and  mental  culture,  has  been 
faithfully  transmitted  to  their  offspring  of  the  present 
time,  and  Hanover  township  may  be  set  down  as  one  of 
the  best  church-going  communities  of  the  State.  The 
cause  of  education,  likewise,  has  not  been  lost  sight  of, 
and  it  may  safely  be  asserted  that  there  are  more  college- 
bred  farmers  within  its  boundaries  than  be  found  in  any 
other  township  in  the  county.  As  a  result  of  these  char- 
acteristics, it  will  be  found  that  no  person  from  this 
township  has  ever  been  convicted  in  our  court  for  a  cap- 
ital offence  or  very  exalted  crime.  In  physical  develop- 
ment the  people  of  this  township  vie  with  those  of  the 
more  rugged  mountain  townships;  and,  indeed,  in  the  gi- 
gantic stature  of  six  feet  seven,  attained  by  one  of  our 
ex-sheriffs,  we  may  fairly  challenge  competition  with  any 
region  of  our  country.  Strong  local  attachment,  ren- 
dered stronger  by  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  a  pleasant 
climate,  prompts  the  Hanoverians  to  cling  to  the  home- 
steads of  their  fathers.  Many  families  can  be  found 
holding  estates  through  three  generations,  and  in  one  in- 
stance an  estate  is  held  which  belonged  to  all  four  of  the 
owner's  great-grandfathers.  During  the  Revolution  the 
loyalty  of  this  portion  of  the  county  was  unmistakably 
expressed,  as  was  attested  by  the  numerous  pensioners 
formerly  resident  here.  The  first  military  company  in 
Morris  county  was  formed  at  Whippany,  in  1775,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Morris,  and  in  the  subsequent 
conflict  with  the  mother  country  in  1812  the  same  attach- 
ment to  our  country's  cause  was  evinced.  The  Rev. 
Samuel  M.  Phelps,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion at  Parsippany,  at  the  head  of  about  180  men  from 
this  locality  volunteered  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  tem- 
porary defences  on  Long  Island.  In  the  Mexican  war 
Captain  Yard's  company  of  infantry  was  largely  made  up 
of  volunteers  from  Hanover  township,  and  in  the  late  re- 
bellion the  same  region  was  handsomely  represented 
in  the  Union  array. 

Villages. 

Whippany,  the  most  important  settlement  in  the  town- 
ship, is  located  on  both  sides  of  the  river  which  gives  it 
a  name,  is  well  built  and  contains  about  500  inhabitants. 
The  larger  part  of  the  population  find  employment  in 
the  paper-mills  and  cotton-mill  there  located.  A  Pres- 
byterian, a  Methodist  and  a  Roman  Catholic  church  fur- 
nish facilities  for  religious  culture,  and  a  well  conducted 
public  school  of  two  departments  affords  adequate  means 
of  secular  instruction.  Five  stores,  several  blacksmiths' 
and  a  wheelwright  shop  minister  in  their  several  spheres 


to  the  necessities  of  the  community,  and  when  the  mills 
are  in  full  operation  the  village  presents  an  animated 
and  thrifty  appearance.     A  post-ofi5ce  is  located  here. 

Parsippany,  the  second  village  in  size,  is  about  three 
miles  north  of  Whippany  on  the  Parsipanny  Brook.  It  is 
a  rambling  settlement  of  about  300  inhabitants,  and  con- 
tains two  churches,  Presbyterian  and  Methodist,  both 
situated  on  commanding  eminences;  two  blacksmith  and 
two  wheelwright  shops,  two  stores,  and  a  two-story 
public  school-house  located  upon  a  third  eminence.  It 
is  a  post  village,  contains  several  handsome  residences, 
and  all  together  presents  an  air  of  quiet  thrift  and 
refinement. 

Troy,  which  constitutes  a  part  of  the  Presbyterian 
parish  of  Parsippany,  is  situated  upon  the  highlands 
bordering  the  meadows.  It  consists  of  a  long  succession 
of  well  built  residences  of  the  thrifty  farmers  of  the  lo- 
cality. It  contains  a  saw-mill,  a  grist-mill,  blacksmith 
and  wheelwright  shops,  a  public  school-house  and  a  gen- 
eral store.  T.  O.  Smith's  milk  depot  is  located  here  on 
the  flowing  well.  It  sends  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  cans 
of  milk  and  cream  a  day  by  mule  teams  direct  to  his 
store  in  New  York. 

In  the  spring  of  1842,  while  a  well  was  being  dug  on 
the  slope  of  an  eminence  which  rose  about  twenty  feet 
in  fifty  rods,  and  when  the  excavation  had  reached  the 
depth  of  22  feet,  a  roaring  noise  was  heard  by  the  per- 
son at  the  bottom,  who  in  his  fright  requested  to  be 
raised  from  his  perilous  position.  This  was  speedily 
done,  as  he  was  followed  by  a  gush  of  water,  which  has 
ever  since  been  running  over  the  top,  and  now  supplies 
the  large  creamery  of  Mr.  Smith  with  an  abundance  of 
pure  cold  water. 

Littleton,  also  a  post  village,  can  boast  of  several  first- 
class  country  seats,  and  has  a  store,  public  school-house, 
etc. 

Hanover,  another  post  village,  boasts  the  oldest  church 
organization  in  the  county.  It  is  a  cleanly,  agricultural 
place;  has  a  neat  church  building  (Presbyterian),  a  public 
school-house  and  several  fine  residences. 

Soil  and  Agriculture. 

The  soil  of  a  great  part  of  the  township  is  somewhat 
clayey  and  tenacious,  retains  for  a  great  length  of  time 
the  fertilizing  elements  applied,  and  where  properly 
drained  is  of  unsurpassed  fertility.  Bordering  upon  the 
Passaic  and  its  tributaries  there  is  an  extent  of  lowland 
containing  3,000  acres,  exceedingly  valuable  as  meadows, 
although,  being  subject  to  overflow,  the  crop  is  in  wet 
seasons  liable  to  considerable  damage.  These  lands, 
however,  furnish  the  main  supply  of  manure  for  the  up- 
lands, and  of  a  most  suitable  quality.  The  hay  which 
they  produce  is  used  profusely  as  a  litter,  and,  becoming 
saturated  with  barnyard  deposit,  is  in  the  spring  plowed 
into  the  furrows  of  the  stiff  upland  soils,  thus  promoting 
drainage,  as  well  as  supplying  during  its  decay  many 
needed  elements  to  the  growing  crop.  Moreover,  in  dry 
seasons,  the  grass,  then  being  of  a  more  edible  quality, 
compensates  for  the  diminished  crop  of  the  upland,  and 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


serves  to  keep  the  scales  of  the  farmer's  income  and  out- 
go measurably  balanced.  If  the  measures  for  draining 
this  large  tract  of  land  are  ever  carried  out,  as  recom- 
mended in  the  report  of  our  State  geologist  in  1869,  all 
the  advantages  therein  set  forth  would  no  doubt  be  full}' 
realized. 

This  township  ranks  as  a  decided  dairy  region.  In 
this  respect,  however,  it  does  not  take  rank,  either  in  ex- 
tent or  richness,  with  the  southeastern  portions  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  Perhaps  it  would  better  be  classed 
as  a  stock-raising  locality.  Formerly,  indeed,  the  fatten- 
ing of  cattle  was  one  of  the  main  sources  of  safe  income 
among  farmers.  Large  quantities  of  upland  hay  were 
formerly  carried  to  the  markets  of  Newark  and  Paterson, 
but  of  late  much  of  this  product  has  been  utilized  at 
home  in  maintaining  stock  for  the  production,  of  milk. 
As  to  the  rotation  of  crops  best  calculated  to  promote  the 
largest  production  of  upland  grass  of  the  first  quality, 
some  little  difference  of  opinion  prevails,  but  it  is  ad- 
mitted on  all  sides  that  exhaustion  of  the  soil  in  cereals 
of  any  kind  is  a  poor  policy. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  milk  trade  in  this  part  of  the 
county,  and  the  extent  of  that  enterprise,  demand  partic- 
ular notice.  This  business  is  the  growth  of  the  last 
quarter  of  a  century  The  first  can  of  milk  sent  to  the 
New  York  market  from  this  section  was  produced  about 
the  year  1840  on  the  farm  of  William  F.  Smith  of  Parsip- 
pany,  who  shipped  it  directly  to  the  retailer.  Finding 
the  demand  on  the  increase  he  associated  himself  with 
some  of  his  neighbors,  still  shipping  directly  to  the  re- 
tailer. This  was  the  humble  beginning  of  what  is  now, 
perhaps,  the  leading  agricultural  pursuit  of  the  township. 
This  pursuit  as  now  developed  is  conducted  through 
some  dozen  firms,  who  daily  ship  about  200  cans  of  milk 
to  the  cities  of  the  seaboard,  realizing  in  return  about 
$80,000  per  annum.  Whether  the  production  of  milk 
will  long  continue  to  be  the  chief  agricultural  aim  of  this 
region,  or  whether  there  will  be  a  return  to  the  old  deal- 
ing in  hay,  depends  much  upon  the  facilities  for  trans- 
portation which  may  be  hereafter  developed.  One  thing, 
however,  is  certain;  the  high  average  value  of  lands  in 
this  township,  $60  per  acre,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
fact  that  they  are  held  exclusively  for  farming  purposes, 
indicates  no  ordinary  agricultural  advantages. 

The  Iron  Era. 

As  has  been  before  stated,  the  people  of  Hanover 
township  were  at  an  early  date  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  iron.  The  proximity  of  iron  ore,  to  be  had  by 
simply  picking  it  up  on  the  surface  of  the  earth;  streams 
of  gentle  declivity,  flowing  through  a  rolling  country 
and  offering  power  sites  at  little  cost;  a  country  well 
stocked  with  forests  from  which  to  make  charcoal,  and 
needy  markets  in  a  new  and  developing  colony,  were  in- 
ducements which  this  region  presented  to  hardy  and  ad- 
venturous men  at  the  date  of  its  settlement.  We  who 
live  in  this  day  of  steam  transportation  may  smile  at 
the  idea  of  an  important  manufacture  being  conducted 
in  such  manner  as  that  in  which  tradition  assures  us  the 


business  of  this  locality  was  conducted  by  those  old  col- 
onists. "  The  ore  obtained  at  Succasunna,"  says  tradi- 
tion, "was  conveyed  in  leathern  bags  on  horses'  backs  to 
the  forges,  and  the  manufactured  article  carried  in  the 
same  primitive  way  to  the  markets  of  Newark  and  New 
York."  Notwithstanding  all  this  the  business  was  so  re- 
numerative  as  to  induce  the  erection  of  at  least  three 
forges  upon  the  Whi[)pany  River  and  two  others  upon 
its  tributaries,  one  at  Troy  and  another  at  Malapardis, 
while  a  sixth  was  located  on  the  Hanover  side  of  the 
Rockaway  River  at  Old  Boonton.  Indeed,  notwithstand- 
ing the  tedious  transportation  of  ore  from  the  mines 
above  Rockaway  and  Dover,  and  the  further  cost  of  con- 
veying charcoal  from  at  least  as  great  a  distance,  the  last 
of  these  "  old  forges,"  that  at  Troy,  hammered  its  last  bar 
only  a  few  years  before  the  late  rebellion,  and  remains  of 
the  ponderous  timbers  which  entered  into  its  construc- 
tion may  still  be  seen  upon  the  site;  unused  implements 
there  lie  rusting  amid  wild  briars  and  ailanthus  trees, 
while  the  gentle  stream  upon  which  it  was  built,  still  re- 
strained by  the  ancient  dam,  expands  into  a  sheet  of 
water  that  forms  a  lovely  feature  in  a  beautiful  woodland 
scene. 

The  works  at  Old  Boonton  assumed  at  an  early  date  a 
pre-eminence  among  these  manufactories  on  account  of 
the  superior  strength  of  the  water  power  at  that  place; 
but  the  headlong  and  destructive  waters  of  the  river  have, 
in  a  succession  of  freshets,  swept  away  almost  every  ves- 
tige of  the  old  manufactories  there  located.  Bar  iron 
was  undoubtedly  the  exclusive  product  of  these  establish- 
ments with  the  exception  of  Old  Boonton,  but  of  the  ex- 
tent, in  capital,  of  this  industry,  and  of  the  returns  there- 
from to  the  locality,  no  reliable  statistics  are  available. 

Silas  Tuttle,  of  Whippany,  aged  go  years,  has  in  his 
possession  a  lease  dated  A.  D.  1765,  from  Garret  Rapel- 
yea,  of  New  York,  to  John  and  Joseph  Tuttle,  for  the 
forges,  without  specifying  number  or  location. 

Joseph  Mount,  also  of  Whippany,  lately  deceased, 
said:  "I  was  born  in  1778.  I  have  seen  old  timbers 
said  to  have  been  a  part  of  the  old  forge  at  Whippany. 
It  stood  at  the  west  end  of  the  cotton-mill  dam,  between 
the  river  and  the  road.  A  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  were 
built  upon  the  same  ground  after  the  forge  went  down. 
[  have  heard  that  there  was  a  forge  where  the  ruins  of 
the  Jefferson  paper-mill  now  stand.  There  was  one  at 
or  near  the  Halsey  pla:ce,  near  Horse  Hill,  and  another 
at  Malapardis  where  the  water  is  now  drawn  from  the 
pond  to  supply  the  woolen-mill  of  E.  R.  Fairchild.  The 
pond  for  the  use  of  this  forge  covered  500  acres  of  land, 
and  there  were  a  great  many  pine  trees  standing  in  it. 
The  Newark  and  Mt.  Pleasant  turnpike  was  laid  out 
nearly  through  the  middle  of  this  pond.  When  a  small 
boy  I  saw  some  of  these  forges  in  operation.  They  be- 
longed to  the  family  of  the  late  ex-Governors  Mahlon 
and  Philemon  Dickerson." 

E.  R.  Fairchild,  owner  and  operator  of  the  woolen- 
mill  at  Malapardis,  now  74  years  old,  says:  "  I  have 
always  resided  in  this  vicinity.  My  grandfather,  Abra- 
ham Fairchild,  has  often  told  me  that  he  carried  iron 


OLD  BOONTON  IRON  WORKS— MILLS  IN  HANOVER. 


223 


made  at  Stony  Brook  forge  (Malapardis)  to  Newark  on 
horseback,  and  in  the  same  manner  returned  with  a  load 
of  rye  flour,  there  being  at  that  time  (1780)  no  road  fit 
for  heavy  draught." 

Isaac  S.  Lyon,  in  his  discourses,  gives  some  interesting 
scraps  of  history  relating  to  Old  Boonton.  He  says: 
"  Our  earliest  authentic  information  with  respect  to  this 
matter  places  the  possession  of  the  Boonton  tract  in  David 
Ogden,  Esq.,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Newark,  as  early  as 
17591"  snd  that  the  place  probably  received  its  name 
from  said  Ogden,  in  compliment  to  Thomas  Boone,  once 
a  colonial  governor  of  New  Jersey.  The  site  came  into 
possession  of  Colonel  Samuel  Ogden  about  1765.  In  the 
year  1766  or  perhaps  1767  he  came  to  Old  Boonton  to 
take  charge  of  iron  works  already  established  there, 
and  considerably  enlarged  operations  by  erecting  a  roll- 
ing and  slitting-mill.  These  branches  of  manufacture, 
being  forbidden  in  the  colonies  by  act  of  Parliament,  were 
of  course  conducted  clandestinely.  With  relation  to 
this  matter  the  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  late  of  Rockaway, 
writes:  "  The  slitting-mill  was  carried  on  with  great  se- 
crecy. The  upper  part  was  said  to  be  a  small  grist-mill, 
which  was  put  in  operation  to  blind  the  eyes  of  the  sus- 
picious." Further  particulars  of  this  establishment  may 
be  found  on  pages  56  and  57. 

Old  Boonton  was  a  post  village  as  early  as  1795,  one 
Rodolphus  Kent  being  at  that  time  postmaster;  but  the 
office  was  in  1817  changed  to  Parsippany. 

Modern  Manufactures  and  Trade. 

The  manufacture  of  iron  slowly  retreated  mountain, 
ward,  driven  thither  by  the  scarcity  of  charcoal  and  the 
cost  of  ore  carriage,  and  in  the  places  once  occupied  by 
it  gradually  sprang  up  lighter  manufactures  more  or  less 
dependent  upon  water  power.  About  the  year  1810 
Abraham  Fairchild,  Esq.,  the  grandfather  of  E.  R.  Fair- 
child  of  Malapardis,  set  up  the  first  carding  and  spinning 
machines  in  the  township.  They  were  brought  from  the 
State  prison  of  New  York,  and  were  put  into  operation 
on  the  premises  at  present  occupied  as  a  woolen-mill  by 
E.  R.  Fairchild  and  sons.  This  establishment  has  been 
enlarged  from  time  to  time,  until  it  has  reached  its  pres- 
ent dimensions.  Power  looms  and  other  modern  acces- 
sories have  been  added,  and  a  good  line  of  wares  is  pro- 
duced, which  are  much  in  demand  for  serviceable  and 
respectable  suits  such  as  are  preferred  by  farmers  and 
their  work  hands.  This  is  the  only  woolen-mill  in  the 
township. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  Jacob 
Gray  and  Cornelius  Voorhees  purchased  of  a  Mr.  Maher 
the  paper-mill  standing  on  the  site  of  the  present  Cale- 
donia mill,  which  site  had  previously  been  occupied  by  a 
grist-mill.  Shortly  thereafter  the  property  was  sold  to 
Joseph  Blything,  who  by  introducing  the  best  machines 
then  known  soon  raised  the  business  to  deserved  prom- 
inence, having  about  1830  put  up  the  first  "  Foudinier" 
machine  started  in  New  Jersey.  In  1843  Gaunt  &  Der- 
rickson  purchased  this  site  and  that  of  the  Phoenix  mill, 
just  above,   rebuilt  them  and  operated  them  until  they 


were  purchased  by  the  late  Daniel  Coghlan  in  1847,  In 
1855  M''-  Coghlan  also  purchased  the  Jefferson  mill, 
near  Monroe,  and  he  operated  it  until  it  was  burned 
down  in  1861. 

From  i860  to  1870  the  Caledonia  mill  produced  year- 
ly about  two  hundred  tons  of  paper,  chiefly  of  dark  buff 
envelope.  The  Phoenix  mill,  which  was  at  its  rebuilding 
called  the  Eden  mill,  produced  during  the  above  named 
years  from  eight  to  ten  tons  weekly  of  white  paper  for 
Frank  Leslie's  pictorial,  the  Z^^^r  and  other  journals. 
These  mills  are  now  in  the  possession  of  A.  J.  &  R. 
Coghlan. 

In  the  year  1880  the  site  at  Old  Boonton  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  the  forge  and  grist-mill  of  Charles  A.  Righter, 
deceased,  was  purchased  by  a  New  York  company,  who 
erected  thereon  an  extensive  building  and  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  paper.  This  enterprise  is  of  too  re- 
cent a  date  to  have  permitted  its  full  development.  It 
is  now  running  chiefly  on  strawboard,  of  which  it  pro- 
duces from  three  to  five  tons  daily.  A  small  quantity  of 
white  and  colored  paper  has  of  late  been  made.  This 
establishment  is  now  in  the  hands  of  Fitzgibbons,  Mes- 
ser  &  Co.,  of  65  and  67  Crosby  street,  New  York. 

The  manufacture  of  cotton  goods  was  a  few  years 
since  quite  an  important  field  of  enterprise.  This  busi- 
ness was  first  introduced  into  the  locality  by  Noadiah  P. 
Thomas,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Whippany,  sprung  from 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  place.  As  early  as  the 
year  1830  there  were  under  his  supervision  three  cotton- 
spinning  establishments,  placed  at  intervals  along  the 
Whippany  River  from  a  point  above  Eden  mill  to  the 
present  cotton  mill  dam.  One  of  these  having  been 
destroyed  by  fire  about  the  year  1835,  he  projected  and 
carried  into  effect  the  erection  and  fitting  up  of  a  part  of 
the  present  spacious  building,  now  used  a  cotton-mill,  to 
which  subsequent  additions  were  made  until  it  attained 
its  present  dimensions.  This  mill  is  at  present  in  opera- 
tion, making  yarn,  having  recently  been  purchased  by  a 
Mr.  Hunt  from  Hanning  &  Gosling,  who  had  held  it  idle 
for  a  long  time. 

Flouring  mills  were  formerly  somewhat  more  numer- 
ous than  at  present,  several  of  the  ancient  buildings  hav- 
ing been  suffered  to  go  to  decay.  Early  in  the  present 
century  Colonel  Lemuel  Cobb,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Parsipanny,  constructed  a  raceway  at  considerable  cost 
from  the  old  academy  lot,  leading  the  waters  of  Parsip- 
pany Brook  to  a  point  near  the  road  east  of  the  residence 
of  Mrs.  Mary  Board.  Here  he  erected  a  grist-mill 
which  was  successfully  operated  for  a  few  years  but  at 
the  date  of  the  earliest  memories  of  those  now  past 
middle  age  was  only  a  romantic  ruin.  Traces  of  the  old 
raceway  still  exist,  and  its  embankment,  studded  with 
ancient  trees,  stretching  along  the  bank  of  a  sylvan  rivu- 
let, is  a  pleasant  resort  of  a  summer  afternoon.  One 
erected  by  the  late  John  Righter  in  1842  at  Old  Boonton 
was  burned  in  1872,  and  was  never  rebuilt.  The  decay 
of  the  flouring  business  is  attributable  to  the  greater 
profitableness  of  the  milk  and  hay  business  as  compared 
with   the  production  of  grain.     Two  of  these  establish- 


224 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


ments,  however,  are  in  successful  operation;  one  at  Troy, 
the  property  of  A.  J.  Smith,  and  one  at  Whippany,  ov/ned 
by  WilHam  H.  Howell. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  saw-mills  were 
frequent  along  the  streams  of  the  township,  and  their 
sites  may  be  readily  detected  by  remains  of  dams.  At 
present  there  are  but  four  in  operation;  one  at  Whip- 
pany, owned  by  B.  F.  Howell;  one  at  Troy,  operated 
and  owned  by  A.  J.  Smith;  a  third  at  Malapardis,  owned 
by  the  Messrs.  Young,  and  a  fourth  at  PowerviUe,  belong- 
ing to  the  Scott  heirs.  Within  the  recollection  of  men 
living  a  saw-mill  was  run  by  Abraham  Doremus  at  Fox 
Hill,  another  by  Peter  Righter  near  the  old  graveyard  at 
Parsippany,  another  by  Edward  Cobb  half  a  mile  below, 
near  the  residence  of  S.  S.  Barton,  another  a  few  hundred 
yards  below,  by  John  B.  Cobb,  and  still  another  by  Ben- 
jamin Howell,  at  Troy,  all  on  Parsippany  Brook,  the 
first  on  the  head  waters,  and  the  last  on  the  edge  of  the 
lowland,  below  the  grist-mill. 

The  distilling  of  cider  spirits  was  formerly  a  consider- 
able pursuit,  but  the  distilleries  have  faded  from  the  lo- 
cality, the  old  building  at  Henry  Ball's  place  near  Power- 
viUe being  the  only  remaining  vestige  of  a  once  profitable 
business. 

The  manufacture  of  shoes,  introduced  into  the  town- 
ship about  1800  by  Josiah  Quinby,  was  once  a  very  con- 
siderable source  of  profit  to  the  region,  and  many  fine 
farms  are  still  owned  by  the  descendants  of  those  who 
bought  them  with  the  proceeds  of  this  industry. 

In  Whippany,  Troy,  and  other  places  there  was  for- 
merly a  large  business  carried  on  in  tanning  leather;  but 
not  one  of  the  tanneries  is  now  in  existence  in  the  town- 
ship. 

The  slow  but  sure  growth  of  these  higher  manufac- 
tures, which  have  succeeded  that  of  iron,  indicates  clearly 
that  with  larger  facilities  of  ready  transport  by  steam 
their  growth  would  be  greatly  augmented,  and  the  many 
now  unused  power  sites  would  be  called  into  requisition. 
The  expenditure  of  capital  in  constructing  such  facilities 
of  transportation  would  be  by  no  means  a  hazardous  in- 
vestment. 

The  mercantile  operations  of  the  township  are  con- 
ducted through  several  stores  in  the  various  villages,  most 
numerously  of  course  where  manfactures  are  located. 
Under  the  old  iron  regime  these  were  generally  in  the 
hands  of  the  manufacturers  themselves,  they  being  the 
only  men  of  sufficient  capital  for  the  undertaking;  but,  in 
obedience  to  the  law  which  enforces  division  of  labor, 
the-se  gradually  became  separate  establishments,  depend- 
ing on  the  manufacturing  interests  so  far  only  as  good 
will  was  concerned. 

There  are  in  Whippany  five  well  stocked  and  thriving 
stores;  in  Parsippany  two,  that  of  Melvin  S.  Condit  hold- 
ing the  rank  of  a  first  class  country  store,  as  does  also 
that  of  Monroe  Howell  at  Troy.  Hanover  and  Little- 
ton have  each  a  store,  but  these,  being  nearer  to 
large  centers  of  trade  (Newark  and  Morristown),  have 
by  no  means  so  large  a  patronage  as  the  others  men- 
tioned. 


Religious  Societies. 

Within  the  limits  of  this  township  there  are  eight  build- 
ings erected  for  the  public  worship  of  God.  These  be- 
long to  the  respective  societies  as  follows:  Presbyter- 
ians, four;  Methodists,  three,  inclusive  of  the  tabernacle 
at  Mt.  Tabor;  Roman  Catholics,  one,  at  Whippany. 

WHIPPANY    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  first  religious  organization  in  the  county  was 
formed  and  the  first  church  edifice  erected  at  Whippany. 
In  the  year  17 18  one  John  Richards,  a  schoolmaster,  do- 
nated a  tract  of  land  to  the  village  by  a  conveyance  from 
which  the  following  is  an  extract:  "I,  John  Richards,  of 
Whippanong,  in  the  county  of  Hunterdon,  schoolmaster, 
for  and  in  consideration  of  the  love  and  affection  I  have 
for  my  Christian  friends  and  neighbors  in  Whippanong, 
and  for  a  desire  to  promote  and  advance  the  public  inter- 
est, and  especially  for  those  who  shall  covenant  and  agree 
to  erect  a  suitable  meeting-house  for  the  worship  of  God, 
give  three  and  a  half  acres  of  land,  situate  and  being  in  the 
township  of  Whippanong  on  that  part  called  Percippon- 
ong,  on  the  northwestward  side  of  Whippanong  river; 
only  for  public  use  and  benefit,  for  a  meeting-house, 
school-house,  burying  yard  and  training  field,  and  such 
like  uses,  and  no  other."  The  church  building,  which 
must  have  been  erected  shortly  after  the  date  of  the 
deed,  stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  ground 
deeded  as  aforesaid.  Mr.  Richards,  the  philanthropic 
donor,  died  in  December  of  the  year  set  forth  in  the 
deed,  and  the  stone  which  marks  his  grave  is  the  oldest 
one  in  the  burying  ground. 

The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hubbel,  from 
Massachusetts  and  a  graduate  of  Yale  College. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  Nutman,  also  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College.  The  congregation  at  this 
time  (1730)  extended  over  a  wide  range  of  country, 
embracing  the  territory  now  covered  by  Hanover,  Whip- 
pany, Chatham,  Madison,  Parsippany  and  Morristown, 
and  even  reaching  beyond  the  limits  of  these  places. 
Not  long  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Nutman  a  move- 
ment was  made  toward  the  erection  of  a  new  place  of 
worship,  as  the  building  in  which  the  society  then  con- 
vened was  so  dilapidated  as  to  be  unfit  for  use;  and  a 
sharp  contention  arose  among  the  people  of  the  different 
sections  as  to  the  location  of  the  new  building,  should 
one  be  erected.  This  religious  body  being  Presbyterian, 
the  matter  was  referred  and  re-referred  from  synod  to 
presbytery,  but  this  procedure  did  not  effect  a  reconcilia- 
tion. Morristown  persisted  in  demanding  a  separate 
organization,  which  was  granted  in  1735. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Nutman  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Jacob  Green.  Early  in  Mr.  Green's  ministry  (1755)  it 
was  decided  that  the  old  meeting-house  should  be 
abandoned;  and  to  accommodate  the  widespread  congre- 
gation two  houses  were  erected,  one  at  Hanover,  near 
where  the  present  church  stands,  and  the  other  at  Par- 
sippany, in  the  old  burying  ground  of  that  place.  By 
order  of  the  presbytery,  Mr.  Green  was  to   officiate  at 


REV.  JACOB  GREEN-  PARSIPPANY  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCPI. 


225 


both  these  places,  which  he  did  until  1760,  when  the  or- 
ganization at  Parsippany  was  permitted  to  seek  a  minis- 
ter for  itself.  Mr.  Green's  ministry  continued  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  May  24th  1790.  He  was  a  man 
of  large  and  varied  acquirements,  learned  as  well  in  law 
and  medicine  as  in  theology.  His  salary  being  small  he 
engaged  quite  largely  in  secular  pursuits,  at  one  time 
being  interested  in  a  grist-mill  and  a  distillery.  A  letter 
was  once  received  by  him  addressed  as  follows: 

To  the  Hev.  Jacob  Green,  Preacher, 
And  the  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  Teacher. 
To  the  llev.  Jacob  Green,  Doctor, 
And  the  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  Proctor. 
To  the  Hev.  Jacob  Green,  Miller, 
And  the  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  Distiller. 

He  was  buried  near  the  church  in  which  he  officiated 
for  so  many  years,  and  over  his  grave  is  place  a  horizon- 
tal tablet  bearing  the  following  inscription: 

"  Under  this  stone  are  deposited  the  remains  of  the 
Rev'd  Jacob  Green,  A.  M.,  first  pastor  of  this  church; 
who  died  May  24th  1790,  aged  68  years,  of  which  44 
were  spent  in  the  gospel  ministry  in  this  place.  He  was 
a  man  of  temper  even,  firm  and  resolute;  of  affections 
temperately  steady  and  benevolent;  of  genius  solid,  in- 
quisitive and  penetrating;  of  industry  active  and  un- 
wearied; of  learning  curious  and  accurate;  of  manners 
simple  and  reserved;  of  piety  humble,  enlightened,  fer- 
vent, eminent.  As  a  preacher  he  was  instructive,  plain, 
searching,  practical.  As  a  pastor,  watchful,  laborious, 
ever  intent  upon  some  plan  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
salvation  of  his  flock,  and  by  the  divine  blessing  happily 
and  eminently  successful." 

Mr,  Green  was  succeeded  in  the  ministry  as  follows: 
Rev.  Calvin  White,  1790-95;  Rev.  Aaron  Condit,  1796- 
1830;  Rev.  William  Tobey,  1830-33;  Rev.  Samuel  Mande- 
ville,  1834-38;  Rev.  Thomas  Ward,  1839-41;  Rev.  John 
M.  Johnson,  1841-49,  1855-68;  Rev.  George  I.  King, 
1849-55;  Rev.  J.  A.  Ferguson,  from  1869  to  date. 

The  present  neat  and  commodious  church  edifice  was 
erected  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  S.  Mandeville, 
about  the  year  1835. 

PARSIPPANY    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

In  point  of  age  the  next  congregation  in  the  township 
is  that  of  the  Presbyterians  in  Parsippany,  erected  into  a 
distinct  organization  in  1760.  A  church  edifice  had  been 
built  in  1755  in  the  old  burying  ground  of  the  village. 
This  lot  had  been  deeded  for  the  purpose  in  the  year 
i74S>  by  George  Bowlsby,  and  contained  two  and  a  quar- 
ter acres.  The  following  extract  from  the  body  of  this 
old  conveyance,  still  in  the  archives  of  the  church,  exhib- 
its somewhat  of  the  religious  feeling  of  the  age  and  the 
community: 

"  To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  piece  of  land,  contain- 
ing two  acres  and  one  quarter  &c.,  unto  said  Ichabod 
Tompkins  &c.,  to  the  use  and  uses  hereinafter  mentioned 
and  expressed,  and  to  no  other  use,  intent  or  purpose 
whatsoever;  that  is  to  say,  to  the  use  and  uses,  benefit 
and  behoof  of  the  people  belonging  to  the  religious 
society  of  people  commonly  called  Presbyterians  in  the 
township  of  'Hanover  aforesaid  and  parts  adjacent,  for- 
ever, and  for  a  place  for  the  erecting  a  meeting-house 
upon,  and  for  a  burying  place  for  the  use  and  service  of 


the  people  called  Presbyterians  which  are  or  shall  be  and 
continue  in  unity  and  society  of  those  Presbyterians  in 
Hanover  aforesaid  and  parts  adjacent,  who  shall  meet 
and  assemble  themselves  together  on  the  premises  above 
mentioned  to  worship  God  in  the  Presbyterian  manner. 
Provided  always,  and  it  is  the  intention  and  meaning 
hereof  and  of  all  the  said  parties  hereto,  that  no  person 
or  persons  who  shall  not  belong  to  said  society,  or  join 
with  the  major  part  of  them  that  shall  meet  together  at 
the  place  aforesaid,  shall  have  any  rights  or  interest  in 
the  said  piece  of  land,  meeting-house  or  any  part  thereof, 
while  they  shall  remain  out  of  the  said  society  of  Presby- 
terians, or  shall  not  in  a  constant  and  common  way  meet 
at  the  place  aforesaid  with  them  and  join  with  them  in 
their  public  worship." 

Tradition  informs  us  that  the  first  building  erected  was 
of  logs  and  quite  small.  Somewhere  between  1755  and 
1773,  probably  but  a  little  prior  to  the  last  date,  a  new 
meeting-house  was  built,  which  stood  near  the  front  of 
the  present  graveyard,  and  was  still  standing  within  the 
memory  of  some  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  the  place. 

After  the  separation  of  this  body  from  that  at  Han- 
over, in  1769,  Dr.  Darby,  who  was  both  a  theologian  and 
a  physician,  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  church  until  1767, 
when  Rev.  James  Tuttle  was  called  and  installed  as  pas- 
tor of  the  church  at  Parsippany  and  that  at  Rockaway. 
His  ministry  lasted  until  his  death,  in  1770.  After  an 
interval  of  three  years  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Grover,  who  continued  in  the  pastorate  until  1799, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Phelps, 
who  remained  until  1815.  Rev.  John  Ford  then  com- 
menced his  ministry,  which  extended  over  the  long  period 
intervening  between  that  date  and  1857.  During  his  pas- 
torate, in  1828,  the  present  substantial  brick  house  of 
worship  was  erected. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Ford  the  peo- 
ple were  startled  one  Sunday  morning  to  find,  upon  en- 
tering church,  that  the  walls  of  the  sacred  edifice  had 
during  the  week  been  decorated  with  ludicrous  carica- 
tures of  the  prominent  members  of  the  society.  The 
religious  feeling  of  the  place  was,  of  course,  greatly 
shocked,  and  surmises  were  abundant  as  to  who  might 
be  the  perpetrators  of  the  outrage.  No  reliable  solution 
was  arrived  at  until  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  after, 
when  it  transpired  that  two  mischievous  medical  stu- 
dents, then  under  the  care  of  the  late  Dr.  Stephen 
Fairchild,  had  perpetrated  the  rather  unjustifiable  joke 
upon  the  congregation.  The  two  lads  at  the  time  took 
their  seats  demurely  with  other  churchgoers,  and  lis- 
tened attentively  to  the  discourse,  which  was  delivered 
by  the  Rev.  Barnabas  King,  who  in  the  course  of  his  re- 
marks illustrated  the  emptiness  of  earthly  aims  by  refer- 
ring to  the  "  shadows  on  the  wall." 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Ford  Rev.  J.  F,  Sutton 
officiated  as  pastor  for  a  short  time.  During  his  ministry, 
and  owing  to  strong  opposition  to  his  installation  and 
settlement,  a  dissension  arose,  which  resulted  in  the 
withdrawal  of  a  portion  of  the  congregation,  who  were 
organized  under  the  name  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Parsippany — the  older  organization  bearing 
the  title  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Hanover. 


226 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  seceding  body,  after  building  a  church  near  the 
post  office  in  Parsip|)any,  finding  themselves  unable  to 
support  a  minister,  finally  disposed  of  their  church  build- 
ing, which  was  purchased  by  the  Reformed  Church  of 
Boonton,  removed  thither,  and  is  now  occupied  by  that 
body.  After  the  separation  the  pulpit  of  the  primitive 
church  was  successfully  filled  by  the  following  pastors: 
Rev.  A.  R.  Wolfe,  Rev.  F.  F.  Judd,  Rev.  A.  M.  F.  Brown, 
Rev.  Mr.  Board,  Rev.  L.  Boutelier,  and  Rev.  Dr.  C.  C. 
Parker,  who  died  in  the  ministry  in  February  1880. 

In  1859  and  i860  the  church  edifice  of  this  congrega- 
tion was  much  improved  by  a  general  alteration  in  its 
internal  arrangements,  and  in  1876  a  handsome  parson- 
age was  built  near  it,  on  a  piece  of  land  donated 
for  that  purpose  by  Colonel  I.  Condit  Smith,  of  Troy. 
In  1863  the  stone  walls  in  the  rear  and  the  iron  fence 
along  the  front  of  the  graveyard  were  erected.  The 
stone  posts  were  from  Yost's  quarry  at  Bloomfield  and 
were  put  in  position  by  Christian  Stanford.  In  1870  the 
fence  of  cedar  posts  and  iron  rails  along  the  old  road 
was  put  up  by  Simms  &  De  Hart,  of  Boonton,  and  the 
elm  and  maple  trees  were  planted  by  R.  D.  Mattoon. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Whippany  was  organized 
May  ist  1833,  and  immediately  erected  the  present  house 
of  worship,  much  resembling  the  one  at  Hanover.  Sev- 
eral ministers  of  marked  ability  have  successively  occu- 
pied the  pulpit.  The  present  incumbent.  Rev.  Mr.  Bard 
well,  has  been  in  the  pastorate  about, ten  years,  and  has 
by  his  earnestness  and  Christian  simplicity  won  the 
affections  of  all  his  parishioners. 

The  society  of  this  denomination  at  Morris  Plains, 
whose  chapel  is  just  finished,  is  of  too  recent  origin  to 
have  a  history. 

METHODIST    INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Methodist  society  at  Whippany  was  organized  a 
little  before  the  year  1825,  at  which  date  the  present 
chapel  was  built.  The  ministrations  at  this  place  are 
conducted  by  students  from  Drew  Seminary,  at  Madison. 

The  church  of  this  denomination  at  Parsippany  was 
built  in  1830.  Regular  appointments  to  this  post  are 
made  by  the  bishop  presiding  over  the  Newark  Confer- 
ence, the  Rev.  John  Faul  being  the  present  pastor. 

The  most  noted  place  of  Methodist  worship  in  this 
township,  and  perhaps  the  most  noted  in  the  State,  is 
Camp  Tabor,  near  Denville.  The  camp  meeting  asso- 
ciation of  the  Newark  Conference  was  chartered  March 
17th  1869,  and  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month  purchased 
some  thirty  acres  of  land  near  Denville.  In  April  of  the 
same  year  the  work  of  laying  out  the  ground  was  com- 
menced, and  the  first  camp  meeting  was  held  in  August. 
In  1872  a  still  further  purchase  of  100  acres  was  made, 
and  the  whole  tract,  comprising  130  acres,  has  been  laid 
out  in  large  lots  with  reference  to  the  purposes  for  which 
it  was  bought.  Upon  these  lots,  sold  to  different  persons, 
about  150  cottages  have  been  built,  varying  in 
expensiveness  from  $300  to  $2,500.  These  are  generally 
occupied  from  about  the  ist  of  June  to  about  the  ist  of 
September.     The  place  is  supplied  by  pure  water  pumped 


from  a  neighboring  spring  into  a  reservoir  located  upon 
an  eminence.  Elegant  saloons  and  airy  tents  are  placed 
at  intervals,  where  edibles  of  the  choicest  preparation  can 
be  procured,  and  bazaars  stocked  with  fancy  goods  m.iy  be 
found  when  occasion  requires.  The  tabernacle,  from 
whose  portico  the  sermons  are  delivered,  is  a  tastefully 
planned  and  richly  painted  structure,  which,  together 
with  the  light  and  tent-like  buildings  for  prayer  meeting.s, 
gives  an  almost  oriental  aspect  to  the  place.  During 
camp  meeting  seasons  good  sermons  may  here  be  heard 
daily,  and  bursts  of  song,  with  well  executed  cornet  and 
organ  accompaniments,  reverberating  through  the  leafy 
arches,  lift  the  soul  of  the  listener  into  the  regions  of 
highest  religious  feeling.  The  grounds  are  under  the 
control  of  twelve  trustees  elected  for  a  term  of  three  years; 
the  terms  of  four  trustees  expire  annually,  and  their  places 
are  filled  by  yearly  elections  by  lot  owners.  Camp  meet- 
ings are  held  yearly  in  August,  and  the  services  are  under 
the  control  of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  conference. 

ROMAN    CATHOLIC. 

Tne  Roman  Catholic  chapel  at  Whippany,  dedicated 
to  the  Virgin  Mary,  was  erected  only  a  few  years  since. 
It  is  of  a  neat  gothic  design,  with  rose  windows  and  bel- 
fry. The  servics  are  conducted  by  the  resident  priest  at 
Madison. 


Monumental  Inscriptions. 

At  Irish  Lot,  the  residence  of  Mahlon  Hubbard,  for- 
merly the  seat  of  Captain  Michael  Kearney,  lying  among 
aheap  of  stones  which  once  formed  a  well-laid  wall  in- 
closing a  small  spot  of  ground,  is  a  broad,  horizontal 
slab,  bearing  the  following  inscription: 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Captain  Michael  Kearney, 
of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  Navy.  He  departed  this  life 
at  the  Irish  Lott,  the  seat  of  his  residence  in  Hanover,  on 
the  5th  day  of  April  A.  D.  1797,  aged  71  years,  6  months 
and  28  days.  In  the  naval  service  he  was  a  brave  and 
intrepid  officer,  which  secured  to  him  several  marks  of 
distinguished  respect  and  confidence.  In  private  life  he 
exhibited  the  virtues  of  benevolence,  hospitality  and  gen- 
teel urbanity." 

In  the  old  graveyard  at  Parsippany,  engraved  on  verti- 
cal slabs  of  brown  stone,  are  the  following  epitaphs: 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Margaret,  wife  of  Daniel  Bauld- 
win  and  only  child  of  John  and  Anna  Wilson,  who,  to 
the  inexpressible  grief  of  her  husband  and  all  that  knew 
her,  bid  adieu  to  this  world  November  20th  1772,  being 
married  lo  days;  aged  19  years." 

"  You  readers  of  this  tomb. 
You  soon  may  hither  come  ; 
Tho'  now  in  health  and  free  from  pain 
Yet  soon  with  me  you  may  be  lain." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Noahdiah  Thomas,  who  died 
Aprl  ye  4th  1777,  aged  21  ye'rs  &  lo  months." 

"  Here  lies  a  young  man  who  in  his  prime 
Ran  bold  adventures  for  liberty  and  pace. 
But  now  he  is  gone,  and  left  his  fraynds  behind 
To  mourn  for  him  &  for  their  follies  past. 
Not  many  years  before  this  date 
I  then  rejoysed  in  youthful  state. 
But  now  alone  'tis  here  I  lie. 
My  friends,  prepare,  for  you  must  die." 


^^r'^.e.,:^, 


^(2^ 


■'  I '.!  (/  /I jJo.a  A  s,,., 


Jj?»,-/,:7,    ,!t    iV,7 


THE  SCHOOLS  OF  HANOVER  TOWNSHIP. 


227 


"  Delicice  ehu  fugaces  !  Conjugis  amabilis  et  amatm, 
prudentia  eximia,  officiisque  omnibus  filics,  uxoris  ma- 
trisque  praestantis,  morte  subita  et  inopinata  abreptce, 
valde  defleta.  Filii  parvuli,  precari,  multo  meritoque 
delecti,  docilis,  alacris,  soleriis,  spei  eximtcB,  cequo  subito 
derepti  amore  conjugis  parentisq.  superstiiis  memoricR  con- 
secratum." 

"  Maria  Caroline,  wife  of  Walter  Kirkpatrick,  Esq., 
born  Oct.  12th  1798,  died  Oct.  6th  1826.  Eugene 
Walter  Kirkpatrick,  born  May  2d  1825,  died  July  23d 
1828." 

It  is  not  often  that  the  home  affections  are  expressed 
in  inscriptions  of  so  classical  a  character,  and  a  brief 
history  of  this  case  may  not  be  out  of  place.  Walter 
Kirkpatrick  was  a  native  of  Somerset  county,  a  graduate 
of  Princeton,  a  lawyer  by  profession  and  a  surveyor,  in 
the  practice  of  which  last  calling  he  became  acquainted 
with  the  late  Colonel  Lemuel  Cobb,  of  Parsippany,  a 
frequent  visitor  at  the  colonel's  abode,  and  the  success- 
ful suitor  for  the  hand  of  Maria  Caroline,  his  young, 
lovely  and  accomplished  daughter.  Among  other  suit- 
ors for  the  fair  hand  of  the  maiden  was  the  celebrated 
Sylvester  Graham,  who,  being  something  of  a  poet, 
chronicled  his  disappointment  in  this  matter  in  an 
allegorical  burst  of  rhyme  which  was  printed,  and  for- 
merly quite  largely  read  in  the  vicinity.  After  a  brief 
married  life  the  lady  died,  and  the  grief-stricken  hus- 
band indited  the  above  inscription  for  her  memorial, 
which,  however,  was  not  erected  until  within  the  last  few 
years,  and  long  after  the  death  of  both  husband  and 
wife. 

In  the  burying  ground  at  Hanover  is  the  following: 

"  Here  lies  interred  the  body  of  Eleanor  Troupe,  who 
died  October  26th  1769,  in  the  59th  year  ot  her  age." 

This  inscription  becomes  somewhat  interesting  in  con- 
nection with  the  history  of  a  relative's  widow,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Darby  of  Parsippany.  In  the  same 
graveyard  may  also  be  read  the  inscription  to  the  mem- 
ory of  David  Young,  which  is  given  in  connection  with 
a  biographical  sketch  of  that   notable  man. 

Schools. 

The  township  under  the  public  school  laws  of  the 
State  is  divided  into  districts,  the  names  and  school  popu- 
lation of  which  are  given  in  the  annexed  extract  from  the 
report  of  the  State  superintendent  for  the  year  1880: 
Monroe,  77;  Littleton,  89;  Malapardis,  60;  Whippany, 
in;  Hanover,  58;  Hanover  Neck,  49;  Troy,  87;  Par- 
sippany, 76;  North  Parsippany,  34;  Old  Boonton,  41; 
Powerville,  97;  total  779.  Average  number  of  months 
the  schools  have  been  kept  open,  9.6.  Value  of  school 
property  in  the  township,  $9,950. 

Of  the  buildings  in  which  these  several  schools  are 
convened,  those  of  Whippany,  Parsippany  and  Troy 
occupy  the  sites  which  have  been  longest  held  for  the 
purposes  of  education,  and  around  each  of  them  cling 
many  associations  of  "  auld  lang  syne."  The  building  at 
Whippany  is  a  long  two-story  frame  structure,  which  has 
been  enlarged  by  several  additions.  The  upper  story 
WIS  formerly  used  as  a  masonic  lodge,  by  the  organiza- 


tion which  was  the  parent  of  the  lodge  in  Morristown. 
The  old  altar,  and  rude  engravings  of  the  mystic  em- 
blems emblazoned  upon  the  walls,  were  objects  of  mixed 
curiosity  and  awe  to  the  youngsters  of  fifty  years  ago. 
The  building  at  Troy  was  erected  in  1807,  and  thoroughly 
repaired  about  1846.  It  is  two  stories  in  height,  and  has 
two  assembly  rooms,  the  lower  one  now  used  for  the 
public  school,  and  the  upper  one  occupied  by  the  select 
school  of  B.  S.  Condit.  The  building  at  Parsippany, 
which  stands  on  a  commanding  eminence  at  the  western 
extremity  of  the  village,  is  of  wood,  two  stories  in  height. 
It  was  built  in  1871,  upon  the  site  previously  occupied 
by  the  old  brick  academy,  which  was  burned  about  the 
year  1859. 

The  destruction  of  this  substantial  edifice  caused  quite 
a  commotion  in  the  community.  The  mastership  was  at 
that  time  held  by  a  man  from  Connecticut  by  the  name 
of  Pease,  who  afterward  became  a  somewhat  prominent 
■bost-bellum  politician  at  the  south,  and  was  appointed  to 
fill  an  unexpired  term  in  the  United  States  Senate.  The 
fire  was  discovered  about  midnight,  and  upon  the  arrival 
of  those  first  on  the  ground  had  made  such  progress  that 
entry  into  the  building  was  found  to  be  impossible.  The 
discovery  in  the  morning  that  certain  personal  property 
of  the  teacher  was  lying  secreted  in  a  neighboring  fence 
led  to  the  suspicion  that  the  building  had  been  purposely 
fired  by  the  master;  a  suspicion  strengthened  by  the  fact 
that  a  long  standing  contention  existed  as  to  the  right  to 
hold  the  premises  as  public  school  property.  Upon  Mr. 
Pease's  appointment  to  the  United  States  Senate  the  op- 
position papers  seized  upon  the  now  almost  forgotten  im- 
putation, and  it  became  a  subject  of  extended  newspaper 
comment  throughout  the  land,  and  Mr.  Pease  was  com- 
pelled to  leave  his  lofty  place  at  Washington,  and  apply 
to  his  obscure  quondam  employers  for  a  vindication  of  his 
character.  In  this  he  succeeded  so  well  as  to  secure  a 
strong  vindication  from  several  who  at  the  time  of  the 
burning  showered  denunciations  upon  his  hfead.  Whether 
this  was  the  result  of  excessive  powers  of  persuasion  ac- 
quired in  the  exalted  body  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
or  of  afterthought  on  the  part  of.  the  vindicators,  will 
perhaps  never  transpire;  but  it  will  be  a  subject  of  regret 
with  the  older  citizens  of  the  place  that  the  old  substan- 
tial structure  has  disappeared  from  the  site  it  so  long 
occupied. 

The  buildings  of  the  other  districts  in  the  township  are 
of  comparatively  recent  date,  and  in  general  poorly  lo- 
cated. 

Charitable  Institutions. 

Close  upon  the  hill  country  in  the  western  part  of  this 
township,  on  the  part  known  as  Morris  Plains,  is  situated 
one  of  the  noblest  structures  of  the  age,  the  Insane  Asy- 
lum. The  committee  appointed  by  the  State  authorities, 
after  thoroughly  canvassing  the  matter,  selected  this 
locality  as  the  best  suited  for  the  purpose  in 
view.  The  loveliness  of  the  surrounding  landscape, 
the  purity  of  the  atmosphere,  the  mildness  of  the 
climate   and   excellence  of   the  water  furnished  by    the 


31 


228 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


numerous  springs  in  the  vicinity,  irresistibly  rec- 
ommended this  point  to  their  favorable  consideration, 
and  finally  decided  their  choice.  A  full  statement  of  the 
cost  of  the  building  and  of  the  later  management  of 
this  great  charity  maybe  found  in  the  annual  reports  to 
the  Legislature.  It  is  a  source  of  extreme  gratification 
to  the  people  of  the  township  of  Hanover  that  a  portion 
of  its  territory  should  have  been  considered  the  best 
suited  for  so  noble  an  object,  and  they  derive  great  pleas- 
ure from  the  universal  admiration  bestowed  upon  the 
scenery  in  the  midst  of  which  it  is  placed. 

The  buildings  erected  for  the  county  poor-house  stand 
upon  a  farm  purchased  for  the  purpose  near  old  Boonton, 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township.  The  principal 
building,  which  surrounds  a  quadrangular  court,  has  been 
from  time  to  time  enlarged  until  it  has  attained  its  pres- 
ent extent.  The  farm  is  extremely  fertile,  contains  240 
acres,  and  is  so  managed  as  to  bring  in  no  small  part  of 
the  supplies  needed  for  the  maintenance  of  the  unfortun- 
ates who  seek  its  favors.  The  establishment  is  under 
the  supervision  of  a  steward  appointed  by  the  board  of 
chosen  freeholders,  to  whom  reports  are  annually  made. 
The  number  of  inmates  is  from  100  to  iso. 

The  Fairchild  Family. 

Dr.  Stephen  Fairchild,  youngest  son  of  Jonathan  Fair- 
child  and  Sarah  Howell,  was  born  in  Littleton,  Morris 
township,  N.  J.,  October  28th  1792.  At  an  early  age  he 
showed  a  decided  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  after  a  com- 
mon school  education  prepared  himself  for  the  study  of 
medicine.  He  studied  with  DrS.  Ebenezer  and  Charles 
E.  Pierson,  of  Morristown,  and  attended  medical  lectures 
in  Philadelphia.  He  practiced  medicine  about  a  year  in 
New  York;  then,  upon  urgent  solicitation,  he  came  to 
Parsippany  in  1816,  to  succeed  Dr.  Hart  well,  who  had 
lately  been  removed  by  death.  In  1818  he  married 
Euphemia  M.;  daughter  of  George  D.  Brinckerhoff  and 
Euphemia  Ashfield. 

Dr.  Fairchild  followed  his  profession  with  high  appro- 
bation and  success  for.fifty-six  years.  His  last  sickness 
was  one  of  intense  suffering,  but  his  faith  never  wavered. 
He  died  surrounded  by  his  family,  July  13th  1872,  and 
was  buried  at  Parsippany.  Dr.  Fairchild  was  not  merely 
a  skillful  physician,  but  an  earnest  and  devout  Christian; 


bringing  not  only  healing  remedies  but  the  consolation  of 
the  gospel  to  the  chambers  of  the  sick  and  dying.  Very 
few  physicians  were  ever  more  honored  and  loved  than 
Dr.  Stephen  Fairchild. 

Dr.  Richard  Van  Wyck  Fairchild,  only  son  of  Dr. 
Stephen  Fairchild  and  Euphemia  M.  Brinckerhoff,  was 
born  February  22nd  1819.  He  was  prepared  for  college 
at  the  classical  school  of  Ezra  Fairchild,  at  Mendham, 
N.  J.,  entered  the  junior  class  at  Princeton  College, 
N.  J.,  in  1837,  and  graduated  in  1839.  He  studied  med- 
icine with  his  father,  and  subsequently  with  Dr.  McCIel- 
lan,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Dr.  Mott,  of  New  York.  Dr. 
Fairchild  entered  upon  his  practice  with  his  father  in 
1843.  He  had  unquestioned  skill  as  a  physician  and 
surgeon.  As  a  friend  he  was  true  and  steadfast,  and 
generous  and  kind  to  the  poor.  At  Princeton  he 
was  the  college  wit,  and  through  life  his  keen  sense  of  the 
ludicrous,  his  abounding  humor  and  powers  of  imitation 
and  representation,  together  with  his  wide  and  varied  in- 
formation, made  him  a  most  agreeable  companion.  He 
was  a  man  of  fine  physique,  a  very  able  writer,  of  a  poetic 
mind;  nor  was  he  deficient  in  music,  having  a  well  cul- 
tivated voice  and  ear. 

In  November  1852  Dr.  Fairchild  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Howell,  of  Troy,  N.  J.,  who  lived 
but  a  few  years.  June  13th  1866  he  married  Ruth  E., 
daughter  of  James  H.  Tichenor  and  LydiaT.  Nuttmann, 
of  Newark,  N.  J.  He  died  suddenly  February  24th  1874, 
and  was  buried  with  his  maternal  grandparents  and  his 
father  in  the  burial  ground  at  Parsippany,  N.  J.  Dr. 
Fairchild  survived  his  father  scarcely  two  years;  they 
were  loving  in  their  lives  and  in  death  not  long  divided. 

Mrs.  Ephemia  M.  Fairchild,  daughter  of  George  D. 
Brinckerhoff  and  Euphemia  Ashfield,  was  born  at  Mount 
Hope,  N.  J.,  in  September  1796.  Her  father,  George  D. 
Brinckerhoff,  retiring  from  business,  purchased  a  resi- 
dence in  Parsippany,  N.  J.,  to  which  he  moved  his  family 
in  1797.  It  had  been  a  tavern  in  the  Revolutionary  times. 
The  old  homestead,  the  birthplace  of  Dr.  Richard  V.  W. 
Fairchild,  was  burned  in  November  1874,  but  another 
house  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1875  by  Mrs.  R.  V.  W. 
Fairchild,  on  the  old  site,  where  Mrs.  Euphemia  Fairchild 
is  passing  her  remaining  days. 

Mrs.  Fairchild  is  a  lady  of  the  old  school,  amiable, 
educated,  refined  and  a  Christian. 


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JEFFERSON    TOWNSHIP. 


By  Ret.  B.  C.  Meqie,  D.  D. 


HIS  township  is  situated  in  the  northwestern 
corner  of  Morris  county  and  contains  25,000 
acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  northwest  by 
Sussex  county  and  Lake  Hopatcong,  on  the 
northeast  by  Passaic  county,  on  the  south- 
east by  Rockaway,  and  on  the  southwest  by  Rox- 
bury  township.  In  shape  ii  is  nearly  a  parallelo- 
gram, about  twelve  miles  long  and  of  an  average  width 
of  four  miles. 

The  census  returns  of  population  for  this  township 
from  the  first  have  been  as  follows:  1810,  1,281;  1820, 
1,231;  1830,  t,ssi;  1840,  1,410;  1850,  1,358;  i860,  1,471; 
1870,  1,430;   1875,  1,740;  1880,  1,792. 

The  statistics  of  valuation,  taxes,  etc.,  for  1881  were  as 
follows:  Acres,  24,647;  valuation  of  real  estate,  $475,175; 
personal  property,  $152,525;  total  taxable  property,  $596,- 
100;  debt,  $31,600;  polls,  406;  State  school  tax,  $1,517.43; 
county  tax,  $1,416.56;  road  tax,  $1,200. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  broken  and  rugged, 
and  the  scenery  is,  in  many  places,  wild  and  almost 
grand;  in  all  beautiful  and  picturesque.  The  Rockaway 
River  runs  through  almost  the  whole  length  of  the  town- 
ship between  two  ranges  of  hills,  whose  height  varies 
from  400  to  600  feet  above  the  river  bed.  The  valley 
thus  formed,  which  is  very  narrow,  rarely  exceeding  a 
mile  in  width,  contains  most  of  the  arable  land  in  the 
territory. 

The  evidence  of  the  action  of  a  large  body  of  water  or 
ice  upon  the  sides  of  this  mountain  is  evident  to  an  ordi- 
nary observer,  in  the  rounded  appearance  of  detached 
stones  of  all  sizes  that  abound  along  the  entire  course  of 
the  river,  as  well  as  in  the  gap  or  break  in  the  mountains 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Berkshire  Valley,  which  has  the 
appearance  of  having  been  torn  out  by  the  force  of  a 
vast  flood.  To  a  practiced  geologist,  however,  there  are 
many  proofs  to  this  end  entirely  convincing.  The  fol- 
lowing account  is  condensed   from  the  State  geological 

report: 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  valley  is  a  glacial 
drift  of  considerable  depth.  At  Milton  wells  sunk  to  the 
depth  of  forty  feet  do  not  go  through  it.  Between 
Petersburg  and  Russia  the  drift  partly  covers  the  slate 
strata  except  on  low,  long  outcrops  which  range  with  the 


valley.  The  flat  bordering  the  river  is  from  twenty  to 
sixty  feet  lower  than  the  general  level  of  the  drift  hills 
and  benches.  The  gravelly  terrace  formation  is  half  a 
mile  wide  on  the  line  of  the  Sparta  turnpike,  and  the  same 
width  is  continued  southward.  Cuttings  in  the  Long- 
wood  road  and  also  at  Berkshire  Valley  disclose  strata  of 
land  gravel,  cobble  stones  and  a  few  small  boulders.  The 
thickness  as  shown  by  a  well  at  F.  W.  Fichter's  place  is  at 
least  sixty  feet.  "  The  uniform  height  of  the  terrace 
formation  in  this  long  and'  narrow  valley,  rising  but 
forty  feet  from  the  terminal  moraine  at  Berkshire  to  the 
watershed  northeast  of  Milton,  a  distance  of  eleven 
miles,  and  then  descending  thirty  feet  in  four  miles  to 
Newfoundland,  leads  us  to  infer  the  existence  of  a  long 
and  comparatively  shallow  lake,  which  formed  the  term- 
inal moraine,  and  which  was  connected  with  the  waters 
of  West  Milford  and  Greenwood  Lake  basin.  The  out- 
let was  at  first  at  the  southwest,  by  the  Rockaway  and 
through  the  terminal  moraine.  The  retreat  of  the  glacier 
northward  opened  the  Pequannock  and  permitted  a  part 
of  the  waters  to  escape  eastward.  The  small  pond  holes 
and  the  Little  Mooseback  Lake  are  the  undrained  parts 
of  the  old  lake." 

Early  Settlers. 

Ths  earliest  settler  of  whom  we  can  obtain  any  infor- 
mation was  Humphrey  Davenport,  or  Debenport,  as  the 
name  was  then  written,  who  came  from  Devonshire, 
Engltind,  and  purchased  land  at  Newfoundland.  His 
arrival  was  probably  about  the  year  1720.  His  son  was 
also  named  Hnmphrey,  and  he  and  his  son  Captain  Cor- 
nelius Davenport  lived  on  the  homestead  at  Newfound- 
land. The  place  still  remains  in  the  possession  of  the 
family.  Captain  Cornelius  Davenport  married  Rachel 
Davenport,  a  member  of  another  family  of  the  same 
name.  Their  children  were  Captain  Enos  Davenport, 
who  enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812,  John  C,  Nathan,  Charles, 
Cornelius,  Phoebe,  Julia  Anne,  Jane,  Fanny  and  Mahala. 
Enos  Davenport  married  Fanny  Keepers,  who  was  a  near 
relative  of  the  famous  Captain  John  Paul  Jones,  and  their 
family  was  large;  but  only  two  of  them  now  reside  in  Jef- 
ferson township,  namely:  Charles,  who  married  Affie 
Spencer,  and   Jane,  who  married  William  Winterbottom. 


230 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


John  C.  Davenport  married  Delilah  Turner,  and  their 
two  daughters — Mary  Ann,  who  married  Mahlon  Jen- 
nings, and  Lavinia,  who  married  Thomas  K.  Norman — 
both  reside  in  the  township. 

We  have  no  definite  information  of  any  other  settle- 
ments after  the  Davenports  until  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  tradition  is  that  seven  or  eight  hunters  and 
trappers  came  to  the  township  between  1775  and  1778 
and  established  themselves  there.  Whether  these  tra- 
ditionary forefathers  came  together,  or  at  intervals,  does 
not  now  seem  to  be  very  well  known.  Slack  was  the 
name  of  one,  and  he  owned  a  farm  near  Little  or  Bleach- 
ley's  Pond,  now  a  portion  of  Lake  Hopatcong.  It  is 
stated  that  William  Headley  was  also  one  of  these  early 
settlers,  and  that  he  lived  on  the  land  where  Joseph 
Headley  now  resides.  He  came  from  .the  Wyoming  Val- 
ley, in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  living  just  previous  to 
the  massacre  of  the  whites  by  the  Indians.  He  was  warned 
by  a  friendly  Indian  of  the  impending  disaster,  and  had 
just  time  to  escape  with  his  family  before  the  blow 
descended.  He  at  first  settled  in  the  mountains  imme- 
diately north  of  the  township,  but  ultimately  removed  to 
the  spot  which  we  have  mentioned. 

The  arrival  of  the  Normans  was  also  about  this  time. 
Peter  Norman  was  a  Hessian,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
war  settled  on  the  mountains  behind  Milton  and  Sparta, 
perhaps  in  Sussex  county. 

It  was  not  far  from  this  time  that  Captain  Cornelius 
Davenport  built  his  stone  house  at  Milton,  which  is  one 
of  the  oldest  houses  in  the  township. 

It  was  a  custom  for  these  early  settlers  to  meet  once  a 
year  at  the  house  of  one  or  another  of  them,  to  compare 
notes  and  relate  their  adventures.  At  one  time  they  as- 
sembled at  Slack's  house,  when  the  latter  is  stated  to 
have  declared  that  he  was  accustomed  to  eat  a  piece  of 
the  meat  of  every  animal  that  he  shot.  Not  long  before 
he  had  killed  an  otter.  He  selected  the  choicest  look- 
ing piece  of  the  meat  and  had  his  wife  cook  it  with  care, 
and  then  proceeded  to  eat.  "  There  ain't  no  kind  of 
meat  that  I  can't  eat,"  Mr.  Slack  concluded,  to  the 
amusement  of  his  friends;  "  but  otter  meat  is  just  about 
a  leetle  the  darndest  meat  I  ever  put  into  my  mouth." 

Philemon  Dickerson,  the  brother  of  Gov.  Mahlon  Dick- 
erson,  of  Mine  Hill,  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  these  social 
gatherings  and  was  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful 
in  the  athletic  games  practiced  on  such  occasions.  One 
exercise  was  to  put  the  toe  through  the  ring  of  the  old 
fashioned  56-pound  weight  and  throw  it  to  as  great  a  dis- 
tance as  possible  with  the  foot.  Mr.  Dickerson  could 
cast  it  farther  than  any  of  the  others. 

On  one  occasion  there  was  some  writing  to  be  done, 
and  Mr.  Dickerson  called  for  a  pen  and  ink,  which  were 
promptly  furnished  him.  After  trying  the  pen  he  de- 
clared it  to  be  the  worst  one  that  he  had  ever  seen.  "  I 
shouldn't  wonder  if  it  was,"  retorted  his  host,  Captain 
Davenport,  "  for  it's  the  same  one  you  left  here  last  year." 

Among  other  of  the  early  settlers  were  the  Dows, 
Stanburroughs,  Hulmes,  Coopers,  Chamberlains  and 
Sewards. 


The  Hurd  family  originally  came  from  Randolph 
township,  near  Dover.  Two  brothers,  Joseph  and  Daniel 
Hurd,  moved  to  Hurdtown  about  the  year  1800.  Joseph 
married  Miss  Long,  and  their  children  were  David  B., 
James  L.,  Uel,  and  Mary,  who  married  Charles  F.  Ran- 
dolph. David  B.  married  Eliza  Condit,  of  Morristown. 
Their  children  were  Mary,  Edward  C,  Lewis  and  Phoebe 
A.  Other  children  were  born  to  them,  but  they  died 
young.  Mary  Hurd  married  Dr.  William  B.  Lefevre,  and 
their  surviving  children  are  Eliza  C.  (married  to  Harlan 
W.  Cortright,  at  Nolan's  Point)  and  William  J.  Lefevre, 
an  artist  of  distinction  now  resident  at  Dover.  Edward 
C.  Hurd  married  Rebecah  Wright,  and  now  resides  at 
Dover.  Lewis  Hurd  resides  at  Hurdtown,  in  the  house 
formerly  occupied  by  David  B.  Hurd.  Phoebe  A. 
married  William  A.  Wood  (since  deceased),  and  resides 
at  Dover. 

William  Wood,  the  first  of  that  name  in  the  township, 
moved  to  Hurdtown  about  1804  or  1805.  He  married 
Susannah  Berry.  Their  children  were:  Freeman,  who 
married  Mary  B.  Jackson,  and  is  now  a  judge  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas  for  Morris  county  and  resides  at 
Dover;  Maria  Wood,  who  married  John  M.  Losey,  and 
Willaim  A.  Wood,  who  married  Caroline,  daughter  of 
James  L.  Hurd,  and  after  her  decease  Phcebe  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  David  B.  Hurd.  His  daughter  by  his  first  wife 
married  Mr.  McPherson,  a  brother  of  Senator  McPherson, 
and  is  now  resident  in  Chicago. 

The  children  of  Freeman  Wood  were:  William  F. 
Wood,  who  married  Miss  Frances  P.  Howe,  was  a  pay- 
master in  the  army  with  the  rank  and  pay  of  major,  and 
resides  in  Hartford,  Conn.;  Susan,  who  married  N.  P. 
Neff,  of  Cincinnati,  O.,  where  they  now  reside;  John  F. 
Wood,  who  married  Irene  Bright  and  resides  in  Dover; 
Florence,  who  married  A.  C.  Smith  and  resides  in  Dover, 
and  Clement  Wood,  M.  D.,  who  resides  at  Haverstraw 
New  York. 

The  children  of  Maria  and  J.  M.  Losey  were  Edward, 
deceased;  Susan,  and  Ella,  who  married  R.  B.  Livermore 
and  resides  in  New  York. 

Colonel  John  H  Stanburrough  came  to  the  township 
about  1806.  He  married  Miss  Lum,  a  sister  of  Squier 
Lum.  Their  children  were:  Albert  H.  Stanburrough, 
county  clerk  during  two  terms,  and  long  prominent  in 
the  county  in  political  and  business  affairs,  who  now  re- 
sides at  Milton,  and  furnished  much  valuable  information 
regarding  the  township;  John  D.  Stanburrough,  who  also 
resides  at  Milton;  Nancy  Stanburrough,  who  married 
Albert  R.  Riggs,  of  Succasunna  Plains,  where  they  now 
reside;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Mr.  Dalrymple  and 
now  lives  in  Sussex  county.  None  of  the  other  children 
live  in  the  State  at  the  present  time. 

A  Sportsman's  Reminiscences. 

The  following  anecdotes  of  old  times  in  Jefferson  were 
furnished  to  the  Iron  Era  by  the  late  Guy  M.  Hinch- 
man,  of  Dover: 

"  About  the  years  1818-20  Mr.  James  L.  Hurd,  de- 
ceased, was  the  proprietor  and  genial  host  of  a  most  ex- 


=^F=^<=^ 


C.  HURD.    Hurdtown,  N.J- 


HUNTING  SCEN6S  IlSf  JEFFERSON  TOWNSHIP. 


231 


cellent  public  house  at  Hurdtown,  or  New  Partners,  as 
the  place  was  then  sometimes  called.  At  that  time  a 
forge,  manufacturing  bar  iron  by  the  blooming  process, 
was  in  operation.'  Water  power  was  supplied  from  a 
pond  of  large  dimensions,  lying  north  and  east  of  the 
turnpike  leading  to  Sparta.  This  place  was  the  resort  of 
many  sportsmen  during  the  hunting  season,  and  many 
deer  were  captured  in  and  about  said  pond.  The  moun- 
tainous region  lying  south  and  east  between  Upper  and 
Lower  Longwood  and  Berkshire  Valley  abounded  in 
game.  The  method  of  hunting  was  to  hound  the  deer 
with  dogs,  forcing  them  to  take  water  in  said  pond. 
Their  routes  or  runways  were  so  well  known  that  a  greater 
number  were  captured  on  land  than  of  those  reaching 
the  pond.  A  party  of  eight  gentlemen  from  Newark 
and  Belleville  arrived  there,  intending  to  have  a  week's 
sport.  Of  the  company  was  a  brother  of  Commodore 
Stephen  Decatur.  The  writer  then  resided  at  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, and,  learning  that  after  several  days'  hunting  the 
party  were  unsuccessful,  and  having  the  acquaintance  of 
two  of  the  gentlemen,  resolved  to  pay  them  a  visit.  Af- 
ter listening  to  the  whys  and  wherefores  for  their  ill  luck 
(they  asserting  that  although  deer  were  started  every 
day,  none  had  taken  water)  the  writer  ventured 
to  suggest  that  probably  the  fault  was  attributable 
to  their  dogs,  at  which  one  gentleman  became 
indignant,  remarking,  'Sir,  are  you  aware  that  our  hounds 
are  the  pick  of  the  Newark  pack?  No  truer  or  more 
staunch  dogs  exist.'  'Granted,  sir;  but  your  hounds  are 
of  the  beagle  breed,  short  in  the  legs,  just  the  kind  for 
chasing  the  fox  on  the  marshes  and  meadows  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Newark;  but  permit  me.  to  tell  you,  sir,  here  in 
our  mountains  deer  will,  play  before  your  dogs,  browse 
on  the  way,  sir,  and  get  fat.  To  induce  them  to  take 
water  they  must  be  pursued  by  fleeter  dogs,  that  push 
them,  which  your  beagles  cannot  do.  Why,  sir,  I  have  a 
brace  of  dogs,  a  cross  between  the  fox  hound  and  stag 
hound,  now  only  15  months  old,  that  can  put  a  deer  into 
the  pond  in  30  minutes  from  the  time  he  leaves  his  lair.' 
Suffice  it  to  say  that,  after  mutual  explanations,  the  writer 
received  an  invitation  to  join  the  party  on  the  following 
day,  and  prove  his  assertion  in  regard  to  his  dogs,  On 
parting,  I  remarked,  'Gentlemen,  to-morrow  at  6  o'clock 
A.  M.  I  will  cause  my  dogs  to  be  unleashed  in  the  "Dark 
Hollow,"  and  it  will  not  be  long  before  you  will  hear  from 
them;  therefore  guard  well  the  runways  through  Gravel 
Hill  field  and  Laurel  Point,  for  that  will  probably  be  the 
course  of  the  game  to  the  pond.' 

"  At  the  appointed  time  next  morning  I  parted  com- 
pany with  my  driver  and  dogs  at  the  foot  of  Seward 
Mountain,  with  instructions  to  the  driver  to  keep  the 
dogs  in  the  leash  until  he  should  have  fairly  penetrated 
the  hollow,  fearing  they  might  cross  the  trail  of  fox  or 
rabbit  and  thereby  delay  the  sport.  Being  mounted  on 
a  fleet  horse,  rifle  in  hand,  I  had  just  reached  the  summit 
of  the  mountain  when  I  heard  the  sharp,  continuous  cry 
of  the  hounds,  leading  off  in  the  direction  of  Lower 
Longwood.  Knowing  full  well  from  the  eagerness  of 
the  dogs  that  the  game  would  soon  be  compelled  to  double 
and  make  for  water,  I  gave  rein,  and  made  full  speed  for 
the  north  side  of  the  pond,  knowing  it  to  be  my  only 
chance  should  the  deer  escape  in  running  the  gauntlet  in 
his  course  to  water. 

"  Having  reached  my  position,  I  had  barely  time  to 
dismount  and  tie  m'y  horse  when  the  exhilarating  cry  of 
the  hounds  became  audible.  But  a  few  moments  elapsed 
before  a  fusilade  commenced  from  those  guarding  the 
runways.  Half  a  dozen  shots  or  more  in  quick  succes- 
sion were  hurled  at  the  deer,  but  he  came  safely  through, 
dashing  fearlessly  into  the  water,  dashing  the  spray  ten 
feet  high  and  making  a  bee  line  for  the  place  of  my  con- 


cealment. At  the  proper  moment  the  sharp  crack  of  my 
rifle  reverberated  from  mountain  to  mountain,  and  the 
noble  animal  lay  lifeless  on  the  water.  No  boat  or  other 
appliance  being  at  hand,  having  verified  my  promise,  and 
wishing  to  perform  my  part  with  alacrity,  perceiving  a 
gentle  wind  was  wafting  the  deer  farther  from  shore,  with 
more  zeal  than  discretion  I  resolved  to  take  to  the  water. 
Having  divested  myself  of  part  of  my  clothing  I  heed- 
lessly plunged  in,  notwithstanding  it  was  a  November 
morning  and  the  ground  was  white  with  frost.  I  suc- 
ceeded in  swimming  to  the  deer,  but  was  so  cold  and  be- 
numbed that  I  was  in  doubt  whether  my  limbs  moved 
with  the  effort  I  made  in  swimming.  Fortunately  the 
deer  was  in  his  winter  coat,  and  very  buoyant.  I  imme- 
diately placed  my  breast  upon  his  body,  which,  imparting 
a  genial  warmth,  alone  enabled  me  to  make  my  way 
safely  back  to  land.  My  driver,  aware  that  the  reputa- 
tion of  himself  and  dogs  was  at  stake,  was  in  at  the  death, 
highly  elated  with  the  success,  exclaiming  '  Them  am  the 
pups  that  can  do  it  !'  Some  one  remarked,  '  My  man, 
can  you  do  it  again?'  'Sure  I  can;  I  seed  three  deer 
get  up  where  I  started  that  one,  and  them  are  pups  will 
take  the  trail  sartin.'  And,  true  to  his  promise,  at  11 
o'clock  A.  M.  he  sent  another,  a  noble  doe,  nearly  over 
the  same  route;  but  it  was  not  as  fortunate,  and  was  se- 
cured by  one  of  the  party  before  reaching  the  water. 
The  beagle  hounds  continued  their  baying  in  the  moun- 
tains all  the  morning  without  any  result,  which  was  very 
annoying  to  some  of  the  party. 

"  Permit  me  to  describe  a  curious  relic  then  on  exhibi- 
tion at  Mr.  Kurd's.  A  person  chopping  cordwood  felled 
a  tree  of  about  15  inches  diameter,  and  having  severed 
the  first  cut  of  four  feet  attempted  to  split  it,  but  found 
it  difficult  to  accomplish.  After  repeated  blows,  it  hav- 
ing yielded  for  half  its  length,  one  more  well  directed 
blow  of  his  axe  severed  the  obstruction,  and  on  exposure 
it  proved  to  be  the  antler  of  a  deer.  How  deposited  was 
a  mystery,  but  there  it  was,  surrounded  by  wood  per- 
fectly sound  though  a  little  gnarled  and  showing  a  trifling 
enlargement  of  the  log  at  that  point.  The  antler,  like  the 
wood,  was  in  perfect  preservation,  as  shown  by  skillfully 
dissecting  the  wood  at  several  points.  It  was  certainly 
very  curious  and  worthy  of  being  preserved.  Should 
time  have  dealt  as  kindly  with  others  of  that  party  as 
with  the  writer,  and  this  shall  meet  their  gaze,  it  will  be 
to  them  a  pleasant  reminiscence. 

"  The  writer  is  in  possession  of  a  fowling  piece  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation,  that  did  excellent  service  in 
those  days,  although  it  lay  in  the  bottom  of  Mt.  Pleasant 
mine,  in  eighty  feet  of  water,  from  1817  to  1828,  having 
been  stolen  and  to  avoid  detection  thrown  into  the  mine. 
Subsequently,  in  draining  that  portion  of  the  mine,  it 
was  recovered. 

"  At  the  time  of  which  I  write  many  interesting  scenes 
transpired  on  Lake  Hopatcong.  Many  deer  were  driven 
into  the  lake  by  hounds  and  captured.  None  but  those 
who  have  witnessed  it  can  conceive  the  power  of  those 
little  animals  in  the  water.  I  have  seen  them  almost 
walk  upon  it.  In  being  approached  by  a  boat  the  method 
of  capture  was  to  row  up  to  them,  seize  them  by  the  hind 
leg — no  other  hold  could  be  retained  for  an  instant — and 
dispatch  them;  they  were  never  shot  unless  they  were 
about  to  escape.  Although  by  their  capture  was  gained 
the  huntsman's  ardent  wish,  yet  I  was  always  moved  to 
pity,  and  half  inclined  to  doubt  man's  right  to  slay  so 
innocent  a  creature  of  God's  creation.  The  severe 
winter  of  1835  and  1836  exterminated  them  in  this  region. 
Many  starved,  not  being  able  to  obtain  food  in  conse- 
quence of  the  great  depth  of  snow;  more  were  wantonly 
slaughtered  that  were  emaciated  and  worthless.  One 
man  near  Sparta  killed  fourteen  that  came  to  his  premises 


232 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


seeking  food.     I  cannot  learn  that  they  have  ever  located 
this  side  of  the  Delaware  since. 

"  I  have  in  my  possession  a  magnificent  pair  of  antlers, 
once  worn  by  a  buck  that  in  the  hard  winter  of  1836, 
when  the  deer  of  this  region  were  forced  to  go  to  the 
doors  of  people  for  food,  strayed  into  the  barnyard  of  a 
Warren  county  farmer,  who  branded  his  ears  with  the 
mark  he  applied  to  his  cattle,  fed  him,  and  let  him  go. 
Twenty  years  later  I  was  at  Milford,  Pa.,  and  at  the  hotel 
where  I  was  stopping  came  a  boy,  from  a  Delaware  river 
raft,  bearing  with  him  the  head  of  a  deer  that  had  just 
been  killed.  Attracted  by  the  size  of  the  horns,  I  pur- 
chased the  head,  and  found  it  to  be  that  of  the  deer  that 
had  been  branded  by  the  Warren  county  farmer." 

The  following  incident  is  from  Mr.  Hinchman's  auto- 
biography, elsewhere  quoted: 

"  At  the  time  when  I  resided  with  my  uncle  on  the 
Plains  and  while  living  at  Mount  Pleasant  deer  and 
small  game  were  very  abundant  in  this  region,  particu- 
larly on  the  Sussex  county  side  of  Lake  Hopatcong,  that 
part  of  Succasunna  Plains  called  the  Shrub  Oaks,  about 
the  duck  pond  on  the  'Big  Meadows,'  in  Mount  Hope 
woods,  and  at  Hurdtown.  The  method  of  hunting  deer 
was  to  drive  them  with  hounds  into  the  lake  and  at 
Hurdtown  into  the  forge  pond,  on  the  Plains  and  on  the 
Big  Meadow  over  runways.  It  did  not- involve  the  loss 
of  much  time  from  business  in  those  days — a  day  in  the 
chase,  and  for  small  game  a  couple  of  hours  sufficed  to 
bag  a  half  dozen  partridges.  While  residing  at  Mount 
Pleasant  I  kept  two  splendid  hounds,  and  a  couple  of 
hours  were  sufficient  to  have  a  chase  on  the  meadows. 
A  young  man  living  at  Berkshire  Valley  came  desiring 
me  to  accompany  him  to  the  meadows,  as  he  had  seen 
deer  that  day.  Accordingly  I  went  with  him  and  placed 
him  on  a  stand  where  it  was  almost  certain  the  deer 
would  run.  I  proceeded  to  put  the  hounds  on  the  scent; 
they  at  once  put  up  the  deer,  and  away  they  went  for 
the  stand  occupied  by  the  young  man.  In  due  time  I 
heard  the  report  of  his  gun.  I  was  making  my  way 
through  the  thick  cover,  bordering  a  main  ditch  through 
the  meadow,  which  carried  the  Denmark  and  Middle  forge 
stream  through  it — being  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  in  width, 
and  where  the  water  was  in  places  three  or  four  feet  deep 
— when  I  discovered  that  the  hounds  were  approaching 
me  and  the  young  man  in  close  pursuit,  and  I  spied  the 
deer  coming  up  the  stream  swiram.ing,  occasionally  touch- 
ing bottom  and  bounding  in  tremendous  leaps.  The  cry  of 
the  dogs  in  his  rear  and  I  confronting  him  so  frightened 
the  timid  creature  that  he  came  to  a  stand  and  endeav- 
ored to  hide  in  a  bush  of  alders,  that  overhung  the  ditch. 
To  make  sure  of  the  game  I  raised  my  rifle,  when  the 
young  man  exclaimed,  'Do  not  shoot!  he  is  mortally 
wounded  already  by  my  shot.'  Of  course  I  desisted, 
and  together  we  reached  him,  and  pulled  the  timid, 
frightened  creature  out;  when  it  was  found  he  was  un- 
touched— he  had  yielded  from  fright  alone." 

Miscellaneous. 

William  H.  Seward,  President  Lincoln's  Secretary  of 
State,  was  born  at  Newfoundland,  although  not  on  the 
Jefferson  township  side  of  the  line,  and  lived  in  the 
neighborhood  until  he  was  a  young  man,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Orange  county.  New  York.  He  was  a  school- 
mate of  Rev.  Gabriel  Van  Duser. 

There  is  an  old  graveyard  in  Berkshire  Valley,  not  far 
from  Charles  Davenport's  store.  But  few  graves  are 
found  here,  however,  and  these  are  marked  by  common 
field  stones  without  inscription. 


Among  the  names  of  Revolutionary  soldiers  living  in 
this  township  are  Joshua  Phillips  and  Swaim  Parcels. 
Captain  Cornelius  Davenport  was  also  a  soldier  in  the 
war  for  independence,  and  his  son  Enos  was  a  captain 
in  the  war  of  1812.  The  sword  of  the  former,  after 
peace  was  declared  and  most  swords  had  been  beaten 
into  plowshares,  was  not  treated  in  that  way  exactly,  but 
it  actually  was  used  as  a  hay-cutter. 

There  was  formerly  an  Indian  encampment  about  a 
mile  northeast  of  Milton.  A  great  many  arrow  heads, 
axes  and  other  relics  have  been  found  there. 

About  the  year  1800  there  was  a  tremendous  freshet  in 
the  Longwood  Valley,  which  did  much  damage  to  prop- 
erty and  among  other  things  carried  away  the  Upper 
Longwood  forge.  Mrs.  Rose  was  at  that  time  living 
with  her  family  at  the  house  of  John  De  Camp,  near 
where  Frederick  Fichter  now  lives,  and  she  was  the  first 
in  that  neighborhood  to  see  the  coming  flood.  She 
endeavored  to  cross  the  bridge  over  the  Rockaway,  to 
warn  others  of  the  impending  disaster,  just  at  the  time 
the  water  reached  it.  She  barely  succeeded  in  crossing, 
and  as  she  placed  her  foot  on  the  opposite  shore  the 
bridge  parted  from  its  piers  and  went  whirling  down  the 
valley. 

About  Lake  Hopatcong. 

The  following  regarding  Lake  Hopatcong  is  taken  from 
a  manuscript  history  of  the  lake  by  S.  C.  Shafer,  who  re- 
serves the  right  to  reprint  and  copyright  the  same: 

"  Lake  Hopatcong  is  situated  in  the  Hopatcong  Moun- 
tain range  between  Sussex  and  Morris  counties.  The 
surface  of  the  lake  is  920  feet  above  Newark  Bay,  and 
720  feet  above  the  Delaware  at  Easton.  Various  inter- 
pretations are  given  to  the  name  of  the  lake.  Some  say 
it  means  a  place  of  very  deep  water,  others  that  it  means 
stone  water,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe  its  true 
meaning  to  \it pipe  water.  The  Indians  frequently  used 
the  word  in  a  symbolic  sense  to  express  crookedness,  in 
reference  to  the  form  of  a  lake  or  river  shore.  The 
word  was  probably  so  used  here  and  at  Hoboken,  opposite 
New  York,  prior  to  its  settlement  by  the  Europeans. 
Hopocong  was  the  name  of  an  Indian  chief  belonging  to 
the  Lenni  Lenape  confederacy  at  the  time  of  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution.  His  name  translated  into  English  sig- 
nified pipe,  and  he  was  known  to  the  Americans  as  Cap- 
tain Pipe.  He  did  all  in  his  power  to  induce  his  country- 
men to  decide  for  the  American  cause.  He  failed  in  his 
efforts,  however,  for  White  Eyes,  the  rival  chieftain,  pre- 
vailed in  council  and  they  joined  the  English. 

"  The  account  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Col- 
lections (edition  of  1852,  p.  401)  of  an  Indian  wharf  or, 
causeway  between  Bertrand's  Island  and  the  Sussex 
shore  is  probably  a  mistake.  I  have  examined  the 
locality  carefully  when  the  water  has  been  at  the  lowest 
point,  and  have  not  found  the  slightest  trace  of  any  such 
work  or  the  least  appearance  of  there  ever  having  been 
any.  But  on  the  opposite  shore  there  was  an  -Indian  set- 
tlement of  some  pretensions,  judging  from  the  great 
number  of  arrow  heads,  broken  jars  and  bowls  of  beauti- 
ful shapes  that  have  been  collected  here  by  the  curious 
in  such  matters. 

"  The  Indians  who  lived  about  the  lake  were  the 
Nariticongs,  a  branch  of  the  Wabingas,  a  tribe  of 
the  Lenni  Lenapes.  Their  principal  village  was  lo- 
cated    near     and     around     Halsey     Island,     and     on 


LAKE  HOPATCONG. 


233 


land  (now  covered  with  water)  between  that  island  and 
Hurdtown.  In  the  latter  district  they  had  their  cornfields. 
This  village  contained  probably  more  than  fifty  lodges, 
and  thirty  years  ago  the  location  of  every  one  of  them 
was  distinctly  fixed  by  a  circle  of  stones  several  feet  in 
diameter,  strongly  marked  by  fire.  In  the  searches  made 
for  relics  these  stones  have  been  displaced,  and  would  no 
longer  fix  the  site  of  the  lodges.  I  have  in  my  posses- 
sion a  number  of  stone  implements,  such  as  axe^,  arrow- 
heads, pestles,  hoes,  tomahawks,  needles  and  other 
articles,  of  some  of  which  it  is  impossible  to  tell  to  what 
use  they  were  applied.  Many  of  these  articles  are  in  a 
very  perfect  condition,  and  betray  evidence  of  much 
skill  in  the  workmanship  which  gave  them  their  perfec- 
tion of  form  and  polish.  Besides  these,  I  have  at  various 
times  picked  up  pieces  of  pottery  (of  undoubted  Indian 
workmanship)  whose  outline  is  so  true  that  they  were  in 
all  probability  formed  on  a  wheel. 

"There  were  a  few  other  lodges  on  the  beach  in  front 
of  Mr.  Hedenberg's  cottage  and  on  Tempe's  Point. 
The  Nariticongs  dwelling  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lake  num- 
bered in  the  time  of  the  nation's  prosperity  between  two 
and  three  hundred  persons. 

"  The  following  is  a  list  of  settlers  living  on  the  lake 
prior  to  and  about  the  year  1800:  Turner  and  Bellerford, 
on  Nolan's  Point,  100  years  ago;  Peter  Marcelle,  on  Hal- 
sey  Island;  Mott  Van  Dyne,  on  the  farm  known  as  the 
Williams  property;  one  Bishop,  on  or  near  Bishop's  Rock; 
George  Shongon,  on  Elba  Point;  Jones,  on  what  is  now 
known  as  Bertrand's  Island;  Israel  Youngs,  on  the  Jayne 
place;  Obadiah  Seward,  the  proprietor  of  the  once  fa- 
ous  Seward  tavern;  Abraham  Seward,  near  the  lake  on  a 
spot  now  known  as  the  Morse  place — -the  house  is  en- 
tirely removed;  one  Trainor,  one  hundred  yards  south; 
Raymond,  east  of  Callahan's,  near  the  line  of  the  Ogden 
Railroad;  William  Games,  on  the  place  now  known  as 
the  Luke  property;  Joshua  Thompson,  near  the  residence 
of  Ephraim  Long;  Samuel  Burrill,  half  a  mile  southeast 
of  the  Lake  View  House;  one  Jameson,  near  Woodport, 
100  years  ago;  LafHes,  on  Laffles's  Island — there  was  a 
bridge  across  the  stream  at  this  place;  Joseph  Hurd,  of 
Hurdtown,  the  owner  of  a  tract  of  land  on  which  is  the 
Hurd  mine. 

"  The  building  of  the  Morris  Canal  rendered  a  lock  at 
the  lower  end  of  the  lake  necessary.  In  removing  the 
earth  the  workmen  discovered  the  skeleton  of  an  Indian, 
the  arm  bone  of  which  from  the  wrist  to  the  elbow  was 
eighteen  inches,  and  from  the  elbow  to  the  shoulder  the 
same.  The  remaining  parts  of  the  skeleton  were  of  the 
same  proportions.  These  bones  would  imply  a  height 
of  nearly  eight  feet  to  this  man  of  the  forest. 

"Between  40  and  50  years  ago  an  Indian  with  his 
squaw  came  from  Phillipsburg  to  visit  the  former  home 
of  his  ancestors  at  the  lake,  and  was  so  delighted  with 
the  situation  that  he  determined  to  remain.  He  built  a 
wigwam  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Van  Every,  and  spent 
the  summer  in  fishing  and  making  baskets.  It  is  said 
that  he  was  not  treated  very  well  by  the  old  settlers,  and 
finally  went  away  with  his  houshold  gods  to  find  a  more 
congenial  dwelling  place. 

"  There  is  a  tradition  that  when  the  whites  first  settled 
on  or  near  the  lake  shore  there  lived  in  the  lake  a  singu- 
lar animal,  which  was  occasionally  seen  on  land.  But 
the  settlers  could  never  get  near  enough  to  it  to  form  a 
very  satisfactory  idea  of  its  appearance.  It  was  said  to 
have  a  head  somewhat  like  a  horse's.  It  was  was  prob- 
ably a  deer  that  swani  the  lake  to  escape  from  the  wolves; 
although  it  might  have  been  some  large  animal  that  had 
strayed  from  its  native  place  and  lived  about  the  lake, 
or  perhaps  the  last  of  its  race.  Horace  Cook  found  at 
low  water  some  very  singular  teeth,  which  are  in  his  pos- 


session at  the  present  time.  They  are  three  inches  long? 
curved  and  fluted,  and  rather  flat  than  otherwise.  I 
have  one,  found  in  the  same  locality,  which  would  have 
been  when  entire  four  inches  long. 

"Mr.  Van  Guilder  iniormed  me  that  when  he  and  his 
sons  were  drawing  out  muck  upon  the  upland  from  a 
small  hollow  or  depression,  not  over  50  feet  in  diameter, 
they  threw  out,  as  they  supposed  at  the  time,  a  large 
crooked  root.  Their  dog,  which  was  with  them,  seized 
it  and  ran  away  with  it  in  the  bushes.  One  of  the  sons, 
wondering  what  peculiarity  in  the  root  attracted  the  dog's 
interest,  went  in  pursuit,  and  he  found  it  to  be  the  rib 
bone  of  some  huge  animal.  They  worked  with  care  and 
succeeded  in  exhuming  five  entire  skeletons  of  the  mam- 
moth, except  the  toe  bones.  Three  of  the  skeletons 
were  those  of  full  grown  animals,  and  two  those  of 
calves,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  They  were  ex- 
hibited at  Morristovvn  and  Newark,  and  afterward  sold 
to  a  museum. 

"  Brant,  the  Mohawk  chief,  occasionally  paid  this  place 
a  visit  prior  to  the  commencement  of  hostilities  in  the 
American  Revolution.  He  succeeded  in  his  design  of 
seducing  the  Nariticongs  to  the  British  interest  and  led 
them  in  his  battle  with  the  inhabitants  of  Minisink,  on 
the  20th  of  July  1779.  His  forces  consisted  of  the  In- 
dians and  royalists  disguised  as  Indians.  Bonnel  Moody 
was  with  him  on  two  or  three  occasions,  and  remained 
hidden  under  a  rock  near  Bonaparte's  landing,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Bishop's  Rock,  until  sunset,  when  Brant 
crossed  from  the  Indian  village  near  Halsey  Island  and 
rejoined  him.  They  were  furnished  with  canoes,  and 
they  paddled  to  Byram's  Cove,  at  the  northwest  side  of 
the  lake,  to  the  cliff  of  rocks  that  have  the  appearance  of 
rude  steps  and  have  since  been  known  as  the  Devil's 
Stairs.  They  traveled  westward,  and  near  Andover,  in 
Sussex  county,  they  separated.  Brant  going  to  the  Dela- 
ware Water  Gap,  and  Moody  to  his  den  near  Newton, 
called  the  Big  Muckshaw,  a'wild  and  dreary  i)lace,  where 
he  could  see  all  that  was  going  on  for  miles  around  and 
still  be  secure  from  all  attacks.  He  and  his  band  of 
desperadoes  kept  the  country  in  a  state  of  perpetual 
alarm  by  their  bold  and  daring  acts,  until  a  few  men  de- 
termined to  take  Moody  at  all  hazards.  They  hunted 
him  and  his  band  so  keenly  that  he  fled  to  Goshen,  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  They  pursued  him  and  recov- 
ered some  silver  plate  that  he  had  stolen  from  Mr.  Ogden 
of  Sparta.  There  is  a  tradition  that  he  and  his  comrades 
were  taken  in  attempting  to  cross  the  Hudson  to  reach 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  that  they  were  brought  to 
Morristown  and  tried  as  traitors  and  spies,  condemned  as 
such  and  hanged,  to  the  joy  of  all  the  sons  of  liberty. 

"  Jayne's  Cove,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  lake,  takes  its 
name  from  the  Jayne  family,  one  of  whom  was  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  David  Jayne,  of  Philadelphia,  concoctor  of 
the  patent  medicines  that  go  by  his  name,  and  who  lived 
here  when  a  boy. 

"Van  Dyne's  landing  is  in  this  neighborhood.  It  is 
an  ore  dock,  whence  thousands  of  tons  of  iron  and  zinc 
ore  have  been  shipped  to  Newark  and  other  places. 

"  One  of  the  tributaries  of  the  lake  rises  at  the  north- 
east of  Hurdtown.  Two  miles  beyond  Hurdtown,  in  a 
very  retired  place,  are  the  remains  of  a  beaver  dam, 
which  can  still  be  seen,. although  the  dam  is  probably  a 
hundred  and  twenty-five  years  old.  At  the  lower  end  of 
the  lake,  near  Shippenport,  there  is  a  somewhat  singular 
small  island,  called  Floating  Island.  The  water  of  the 
lake  rises  and  falls  considerably  at  different  seasons  of 
the  year,  but  this  island  always  remains  just  about  a  foot 
above  the  water.  There  are  trees  on  it  of  considerable 
size.  Among  the  plants  which  grow  on  it  is  the  '  side 
saddle.'     It   is   evergreen,    and   flowers   in    June.     The 


2,34 


HISTORY  OF   MORRIS   COUNTY. 


flower  is  purple.  In  shape  it  is  somewhat  like  a  pitcher, 
and  it  has  the  capacity  of  a  wine  glass.  The  flowers  are 
generally  full  of  water,  and  a  great  number  of  drowned 
insects  are  often  found  in  them.  The  stem  is  about 
fourteen  inches  in  height. 

"  The  common  blue  crane  makes  his  home  in  different 
portions  of  the  lake,  and  the  blue  heron  also  makes  oc- 
casional visits,  as  well  as  the  great  egret  heron.  In  the 
summer  of  1873  four  of  these  latter  birds  were  shot  in 
one  day. 

The  following  is  an  Indian  legend  concerning  the  re- 
gion of  the  river  Styx,  as  it  is  called,  nearly  opposite  the 
I>ake  View  House:  Quaquahela,  a  great  sachem  who 
lived  many  years  ago,  was  employed  to  carry  a  message 
to  a  distant  ally.  He  expected  to  be  absent  thir- 
teen moons.  He  started  on  his  mission  at  sundown, 
crossed  in  his  canoe  to  Elba  Point,  and  following  the 
shore  a  considerable  distance  glided  over  to  a  point  of 
land  now  known  as  Lemmedue  Meadow;  drew  up  his 
canoe  and  started  for  the  lodge  of  his  friend  Comascoman, 
who  resided  on  the  banks  of  the  Musconetcong,  and  was 
to  accompany  him  in  the  mission.  He  had  gone  but  a 
short  distance  before  he  was  attacked  by  a  bear.  He  en- 
deavored to  escape  to  his  canoe,  but  in  vain.  Brought 
to  bay  a  terrible  conflict  ensued  between  the  man  and 
the  bear,  in  which  the  former  was  victorious,  but  at  a 
ruinous  cost  to  the  victor,  as  might  be  judged  from  the 
fact  that  the  club,  the  totem,  and  all  the  hunting  gear  of 
the  chief  were  found  a  few  days  afterward  beside  the 
dead  body  of  a  bear.  The  members  of  his  tribe  looked 
for  him  a  long  titne,  and  called  him  by  name,  but  received 
only  their  own  words  by  way  of  answer.  They  returned 
home,  and  the  next  morning  on  the -side  of  a  neighbor- 
ing hill  they  saw  a  smoke  ascending  to  the  clouds,  and 
wondered  at  the  strange  appearance.  One  of  the  young 
men  was  informed  in  a  dream  that  Quaquahela  had 
erected  his  spirit  lodge  there,  and  would  remain  as  long 
as  the  hill  stood,  liecause  he  had  killed  the  bear,  that 
animal  being  his  totem;  but  that  he  would  accompany 
them  in  all  of  their  expeditions,  and  when  they  retired  to 
their  wigwams  he  would  go  to  his.  The  smoke  ascend- 
ing to  the  tree  tops,  and  the  answer  'Quaquahela'  when 
they  called  his  name,  would  be  the  tokens  of  his  pres- 
ence; and  to  this  day  the  smoke  or  thin  vapor  rises  in 
curling  wreaths  over  the  spot,  and  if  one  calls  the  name 
of  the  ancient  sachem  he  will  answer  to  let  you  know 
that  he  is  still  there.  The  Indians  called  the  hill  Qua- 
quahela Lodge." 

Iron-Working  and  Dependent  Enterprises. 

There  were  at  one  time  eight  forges  in  the  township. 
They  were  all  built,according  to  the  best  information  which 
we  can  obtain,  within  a  period  of  twenty  years  before 
and  after  1800  (1790-1810).  The  only  positive  date 
which  we  have  is  that  of  the  building  of  the  Swedeland 
forge,  at  Milton,  in  1797.  This  forge  was  erected  by 
Captain  Cornelius  Davenport  and  John  Dow,  and  was 
worked  by  them  for  a  long  time. 

The  Russia  forge  was  owned  and  probably  built  by 
Thomas  Keepers,  the  father-in-law  of  Enos  Davenport. 

The  "  Hard-Bargain  forge,"  beyond  Petersburg,  on  a 
stream  running  from  the  Little  Mooseback  Pond,  was 
built  by  Captain  Cornelius  Davenport.  This  forge  is 
abandoned,  and  the  land  about  it  is  now  owned  by 
Stephen  Strait. 

The  Woodstock  forge  was  built,  or  at  least  conducted 
a  long  time   ago,  by  James   L.  Dickerson   and  Stephen 


Adams.  This  forge  is  in  little  better  condition  than  the 
preceding,  and  the  land  about  it  is  occupied  by  Zophar 
Talmadge. 

Below  the  Hard-Bargain  forge  is  the  Upper  Longvvood 
forge.  It  was  built  by  John  De  Camp.  The  freshet  of 
1800  swept  the  first  building  away,  and  Mr.  De  Camp 
afterward  quarried  a  site  out  of  the  slate  rock,  and  built 
a  second  one,  at  a  cost  of  several  thousand  dollars.  We 
gather  from  the  foregoing  statement  that  this  was  proba- 
bly the  oldest  forge  in  the  township,  with  the  possible 
exception  of  the  Lower  Longwood.  This  was  butlt  or 
carried  on  by  Mr.  Tuthill,  in  connection  with  Joseph 
Hufi^.  It  afterward  went  into  the  hands  of  John  P. 
Losey,  and  thence  into  those  of  Blackwell  and  McFar- 
lan,  and  it  is  now  the  property  of  John  Hance. 

The  forge  at  Weldon  was  built  by  Major  Moses 
Hopping. 

The  forge  at  Hurdtown  was  called  the  New  Partners, 
and  was  built  in  1804  or  1805,  by  Joseph  and  Daniel 
Hurd. 

In  addition  to  the  men  already  named,  who  were 
prominent  in  the  early  development  of  the  iron  industry, 
there  were  John  O.  Ford,  Joseph  and  Stephen  Dicker- 
son,  William  and  Samuel  Headley,  Stephen  Adams, 
Joseph  and  David  B.  Hurd  and  Colonel  John  H. 
Stanburrough. 

Commencing  at  Berkshire,  in  the  valley  of  the  Rocka- 
way,  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  township  there 
is  presented  an  appearance  altogether  singular  in  this  ■ 
thriving  county  of  Morris.  At  various  points  along  the 
road  leading  from  Berkshire  to  Milton  decayed  and 
empty  houses  rapidly  falling  to  ruin  are  visible.  In  some 
cases  these  houses  still  might  easily  be  made  habitable,  in 
others  the  foundations  are  scarcely  visible.  Elsewhere 
in  the  township  similar  evidences  of  decay  may  be  dis- 
covered, but  the  appearance  is  most  marked  and  striking 
in  the  Longwood  Valley.  These  houses  were  formerly 
the  habitations  of  men  connected  with  the  work  of  the 
forges.  The  forests  which  covered  nearly  all  sections  of 
the  township  afforded  an  easy  and  ample  supply  of  char- 
coal, the  burning  of  which  gave  occupation  to  a  consid- 
erable number  of  men.  Before  the  building  of  the  two 
main  roads  which  traverse  the  township  longitudinally 
(the  Union  turnpike  and  the  Longwood  road)  all  carry- 
ing was  done  on  horseback.  These  roads  were  in  their 
day  works  of  public  utility  scarcely  less  important  than 
the  railroads  of  the  present  time.  The  Union  turnpike, 
running  through  Dover,  Mount  Pleasant,  Berkshire' 
Hurdtown,  Woodport,  and  so  on  through  Sussex  county, 
was  built  about  the  year  1805,  the  charter  having  been 
obtained  in  1804.  John  P.  Losey  was  one  of  the  persons 
engaged  in  the  enterprise,  and  was  an  active  and  ener- 
getic business  man.  The  Sussex  farmers  did  not  fully 
appreciate  the  advantages  to  accrue  from  an  avenue  of 
cornmerce  which  formed  their  first  means  of  communi- 
cation with  the  outside  world.  Much  to  Mr.  Losey's  dis- 
gust they  insisted  upon  charging  an  extravagant  price  for 
the  right  of  way  over  their  lands,  a  practice  which  drew 
from  him  the  energetic  remark,  "D — n  'em,  they  ought 
never  to  be  dug  out." 


THE  IRON  AGE  IN  JEFFERSON  TOWNSHIP. 


235 


Unfortunately  we  can  have  no  positive  information  of 
the  population  of  Jefferson  before  1810,  since  its  organ- 
ization occurred  between  that  year  and  the  last  preceding 
census.  In  1810,  however,  the  population  amounted  to 
1,281  persons.  From  1804  to  1816  affairs  in  the  town- 
ship were  very  prosperous.  What  with  the  embargo  and 
the  interference  with  commerce  occasioned  by  the  Euro- 
pean wars  the  price  of  iron  was  very  high.  It  is  stated 
that  iron  brought  as  much  as  $150  a  ton  in  1814.  The 
producing  capacity  of  the  forges  was  not  great  at  that 
time.  Most  of  them  had  two  fires,  but  one  or  two  had 
only  one.  At  one  fire  could  be  manufactured  on  an  av- 
erage one  ton  a  week,  and  this  seems  to  be  regarded  by 
those  who  were  familiar  with  the  business  as  the  max- 
imum. There  were  eight  forges,  and  allowing  for  all  two 
fires  1,600  tons  would  have  been  the  annual  iron  product 
of  the  township.  If  the  price  of  $150  a  ton  was  ever 
reached  it  is  not  likely  that  it  remained  at  that  point  for 
any  great  length  of  time.  If  it  be  called  $100  per  ton 
there  would  have  resulted  the  very  large  income  of 
$160,000  for  the  year,  or  an  average  of  about  $125  for 
each  man,  woman  and  child,  from  this  one  source. 

This  was  a  period  of  great  prosperity.  The  iron- 
masters were  rapidly  growing  rich.  They  built  for  them- 
selves what  at  that  time  were  considered  handsome  res- 
idences, and  kept  fine  horses  and  carriages.  This  valley 
— not  confined  entirely  to  the  township — is  said,  to  have 
been  the  center  of  the  iron  interest  of  the  country  at 
that  day. 

Moses  Hopping,  at  the  Russia  forge,  was  famous  for 
his  handicraft.  He  made  the  best  iron  in  the  country, 
and  drew  it  out  himself  into  plowshares,  mouldboards 
and  harrow  teeth,  and  sent  them  to  Rahway,  Paterson, 
Elizabethtown  and  other  places  for  general  sale. 

In  1816,  however,  the  termination  of  the  war  opened 
the  ports  to  foreign  commerce,  and  the  markets  were  al- 
most immediately  flooded  with  English  iron.  The  price 
fell  at  once,  and  nearly  all  of  those  engaged  in  the  bus- 
iness in  Jefferson  township  succumbed  to  the  pressure. 
This  state  of  things  seemed  to  have  put  a  stop  to  all 
growth  and  between  1810  and  1820  the  population  de- 
creased from  1,281  to  1,231. 

The  persons  engaged  in  the  industry,  however,  recov- 
ered themselves  before  a  long  time  and  business  again 
became  active.  Between  1820  and  1830  churches  were 
built  at  Milton,  Hurdtown  and  Berkshire.  Enos  Daven- 
port in  this  period  had  established  a  post-office  at  Milton 
and  Joseph  Dickerson  one. at  Berkshire. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  and  perhaps  the  wealthiest 
of  the  early  ironmasters  was  John  De  Camp.  After  the 
failure  of  1816  he  obtained  an  appointment  in  the  custom- 
house in  New  York,  where  he  continued  until  his  death. 
He  became  a  man  of  much  distinction. 

About  1837  the  hot  blast,  as  it  was  called,  began  to  be 
introduced.  Judge  Freeman  Wood,  now  of  Dover,  was 
at  that  time  in  charge  of  the  iron  works  at  Rockaway. 
He  was  the  person  chiefly  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
the  pipes  used  for  this  purpose,  and  for  a  considerable 
period  he  was  overcrowded  with  work,  running  night  and 


day  to  fill  the  orders  for  the  hot  blast  pipes.  After  this 
new  method  was  introduced  it  was  found  that  it  effected 
a  saving  on  charcoal  of  about  one-half;  twice  as  much 
iron  could  be  manufactured  from  the  same  amount  of 
fuel  as  before.  When  iron  began  to  be  manufactured  by 
means  of  stone  coal  the  forges  gradually  ceased  opera- 
tions. There  was  a  fitful  revival  of  the  industry  during 
the  Rebellion,  but  at  the  present  time  there  is  no  forge 
work  carried  on  in  the  township.  Three  of  the  forges, 
those  at  Swedeland,  Petersburg  and  Lower  Longwood, 
are  still  in  some  state  of  repair,  but  the  others  are  ruins. 
The  one  at  Hurdtown  is  so  completely  gone  that  even 
the  foundation  and  the  dam  have  disappeared. 

Between  1820  and  1830  the  population  had  been  in- 
creased by  320  persons,  making  the  number  of  inhabit- 
ants 1,551,  a  point  which  was  not  again  reached  until 
1880. 

Perhaps  this  was  in  reality  the  most  prosperous  period 
of  the  township.  Berkshire  is  said  to  have  been  the 
center  of  trade  and  the  iron  interest.  In  1830  much 
more  business  was  done  there  than  in  Dover.  It  is  stated 
that  when  the  Rev.  Peter  Kanouse  preached  at  the  former 
place  the  church  was  frequently  so  crowded  that  all  per- 
sons who  desired  could  not  obtain  seats,  and  that  people 
stood  at  the  doors  and  windows  to  hear  the  sermon. 

Hurdtown  was  also  at  this  time  and  before  a  lively 
place,  and  a  considerable  population  was  gathered  about 
it.  A  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  built  in  1828,  the 
land  for  which  was  given  by  David  B.  Hurd;  and  among 
the  preachers  who  held  service  there  were  such  men  as 
Rev.  Caleb  Lippencott,  Rev.  Dr.  Bartine,  Rev.  Manning 
Force  and  Rev.  C.  S.  Coit. 

John  Seward  kept  the  Seward  tavern,  and  it  became  a 
center  for  trainings  and  other  celebrations.  Horse  races 
were  not  infrequent,  and  it  was  the  court-house  for  all  the 
neighborhood,  where  what  were  called  two-shilling  law- 
suits were  tried.  Polydore  Seward,  brother  of  Secretary 
Seward,  was  a  frequent  visitor.  John  Seward  himself 
kept  a  slave.  James  L.  Hurd  had  two.  These  slaves 
are  the  only  ones,  so  far  as  we  have  learned,  that  were 
ever  in  the  township,  and  they  were  afterward  eman- 
cipated. 

Joseph  Hurd  and  after  hira  David  B.  Hurd  had  a  large 
distillery,  as  did  also  John  Seward.  The  buildings  of 
both  have  rotted  down  and  disappeared.  The  tavern  is 
now  a  dwelling  house  and  is  owned  by  the  estate  of  Aaron 
Peck.     There  were  also  a  store  and  saw-mill. 

Milton  was  a  place  of  much  trade  at  this  time,  but 
perhaps  with  the  exception  of  the  forges  there  is  more 
business  transacted  now  than  formerly. 

It  was  many  years  after  this  before  the  forges  generally 
ceased  working,  but  the  following  instance  is  an  example 
of  their  fate  when  the  use  of  stone  coal  forced  them  to 
discontinue.  The  flume  of  the  old  forge  at  Wcldon  was 
made  of  the  trunk  of  an  immense  tree,  and  carried  the 
water  faithfully  for  many  years.  It  gradually  became 
rotten,  and  at  last  fell  down  one  day  when  the  forge  was 
in  operation.    The  work  stopped  and  was  never  resumed. 

Probably  the  earliest  and  most  valuable  of  the  mines 


32 


236 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


in  the  township  is  the  Hurd  mine  in  Hurdtown,  the  ore 
of  which  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Governor  Dicker- 
son  mine.  It  was  opened  about  1804  or  1805,  when  the 
Union  turnpike  was  built.  The  original  proprietor  was 
Joseph  Hurd,  who  worked  it  himself  until  his  death,  in 
1818,  and  then  it  went  into  the  hands  of  his  son  David  B. 
Hurd,  who  had  charge  of  it  until  about  18,47,  the  time  of 
his  death.  His  executor,  Dr.  William  B.  Lefevre,  leased 
it  with  the  consent  of  the  heirs  to  the  Glendon  Iron  Com- 
pany, who  now  have  control  of  it.  There  have  been  three 
leases  to  this  company,  the  last  being  made  in  1877.  The 
royalty  named  in  this  lease  is  one  dollar  per  ton,  with 
the  condition  of  mining  not  less  than  20,000  tons 
annually.  The  present  owners  of  the  mme  are  Mrs, 
Phoebe  A.  Wood,  Edward  C.  Hurd  and  William  J. 
Lefevre,  of  Dover;  Mrs.  H.  W.  Cortright,  of  Nolan's 
Point,  and  Lewis  Hurd,  of  Hurdtown.  Thomas  Bright, 
now  residing  at  Woodport,  has  been  the  efficient  super- 
intendent of  the  mine  works  for  many  years. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  mines  of  the  township, 
taken  from  the  State  Geological  Report  for  1880:  Ford, 
Dodge,  Upper  and  Lower  Weldon,  Hurd,  Hurdtown, 
Appetite,  Nolan's,  Davenport,  Scofield,  Frazer,  Duffee, 
Shongum,  Goble  and  Boss.  Most  of  these  fourteen 
mines  produce  abundance  of  ore  of  a  good  quality.  The 
Ogden  Mine  Railroad  has  done  much  to  facilitate  the 
transportation  of  the  ore,  but  the  expense  must  still  be 
considerable.  As  most  if  not  all  of  the  ore  is  carried 
over  that  road  it  would  be  fair  to  assume  that  the  pro- 
duction of  the  township  for  1880  was  the  same  as  the  ore 
tonnage  of  that  road,  mentioned  below. 

The  Ogden  Mine  Railroad  was  put  in  operation  about 
the  year  1865.  It  is  ten  miles  long  and  is  used  almost 
entirely  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  ore  from  the  mines 
in  Jefferson  township  to  Nolan's  Point,  on  Lake  Hopat- 
cong,  whence  it  is  shipped  by  canal  boats  to  various 
points  on  the  Morris  Canal.  A  steamboat  belonging  to 
the  company  tows  boats  from  Nolan's  Point  to  the  lock 
of  the  canal  at  Shippenport.  The  ore  stations  of  the  road 
are  at  the  Hurd,  Upper  Weldon,  Lower  Weldon,  Dodge, 
Ford  and  Scofield  mines,  and  Ogden  Station,  where  the 
the  principal  mines  are  the  Davenport,  Old  Ogden,  Rob- 
ert shaft  and  Pardee  shaft.  The  ore  tonnage  of  the  road 
averages  from  50,000  tons  to  60,000  tons  yearly.  In  the 
year  1880  the  ore  shipments  were  exceptionally  large,  and 
amounted  to  108,000  tons.  There  are  some  repair  and 
car  shops  and  other  necessary  outbuildings  belonging'  to 
the  railway  company  at  Nolan's  Point,  and  about  twelve 
houses  built  by  the  company  for  the  use  of  employes, 
besides  a  few  other  dwellings.  Harlan  W.  Cortright  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  road  from  its  commencement, 
and  is  much  esteemed  for  the  ability  and  care  with  which 
hs  has  discharged  his  duties  in  this  office.  In  November 
1881  it  was  announced  through  the  press  that  the  Ogden 
Mine  Railroad  had  been  leased  to  the  managers  of  the 
Central.  Railroad  of  New  Jersey  for  999  years,  and  was  to 
be  connected  with  the  High  Bridge  branch  ot  the  Central; 
the  rental  to  be  equal  to  6  per  cent,  on  the  capital  stock 
of  the  leased  line. 


Stores  and   Hotels. 

Between  1800  and  1810  stores  were  established  at  Mil- 
ton, Hurdtown  and  Berkshire.  Captain  Cornelius  Dav. 
enport  first  kept  the  store  at  Milton,  and  after  him  his 
son  Enos.  During  the  time  that  Enos  kept  it  Dr.  David 
Jayne  bought  his  "runaway  suit"  of  him,  but  neglected 
to  pay  for  it.  Forty  years  afterward  he  sent  Mr.  Daven- 
port a  check  for  principal  and  interest,  at  that  time 
amounting  to  quite  a  sum,  the  original  debt  being  $40. 

There  are  now  three  stores  at  Milton,  the  oldest  being 
occupied  by  Simon  Misel  and  Henry  Misel,  his  son;  it 
has  been  established  since  1850.  The  second  is  kept  by 
Edward  N.  Norman,  and  was  established  in  1870.  Jetur 
R.  Riggs  has  also  a  store.  Joseph  Hurd  established  the 
first  store  at  Hurdtown,  about  1806,  and  it  was  continued 
in  various  hands  with-  some  interruptions  until  1872, 
when  it  was  removed  to  Woodport.  The  last  owners  at 
Hurdtown  were  Richard  Simpson  &  Co. 

Joseph  Dickerson  had  a  store  at  Berkshire  perhaps  as 
early  as  1810,  and  did  a  large  business.  He  dealt  largely 
in  iron  and  shipped  it  by  wagons  to  Elizabethtown. 

Charles  F.  Davenport  has  had  a  store  for  several  years 
at  Berkshire  Valley,  but  not  in  the  same  locality  as  Mr. 
Dickerson's,  which  was  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  hotel. 
The  store  at  Newfoundland  is  an  old  establishment  and 
is  under  the  control  of  John  P.  Brown. 

William  A.  Wood  established  the  first  store  at  Wood- 
port,  in  1831,  and  kept  it  until  his  death.  In  1872 
Clark  D.  Simpson  &  Co.  moved  into  their  handsome 
new  building  immediately  across  the  stream  from  the  old 
store. 

One  of  the  earliest  hotels  was  that  established  soon 
after  the  opening  of  the  Union  turnpike  at  Hurdtown, 
and  probably  first  kept  by  Colonel  John  Seward,  and 
afterward  by  his  son  John  Seward.  The  building  was 
ultimately  burned  down,  and  another  built  upon  the  same 
spot. 

Peter  P.  Brown  first  kept  the  hotel  at  Newfoundland, 
and  it  afterward  came  into  the  hands  of  his  son  John  P. 
Brown,  under  whose  management  it  has  become  famous 
as  a  summer  resort.     It  is  excellently  kept. 

William  Wood  went  to  Woodport  shortly  after  the 
opening  of  the  turnpike,  to  take  charge  of  the  tollgate  at 
that  place,  and  afterward  built  the  hotel  now  standing. 
It  is  at  present  under  the  management  of  Thomas  Bright. 
Its  situation  on  Lake  Hopatcong  renders  it  an  attractive 
place  for  boarders.  Mr.  Bright  also  owns  the  hotel  at 
Berkshire.  This  was  originally  a  frame  building  and 
was  put  up  by  Joseph  Dickerson.  The  frame  building 
was  burned  down  and  the  present  stone  structure  was 
erected  in  its  place. 

Captain  Cornelius  Davenport  kept  a  tavern  in  the  old 
stone  house  at  Milton.  This  hotel  was  perhaps  even 
earlier  than  that  at  Hurdtown.  The  present  hotel  at 
Milton  has  been  kept  by  John  K.  Norman  for  about 
nine  years  past. 

Captain  Davenport  also  built  the  first  grist-mill  in  the 
township,  as  long  ago  as  1800,  at  Milton.     There  is  also 


CHURCHES,  PHYSICIANS  AND  SCHOOLS  IN  JEFFERSON. 


237 


a  grist-mill  at  Petersburg,  which  has  been  standing  many 
years.  There  are  several  saw-mills  and  three  distilleries 
in  the  township  besides  those  already  mentioned,  which 
have  fallen  into  disuse. 

Churches. 

We  are  informed  that  the  date  of  the  building  of  the 
church  at  Berkshire  is  the  year  1820.  It  is  a  Presby- 
terian church  and  its  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Slater.  Others  were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kanouse,  Rev.  E.  A. 
Osborn,  Rev.  B.  C.  Megie,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  Kirby  Davis, 
Rev.  Josiah  Fisher,  Rev.  Thomas  Tyack  and  Rev. 
Pearce  Rodgers. 

The  second  building  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Hurdtown  was  erected  in  187c.  The  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  at  Nolan's  Point  was  built  in  the 
same  year.  The  foundation  of  the  latter  church,  how- 
ever, was  laid  some  time  previously,  in  order  to  comply 
with  the  provisions  of  the  will  of  the  late  John  Cornine, 
who  left  a  sum  of  money  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship,  on  the  condition  that  it  should  be  be- 
gun within  three  years  after  his  death.  The  building 
cost  about  two  thousand  dollars.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Tamblyn 
is  pastor  of  both  these  last  named  churches,  as  well  as  of 
the  community  at  the  Dodge  mine.  There  are  two 
churches  at  Milton.  One  is  a  Baptist  church  and  was 
built  in  1824.  The  Baptists  were  at  that  time  the  most 
numerous  denomination  in  the  vicinity,  but  the  church 
was  built  by  a  subscription  of  all  denominations.  It  is 
stated  that  the  general  understanding  was  that  the  church 
should  be  free  to  the  various  denominations  that  were 
represented  on  the  subscription  list.  The  land,  however, 
was  conveyed  to  the  trustees  of  the  Baptist  church,  and 
the  building  consequently  belonged  to  them.  After  a 
time  those  in  possession  objected  to  its  use  by  other  de- 
nominations. Out  of  this  unpleasant  state  of  affairs 
William  Headley  found  a  way  by  the  simple  expedient 
of  breaking  open  the  door.  This  it  is  said  was  done  on 
several  occasions,  when  some  other  than  a  Baptist  min- 
ister desired  to  preach. 

The  first  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  Gabriel  Van  Duser. 
He  was  also  a  school  teacher,  and  preached  at  Milton 
for  many  years,  and  continued  to  conduct  the  services 
until  about  1850.  He  married  Mr.  Headley's  daughter 
and  passed  the  latter  part  of  his  life  as  a  farmer  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Milton,  where  he  died. 

In  1878  a  new  house  of  worship  was  built  on  the 
old  grounds,  under  the  ministration  of  Rev.  Conrad  Vree- 

land. 

A  Methodist  church  is  now  in  procees  of  erection  at 
Milton  by  the  society  to  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rider 
preaches. 

Doctors. 

The  first  physician  of  whom  we  cnn  obtain  any  men- 
tion was  a  certain  Dr.  Spellman,  who  resided  in  tJie 
neighborhood  of  Milton  about  the  commencement  of  the 
present  century.  He  was  followed  by  Dr.  G.  I.  De  Camp, 
who    afterward    removed   to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  ob- 


tained much  distinction  in  his  profession.  Dr.  De  Camp's 
son  entered  the  U.  S.  navy,  and  gained  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain. Dr.  Jacob  D.  Roe  succeeded  Dr.  De  Camp  in  the 
Milton  neighborhood,  and  went  away  about  1830. 

Dr.  John  W.  Jackson,  now  of  Rockaway,  also  resided 
for  a  few  years  in  the  township. 

Among  the  influential  citizens  of  Jefferson  the  name 
of  William  B.  Lefevre,  M.  D.,  deserves  a  prominent  place. 
For  intelligence,  usefulness  and  weight  of  character  he 
will  long  be  remembered.  His  ancestors  on  both  sides 
can  be  traced  to  an  early  date.  The  first  of  this  name 
was  Hippolyte  Lefevre,  who  came  to  this  country  in  the 
ship  '■' Griffith  "  in  1675  and  landed  at  Salem.  For  a 
long  period  the  Lefevre  family  lived  on  the  island  of 
Tinicum,  in  the  Delaware  River,  eleven  miles  below  Phil- 
adelphia. From  there  Minard  Lefevre,  the  third  in  de- 
scent from  Hippolyte  Lefevre,  came  to  Succasunna  about 
the  year  1750.  His  son  John  married  Elizabeth 
Day,  a  granddaughter  of  J.  Jeff,  who  in  1750  came 
with  his  family  from  England  and  settled  at  Elizabeth- 
town.  This  Mr.  Jeff  was  a  commission  merchant,  and  the 
owner  of  several  ships  which  sailed  regularly  between 
England  and  this  country.  His  three  children  in  1775 
moved  to  Succasunna  Plains.  Mary  Jeff,  the  youngest 
of  these  three,  married  Aaron  Day,  a  lieutenant  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Their  youngest  daughter,  Elizabeth, 
married  John  Lefevre,  the  father  of  Dr.  Willliam  B. 
Lefevre. 

Dr.  Lemuel  Bright  has  gained  a  large  practice  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Hurdtown  and  Woodport  during  the 
few  years  that  he  has  resided  there. 

Schools. 

The  following  account  of  the  former  condition  of  the 
schools  is  taken  largely  from  the  "Centennial  Collections 
of  Morris  County:"  "Prior  to  the  year  1800  there  were 
no  school-houses  built  expressly  for  school  purposes. 
Yet  schools  were  taught  in  various  localities;"  as  Berk- 
shire Valley,  Longwood  and  Milton,  but  probably  not  at 
Hurdtown.  "About  the  year  1800,  or  shortly  thereafter, 
the  people  of  Berkshire  Valley,  through  the  exertions  of 
the  nsembers  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  built  a  school- 
house  on  the  site  of  the  present  one,"  and  in  1859  the 
present  structure  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  $350.  An  old 
"  double  "  school-house  was  the  first  to  be  built,  and  it  is 
probably  the  oldest  one  in  the  county.  Another  was 
built  on  the  same  site  in  1824,  and  rebuilt  in  1873.  The 
school-house  at  Longwood  was  built  in  1812,  the  land 
therefor  being  given  by  Philip  Losey.  The  house  cost 
f  150.  A  second  house  was  built  in  1847  of  stone.  The 
site  for  this  building  was  given  by  Mahlon  L.  Dickerson, 
and  the  house  cost  $400.  Charles  McFarlan  and  Elias  C. 
Talmadge  were  instrumental  in  causing  its  erection. 
"  Following  this  was  the  school-house  at  Scrub  Oaks, 
now  Milton,  a  frame  structure  with  seats  for  forty,  which 
v/sls  built  in  1830  and  repaired  about  fifteen  years  ago. 
The  Hopatcong  school-house  was  built  between  1840  and 
1850;"  that  at  Russia  in  1852,  and  replaced,  after  being 
burned,  in  1871.     A  school-house  was  rented  at  Hurd- 


2^8 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


town  in  183 1,  and  probably  before.  The  present  build- 
ing was  erected  in  1855  or  1856.  It  seats  one  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  school-house  at  Weldon  was  built  in  1878 
and  seats  seventy-eight. 

"  The  township  was  regularly  divided  into  six  school 
districts  in  1838,  under  the  jurisdiction  of  a  school  com- 
mittee of  three  persons.  In  1849  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
schools  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  town  superintendent. 
The  first  person  elected  to  that  office  was  "John  W. 
Jackson,  who  held  two  years.  After  that  lime  Charles 
McFarlan  held  it  almost  continuously  until  1862.  "No 
better  school  officer  than  Mr.  McFarlan,"  who  was  a 
gentleman  of  much  culture  and  refinement,  and  much 
given  to  literary  pursuits,  "  could  be  found.  He  devoted 
his  time,  his  talents  and  his  money  to  promote  the  cause 
of  education." 

The  condition  of  the  schools  of  this  township  in  1880, 
as  given  in  the  report  of  the  State  board  of  education,  is 
as  follows:  There  were  in  that  year  eight  schools.  The 
total  income  from  all  sources  was  $2,717.12;  the  value 
of  school  property  was  $4,400;  total  number  of  children 
between  five  and  eighteen  years,  493;  average  time  the 
the  school  was  kept  open,  8.8  months;  number  of  chil- 
dren enrolled,  366;  number  of  male  teachers,  three; 
number  of  female  teachers,  five;  average  salary  of  males, 
$43.33;  average  salary  of  females,  $22.20. 

Among  the  old  teachers  mentioned  in  the  "Centennial 
Collections  "  were  Messrs.  Canfield,  Dickerson,  Sutphen 
and  Wilson;  others  were  Scarlet,  Ualton,  Sherman,  who 
taught  before  1820,  and  Rev.  Gabriel  Van   Duzer. 

From  the  Township  Records. 

The  township  was  organized  in  1804.  The  following 
is  the  record  of  the  first  town  meeting,  held  April  9th 
1S04: 

"  This  day  being  appointed  by  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  New  Jersey  for  the  first  annual  town  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  of  said  township;  agreeable  to  the  law  in- 
corporating them  into  a  separate  township,  the  inhabi 
tants  assembled  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Seward  jr., 
lately  occupied  by  Mrs.  Hilah  Seward,  and  proceeded  to 
business  as  follows  (viz.):  Between  the  hours  of  1 1  and 
12  the  persons  assembled  and  elected  the  following  per 
sons  (viz.):  John  F.  Losey  their  president  and  John  Kelso 
their  town  clerk  for  the  ensuing  year;  after  which  the\ 
proceeded  and  made  the  following  appointments  and  en- 
tered into  the re^oUltions  and  by-laws    as    follows: 

$20  bounty  on  wolves  headed;  $2  on  wildcats;  2  shillings 
per  head  on  cattle  drove  into  town  and  not  owned  by  in- 
habitants thereof;  $250  to  be  raised  for  contingent  ex- 
penses; next  town  meeting  to  be  held  at  John  De  Camp. 
Esq's;  second  day  of  election  to  be  held  at  Capt.  Cor- 
nelius Davenport's." 

Shortly  afterward  the  following  entry  was  made:  "  Dr. 
James  Boylan  is  to  have  thirty  dollars  for  attending 
Michael  Conoly  while  sick  at  Cornelius  Davenport's, 
which  sum  the  Dr.  agrees  to  accept  in  full  for  his  ser- 
vices. Cornelius  Davenport  is  to  have  twelve  shillings 
per  week  for  boarding  said  Conoly,  and  attending  him 
while  sick,  being  thirteen  weeks;  amounting  to  $19.50." 

In  1818  $600  was  raised  for  the  support  of  the  poor 
and  other  contingent  expenses;  and  it  was  "  voted  that 


the  paupers  be  sold  at  A.  Chamberlain's  on  the  loth 
inst.,"  the  only  notice  of  this  custom  that  caught  our  eye 
on  the  town  records.  In  1827  it  was  "resolved  that 
John  H.  Stanburrough,  Joseph' Dickerson  jr.  and  David 
B.  Hurd  be  appointed  and  are  hereby  constituted  a  com- 
mittee on  behalf  of  this  township  to  purchase  a  lot  of 
land  called  the  Ogden  farm,  or  any  other  convenient  lot 
as  to  them  shall  be  deemed  proper,  for  any  sum  not  ex- 
ceeding $700;  which  said  lot  of  land  so  purchased  shall 
be  kept  for  the  use  and  support  of  the  poor  of  this  town- 
ship." So  far  as  can  be  learned  no  action  was  ever 
taken  under  this  resolution.  In  1831  a  resolution  was 
passed  to  the  effect  that  "any  sum  not  exceeding  $50  be 
paid  by  the  chairman  or  clerk  of  the  committee  to  Clar- 
issa Vansyckle  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  eye  infirm- 
ary in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  for  other  medical  relief." 

In  1832  it  was  resolved  that  the  bounty  of  $25  for  an 
old  wolf  and  $10  for  a  young  one  "  be  given  to  an  in- 
habitant of  any  other  township,  providing  such  township 
will  [pay  ?]  an  inhabitant  of  this  township  the  same 
bounty  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned." 

In  1837  it  was  resolved  "that  the  chosen  freeholders 
of  this  township  are  instructed  to  use  their  influence 
with  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders  of  this  county  at 
their  annual  meeting,  and  to  vote  for  a  committee  to  be 
appointed  who  shall  be  required  to  purchase  a  county 
poor-house  and  farm,  erect  buildings,  purchase  stock, 
employ  a  keeper,  and  do  all  other  acts  that  maybe  neces- 
sary for  the  reception  of  the  paupers  of  the  county;  and 
that  they  be  authorized  to  use  from  the  second  and 
third  installments  of  the  surplus  revenue  due  the  county 
any  sum  not  to  exceed  $15,000  to  carry  the  above  reso- 
lutions." 

It  was  "  resolved  by  the  inhabitants  of  Jefferson  town- 
ship," at  a  special  meeting  held  August  14th  1864 
"  that  the  sum  of  $400  be  raised  by  tax  for  each  man 
who  may  volunteer,  or  be  drafted  in  the  next  draft  to 
be  made,  and  which  has  been  ordered  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  to  fill  the  quota  of  said  township; 
to  be  offered  as  a  bounty  to  volunteers,  or  given  to 
each  man  who  may  be  drafted  and  shall  procure  a  sub- 
stitute, or  as  a  bounty  for  his  personal  service  in  the 
army  of  the  United  States;  said  tax  to  be  raised  one- 
half  in  1865  and  one-half  in  1866,  in  part  by  a  poll 
tax  of  $io  on  each  single  and  $5  on  each  married  man 
annually  in  each  year,  and  the  balance  to  be  levied  on 
the  taxable  property  of  said  township  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  other  county  and  township  taxes  are  raised."  It 
was  also  resolved  "  that  John  P.  Brown,  Betijarain  Hop- 
per, and  Tusten  Van  Duser  be  and  they  are  hereby 
elected  and  appointed  commissioners,  with  power  to  raise 
the  necessary  moneys  to  pay  such  sums  as  aforesaid  or 
to  issue  the  script  of  the  township  therefor,  to  be  deliv- 
ered to  such  drafted  man  or  volunteer,"  and  "that  con- 
scripts under  the  last  draft  who  have  furnished  substi- 
tutes be  exetnpted  from  the  above  tax." 

Out  of  a  total  poll  of  159  one  vote  was  cast  for  a  tax 
of  $350  per  volunteer,  50  for  no  tax,  and  108  for  a  tax 
of  $400  per  man. 


OFFICERS  OF  jfiFFERSON  TOWNSHIP. 


ii9 


The  officers  of  the  township  have  been  as  follows: 

Collectors. — Stephen  Dickerson,  1804,  1808-27;  John 
De  Camp,  1806;  William  Headley,  1807;  James  L.  Dick- 
erson, 1828;  George  Allison,  1829;  Squier  Lum,  1830, 
1831,  1837,  1838;  Nathaniel  Hopping,  1832,  1833,  1835; 
Freeman  Wood,  1834;  Albert  H.  Stanburrough,  1836; 
Ansolem  H.  Bounting,  1839,  1840;  Stephen  Cooper, 
184T,  1842;  John  G.  Mase,  1843;  Jesse  Babbitt,  1844; 
Frederick  W.  Fichter,  1845;  Mahlon  Mase,  1846;  Elias 
C.  Kemble,  1848;  David  S.  Headley,  1849;  David  Allen, 
1850;  William  C.  Bounting,  1851;  William  W.  Congleton. 
1852;  Andrew  J.  Allison,  1853;  Peter.  Doland,  1854; 
Joseph  W.  Headley,  1855,  i860,  1861,  1876-80;  Daniel 
Chamberlain,  1856,  1857  (none  found  in  recordsof  1858J, 
1862;  Mahlon  Jennings,  1859,  1867;  David  C.  Allison, 
1863,  1864;  Ira  Chamberlain,  1865;  Amzi  Weaver,  1866; 
Henry  Hopper,  1868-73;  George  W.  Allison,  1874,  1875; 
William  D.  Norman,  1881. 

Town  Committee. — John  De  Camp,  1804,  1807  09, 
1812-16;  Daniel  Hurd,  1804;  John  O.  Ford,  1804;  Joseph 
Hurd,  1804,  1813;  John  P.  I^osey,  1804,  1807-12,  1814, 
1816;  John  Headley,  1806;  John  Dow,  1806;  Timothy 
Jayne,  1806;  William  A.  Hulmes,  1806,  1807;  William 
Wallace,  1806;  Stephen  Dickerson,  1807;  William  Head- 
ley,  1807-11;  Cornelius  Davenport,  1808-12;  John  Dun- 
ham, 1808;  John  Kelso,  1809-13;  John  H.  Stanburrough, 
1810-13,  1815-17,  1821-28,  1835-38;  George  Turner, 
1813-15,  1836,  1838-40,  1853;  Samuel  G.  I.  De  Camp, 
1814,  1816;  Sylvanus  Cooper,  1814,  1839-33;  Joseph 
Dickerson,  1815,  1817,  1819-29,  1831-35,  1838; 
John  Seward  jr.,  1815,  1820,  1821;  John  C. 
Doughty,  1816,  1817,  1819,  1821;  Squier  Lum,  1817, 
1835;  Samuel  Chamberlain,  1817;  Ephraim  Adams,  t8i8, 
1820,  1823-26;  Samuel  Tharp,  1818,  1819,  1822,  1829, 
1832,  1840,  1850;  Abraham  Chamberlain,  i8t8,  1833, 
1834;  Stephen  Freeman,  1818;  John  Jayne,  1818;  Wil- 
liam Wood,  1819;  James  L.  Dickerson,  1819,  1827; 
George  Allison,  1820-28,  1835,  1838,  1840-44,  1853,  1857, 
1858,  1861;  Elias  Chamberlain,  1820,  1822-26,  1828, 
1829;  David  B.  Hurd,  1821-27,  1830-34,  1837;  Lemuel 
Minton,  1828,  1830,  1831;  James  L.  Hurd,  1829;  Benja- 
min Chamberlain,  1829;  Enos  Davenport,  1831;  Jacob 
D.  Roe,  1830;  Albert  H.  Stanburrough,  1831,  1833-36, 
1840-42;  Aaron  Starr,  1832;  Freeman  Wood,  1833, 
1834;  Calvin  A.  Kanouse,  1836;  Morris  Chamberlain, 
1836;  William  Allen,  1837,  1848,  1850,  1851;  Mahlon  L. 
Dickerson,  1837-40;  Ephraim  Lindslt-y,  1837;  Horace 
Chamberlain,  1838,  1839;  Gabriel  Van  Duser,  1839; 
Elias  C.  Talmadge,  1839;  William  Kichter,  1841,  1842; 
William  W.  Plumstead,  1841.  1842,  1844;  Jesse  Babbit, 
1841,  1842,  1845,  1846,  1848,  1849;  David  Allen,  1843, 
1844;  Stephen  Cooper,  1843,  1844,  1846,  1854;  William 
A.  Wood,  1843;  David  S.  Headley,  1843;  John  Hardy, 
1843,  1844,  1846  ;  Paul  Mandeville,  1845  ;  Charles 
Munson,  1845,  1846;  Charles  McFarlan,  1845;  John 
D.  Stanburrough,  1846;  William  D.  McCornac,  1848- 
51',  1863-65,  1874;  Samuel  D.  Wolfe,  1849;  William 
B.'  Lefcvre,  184951;  Peter  Decker  jr.,  1850,  1851; 
Dennis  Duffee,  1849  ;  Richard  R.  Davenport,  1850, 
1851,  1855,  1856,  1858;  Simon  A.  Demarest,  1853-55; 
William  H.  Spencer,  1853;  Frederick  Matthews,  1853; 
John  A.  Hopper,  1854,  1855,  1857,  1858;  William  P. 
Norman,  1854;  Joseph  W  Headly,  1854,  1859,  1862, 
1866-68,  1871-73;  Joseph  McPeak,  1855;  Charles  Coile, 
185s  1856;  Henry  Furgeson,  1856  58;  William  C.  Boun- 
ting '  1856,  1857,  1868  70;  Lewis  Chamberlain,  1856, 
i86o-  Jacob  Timbrel,  1857;  WilHam  P.  Winterbottom, 
1858  1862;  Frederick  W.  Fichter,  1859,  i860;  Marshal 
Mase,  1859,  1867;  Jacob  Talman,  1859-61;  Levi  Daven- 
port, i860;  James  Devore,    1861,    1862,   1872,    1873;  Jo- 


seph Leighton,  1861;  Jacob  Talman,  1862,  1867,  1869- 
71,  1875,  1876;  Jacob  L.  Coile,  1862,  1863;  Albert  S. 
Chamberlain,  1863,  1864,  1874;  Zophar  O.  Talmadge, 
1863-65;  John  D.  King,  1863;  Levi  Talman,  1864,  1865; 
John  A.  Fichter,  1864,  1865;  Levi  McCornac,  1865;  Al- 
bert R.  Spriggs,  1866,  1868-71;  Charles  Davenport,  1866, 
1872;  Stephen  A.  Lind.sley,  1866;  Henry  Lumadue  jr., 
1866;  Charles  S.  Davenport. 1867,  1871;  Theodore  Brown, 
1867;  Maurice  Duffee,  1868-70;  Alexander  Goarke,  1868- 
70;  William  H.  Fichter,  1871;  William  S.  Fenton,  1871; 
Augustus  Hartzough,  1872,  1873,  1875-77;  John 
L.  Temple,  1872,  1873;  William  R.  Gordon,  1873,  1880, 
1881;  Moses  B.  Fichter,  1874:  Simon  Misel,  1874;  John 
D.  Stanburrough,  1874;  Dennis  M.  Dufifie,  1875-78;  Je- 
tur  R.  Riggs,  1875;  Silas  D.  Rowland,  1875,  1876,  1880; 
James  Gordon  Case,  1876;  M.  L.  P.  Thompson,  1877, 
1878;  William  G.  Fichter,  1877,  1878;  Albert  Richards, 
1877;  Abraham  Shawger,  1878;  William  D.  Norman, 
1878-80;  Edward  Hall,  1879;  Maurice  McCornac,  1879; 
Jacob  Hopper,  1881;  William  Sedgeman,   1881. 

Commissioners  of  Appeal. —  Moses  Hopping,  1804; 
Daniel  Hurd,  1804;  John  O.  Ford,  1804;  Cornelius  Da- 
venport, 1806,  1808-12;  Samuel  Headley,  1806;  Stephen 
Freeman,  1806;  Stephen  Dickerson,  1807;  William  A. 
Hulmes,  1807-12;  John  Seward  jr.,  1812,  1821;  George 
Turner,  1813- 15,  1817,  1838;  Samuel  G.  I.  De  Camp, 
1813-16;  William  Headley,  1816,  1823,  1824,  1828,  1830- 
32,  1835,  1837;  Jeremiah  Fairchild,  1816,  1818,  1819; 
Samuel  Tharp,  1817-22,  1840,  1850;  William  Wood,  1817- 
20;     James  L.  Dickerson,  1822;     George  Allison,  1821, 

1822,  1825,  1826,  1838,  1840-45,  1849;  Joseph  Dickerson, 
1820;     John  C.  Doughty,  1823  27;     Elias  Chamberlain, 

1823,  1824,  1827:  David  Allen,  1825-27,  1829,  1833; 
John  Keeler,  1828;  Levi  Harvey,  1828;  John  O.  Daven- 
port, 1829;  John  Henderson,  1829;  Sylvanus  Cooper, 
1830-32;  Moses  Bounting,  1830,  1831;  David  B.  Hurd, 
1833,  1837;  John  Ruter,  1833;  Elias  C.  Talmadge, 
1833,  1836;  William  Fichter,  1834,  1835;  Calvin  A. 
Kanouse,  1834;  Albert  H.  Stanburrough,  1834;  Morris 
Chamberlain,  1835,  1836;  John  Hardy,  1837;  Gabriel 
Van  Duser,  1838;  Thomas  Stephens,  1839;  Timothy 
Southard,  1839,  1840;  Ansolem  H.  Bounting,  1839,  1848; 
Jesse  Babbit,  1841,  1842,  1845;  Samuel  D.  Wolfe,  1841- 
44,  1846;  Abraham  Jennings,  1843,  1844;  Mahlon  Jen- 
nings, 1845,  1862,  1873,  1875-81;  John  G.  Mase,  1846, 
1850;  Cornelius  Talmadge,  1846;  John  W.Jackson,  1848; 
Joseph  R.  Dickerson,  1848;  William  B.  Lefevre,  1849; 
William  C.  Bounting,  1850,  1867,  1873,  1880;  David 
Hines,  1851;  Benjamin  Hopper,  1851;  William  A, 
Spencer,  1851;  Cornelius  D.  Talmadge,  1853,  1854; 
John  A.  Hopper,  1853,  1866;  Elias  Green,  1853-56; 
David  C.  Allison,  1854,  1855;  Richard  K.  Davenport, 
1855,  1856;  Garret  Talmadge,  1856;  Ephraim  H.  Long, 
1857;  Charles  Davenport,  1857;  David  C.  Ackerson, 
1857,  1858;  Henry  B.  Furgeson,  1858;  David  Estill, 
1858;  Abraham  L.  Estill,  1859-61;  John  D.  Stanbur- 
rough, 1859,  1862,  1865;  George  Allison,  1859,  1861; 
Levi  Davenport,  i860;  Jacob  Talman,  i860;  Thomas  C. 
Elston,  1861;  Mahlon  L.  Dickerson,  1862;  Josiah  Mc- 
Peak, 1863,  1864;  Elias  C.  Talmadge,  1863,  1864;  John- 
son Chamberlain,  1S63,  1864;  Maurice  Chamberlain, 
1865;  Zophar  O.  Talmadge,  1865;  Jacob  Talman,  1866, 
1868;  Marshal  Mase,  1866;  William  Allison,  1867; 
Henry  Hopper,  1867;  Will'am  Fenton,  1868,  1869,  1872, 
1876;  David  Jayne,  1868-75;  Thomas  Bright,  1869, 
1870;  Asa  Berry,  1870,  1871;  Garret  Talman,  1871; 
William  Search,  1872;  Albert  R.  Spriggs,  1872;  William 
P.  Winterbottom,  1873;  Horace  Chamberlain,  1874; 
William  H.  Talmadge,  1874;  Levi  Talman,  1874;  John 
Kevelin,  1875;  James  Devore,  1875,  1876,  1878;  Charles 
Davenport,    1877,    1879;     William    D.    Norman,    1877; 


246 


ttlStORV  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Stephen  A.  Lindsley,  1878,  1880,  1881;  Jacob  Talraan, 
1870;    Henry  Lindcman,  1881. 

Town  Clerks. —  John  Kelso,  1806-08,  1810-13;  William 
M.  O'Harrel,  1809;  Peter  Freeman,  1814;  John  C. 
Doughty,  1815-21;  David  B.  Hurd,  1823-25,  1830,  1831, 
1833,  1834,  1837,  1838;  Aaron  Starr,  1826,  1827,  1832; 
Albert  Stanburrough,  1828,  1829;  Mahloii  L.  Dickerson, 
1835,  1836;  Gabriel  Van  Duser,  1839;  Garret  S.  Dema- 
rest,  1840,  1842;  John  Hardy.  1843-45;  Leo  B.  Hurd, 
1846;  Albert  H.  Stanburrough,  1848;  David  Hinds, 
1849,  1850;  John  P.  Brown,  1851,  1852,  1857;  Amos 
Chamberlain,  1853-56;  Jacob  Timbrel,  1858-60;  Lewis  M. 
Chamberlain,  1861-65;  Charles  Allen,  1866-69;  Theo- 
.dore  Brown,  1870;  Jelur  R.  Riggs,  1871-73;  George 
Chamberlain,  1874;  William  L.  Allen,  1875;  William  R. 
Gordon,  1876;  Walter  B.  De  Camp,  1877-80;  Silas  D. 
Rowland,  1881. 

Assessors. — John  P.  Losey,  1804,  1807-9;  William  Wal- 
lace, 1806;  James  L.  Hurd,  1808-14,  1821,  I1P23,  1825, 
1827,  1830,  1831,  1837-40;  Sylvanub  Cooper,  1815-20, 
.1822,  1824,1826,  1828;  Timothy  Southard,  1829;  Albert 
H.  Stanburrough,  1832,  1833;  D.  B.  Hurd,  1834;  William 
Mase,  1825;  Gabriel  Van  Duser,  1836;  John  D.  Stan- 
burrough, 1841,  1842;  Oilman  D.  Corning,  1843;  Garret 
S.  Demarest,  1844,  1846,  1849,  1850;  Jolin  P.  Brown, 
1845;  Leo  B.  Hurd,  1848;  Horace  Chamberlain,  1851- 
'55,  1858-61;  Edward  C.  Hurd,  1856;  John  D.  King, 
.1857;  Abraham  L.  Estill,  1862,  1866-68;  Maurice  Mc- 
Cornac,  1863,  1864,  1874;  Peter  Decker,  1865;  Joseph 
W.  Headley,  1869;  Charles  Davenport,  1870;  Amzi  F. 
Weaver,  1871-73,  1875,  1877-81;    W.  R.  Gordon,  1876. 

Choseii  Freeholders. — John  De  Camp,  1804,  1806,  1807- 
^09,  1813-16;  Daniel  Hurd,  1804;  William  Headley, 
1806-10,  1812;  John  P.  Losey,  1807-12,  1814-16;  Joteph 
Hurd,  1813;  Sylvanus  Cooper,  1817;  William  Wood, 
1817-19;  Stephen  Dickerson,  1818-21;  Joseph  Dicker- 
son,  1820-29,  1831-35;  Jamt^s  L.  Dickerson,  1822-26; 
James  L.  Hurd,  1827,  1840;  Abram  Chamberlain,  1828; 
Hiram  Headley,  1829;  Albert  H.  Stanburrough,  1830, 
1831;  Elias  Chamberlain,  1830;  Abraham  Chamberlain, 
1832,  1834;  (none  recorded  in  1833);  George  Allison, 
1835,  1848;  David  B.  Hurd,  1836,  1837,  1845;  John  H. 
Stanburrough,  1836,  1839-44;  tiquier  Lum,  1837;  John 
Hardy,  1838,  1839,  1848;  Abraham  Chamberlain,  1838; 
Mahlon  L.  Dickerson,  1841-46;  David  Allen,  1846;  An- 
solem  H.  Bounting,  1849;  John  D.  Stanburrough,  1849, 
1850;  William   H.   Spencer,    1850;  John  G.  Mase,   1851; 


Clark  L  Martin,  1851;  John  D.  King,  1853-56,  1858  61; 
Elias  C.  Talmadge,  1853;  Christopher  Helmes,  1854; 
John  D.  Stanburrough,  1855,  1856;  Benjamin  Hopper, 
1857-60,  1862,  1866-70;  Peter  Doland,  1857-61;  William 
A.  Wood,  1859,  1862-64;  John  J.  Norman,  1863-65; 
Moses  B.  Fichter,  1865;  James  Devore,  1866  70;  Jacob 
Talman,  1871,  1872;  W.  C.  Bounting,  1871,  1872;  John 
F.  Wood,  1873;  Edward  N.  Norman,  1873-75,  1878^ 
Johnson  Chamberlain,  1874,  1875;  Theodore  Brown, 
1876,  1877;  Clark  D.  Simpson,  1876;  B.  W.  Gordon, 
1877;  Silas  D.  Rowland,  1878;  Theodore  Brown,  1879; 
Benjamin  Hopper,  1880,  1881. 

School  Committee. — D.  B.  Headley,  1831;  Joseph 
Dickerson,  1831-35;  Sylvanus  Cooper,  1831-33;  John  H. 
Stanburrough,  i83[-33,  1835;  Samuel  Tharp,  1831-34; 
David  B.  Hurd,  1832-34;  John  O.  Davenport,  1834; 
Timothy  Southard,  1834;  Elias  C.  Talmadge,  1835.  1836, 
1838,  1839;  John  Hardy,  1836  38;  Gabriel  Van  Duser, 
1836-39;  Ichabod  Dean,  1837;  Lewis  M.  De  Camp, 
1839;  David  Congleton,  1840,  1841,  1844,  1845;  Timothy 
Southard,  1840,  1841;  Peter  Decker,  1840;  William  W. 
Plumstead,  1841;  Albert  H.  Stanburrough,  1842,  1843; 
David  Alien,  1842  44;  Mahlon  L.  Dickerson,  1842-44; 
William  Fichter,  1845;  Richard  R.  Davenport,  1845; 
John  G.  Mase,  1846;  Edward  C.  Rodjers,  1846;  Gabriel 
Van  Duser,  1846. 

Superintendents  of  Schools. — John  W.  Jackson,  1848, 
1849;  Charles  McFarlan,  1850  (none  recorded  in  1851), 
1853,  1854,  1856  62;  Peter  Dorland,  1855;  Daniel  F. 
Lyon,  1863-65;  John  P.  Brown,  1866. 

Overseers  of  Poor. — Moses  Hopping,  1804;  John  Jen- 
nings, 1804;  William  A.  Hulmes,  1806,  1808,  1809;  John 
Dow,  1806;  William  Wallace,  1807;  Moses  Qgden,  1807; 
Stephen  Dickerson,  1808-10;  Abraham  L.  Davenport, 
i8(o;  John  Dunham,  1811,  1814-17;  Cornelius  Daven- 
port, 1811,  1812;  Jeremiah  Fairchild,  1812;  Joseph 
Hurd,  1813;  George  Allison,  1818,  1819,  1821,  1822, 
1832,  1838;  Enos  Davenport,  1820-28;  Samuel  Tharp, 
1823-26,  183s,  1836;  Chileon  F.  De  Camp,  1827;  William 
Hinds,  1829;  Elias  Chamberlain,  1830,  1831  (none  re- 
corded in  1833);  Abraham  L.  Davenport,  1834,  1837; 
John  O.  Davenport,  1839-46,  1848,  1849,  1851,  1853- 
56;  William  C.  Bounting,  1850;  Paul  Mandeville,  1857, 
1858;  William  D.  Normun,  1859  62,  1866-69;  William 
Wright,  1863,  1864;  Jacob  S.  Coe,  1865;  William  D. 
Norman,  1870,  1871;  Benjamin  Hopper,  1872,  1873, 
1875-81;  Jacob  L.  Coile,  1874. 


JOHN   P.  BROWN. 


The  Brown  family  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in 
Morris  county.  It  is  not  positively  known  where  they 
came  from.  Martin  Brown  was  born  in  Pequannock, 
Morris  county,  October  loth  1764.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Hannah  Post.  Their  children  were  John, 
Peter,  Henry,  Abraham,  William,  Eliphalet,  Elizabeth  H.,' 
Catharine,  Jennie,  Margaret,  Hannah  and  Sarah  Ann. 
He  died  August  23d  1850,  at  Newfoundland,  Morris 
.county. 

:  Petei,  the  son  of  Martin,  was  born  in  West  Milford, 
■Passaic  county,  N.  J.,  October  nth  1790.  He  was  a 
farmer,  a  merchant  and  a  hotel  keeper  at  Newfoundland. 
He  wras  •  married •  December  15th  1813  to  Elizabeth, 
:daughter  of  Elizabeth  and  Jacob  Kanouse,  of  Bergen 
(now  Passaic)  county.  Their  children  were:  Eliza  Ann, 
born  August  14th  1814;  Harriet,  March  9th  1816;  John 


P.,  August  24th  1817;  Hannah,  August  nth  1819;  Susan, 
May  13th  1821;  Julia,  November  12th  1823;  Lydia, 
June  19th  1826;  Ira,  September  7th  1828,  and  Chilian, 
September  14th  1830;  all  of  whom  are  living  except 
Eliza  Ann,  Harriet,  Julia  and  Chilian. 

Mr.  Brown  died  February  14th  1864.  His  widow,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  88,  resides  at  Newfoundland  with 
her  son  John  P. 

In  1816  he  commenced  the  business  of  hotel  keeping 
at  Newfoundland,  in  a  small  house  which  he  erected. 
This  was  burned  in  1840,  but  he  soon  built  in  its  place  a 
two  and  one-half  story  hotel.  In  1844  he  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  business  by  his  son  John  P.,. who 
has  from  time  to  time  enlarged  and  improved  the 
hotel,  and  it  is  now  a  popular  and  well'  patronized 
summer  resort. 


MENDHAM  TOWNSHIP. 


By  Hon.  S.  B.  Axtell. 


ENDHAM  is  the  smallest  township  in  Morris 
county.  It  contains  14,74.6  acres  and  has 
no  marsh  land.  It  lies  at  an  altitude  of 
about  600  feet  above  mean  tide.  It  is 
bounded  north  by  Randolph,  east  by  Morris- 
south  by  Somerset  county,  and  west  by 
Chester.  It  is  well  wooded,  and  watered 
by  numerous  springs  and  small  brooks.  The  waters  of 
the  western  part  flow  into  the  Raritan  River,  those  in 
the  eastern  part  into  the  Passaic.  The  township  is  re- 
markably well  drained  and  very  fertile.  All  fruits, 
grains,  berries  and  grapes  natural  to  this  latituc'e  grow 
to  great  perfection  and  are  exceedingly  well  flavored. 
Men  and  animals  are  healthy  and  longevity  is  the  rule. 

Of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants,  the  Indians,  we  know 
but  little;  but  we  believe  they  were  more  intelligent  and 
more  friendly  to  the  whites  than  many  of  the  more  west- 
ern and  northern  tribes.  The  Mendham  settlers  came 
with  their  families;  the  family  is  always  in  the  interest 
of  peace  and  has  always  found  a  more  friendly  Indian 
thau  the  one  discovered  by  the  soldier,  the  hunter  and 
trapper,  or  the  mere  adventurer  or  prospector.  Mend- 
ham  never  suffered  from  Indian  war  or  massacre.  Its 
history  indeed  is  exceptionally  free  from  painful  inci- 
dents. This  has  not  been  the  theater  of  great  or  start- 
ling crimes.  Fifty  years  ago  there  was  established  and 
maintained  in  Mendham  village  a  circulating  library. 
There  have  from  the  first  been  the  saving  influence  of 
good  books  and  the  restraints  of  religious  teaching.  The 
exceeding  healthfulness  of  the  climate  has  also  probably 
contributed  greatly  to  moderate  and  purify  the  tempera- 
ment of  the  inhabitants.  The  children  born  of  healthful 
industrious  and  virtuous  parents  have  naturally  and  cheer- 
fully walked  in  the  ways  of  virtue  and  the  paths  of  peace. 
The  population  of  Mendham  township  has  remained 
quite  uniform  most  of  the  time  since  the  census  began 
to  be  taken.  The  returns  have  been  as  follows:  1810, 
1,277;  1820,1,326;  1830,1,315;  1840,  1,378;  1850,  r, 726; 
i860,  1,660  i^s  colored);  1870,  1,581  (27  colored);  1875. 
1,620  (21  colored);  1880,  1,526  (Mendham  village  294, 
Brookside  187).  The  township  statistics  for  1881  were 
given  as  follows  by  the  assessors:  Assessed  valua- 
tion of  real  estate,  $834,165;  personal,  $275,335;  debt. 


$20,950;  polls,  354;  State  school  tax,  $2,291;  county  tax, 
$2,138.74;  road  tax,  $1,600;  poor  tax,  $125. 

Mendham's  Pioneers  and  Old  Families. 

There  are  no  authentic  records  of  the  township  earlier 
than  1713;  nor  much  of  tradition.  The  first  white  men 
probably  came  up  the  Raritan.  The  trapper,  following 
the  streams,  first  penetrates  to  a  new  country.  James 
Wills,  said  to  have  been  an  Englishman  married  to  a 
French  woman,  bought  land  of  the  original  proprietors 
about  Ralstonville.  Roxiticus  has  an  Indian  name  and  is 
on  a  branch  of  the  Raritan.  The  brook  above  the  vil- 
lage is  called  Indian  Brook.  At  this  place  the  first  set- 
tlement of  white  men  was  made.  They  are  said  to  have 
been  Scotch  and  Irish  Protestants. 

Here  they  built  the  first  meeting-house,  and  here,  ad- 
joining the  little  church,  established  the  first  graveyard. 
This  was  before  1738.  This  graveyard  was  not  more 
than  25  yards  square.  It  is  said  to  have  been  crowded 
with  graves.  The  headstones  were  unhewn  and  unlet- 
tered. We  have  have  no  tradition  even  of  any  one  buried 
there.  This  church  society  at  its  own  request  was  trans- 
ferred from  the  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  to  that  of 
New  York  in  1739.  There  was  no  settled  pastor.  From 
the  fact  that  it  once  belonged  to  New  Brunswick  it  is 
fair  to  infer  that  the  members  came  from  Burlington  or 
New  Brunswick,  and  not  from  Long  Island  or  the  east 
as  many  subsequently  did. 

About  the  year  1740  the  prominent  names  in  Mend- 
ham must  have  been  Jacob  Cook,  Joseph  Beach,  James 
Pitney,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Joseph  Thompson,  Ebenezer 
Condict,  Nathan  Cooper,  Henry  Wick,  Robert  Cummins, 
Henry  Axtell,  Stephen  Dod,  Jacob  Drake,  Ephraim 
Sanders,  James  McVickers,  Henry  Clark,  Elias  Howell, 
Zebulon  Riggs  and  Benjamin  Hurlburt.  In  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  township  men  named  Beach,  Loree, 
Tingley,  Condict,  Turner,  Cary  and  Smith  were  settled 
with  their  families.  Job  Loree  lived  on  land  next  west 
of  Major  Lewis  Loree's  before  1749,  and  Major  Henry 
Axtell,  son  of  Henry  Axtell  who  came  from  Massachu- 
setts in  1739,  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood  as  early  as 
1760.  Near  Washington  Corners  lived  in  early  days 
Riggs,  Vance  and  Bedell.      Day  is   also  a  very  early 


242 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


name,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Henry  Axtell  having 
married  a  Day.  Brookside  was  called  in  early  days 
Watersheet.  The  Connet  who  built  the  grist-mill  came 
from  Chatham  about  1800,  but  there  was  an  old  mill 
there  at  that  time,  called  Smith's  mill.  On  the  mountain 
the  Clarks,  from  Long  Island,  Pools,  Styleses,  Cozads, 
Mcllraths  and  Bonnels  were  early  settlers. 

Of  the  Byrams  we  have  a  very  full  and  satisfactory 
record.  Aaron  G.  Byram,  of  Brookside,  has  taken  filial 
pains  to  preserve  the  record  of  his  fathers.  Ebenezer 
Byram  was  a  grandson  of  Nicholas  Byram,  an  English 
gentleman  who  settled  at  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  about  1660, 
and  died  there  in  1688,  leaving  a  son.  Captain  Nicholas 
Byram,  of  whom  honorable  mention  is  made  in  the  his- 
tory of  Bridgewater.  His  son  Ebenezer,  born  in  1692, 
came  with  five  sons  and  three  daughters  to  Men^ham  in 
1743.  He  is  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Byrams  in  Morris 
and' Sussex  counties.  In  his  22nd  year  he  married  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  Joseph  Hayward.  In  1738  his  son 
Ebenezer  married  Abigail,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Eben- 
ezer Alden,  a  grandson  of  Captain  John  Alden  and  his 
wife  Priscilla,  of  "  Mayflower "  memory.  On  the  same 
day  her  two  sisters  were  married,  one  to  Eleazer  Wash- 
burn, the  other  to  Ephraim  Cary.  Ebenezer  Byram 
built  the  Bli'ck  Horse  tavern  and  changed  the  site  of  the 
church  from  Roxiticus  to  its  present  beautiful  location. 
The  name  of  the  village  was  also  changed,  and  tradition 
attributes  this  change  to  Ebenezer  Byram's  saying,  "  I'll 
mend  'em."  The  best  informed  people,  however,  among 
them  his  own  descendant  Aaron  G.  Byram,  and  Rev.  T. 
S.  Hastings,  do  not  give  credence  to  this.  "  Ham"  has 
long  been  a  termination  of  names  of  English  towns,  and 
Mendham  is  an  English  name.  It  is  written  in  the  first 
session  book  Mendom.  In  deeds  it  is  found  Mendum. 
It  is  a  beautiful  name  and  may  easily  mean  "  my  home." 
When  it  was  determined  to  build  a  substantial  house  for 
meetings  upon  the  present  site,  Mr.  Byram  returned  to 
Bridgewater  and  engaged  John  Cary  to  do  all  the  car- 
penter work. 

There  is  not  a  particle  of  doubt  that  the  Axtells, 
Leonards,  Byrams  and  Carys  are  of  New  England  origin; 
so  also  are  those  who  came  from  Newark  and  Long 
Island,  as  the  Dods,  Riggses,  Connets  and  Clarks.  An 
old  historian  says  three  brothers  by  the  name  of  Riggs 
lived  in  Massachusetts,  and  removed  thence  to  Connecti- 
cut. Edward,  one  of  the  three,  removed  to  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  had  a  son  Joseph,  who  lived  and  died  in 
Orange.  The  last  named  was  the  father  of  Zebulon 
Riggs,  the  father  of  Preserve  Riggs,  of  Mendham,  who 
married  Puah  Hudson  and  had  a  son  Elias,  born  in  1770. 
This  Elias  was  the  father  of  Rev.  Elias  Riggs,  who  went 
as  a  missionary  to  Greece  in  1832.  It  is  well  to  bear  in 
mind  that  Newark  was  settled  by  a  colony  from  New 
England  in  1666,  and  that  many  of  the  sons  of  these 
early  settlers  passed  westward  over  the  P'irst  mountain 
into  the  valley  of  the  Passaic,  settling  Chatham,  Madison, 
Morristown,  Brookside  and  Mendham.  We  have  au- 
thentic history  that  the  Dods  so  came.  Other  families 
came  from   New  Brunswick  by  way  of  Basking  Ridge. 


The  Pitneys  came  in  this  way  directly  from  England.  A 
brother  of  James  Pitney  is  said  to  have  bought  land  of 
the  original  proprietors  in  Mendham  as  early  as  1722. 

Henry  Axtell,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1715, 
mari-ied  Jemina  Leonard  in  1737  and  removed  with  his 
wife's  father  to  Mendham  about  1741 — three  years  before 
the  Byrams  came — is  perhaps  among  the  first  of  the  New 
England  settlers.  This  Henry  Axtell  was  a  blacksmith 
and  had  a  shop  and  owned  land  near  the  Drakes.  In  a 
mortgage  in  possession  of  John  Drake,  signed  by  David 
Oliphant,  Henry  Axtell  is  mentioned  as  owning  land  on 
the  road  leading  from  Mendham  to  Morristown.  This 
mortgage  is  dated  September  nth  1751.  The  Axtells 
are  of  English  descent.  Their  ancestor  Daniel  was  a 
"Round-head  "  colonel,  and  suffered  death  for  the  active 
part  he  took  under  Cromwell.  His  sons  came  to  the 
New  World,  and  Henry,  as  we  have  seen,  was  an  early 
settler  in  Mendham.  He  died  young,  leaving  three  sons, 
Henry,  Calvin  and  Luther,  and  three  daughters.  His 
widow  married  a  Mr.  Lum,  and  lived  to  a  great  age.  His 
son  Henry  lived  and  died  in  Mendham,  as  did  also  Cal- 
vin. Luther  went  to  Washington  county.  Pa.  Henry 
was  a  major  of  militia,  and  is  known  as  Major  Axtell. 
He  was  twice  married;  his  second  wife  was  a  Condit 
This  family  also  spell  their  name  in  different  ways,  as 
Condit  and  Condict.  The  elder  Axtells  were  men  of 
great  good  nature  and  some  humor.  It  is  said  of  Major 
Henry  that  when  he  proposed  to  his  second  "venture" 
she  expressed  no  repugnance  to  him  personally,  but  said, 
"I  cannot  think  of  taking  the  responsibility  of  being  a 
stepmother."  "Well,"  said  the  major,  rising  to  go,  "if 
that  is  all  your  objection  I  will  go  right  home  and  kill  the 
young  ones."  But  rather  then  permit  so  barbarous  a 
deed  she  married  him,  and,  tradition  says,  made  a  most 
exemplary  and  excellent  wife,  stepmother  and  mother. 
Their  union  was  blessed  with  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. The  sons  were  Henry  and  Silas.  Henry  graduated 
at  Princeton,  studied  theology  and  was  settled  in  Geneva, 
N.  Y.  He  left  three  sons,  all  in  the  Presbyterian  min- 
istry— Daniel,  Henry  and  Charles.  Silas  was  a  carpenter 
and  colonel  of  militia  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  lived  on 
the  homestead.  He  had  six  sons.  The  eldest,  Samuel, 
married  Nancy  Sanders,  and  is  the  father  of  Samuel 
Beach  Axtell,  who  has  been  twice  a  member  of  Congress, 
and  governor  of  both  Utah  and  New  Mexico.  Another 
son,  Jacob,  is  the  father  of  Charles  F.  Axtell,  a  lawyer  in 
Morristown,  who  although  yet  young  has  been  twice 
elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey. 
There  are  no  Axtells  now  living  in  Mendham. 

It  is  said  that  in  1740  there  was  only  a  bridle  path  or 
Indian  trail  between  Roxiticus  and  West  Hanover  (now 
Morristown),  passing  through  Drake's  clearing  and  Pit- 
ney's  clearing,  thence  toward  the  mountain  and  by  Smith's 
mill — now  Connet's.  The  only  buildings  on  this  trail 
were  a  small  blacksmith  shop  in  Drake's  clearing,  Henry 
Axtell's  and  James  Pitney's  houses  and  Smith's  mill,  at 
the  east  end  of  what  is  now  Brookside.  Jacob  Drake's 
name  appears  in  papers  as  early  as  1742.  Joseph  Thomp- 
son bought  of  the  Ogden  brothers,  of  Newark,  in  1740. 


THE  McILRATHS  AND  DODS  OF  MENDHAM. 


243 


Nathan  Cooper  probably  bought  of  the  proprietors. 
Robert  Cummins  is  said  to  have  been  an  Irishman,  He 
died  in  1780,  aged  80  years.  The  Thompsons  were 
Scotchmen. 

Samuel  McIIrath  was  a  Scotchman.  Sarah,  one  of 
his  daughters,  married  and  went  with  her  husband  to 
Pennsylvania.  It  came  to  light  after  her  marriage  that 
her  husband  had  murdered  a  peddler  to  get  money  to 
come  and  marry  her.  He  was  arrested,  tried,  convicted, 
and  sentenced  to  be  hung.  She  traveled  on  foot  and 
alone  to  the  governor  of  the  State  to  solicit  his  pardon 
She  failed;  came  back;  remained  with  him  to  the  last 
moment,  and  for  three  nights  slept  on  his  grave  to  pre- 
vent the  doctors  getting  his  body.  She  afterward  re- 
turned to  Mendham;  married  a  Mr.  Shaw,  an  English- 
man; went  with  him  to  Washington  county.  Pa.,  and 
from  there  to  near  Cleveland,  O.;  became  wealthy;  was 
a  ruling  elder,  in  fact,  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Euclid,  O.,  and  died  at  a  good  old  age,  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  her.  She  never  had  children,  and  her  prop- 
erty was  left  to  found  the  Shaw  Academy,  seven  miles 
east  of  Cleveland.  She  was  one  of  the  noblest,  bravest, 
most  unselfish  souls  that  ever  lived. 

Another  daughter  of  Elder  Samuel  McIIrath,  the  old 
Scotch  Covenanter,  was  cruelly  betrayed  in  her  youth 
and  left  that  most  wretched  being — a  sensitive,  conscien- 
tious mother,  whose  poor  babe  has  no  legal  father- 
What  Elder  Samuel  McIIrath  would  do  under  such  cir- 
cumstances any  one  who  has  read  Scotch  domestic  his- 
tory of  that  day  can  well  understand.  The  old  man,  who 
would  have  torn  out  his  own  heart  or  held  his  right  hand 
in  the  flame  rather  than  tolerate  iniquity  in  himself, 
could  not  countenance  sin  in  his  daughter.  When  she 
was  able  to  walk  after  her  babe  was  born  he  told  her  to 
take  it  up.  He  led  her  to  the  road  in  front  of  his  house, 
and  told  her  never  again  to  darken  his  door.  She  never 
did;  but  begging  her  way  westward  found  a  home  among 
the  hard  working  German  farmers  of  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  had  no  more  religion  about  them  than  to  pity 
her  misfortunes  and  by  their  kindness  to  heal  her  broken 
heart.  She  told  her  story,  was  trusted,  believed  and 
loved  by  a  young  farmer,  who  married  her  and  adopted 
her  son.  They  afterward  also  moved  to  Ohio,  and  when 
her  son  was  a  grown  man  Aunt  Shaw  and  her  sister  Isabella 
Woodruff  heard  for  the  first  time  in  twenty  years  of  this 
sister  who  had  been  driven  for  her  sin  from  their  father's 
door.  They  immediately  saddled  their  horses,  rode 
through  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness  a  journey  of 
nearly  a  hundred  miles  and  found  her.  This  story  the 
writer  of  this  article  had  from  Aunt  Shaw's  own  lips. 

It  is  noticeable  that  many  names  are  differently  spelled 
in  the  old  records  from  what  we  spell  them  now.  As 
already  noticed  Mendham  was  spelled  both  om  and  um. 
Axtell  is  found  Extil,  Extel  and  Axtel.  The  Mendham 
Dods  -spell  with  one  d,  while  the  Newark  Dodds  use  two. 
Ephraim  Sanders's  family  usually  spell  their  name  with- 
out the  u,  while  his  son  Rev.  Ephraim  Dodd  Saunders, 
of  Philadelphia,  as  well  as  many  of  his  ancestors,  spells 
the  name   Saunders.     It  is   probable    that    Christopher 


Saunders,  who  came  from  London  to  Bridlington  or  New 
Beverly  (afterward  named  Burlington)  with  Daniel  Wills 
about  1680,  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Sanders  family. 

Stephen  Dod  was  born  April  4th  1703.  His  mother 
was  Elizabeth  Riggs.  He  came  to  Mendham  from  New- 
ark in  1745.  He  married  Deborah  Brown,  and  had  five 
sons  and  six  daughters.  One  of  his  daughters,  Keziah, 
married  Ephraim  Sanders,  father  of  Captain  Ephraim 
Sanders.  The  Dods  possessed  rare  mathematical  and 
mechanical  genius.  They  could  both  invent  and  execute. 
They  made  all  the  clocks  used  in  Mendham.  They  re- 
paired all  the  guns.  They  were  among  the  first  to  apply 
steam  to  navigation.  Unfortunately  for  Mendham  she 
was  too  far  inland  to  retain  men  of  their  breadth  and 
genius  and  she  early  lost  them  all.  Of  the  Dods  Mr. 
Hastings  says:  "  The  family  were  remarkable  for  their 
ingenuity.  There  was  almost  nothing  which  they  could 
not  do,  almost  nothing  which  they  could  not  make. 
They  were  self-taught."  A  grandson  of  Lebbeus,  eldest 
son  of  Stephen  Dod,  of  Mendham,  Lebbeus  B.  Ward, 
now  resides  in  Morristown.  His  mother  was  Phebe  Dod, 
born  in  Mendham  in  1768.  Lebbeus  Dod  was  attached 
to  the  Revolutionary  army  during  the  whole  war,  with 
the  rank  of  captain  of  artillery.  He  was  detached  from 
active  service  by  order  of  General  Washington  and  di- 
rected to  establish  an  armory  for  the  repair  and  manu- 
facture of  muskets,  for  which  his  mechanical  talent  par- 
ticularly adapted  him.  For  this  purpose  he  erected  a 
building  at  his  own  residence  which  was  still  standing  in 
1814.  He  was  constantly  exposed  to  the  attempts  of  the 
British  to  capture  him,  and  was  compelled  to  remove  his 
works  to  a  secluded  portion  of  his  own  land.  On  one 
occasion  he  was  surprised  by  the  enemy  and  was  only 
saved  by  the  self-possession  and  presence  of  mind  of  his 
wife  (Mary  Baldwin).  While  they  were  at  the  barn  prob- 
ing with  their  bayonets  the  hay  under  which  he  was  con- 
cealed, she  placed  her  wheel  at  a  window  where  she  could 
watch  them  and  began  to  spin  and  to  sing  a  hymn  with 
the  greatest  composure.  Her  conduct  convinced  them 
that  he  had  escaped,  and  they  left  without  firing  the 
barn,  which  they  were  on  the  point  of  doing.  Rev.  Al- 
bert Baldwin  Dod,  D.  D.,  professor  of  mathematics  in 
Princetown  College,  was  also  born  in  Mendham.  He 
was  one  of  New  Jersey's  most  honored  sons. 

Captain  Ephraim  Sanders  inherited  from  his  mother 
much  of  the  Dod  ingenuity.  He  learned  his  trade  of  his 
uncle  Dod,  and  was  long  a  leading  mechanic  in  iron,  and 
general  blacksmith.  Major  Lewis  Loree,  who  lived  to  be 
upward  of  ninety,  learned  his  trade  of  Captain  Sanders. 
The  wife  of  Captain  Sanders  was  Sarah  Rodgers.  Her 
mother  was  a  Sweazy  and  her  father  a  direct  descendant 
of  John  the  martyr.  There  were  born  to  them  numer- 
ous sons  and  daughters.  Their  eldest  daughter,  Nancy, 
who  married  Samuel  Loree  Axtell,  is  still  living  (1881), 
in  the  89th  year  of  her  age — sole  survivor  not  only  of 
her  father's  family  but  almost  of  her  generation.  Two 
of  Captain  Sanders's  sons  graduated  at  Yale.  One  of 
them.  Rev.  E.  D.  Saunders,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
the  founder  of  the   Presbyterian   hospital   in   that    city. 


33 


244 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Dr.  Frank  Ford  Sanders,  M.  D.,  of  Morristown,  a  grad- 
uate of  Princeton,  is  a  grandson  of  Captain  Sanders. 

The  Careys  originally  spelled  their  name  Gary.  There 
is  a  full  account  of  this  family  in  the  history  of  Bridge- 
water,  Mass.,  published  by  Nahum  Mitchell.  It  says 
John  Cary,  from  Somersetshire,  England,  settled  in  Dux- 
bury  as  early  as  1639,  and  was  an  original  proprietor  of 
Bridgewater  and  its  first  town  clerk.  He  died  in  1681. 
He  had  twelve  children — six  sons  and  six  daughters — 
namely,  John,  Francis,  Elizabeth,  James,  Mary,  Jonathan, 
David,  Hannah,  Rebecca,  Sarah,  Mehitabel  and  Joseph. 
John,  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  father  of  Jonathan  2nd, 
who  came  to  Mendham  in  1744,  and  was  the  builder  of 
Mendham  church,  owned  a  mill  at  Orr's  works  and  was 
called  "  Old  Miller  Cary."  The  following  distich  was 
common  in  after  times: 

"  Experience  and  Mary,  Susannah  and  Sarah, 
These  were  the  wives  of  old  John  Cary." 

Ghosts  and  witches,  both  old  and  young,  prevailed  to 
unlimited  extent  in  those  days.  Sam  Turner  was  walk- 
ing quietly  along  the  road,  with  both  hands  in  his  pockets 
to  keep  them  warm,  when  he  stumbled  without  any  cause 
or  provocation  and  fell  down.  He  could  not  get  his 
hands  out  of  his  pockets,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before 
he  could  get  up.  He  did  not  consider  himself  supersti- 
tious, and  did  not  wish  to  believe  himself  bewitched, 
although  the  evidence  tended  strongly  that  way;  so  he 
went  back  and  walked  several  times  over  the  same  ground 
with  his  hands  in  the  same  position,  but  did  not  again 
fall  down.  He  was  now  satisfied  beyond  controversy 
■that  he  was  bewitched.  At  another  time  he  was  riding 
on  a  load  of  oats,  from  his  back  fields  to  his  barn.  Near 
the  same  spot  he  met  an  old  woman,  who  said  to  him, 
"  Mr.  Turner,  that  load  will  fall  off  before  you  get 
home;"  and  sure  enough  it  did,  although  it  had  been 
carefully  loaded.  The  sheaves,  as  the  old  man  declared, 
"just  seemed  to  jump  right  out.''  But  churns  were 
oftenest  bewitched,  and  ghosts  delighted  of  course  in 
churchyards  and  in  the  old  meeting-house.  These 
stories  are  legion,  and,  while  tliey  would  perhaps  cause  a 
smile  at  the  credulity  of  our  ancestors,  would  scarcely 
serve  to  point  a  moral  or  adorn  a  tale. 

Uncle  Dave  Blank,  of  Brookside,  will  long  be  remem- 
bered for  his  drinking  sprees  and  pungent  wit.  Once 
when  overtaken  by  the  bottle  he  was  lying  beside  the 
road  as  old  Boss  Fairchild  came  along  and  called  out, 
"  Uncle  Dave  !  Uncle  Dave  !  get  up  and  go  home." 
"  Oh,"  said  the  poor  old  man,  "I'm  so  sick,"  "  Get  up, 
I  tell  you;  don't  you  know  me  ?  I'm  Deacon  Fairchild." 
"  Ugh  !"  said  Uncle  Dave  with  horrible  retchings,  "  I'm 
sicker'n  ever." 

The  old  Black  Horse  tavern  on  election  and  training 
days  was  full  of  life.  Once  a  noisy,  brawling  fellow  be- 
came a  public  nuisance  and  the  landlord  abated  him  by 
knocking  him  down  with  the  dinner-bell.  The  boys  took 
him  out  to  the  pump  to  wash  off  the  blood,  and  bind  up 
an  ugly  scalp  wound.  He  said  he  did  not  so  much  mind 
being  knocked  down,  but  he  hated  "  to  be  dingle-dongled 
over." 


David  Thompson,  grandfather  of  Hon.  George  H. 
Thompson,  was  captain  of  an  organization  of  Mendham 
citizens  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  They  were  not  in 
constant  service,  but  held  themselves  in  readiness  to  go 
out  at  a  moment's  notice.  They  were  called  minute 
men.  Major  Henry  Axtell,  son  of  Henry  the  blacksmith, 
was  also  in  this  organization.  Captain  Lebbeus  Dod,  as 
we  have  seen,  was  also  an  officer  in  Washington's  army. 
This  portion  of  New  Jersey  was  deeply  interested  in  that 
heroic  struggle,  and  was  true  blue  to  the  cause  of  Amer- 
ican independence.  The  men  then  on  the  stage  were 
the  immediate  descendants  of  those  who  had  been  per- 
secuted for  opinion's  sake,  and  driven  from  England, 
Scotland,  Ireland  and  France  because  they  loved  liberty. 
It  can  readily  be  understood  on  which  side  they  would 
be  found  in  such  a  contest. 

The  Guerins  are  rather  a  Morristown  then  a  Mendham 
family,  but  they  intermarried  with  Mendham  families. 
They  were  French  Huguenots.  They  were  then  as  now 
a  high-spirited,  brave,  liberty-loving  family.  They  were 
not  as  straight-laced  as  the  New  England  Puritans  who 
settled  in  Mendham.  They  were  fond  of  the  chase,  and 
the  older  members  of  the  family  were  great  fox  hunters. 
Jockey  Hollow  is  named  for  them  to  this  day.  Stephen 
Ogden  Guerin  married  a  daughter  of  Captain  Ephraim 
Sanders,  and  Rev.  Ephraim  Dod  Saunders  married 
Anna  P.  Guerin,  their  only  child.  Captain  Courtland 
Saunders  fell  at  Antietam  bravely  fighting  for  the  Union 
and  for  liberty  to  all  men. 

The  Guerins  are  worthily  represented  by  their  descend- 
ants. The  present  proprietor  of  the  Mansion  House  in 
Morristown,  B.  C.  Guerin,  is  one  of  their  sons. 

Major  Lewis  Loree  was  also  of  French  stock.  He  was 
fond  of  sport,  a  man  of  influence,  and  a  mighty  hunter 
in  his  day.  His  sons  David,  Lewis  Mills,  Stephen  and 
Aaron  are  still  here. 

Phoenix  is  also  a  noted  Mendham  name.  William  was 
for  many  years  the  host  of  the  Black  Horse  tavern.  One 
his  daughters,  Lydia,  married  Hon.  Henry  C.  Sanders, 
youngest  son  of  Captain  Ephraim  Sanders.  At  his  death 
he  was  the  largest  landholder  in  Mendham.  His  widow 
lives  on  the  old  Sanders  homestead,  and  is  not  only  an 
able  and  interesting  woman  but  one  of  the  very  best  and 
most  successful  farmers  in  Mendham  township.  Other 
daughters  of  this  family  are  successful  business  women. 
The  Phoenix  House  at  Mendham,  established  and  con- 
ducted by  daughters  of  this  family,  is  one  of  the  best 
houses  for  summer  boarders  in  the  county.  A  son,  Hon. 
Theodore  W.  Phoenix,  has  been  a  member  of  the  New 
Jersey  Legislature.  He  is  a  merchant  and  collector  of 
internal  revenue. 

At  the  east  end  of  Brookside  there  was  settled  in 
early  days  an  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Stevens.  He 
established  a  woolen  mill.  His  granddaughter  Mrs. 
Martha  Schenck,  now  a  widow,  resides  on  the  turnpike, 
near  the  old  Stevens  homestead.  She  is  also  a  most 
estimable  woman  and  an  excellent  farmer. 

Of  the  early  doctors  of  Mendham  the  first.  Dr.  John 
Leddle,  was  an  old  man  in  1800.     He_was  in  active  prac- 


OLD  FAMILIES  OF  MENDHAM— HOUSEHOLD  INDUSTRIES. 


245 


tice  in  the  Revolution.  The  second  Doctor  Leddle,  his 
son,  practiced  there  all  his  life.  His  children  still  reside 
in  the  township.  Dr.  Absalom  Woodruff  was  a  noted 
man  when  Elder  Samuel  Mcllrath's  children  lived  in 
Mendham.  He  was  rough  and  ready  in  wit  and  ways, 
and  is  affectionately  remembered,  as  all  original,  natural 
characters  are  apt  to  be.  The  writer  remembers  hearing 
his  father  say  that  for  ten  years'  doctoring  in  one  family 
— in  which  time  five  children  were  born,  and  raised  (that 
is  what  they  were  born  for),  and  one  brokeii  thigh  was 
set  and  attended  to — on  final  settlement  Dr.  Leddle's 
charges  amounted  to  but  $20.  The  Elmers,  father  and 
son,  were  physicians  in  latter  days.  Dr.  Upson  was  both 
physician  and  farmer.  Ziba  Sanders  Smith,  a  great 
grandson  of  Stephen  Dod,  resides  on  the  old  Dr.  Upson 
farm.  It  adjoins  the  Pitney  and  Drake  homesteads  and 
is  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  pleasing  homes  in  the 
township  or  county.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Axtell,  son  of  Silas  the  carpenter.  Their  son  John 
Henry  is  a  graduate  of  Ann  Arbor  and  a  lawyer  in  San 
Francisco. 

Mendham  never  sustained  a  lawyer,  and,  though  there 
is  no  apparent  connection,  it  is  said  that  in  one  neighbor- 
hood at  least  there  is  not  kept  a  dog.  Among  lawyers 
hailing  from  Mendham  Henry  Cooper  Pitney  and  George 
W.  Forsythe  are  worthy  of  honorable  mention.  Her 
ministers  are  much  more  numerous,  and  her  business 
men  are  found  everywhere.  H.  O.  Marsh,  president  of 
the  Iron  Bank  in  Morristown,  is  a  specimen  of  the 
latter  class. 

The  Pitney  family,  as  we  have  seen,  are  English. 
They  were  tall,  noble  looking  men,  full  of  vigor,  indus- 
try and  thrift.  They  long  carried  on  a  forge  for  making 
pig  iron,  and  were  also  large  farmers  and  landowners. 
The  Pitney  homestead  is  preserved  and  improved  by  a 
worthy  descendant,  Henry  Cooper  Pitney,  a  leading  law- 
yer of  Morristown. 

The  brothers  Nathaniel,  Henry  and  Jesse  Clark  lived 
on  the  mountain.  They  came  from  Long  Island,  and 
were  men  of  substance  and  influence  in  their  day. 
Henry  married  a  daughter  of  Major  Henry  Axtell.  His 
grandson,  S.  H.  H.  Clark,  of  Omaha,  is  a  prominent  of- 
ficer in  the  Union  Pacfic  Railroad  Company,  and  one  of 
the  leading  railroad  men  of  the  west. 

It  is  related  of  Dr.  Franklin  that  he  said  New  Jersey 
was  like  a  cider  barrel  tapped  at  both  ends — it  would  all 
run  out  into  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  This  is  partly 
true  of  Mendham;  she  has  nourished  and  brought  up 
children,  but  they  have  found  their  fields  of  usefulness 
and  honor  elsewhere.  The  population  of  Morris  county 
in  1810  was  21,828;  in  1820  it  was  but  21,368 — nearly 
500  loss  in  ten  years.  After  the  war  of  18 12  there  was 
great  activity  in  emigration  to  the  west,  especially  to 
Ohio.  Whiteheads,  Schencks,  Condits,  Daytons,  Wood- 
ruffs, Axtells,  Cozads,  Mcllraths,  Meekers,  Beerses, 
Merchants  and  numerous  other  Mendham  families  are 
to-day  more  numerous  in  Ohio  and  Michigan  than  in 
New  Jersey.  Dayton  in  Ohio  is  named  for  Mendham 
Daytons,  and  Licking  county,  Ohio,  has  a  Jersey  township. 


The  Mendham  Daytons  are  an  old  and  honorable 
English  family.  Their  name  furnishes  yet  another  signal 
instance  of  variations  in  spelling.  We  find  that  Rolph 
Dayghton  settled  at  Easthampton,  Long  Island,  in  1649. 
Jonathan,  grandson  of  Rolph,  settled  at  Elizabethtown, 
N.  J.,  in  1701,  and  from  this  branch  are  the  Daytons  of 
Mendham. 

John  and  Joseph  Marsh  came  to  New  Jersey  from  New 
England  early  in  1700.  John  married  Sarah  Clark  and 
had  a  son  John,  who  married  Elizabeth  Dunham.  Their 
son  Amos,  born  in  1767,  was  the  Mendham  wagonmaker. 
He  married  Sophia  Oliver — written  Surphia.  We  also 
have  Mendham  Roffs — the  Virginia  Rolf — undoubtedly 
the  English  Rolph;  and  Endsleys  and  Enslees — the 
Scottish  Ainsley,  or  Ainslie.  What  shall  we  say  of  Bob- 
bit  for  Babbit,  or  Akstyle  for  Axtell  ? 

The  Drakes  are  worthily  represented  in  Morristown  by 
J.  A.  Drake,  and  in  Newark  by  Edward  Courtland 
Drake,  son  of  Colonel  James  W.,  of  Mendham.  These 
families,  with  worthy  filial  affection — and,  it  may  be  said, 
with  excellent  business  sense — still  retain  and  improve 
the  lands  which  their  ancestors  bought  and  settled  in 
T741.  This  is  also  true  of  the  Pitneys  and  Thompsons. 
The  Drake  family  came  originally  from  Holland. 

The  early  families  of  Mendham  were  very  superior 
people — industrious,  intelligent  and  moral.  Nor  is  it  be- 
lieved that  their  descendants  have  degenerated;  at  home 
and  abroad  they  compare  to-day  favorably  with  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  any  portion  of  our  country. 

Industries. 

The  early  settlers  of  Mendham  were  industrious  and 
ingenious.  Their  circumstances  compelled  them  to 
manufacture  for  themselves.  It  was  with  extreme  diffi- 
culty that  they  could  get  cash  to  buy  with,  and  then  it 
was  necessary  to  go  to  Elizabethtown,  on  horseback  or 
with  ox  carts,  to  bring  up  their  goods.  This  state  of  af- 
fairs compelled  them  to  make  wool  and  flax  into  cloth- 
ing and  leather  into  shoes.  They  brought  ore  on  horse- 
back from  Dickerson's  mines,  near  Dover,  to  the  mills  on 
their  streams;  and  with  the  charcoal  of  the  heavily 
wooded  hills  made  their  pig  iron,  and  carried  that  again 
on  horseback  to  a  market.  It  was  their  currency. 
Theirs  was  truly  an  iron  age.  The  value  of  money  may 
be  understood  when  it  is  stated  as  a  fact  that  John  Cary 
came  from  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  to  build  the  first  church, 
and  worked  for  thirty-one  cents  per  day.  Carding, 
spinning,  weaving  and  making  shoes  were  carried  on  in 
nearly  every  house,  and  so  scarce  were  purchased  articles 
that  thorns  were  constantly  used  in  place  of  pins.  With 
all  other  industries  and  economies  to  correspond,  we  can 
easily  comprehend  that  our  ancestors  of  Mendham  town- 
ship were  not  consumed  by  sloth  nor  enervated  by  lux- 
ury. With  them  all  useful  industries  were  honorable  and 
all  idleness  and  extravagance  disreputable.  They  were 
independent,  honorable  and  self-reliant,  and  their  chil- 
dren's children  rise  up  and  call  them  blessed. 

The  business  of  making  fine  carriages  was  established 
in  Mendham  village  by  John  Marsh,  and  afterward  con- 


246 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNl"Y. 


tinued  by  his  son,  H.  O.  Marsh,  the  president  of  the  Iron 
Bank  at  Morristown.  These  carriages  were  built  for  the 
southern  trade.  The  war  of  the  Rebellion  destroyed  the 
business.  The  sales  reached  at  one  time  about  |25,ooo 
per  annum.  The  shops  were  closed  in  1862.  There  was 
manufacturing  in  quite  early  times  both  at  Ralstonville 
and  Brookside.  At  the  latter  place  John  and  Abraham 
Byram  had  a  mill  for  carding  wool  and  fulling  cloth. 
Ebenezer  Fairchild — known  as  "  Boss  Fairchild  " — had 
a  tannery  and  shoe  shop,  and  Charles  Thompson  carried 
on  the  same  business.  In  fact  shoes  were  made  in  nearly 
every  house  in  that  peaceful  and  industrious  hamlet,  and 
exchanged  with  farmers  for  provisions.  The  bread  of 
idleness  was  not  eaten  in  those  days.  There  were  also 
mills  at  Ralstonville,  and  there  was  in  early  days  a  forge 
on  the  mountain,  owned  and  carried  on  for  many  years 
by  the  grandfather  and  father  of  Henry  C.  Pitney,  of 
Morristown.  In  1840  the  manufacturing  and  educational 
interests  were  summed  up  in  the  New  Jersey  "Historical 
Collections  " -as  follows:  "2  grist,  i  saw,  1  fulling-mill; 
I  woolen,  I  cotton  factory;  capital  in  manufacturing, 
$29,800;  3  academies,  95  students;  5  schools,  183  schol. 
ars."  The  home  manufactures  were  always  considerable. 
The  mother  of  a  family  in  those  days  not  only  worked 
up  wool  and  flax  into  cloth,  but  also  made  that  cloth  into 
garments.  "She  worked  willingly  with  her  hands;  she 
rose  while  it  was  yet  night  and  gave  meat  to  her  house- 
hold; her  loins  were  girded  with  strength,  and  she 
strengthened  her  arms."  But  the  hum  of  the  big  wheel 
the  whir  of  flax-spinning  and  the  sound  of  the  loom  have 
ceased  in  the  township;  whether  for  better  or  worse  is  an 
open  question,  but  it  is  an  accomplished  fact. 

Mendham  is  strictly  an  agricultural  township.  There 
is  neither  commerce,  mining  nor  manufacturing.  The 
population  has  not  increased,  because  under  the  present 
system  of  farming  all  the  tillable  lands  are  fully 
occupied.  The  value  of  farming  lands  in  the  township 
has  greatly  increased,  as  also  their  productiveness.  The 
annual  report  of  the  controller  of  the  State  for  1880  gives 
the  acreage  of  Mendham  township  at  13,525  acres,  valued 
on  the  assessors'  books  at  $837,665.  This  is  an  average 
of  $61  per  acre,  certainly  a  very  high  figure  when  we 
consider  that  land  is  not  usually  assessed  at  over  half 
the  price  for  which  it  could  be  sold.  The  lands  in 
Rockaway  township  barely  average  $30  per  acre,  and 
those  of  Chester  $50.  Mendham  compares  favorably 
for  farming  lands  with  any  portion  of  the  Union,  east  or 
west;  and  for  beauty  of  scenery,  health  and  comfort 
cannot  be  surpassed  in  the  United  States. 

The  First  Church. 

As  the  first  church  is  the  most  striking  feature  in  the 
landscape  of  Mendham  village  so  is  the  history  of  its 
establishment  and  progress  the  most  interesting  part  of 
the  records  of  the  township.  It  will  be  necessary  there- 
fore to  devote  some  space  to  the  history  of  this  church. 
It  is  noticeable  that  our  ancestors  called  these  buildings 
simply  meeting-houses.  They  were  neither  temples  nor 
Lord's  houses  nor  churches — they  were  simply  "  meet- 


ing-houses." Whatever  may  have  been  their  creeds, 
their  form  of  government  was  a  pure  Congregationalism; 
that  is,  the  congregation — the  people — met  and  decided 
all  important  questions  relating  to  building,  paying  salar- 
ies, etc.  The  place  adjoining  the  church,  where  they 
buried  their  dead,  was  the  property  of  the  society  or 
congregation.  It  was  a  church  yard.  Services  were  held 
both  in  the  forenoon  and  afternoon,  and  during  the  inter- 
mission in  pleasant  weather  those  who  came  from  a  dis- 
tance went  into  the  church  yard,  to  eat  their  luncheon, 
to  chat,  to  shake  hands,  to  read  inscriptions  on  old  head- 
stones, to  kneel  down  and  shed  bitter  tears  by  new  made 
graves,  to  criticise  the  doctrinal  points  of  the  sermon,  and 
— barely  possible — occasionally  some  worldly  matters 
would  creep  in. 

We  have  seen  that  Ebenezer  Byram  with  his  family 
came  to  Mendham  in  1743.  His  second  son,  Rev.  Eliab 
Byram,  was  the  first  pastor  of  "  Mendum  "  church.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1740,  and  was  installed  by  the 
presbytery  of  New  York  pastor  of  Mendham  church  in 
1744.  We  find  from  the  journal  of  Rev.  David  Brainerd 
that  he  selected  the  Rev.  Eliab  Byram  to  be  his  assistant 
and  traveling  companion  in  his  journeys  among  the 
Indians  on  the  Susquehanna.  We  find  the  following 
entry  in  Brainerd's  journal:  "  Monday  Oct.  17th  1744. 
— Was  engaged  this  day  in  making  preparations  for 
ray  intended  journey  to  Susquehanna.  Towards  night 
rode  four  miles  to  meet  Brother  Byram,  who  was  come 
at  my  desire  to  be  my  companion  in  travel  to  the  In- 
dians." A  note  says  Mr.  Byram  was  "minister  at  a  cer- 
tain place  known  as  Roxiticus."  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Hast- 
ings says:  "  That  such  a  man  as  Brainerd  should  select 
Mr.  Byram  as  his  companion  in  his  travels,  and  should 
speak  so  warmly  of  him  in  his  journals,  and  that  Mr. 
Byram  should  be  willing  to  brave  so  many  hardships  and 
dangers  with  him,  these  things  are  high  testimony  to  the 
piety,  devotion  and  ability  of  the  first  pastor  of  Mendham 
church." 

In  1745  the  people  of  Mendham  began  to  build  a  new 
house  of  worship  on  the  site  of  the  present  church,  upon 
a  plan,  says  the  Rev.  Dr.  Armstrong,  very  liberal  and  ex- 
tensive for  those  times  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
congregation.  Ebenezer  Byram  prior  to  this  had  built 
the  Black  Horse  tavern,  and  the  village  had  changed 
from  Roxiticus.  Of  the  site  of  this  church  Rev.  Mr. 
Hastings  says:  "I  know  of  no  church  in  any  village 
which  has  so  beautiful  and  picturesque  a  location."  It 
is  said  on  good  authority  that  Mr.  Byram  returned  to 
Bridgewater  to  secure  the  services  of  a  carpenter  to 
build  this  church,  and  that  he  engaged  John  Cary  to  do 
the  whole  work  at  two  shillings  and  sixpence  per  day. 
Reckoned  as  federal  money,  this  was  only  thirty-one 
cents  per  day  for  a  boss  mechanic.  This  church  stood 
seventy-one  years.  It  was  a  frame  structure.  Its  timbers 
were  cut  and  hewed  in  the  adjoining  forests.  It  was 
covered  both  top  and  sides  with  shingles  riven  and  shaved 
by  the  very  men  who  were  to  sit  under  their  shelter;  and 
the  very  nails  to  fasten  these  shingles  were  made  by  them 
of  wrought  iron,  which  they  themselves  had  also  made 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  IN  ME^DHAM  TOWNSHIP; 


247 


from  ore  brought  on  horseback  from  Dover.  There  was 
little  about  this  first  meeting-house,  except  the  glass  in 
the  windows,  which  was  not  made  by  some  of  the  con- 
gregation. The  following  description  of  this  house  is 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Hastings: 

"It  was  eminently  American — simple,  severe  and  prac- 
tical. It  was  a  wooden  structure.  Its  sides  were  covered 
with  short  cedar  shingles.  It  had  no  spire  nor  cupola, 
for  bells  were  rare  things  in  those  days.  Its  main  en- 
trance was  on  the  south  side,  where  there  were  two  large, 
heavy,  double-batten  folding  doors;  there  were  also  doors 
on  the  east  and  west  sides.  A  broad  aisle  extended  from 
the  south  door  to  the  pulpit.  The  pulpit  was  on  the  north 
side  of  the  church.  It  was  a  small  box-like  structure 
raised  on  a  single  pillar  to  a  dizzy  height,  with  an  octag- 
onal sounding  board,  extended  like  an  extinguisher  over 
it,  threatening  to  put  out  the  minister.  Underneath  the 
pulpit  was  the  deacons'  seat,  a  large  square  pew  in  which 
sat,  facing  the  congregation,  the  officers  of  the  church 
and  those  no  less  important  personages  the  choristers, 
one  to  line  the  hymn  and  the  other  to  pitch  the  tune.  A 
high  gallery  extended  around  three  sides  of  the  church, 
containing  a  few  elevated  pews  which  were  near  the  ceil- 
ing— the  highest  seats  in  the  synagogue.  There  was  no 
porch  or  lobby.  The  gallery  stairs  were  inside  the 
assembly  room.  The  pews  down  stairs  appear  to  have 
been  more  than  usually  elaborate  in  their  finish.  The 
backs  were  precisely  perpendicular  and  very  high.  Within 
these  pews  children  could  be  heard  but  not  seen.  The 
upper  part  of  the  backs  of  the  seats  was  open  work, 
finished  with  upright  spindles.  In  1791  it  was  voted  by 
the  congregation  '  to  git  a  bell  for  the  meeting-house  of 
four  hundred  wait.'  Mr.  John  Gary,  who  had  built  the 
house  46  years  before,  was  employed  to  construct  a 
belfry.  It  was  placed  in  the  center  of  the  church,  and 
the  bell-rope  hung  down  in  the  middle  of  the  main  aisle. 
Here  the  bell-ringer  always  stood  of  a  Sabbath  morning, 
until  the  people  were  all  assembled,  and  being  in  so  con- 
spicuous a  position  he  felt  himself  bound  to  lay  out  all 
his  energies  upon  the  bell  rope.  He  would  leap  high  in 
air,  catch  the  rope  and  make  a  triumphant  descent,  the 
bell  loudly  applauding  each  higher  leap.  Elisha  Beach  jr. 
enjoyed  the  honor  of  ringing  the  new  bell  for  the  first 
year,  'on  the  Sabbath  and  lectors  and  at  9  o'cl.  at 
night.'  " 

April  29th  1794  the  congregation  "voted  Samuel  Mc- 
Curdy  to  take  care  of  the  meeting-house,  and  to  ring  the 
bell  night  and  day  for  one  year,  £s  i4S-"  Poor  Samuel 
— to  ring  a  bell  of  "four  hundred  wait"  night  and  day 
for  one  year  !  For  a  long  time  the  bell  was  rung  every 
evening  at  9  o'clock,  and  many  were  the  ghosts  which 
the  superstitious  sextons  encountered  at  that  lone  place 
and  lonely  hour  of  winter  nights. 

There  was  found  among  the  papers  of  Captain  David 
Thompson,  grandfather  of  Hon.  Stephen  H.  Thompson, 
the  original  deed  to  the  ground  on  which  this  meeting- 
house was  built.  The  grant  was  made  not  to  a  sect  or 
society  but  "  unto  the  Congregation  or  Inhabitance  of 
people  that  do  or  shall  frequently  meet  together  to  wor- 
ship God  in  that  plaice."  This  deed  is  dated  November 
2Sth  174s,  and  is  signed  by  Edmund  Burnett  and  wit- 
nessed by  Joseph  Kurds  and  Ezra  Cary.  The  deed  was 
obtained  after  the  "  hows  "  was  built,  for  the  description 
of  the  land  reads:  "  A  scairtan  pees  or  parcel  of  Land  on 
which  the  Meeting  Hows  now  standeth."     This  "  Meet- 


ing Hows "  stood  seventy-one  years,  and  but  for  the 
''  lust  of  the  eye  and  the  pride  of  life  "  would  proba- 
bly be  there  to-day — and  would  be  worth  all  the  public 
buildings  in  Mendham.  It  was  torn  down  to  make  place 
for  a  fine  church. 

An  anecdote  of  preacher  and  ruling  elder  in  this  quaint 
old  meeting-house  may  round  out  the  picture.  It  is  re- 
lated of  Rev.  Mr.  Joline  that  he  was  fond  of  giving  a 
course  of  sermons  on  some  one  doctrine,  and  it  is  said 
that  he  occupied  nearly  one  whole  winter  with  a  course 
of  sermons  on  the  doctrine  of  election.  On  a  certain 
occasion,  in  the  midst  of  his  discourse.  Elder  Samuel 
Mcllrath,  a  tall,  thin,  dignified  Scotchman,  wearing  a 
white  skull  cap  to  cover  his  baldness,  arose  in  his  seat 
and  exclaimed  with  great  earnestness,  "  Mr.  Joline,  that 
is  false  doctrine!" 

This  old  church  was  struck  by  lightning  on  the  Sab- 
bath day  May  i6th  1813,  and  Mrs.  John  Drake  was  in- 
stantly killed  ai)d  several  of  the  congregation  were 
severely  injured.  It  was  taken  down  in  1816  and  a  new 
one  built  on  the  same  site.  This  house  was  accidentally 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1835.  A  new  church  built  in  1835 
was  burnt  in  1859.  The  present  church  was  dedicated 
February  tst  i860. 

Rev.  John  Pierson,  the  second  pastor  of  this  church, 
was  installed  in  1753.  His  grandfather  Abraham  Pier- 
son  graduated  at  Cambridge,  England,  in  1632,  was  or- 
dained in  the  Episcopal  church,  preached  a  short  time  at 
Newark,  England,  emigrated  to  the  New  World,  was 
settled  at  Branford,  in  Connecticut,  and  came  in  1666, 
with  almost  his  entire  congregation,  to  Milford  on  the 
Passaic  in  New  Jersey.  The  place  was  afterward  called 
Newark  in  his  honor.  His  son  Abraham  graduated  at 
Cambridge  and  was  the  father  of  the  second  pastor  of 
Mendham  church.  John  Pierson  was  born  in  Newark, 
N.  J.,  in  1689;  graduated  at  Yale  in  1711  and  was  pastor 
here  ten  years.  These  facts  are  related  with  some  par- 
ticularity as  they  show  that  the  Mendham  people  in  those 
early  days  sought  out  able  men  to  be  their  teachers;  they 
admired  thoroughly  educated,  scholarly  men,  and  this 
proves  that  they  themselves  were  not  altogether  deficient 
in  scholarly  attainments.  It  is,  in  fact,  probable  that 
there  has  been  more  ripe  scholarship  developed  in  Mend- 
ham than  in  any  other  village  of  its  size  in  New  Jersey. 

The  third  pastor  was  Rev.  Francis  Peppard,  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  a  graduate  of  Nassau  Hall  in  1762.  He  was 
ordained  here  in  1764.  During  his  ministry  Watts's 
psalms  and  hymns  were  first  introduced,  and  this  gave 
great  offense  to  the  older  members  of  the  congregation- 
Old  Elder  Cummins  among  others  would  leave  the  house 
during  singing.  The  first  record  extant  relating  to  this 
church  and  congregation  is  an  old  trustee's  book  bound 
in  parchment.  On  the  inside  of  the  cover  is  this  in- 
scription: "  Mendom  Congregation  Book,  Bought  Aug. 
2ist  1766,  Price  Six  shillings  York."  On  November  20th 
1766  there  is  this  minute,  which  is  the  second  one  on 
record: 

"The  Congregation  mett  &  chose  Jno  Cary  Moderator. 

"Preposed  whether  the  Rev.  Mr.  Francis  Pepard  sh'd 


248 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


be  continued  where  he  Now  lives   &   Build  on  that  place 
voted  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Preposed  to  find  Three  tun  of  Good  hea  for  Mr.  Pe- 
pard  yearly  until  the  congregation  can  provide  other 
ways  voted  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Preposed  to  chose  three  men  and  afterwards  chose 
two  more  to  project  and  carry  on  the  Building  of  Mr. 
Pepards  House. 

f  Thomas  Husy  1 

I  James  Jonston  1 

"  Elected  ■{  Jno.  Gary  j-Gommitteemen." 

Zebulon  Riggs  1 

(^Benj.  Pitney     J 

In  1767  Rev.  Mr.  Peppard  asked  to  be  dismissed,  and 
John  Gary,  Elizabeth  Beach,  Ezra  Gary,  Zebulon  Riggs 
and  David  Thompson  were  elected  a  committee  to  go  to 
presbytery  with  Mr.  Peppard. 

About  this  time  Demas  Lindley,  Jacob  Cook  and  Lu- 
ther Axtell — son  of  Henry  the  blacksmith — removed  to 
Washington  county.  Pa.  There  were  many  other  Mend- 
ham  families  who  went  then  and  subsequently  to  that 
part  of  Pennsylvania,  and  some  of  these  afterward  into 
Ohio.  Two  of  the  daughters  of  Elder  Samuel  Mc'Ilrath 
were  of  tliis  emigration.  Sarah  married,  an  Englishman 
by  the  name  of  Shaw  and  Isabella  married  a  Mr.  Wood- 
ruff, of  Mendham. 

We  find  from  the  church  records  that  on  the  15th  of 
August  1781,  at  Ten  Mile,  Pa.,  a  church  was  organized 
in  the  open  air  near  the  foot  of  the  mountain;  and  Demas 
Lindley,  Jacob  Cook,  Joseph  Cook  and  Daniel  Axtell 
were  ordained  elders.  This  little  Mendham  colony  suf- 
fered much  from  Indians,  and  it  was  not  till  1783,  on  the 
3d  of  May,  that  the  Lord's  Supper  was  first  administered, 
in  Daniel  Axtell's  barn.  Truly  these  were  heroic  souls 
and  life  to  them  had  deepest  meanings.  To  this 
church,  so  established  as  a  branch  from  the  vine  in  Mend- 
ham, Rev.  Thaddeus  Dod  ministered.  He  was  born  in 
Mendham,  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1773,  and  settled  in 
the  ministry  at  Ten  Mile  or  Amity,  Washington  county, 
Pa.  He  married  Phebe  Baldwin,  of  Mendham,  and  was  the 
second  Presbyterian  minister  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 
He  died  at  Ten  Mile  in  1793.  Many  of  the  descendants 
of  Luther  Axtell  and  these  Mendham  families  still  reside 
in  Washington  county. 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  in  all  the  Mendham  parish 
meetings  for  twenty  years  from  1766,  with  but  three  or 
four  exceptions,  John  Gary  was  chosen  moderator. 
October  3d  1768  the  congregation  "  preposed  "  and  voted 
to  call  Rev.  Thomas  Lewis,  and  "  preposed  "  to  give  him 
one  hundred  pounds  salary,  "  light  money,  the  use  of  the 
parsonage  and  his  firewood  at  the  door."  Mr.  Lewis  was 
a  graduate  of  Yale,  of  the  class  of  1741.  The  next  pastor 
was  Rev.  John  Joline,  1778-95.  Mr.  Hastings  says: 
"  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Joline  two  young 
men  began  to  appear  in  active  life  who  have  especial 
claim  upon  our  attention.  I  refer  to  Rev.  Henry  Axtell, 
D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Henry  Cook,  two  honored  sons  of  this 
church."      Dr.    Axtell   was   a   grandson   of   Henry   the 


blacksmith,  who  came  to  Mendham  in  1739.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Cook,  sister  of  Rev.  Henry  and  daughter 
of  Daniel  Cook.  He  built  the  house  opposite  the  present 
parsonage  and  taught  one  of  the  best  schools  Mendham 
ever  had,  in  a  building  that  was  erected  for  him  near  the 
site  of  the  present  academy.  He  removed  to  Geneva, 
Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  and  died  there  in  1829.  Mr. 
Hastings  says  of  Dr.  Axtell:  "He  was  in  every  respect  a 
very  superior  man,  and  must  hold  very  high  rank  among 
the  sons  of  Mendham  church."  Rev.  Henry  Cook  was  a 
very  worthy  pastor,  and  was  settled  over  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Metuchen,  N.  J. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Amzi  Armstrong,  who  was 
installed  in  1796  and  remained  with  the  church  twenty 
years.  He  was  not  only  a  very  distinguished  man  but 
had  the  faculty  of  impressing  his  peculiar  views  more 
distinctly  upon  his  people  than  any  other  of  the  long  line 
of  able  and  distinguished  clergymen  who  have  ministered 
to  this  church.  Mr.  Armstrong  is  loved  and  revered  to  this 
day  by  the  Mendham  people.  After  him  came  Samuel  H. 
Cox,  in  1817;  Philip  C.  Hay,  1821;  John  Vanlieu,  1824; 
Daniel  H-  Johnson,  1826;  Thomas  S.  Hastings,  1852;= 
Theodore  F.  White,  1856;  David  McGee,  Sanford  H 
Smith  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cochran. 

Educational. 

The  schools  of  Mendham  have  been  exceptionally 
good.  The  first  academy,  as  we  have  seen,  was  estab- 
lished by  Rev.  Henry  Axtell,  D.  D.,  about  1795.  Since 
that  day  Mendham  has  never  been  without  good  schools. 
Ezra  Fairchild,  a  graduate  of  Amherst,  Mass.,  son  of 
Deacon  Ebenezer  ("  Boss")  Fairchild,  of  Brookside,  and 
grandson  of  Caleb,  of  Morristown,  had  a  very  successful 
private  academy,  known  as  Hill  Top,  and  William  Rankin 
is  also  very  pleasantly  remembered  as  a  good  man  and 
faithful  educator.  Under  these  and  other  worthy  men 
Mendham  fitted  many  of  her  sons  for  college.  The  fol- 
lowing named  men,  sons  of  Mendham  parentage  and 
who  were  fitted  for  college  in  Mendham,  may  be  men- 
tioned: Rev.  Henry  Axtell,  D.  D.,  and  his  three  sons, 
Daniel,  Henry  and  Charles;  Silas,  Henry  and  Samuel 
Beach  Axtell;  Rev.  Albert  B.  Dod,  of  Princeton;  Rev. 
William  Armstrong  Dod,  and  Revs.  Thaddeus,  Cephas, 
Charles,  Lebbeus  and  Luther,  descendants  of  Stephen 
Dod  of  Mendham;  Rev.  Ephraim  Dod  Saunders  and 
Josephus  Saunders;  Rev.  Elias  Riggs;  Rev.  W.  J.  Arm- 
strong, D.  D.,  son  of  Dr.  Amzi  Armstrong;  and  Revs. 
Frederick  Knighton,  EHas  Fairchild,  Joseph  Vance, 
Elijah  Fairchild,  William  Babbitt,  Walter  Nicholas, 
Aaron  Wolfe  and  Stephen  Thompson. 

The  number  of  children  of  suitable  age  to  attend 
school,  between  5  and  18,  in  1880  was  504,  distributed  as 
follows:  Ralstonville,  41;  Union,  120;  Mendham,  132- 
Mountain,  .47;  Brookside,  109;  Washington  Corners,  55. 
The  total  value  of  school  property  in  the  township  is  $7,700. 
Average  number  of  months  the  schools  have  kept  open, 
gyi.     Average  male  teachers' wages,  $35 ;  women's,  $23. 


MONTVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 


By  Hon.  John  L.  Kanofse. 


^  HIS  township  was  formed  in  1867,   from  terri- 
tory set  off  from  Pequannock.     It  is  bounded 
north  by  Pequannock  township,  east  by   Pe- 
quannock  township   and  the  Passaic  River, 
south   by  the  Rockaway  River  and    west  by 
the  Rockaway  River  and  Boonton  township.     It  is 
about  four  miles  in  width,  and  nine  miles  long;  in 
area  it  is   twice   as   large  as  Boonton  township,  and  not 
quite    half  as    large    as   Pequannock;    in   proportion  to 
its  area    it    has    more    tillable    land    than    either  Boon- 
ton     or     Pequannock.     The     extreme      southern     part 
peninsular  in  form,  being  nearly  surrounded  by  the  Rock- 
away and  Passaic  Rivers,  consists  of  what  is  called  the 
Pine  Brook  flats,  and  is  a  level  tract  with   soil   of  sandy 
loam  free  from  stone,   which,   when  properly  cultivatedi 
is  productive.     This  part  of  the  township   is   about  thir- 
teen miles  from   Newark,  with    which  it  is  connected  by 
a  good   road,   which   for  three-quarters  of  the  distance 
consists  of  a  Telford  pavement.     The  soil  in   the  rest  of 
this  township   consists   mainly  of-  loam  on  clay  bottom, 
and   is   generally   productive  in   grass,    grain,  vegetables 
and  fruit.     The  farmers  in  the  southern  part  are  engaged 
largely  in  the  production  of  milk  to  supply  the   Newark 
market,  and  in  the  more  central  parts  considerable  quan- 
tities of  butter,    eggs,  poultry,  pork,  beef,  hay  and  straw 
are  produced  for  market.     For  some  years  past  consider- 
able  attention   has   been   given   to  planting  choice  fruit 
trees,   and   some  are   beginning  to   reap    the  benefits  in 
apples   and  pears,   which  generally  yield  a  good  return. 
The  land  in  this  township  is  chiefly  rolling;  the  northern 
part     is     principally     rough,    mountainous     woodland; 
the    highest    points    in    the    northeastern    part    are  the 
Waughan    Mountains   and    Turkey   Mountain.       In    the 
southeastern  part  is  the  Hook  Mountain  range;  between 
this  and  the  Passaic  River  is   a  fertile   strip  of  farming 
land  with   a  southeastern  exposure  and  sloping  to  the 
river,  called  Passaic  Valley.     The  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
and  Western   Railroad  and  the  Morris  Canal  pass  cen- 
trally from  west  to  east  through  the  township.      A  small 
stream    called    Stony  Brook  passes  through   the  north- 
western part,  and  empties  into  the  Rockaway  River  above 
Powerville;  another  brook,  rising  near  Turkey  Mountain, 
flows  through  the  village  of  Montville  and  down  the  val- 


ley, emptying  into  the  Rockaway  River  about  half  a 
mile  below  the  Dutch  Reformed  church.  This  latter 
stream  at  Montville  village  affords  some  water  power, 
which  is  about  the  only  power  afforded  by  any  stream  in 
the  township,  excepting  that  furnished  by  the  Rockaway 
River  for  a  short  distance  on  the  western  boundary. 

In  Passaic  Valley,  near  the  line  of  Pequannock  town- 
s-hip, is  a  quarry  of  red  sandstone,  belonging  to  John  H. 
Vreeland,  a  descendant  of  Hartman  Vreeland,  who  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  this  region.  This  quarry  is 
remarkable  for  rocks  found  there,  containing  apparently 
the  tracks  of  a  bird  as  large  as  the  ostrich;  some  fine 
specimens  have  been  obtained,  and  one  may  be  seen  in 
the  State  geological  museum  at  Trenton.  In  the  northern 
part  of  this  township,  near  Turkey  Mountain,  is  a  quarry 
from  which  quantities  of  limestone  have  been  taken. to 
supply  the  furnaces  at  Boonton,  and  for  making  lime  for 
agricultural  and  other  purposes.  The  majority  of  this 
stone  is  quite  white.  Asbestos  and  also  some  very  hand- 
some specimens  of  serpentine  stone  are  found  here; 
this  is  the  only  deposit  of  limestone  known  anywhere  in 
this  vicinity. 

The  population  of  this  township  in  1870  was  1,353 
white  and  50  colored,  total  1,403;  in  1875  it  was  1,412 
white  and  31  colored,  total  1,443;  ^^  1880  the  total  pop- 
ulation was  1,269,  showing  a  decrease  in  five  years  of  174; 
this  decrease  no  doubt  is  accounted  for  in  part  by  the 
stoppage  of  the  Boonton  iron  works  in  1876,  as  some  of 
the  employes  at  those  works  lived  at  Montville.  The  as- 
sesors'  figures  for  1881  were  as  follows:  Acres,  11,302; 
valuation  of  real  estate,  $459,226;  personal  property, 
$118,989;  debt,  $36,665;  polls,  304;  State  school  tax, 
$1,378-57;  county  tax,  $1,288.69;  bounty  tax,  $1,403.78; 
road  tax,  $1,200. 

The  brook  that  runs  through  what  is  now  known  as  Up- 
per Montville  and  down  the  valley,  emptying  into  the 
Rockaway  River  below  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,  was 
known  among  the  early  settlers  by  the  name  of  "Owl 
Kill."  It  is  a  tortuous  stream  and  often  overflows  much 
of  the  adjoining  land,  rendering  it.  rich  natural  meadow. 
Along  the  banks  of  this  stream  stood  many  large  trees, 
which  in  olden  times  were  a  favorite  resort  for  owls;  these 
birds  feed  principally  upon  mice,  and  doubtless  were  at- 


250 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


traded  to  this  place  by  the  large  number  of  mice  that 
burrowed  in  the  soft  grounds  of  the  adjoining  meadows. 
Hence  this  stream,  about  two  miles  in  length,  came  to 
be  called  "Owl  Kill;"  from  the  peculiar  pronunciation 
of  the  Dutch  this  was  changed  to  "  Uylekill,"  and  the 
valley  as  well  as  the  brook  was  known  by  that 
name.  This  account  of  the  matter  is  corroborated  by 
Levi  Stiles,  now  85  years  old,  who  was  born  and  has  al- 
ways lived  in  this  vicinity.  We  find  this  view  further 
confirmed  by  documentary  evidence,  which  is  more  relia- 
ble than  mere  memory.  Humphry  Davenport,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  this  vicinity,  came  here  in  1714, 
a  granddaughter  of  his  was  on  January  ist  1754  married 
to  Jacob  Bovie,  and  she  is  recorded  as  born  in  "  Uyle- 
kill." This  is  taken  from  a  certified  copy  of  the  church 
record  at  Aquackanock. 

Early  Residents  and  Enterprises. 

The  settlement  at  what  is  known  as  Upper  Montville 
was  made  at  a  very  early  date,  and  there  is  some  reason 
to  believe  that  the  first  grist-mill  in  this  vicinity  was 
erected  there.  The  records  of  Pequannock  show  that  on 
October  2nd  1745  a  road  was  laid  out  "  from  the  corner 
at  Cornelius  Doreraus's  to  the  corner  at  Nicholas  Hyler's, 
and  then  along  the  line  between  Hyler  and  Peter  Fred- 
ericks to  a  white  oak  tree,  and  thence  across  the  brook, 
and  thence  as  the  path  goeth  to  Michael  Cook's  mill." 
This  shows  that  a  grist-mill  was  at  Montville  prior  to 
1745,  and  that  it  belonged  to  Michael  Cook;  and  it 
appears  that  Michael  Cook  was  then  an  old  resident,  and 
was  elected  to  a  town  office  as  early  as  1749.  There  is 
reason,  therefore,  to  believe  that  he  had  built  a  mill  there 
some  time  before  that  date,  or  that  his  immediate  prede- 
cessor built  it,  perhaps  as  early  as  1720.  About  1787  we 
find  that  this  mill  and  a  saw-mill  were  owned  by  John 
Pierson  and  Elijah  Dod,  the  latter  a  son  of  Caleb  Dod 
who  lived  at  Horse  Neck,  in  Caldwell  township,  Essex 
county,  at  a  point  now  called  Clinton.  Elijah  Dod  came 
there  when  a  young  man,  and  soon  afterward  erected  a 
dwelling,  the  same  that  is  now  the  residence  of  the  widow 
of  Frederick  W.  Cook.  The  last  named  was  a  son  of 
Silas  Cook,  who  bought  the  property  after  the  death  of 
Elijah  Dod,  which  occurred  February  3d  1807.  Elijah 
Dod  left  four  daughters;  the  eldest  married  William 
Scott,  the  next  married  Joseph  Scott  jr.  (brother  of 
William),  the  third  became  the  wife  of  John  G.  Kanouse 
and  the  youngest  married  Lewis  King;  the  two  latter  are 
still  living,  one  aged  80  and  the  other  77. 

Silas  Cook  came  to  Montville  about  1795.  His  first 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Martin  Morrison,  who  resided 
near  Lower  Montville.  By  this  marriage  he  had  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Cornelius  Van  Orden 
and  the  other  Swain  A.  Condit.  His  second  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Salter,  who  lived  in  that  vicinity.  His 
first  purchase  of  property  at  Montville  was  one-quarter  of 
the  cider-mill  and  distillery  belonging  to  Zadoc  Baldwin, 
a  resident  of  Caldwell,  Essex  county.  This  he  bought 
June  8th  1798.  The  following  year  Baldwin  sold  another 
quarter  to  Cook,  who  soon  became  the  sole  owner  of  the 


distillery,  and  after  the  death  of  Elijah  Dod  became  the 
owner  of  the  grist-mill  and  also  of  a  part  of  the  saw-mill. 
When  Zadoc  Baldwin  sold  to  Cook  a  part  of  the  distillery 
he  made  a  reserve  of  sufficient  ground  in  the  rear  of  the 
cider-mill  to  erect  a  tannery.  His  plans  as  to  a  tannery 
here  were  not  carried  out,  but  two  years  after  that  his 
son,  Elijah  Baldwin,  bopght  a  site  from  Thomas  Fred- 
ericks, about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  and  there  built 
a  bark  mill  and  tannery.  Considerable  bark  was  pur- 
chased and  ground  here  and  sold  to  tanners  in  Newark, 
besides  what  was  used  on  the  premises  in  tanning. 
Elijah  Baldwin  sold  half  of  his  bark-mill  and  tannery  to 
his  brother  Bethuel,  who  sold  his  share  to  Martin  Van 
Duyne.  The  latter  purchased  for  his  two  sons  Cornelius 
M.  and  John  M.  Van  Duyne.  Quite  a  large  business  in 
bark  and  tanning  was  carried  on  here  for  many  years,  but 
since  the  death  of  Elijah  Baldwin  comparatively  little  has 
been  done.  The  mill  and  tannery  are  still  used  by 
Moses  A.  Baldwin,  a  younger  son  of  Elijah  Baldwin. 

In  the  cider-mill  of  Silas  Cook  apples  in  large  quanti- 
ties were  ground  in  the  old-fashioned  way,  being  crushed 
by  a  heavy  wooden  wheel  passing  over  them  in  a  circu- 
lar trough,  and  for  many  years  a  large  business  in  cider- 
making  and  distilling  was  done  here.  Whiskey  was  pre- 
pared in  various  forms;  by  the  addition  of  little  scorched 
sugar  a  color  was  given  to  it,  and  then  it  was  called  cider 
brandy  and  sold  for  25  per  cent.  more.  In  those  days 
they  made  what  was  called  "cherry;"  this  was  made  by 
putting  a  quantity  of  black  cherries  and  wild  cherries 
into  a  barrel  of  whiskey,  which  imparted  a  deep  red  color 
and  a  cherry  flavor  to  the  liquor.  After  steeping  for  a 
time  the  liquor  was  drawn  off  and  the  cherries  thrown 
out.  In  those  days  it  was  the  general  practice  to  allow 
swine  to  run  at  large  upon  the  public  streets;  although  it 
is  said  a  hog  will  not  drink  whiskey,  these  cherries  thrown 
out  appeared  to  attract  them,  and  after  they  had  eaten 
of  the  highly  seasoned  fruit  it  was  amusing  to  notice  them 
as  they  would  begin  to  jump  about,  stagger,  squeal,  and 
grunt,  and  then  lie  in  the  gutters,  the  result  being  quite 
illustrative  of  the  effects  of  whiskey  upon  human  beings. 

About  1809  Conrad  Estler  bought  a  lot  from  Henry  I. 
Vanness  and  opened  a  small  store  at  Montville,  the  first 
store  kept  there;  he  carried  on  business  here  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  dealing  considerably  in  hooppoles.  On  the 
first  of  April  1812  Benjamin  L.  and  Stephen  Condit 
bought  23.60  acres  of  land  of  Daniel  T.  Peer  at  Mont- 
ville, and  proceeded  to  erect  a  bark  mill  and  tannery. 
On  the  15th  of  April  1813  they  sold  to  their  brothers 
Nathaniel  O.  and  Timothy  D.  Condit,  who  came  from 
Orange,  Essex  county,  and  carried  on  here  the  bark  and 
tanning  business  for  several  years.  About  1827,  when 
the  Morris  Canal  was  being  built,  N.  O.  Condit  took  out 
a  license  for  a  tavern.  The  building  first  occupied  by 
him,  a  long  one-story  structure,  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
present  tavern-house,  which  was  built  by  N.  O.  Condit- 
he  continued  to  keep  a  public  house  here  for  about 
thirty  years.  After  the  setting  off  of  Rockaway  township, 
in  1844,  this  was  the  place  for  holding  town  meetings 
and  elections  in  Pequannock  to  1867;  since  that  time  it 


RtSIDENCL     &     FLOURING     MILL     OF     A    J.B     ZABRISKIE,    MONTVILLE     MORRIS     CO., 


2 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY  OF  MONTVILLE. 


251 


has  been  the  place  for  transacting  tlie  public  business  of 
Montville  township. 

From  1800  to  1820  Montville  village  was  a  hamlet  con- 
taining about  sixteen  dwellings,  two  bark-mills  and  tan- 
neries, three  saw-mills,  one  grist-mill,  a  cider-mill  and 
distillery,  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  carpenter  and  wheelwright 
shop,  and  one  small  store,  which  tended  to  make  the 
place  a  business  center  for  a  circuit  of  several  miles. 
Since  that  time  one  tannery  and  bark- mill  and  two  saw- 
mills have  gone  down  and  disappeared.  In  the  place  of 
one  saw-mill  has  recently  been  erected  a  large  brick 
building  occupied  as  a  rubber  factory,  at  which  steam 
and  water  power  are  used;  and  near  the  site  of  another 
saw-mill  a  small  grist-mill  has  been  erected.  The  village 
now  contains  about  forty  dwellings,  one  saw-mill,  two 
grist-mills,  one  bark-mill  and  tannery,  one  rubber  factory, 
two  blacksmith  shops,  two  taverns,  and  two  small  stores. 
The  great  distillery  was  discontinued  in  1825,  when  the 
building  cjf  the  Morris  Canal  was  commenced.  This 
canal  passes  through  the  village,  and  in  half  a  mile 
descends  150  feet  by  two  inclined  planes;  the  lower 
plane  passes  over  part  of  the  ground  where  the  old  dis- 
tillery stood.  Although  this  hamlet  is  not  so  great  a 
business  center  as  formerly  for  the  surrounding  country, 
yet  the  increase  in  the  number  of  dwellings,  their  im- 
proved condition,  and  the  generally  neat  appearance  of 
their  surroundings,  indicate  a  greater  degree  of  thrift  and 
comfort. 

The  town  records  show  that  in  October  1749  a  road 
was  laid  out,  beginning  at  Michael  Cook's  mill,  and  fun- 
ning across  and  along  lands  of  Nicholas  Hyler,  Martin 
Van  Duyne,  Conrad  Fredericks  and  John  Miller  to  the 
river,  and  down  the  river,  in  the  words  of  the  record, 
"  as  thepath  runs  to  the  bridge  near  John  Davenport's.". 
No  mention  being  made  of  a  grist-mill  where  Zabriskie's 
mill  now  stands,  it  is  probable  no  mill  was  there  at  that 
time.  The  words  of  the  description  warrant  the  inference 
that  this  whole  region  was  then  mostly  a  wilderness; 
paths  leading  to  and  from  the  mill,  which  could  only  be 
traversed  by  horses  carrying  the  grist  in  bags  on  their 
backs.  The  John  Davenport  mentioned  was  a  son  of 
Humphrey  Davenport,  who  settled  in  this  vicinity  in 
17 14.  John  Davenport  at  the  time  lived  near  the  brook 
where  the  road  turns  in  to  Starkey's  woolen  factory. 
Zabriskie's  grist-mill  stands  at  the  beginning  corner  of 
the  tract  of  750  acres  purchased  by  Humphrey  Daven- 
port in  1714;  the  exact  date  of  the  erection  of  a  mill 
here  we  are  unable  to  determine.  For  many  years  this 
mill  was  known  as  Duryea's  mill.  Daniel  Duryea,  who 
came  from  Harrington,  Bergen  county,  on  the  7th  of  July 
1785,  purchased  from  Albert  Alyea  120  acres  of  land, 
having  on  it  this  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill,  for  which  he 
paid  ;^i,2oo,  equal  to  $3,000;  this  tract  immediately  ad- 
joined on  the  north  the  large  tract  bought  by  Humphrey 
Davenport  in  1714.  Albert  Alyea  had  purchased  it 
from  David  Brower  in  1781,  and  Brower  bought  jt  from 
Peter  Tise.  It  is  probable  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill 
were  erected  here  about  1760,  shortly  after. the  laying,  out 
and   opening  of  public   roads-  to   that  point.-     Daniel 


Duryea  died  in  1804,  and  left  surviving  three  sons — Peter, 
Richard  and  Garret.  To  Peter  he  devised  a  part  of  his 
lands,  including  these  mills  and  his  homestead  dwelling, 
which  stood  on  the  corner  opposite  the  mill,  where  Za- 
briskie's residence  stands;  the  old  homestead  was  an  old- 
fashioned  long  stone  house,  of  the  Dutch  cottage  style. 
Peter  Duryea  lived  here  many  years  and  died  without  chil- 
dren, leaving  this  property  to  Josiah  Zabriskie;  from  Za- 
briskie  it  descended  to  his  younger  son,  Albert  J.  Zabris- 
kie, the  present  owner.  The  old  mill  was  a  small  affair, 
with  one  run  of  stones,  driven  by  an  undershot  wheel; 
the  fall  in  the  river  at  this  point  is  about  five  feet.  Some 
years  ago  a  new  mill  with  two  runs  of  stones  was  erected 
in  place  of  the  old  one,  and  a  turbine  wheel  substituted. 
This  mill  has  since. been  enlarged  and  greatly  improved,  ■ 
and  is  one  of  the  best'in  this  vicinity. 

About  a  mile  down  the  river  there  is  an  old  woolen  fac- 
tory, erected  about  1809  for  a  carding  and  fulling  mill 
by  Nicholas  J.  Hyler  and  Leonard  Davenport,  who  at 
the  same  time  built  here  a  saw-mill  on  land  purchased 
from  Abraham  Davenport.  In  1812  Hyler  bought  Dav- 
fenport's  interest;  in  1815'  he  died,  and  his  administra- 
tors sold  the  property  in  1816  to  Joseph  Scott;  the  latter 
on  the  3d  of  April  1827  sold  it  to  Benjamin  Crane  and 
Ezekiel  B.  Gaines,  who  sold  to  Benjamin  Starkey,  the 
present  owner. 

Within  the  present  year  (188  r)  a  distillery  for  making 
apple  whiskey  has  been  started  near  Montville,  which  is 
the  only  one  in  this  township  and  the  only  one  that  has 
existed  anywhere  in  this  vicinity  for  more  than  forty 
years.  Prior  to  1825  distilleries  were  numerous  and  the 
use  of  whiskey  was  quite  general  among  the  people.  In 
1815  Congress,  in  order  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  war  of 
1812,  passed  an  act  authorizing  a  direct  tax,  and  we  find 
the  old  distillery  owned  by  Silas  Cook  noted  as  No.  90 
in  the  second  collection  district.  A  circumstance  serv- 
ing to  show  the  influence  of  public  sentiment  over  the 
administration  of  law  is  worthy  of  notice.  In  a  neighbor- 
hood about  one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Montville,  called 
"  Doremus  Town,"  there  were  in  1827  three  dwellings 
within  a  few  yards  of  each  other  (the  only  dwellings  in 
the  place)  and  each  one  was  licensed  as  a  tavern;  about 
a  mile  further  east  another  was  licensed,  and  a  mile 
and  a  half  beyond  this  two  more  were  licensed.  Scarcely 
any  of  them  were  fitted  and  they  probably  wr-°  not  ex- 
pected to  answer  the  legitimate  purposes  of  a  tavern  as 
required  by  law,  but  were  merely  used  for  the  purpose 
of  selling  liquor  to  the  laborers  engaged  in  constructing 
the  canal. 

From  the  description  of  property  in  old  deeds  it 
appears  that  between  1800  and  1810  an  attempt  was 
made  to  name  the  cluster  .of  three  or  four  houses  at  Pine 
Brook,  where  George  D.  Mead  keeps  a  store,  "  Union 
Village;"  but  as  a  village  failed  to  grow  up  the  name  was 
dropped  and  has  been  forgotten.  At  this  point  a  tavern 
was  kept  over  eighty  years,  and  for  many  years  it  did 
a  legitimate  and  profitable  business  in  the  accommoda- 
tion of  "  Sussex  teams,"  as  they  were  called,  which  in 
large  numbers-used  to  pass  this  way-to-ward  Newark  with 


34 


252 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


loads  of  flour,  feed,  grain,  butter,  pork,  and  other  pro- 
duce from  Sussex,  Warren,  and  the  upper  parts  of  Morris 
county.  The  opening  of  railroads  in  various  directions 
has  produced  a  great  change,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the 
farmers,  as  the  transportation  by  rail  is  cheaper  and 
more  expeditious.  Now  vury  few  teams  are  employed  in 
such  transportation,  and  there  is  scarcely  any  legitimate 
business  for  a  tavern  at  this  point.  There  are  only  two 
taverns  in  Montville  township,  and  four  stores — one  at 
Pine  Brook,  two  at  Montville  and  one  at  White  Hall; 
there  are  post-offices  at  Pine  Brook,  Montville  and 
Whitehall. 

About  the  year  1785  Nathaniel  Gaines,  a  young  man, 
settled  near  Pine  Brook,  on  the  old  road,  a  few  hundred 
yards  below  the  present  school-house.  He  had  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  as  a  cavalryman,  and  was  with 
General  Stark  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  Vermont.  He 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  was  a  nailer  by  trade. 
A  nailer  in  those  days  was  one  who  made  nails  by  hand, 
hammering  each  out  on  an  anvil,  as  nail-cutting  machines 
had  not  then  been  invented.  There  are  persons  living, 
born  and  brought  up  in  that  neighborhood,  who  say  they 
well  remember  frequently  hearing  the  ring  of  Gaines's 
hammer  on  his  anvil  in  the  morning  as  soon  as  it  was 
light,  going  to  show  that  he  was  an  industrious  man. 
Those  were  days  of  comparatively  low  prices  for  labor, 
and  the  surrounding  circumstances  were  such  that  if  a 
person  would  support  himself  and  family  comfortably  and 
accumulate  property  he  must  apply  himself  with  unceas- 
ing industry.  Gaines  married  a  daughter  of  Ezekiel 
Baldwin,  who  lived  in  that  neighborhood,  and  had  sev- 
eral children.  His  oldest  son,  Ezekiel  Baldwin  Gaines, 
was  born  near  Pine  Brook,  October  loth  1791.  He  was 
educated  for  a  physician,  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  John 
S.  Darcy  at  Hanover,  and  was  licensed  in  1814.  He 
first  practiced  with  Dr.  Darcy  at  Hanover;  from  there 
he  went  to  Parsippany,  and  for  a  few  years  he  was  in 
partnership  with  Dr.  Stephen  Fairchild.  From  Parsip- 
pany he  removed  in  1818  to  Lower  Montville,  where  he 
resided  and  practiced  his  profession  about  thirty-seven 
years.  In  1855  he  removed  td  Boonton,  and  in  1861  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  there,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  for  several  years;  when,  owing  to  advanced  years 
and  declining  health,  he  retired  from  active  life.  He 
died  at  Boonton  on  the  31st  of  March  1881. 

Silas  Cook,  being  an  educated  man  and  a  person  of 
good  natural  ability,  possessed  an  influence  among  the 
people  of  his  neighborhood.  In  1806  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  county  court,  and  for  nearly 
forty  years  almost  continuously  held  that  office;  at  the 
same  time  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  a  term 
represented  the  county  in  the  upper  house  of  the  State 
Legislature. 

Schools. 

There  are  five  school  districts  in  this  township — at 
Pine  Brook,  Lower  Montville,  Upper  Montville,  White 
Hall  and  Taylortown.  The  school-houses  are  all  nearly 
new  buildings,  and  with  the  exception  of  that  at  Taylor- 


town  are  furnished  with  improved  desks  and  seats.  The 
total  value  of  school  property  in  this  township  is  estimated 
at  $9,500.  Since  the  formation  of  the  township  these 
schools  have  been  entirely  free,  and  have  been  kept  open 
generally  during  the  school  year. 

For  a  more  particular  history  of  these  schools  prior  to 
1867  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  education  in 
Pequannock  township. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Churches. 

In  Montville  township  there  are  four  churches — two 
Methodist  and  two  Reformed.  The  Methodist  church  at 
Pine  Brook  was  erected  about  1843,  and  the  congregation 
is  the  largest  of  that  denomination  in  the  township.  The 
society  has  a  neat  and  commodious  parsonage  near  the 
church,  and  maintains  a  settled  pastor. 

The  other  Methodist  church,  at  Whitehall,  is  a  neat 
edifice  erected  about  185 1;  this  congregation  has  no  par- 
sonage, but  maintains  a  pastor  and  includes  in  its  limits 
those  of  that  denomination  in  the  northern  and  central 
parts  of  this  township. 

Reformed  Churches. 

The  oldest  church  in  this  township  is  the  Reformed 
church  at  Lower  Montville.  This  church  organization 
was  started  at  Old  Boonton,  about  1756,  and  shortly  af- 
terward a  church  edifice  was  erected  there,  which  stood 
about  five  hundred  yards  directly  north  from  where  stands 
the  Morris  county  poor-house.  Prior  to  the  erection  of 
the  church  meetings  were  held  in  a  log  school-house  that 
stood  near  that  place.  Feeble  in  the  beginning  this  or- 
ganization had  no  settled  minister,  but  was  supplied  oc- 
casionally by  preachers  from  other  churches.  Indeed, 
the  history  of  these  early  congregations  shows  that  finan- 
cially they  were  weak,  and  under  the  necessity  of 
making  a  joint  effort  to  support  a  settled  minister.  But 
this  was  not  the  only  reason.  The  church  history  in- 
forms us  that  about  this  time  there  were  nearly  twice  as 
many  church  organizations  of  this  denomination  as  there 
were  regularly  licensed  and  approved  ministers;  conse- 
quently it  was  a  matter  of  compulsion  that  several  should 
unite  in  calling  a  minister  conjointly.  Rev.  David 
Marinus,  who  was  called  to  serve  at  Acquackanonk  and 
Pompton  conjointly  in  1752,  occasionally  preached  at  Old 
Boonton.  From  1762  to  1767  Rev.  Cornelius  Blaw,  of 
the  ■'  Conferentic  "  party,  served  this  church  conjointly 
with  those  at  Fairfield,  Totowa  and  Pompton.  From 
1772  to  1791  the  pulpit  was  supplied  occasionally  by 
Rev.  Hermanus  Meyer,  who  was  the  settled  pastor  at  To- 
towa and  Pompton  Plains.  In  1794  this  church  united 
with  that  at  the  Plains  in  calling  Rev.  Stephen  Ostrander, 
who  preached  at  Old  Boonton  one  quarter  of  the  time 
for  about  seven  years. 

In  1801  this  congregation  appointed  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Silas  Cook,  Edmund  Kingsland,  Richard  Dur- 
yea  and  Henry  Van  Ness,  and  authorized  them  to  pur- 
chase a  place  for  a  parsonage;  and  on  the  13th  of  April 
that  year  they  bought  of  Samuel  Stiles  a  house  and  about 
twenty-two  acres  of  land  at  Lower  Montville,  near  the 


REFORMED  CHURCHES  OF  MONTVILLE. 


253 


residence  of  Richard  Duryea.  It  is  said  this  parsonage 
was  occupied  briefly  by  a  Rev.  W.  P.  Kuypers,  who 
preached  from  1801  to  1805  at  Old  Boonton.  Little  use 
was  made  of  this  place  as  a  parsonage,  and  the  records 
show  that  Silas  Cook,  Henry  Van  Ness,  and  Edmund 
Kingsland,  a  committee  appointed  by  the  congregation 
for  the  purpose,  sold  it  by  deed  dated  February  8th  1805 
to  Dr.  George  Wurts,  who  resided  there  about  thirty-five 
years,  until  his  death. 

When  Rev.  Mr.  Ostrander  became  the  pastor  this 
church  took  the  necessary  course  to  become  incorporated, 
and  as  a  matter  of  interest  we  copy  from  the  records  the 
following:  "We  the  ministers,  elders,  and  deacons  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Congregation  at  Boonton  do  certify 
that  the  said  congregation  is  named  the  First  Reformed 
Dutch  Congregation  at  Boonton;  and  we  hereby  wish 
the  same  to  be  recorded  in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  county 
of  Morris,  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  New  Jersey  passed  November  25th  1789;  as  wit- 
ness our  hands  and  seals  this  —  day  of  November  1795." 
Signed  by  Stephen  Ostrander,  V.  D.  M.,  and  by  Lucas 
Von  Beverhoudt,  Jacob  Kanous  sen.,  Jacob  Romine, 
and  Michael  Cook  as  elders,  and  by  Jacob  Kanous  jr., 
Frederick  Miller  and  Henry  Mourison  as  deacons. 

After  1805  this  church  seems  to  have  been  served  with 
preachers  occasionally  from  other  churches.  Alden's 
Register  reports  the  pulpit  of  the  church  at  Boon- 
ton  as  vacant  in  1810  and  181 1.  Rev.  John  Duryea, 
who  was  settled  at  Fairfield,  occasionally  preached 
at  Boonton  from  about  1812  to  1816.  Levi  Stiles, 
now  over  85  years  old,  relates  his  recollection  of 
an  incident  connected  with  Mr.  Duryea's  preaching 
at  Boonton.  In  the  beginning  of  the  war  of  181 2, 
in  the  course  of  his  sermon  one  Sunday,  suddenly 
digressing,  in  an  animated  appeal  to  the  people  he 
broke  fonh  with  the  exclamation,  "  Young  men,  one  and 
all,  gird  on  your  swords  and  rush  to  the  war!"  This,  Mr. 
Stiles  says,  surprised  many  and  gave  offense  to  some  of 
those  present. 

About  this  time  the  people  began  to  agitate  the  ques- 
tion of  building  a  new  church,  and  in  order  to  have  it 
more  central  to  the  congregation  it  was  determined'  to 
remove  to  the  present  location  at  Montville.  Preparatory 
to  this  end  the  church  edifice  at  Boonton  was  taken 
down,  in  order  that  such  parts  of  the  material  as  were 
found  sound  and  available  might  be  used  in  the  new 
structure;  and  about  the  year  1818  a  new  church  was 
built  on  a  site  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  and  directly 
opposite  the  present  church,  and  it  was  opened  for  ser- 
vices the  next  year.  The  land  for  the  site  and  for  a 
burial  ground  was  obtained  from  Garret  Duryea,  and  the 
quantity  first  bought  was  forty-hundredths  of  an  acre; 
the  church  edifice  was  erected  before  the  deed  for  the 
land  was  made  out,  which  bears  date  October  8th  1819. 
This  edifice  was  in  dimensions  about  30  by  50  fifty  feet, 
and  was  two  stories  in  height,  with  a  steeple  in  front, 
and  finished  inside  with  a  double  row  of  pews  on  each 
side  of  a  central  aisle,  with  a  side  and  end  gallery;  built 
after  the  old  style  with  a  heavy  frame  of  white  oak  tim- 
ber it  was  a  very  substantial  building.  It  served  this 
conWegation  thirty-eight  years,  and  when  it  was  removed 
in  1856  most  of  the  timber  in  the  frame  was  found  to  be 
sound,  although  some  of  it  had  been  in  use  at  Boonton 
and  Montville  nearly  a  hundred  years. 

After  the  removal  to  Montville  the  first  minister  set- 
tled as  the  pastor  was  James  G.  Brinckerhoof;  he  began 
about  182 1  and  continued  until  1824,  when  disturbances 


arose  in  the  congregation  touching  doctrinal  points,  from 
which  a  division  resulted,  a  portion,  with  whom  Mr. 
Brinckerhoof  sided,  going  off  and  forming  an  organiza- 
tion which  they  called  ''  The  True  Reformed  Dutch 
Church."  By  this  party  a  house  for  worship  was  erected 
soon  after  about  two  miles  south  on  the  road  to  Pine 
Brook.  The  differences  which  led  to  a  separation  are 
plainly  set  forth  in  the  deed  given  for  the  ground  on 
which  the  church  stands.  We  copy  the  following  from 
the  record  of  the  deed,  bearing  date  October  8th  1827: 

"  Henry  Mourison  to  the  trustees  of  the  True  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  at  Montville     *     *     *:" 

"The  party  of  the  first  part,  desirous  to  promote  and 
advance  the  cause  and  interests  of  the  true  religion  in 
general,  and  particularly  to  encourage  the  above  men- 
tioned society  and  congregation,  holding  and  maintaining 
the  doctrines  hereinafter  mentioned,  for  and  in  consider- 
ation of  the  premises,  and  also  in  consideration  of  five 
dollars,  have  sold  and  conveyed  to  the  trustees  of  the 
True  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Montville  and  their 
successors  in  office,  to  and  for  the  use  of  the  said  society 
or  congregation  above  mentioned,  a  certain  tract  of  land, 
&c.,  to  have  and  hold  the  same  so  long  as  said  trustees 
and  their  successors  in  office  or  any  three  of  them  do 
and  shall  truly,  faithfully,  and  sincerely  hold  thereto 
and  maintain  the  following  Christian  doctrines,  that  is 
to  say: 

"  The  total  depravity  of  the  sinner,  he  having  no 
natural  ability  to  serve  and  worship  God  acceptably. 

"  The  definite  atonement  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in 
his  name  having  made  satisfaction  only  for  the  elect 
of  God. 

"  Regeneration  wrought  by  the  Spirit  of  God  alone, 
and  justification  by  faith  in  the  merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  in  contradistinction  to  that  or  those  denomination 
or  denominations  of  Christians  who  hold  and  maintain 
the  following  doctrines,  that  is  to  say: 

"  The  natural  ability  of  the  sinner  to  love  and  worship 
God  acceptably. 

"The  indefinite  atonement  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
his  having  (as  they  maintain)  made  satisfaction  not  only 
for  the  elect  but  for  the  non-elect  also  in  a  certain 
sense." 

This  congregation,  small  in  the  beginning  and  without 
much  increase  in  numbers,  has  maintained  its  organization 
for  over  half  a  century.  It  has  a  small  house  of  worship, 
kept  in  good  repair;  has  had  no  settled  minister  for  many 
years,  but  occasionally  supplies,  and  meetings  weekly. 

After  the  division  in  the  church  at  Montville  as  stated 
the  pulpit  was  next  occupied  by  Rev.  Abraham  Mesler  as 
a  supply  for  about  two  years;  then  by  Rev.  J.  Ford 
Morris  and  Rev.  John  G.  Tarbell  for  a  short  time.  Next 
Rev.  Mr.  Ogiivy  occupied  the  pulpit  as  pastor  for  about 
one  year.  Then  followed  Rev.  Abraham  Mesler  again, 
but  this  time  as  pastor  at  Pompton  Plains  and  this  church 
for  about  three  years,  to  1832.  Next  came  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  Frederick  F.  Cornell,  continuing  about  three  years, 
to  1836;  Rev.  Mr.  Woods  was  then  pastor  about  a  year; 
Rev.  Jeremiah  S.  Lord  about  four  years,  to  1843;  Rev. 
John  L.  Janeway  about  seven  years,  to  1850;  Rev.'Na- 
thaniel  Conklin  about  nineteen  years;  Rev.  Luther  H.Van 
Doren  about  three  years,  to  1874;  Rev.  J.  H.  Collier 
about  five  years,  to  1879.  I"  ''''^'  y^^r  Rev.  James  Kemlo, 
a  young  licentiate  of  Rutgers  and  an  ordained  minister, 
was  called,  and  he  is  the  present  pastor. 

In  1856  this  congregation,  thinking  more  church  room 
necessary,  purchased  ground  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road,  and  erected  the  present  church  edifice. 


MOUNT    OLIVE    TOWNSHIP. 


By  Eev.  B.  W.  Stoddakd,  D.  D. 


^  HIS  township  was  taken  from  the  western  part 
of  Roxbury,  March  22nd  1871.  Its  east  line 
begins  at  Chester  township  near  Levi  Har- 
vey's farm,  and  takes  a  northerly  course  to 
the  Musconetcong  at  the  gates  of  the  reser- 
voir near  Stanhope,  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
Lake  Hopatcong.  The  spur  of  the  Schooley's 
Mountain  range  on  which  the  churches  are  located  was 
called  Mount  Olive  for  thirty  years  before  it  became  the 
center  of  the  township  to  which  it  gave  its  name.  Previ- 
ously it  was  called  Rattletown.  Benjamin  Olive,  who 
located  land  near  the  churches,  really  gave  name  to  the 
neighborhood. 

The  population  of  Mount  Olive  in  1875  was  1,760,  and 
jn  1880  1,982.  Other  statistics  were  furnished  by  the 
assessors  in  1881,  as  follows:  Area  of  the  township,  18,- 
317  acres;  valuation  of  real  estate,  $756,200;  personal 
property,  $237,504;  debt,  $137,025;  polls,  428;  State 
school  tax,  $2,176.71;  county  tax,  $2,036.18;  road  tax, 
$1,500;  poor  tax,  $200. 

The  surface  of  Mount  Olive  is  even  more  hilly  than 
that  of  Roxbury,  as  it  contains  more  of  Schooley's 
Mountain.  A  large  portion  is  capable  of  cultivation,  and 
other  parts  afford  good  pasturage.  Wood  and  timber 
are  grown  in  some  localities,  thirty  years  being  about  the 
average  time. 

This  township  has  the  honor  of  being  crossed  by  that 
ancient  line  dividing  East  and  West  Jersey;  it  extends 
from  its  extreme  northern  border  through  the  center  to 
its  southern  border  near  Bartleyville. 

In  the  center  of  this  township  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water,  called  by  the  Indians  Kankankianning  or  Little 
Pond,  but  known  to  summer  tourists  as  Budd's  Lake.  It 
is  about  three  miles  in  circumference  and  is  easily  ap- 
proached on  all  sides.  There  is  a  gradual  descent  toward 
the  lake  for  about  half  a  mile  all  around  it,  but  in  no 
instance  does  the  land  rise  more  than  150  feet.  The 
sources  of  its  supply  of  water  it  is  not  easy  to  determine. 
There  are  no  considerable  streams  running  into  it,  no 
large  springs  near  its  border,  no  extent  of  marshy  ground 
near  it,  and  yet  there  is  a  continuous  outflow  of  water 
to  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan  near  Bartleyville. 
The  Musconetcong  flows  from  Lake  Hopatcong  on  the 


northern  border  of  Mount  Olive.  The  South  Branch 
enters  this  township  near  Flanders,  where  there  is  a 
beautiful  valley  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  in  width.  The 
scenery  of  this  valley  from  the  hills  westward  and  toward 
the  Mount  Olive  churches  is  rarely  equaled. 

At  Flanders  and  Bartleyville  there  are  several  mills 
grinding  feed,  large  quantities  of  which  are  sent  by  teams 
to  Dover  and  Mine  Hill  and  the  surrounding  iron- 
mining  regions.  One  is  located  on  a  small  stream  com- 
ing from  the  hills  northwest  of  Flanders,  and  can  be 
used  only  a  part  of  the  time.  Two  others  and  a  saw- 
mill are  located  on  the  South  Branch  in  Flanders,  and 
two  on  a  stream  which  is  the  outlet  of  Budd's  Lake  and 
enters  the  South  Branch  at  Bartleyville.  One  of  these  is 
a  mile  up  the  ravine  and  is  known  as  the  Richard  Ste- 
vens property. 

May  isth  1713  Peter  Garbut  and  Francis  Breck  lo- 
cated 2,500  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  which  is  now  in  Mount 
Olive  township.  Next  John  Reading  located  250  acres 
which  includes  the  northern  half  of  Budd's  Lake.  In 
1752  Ebenezer  Large  located  1,725  acres  north  of  Budd's 
Lake.  It  extended  from  what  is  called  the  Mary  Nor- 
ris  tract  westward  toward  Hackettstown.  This  is  now 
nearly  all  owned  by  Archer  Stevens's  heirs.  On  land 
owned  by  J.  S.  Wills  stands  a  white  oak  bearing  the  in- 
itials M.  N.  I.  P.  It  marks  the  corner  of  lands  belong- 
ing to  Mary  Norris  and  Israel  Pemberlon.  In  17 14 
John  Budd  located  1,000  acres  of  land  on  which  Flan- 
ders now  stands.  In  1757  Martin  Ryerson  located  218 
acres,  lying  north  of  Budd's  Lake,  and  south  of  and  ad- 
joining the  Large  tract. 

The  Iron  Industry. 

Samuel  Heaton  and  three  brothers  came  to  Mount 
Olive  previous  to  1753  from  Wrentham,  Mass.,  to  set  up 
iron  works.  How  extensively  he  operated  is  not  known, 
nor  how  successfully;  but  this  mountain  range  is  rich  in 
iron  and  has  been  worked  at  intervals  ever  since.  In 
1846  the  Crane  Iron  Company  opened  mines  on  land  be- 
longing to  Aaron  and  Charles  Salmon.  Several  thousand 
;tons  of  ore  were  raised  entirely  free  from  sulphur.  When 
sulphur  was  found  in  the  ore  the  mine  was  abandoned, 
the  process  of  burning  it  out  not  yet  being  in  use.     In 


H)- 


The  Bartlet  Foundry  and  Machine  Shops.     Wm  Bartlet  &  Sons  , 
Manufacturers  of  Grist  and  Saw-Mill  Gearing:,  Turbine  Waterwbeels  and  Iron  Penstocks,  Steam  Engines,  Portable  Grist  and  Saw-MlUs, 

Corn  Crackers,  Bark  Mills,  Tire  Benders,  &c.     Bartleyville,  N.  J. 


=^i^ 


V 


IRON  MINES  IN  MOUNT  OLIVE— VILLAGES— CMURCttES. 


255 


1848  A.  A.  Drake  and  Jacob  Yager  opened  ii  mine  on 
the  property  of  Aaron  Salmon  jr.,  which  is  now  worked 
by  the  Mount  Olive  Iron  Company.  The  surface  or 
red  ore  was  very  rich  and  free  from  sulphur.  The 
deeper  ore,  containing  sulphur,  was  less  valuable  and  the 
mine  was  abandoned.  At  this  time  the  lease  was  held 
by  the  Musconetcong  Iron  Company,  of  Stanhope.  In 
1864  the  Lehigh  Crane  Iron  Company  leased  the  mine 
and  raised  over  1,000  tons,  when  it  abandoned  the  under- 
taking. In  1869  A.  A.  Drake  leased  it  and  raised  about 
5,000  tons.  In  1873  the  National  Iron  Company  leased 
the  mine,  raised  about  1,000  tons,  and  failed.  A.  L.  Sal- 
mon acted  as  superintendent  for  this  company,  and 
opened  in  this  mine  the  largest  vein  ever  discovered  on 
this  hill.  The- widest  opening  was  20  feet.  The  lease 
was  assigned  to  A.  L.  Salmon  to  secure  him  against  loss. 
In  1873  Peter  Uhler,  of  Glendon,  Pa.,  purchased  of  Mr. 
Salmon  a  half  interest  in  the  mine,  and  about  5,000  tons 
of  ore  were  raised  in  two  years,  the  ore  being  used  by 
Uhler  at  his  furnaces  in  Glendon,  Pa.  The  mine  was 
idle  four  years.  In  1879  William  George  and  B.  K.  and  G. 
W.  Stickle,  the  present  Mount  Olive  Iron  Company, 
leased  the  mine,  which  is  now  yielding  large  quantities  of 
ore.  The  same  company  is  also  working  the  John  Drake 
and  Jacob  Yager  mines,  which  lie  near  by  on  the  west. 
The  heirs  of  Charles  Salmon  own  a  mine  lying  east, 
which  is  now  worked  by  Henry  G.  Miller.  On  the  ad- 
joining farm  Peter  Salmon's  heirs  have  a  mine,  opened 
by  A.  A.  Drake  in  1861,  leased  by  the  Crane  Iron  Com- 
pany and  worked  till  1865.  In  1870  this  mine  was  leased 
by  the  Musconetcong  Iron  Company.  It  is  not  now 
worked.  In  1847  A.  A.  Drake  discovered  the  Osborn 
mine.  The  ore  contains  sulphur  and  has  not  been  worked 
for  ten  years. 

On  the  outlet  of  Budd's  Lake  are  the  ruins  of  two 
bloom  forges  for  the  manufacture  of  charcoal  iron,  which 
were  among  the  earliest  in  this  township  and  Roxbury. 
At  Bartleyville  proper  is  an  iron  foundry  and  machine 
shop  for  the  manufacture  of  mill  castings,  machinery  and 
plows,  meeting  the  ordinary  wants  of  the  farming  and 
mining  community.  This  foundry  is  owned  and  worked 
by  William  Bartley.  In  years  past  these  hills  furnished 
large  quantities  of  charcoal,  but  the  demand  at  present 
ent  is  more  for  railroad  ties  and  timber. 

Villages  and  Post-Offices. 

Flanders  in  its  beautiful  valley  is  the  largest  settlement 
in  the  township.  About  fifty  houses  lie  within  a  mile  of 
the  churches.  The  first  school-house  was  of  logs,  and 
was  built  in  the  last  century.  It  was  located  where  the 
store  of  D.  A.  Nicholas  now  stands.  The  deed  of  the 
present  school-house  lot  was  given  August  loth  1805,  the 
buyers  paying  four  dollars  for  one-fourth  of  an  acre.  It 
is  near  the  High  Bridge  Railroad.  The  house  now  in 
use  is  the  second  on  the  site,  and  is  well  adapted  to  ed- 
ucational purposes.  The  post-office  was  established  July 
27th  1822.  The  first  postmaster  was  Henry  Halsey;  the 
present  one  is  D.  A.  Nicholas. 

Mount  Olive   has   two  churches,  a  school-house  and 


four  dwellings  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Its  post- 
office  was  established  in  1872.  R.  H.  Stevens  has  been 
the  only  postmaster.  Miss  E.  H.  Stevens  is  assistant 
postmaster. 

At  B.udd's  Lake  about  twenty  houses  cluster  near 
Sharp's  large  boarding-house.  The  capacity  of  this 
house  is  150,  and  its  location  upon  the  lake  is  exceed- 
ingly beautiful.  The  post-offioe  was  established  in  1857 
and  the  first  postmaster  was-  Jesse  M.  Sharp.  The 
present  postmaster  is  James  Mills. 

South  Stanhope  has  the  railroad  depot,  a  school-house 
and  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  The  employes  of  the 
Stanhope  furnaces  have  built  here  a  pretty  village. 

Bartleyville  is  a  cluster  of  six  houses  and  a  school- 
house.  The  iron  foundry  gives  employment  to  about 
fifteen  men.-  The  post-office  was  established  January  9th 
1874.  The  first  postmaster,  William  Bartley,  is  the 
present  incumbent. 

Churches  of  the  Township. 

Motrnt  Olive  Presbyterian  Church. — In  1752  Rev.  James 
Harcourt,  pastor  of  the  Roxbury  church  at  Chester,  for 
years  known  as  the  Pleasant  Hill  church,  began  preach- 
ing at  Mount  Olive  in  the  log  church.  The  date  of  this 
building  is  not  known.  This  was  an  out-station  of  the 
Roxbury  church,  and  it  is  believed  Mr.  Harcourt  had 
regular  appointments  here  once  a  month  for  about  eleven 
years.  In  1768  Rev.  William  WoodhuU  became  pastor 
at  Chester,  and  he  continued  to  preach  at  Mount  Olive 
nearly  fifteen  years.  In  1768  James  Heaton  gave  an 
acre  of  land  for  church,  burial  and  school  purposes. 
The  trustees  to  whom  the  deed  was  given  were  Jacob 
Cossett,  Richard  Stevens  and  Job  Cossett.  The  log 
church  is  believed  to  have  been  already  built,  as  the 
church  was  to  be  for  the  use  of  the  Baptist,  Congrega- 
tional an-d  Presbyterian  denominations  and  the  Church 
of  England.  It  was  chiefly  used  by  the  Baptists  and 
Presbyterians. 

In  1785  Rev.  Lemuel  Fordham,  pastor  at  Chester,  com- 
menced preaching_at  Mount  Olive,  and  he  continued  till. 
1815.  During  his  ministry,  in  1809,  a  new  church  was 
begun  by  the  two  denominations.  It  was  in  process  of 
building  nine  years,  and  was  completed  in  1818.  When 
Mr.  Fordham  preached  his  farewell  sermon  in  1815  his 
pulpit  was  a  work  bench  in  the  church,  and  his  sermon 
was  three  hours  in  length.  Rev.  John  Cassner  began 
labor  here  in  1815,  and  continued  three  years.  In  1818 
Rev.  John  Earnest  Miller,  who  came  from  the  Reformed 
church  at  Albany,  began  preaching.  Very '  soon  the 
church  building  was  completed,  and  that  great  innovation 
"  a  stove  for  the  house  of  the  Lord  "  was  introduced.  In 
1823  Rev.  Abraham  Williamson  began  labor  here. 

On  the  8th  of  September  1834  the  church  of  Mount 
Olive  was  organized.  All  the  period  from  1752,  when 
preaching  was  begun  by  Mr.  Harcourt,  till  this  time  the 
church  organization  had  been  at  Roxbury  church, 
Chester;  the  pastors  lived  there.  This  place  was  an  out- 
station  five  miles  away,  and  many  of  the  members  lived 
two  or  three  miles  further.     Service  was  held  not  oftener 


25<5 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


than  once  in  two  weeks,  and  part  of  this  time  only  once 
in  four  weeks.  In  1762  three  families  named  Stevens, 
Salmon  and  Budd  settled  near  Mount  Olive,  and  a  large 
portion  of  the  families  on  this  mountain  to  this  day  are 
their  worthy  descendants. 

At  the  organization  in  1834  48  members  of  the  church 
at  Chester  received  their  certificates  of  membership  and 
were  organized  as  the  Mount  Olive  Presbyterian  Church. 
Of  these  only  six  remain.  Rev.  A.  Williamson  continued 
their  pastor.  The  elders  chosen  were  John  Van  Dyke, 
William  Stevens,  Augustus  Wolfe,  Archer  Stevens,  Aaron 
Salmon,  John  S.  Salmon  and  Abraham  Budd. 

Several  interesting  revivals  had  come  to  this  church  in 
previous  years,  and  the  increase  of  membership  had 
made  a  separate  church  organization  desirable.  In  1849 
the  Rev.  J.  McConnell  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  and 
he  remained  four  years.  The  union  house  of  worship 
had  so  far  supplied  the  Baptist  and  Presbyterian  churches. 
September  30th  1852  the  corner  stone  was  laid  for  a  new 
house  of  worship  for  the  Presbyterian  church.  The 
building,  35  by  60  feet,  with  basement,  was  completed 
December  28th  1854,  and  on  the  29th  was  dedicated. 

July  isth  1854  Rev.  David  M.  James  was  called  to 
the  pastorate,  which  he  held  till  April  1869.  At  that  time 
Rev.  Robert  S.  Feagles  was  engaged  as  supply  for  one 
year.  He  was  followed  for  a  short  time  by  Rev.  William 
Belden.  Then  Rev.  Dr.  J.  S.  Evans  was  the  supply  for 
more  than  a  year. 

During  1870  and  187 1  the  church  was  thoroughly  re- 
paired. The  basement  on  the  right  side  was  made 
serviceable  for  Sunday-school  and  prayer  meetings.  The 
pulpit  was  enlarged  by  a  recess,  the  ceiling  of  the  audi- 
torium frescoed,  the  roof  renewed,  and  the  building 
painted,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,500. 

October  2nd  1872  Rev.  Chalmers  D.  Chapman  was  in- 
stalled pastor.  He  was  released  in  April  1875..  In  the 
following  month  Rev.  Oliver  H.  P.  Deyo  became  the 
supply  of  the  church,  and  he  so  continues. 

The  elders  of  the  church  are  Richard  P.  Stevens,  Wil- 
liam Salmon,  Amzi  C.  Stevens,  Robert  D.  Caskey,  Ira  B. 
Stevens  and  A.  Lynden  Salmon.  The  present  member- 
ship of  the  church  is  95,  and  that  of  the  Sunday-school 
75.  The  latter  was  organized  sixty  years  ago.  The 
superintendent  is  A.  L.  Salmon.  The  value  of  the  church 
is  $5,000;  of  the  parsonage,  $2,000. 

In  1870  a  union  chapel  at  Budd's  Lake,  two  miles  from 
Mount  Olive,  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  about  $3,500.  It  has 
a  debt  of  $1,000.  It  is  occupied  by  the  Baptist,  Episco- 
pal and  Presbyterian  denominations. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Mount  Olive,  the  second  organ- 
ized in  the  township,  is  designated  "  The  Schooley's 
Mountain  Baptist  Church."  It  was  constituted  a  church 
in  1753,  with  about  12  members.  One  of  these  was 
Samuel  Heaton,  who  came  from  Wrenthara,  Mass.,  to 
set  up  iron  works.  The  first  house  of  worship  was  com- 
monly known  as  the  log  meeting-house,  and  was  probably 
built  before  the  date  of  the  deed.  The  second  was  built 
in  1816.  It  was  32  by  40  feet,  seated  with  square  pews, 
and  was  owned  by  the  four  denominations.     In  1842  the 


Baptists  and  Presbyterians,  being  the  only  ones  interested 
in  and  occupying  the  church,  repaired  and  newly  seated 
it.  They  were  joint  owners  but  were  both  outgrowing 
the  church.  In  the  autumn  of  1854,  the  Presbyterians 
having  built  and  occupied  a  new  house  of  worship,  a 
meeting  was  called  and  an  agreement  made  to  sell  the 
old  house  at  public  sale,  dividing  the  proceeds  between 
the  two  denominations,  and  have  it  removed  from  the 
ground  by  the  following  April — all  of  which  was  done. 
The  present  house,  of  stone,  was  built  upon  the  old 
foundation,  with  a  gallery  over  the  entrance,  a  spire,  and 
a  bell  weighing  over  600  pounds.  It  was  dedicated  Feb- 
ruary 27th  1856.  It  was  repaired  in  1870,  a  pulpit  recess 
being  added  and  the  church  newly  roofed,  frescoed  and 
furnished,  at  a  cost  of  $1,300.  The  present  value  of  the 
house  is  $3,500.  In  1874  a  new  parsonage  was  built, 
costing  $3,000.     There  is  no  debt  upon  the  church. 

From  the  first  gathering,  in  1753,  till  September  27th 
1786,  this  church  was  a  branch  of  the  church  in  Morris- 
town.  Twenty-five  members  were  added  at  Schooley's 
Mountain  during  this  year,  and  the  branch  was  dismissed 
in  September  and  reorganized  November  i8th  1786,  as 
the  Schooley's  Mountain  Baptist  Church.  The  ministers 
attending  at  the  constitution  of  the  church  were  Revs. 
Reune  Runyon,  Abner  Sutton  and  David  Jayne.  Twenty 
members  were  enrolled  at  that  time.  There  is  no  record 
of  the  ministers  who  supplied  this  church  till  May  7th 
1790.  It  was  doubtless  served  by  the  minister  at  Morris, 
town,  as  in  May  1790  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vaughn  was  requested 
to  continue  preaching  the  ensuing  year,  one  Sabbath  in 
four.  In  1794  Elder  Isaac  Price  was  requested  to  preach 
every  other  Sabbath,  and  he  continued  to  do  so  in  1797. 
From  this  year  till  June  30th  1832  there  is  no  record  of 
the  pastors  or  of  the  membership;  and  yet  it  is  known 
that  there  was  occasional  if  not  stated  Baptist  preaching. 
Samuel  Cazad  spoke  and  expounded  the  Word,  but  he 
was  not  ordained.  Elders  Jayne,  Sydam,  Ball  and  others 
preached  occasionally  and  administered  the  ordinances. 
In  June  1832  Elder  Michael  Quinn  was  appointed  mis- 
sionary for  this  field  by  the  New  Jersey  Baptist  State 
Convention,  and  on  June  30th  it  was  recorded  that  the 
church  had  been  reorganized  and  a  covenant  adopted  by 
13  persons,  of  whom  Samuel  Cazad  is  first  recorded. 
Elder  Quinn  occupied  this  field  two  years,  and  baptized 
22  persons,  one  of  whom,  Joseph  Perry,  became  the 
esteemed  pastor  of  the  Mariners'  Church  at  Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 

In  November  1833  Elder  John  Teasdale,  of  Lafayette, 
and  Elder  Timothy  Jackson,  of  Wantage,  left  an  appoint- 
ment to  preach  on  their  return  from  the  annual  conven- 
tion. So  great  was  the  interest  awakened  that  a  pro- 
tracted meeting  was  held,  day  and  evening,  for  several 
weeks,  and  many  professed  faith  in  Christ  and  were  bap- 
tized. Thus  a  new  impulse  was  given  to  the  .church.  In 
February  1834  Rev.  John  Teasdale  took  charge  of  this 
church  for  one  year,  preaching  once  in  four  weeks.  He 
baptized  32  persons.  Elias  Frost,  a  licentiate  of  the  New 
Jersey  Baptist  Association,  labored  with  him.  January 
isl  1835  Rev.  C.  C.  Park  took  pastoral  charge  here.    He 


MOUNT  OLIVE  BAPTIST  CHURCH— FLANDERS  M.  E.  CHURCH. 


257 


remained  two  years,  laboring  half  of  the  time  in  other 
fields.  The  New  Jersey  Baptist  Convention  helped  in 
his  support.  His  influence  in  the  temperance  cause  was 
of  marked  benefit  to  the  community.  John  M.  Carpen- 
ter, a  licentiate  from  Mount  Salem  church,  took  charge 
of  this  church,  and  was  ordained  September  2nd  1837. 
He  continued  two  years,  and  baptized  eight  persons. 
Rev.  T.  C.  Teasdale,  of  Newton,  preahed  once  a  month 
during  1839.  He  baptized  ten.  Rev.  Thomas  Ritchey 
took  charge  April  ist  1840,  and  remained  two  years.  He 
baptized  four  converts.  During  his  pastorate  Samuel 
Cazad  died.  He  had  been  a  member  over  sixty  years, 
and  believed  in  planting  and  maintaining  the  Schooley's 
Mountain  Baptist  Church.  He  left  by  his  will  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  with  a  good  house  and  other  buildings,  for 
a  parsonage.  Besides  this  he  left  another  farm,  one- 
third  of  the  proceeds  to  be  appropriated  to  the  American 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  remaining  two-thirds  to 
the  support  of  the  ministry  of  this  church.  He  then  pro- 
vided that  if  this  church  should  become  extinct  the 
property  should  go  to  the  New  Jersey  Baptist  State  Con- 
vention, to  enable  that  body  to  continue  a  missionary  in 
this  field  till  another  church  of  like  faith  should  be  or- 
ganized, and  the  property  then  should  return  to  the 
church;  it  should  never  be  sold.  Samuel  Cazad  has 
thus  helped  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  Baptist  church  of 
Mount  Olive  for  more  than  a  hundred  years.  In  June 
1842  John  Teasdale  entered  again  upon  the  pastorate,  in 
which  he  continued  over  nine  years  and  baptized  86 
persons,  one  of  these  being  Rev.  Asahel  Bronson,  who 
became  his  successor.  The  latter  remained  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  baptized  one  convert. 

The  house  of  worship  was  still  the  joint  property  of 
the  Baptists  and  Presbyterians.  The  successors  of  Mr. 
Teasdale  illustrated  anew  the  fact  that  two  bodies  cannot 
occupy  the  same  space  at  the  same  time.  A  house  of 
worship  half  the  time  is  not  enough  for  a  growing  church. 
The  result  was  that  the  Presbyterian  body  resolved  to 
build  a  church  for  themselves,  and  an  honorable  spirit 
was  manifested  by  the  Baptist  body,  who  at  a  joint  meet- 
ing in  the  fall  of  1854  agreed  to  the  sale  and  removal  of 
the  old  house  of  worship,  and  a  division  of  the  proceeds 
between  the  two  denominations.  It  required  twelve 
years  to  bring  about  this  amicable  settlement^  and  it 
cannot  be  said  they  were  all  amicable  years. 

In  July  1853  Rev.  T.  F.  Clancy  was  chosen  pastor, 
and  he  remained  nine  years.  He  baptized  53  persons. 
During  his  pastorate  the  death  of  his  wife  brought  great 
loss  to  his  household  and  the  community. 

The  society  soon  began  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of 
worship,  of  stone,  32  by  45  feet,  which  was  completed 
and  dedicated  February  27th  1856,  value  $3,500.  Mr. 
Clancy  resigned  in  March  1863,  and  removed  to  Elk 
Lake,  Pa.  May  ist  1863  Rev.  H.  B.  Shermer  began  to 
supply  the  church,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he 
accepted  the  pastorate.  He  served  the  church  nearly 
six  years,  and  died  March  22nd  1869.  He  baptized  12, 
and  IS  others  were  baptized  by  Rev.  H.  C.  Putnam,  who 
supplied  the  church  a  short   time.     He  was  a  faithful 


pastor  .and  a  kind-hearted  Christian  gentleman.  In  his 
pastorate  the  parsonage  farm  was  rented,  and  another 
parsonage,  with  a  lot  of  two  acres,  was  purchased;  it 
was  half  a  mile  from  the  church  and  was  used  ten  years. 
In  October  1869  Rev.  George  F.  Hendrickson  was  called 
to  the  pastorate.  He  remained  three  years  and  six 
months,  and  baptized  29  persons.  In  the  spring  of  1871 
he  was  greatly  afflicted  in  the  sudden  death  of  his  wife. 
His  church  sympathized  with  him  so  tenderly  as  to 
become  thereby  much  endeared  to  him,  and  the  kindly 
feeling  remains.  He  resigned  April  ist  1873,  and  re- 
moved to  Fairview,  N.  J.  October  ist  1873  Rev.  J.  G. 
Entreken  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  remained  one 
year  and  added  17  members  to  the  church  by  baptism. 

During  1874  a  new  parsonage  was  built,  one-eighth  of 
a  mile  from  the  church,  costing  $3,000.  There  is  no 
debt  upon  it.  The  church  this  year  dismissed  28  mem- 
bers to  organize  a  new  church  at  Drakeville.  January 
ist  1875  Rev.  Samuel  Spoul  was  called  to  the  pastorate, 
and  he  remained  till  his  death.  He  baptized  11  con- 
verts. A  man  of  ability  and  kindness,  he  was  much  be- 
loved by  the  church  and  community.  He  died  July  2Sth 
1880,  aged  68  years.  April  ist  1881  the  church  called 
Rev.  M.  M.  Fogg  to  the  pastorate. 

The  number  of  scholars  in  the  Sunday-school  is  56. 
The  library  has  400  volumes.  The  superintendent  is 
John  Sandy. 

The  ofificers  of  the  church  in  September  1881  were: 
Rev.  M.  M.  Fogg,  pastor;  deacons,  John  B.  Stevens, 
George  L.  Salmon,  D.  H.  Wolfe;  trustees,  John  B. 
Stevens,  William  Wolfe,  Calvin  Conklin;  church  clerk, 
J.  B.  Stevens.     The  church  membership  is  no. 

Flanders  M.  E.  Church. — The  third  church  in  date  of 
organization  is  the  Flanders  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
The  first  known  resident  Methodist  was  Mrs.  Mary  Bell. 
She  was  born  in  New  York  city,  October  2Sth  1753,  and 
there  united  with  the  Methodists.  During  the  Revolution 
she  suffered  many  hardships,  was  robbed  of  her  property, 
and  for  personal  safety  fled  from  the  city  and  sought 
refuge  in  the  quiet  valley  of  Flanders.  This  was  about 
1783.  Here  she  resided  nearly  forty  years,  and  earnestly 
labored  to  establish  the  church  of  her  choice.  She  re- 
moved to  Easton,  Pa.,  where  she  died  August  19th  1836. 

Another  important  character  in  the  history  of  this 
church  was  David  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Morristown, 
November  2Sth  1749.  At  the  age  of  19  he  united  with 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  he  continued  in  this  relation 
about  fifteen  years.  He  resided  in  Flanders  when  Meth- 
odist ministers  first  visited  the  place.  He  opened  his 
doors  for  preaching,  and  they  continued  the  service  there 
once  in  tv/o  weeks  for  several  years.  A  class  was  formed, 
with  which  he  united.  He  was  appointed  leader  of  the 
class  and  filled  this  position  about  fifteen  years. 

The  date  of  this  organization  is  not  definitely  known. 
In  1783  Rev.  Samuel  Rowe  was  appointed  preacher  in 
East  Jersey.  In  1786  the  Flanders  circuit  is  named, 
and  Flanders  is  supposed  to  have  a  chapel.  Rev.  John 
Tunnell  was  the  presiding  elder.  It  is  quite  well  known 
that  Mr.  Moore  assisted  in  building  the  church.     It  was 


258 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


for  years  without  walls  or  doors,  and  the  floor  was  only 
partly  laid;  yet  it  was  occupied  as  a  place  of  worship 
once  in  two  weeks.  So  strict  was  Mr.  Moore  in  attend- 
ing meetings  that  for  seven  years  together  he  was  not 
absent  from  the  house  of  prayer,  though  he  had  removed 
six  miles. 

Miss  Jemima  Baxter  was  born  in  1765,  and  became  the 
wife  of  Judge  William  Monroe  (who  died  April  27th  1854, 
aged  go  years)  and  the  mother-in-law  of  Rev.  Manning 
Force.  She  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  devoted 
members  of  this  church,  and  for  fifty  years  the  house  of 
Judge-Monroe  furnished  a  comfortable  lodging  place  for 
traveling  Methodist  preachers.  His  house  was  near  the 
church;  seeing  the  preacher's  horse  tied  with  no  shelter 
and  no  food,  he  was  sorry  for  the  exposure  of  the  animal, 
and  while  the  service  was  going  on  he  removed  the  horse 
to  his  barn  and  fed  it,  and  sent  word  to  the  preacher 
where  it  could  be  found.  His  further  thought  was  that 
for  this  once  he  would  invite  the  preacher  to  his  table. 
This  was  probably  in  1794,  during  the  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Bostwick,  and  it  was  the  beginning  of  a  kindly 
course  on  the  part  of  Judge  Monroe  toward  the  Methodist 
organization,  though  his  wife  had  been  for  several  years 
a  member.  He  afterward  became  an  efficient  worker  in 
the  Flanders  church  Mrs.  Monroe  died  December  28th 
1832,  aged  67. 

The  first  church  building  remained  unimproved  till 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Elijah  Woolsey,  and  continued  in 
use  till  1857.  The  old  church  was  then  removed.  It 
sheltered  this  cluster  of  God's  people  nearly  four-score 
years;  as  a  barn  it  may  shelter  some  of  God's  creatures 
one  or  two  scores  of  years  more.  In  1857  a  new  church 
was  erected  through  the  zealous  efforts  of  Rev.  J.  B. 
Heward  and  Rev.  M.  Force.  A  parsonage  worth  $1,000 
was  secured  in  i858.for  the  Flanders  church,  which  now 
has  joined  with  it  Drakestown — quite  the  western  part  of 
Mount  Olive  township. 

When  Flanders  circuit  was  formed  it  included  a  very 
large  territory  and  lay  partly  in  Sussex  and  Warren  coun- 
ties, N.  J.,  and  partly  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.  East 
Jersey  in  1792  included  New  Germantown  and  Flanders. 

The  pastors  of  the  Flanders  circuit,  so  far  as  known, 
have  been  as  follows: 

Revs.  Simon  Pile  and  Cornelius  Cook,  1787;  Jesse 
Lee,  1788;  Aaron  Hutchinson,  1788,  1789;  John  Lee, 
1788,  1789;  Daniel  Combs,  1789;  Richard  Swaim,  1790, 
1791;  Samuel  Fowler,  1791;  Jethro  Johnson,  1792; 
Robert  McCoy,  1792,  1800;  John  Clark  and  Daniel 
Dennis,  1793;  Samuel  Coate  and  Shadrach  Bostwick, 
1794;  John  Fountain  and  Robert  Dillon,  1795;  Thomas 
Woolsey,  1796;  Samuel  Thomas,  1796,  1797;  Thomas 
Everard,  1797;  James  Campbell  and  David  Bartine, 
1798;  Aaron  Owens  and  Thomas  Smith,  1799;  Daniel 
W.  Dickerson,  1800;  Elijah  Woolsey,  1801,  1802;  Benja- 
min lliff,  1801;  Ganiiel  Bailey,  1802;  Johnson  Dunham 
and  John  Walker,  1803;  William  Mills,  1804,  1805; 
Henry  Clark,  1804;  George  Woolley,  1805;  Joseph 
Chattle,  1836,  1839,  1840  (from  7805  to  1836  Flanders  was 
supplied  by  the  Asbury  circuit);  W.  C.  Nelson,  1836, 
1861,  1862;  Crooks  S.  Vancleve,  1836,  1838;  Edward 
Sanders,  1838;  Edmund  Hance,  1840;  George  Winsor, 
1843;  Benjamin  Kelly,  1844,  1845;  Abraham  Owen,  1846; 


Josiah  F.  Canfield,  1847,  1848;  T.  T.  Campfield,  1849, 
1850;  e.  A.  Lippencott,  1851;  Swaim  Thackaray,  185 1; 
John  S.  Coit,  1854,  1855  (Flanders  supplied  by  the  pre- 
siding elder  in  1852  and  1853);  Jonathan  B.  Heward, 
1856,  1857;  E.  W.  Adams,  1858,  1859;  George  T.  Jack- 
son, i860;  John  L.  Hay»i  1863,  1864;  Richard  Thomas, 
1865,  1866;  H.  Trumbower,  1867,  1868;  S.  P.  Lacey, 
1869;  T.  Rawlings,  1870  72;  J.  W.  Hartpence,  1873; 
S.  K.  Doolittle,  1874  76;  G.  F.  Apgar,  1877-79;  D.  E. 
Frarabes,  1880,  1881. 

In  1789  the  pastors  on  the  circuit  reported  great  pros- 
perity in  their  work.  It  was  during  the  labors  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Coate  and  Rev.  Shadrach  Bostwick  that  Judge 
Monroe  came  to  "  first  endure,  then  pity,  then  embrace  " 
Methodism  in  his  neighborhood.  Eleven  members  were 
added  to  the  society  in  1797  and  20  in  1800,  while  a  de- 
crease ol  18  was  reported  in  1799  and  of  15  in  1801;  149 
were  gained  in  1802  and  175  in  1803,  but  38  were  lost  in 
1804.  In  1805  the  name  Flanders  for  the  circuit  gave 
way  to  "Asbury,"  which  was  the  title  for  many  years; 
Flanders  charge  reappears,  however,  in  1842.  The  mem- 
bership is  given  as  228  in  1846,  163  in  1847,  150  in  1849, 
170  in  1850,  and  233  in  1851.  In  1857  Rev.  Manning 
Force,  who  had  done  so  much  for  this  society,  took  a 
supernumerary  relation.  He  removed  in  1861  to  Sussex 
county,  and  died  February  22nd  1862.  There  were  144 
members  in  1859  and  90  in  1880.  At  the  latter  date  the 
officers  of  the  society  were  as  follows: 

Pastor,  Rev.  D.  E.  Frambes;  stewards,  W.  K.  Miller, 
James  Abel,  John  Chip,  B.  Cristin,  W.  S.  Fisher;  trustees, 
W.  K.  Miller,  B.  A.  Howell,  W.  R.  McDougall,  W.  S. 
Huff,  John  Chip. 

The  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  was  G.  W. 
Wentworth,.  M.  D.  There  were  75  scholars  enrolled,  and 
350  volumes  in  the  library. 

In  1786  John  Tunnell  was  presiding  elder  of  the  dis- 
trict which  included  Flanders,  and  which  in  fact  covered 
the  .entire  State.  At  this  date  mention  is  first  made  of  a 
chapel  at  Flanders.  In  1792  Staten  Island  and  New  York 
city  were  also  included.  All  of  New  Jersey  remained  in 
one  presiding  elder's  district  till  the  close  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, and  it  belonged  to  the  Philadelphia  Conference  till 
1836.  The  New  Jersey  Conference  appears  in  1836, 
with  the  Newark  district  covering  the  Flanders  charge. 
Since  1857  Flanders  has  been  in  the  Newark  Conference, 
and  in  the  Rahway,  Morristown,  Newton  and  Paterson 
districts.  Presiding  elders  so  far  as  we  can  learn  have 
taken  charge  as  follows: 

Rev.  John  Tunnell,  1786;  Rev.  James  O.  Cromwell, 
1788;  Rev.  John  Merrick,  1791;  Rev.  Jacob  Brush,  1793; 
Rev.  Thomas  Ware,  1794,  1803;  Rev.  John  McClaskey, 
1796;  Rev.  Freeborn  Garretson,  1799;  Rev.  Solomon 
Sharp,  i8oo;  Rev.  Manning  Force,  1836;  Rev.  John  S. 
Porter,  1842;  Rev.  Daniel  Parish,  1845;  Rev.  Thomas 
Sovereign,  1848;  Rev.  C.  A.  Lippencott,  1852;  Rev.  J. 
Winner,  1856;  Rev.  J.  M.  Tuttle,  1857;  Rev.  C.  S.  Van- 
cleve, i860,  1865;  Rev.  A.  L.  Bruce,  1862;  Rev.  Charles 
Larew,  1866;  Rev.  M.  E.  Ellison,  1870;  Rev.  Thomas 
H.  Smith,  1874;  Rev.  J.  N.  Fitzgerald,  1878;  Rev.  C.  S. 
Coit,  1880. 

Flanders  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  February 
i8th   1852   by  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabeth.     Rev.  Dr. 


FLANDERS  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH— SCHOOLS  OF  MOUNT  OLIVE. 


259 


Ogden,  of  Chatham,  preached  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  the  organization  was  completed  with  27 
members.  The  elders  chosen  were  Samuel  White,  Wil- 
liam Bartley  and  D.  A.  Nicholas.  The  members  and 
families  composing  this  church  ware  also  from  the  Rox- 
bury  church,  of  Chester,  and  the  preaching  during  the 
first  year  was  mainly  by  the  minister  of  that  church. 
June  30th  1853  Rev.  John  N.  Husted  was  installed  pas- 
tor. He  was  released  April  i8th  1855.  Rev.  David  M. 
James  was  installed  June  loth  1856  and  released  Octo- 
ber 2nd  1867.  Rev.  Martin  F.  Hollister  supplied  the 
church  part  of  the  year  1868.  Rev.  Mr.  Denton  and 
Rev.  Myron  Barrett,  of  Newton,  also  supplied  the  church 
for  a  time.  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Fox,  the  present  pastor,  was 
installed  June  isth  1870. 

The  church,  built  in  1853, 3oby5ofeet, with  pulpitrecess, 
cost  $3,500.  It  has  been  repaired  and  improved,  at  a  cost 
of  $800.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1875  and  cost  $3,300. 
The  officers  of  the  church  in  1881  were:  Rev.  D.  W. 
Fox,  pastor;  D.  A.  Nicholas,  William  Bartley,  Hezekiah 
R.  Hopkins,  J.  C.  Green  and  M.  B.  Howell,  elders.  The 
church  membership  is  74.  The  Sunday-school  superin- 
tendent is  D.  A.  Nicholas.  The  scholars  number  50. 
The  library  contains  225  volumes.  The  Union  Sunday- 
school  at  Bartleyville  has  for  its  superintendent  William 
Bartley.     There  are  75  scholars. 

Schools  and  Teachers. 

The  schools  of  Mount  Olive  are  among  the  oldest  of 
the  old  township,  and  men  of  85  years  do  not  recall  the 
time  when  the  school  near  the  churches  was  established. 
A  deed  of  one  acre  of  land  for  school  and  church  pur- 


poses was  given  in  1768  by  James  Heaton.  Thomas  H. 
Briggs,  who  taught  this  school  nearly  sixty  years  ago, 
died  at  Succasunna  in  1876.  Teaching  was  his  profes- 
sion and  his  pride.  He  said  that  he  obtained  a  copy  of 
every  grammar  and  mastered  what  was  new  in  each;  and 
he  believed  he  had  a  larger  number  of  books  on  the 
English  language  than  any  other  teacher  in  New  Jersey. 
A  misfortune  that  lost  him  a  leg  made  another  profession 
impracticable,  and  he  loved  this  so  well  that  he  never 
desired  any  other.  He  was  honored  with  a  State  certifi- 
cate for  life. 

Samuel  White  of  Flanders  taught  more  than  forty 
years,  and,  excepting  four  years,  his  teaching  was  in 
Roxbury  and  Mount  Olive.  His  last  service  was  in  the 
Pleasant  Hill  district,  near  Flanders.  Sickness  attacked 
him  while  in  school,  and  he  died  after  a  brief  illness,  in 
March  1880.  There  are  school-houses  at  Mount  Olive, 
Draketown,  Flanders,  South  Stanhope,  Cross  Roads  and 
Bartleyville.  The  stone  school-house  at  Bartleyville  was 
built  in  1848.  This  as  well  as  other  school  buildings 
shows  what  changes  have  come  with  the  years.  The 
early  school-house  was  made  of  logs,  an  opening  was  left 
for  a  window,  and  a  sheep  skin  was  used  for  glass. 
When  the  building  was  framed,  the  chimney,  built  from 
the  ceiling  up  with  large  sticks  covered  with  mud,  gave 
the  principal  light.  The  time  was  regulated  by  an  hour 
glass,  and  the  pupils  drank  from  a  cup  made  of  a  cow's 
horn  or  a  gourd  shell.  In  their  recitations  they  were  re- 
quired to  toe  a  chalk  line  or  a  crack  in  the  floor;  but 
they  were  taught  obedience,  trained  in  habits  of  study, 
and  encouraged  in  the  practice  of  virtues  worthy  of  imi- 
tation by  the  present  generation. 


35 


PASSAIC   TOWNSHIP. 


By  Hon.  S.  B.  Axtell. 


HE  township  of  Passaic  was  established  in 
1866,  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  and  was 
taken  from  the  south  part  of  Morris  town- 
ship. It  lies  along  the  Passaic  River  and 
extends  farther  south  than  any  other  portion 
of  Morris  county.  The  river  bends  round  and  partly 
incloses  it,  and  separates  the  township  from  Union 
and  Somerset  counties.  The  word  "  Passaic  "  is  said  to 
be  Indian  and  to  have  signified  in  their  language 
"  valley."  The  Passaic  River  flows  through  a  valley, 
while  the  Hackensack  has  no  considerable  banks,  but 
runs  along  through  open  marshy  meadows  and  level 
plains.  The  name  Passaic  thus  described  the  stream 
spoken  of — the  river  that  runs  in  avalley,  not  the  river 
of  the  plain.  The  Passaic  River  atove  Paterson  re- 
ceives the  Rockaway,  an  important  branch,  and  the 
Whippany — properly  Whippanong,  also  an  Ind'ian  name, 
signifying  "arrow";  but  the  main  river  is  that  portion 
of  the  stream  which,  rising  in  Mendham  township,  runs 
south  and  gracefully  bends  round  the  southern  part  of 
Morris  county,  returning  north  and  east  by  Paterson  and 
the  valley  of  the  Passaic  to  Newark  Bay.  The  river 
above  the  Little  Falls  has  but  slight  current  for  a  long 
distance.  From  Lower  Chatham  bridge  to  Little  Falls,  a 
distance  by  the  river  of  twenty-one  and  a  quarter  miles, 
the  fall  of  the  river  bottom  is  but  six  and  two-tenths  feet, 
or  less  than  four  inches  to  the  mile.  The  elevations 
above  Chatham  are  also  very  slight.  Chatham  Pond  is 
only  182  feet  above  mean  tide;  the  head  of  Great  Swamp, 
in  Passaic  township  (at  Big  Brook,  near  Green  Village), 
is  240  feet. 

Geological  Features. 

One  of  the  marked  physical  features  of  the  township 
is  a  beautiful  park-like  ridge  of  land  which  extends 
through  it,  reaching  from  Long  Hill  to  Morristown. 
This  ridge  is  a  very  prominent  feature  in  the  topography 
of  the  State,  and  is  especially  noted  for  its  commanding 
views  and  its  almost  continuous  succession  of  beautiful 
grounds.  The  road  from  Madison  to  Morristown  runs 
along  it — as  beautiful  a  drive  as  there  is  in  any  State. 
This  ridge  is  a  waters'hed  between  the  tributaries  of  the 
upper  Passaic  on  the   south    and   the  branches  of  the 


Whippany  on  the  north.  It  differs  from  the  Short  Hills 
in  its  level  top  and  more  uniform  slopes.  Generally  its 
southward  slopes  are  steep.  This  ridge  is  about  three 
hundred  and  eighty  feet  above  tide  water,  and  about  one 
hundred  and  forty  feet  above  the  general  level  of  Chatham 
and  Madison.  The  thickness  of  the  drift  mass  in  this 
ridge  must  everywhere  be  over  one  hundred  feet,  since 
nearly  all  the  wells  on  it  are  of  that  depth.  At  the  Drew 
Theological  Seminary,  in  Madison,  a  well  was  dug  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  feet,  and  then  a  boring  two  hun- 
dred feet  deeper,  it  is  said,  did  not  get  through  the  loose 
materials.  An  abundant  supply  of  water  can,  however, 
be  easily  obtained  from  the  crystal  streams  and  unfailing 
springs  abundant  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  With 
the  increase  of  wealth  comes,  with  equal  and  regular 
steps,  increase  of  knowledge;  and  the  day  "is  not  distant 
when  pure  water  and  pure  air,  and  well  drained,  whole- 
some homes  will  dim  the  splendor  of  doctors'  equipages, 
and  render  brilliant  corner  drug  stores  and  patent  medicine 
palaces  a  thing  of  the  past.  When  that  day  comes  this 
ridge  will  be  thickly  gemmed  with  beautiful  country 
homes,  and  its  woods  will  ring  with  the  shouts  of  healthy, 
happy  children.  The  plain  between  Morristown  and 
Madison  and  the  ridge  known  as  Long  Hill  are  here 
spoken  of  as  one. 

The  other  marked  feature  of  this  township  is  known  as 
the  Great  Swamp.  This  swamp  is  about  seven  miles 
long,  with  an  average  width  of  three  miles;  it  was  heavily 
timbered,  but  most  of  it  has  been  cleared  and  drained 
and  is  now  excellent  meadow  and  arable  land.  This  is 
the  bottom  of  a  great  lake.  In  the  annual  report  of  the 
State  geologist  of  New  Jersey  for  1880  we  find  a  map  and 
description  of  it  as  Lake  Passaic— a  glacial  lake,  a  lake 
which  was  in  the  glacial  period  between  the  Whatchung 
Mountains  and  the  Highland  range.  It  was  fully  thirty 
miles  long,  from  six  to  eight  miles  wide,  and  in  most 
places  two  hundred  feet  deep.  It  covered  the  country 
where  Madison,  Chatham,  New  Providence,  Basking 
Ridge,  Hanover,  Whippany,  Troy,  Pompton  and  Little 
Falls  now  stand.  Long  Hill,  Riker's  Hill  and  the  Hook 
Mountain  were  islands.  The  higher  parts  of  the  Basking 
Ridge  and  of  the  New  Vernon  Ridge  must  also  have 
stood  above  its  cold  blue  waves  as  frozen,  rocky,  desolate 


THE  GREAT  SWAMP— VILLAGES  IN  PASSAIC— PIONEERS. 


261 


land.  The  only  outlet  to  this  lake  was  by  the  valley  of 
the  Passaic  at  Paterson,  and  this  at  that  time  was  closed 
by  the  ice  of  the  receding  glacier.  The  surface  level  of 
this  lake  was  about  380  feet  above  the  present  level  of 
tide  water.  The  plain  country  between  Madison  and 
Morristown  is  of  this  height;  so  is  the  moraine  ridge 
known  as  Long  Hill.  The  top  of  the  terminal  moraine 
was  leveled  off  and  a  part  of  its  material  was  carried 
southward  and  silted  on  the  bottom  of  the  lake  where 
are  now  the  Great  Swamp  and  the  Dead  River  flats,  in 
Passaic  township.  The  erosion  through  the  drift  at 
Little  Falls  was  probably  the  gradual  wear  of  the  Terrace 
period  until  the  hard  trap  rock  reef  was  reached.  At 
that  le\el  the  drainage  stopped.  The  slow  work  of  exca- 
vation through  this  barrier  and  the  recession  of  the  falls 
have  been  in  progress  since  that  time;  and  a  gorge  three 
hundred  feet  wide  at  the  east,  narrowing  westward  to  the 
falls  and  between  thirty  and  forty  feet  deep,  has  been 
cut  back  about  six  hundred  feet  in  the  rock.  The  further 
work  of  cutting  through  the  barrier  of  trap  rock  must  be 
very  slow,  and  hence  the  drainage  of  the  old  lake  basin 
may  be  considered  as  practically  at  an  end  unless  fur- 
thered by  the  agency  of  man.  This  attempt  was  made  and 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  obtained,  but  it  gave  rise  to  liti- 
gation and  strife,  went  into  the  courts  and  was  finally  re- 
pealed. The  deep  alluvial  formations  along  Dead  River 
and  in  the  Great  Swamp  were  the  fine  deposits  on  the 
bottom  of  this  ancient  lake.  The  depth  of  the  rock 
basin  is  great.  A  well  in  the  Great  Swamp  has  been 
bored  165  feet  in  sand,  clayey  sand  and  fine  sediment,  or 
to  within  eighty  feet  of  the  ocean  level,  without  finding 
rock. 

Besides  the  Passaic  River  the  township  is  well  supplied 
with  beautiful  brooks.  The  Primrose,  Black  and  Big 
Brooks  have  been  celebrated  for  trout  and  are  lovely 
streams.  The  soil  of  the  township  is  excellent;  the 
farmers  thrifty  and  independent. 

Centers  of  Population. 

There  are  numerous  villages,  of  which  New  Vernon, 
only  four  miles  from  Morristown,  is  the  largest.  Logans- 
ville,  Pleasantville,  Green  Village,  Myersville  (population 
145),  Millington  (population  112),  Stirling  (population 
185)  and  Gillette  are  also  thrifty,  enterprising  and  grow- 
ing towns.  The  first  census  of  Passaic  as  a  township 
was  taken  in  1870,  when  its  population  was  1,625.  The 
census  of  1880  gives  the  population  at  1,896,  an  encour- 
aging increase.  The  school  census  of  1878  showed  525 
children  between  the  ages  of  five  and  eighteen  years. 
The  West  Line  Railroad  runs  through  the  southern  por- 
tion of  the  township,  giving  easy  access  to  New  York. 
This  road  connects  with  the  Morris  and  Essex  at  Summit. 
Gillette,  Stirling  and  Millington  are  stations  on  this  rail- 
road. 

There  are   two  manufacturing  establishments   in  the 
township — one  for  agricultural   implements   at  Milling- 
ton, the  other  a  button  factory  at  Stirling.      These  fac 
tories  employ  about  two  hundred  hands. 

The  figures  relative   to   township  valuation,  area,  tax- 


ation, etc.,  in  1881  were  as  follows:  Acres,  19,240.;  valua- 
tion of  real  estate,  f  764,620;  personal  property,  $195,960; 
debt,  1147,235;  polls,  378;  State  school  tax,  12,070.46; 
county  tax,  '^r, 932. 81  ;  road  tax,  $2,500  ;  poor  tax, 
fioo. 

The  Pioneers. 

Before  proceeding  to  speak  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
township  it  is  permissible  to  mention  a  book  pub- 
lished in  1 85 1  by  John  Littell.  It  is  entitled 
"  Family  Records  or  Genealogies  of  the  First  Settlers  of 
Passaic  Valley  and  Vicinity  above  Chatham,  with  their 
Ancestors  and  Descendants."  The  preface  to  the  book 
contains  the  following  commendable  sentiments: 

"  It  is  an  interesting  object  of  curiosity  to  most  men  to 
search  into  the  origin  of  their  own  families,  to  trace  their 
descents  and  to  collect  the  history  of  the  individuals  who 
compose  them.  However  remote  in  time  or  consanguinity 
it  is  natural  to  believe  that  we  inherit  from  our  fathers 
their  mental  and  physical  peculiarities,  though  modified 
by  circumstances.  We  enter  affectionately  into  their 
concerns,  and  rejoice  in  their  honors  and  prosperity,  and 
are  personally  grieved  by  their  misconduct  or  misfortunes. 
The  love  of  our  kindred  is  the  first  degree  of  the  expan- 
sion of  the  heart  toward  universal  benevolence." 

Such  sentiments  are  an  honor  to  human  nature;  and  a 
man  who  does  not  love  his  kindred  discredits  not  only 
his  humanity  but  his  Christianity: — "  For  he  that  loveth 
not  his  brother  whom  he  hath  seen,  how  can  he  love 
God,  whom  he  hath  not  seen?"  We  can  but  regret  that 
the  author  of  this  book  did  not  give  us  more  history  of 
•these  pioneers.  He  has  in  most  instances  confined  him- 
self to  mere  genealogy;  but  his  book  is  a  step  in  the 
right  direction,  and  cost  a  world  of  pains-taking  labor 
occupying  its  author  seven  years  in  its  compilation.  We 
are  indebted  to  this  book  for  many  facts  about  Passaic's 
pioneers. 

These  Littells  formerly  spelled  their  name  Little. 
George  and  Benjamin  Little,  brothers,  were  merchants  in 
London  and  emigrated  about  1630  to  Newbury,  Essex 
county,  Mass.  John  Little,  son  of  George,  left  home  to 
seek  his  fortune,  and  went  to  Barnstable  or  Martha's 
Vineyard,  thence  to  Long  Island,  and  thence  the  family 
knew  not  where.  This  was  before  1665,  before  steam  or 
rail;  and  how  long  these  to  us  little  journeys  then 
seemed,  away  from  Massachusetts  to  Long  Island!  But, 
says  our  faithful  chronicler,  "soon  after  1665  Philip  Car- 
teret, governor  of  New  Jersey,  sent  messengers  through 
all  the  adjoining  provinces  to  invite  settlers."  How 
much  this  sounds  like  an  Old  Testament  narrative!  "Sent 
messengers  through  all  the  adjoining  provinces."  This 
is  the  germ  of  an  immigration  society.  These  settlers 
came  in  "considerable  numbers  from  New  England  (a 
colony  of  them  to  Newark  the  following  year,  1666),  and 
in  1676  we  find  John  Little  in  Elizabethtown,  a  purchaser 
of  land  from  the  proprietors.  This  John  Little  is  as- 
sumed to  be  the  father  of  Samuel  Littell.  Samuel  changes 
the  spelling  of  his  name  a  little,  and  marries  Lydia  Bon- 
nell.  They  had  children  Elizabeth,  Martha,  John, 
Samuel,  Joseph,  James,  Benjamin,  Daniel,  David,  Jona- 


262 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


than,  Sarah,  Abigail,  Catherine  and  Nathaniel — fourteen 
sons  and  daughters,  and  two  others  who  died  young. 

Let  us  look  at  an.other  of  these  ancient  worthies.  The 
parents  of  Daniel  Cooper  emigrated  from  Holland  to  New 
York  in  the  year  1695.  It  is  said  he  was  born  at  sea, 
May  ist  1695.  In  1726,  when  twenty-nine  years  old,  he 
married  Grace  Runyon.  He  removed  to  Passaic  Valley, 
Morris  county,  in  1732;  bought  lot  No.  2  of  the  Berkley 
tract,  containing  500  acres;  and  had  children  Catherine, 
Daniel,  Agnes,  Peter,  John,  Benjamin,  Rosannah,  George, 
Projvidence  and  Anne.  He  had  six  wives — Grace  Runyan, 
Jane  Westbrook,  Grace  Manning,  widow  Fanny  Jones,  Bar- 
bara Margaret  Gibbs  and  Hannah  Martin,  widow  of  Colo- 
nel Ephraim  Martin,  and  died  May  2nd  1795,  one  day  over 
one  hundred  years  from  the  day  of  his  birth!  John  G. 
Cooper,  Esq.,  fourth  child  of  George  Coopep,  son  of 
Daniel  Cooper  (ancient  worthy),  lived  in  the  valley  where 
his  father  did.  He  married  Eleanor  Perrine,  and  their 
son  George  went  to  Michigan,  and  was  treasurer  of  that 
State. 

General  Benjamin  Ludlow  lived  on  Long  Hill,  where 
his  father  did.  He  was  major-general  of  militia,  judge 
of  the  court  of  Morris  county,  and  several  tirries  a  member 
of  the  Legislature.  This  name  is  sometimes  spelled 
Ludlum. 

John  James  and  George  Badgley,  with  their  three 
sisters,  Phebe,  Sarah  and  Betsey,  came  from  Long  Island 
to  Elizabethtown.  George  settled  there,  and  the  others 
came  and  took  a  tract  of  400  acres  between  the  First  and 
Second  Mountains  in  the  year  1736.  Jonathan  Badgley, 
a  descendant,  had  thirteen  children,  Dayton  had  eight, 
Samuel  had  nine.  Huma  Badgley,  fourth  child  of 
Samuel,  married  Ezekiel  Clark  and  had  nine  children, 
and  Jacob  F.  Badgley,  ninth  child  of  Samuel,  had  eight 
children. 

Thomas  Baker  emigrated  from  England  and  settled  on 
Long  Island,  thence  removed  to  Connecticut  Farms  (now 
Union),  and  there  died.  His  son  Thomas  jr.  married 
Hannah  Thompson,  and   removed  to   Passaic  Valley  in 

^738. 

A  descend.mt  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  Osborn  had 
fourteen  children,  and  his  eldest  child,  Mary,  married  to 
Ezekiel  De  Camp,  had  thirteen  children. 

Samuel  Beach  was  an  early  settler. 

Benjamin  Bedell  had  a  child  baptized  in  1764,  and 
"  kept  tavern  "  in  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
His  descendants  require  six  pages  to  merely  name  them. 

Nathan  Bonnel  came  from  Long  Island  to  Elizabeth- 
town;  was  one  of  the  first  company  of  the  "Elizabeth- 
town  Associates  ";  removed  thence  to  the  Passaic  River 
above  Chatham;  married  Hannah  Miller  of  Westfield, 
and  left  numerous  descendants.  Her  second  son.  Cap- 
tain Nathaniel,  had  thirteen  children;  her  son  John  had 
eleven,  and  the  tribes  increased  and  multiplied  and  re- 
plenished New  Jersey,  and  took  possession  thereof  and 
subdued  it. 

Solomon  Boyle  emigrated  from  Ireland  and  married  a 
French  girl  in  this  country.  He  purchased  of  the  East 
Jersey  proprietors  600  acres  of  land  crossing  Long  Hill. 


He  had  ten  children.  One  of  his  daughters  has  the  pe- 
culiar name  "  Lynche."  She  married  John  Cooper,  'son 
of  Daniel  ist  (ancient  worthy).  His  son  John  also  had  a 
daughter  Lynche.  Solomon  Boyle  must  have  settled 
here  about  1730,  as  his  second  child  was  born  in  1734. 
We  also  find  Byrams,  of  the  Mendham  family. 

James  Cauldwell  with  his  wife  Mary  emigrated  from 
Ireland  about  the  year  1732,  and  settled  on  Long  Hill. 

Daniel  Clark  gives  cause  for  pages  of  Clarks,  and  Wil- 
liam Cole  was  a  surveyor  and  schoolmaster,  and  was 
known  as  Master  Cole. 

William  Conklin  married  Ruth  Hedges  of  Long  Island, 
removed  from  there  to  Basking  Ridge,  and  children. 

Henry  Connet,  born  in  1698,  is  the  ancestor  of  the 
Connets  at  Brookside,  in  Mendham  township. 

There  were  Corwins  and  Carys,  Crigs  and  Cranes, 
Davises  and  Days. 

Philemon  Dickerson  lived  at  the  east  end  of  Stirling 
Valley,  on  the  road  to  Morristown.  He  married  Johan- 
nah  Sweazy,  above  Morristown. 

Then  follow  twelve  pages  of  Dods  and  Dodds,  one  of 
the  most  gifted  families  of  New  Jersey;  and  Joseph 
Doty,  who  came  from  Long  Island. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Elmer  was  born  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  in 
1727.  He  came  to  Turkey  (New  Providence)  and  was 
the  stated  minister  of  the  "  Presbyterian  church  and  con- 
gregation "  from  October  1757  to  1793 — thirty-six  years. 
He  died  in  1807,  aged  80  years;  his  wife  died  at  the  age 
of  94.  His  son  Jonathan  married  Susan  Bedell,  and  they 
had  eleven  children. 

Rev.  James  Caldwell  was  shot  by  a  drunken  soldier, 
standing  sentinel  at  Elizabethtown,  in  1781.  His  wife 
Hannah  had  been  shot  in  1780  at  Connecticut  Farms 
(Union)  by  a  British  soldier.  They  left  nine  children, 
who  were  all  taken  up  to  Chatham  to  the  house  of 
Stephen  Day,  whose  wife  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Caldwell. 
The  nine  children  of  the  Caldwells  were:  Margaret,  who 
married  Isaac  Canfield,  of  Morristown;  Hannah,  who 
married  James  R.  Smith,  merchant  of  New  York;  John 
Edwards,  taken  by  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  to  France; 
James  B.,  for  many  years  a  judge  of  the  court  of  Glou- 
cester county;  Esther,  who  married  Rev.  Robert  Finley, 
D.  D.,  of  Basking  Ridge;  Josiah  F.,  many  years  in  the 
post-office  department  at  Washington;  Elias,  for  some 
years  clerk  of  the  United  States  supreme  court;  Sarah, 
who  married  Rev.  John  S.  Vredenburg,  pastor  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  church  at  Somerville;  Maria,  who  married 
Robert  S,  Robertson,  merchant  of  New  York.  History 
does  not  give  knowledge  of  any  other  country  where  a 
family  of  nine  helpless  orphans,  so  tragically  bereaved, 
could  thus  be  carried  in  sympathetic  arms  and  fjlanted  in 
happy,  useful  homes.  If  other  republics  have  been  un- 
grateful it  is  not  true  of  ours. 

Richard  Runyon  was  born  in  i7i9,of  French  ancestry. 
Daniel  Runyon,  son  of  Elias,  owns  his  father's  farm  at 
Long  Hill.  He  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1834,  and  acted  in  that  ofifice  fifteen  years. 

Simeon  Morehouse  came  up  from  Elizabethtown  in  the 
time  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  lived  some  time  back 


SETTLERS  IN  PASSAIC— IMPROVEMENTS— NEW  VERNON-; 


263 


of  Long  Hill,  north  of  Peter  Rutan's.  He  married  Re- 
becca Meeker.  They  had  ten  children,  and  lived  to  be 
respectively  81  and  86  years  of  age. 

Isaac  Moore  married  Sally  Smalley.  They  had  seven- 
teen children;  all  lived  to  be  men  and  women,  and  all 
married,  but  one  daughter,  who  died  a  young  woman. 

The  following  named  citizens  of  Passaic  have  held  the 
ofifices  attached  to  their  names:  In  Morris  county.  Colo- 
nel Cornelius  Ludlow,  Brigadier-General  and  Major- 
General  Benjamin  Ludlow,  Brigadier-General  and  Major- 
General  Solomon  Doughty,  Captain  and  Major  Solomon 
Boyle,  Captain  and  Major  William  M.  Clark,  Captains 
Peter  Layton,  Samuel  Stanbury,  Benjamin  Conklin  and 
Henry  W.  Tuttle.  Judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas 
of  Morris  county:  John  Carle,  Benjamin  Ludlow,  John 
G.  Cooper,  Cornelius  Ludlow.  Sheriff  and  county  clerk, 
George  H  Ludlow.-  The  present  governor  of  New  Jersey 
is  a  son  of  Israel  and  grandson  of  Colonel  Cornelius 
Ludlow. 

The  Carles  came  from  Long  Island.  Jacob  Carle 
bought  500  acres,  one-fourth  of  the  Berkley  tract,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Passaic  River.  Carles  still  live  on  their 
ancestral  lands.  John  Carle,  son  of  Jacob,  lived  on  Long 
Hill  on  a  part  of  the  500  acres.  He  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  a  judge  of  the  court,  and  several  times  a  member 
of  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  and  in  1783  was  a  member 
of  the  privy  council. 

William  Alexander,  called  Lord  Stirling,  owned  1,000 
acres  .of  land  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Passaic,  but 
mostly  on  the  north  side  and  to  the  north  of  the  pomt 
where  the  river  forces  its  way  through  Long  Hill.  The 
thrifty  manufacturing  town  of  Stirling  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  was  named  in  his  honor.  This  land  was  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  Great  Swamp.  Lord  Stirling's  residence 
was  on  the  west  side  of  the  Passaic,  in  Somerset  county. 
It  has  been  modernized  and  is  in  good  repair. 

Improvements. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  section  of  the  township  be- 
longed to  the  congregation  and  society  of  Basking  Ridge, 
and  their  history  is  to, be  found  incorporated  with  the 
history  of  that  beautiful  village.  This  place  was  settled 
by  Scotch  Presbyterians  and  a  log  church  erected  about 
i*'oo.  In  1749  a  wooden  structure  was  built.  This 
church  is  cotemporaneous  with  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Morristown,  which  was  established  in  1740.  There 
was  at  Basking  Ridge  in  very  early  times  an  academy, 
which,  under  the  intelligent  supervision  of  Dr.  Finley  and 
Dr.  Brownlee,  attained  a  high  reputation.  Many  of  the 
older  residents  of  Long  Hill  attended  this  academy. 
Henry  Southard  was  brought  here  by  his  parents  from 
Long  Island  when  he  was  eight  years  old,  in  1755,  and 
here   his  ■  distinguished    son,   Henry    L.,  was    born    and 

educated. 

With  good  academies  at  New  Providence,  Basking 
Ridge,  New  Vernon  and  Morristown  it  is  not  surprising 
that  the  people  of  this  township  should  be  exceptionally 
intelligent.  There  are  in  this  small  township  six  church 
societies,   with   suitable  houses  of  worship— two  at  New 


Vernon  (Presbyterian  and  Methodist);  one  at  Green  Vil- 
lage (Methodist),  one  at  Myersville  (Lutheran),  one  at 
Stirling  (Presbyterian)  and  a  congregation  of  Baptists  at 
Millington.  The  church  edifice  is  across  the  river  in 
Somerset  county. 

The  West  Line  Railroad  is  rapidly  developing  the 
Passaic  Valley  from  New  Providence  to  Basking  Ridge; 
beautiful  residences  are  being  built  and  flourishing  manu- 
factures established,  and  it  is  not  at  all  improbable  that 
within  ten  years  the  population  of  the  valley  will  double. 

The  land  about  Gillette  station  is  owned  by  the  broth- 
ers Robert  N.  and  Alonzo  Cornish.  Mrs.  Robert  Cornish 
was  a  Harrison,  from  Orange.  Their  two  eldest  sons  are 
taking  a  full  classical  course  at  Andover  and  Yale. 
Lands  in  that  part  of  the  township  are  pleasantly  situated 
and  very  fertile,  and  are  fairly  worth  $100  per  acre  for 
farming  purposes. 

The  term  "  Swamp  "  is  hardly  applicable  now  to  the 
rich  alluvial  lands  where  was  once  the  bottom  of  the 
great  Passaic  Lake.  They  have  been  mostly  cleared  and 
ditched;  the  sun  has  been  let  in;  the  dam  across  the 
Passaic  where  it  breaks  through  Long  Ridge  has  been 
removed,  and  fall  enough  thus  obtained  for  an  easy  flow 
of  water,  and  what  was  the  "Great  Swamp  "  is  fast  be- 
coming a  great  rich  garden.  It  is  now  held  in  small  "par- 
cels by  hardy,  industrious  Germans,  and  the  day  is  not 
distant  when  it  will  be  the  most  valuable  agricultural 
portion  of  Morris  county.  It  was  to  a  late  period  a 
refuge  for  bears  and  other  game.  Some  of  the  early 
settlers  in  the  Swamp  were  mighty  hunters  and  famous 
men  in  their  day.  This  land  was  very  heavily,  timbere'3 
with  oak,  and  ship  timber  was  obtained  here  in  great 
quantities,  including  the  timber  for  several  government 
vessels.  As  an  illustration  of  the  depth  and  fertility  of 
the  soil  the  following  fact  is  mentioned:  There  was  a 
white  oak  tree  cut  for  ship  timber  which  was  over  five 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  ground,  and  at  the  height  of  100 
feet  it  squared  12  inches.  It  was  floated  to  Chatham 
and  from  there  hauled  to  Elizabethtown.  It  required  12 
yoke  of  oxen  and  a  pair  of  horses  to  draw  it,  and  brought 
$500. 

New  Vernon. 

New  Vernon  was  originally  called  South  Hanover. 
Abraham  Canfield  was  among  the  most  prominent  of  its 
early  settlers.  He  came  from  Connecticut,  by  way  of 
Newark,  and  settled  here  about  1740.  His  wife  was  a 
sister  of  Joseph  Hedden,  of  Newark. 

The  Heddens  were  noted  for  courage  and  firmness. 
Joseph  Hedden  lived  to  be  ninety-six  years  of  age.  He 
was  wont  to  speak  with  pride  of  the  fact  that  he  had 
eight  sons  in  the  service  of  the  country  during  the  long 
battle  for  freedom.  His  son  Joseph  was  a  man  of  great 
nerve.  Simon  Hedden,  Joseph's  brother,  was  a  man  of 
great  strength  and  ignorant  of  fear.  In  the  Newark  Sen- 
tinel of  Freedom,  November  1798,  we  find  the  following 
notice  of  the  elder  Hedden:  "  This  venerable  citizen  (he 
was  96  years  of  age  when  he  died)  had  from  his  youth 
sustained  the    character  of  an  honest  and  upright  man 


264 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  was  much  lamented  by  those  who  were  acquainted 
with  him.  He  had  13  children,  176  grandchildren,  106, 
great-grandchildren,  and  three  great-great-grandchildren." 
Joseph  Hedden  jr.  was  taken  from  his  bed  in  Newark  by 
British  soldiers,  on  the  night  of  January  25th  1780,  car- 
ried to  New  York,  and  confined  in  the  Andersonville  of 
the  Revolution,  the  infamous  Sugar  House  prison.  In 
consequence  of  exposure  and  hardship  on  the  night  of 
his  capture,  and  cruel  treatment  in  prison,  his  limbs  mor- 
tified, and  he  died  the  following  September,  in  the  52nd 
year  of  his  age. 

Mrs.  Abraham  Canfield  was  a  worthy  representative  of 
a  worthy  family.  She  also  had  thirteen  children.  Her 
son  Israel  lived  for  a  long  time  at  New  Vernon,  but 
afterward  removed  to  Morristown.  His  son  B.  O.  Can- 
field  has  fully  sustained  through  a  long  and  useful  life 
the  hunorable  reputation  of  his  ancestors,  and  now  in  a 
green  old  age  lives  to  enjoy  a  competency  honestly  ac- 
quired, and  is  a  living  witness  that  the  ways  of  virtue  are 
the  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  the  paths  of  rectitude  the 
paths  of  peace.  His  son  John  D.  Canfield  is  a  rising 
lawyer  in  Morristown. 

Abraham  Canfield  was  a  blacksmith,  and  carried  on  at 
New  Vernon  the  business  of  working  in  iron.  In  fact  he 
was  a  manufacturer  in  the  broadest  sense,  for  he  sent  his 
own  pack  animals  to  the  iron  mines  in  the  vicinity  of 
Dover,  brought  down  the  iron  ore  and  manufactured  it 
into  the  iron  which  he  used.  He  also  kept  a  country 
store.  He  a.ssisted  in  his  day  to  build  a  suitable  house 
for  an  academy  at  New  Vernon,  where  was  long  kept  up 
one  of  the  best  schools  in  this  section  of  the  State.  The 
jjouse  was  also  used  for  public  meetings,  but  the  people 
belonged  to  the  church  congregation  at  Morristown,  then 
called  West  Hanover. 

In  1773  Richard  Kemble,  an  Englishman  living  on  the 
south  side  of  Mount  Washington,  imported  from  England 
a  copper  still  of  twelve  gallons  capacity,  and  manufactured 
the  first  applejack  or  Jersey  lightning  made  in  Morris 
county.  Kemble  was  a  thorough  John  Bull.  He  was 
during  the  Revolution  a  pronounced  royalist,  and  gave 
especial  directions  in  his  will  as  to  the  disposition  of  his 
portraits  of  the  royal  family.  He  was  twice  married,  and 
iti  his  will  speaks  of  his  second  wife  as  his  "  second  ven- 
ture." The  Kembles  were  large  slave  owners,  and  most 
of  the  thrifty  farmers  owned  one  or  more  families  of 
negroes. 

Reminiscences  of  tHE  Revolution. 

The  grounds  occupied  by  the  soldiers  in  1779-80  and 
1781  for  encampments  are  nearly  all  situated  in  this 
township,  and  it  was  on  the  first  level  bench  below 
Mount  Washington  and  just  north  of  Kimball's  (now 
Hoyt's)  corner  where  the  troops  were  exercised  and  re- 
viewed. There  was  a  great  abundance  of  fine  chestnut 
timber  on  these  hills.  These  chestnut  trees  were  cut  to  a 
suitable  length,  and  the  logs  split  in  halves,  which  were 
put  endwise  into  the  ground  to  form  the  sides  of  the  huts; 
other  split  logs  covered  these  for  a  roof;  the  whole  was 
chinked  with  split  pieces  of  chestnut,  and  daubed  with 
clay.  A  stone  fireplace  and  chimney  filled  one  end,  and 
the  whole  "  edifice  "  was  often  covered  with  leaves  and 
dirt.  With  plenty  of  rock  oak  and  hickory  wood  for  fire, 
these  huts  were  far  from  being  uncomfortable,  especially 
when  covered  over  with  the  deep  snow  of  1780.  The 
situation  of  the  camp  was  admirable.  It  was  only  the 
lack  of  provisions  and  clothing  which  made  the  army  un- 


comfortable.     Give  any  set  of  pioneers  abundant  "wil- 
derness "  and  provisions  and  they  will  make  themselves 
very  comfortable;    and  the   soldiers  of  the  Revolution 
were  pioneers.     The  house  which  the  ofificersof  the  army 
lived  in  near  camp,  and  which  Washington  often  visited 
in  person,  is  still  standing.     It  is  on  the  road  from  Mend- 
ham  to  Hoyt's  Corners,  and  is  known   as  the  old  Wick 
farm  house.      It  is  built  in  the  style  once  so  common  in 
this  section  of  New  Jersey — a  low,  one-story  house,  the 
eaves  coming  near  the  ground;    a  long  house,  with  door 
and  narrow  hall  in  the   middle,  and  great  chimneys  at 
the  ends.     This  style  of  house  is  also  seen  in  New  Eng- 
land.     It  is  the  one  kind  of  dwelling  built  by  our  ances- 
tors here  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.     Does  not  this 
house  distinctly  point  out   what  nationality  the  builder 
belonged  to?      This  style  was  built  by  all  the  families 
who  came  from  Long  Island,  Connecticut,  Massachusetts, 
Newark  and  Elizabeth  town.      Who  will  kindly  tell  us 
what  part  of  Old  England  it  represents?  or  is  it  Holland? 
It  was  in  this  house  that  Tempe  Wick  so  long  concealed 
her  favorite  riding  horse.       The  huts  have  all  long  since 
disappeared;     but  the  piles  of  stones  used  for  fireplaces 
and  chimneys  still  remain,  and  can  be  found  scattered 
over  a  large   extent  of  woodland.       During  these  three 
winters  that  the  army  lived  here  many  soldiers  died  from 
natural  causes,  and  the  place  where  they  were  buried  is 
on  the  Wick  tract,  in  the  north  part  of  Passaic  township. 
The  burial  ground  was  thickly  planted  with  locust  trees 
to  protect  it.       It  is  now  overgrown  with  briars,  but  has 
been   undisturbed  for  a  hundred  years.      Here  lie  the 
bones  of  many  a  poor  soldier  who  laid  down  knapsack 
and  musket  and  reported  for  duty  directly  to  God. 

The  house  is  still  pointed  out,  near  the  boundary  of 
this  township,  where  General  Charles  Lee  was  taken  pris- 
oner by  a  party  of  British  cavalry,  December  13th  1776. 
The  "  Mr.  Mackelwraith  "  who  has  been  accused  of  be- 
traying General  Lee  to  the  British  was  Elder  Samuel 
Mcllrath,  of  Mendham.  He  was  himself  surprised  and 
taken  prisoner  while  walking  along  the  road.  He  did  not 
reside  in  the  neighborhood  and  was  ignorant  of  General 
Lee's  movements,  and  whatever  he  did  to  point  out  any 
house  where  officers  were  quartered,  or  in  any  way  to 
act  as  a  guide  to  the  British,  he  did  under  compulsion 
and  to  save  his  own  life,  and  not  as  a  traitor.  Elder 
Mcllrath  was  as  well  known  as  any  man  in  Mendham, 
and  it  was  known  and  read  of  all  men  that  he  was  not  a 
tory. 

Five  years  subsequent  to  this  (January  ist  1781)  a 
more  sombre  event  occurred  in  this  vicinity.  Two  thou- 
sand old  soldiers,  veterans  of  over  three  years'  service, 
were  in  open  revolt.-  The  whole  Pennsylvania  line  were 
mutineers;  Captain  Billings  was  killed  by  his  own  men 
and  other  officers  were  wounded.  General  "mad  An- 
thony "  Wayne  was  pushed  aside  as  a  boy,  and  told  that 
if  he  attempted  violence  he  would  be  instantly  put  to 
death.  These  troops  were  full  of  courage  and  patriotism, 
-but  their  manhood  had  been  outraged.  They  believed 
that  their  term  of  enlistment  had  expired,  and  they  were 
refused  their  discharge.  They  claimed  their  rights  and 
were  willing  to  die  fighting  to  defend  them.  Let  not  the 
benefit  of  this  example  be  overlooked  or  lost.  It  will 
ever  be  found  dangerous  to  trifle  with  the  rights  of  a 
patriotic  soldiery.  These  troops  marched  to  Princeton- 
their  demands  were  acceeded  to,  they  were  honorably 
discharged,  and  thus  disastrously  were  the  camp  fires  of 
the  Revolution  forever  extinguished  in  Morris  county. 


PEQUANNOCK   TOWNSHIP. 


By  Hon.  John  L.  Kanotise. 


^  HIS  is  one  of  the  oldest  townships  in  Morris 
county;  it  has  existed  since  1740,  though 
now  greatly  reduced  in  extent  by  the  forma- 
tion of  other  townships.  From  1790  to  1844 
it  included  more  territory  than  any  other 
township  in  the  county,  and  in  area  was  nearly 
equal  to  the  whole  of  Essex  county.  Rockaway 
was  set  off  in  1844.  From  that  time  to  1867  Pequannock 
included  all  the  territory  embraced  in  the  present  town- 
ships of  Pequannock,  Montville  and  Boonton. 

The  formation  of  Pequannock  township,  in  1740,  is 
referred  to  on  page  21.  From  the  bounds  as  there  given 
it  is  evident  that  Pequannock  township  in  the  beginning 
included  territory  afterward  set  off  to  Jefferson.  It  ap- 
pears from  the  records  that  in  the  beginning  our  county 
court  exercised  the  authority  not  only  of  subdividing  the 
county  into  townships,  but  also  at  first  of  appointing 
constables  and  other  township  officers,  and  that  the 
court  continued  to  exercise  authority  in  setting  off  new 
townships  as  late  as  1751;  for  we  find  entered  in 
the  minutes  in  that  year  a  petition  from  the  people 
in  that  part  of  the  county  now  included  in  Sussex, 
asking  to  have  a  township  set  off,  to  be  called  "  New- 
town." 

Pequannock  township  contained  in  1830  a  total  popu- 
lation of  4,355,  and  in  1840  5,227.  Rockaway  township 
being  set  off  from  it  in  1844,  in  1850  Pequannock  had  a 
population  of  4,118,  which  in  1855  had  increased  to 
4,919,  and  in  i860  to  5,440,  including  5,306  white  and 
134  colored.  In  1865  the  total  population  was  5,611,  in- 
cluding 80  colored.  In  1867  Pequannock  was  made  into 
three  townships,  Boonton,  Montville  and  Pequannock. 
In  1870  the  census  showed  that  Pequannock  had  a  total 
population  of  1,539,  including  37  colored.  In  1875  the 
total  population  was  1,693,  including  44  colored;  and  in 
1880  the  population  had  run  up  to  2,239,  showing  an  in- 
crease in  ten  years  of  700,  and  in  the  last  five  years  of 
546.  This  increase  of  population  is  the  result  mainly  of 
two  causes,  an  increase  of  manufacturing  industry  and 
railroad  facilities. 

The  assessors  in  1881  reported  the  valuation,  taxes, 
etc.,  as  follows:  Acres,  20,942;  valuation  of  real  estate, 
$632,604;    persgpsi  property,  |io8,22o;    debt,  $25,825; 


polls,  476;  State  school  tax,  |i,82o;  county  tax,  $1,699; 
bounty  tax,  $1,983.61;  road  tax,  $1,500. 

First  Purchases  and  Settlement. 

The  English  claim  to  the  soil  of  New  Jersey,  and  the 
acquisition  of  title  by  the  "  proprietors,"  are  elsewhere 
treated  of.  The  proprietors  had  a  common  seal,  and 
under  that  seal  they  issued  to  individual  purchasers  war- 
rants to  locate  lands,  which  were  in  effect  simply  written 
permissions  to  locate 'a  stated  number  of  acres  of  unap- 
propriated land  wherever  they  saw  fit  in  their  section  of 
the  province.  Under  these  warrants  lands  were  taken 
up  and  sold  to  some  for  actual  settlement,  and  to  others 
for  investment.  It  was  in  this  way  that  the  first  pur- 
chases of  land  were  made  in  this  and  other  townships 
throughout  the  State;  subject,  however,  to  the  Indian 
right  of  possession,  which  was  always  obtained  by  pur- 
chase from  them,  either  by  individuals  or  by  the  pro- 
prietors. The  greater  part  of  all  tillable  land  in  Pequan- 
nock, as  it  was  when  it  included  territory  now  in  Mont- 
ville and  Boonton  townships,  was  covered  by  several 
large  tracts  taken  up  at  a  very  early  date,  and  a  few  at  a 
period  fifty  years  later. 

As  to  the  beginning  of  settlement  in  this  township  by 
the  whites,  we  have  evidence  found  in  the  county  records, 
the  records  of  the  proprietors,  kept  at  Amboy  and  at 
Burlington,  and  also  in  old  documents — such  as  deeds, 
wills,  agreements,  etc. — some  of  which  date  back  as  far 
as  1695,  1696,  1712  and  1714.  The  southeastern  por- 
tion of  Pequannock  township  was  first  settled  by  the 
whites  about  the  year  1700.  The  settlement  was  com- 
menced by  a  few  families  of  Hollanders,  who  came  from 
Bergen  and  New  York  and  from  the  early  settlements  at 
Kingston  and  Albany  on  the  Hudson  River,  and  pur- 
chased from  the  proprietors  of  the  eastern  division  of 
New  Jersey  a  tract  of  land  lying  in  the  vicinity  of  what 
is  now  called  the  Pompton  Iron  Works,  and  extending 
down  toward  the  Passaic  River.  This  whole  region  was 
a  wilderness  and  the  home  of  the  Indians,  who  were  nu- 
merous here  at  that  time  and  claimed  the  whole  of  this 
valley.  As  a  preparatory  step  to  the  purchase  from  the 
proprietors  it  was  doubtless  deemed  advisable  to  first  se- 
cure the  Indian  right,  which  was  done  by  purchase  made 


266 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


by  Arent  Schuyler  on  June  6th  1695.  This  deed  is  men- 
tioned in  the  Morris  county  record  of  deeds,  and  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians  was  signed  by  "  Onageponck," 
"Hielawith  of  Pequannock,"  and  "Sajapogh,  sachem  of 
Minising."  As  stated  in  the  deed  this  Indian  purchase 
began  at  the  mouth  of  a  small  brook,  in  the  Indian  lan- 
guage called  "  Singeck,"  "which  falls  into  the  Passaic 
River;"  it  extended  north  and  east  to  the  hills,  and  was 
on  the  easterly  side  of  the  Pequannock  River. 

In  the  description  of  the  location  of  this  tract  given  in 
the  deed  from  the  Indians  to  Schuyler  it  is  stated  that 
there  was  an  Indian  path  that  led  from  the  brook  called 
"  Singeck  "  toward  Pompton,  called  the  "  Minising  path;" 
this  path,  it  is  believed,  led  from  Pompton  to  the  Dela- 
ware River,  which  was  the  headquarters  of  the  Minsi 
Indians.  The  Indians  here  at  the  time  were  cg,lled  the 
Pompton  tribe.  From  the  nature  of  the  adjoining  lands 
it  is  altogether  probable  that  this  Indian  path  mentioned 
in  the  deed  led  up  along  the  valley  of  the  Pequannock 
River.  One  of  the  signatures  to  that  deed  on  the  part  of 
the  Indians  is  stated  as  "Hielawith  of  Pequannock," 
which  would  seem  to  justify  the  inference  that  the  tribe 
of  Indians  having  their  hunting  grounds  up  through  the 
valley  of  the  Pequannock  River,  and  on  the  adjoining 
hills,,  were  called  "  Pequannocks,"  and  that  from  them 
the  name  of  the  river  was  derived.  The  tribe  called 
Pomptons  had  their  hunting  grounds  about  the  junction 
of  the  Pompton  River,  as  then  called  (which  is  now  known 
as  the  Ramapo),  with  the  Pequannock,  and  thence  up  the 
valley  of  the  Pompton  River. 

In  1695  Arent  Schuyler,  Anthony  Brockholst,  Samuel 
Bayard,  George  Ryerson,  John  Mead,  Samuel  Berrie  and 
David  Mandeville  entered  into  an  agreement  to  purchase 
from  the  proprietors  of  the  eastern  division  of  New  Jer- 
sey 5,500  acres  of  land  just  east  of  and  bordering  on  the 
Pequannock  River,  a  tract  covered  by  the  Indian  pur- 
chase made  in  June  of  that  year.  Accordingly  Schuyler 
and  Brockholst  obtained  3,  patent,  as  it  was  called,  or  an 
agreement  of  bargain  and  sale,  from  the  proprietors  on 
the  nth  of  November  1695  for  such  tract. 

The  next  movement  made  by  Schuyler  and  Brockholst 
in  the  further  purchase  of  land  bears  date  December  2nd 
1696.  It  appears  from  recitals  in  deeds  afterward  given 
by  them  to  others,  and  which  are  found  in  the  records  of 
Morris  county,  that  Schuyler  and  Brockholst  became 
legally  possessed,  by  reason  of  a  deed  of  patent  from  the 
proprietors_of  East  New  Jersey,  under  the  public  seal  of 
the  province,  dated  December  2nd  1696,  as  also  by  virtue 
of  a  certain  indenture  of  bargain  and  sale  from  William 
Biddle  and  George  Huchison,  of  Burlington,  dated 
September  22nd  1696,  of  a  certain  tract  of  land  on  the 
west  side  of  Pequannock  River,  beginning  where  the 
Ramapo  runs  into  it,  and  thence  up  the  Pequannock  "  to 
the  great  turn  in  said  river;"  thence  west  six  chains,  and 
thence  to  the  Passaic  River,  and  thence  down  the  same 
to  the  Pequannock  River,  and  up  the  Pequannock  to  the 
place  of  beginning;  and  also  all  that  tract  of  bog  valley 
on  the  west  of  the  first  mentioned  tract,  and  up  to  the 
foot  of  the  hills;  "  and  all  that  strip  of  land  from  the  great 


turn  in  Pequannock  River  in  length  to  where  the  river 
comes  out  of  the  hills,  and  fifteen  chains  back  to  the  hills 
in  breadth,  1,500  acres  more  or  less."  This  purchase 
covered  all  of  Pompton  Plains  and  down  to  the  Passaic 
at  or  near  the  Two  Bridges,  and  also  all  that  tract  of 
black  soil  then  called  the  bog  valley,  from  which  its 
present  name  "Bog  and  Fly  "  was  derived;  as  well  as  a 
strip  of  land  extending  up  the  slope  of  the  hills  on  the 
west.  This  was  the  first  purchase  of  land  for  a  settle- 
ment in  Pequannock  township,  and  such  settlement  was 
commenced  at  Pompton  and  Pompton  Plains  about  the 
year  1700;  possibly  a  few  families  may  have  settled  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Pequannock  River  as  early  as  1697  or  1698. 

It  would  seem  that  the  purchasers,  to  make  sure  of  an 
undisputed  title  to  their  land,  procured  an  indenture  of 
bargain  and  sale  from  the  proprietors  of  both  East  and 
West  Jersey,  and  that  they  had  previously  secured  by 
purchase  the  Indian  right.  Schuyler  and  Brockholst 
were  probably  at  the  time  residents  of  New  Barbadoes, 
which  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  Passaic  River,  just 
above  the  present  town  of  Belleville.  It  is  believed  that 
they  were  among  the  pioneers  in  the  settlement  in  this 
region,  and  that  they  settled  near  each  other,  but  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Pequannock  River,  near  where  the  late 
Dr.  William  Colfax  lived,  and  that  they  settled  there 
possibly  about  1698  or  1700.  It  appears  from  the  records 
that  by  a  writing  of  bargain  and  sale,  dated  March  20th 
1696,  they  had  agreed,  in  anticipation  of  their  contem- 
plated purchase,  to  dispose  of  one-third  of  the  tract  on 
the  west  side  of  Pequannock  River  to  Nicholas  Bayard; 
and  also  that  by  a  writing  dated  March  5th  1702  they 
agreed  to  sell  a  part  of  this  tract  (the  lower  end,  next 
the  Passaic  River)  to  Maurice  Mourison.  The  bounds 
are  stated  as  follows:  "On  the  south  by  the  Passaic 
River,  east  by  the  Pequannock,  north  to  the  hill  or 
mountain  lying  over  or  against  the  lowermost  part  of 
the  lowlands  of  Pequannock,  and  to  the  west  upon  the 
meadows  along  the  Passaic."  It  appears  that  on  the 
15th  of  April  1710,  in  the  ninth  year  of  Queen  Anne, 
Arent  Schuyler  deeded  to  "  Symon  Vanness,"  Isaac 
Le  Maitre  and  John  Comelytse  a  portion  of  this  land; 
and  that  on  the  27th  of  May  17 17  Arent  Schuyler  con- 
veyed one-third  part  of  the  lands  bought  by  Schuyler  and 
Brockholst,  and  lying  west  of  the  Pequannock  River 
(excepting  that  part  sold  to  Maurice  Mourison  and  the 
bog  valley),  to  Simon  Vanness  and  John  Le  Maitre  for 
;^2io,  equal  to  $525.  This  last  conveyance  was  recorded 
September  nth  1815. 

Adjoining  the  southern  part  of  the  Schuyler  and 
Brockholst  purchase  on  the  west,  and  bordering  on  and 
extending  up  the  Passaic  River,  a  tract  of  2,000  acres 
was  taken  up  by  George  Willocks  on  the  6th  of  October 
1699;  this  tract  lay  between  the  Hook  Mountain  range 
and  the  Passaic,  and  took  in  a  considerable  part  of  what 
is  now  known  as  Passaic  Valley.  About  17 12  William 
Penn  took  up  a  large  tract,  covering  the  Pine  Brook 
neighborhood  and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  southern  part 
of  what  is  now  Montville  township  and  extending  over 
into  Hanover  township. 


OLD  FAMILIES  OF  PEQUANNOCK. 


267 


Who  first  explored  this  section  of  country  and  brought 
the  desirability  of  the  land  to  the  notice  of  the  whites 
settled  east  of  the  Passaic  River  is  not  certainly  known; 
but  there  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  it  was  Arent 
Schuyler,  who  had  been  sent  from  New  York  on  some 
business  with  the  Indians  up  at  Minisink.  Tradition, 
and  the  fact  that  mention  is  made  of  this  journey  in  the 
historical  documents  of  the  State  of  New  York,  go  to 
warrant  this  belief;  and  it  is  still  farther  strengthened 
by  the  fact  that  in  the  deed  from  the  Indians  to  Schuyler 
June  6th  1695,  in  describing  the  location  of  the  tract, 
mention  is  made  of  an  old  Indian  path  leading  from  the 
settlement  east  of  the  Passaic  at  New  Barbadoes,  through 
the  Notch,  to  Pompton,  and  thence  up  the  Pequannock 
Valley  toMinisink  on  the  Delaware,  and  the  country  on 
either  hand  renders  impossible  the  existence  of  any 
other  direct  route.  It  is  believed  that  Schuyler  in  pass- 
ing through  this  valley — where  he  found  a  few  cleared 
spots  used  by  the  Indians  in  raising  corn  and  tobacco, 
and  also  an  Indian  orchard  near  what  is  now  called 
Pacquanack — was  so  impressed  with  the  idea  of  its 
natural  advantages  that  he  soon  took  measures  to  secure 
the  title  to  a  large  portion  of  it.  Such  is  substantially 
the  statement  made  some  years  ago  by  the  Rev.  Garret 
C.  Schanck,  who  for  years  was  pastor  of  the  Pompton 
Plains  church,  while  many  of  the  old  people  were  living, 
and  when  he  had  a  better  opportunity  of  tracing  out  the 
truth  of  traditions.  Prominent  among  the  names  of 
those  who  first  settled  on  Pompton  Plains  and  in  the  vi- 
cinity are  Brockholst,  Schuyler,  Vanderbeck,  Vanness, 
Ryerson,  Bayard,  Berry,  Mandeville,  Rycker,  Mead, 
Roome,  Vangelder,  Slingerland,  De  Bow,  De  Mott,  and 
Jones. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  statement  furnished  by 
Rev.  Garret  C.  Schanck  above  mentioned  to  the  Rev. 
John  Van  Nest  Schenck,  pastor  in  1871,  who  was  prepar- 
ing an  historical  discourse  to  be  delivered  on  the  occa- 
sion of  reopening  and  dedicating  the  church  there,  which 
had  been  undergoing  extensive  repairs  and  alterations  in 
that  year.     He  says: 

"  It  may  be  well  to  notice  the  fact  why  it  was  that  cer- 
tain families  were  of  those  who  first  settled  at  Pacquanack 
and  at  the  Plains.  The  larger  number  of  these  were  re- 
lated to  each  other  by  marriage;  thus. the  wife  of  Samuel 
Berry  was  Catharine  Ryerson,  sister  of  Josis,  who  on  the 
death  of  her  first  husband,  in  1702,  married  Paulus  Van- 
derbeck in  1703.  The  mother  of  the  Jones  family  who 
first  settled  here  was  a  sister  to  Susanna  Schriek,  the 
wife  of  Anthony  Brockholst.  Ann  Schouten,  the  wife  of 
Josis  Ryerson,  was  the  widow  of  Tunis  Dey,  and  Sarah 
Schouten  (probably  sister  of  Ann)  married  Jan  Ricker. 
Jan  Mead,  the  first  of  the  name  who  settled  here,  married 
Margaret  Mandeville,  sister  of  Hendrick,  one  of'  the  first 
settlers.  The  wife  of  Peter  Roome,  the  first  of  that 
family  who  settled  here,  was  Anna  Berry,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Berry  and  Catharine  Ryerson;  this  Peter  Roome 
was  a  son  of  Peter  Williamse  Roome  and  Hester  Van 
Gelder,  thus  allying  these  two  families. 

"  The  Mandeville  family  is  descended  from  Giles  Jan- 
sen  Mandeville,  who  fled  from  Normandy,  in  France,  to 
Holland,  and  there  married  a  Dutch  woman,  Elsje  Hen- 
dricks,  and   came  from    Guelderland   to   New  York  in 


1647.  His  son  Hendrick  married  first,  on  July  i8th 
1680,  Anetje  Pierterse  School,  and  lived  some  time  at 
Hempstead,  L.  I.;  and  on  her  death  married,  the  second 
time,  April  21st  1699,  Elizabeth  Jane  Berry,  and  about 
that  time  removed  to  and  settled  at  Pacquanack.  He 
died  between  1709  and  1714  and  left  sons,  by  the  first 
marriage  David,  and  by  the  second,  Hendrick,  Johannis, 
and  Giles.  The  second  wife  after  his  death  married 
Brand  Jacobus  and  had  two  sons,  James  and  Abraham, 
the  forefathers  of  the  Jacobus  family  in  this  section. 

"  The  first  of  the  Slingerland  family,  Nicholas,  it  is 
said,  came  from  up  the  North  River  and  became  con- 
nected with  the  Roome  family  by  marrying  Catalyntje, 
daughter  of  Peter  Roome  and  Anna  Berry. 

"  The  Vanness  family  of  this  section  of  country  are 
descended  from  Simon  Vanness.  His  first  wife  was 
probably  Rachel  Van  Deusen  and  they  were  living  in 
Schenectady  in  1689-90,  when  that  place  was  destroyed 
by  the  Indians;  and  that  child  had  a  child  born,  Annetje, 
who  subsequently  married  James  Jacobus,  and  lived  to 
the  age  of  ninety-eight  years  and  nine  months.  On  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  Mr  Vanness  married  (on  Decem- 
ber 19th  1700)  Hester  De  Lachater,  and  about  the  date 
of  his  second  marriage  he  settled  at  Fairfield,  Essex 
county,  New  Jersey.  He  had  sons — Hendrick,  who 
settled  on  Pompton  Plains,  Isaac  at  Fairfield,  Evert  at 
Little  Falls,  N.  J.,  and  Simon,  who  settled  at  Pompton, 
or  that  part  of  the  upper  end  of  the  plains  called  Pomp- 
ton. It  is  probable  that  this  Simon  Vanness  is  the  same 
person  to  whom,  with  Isaac  Le  Maitre  and  John  Com- 
elytse,  Arent  Schuyler  on  the  15th  of  April  17 10  sold  a 
tract  of  land,  and  the  same  who  with  John  Le  Maitre  on 
May  27th  1717  bought  a  tract  of  land  situated  on  the 
west  side  of  Pequannock  River  at  the  upper  end  of 
Pompton  Plains. 

"  The  De  Bow  family  came  from  New  York  at  a  later 
day;  probably  about  1727,  as  in  that  year,  on  the  23d  of 
May,  Garret  De  Bow  married  Maria,  the  second  daughter 
of  Paulus  Van  Derbeck,  and  probably  soon  after  settled 
on  the  upper  end  of  Pompton  Plains. 

"  The  De  Mott'  "family"  came  from  Bergen,  and  at  a 
later  date  still;  in  1740  Hendrick  De  Mott  or  his  father 
Michael  purchased  land  on  the  plains,  and  soon  after 
that  settled  there. 

"  The  Doremus  family  were  not  among  the  original 
settlers  here,  and  what  was  the  name  of  the  forefather 
in  this  country  we  cannot  state;  but  as  far  as  we  can 
ascertain  they  came  from  Middlebury,  on  the  island  of 
Zealand,  in  Holland,  about  the  year  1685,  and  settled  at 
Acquackanonk.  There  appear  to  have  been  four  broth- 
ers— Johannis,  Thomas,  Hendrick,  and  Josis;  Johannis 
was  born  in  Holland,  and  the  others  in  this  country  at 
Acquackanonk.  Johannis  married  (August  9th  17 10) 
Elizabeth  Ackerman;  Thomas  (October  4th  1712)  mar- 
ried Anneke  Abrahamse  Ackerman;  Hendrick  (April  14th 
1714)  married  Annete  Essels;  Josis  (March  i6th  1717) 
married  Maritze  Berdan.  Johannis  lived  at  Preakness, 
and  died  between  1754-8,  leaving  a  son  Cornelius,  who 
is  probably  the  one  who  lived  at  Parsippany,  Morris 
'county,  and  from  whom  probably  the  greater  part  of  that 
name  in  this  valley  are  descended." 

The  foregoing  statement  presents  the  names  of  those 
who  took  the  lead  in  opening  and  clearing  this  vast 
region,  once  an  unbroken  wilderness  and  the  home  of 
the  savage. 

There  are  but  few  men  now  living  in  Pequannock 
whose  memory  covers  events  more  than  seventy  years 
ago.  To  Paul  B.  De  Bow,  aged  84,  a  descendant  of 
one  of   the   oldest   families   that   settled   in   this  town- 


36 


268 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


ship,  we  are  indebted  for  some  items  of  information  em- 
braced in  the  history  of  Pequannock.  Mr.  De  Bow  was 
born  and  has  always  lived  in  Pequannock;  has  for  many 
years  been  one  of  its  leading  citizens;  has  been  honored 
by  the  people  with  positions  of  trust;  has  always  pursued 
the  calling  of  a  farmer;  has  acquired  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, and  now  at  an  advanced  age  is  living  in  the  en- 
joyment of  health  and  the  merited  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens. 

Benjamin  Roome,  also  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old- 
est families,  and  who  for  many  years  has  followed  sur- 
veying, has  been  one  of  the  deputy  surveyors  of  the  pro- 
prietors, and  has  surveyed  much  for  the  Rutherfords  and 
other  holders  of  large  landed  estates,  which  has  enabled 
him  so  collect  many  important  data  as  to  old  locations, 
ancient  maps,  deeds,  etc.  He  is  still  in  the  ppssession 
of  health  and  strength  and  has  recently  assisted  in  some 
surveying,  although  aged  83  years.  His  son  William 
succeeds  to  the  active  business  of  surveying,  having  the 
aid  not  only  of  the  valuable  stock  of  papers,  maps,  etc., 
collected  by  his  father,  but  a  large  addition  which  he  has 
been  industriously  engaged  in  obtaining  for  himself.  To 
him  we  are  indebted  for  valuable  information  concerning 
the  location  of  the  first  purchases  of  land  in  Pequannock. 

Prominent  among  those  who  first  settled  on  the 
lower  part  of  this  valley — what  is  known  as  Beaver- 
town,  and  thence  to  the  Passaic  River — were  men  named 
De  Hart,  Dod,  Post,  Mourison,  Cook,  Vanness,  Young, 
Mead,  Mandeville,  Terhune  and  Van  Riper.  The  moun- 
tain range  just  back  of  what  is  known  as  Passaic  Valley, 
bordering  on  the  Passaic,  was  early  in  the  settlement  of 
this  region  known  as  Mourison  Mountain,  because  Mau- 
rice Mourison  at  an  early  date  (1702)  bought  and  owned 
a  large  tract  here,  and  some  of  his  descendants  by  name 
have  until  within  a  few  years  owned  land  on  this  range. 
Hartman  Vreeland  also  owned  a  tract  of  land  on  this 
mountain.  In  those  early  days  lands  were  frequently 
changing  hands,  some  buying  for  speculation  and  others 
for  settlement.  The  records  show  at  a  period  much 
later,  in  1798,  that  Johannis  and  Simon  Vrooman,  res- 
idents of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  conveyed  to  Cornelius  P. 
Doremus,  of  Pequannock,  for  ;^i6o  ($415),  82^  acres 
of  land  at  what  is  known  as  Beavertown,  adjoining  land 
of  Casparus  Dodd,  James  Jacobus  and  John  De 
Hart,    and    next    to    the    Passaic    River   on    the    south. 

The  valley  along  the  Passaic  River  as  far  up  as  Pine 
Brook  was  in  the  beginning  taken  up  principally  by 
families  of  the  names  of  Mandeville,  Mead,  Vreeland, 
Vanduyne,  Young,  Vanness,  Kerris,  Van  Riper  and  Low, 
and  has  continued  to  the  present  day  mainly  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  descendants  of  these  first  families,  with  the 
exception  of  the  names  of  Low  and  Kerris,  which  have 
disappeared. 

The  early  settlers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pine  Brook 
were  of  the  names  of  Vanduyne,  Vreeland,  Sisco,  Van- 
ness, Miller,  Young,  and  at  a  later  date  Baldwin,  Sand- 
ford,  Stagg,  Crane,  Gaines  and  Dod. 

Proceeding  north  of  this  we  come  to  a  neighborhood 
settled  in   the  beginning  principally  by  families  of  the 


name  of  Baldwin,  Courter,  Jacobus  and  Stiles.  Indeed, 
there  were  so  many  in  this  vicinity  of  the  name  of  Stiles 
that  the  neighborhood  was  called  Stiles  Town,  which 
name  it  retained  for  many  years;  and  even  now  it  is  so 
called  by  some  old  persons,  although  among  the  present 
families  living  there  that  name  has  disappeared,  with 
the  exception  of  one  Levi  Stiles,  aged  85  years. 
Those  of  the  names  of  Crane,  Dod,  Baldwin,  Gaines  and 
Stiles  were  of  English  descent,  and  came  originally  from 
Connecticut;  the  others  were  of  Dutch  descent,  and 
came  mostly  from  Bergen,  New  York  city  and  the  early 
Dutch  settlements  on  the  Hudson  River. 

The  neighborhood  next  north  of  this,  known  as  Lower 
Montville,  was  first  settled  by  families  of  the  names  of 
Davenport,  Hyler,  Parlaman,  Gould,  Kool,  Eelsler  (or 
Estler  as  it  is  now  called),  MiUege  and  Dod.  Among 
the  first  of  those  settling  in  this  neighborhood  was 
Humphrey  Davenport,  who  came  from  Kingston  on  the 
Hudson  River  and  bought  through  Thomas  Stevenson 
from  the  proprietors  of  West  Jersey  a  tract  of  750  acres 
of  land;  the  allowance  made  in  those  days  of  ten  acres  to 
the  hundred  for  roads  would  really  make  this  tract  con- 
tain 825  acres.  The  deed  bears  date  October  2nd  1714, 
and  the  survey  as  stated  was  made  by  virtue  of  a  warrant 
in  favor  of  Thomas  Stevenson,  approved  by  the  council 
of  proprietors  in  1712.  This  tract  commenced  at  a 
white  oak  tree  standing  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Rocka- 
way  River  about  where  the  southeast  corner  of  Zabris- 
kie's  grist-mill  now  stands,  and  ran  in  a  straight  course 
easterly  382  perches,  to  or  near  the  top  of  the  mountain; 
then  southerly  300  perches,  and  thence  westerly  444 
perches,  to  the  Rockaway  River,  and  thence  up  the  same 
to  the  place  of  beginning.  Humphrey  Davenport  built 
on  this  tract,  nearly  opposite  the  present  residence 
of  Dr.  Richard  S.  Farrand.  He  must  have  brought  with 
him  from  Kingston  quite  a  family  of  children,  and  some 
of  them  pretty  well  grown;  as  we  find  by  the  church 
records  at  Acquackanonk  (now  Passaic)  that  on  the  31st 
of  October  1728  his  daughter  Sarah  married  Jacob  Kool; 
and  that  another  daughter,  Helena,  on  July  4th  1729 
married  James  Millege;  and  that  June  14th  1733  Nicho- 
las Hyler  married  Rachel  Davenport,  another  daughter. 
The  Davenport  and  Hyler  families  became  further  con- 
nected by  intermarriage,  as  Humphrey  Davenport  jr., 
July  3d  1731,  married  Elizabeth  Hyler,  a  sister  of  Nicho- 
las. John  Parlaman  married  Mary  Hyler,  a  sister  of 
Nicholas.  The  Hyler,  Davenport,  and  Parlaman  fami- 
lies were  probably  of  those  who  first  settled  in  this  vicin- 
ity. 

When  Humphrey  Davenport  bought  his  tract  Joseph 
Kirkbride  and  Richard  Bull  owned  land  just  north  and 
northwesterly  of  it.  Immediately  north  of  the  "  Daven- 
port tract,"  and  partly  bounded  by,  the  river  on  the 
south,  Richard  Bull  and  Uriah  Roe  in  1715  took  up  a 
tract  of  650  acres,  extending  north  nearly  to  the  village 
of  Upper  Montville. 

In  1 7 15  John  Scott,  a  merchant  of  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  the  council  of  pro- 
prietors, had  surveyed  for  him  a  tract  of   1,000   acres  of 


FlRSt  LANt)  tljRCHASfiS  IN  PEQUANNOCK  TOWNSHIP. 


5(39 


land  lying  westward  and  extending  up  the  river  to  a 
point  just  above  where  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad  crosses  the  stream  at  Boonton.  Scott 
lived  and  died  at  Newport,  and  doubtless  bought  this 
tract  of  land  on  speculation;  he  died  possessed  of  it  and 
it  descended  to  his  heirs.  The  heirs  it  appears  owned  it 
in  i745>  2is  on  the  23d  of  April  that  year  they  sold  the 
whole  tract,  for  ^^400  York  currency  (|i,ooo),  to  Jacob 
Piere  and  John  Vreeland,  of  Newark.  Piere  and  Vreeland 
no  doubt  bought  this  land  intending  to  settle  upon  it, 
as  they  came  here  at  once,  and  with  them  came  a  num- 
ber of  relatives  of  the  same  name,  to  whom  they  disposed 
of  one  half  of  the  whole  tract;  they  divided  the  whole 
tract  into  four  parts  and  numbered  them  i,  2,  3  and  4. 
The  third  tract  they  sold  to  Simon  "Vreeland,  who  sold  it 
to  Abraham  Low  September  25th.  1749;  in  1765  Low 
sold  150  acres  of  it  to  Edmund  Kingsland.  The  first 
and  second  quarters  Jacob  Piere  and  John  Vreeland 
divided  between  themselves.  The  fourth  tract,  the  most 
westward,  extending  to  Old  Boonton  and  up  the  river  to 
a  point  near  the  Boonton  iron  works,  in  the  present 
town  of  Boonton,  they  sold  to  Thomas  Piere.  This 
fourth  tract  has  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  de- 
scendants of  Thomas  Piere  (now  spelled  Peer)  to  the 
present  time,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  part  sold 
about  1829  and  1830  for  the  use  of  the  New  Jersey  Iron 
Company,  and  some  since  disposed  of  for  building 
sites. 

As  a  considerable  part  of  the  town  of  Boonton  is  built 
upon  a  part  of  the  fourth  tract  above  mentioned  it 
may  be  of  interest  to  state  more  particularly  the  exact 
location  of  this  thousand  acres  purchased  by  John  Scott 
in  1715,  and  sold  by  his  heirs  to  Jacob  Piere  and  John 
Vreeland  in  1745,  and  give  the  description  of  the  bound- 
aries thereof.  The  beginning  corner  of  this  whole  tract 
is  at  a  point  where  once  stood  a  white  oak  tree,  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Rockaway  River,  in  the  line  of  lands 
now  owned  by  William  G.  Lathrop  and  the  sons  of  Henry 
Banta.  We  copy  from  the  original  map  and  survey 
made  by  John  Reading  jr.,  deputy  surveyor.  May  sth 
1 7 15,  the  following  description: 

"By  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  ye  coun'l  of  prop'trs 
bearing  date  ye  loth  of  March  17 15  surveyed  this 
Tract  of  land  unto  John  Scott  in  ye  last  Indian  purchases 
made  by  ye  s'd  coun'l,  above  ye  branch  of  Rarington, 
between  ye  river  Delaware,  ye  bounds  of  ye  Eastern 
Division  of  ye  s'd  Province,  fronting  upon  Rockaway 
River;  beginning  at  a  white  oak  tree,  corner  of  Richard 
BuU's'land,  thence  along  said  Bull's  line  N.  eastwardly 
forty-two  degrees,  ninety-seven  chains  to  a  white  oak 
tree  corner  of  Jacob  Kirkbride's  land;  thence  along  his 
line'  N.  easterly  eighty  degrees,  sixty-nine  chains  to  a 
black  oak  corner  tree;  thence  S.  westwardly  fifty  degrees, 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  chains  to  a  gum  tree  standing 
by  ye  side  of  ye  aforesaid  River;  thence  down  ye  River 
ye  several  courses  thereof  to  ye  first  mentioned  corner; 
containing  one  thousand  acres,  besides  ye  usual  allow- 
ance for  highways." 

This  was  approved  by  the  council  of  proprietors  and 
ordered  to  be  recorded  August  23d  1715.  This  original 
John  Scott  tract  was  resurveyed  and  mapped  by  Lemuel 


Cobb  in  1796,  and  reported  by  him  to  contain  1,115 
acres;  this  gave  each  of  the  four  divisions  a  little  over 
275  acres. 

Abraham  Low  paid  Simon  Vreeland  ;^2oo,  equal  to 
$500,  for  one-quarter  of  the  whole  tract.  Edmund 
Kingsland  married  for  his  second  wife  Anna  Low,  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  Low.  In  18 16  Edmund  Kingsland 
sold  to  John  Low,  for  $750,  25  of  the  150  acres  that  he 
purchased  from  Abraham  Low.  This  serves  to  give  some 
idea  of  the  appreciation  of  desirable  lands  in  those  days. 
North  of  and  adjoining  the  1,000-acre  tract  of  John 
Scott  a  tract  of  3,650  acres  was  taken  up  by  William 
Burnett  and  Courtlandt  Skinner;  this  included  a  part  of 
Rockaway  Valley,  and  extended  on  the  west  side  of 
Rockaway  River  into  Hanover  township.  On  the  31st 
day  of  October  1765  Burnett  and  Skinner  conveyed  this 
tract  to  David  Ogden,  who  a  few  years  before  had  come 
into  possession  of  an  adjoining  tract  further  down  and 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  including  the  iron  works  at 
Old  Boonton.  This  latter  with  the  3,650-acre  tract 
made  a  tract  of  4,066  acres,  afterward  known  as  the 
"  great  Boonton  tract." 

East  of  and  adjoining  the  1,000-acre  tract  which  was 
divided  as  above  related,  in  17 15  Joseph  Kirkbride,  of 
Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  John  Job,  of  Middle- 
town,  Monmouth  county,  N.  J.,  took  up  a  tract  of  1,250 
acres,  extending  eastward  toward  the  bog  valley  on  the  west 
of  Pompton  Plains.  On  the  14th  of  April  17 18  John 
Job  conveyed  his  interest  to  Joseph  Kirkbride,  and  on 
the  5th  of  May  1719  Joseph  Kirkbride  sold  out  to  John 
Koarta.  In  1722  John  Koarta  sold  288  acres  to  Jacob 
Demouth,  who  sold  the  same  in  1730  to  Martin  Van- 
duyne.  These  and  other  similar  facts  as  they  appear 
upon  the  records  show  conclusively  that  families  of  the 
names  of  Demouth  (or  "  Deraoudt,"  as  originally  spelled). 
Miller,  Hoppler  and  others  had  settled  in  what  is  known 
as  Rockaway  Valley  at  an  early  date — some  time  prior 
to  1722;  and  that  the  purchase  made  by  Martin  Van- 
duyne  as  above  stated  marks  the  settlement  of  that  family 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Montville.  The  name  "  Koarta  " 
is  probably  the  same  as  that  now  spelled  Courter, 
which  is  a  name  quite  common  in  the  township. 

Montville  and  its  vicinity  were  first  settled  by  a  few 
families  probably  about  the  year  17 16.  Prominent 
among  those  who  first  located  in  this  neighborhood  were 
the  names  of  Hyler,  Vanduyne,  Miller  and  Parlaman. 
The  forefather  of  the  Hylers  was  probably  one  Peter 
Hyler  who  came  from  Holland;  he  had  sons  Nicholas 
and  Philip,  and  daughters  Mary  and  Elizabeth.  Nicho- 
las married  Rachel  Davenport  in  1733,  Humphrey  Da- 
venport jr.  married  Elizabeth  Hyler  in  1731,  and  Mary 
Hyler  married  John  Parlaman. 

Among  those  who  first  settled  in  Rockaway  Valley  and 
what  is  now  the  upper  part  of  Boonton  and  Montville 
townships  were  persons  named  Miller,  Hoppler,  De- 
mouth, Van  Riper,  and  a  little  later  Kanouse,  Tucker 
Fredericks,  Ockabock,  and  Stickle;  many  of  them  were 
of  Dutch  descent,  some  English. 

The  Kanouse  family  were  of  German  origin,  the  name 


270 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


being  originally  spelled  "Knauss."  All  of  that  name  in 
this  vicinity  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Newfoundland  are 
traceable  to  two  brothers  who  came  from  Wurtemburg, 
Germany,  about  1750.  One,  Jacob,  settled  in  Rockaway 
Valley,  near  Powerville,  aiid  the  other,  called  "  Honiery," 
settled  in  Bergen  county  (now  Passaic),  near  John  P. 
Brown's  hotel  at  Newfoundland;  his  old  homestead  farm 
is  now  the  property  of  John  P.  Brown,  who  is  his  great- 
grandson.  There  is  a  well  authenticated  tradition  per- 
taining to  these  two  brothers  that  they  emigrated  to 
America  before  they  had  attained  to  full  age,  and  were 
accompanied  by  a  half  brother  who  was  older,  a  son  of 
their  mother  by  her  first  marriage;  that  they  were  pro- 
vided with  a  moderate  amount  of  means,  enough  to  give 
them  a  start  in  the  world  and  pay  their  expenses.  When 
the  vessel  arrived  in  New  York  their  half  brother,  in 
whose  keeping  the  funds  had  been  placed,  und'er  some 
plausible  excuse'  but  possibly  in  collusion  with  the  cap- 
tain, went  ashore  first,  and  failed  to  return.  They  were 
then  told  that  their  passage  had  not  been  paid,  and  that 
they  would  have  to  be  sold  to  service  to  pay  their  ex- 
penses, which  the  captain  proceeded  to  do.  Such  it  ap- 
pears was  the  practice  with  captains  of  ships  in  those 
days.  The  brother  Honiery  was  sold  to  Luke  Ryerson, 
who  resided  on  the  east  side  of  Pequannock  River  near 
Pompton  Plains.  While  serving  there  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  a  German  girl  working  with  the  same  fam- 
ily, and  who  had  been  bought  by  Ryerson  under  like 
circumstances.  Honiery  after  serving  out  his  term  also 
served  for  the  balance  of  the  girl's  term,  and  took  her 
for  his  wife.  There  are  descendants  of  Luke  Ryerson 
living,  who  distinctly  recollect  hearing  their  ancestors 
speak  of  this  circumstance  of  young  "  Knauss  "  and  the 
German  girl,  and  that  after  they  were  married  they  went 
away  and  settled  near  Newfoundland,  where  in  after 
years  he  became  the  owner  of  a  nice  farm.  Jacob  after 
serving  his  term  settled  prior  to  1766  at  Rockaway  Val- 
ley, near  Powerville,  in  Pequannock  township.  The 
records  of  Pequannock  township  show  that  in  1766  a 
stray  heifer  was  posted  by  him,  and  the  county  records 
show  that  he  bought  land  in  1768,  in  the  description  of 
which  mention  is  made  of  a  brook  running  near  the  house 
of  Jacob  Kanouse,  thus  warranting  the  inference  that  he 
had  previously  bought  land  and  built  a  house.  That 
homestead,  an  old-fashioned  frame  building,  is  standing 
and  occupied  by  the  widow  and  children  of  Daniel 
Kanouse,  who  was  a  grandson.  Jacob  Kanouse  died  in 
182 1,  at  an  advanced  age. 

Peter  Kanouse,  his  oldest  son  by  his  last  marriage, 
was  born  August  20th  1784,  at  Rockaway  Valley,  in  Pe- 
quannock township.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith and  for  several  years  worked  at  it  in  the  upper 
part  of  Rockaway  Valley,  near  Denville  and  Rock- 
away. He  also  at  the  same  time  owned  and  cultivated 
a  small  farm.  While  at  work  at  his  trade  he  had  indulged 
a  wish  to  study  for  the  ministry,  and  after  the  death'  of 
his  wife  he  set  himself  resolutely  to  the  realization  of  his 
purpose;  he  pursued  a  limited  course  of  study  at  Bloom- 
field  Academy,   under  the  charge  of  Amzi  Armstrong. 


His  theological  studies  were  pursued  under  Dr.    James 
Richards  at  Newark,  and  with  Gideon  N.  Judd  at  Bloom- 
field.     In    1818  he  was  licensed   by  the   presbytery   to 
preach.     In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1818,  accompanied 
by  his  youngest  brother,  John  G.,  then  just  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Dod,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jewell  of  Newark, 
he  sailed  from  New  York  for  the  country  of  the  Choctaw 
Indians,   via  New  Orleans.     John  George  Kanouse  and 
Miss  Dod,  the  first  aged  19  and  the  latter  16,  were  mar- 
ried at  the  house  of  her  stepfather.  Judge  Harrison,  at 
Caldwell,  Essex  county,  N.  J.,  and  started  the  next  day 
upon  this  hazardous  journey  into  the  country  of  uncivil- 
ized Indians.     Two  months  were  occupied  in  reaching 
their  destination,   on   the  Yazoo  River  near  Vicksburg, 
Mississippi.     The  Rev.  Peter  Kanouse  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Jewell    went    to    labor    as    missionaries.     John    George 
Kanouse,  who  had  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  went 
to  have  the  supervision  of  business  in  the  erection  of 
mission    buildings.     They    remained    about    two  years 
and  returned.     These   Choctaw   mission   buildings  were 
within    the     late     battle      ground      before    Vicksburg, 
and    some    who    were   with    Grant    in     1863    reported 
these    buildings    as    then    standing,  and  an    object    of 
interest,     evincing    the  'substantial     manner    in   which 
they   had   been   erected. 

After  his  return  from  the  Indiaii  mission  John  G. 
Kanouse  removed  to  Newark,  Wayne  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  pursued  his  trade  several  years.  He  too  cher- 
ished a  desire  to  enter  the  ministry,  and  after  pursuing  a 
course  of  preparatory  study  was  licensed.  For  several 
years  he  was  pastor  of  a  church  at  Saline,  Mich.  He 
then  removed  to  Wisconsin,  near  Madison,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  occurred  a  few  years  prior 
to  the  death  of  his  brother  Peter. 

The  Rev,  Peter  Kanouse  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Succasunna  Plains,  Morris  county, 
January  23d  1823.  He  labored  here  with  success  until 
June  1828,  and  then  went  to  Wantage  church,  Sussex 
county.  Here  his  preaching  was  wonderfully  successful. 
He  next  accepted  a  call  to  the  Clinton  Street  Free  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Newark;  afterward  he  officiated  as 
pastor  at  Beemerville,  Sussex  county;  at  Unionville  on 
the  borders  of  Sussex,  and  at  Poughkeepsie;  then  he  re- 
moved to  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time. 
The  larger  part  of  his  public  career  was  spent  in  Sussex 
county,  N.  J.  He  returned  from  Wisconsin  to  Decker- 
town,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Wantage.  Here  he  built  a  house 
and  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  30th 
1864.  We  quote  in  regard  to  him  the  language  of  Rev. 
Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  president  of  Wabash  College,  Indiana: 
"  In  person  he  was  tall  and  very  comely;  his  face  was  a 
fine  one,  and  when  lighted  up  with  preaching  or  conver- 
sation was  not  to  be  forgotten.  He  was  a  most  attrac- 
tive conversationist;  he  was,  in  his  best  mood,  a  very 
eloquent-  preacher— logical,  scriptural,  tender,  vehement, 
grand.  He  was  a  noble  Christian  man,  and  for  once  at 
least  proved  that  a  good  blacksmith  may  become  a  good 
preacher." 


PIONEER  ECONOMY  IN  PEQUANNOCK  TOWNSHIP. 


271 


Early  Customs  of  the  People. 

One  hundred  years  ago  and  fifty  years  prior  thereto 
most  of  the  people  in  this  region  were  engaged  in  clear- 
ing and  tilling  the  land.  Up  to  1760  there  were  few 
roads  adapted  to  easy  tran  sportation  and  travel;  con- 
sequently very  few  visted  the  neighboring  towns,  and 
there  were  many  who  did  not  leave  their  own  township 
from  one  year's  end  to  another.  The  liberalizing  in- 
fluence of  social  intercourse  was  little  felt  or  appreciated, 
except  so  far  as  regarded  the  occasional  meeting  of  res- 
idents in  the  vicinity  for  mutual  aid.  When  a  building 
was  aibout  to  be  erected,  and  the  frame  was  ready,  peo- 
ple for  a  number  of  miles  around  would  come  to  the 
"  raising,"  as  it  was  called;  and  such  aid  was  the  more 
necessary  then,  when  frames  were  made  of  larger  and 
heavier  timbers,  which  required  the  help  of  many  strong 
arms  to  put  them  in  place.  The  smallness  of  the  de- 
mand for  the  surplus  produce  of  the  farm  made  money 
scarce,  and  the  people,  generally  unable  to  hire,  were 
compelled  to  rely  mainly  upon  helping  themselves  in  their 
farming  work,  except  at  times  when  they  would  invite  the 
people  in  the  vicinity  to  come  to  a  "bee,"  or  "  frolic,"  as 
it  was  called,  to  effect  a  speedy  accomplishment  of  cer- 
tain kinds  of  work.  Thus  they  had  their  "  stone  frolics," 
which  were  to  pick  up  and  haul  off  stones  from  a  lot; 
frolics  for  drawing  out  manure;  frolics  for  plowing,  and 
mowing  frolics,  at  which  there  would  often  be  a  strife 
among  the  young  and  strong  men  to  see  who  could  mow 
the  best  and  the  most.  From  1760  to  about  1830,  a 
period  of  seventy  years,  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors 
as  a  beverage  was  quite  general  among  the  people  of  all 
classes.  It  was  then  the  prevalent  opinion  that  harvest- 
ing could  not  be  done  without  a  pail  of  water  and  a  bot- 
tle of  whiskey  in  the  field,  for  quenching  the  thirst  and 
supporting  the  strength  of  the  reapers  and  mowers.  It 
often  happened  that  some  among  the  mowers  or  reapers, 
whose  thirst  led  them  to  imbibe  too  freely  from  the  bottle, 
became  so  dizzy  and  weary  that  they  were  obliged  to  seek 
rest  for  a  while  under  the  shade  of  some  bush;  and 
hence  no  doubt  the  origin  of  the  saying,  "  Look  out  or 
you  will  get  bushed  before  night." 

The  custom  in  those  days  as  regarded  the  corn  crop 
was,  when  the  grain  began  to  glaze,  to  "top"  the  corn 
by  cutting  off  the  stalks  just  above  the  setting  of  the  ears; 
these  tops  were  tied  in  bundles,  and  when  dried  were 
stored  for  winter  fodder.  When  the  ears  remaining  on 
the  standing  stalks  were  thoroughly  ripened  and  dried  in 
the  husks  the  farmer  went  through  with  his  wagon,  plucked 
the  ears  and  put  them  under  shelter.  Then  would  come 
an  invitation  to  his  neighbors  to  a  "  husking  frolic,"  as 
it  was  called;  old  men,  the  middle  aged,  young  men  and 
young  maidens  would  respond,  and  coming  together  at  an 
early  hour  in  the  afternoon  would  proceed  to  work.  A 
strife  often  sprung  up  among  the  workers  to  see  who 
could  husk  the  most  or  find  the  greatest  number  of  red 
ears  of  corn;  and  thus,  with  some  indulgence  in  gossip, 
or  merry  song,  the  hours  sped  pleasantly,  and  in  a  short 
time  hundreds  of  bushels  of  ears  of  corn  were  stripped 


of  their  husks,  and  made  ready  for  the  owner  to  crib 
the  next  day.  When  darkness  approached  an  adjourn- 
ment was  made  to  the  house,  where  the  good  wife  had 
prepared  and  spread  upon  her  tables  a  bountiful  supper, 
in  which  that  most  popular  dish  of  the  day,  a  chicken 
potpie,  formed  the  chief  item,  accompanied  by  a  liberal 
supply  of  pumpkin  pies.  Supper  over,  the  young  people 
would  amuse  themselves  by  singing  or  dancing,  or  in 
some  kind  of  games  for  a  time,  and  then  the  young  men 
would  see  the  young  maidens  safely  to  their  homes;  and 
thus  ended  the  "husking  frolic"  of  those  days. 

Beside  those  already  mentioned  there  were  apple-par- 
ing "bees  "-or  "  frolics,"  at  which  young  people  would 
meet  and  have  a  pleasant  time  in  aiding  to  peel,  core  and 
slice  apples,  to  be  dried  for  future  use.  Young  women 
of  an  indu-strious  and  persevering  turn  would  often  dry 
apples  enough  to  bring  quite  a  number  of  dollars,  which 
they  were  allowed  to  apply  to  their  own'use.  Then  there 
were  quilting  bees,  at  which  neighboring  women  would 
meet  to  quilt  blankets  for  family  use.  Thus  it  was  that 
much  tedious  and  hard  work  was  accomplished  by  a  sys- 
tem of  mutual  aid  and  combined  effort.  Those  who 
■participated  in  it  were  none  the  poorer  for  it,  and  had 
the  satisfaction  of  contributing  to  the  comfort  and  pros- 
perity of  their  neighbors.  Such  neighborhood  gatherings 
constituted  the  principal  social  intercourse  of  the  people, 
not  only  during  the  early  days  of  the  settlement,  but  for 
a  long  period  thereafter. 

The  habits  of  the  people  as  regarded  the  keeping  of 
cattle  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  here,  and  for 
about  a  hundred  years  subsequent,  were  widely  different 
from  the  practice  of  the  present  day.  Then  the  prevail- 
ing idea  appeared  to  be  that  horned  cattle  required  no 
shelter,  that  to  house  them  would  have  the  effect  to 
weaken  and  degenerate  them;  consequently  no  shelter 
was  provided  save  perhaps  a  small  barricade  of  logs  or 
brush,  or  a  board  fence  to  break  the  force  of  the  wind 
and  thus  afford  a  little  protection  from  the  cold  of  win- 
ter. At  length  some  improvement  was  made  on  this  by 
the  erection  of  an  attachment  to  the  barn,  so  constructed 
as  to  afford  storage  for  hay  above,  while  the  lower  story 
was  left  open  on  one  side,  facing  to  the  south  or  east, 
for  cattle  to  go  under.  This  was  called  a  cow-house,  and 
to  some  extent  answered  a  good  purpose;  but  where  the 
stock  kept  was  numerous  the  room  was  monopolized  by 
a  part,  while  the  more  timid  animals  were  crowded  out. 
The  more  observent  among  the  people  were  not  slow  to 
discover  the  good  effect  of  better  shelter  upon  their 
stock;  that  it  tended  not  only  to  a  general  improvement 
in  appearance  and  condition,  but  as  regarded  cows  to  in- 
crease the  yield  of  milk  and  butter.  The  rapid  and  great 
increase  in  the  population  of  neighboring  cities  and  towns 
has  made  an  increased  demand  for  milk  and  butter,  milk 
being  in  brisk  demand  at  five  or  six  times  the  price  sev- 
enty-five years  ago,  and  butter  readily  bringing  from  one 
to  three  hundred  per  cent.  more.  One  consequence  is 
that  cattle  are  now  stabled  and  better  fed.  This  change 
has  been  found  not  only  conducive  to  economy  in  prov- 
ender, but  to  give  more  remunerative  results. 


272 


ttlSTORY  OF  MORRIS  COtTNTY. 


In  those  early  days  no  butcher  drove  up  to  the  farm- 
er's door  with  a  supply  of  fresh  meats;  salted  meats  were 
the  almost  universal  food  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
year.  Now  and  then  a  calf,  a  sheep,  or  a  lamb  fell  a 
victim  to  the  necessity  for  a  change.  To  make  use  of 
fresh  meat  thus  procured,  it  was  the  custom  for  a  farmer, 
when  he  wished  to  kill  a  calf,  sheep  or  lamb,  to  go  to  his 
neighbors  and  see  who  would  take  a  part;  to  be  repaid 
in  kind  when  a  neighbor  might  wish  to  kill  one  of  his 
own.  To  keep  meat  fresh  as  long  as  possible  resort  was 
had  to  suspending  a  piece  by  a  rope  in  the  well. 

Salted  mackerel  were  not  known  in  the  market  in 
those  days.  It  was  the  prevailing  custom  for  a  long  time 
for  farmers  to  make  a  trip  to  Newark  or  New  York  in 
the  spring,  taking  with  them  such  produce  as  they  had 
for  sale,  and  procure  a  supply  of  fresh  shad,  wh^ch  were 
salted  down  in  barrels  for  summer  use. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  settlements  here  and  for  sev- 
enty-five years  thereafter  most  of  the  clothing  used  was 
of  domestic  manufacture.  It  is  true  that  among  the 
more  wealthy  there  were  some  who  had  their  extras  of 
silk  and  satin,  fine  linen  and  laces,  jewelry  etc.,  but  gen- 
erally the  material  used  was  of  a  substantial  kind  and 
both  hand  and  home  made.  Every  farmer  raised  his 
patch  of  flax,  which  when  cured  and  properly  dressed 
was  spun  with  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  fineness  accord- 
ing to  the  purpose  for  which  intended,  and  then  woven 
into  cloth  and  bleached  on  the  grass  in  the  sun.  This 
made  a  very  substantial  linen  cloth,  that  was  used  for 
under  garments,  sheets,  pillow-cases,  table-cloths  and 
toweling.  The  tow,  the  coarser  part  of  the  flax,  was  in 
part  used  for  making  ropes  for  harness  and  other  pur- 
poses, and  a  part  was  spun  and  woven  into  a  coarser 
cloth,  suitable  for  grain  bags  and  for  pantaloons  for  sum- 
mer wear.  Considerable  taste  and  ingenuity  was  shown 
by  some  in  making  a  kind  of  duck  striped  with  two  col- 
ors, for  men's  wear.  The  cloth  called  "  linsey  woolsey" 
was  made  of  linen  and  wool,  with  various  patterns  of 
stripes,  and  used  for  women's  wear.  It  was  the  practice 
of  almost  every  farmer  to  keep  sheep,  not  only  for  the 
meat  but  for  a  supply  of  wool.  In  making  cloth  for 
men's  wear  the  general  practice  was  to  first  color  the 
wool  by  means  of  a  dye  made  with  butternut  bark,  after 
which  it  was  carded,  spun,  and  woven  into  cloth,  and 
then  taken  to  a  fulling-mill  and  napped  and  dressed- 
This  made  a  cloth  of  a  peculiar  shade  of  brown,  literally 
dyed  in  the  wool,  durable  in  wear  and  lasting  in  color. 
It  is  certain  there  was  no  "  shoddy  "  in  those  cloths,  and 
it  is  quite  sure,  as  events  proved,  that  there  was,  so  to 
speak,  very  little  shoddy  about  the  men  of  those  days. 

The  men  generally  wore  knee  breeches,  long  stockings, 
and  shoes,  the  breeches  buckling  just  below  the  knees; 
long  pantaloons  were  not  much  in  use  until  after  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  Many  took  pains  to  have  both  knee  and 
shoe  buckles  made  of  solid  silver,  which  were  kept  bright 
to  be  used  on  Sundays  and  dress-up  occasions. 

Woman's  dress,  especially  among  the  Dutch  families, 
consisted  of  the  linsey  woolsey  petticoat  and  short 
gown,  with  a  handkerchief  pinned  over  the  shoulders; 


and  also  of  a  colored  pressed  flannel  of  domestic  make, 
resembling  somewhat  the  pressed  flannels  and  cloths  now 
in  use  except  as  to  fineness  of  fabric  and  color. 

In  those  days  there  were  no  stores  for  the  sale  of 
ready-made  shoes.  The  general  custom  was  to  employ 
an  itinerant  tailoress,  who  would  come  to  the  house  and 
make  up  clothes  for  the  whole  family  ;  and  as  regarded 
shoes,  to  employ  a  shoemaker  who  went  from  house  to 
house  making  up  shoes  for  the  family. 

In  the  early  days  of  our  colonial  ancestors  fashion  had 
her  freaks,  but  not  so  marked  and  varied  as  in  modern 
times.  The  people,  trained  by  circumstances,  were  plain 
in  their  manners  and  simple  in  their  habits  ;  and  in  the 
matter  of  apparel  paid  more  attention  to  durability  and 
comfort  than  to  finery  and  show.  Ladies'  bonnets  then, 
in  form  and  substance,  were  designed  more  for  protec- 
tion than  ornament.  Women  and  children  generally 
wore  substantial  leather  shoes,  and  every  prudent  farmer 
took  care  to  keep  a  stock  of  leather  on  hand  for  family 
use.  Tanning  in  the  colonies,  although  an  individual 
industry,  was  sufficient  to  supply  local  demands  for 
leather  and  shoemaking.  The  township  of  Pequannock 
from  the  abundance  of  its  forests  furnished  hooppoles 
and  bark  for  market,  and  by  many  farmers  these  were 
greatly  relied  upon  as  means  of  raising  money  ;  hence  in 
1790,  when  owing  to  the  increased  demand  the  price  of 
bark  rose  from  $3.00  to  $4.50  per  cord,  there  was  great 
rejoicing  and  encouragement  throughout  the  township. 
In  the  early  days  overshoes  were  little  used  ;  there  were 
a  few  made  of  leather,  some  of  carpet  or  stout  cloth  with 
leather  bottoms,  and  others  of  soft  dressed  buckskin, 
after  the  style  of  the  Indian  moccasin  except  that  they 
were  fitted  with  leather  bottoms.  India  rubber  overshoes 
were  not  introduced  until  after  1825,  and  at  first  were  in 
a  very  unsightly  form  compared  to  the  present  style. 

These  domestic  manufactures  doubtless  were  in  the 
beginning  largely  the  prompting  of  urgent  necessity;  in 
the  absence  of  demand  there  was  not  an  adequate  supply 
of  foreign  fabrics;  the  people  were  generally  unable  to 
buy,  because  they  produced  but  little  to  sell.  But  from 
1750  to  1765  there  was  a  change  in  the  situation.  The 
people,  through  the  improved  condition  of  their  farms, 
had  a  surplus  of  produce  to  sell,  and  thereby  were  able 
to  purchase.  Considerable  commerce  had  sprung  up  at 
New  York;  foreign  goods  were  imported  in  larger  quan- 
tities, and  sold  and  distributed  through  the  country.  But 
the  attention  of  the  people  had  been  attracted  to  the 
policy  manifested  by  Great  Britain  in  taxing  the  imports 
of  the  colonies  as  well  as  the  exports,  and  in  an  act  of 
Parliament  forbidding  the  manufacture  of  iron  in 
America  except  in  the  form  of  bars  or  pigs,  and  pro- 
hibiting the  manufacture  of  some  other  articles;  all  show- 
ing a  purpose  not  only  to  create  a  monopoly  for  English 
manufactories,  but  to  tax  the  people  of  the  colonies  for 
the  benefit  of  the  mother  country  without  their  consent. 
When  in  1765  she  attempted  to  enforce -the  stamp  act 
public  indignation  could  no  longer  be  restrained.  Tra- 
dition informs  us  that  the  citizens  of  Pequannock  were 
aroused,  and  active  and  decided  then,  as  they  ever  have 


PUBLIC  MORALS  IN  OLD  PEQUANNOCK— LOCAL  GEOGRAPHICAL  NAMES. 


273 


been  since  whenever  anything  threatened  liberty  or  in- 
fringed upon  right;  that  they  were  earnest  in  their  de- 
termination to  forego  the  use  of  foreign  goods,  and  to 
unite  in  a  mutual  compact  throughout  all  the  colonies  to 
that  end.  Then  it  was  that  domestic  manufactures  were 
turned  to  with  renewed  interest,  being  regarded  not  only 
as  a  matter  of  necessity  but  a  duty,  and  consequently 
carding,  spinning,  weaving  and  knitting  became  the 
daily  employment  alike  of  the  common  people  and  of 
ladies  of  fashion.  It  is  said  that  the  people  in  Pequan- 
nock,  in  conformity  with  the  action  of  the  people  else- 
where, enjoined  it  upon  themselves  to  abstain  as  far  as 
possible  from  using  mutton  that  there  might  be  a  full 
supply  of  wool.  So  true  were  the  people  in  adhering  to 
their  mutual  compact  that  in  a  short  time  leading  cit- 
izens, doctors,  lawyers,  ministers  and  judges,  considered 
it  an  honor  to  appear  in  homemade  apparel;  and  it  became 
the  habit  of  ladies  of  education,  wealth  and  refinement, 
in  visiting  their  neighbors  to  take  with  thera  some  kind 
of  work,  so  that  while  their  tongues  were  engaged  their 
fingers  might  also  be  employed.  Thus  events  showed 
that  the  policy  pursued  by  Great  Britain  was  urging  the 
colonists  to  study  and  practice  self-reliance,  and  bring- 
ing them  gradually  to  a  condition  of  self-dependence, 
which  was  the  most  important  step  toward  their  independ- 
ence. A  great  majority  of  the  people  upon  mature 
consideration  had  come  '.o  the  conclusion,  and  so  de- 
clared, that  the  measures  of  Parliament  for  taxing  the 
colonies  were  groundless  and  unjust.  In  this  respect  they 
showed  ability  to  think  more  rationally  on  a  matter  of 
public  concern  than  some  of  the  statesmen  of  Great 
Britain  who  then  had  control  of  that  government. 

The  records  of  this  township  present  some  facts  that 
enable  us  to  form  a  conception  of  the  prevailing  moral 
sentiment  of  the  people  at  an  early  day.  We  find  it  re- 
corded that  in  1773  fines  were  collected  for  profane 
swearing,  that  in  1779  fines  of  one  pound  each  were  col- 
lected for  tippling  and  Sabbath-breaking,  and  that  tavern 
keepers  paid  a  license  fee  to  the  township.  This  goes  to 
show  that  the  early  settlers  and  their  descendants  enter- 
tained some  views  similar  to  those  of  the  Puritans  who 
settled  the  New  England  States.  Facts  within  the  recol- 
lection of  many  persons  still  living  go  to  show  that  forty 
or  fifty  years  later  the  tone  of  public  moral  sentiment 
had  become  lowered.  At  that  period  the  use  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors  had  become  quite  general,  not  only  in  this 
township  but  throughout  the  county  and  State;  so  much 
so  that  it  had  fastened  upon  many  prominent  men  in  the 
community  the  vice  of  drunkenness.  There  was  scarcely 
a  family  of  any  standing  that  did  not  have  its  decanter 
of  liquor,  if  not  for  its  own  use  yet  to  be  offered  to 
friends  and  neighbors  when  calling,  as  a  mark  of  polite- 
ness and  kindly  regard.  There  is  a  tradition,  well  au- 
thenticated, that  several  of  the  ministers  of  the  churches 
became  addicted  to  drinking,  and  the  one  who  officiated 
occasionally  at  Old  Boonton  church,  and  also  one  who 
officiated  at  the  Pompton  Plains  church,  were  accustomed 
to  exhort  their  people  by  saying,  "  Do  as  I  tell  you,  not 
as  I  do;  "  thus  evincing  a  consciousness  that  their  exam- 


ple did  not  at  all  times  accord  with  their  precepts.  It  is 
recorded  that  some  of  these  erring  ministers  became  so 
enslaved  to  this  vicious  appetite  that  they  were  on  that 
account  ultimately  deposed  from  the  ministry. 

Origin  of  Names  of  Places. 

There  has  been  much  speculation  as  to  the  origin  of 
the  name  of  Boonton,  which  at  first  was  spelled  Boone- 
town,  as  it  appears  in  old  documents.  From  the  facts 
that  David  Ogden  came  into  possession  of  this  prop- 
erty, having  on  it  iron  works  and  a  number  of  dwellings 
and  other  buildings,  in  1759,  and  in  1760  Thomas  Boone 
was  the  newly  appointed  provincial  governor,  and  had 
visited  Ogden  at  these  iron  works  (known  then  as  the 
Old  Forge),  the  most  reasonable  conclusion  appears  to 
be  that  David  Ogden  named  the  place  after  the  governor, 
and  called  it  "Boonetown."  This  continued  to  be  the 
way  of  spelling  the  name  for  many  years.  The  first  post- 
office  in  this  vicinity  was  established  at  Boonetown  in 
1795,  and  Rodolphus  Kent  was  postmaster  until  1798, 
when  Richard  B.  Faesch  was  appointed.  He  served  to 
February  3d  1817,  when  the  office  was  changed  to  Par- 
sippany,  a  place  two  miles  farther  west,  and  George  D. 
Brinkerhoff  became  postmaster.  In  1829,  when  the  New 
Jersey  Iron  Company  commenced  the  erection  of  their 
great  iron  works  at  a  point  about  one  mile  further  up, 
and  just  below  the  falls  in  the  Rockaway  River,  the 
name  adopted  for  that  locality  was  Booneton  Falls;  this 
name  continued  in  use  for  about  seventeen  years.  When, 
in  1846,  the  first  post-office  was  established  here  the  name 
was  abbreviated  by  omitting  e  and  Falls,  making  it  Boon- 
ton,  and  after  that  the  name  Old  Boonton  was  applied 
to  the  locality  of  the  old  forge  a  mile  below. 

The  locality  known  as  Montville  was  first  called  Uyle- 
kill,  which  was  a  conformity  to  the  Dutch  pronunciation 
of  Owl  Kill,  the  name  given  to  the  creek  and  the  valley 
through  which  it  runs  for  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to  its 
junction  with  the  river.  About  the  close  of  the  last  cen- 
tury Elijah  Dod  and  John  Pierson  were  joint  owners  of 
the  grist-mill  and  other  property  there;  and  it  is  said 
they  substituted  the  name  Montville,  from  a  place  in 
Connecticut. 

The  name  "  Waughaw,''  applied  to  the  valley  three 
miles  east  of  Montville,  is  of  Indian  origin,  and  in  old 
documents  is  sometimes  found  written  "  Ta  Waughaw." 

The  locality  northeast  of  this,  known  as  Jacksonville, 
containing  eight  or  ten  dwellings  and  a  school-house,  is 
said  to  have  derived  its  name  from  the  fact  that  fifty 
years  ago  all  the  people  there  were  politically  Jackson 
men,  and  voted  for  General  Jackson  for  President. 

Beavertown  (now  a  station  on  the  Delaware,  Lacka- 
wanna and  Western  Railroad,  called  Lincoln  Park)  took 
its  name  from  the  fact  that  in  the  early  settlement  of  the 
place  great  numbers  of  beavers  were  found  frequenting 
a  creek  passing  through,  then  called  Beaver  Dam  Brook. 

Pompton  and  Pequannock  are  both  names  derived 
from  Indian  tribes. 

Whitehall,  a  station  on  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad,  derived  its  name  fifty  years  ago  from 


274 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


the  circumstance  that  a  man  who  kept  a  store  there  had 
his  house  and  store  painted  white,  and  two  or  three 
small  buildings  near  by  whitewashed,  and. called  the 
place  White  Hall. 

In  some  old  deeds,  in  the  description  of  property  at 
the  upper  end  of  Pompton  Plains  and  the  vicinity,  men- 
tion is  made  of  the  village  of  "  New  Greenwich."  It  ap- 
pears that  about  1790  this  name  was  given  to  the  little 
settlement  on  the  Paterson  and  Hamburg  turnpike 
where  Judge  Robert  Colfax  lived,  where  Peter  Jackson 
and  afterward  his  son  James  kept  a  store,  and  where 
Slater's  woolen  factory  is;  but,  a  village  failing  to  grow 
up,  the  nariie  was  dropped  and  has  been  forgotten  by  the 
oldest  inhabitants  now  living. 

Town  Meetings. 

The  first  mode  of  conducting  town  meetings,  as  to  the 
election  of  ofificers  and  the  decision  of  questions  to  be 
submitted,  was  by  what  is  called  a  ''^ viva  voce"  vote. 
This  method  continued  without  interruption  for  over  one 
hundred  years,  to  1853,  when  the  law  was  made  requiring 
a  vote  by  ballot  as  at  State  and  county  elections.  The 
old  method  was  a  true  democratic  mode,  and  some  be- 
lieve it  tended  to  keep  the  people  generally  better  in- 
formed as  to  township  matters,  and  gave  them  a  better 
opportunity  to  exercise  a  free  choice.  Under  the  present 
system  the  experience  of  more  than  twenty-five  years  has 
shown  that  too  often  a  caucus  of  a  dozen  or  less,  fre- 
quently controlled  by  two  or  three,  selects  the  candi- 
dates; and  the  result  is  thai  the  masses  are  led  to  the 
polls  to  ratify  the  dictation  of  a  few.  Many  believe  that 
under  the  old  system  the  caucus  would  have  less  power 
and  interested  wire-pullers  less  opportunity  to  exercise 
their  cunning. 

While  the  first  system  was  in  use  party  lines  were  not 
strictly  adhered  to  in  the  selection  of  township  ofiScers, 
but  good  men  were  selected  from  both  parties  for  town- 
ship committees  and  some  other  positions.  Since  the 
change  to  ballot  party  lines  have  been  more  closely 
drawn. 

At  the  first  town  meeting  held  in  Pequannock,  on  the 
loth  of  March  1741,  Martin  Vanduyne  was  chosen  town 
clerk,  Peter  Roome  assessor,  Paulus  Vanderbeck  col- 
lector, Abraham  Vanduyne  and  Henry  Vanness  freehold- 
ers. There  were  not  in  those  days  as  many  town  offices 
as  at  present.  The  officers  were  town  clerk,  assessor, 
collector,  two  freeholders,  two  surveyors  of  highway, 
two  overseers  of  the  poor,  and  overseers  of  the  highway. 
At  the  first  meeting  only  two  overseers  of  the  highway 
were  chosen.  Fourteen  years  later  only  four  were 
chosen  ;  at  the  end  of  twenty  years  there  were  only 
seven,  and  five  years  later,  in  1766,  only  ten  overseers  of 
the  highway  were  chosen  at  town  meeting.  Most  of  the 
territory  in  Pequannock  was  then  yet  a  wilderness,  with 
very  few  roads  passable  with  wagons  ;  to  the  first  forges 
built  in  the  vicinity  iron  ore  was  transported  in  leather 
bags  on  the  backs  of  horses.  Farmers  generally  in  those 
days  carried  their  grain  in  bags  on  horses'  backs  to  mill 
because  there  were  so  few  roads. 


The  accounts  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor  and  the  col- 
lector were  examined  by  two  chosen  freeholders  and  the 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  this  practice  continued  about 
forty  years.  In  1777  a  committee  was  appointed  to  de- 
termine as  to  unjust  assessments,  and  in  1780  a  com- 
mittee of  three  was  chosen  for  that  purpose,  called  com- 
missioners of  appeals.  In  1778  a  committee  of  three  was 
chosen  to  settle  with  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  but  in 
1786  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  settle  with  the 
overseers  of  the  poor  and  the  collectors.  This  was  the 
first  of  what  is  now  the  township  committee.  From  1841 
to  1849  two  constables  were'  elected  for  each  year,  but 
after  that  for  about  tiventy-seven  years  the  town  books 
show  no  record  of  the  election  of  constables.  The 
county  court  it  appears  exercisedthe  right  of  appointing 
the  constables  up  to  the  time  of  the  Revolution.  For 
many  years  it  was  the  practice  to  decide  at  town  meet- 
ings what  the  pay  should  be  to  the  overseers  of  the  poor 
and  the  justices  of  the  peace  for  attending  to  the  poor, 
and  the  allowance  made  was  fifty  cents,  or  four  shillings, 
per  day  for  each. 

Popular  Sentiment  in  1776. 

The  beginning  of  the  American  Revolution  found  the 
people  of  this  county  divided  in  sentiment.  It  not  in- 
frequently happened  that  such  division  was  found  not 
only  in  the  same  neighborhood,  but  among  the  members 
of  the  same  family,  which  tended  to  estrangement  and 
to  create  a  general  sense  of  insecurity,  that  rendered 
great  caution  and  watchfulness  necessary  for  public 
safety.  Consequently  we  find  the  people  in  Pequannock 
township,  fearing  such  dangers,  at  an  early  period  in  i  776 
prepared  to  protect  themselves  by  organizing  committees 
of  safety,  vigilance  committees  and  minute  men,  as  they 
were  styled.  As  to  this  we  have  not  only  the  authority 
of  tradition,  but  unquestioned  documentary  evidence. 
Although  there  doubtless  were  in  this  township  some 
who  openly  favored  the  cause  of  the  king,  and 
many  who,  dreading  the  great  power  of  England, 
and  the  possible  confiscation  of  property,  feared  to  openly 
declare  their  position,  yet  there  is  evidence  that  a  ma- 
jority of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  township,  early  in 
1776,  took  a  most  decided  stand  in  support  of  the  meas- 
ures of  the  Continental  Congress.  The  township  record 
shows  that  public  action  was  taken  at  a  town  meeting  on 
the  i2th  of  March  1776,  and  Joseph  Hoff,  Joseph  Conger, 
William  Ross,  Stephen  Jackson,  Job  Allen,  Anthony 
Mandeville,  Phineas  Farrand,  Hendrick  Doremus,  Robert 
Gould  jr.,  and  John  Parlaman  were  appointed  to  be  a 
committee  of  observation.  They  were  selected  from  the 
western,  eastern  and  middle  parts  of  the  township,  for 
the  purpose  of  watching  closely  those  who  were  active  in 
favoring  the  cause  of  the  king.  Subsequently  a  com- 
mittee of  safety  was  formed,  composed  of  Robert  Gaston, 
Moses  Tuttle,  Stephen  Jackson,  Abraham  Kitchel  and 
Job  Allen.  An  article  of  agreement  was  also  drawn  up 
and  numerously  signed,  which  was  in  the  keeping  of 
Stephen  Jackson,  a  member  of  that  committee.  From 
him  that  paper  came  down  to  Colonel  Joseph  Jackson, 


REVOLUTIONARY  PATRIOTS  OF  PEQUANNOCK  TOWNSHIP. 


27s 


his  son,  late  of  Rockaway,  and  a  copy  of  it  was  taken  by 
Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle.  The  terms  of  the  agreement  are 
not  only  of  interest,  but  the  names  of  the  subscribers. 
The  paper  is  as  follows: 

We,  the  subscribers,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the 
township  of  Pequannock,  in  the  county  of  Morris  and 
province  of  New  Jersey,  having  long  viewed  with  con- 
cern the  avowed  design  of  the  ministry  of  Great  Britain 
to  raise  a  revenue  in  America,  being  deeply  affected  with 
the  cruel  hostilities  already  commenced  in  Massachusetts 
Bay  for  carrying  that  arbitrary  design  into  execution, 
convinced  that  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and  priv- 
ileges of  America  depends,  under  God,  on  the  firm  union 
of  its  irihabitants,  do,  with  hearts  abhorring  slavery,  and 
ardetitly  wishing  for  a  reconciliation  with  our  parent 
state  on  constitutional  principles,  solemnly  associate  and 
resolve  under  the  sacred  lies  of  virtue,  honor  and  love  of 
our  country,  that  we  will  personally,  and  so  far  as  our  in- 
fluence extends,  endeavor  to  support  -and  carry  into  ex- 
ecution whatever  measures  may  be  recommended  by  the 
Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses  for  defending  our 
constitution  and  preserving  the  s-ame  inviolate,  accord- 
ing to  the  resolutions  of  the  aforesaid  Continental  and 
Provincial  Congresses,  firmly  determined  by  all  means  in 
our  power  to  guard  against  the  disorders  and  confusions 
to  which  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  times  may  ex 
pose  us. 

"  We  do  also  further  associate  and  agree,  as  far  as  shall 
be  consistent  with  the  measures  adopted  for  the  preser- 
vation of  American  freedom,  to  support  the  magistrates 
and  other  civil  officers  in  the  execution  of  their  duty 
agreeable  to  the  laws  of  the  colony,  and  to  observe  the 
directions  of  our  committee  acting. 

"Robert  Gaston,  John  Munson,  Moses  Tuttle,  John 
Gould,  Joseph  Conger,  Edward  Jackson,  Elijah  Leonard, 
Benajah  Danels,  Samuel  Martin,  .Joseph  Hoff,  Garrett 
Hoff,  John  Hoff,  Charles  Hoff  jr.,  Robert  Wilson,  Sam- 
uel Blair,  Alexander  Bates,  John  Reynolds,  Benjamin 
Fairchild,  James  Coulter,  Jonathan  Johnson,  John  Cardy, 
Charles  Crawley,  John  Robeson  sen.,  John  Robeson  jr., 
David  Vanderpool,  Peter  Johnson,  Eliphalet  Lyon,  Wil- 
liam Cough,  Gershom  Wiggins,  James  Nox,  John  DeBow, 
John  White,  William  Upham,  John  Wilson,  John  Gal- 
loway, Richard  Van  Cock,  James  Cardiff,  Joseph  Holmes, 
Gillis  McPherson,  James  Ronal,  Thomas  Price,  George 
G.  Barr,  John  Magie,  James  Norton,  William  Edwards, 
John  Browne,  John  Wilson,  Isaac  Miller,  Peter  Little, 
Edward  McRank,  Jonathan  Salsbury,  Hugh  Quigg, 
Charles  Stuart,  John  Lee,  Samuel  Harris,  Christian  Hoff- 
man, John  Biard,  John  Davis,  Ada  Showen,  J.  Jackson, 
William  Rose,  Louis  Demorest  Dunzoy,  James  McUrdy, 
James  Mitchel,  James  Daily,  Henry  Stock,  Hugh  Davis, 
John  Richardson,  Henry  Link,  Jan  Bigelow,  James  Tharp, 
Daniel  Talmage,  Jonathan  Carrington,  John  Wilson, 
Joshua  Moore,  Mark  Walton,  William  Ross,  David  Be- 
man,  Isaac  Vanduyne,  Joseph  Harriman,  Richard  Harri- 
man,  Josias  Goldsmith,  William  Drummon,  John  King, 
Samuel  Lindley,  Joseph  Porter,  Aaron  Willis,  Job  Allen, 
Stephen  Jackson,  Israel  Youngs,  Ebenezer  Tuttle,  Jabez 
Biglow,  David  Allen,  Henry  Berry  jr.,  Joseph  Rogers, 
Seth  Mahurin,  Silas  Hathaway,. Joseph  Hull,  Aaron  Big- 
low,  John  Harriman,  Aaron  Hedden,  Joseph  Bedford, 
Isaac  Ross,  John  Pierson,  Daniel  Jackson,  William  Fisher, 
Josiah  Biglow,  John  Miller,  Michael  Montgomery,  John 
McConnel,  Peter  Hyler,  Josiah  Beman,  William  Price, 
Daniel  Biglow,  Josiah  Beman,  Isaac  Kelly,  William 
Howard,  Helmer  Kent,  Hiram  Howard,  James  Hindes, 
Arthur  Young,  Jacob  Lyon,  John  Peer,  LuraanRobeards, 
Benjamin  Wankle,  John  Marinus,  Daniel  Hayward,  Moses 
Stiles,  Phineas  Farrand,  Philip  Price  jr.,  Peter  Francisco, 


Philip  Dorman,  John  Doremus,  Philip  Hiler,  Samuel 
Farrand,  Jake  Harrison,  Henry  Young,  Samuel  Price, 
Humphrey  Davenport,  Thomas  Welshear,  Martin  Freder- 
ick, Abraham  Loughenner,  John  Esseler,  Mouris  Mouri- 
son,  Peter  Hiler  jr.,  Brant  Jacobus,  Philip  Holenkous, 
Abraham  Jacobus,  Cornelius  A.  Jacobus,  Henry  Hen- 
nion,  John  Cone,  Martin  Frederick  sen.,  Hinery  Mouris- 
son,  James  Jacobus,  Nathan  Cone,  Coon  Vreeland,  Hen- 
ery  Van  Houten,  John  Pear,  John  Parlaman,  Abraham 
Peer,  Nicholas  Hiler,  Edmund  Kingsland,  John  Hiler, 
Henry  Lowerus,  Cornelius  Jacobus,  James  Jennings,  Pe- 
ter Tice,  John  Nix,  Conrod  Esler,  Martin  Young,  Jacob 
Vanduyne,  Jacob  Hoppon,  James  Shane,  Garret  Farrall, 
Peter  Roburds,  Jacob  Hiler,  John  Miller  jr.  of  jrs." 

Mr.  Tuttle  says  that  this  paper  is  signed  by  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-seven  names,  that  some  of  these  names 
are  splendid  specimens  of  penmanship,  but  others  are 
scarcely  legible;  that  eighteen  signers  made  their  mark. 
Doubtless,  as  Mr.  Tuttle  remarked,  "  many  of  these 
signers  knew  better  how  to  hold  a  musket  than  a  pen." 
It  is  said  that  "  Colonel  Joseph  Jackson  had  the  fact 
from  his  father  that  this  association  of  Whigs  in  this 
township  had  400  signers."  It  is  believed  that  each  mem- 
ber of  the  "  committee  of  safety  "  had  a  copy  of  the 
foregoing  agreement,  and  that  if  all  those  papers  could 
be  obtained  we  would  find  the  names  of  over  two  hun- 
dred more  signed  thereto.  But  the  foregoing  is  sufficient 
to  show  that  a  large  majority  of  the  leading  citizens  were 
openly  pronounced  in  their  determination  to  support  the 
measures  of  the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses, 
and  to  stand  firmly  together  for  self-protection  amid  the 
perilous  circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed. 

As  the  war  progressed  many  of  the  tories  left  their 
homes,  sorne  joining  the  British  forces  and  some  joining 
marauding  bands;  others,  remaining  at  home,  were  often 
in  secret  communication  with  such,  and  acting  as  spies 
and  informers.  A  great  feeling  of  insecurity  both  as  to 
life  and  property  prevailed  among  the  peoi.le  in  conse- 
quence of  the  outrages  committed  by  these  freebooters, 
who,  keeping  themselves  concealed  in  the  forests  and 
swamps  by  day,  would  come  upon  the  victims  in  the 
darkness  of  night.  Robberies  and  murders  were  com- 
mitted within  the  bounds  of  this  township,  it  is  believed, 
by  a  party  under  the  leadership  of  the  notorious  tory 
brigand  Claudius  Smith,  who  had  his  headquarters  in  the 
mountains  near  Ramapo,  on  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  State,  and  made  frequent  incursions  into  the  upper 
part  of  New  Jersey.  There  appears  to  be  good  reason 
to  believe  that  a  robbery  of  the  family  of  Charles 
Hoff  while  manager  of  the  furnace  at  Hibernia  was  com- 
mitted by  a  party  of  tories  disguised  with  paint,  and 
under  the  lead  of  this  Claudius  Smith,  and  that  at  the 
time-these  robbers  told  Hoff  they  intended  to  scour  the 
whole  county.  The  Ringwood  and  Ramapo  Mountains, 
the  hiding  place  of  these  freebooters,  were  distant  only 
from  15  to  17  miles  from  Pompton;  consequently  the 
fertile  farms  about  Pompton  and  Pompton  Plains,  as  well 
as  other  parts  of  Pequannock,  naturally  attracted  these 
hungry  bands,  and  traditional  accounts  go  to  show  that 
such  raids  were  frequent.  It  is  related  that  an  armed 
band  of  six  one  day  in  the  dusk  of  early  evening  suddenly 


37 


276 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


entered  a  farm  house,  seemingly  in  the  pursuit  of  pro- 
visions; while  two  stood  guard  at  the  doors  some  went 
into  the  cellar,  and  others  went  through  the  rooms, 
hastily  gathering  what  they  could  find  and  easily  carry, 
and  all  speedily  departed.  After  they  had  gone  the 
family  discovered  that  the  dead  body  of  a  colored  infant 
was  missing,  which  had  the  same  day  been  placed  upon 
a  stand  in  a  room  and  covered  with  a  cloth;  doubtless 
in  their  hurry  the  robbers  did  not  stop  to  examine  closely 
what  they  seized  upon.  At  one  time  an  armed  company 
of  these  tory  robbers  in  the  daytime  entered  the  resi- 
dence of  John  Parlaman,  near  Montville,  when  no  men 
were  about,  and,  hastily  gathering  what  provisions  they 
could  find,'  compelled  Mrs.  Parlaman  to  surrender  her 
jewelry,  threatening  her  life  and  tearing  her  ear-rings 
from  her  ears.  It  was  believed  they  had  designs  upon 
John  Parlaman  himself  had  he  been  found,  for  he  was 
one  of  the  one  hundred  and  seventy  who  signed  the 
agreement  to  support  Congress  in  its  measures  against 
the  king.  Parlaman  was  a  man  of  some  note  and  influ- 
ence in  this  vicinity;  the  records  of  Pequannock  town- 
ship show  that  for  more  than  twenty  years  he  had  been 
elected  and  had  served  as  town  clerk,  and  was  chosen  to 
other  important  offices,  and  his  penmanship  indicates 
that  he  was  a  man  of  some  education.  This  John  Parla- 
man had  a  son  John,  who  succeeded  to  his  father's  farm, 
where  now  resides  the  widow  of  the  late  James  Doremus, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  the  latter  John  Parlaman. 

The  list  of  names  signed  to  the  agreement  to  support 
the  American  Congress  contains  between  thirty  and 
forty  of  those  well  known  to  have  been  residents  at  the 
time  in  the  vicinity  of  Pompton  Plains,  Montville  and 
Boonton.  John  Pierson  lived  at  Montville  and  was 
part  owner  of  the  grist-mill  there;  Phineas  Farrand,  a 
nailer  by  trade,  also  lived  there,  but  afterward  removed 
to  Hanover  township.  Edmund  Kingsland,  the  fore- 
father of  the  Kingslands  in  this  township,  lived  near 
Boonton.  His  stone  house,  built  in  1776  in  the  Dutch 
cottage  style,  with  the  date  of  its  erection  in  large  iron 
figures  fastened  on  the  front  wall,  is  still  standing,  in 
good  repair,  at  the  corner  of  the  roads  near  the  resi 
dence  of  William  G.  Lathrop.  Abraham  Peer  lived  near 
Kingsland.  The  Hilers,  Vanduynes,  Stileses,  Daven- 
ports, Marinuses,  Mourisons,  Eelslers  and  Prices  were 
residents  of  Montville  Valley,  then  called  "  Uylekill,'' 
and  on  the  Hook  Mountain.  De  Bow,  Vandercook, 
Doremus,  V.reeland,  Fredericks,  Jacobus  and  others 
were  residents  of  Pompton  Plains  and  the  lands  west  of 
there.  Some  persons  who  had  become  conspicuous  in 
closely  watching  or  in  sharp  pursuit  of  tory  spies  and 
tory  bands  became  obnoxious  to  them,  and  the  tories 
would  put  a  price  on  their' heads;  such  were  obliged  for 
their  own  safety  to  keep  away  from  their  homes,  and 
lodge  at  night  in  secret  and  out-of-the-way  places. 

The  inhabitants  of  Morris,  Sussex  and  Bergen  coun- 
ties during  the  Revolutionary  war  suffered  severely  from 
the  depredations  of  the  tories,  and  the  people  of  Pe- 
quannock, being  on  the  northern  border  of  the  county 
and  near  the  hiding  places   of  these  despefadoes,  were 


subject  to  frequent  and  annoying  alarms.  It  is  no  won- 
der therefore,  when  living  in  constant  fear  and  anxiety 
not  only  as  to  the  open  enemy  but  secret  spies  and  in- 
formers in  their  midst,  that  they  were  active  in  forming 
committees  of  safety  and  enrolling  minute  men. 

In  those  days  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  men  to 
take  their  guns  with  them  to  church,  to  town  meetings, 
and  to  the  fields  where  they  were  at  work;  indeed,  it  was 
expected  of  the  minute  men  and  enjoined  upon  them  that 
they  should  always  have  their  arms  near  at  hand,  to  be 
ready  at  a  moment's  warning.  These  minute  men  were 
the  dread  of  the  tories  and  a  great  check  upon  their  op- 
erations. As  a  result  of  the  constant  danger  to  which 
the  early  settlers  were  exposed,  a  custom  then  prevailed 
and  continued  many  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  of 
keeping  loaded  guns  deposited  in  racks  on  the  side  of 
the  beams  overhead,  which  were  six  and  a  half  to  seven 
feet  above  the  floor,  out  of  the  way  of  children  but 
readily  accessible.  Repeating  rifles  and  percussion  locks 
were  unknown  at  that  time.  The  guns  then  in  use  had 
flint  locks,  and  were  mostly  muskets  that  would  carry  an 
ounce  ball.  When  the  men  went  out,  taking  their  guns 
with  them,  they  generally  left  one  well  loaded  and  the 
means  of  reloading  it  for  the  use  of  the  family,  for  it  is 
well  known  that  many  of  the  mothers  and  grown- up 
daughters  of  that  day  not  only  knew  how  to  spin,  weave, 
make  bread,  and  attend  to  other  household  duties,  but 
in  case  of  emergency  were  capable  of  using  effectively  a 
loaded  musket.  The  great  annoyance  occasioned  by  the 
tories  created  a  bitterness  of  feeling  that  lasted  for  years 
after  the  close  of  the  .war,  and  which  led  to  considerable 
additions  to  the  population  of  Nova  Scotia  and  Canada. 
In  the  neighborhood  known  as  Pacquanack  in  Passaic 
county,  bordering  on  Pompton  Plains,  families  of  the 
name  of  Ryerson  (at  first  spelled  Ryerse)  settled  at  a 
very  early  date,  some  of  whom  intermarried  with  families 
on  the  Plains  and  settled  in  Pequannock  township.  In 
one  of  these  families  there  were  several  brothers  of  full 
age,  who  were  divided  in  sentiment  as  to  the  war;  some 
sided  with  the  king  and  others  with  the  American  Con- 
gress; some  joined  the  British  forces,  while  others  re- 
mained at  home.  It  is  said  that  one  of  these,  Samuel 
Ryerson,  became  a  subordinate  officer  in  the  king's  ser- 
vice, and  was  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens,  in  South  Carolina, 
January  17th  1781,  when  the  American  army  under  Gen- 
eral Morgan  was  victorious  over  the  British  army  under 
Colonel  Tarleton.  At  one  time  when  Washington  and 
his  army  were  at  Morristown  a  small  force  of  provincial 
soldiers  was  quartered  at  a  place  in  Parsippany  near  Fox 
Hill,  about  three  miles  west  of  Boonton.  The  com- 
mander of  the  British  forces  at  New  York  detailed  a 
company  of  soldiers  and  put  them  under  command  of 
this  Samuel  Ryerson,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  Par- 
sippany and  capture  or  kill  this  company  of  provincials. 
While  on  his  way,  and  when  on  the  mountain  northwest 
of  Bloomfield,  Ryerson  met  and  captured  a  man  on  horse- 
back, going  in  the  direction  of  Newark.  It  turned  out 
that  this  man  fwho  resided  at  Parsippany)  and  Ryerson 
were  personally  acquainted;  and  Ryerson,  knowing  that 


SLAVERY  IN  PEQUANNOCK:  TOWNSHIP— PIONEER  FARMING. 


27? 


the  expedition  in  which  he  was  engaged  was  bringing 
him  too  near  home,  and  if  successful  might  result  in  the 
capture  or  killing  of  some  of  his  old  neighbors  or  his 
own  kin,  confidentially  informed  the  captured  man  of  the 
destination  and  object  of  the  detachment  under  his  com- 
mand; and  then,  under  some  plausible  explanation  to 
satisfy  his  company,  he  allowed  the  man  on  horseback  to 
proceed  on  his  way.  As  soon  as  the  latter  got  out  of 
sight  he  turned  and  went  back  to  Parsippany,  where  he 
arrived  just  in  time  to  allow  the  company  of  provincial 
soldiers  to  escape. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  this  Samuel  Ryerson  re- 
turned to  his  native  place  and  bought  land  at  Beavertown, 
in  Pequannock,  near  where  David  Benjamin  lives;  but 
he  remained  there  only  a  short  time.  The  bitterness  of 
an  indignant  public  sentiment  rendered  it  so  uncomfort- 
able for  him  that  he  went  to  Canada  and  settled  near 
Toronto;  some  of  his  brothers,  who  likewise  had  joined 
their  fortunes  with  the  cause  of  George  the  Third,  after 
their  return  found  it  so  uncomfortable  to  live  here  that 
they  emigrated  to  Nova  Scotia.  Thus  it  was  in  many 
similar  cases,  and  hence  it  came  to  pass  that  so  many  in 
the  States  had  relatives  in  Nova  Scotia  and  Can- 
ada. These  emigrants  to  those  places  no  doubt  sought 
to  better  their  condition,  but  their  going  in  that  direction 
was  not  altogether  the  prompting  of  a  free  choice. 

Slavery. 

African  slavery  was  introduced  among  the  Dutch  col- 
onists in  New  Jersey  at  a  very  early  date.  Many  of  the 
first  settlers  came  to  this  colony  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Dutch  West  India  Company,  the  object  of  that  company 
being  to  open  and  establish  a  trade  in  furs  with  the  In- 
dians. The  States  General  of  Holland  especially  charged 
that  company  to  take  care  to  have  ready  at  hand  a  sup- 
ply of  good  merchantable  slaves  for  the  use  of  the  colo- 
nists. Many  of  the  early  settlers  in  Pequannock  bought 
and  owned  slaves,  but  never  to  any  great  extent — seldom 
more  than  from  one  to  four  in  any  one  family;  probably 
because  the  masters  were  comparatively  small  landholders 
and  had  no  use  for  a  larger  number.  But  the  records 
show  that  slaves  were  pretty  generally  distributed  among 
the  leading  families  on  Pompton  Plains  and  in  that  vi- 
cinity, such  as  the  Roome,  Vanness,  Berry,  Colfax,  De- 
Bow,  Mandeville,  Mead,  Cook,  Schuyler,  Terhune,  Ryer- 
son, Doremus,  Jacobus,  Vreeland  and  Fredericks  families, 
and  (in  the  central  and  western  parts)  those  of  Van- 
duyne,  Duryea,  Dod,  Miller  and  others.  As  appears  by 
the  records,  the  first  person  who  manumitted  his  slaves 
in  Pequannock  was  Adam  Miller,  who  lived  in  Rockaway 
Valley,  the  same  at  whose  house  town  meetings  were 
held.  He  freed  his  slaves  May  sth  1776,  and  gives  as 
his  reason  that  "  he  is  persuaded  they  by  nature  have  a 
right  to  their  freedom,  and  ought  not  to  be  deprived  of 
it."  From  that  time  the  opinion  expressed  by  Adam 
Miller  appears  to  have  been  a  growing  public  sentiment 
as  regarded  slavery,  and  manumissions  continued  to  be 
made,  some  from  a  sense  of  justice,  and  others  by  the 
force  of  sheer  necessity  in  order  to  free  the  owners  from 


the  impoverishing  burden  of  increasing  numbers.  When 
a  master  wished  to  free  a  slave,  and  clear  himself  from 
future  responsibility  for  the  support  of  such  slave  should 
he  become  a  public  charge,  he  must  take  the  slave  before 
the  overseers  of  the  poor  and  two  justices  of  the  peace 
of  the  township,  and  if  upon  examination  they  were  sat- 
isfied that  the  person  intended  to  be  freed  was  over  21 
and  under  35  years  of  age,  and  free  from  any  mental  or 
physical  disability  that  would  prevent  him  from  earning 
his  own  support,  the  manumission  would  be  allowed  upon 
a  proper  certificate  and  declaration  signed  by  the  master 
and  approved  by  the  overseers  and  the  justices,  and  when 
duly  acknowledged  would  be  admitted  to  record. 

Agriculture. 

Agriculture  was  the  chief  employment  of  those  who 
settled  in  the  eastern,  middle  and  southern  parts  of  Pe- 
quannock, and  is  so  to-day  except  at  a  few  points  where 
in  later  years  some  branches  of  manufacture  have  been 
established. 

The  character  and  purpose  of  the  men  who  first  came 
to  settle  in  the  wilds  of  this  western  world  are  doubtless 
familiar  to  the  mind  of  almost  every  intelligent  person. 
They  came  principally  from  Holland,  Germany,  Switzer- 
land, England  and  Ireland,  countries  considerably  ad- 
vanced in  civilization  and  where  the  lands  were  perhaps 
better  cultivated  than  any  others  in  the  world.  They 
came  to  settle  and  establish  homes,  under  many  circum- 
stances entirely  new  to  them  and  with  a  climate  and  soil 
unlike  any  which  they  had  known  before;  amidst  many 
difficulties  they  found  themselves  compelled  to  com- 
mence, as  it  were,  life  anew.  They  entered  into  a  vast 
wilderness,  the  home  of  the  savage  Indians;  the  natives 
were  to  be  conciliated,  the  land  was  to  be  cleared  of  the 
heavy  forest  trees  to  prepare  the  way  for  cultivation. 
Here  and  there  was  found  a  small  opening  which  had 
been  used  by  the  Indians  in  their  rude  way  in  cultivating 
corn,  beans  and  tobacco,  and  some  few  apple  trees  called 
an  Indian  orchard  were  found  in  such  openings  near  the 
east  shore  of  the  Pequannock  River  at  what  is  called 
Pacquanack,  near  where  some  of  the  name  of  Ryerson 
first  settled. 

The  rigors  of  the  northern  winter,  the  wilderness  state 
of  the  land,  the  danger  of  attacks  and  depredations  not 
only  from  the  savages  but  from  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
forest,  ready  to  prey  upon  their  livestock  or  destroy  their 
crops,  the  want  of  roads  for  safe  transportation  and 
travel,  and  the  absence  of  many  comforts  and  conven- 
iences enjoyed  in  their  native  countries  were  serious  em- 
barrassments to  the  pioneers,  under  which  it  is  no  wonder 
progress  in  agriculture  was  slow.  Hard  work  was  the 
order  of  the  day.  The  soil  it  is  true  was  naturally  rich 
in  mould,  the  accumulation  of  ages  of  decay  of  vegetable 
matter,  and  therefore  at  first  did  not  require  the  most 
careful  cultivation  to  give  an  abundant  return  of  crops; 
but  it  had  to  be  cleared  of  the  heavy  forest  trees  and  to 
be  broken  up  amid  the  remaining  stumps  for  the  first 
planting.  That  in  those  early  days  the  prevailing  ideas 
and  practices  in  farming  were   of  a  rude    and  primitive 


378 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


order  there  is  no  doubt;  the  wants  of  the  early  settlers 
were  too  many  and  pressing,  and  required  too  vigorous 
exertions  to  provide  what  was  indispensable,  to  allow 
time  for  experiment  or  searching  out  and  applying  new 
principles  to  farming.  That  was  a  work  reserved  for 
their  descendants  many  years  afterward  and  under  cir- 
cumstances far  more  favorable. 

In  this  township,  as  well  as  in   the  county  generally, 
agriculture,  so  far  as  regards   any  marked   improvement 
in  farming  implements  or  the  general  manner  of  cultiva- 
tion, was  in  a  state  of  depression  for  more  than  one  hun- 
dred   and    twenty-five  years    after  the    first    settlements 
here.     Owing  to  the  imperfect  provision  for  schools   for 
the  masses  of  the  people,  during  the  first    hundred  years 
the  boys  generally  were  trained  up  to  a    narrow    routine 
of  labor  ;  many  grew  up   unable  to  read  or  write  ;  there 
were  few  books  in  those  days  and  scarcely  any  papers 
that  circulated  among  the  people,  consequently  there  was 
little  mental  activity  and    much    obstinate   adherence  to 
prejudice.     The  chief  aim  of  the  young  farmer  in  those 
early  days  and  for  many  years  after   appeared  to  be  to 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father    and   grandfather,  to 
plant  and  to  sow  at  just  such  a  time,  and  in  many  of  his 
operations  to  be  governed  by  the  old  and  the  new  of  the 
moon.     He  appeared  to  know  nothing  of  the  rotation  of 
crops,  and  to  have  little  regard  for  the  use   of  manure  ; 
and  that  man  who  was  bold  enough  to  step  outside  of  the 
old  rut,  do  a  little  thinking  for  himself,  try  some  experi- 
ment or  adopt  some  new  implement  or  different  mode  of 
culture,  was  derided  and  hooted  at  as    a  visionary.     We 
recollect  a  manifestation  of  this  stupid  prejudice  that  oc- 
curred in  our  State  Legislature  as  late   as    1850,.  when   a 
resolution  was  under  consideration  to  accept  the  invita- 
tion of  Professor  Mapes  to  attend  his  lectures  on  agricul- 
ture, especially  on  the  value   and   use   of  fertilizers.     A 
member  from  one  of  the  oldest  counties  rose  in  his  place 
and  objected  to  the  resolution,  because  he  said  it  was  of 
no  use    to  spend  time  tn  listening  to  these    "visionary 
schemes  of  book  farming."     Notwithstanding  his  objec- 
tion   the     resolution    was   adopted   with    few  dissenting 
votes.     Within  fifty  years  past  a  vast  change  has  taken 
place  ;  it  has  been  truly  said  that  now  "  obstinate  adher- 
ence to  prejudice  of  any  kind  is  generally  regarded   as  a 
mark  of  ignorance  and  stupidity,"  while  less  than  a  hun- 
dred years  ago  the  reverse  was  the  case. 

In  the  early  settlements  here  as  well  as  elsewhere  cat- 
tle were  scarce  and  commanded  comparatively  high 
prices;  cows  were  small,  and  the  ox  of  that  day  was  di- 
minutive and  ill-shaped  compared  with  those  we  find 
now.  But  when  we  consider  that  very  little  attention 
was  given  in  those  days  to  the  cultivation  of  grasses,  that 
the  main  dependence  was  on  natural  coarse  grass,  and 
that  but  few  if  any  of  the  vegetables  now  so  much  used 
as  food  for  stock  were  then  known  or  had  been  intro- 
duced here,  we  can  easily  understand  why  it  was  that 
the  cattle  of  the  early  settlers  were  ill-shaped,  and  their 
average  weight  was  only  about  four  hundred  pounds, 
while  now,  wi:h  improved  agriculture  and  better  treat- 
ment, the  average  weight  is  over  eight  hundred  pounds. 


Notwithstanding  the  comparative  scarcity  and  high  price 
of  cattle  one  hundred  years  ago,  it  is  said  a  quart  of 
milk  could  then  be  had  for  a  penny,  and  four  eggs,  for  a 
like  sum,  while  now,  with  all  the  increase  in  number  and 
quality  of  stock,  milk  commands  six  or  eight  times  as 
much  and  eggs  in  like  proportion. 

As  regards  farming  implementr.  in  use  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  even  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, it  is  said  a  strong  man  could  carry  on  his  back  all 
the  farming  tools  generally  in  use  on  an  ordinary  farm 
save  the  wagon,  or  cart,  and  plow.  The  first  settlers  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Pequannock  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  the  harness  first  used  by  them  was  principally  made 
with  a  Dutch  collar  of  leather,  rope  traces  and  rope  lines. 
Bridles  were  used  without  blinds,  and  were  made  with 
bits  attached  to  headstalls  of  rope.  With  this  simple 
and  cheap  rig  they  did  their  work,  and  when  Sunday 
came  the  same  kind  of  harness  served  to  attach  the 
horses  to  the  farm  wagon,  which,  swept  out  clean  and 
with  chairs  placed  in  for  seats,  furnished  the  conveyance 
for  the  family  to  church.  There  were  few  good  roads, 
and  horseback  riding  was  largely  practiced,  the  same 
horse  often  carrying  two  at  once  to  church.  All  kinds 
of  spring  wagons  were  unknown  in  those  days,  and  in- 
deed it  was  many  years  after  the  beginning  of  this  cen- 
tury that  spring  wagons  were  brought  into  use. 

The  farming  implements  consisted  almost  wholly  of 
the  shovel,  spade,  plow,  wooden  fork,  and  hoe  of  rude 
and  clumsy  form,  made  by  a  common  blacksmith.  The 
plows  in  use  in  the  last  century  were  mostly  made  by 
blacksmiths,  and  had  a  clumsy  wrought-iron  share,  aland- 
side  and  standard  made  of  wood  and  a  wooden  mould- 
board.  The  handle  was  a  single  upright,  held  by  two 
pins,  and  a  strong  man  was  required  to  hold  it.  With  it 
they  managed  to  tear  up  the  ground,  but  could  rarely 
turn  a  smooth  furrow.  This  style  of  plow  continued 
quite  generally  in  use,  with  but  little  improvement,  until 
about  twenty  years  after  the  beginning  of  this  century. 

The  harrow  was  a  rude  frame  with  wooden  teeth,  but 
generally  a  stout  limb  with  the  brush  attached  was  used 
in  place  of  a  harrow,  because  more  convenient  and  effect- 
ive about:  the  numerous  stumps  for  a  long  time  remain- 
ing after  the  removal  of  the  heavy  timber. 

For  cutting  the  grain  the  sickle  was  the  only  tool  used 
for  a  long  time,  until  the  grain  cradle  was  brought  into 
use.  Mowing  is  one  of  the  severest  labors  of  the  farm, 
and  the  only  instrument  used  for  that  purpose  by  the 
first  settlers  and  their  descendants  during  a  hundred 
years  or  more  was  the  common  scythe,  made  in  a  rude 
form  by  some  of  the  more  skillful  blacksmiths,  in  finish 
nothing  like  those  made  at  the  present  day;  yet  it  ap- 
pears that  in  quality  and  durability  they  were  suited  to 
the  work.  Levi  Stiles,  now  85  years  old,  living  in  Mont- 
ville  township,  says  that  when  he  was  a  young  man  he 
went  to  Thomas  Conger,  a  blacksmith  at  Rockaway,  to 
get  a  scythe;  thai  he  got  one  for  which  he  paid  three 
dollars,  and  Conger  warranted  it  for  six  years;  that  he 
used  it  every  season  for  five  years,  and  then  sold  it  for 
two  dollars  and  a  half;  showing  that  in  those  early   days 


MANUFACTURING  IN  PEQUANNOCK  TOWNSHIP. 


279 


there  were  workers  in  metal  who  understood  their  busi- 
ness. 

The  axes  made  in  those  early  times  by  some  of  the 
more  skillful  blacksmiths,  although  not  so  sightly  as  those 
now  in  use,  were  well  suited  for  their  purpose.  There 
were  many  who  followed  wood-chopping  as  a  business, 
being  paid  at  the  rate  of  2s.  6d.  to  3s.  per  cord.  To  pre- 
pare land  for  tillage  the  forest  must  be  cleared  away,  and 
large  quantities  of  logs  were  rolled  into  heaps  and  burned. 
The  ashes  found  a  ready  market  at  potash  manufactor- 
ies, of  which  there  was  one  at  Charlotteburgh  and  another 
at  Ringwood,  carried  on  by  the  London  Company,  an  as- 
sociation of  capitalists  in  England  formed  for  smelting 
iron  ores,  raising  hemp  and  making  potash  in  America. 
In  the  first  growth  of  heavy  timber  wood-chopping  was  a 
kind  of  work  that  required  a  great  amount  of  muscular 
power.  But  as  those  were  days  of  hard  work,  and  the 
people  were  simple  in  their  habits  and  accustomed  to  "a 
plain  and  substantial  .diet,  the  boys  grew  into  vigorous 
men.  It  is  said  that  George  Stickle,  the  forefather  of 
the  Stickles  ui  this  region,  who  lived  and  died  in  Rocka- 
way  Valley  within  the  present  limits  of  Boonton  town- 
ship, when  he  was  a  young  man  could  cut  and  put  up  a 
cord  of  wood  before  breakfast.  We  venture  to  say  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find  now  a  young  man  capable  of 
doingthe  like. 

Mills  and  Factories. 

There  are  in  Pequannock  township  four  saw-mills,  one 
grist-mill,  one  paper-mill,  two  rubber  factories,  one  bark- 
mill,  one  woolen  factory,  one  factory  for  turning  and  en- 
graving rolls  for  printing  calicoes  and  cloths,  and  one 
distillery.  The  first  mills  erected  were  grist-mills  and 
saw-mills.  The  first  grist-mill  was  built  at  Pompton, 
where  now  stands  Slater's  woolen  factory.  When  it  was 
built  and  by  whom  we  are  unable  to  state,  but  it  appears 
by  the  township  records  that  in  1757  a  public  road  was 
laid  in  the  vicinity,  "  running  along  lands  of  Henry  and 
Giles  Mandeville,  Paul  Vanderbeck  and  Garret  De  Bow, 
to  the  road  that  goes  to  Nathaniel  Foard's  mill."  Foard 
and  Simon  Vanness  owned  lands  adjoining.  It  ^s  said 
this  mill  was  owned  at  one  time  by  Garret  De  Bovy,  and 
also  by  Robert  Colfax,  who  lived  near  by.  There  were 
also  here  at  an  early  day  a  saw-mill  and  a  carding  and 
fulling-mill.  It  is  probable  that  a  savv-mill  and  a  grist- 
mill were  built  here  as  early  as  17 12. 

About  a  mile  west  there  is  a  lot  called  the  millstone 
lot,  on  which  there  is  a  quarry  from  which  millstones 
were  taken  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  that  served 
in  the  place  of  the  French  burr  stones.  About  the  be- 
ginning of  the  present  century  this  property  was  pur- 
chased by  Peter  Jackson,  who  kept  a  store,  there  and 
bought  hooppoles;  he  sold  the  property  to  his  son  James, 
who  held  it  until  1844,  when  all  the  mills,  store  and 
dwelling  were  burned.  The  mill  site  was  then  purchased 
by  James  Pewtner  and  Apollos  Terris,  who  put  up  another 
grist-mill,  which  they  operated  a  few  years  and  then  dis- 
posed of  it  to  Joseph  Slater,  who  converted  it  into  a 
woolen  factory. 


About  a  mile  below  Slater's  woolen  factory,  on  the 
same  stream,  are  a  saw-mill  and  a  bark-mill,  where  bark  is 
ground,  which  is  sold  principally  to  tanners  in  Newark. 
On  this  site  once  stood  a  grist-mill,  a  carding-mill  and  a 
distillery,  probably  erected  between  1780  and  1790  by 
Simon  Vanness.  In  1807  they  were  sold  by  the  sheriff 
to  pay  a  judgment  of  $400  in  favor  of  Robert  and  Wil- 
liam Colfax.  This  property  changed  hands  frequently, 
and  in  the  course  of  thirty  years  the  mills  became 
dilapidated,  and  by  sheriff's  sale  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  State  Bank  of  Morris.  In  1843  they  were  pur- 
chased from  the  bank  by  John  T.  Speer,  who  erected  a 
bark-mill  on  the  site  of  the  old  grist-mill.  In  1850 
Speer  sold  this  property  to  his  son  and  son-in-law,  Rich- 
ard Speer  and  Stephen  Post;  these  mills,  now  belonging 
to  the  estate  of  Stephen  Post,  are  operated  by  his  son 
John  F.  Post. 

About  a  mile  up  the  river  from  Slater's  woolen  factory 
is  a.  grist-mill  built  many  years  ago;  the  exact  date  we 
are  unable  to  state.  This,  the  only  grist-mill  within  the 
present  bounds  of  Pequannock  township,  was  a  few  years 
ago  owned  by  the  late  Samuel  Vanness,  sheriff  of  Morris 
county.     Here  also  was  formerly  a  saw-mill. 

About  a  mile  farther  up,  opposite  the  village  of  Bloom- 
ingdale,  a  small  stream  called  Stone  House  or  Trout 
Brook,  the  outlet  of  Stickle's  Pond,  empties  into  the  Pe- 
quannock River.  A  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  was  sur- 
veyed to  George  Ryerson  on  the  20th  of  November  1745, 
and  from  this  ten  acres,  including  a  mill  seat  on  this 
brook,  were  sold  in  1810  to  John  Taylor,  who  erected  a 
grist-mill  there,  which  was  sold  to  T.  R.  Hill  in  1822;  by 
him  to  Jacob  A.  N.  De  Baun,  and  by  him  to  Peter  De 
Baun  his  son,  who  sold  the  same  to  the  Newbrough  Hard 
Rubber  Company  August  i6th  1869,  to  which  time  it 
continued  in  use  as  a  grist-mill. 

A  mile  higher  up  on  the  Pequannock  River  is  an  old 
paper-mill,  now  owned  by  James  White  &  Son.  This 
was  the  first  paper-mill  in  Pequannock  township.  Paper 
was  made  here  by  hand  probably  as  early  as  1810.  The 
mill  was  enlarged  and  machinery  added  in  1845  by  John 
Logan.  After  passing  through  a  number  of  hands  the 
manufactory  came  into  the  possession  of  James  White  in 
1862,  and  in  1880  his  son  Fred.  S.  White  was  taken  into 
partnership. 

About  eighty  rods  below  this  paper-mill  the  New- 
brough Hard  Rubber  Company  built  a  dam,  having  pur- 
chased a  large  strip  of  the  land  lying  along  both  sides  of 
the  fiver,  but  mostly  on  the  west,  for  about  one  mile. 
About  fifty  rods  from  the  site  of  the  old  grist-mill  this 
company  erected  a  rubber  factory,  vi'hich  is  driven  by 
water  taken  from  the  dam  above  through  a  canal  and 
emptied  into  Trout  Brook  below.  Hard  rubber  goods, 
such  as  combs  and  other  small  wares,  are  manufactured, 
and  a  large  number  of  hands  are  employed  in  the  bus- 
iness. In  1873  the  old  grist-mill  seat  was  sold  as  the 
site  for  a  paper-mill,  which  was  started  in  August  1874, 
under  the  management  of  the  Pequannock  Paper  Com- 
pany; this  mill  was  in  part  destroyed  by  fire  June  24th 
1881.    Just  below  on  the  same  stream  and  near  its  mouth 


280 


HISTORY  OP  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Robinson  purchased  a  site  and  built  a  mill  for  manu- 
facturing soft  rubber  goods. 

These  manufacturing  industries  have  caused  quite  a 
village  to  grow  up  within  ten  years  past  on  the  Pequan- 
nock  side  of  the  river,  opposite  the  old  village  of  Bloom- 
ingdale  on  the  east  side.  This  new  village  contains  per- 
haps sixty  dwellings,  with  about  300  inhabitants,  two 
stores  and  several  shops.  It  has  a  post-office  and  has 
assumed  the  name  of  Butler.  The  Midland  Railroad 
passes  through  it. 

A  short  distance  above  on  Trout  Brook  is  a  saw-mill 
that  was  built  many  years  ago  and  is  one  of  the  four  in 
Pequannock  now  in  use  ;  there  is  another  near  the  west 
side  of  Pompton  Plains,  and  one  at  Beavertown.  At  the 
lower  end  of  Pompton  Plains  Jjmes  Comley  has  erected 
a  small  factory  for  turning  and  engraving  rolls- used  in 
printing  calicoes  and  cloths. 

The  paper-mill  at  Bloomingdale  was  established  for 
the  manufacture  of  roofing  felt  in  1874  by  A.  Robinson 
and  others.  In  1878  F.  J.  &  H.  W.  Mather  purchased 
the  business  and  they  have  since  conducted  it.  The 
capital  is  about  $30,000.  These  parties  employ  twelve 
or  fourteen  hands.  The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  about 
three  tons  per  day.  Messrs.  Mather  have  another  mill 
in  Stanley,  about  a  mile  from  Chatham,  where  they  began 
business  early  in  i88o. 

Demorest  &  Russell  erected  a  manufactory  and  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  excelsior  in  the  spring  of 
1881.  They  employ  about  fifteen  men  and  are  doing 
a  business  of  about  three  tons  per  day.  This  is  the  first 
and  only  excelsior  manufactory  in  New  Jersey. 

In  the  northern  part  of  this  township,  a  little  south  of 
Charlotteburgh,  is  quite  a  large  pond,  known  as  Stickle's 
Pond,  once  owned  by  Hubbard  Stickle,  who  drove  a 
bloomary  forge  here  about  sixty-five  years  ago.  His 
brother  Adam  Stickle  about  1842  built  a  forge  on  the  out- 
let of  this  pond  a  short  distance  below,  but  both  of  these 
forges  were  long  since  abandoned  and  have  disappeared. 

Uriah  Roe  located  a  tract  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
in  1715,  and  Joseph  Helby  located  a  tract  here  in  1716. 
It  is  possible  that  either  one  or  both  of  these  tracts  in- 
cluded the  grounds  where  the  iron  works  were  at  Old 
Boonton,  and  that  such  iron  works  were  in  existence 
some  time  before  David  Ogden  came  into  possession  of 
them,  which  was  about  1759.  David  Ogden  sold  the 
Boonton  tract  to  his  son  Samuel,  who  in  1770  bought 
from  Thomas  Peer  about  six  acres  of  land  lying  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river  and  in  Pequannock  township.  On 
this  he  erected  a  rolling  and  slitting-mill,  said  to  have 
been  the  first  or  one  of  the  first  mills  of  the  kind  built  in 
this  country  ;  it  was  probably  put  in  operation  in  1772 
or  1773.  -^s  the  laws  of  England  did  not  allow  iron  to 
be  manufactured  in  that  form  in  the  colonies  the  work 
was  carried  on  secretly  in  the  basement  of  the  mill,  while 
the  upper  part  was  fitted  up  ostensibly  for  a  grist-mill. 
The  bloom  iron  was  taken  from  the  forge  to  this  mill, 
and  when  heated  was  rolled  into  plate,  and  then  slit  into 
rods,  which  were  used  for  making  nails  of  different  kinds 
by   hand  ;     these   were    wrought  nails,   and   there    are 


some  old  buildings  yet  standing  in  the  erection  of 
which  this  kind  of  nail  was  used.  Although  there  were 
several  hands  employed  in  shops  at  Old  Boonton 
making  nails,  the  nail  rods  were  not  all  used  there  ; 
in  those  days  the  trade  of  a  nailer  was  almost  as 
common  as  that  of  a  blacksmith,  and  these  nail 
rods  commanded  a  ready  sale.  We  find  in  books  of  ac- 
count kept  at  Old  Boonton  for  Samuel  Ogden  in  1775 
and  1780  that  nailers  were  credited  with  shingle  nails  at 
one  shilling  per  pound,  and  with  clapboard  nails  at  one 
shilling  and  two  pence  per  pound,  the  retail  price  being 
IS.  4d.  to  IS.  6d.  per  pound. 

After  the  American  colonies  were  free  from  English 
control  there  was  no  longer  necessity  for  having  a  grist- 
mill on  the  first  floor  to  conceal  the  rolling  and  slitting  of 
iron  in  the  basement.  In  1792  Samuel  Ogden  purchased 
from  Th.  Peer  about  an  acre  of  ground  lying  along 
the  northeast  bank  of  the  river  and  immediately  below 
the  slitting-mill  lot.  About  fifty  rods  below  the  slitting- 
mill  Ogden  proceeded  to  build  a  dam  across  the  river, 
and  below  it  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  river  erected  a 
grist-mill.  About  ten  years  after  the  completion  of  this 
mill  there  came  a  great  freshet  and  breaking  up  of  ice  in 
the  spring,  which  swept  away  this  dam.  The  impracti- 
cability of  maintaining  a  dam  at  this  point  secure  against 
similar  freshets  led  to  its  abandonment,  and  another 
grist-mill  was  built  higher  up  the  stream,  by  the  side  of 
the  old  forge.  It  has  been  the  prevalent  belief  that 
Samuel  Ogden  was  the  sole  owner  of  the  slitting-mill 
and  the  only  person  interested  in  operating  it,  but  the 
county  records  show  to  the  contrary.  In  book  A  of 
deeds,  page  21  etc.,  we  find  the  copy  of  a  deed  dated 
May  ist  1784,  from  Abraham  Kitchel,  agent  of  Morris 
county,  to  Samuel  Ogden,  and  we  copy  from  the  record 
the  following,  which  explains  itself: 

"In  the  term  of  June  1779,  in  the  court  of  common 
pleas  held  at  Newark  for  Essex  county,  final  judgment 
was  entered  in  favor  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  pursuant 
to  law,  against  Isaac  Ogden,  late  of  the  township  of  New- 
ark in  the  county  of  Essex,  on  an  inquisition  found 
against  the  said  Isaac  Ogden  for  that  the  said  Ogden  did 
on  or  about  the  first  day  of  January  1777  join  the  army 
of  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  contrary  to  the  form  of  his 
allegiance  to  this  State;  and  in  execution  of  the  judg- 
ment Abraham  Kitchel,  agent,  was  by  a  law  of  the  State 
of  New  Jersey  commanded  to  seize,  sell  and  dispose  of 
all  the  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments  and  all  other 
the  estate  of  whatever  kind  soever  of  the  said  Isaac  Oe- 
den."  ^ 

Kitchel  sold  to  Samuel  Ogden,  for  ^30  proclamation 
money,  one  equal  sixth  part'  of  the  slitting-mill  lot  and 
slitting-mill  and  all  his  interest  in  the  buildings  and  stock 
of  coal  and  iron.  It  is  quite  probable  that  Isaac  Ogden 
W4S  a  brother  of  Samuel.  And  further  the  record  shows 
that  in  the  court  of  common  pleas  in  Morris  county  final 
judgment  was  entered  against  Nicholas  Hoffman,  "  late 
of  Newark,"  on  an  inquisition  found  against  him  "  for 
that  on  the-2ist  of  September  1777  he  joined  the  army  of 
the  king  of  Great  Britain;  and  in  execution  of  said  judg- 
ment Abraham  Kitchel  as  agent  seizes  and  conveys  to 
Samuel  Ogden  for  ,^^30  proclamation  money  one  eighth 


EARLY  IRON  WORKS  IN  PEQUANNOCK— CHURCHES. 


28r 


part  of  this  slitting-mill  lot  and  rolling  and  slitting-mill, 
and  all  the  interest  of  said  Hoffman  in  the  buildings  and 
stock  of  coal  and  iron."  This  deed  also  bears  date  May 
ist  1784.  In  1805  Samuel  Ogden  sold  to  John  Jacob 
and  Richard  B.  Faesch  the  Boonton  tract,  including  roll- 
ing and  slitting-mill,  forge  and  grist-mill,  and  2,500  acres 
of  land,  for  f  10,000,  and  took  a  mortgage  upon  the 
property  for  $9,000  of  the  purchase  money.  John  Jacob 
Faesch  died  in  1809  intestate  and  without  issue,  leaving 
as  his  sole  heirs  Richard  B.  Faesch  his  brother,  and 
Catharine  and  Eliza  his  sisters,  the  latter  being  the  wife 
of  William  H.  Robinson  of  New  York.  The  rolling  and 
slitting-mill  continued  in  operation  till  about  the  middle 
of  March  1820,  when  a  great  freshet  swept  away  the 
dam.  Shortly  after,  in  the  same  year,  Richard  B.  Faesch 
died,  insolvent,  and  all  the  real  estate,  including  forge 
and  grist-mill,  was  sold  to  Israel  Crane  and  William 
Scott.  They  constructed  a  large  dam  across  the  river 
just  above  the  old  forge,  for  the  purpose  of  conducting 
the  water  through  a  dugout  race-way  on  the  Pequannock 
side  of  the  river  to  a  point  opposite  the  ruins  of  the  old 
slitting-mill,  which  would  give  a  water  power  of  about 
forty  feet  fall.  Shortly  after  the  completion  of  this  dam 
a  freshet  broke  away  a  portion  of  it,  which  was  repaired 
and  a  saw-mill  built  at  the  end  of  the  race-way.  A  few 
years  later  another  freshet  broke  away  the  dam  so  effect- 
ually that  the  rebuilding  of  it  was  never  attempted. 
Scott  and  Crane,  under  the  direction  of  Thomas  Hood, 
an  Englishman,  introduced  a  new  kind  of  furnace  in- 
tended for  refining  iron.  In  view  of  the  losses  and  ex- 
penses Crane  became  desirous  of  selling  his  interest,  and 
for  that  purpose  they  divided  the  property.  Crane  taking 
the  lower  part,  including  Old  Boonton  and  the  forge  and 
mill,  which  he  sold  to  John  Righter,  Scott  retaining  the 
upper  portion  of  the  tract  lying  on  both  sides  of  the 
river.  Two  hundred  acres  of  this  tract  lying  on  the  Pe- 
quannock side  of  the  river,  and  opposite  Boonton  Falls, 
Scott  sold  in  the  latter  part  of  1829  to  David  W.  Wet- 
more,  who  in  1831  conveyed  it  with  other  tracts  to  the 
New  Jersey  Iron  Company;  on  a  part  of  that  200  acres 
a  portion  of  the  Boonton  iron  works  and  the  northern 
part  of  the  town  of  Boonton  stand. 

Pertaining  to  the  family  of  Faesch,  who  lived  at  Old 
Boonton,  Mrs.  Mary  King  of  Newark,  now  77  years  old, 
daughter  of  Elijah  Dod  and  the  youngest  sister  of  the  first 
wife  of  William  Scott,  relates  some  matters  of  interest. 
She  says  that  shortly  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1823, 
William  Scott  removed  from  Powerville  to  the  mansion 
at  Old  Bonton,  and  that  she,  then  just  from  the  Moravian 
school  at  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  accompanied  him  and  remained 
there  for  a  time  as  his  housekeeper;  that  she  has  in  her 
possession  a  steel  (found  in  the  garret  of  the  old  man- 
sion) such  as  was  used  in  old  times  to  kindle  a  fire  by 
striking  a  flint  and  catching  the  spark  in  a  tinder  box; 
that  this  steel  has  on  it  the  figures  1752  and  the  letters 
H.  I.  F.,  which  she  was  told  stood  for  Henry  I.  Faesch, 
the  father  of  John  Jacob  Faesch  sen.,  who  came  to  this 
country  in  the  employ  of  the  London  Company,  to  super- 
intend their  iron  works  at  Charlotteburgh  and  Hibernia. 


She  says  she  also  has  a  painting  on  glass,  finely  executed 
and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  (found  in  the  same 
garret),  representing  a  monk  bending  under  the  weight  of 
a  la^rge  bundle  of  straw  he  is  carrying  on  his  back,  which 
on  close  inspection  reveals  at  one  end  the  head  of  a  fe- 
male and  her  feet  at  the  other,  the  monk  also  bearing  in 
one  hand  a  basket  on  the  side  of  which  are  the  words 
"Supplies  for  the  convent."  Mrs.  King  says  this  relic 
has  been  examined  with  a  great  deal  of  interest  by  sev- 
eral noted  artists,  who  praised  the  execution  of  the  work 
and  said  that  kind  of  painting  is  among  the  lost  arts. 
She  further  says  she  has  in  her  possession  an  ancient 
black  walnut  bureau  in  a  state  of  good  preservation,  once 
the  property  of  Faesch,  and  which  was  probably  made 
in  Switzerland  more  than  125  years  ago. 

The  flint  and  steel  were  long  almost  the  only  means  of 
getting  fire;  it  is  within  fifty  years  past  that  a  knowledge 
of  chemistry  has  enabled  us  to  make  a  long  step  in  ad- 
vance in  the  production  of  that  small  but  useful  article 
the  friction  match.  In  old  times  stoves  were  unknown, 
and  fires  were  made  with  wood  in  open  fireplaces;  when 
bedtime  came  enough  live  coals  were  buried  in  the  em- 
bers to  serve  for  re-kindling  fire  in  the  morning,  but  in 
case  the  fire  thus  buried  should  die  before  morning  resort 
must  be  had  .to  the  steel,  flint  and  tinder  box;  in  the  ab- 
sence of  them  the  musket  was  used  by  placing  powder  in 
the  pan  of  the  lock  and  flashing  it  against  a  bunch  of 
tow  (an  article  found  in  every  house  in  those  flax-spin- 
ning days).  Where  there  were  none  of  these  means  re- 
course must  be  had  to  fetching  fire  in  an  iron  pot  from  a 
neighbor's. 

Churches. 

The  first  churches  organized  in  this  section  were  of 
the  Dutch  Reformed  denomination,  and  their  services 
for  many  years  were  conducted  in  the  Dutch  language, 
by  ministers  who  were  mostly  licentiates  from  the  Hol- 
land schools.  The  first  church  at  Pompton  was  organ- 
ized in  1736,  and  the  church  edifice  stood  on  the  east 
side  of  Pequannock  River,  in  what  was  Bergen  county 
(now  Passaic).  It  was  called  ''  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  at  Pompton,"  and  Paulus  Vanderbeck  and  Peter 
Post  were  ordained  elders,  and  Johannis  Henyon  and 
Martin  Berry  deacons;  two  years  afterward  it  contained 
seventy-two  members. 

The  first  church  in  Pequannock  township  was  organ- 
ized at  Pompton  Plains,  in  1760,  under  the  ministry  of 
the  Rev.  David  Marinus,  and  resulted  from  a  division  of 
the  church  organized  at  Pompton  in  1736.  This  division 
grew  out  of  a  difference  of  opinion;  one  party,  called  the 
'- Conferentie,"  held  to  the  necessity  of  obtaining  as  min- 
isters only  such  as  had  been  educated  and  licensed  by 
the  Holland  schools;  the  other  party,  called  the  "Coelus," 
held  to  the  belief  that  there  was  no  impropriety  in  set- 
tling as  pastors  those  who  had  been  educated  and  li- 
censed in  the  schools  of  this  country.  In  1752  Rev.  David 
Marinus  had  been  called  to  Acquackanonk  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Pompton;  he  had  been  educated  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  licensed  the  same  year  by  the  "  Coetus,''  consc- 


282 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


quently  he  belonged  to  that  party.  The  controversy 
over  this  matter  grew  so  fierce  that  for  a  time  it  is  said 
to  have  affected  the  whole  denomination,  and  divided 
this  congregation.  The  "  Conferentie "  party,  gaining 
possession  of  the  church  building,  excluded  Marinus,  and 
hence  his  friends  erected  for  him  a  church  building  on 
Pompton  Plains  in  1760,  which  stood  for  about  twelve 
years.  It  is  said  Marinus  continued  to  preach  here  for 
a  few  years  only,  that  he  fell  into  bad  habits  through  the 
free  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  and  that  his  life  became 
so  inconsistent  that  his  services  were  dispensed  with;  he 
was  suspended  from  the  ministry  in  1778  and  deposed  in 
1780.  He  afterward  sought  employment  at  teaching 
school,  and  taught  at  Lower  Montville,  in  which  neigh- 
borhood he  remained  until  about  the  year  1800;  while 
there  he  occasionally  officiated  at  religious  meetings,  but 
at  times  gave  way  to  his  old  habits. 

About  the  year  1756  churches  of  this  denomination 
were  organized  at  Totowa  and  Fairfield  in  the  county  of 
Essex,  and  at  Old  Boonton  in  Hanover  township  near  the 
borders  of  Pequannock.  These  three  churches  united 
with  the  "  Conferentie,"  who  held  the  original  church 
edifice  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  at  Pompton,  in  call- 
ing as  their  pastor  Rev.  Cornelius  Blaw,  who  came  from 
Holland  and  was  said  to  be  a  good  preacher;  he  was  in- 
ducted into  the  pastorate  October  24th  i  762,  and  lived  in 
the  parsonage  house  at  what  is  called  the  Two  Bridges. 
He  served  these  four  churches  about  five  years,  when 
like  Marinus  he  fell  into  irregular  habits  and  was  re- 
moved. 

A  church  of  this  denomination  existed  at  Acquacka- 
nonk  (now  Passaic)  many  years  before  that  organized  at 
Pompton  in  1736;  Jonas  Ryerson,  a  resident  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Pequannock  River  and  near  to  it,  was  a  dea- 
con in  the  church  at  Acquackanonk  in  17 16,  and  Paulus 
Vanderbeck,  one  of  the  early  settlers  on  Pompton  Plains, 
was  an  officer  in  the  same  church;  and  the  presumption 
is  that  the  early  settlers  on  Pompton  Plains  and  in  other 
parts  of  Pequannock  as  far  up  as  Boonton  occasionally 
attended  this  church  at  Acquackanonk.  The  early  rec- 
ords of  that  church,  kept  in  the  Dutch  language,  contain 
entries  of  marriages  of  persons  from  Pequannock  living 
in  the  vicinity  of  Montville  and  Boonton  as  far  back  as 
1728.  We  find  in  the  church  records  at  Pompton  and 
Pompton  Plains  entries  of  baptisms  from  1736  to  about 
1800,  of  persons  connected  with  families  who  resided  in 
the  southern  part  of  Pequannock  township  and  as  far 
west  as  Boonton. 

After  the  removal  of  Rev.  Mr.  Blaw  efforts  were  made 
to  reconcile  and  unite  the  two  parties,  and  to  build  a 
new  church  for  the  accommodation  of  all.  These  efforts 
appeared  to  meet  with  success,  and  in  1769  it  was  ret 
solved  to  build  a  new  church,  40  by. 50  feet.  The  nex- 
year  an  acre  of  ground  was  purchased  for  the  purpose, 
the  same  on  which  the  present  church  stands.  The 
original  church  edifice  on  this  ground  was  built  in  1771, 
with, a  barrack-shaped  roof  and  a  steeple  in  the  center; 
the-  name-  adopted  "was  the'  "  First  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  of  Pompton   Plains^"  as  appears  by  the  public 


records.  In  1772  this  church  united  with  the  churches 
at  Fairfield  and  Totowa  in  calling  as  pastor  the  Rev. 
Hermanns  Meyer,  who  was  installed  in  1773.  He 
served  the  three  churches  about  two  years,  when  Fair- 
field was  relinquished  and  he  continued  to  serve  at  the 
Plains  and  at  Totowa,  and  a  part  of  the  time  at  Boonton. 
Mr.  Meyer  was  born  in  Germany,  educated  in  one  of  the 
Dutch  universities,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1762;  he 
was  a  man  of  great  learning,  of  a  mild  temper,  and  un- 
affected in  his  manner,  and  stood  high  in  the  opinion  of 
the  churches  at  largfe.  He  served  this  church  about 
eighteen  years,  until  his  death,  v/hich  occurred  October 
27th  1791;  he  was  buried  beneath  the  church  at  the 
Plains,  and  his  epitaph  is  inscribed  on  a  marble  slab  in 
the  floor  immediately  in  front  of  the  pulpit. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Meyer  there  was  a  vacancy  of 
about  three  years.  This  church  united  with  the  church 
at  Old  Boonton  in  1794  in  calling  the  Rev.  Stephen  Os- 
trander,  who  was  twenty-five  years  old  and  had  just  been 
licensed  to  preach.  He  served  fifteen  years  between  the 
two  churches,  preaching  one-quarter  of  the  time  at  Old 
Boonton.  Soon  after  his  settlement  the  congregation 
provided  a  parsonage  for  him  on  the  present  site.  During 
his  pastorate  93  were  added  to  his  church.  It  is  said  of 
him  that  "  he  was  a  faithful  pastor,  unobtrusive  and  un- 
assuming in  his  deportment,  conscientious  and  exact  in 
the  performaace  of  all  his  duties,  and  unwearied  in  di- 
recting his  efforts  with  a  view  to  usefulness."  About  the 
year  1809  a  dispute  arose  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pomp- 
ton Plains  in  regard  to  the  public  schools,  which  led  to 
considerable  disturbance.  It  is  said  that  Ostrander,  be- 
coming involved  in  this,  refused  to  baptize  the  children 
of  such  as  differed  from  him;  this  it  appears  impaired 
his  usefulness  as  pastor  and  led  to  his  removal. 

That  the  dispute  about  the  public  schools  was  not  the 
only  disturbing  element  in  this  congregation  at  that  time 
we  are  led  to  believe  from  what  we  find  in  a  deed  dated 
January  sth  1796,  from  Luke  John  Kiersted  to  Samuel 
Roomer  and  Philip  Schuyler,  church  wardens  or  trustees 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  at  Pompton  Plains,  con- 
veying half  an  acre  of  ground  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road  for  church  purposes.  It  is  therein  recited  that 
"  whereas  the  said  trustees,  being  desirous  fo  settle  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  who  shall  preach  for  the  congrega- 
tion at  Pompton  Plains  the  true  doctrine  of  the  Christian 
religion,  and  uphold  and  follow  the  rules  and  church 
orders,  according  as  they  are  established  by  the  national 
synod  at  Dordrecht  (or  Dort)  in  the  years  1618  and  1619, 
have  for  that  purpose' purchased  of  the  said  Luke  John 
Kiersted  all  that  lot,"  etc. 

From  1809  to  1813  the  pulpit  in  this  church  was  again 
vacant.  On  the  19th  of  September  1813  the  Rev.  Jacob 
T.  Field  was  installed  as  pastor.  It  is  said  of  him  that 
he  was  a  "  faithful,  active  and  fearless  minister,  and  that 
the  fruits  he  was  permitted  to  gather  testify  to  the  fidelity 
of  his  mitiistry."  A  short  time  after  Mr.  Field  was 
settled  here  a  meeting  of 'the  congregation  was  held  to 
determine  as  to  rebuilding!  and  enlarging  the  church  edi- 
fice.    It  was  resolved  "  that  the  church  be  extended  16 


THE  REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  POMPTON  PLAINS. 


283 


feet  toward  the  road,  with  a  steeple  in  the  east  end,  the 
walls  to  be  raised  in  due  proportion  and  the  windows 
raised  so  as  to  cover  the  galleries,  and  that  the  inside  of 
the  church  be  altered  and  finished  in  such  manner  as  the 
trustees  may  deem  proper." 

Previous  to  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Field  over  the  Plains 
church  a  part  of  the  congregation  residing  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  Plains,  at  Pompton,  in  Wynockie  Valley  and 
Boardville,  feeling  the  need  of  better  accommodations 
for  holding  religious  services,  at  a  meeting  called  for  the 
purpose  in  February  1812  decided  to  build  a  church  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Pompton,  to  be  styled  the  "  Pomp- 
ton  and  Wynockie  Church."  As  the  result  a  church  was 
built,  and  in  a  month  after  Mr.  Field  had  been  installed 
at  the  Plains  this  edifice  was  dedicated  by  him.  He 
preached  there  every  third  Sabbath,  the  people  of  that 
section  paying  one  third  of  his  salary. 

The  people  at  Pompton,  feeling  the  need  of  more  ser- 
vices, applied  to  the  consistory  of  the  Plains  church  for 
a  separation;  this  being  conceded,  application  was  made 
to  the  Classis  of  Bergen  for  a  separate  organization. 
This  was  granted,  and  the  organization  effected  June 
26th  1815;  the  two  congregations  being  unable  to  effect 
a  satisfactory  arrangement  as  to  the  joint  services  of  Mr. 
Field,  the  church  at  Pompton  gave  him  a  separate  call, 
which  he  accepted,  his  pastorate  at  the  Plains  lasting  a 
little  over  two  years.  The  church  at  the  Plains  is  the 
only  one  within  the  present  bounds  of  Pequannock  town- 
ship. A  portion  of  the  people  on  the  upper  end  of  the 
Plains  and  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township  are  at- 
tached to  the  congregation  of  the  church  at  Pompton; 
others  attend  the  Baptist  and  Methodist  churches  at 
Bloomingdale,  and  the  Methodist  church  at  Pompton. 

There  was  then  a  vacancy  at  the  Plains  for  about  two 
years  after  Mr.  Field's  departure.  February  9th  18 17 
Rev.  Ava  Neal  was  installed  as  pastor.  He  served  this 
church  and  the  one  at  Fairfield  about  six  years,  preach- 
ing one-third  of  the  time  at  the  latter.  Then  the  Fair- 
field church  released  him,  and  he  was  retained  by  the 
Plains  alone  until  July  1828.  In  1829  he  was  suspended 
from  the  ministry,  but  was  restored  in  1833  and  died  in 
1839. 

In  1829  this  church  united  with  the  one  at  Montville 
in  calling  the  Rev.  Abraham  Messier;  he  served  about 
three  and  a  half  years,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
church  of  Raritan,at  Somerville,  where  he  still  continues. 

A  few  months  after  the  removal  of  Mr.  Mesler  this 
church  called  the  Rev.  James  R.  Talmage,  who  was  in- 
stalled on  the  20th  of  February  1833;  his  pastorate  con- 
tinued about  four  years,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from 
the  church  at  Blawenburg,  N.  J. 

After  about  eight  months  vacancy  this  church  secured 
as  pastor  Rev.  Garret  C.  Schanck.  He  served  the  people 
here  about  fifteen  years,  in  which  time  120  were  added 
to  the  membership.  During  his  pastorate  the  parsonage 
was  rebuilt  and  made  into  a  neat  and  commodious  house. 
In  March  1853  he  resigned. 

The  same  year  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Charles  I. 
Shepard,  and  he  was  ordained  and  installed  in  Septem- 


ber. His  pastorate  continued  five  years,  when,  it  is  said, 
"  for  providential  reasons  Mr.  Shepard  felt  constrained 
to  ask  for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,''  and  on 
January  15th  1858  he  was  dismissed  by  •'he  Classis  of 
Passaic  to  the  church  of  Linlithgow. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  F.  Harris,  who  was  in- 
stalled March  27th  1858.  He  served  nine  years.  During 
his  pastorate  the  church  building  was  greatly  improved 
by  refurnishing  it  and  frescoing  the  walls. 

The  Rev.  John  Van  Neste  Schenk,  of  Owasco  Outlet, 
near  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  was  next  called.  He  began  his 
labors  here  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  October  1867,  and  was 
installed  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month.  He  served  this 
congregation  about  four  years,  when  he  died  after  a  short 
illness,  September  28th  1871,  aged  twenty-nine  years. 
During  his  pastorate  here  78  were  added  to  the  church 
membership.  Mr.  Schenk  was  born  near  South  Branch, 
Somerset  county,  N.  J.,  February  21st  1842;  was  ed- 
ucated at  the  classical  institute  at  Ovid,  Seneca  county, 
N,  Y.,  and  at  Rutgers  College.  His  labors  in  the  church 
at  Pompton  Plains  were  marked  with  great  success;  pos- 
sessing a  generous  nature  and  winning  ways,  he  made 
many  friends,  especially  among  the  young,  and  was  held 
in  high  esteem  generally  by  the  people;  his  early  death 
was  greatly  lamented.  The  renewed  interest  awakened 
under  his  ministry  led  the  congregation  to  desire  to  fur- 
ther enlarge  the  church  edifice  and  subject  it  to  general 
and  extensive  repairs,  which  purpose  was  carried  into 
effect  early  in  1871. 

On  the  igth  of  May  187 1  the  following  resolution  was 
passed  by  the  consistory  :  "Resolved,  That  our  pastor 
be  requested  to  prepare  a  historical  discourse  in  con- 
nection with  the  completion  of  the  first  century  of  our 
house   of  worship,  to    be   delivered    at   its   reopening." 

In  compliance  with  this  request  Mr.  Schenk  with  con- 
siderable labor  and  research  prepared  such  a  discourse, 
containing  much  valuable  information,  which  he  in- 
tended to  deliver  at  the  reopening  of  the  edifice  on  the 
22nd  of  November  187 1.  To  it  we  are  indebted  for  much 
that  is  contained  in  the  history  which  we  have  given  of 
this  church.  As  a  matter  of  interest  and  appropriate  in 
this  connection,  we  copy  the  following  from  a  report  of 
the  dedicatory  services  : 

"The  church  building  has  been  lengthened  by  the  ad- 
dition of  thirteen  and  one  half  feet,  with  the  pulpit  in  a 
recess.  Thirty  new  pews  were  thus  formed  ;  the  whole 
interior  was  tastefully  frescoed,  painted,  and  refurnished. 
On  the  22nd  of  November  187 1  the  church,  appropriately 
draped  in  mourning,  was  filled  with  deeply  interested 
worshipers  at  the  reopening  exercises.  The  devotional 
services  was  conducted  by  Rev.  John  N.  Jansen  of 
Pompton,  Rev.  Charles  I.  Shepard  of  Newtown,  L.  I., 
Rev.  J.  F.  Harris  of  Hurley,  N.  Y.,  Rev.  Garret  C. 
Schanck  of  Monmouth,  N.  J.,  and  Rev.  Paul  D,.  Van 
Cleef  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  By  request  of  the  consistory 
of  the  church  Rev.  George  J.  Van  Neste,  of  Little  Falls, 
read  the  historical  discourse  prepared  by  the  late 
pastor." 

Rev.  J.  H.  Whitehead  succeeded  next  in  the  pastorate, 
where  he  is  still  laboring. 

The  records  of  this  church  present  a  total  membership 


38 


284 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


of   808  enrolled  during  the  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
years  of  its  existence  up  to  187 1. 

It  is  said  "  the  first  child  baptized  in  the  church  on 
the  Plains  on  its  present  site  was  Lena,  daughter  of 
Anthony  Mandeville."  She  married  Cornelius  T.  Dore- 
mus,  who  owned  the  farm  and  lived  in  a  house  that  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  present  parsonage  of  the  Montville 
church.  They  had  two  children,  a  son  Thomas  C.  and 
a  daughter  Elma.  Thomas  C.  Doremus  was  for  many 
years  a  prominent  merchant  in  New  York,  of  the  firm  of 
Doremus  &  Nixon;  he  married  a  sister  of  the  late  Daniel 
Haines,  formerly  governor  of  this  State.  Professor  Og- 
den  Doremus,  well  known  for  his  lectures  on  science 
and  his  knowledge  of  analytical  chemistry,  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  C.  Doremus.  The  daughter  Elma  married  Rev. 
Abraham  Mesler,  who  served  about  three  and  a  half 
years  as  pastor  at  the  Plains  and  at  Montville,  and  who 
since  1832  has  been  pastor  of  the  church  at  Somerville, 
N.  J.,  where  he'is  now  pastor  emeritus. 

Education. 

There  is  evidence  that  the  first  immigrants  coming 
from  Holland,  Germany,  Switzerland,  and  England  gen- 
erally possessed  a  rudiraental  education,  and  there  is  little 
doubt  that  the  instruction  of  their  children  at  first  re- 
ceived some  attention  in  the  family,  until  the  increase  of 
population  and  the  improved  condition  of  the  land  and 
the  people  enabled  them  by  concerted  effort  to  establish 
and  support  neighborhood  schools.  Tradition  informs 
us  that  the  first  school  buildings,  like  the  first  dwellingSj 
were  built  of  logs;  that  their  internal  arrangements  were 
of  the  cheapest  and  plainest  order,  and  that  the  teachers 
employed  were  not  generally  of  a  high  grade  either  as  to 
ability  or  character.  The  eastern  portion  of  Pequannock 
was  first  settled  almost  exclusively  by  Hollanders,  who 
came  from  Bergen,  New  York,  Kingston,  Albany  and 
Schenectady.  Many  brought  with  them  books  printed 
in  the  Dutch  language.  Those  who  at  first  settled  in  the 
southern  and  middle  portions  of  this  township  were  also 
principally  of  the  same  nationality,  and  the  Holland 
Dutch  was  the  language  mostly  used  among  these  early 
settlers  and  their  descendants  for  more  than  sixty  years. 
The  services  in  the  first  churches  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
denomination  were  conducted  in  that  language,  and  the 
records  of  such  churches  were  kept  principally  in  that 
language  up  to  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
in  some  cases  l^ter.  For  many  years  in  churches  of  this 
denomination  there  was  manifested  a  strong  objection  to 
employing  any  one  as  a  pastor  who  had  not  been  regu- 
larly educated  and  licensed  in  the  schools  of  Holland. 
Tradition  informs  us  that  the  public  schools  were  taught 
in  the  English  language  for  some  years  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  but  the  Holland  Dutch  continued  to  be 
the  language  mainly  used  in  many  families  of  the  de- 
scendants of  the  first  Holland  settlers,  and  was  so  used 
quite  generally  up  to  1790  and  1800,  and  in  some  families 
18  to  30  years  later.  There  are  a  few  persons  still  living 
who  recollect  that  their  parents  were,  as  late  as  1815  to 
1820,  accustomed  to  read  from  their  old   Dutch  Bibles, 


and  that  they  expressed  regret  that  their  church  services 
were  no  longer  conducted  in  the  Dutch  language,  as  they 
could  understand  it  so  much  better  than  the  English. 
Some  of  these  old  Dutch  Bibles  still  remain  in  the  hands 
of  descendants  unable  to  read  them,  kept  as  cherished 
relics  of  former  times.  One  in  the  possession  of  the 
writer  was  printed  at  the  Hague  in  Holland  in  1647, 
measures  10  by  16%  inches,  and  contains  1,200  pages 
and  several  illustrations. 

The  oldest  record  of  Pequannock  township  that  we 
find,  which  is  in  the  keeping  of  the  township  clerk  of 
Boonton  township,  bears  date  1741,  which  was  in  the 
fourteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  George  II.  of  Eng- 
land; and  is  no  doubt  the  first  record  of  township  pro- 
ceedings after  the  setting  off  of  Pequannock  from  Han- 
over township  in  1740. 

We  find  no  record  in  the  township  books  pertaining  to 
educational  matters  until  1830,  when  the  school  system 
established  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1829  went 
into  effect.  But  that  the  early  settlers  were  not  unmind- 
ful of  their  duty  to  establish  schools  and  maintain  thern 
we  have  reliable  testimony,  brought  down  to  us  by  tra- 
dition. Very  few  if  any  of  the  public  schools  in  those 
early  days,  or  for  seventy-five  years  following,  were  kept 
open  for  more  than  one  or  two  quarters  in  the  year. 
Funds  to  support  a  school  were  sometimes  raised  by  sub- 
scription. Generally  a  contract  was  made  with  the 
teacher  at  from  eight  to  ten  shillings  per  scholar  for  a 
quarter,  the  teacher  to  have  his  board  and  lodging  found 
by  boarding  around  among  the  patrons  of  the  school. 
This  method  of  employing  and  paying  a  teacher  pre- 
vailed about  a  hundred  years,  and  did  not  entirely  dis- 
appear in  Pequannock  township  until  about  1853. 

From  1790  to  1830  many  persons  employed  as  teachers 
in  the  public  schools  were  occasionally  addicted  to  in- 
temperance. During  that  period  many  thus  employed 
were  of  foreign  birth,  either  Englishmen  or  Irishmen. 
The  short  and  uncertain  periods  of  keeping  schools  open 
tended  to  make  the  teacher's  calling  one  of  an  itinerant 
character  and  led  to  frequent  changes,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence there  were  many  applicants  for  teachers'  po- 
sitions not  of  the  best  character  either  for  learning  or 
morality.  Owing  to  the  demoralized  state  of  public  sen- 
timent persons  of  questionable  qualifications,  simply  be- 
cause they  offered  to  work  for  a  low  price,  would  often 
succeed  in  obtaining  the  position  of  teachers,  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  others  of  better  character  and  higher  ability.  A 
few  facts  and  circumstances  yet  fresh  in  the  recollection 
of  some  of  our  older  people  will  serve  to  illustrate. 

About  the  year  1820  an  Englishman  was  engaged  as  a 
teacher  for  the  Montville  school.  He  appeared  to  be  a 
gentleman  and  well  educated,  and  was  considered  in  the 
district  as  quite  an  acquisition  because  of  his  ability  to 
write  a  very  pretty  hand,  as  shown  by  the  copies  he  made 
for  the  children  in  their  writing  books.  It  was  at  first  his 
custom  to  open  his  school  in  the  morning  with  prayer. 
One  morning,  when  the  children  as  usual  assembled  at 
the  school-house  a  little  before  9  o'clock,  the  teacher  was 
sitting  in  his  chair  behind  his  desk,  with  his  arms  crossed 


ttlE  flRSt  SCHOOLS  IN  PEQUANNOCK. 


^8S 


and  resting  on  it,  and  his  head  resting  on  his  arms.  The 
children  thought  he  was  asleep,  but  9  o'clock  came  and 
still  he  slept,  and  continued  to  sleep  as  soundly  as  ever. 
In  about  half  an  hour  a  gentleman  living  near  by,  seeing 
the  children  about  the  door,  came  up  to  inquire  what 
■was  the  matter.  Looking  in  he  saw  the  condition  of  the 
teacher,  and  calling  on  some  oi  the  larger  boys  to  assist 
him  he  laid  him  on  the  floor  and  placed  some  books 
under  his  head;  then  told  the  children  their  teacher  had 
been  taking  too  much  apple  whiskey,  and  they  must  go 
home  and  return  the  next  morning,  when  all  would  prob- 
ably be  right.  This  was  not  the  only  instance  of  inter- 
ruption in  the  school  caused  by  such  indulgence  on  the 
part  of  their  teacher,  yet  he  was  retained  for  several 
quarters.  Some  few  years  after  that  a  teacher  was  em- 
ployed in  this  school  who  appeared  to  have  been  well 
educated,  and  withal  was  something  of  a  dandy  in  his 
manner  and  dress.  The  school  had  been  under  his 
charge  but  a  few  weeks  when  it  began  to  be  whispered 
that  he  was  too  fond  of  strong  drink;  soon  there  was  un- 
mistakable evidence  of  the  fact,  for  at  times  he  would  be 
absent  several  days  in  consequence  of  his  indulgence. 
Yet  this  man  was  retained  as  a  teacher  for  two  quarters 
without  being  fined  for  tippling,  or  even  very  seriously 
reprimanded  for  his  vicious  habit,  thus  show^ing  that 
public  sentiment  had  changed  in  some  respects,  and  cer- 
tainly not  for  the  better  as  regarded  sobriety.  It  is  true 
many  of  the  teachers  employed  from  time  to  time  in  this 
as  well  as  other  schools  in  the  township  were  persons  of 
upright  character  and  fair  literary  attainments;  yet  it  was 
too  true  that  some  were  employed  who  turned  out  to  be 
not  only  immoral,  but  deficient  in  literary  attainments, 
and  not  a  few  who  were  more  or  less  addicted  to  tip- 
pling. Persons  now  living  in  the  township  recollect 
that  men  addicted  to  intemperate  habits  were  employed 
to  teach  at  Pompton  Plains,  Beavertown  and  Pine  Brook, 
as  well  as  at  Montville,  and  these  were  the  places  where 
schools  were  first  established  in  the  township.  Nor  were 
these  evils  peculiar  to  this  township;  other  townships 
throughout  the  whole.  Slate  were  suffering  more  or  less 
from  like  inflictions. 

A  convention  of  the  friends  of  education  was  held  at 
the  State-house  in  Trenton  in  the  summer  of  1828,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  state  of  education  in  the  sev- 
eral counties  of  this  State,  and  to  ascertain  what  should 
be  done  for  the  encouragement  and  proper  support  of 
schools.  At  this  convention  a  general  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  Charles  Ewing,  John  N.  Simp- 
son and  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  and  sub-committees 
for  each  county  authorized  to  make  a  thorough  investiga- 
tion of  the  situation  in  each  township,  and  report  at  a 
future  meeting.  On  the  nth  of  November  1828  that 
report  was  made.  Only  a  partial  statement  was  made  in 
regard  to  Pequannock.  The  result  of  this  public  inves- 
tigation was  action  taken  by  our  Legislature  at  the  session 
of  February  1829,  by  which  was  established  the  first  sys- 
tem of  public  instruction  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 

Westerly  of  Montville  village  there  was  no  school  in 
Pequannock  short  of  Rockaway  Valley;  where  the  pres- 


ent town  of  Boonton  stands  was  then  a  wilderness.  At 
this  time  the  school-house  at  Montville  was  probably  the 
third  erected  there.  It  was  built  about  1806,  a  frame 
building  18  by  24  feet,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  present 
site,  at  the  corner  of  two  roads,  and  directly  on  the  edge 
of  the  street.  There  was  not  a  foot  of  playground  at- 
tached, the  only  place  available  to  the  children  for  such 
purpose  being  the  public  road.  No  paint  had  ever  been 
applied  to  this  building  externally  or  internally.  The 
arrangements  for  heating  consisted  of  a  large  open  fire- 
place at  one  end  of  the  room;  the  wood  was  furnished 
by  the  patrons  of  the  school  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  scholars  sent  by  each.  The  desks  consisted  of  boards 
attached  in  an  inclined  position  to  the  sides  of  the  room; 
in  front  of  these  were  placed  long  and  rudely  constructed 
benches  made  from  slabs  having  holes  bored  through 
near  the  ends  and  sharpened  sticks  thrust  in  as  legs  to 
support  them.  In  the  center  of  the  room  were  benches 
similarly  constructed,  and  without  back  supports,  for  the 
use  of  the  smaller  children;  besides  these  there  was  a 
roughly  made  desk  without  stain  or  paint,  and  a  splint- 
bottomed  chair,  for  the  use  of  the  teacher.  These  con- 
stituted the  total  of  school  furniture;  such  things  as 
black-boards,  maps,  or  charts  were  not  found  in  country 
district  schools  at  that  time,  and  in  fact  were  then  scarcely 
thought  of  as  articles  necessary  for  the  school-room. 
The  pens  used  for  writing  were  made  from  quills,  the 
writing  books  were  common  foolscap  paper  folded,  and 
it  was  the  duty  of  the  teacher  to  make  and  sharpen  all 
the  pens,  and  to  write  the  copies.  The  text  books  then 
in  use  were  Webster's  spelling  book,  the  Scholar's  Com- 
panion, the  Child's  Instructor,  the  Monitor,  the  Testa- 
ment, the  English  Reader  (more  recently  introduced) 
and  Dillworth's  and  DaboH's  Arithmetics.  No  attention 
was  paid  to  the  study  of  geography,  and  very  little  if  any 
to  the  study  of  English  grammar. 

There  were  no  recitations  in  classes  in  arithmetic,  ex- 
cept as  to  the  different  tables;  each  scholar  was  expected 
to  do  "  as  many  sums  "  as  he  could,  and  if  the  answer 
obtained  was  the  same  as  that  given  in  the  book  the 
operation  was  supposed  to  be  right;  the  why  and  the 
wherefore  were  seldom  if  ever  inquired  into.  The  older 
pupils  in  arithmetic  were  encouraged  to  write  out  in  de- 
tail in  a  book  prepared  for  the  purpose  the  working  of 
each  example,  with  a  view  to  having  it  as  a  book  of  refer- 
ence to  aid  them  when  they  should  go  into  business; 
these  were  called  "cyphering  books."  Tl>e  idea  of  im- 
parting to  his  pupils  a  thorough  understanding  of  the 
principles  of  the  science,  as  the  best  means  of  prepara- 
tion to  solve  all  practical  problems  as  they  were  presented 
in  the  business  of  life,  did  not  enter  the  head  of  the 
average  common  school  teacher  of  that  day.  Then  the 
amount  that  could  be  retained  in  the  memory  and  re- 
peated in  the  words  of  the  book,  whether  the  meaning 
was  thoroughly  understood  or  not,  was  considered  the 
measure  of  learning  in  most  of  our  public  schools. 

After  opening  school  the  teacher  generally  proceeded 
to  take  his  whip  in  hand  as  the  ox-driver  does  when  he 
proceeds  to  his  work,  and  he  would  continue  to  carrv  it 


i86 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


about  nearly  the  whole  of  school  hours,  frequently  using 
it  in  touching  up  one  and  another  for  whispering,  not 
sitting  up  straight,  neglecting  to  study,  or  looking  out  of 
the  window;  and  sometimes  it  was  most  severely  and 
cruelly  used.  Yet  but  little  complaint  on  that  account 
was  heard  among  the  people;  the  prevailing  idea  of  a 
teacher  appeared  to  be  that  if  he  could  whip  he  was 
smart  and  would  make  the  children  behave  and  learn. 
The  popular  idea  of  school  government  at  that  time  ap- 
peared to  be  that  brute  force  was  the  only  proper  con- 
trolling power.  Seldom  was  a  teacher  found  who  would 
as  a  rule  resort  to  gentle  means,  kind  and  encouraging 
words  and  moral  suasion  to  maintain  order  and  subjec- 
tion. 

It  was  about  the  year  1826  that  a  building  was  erected 
and  a  store  opened  immediately  opposite  the  old  school- 
house  at  Montville;  the  business  of  this  store  for  years 
consisted  mainly  in  buying  in  wood  to  be  shipped  by 
canal  to  Newark.  In  the  stock  kept  at  this  store,  as  was 
generally  the  case  in  most  stores  at  that  time,  was  whis- 
key in  its  various  forms.  Many  of  the  customers,  being 
considerably  under  its  influence,  would  loiter  about  there 
for  hours;  as  a  consequence  very  much,  both  in  manners 
and  language,  that  was  improper  and  demoralizing  was 
brought  directly  to  the  notice  of  the  pupils  at  that  school. 
From  1820  to  1840  it  was  the  practice  of  a  neighboring 
clergyman  to  visit  the  different  schools  within  the  circuit 
of  several  miles  about  once  a  quarter,  and  sometimes 
oftener,  to  catechise  the  children  in  the  old  Calvinistic 
catechism,  and  he  would  generally  take  the  opportunity 
to  try  to  impress  upon  the  youthful  minds  "  that  in  Adam 
all  sinned,  and  that  without  repentance  for  the  sin  of 
Adam  all  would  be  condemned  to  eternal  woe  and  suffer- 
ing in  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,"  as  he  graphically 
expressed  it. 

Since  1820  circumstances  have  greatly  changed.  The 
old' school-house  at  Montville  that  stood  at  the  corner  of 
the  roads,  and  the  whiskey  store  opposite,  have  long 
since  passed  away.  Many  years  ago  a  new  school-house, 
larger  and  with  seats  and  desks  somewhat  improved,  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  one,  which  did  service 
some  twenty-five  years  for  larger  and  better  conducted 
schools,  and  was  torn  down  about  fifteen  years  ago  to 
give  place  to  the  present  brick  structure,  which  is  a  neat 
looking  and  commodious  building,  with  the  most  im- 
proved modern  furniture.  The  condition  of  the  public 
school  at  Montville  fifty  years  ago  may  have  been  as  re- 
gards its  immediate  surroundings  rather  exceptional,  but 
in  other  respects  it  may  be  taken  as  a  truthful  represen- 
tation of  the  average  country  district  school  of  that  day; 
and  as  such  we  present  it,  to  give  an  idea  of  the  general 
condition  of  the  schools  in  the  township  at  that  period, 
for  we  have  not  space  for  a  history  in  detail  of  each  dis- 
trict. 

In  Pequannock  township  (  speaking  without  reference 
to  such  part  of  it  as  was  set  off  to  the  new  township  of 
Rockaway  in  1844)  the  first  places  where  district  schools 
were  established  were  Pompton  Plains,  Pine  Brook, 
Montville,   Beavertown  and  Lower    Montville ;    subse- 


quently they  were  opened  at  Waughaw,  Jacksonville, 
Stony  Brook,  Pompton  and  Upper  Bloomingdale;  in  1831 
at  Boonton;  in  1844  a  district  was  formed  near  Boonton 
known  as  No.  6,  and  another  at  Taylortown  in  1849. 

The  first  school-house  on  Pompton  Plains  of  which 
we  have  any  authentic  account  was  built  some  years 
prior  to  r8oo,  and  stood  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street  from  the  present  school-house  and  near  to  the 
present  church  edifice.  About  1807  or  1808  a  portion  of 
the  people,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  school  as  kept 
in  this  building,  united  in  building  a  house  about  half  a 
mile  north  of  the  church,  in  which  a  school  was  opened 
under  David  Provost  as  teacher.  About  1824  a  new 
school  building  two  stories  high  was  erected  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  street  from  the  church,  which  for 
many  years  served  to  accommodate  a  much  larger  school 
under  teachers  of  far  superior  ability;  this  school  frofn 
1840  to  1855  ranked  among  the  first  in  the  township.  In 
1872  this  building,  which  had  become  old  and  dilapi- 
dated, was  removed,  and  on  the  same  site  the  present 
one  was  erected,  which  though  less  roomy  is  more 
modern  in  style  and  comfortable  in  its  internal  arrange- 
ments. 

The  first  school-house  at  Beavertown  of  which  w.e 
have  any  account  was  a  log  building  and  stood  a  few 
hundred  yards  east  of  the  present  hotel  site;  it  was 
probably  built  before  1776  and  continued  to  be  used  as 
a  school-house  until  1806.  The  second  one  stood  on  the 
east  side  of  the  road  leading  to  Pompton  Plains,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  present  railroad  station. 
It  was  a  frame  building  erected  about  1809,  and  was 
used  there  several  years,  and  then  removed  into  Passaic 
Valley,  about  a  mile  south  of  Beavertown  corner,  a 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  residing  in  that  part  of  the 
district.  It  was  used  there  only  a  few  years,  and  was 
then  sold,  and  another  was  built  in  a  more  central  spot, 
near  the  site  of  the  present  building.  This  second 
building,  erected  in  1838,  served  the  district  until  1872, 
when  it  was  removed  to  make  room  for  the  present  one, 
which  is  a  neat  edifice  of  the  modern  style,  having  a 
cupola  and  bell  and  furnished  with  improved  desks  and 
seats. 

At  Pine  Brook  the  first  house  known  ta  have  been 
built  for  school  purposes  was  a  log  building  about  half  a 
mile  north  of  the  present  one,  on  the  road  leading  to- 
ward Boonton;  this  was  probably  erected  about  1760. 
The-next,  a  frame  building,  was  erected  about  1785,  and 
stood  perhaps  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  the  present  one. 
This  second  building  was  used  a  number  of  years,  until 
an  effort  was  made  by  the  people  of  this  district  (a  por- 
tion of  whom  reside  on  the  Hanover  township  side),, 
which  resulted  in  a  new  school-house  in  Hanover  town- 
ship, near  the  present  residence  of  Caleb  W.  Edwards. 
This  location  was  not  central,  and  after  a  trial  of  a  few 
years  the  school  proved  a  failure  for  want  of  support.  A 
majority  of  the  people  desiring  abuilding  more  centrally 
located,  and  of  a  size  suited  to  accommodate  the  neighbor- 
hood for  holding  religious  meetings  on  Sundays,  the 
building   in  Hanover  was  abandoned,  and  a  larger  one 


SCHOOL-HOUSES  m  PEQUANNOCK. 


287 


was  built  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  roads,  nearly 
opposite  the  present  school  building.  This  was  erected 
about  the  year  i8i6  and  served  the  district  until  1852, 
when  the  present  one  was  erected,  which  has  sufficient 
room  and  comfortable  internal  arrangements.  David 
Young,  who  for  so  many  years  made  the  calculations  for 
the  "Farmer's  Almanac,"  and  who  signed  his  name 
"  David  Young,  Philom.,"  taught  school  in  this  district 
about  1820  or  a  little  prior  to  that  time.  He  was  natu- 
rally gifted  with  great  mathematical  ability,  and  a  love 
for  the  study  of  astronomy,  but  was  rather  eccentric  and 
not  very  popular  as  a  teacher.  For  many  years  he  lived 
in  this  vicinity,  at  Hanover  Neck,  and  was  relied  on  by 
the  people  in  this  district  to  examine  teachers  applying 
for  their  school.  Ezra  Fairchild,  who  in  1827  had  estab- 
lished a  select  school  at  Mendham,  was  induced  by  the 
great  fame  of  Mr.  Young  as  a  natural  mathematician  to 
engage  him  as  a  special  teacher  in  that  branch  of  study; 
Mr.  Young,  although  a  perfect  master  of  the  subject  in 
all  its  branches,  was  not  successful  as  a  teacher,  because 
of  his  want  of  ability  to  impart  his  knowledge  to  his 
pupils. 

In  the  Lower  Montville  neighborhood  we  are  able  to 
__trace  the  location  of  six  school  buildings  within  the  past 
hundred  years.  The  first,  a  log  building,  was  probably 
erected  prior  to  1769,  and  stood  on  the  west  slope  of 
Horse  Neck  Mountain,  nearly  opposite  the  present  resi- 
dence of  Azariah  Crane.  Levi  Stiles,  an  octogenarian, 
says  he  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  hearing  his  father 
tell  that  he  went  to  school  in  this  building  to  a  teacher 
by  the  name  of  Marinus,  who  was  a  man  of  learning  and 
ability  and  who  occasionally  preached,  but  that  at  times 
he  would  tipple,  and  that  he  used  to  say  to  the  people, 
"You  must  do  as  I  say,  and  not  as  I  do."  Mr.  Stiles 
says  his  father  was  old  enough  to  enlist,  and  did  enlist  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  before  its  close;  and  hence  we 
infer  that  it  was  about  1767  or  1768  when  he  attended 
this  school  taught  by  Marinus,  and  that  the  teacher  was 
the  first  minister  who  officiated  at  the  Pompton  Plains 
church,  and  whose  ministerial  relation  to  that  church  was 
dissolved  on  account  of  his  intemperate  habits. 

The  next  school  building  was  also  a  log  house,  and 
stood  abput  half  a  mile  south  of  the  present  school- 
house,  on  the  road  leading  to  Pine  Brook. 

The  third  school-house,  which  was  also  of  logs,  with 
its  broad  open  fireplace  and  clay  and  stick  chimney, 
stood  about  175  feet  south  of  the  present  residence  of 
Levi  Stiles,  and  it  was  at  this  place,  under  a  teacher 
named  Simon  Basco,  that  Mr.  Stiles  learned  his  letters; 
this  school-house  must  have  been  in  use  from  about  1790 

to  1808. 

The  next  one  was  a  frame  building  which  had  been 
used  as  a  store-house,  and  was  purchased  by  the  people 
of  the  district  and  moved  on  to  a  lot  of  ground  leased 
for  fourteen  years  from  Dr.  George  Wurts.  This  house 
stood  on  the  road  leading  to  Pine  Brook,  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  south  of  the  present  school-house.  It  served 
the  district  until  the  expiration  of  the  ground  lease, 
about  1824,  when  it  was  sold.     For  a  few  years  after  this 


the  district  was  without  a  school-house  and  without  a 
school.  The  first  teacher  employed  in  the  first  frame 
school-house  in  this  district  was  Patrick  Caffrey,  who 
continued  to  teach  till  1812.  Mr.  Stiles  says  he  went  to 
school  to  him,  and  has  now  in  his  possession  a  "cypher- 
ing book,"  which  is  well  preserved  and  contains  some 
fine  specimens  of  chirography  executed  by  this  teacher. 
Mr.  Stiles  relates  an  incident  which  goes  to  show  the 
natural  hatred  of  the  Irish  race  for  the  English  govern- 
ment. One  day  Caffrey  came  from  his  school  to  Mrs. 
Stiles's,  where  he  was  then  boarding,  and  taking  the  news-  • 
paper,  which  had  just  been  brought  in,  began  to  read;  in 
a  few  minutes  he  broke  out  very  excitedly  with  the  ex- 
clamation, "Glorious  news!  Glorious  news!"  and  con- 
tinued thus  exclaiming  until  Mrs.  Stiles  asked  him  if  he 
was  crazy.  "  No,  no,"  said  he,  "  I  am  not  crazy,  but 
America  has  declared  war  against  England,  and  that  is 
really  glorious  news,  and  I  am  going  to'  help  the  Amer- 
icans fight  the  British;"  and  he  did  at  once  leave  his 
school  and  enlist  in  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

About  1828  a  lot  of  ground  was  obtained  on  the  road 
leading  across  the  Horse  Neck  Mountain,- and  on  it  a 
school-house  was  erected  which  served  the  district  until 
1872,  when  it  was  removed  to  make  room  for  the  present 
building,  which  is  of  sufficient  size,  neatly  finished  and 
provided  with  the  improved  school  furniture. 

The  first  building  used  for  school  purposes  at  Waughaw 
was  of  stone  and  stood  at  the  corner  of  the  roads  a  few 
hundred  yards  north  from  the  Whitehall  Methodist 
church.  The  second  building  was  erected  about  the 
year  1830,  at  a  point  about  a  mile  northwesterly  from  the 
first,  and  continued  to  serve  the  district  until  1873,  when 
the  present  building,  neat  and  convenient  in  its  arrange- 
ments, was  erected  on  a  spot  more  central  in  the  district. 

At  Jacksonville  there  have  been  two  school  buildings 
on  the  same  site;  the  first  erected  about  1825,  and  the 
second  about  the  year  1854. 

At  Stony  Brook,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascer- 
tain, there  have  been  within  the  past  ninety-six  years 
three  school-houses.  The  first  was  built  of  logs  about 
1785,  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  present  one;  the 
second,  which  w'as  also  a  log  building,  stood  near  the 
site  of  the  present  house,  and  was  erected  about  1815;  and 
the  third,  a  frame  buidling,  was  put  up  about  the  year 
1834.  In  1875  this  house  was  thoroughly  repaired  and 
rendered  almost  as  good  as  new. 

At  Pompton,  since  the  establishment  of  a  public  school 
system,  there  have  been  two  school-houses;  the  first,  an 
old  stone  house,  which  was  in  use  from  the  commence- 
ment of  this  district  until  1855,  when  the  present  frame 
building  was  erected. 

At  Upper  Bloomingdale  the  first  school-house  was 
built  about  the  year  1839.  It  served  until  1873,  when  a 
new  house,  of  larger  size,  more  modern  style  and  better 
arrangements,  both  internally  and  externally,  was  erected. 

Care  of  the  Poor. 

We  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  exactly  how  the 
poor  were  cared  for  from  the  beginning  of  the  settlement 


ttlSTORY  Of  MOtlfetS  COtrlSTTY. 


here  up  to  the  time  when  Pequannock  township  was 
formed,  in  1740,  and  a  record  was  started,  in  1741.  It  is 
probable  that  the  method  of  relief  was  similar  to  that 
found  in  use  in  1745,  and  for  eighty  years  subsequent 
which  was  to  farm  them  out  by  selling  them  annually  to 
the  lowest  bidder,  who  would  agree  to  keep  them  for  a 
definite  sum  and  sustain  all  expense  save  the  doctor's 
bill.  The  record  of  the  first  town  meeting  in  Pequan- 
nock, in  1 741,  shows  that  two  persons,  Abraham  Van- 
duyne  and  Henry  Mandeville,  were  elected  overseers  of 
the  poor.  There  is  no  record  of  any  amount  voted  for 
the  relief  of  the  poor  in  that  year  or  for  several  succeed- 
ing years;  but  there  is  some  record  of  the  making  up  of 
the  accounts  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor  at  the  end  of 
the  year.  The  amount  of  their  accounts  was  small,  and 
even  as  far  along  as  1760  the  records  show  the  amount 
of  such  accounts  for  the  year  was  ;;^io  4s}-  id.,  equal  to 
$25.51.  In  that  same  year  it  was  voted  to  raise  ^15 
($37.50)  for  the  relief  of  the  poor;  in  1762  ;^3o  was  voted 
for  the  relief  of  the  poor;  in  1769  ;!^3o,  in  1770  ^£50,  in 
1771  j£ioo,  and  in  1780  ;^i,ooo  proclamation  money. 
This  seems  a  large  increase,  but  when  we  consider  that 
this  proclamation  money  was  current  at  only  about  one 
sixth  of  its  face  the  advance  in  the  poor  rate  will  be  seen 
to  have  been  comparatively  small.  In  1782  the  sum  of 
_;^i30  was  voted  for  the  support  of  the  poor,  showing 
that  in  the  filling  up  of  the  settlements  in  this  township, 
embracing  so  large  an  area,  in  the  space  of  forty-one  years 
the  increase  in  the  poor  rate  was  only  about  $300.  In 
1788  it  was  voted  that  the  poor  be  sold  all  in  one  place, 
and  that  the  dog  tax  be  for  the  use  of  the  poor;  the  town 
records  show  that  the  town  poor  that  year  were  sold  to 
Casper  Dod  for  ^^69  los.  ($173.75). 

In  181 2  it  was  voted  that  the  paupers  be  sold  all  to- 
gether to  the  lowest  bidder,  the  person  taking  them  to  be 
entitled  to  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  all  estrays, 
and  all  fines  that  might  be  forfeited  in  the  town  that  year, 
and  required  to  relieve  the  town  from  all  expense  for 
paupers  for  one  year,  excepting  the  doctor's  bill.  The 
next  year  the  town  voted  that  the  poor  be  sold  separately 
to  the  lowest  bidder,  and  that  all  of  them  able  to  be 
moved  be  brought  to  the  place  where  they  were  to  be 
sold  on  the  Saturday  next  following  town  meeting.  The 
plan  of  selling  the  poor  all  to  one  person  not  proving 
satisfactory  it  was  abandoned,  and  the  old  method  again 
adopted  of  selling  the  keeping  of  the  poor  to  different 
individuals,  the  lowest  responsible  bidders.  This  method 
was  continued  for  many  years,  until  the  people,  impressed 
with  more  enlightened  views,  came  to  regard  with  ab- 
horrence this  plan  of  selling  the  poor,  and  concluded 
that  some  better  method  might  be  found  of  dealing  with 
pauperism;  at  least  more  humane  if  not  more  economical. 
Accordingly  in  1823,  at  town  meeting,  a  resolution  was 
adopted  authorizing  the  town  committee  to  receive 
written  proposals  for  the  purchase  of  a  farm  for  the  poor, 
and  to  report  at  the  next  meeting;  and  to  advertise  for 
that  purpose  in  the  county  paper,  the  Palladium  of  Liberty. 

This  movement  in  Pequannock  induced  Hanover  town- 
ship, where  a  like  project  was  under  consideration,  to  in- 


vite Pequannock  to  join  with  it  in  purchasing  a  farm  and 
erecting  a  poor-house.  This  offer  of  Hanover,  being 
submitted  to  the  people  in  Pequannock  at  the  annual 
town  meeting  in  1824,  was  declined.  At  the  same  meet- 
ing the  town  committee  was  authorized  to  purchase  a 
farm,  not  to  exceed  in  cost  for  farm  and  utensils  $3,000, 
and  a  resolution  was  passed  to  the  effect  that  in  case  the 
township  should  be  divided  one  half  the  purchase  money 
was  to  be  paid  by  the  party  holding  the  farm  to  the  part 
of  the  township  set  off,  provided  an  agreement  should 
not  be  entered  into  to  support  the  poor  equally.  That 
year  the  committee  purchased  a  farm  of  about  163  acres 
belonging  to  the  estate  of  William  Alger,  situated  in 
Rockaway  Valley,  for  $2,400.  This  farm  had  upon  it  an 
old-fashioned  but  quite  roomy  house,  and  the  paupers 
were  at  once  removed  to  it  and  placed  under  the  care  of 
a  keeper.  This  was  the  end  of  "farming  out"  or 
"selling  the  poor"  in  Pequannock  township.  In  1825 
at  the  annual  town  meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted 
vesting  the  whole  charge  of  the  township  poor-house  and 
farm  in  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  who  were  authorized 
to  appoint  a  keeper. 

This  continued  to  be  the  mode  of  providing  for  the 
maintenance  and  care  of  the  poor  in  Pequannock  town- 
ship for  about  thirteen  years.  In  1837  the  board  of  free- 
holders of  the  county  resolved  to  purchase  a  farm  and 
erect  thereon  suitable  buildings  to  be  used  as  a  county 
poor-house,  whereat  should  be  kept  all  the  paupers  from 
the  several  townships  in  the  county.  This  resulted  in 
the  purchase  by  the  county  of  the  farm  and  poor-house 
of  Hanover  township  at  Old  Boonton,  together  with  some 
additional  tracts  of  land,  in  all  about  240  acres,  on  which 
a  building  was  erected  specially  for  the  purpose,  which 
was  opened  for  the  reception  of  inmates  in  1838.  The 
total  first  cost  of  the  lands,  buildings  and  fixtures,  farm- 
ing stock  and  utensils,  was  about  $17,000;  since  that  the 
poor  of  the  different  townships  have  been  supported  and 
cared  for  at  this  establishment,  and  maintained  by  a 
county  tax,  assessed  not  according  to  the  number  of 
paupers  from  each  township,  but  upon  the  taxable  prop- 
erty. In  consequence  of  this  step  taken  by  the  county 
Pequannock  township  resolved  to  sell  its  poor-house  and 
farm  and  send  its  paupers  to  the  county  house;  and  the 
township  committee  was  authorized  to  that  effect,  and  to 
execute  a  sufficient  deed  to  the  purchaser,  and  also  to 
sell  the  moveable  property  upon  the  farm  at  auction. 
Accordingly  on  the  nth  of  April  1838,  and  at  an  ad- 
journed sale.  May  26th,  the  movable  property  on  the 
farm  was  sold,  amounting  to  $783.11,  and  the  farm  was 
sold  to  James  Dixon  for  $3,000.  Pequannock  township 
at  this  time  embraced  a  large  extent  of  territory,  nearly 
all  of  what  is  now  Rockaway  township,  and  all  of  what 
is  now  Boonton,  Montville  and  Pequannock.  After  set- 
tling up  all  bills  against  the  township,  there  was  left  on 
hand  a  balance  of  funds  of  $2,261.80.  The  people  of  the 
township  voted  to  apply  each  year  a  portion  of  this  fund 
toward  the  amount  voted  for  the  support  of  schools,  and 
thus  lessen  the  taxes.  In  this  way  after  many  years  this 
surplus  was  used.      At  the  time  of  setting  off  Rockaway 


PEQUANNOCK  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR— THE  SOLDIERS'  MONUMENT. 


289 


township  from  Pequannock  in  1844  there  was  yet  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  the  surplus  remaing,  for  the  records 
show  that  in  May  of  that  year  11,157.91  of  it  was  paid  to 
Rockaway  as  its  proportionate  share 

Patriotism  in   the  Civil  War. 

In  the  early  part  of  1861,  when  the  southern  States 
were  organizing  for  open  rebellion,  had  declared  their 
purpose  of  setting  up  another  government,  and  were  pre- 
paring to  fire  on  Fort  Sumter,  the  people  of  Pequannock 
were  not  slow  to  manifest  their  loyalty  to  the  republic 
and  the  unity  of  the  nation.  On  every  prominent  corner 
and  at  every  hamlet  poles  were  erected  and  the  national 
banner,  that  emblem  of  unity  and  liberty,  was  floated  to 
the  breeze.  When  President  Lincoln  after  the  fall  of 
Fort  Sumter  issued  his  proclamation  on  the  15th  of  April 
i86r  for  75,000  troops  to  defend  the  national  capital, 
the  quota  of  Pequannock  was  promptly  filled  by  volun- 
teers. Proof  of  the  great  alacrity  with  which  the  people 
of  New  Jersey  responded  to  this  call  for  troops  is  found 
in  the  fact  that  Govenor  Olden's  proclamation  was  issued 
on  April  17th  and  the  state's  quota  of  four  regiments, 
was  filled  and  reported  ready  within  thirteen  days  ;  and 
this  was  before  bounties  was  offered  for  enlistment.  In- 
deed, so  great  was  the  desire  to  enlist  at  the  first  call, 
and  immediately  after  the  filling  of  the  first  quota,  that 
that  many  enlisted  in  regiments  in  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania. At  each  subsequent  call  for  troops  Pequan- 
nock township  was  prompt  to  respond  in  volunteers, 
and  consequently  was  not  subjected  to  a  draft. 

When  the  war  was  ended  and  volunteers  were  return- 
ing to  their  homes  the  people  of  Pequannock  were  not 
unmindful  of  their  honored  dead.  About  the  first  of 
June  1865  a  meeting  was  called  at  Washington  Hall  in 
Boonton  to  consider  what  action  should  be  taken  in 
order  to  erect  a  suitable  monument  to  the  memory  of 
those  from  Pequannock  who  volunteered  and  perished 
in  the  war.  It  was  decided  to  have  a  grand  and  suita 
ble  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July  and  to  devote  the 
proceeds  toward  a  monument,  and  to  that  end  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  canvass  the  township  and  ascer- 
tain the  public  mind.  Everywhere  throughout  the  town- 
ship that  committee  met  with  a  favorable  reception  and 
found  an  earnest  willingness  on  the  part  of  the  people  to 
aid  in  the  success  of  the  object.  The  committee  re- 
ported at  an  adjourned  meeting,  and  immediate  action 
was  taken  to  fully  organize,  to  effect  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements. It  was  decided  to  add  to  the  interest  of  the 
occasion  by  the  representation  of  a  sham  battle,  and  for 
that  purpose  to  secure  the  aid  of  the  returned  soldiers, 
and  for  their  use  to  procure  from  the  State  arsenal  six 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  day  was  propitious,  and  at  an 
early  hour  a  large  concourse  ot  people,  estimated  at 
5,000  or  more,  had  assembled  to  witness  the  proceedings 
and  participate  in  the  enjoyments  of  the  day.  The  exer- 
cises opened  with  the  battle  scene,  representing  the  bom- 
bardment, the  storming  and  capture  of  the  rebel  fort, 
which  was  executed  entirely  by  the  soldiers  who  had  just 
returned  from  the  real  battle  field,  and  so  successfully  in 
all  its  parts  that  it  proved  very  pleasing  and  instructive 
to  the  multitude  of  spectators.  Immediately  after  this 
the  people  assembled  in  a  grove  near  by  and  listened  at- 
tentively to  an  able  and  eloquent  address  by  Major 
Z.  K.  Pangborn,  of  Jersey  City.  The  day  was  pleasant 
throughout,  the  multitude  orderly  and  pleased,  and  the 
celebration  was  eminently  a  success.  The  result  finan- 
cially amounted  to  over  $2,500,  from  which  deducting 


expenses — a  little  over  ^1,200 — there  remained  a  balance 
of  f  1,300  to  be  devoted  to  the  erection  of  the  soldiers' 
monument.  This  was  at  once  invested  'in  township  and 
government  bonds  at  six  per  cent.,  and  the  interest  to- 
gether with  other  additional  sums  kept  invested  until 
1876,  when  it  was  found  that  enough  had  accumulated 
for  the  purpose,  and  a  contract  was  made  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  monument.  A  site  was  selected  for  it  at  an 
elevated  point  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  in  the 
town  of  Boonton;  the  work  was  completed  and  the  mon- 
ument in  position  in  time  to  be  unvailed  and  dedicated 
with  suitable  exercises  on  the  4th  day  of  July  1876. 

The  monument  was  designed  and  built  by  H.  H.  Davis, 
of  Morristown,  at  a  total  cost,  including  foundation  and 
inclosure,  of  $3^500.  It  is  of  Quincy  granite  and  stands 
thirty-three  fedf  high  above  the  foundation.  On  the 
base,  which  is  seven  feet  ten  inches  square,  is  the  date 
of  its  erection,  and  above  on  the  face  of  the  die  the  fol- 
lowing inscription:  "Erected  by  the  people  of  Old  Pe- 
quannock in  grateful  remembrance  of  their  fellow  citizens 
who  volunteered  in  defense  of  the  Union  in  the  war  of 
1861-1865." 

During  the  late  war  Pequannock  township  furnished 
888  men  for  the  Union  army,  of  whom  547  were  volun- 
teers and  341  substitutes.  At  first  no  bounties  were 
paid,  but  toward  the  last  bounties  ranging  from  $300  to 
$600  were  paid  for  recruits,  which  in  this  township  made 
a  large  debt,  amounting  to  ||i 20,950,  for  which  the  town- 
ship by  act  of  the  Legislature  was  authorized  to  issue 
coupon  bonds.  These  bonds  with  the  interest  have  been 
promptly  paid  as  they  became  due.  There  now  (1881) 
remains  a  balance  of  $19,950  of  the  principal  unpaid,  and 
the  last  bonds  will  become  due  in  1884.  The  act  of  1867 
dividing  old  Pequannock  into  three  townships  provided 
that  the  bounty  debt  should  be  under  the  control  of  a 
joint  committee  of  those  townships,  ^nd  the  necessary 
tax  to  meet  the  bonds  and  interest  as  they  became  due 
should  be  apportioned  each  year  among  the  three. 

We  are  unable  to  find  any  record  of  the  number  of 
those  from  Pequannock  who  enlisted  and  were  killed  in 
battle  or  died  from  wounds  received  or  disability  incurred 
in  the  service,  but  it  is  estimated  that  the  number  of  such 
was  equal  to  6  per  cent,  of  the  number  furnished,  and 
that  fully  6  per  cent,  more  returned  to  their  homes  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree  disabled.  It  is  well  known  that 
after  the  war  ended  there  were  vacant  chairs  in.  many 
family  circles,  and  numerous  widows  and  children  were 
thrown  upon  the  government  as  pensioners.  There  were 
some  families  in  which  all  the  able  bodied  male  members 
of  suitable  age  enlisted  in  the  service.  The  accounts  of 
extreme  suffering  to  which  some  taken  prisoners  by  the 
rebels  were  subjected  would  seem  almost  beyond  belief 
were  it  not  that  they  had  been  fully  corroborated  by 
credible  living  witnesses.  Charles  F.  Hoi^kins,  now  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Boonton,  enlisted  early  in  the  war, 
was  wounded,  taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  the  notor- 
ious Andersonville  prison,  from  which  after  a  term  of 
great  suffering  he  was  released,  reduced  to  a  mere  skel- 
eton. Under  careful  treatment  in  a  hospital,  by  reason 
of  the  remaining  vitality  of  a  naturally  strong  constitu- 
tion he  recuperated,  and  lives  to  tell  of  the  horrid  scenes 
of  suffering  he  witnessed,  where  hundreds  were  crowded 
in  that  stockade  amidst  the  greatest  filth,  obliged  to  sleep 
in  the  open  air  without  covering,  or  for  protection  to 
burrow  like  beasts  in  the  ground,  and  where  some  of  his 
fellow  townsmen  suffered  a  lingering  death  from  sickness 
and  starvation. 


RANDOLPH    TOWNSHIP. 


By  Rev.  B.  C.  Megie,  D.  D. 


jjANDOLPH  is  the  most  central  township  of 
Morris  county  and  the  largest  in  population, 
and  excels  the  other  townships  in  prospective 
prosperity.  The  Morris  Canal  and  the  Del- 
aware, Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad 
pass  through  it;  also  the  High  Bridge  branch  of  the 
Central  Railroad  of  New  Jersey.  The  D.,  L.  and  W. 
connects  with  the  Chester  Railroad,  as  it  does  also  with  sev- 
eral smaller  railways  which  tap  the  iron  m.ines  in  the  vi- 
cinity. Dover,  an  incorporated  borough  in  the  township, 
where  these  railroads  center,  is  situated  about  midway 
between  the  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers,  being  forty- 
two  miles  from  New  York  and  forty  miles  from  Easton. 
Randolph  township  was  formed  from  Mendhara  town- 
ship, in  1805,  and  so  named  after  Hartshorn  Fitz-Ran- 
dolph,  one  of  its  most  eminent  residents.  Morris  county 
was  formed  in  1739.  Sixty  years  later,  in  1798,  Mend- 
ham  township  was  set  off,  and  seven  years  after  that,  viz. 
in  1805,  Randolph  was  formed  from  Mendham.  The 
late  Richard  Brotherton,  who  while  living  was  the  best 
authority  for  the  early  history  of  the  township,  often 
amused  himself  and  astounded  his  hearers  by  announcing 
the  paradox  that  in  the  same  room  in  his  father's  house 
three  persons  were  born,  who  were  all  born  in  different 
counties  and  different  townships.  The  first  was  born  in 
Burlington  county  and  Whippanong  township;  the  second 
in  Hunterdon  county  and  Mendham  township,  and  the 
third  in  Morris  county  and  Randolph  township. 

Situated  in  the  northern  highlands  of  the  State,  the 
country  is  uneven  and  hilly,  which  is  favorable  to  health 
and  affords  landscapes  beautiful  and  picturesque.  The 
soil,  if  not  the  most  fertile,  yet  possesses  those  essential 
elements  which  under  wise  cultivation  will  render  it 
abundantly  productive;  but  the  mineral  resources  beneath 
the  soil  have  attracted  and  will  continue  to  attract  more 
attention  and  yield  a  more  liberal  remuneration  to  the 
workman  than  the  soil  itself.  Iron  ores  of  the  richest 
quality  are  found  in  great  abuntfance. 

The  assessors'  figures  for  1881  were  as  follows:  Valu- 
ation of  real  estate,  $1,254,550;  personal  property,  I293,- 
900;  debt,  $28,100;  polls,  1,608;  State  school  tax,  $3,879. - 
21;  county  tax,  $3,612.92;  road  tax,  $5,000;  poor  tax, 
$300. 


The  Indians. 

The  aborigines,  numerous  in  other  parts  of  the  State, 
do  not  seem  to  have  been  so  much  so  in  this  town- 
ship. Still,  evidences  of  their  existence  remain,  not  only 
in  the  names  of  the  streams,  mountains  and  lakes,  but 
also  in  the  arrow  heads,  stone  axes  and  spears,  and  other 
rude  implements  still  found  in  certain  localities.  Near 
the  residence  of  Mrs.  Jacob  Hurd,  just  above  the  canal 
where  it  crosses  the  stream  called  Granny's  Brook  (which 
passes  under  the  canal  acqueduct  and  unites  with  the 
Rockaway  River),  tradition  says,  are  traces  of  an  old 
Indian  village.  Smith  in  his  Colonial  History  of  New 
Jersey  says  that  within  every  ten  miles  square  was  to  be 
found  in  1760  a  distinct  tribe  of  Indians,  named  after  the 
river  or  mountain  of  the  neighborhood.  We  in  our  day 
within  every  five  miles  square  give  a  different  name,  not 
to  the  people  but  to  the  place  in  which  they  dwell.  The 
red  men  gave  a  name  not  to  the  place  but  to  the  persons 
who  lived  there;  and  these  numerous  tribes  were  not  dis- 
tinct classes  of  people,  but  parts  of  one  greater  tribe  or 
nation.  All  the  Indians  of  New  Jersey  belonged  to  one 
nation,  whom  the  English  called  Delawares,  but  the 
Delawares  called  themselves  Lenni  Lenapes,  which  means 
original  people.  They  claimed  not  only  to  be  aborigines, 
but  the  origin  of  the  aboriginal  tribes  of  this  country. 

While  each  petty  tribe  in  the  State  had  a  chief  of  its 
own,  it  yet  acknowledged  a  chief  of  the  nation,  to  whom 
all  the  rest  were  inferior  and  in  subjection.  About  the 
middle  of  the  preceding  century  the  proud  and  popular 
chief  of  the  Lenni  Lenapes  was  named  Teedyuscung. 
He  was  so  much  esteemed  by  his  nation  that  after  he  be- 
came sagamore  he  was  crowned  king  of  the  Delawares. 
Teedyuscung  often  kindled  his  council  fire  within  this 
county,  on  Schooley's  Mountain,  and  there  held  import- 
ant consultations  with  his  tribes.  From  the  place  of  his 
council  fire  near  Drakestown  the  people  of  that  neighbor- 
hood still  point  out  an  Indian  path,  which  led  through 
the  hunting  grounds  of  the  highlands  to  the  fishing  places 
on  the  Delaware  River.  Teedyuscung  was  a  Christian, 
a  convert  of  the  Moravians,  who  had  several  mission 
stations  among  his  people,  and  after  his  conversion  a 
warm  friend  and  patron  of  the  renowned  Presbyterian 
missionary   David  Brainerd.      This  chief  and  king  ren- 


PIONEERS  OF  RANDOLPH  TOWNSHIP. 


291 


dered  valuable  services  to  the  English  during  the  French 
and  Indian  war. 

The  Minisinks  were  the  most  savage  and  warlike  of  all 
the  tribes  belonging  to  the  Delawares  in  this  State.  They 
were  the  Indians  of  Morris  county,  and  extended  from 
the  borders  of  Hunterdon  county  to  Carpenter's  Point 
and  beyond.  The  Minisinks  were  divided  into  smaller 
tribes,  which  called  themselves  by  different  names  in  dif- 
ferent localities,  as  Whippenongs,  Parsippinongs,  Pe- 
quannocks,  Hopatcongs,  Pequots,  Pohatcongs,  Lopat- 
congs  and  the  Tike. 

Early  Purchasers  and  Settlers. 

In  1713,  the  same  year  in  which  Hunterdon  county 
was  set  off  from  Burlington,  John  Reading,  a  public  sur- 
veyor and  a  prominent  character  in  New  Jersey,  at  one 
time  president  of  the  "  Council,"  and  acting  governor  of 
the  State,  made  a  survey  of  land  in  this  township  and 
portions  were  offered  for  sale.  The  first  purchaser  was 
John  Latham,  who  bought  of  the  proprietors  527  acres. 
Thus  early,  even  twenty-five  years  before  Morris  county 
was  organized,  efforts  were  made  to  attract  settlers  to  the 
northern  part  of  the  State,  and  speculators  were  in  the 
field.  It  does  not  appear  that  Mr.  Latham  himself  occu- 
pied any  of  his  527  acres,  but  in  1722  he  sold  this  property 
to  John  Jackson,  who  was  the  first  actual  settler.  It  was 
the  magnetic  iron  ore  of  this  region  that  attracted  Mr. 
Jackson.  He  erected  a  dwelling  where  Mrs.  Jacob  Hurd 
now  lives,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Indian  village;  and  on 
the  stream  immediately  in  front  built  a  forge,  and  com- 
menced the  iron  business.  The  ore  which  was  made  into 
iron  in  this  forge  was  brought  from  the  famous  Succa- 
sunna  or  Dickerson  mine  at  Ferromonte,  about  two  miles 
northwest  of  the  forge.  Moses  Hurd,  the  ancestor  of 
the  Hurds  of  this  township  and  vicinity,  soon  after  came 
from  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  and  worked  in  this  forge. 
Dover,  N.  J.,  was  originally  called  Old  Tye;  when  and 
how  it  obtained  the  name  of  Dover  is  uncertain,  but  in 
all  probability  Moses  Hurd  may  have  named  it  after  his 
former  place  of  residence  in  New  Hampshire. 

In  1722,  when  the  first  settler  moved  into  Randolph, 
the  facilities  for  travel  in  other  parts  of  the  State  were 
not  equal  to  those  of  the  present  time;  for  the  Philadel- 
phia paper  of  that  year  says,  "  The  mail  from  New  York 
to  Philadelphia  is  three  days  behind  time,  and  is  not  yet 
arrived."  Other  persons  found  their  way  to  Jackson's 
forge  and  found  employment  there,  and  the  first  settle- 
ment grew  slowly. 

The  second  purchase  of  land  in  the  township,  which 
brought  settlers  into  another  part,  was  made  by  Joseph 
Kirkbride.  His  first  purchase  was  made  of  the  proprie- 
tors in  1 7 13,  the  same  year  in  which  John  Latham  bought 
his  527  acres.  In  two  several  purchases,  in  the  south 
and  middle  parts  of  the  township,  he  bought  property 
amounting  to  5,779  acres;  and  in  1716  he  bought  558 
additional  acres,  which  included  the  Dickerson  mine, 
then  called  the  Succasunna  mine,  making  in  all  6,337 
acres — a  little  more  than  one  third  of  the  township. 

Joseph  Kirkbride   died  and   left  his   property  to  his 


three  sons,  Joseph,  John  and  Mahlon;  it  was  equally  di- 
vided between  them,  except  the  Succasunna  mine,  which 
was  held  by  them  jointly  till  it  was  sold,  first  to  Jonathan 
Dickerson,  who  purchased  an  interest  in  it;  and  after- 
ward Jonathan  Dickerson  and  Minard  Lefevre,  in  1779, 
purchased  the  whole.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  of  the 
Kirkbrides  settled  in  Randolph  township,  but  they  in- 
duced other  persons  to  move  in  and  purchase  of  them. 
In  the  year  1732,  about  the  time  that  Joseph  Kirkbride 
died,  Daniel  Carrell  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  south  of  Centre  Grove  and  a  little  to  the  northwest 
of  the  Presbyterian  church;  this  descended  to  his  son 
Daniel,  from  him  to  his  grandson  James,  and  from  him 
to  his  great-grandson  James,  who  still  lives  on  it. 
Another  great-grandson,  John  Carrell^  lived  on  a  farm 
just  east  of  the  old  homestead,  wliere  he  raised  a  good 
family  and  left  a  good  name.  A  few  years  ago  he  sold 
this  farm  to  a  Mr.  Eddy,  from  New  York.  John  Carrell 
still  lives  in  the  neighborhood. 

A  family  by  the  name  of  Youngs,  consisting  of  Robert 
Youngs,  Mitchell  Youngs  and  John  Youngs,  settled  on  a 
farm  west  of  the  Carrell  property,  where  Lawrence  Dal- 
rymple  now  resides,  but  they  haye  left  no  descendants  in 
the  township. 

In  1767  Joseph  Dalrymple  purchased  land  where  Sol- 
omon Dalrymple  now  lives.  He  had  fourteen  children, 
among  whom  was  Solomon,  who  left  nine  children,  in- 
cluding Daniel  Dalrymple.  The  last  named  lived  on  the 
old  homestead;  his  only  surviving  son  is  Solomon,  who 
now  occupies  the  original  farm. 

Daniel  P.  Merchant,  who  died  in  1881,  belonged  to  an 
old  family,  and  was  a  leading  townsman;  several  of  his 
children  dwell  in  the  vicinity.  Daniel  Bryant,  at  Golden 
Corners,  belongs  also  to  one  of  the  old  and  leading  fam- 
ilies of  the  township.  Thomas  Coe  and  Henry  Menard 
were  old  residents,  who  should  be  mentioned  in  this  con- 
nection. Mr.  Coe's  descendants  are  still  prominent  in 
the  township. 

The  winter  after  Daniel  Carrell  moved  into  the  town- 
ship, viz.  1740,  was  called  "the  hard  winter."  There 
was  a  deep  fall  of  snow,  and  the  cold  was  extreme;  and, 
in  order  to  save  his  cattle  from  starving,  for  several  suc- 
cessive weeks  he  brought  hay  on  his  back  a  distance  of 
two  miles  and  a  half,  walking,  with  the  aid  of  snow-shoes, 
on  the  uneven  crust.  Some  cattle  perished;  and  a  man 
who  had  dug  his  way  to  the  barn  under  the  snow  and 
could  not  get  back,  and  his  wife,  who  was  left  alone  in 
the  house,  were  found  dead  after  the  snow  melted  in  the 
spring. 

In  the  summer  of  1740  William  Schooley,  son  of  the 
noted  pioneer  William  Schooley  from  whom  Schooley's 
Mountain  derived  its  name,  moved  from  that  mountain 
to  this  township,  and  purchased  of  Mr.  Kirkbride  600 
acres,  which  included  what  is  now  known  as  Mill  Brook. 
His  son  Robert  Schooley  built  a  grist-mill  at  Mill  Brook, 
which  was  the  first  mill  in  the  township  and  the  first  mill 
started  west  of  Morristown.  His  children  were  daughters, 
who  lived  and  died  in  the  township,  after  changing  their 
name  to  Brotherton. 


39 


292 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Henry  Brotherton  in  1744  purchased  ot  Kirkbride  400 
acres,  a  little  to  the  west  of  Mill  Brook,  and  married  the 
oldest  daughter  of  William  Schooley.  James  Brotherton, 
brother  of  Henry,  married  the  second  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Schooley,  and  settled  near  his  brother.  The  first 
Schooley,  whose  name  was  Thomas,  came  from  England 
in  the  ship  "  Martha,"  which  landed  at  Burlington  in 
1677.  The  next  year  Robert  Schooley,  brother  of 
Thomas,  came  from  England  to  Burlington,  in  the  ship 
"  The  Shield."  William,  the  son  of  Robert,  made  his 
way  to  the  northern  part' of  New  Jersey,  and  in  1730  (?) 
bought  a  large  tract  of  what  is  called  Schooley's  Moun- 
tain. 

William  Jeff  Lefevre,,  son  of  the  late  Dr.  William  B. 
Lefevre,  who  now  resides  on  Orchard  street,  Dover,  is  a 
young  artist  of  some  prorriise.  Some  of  his  larger  paint- 
ings were  on  exhibition  in  the  art  gallery  of  Philadelphia 
in  the  summer  of  1881  and  were  spoken  well  of.  He  ex- 
cels in  rural  landscape,  and  especially  in  cattle  painting. 
Mr.  Lefevre  descends  from  some  of  the  oldest  families 
of  this  region,  both  on  his  father's  and  mother's  side. 
He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Hippolyte  Lefevre,  who 
came  to  the  province  ;of  New  Jersey  in  1675,  in  the  ship 
■'  Grififith,"  which  was  the  first  ship  to  come  to  this  colony 
with  emigrants.  At  that  date  special  efforts  were  made 
by  the  proprietors  of  West  Jersey  to  colonize  the  province, 
and  in  this  ship  a  number  of  persons  came  with  money, 
in  order  to  improve  their  financial  condition.  Hippolyte 
Lefevre  landed  at  Salem  and  settled  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  State;  but  in  1750  his  grandson,  Minard  Lefevre, 
was  the  owner  of  a  farm  in  this  township,  and  in  1779, 
with  Jonathan  Dickerson,  joint  owner  of  the  famous  Suc- 
casunna  mine.  His  son,  John  Lefevre,  married  Eliza- 
beth, the  granddaughter  of  J.  Jeff.  His  son,  William 
B.  Lefevre,  M.  D.,  was  a  prominent  man  in  this  region, 
and  died  July  2nd  1881,  in  his  77th  year.  Dr.  William 
B.  Lefevre  married  Mary  C,  daughter  of  David  B.  Hurd. 
William  Jeff  Lefevre  is  of  the  fifth  generation  in  descent 
from  Hippolyte  Lefevre.  Of  his  descent  from  the  Jeff 
.family  the  line  is  as  follows:  J.  Jeff  was  the  owner  of  a 
line  of  vessels  which  sailed  from  England  to  this  country. 
He  settled  at  Elizabethtown  about  1750.  His  daughter 
Mary  Jeff  married  in  1779  Aaron  Day  of  Elizabethtown, 
a  lieutenant  in  a  Jersey  regiment  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  Their  daughter  Elizabeth  in  1801  married 
John  Lefevre.  The  son  of  this  couple,  Dr.  William 
Bonner  Lefevre,  in  1840  married  Mary  C.  Hurd.  Wil- 
liam Jeff  Lefevre  is  the  son  of  William  B.  Lefevre, 
M.  D. 

Edward  Hurd,  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Hurdtown 
mine,  is  descended  from  Moses  Hurd,  the  foreman  in 
John  Jackson's  forge  in  1722.  Joseph  and  Daniel  Hurd, 
sons  of  Moses,  bought  in  1790  a  large  tract  of  land  at 
what  from  them  is  called  Hurdtown,  but  at  that  time  was 
called  "  The  Two  Partners."  They  built  a  saw-mill, 
started  a  forge,  and  opened  the  Hurdtown  mine,  now 
perhaps  ttie  most  valuable  iron  mine  in  the  State.  This 
property  was  sold  at  sheriff's  sale,  and  bought  by  Ed- 
ward Condit,  president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Morristown. 


David  B.  Hurd,  son  of  Joseph  Hurd,  was  clerk  in  the 
State  Bank,  and  married  Eliza  Condit,  daughter  of  the 
president  of  the  bank.  Through  this  marriage  the  prop- 
erty came  back  to  the  Hurd  family,  in  which  it  still  re- 
mains. Edward  Hurd  is  the  son  of  David  B.  Hurd  and 
the  great-grandson  of  Moses  Hurd. 

In  the  year  1745  Joseph  Shotwell  purchased  of  the 
proprietors  90  acres  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rockaway 
River,  including  the  water  power  and  water  privileges, 
and  comprising  what  is  now  the  principal  part  of  Dover. 

In  1756  General  William  Winds  purchased  of  Thomas 
and  William  Penn,  the  heirs  of  the  great  William  Penn, 
275  acres  about  one  mile  east  of  Dover.  His  house  stood 
a  little  west  of  the  present  residence  of  Thomas  Oram. 
This  distinguished  patriot,  who  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  lived  and  died  on  this 
farm. 

In  the  year  1757  Josiah  Beman  purchased  upward  of 
a  hundred  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Dover.  He  erected 
a  forge  near  where  the  rolling-mill  stood,  a  few  rods 
north  of  the  stone  M.  E.  church,  and  carried  on  the  iron 
business  for  many  years  and  until  the  war  of  1812. 

Most  of  these  early  settlers  belonged  to  the  Society  of 
Friends.  Even  John  Reading,  who  surveyed  and  laid 
out  the  first  piece  of  land  in  the  township,  was  originally 
a  Quaker;  but;  being  sent  to  England  for  an  education, 
he  became  partial  to  the  Presbyterians,  and  afterward 
joined  that  denomination,  and  he  and  his  descendants 
became  prominent  and  efficient  members  of  that  church. 
In  1 7 19  John  Reading,  together  with  Joseph  Kirkbride 
and  James  Alexander,  the  surveyor-general  of  East  Jer- 
sey, were  commissioned  by  Governor  Hunter  to  deter- 
mine the  northern  boundary  of  the  State.  Mr.  Reading 
was  always  a  strong  friend  of  the  Quakers,  and  he  was 
the  means  of  several  of  that  denomination  coming  to  this 
township. 

Banjamin  Lampson  bought  of  the  proprietors  a  farm 
about  a  mile  south  of  Dover,  on  the  road  from  Rockaway 
to  Mill  Brook.  This  farm  is  occupied  at  the  present  time  by 
his  grandson  Charles  Lampson. 

Ezekiel  Munson  worked  for  several  years  in  the  old 
forge  of  John  Jackson,  and  afterward  purchased  a  farm 
near  Benjamin  Lampson's,  which  is  now  occupied  lay  his 
grandson  Mahlon  Munson.  Other  grandchildren — 
Ciiarles,  Robert,  Emeline,  Rhoda  and  others — are  still 
residents  of  Dover  or  its  vicinity. 

Titus  Berry,  the  father  of  Asa  and  Henry  Berry,  came 
from  Pennsylvania  during  the  whiskey  rebellion  in  that: 
State,  and  purchased  land  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
township.  Many  of  his  descendants  still  live  in  the 
township. 

Jesse  King  lived  in  a  house  occupying  the  site  of  Dr. 
Condit's  residence  on  Prospect  street,  Dover,  and  had  a 
blacksmith  shop  near  by.  He  was  also  foreman  in  the 
iron  works.  He  and  his  wife  lived  and  died  there,  each 
upward  of  9c  years  old.  Jesse  died  one  day,  and  his. 
wife  the  next,  and  both  were  buried  at  the  same  time. 
His  daughter  Margaret  King  married  Jeremiah  Baker, 
the  father  of  Henry  arid  William  Baker.     John  D.  King 


EARLY  SETTLERS  IN  RANDOLPH— ASSESSMENTS  IN  1769. 


293 


and  William  King  and  their  children  are  descendants  of 
Jesse  King. 

Moses  Doty,  in  the  year  1800,  moved  to  Dover  and 
built  a  house  in  the  park,  near  the  residence  of  Henry 
McFarlan.  When  the  park  was  enclosed  about  thirty 
years  ago  his  house  was  torn  down  and  part  of  it  put  up 
on  Elliott  street.  His  son,  Aaron  Doty,  had  sixteen 
children  who  lived  to  grow  up  to  manhood,  and  some  of 
their  descendants  are  still  found  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  old  homestead. 

Jeremiah  Baker  moved  from  Westfield,  in  this  State, 
in  1810,  and  brought  all  he  had  in  his  knapsack,  with 
money  enough  to  buy  a  yoke  of  oxen.  By  industry  and 
economy  he  become  the  largest  landholder  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jesse 
King.  He  left  three  sons  and  as  many  daughters.  He 
is  a  good  illustration  of  what  honest  labor  with  prudence 
may  accomplish. 

William  Mott,  from  whom  was  named  Mott  Hollow 
(which  is  another  name  for  Mill  Brook),  was  a  Huguenot 
from  France.  The  persecution  of  the  Huguenots  began 
about  1560,  and  drove  from  France  many  of  her  best 
citizens  and  artisans,  who  went  to  England,  and  by  their 
skill  in  the  arts  raised  England  above  France.  The  Mott 
family  (spelled  properly  De  Motte,  or  De  la  Motte),  went 
from  France  to  England,  from  England  to  Maryland,  and 
toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  moved  from 
Maryland  to  Mill  Brook.  William  Mott,  the  first  to  emi- 
grate to  this  part  of  New  Jersey,  was  a  man  of  enterprise, 
who  made  his  mark  in  his  day.  The  Huguenots  who 
came  to  this  country  brought  with  them  a  good  reputa- 
tion, which  still  continues.  The  descendants  of  William 
Mott  in  this  township  are  justly  proud  of  their  ancestral 
line. 

Richard  Dell,  a  leading  Quaker,  was  among  the  earlier 
settlers  of  the  township,  and  owned  land  in  the  township 
of  Rockaway,  as  appears  by  a  deed  to  "Eaphrom 
Drake,"  recorded  in  1764,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
part: 

"  This  Indenture  witnesseth  that  the  said  Richard 
Dell,  for  &  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  One  Hundred 
&  Twenty  Pound  Light  Money  at  Eight  Shillings  Pr 
Ounce,  to  him  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  Eaphrom  Drake 
at  &  before  the  Sealing  &  delivery  of  these  Presents,  the 
receipt  whereof  he  doth  hereby  acknowledge  &  thereof 
doth  clearly  a  Quit,  Release  &  Discharge  the  said 
Eaphrom  Drake,  his  hiears,  Exectrs  and  Administrators 
for  ever,  by  these  Presents  hath  granted,  bargened,  sold, 
assigned.  Enfeoffed,  Released,  Convead  &  Confirmed  * 
*  *  the  said  Twenty-Five  Eacors  of  Land,  which  his 
bounded  as  followeth:  begenning  at  a  Double  Burch 
Tree  Corner  to  Irick  Decou,  thomas  Nun,  &  George 
Ikes,  &  runs  from  thence  by  the  Land  of  Thomas  Nun 
North  Two  Degrees  East  Twenty  Chaine  to  a  Corner  to 
Solomon  Smith's;  then  a  Long  his  line  Weast  Twelve 
Chaine  &  a  half  to  his  corner;  thence  South  Two  De- 
grees West  Twenty  Chains  and  Twenty  Links  to  a  post 
on  George  Ikes'  Line;  then  a  Long  the  same  North 
Eighty  Nine  Degrees  East  Twelve  Chaine  and  a  half  to 
the  beginning." 

In  the  southern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  township 
the   following   families   early  dwelt,  most  of  whom  have 


left  descendants  still  on  the  homesteads:  Sylvester  Clark, 
Lewis  Leforge,  Enoch  Roff,  David  Trowbridge,  Samuel 
T.  Abers,  Abram  Aber,  Philip  Till,  Job  Wolf,  Peter 
Combs,  H.  J.  Anson,  Abram  Seward,  Carmen  Bonnell, 
Aaron  Lewis,  and  others  who  were  equally  good  neigh- 
bors and  honored  citizens,  whose  names  are  not  at  our 
"Command. 

Randolph  in  1769. 

Some  idea  of  the  relative  value  of  Randolph  township 
may  be  formed  from  the  following  quotas  of  the  several 
counties  assessed  to  pay  a  debt  of  _;;^i90,ooo  in  1769. 
In  the  war  between  England  and  France  carried  on 
among  the  colonies  the  colony  of  New  Jersey,  for  the  use 
of  the  crown  of  England,  raised  the  sum  of  ;£347,Soo 
"proclamation"  money,  in  bills  of  credit.  In  1769  a  debt  of 
;^i  90,000  of  the  above  sum  remained  to  be  sunk  by 
taxes  to  be  raised  in  the  colony.  The  quotas  of  the  sev- 
eral counties  had  been  determined  in  1751,  when  Jon- 
athan Belcher  was  governor;  but  now,  1769,  the  govern- 
ment said:  "  Whereas  the  circumstances  of  this  colony 
are  much  altered  by  the  ,great  improvements  made 
therein,  by  its  increase  and  population,  and  the  erection 
of  a  new  county,  it  has  become  necessary  that  a  new  set- 
tlement be  made  of  the  proportions  each  county  shall 
raise  in  future  taxes  for  supplying  the  treasury  of  this 
colony  with  the  said  sum  of  one  hundred  and  ninety 
thousand  pounds."  This  sum  was  not  to  be  raised  in  one 
year,  but  was  divided  into  fourteen  parts,  and  the  last  was 
not  due  until  1783.  Every  inhabitant  was  to  be  assessed 
according  to  his  wealth.  "All  forges  that  work  pig  iron, 
and  all  forges  and  bloomaries  that  make  bar  iron  imme- 
diately out  of  the  ore,  shall  be  rated  not  under  five  shil- 
lings nor  above  forty  shillings  for  each  fire;  always  sav- 
ing to  the  respective  iron  works  in  Evesham  and  North- 
ampton, in  the  county  of  Burlington,  and  to  the  Hibernia 
iron  works,  in  the  county  of  Morris,  such  privileges,  im- 
munities and  exemptions  as  are  or  shall  be  granted  to 
them  by  a  bill  now  under  consideration  of  the  Legislature 
of  this  colony,  if  the  same  shall  pass  into  a  law."  As  to 
all  profitable  tracts  of  land  held  by  deed,  patent  or  sur- 
vey, whereon  any  improvement  was  made,  the  whole 
tract  was  to  be  valued  in  each  respective  county  as  fol- 
lows: In  the  county  of  Bergen,  not  above  ;^40  or  under 
;£S  per  acre;  Essex,  not  above  ^^45  or  under  ^g;  Mid- 
dlesex, not  above  .;^40  nor  under  j£^;  Monmouth,  not 
above  ;^45  nor  under  ;!£^5 ;  Somerset,  not  above  ;^so  nor 
under  ^9;  Morris,  not  over  ;^4o  nor  under  _^5;  Sussex, 
not  over  _;^35  nor  under  ^4;  Hunterdon,  not  over  ^4.^ 
nor  under  ;^6;  Burlington,  not  over  j£4$  nor  under 
^6;  Gloucester,  not  over  ;^4o  nor  under  ;£^;  Salem, 
not  over  j^^o  nor  under  ;^5;  Cumberland,  not  over 
;,^35  nor  under  ^^5;  Cape  May,  not  over  ;,^3o  nor 
under  ;^8." 

Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  amount  of  improved 
lands  in  each  county  by  the  following  assessments: 
In  the  years  1770,  1771,  1772  and  1773  the  sum  of 
p^i 2,500  was  to  be  raised,  in  the  proportion  following — in 
the  county  of  Bergen,  ;^83o;  Essex,  ^928;    Middlesex, 


294 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


^1,09083.;  Monmouth,  ^1,336  8s.;  Somerset,  ^1,130 
2S.;  Morris,  ;^904  5s.;  Sussex,  ;^74i  12s.;  Hunterdon, 
;£'i,704  i6s.;  Burlington,  ;!^i,339  iis.;  Gloucester,  ;^953 
18s.;  Salem,  ^^849  los.;  Cumberland,  ;^48i  13s.;  Cape 
May,  ^208  13s. 

It  seems  that  in  this  same  1769  old  King  George  III. 
and  his  colonial  governor,  William,  Franklin,  who  were 
extreme  conservatives,  believed  in  the  progress  of  New 
Jersey,  and  that  it  would  be  as  easy  for  the  inhabitants 
'^°  P^y  .;^iS>oo°  each  year  from  1773  to  1782  as  it  had 
been  to  pay  ^12,500  for  the  four  preceding  years,  and 
hence  assessed  the  same  articles  at  one-fifth  part  more 
for  those  nine  years  than  they  had  assessed  them  pre- 
viously. But  during  this  period  the  war  of  independence 
may  have  checked  the  prosperity  of  the  colony,  as  it  did 
divert  the  ^^15,000  to  another  channel.  . 

Growth  of  Population. 

Randolph  township  was  formed  in  1805.  The  popula- 
tion has  been  as  follows:  1810,  1,271;  1820,  1,252;  1830, 
1,443;  1840.  1,792;  1850,  2,632;  i860,  3,173;  1870,  s.iii; 
1880,  7,702.  It  is  seen  from  these  figures  that  the  pop- 
ulation during  the  decade  from  i8io  to  1820,  instead  of 
increasing,  slightly  diminished.  This  diminution  was 
owing  to  the  war  of  1812,  when  many  of  the  citizens  en- 
listed in  the  army,  and  to  the  destruction  of  the  iron 
industry  in  consequence  of  the  war;  for  when  peace  was 
declared  the  American  ports  were  opened  to  the  English, 
who  sold  their  iron  in  this  country  at  a  lower  price  than 
it  could  be  manufactured  at  home;  consequently  the 
forges  were  stopped  and  the  iron  men  generally  failed. 

The  rapid  increase  of  the  population  from  i860  to 
1870  was  also  due  to  the  iron  industry,  which  was  never 
so  prosperous  as  during  the  late  civil  war  and  afterward, 
when  new  mines  were  opened  and  miners'  wages  were 
very  high.  This  prosperity  continued  till  1873,  when  the 
financial  depression  began  which  lasted  until  1879,  during 
which  period  the  iron  business  for  the  most  part  was 
suspended  throughout  the  county,  and,  it  might  be  added, 
throughout  the  country. 

Roads. 

The  roads  at  first  were  left  in  a  rude  state  by  the  early 
settlers.  Usually  they  were  the  trails  of  the  aborigines, 
somewhat  improved.  These  old  Indian  paths  were  found 
by  the  white  people  to  be  well  laid  out,  in  straight  lines 
except  where  they  curved  to  avoid  marshes  and  to  cross 
streams  at  the  best  fording  places.  These  narrow  trails 
were  gradually  widened,  and  the  white  pioneers  com- 
monly built  their  houses  on  these  paths,  sometimes  locat- 
ing them  at  a  distance  for  the  sake  of  retirement  and 
safety,  but  then  making  paths  leading  from  their  cabins, 
not  in  a  direct  line  to  the  trail,  but  in  a  curve  each  way 
from  their  dwelling  to  the  thoroughfare;  and  this  custom 
may  account  for  the  seemingly  needless  curves  in  most 
of  the  roads  of  the  township.  While  the  population  was 
sparse,  and  the  distance  from  house  to  house  consider- 
able, it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  new  settlers  could 
spend  much  time  in  work  on  the  highways.     Their  lands 


needed  all  their  labor,  and  their  rude  cabins  required 
constant  improvements;  so  that  new  roads  were  of  slow 
growth,  and  old  roads,  if  at  all  passable,  were  accustomed 
to  neglect.  Township  travel  was  performed  for  the  most 
part  on  foot  or  on  horseback. 

Randolph's  strongest  attractions  to  the  new  comers 
were  the  iron  ores  rather  than  her  soil.  The  same  in- 
dustry brought  the  first  white  men  to  this  county.  The 
old  forges  at  Old  Boonton  and  Parsippany  became  the 
sites  of  the  earliest  settlements.  The  Succasunna  mine 
was  known  and  worked  before  the  plowshare  had 
turned  over  the  sod  of  the  township.  Ore  was  taken 
from  it  on  the  backs  of  horses  to  the  old  forges.  But 
even  this  method  of  transportation  required  roads  of 
some  sort.  The  Indian  paths  were  utilized  and  improved 
for  this  purpose.  The  turnpike  from  Whippany  to  Rock- 
away  and  the  old  road  from  Morristown  to  Franklin  and 
thence  to  Dover  were  Indian  paths  widened  and  im- 
proved. Until  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  road 
improvement  in  any  proper  sense  had  not  begun;  but  in 
1801  a  charter  was  given  for  the  Morris  turnpike,  from 
Elizabethtown  through  Morristown  and  Newton  to  the 
Delaware  opposite  Milford.  In  1804  the  Union  turnpike, 
from  Morristown  through  Dover  to  Sparta,  was  opened, 
and  it  was  afterward  continued  through  Culver's  Gap  to 
the  Delaware  River.  In  1807  the  Jefferson  turnpike  was 
chartered,  to  run  through  Berkshire  Valley  to  meet  the 
Hamburgh  and  Paterson  road;  and  in  1809  the  Parsip- 
pany and  Rockaway  turnpike,  from  Vanduyne's  through 
Rockaway  to  the  Union  turnpike  at  Dover.  These  roads 
were  built  by  chartered  companies  and  in  some  cases 
were  aided  by  State  appropriations.  Fifty-four  charters 
were  given  for  such  roads  between  1801  and  1828. 
Some  of  the  companies  are  still  in  existence,  finding 
remuneration  in  tollgates.  That  part  of  the  Union  turn- 
pike from  Dover  to  Sparta  is  still  kept  in  order  by  the 
chartered  company.  The  part  from  Morristown  to  Dover 
is  thrown  open  to  the  public.  This  period  of  turnpikes 
marks  an  epoch  in  the  State,  and  it  gave  fresh  impulse 
to  the  people  of  Randolph. 

The  Dover  Turnpike  Company,  formed  to  build  a 
road  to  Succasunna,  was  not  organized  till  1813.  Previ- 
ous to  this  time  travel  was  limited  and  most  articles  used 
in  families  were  made  at  home.  Stores  were  scarce  and 
little  patronized. 

Early  Domestic  Manufactures. 

Of  necessity,  in  a  new  settlement,  before  the  various 
trades  have  time  to  develop,  the  settlers  are  dependent 
on  themselves  for  articles  of  use  and  comfort.  Each 
man  is  a  jack  of  all  trades,  and  learns  to  do  with  few 
things,  and  to  furnish  those  few  for  himself.  Some  of 
the  products  of  the  soil  were  occasionally  carried  by  the 
farmer  in  an  ox  cart  over  the  rough  roads  to  Newark  and 
to  New  York,  and  there  exchanged  for  such  articles  as  he 
most  needed  and  could  not  manufacture  himself.  Less 
frequently  a  dry  goods  peddler  would  make  his  way  to 
the  settlements  in  the  wilderness  and  barter  his  goods  for 
butter,  eggs  and  other  country  produce;  but  the  greater 


DOMESTIC  MANUFACTURES  IN  RANDOLPH— ANECDOTES. 


'9S 


portion  of  the  early  settlers  either  supplied  at  home  their 
domestic  wants  or  struggled  on  without  their  being  sup- 
plied. Spinning  and  weaving  were  common  in  all  the 
best  households,  and  neighbors  vied  with  each  other  in 
the  manufacture  of  carpets  and  cloths.  Here  and  there 
a  loom  became  famous  for  its  superior  fabrics,  and  was 
invited  to  do  work  for  others  than  the  household.  As  a 
favor  some  took  in  weaving,  and  the  homes  in  which  the 
best  spinning  was  done  and  the  best  cloths  woven  grew 
in  honor  and  wealth.  The  skillful  housewife  was  as  much 
respected  as  the  thrifty  farmer.  Women  strove  to  merit 
the  praise  which  Solomon  bestows  on  excellent  wives: 
"Who  can  find  a  virtuous  woman?  her  price  is  far  above 
rubies.  She  seeketh  wool  and  flax  and  worketh  willingly 
with  her  hands.  She  girdeth  her  loins  with  strength  and 
strengtheneth  her  arms.  She  layeth  her  hands  to  the 
spindle  and  her  hands  hold  the  distaff.  She  is  not  afraid 
of  the  snow  for  her  household.  She  looketh  well  to  the 
ways  of  her  household,  and  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idle- 
ness. Her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed." — Prov. 
xxxi.  lo.  In  the  preceding  century  in  the  township  of 
Randolph  such  looms  and  such  wives  were  found  in  the 
families  of  the  Randolphs,  the  Dells,  the  Brothertons,  the 
Lawrences,  and  other  happy  homes;  and  such  wives  and 
mothers  raised  their  households  above  want.  Neverthe- 
less in  the  course  of  years  children  of  parents  who  never 
owned  a  wheel  or  a  loom  began  to  dress  in  richer  fabrics 
than  could  be  produced  by  the  unsparing  toil  of  the  in- 
duFtrious  matron;  for  the  larger  factories,  with  the  aid 
of  machinery,  turned  out  better  materials  than  the  best 
homespun  of  private  looms.  Though  spinning  continued, 
weaving  began  to  wane  and  to  be  discontinued,  save 
where  the  force  of  habit  caused  the  old  methods  to  con- 
tinue on,  even  after  private  weaving  ceased  to  be  econom- 
ical. A  fulling-mill,  earlier  than  in  any  other  township 
except  Morris,  was  built  and  put  in  operation  at  Mill 
Brook.  To  this  mill  most  of  the  wool  of  the  township 
was  brought  and  sold,  and  here  it  was  made  into  various 
kinds  of  cloth. 

"  Tales  of  Old    Randolph." 

The  following  anecdotes,  by  the  author  of  this  history 
of  Randolph  township,  appeared  under  the  above  title  in 
the  Dover  Enterprise,  a  sprightly  little  local  monthly 
journal  published  by  Frank  H.  Lindsley  and  E.  L. 
Dickerson  for  a  little  over  a  year  from  April  ist  1869. 

The  First  Settler. — From  time  immemorial  the  red 
man  pitched  his  tent  or  built  his  wigwam,  and  chased  the 
game,  and  paddled  his  canoe,  and  considered  himself  the 
lord  of  the  land,  just  as  now  the  landlord  considers  him- 
self the  lord  of  the  house.  This  primeval  state  lasted 
till  the  year  1713,  when  one  John  Reading,  mounted  on 
a  horse  and  accompanied  by  two  comrades  bearing  chain 
and  compass,  made  his  way  to  the  western  part  of  the 
•  txjwnship,  where  he  drove  down  a  stake,  fixed  his  land- 
mark, and  measured  off  527  acres  near  the  Succasunna 
mine.  This  piece  of  land  was  sold  by  the  proprietors  of 
East  Jersey  to  Joseph  Latham.  Mr.  Latham  never  occu- 
pied it,  and  after  owning  it  nine  years  he  sold  it  to  John 


Jackson.     Mr.    Jackson    was    an    actual    settler  and  the 
worthy  ancestor  of  this  town. 

In  1722  he  erected  a  forge  on  the  stream  in  front  of 
the  residence  of  Jacob  Hurd;  and  then  for  the  first 
time  since  the  creation  the  loud  reverberations  of  the 
hammer  broke  the  silence  of  the  forest,  and  announced 
the  change  which  was  about  to  be  made  in  the  do- 
minion of  the  red  men  by  the  art  and  industry  of  a  su- 
perior race.  From  that  day  slowly  but  steadily  has  the 
step  of  civilization  advanced. 

It  would  afford  us  unfeigned  pleasure  to  be  able  to 
record  the  financial  prosperity  of  our  enterprising  towns- 
man. But  verity  compels  us  to  state  that  after  toiling 
from  mine  to  forge  for  the  third  of  a  century,  his  outlay 
so  much  exceeded  his  income  that  forge  and  hammer, 
stream  and  farm,  were  sold  by  one  John  Ford,  an  unfeel- 
ing colonial  sheriff. 

This  sad  disaster  may  be  owing  to  the  unnatural  feel- 
ing of  the  old  mother  country  toward  her  young  and  in- 
experienced offspring.  The  child  was  allowed  to  work, 
but  the  parent  claimed  the  earnings.  The  ore  could  be 
forged  into  iron,  but  the  iron  could  not  in  the  colony  be 
wrought  into  useful  articles.  It  must  be  transported 
across  the  broad  Atlantic  before  it  was  allowed  to  be 
shaped  into  form  for  use.  The  sale  took  place  on  the  15th 
of  August  1753;  the  forge  was  purchased  by  Josiah  Beman 
and  the  farm  by  Hartsliorn  Fitz-Randolph,  whose  dwel- 
ling, which  he  occupied  from  1753  till  1807,  when  he  died, 
stood  where  Elias  Millen  now  resides.  To  this  eminent 
and  opulent  Quaker  our  town  is  indebted  for  its  name. 

Stories  of  Hartshorn  Fitz-Randolph. — During  the  pio- 
neer period  there  resided  in  the  township  three  worth- 
ies, viz.,  Richard  Dell,  Moses  Tuttle  and  Hartshorn  Fitz- 
Randolph;  but  Hartshorn  was  the  worthiest  of  the  three. 
He  was  most  exemplary  in  his  general  deportment. 
True  to  his  religious  principles,  he  was  careful  about  his 
thoughts,  more  careful  about  his  words,  and  most  careful 
about  his  deeds;  he  was  rarely  angry — when  moved 
would  stop  and  count  before  he  spoke;  yet  he  was  human, 
and  humanity  may  be  tempted  beyond  its  strength.  A 
Quaker  by  birth,  by  education  and  by  conviction,  he 
could  always  be  expected  at  the  Friends'  meeting.  He 
spake  at  times  when  the  Spirit  moved  him,  and  sometimes 
eloquently,  but,  in  his  broad  brimmed  hat  and  drab  col- 
ored coat  and  serene  countenance,  even  his  silent  pres- 
ence was  highly  edifying. 

It  is  a  principle  of  the  Friends  never  to  use  fire-arms, 
either  in  the  chase  or  in  the  battle  field.  On  one  occa- 
sion this  principle  was  tested  by  a  severe  ordeal;  yet, 
guided  by  the  light  of  nature,  he  was  enabled  almost  to 
steer  clear  of  both  Scylla  and  Charybdis.  The  case  was 
as  follows:  It  was  in  the  fall  of  the  year;  the  buckwheat, 
which  weeks  before  had  filled  the  air  with  its  fragrance, 
and  sent  the  bee  laden  with  honey  to  the  hive,  now  held 
up  its  plump  and  ruddy  face  to  the  sky.  No  field  in  the 
county  promised  so  abundant  a  crop.  The  wild  pigeons 
which  in  those  days  abounded  to  an  incredible  extent 
daily  visited  this  inclosure.  One  flock  had  scarcely  gone 
before  another  came.     It  was  necessary  to  do  something. 


296 


ttlStORY  OP  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  grain  was  taking  to  itself  wings  and  flying  away. 
Guns,  snares,  strings,  old  hats  on  poles,  white  dimity  and 
red  flannel  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  plowboy  effigies, 
and  all  the  scare-crow  expedients  known  in  those  days 
had  proved  ineffectual.  The  birds  seemed  to  be  em- 
boldened by  the  greatness  of  their  number,  and,  allured 
by  plenty,  or  maddened  by  hunger,  or  stimulated  by  both 
of  these  at  the  same  time,  they  cast  off  all  fear  and  were 
taking  off  all  the  crop.  There  was  a  big  musket  in  the 
attic  and  it  was  loaded — how  it  came  there  tradition  does 
not  explain.  Hartshorn  was  thoughtful,  he  was  plagued 
and  puzzled;  if  he  was  excited,  still  he  was  silent.  He 
stood  by  the  fence;  the  fowling-piece  was  in  his  hand, 
and  the  birds  were  in  his  field;  the  gun  rested  on  the 
rails,  but  pointed  toward  the  center  of  the  flock.  His 
ears  were  stopped,  his  eyes  were  closed.  A  flash  was 
seen  and  a  noise  heard  by  the  neighbors;  the  Quaker 
turned  instantly  around  and  walked  away;  meeting  a 
friend  he  said:  "Friend,  I  took  this  rusty  iron  and 
thought  to  scare  the  birds;  if  I  have  hurt  any  thee  can 
have  them."  The  friend  stepped  over  into  the  field  and 
picked  up — we  hardly  dare  tell  the  number  and  yet  this 
part  of  the  story  is  better  attested  than  any  other — he 
picked  up  90  pigeons  !  This  act  from  an  agricultural 
necessity  was  several  times  repeated,  but  each  time  with 
eyes  closed  and  ears  stopped.  Hence  the  good  Hartshorn 
could  not  see  and  would  not  hear  that  he  had  ever  in- 
jured a  single  bird;  and  by  this  expedient  he  saved  at  the 
same  time  both  his  buckwheat  and  his  conscience. 

In  1682  East  Jersey  had  5,000  settlers,  and  many  of 
of  these  were  Quakers.  Our  own  township  was  at  first 
chiefly  settled  by  members  of  this  persuasion.  Our  dis- 
tinguished townsman  Hartshorn  Fitz-Randolph,  from 
whom  the  town  received  its  name,  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  this  society.  When  spoken  of  by  his  brethren,  he 
was  called  Hartshorn;  when  mentioned  by  others  he  was 
Mr.  Randolph,  or  Fitz-Randolph,  and  sometimes  only 
Fitz.  Hartshorn  was  a  man  of  a  wise  head,  a  warm 
heart,  a  liberal  hand  and  feet  swift  in  works  of  charity. 
But  good  men  sometimes  get  into  difficult  places;  and 
twice  this  was  the  experience  of  Fitz-Randolph. 

In  those  primitive  days,  when  Hartshorn  was  in  his 
greatness,  it  was  customary  for  a  certain  class  of  emi- 
grants, who  must  cross  the  Atlantic  and  had  not  the 
wherewithal  to  pay  their  passage  on  their  arrival,  to  be 
sold  for  a  term  of  years  long  enough  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  their  trip  over.  Mr.  Randolph  was  in  need  of 
laborers,  and  one  day,  while  negotiating  with  a  captain  for 
a  passenger  named  Fowler,  the  chattel,  pleased  with  the 
benevolent  countenance  of  a  Friend,  put  in  a  word  of  en- 
treaty, at  the  same  time  commending  the  article.  This  de- 
cided the  case,  and  Fowler  became  the  slave  of  Fitz,  or,  as 
some  thought,  his  master.  This  slave  possessed  more 
native  wit  than  any  freedman  in  town,  and  hence  was 
called  Randolph's  "  fool."  It  should  be  remembered 
that  it  was  a  cardinal  principle  of  the  Quakers  to  regard 
all  men  as  equal,  themselves  on  a  level  with  the  highest, 
and  always  ready  to  raise  the  lowest  to  their  own  eleva- 
tion.     Labor  in   their  opinion  was  never  degrading,  and 


hence  to  buy  a  man's  service  for  a  given  time  was  not 
degrading  him — it  was  only  advancing  his  wages.  How 
nearly  the  slave  enjoyed  equality  with  his  master  may  be 
inferred  from  the  sequel. 

Fowler  was  given  to  rhyming,  and  was  called  the  town 
bard.  It  was  owing  to  his  poetic  propensity  that  some 
facts  have  been  preserved  which  would  otherwise  have 
passed  into  oblivion.  One  day  the  slave  was  in  the  field 
with  a  boy,  plowing,  when  he  disturbed  a  yellow  hornets' 
nest;  the  oxen  suddenly  turned  round  and  ran  back.  Just 
at  that  moment  Mr.  Randolph  appeared,  and — supposing 
them  to  be  trifling  and  likely  to  spoil  th?  young  team — 
with  less  than  his  usual  mildness,  shouted:  "  What  is  the 
m.Uter!" 

The  "fool"  with  much  composure  replied:  "This 
boy  cannot  manage  the  oxen;  if  thee  will  take  hold  of 
the  plow  I  will  drive  them." 

Randolph  took  hold  of  the  plow,  intending  to  instruct 
both  man  and  boy.  Fowler  led  the  oxen  carefully 
around,  so  as  to  bring  the  plow  against  the  hornets'  nest, 
and  then  stopped.  The  insects,  indignant  at  being  again 
so  soon  disturbed,  left  home  and  rushed  Avith  one  accord 
upon  the  innocent  Quaker.  Little  suspecting  that  any 
mischief  was  intended.  Hartshorn  began  to  pity  the  boy, 
whom  he  had  just  rebuked,  or  would  have  done  so  had 
not  circumstances  required  all  his  attention.  The  sting- 
ing insects  were  numerous  and  determined;  they  would 
not  be  driven  off.  Hartshorn  struck  the  air;  he  struck 
his  face,  his  sides,  his  legs;  he  jumped,  he  danced,  he  ran. 
The  bard,  with  an  air  of  innocence,  as  if  unconscious  of 
the  cause  and  surprised  at  such  antics  in  a  Quaker,  thus 
improvised: 

"  Thee  has  been  a  good  dancer. 
Thee  takes  a  quick  step ; 
What!  faster  and  faster  ? 
Thee  is  young  enough  yet." 

Once  after  this  the  master  towered  above  his  slave,  but 
was  soon  brought  to  a  level.  The  good  Hartshorn  faith- 
fully instructed  his  servant,  and  especially  endeavored  to 
impress  his  mind  with  the  importance  of  letting  his  yea 
be  yea,  and  his  nay  nay,  and  never  confirming  his  word  by 
an  oath.  It  does  not  appear  from  any  testimony,  oral 
or  written,  that  the  fool  profited  by  the  instruction.  On 
the  contrary,  the  idea  that  a  man  who  did  not  always  speak 
the  truth  could  not  be  believed  under  oath  touched  him 
perfonally,  and  he  secretly  resolved  to  abide  an  oppor- 
tunity to  give  his  master  a  lesson  on  this  point.  At  length 
the  resolution  went  into  operation. 

It  was  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  when  Hartshorn 
and  his  servant  were  on  their  way  to  the  meeting-house; 
for  in  those  days  all  good  people  kept  the  Sabbath  and 
went  to  the  place  of  worship,  taking  with  them  not  only 
the  members  of  their  family  but  also  the  strangers  that 
were  within  their  gates.  The  occasion  was  one  of  un- 
usual interest  among  the  Friends;  distinguished  visitors 
from  abroad  were  expected.  Heavy  rains  had  just  fallen, 
and  it  was  known  that  the  streams  were  swollen;  but 
Hartshorn  and  his  servant  found  their  path  obstructed 
beyond  all  expectation,  by  deeper  water  then  they  had 
ever  known  on  that  road.    Hartshorn  looked  disappointed 


TALES  OF  OLD  RANDOLPH. 


297 


and  said:  "  Fowler,  what  shall  we  do?"  "  There  is  no 
way  but  to  go  through,"  said  the  fool.  "  But  we  cannot 
go  to  the  meeting  dripping  wet."  "Art  thou  very  anxious 
to  go?"  inquired  the  fool.  "Very."  "  Well,  I  know  of 
but  one  way,  and  that  is  for  me  to  carry  thee  on  my 
shoulders."  "  Dost  thou  think  thou  canst  do  it?"  "  I 
don't  know;  but  if  thee  will  promise  me  a  quart  of 
whiskey  I  will  try." 

Hartshorn  hesitated,  not  on  account  of  the  value  of 
the  article,  but  from  fear  that  he  might  make  bad  use  of 
it;  but,  anxious  to  go  and  persuading  himself  that  he 
could  persuade  the  fool  to  use  it  moderately,  he  made 
the  promise. 

The  slave  stooped  and  received  his  burden,  which  he 
bore  with  ease  to  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  there  he 
paused,  and,  addressing  the  man  above  him,  said:  "  Will 
thee  surely  give  me  the  whiskey?"  "  Go  on,"  said  the 
Quaker,  "  thee  knows  ray  promise."  "  Swear  that  thee 
will  give  it."  "Go  on;  thee  knows  I  never  swear." 
"  Swear  or  I  will  go  no  further." 

The  master,  knowing  the  perversity  and  daring  of  the 
fool,  was  greatly  tried.  He  longed  to  be  at  the  meeting, 
and  was  assured  that  he  could  get  there  only  by  indulg- 
ing the  caprice  of  the  fool.  He  sighed,  and  faintly  ut- 
tered some  qualification  of  his  promise.  "  Louder!"  cried 
the  fool,  "I  can't  hear,  and  thee  is  getting  heavy."  Poor 
Hartshorn  sighed  deeply,  and  then  uttered  the  words 
with  a  clear  voice.     The  unfeeling  bard  replied: 

"  They  that  swear,  the  same  will  lie; 
Them  I'll  not  carry,  if  I  die." 

And  immediately  Fitz  disappeared  beneath  the  stream. 
But,  confirmed  in  the  propriety  of  never  taking  an  oath, 
he  came  up  a  pure  cold  water  man,  the  fool  was  kept 
sober,  and  the  wise  townsmen  of  Randolph  learned  never 
to  trust  themselves  on  the  shoulders  of  another  man 
while  they  had  legs  of  their  own. 

First  Meeting -House  and  Graveyard.  Washington  and 
Little  Rhoda. — We  have  already  seen  that  the  earliest 
settlers  in  this  township  were  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  This  plain  and  quiet  people  differ  from  other 
religious  denominations  in  most  things,  having  no  min- 
istry, no  sacraments  and  no  ordinances;  yet  they  early 
erected  a  house  of  worship.  With  the  exception  of  a 
consecrated  part  of  the  forest,  where  the  red  men  once 
invoked  the  aid  of  the  Great  Spirit,  the  Quaker  meeting- 
house was  for  more  than  a  century  the  only  place  where 
the  people  were  accustomed  to  assemble  for  worship. 
This  plain  old  sanctuary  stood  just  in  the  rear  of  the  site 
of  the  residence  of  Daniel  Lampson,  and  the  adjoining 
land,  now  an  orchard,  was  then  a  graveyard.  In  this  first 
graveyard  of  Randolph  were  buried  the  remains  of  those 
who  had  left  milder  climes  and  warm  friends  in  the  old 
world,  contented  with  a  wilderness  if  they  could  be  un- 
molested in  their  faith  and  could  secure  to  their  de- 
scendants a  quiet  home.  No  costly  monument  ever 
adorned  this  cemetery,  no  humble  stone  ever  distin- 
guished one  sleeper's  cell  from  another.  In  perfect  sim- 
ilarity they  were  laid  side  by  side,  illustrating  in  the 
grave  the  doctrine   of  human  equality  which   they  pro- 


fessed when  living.  The  little  mounds  first  thrown  up 
when  the  graves  were  fresh  were  in  time  reduced  to  a 
common  level;  and  the  plain  meeting-house  was  never 
repaired.  A  new  orre,  however,  was  erected  about  a  mile 
west  of  the  old  site,  the  frame  of  which  still  remains, 
though  now  six  score  years  old.  A  touching  incident 
associated  with  this  graveyard,  and  which  brings  to  light 
an  event  which  makes  our  township  classic  ground,  may 
here  be  related: 

In  the  residence  situated  only  a  few  feet  from  the 
meeting-house  lived  Rhoda  Lampson,  who  in  1857  de- 
parted this  life,  in  the  94th  year  of  her  age.  During  the 
Revolutionary  war,  while  our  army  was  encainped  at 
Morristown,  General  Washington  rode  up  with  a  small 
company  of  horsemen  into  this  vicinity,  and  pitched  his 
tent  in  the  field  just  opposite  her  dwelling.  Little  Rhoda 
at  this  time  was  just  budding  into  maidenhood.  The 
child  was  beautiful  to  look  upon,  and  her  beauty  was 
visible  even  in  her  latest  years.  Decked  in  her  best  at- 
tire, which  was  simple,  yet  becoming,  she  was  sent  with  a 
basket  of  fruit  to  the  tent  of  the  general.  Washington 
met  her  with  a  smile,  thankfully  accepted  her  offering  in 
his  own  sweet  manner,  and  then,  taking  her  by  the  hand 
as  he  bade  her  good-bye,  said:  "  My  daughter,  in  these 
times  it  is  not  safe  for  one  so  fair  to  venture  far  from 
mother's  roof."  The  words  were  to  her  a  mystery,  yet 
they  made  an  indelible  impression  on  her  mind,  and  no 
doubt  exerted  a  direct  influence  in  shaping  her  social 
destiny.  Rhoda  was  strong  in  her  affections,  but  her 
affections  clung  to  the  members  of  the  family,  and  were 
henceforth  fixed  on  her  home. 

Her  fair  form  and  fairer  countenance  had  produced 
peculiar  emotions  in  several  hearts,  but  there  was  one 
youth,  who  wore  a  broad  brimmed  hat  and  a  drab  col- 
ored coat,  in  whose  presence  her  own  heart  had  been 
known  to  flutter;  and  she  would  have  loved  him  but  for 
the  strong  love  she  had  for  her  brother.  Apprehensive 
that  her  friend  might  have  designs  of  separating  her 
from  her  family,  in  the  ardor  of  a  sister's  love  she  pro- 
posed to  her  brother  that  they  should  live  together  as 
long  as  they  both  lived.  The  vow  was  mutually  made, 
and  made  never  to  be  broken.  The  Quaker,  strong  in 
his  wish  but  tardy  in  expressing  it,  at  length  overcame 
his  indescribable  embarassment,  and  disclosed  all  that  was 
in  his  heart;  when  to  his  dismay  the  sister's  vow  was  re- 
vealed. This  revelation  broke  the  spring  of  his  hopes. 
He  endeavored  to  estimate  the  brother's  constitution  and 
the  probable  number  of  his  days,  but  the  prospect  was  so 
unfavorable  that  his  heart  sunk  in  despair.  His  ruddy 
cheek  grew  pale,  his  robust  frame  grew  thin,  and  when 
near  his  end  he  made  a  dying  request  to  be  buried  not  in 
the  new  but  the  old  graveyard,  beside  the  dwelling  of  her 
he  loved.  The  request  was  granted,  and  his  grave  was 
among  the  many  honored  graves  in  the  first  burying 
ground  in  the  township.  The  brother  and  sister  survived 
their  parents,  and  for  forty  years  after  the  sister  kept 
house  for  the  brother.  The  sister  also  lived  a  score  of 
years  after  the  brother's  death.  As  she  had  made 
another's  home  comfortable,  so  now  others  made  her  a 


298 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


comfortable  home;  every  want  was  supplied  and  every 
kind  attention  bestowed,  and  when  in  good  old  age  she 
was  gathered  to  her  people  she  was,  according  to  her 
wish,  buried  in  the  old  Rockaway  church  yard  in  a  grave 
by  the  side  of  her  brother. 

Andrew  King  and  Stephen  Hamilton. — One  of  the  first 
dwelling  houses  erected  in  our  township  stood  very  near 
the  present  residence  of  Dr.  Condict.  Built  in  the  prim- 
itive forest,  its  style  of  architecture  was  primitive,  which 
may  have  been  owing  more  to  the  absence  of  proper  tools 
than  to  any  want  of  mechanical  skill.  In  external  splen- 
dor it  did  not  equal  the  old  Quaker  meeting-house,  which 
still  remains  as  a  relic  of  by-gone  generations.  But  if 
the  outside  was  rude,  it  had  yet  a  comfortable  insidei 
with  happy  inmates.  For  a  period  longer  than  the  mem- 
ory of  the  living  runs  to  the  contrary,  this  cabiji  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  family  of  Andrew  King.  Both  husband 
and  wife  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  were  on  the  last 
half  score  of  years  which  wonld  have  completed  their 
century  when  they  were  gathered  to  their  fathers. 

During  the  French  war,  in  which  the  colonies  of  France 
and  England  were  sadly  involved,  a  New  Jersey  regiment 
had  on  its  roll  the  names  of  at  least  two  citizens  of  this 
vicinity;  these  were  Stephen  Hamilton  and  Andrew  King. 
The  battle  field  in  those  days  was  as  far  in  the  north  as 
it  has  lately  been  in  the  south.  Though  the  means  of 
transportation  were  limited  and  the  roads  difficult,  yet 
the  patriots  of  the  State  succeeded  in  joining  the 
main  army  long  before  it  reached  the  place  of  action. 
The  point  to  be  attacked  was  Fort  Ticonderoga,  the  great 
northern  stronghold  in  those  days.  Our  worthy  young 
townsman  King,  who  was  only  19,  who  had  first  mourned 
and  avenged  the  death  of  lord  Howe,  his  commander  in 
the  fruitless  assault  on  that  fortress,  and  next  had  seen 
his  comrade  and  fellow  townsman  Hamilton  perish  in  at- 
tempting to  storm  the  fort,  finally  with  the  rest  crept 
cautiously  homeward,  consoling  himself  with  the  reflec- 
tion— 

"  He  that  fights  and  runs  away 

May  live  to  fight  another  day ; 

While  he  that  is  in  battle  slain 

Can  never  live  to  fight  again." 

King  received  an  honorable  discharge  and  returned 
home  to  enjoy  the  heroic  reputation  he  so  justly  won. 
And  often  of  a  winter  evening  by  the  blazing  hearth 
would  he  to  wondering  ears  describe  the  daring  feats, 
narrow  escapes,  and  fearful  sufferings  of  that  summer 
campaign  of  1758.  And  by  the  soldier's  story  the  fires 
of  patriotism  were  kindled  in  other  hearts,  and  other 
souls  were  set  burning  for  military  service  and  military 
glory.  Hence,  a  few  years  later,  when  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  adopted,  and  the  colonies  re- 
nounced allegiance  to  the  mother  country,  the  exper- 
ienced veterans  of  the  French  war  were  the  first  to  un- 
sheath  the  sword,  and  were  prepared  to  lead  the  enthu- 
siastic volunteers  to  victory  and  fame. 

Stephen  Hamilton,  who  with  2,000  comrades  fell  in 
the  unsuccessful  effort  to  take  Ticonderoga,  claimed  to 
be  a  grandson  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  the  royal  gov- 
ernor of  New  Jersey  in  the  time  of  Queen  Anne.      Silas 


Hamilton,  grandson  to  Stephen,  and  well  known  to  many 
who  may  read  this  article,  died  in  February  1869,  at  the 
age  of  89  years.  In  his  youth  he  was  a  close  observer 
of  nature,  and 'being  connected  with  several  forges  in 
this  vicinity  he  was  well  acquainted  with  the  streams  by 
which  they  were  operated.  From  the  appearance  of  the 
rocks  and  land,  then  evident  but  since  greatly  changed, 
he  satisfied  himself  that  there  was  once  a  lake  bounded 
on  the  west  by  the  hill  near  Jacob  Kurd's  and  extending 
by  Washington  forge,  and  then  around  and  beyond  the 
Allen  mine,  confined  on  the  east  near  Dover  by  the 
mountain,  then  closed  but  now  opened  for  the  passage  of 
the  Rockaway  River.  He  could  remember  when  that 
opening,  which  he  regarded  as  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  was 
not  fifteen  feet  wide;  though  now  it  is  several  hundred 
feet  wide. 

In  his  youth  there  was  at  the  foot  of  I^ake  Hopatcong 
a  forge  with  four  fires.  Near  by  there  was,  he  said,  a 
stone  walk  or  causeway  from  an  island  to  the  shore,  a 
distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  It  was  believed  to  have 
been  made  by  the  Indians  and  was  a  work  of  great  labor. 
While  connected  with  the  forge  Silas  saw  squaws  with 
papooses  on  their  backs  cross  the  lake  on  this  causeway. 
At  that  time  the  walk  was  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  lake, 
but  since  the  Morris  Canal  has  been  opened  the  lake  has 
been  raised  several  feet,  destroying  the  water  power  of 
the  forge,  and  making  the  causeway  invisible. 

Patriotism  and  Rum. — Within  the  limits  of  our  town- 
ship (though  long  before  the  name  of  Randolph  was  given 
to  these  limits),  and  not  far  from  its  southern  borders, 
lived  Oliver  Crome,  who  became  somewhat  distinguished 
for  the  aid  he  rendered  to  the  suffering  soldiers  of  the 
Revolution  during  the  encampment  of  the  army  in  this 
county.  Never  did  philanthropist  enjoy  a  more  favora- 
ble opportunity  of  performing  humane  deeds.  It  was  in 
the  winter  of  1779-80.  General  Washington  was  at 
Morristown  and  his  force  was  encamped  on  the  hill  back 
of  the  court-house,  the  encampment  stretching  several 
miles  into  the  country  toward  Mendham.  Poorly 
housed,  poorly  clothed  and  poorly  fed,  the  snow  deep 
and  the  weather  cold,  the  soldiers  endured  severe  hard- 
ships. Sometimes  a  whole  week  passed  and  the  soldiers 
received  no  bread,  and  then  another  week  and  they  re- 
ceived no  meat.  On  two  occasions  they  were  without 
either  bread  or  meat  for  two  days.  The  table  of  the 
commander-in-chief  was  not  much  better  supplied.  Said 
the  housekeeper  of  General  Washington,  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son, "  We  have  nothing  but  the  rations  to  cook."  "  Well, 
Mrs.  Thompson,  you  must  cook  the  rations,  for  I  have 
not  a  farthing  to  give  you.  " 

At  this  time  Oliver  Crome  obtained  the  gratitude  of 
the  soldiers  by  his  attention  to  their  sufferings  and  the 
appropriation  of  the  products  of  his  farm.  He  became 
known  to  Mrs.  Thompson,  who  through  him  obtained 
supplies  for  the  general's  table. 

At  one  time  Mrs.  Thompson  obtained  permission  to 
draw  six  bushels  of  salt  from  the  store-house,  pretending 
that  it  was  to  preserve  the  fresh  meat.  Most  of  this 
salt  went  into  the  hands  of  Oliver   Crome,  who   distrib- 


A  TRAGEDY  OF  OLD  RANDOLPH. 


299 


uted  it  among  his  neighbors,  in  exchange  for  poultry,  veg- 
etables and  the  like.  Salt  was  an  article  so  difficult  to 
be  obtained  by  the  farmers  that  Oliver  became  as  popu- 
lar among  them  as  he  was  among  the  soldiers,  and  the 
work,  which  he  began  from  patriotic  and  philanthropic 
motives,  became  a  profitable  business.  Oliver,  untiring 
in  his  efforts  to  bring  something  palatable  to  the  camp, 
was  always  well  received  by  every  ofificer,  and  especially 
by  the  hostess  at  headquarters.  To  dissipate  the  gloom 
and  relieve  the  mind  from  the  tedium  of  the  winter  a  ball 
was  got  up,  and  to  this  entertainment  Oliver  Crome  was 
invited,  by  a  complimentary  ticket.  He  had  heretofore 
been  amiable  in  disposition  and  temperate  in  all 
things.  But  here  for  the  first  time  he  indulged  too  freely 
in  the  wine  cup. 

The  war  passed  away  and  left  Oliver  a  richer  man,  in 
good  repute;  but  it  was  whispered  about  that  the  habit 
of  excessive  indulgence  in  strong  drink  was  growing  on 
him.  Naturally  genial,  the  tendency  of  his  beverage  was 
to  increase  his  geniality  to  the  neglect  of  his  duties. 
Time  was  undervalued,  he  was  less  industrious,  and  his 
estate  ran  down. 

But  this  was  not  the  worst.  A  young  man,  whose  real 
name  we  cannot  give,  for  reasons  that  may  be  inferred 
from  the  sequel,  but  whom  we  will  call  George  Hudson, 
was  an  admirer  of  Oliver  and  became  something  of  a  fa- 
vorite at  his  house.  The  first  thing  he  learned  was  to 
drink  freely.  And  this  he  excused  or  justified  by  the  ex- 
ample of  his  friend,  and  Oliver  could  never  exercise  cour- 
age enough  to  caution  him  against  excess,  but  continued 
to  furnish  the  beverage  as  long  as  George  would  drink. 
George  in  time  married  the  daughter  of  Oliver  Crome. 
Mr.  Hudson  was  naturally  exacting,  and  when  under  the 
influence  of  ardent  spirits  he  was  over-exacting.  The 
consequence  of  this  was  soon  felt  in  his  own  family.  The 
farm  on  which  George  Hudson  lived  required  more  atten- 
tion than  he  bestowed  on  it,  and  it  in  consequence  rather 
grew  worse.  He  had  a  son  named  Frank,  who  had  been 
brought  up  on  this  farm  and  been  accustomed  to  do 
much  of  the  work.  As  the  lad  grew  the  father  looked 
to  him  to  perform  an  amount  of  labor  beyond  his  strength, 
and  became  altogether  unreasonable  in  his  demands. 
When  especially  stimulated  by  whiskey  his  exactions  were 
cruel.  One  day,  on  leaving  home,  the  father  required 
his  son  to  finish  a  certain  amount  in  a  cornfield  before 
his  return,  threatening  severe  punishment  if  he  failed. 
The  boy,  who  was  in  his  fourteenth  year,  worked  faith- 
fully and  unceasingly,  but  his  task  was  not  accomplished. 
The  father  returned  in  a  state  of  partial  inebriation,  and, 
enraged  that  his  threats  had  no  effect,  inhumanly  fulfilled 
all  that  he  had  threatened.  Poor  Frank's  very  heart  was 
broken  and  he  never  smiled  afterward.*  Another  task 
beyond  his  ability  was  soon  given  him.  But  this  time 
the  father  did  not  return  till  midnight,  and  Frank  by 
working  long  in  the  evening  was  enabled  to  accomplish 
it.  Over-tired,  but  free  from  fear  of  paternal  wrath,  his 
rest  that  night  was  sweet,  expecting  a  word  of  commend- 
ation in  the  morning.  But  this  expectation  was  sadly 
disappointedjfor  the  father  in  justification  of  his  own  cruel- 


ty made  mention  of  what  had  been  done  as  proof  of  what 
the  hoy  might  have  done  on  the  former  occasion.  Soon 
after  a  still  heavier  task  was  given  to  the  lad,  accompan- 
ied by  severe  menaces  if  he  failed.  The  boy  began  early 
and  in  earnest,  but  when  noon  came  and  one-third  was 
not  done  his  heart  sunk  within  him.  At  dinner  he  said 
to  his  mother,  "  I  cannot  get  my  work  done,  and  what 
shall  I  do? "  She,  afraid  to  interfere,  lest  she  should 
make  matters  worse,  said,  "  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to 
finish  it."  Mary,  his  little  sister,  said:  "Frank,  when  I 
get  my  work  done  I  will  come  and  help  vou;  "  and,  true 
to  her  word,  about  5  o'clock  she  made  her  appearance 
in  the  field.  But  her  light  and  cheerful  spirits  seemed 
to  make  the  load  on  the  heart  of  her  brother,  already  in- 
supportable, still  heavier,  for  he  had  resolved  what  to  do. 
So,  sending  Mary  home  with  the  cows,  he  said  as  they 
parted:  "Mary,  you  may  never  see  me  again;  if  you  do 
not,  be  a  good  girl,  and  may  your  life  be  happier  than 
mine  has  been."  The  tone  and  look  made  an  indelible 
impression,  for  little  Mary  is  still  living,  though  advanced 
in  years  and  in  another  part  of  the  country,  and  retains 
a  vivid  recollection  of  that  hour.  When  she  came  to 
the  house  her  father  drove  up,  and  she  said  to  him,  "  Fa- 
ther, Frank  has  not  got  his  work  done,  but  has  tried 
hard."  The  horse  was  put  into  the  stable  and  the  father 
went  in  to  supper,  after  which,  with  whip  in  hand,  he  went 
down  into  the  field.  Not  seeing  the  boy,  he  called,  but 
received  no  answer.  He  searched  field  and  barn  and 
house  without  success.  Irritated  by  disappointment,  he 
resolved  to  inflict  severer  punishment  when  the  lad  did 
appear.  But  the  night  passed  and  morning  came,  and  no 
news  of  Frank;  noon  arrived  and  no  information.  The 
afternoon  passed  and  the  sun  was  setting  in  a  cloudless 
sky;  the  trees  threw  their  long  shadows  to  the  east;  the 
birds  were  singing  their  evening  song,  when  the  father 
thought  he  saw  his  son  in  the  orchard  hiding  behind  the 
farthest  tree.  Moving  cautiously  toward  the  spot  unob- 
served, full  of  rage  at  the  boy,  he  suddenly  sprang  for- 
ward, and  there  George  Hudson  stood  before  the  lifeless 
body  of  his  son,  which  was  swinging  in  the  air.  Poor 
Frank,  the  victim  of  paternal  wrath,  denied  natural  sym- 
pathy, with  no  prospect  of  deliverance  from  his  condi- 
tion, lost  all  hope,  and  giving  way  to  despair  sought,  by 
this  suicidal  act,  to  put  an  end  to  his  toils  and  fears. 
The  neighbors  attributed  this  painful  tragedy  to  the  un- 
natural disposition  of  the  father;  and  the  father  attribu- 
ted his  unnatural  disposition  to  the  influence  of  strong 
drink,  and  traced  his  appetite  for  this  beverage  to  his  ad- 
miration of  Oliver  Crome,  with  whom  he  formed  the 
habit.  Oliver  attributed  his  downfall  to  the  same  ac- 
cursed beverage,  and  traced  the  formation  of  his  evil 
habit  to  his  admiration  of  those  military  officers  whose 
example  he  imitated.  The  curse  pronounced  on  those 
who  tarry  long  at  the  wine  fell  heavily  on  Oliver  Crome, 
and  more  heavily  on  his  son-in-law,  George  Hudson,  and 
most  heavily  on  his  innocent  grandson  Frank. 

General  Winds  and  the  Landlord. — Among  the  ancient 
worthies  of  the  old  Randolph,  we  must  not  omit  to  men- 
tion the  name  of  the  distinguished  William  Winds.    This 


40 


300 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


eminent  citizen  and  patriot  was  remarkable  for  his  great 
physical  strength,  his  more  powerful  voice,  and  the  useful 
service  he  rendered  his  country.  About  1750  he  pur- 
chased a  district  of  land,  apart  of  which  is  now  occupied 
by  Robert  and  Thomas  Oram.  His  residence  was  on  the 
road  to  Rockaway,  and  almost  on  the  eastern  boundary 
of  our  present  corporate  limits.  He  passed  through  the 
ranks  of  captain,  major,  colonel  and  general,  each  of 
which  offices  he  filled  with  honor.  In  1758  he  received 
a  royal  commission  from  England  to  serve  as  captain  of 
a  Jersey  company.  He  was  under  General  Abercrombie 
in  the  famous  attack  on  Ticonderoga.  He  distinguished 
himself  in  this  campaign,  taking  several  French  prisoners, 
some  of  whom  he  brought  home  with  him,  who  settled  in 
this  vicinity;  one  named  Cubbey  lived  in  the  captain's 
family  for  many  years.  Shortly  after  this  campaign  he 
was  appointed  the  king's  justice  of  the  peace.  *But  about 
this  time  the  revolutionary  spirit  was  spreading  through 
the  colonies,  and  nowhere  did  it  find  a  more  genial  hab- 
itation than  in  the  big  heart  of  the  new  judge.  The  of- 
fensive stamp  act,  passed  in  1765,  which  required  stamped 
paper  to  be  used  in  all  legal  documents,  was  practically 
ignored  by  this  powerful  officer  of  the  king.  Having  oc- 
casion to  issue  several  writs,  he  made  use  of  the  bark  of 
the  white  birch.  Yet  such  was  the  undisputed  authority 
of  this  magistrate  that  no  one  dared  to  dispute  the  legal 
ity  of  his  orders,  though  the  bark  was  known  to  be  used 
in  defiance  of  law.  His  interest  in  American  affairs  daily 
increased,  and  when  the  war  for  independence  began  he 
was  among  the  most  zealous  of  the  Revolutionary  patri- 
ots. A  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Rockaway, 
he  habitually  took  an  active  part  in^the  services.  Pos- 
sessed of  a  gigantic  frame  and  voice  like  thunder,  when 
he  joined  in  the  singing  he  did  it  with  such  force  that 
like  a  hero  in  an  engagement,  as  he  always  was,  he  bore 
off  victoriously  the  music  of  the  assembly.  He  often  led 
in  prayer,  and  when  praying  for  other  objects  kept  his 
voice  within  proper  bounds;  but  when  he  came  to  pray 
for  the  country  it  was  like  the  voice  of  many  waters, 
and  he  prayed  as  if  he  would  take  heaven  by  violence. 

In  1775  he  received  from  the  Continental  Congress  the 
commission  of  lieutenant-colonel.  He  was  stationed  at 
Perth  Amboy,  and  was  ordered  to  secure  the  person  of 
Governor  Franklin,  the  last  of  the  royal  governors  of 
New  Jersey.  He  wrote  to  Governor  Franklin  that  he 
had  heard  he  intended  to  leave  the  province,  and  forbade 
his  doing  so. 

The  next  year  he  was  made  colonel,  and  in  1777  he 
was  commissioned  brigadier-general.  He  was  sent  north 
on  the  expedition  against  Canada,  and  was  among  the 
few  that  survived  that  disastrous  campaign.  He  was 
afterward  in  several  engagements  in  this  State.  At  one 
time  he  was  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Hackensack  River, 
while  the  enemy  lay  at  some  distance  on  the  opposite 
side.  It  was  here  he  frightened  off  a  detachment  of  mil- 
itia by  his  voice.  Addressing  his  men  in  a  stentorian 
tone,  so  as  to  make  the  enemy  hear,  he  shouted,  "  Open 
to  the  right  and  left  and  let  the  artillery  through!  "  The 
foe  suddenly  disappeared. 


It  was  in  this  period  that  an  incident  occurred  that  tar- 
nished for  a  moment  the  escutcheon  of  our  township's 
glory.  The  news  spread  that  the  British  were  invading 
North  Jersey,- and  all  the  available  force  in  Morris  county 
was  called  out.  Beraan,  the  brother-in-law  of  General 
Winds,  was  the  keeper  of  the  hotel  of  Dover.  Officers 
were  sent  to  take  every  person  over  18  years  of  age  that 
they  could  find.  One  of  these  officers,  meeting  the  land- 
lord, informed  him  that  he  must  go.  This  chivalrous  soul, 
pale  and  trembling,  replied,  "  You  must  be  careful  what 
you  say  or  do  to  me,  for  I  married  the  general's  sister." 
But  he  evasively  promised  that  he  would  go,  if  he  must,  in 
the  morning.  He  was  allowed  to  spend  the  night  at  home. 
In  the  morning  he  was  missing.  Search  was  made,  and 
report  said  that  he  had  been  seen  crawling  into  a  hollow 
tree  on  the  hill  north  of  the  village,  near  what  is  now 
Woodland  Lake.  The  searchers  were  soon  on  the  spot, 
when  one,  standing  at  the  end  of  the  tree,  called  to  his 
comrade,  "There  is  a  bear  in  this  hollow;  fire  in." 
Instantly  came  a  groan,  less  terrific  than  the  growl  of  a 
cub,  followed  by  the  exclamation:  "Don't  shoot  me, 
don't  shoot  me  !  I  will  come  out."  And,  true  to  the 
promise,  out  came  the  husband  ot  the  general's  sister.  A 
sudden  change  came  over  him,  for  he  stood  up  full  of 
courage  and  gratitude;  grateful  for  his  narrow  escape, 
for  he  considered  that  he  had  been  raised  from  his  coffin, 
and  courageous,  for  he  was  now  assured  that  there  was 
less  danger  in  confronting  the  foe  than  in  deserting  his 
friends.  He  marched  off" fearlessly,  and  returned  safely 
and  with  honor. 

Not  another  instance  is  on  record  of  a  timid  Randol- 
phian  during  all  that  long  and  severe  struggle,  unless  im- 
portance is  to  be  given  to  a  vague  rumor  concerning  the 
general  himself.  For  when  this  intrepid  commander,  in 
obedience  to  orders  from  General  Washington,  was  lead- 
ing his  forces  from  New  Brunswick  to  Sandy  Hook,  to 
intercept  the  baggage  train  of  the  enemy,  and  in  case  of 
their  defeat  at  Monmouth  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  coming 
to  Spotswood  he  stopped  to  repair  the  bridges  which  had 
been  destroyed.  Here  a  false  report  reached  him  that 
the  enemy  was  marching  on  Elizabeth.  This  report  is 
said  to  have  been  brought  to  him  by  a  Quaker,  whose 
face  was  as  innocent  as  an  angel's.  The  general  on  his 
own  responsibility  marched  to  the  relief  of  Elizabeth,  and 
thereby  allowed  the  enemy  to  escape.  Some  were  base 
enough  to  attribute  this  sudden  countermarch  to  motives 
unworthy  of  a  brave  officer— intimating  that  the  general 
was  apprehensive  that  if  he  proceeded  further  he  might 
come  to  his  end  before  the  war  did,  an  issue  contrary  to 
his  most  ardent  desire.  Every  one  who  really  knew  him 
regarded  this  insinuation  as  a  foul  aspersion — yet  it 
pressed  with  sirch  weight  on  the  sensitive  mind  of  this 
great  man  that  in  the  following  year  he  resigned  his  com- 
mission in  the  army.  But  he  continued  the  active  friend 
of  his  country;  and,  having  lived  to  see  the  success  of 
the  patriot  arms,  the  triumph  of  justice  and  the  freedom 
of  America,  he  died  full  of  peace  and  full  of  hope,  the 
friend  of  Washington,  beloved  by  him  and  by  all  his  com- 
patriots of  the  Revolution. 


GEN.  WINDS'S  GRAVE— OLD-TIME   CHRISTMAS  SCENES. 


301 


He  left  in  his  will  a  portion  of  his  estate  as  follows: 
"  From  the  great  regard  I  have  felt  for  the  interest  of 
Christ's  Kingdom,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  I  do  hereby  give  and  bequeath  to  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Rockaway  all  the  remainder  of  my 
whole  property  for  a  parsonage."  He  was  borne  to  his 
grave  in  the  churchyard  of  Rockaway,  and  buried  with 
the  honors  of  war.  On  a  brown  stone  in  the  rear  of  the 
church  is  the  following  inscription,  written  by  his  friend 
Dr.  Darby,  of  Parsippany,  who  acted  as  his  lawyer,  phy- 
sician and  minister,  wrote  his  will,  attended  him  in  his 
sickness,  prayed  at  his  bedside,  and  preached  his  funeral 
sermon: 

"  Under  this  monument  lies  buried  the  body  of  Wra. 
Winds,  Esq.,  who  departed  this  life  Oct.  12  1789,  in  the 
62nd  year  of  his  age.  His  natural  abilities  were  con- 
siderable, which  he  improved  for  the  good  of  his  fellow 
men.  Whenever  the  cause  of  his  country  and  liberty 
called  he  ventured  his  life  on  the  field  of  battle.  As  a 
civil  magistrate  he  acted  with  integrity;  he  also  sustained 
the  office  of  captain,  major,  colonel  and  general  with 
great  honor.  He  was  a  provident  husband,  a  kind  neigh- 
bor, a  friend  to  the  poor  and  a  good  Christian.  Blessed 
are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord." 

Christinas  and  ttie  Horse  Race. — On  the  19th  of  Octo- 
ber 1781,  the  very  day  on  which  Cornwallis  surrendered 
his  sword  and  his  army  of  7,000  men  to  General  Wash- 
ington, the  first  stone  house  on  the  road  from  Dover  to 
Chester  was  finished  and  occupied.  This  building  was 
erected  by  Isaac  Hance,  but  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Lawrence,  whose  son  was  known  in  after  years  through- 
out the  neighborhood  by  the  title  of  Uncle  Jacob. 

In  1794,  when  Jacob  was  just  passing  out  of  his  teens, 
he  went  to  spend  Christmas  with  his  cousin  at  Moravian 
Town,  in  Warren  county.  Jacob  was  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  his  cousin  lived  in  a  settlement  where  that  language 
was  still  spoken.  In  that  latitude  no  day  in  the  year  was 
as  much  thought  of  by  the  Dutch  as  Christmas.  Among 
a  portion  of  that  people  the  idea  prevailed  that  at  the 
hour  of  midnight  of  this  holy  eve,  which  was  supposed  to 
be  the  hour  of  Messiah's  nativity,  every  animal  in  the 
field  and  all  the  cattle  in  the  barnyard  bowed  down  on 
their  knees,  and  continued  in  that  devout  attitude  for 
the  space  of  an  hour.  Jacob  was  a  little  inclined  to 
skepticism  in  his  youth,  and  hence  did  not  altogether 
adopt  this  opinion.  Anxious  to  have  his  doubts  solved, 
he  proposed  to  sit  up  that  night  and  take  observations. 

After  church — for  in  Moravian  Town  at  that  time  all 
the  people  went  to  church  on  Christmas  eve — the  young 
folks  stopped  at  the  large  barnyard  of  Jacob's  cousin, 
and  waited  quietly  for  midnight.  It  was  necessary  for 
the  spectators  to  be  in  a  concealed  place,  otherwise  the 
cattle  would  not  kneel,  and  hence  a  secluded  spot,  a  little 
outside  of  the  yard,  was  chosen.  But  the  night  was  cool 
and  the  time  seemed  long,  and  one  by  one  the  party  stole 
away,  till  Jacob  and  his  cousin  were  alone.  Shortly 
afterward  the  cousin  retired,  and  Jacob,  by  himself,  re- 
mained to  view  the  ceremony.  As  the  hour  of  twelve 
approached  a  cloud  passed  before  the  moon,  and  a  singu- 
lar obscurity  pervaded  the  atmosphere.     But,  alone  and 


at  midnight,  Jacob  began  his  observations  under  unusual 
excitement.  He  strained  his  eyes,  and  far  off,  under  a 
dark,  low  shed,  he  saw,  or  thought  he  saw,  the  cows  in  a 
row,  with  faces  toward  the  east,  and  knees  bent.  A 
strange  feeling  came  over  him;  his  eyes  were  large,  his 
hair  stood  up,  and  deadly  paleness  was  on  his  cheek;  his 
knees  smote  together,  and  he  exclaimed  that  it  was  so  ! 
His  voice  startled  an  ox  near  by  which  before  had  not 
been  seen.  The  motion  of  this  animal  startled  Jacob, 
who  left  the  scene,  and  without  counting  the  seconds 
was  in  the  house  of  his  cousin,  where  he  astonished  the 
company  by  the  relation  of  his  vision.  They  regretted 
their  lack  of  zeal,  and  were  half  inclined  to  go  again  to 
the  barn. 

But  the  hasty  credence  of  Jacob  did  not  last.  He 
soon  began  to  question  whether  in  the  darkness  of  the 
moment  he  could  have  seen  at  such  a  distance.  An  ex- 
amination the  next  morning  made  it  doubtful  whether 
any  cattle  had  been  under  the  shed,  and  hence  it  ever 
after  remained  a  matter  of  greater  uncertainty  than  be- 
fore whether  the  tradition  respecting  the  kneehng  of 
animals  at  midnight  on  Christmas  eve  was  to  be  re- 
ceived. 

But  he  had  not  completed  his  examination  of  the  yard 
before  another  scene  far  more  exciting  attracted  his  at- 
tention. A  black  horse,  well  formed  and  full  of  spirit, 
was  brought  out  before  a  crowd  of  people,  and  at  a  short 
distance  a  bay  mare  was  held  by  the  halter.  It  was  now 
evident  that  preparation  was  going  on  for  a  race.  One 
of  the  riders  was  missing,  and  measures  were  taken  to 
secure  a  substitute.  Jacob's  cousin  was  invited,  but  de- 
clined Several  others  were  urged  without  success.  But 
at  length  Jim  Hardy  offered  his  services,  and,  addressing 
Judge  E.,  the  master  of  ceremonies  and  the  master-spirit 
of  the  crowd,  said  he  was  ready  to  take  a  seat  on  the 
mare.  He  began  to  move  forward.  He  threw  his  coat 
on  the  fence,  kicked  off  his  boots,  tossed  up  his  hat  in 
the  air,  tied  a  handkerchief  about  his  head  and  a  strap 
around  his  waist,  and  was  ready  to  mount,  when  the 
Judge  conducted  him  to  the  shrine  of  Bacchus,  where, 
as  he  had  twice  before  done  that  morning,  he  drank  in 
honor  of  the  day  and  the  occasion.  Every  thing  was 
now  made  ready.  On  either  side  of  the  road,  for  nearly 
half  a  mile,  stretched  the  long  line  of  spectators.] 

Each  rider  was  on  his  horse;  the  signal  was  given,  and 
the  well-trained  animals  were  off.  Under  whip  and  spur 
their  speed  increased.  Intense  is  the  excitement,  yet 
the  crowd  is  gazing  in  breathless  silence.  The  bay 
mare  is  ahead,  but  now  Swift-sure  is  gaining.  Two-thirds 
of  the  ground  had  been  passed  over  when  the  horse  on 
which  Jim  Hardy  rode  sprang  aside,  or  stumbled;  from 
the  suddenness  of  the  act  doubts  arose  among  eye  wit- 
nesses, but  the  rider  was  thrown  with  violence,  and  fell 
headlong  upon  a  stone.  He  raised  his  face  for  a  moment; 
it  was  covered  with  blood.  "  He  is  dead  !"  "  He  is 
dead  !"  shouted  several  voices,  and  the  words  passed  the 
whole  length  of  the  lines. 

The  master  of  ceremonies,  ourdistinguished  judge,  was 
soon  at  the  spot,  shouting,  "  He  is  worth  a  dozen  dead 


302 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


men;  he  is  not  much  hurt;  he  will  mount  again  and  try  it 
over." 

Uncle  Jacob  stood  near  the  fatal  spot  where  the  rider 
fell.  He  knew  Jim  Hardy,  and  when  he  saw  him  in  the 
agony  of  death,  while  the  judge  was  endeavoring  to  con- 
ceal the  fact  and  persuade  some  one  else  to  ride,  his  very 
soul  was  stirred  with  shame  and  indignation.  Jim  died 
before  night,  and  Jacob  returned  from  that  Christmas, 
and  that  race,  with  a  desire  never  to  see  a  similar  one. 

To  the  end  of  his  life,  which  was  a  long  one,  this  scene 
was  remembered  by  Uncle  Jacob.  And  if  his  opinions 
respecting  the  superstition  of  that  day  were  not  corrected, 
he  never  to  the  day  of  his  death  had  a  doubt  respecting 
the  bad  tendencies  of  horse  racing  and  the  evil  effects  of 
intoxicating  drinks. 

Fortune -Hunting. — The  old  stone  house  near  Dover 
which  was  completed  on  the  day  of  the  surrender  of 
Cornwallis  was  the  home  of  Uncle  Jacob  till  his  death. 
Industrious  and  contented,  he  lived  in  quiet  enjoyment 
until  in  his  declining  years  a  rumor  reached  him  of  a 
great  English  estate  that  had  been  left  to  his  family. 

According  to  report  the  estate  was  worth  millions,  and 
could  at  once  be  received  if  the  line  of  descent  could  be 
satisfactorily  established.  Mary  Townley  was  the  fortu- 
nate heir.  Of  Dutch  extraction,  she  had  lived  in  England 
and  moved  to  this  country  at  an  early  age,  and  here  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Lawrence.  A  newspaper  article  containing 
this  information  had  fallen  under  the  eyes  of  several 
members  of  this  numerous  family  at  the  same  time. 
Each  one  for  a  time  kept  the  information  to  himself, 
while  he  endeavored  to  ascertain  the  name  of  his  first 
American  ancestress. 

Uncle  Jacob  became  greatly  excited  and  began  to  hunt 
up  the  family  record.  He  remembered  an  old  Dutch 
Bible,  that  used  to  be  in  the  family  and  that  contained 
the  names  of  the  first  Lawrence  family  in  this  country. 
But  what  had  become  of  this  book  was  the  occasion  of 
much  solicitude,  for  on  that  book,  in  his  mind,  depended 
the  course  which  this  great  fortune  would  take.  The 
more  difficult  it  was  to  find  this  Bible  the  surer  did  Uncle 
Jacob  feel  that  it  contained  the  name  of  his  grandmother 
and  that  her  name  was  Mary  Townley.  After  persistent 
search  he  learned  that  many  years  ago  the  Bible  had  been 
sold  to  an  old  Dutch  woman  living  on  Schooley's  Moun- 
tain. The  house  of  the  Dutch  lady  was  visited,  but  the 
Bible  was  gone.  Other  members  of  the  family  had  been 
there  before  him,  bought  the  book  and  taken  it  off. 
When  this  fact  was  ascertained  Uncle  Jacob  was  more 
excited  than  ever,  and  became  apprehensive  that  he 
might  lose  his  portion  of  the  inheritance.  In  this  case 
of  perplexity  he  resolved  to  consult  his  dominie.  This 
he  had  often  done  with  satisfaction  to  himself,  and  in 
this  instance  the  minister  proved  to  know  more  about 
the  history  of  the  estate  than  did  Jacob  himself.  Though 
the  additional  information  amounted  to  nothing,  yet  it 
greatly  increased  Jacob's  interest  and  anxiety,  in  the 
height  of  which  he  said  that  it  would  now  only  be  neces- 
sary to  procure  some  boxes  and  send  them  to  the  British 
consul,  and  he  would  fill  them  with  gold  and  send  them 


up  to  the  stone  house.  He  had  not  yet  seen  the  Bible 
nor  learned  with  certainty  whether  his  grandfather  had 
married  Mary  Townley,  but  had  no  doubt  of  the  fact 
himself;  he  only  sought  the  proof  to  satisfy  others.  He 
learned  that  the  Bible  was  in  the  possession  of  a  brother 
who  Hved  about  ten  miles  off,  and  wondered  why  he  did 
not  send  the  book  or  send  word  of  its  contents.  He 
now  desired  the  dominie  to  go  with  him  to  the  house  of 
the  relative  and  get  the  book  or  at  least  read  the  record, 
for  it  might  be,  as  the  writing  was  in  Dutch,  that  he 
could  not  himself  read  it  when  he  saw  it.  The  kind 
minister  agreed  to  comply  with  his  request  on  condition 
that  no  one  should  know  where  they  were  going,  nor 
the  object  of  their  journey;  for  by  this  time  the  commun- 
ity was  filled  with  rumor,  and  the  minister  was  uneasy 
lest  the  people  might  think  his  affections  were  more  on 
this  world  than  on  the  next.  Early  one  morning  the 
journey  was  commenced,  and  several  were  anxious  to 
know  where  Uncle  Jacob  and  his  dominie  were  going 
so  early,  but  their  curiosity  was  not  satisfied.  The  route 
lay  along  the  western  side  of  Lake  Hopatcong. .  The  day 
was  calm  and  without  a  cloud;  the  roadside  decked  with 
laurel,  honeysuckle  and  rhododendron,  the  placid  water 
of  the  lake  stretching  out  before  the  eye  like  a  vast  mir- 
ror of  silver,  and  the  sweet  songs  of  the  birds,  all  seemed 
auspicious,  and  were  interpreted  by  Jacob  as  indications 
of  the  golden  future  of  his  earthly  career. 

As  he  felt  indebted  to  the  dominie  in  a  great  measure 
for  the  expected  fortune,  his  gratitude  rose,  and  he  prom- 
ised him  a  handsome  portion.  The  promise  not  pro- 
ducing the  effect  he  expected,  he  feared  he  had  not  been 
sufficiently  generous,  and  confidentially  asked  how  many 
thousands  it  would  take  to  put  a  minister  above  want  and 
enable  him  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  doing  good. 
This  brought  on  a  short  sermon  on  the  danger  of  riches, 
and  the  propriety  of  now  determining  how  he  would  use 
the  wealth  should  it  come  into  his  possession.  Such  a 
declaration,  he  was  told,  would  enable  him  to  see  how 
much  better  man  is  in  intention  than  in  performance; 
and  if  it  should  turn  out  that  he  is  now  richer  than  he  will 
ever  be  again,  at  least  in  imagination,  there  will  be  some 
satisfaction  in  having  indulged  in  a,  noble  purpose;  but 
he  was  cautioned  to  remember  that  the  feelings  and  pur- 
poses of  a  poor  man  are  rarely  the  same  when  a  poor 
man  becomes  a  rich  man.  The  sermon  seemed  to  be 
well  received  by  the  solitary  auditor,  who  declared  that 
he  would  rather  live  and  die  as  he  was  than  to  be  rich, 
if  he  should  thereby  become  as  proud  and  selfish  and 
useless  to  society  as  the  rich  men  that  he  knew;  but  he 
knew  that  it  would  be  otherwise  with  him,  and  the  tear 
of  joy  danced  in  his  eye  as  he  spoke  of  the  needy  he 
would  relieve,  and  the  happiness  he  would  promote  by 
the  coming  fortune.  While  he  was  thus  cherishing  grat- 
itude for  favors  expected,  the  journey  was  finished.  The 
friends  were  seen  and  the  Bible  inquired  for,  but,  sad  to 
say,  it  had  just  been  sent  away;  what  was  still  worse,  the 
record  of  the  grandmother  was  torn  out,  and  thus  was 
destroyed  the  strongest  hope  of  proving  the  claim.  Still 
further  search  was  to  be  made,  and  all  hope  of  success 


REMINISCENCES  OF  OLD  RANDOLPH. 


3oi 


was  not  abandoned.  On  the  return  the  dominie  made 
one  or  two  calls  on  families  in  his  parish.  Before  doing 
so  he  obtained  a  promise  that  nothing  should  be  said 
about  the  object  of  the  day's  journey;  but  Jacob  was  too 
full  of  the  subject  literally  to  keep  his  promise,  for,  being 
left  with  one  family  while  the  dominie  made  a  visit  near  by, 
he,  having  also  obtained  a  promise  of  secrecy,  began  to 
relate  the  whole  story.  But  while  he  was  in  the  midst 
of  it  the  dominie  suddenly  entered  the  room,  when  Jacob, 
jumping  up  and  walking  about,  began  to  sing.  Not  hav- 
ing time  to  select  his  piece  he  broke  out  on  the  hymn 
"A  charge  to  keep  I  have."  This  was  too  much  for  the 
rest,  who  could  not  control  their  risibleSj  and  the 
continued  bursts  of  laughter  betrayed  the  broken 
promise. 

The  fortune-hunters  having  resumed  the  journey,  soon 
the  hind  wheel  of  the  carriage  came  off  and  the  end  of 
the  axle  broke.  But  a  rail  of  a  fence  was  tied  under- 
neath the  carriage  so  that  it  could  be  dragged  home.  In 
the  meantime  the  sky  was  overcast  and  rain  began  to  fall. 
While  thus  traveling  the  dominie  sought  to  improve  the 
occasion  with  some  moral  reflections.  "  This  journey," 
said  he,  "  is  a  picture  of  the  sunshine  and  shade  of 
human  life.  This  morning  we  started  with  everything 
bright  and  promising,  and  visions  of  gold  before  us.  On 
our  return  the  sky  is  dark  with  clouds,  the  prospect  of 
wealth  is  gone,  our  disappointment  is  revealed  to  others, 
and  here  we  are,  riding  home,  on  a  rail."  The  auditor 
seemed  to  be  better  pleased  with  the  discourse  of  the 
morning  than  with  that  of  the  evening.  Yet  the  latter 
was  simpler  and  more  easily  comprehended,  and  was 
more  valuable  in  its  results.  For  the  hearer  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  was  better  after  all  to  be  satisfied  with 
the  slow  earnings  of  one's  own  industry  than  to  be  look 
ing  for  a  great  fortune  from  some  uncertain  source. 

But  the  experience  of  one  person  does  not  impart  wis- 
dom to  others.  The  public  journals  afterward  announced 
that  Mary  Townley  did  not  marry  a  Lawrence  but  a 
person  of  another  name,  and  another  numerous  family 
began  the  same  search,  with  as  great  expectations  and 
with  worse  results. 

The  Hard  Winter  of  1739-40. — One  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago  this  township  was  a  frontier;  to  which  the 
populous  city  or  well  furnished  mart  was  as  inaccessible 
as  either  now  is  to  the  most  isolated  settlers  of  any  of 
our  new  States.  In  1713  Joseph  Kirkbride  bought  of 
the  proprietors  of  East  Jersey  a  large  part  of  what  is  now 
the  township  of  Randolph.  Shortly  afterward  WilHam 
Schooley  moved  from  Schooley's  Mountain  and  bought 
of  Kirkbride  several  hundred  acres,  including  what  is 
now  Mill  Brook.  Mr.  Schooley  was  a  pioneer  and  en- 
dured all  the  hardships  which  commonly  attend  the  first 
settlers.  He  was  accustomed  to  trade  with  the  Indians, 
and  during  one  severe  winter  he  was  known  to  go  more 
than  once  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  through  the  snow  to  an 
Indian  settlement  to  obtain  corn,  which  he  brought  home 
in  a  bag  on  his  shoulders,  making  his  way  over  the  snow 
by  means  of  snowshoes,  which  were  common  at  that 
time. 


The  farm  adjoining  the  Center  Grove  school-house 
was  purchased  in  1739  by  Daniel  Carrell,  and  remained 
in  the  family  until  three  or  four  years  ago.  The  winter 
following  the  purchase  was  known  as  the  hard  winter. 
The  snow  fell  to  an  unusual  depth,  and  intense  cold  fol- 
lowed. There  were  not  men  enough  to  open  the  roads 
and  horses  could  not  travel.  The  hay  that  was  stacked 
in  the  field  was  covered  from  the  cattle,  and  even  the 
barns  in  some  instances  could  not  be  reached.  As  a 
consequence  many  horses  and  cows  perished.  A  neigh- 
bor of  Mr.  Carrell,  snowed  in  and  unsupplied  with  pro- 
visions for  himself  and  wife,  m;ide  a  desperate  attempt 
on  horseback  to  make  his  way  through  the  snow.  He 
set  out  early  in  the  day,  leaving  his  wife  alone,  hoping 
to  be  able  to  return  before  night.  Husband  and  wife 
never  saw  each  other  again.  The  lonely  woman,  who 
could  hear  nothing  of  her  husband,  hoped  that  he  had 
reached  the  house  of  his  neighbor,  and  would  ere  long 
return  with  something  to  support  life.  Her  bread  failed 
and  her  fire  gave  out.  When  the  snow  melted  in  the 
spring  the  horse  and  his  rider  were  found  dead  on  the 
road  not  farfrom'ihe  house  of  Mr.  Carrell,  and  when  the 
dwelling  was  entered,  the  body  of  his  wife,  like  his,  lay 
stiff  and  cold  in  the  icy  hand  of  death. 

Great  changes  have  occurred  since  those  days;  neigh- 
bors have  become  more  numerous  and  facilities  for  com- 
munication multiplied.  The  winters  have  been  milder 
and  the  snow  lighter.  Snow  drifts  are  occasionally  piled  ,- 
to  a  considerable  height,  but  the  average  does  not  equal 
that  of  which  our  sires  have  spoken.  Mrs.  Pierson,  who 
died  a  few  years  ago,  almost  having  completed  her 
fifth  score  of  years,  used  to  tell  of  her  riding  on  the 
frozen  snow,  in  the  days  of  her  girlhood,  when  it  covered 
the  tops  of  the  fences,  and  made  field  and  road  alike  a 
common  highway.  Of  late  years  the  cold  has  occasionally 
been  intense,  and  the  mercury  gone  down  in  the  ther- 
mometer to  a  fearful  depth,  but  the  cold  period  has  been 
brief,  lasting  but  a  few  days. 

Religious  Beginnings. — The  early  settlement  and  grad- 
ual increase  in  the  population  of  this  place  and  vicinity, 
may  be  inferred  from  a  few  statistics.  The  first  church 
in  Morris  county  was  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Whip- 
pany,  erected  in  17 18,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road 
and  not  far  from  the  present  church  in  that  place.  That 
charge  then  included  Hanover,  Madison,  Morristown, 
Parsippany,  and  the  region  beyond.  This  was  four 
years  before  the  first  settler  made  his  appearance  in 
Dover.  Though  the  people  came  from  the  different 
parts  of  the  extensive  forest,  they  did  not  form  a  very 
large  congregation.  But  the  enjoyment  of  a  sanctuary 
increased  the  desire  for  such  privileges.  In  1740  the 
portion  of  the  congregation  living  at  and  around  Morris- 
town  withdrew  from  the  Whippany  church  and  organ- 
ized the  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Morristown.  Eight 
years  later  the  Presbyterians  of  Madison,  or,  as  it  was 
then  called.  Bottle  Hill,  withdrew  and  formed  a  church. 
In  1752  the  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Rockaway  was 
built  and  used,  though  not  fully  completed  till  40  years 
later. 


3^4 


mSTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


In  175s  the  old  mother  church  of  Whippany  was  di- 
vided, and  two  churches  were  erected — one  at  Hanover 
and  the  other  at  Parsippany;  retaining,  however,  their 
old  pastor,  who  for  some  years  supplied  both  pulpits. 
After  this  one  minister  supplied  the  pulpits  of  Rockaway 
and  Parsippany.  In  1805  the  Rev.  Barnabas  King  came 
to  Rockaway,  and  he  continued  in  the  pastorate  cf  that 
church  more  than  fifty  years.  For  a  long  time  his  parish 
embraced  Dover,  Berkshire  Valley  and  Sparta. 

In  1816  Mr.  King  drew  up  a  subscription  paper  in  or- 
der to  obtain  money  to  purchase  books  and  tracts  for 
distribution.  The  original  document  is  before  us,  and 
as  it  shows  the  faith  and  works  of  that  period  it  may  grat- 
ify the  curiosity  of  some  to  see  it.  Appended  are  the 
names  of  the  subscribers.  They  were  the  early  settlers 
of  this  vicinity,  some  of  whom  have  passed  away^without 
leaving  any  descendants,  but  the  most  are  still  repre- 
sented, in  their  posterity.     The  paper  is  as  follows: 

"  October  22d,  1816. 

"  To  those  who  are  looking  at  the  signs  of  the  times, 
this  appears  an  eventful  period.  While  many  are_  run- 
ning to  and  fro  and  knowledge  is  increased,  no  Christian 
can  doubt  that  the  time  is  hastening  on  when  all  shall 
know  the  Lord,  from  the  least  of  them  even  to  the  great- 
est of  them.  This  is  a  work  which  God  has  undertaken, 
and  which  he  will  carry  on.  But  as  he  works  by  means, 
he  calls  on  us  to  be  diligent  in  the  use  of  them.  He 
calls  on  us  especially  to  do  much  in  endeavoring  to  dif- 
fuse religious  knowledge;  and  in  endeavoring  to  do  some- 
thing towards  training  up  the  rising  generation  in  the  fear, 
nurture,  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

"  Believing  that  much  may  be  done  towards  that  ob- 
ject by  Sabbath-schools  and  by  the  distribution  of  relig- 
ious tracts,  the  subscribers  agree  to  form  themselves  into 
a  society  to  be  called  the  Society  for  Promoting  Religious 
Knowledge  in  Rockaway  and  the  Neighborhoods  Adja- 
cent. They  adopt  the  following  rules  as  their  constitution: 

"i.  Every  adult  person  becomes  a  member  by  sub- 
scribing to  pay  semi-annually  one  cent  a  week;  and  every 
child  or  minor  becomes  a  member  by  subscribing  half  a 
cent  a  week. 

"  2.  When  a  sufificient  number  of  subscribers  shall  have 
been  obtained  they  shall  be  notified  from  the  pulpit  to 
meet  and  choose  a  president,  vice-president,  treasurer, 
and  secretary,  and  as  many  additional  managers  as  a  ma- 
jority of  the  subscribers  shall  think  proper,  being  careful 
to  have  at  least  one  manager  in  each  district  where  a 
Sabbath-school  is  maintained. 

"The  moneys  subscribed  are  to  be  paid  to  the  mana- 
gers, and  expended  in  procuring  tickets,  books,  etc.,  for 
the  use  and  encouragement  of  Sabbath-schools,  and  in 
procuring  religious  tracts  for  distribution,  always  keeping 
a  regular  account  of  receipts  and  expenditures. 

"  Each  district  where  a  Sabbath-school  is  maintained 
shall  choose  a  committee  of  three  persons,  who  shall  be 
authorized  to  select  such  persons  as  may  be  able  and  wil- 
ling to  teach  gratuitously  every  Sabbath  after  the  services 
in  the  church. 

"  They  may  also  apply  to  the  treasurer  for  any  number 
of  tickets,  tracts,  or  books  for  distribution,  not  exceeding 
in  value  the  amount  of  money  subscribed' and  paid  to 
the  managers  from  their  own  district." 

To  this  the  following  named  persons  subscribed  two 
cents  each:  Benj.  Lamson,  Stephen  Conger,  Titus  Berry, 
Harriet  Canfield,  Jacob  Van  Ness  and  John  Scofield. 

The  following  subscribed  half  a  cent  each:  John 
Hamilton,  Maria  Ford,  Harriet  King,  Hilah  Hurd,  Joseph 


Ayers,  Anna  T.  Ayers,  Ezekiel  M.  Hurd,  Phebe  Hoag- 
land,  Polly  Hoagland,  S.  A.  Lawrence. 

The  following  subscribed  one  cent  each:  C.  Hamilton, 
E.  Hoagland,  Charles  Hicks,  Betsey  Conger,  Nancy 
King,  Sarah  Cooper,  John  D.  Kimmel,  Moses  Hurd,  Ja- 
cob Lawrence,  J.  Suly,  preacher,  Aaron  Doty,  Chas. 
Hoagland,  Horace  Cooper,  Thomas  Vail,  Mared  Hill, 
John  Griffith,  Joseph  Casterline,  Charles  Losey,  Sarah 
Pierson,  Penina  Casterline,  Nancy  Casterline,  Calvin 
Casterline,  Rachel  Lyon,  Mahitabel  Smith,  Jacob  Palmer, 
Pierson  Howell,  Charles  Cooper,  John  Hill,  Isaac  Gar- 
rigus,  Samuel  Garrigus,  Thomas  Coe,  Daniel  Lamson, 
John  Kelsey,  John  Talmage,  John  Nott,  Job.  A.  Broad- 
well,  Charles  Jackson,  Silas  Kelsey,  Eleanor  Coonrod, 
Mary  Wilson,  Henry  Atwood,  Comfort  Coonrod,  Mary 
Wilson,  Henry  Atwood,  Samuel  Palmer,  Sylvanus  How- 
ell. 

A  reference  to  the  date  of  this  paper,  1816,  reminds 
us  of  the  revival  of  interest  in  the  cause  of  missions,  of 
the  organization  of  the  Bible  Society,  Tract  Society,  and 
other  kindred  organizations.  Sabbath-schools  at  that 
period  were  new,  and  it  is  pleasing  to  know  that  a  dispo- 
sition prevailed  in  this  vicinity  to  co-operate  in  this 
movement,  and  especially  to  establish  Sabbath-schools. 
At  this  time  one  was  opened  in  Dover,  which  has  never 
been  discontinued,  the  history  of  which  would  be  an  in- 
teresting document  by  itself.  That  this  school  was  much 
needed,  and  that  its  influence  on  the  manners  of  the  peo- 
ple was  very  salutary  may  be  learned  from  a  letter  written 
by  a  Methodist  minister  who  visited  this  place  in  1799, 
for  the  purpose  of  preaching  the  gospel,  but  was  not 
permitted  to  do  so.  The  letter  is  dated  Chestertown, 
Md.,  May  16  1839,  and  is  as  follows: 

"In  the  conference  year  of  1799  the  Rev.  Aaron 
Owens  and  myself  [Thomas  Smith]  were  stationed  on 
what  was  then  called  Flanders  circuit.  New  Jersey,  in- 
cluding Sussex  county  and  a  part  of  several  other  counties. 
In  traveling  around  that  district  of  country  we  passed 
through  the  town  of  Dover.  Beautifully  situated,  the 
scenery  is  fine,  the  surrounding  hills  rising  one  above  the 
other;  the  distant  mountains,  arrayed  in  graceful  order, 
exhibited  to  the  world  their  earthly  grandeur,  the  wis- 
dom, skill,  and  power  of  nature's  God. 

"  I  said  to  my  colleague,  *^What  think  ye  of  Dover?' 
He  said  he  intended  to  visit  that  place  with  the  gospel. 
I  said,  'Sir,  I  will  be  your  second.'  The  plan  being 
formed,  the  effort  was  made,  but  proved  unsuccessful. 
During  our  visits  to  that  place  I  obtained  an  old  house, 
where  I  preached  one  sermon  to  a  few  elderly  ladies, 
near  the  place  where  the  attack  was  made  on  the  life  of 
Brother  Owens.  Having  given  up  all  hopes  of  Dover  I 
left  it;  crossing  a  high  and  towering  mountain,  the  top  of 
which  overlooked  the  plains  of  Dover,  I  beheld  it  afar 
off,  and  wept.  On  entering  the  cleft  of  a  rock — the 
chamber  of  prayer — I  bowed  before  the  Lord,  presented 
their  moral  condition  before  the  throne  of  His  love,  pray- 
ing, '  O,  Father,  Lord  of  Heaven  and  earth,  send  unto 
them  thy  Son,  they  will  hear  Him.'  However,  in  the  lat- 
ter end  of  December  1799,  a  gentleman  from  that  place 
invited  me  to  his  house,  and  then  to  preach.  I  accepted 
the  call,  and  the  appointment  was  made  for  January  15th 
1800.  On  that  day  I  arrived  at  Dover.  The  weather 
was  extremely  cold.  I  rode  up  to  the  house  of  my 
friend,  who  met  me  at  the  door,  saying  he  was  sorry 
to  see  me.  My  coming  to  that  place  had  so  enraged  his 
neighbors  that  he  believed  did  I  attempt  to  preach  they 
would  pull  down    his  house  and  mob  the  congregation. 


GUY    M.  HINCHMAN'S  REMINISCENCES. 


305 


While  we  were  talking  several  came  up  and  let  me  know 
there  would  be  no  preaching  that  night.  '  So  I  perceive, 
gentlemen,'  said  I.  'And  this  makes  seven  times  I  have 
visited  you  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  his 
ambassador,  with  terms  of  reconciliation,  and  seven 
times  you  have  prevented  me  save  one,  and  now  I  am 
clear  of  your  blood,  and  you  shall  see  my  face  no  more 
till  we  meet  at  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ.  Three 
months  ago  you  mobbed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Owens,  an  aged 
gentleman,  upwards  of  sixty  years  of  age.  You  met 
him  on  the  road,  and  treated  him  most  shamefully.'  I 
left  Dover  at  dusk  and  set  out  for  my  next  appointment, 
sixteen  miles  off." 

We  hope  for  the  honor  of  our  ancestors  that  this  pic- 
ture is  a  little  overdrawn,  which  is  possible,  since  it  was 
drawn  from  memory  thirty-nine  years  after  the  visitations 
referred  to.  The  Quaker  meeting-house  was  then  stand- 
ing in  its  glory,  and  the  peaceable  Friends  were  never 
disturbed  in  their  quiet  and  oftentimes  silent  worship. 
Other  devout  people  resorted  to  the  Rockaway  sanctuary 
without  ever  complaining  of  the  distance.  But,  after 
making  all  allowance,  we  must  not  deny  that  some  of  ou 
forefathers  were  wicked,  and  that  the  tender  mercies  of 
the  wicked  are  cruel.  Nor  must  we  withhold  the  meed 
of  praise  due  to  the  venerable  father  who  moved  oiar 
progenitors  to  establish  here  a  Sunday-school,  and  to  en- 
gage in'  the  diffusion  of  religious  knowledge,  at  the  same 
time  receiving  and  retaining  a  little  themselves. 

The  Sportsman's  Golden  Age. — The  following  reminis- 
cences were  originally  published  in  a  letter  addressed  to 
the  editor  of  the  Iron  Era,  by  the  late  Guy  Maxwell 
Hinchman,  of  Dover  : 

"In  181 1  and  1812  there  were  immense  flights  of  pigeons 
from  the  southwest  to  northeast,  the  flocks  extending 
apparently  from  horizon  to  horizon,  commencing  at  about 
3  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  continuing  till  twilight,  making  their 
way  to  the  Green  Pond  Swamp,  where  they  roosted  for 
the  nighl.  Persons  repairing  to  the  swamp,  and  shoot- 
ing promiscuously  into  the  tree  tops  were  enabled  the 
next  morning  to  carry  away  hundreds  of  birds — only  a 
small  portion  of  those  killed  and  maimed,  as  the  swamp 
at  that  time  was  nearly  impenetrable.  The  noise  pro- 
duced by  their  flight  when  fired  upon  and  settling  again 
was  deafening.  At  early  dawn  they  took  flight  to  the 
southwest,  returning  again  in  the  afternoon.  I  recollect 
that  early  in  April,  one  foggy  morning  accompanied  by 
rain  and  sleet,  the  pigeons  were  apparently  unable  to  take 
their  course,  and  were  completely  demoralized,  seeking 
rest  upon  every  tree  with  which  they  came  in  contact. 
An  aged  gentleman,  Mr.  Phineas  Fitz-Randolph,  residing 
in  Succasunna  Plains,  near  where  the  Chester  Railroad 
crosses  the  main  street,  stepped  to  the  rear  door  of  his 
house,  and  fired  into  the  hapless  crowd  that  had  alighted 
upon  an  apple  tree,  while  hundreds  of  others  were  en- 
deavoring to  obtain  a  footing.  The  result  was  the  bag- 
ging of  fifty  birds.  Fifteen,  twenty  or  thirty  birds  at  a 
single  shot'  was  not  uncommon.  I  believe  there  have 
been  no  such  flights  since  those  years,  in  this  region. 

"Partridge,  quail  and  woodcock  could  be  obtained  by 
experts  in  abundance;  at  that  time  very  few  persons  could 
bring  down  their  birds  on  the  wing. 

"Deer  were  plenty  then  in  certain  localities;  in  fact,  in 
all  our  forests  lying  between  Dover  and  Sparta  many  a 
thrilling  scene  transpired  in  the  chase.  There  resided  in 
the  vicinity  of  Succasunna  a  gentleman  somewhat  ad- 
vanced in  years,  a  portion  of  whose  life  had  been  spent 
on    Long   Island,  who    was  wont    to    recount  wonderful 


feats  of  duck,  brant  and  goose  shooting  that  he  had  per- 
formed there;  but  never  having  been  very  successful  in 
the  hunts  after  deer,  to  which  he  was  frequently  a  party, 
his  stories  were  received  with  many  grains  of  allowance. 
A  party  was  about  to  have  a  chase  on  the  Shrub  Oaks, 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  plains.  The  old  gentleman, 
happening  there,  regretted  that  he  had  not  his  gun  or  he 
would  accompany  them.  A  gentleman  of  the  party 
offered  to  supply  him  with  an  American  musket,  an  ex- 
cellent gun,  and  proceeded  to  charge  it  for  him.  Deter- 
mined that  if  he  fired  it  he  should  have  something  worthy 
of  notice  to  speak  of,  he  put  in  a  rousing  charge  of  pow- 
der, and  20  rifle  balls- of  90  to  the  pound.  All  being  ar- 
ranged, the  old  gentleman  offered  to  take  the  hounds  to 
cover  and  start  the  deer,  making  his  way  to  the  duck 
pond,  lying  a  little  south  of  the  railroad  as  you  pass  to 
the  Drakesville  station.  Hearing  the  cry  of  the  hounds 
he  took  a  position  in  an  old  road  leading  to  the  south 
part  of  the  pond,  somewhat  elevated  above  the  water. 
In  an  instant  the  hounds  were  in  full  cry;  six  deer  broke 
cover,  coming  up  the  road  in  which  he  stood.  Entering 
into  the  road  they  came  in  close  contact.  At  the  proper 
moment  he  discharged  bis  piece,  and  the  result  was 
three  deer  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  a  fourth  deer — 
severely  wounded — made  its  way  to  the  Rockaway  River 
at  a  point  where  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  crosses, 
west  of  Port  Oram,  and  was  there  captured.  That  great 
shot  established  the  gentleman's  fame,  and  his  goose- 
shooting  stories  received  full  credit.  I  know  of  but  one 
person  living,  except  the  writer,  who  was  conversant  with 
the  facts  mentioned  ;  he  is  an  octogenarian,  residing 
near  Drakesville  station,  and  when  I  saw  him  not  long 
since  was  hale  and  hearty,  with  faculties  unimpaired. 

"  During  my  working  Mount  Pleasant  mine  many 
amusing  scenes  occurred  and  others  that  were  serious. 
On  a  very  stormy  winter  day,  too  inclement  for  men  to 
work  above  ground,  I  placed  all  hands  to  enlarge  the 
sink,  and  covered  the  opening  of  the  shaft  with  bundles 
of  straw,  to  prevent  the  wind  blowing  down.  We  had 
not  been  there  long,  the  hands  being  on  both  sides  of 
the  basin  endeavoring  to  enlarge  the  area — the  basin  at 
that  time  having  water  five  or  six  feet  deep.  I  was 
standing  in  the  midst  of  the  workmen  and  nearly  under 
the  shaft,  when  I  felt  a  sensation  as  of  something 
descending  the  shaft,  and  sprang' from  under.  A  neigh- 
bor's cow,  who  thought  to  regale  herself  with  the  straw 
covering  the  shaft,  missing  her  footing  came  down, 
struck  the  foot  wall  a  few  feet  above  the  water,  gave  one 
moan,  and  plunged  into  the  basin,  driving  the  water  in 
every  direction,  extinguishing  our  candles  and  leaving 
us  in  total  darkness.  The  men  on  the  farther  side  of 
the  basin  from  the  ladders  made  a  stampede  right 
through  the  water,  and  in  two  minutes  there  was  not 
a  man  left  in  the  mine.  Many  did  not  know  what  had 
fallen.  That  ended  work  for  that  day,  and  the  cow  re- 
mained in  her  watery  grave  until  the  day  following,  when 
we  resurrected  her,  sent  her  coat  to  the  tanner's,  and  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  paying  the  owner  $25,  at  which  she 
was  valued. 

"At  another  time  I  was  sinking  a  shaft  through  earth 
that  was  inclined  to  cave.  I  had  cautioned  the  men  to 
keep  it  securely  timbered,  but  in  my  absence  for  a  day 
they  neglected  to  secure  the  earth.  It  gave  way,  bring- 
ing down  previous  timbering,  completely  covering  a  good 
natured  old  Irishman  that  had  long  been  in  my  employ. 
Fortunately  the  timbers,  falling  across  each  other,  though 
pinning  him  tight  against  one  side  of  the  shaft,  formed 
openings  which  admitted  air,  and  enabled  him  to  breathe. 
On  returning  home  at  night  I  found  that,  after  remaining 
for  some  hours  in  that  situation,  the  miners  had  just 
rescued  him.     He  was  somewhat  bruised,  but  no  bones 


3o6 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


were  broken.  Accosting  him,  I  said,  '  Jimmy  '  (his  name 
was  James  Brady)  'what  did  you  think  about  while  shut 
up  in  the  shaft  ?'  '  Och  !  I  thought  you  were  a  good 
man,  and  if  you  were  at  home  you  would  surely  get  me 
out,  but  I  feared  for  the  men.'  '  Jimmy,  did  you  pray  ?' 
'  Och  !  it  was  just  me  that  did  pray.'  '  What  was  your 
prayer?'  'Och!  it  was  the  Psalms  of  David.  Och! 
was'nt  it  a  happy  deliverance  !  Give  me  a  quarter  till 
I  away  to  the  tavern  for  a  quart  of  applejack,  to  trate 
the  men.' 

"  One  morning  we  were  suddenly  awakened  by  a  start- 
ling sound  which  seemed  to  come  from  the  kitchen.  I 
hastened  thither  and  found  Jimmy,  looking  the  picture 
of  mortification,  and  exclaiming,  '  To  think  of  me  doing 
such  a  thing!  me  who  has  used  powther  all  me  life!  If 
it  had  been  some  simple  body  I  shouldn't  ha'  wondered, 

but  for  me  to  do  such  a  thing!  it  was  a quare  trick.' 

The  men  had  a  large  powder  flask,  which  they  used  in 
filling  their  straws  for  blasting.  Jimmy,  in  haste  to  light 
his  fire,  had  used  the  contents  of  the  fla.sk.  The  door 
fortunately  stood  open;  the  flask  was  hurled  through  it, 
and  also  through  a  high  board  fence  which  stood  at  some 
distance. 

"The  same  old  man  remained  working  at  the  mine 
after  I  disposed  of  it.  On  his  right  hand  he  had  two 
crooked  fingers,  stiffened  by  some  hurt,  and  in  landing  a 
barrel  of  water,  the  horse  at  the  whim  failing  to  turn 
when  he  should,  Jimmy's  stiff  fingers  being  fast  over  the 
chime  of  the  barrel,  he  was  carried  up  to  the  pulley,  about 
eight  feet  above  the  landing.  The  horse  turned  sud- 
denly, and  the  barrel,  dropping  quickly,  relieved  his  fin- 
gers. While  suspended  above  the  shaft  he  dropped  into 
the  mine,  60  feet,  and  falling  in  water  was  not  killed. 

"  Not  long  after  the  poor  old  fellow  was  found  frozen 
to  death — which  proves  that  a  man  born  to  be  frozen  will 
not  be  killed  by  falling  down  a  mine  shaft." 

The  following  incidents  were  related  by  Mr.  Hinchman, 
author  of  the  above,  in  his  autobiography,  prepared  for 
his  children: 

"I  might  relate  many  interesting  hunting  scenes;  I  will 
mention  only  a  few.  My  wife  and  myself  while  living  at 
Mount  Pleasant  were  spending  the  day  at  Succasunna, 
and  about  4  o'clock,  when  starting  for  home,  a  few  per- 
sons informed  me  that  they  were  just  starting  for  a  chase 
on  the  Shrub  Oaks,  which  lay  directly  on  my  route  home- 
ward, and  proposed  to  furnish  me  with  a  double  barreled 
gun,  and,  as  the  runways  were  right  on  my  way,  that  I 
should  permit  Mrs.  Hinchman  to  drive  home,  and  I  re- 
main for  the  hunt.  Accordingly  as  we  reached  the  hunt- 
ing ground  we  came  to  a  stand  for  assigning  each  to  his 
position.  Mine  lay  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant 
from  where  the  hounds  were  started,  and  immediately  on 
the  road.  I  had  dismounted  from  the  gig,  and  was  ar- 
ranging for  Mrs.  Hinchman  to  proceed,  when  I  heard  the 
hounds  in  full  cry  and  coming  directly  to  the  point  where 
I  was  placed.  I  had  barely  time  to  urge  Mrs.  Hinchman 
to  drive  on  when  I  saw  three  deer  making  tremendous 
leaps  over  the  low  shrubs  and  coming  between  where  I 
i-tood  and  the  position  of  Mrs.  Hinchman.  They  were 
upon  me  at  once.  Under  the  circumstances  I  was  con- 
siderably flurried.  Mrs.  Hinchman  had  just  started  and 
was  distant  not  more  than  200  feet;  the  road  was  narrow 
and  straight.  I  had  just  time  to  step  to  the  extreme 
edge  of  the  road,  which  brought  my  aim  a  little  out  of 
line  with  the  carriage,  when  the  first  deer  bounded  into 
the  road,  which  he  would  span  in  two  leaps.  The  mo- 
ment he  struck  the  road  I  fired  the  first  shot,  and,  it  ap- 
pearing not  to  have  taken  effect,  I  instantly  fired  the 
second,  with  apparently  the  same  result.  The  hounds 
were  close  upon  the  deer,  and  having  passed   the  road 


for  a  hundred  yards  or  more  ceased  their  cry.  Going  to 
them  I  found  the  deer  dead.  Had  I  known  how  accu- 
rate my  first  shot  had  been,  and  also  the  second— both 
being  mortal— I  might  have  had  two  deer.  In  the  mean- 
time Mrs.  Hinchman  had  stopped,  which  gave  me  an  op- 
portunity of  riding  instead  of  footing  it  home.  Others 
of  the  party  took  the  game  and  the  gun  loaned  to  me, 
and  we  all  proceeded  to  our  homes,  satisfied  with  the 
hour's  sport. 

"At  another  time  while  I  resided  at  Mount  Pleasant 
Dr.  Ira  Crittenden,  in  visiting  his  patients,  learned  that 
deer  frequented  a  field  of  wheat  on  the  Burwell  farm- 
near  where  the  Port  Oram  furnace  now  stands — and 
proposed  that  I  should  accompany  him  and  watch  for 
the  deer.  It  was  late  in  November  and  thewheathad 
grown  to  be  good  feed  for  them.  The  moon  was  within 
a  few  days  of  the  full;  and  the  night  very  light.  After 
taking  our  places,  each  at  the  extremity  of  the  field,  in 
about  half  an  hour  I  heard  several  deer  approaching. 
They  came  to  the  fence  enclosing  the  lot,  and  stopped. 
In  a  few  moments  I  heard  demonstrations,  as  stamping 
violently,  and  with  two  or  three  shrill  snorts  away  they 
went.  We  held  a  consultation,  and  concluded  to  remain 
a  while  longer.  I  suppose  an  hour  or  more  had  elapsed 
when  we  heard  them  returning  at  the  same  place,  distant 
about  forty  yards  from  where  I  was  placed  behind  a  lit- 
tle clump  of  shrubs.  As  before,  they  stopped  at  the 
fence,  manifesting  the  same  dissatisfaction,  evidently 
aware  of  something  they  did  not  like.  After  remaining 
a  much  longer  time  than  at  their  first  appearance,  an  old 
buck  with  splendid  antlers  made  a  tremendous  leap  over 
the  fence  into  the  field.  Remaining  in  his  tracks  when 
he  alighted,  he  made  a  noble  appearance  ;  the  moon 
shining  on  his  white  horns,  he  loomed  to  a  great  size. 
Those  outside  the  lot  were  now  quiet.  I  immediately 
raised  my  rifle  and  attempted  to  get  an  aim,  but_  could 
not  tell  on  looking  over  the  barrel  whether  my  aim  was 
correct.  My  position  was  down  on  one  knee;  I  placed 
my  rifle  on  my  knee,  and  brought  it  to  bear  on  the  deer, 
which  I  could  see  distinctly,  and  by  passing  it  off  and 
again  upon  him  was  enabled  to  get  what  I  supposed  was  a 
pretty  correct  aim,  and  fired.  With  the  same  majestic 
leap  with  which  he  came  into  the  field  he  left,  and  with 
a  stampede  they  all  went — there  were  at  least  four  or 
five.  Under  the  circumstances  I  had  no  faith  that  my 
shot  had  taken  effect,  but  as  they  passed  diagonally 
along  the  field  and  near  the  doctor  he  fancied  he  heard 
the  deer  fall  and  rise  again.  Of  course,  as  the  cover  was 
so  close,  we  made  no  examination  that  night.  The  next 
morning  I  went  in  pursuit,  and  by  aid  of  spots  of  blood 
proceeded  about  200  yards,  where  I  found  the  buck  dead. 
My  shot  could  not  have  been  more  to  the  purpose  if  I 
had  had  daylight  for  my  aim." 

An  Incident  of  the  Last  Training. — The  last  militia 
training  in  Dover  under  the  old  militia  system  occurred 
about  the  time  that  Captain  Pruden  and  Supercargo 
Wood  made  their  trip  on  "The  Dover,  of  Dover,"  to 
Newark  and  back  at  the  opening  of  the  canal.  They 
were  both  in  Dover  on  training  day,  and  remember  the 
following  incident:  Some  of  the  soldiers  were  sitting 
on  the  porch  of  the  Stone  Hotel  or  Stickle  House,  and 
one  of  them  named  William  McKinnon  said  he  could  hit 
a  tree  with  his  ramrod.  He  fired  the  iron  ramrod  from 
his  gun  at  a  tree,  three  or  four  hundred  feet  distant,  and 
the  rod  went  through  the  center  of  the  tree  and  remains 
there  to  this  day — fifty  years  after  the  shooting.  It  is 
easily  seen,  as  each  end  of  the  rod  projects  from  the 
tree.      The  tree  was  small  at  the  time,  but  during  these 


SCHOOLS  IN  RANDOLPH— THE  QUAKER  MEETING-HOUSE. 


307 


fifty  years  has  grown  to  a  large  size.  It  stands  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street  from  the  hotel  and  about  400 
feet  to  the  northwest. 

Schools. 

The  early  settlers  in  New  Jersey  were  all  true  friends 
of  education.  The  Quakers  of  West  Jersey  established 
in  1683  the  first  school  fund  in  America.  The  Dutch 
were  enjoined  by  the  West  India  Company,  who  sent 
them  over,  to  support  a  minister  and  a  school-master. 
The  Scotch  Presbyterians  when  they  first  came  to  New 
Jersey  brought  preachers  and  schoolmasters  with  them. 

The  New  Jersey  Legislature  of  1693  passed  the  first 
school  law  authorizing  each  district  to  choose  trustees 
and  a  teacher,  and  to  tax  the  people  to  pay  his  salary. 
Provision  was  first  made  for  free  schools  in  181 7,  and 
three  years  later  townships  were  authorized  to-  raise 
money  to  educate  such  poor  children  as  were  paupers. 
In  1824  one-tenth  of  all  the  State  taxes  went  to  the  school 
fund.  In  1828  townships  could  vote  moneys  to  build 
school-houses.  In  1867  county  superintendents  were 
appointed.  In  1871  all  public  schools  were  made  free. 
From  the  commencement  a  steady  progress  in  favor  of 
education  has  been  made  in  New  Jersey. 

There  are  now  ten  public  school  districts  in  the  town- 
ship of  Randolph,  the  largest  of  which  is  the  Dover  dis- 
trict. This  district  has  a  graded  school,  in  which  are 
employed  seven  teachers,  and  each  teacher  has  a  depart- 
ment containing  as  many  scholars  as  are  to  be  found  in 
either  of  the  other  districts. 

Both  before  and  after  the  public  schools  were  in  oper- 
ation private  schools  were  maintained.  The  first  was 
probably  the  one  held  in  the  old  homestead  of  Richard 
Brotherton.  Another  was  held  in  a  little  room  built  for 
the  purpose,  opposite  to  the  Quaker  meeting-house,  and 
another  a  mile  southwest  of  Richard  Brotherton's,  on  the 
road  to  Calais. 

For  a  long  while  the  oldest  inhabitants  were  accustomed 
to  speak  of  the  Franklin  school-house,  situated  a  mile  and 
a  half  east  of  Dover,  as  the  place  where  their  education 
began.  This  school-room  was  without  ornaments  and 
the  seats  were  rough  benches;  the  instructor,  now  called 
teacher,  was  then  called  master,  and  the  rod — his  badge 
of  authority — was  vigorously  used. 

After  the  death  of  the  Hon.  Mahlon  Dickerson,  of 
Ferromonte,  a  school  of  a  high  order  was  opened  in  his 
former  residence  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Crossett.  This 
school,  which  lasted  only  three  years,  was  of  benefit  to 
the  township,  and  of  special  advantage  to  the  more  ad- 
vanced scholars  of  Dover. 

Churches  of  the  Township. 

"  The  Quaker  meeting-house "  for  more  than  three 
quarters  of  a  century  was  the  only  church  in  the  town- 
ship. The  first  settlers  of  Randolph  were  Quakers. 
Among  them  was  one  John  Reading,  who,  though  he  be- 
came a  Presbyterian,  was  much  esteemed  by  the  Society 
of  Friends.  This  man  was  a  public  surveyor,  and  sur- 
veyed the  first  piece  of  land  in  the  township  of  Randolph. 


He  often  made  purchases  where  he  surveyed,  and  fre- 
quently aided  his  friends  in  making  favorable  purchases, 
because  he  was  the  first  to  know  the  value  of  new  loca- 
tions. It  was  through  his  influence  that  the  first  settlers 
came  to  this  township.  It  would  seem  from  the  society 
in  which  they  are  found  that  the  Kirkbrides  and  the 
Schooleys  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends.  We  know 
that  the  Randolphs,  the  Dells,  the  Brothertons  and  others 
of  the  first  settlers  were  Quakers.  These  facts  explain 
why  the  first  house  of  worship  in  the  township  was  a 
"  Quaker  meeting-house."  It  was  built  in  1748  or  earlier, 
and  stood  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Charles  Lamp- 
son,  from  which  it  was  moved  a  few  years  after  to  its 
present  site,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  west.  Lately  re- 
covered and  otherwise  improved  it  still  preserves  its 
original  quaint  appearance.  Built  when  timber  was 
abundant,  and  to  be  had  for  the  cutting,  its  substantial 
frame  has  lasted  for  a  century  and  a  third,  and  from  pres- 
ent appearances  may  last  another  century  or  two.  Though 
very  limited  in  its  seating  capacity,  yet  at  the  time  of  its 
erection  it  was  capable  of  accommodating  all  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  township.  Few  and  scattered  as  the  first 
settlers  were,  one  can  easily  conjecture  with  what  social 
satisfaction  and  sacred  delight  they  came  together  in 
their  new  meeting-house.  Strong  in  their  peculiar  prin- 
ciples, for  which  in  the  old  country  they  suffered  perse- 
cution and  even  separation  from  their  native  land,  they 
now,  in  the  depths  of  the  wilderness,  in  the  New  World, 
enjoyed  their  dreams  of  liberty,  and  devoutly  gave  thanks 
that  they  could  in  their  own  way  worship  God,  with  none 
to  molest  or  make  afraid.  Sometimes  the  hour  of  reli- 
gious meeting  was  spent  in  silence;  and  sometimes  one  of 
the  worshipers  arose  and  gave  utterance  to  the  thoughts 
that  were  burning  in  the  heart.  Without  a  pastor,  with- 
out an  ordained  preacher  or  teacher,  the  Friends  met  in 
their  plain  meeting-house,  and  at  times  as  the  Spirit  moved 
them. — it  might  be  in  the  men's  apartment  or  it  might  be 
in  the  women's  apartment,  for  all  were  on  equality — one 
or  another  would  rise  and  speak  without  ostentation  or 
attempt  at  oratory;  and  then  were  heard  addresses  which 
drew  all  hearts  in  closer  bonds  of  love,  and  awakened 
resolutions  to  live  purer  and  better  lives.  Addresses  were 
made  as  eloquent  and  as  edifying  as  have  since  been  made 
in  the  modern  and  more  pretentious  sanctuaries  of  the 
township.  But  the  old  Quaker  meeting-house  is  silent, 
and  these  stirring  speeches  are  mentioned  as  among  the 
things  that  were.  The  good  influence  of  the  Friends  in 
Randolph,  however,  is  not  extinct.  It  lives  and  has  found 
its  way  to  other  places  of  worship  in  the  township;  and 
it  has  helped  to  give  a  healthy  tone  to  the  morals  of  the 
new  comers  who  have  made  their  home  m  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

Mi.  Freedom  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  July 
9th  1820,  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Cox,  of  Mendham,  and 
Rev.  Jacob  Green, of  Succasunna,  who  were  appointed  a 
committee  for  this  purpose  by  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey. 

The  following  persons,  having  obtained  letters  of  dis- 
mission from  the  churches  to  which  they  formerly  be- 
longed, composed   the  new  society:     John  Corwin,  Eliz- 


41 


3o8 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


abeth  Bryant,  Phebe  Clark,  Nancy  Lewis,  Nancy  Wheeler, 
Sarah  Wilkinson,  Anna  Bonnel,  Martha  Hulbert,  Eliza- 
beth Connet,  Elizabeth  Roberts,  Rach-el  Bryant,  Lydia 
Roberts,  Jane  Roberts,  Jacob  Drake,  Anna  Drake  and 
Elijah  D.  Wells.  Jacob  Drake,  Elijah  D.  Wells  and  John 
Corwin  were  chosen  and  duly  ordained  and  installed  into 
the  office  of  ruling  elders  of  this  church. 

The  Rev.  Jacob  Bryant,  who  had  been  instrumental  in 
gathering  a  congregation  and  preparing  the  way  for  the 
church  organization,  received  a  call  to  become  the  pastor 
of  this  congregation,  and  on  November  17th  1824  he  was 
installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Eb'zabeth.  Mr.  Bryant 
was  a  native  of  Mt.  Freedom,  and  was  regarded  by  the 
people  as  the  founder  of  this  church,  which  under  his 
ministry  increased  in  numbers  and  in  influence.  He  re- 
signed his  pastoral  charge  in  1829,  but  continued  to  sup- 
ply the  pulpit  till  his  death,  in  1846.  His  successor  was 
the  Rev.  James  McMurray,  a  graduate  of  the  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary,  who  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  January  6th  1847,  and  continued  in  the  pastorate 
till  1856.  The  Rev.  Abram  Williamson  succeeded  Mr. 
McMurray  in  1856,  and  remamed  in  charge  of  the  church 
till  March  1867.  The  next  month  a  call  was  extended  to 
the  Rev.  Elias  R.  Fairchild^  D.  D.,  who  though  never 
formally  installed  served  the  church  till  1871;  during  his 
ministry  there  the  church  edifice  was  enlarged  and  im- 
proved, and  many  were  added  to  the  church. 

In  July  187  I  the  Rev.  Robert  S.  Feagles  was  installed 
pastor  by  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange,  and  he 
resigned  his  pastorate  in  December  1878.  In  January 
1879  the  Rev.  William  W.  Halloway  took  charge,  and  he 
is  still  the  pastor.  The  present  elders  are  Daniel  Bryant, 
Pierson  Allen,  James  Cramer,  Nelson  Hughson,  Samuel 
Youngs,  Frank  Merchant  and  Charles  De  Hart.  Daniel 
P.  Merchant,  recently  deceased,  was  for  a  long  time  an 
elder  and  a  leading  man  in  the  congregation  and  in  the 
community. 

The  church  now  consists  of  130  members.  The  con- 
gregation owns  a  house  of  worship,  graveyard,  parson- 
age, and  five  acres  of  land,  which  are  all  free  from  en- 
cumbrance. 

77/1?  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Walnut  Gi-ove  is 
the  successor  of  an  old  Baptist  church,  the  history  of 
which  has  not  been  preserved,  but  which  with  its  grave- 
yard dates  back  to  an  early  period  in  the  settlement  of 
the  township.  The  Baptist  church  was  for  a  time  used 
as  a  union  meeting-house;  but  the  Baptist  society  has 
become  extinct,  and  the  old  house  of  worship  has  disap- 
peared. The  Methodists  have  erected  on  the  old  site  or 
near  it  a  new  and  commodious  edifice,  worth  about 
^5,000,  and  are  in  a  prosperous  condition.  Rev.  John 
Stilman  was  their  first  pastor.  The  church  has  a  mem- 
bership of  no.  The  pulpit  is  supplied  by  C.  L.  Bang- 
hart. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Mill  Brook,  situ- 
ated half  a  mile  north  from  the  mill  seat,  is  nearly  as  old 
as  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Dover,  and 
was  united  with  it,  so  that  its  successive  pastors  may  be 
learned  from   the  list  of    preachers    who    supplied  that 


church.  Occasionally  for  a  short  time  it  has  had  a  pastor 
by  itself.  This  year  it  is  united  with  the  Walnut  Grove 
charge,  and  Mr.  Banghart  supplies  the  pulpit  of  both 
churches.  It  has  a  flourishing  Sunday-school  and  takes 
a  leading  part  in  sustaining  the  moral  enterprises  of  the 
township. 

St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church. — This  church  is 
located  about  one  mile  west  of  Dover,  on  the  road  to 
Port  Oram.  It  was  built  about  the  year  1847,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Rev.  Father  Senez,  now  of 
Jersey  City.  He  was  then  stationed  at  Madison,  and 
seeing  the  numbers  that  came  to  him  every  Sunday  from 
Dover  he  determined  to  extend  his  labors  to  that  vicinity. 
Every  third  or  fourth  Sunday  he  administered  mass  in  a 
private  house  here;  and,  perceiving  the  congregation  to 
be  quite  large,  he  felt  the  importance  of  securing  for  them 
a  house  of  worship.  This  was  no  easy  matter  to  accom- 
plish, as  most  of  the  men  were  unmarried  and  dependent 
on  the  mines  for  their  livelihood;  and  as  mining  was  un- 
steady at  the  time  these  men  might  be  here  to-day  and 
away  to-morrow,  so  their  church  matters  were  of  second- 
ary consideration.  The  married  men  were  few  and  poor. 
Notwithstanding  all  the  apparent  difficulties,  with  the 
characteristic  zeal  of  a  Frenchman,  Father  Senez  under- 
took the  work  at  once  by  levying  a  monthly  tax  of  25 
cents  on  every  man  in  the  parish.  After  the  first  month's 
receipts  were  added  up  he  concluded  the  tax  levied  was 
too  small,  and  increased  it  to  one  dollar  per  month.  In 
about  a  year  the  amount  collected  was  thought  to  be  suffi- 
cient to  build  the  church.  Accordingly  a  suitable  lot 
was-  looked  for,  when  Mrs.  William  Phillips  generously 
gave  the  ground  on  which  the  old  church  now  stands. 
The  men  of  the  parish  turned  out  and  worked  by  spells 
at  the  foundation  till  it  was  completed.  The  building 
was  soon  put  up,  though  not  entirely  finished  when  it 
was  first  used.  At  this  time,  to  the  regret  of  all,  Father 
Senez  was  removed  from  Madison  and  from  this  parish. 
The  Rev.  Father  McQuaid,  now  bishop  of  Rochester,  N. 
Y.,  succeeded  him  at  Madison,  and  performed  the 
pastoral  duties  of  St.  Mary's  parish  for  about  eighteen 
months.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Father  Ward,  who 
was  the  first  priest  who  lived  within  the  parish.  Father 
Ward  was  in  poor  health  and  not  much  in  sympathy  with 
his  surroundings;  and  remained  less  than  a  year.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Callan,  who  finished  the 
church,  adding  a  gallery  for  the  choir,  and  a  basement, 
in  which  was  held  a  parochial  school.  He  continued  in 
this  pastorate  eighteen  years,  discharging  his  duties  in 
such  a  manner  that  he  still  has  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts 
of  many  of  his  old  parishioners.  His  successor  was  the 
Rev.  B,  Quinn,  an  energetic  worker.  He  established 
churches  at  Rockaway  and  Mount  Hope,  and  made  im- 
provements in  the  parish.  He  also  built  a  fine  parochial 
residence.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Father  Fitzsim- 
mons,  who  remained  nine  months;  and  he  by  Father 
Byrne,  who  only  labored  here  three  months,  when  the 
Rev.  Pierce  McCarthy  entered  upon  the  pastoral  charge. 

As  the  church  was  not  large  enough  to  accommodate 
the  congregation  Father  McCarthy  undertook  the  work 


CHURCHES  OF  PORT  ORAM  AND  MINE  HILL. 


3°9 


of  erecting  a  new  church.  By  fairs,  picnics  and  con- 
tributions he  collected  a  sum  large  enough  to  commence 
building.  The  plan  of  the  new  church  was  drawn  by 
Jeremiah  O'Rourke,  of  Newark.  Work  was  commenced 
in  November  187 1.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  June 
1872,  and  the  church  was  dedicated  November  ist  1873. 
The  building  is  made  of  stone  found  in  the  vicinity.  It 
is  127  feet  in  length,  42  feet  in  breadth,  32  feet  from 
floor  to  ceiling,  18  feet  from  water  table  to  wall  plate, 
and  the  steeple  when  finished  will  be  112  feet  in  height; 
cost  of  the  whole  about  150,000.  Father  McCarthy  also 
procured  grounds  for  a  new  cemetery,  which  was  ded- 
icated in  1875.  In  1876  Father'McCarthy  was  called  to 
the  church  of  St.  Pius  in  East  Newark.  His  name  will 
long  be  cherished  in  the  memories  of  the  members  of  St. 
Mary's  Church. 

The  Rev.  James  Hanly  succeeded  Father  McCarthy, 
and  he  is  the  present  pastor.  In  the  year  1880  he  col- 
lected over  $8,000,  and  paid  off  the  floating  debt.  He 
also  collected  $3,500  which  was  paid  on  the  standing 
debt.  He  is  esteemed  and  praised  for  his  consistent 
piety  and  for  his  judicious  management  of  the  financial 
interests   of   the  parish. 

Religious  Interests  of  Port  Oram. — The  first  place  in 
which  public  worship  was  held  was  the  room  connected 
with  the  weigh  scales  of  the  Thomas  Iron  Works.  The 
Rev.  John  R.  Jenkins,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Morris  and  Orange,  and  a  boss  miner  called  "  the  Welsh 
preacher,"  conducted  the  services,  which  were  half  the 
time,  at  least,  in  the  Welsh  language — the  Welsh  families 
of  Mine  Hill  and  the  Richards  mine  meeting  at  this  cen- 
tral spot.  In  1859  this- Welsh  organization  became  con- 
nected with  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Dover;  but  in 
1870  the  members  withdrew  and  organized  the  Welsh 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Richards  Mine  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
and  built,  by  the  aid  of  the  Thomas  Iron  Company,  a 
pleasant  house  of  worship,  where  the  religious  services 
are  still,  a  portion  of  the  Sabbath,  in  Welsh. 

A  Sunday-school,  with  Alvan  Trowbridge  for  super- 
intendent, was  held  in  the  school-house  at  Port  Oram 
from  the  time  of  its  erection  in  1867  till  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  was  dedicated.  October  2nd  1868  the 
corner  srone  of  the  church  was  laid  with  appropriate  ser- 
vices. In  the  corner  stone  was  put  a  paper  containing 
an  account  of  Port  Oram  and  surroundings,  as  follows: 

"  The  church  is  to  be  34  by  50,  with  a  basement  9 
feet;  to  cost  f6oo.  A  blast  furnace  now  in  course  of 
erection  of  the  following  dimensions:  52  feet  square,  15 
feet  below  the  surface,  78  feet  from  bottom  to  the  top 
(48  feet  of  stone,  18  feet  of  brick);  cost  $300,000.  The 
following  railways  connect  with  Port  Oram:  ist,  Morris 
and  Essex;  2nd,  Mt.  Hope;  3d,  Baker  Mine;  4th,  Ches- 
ter; with  others  in  contemplation.  There  are  three 
churches  in  Dover;  the  Rev.  B.  C.  Megie  has  been  twenty- 
nine  years  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian;  Rev.  Mr.  Seran 
is  pastor  of  First  M.  E.  church,  Rev.  James  A.  Upjohn 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal,  and  Rev.  Father  Quinn  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church,  situated  between  Dover  and 
Port  Oram.     Andrew  Johnson  is  President  of  the  United 


States;  Lucius  M.  Ward  is  governor  of  New  Jersey; 
Morris  county  contains  35,000  population.  Candidates 
for  next  governor  John  I.  Blair  and  Theodore  F.  Ran- 
dolph." 

The  following  ministers  have  been  pastors  of  this 
church:  Revs.  Isaac  Thomas,  1870,  1871;  J.  P.  Daily, 
1872,  1873;  David  Walters,  1874;  Thomas  Rawlings, 
1875-77;  G.  T.  Jackson,  1878-80.  Joseph  P.  Macauley, 
1881. 

The  church  is  usually  well  filled,  and  the  prayer  meet- 
ings are  well  attended,  the  members  freely  taking  part  in 
offering  prayer  and  remarks.  The  singing  is  spirited  and 
good. 

Mine  Hill  Presbyterian  Church. — A  Sunday-school  was 
organized  under  the  superintendence  of  David  Jenkins, 
who  acted  also  as  librarian  and  sexton.  The  Misses 
Ford  (Enieline,  Ellen  and  Mary)  rendered  efficient  aid 
as  teachers  in  the  Sunday-school.  The  membership  in- 
creased and  the  school  became  a  bond  of  union  to  the 
families  through  the  children,  and  created  a  desire  for 
religious  services.  Speakers  from  a  distance  often  ad- 
dressed the  school;  and  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Dover  often  preached  in  the  school-house. 
Prayer  meetings  were  held  on  Sunday  evenings,  conducted 
by  David  Jenkins  and  Pearce  Rodgers,  the  former  an  el- 
der and  the  latter  a  deacon  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Dover.  This  state  of  things  continued  for  several 
years.  A  church  was  formally  organized  May  27th  1874 
by  a  committee  of  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange. 
It  consisted  of  the  following  twenty-five  persons,  dismiss- 
ed for  this  purpose  from  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Do- 
ver: David  Jenkins  and  wife,  Pearce  Rodgers,  Mrs. 
Mary  Powell,  Isaac  Bohenna,  Elisha  Paul,  John  M.  Kel- 
liway,  Mary  May,  Paul  Martin,  William  H.  Bray,  Joseph 
A.  Thomas,  Elizabeth  Ennor,  W.  G.  Thomas,  Mary  Lib- 
by,  Jane  Tonkin,  Dinah  Tonkin,  E.  Thomas,  S.  Fredin- 
nick,  W.  Williams,  John  Warne,  Mary  Warne,  Henry 
Rogers,  John  Dyer,  Charlotte  Williams  and  Peter  Lobb. 

David  Jenkins,  Wm.  H.  Bray  and  Joseph  A.  Thomas 
were  elected  and  duly  set  apart  to  the  office  of  ruling  el- 
ders in  this  church,  and  were  installed.  Pearce  Rodgers, 
a  resident  of  Mine  Hill,  and  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Morris  and  Orange,  acted  as  their  minister.  A  church 
edifice  was  erected  and  so  far  completed  as  to  enable  the 
congregation  to  use  the  basement,  and  on  September 
22nd  1874  Pearce  Rodgers  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  this  church.  He  still  continues  to  be  its  pas- 
tor. The  church  edifice  was  completed  at  an  expense  of 
more  than  $6,000,  and  will  seat  about  400  persons.  It 
was  dedicated,  free  of  debt,  in  the  summer  of  1878. 

Villages. 

Port  Oram  is  about  two  miles  from  Dover,  on  the  canal 
and  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad.  The  place  was  se- 
lected as  an  appropriate  location  for  a  store  and  a  new 
settlement,  because  it  had  been  the  central  point  on  the 
canal  for  the  shipment  of  iron  ore.  In  i860  a  store 
house  was  built;  also  a  small  freight  depot  of  the  Morris 
and  Essex  Railroad;  and  the  place  was  called  Port  Oram, 


3IO 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


after  Robert  F.  Oram,  the  person  chiefly  concerned  in 
its  selection  and  development.  The  store  was  opened 
under  the  name  of  John  Hill  &  Co.  Mr.  Hill  retired 
from  the  company  the  next  year,  and  the  firm  has  since 
been  Oram,  Hance  &  Co.,  consisting  of  Robert  F.  Oram, 
John  Hance  and  Wm.  G.  Lalhrop.  Up  to  1864  only 
four  buildings  had  been  erected. 

After  the  commencement  of  the  civil  war,  on  the  day 
of  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  June  21st  1861,  a  large  patri- 
otic meeting  was  held  in  front  of  the  store,  and  an  ele- 
gant flag  with  the  stars  and  stripes  unfurled.  The  Hon. 
John  Hill,  member  of  Congress,  presided;  prayer  was 
offered  by  Rev.  B.  C.  Megie,  of  Dover;  speeches  were 
made  by  Hon.  John  Hill,  Wm.  Wood,  afterward  paymas- 
ter in  the  army,  and  Mr.  McNeely,  of  Succasunna.  A  bul- 
let which  lodged  in  the  arm  of  Daniel  Card  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  was  preserved  as  a  relic  by  the  pa- 
triotic soldier,  was  exhibited  by  his  son,  Ephraim  Gard, 
and  seemed  to  rekindle  the  flame  of  patriotism  in  the 
whole  crowd.  The  meeting  was  a  memorable  one,  and 
evinced  a  strong  feeling  of  sympathy  with  the  adminis- 
tration without  regard  to  political  parties;  and  from  that 
time  Port  Oram  was  a  place  well  known  throughout  the 
whole  region.  Five  persons  who  belonged  to  Port  Oram 
and  who  were  present  at  this  meeting  enlisted  for  the 
war.  Two  were  the  sons  of  Ephraim  Gard  and  grand- 
sons of  the  Revolutionary  patriot  Daniel  Gard;  two 
were  the  sons  of  John  Hance,  viz.  George  and  William, 
the  former  entering  the  army  and  the  latter  the  navy; 
and  the  fifth  was  Albert  Wiggins,  then  a  clerk  m  the 
store  of  S.  Breese,  in  Dover.  They  all  returned  to  Port 
Oram  after  the  war  except  Albert  Wiggins,  who  was 
drowned  with  thirty-one  others  from  Morris  county  while 
crossing  the  Cumberland  River  in  Kentucky.  Mr.  Wig- 
gins was  a  young  man  of  splendid  physique  and  great 
promise. 

Port  Oram  did  not  grow  much  until  after  the  war;  but 
from  the  beginning  a  large  business  was  done  at  the  com- 
pany's store. 

From  1864  to  1868  over  forty  buildings  were  erected, 
and  the  population  increased  from  four  to  sixty-four  fam- 
ilies, making  nearly  four  hundred  persons.  The  increase 
continued  until  the  paralysis  of  the  iron  industry,  1872- 
80.  Since  then  business  has  revived,  and  the  popula- 
tion may  be  over  600.  Almost  all  .the  inhabitants  are 
English  miners,  and  employed  by  the  Boonton  Iron 
Company. 

A  school-house  was  built  at  an  early  date  (1867)  and 
the  first  teacher  was  Henry  Allen,  who  was  succeeded  by 
the  able  and  popular  Erastus  E.  Potter,  who  is  still  the 
principal,  and  who  has  elevated  the  literary  character  of 
the  place. 

Ferromonte  is  a  settlement  of  a  few  hundred  inhabi- 
tants about  a  mile  south  of  Mine  Hill.  It  might  be  con- 
sidered as  a  part  of  it,  for  the  two  places  overlap  each 
other  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  draw  the  line  where  one 
begins  and  the  other  ends.  But  Ferromonte  is  the  older 
of  the  two  places,  and  might  claim  Mine  Hill  as  included 
in  itself.      This  is  the  seat  of  the  famous  iron  deposit 


known  as  the   Succasunna  mine,   once    considered  the 
oldest  and  best  iron  mine  in  the  State. 

Ferromonte  was  the  residence  of  the  Hon.  Mahlon 
Dickerson,  and  here  is  the  elegant  residence  of  the  late 
Frederick  Canfield,  the  nephew  of  Mahlon  Dickerson. 
This  dweUing  is  occupied  by  Mrs.  Frederick  Canfield 
and  her  children.  It  contains  one  of  the  finest  private 
cabinets  of  minerals  in  the  country.  The  collection  is 
extensive  and  the  specimens  are  unsurpassed.  It  con- 
tains also  a  choice  collection  of  birds,  including  all  the 
birds  of  this  latitude  and  the  rarest  and  fairest  of  the 
tropical  regions.  After  the  death  of  General  Dickerson 
his  house  was  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Crosset,  who 
here  held  a  classical  school.  It  is  now  occupied  by  Col- 
onel Stanburrough,  who  uses  it  as  a  place  of  summer  re- 
sort. The  gardens  and  grounds  were  once  famous  for 
their  rare  specimens  of  plants  and  trees,  for  Mr.  Dicker- 
son  was  a  man  of  fine  taste  and  a  lover  of  nature. 

Mill  Brook  is  an  old  settlement,  and  now  contains 
about  fifty  dwellings  and  a  population  of  300.  Its  his- 
tory has  been  given  in  part  in  the  preceding  pages,  which 
contain  an  account  of  the  early  settlers.  It  is  said  that 
the  residence  of  S.  J.  Searing  marks  the  site  of  the  first 
house  in  the  township.  On  the  stream  from  which  the 
place  take  its  name,  which  is  a  tributary  to  the  Rock- 
away,  entering  the  river  at  Deijville,  was  erected  the 
first  mill  in  the  township.  This  stream  furnishes  motive 
power  for  a  saw-mill,  a  grist-mill  and  a  cider-mill. 

Among  the  earlier  and  worthy  settlers  of  Mill  Brook 
should  be  mentioned  the  names  of  William  Schooley, 
Henry  Brotherton,  William  Mott,  David  Tuttle,  George 
Swain,  Ulysses  Kinney,  Jacob  Searing,  Samuel  Moore, 
and  Messrs.  Blanchard,  Coe,  Briant,  Pierson,  IMunson, 
Lampson,  Menard  and  Pruden,  most  of  whom  have  de- 
scendants still  remaining  here. 

Mount  Freedom  and  Walnut  Grove  may  be  grouped 
together  and  regarded  as  one  settlement.  The  Presby- 
terian church  is  the  proper  center  of  Mount  Freedom, 
and  the  tavern  half  a  mile  east  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
the  center  of  Walnut  Grove.  These  two  places  embrace 
about  fifty  dwellings  and  a  population  of  300.  At  Mount 
Freedom  there  are  a  church,  a  post-office,  a  store  and 
twenty-five  dwelling  houses.  At  Walnut  Grove  there  are 
a  tavern,  a  school-house,  a  church,  a  blacksmith  shop  and 
twenty-five  dwellings. 

Mine  Hill  is  a  settlement  about  two  miles  west  of 
Dover,  on  the  road  to  Succasunna,  having  four  or  five 
hundred  inhabitants.  If  its  surroundings  be  included  the 
population  may  be  estimated  at  eight  hundred.  The' 
mines  are  the  attraction  which  draw  laborers  here  and 
furnish  employment  for  them.  Besides  the  iron  mines 
there  are  a  church,  a  school-house,  a  store  and  post-office. 
David  Jenkins  is  the  agent  of  the  Thomas  Iron  Company, 
and  popular  and  generally  useful  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

Victims  of  the  Civil  War. 


The  names  of  the  soldiers    from  Randolph  township 
who  served  in  the  army  during  the  late  civil  war  will  be 


RANDOLPH'S  SACRIFICE  FOR  THE  UNIOK. 


31I 


found  in  the  general  history  of  the  county.     The  follow- 
ing are  notices  of  those  who  died  in  the  service: 

Captain  John  T.  Alexander,  of  Scotch  parentage,  early 
entered  the  United  States  army,  and  served  five  years  as 
sergeant  in  Indian  campaigns  in  Oregon  and  Nevada. 
When  the  civil  war  broke  out  he  was  residing  at  Walnut 
Grove,  and  entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Company  B 
27th  New  Jersey  volunteers.  He  was  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  in  January  1863;  at  the  front,  support- 
ing Pettit's  battery,  on  the  nth  of  February  at  Newport 
News.  May  6th  1863,  in  crossing  the  Cumberland  in  a 
flat  boat  which  was  capsized,  Captain  Alexander  and 
thirty-one  others  were  drowned. 

Sergeant  William  H.  Bailey  was  a  native  of  Newfound- 
land, Morris  county,  N.  J.,  and  enlisted  at  Newton,  Au- 
gust 7th  1861,  in  the  2nd  New  York  volunteer  cavalry. 
He  saw  active  service  in  twenty  battles,  from  Ball's  Bluff 
to  the  engagement  at  Aldie,  in  all  of  which  he  made  him- 
self conspicuous  for  gallantry.  In  the  fight  at  Aldie,  in 
1863,  when  Kilpatrick  engaged  and  defeated  Stewart, 
Sergeant  Bailey  was  shot  in  the  leg,  which  was  amputated 
in  the  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.  He  seemed  to  be  im- 
proving, when  one  night  an  artery  broke,  and  the  next 
morning  he  was  found  dead  in  his  bed. 

Captain  Edward  Payson  Berry  was  born  in  Dover,  in 
1839.     At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was   teaching 
school   at    Branchville,  and  studying   for    the  ministry. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Dover. 
August  i8th  1861  he  and  his  friend  Captain  Charles  F. 
Gage  bought  uniforms  and  started  for    Harper's  Ferry, 
Va.,  where  they  joined  as  privates''  Bramhall's  6th  New 
York  mounted  battery.     They  served  in  this  battery  two 
months    without    pay,  and  without    being    mustered  in. 
They  were  then  transferred    to    the    5th    New    Jersey 
volunteers  and  mustered  into  the  service.       From    this 
time  young  Berry  served  in  every  engagement  his  regi- 
ment was  in — and  it  saw  a  great  deal  of  service — until 
the  time  of  -his  death,  July  loth   1863.     His  first   pro- 
motion was  to   the  post  of  hospital    steward.      At  the 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks  he  was  second  lieutenant,  and  so  con- 
ducted himself  that  he  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieuten- 
ant.    Soon  after  he  was  made  quartermaster,  then    adju- 
tant, then  captain.     At  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  he 
was   taken   prisoner  and  marched  to  Richmond;  during 
the  long  march  he  received   no  food  except  some  corn 
that  fell  from  the  feed  baskets  of  the  horses  of  the  guard. 
After  two  weeks'  confinement  in  Libby  prison  he  was  ex- 
changed, and  at  once  returned  to  his  command.     In    the 
terrible   carnage  at   Gettysburg,  July  2nd   1863,  he  was 
acting  major  of  his  regiment  in  Sickles's  advance,  when 
Longstreet     massed     his    forces   upon   him.      He    was 
wounded  in  the  leg,  and   left   on    the   field    when    the 
line    fell  back.      Here    he    lay   three  days  and  nights 
without    food    or    drink,    except    a   bunch   of   cherries 
which  had  been    shot  off  from  a  tree  and    fallen    near 
him.     On  the  Sth  of  July  he  was  taken  to  the  hospital 
at  Gettysburg,    where  his  leg  was  amputated,  from    the 
effects  of  which  he  died    on   the    loth  of  that  month. 
Erastus  Brant  was  living  in  this  township  in  1862;  and 


in  that  year  he  joined  Company  B  27th  N.  J.  volunteers. 
He  was  under  fire  at  Fredericksburg  and  was  with  the 
regiment  in  its  campaigns,  doing  his  duty  faithfully  in 
every  position  to  which  he  was  assigned.  He  was  one  of 
those  drowned  on  the  6th  of  May  in  the  Cumberland 
River. 

Burtis  M.  Broadwell,  of  Dover,  enlisted  early  in  the 
war  in  Company  D  5th  New  Jersey  volunteers.  He  was 
a  faithful  soldier,  who  saw  a  great  deal  of  service,  and 
died  in  hospital  October  5th  1864. 

Sergeant  Charles  H.  Carrell  was  born  in  Center  Grove, 
and  continued  to  reside  there  till  the  outbreak  of  the  Re- 
bellion. He  enlisted  in  May  1861  in  Company  B  2nd 
N.  J.  volunteers,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
sergeant.  He  served  with  marked  fidelity  and  zeal 
through  the  campaigns  of  1861,  including  the  first  battle 
of  Bull  Run.  In  the  summer  of  1862  he  was  taken  sick 
and  removed  to  the  hospital  at  Point  Lookout,  Md., 
where  he  died  on  the  30th  of  July  in  that  year. 

Corporal  William  Harrison  Case  was  born  in  this  vi- 
cinity, and  entered  the  service  in  August  1862  as  cor- 
poral of  Company  I  15th  N.  J.  At  the  battle  of  Freder- 
icksburg, the  first  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  he 
received  a  wound.  On  the  12th  of  May  1864,  at  Spottsylva- 
nia,  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy's  works. 
They  mounted  the  crest,  and  standing  on  the  top  of  the 
parapet  fired  on  the  rebels.  A  rebel  officer  drew  his  re- 
volver and  shot  Corporal  Case  through  his  arm,  the 
ball  passing  into  his  body.  He  fell  down  at  the 
foot  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  for  nearly  twenty-four 
hours  lay  there,  being  once  struck  once  by  a  spent  ball; 
finally  in  the  darkness  he  managed  to  crawl  off,  and,  the 
ambulances  being  busily  engaged,  he  walked  to  Freder- 
icksburg, a  distance  of  twelve  or  more  miles.  From  here 
he  was  taken  to  Washington,  and  placed  in  Carver  Hos- 
pital, where  he  died,  June  3d  1864. 

Thomas  Dean  went  out  in  the  famous  69th  (IrishJ  regi- 
ment of  New  York,  and  was  shot  off  a  pontoon  bridge  at 
the  first  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 

Job  W.  De  Hart  was  born  at  Center  Grove,  July  31st 
1839.  In  the  early  part  of  the  war  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  B  i6oth  N.  Y.  volunteers,  and  served 
in  the  army  under  Generals  Weitzel  and  Banks  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  January  2nd  1864,  in  the  U.  S. 
hospital  at  New  Orleans. 

Abraham  Earles  went  out  in  October  1864  in  Company 
K  39th  N.  J.  volunteers.  He  died  of  disease  in  the  ser- 
vice. 

Alonzo  Freeman,  of  Dover,  enlisted  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  war,  when  18  years  of  age,  in  Company  H  6ist  N.  Y. 
volunteers.  At  the  battle  of  Antietam,  September  17th 
1862,  he  was  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  he  lay  upon  the 
field  nearly  a  week  before  he  was  discovered.  He  was 
removed  to  the  hospital  at  Frederick  City,  Md.,  where  he 
died  the  latter  part  of  October. 

Noah  Haggerty,  of  Dover,  enlisted  May  i8th  1861  m 
the  ist  N.  J.  Attached  to  the  provost  guard,  he  served 
at  the  headquarters  of  Kearney,  Montgomery,  Torbert 
and  other  generals,  saw  a  great  deal  of  service,  and  was  a 


312 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUnTY. 


brave   soldier.     He   died  in  May  1867  of  consumption, 
contracted  from  cold  and  exposure  in  the  army. 

Charles  Albert  Hugbson  was  a  native  of  this  township, 
and  resided  at  Walnut  Grove.  Early  in  the  contest  he 
enlisted  in  a  New  Jersey  regiment,  and  performed  with 
distinguished  zeal  and  ability  the  duties  assigned  him.  At 
the  terrible  battle  of  the  Wilderness  he  was  severely 
wounded  while  doing  his  duty,  and  was  removed  to  Fair- 
mount  Hospital,  Baltimore,  where  he  died  June  16th 
1864,  aged  25  years.  , 

Jacob  Kinney,  of  this  township,  belonged  to  the  6th 
New  York  light  artillery,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been 
killed  in  the  Seven  Days  fight  in  1862. 

Dorastus  B.  Logan,  a  native  of  Randolph,  was  appointed 
captain  of  Company  K  nth  regiment  of  New  Jersey  vol- 
unteers, in  July  1862.  He  was  at  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  at  Fredericksburg  and  at  Chancellorsville;  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  July  2nd  1863,  and 
died  on  the  field. 

James  H.  Losey,  of  Dover,  went  out  with  Captain 
Price  in  September  1862  in  Company  B  27th  N.  J.  volun- 
teers. He  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  regiment  through 
all  its  service,  doing  his  duty  well,  and  when  the  27th 
was  mustered  out,  after  ten  months' service,  he  re-enlisted 
in  Company  B  33d  N.  J.  His  regiment  was  with  Sher- 
man on  his  famous  "  march  to  the  sea,"  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1864  the  brave  fellow  was  wounded  in  the  leg  at 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  before  Atlanta.  He  was 
removed  to  the  hospital  at  Kingston,  Georgia,  where  he 
died  from  the  effects  of  the  amputation  of  his  limb. 

Andrew  J.  Love,  of  Dover,  enlisted  in  Company  A  ist 
N.  J.  cavalry,  and  was  discharged  because  of  sickness. 
He  died  March  4th  1862. 

George  Love,  brother  of  the  foregoing,  of  Company  E 
9th  N.  J.  volunteers,  was  discharged  because  of  sickness, 
and  died  February  24th  1862. 

Sergeant  James  McDavitt  was  a  native  of  Randolph, 
and  a  resident  of  Dover.  August  i8th  1862  he  entered 
the  service  as  sergeant  of  Company  E  iith  regiment  of 
New  Jersey  volunteers.  He  was  at  the  second  Bull  Run 
battle,  at  Fredericksburg  and  at  Chancellorsville,  where 
this  company  lost  g  killed  and  27  wounded.  Sergeant 
McDavitt's  comrades  Horton,  Cook,  Mann  and  O'Brien 
fell  about  him;  then  Captain  Halsey  was  wounded,  and 
McDavitt  ran  to  his  assistance,  and  while  binding  up  his 
wound  was  struck  in  the  head  by  a  ball  and  died  in  a  few 
moments. 

Jacob  Miller,  a  German  by  birth,  joined  Company  E 
nth  N.  J.  volunteers,  and  with  unflagging  zeal  followed 
it  in  its  long  marches  and  severe  engagements,  till  the 
awful  contest  at  Gettysburg  on  the  2nd  of  July  1863, 
where  he  gave  his  life  for  the  country  that  adopted  him. 
Charles  Mulligan,  of  Irish  parentage,  a  resident  of  thir 
township,  went  to  the  front  with  the  15th  N.  J.  regiment 
in  1862,  proved  himself  a  gallant  soldier,  and  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Winchester.  His  body  is  supposed  to 
have  been  buried  on  the  field. 

Daniel  Palmer  was  a  resident  of  Dover.  In  August 
1862   he  enlisted   in  Company  E  nth  N.  J.,  and  was  in 


all  the  campaigns  of  this  regiment.  He  received  a  bullet 
in  his  shoulder  at  Chancellorsville,  and  was  removed  to 
the  3d  corps  hospital  at  Acquia  Creek,  Va.  He  was 
taken  to  Chestnut  Hill,  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  died 
from  his  wounds,  June  23d  1863. 

Thomas  Plumstead  was  a  resident  of  Dover.  He 
entered  the  service  in  October  1864,  in  Company  K  39th 
N.  J.,  and  was  with  his  regiment  when  it  garrisoned  Fort 
Davis,  and  with  the  command  on  April  2nd  1865,  when 
it  charged  the  enemy's  works.  In  this  charge  he  was 
struck  by  a  bullet  and  instantly  killed.  His  companions 
in  arms  bear  witness  that  he  was.  distinguished  for 
bravery  and  uniform  good  behavior,  and  he  died  beloved 
and  regretted  by  all. 

John  Powers  was  born  at  Mill  Brook,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In 
1 861  he  enlisted  as  an  artificer  in  Company  K  ist  N.  Y. 
engineers.  He  was  with  this  company  in  all  its  various 
campaigns,  until  October  1862,  when  he  was  taken  sick 
with  a  disease  of  the  throat  resembling  diphtheria,  from 
which  he  died  on  the  gth  of  that  month. 

Captain  Benjamin  Price,  a  native  of  New  York,  was 
teaching  school  at  Mill  Brook  when  the  war  broke  out. 
Having  some  knowledge  of  military  tactics  he  gathered 
the  older  boys  of  his  school  in  front  of  the  old  Quaker 
meeting-house,  and  drilled  them  in  military  maneuvers; 
a  number  of  these  boys  afterward  entered  the  army.  In 
the  fall  of  1 86 1  he  closed  his  school  and  entered  the 
army,  and  was  appointed  caplain  of  Company  D  ist  New 
York  Excelsior  regiment.  He  was  wounded  at  Williams- 
burgh,  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Bull  Run  (second), 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg  and  Man- 
asses  Gap.  July  24th,  having  been  brevetted  major  for 
his  gallant  conduct,  as  he  was  leading  his  troops  in  a 
charge  on  the  enemy's  works  he  was  shot  through  the 
neck  and  instantly  killed. 

Elias  Roff  was  a  resident  of  Walnut  Grove,  and  was 
drowned  at  Washington,  D.  C,  while  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty. 

Private  Henry  Smith  enlisted  from  Walnut  Grove,  and 
gave  his  life  in  behalf  of  his  country.  The  date  and 
manner  of  his  death  are  not  known. 

Daniel  D.  Tuttle  was  born  at  Mill  Brook.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  B  27th  N.  J.  He 
joined  the  army  under  Burnside  on  the  15th  of  De- 
cember; was  under  fire  at  Fredericksburg,  and  partici- 
pated in  Burnside's  famous  "  mud  march,"  and  most 
likely  at  that  time,  through  fatigue  and  exposure,  con- 
tracted the  disease  that  finally  terminated  his  life.  Soon 
after  that  campaign  he  was  taken  sick  and  died,  March 
2nd  1863,  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  Washington. 

Louis  Weise  was  a  Dane  by  birth  and  served  in  the 
army  of  his  native  country.  He  also  enlisted  from  near 
Walnut  Grove,  in  Company  K  ist  New  York  engineers, 
and  was  killed  August  19th  1863,  by  a  shell  from  Fort 
Sumter,  while  in  the  discharge  of  duty  near  Morris  Island. 
Sergeant  Albert  D.  Wiggins,  at  the  time  when  Captain 
Alexander  was  raising  his  company,  was  residing  in  Dover 
employed  as  clerk  in  Breese's  dry  goods  store.  ,  .H*  en- 


««=&#= 


=^:^ 


RESIDCNCE  or  JOHN  HANCE,   RANDOLP  H  ,  MORB  IS  CN  J        OPERA   HOUSE   and   ORCHESTRA    HALL^   OOVER^  N     J 

DANICL      MOULEF?      PROP'R. 


RESIDENCE   OF  WILLIAM    S     G  REEN ,  DENVILLE    MORRIS  C°N    J 


*w^:^= 


m^ 


4i_ 


OFFICERS  OF  RANDOLPH  TOWNSHIP— DOVER  INCORPORATED. 


313 


tered  the  service  for  nine  months  as  a  sergeant  in  Com- 
pany B  27th  N.  J.;  was  with  his  company  at  the  first  battle 
of  Fredericksburg,  marched  with  it  through  all  its 
wearisome  campaigns,  and  on  the  6th  of  May  1863 
shared  a  watery  grave  with  his  gallant  captain  in  the 
Cumberland  River,  having  been  in  the  boat  that  was 
capsized. 

Edward  Wolfe  resided  near  Walnut  Grove,  and  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  enlisted  in  Company  K  ist  New- 
York  engineers,  as  an  artificer.  He  died  of  measles, 
January  i6th  1862,  at  Hilton  Head,  S.-C. 

Town  Meetings  and  Officers. 

The  early  records  of  the  township  are  lost,  stolen,  or 
destroyed,  hence  the  list  of  officers  cannot  be  obtained. 
There  can  be  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  township  was 
organized  in  1805,  and  town  meetings  regularly  held,  and 
the  proper  officers  elected  and  installed,  without  inter- 
ruption, until  the  present  time. 

The  following  township  officers  were  elected  March 
8th  1881,  the  election  being  held  in  three  different 
places. 

ist  (northern)  election  district — Judge  of  election, 
Sylvester  Dickerson;  inspectors  of  electiqns,  Charles  H. 
Eagles  and  Andrew  Kaiser;  clerk  of  election,  John  Frank 
Mase. 

2nd  (central)  election  district — Judge  of  election, 
John  V.  Cain;  inspectors,  James  H.  Neighbour  and  Pe- 
ter Vanderhoof;  clerk,  James  S.  Melick. 

3d  (southern)  election  district — Judge  of  election, 
James  Nortman;  inspectors,  Peter  E.  Coe  and  George  H. 
Wolfe;  clerk,  Edward  B.  Lieurs. 

Township  clerk,  James  S.  Melick;  assessor,  Erastus  E. 
Potter;  collector,  Charles  H.  Munson;  freeholder,  James 
H.  Carrell;  township  committee — Albridge  C.  Smith, 
James  T.  Spargo  and  John  A.  Casterline;  commissioners 
of  appeals — Charles  Spargo,  James  W.  Bryant  and  Isaac 
Hance;  justice  of  the  peace,  Moses  Blanchard;  consta- 
bles— Samuel  M.  Sutton,  William  T.Williams,  Joseph  R. 
Williams,  John  Leitze,  Charles  Trowbridge  and  John  M. 
Smith;  overseer  of  the  poor,  Elisha  Meeker;  pound- 
keepers — Samuel  Burchell,  William  Barrett,  Marvin  Ac- 
kerson,  Alexander  W.  Garrigues,  George  Blanchard. 

DOVER. 

The  town  of  Dover  has  a  population  of  about  3,300. 
It  was  incorporated  in  1869,  with  the  following  bound- 
aries: 

An  Act  to  Incorporate  Dover. — Be  it  enacted  by  the 
Senate  and  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  New  Jer- 
sey that  all  that  tract  of  land  situate,  lying  and  being  in 
the  township  of  Randolph  and  county  of  Morris,  and 
within  the  limits  and  boundaries  hereinafter  mentioned 
and  described — that  is  to  say:  beginning  at  a  stone  bridge 
in  the  road  near  the  house  of  Mahlon  Munson;  thence 
in  a  straight  line  to  the  road  to  Walnut  Grove,  including 
the  house  of  John  Conrod;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to 
the  junction  of  Wallam  and  Jackson  Brooks,  passing  near 
the  Lawrence  farm-house;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to 
the   road   to    Mine    Hill,  in    front  of  the   old   Catholic 


church;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  Dover  and  Sparta 
turnpike,  including  the  wheelright  shop  of  Sylvester  Dick- 
erson; thence  in  a  straight  line,  including  the  houses  of 
Sylvester  Dickerson,  Charles  M.  Tunis  and  Stephen  C. 
Berry,  to  the  division  line  between  the  townships  of  Ran- 
dolph and  Rockaway;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the 
stone  bridge  in  the  road  to  Morristown,  between^  the 
houses  of  Robert  F.  and  Thomas  Oram;  thence  in  a 
straight  line  to  the  stone  bridge,  to  place  of  beginning — 
containing  about  eleven  hundred  acres,  shall  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  ordained,  constituted  and  declared  to  be 
a  town  corporate,  and  shall  henceforth  be  called,  known 
and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Dover. 

The  act  provided  that  the  officers  of  the  town  should 
be  a  mayor,  a  recorder,  two  aldermen  and  five  common 
councilmen;  and  directed  "such  of  the  inhabitants  of 
of  Dover  as  reside  within  the  aforesaid  limits,  and  who 
have  resided  in  the  county  five  months,  and  in  the  State 
one  year,  immediately  preceding  the  election  to  be  held 
for  town  officers,  and  who  are  in  other  respects  legal  vo- 
ters, to  assemble  at  the  hotel  of  Isaac  B.  JoUey,  in  Dover 
aforesaid,  on  the  first  Monday  in  May  next,  and  there  by 
a  plurality  of  votes  to  elect  a  mayor,  one  alderman,  and 
three  common  councilmen,  to  hold  their  respective  offices 
for  two  years,  and  a  recorder,  one  alderman  and  two 
common  councilmen,  to  hold  their  respective  offices  for 
one  year;  and  the  tickets  to  be  voted  at  said  election 
shall  state  term  for  which  the  said  aldermen  and  common 
councilmen  are  respectively  elected;  and  on  the  first 
Monday  of  May  in  each  and  every  year  thereafter  the 
inhabitants  aforesaid  shall  and  may  hold  a  like  election 
at  such  place  as  may  be  designated  by  the  common  coun- 
cil, for  such  of  the  said  members  of  common  council 
whose  terms  shall  have  expired;  and  that  at  every  elec- 
tion after  the  first  election  herein  provided  for  the  mem- 
bers of  common  council  elected  shall  hold  their  respect- 
ive offices  for  two  years,  and  until  their  successors  are 
elected  and  sworn  into  office,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  first  officers,  who  were  elected  in  May  1869,  were 
the  following:  George  Richards,  mayor;  James  H.  Neigh- 
bour, recorder;  Mahlon  H.  Dickerson  and  Ephraim 
Lindsley,  aldermen;  Wm.  H.  McDavit,  Alpheus  Beemer, 
Thomas  J.  Halsey,  Daniel  F'.  Wiggins,  and  Martin  V. 
B.  Searing,  common  councilmen;  Wm.  H.  Lambert,  clerk. 

The  Stores  in  Dover. 

The  people  of  what  is  now  Dover  were  in  early  times 
compelled  for  purposes  of  trade  to  go  to  Morristown, 
Newark,  or  more  distant  places;  but  as  the  population 
increased  the  inconvenience  of  procuring  household  sup- 
plies from  a  distance  created  a  demand  for  accommoda- 
tion near  home,  and  a  store  was  opened  in  Dover. 

The  first  store  was  started  about  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century,  in  what  is  known  as  the  Hoagland 
house,  which  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  Rockaway 
River  near  the  depot  of  the  Central  Railroad  of  New 
Jersey,  and  was  kept  by  Canfield  &  Hunt. 

The  next  store,  which  was  a  small  one,  was  kept  by 
Moses  Hurd  sen.,  near  the  old  school-house  on  the  corner 
of  Dickerson  street  and  Morris  avenue.  This  house  took 
fife  and  burned  down,  and  was  never  rebuilt. 


314 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  stone  house  on  the  north  side  of  Blackwell  street, 
three  doors  from  Warren  street,  where  the  residence  of 
Sheriff  Mc  Davit  now  is,  was  built  for  a  store  and  long 
used  for  that  purpose.  Being  centrally  situated  it  be- 
came the  center  of  trade  in  the  village.  It  was  first  kept 
by  Israel  Losey,  who  resided  next  door,  where  stands 
the  large  brick  building  used  by  the  National  Union 
Bank. 

John  M.  Losey  and  Manning  Rutan  carried  on  a  profit- 
able store  business  in  a  small  building  about  half  a  mile 
from  Dover  on  the  road  to  Sparta,  near  Sylvester  Dicker- 
son's.  Mr.  Rutan  afterward  moved  to  Newark  and  con- 
tinued the  same  business  there,  and  Mr.  Losey  erected  a 
large  building  on  Blackwell  street  next  door  to  the  Man- 
sion House,  where  he  continued  in  an  extensive  business 
till  his  death.  His  successor  in  this  store-house  was 
Ephraim  Lindsley,  who  occupied  it  when  it  was  destroyed 
in  the  gre.it  fire  of  1880,  which  consumed  a  block  of  build- 
ings on  Blackwell  street;  these  have  been  replaced  by  an 
elegant  row  of  brick  houses,  and  Mr.  Lindsley  and  son 
continue  the  business  at  the  old  stand.  Manning  Ru- 
tan after  an  absence  of  many  years  returned  to  Dover, 
and  kept  store  in  the  old  stone  building  above  the  Na- 
tional Union  Bank,  on  Blackwell  street.  Mr.  Rutan  was 
an  excellent  citizen  and  the  generous  patron  of  all  moral 
and  religious  efforts.  About  sixteen  years  ago  he  moved 
from  Dover  to  Michigan  and  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land,  which  has  proved  to  be  a  financial  success. 

Stores  have  multiplied  since  then,  and  in  1881  there 
were  upward  of  seventy,  great  and  small — twenty-five 
on  Blackwell  street,  six  on  Dickerson  street,  six  on  War- 
ren street,  twenty-two  on  Sussex  street,  and  twelve  on 
other  streets.  These  consist  of  general  country  stores, 
in  which  almost  every  article  is  offered  for  sale;  three 
large  drug  stores,  groceries,  meat  and  vegetable  markets, 
dry  goods  stores,  hardware  stores  and  so  on,  including 
every  variety  of  merchandise,  as  books,  periodicals, 
music,  musical  instruments,  cigars  and  the  like. 

Iron  Works  and  Workers. 

We  have  seen  that  John  Jackson  built  a  forge  on 
Granny's  Brook  in  1722.  He  employed  forgemen  and  car- 
ried on  the  iron  business  until  1753,  when  he  became  in- 
volved and  was  sold  out  by  the  sheriff,  and  his  527  acres 
were  bought  by  Hartshorn  Fitz-Randolph,  an  influential 
and  leading  member  ef  the  Society  of  Friends,  who  pur- 
chased 300  acres  adjacent,  making  his  whole  farm  con- 
sist of  about  900  acres. 

Josiah  Beman,  who  in  1757  bought  the  north  side  of 
Dover,  soon  afterward  erected  a  forge  on  the  Rockaway 
River  just  east  of  where  the  canal  crosses  the  river,  and 
continued  the  iron  business  which  Jackson  had  aban- 
doned. Mr.  Beman  was  succeeded  by  Israel  Canfield, 
of  Morristown,  who  built  a  slitting-mill  and  took  Jacob 
Losey  as  a  partner.  Mr.  Losey,  who  was  a  native  of 
Dover,  built  and  occupied  the  house  where  Henry  Mc- 
Farlan  lives,  and  superintended  the  works,  while  Israel 
Canfield  continued  his  residence  in  Morristown.  The 
latter  put  in  capital  and  the  former  personal  services. 


Canfield  Sr  Losey  carried  on  the  iron  business  till  the 
war  of  1812;  that  war  checked  this  industry,  and  the 
treaty  of  peace,  which  opened  American  ports  to  British 
competition,  paralyzed  this  business,  not  only  in  Dover 
and  its  vicinity,  but  throughout  the  country.  Conse- 
quently after  the  war  Canfield  &  Losey  closed  up  their 
works,  and  sold  at  auction  their  property,  which  was  pur- 
chased by  Blackwell  &  McFarlan.  Mr.  Blackwell  died 
in  1827,  after  which  the  property  was  held  by  McFarlan 
&  Son  &  Ayres,  who  held  it  as  trustees.  In  1830  Wil- 
liam Scott  leased  the  property  of  these  trustees  and  car- 
ried on  the  business.  In  1832  it  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Henry  McFarlan,  who  nine  years  afterward 
moved  from  New  York  to  Dover,  and  himself  conducted 
the  business,  which  consisted  of  a  rolling-mill,  spike 
machine,  rivet  machine,  steel  furnace  and  foundry.  In 
1880  Mr.  McFarlan  sold  these  works  to  Judge  Francis  S. 
Lathrop,  then  receiver  of  the  Central  Railroad  of  New 
Jersey,  who  formed  a  company  out  of  the  stockholders 
of  the  railroad  company,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000. 
This  company  repaired  the  buildings  and  made  other  im- 
provements, and  is  now  doing  a  good  business,  making 
things  very  lively  in  Dover.  This  company  was  con- 
cerned in  the  extension  of  the  High  Bridge  branch  of 
the  Central  Railroad  of  New  Jersey  from  Port  Oram  to 
Dover.  This  extension  was  completed  to  Dover  and 
Rockaway  and  the  trains  commenced  running  in  June 
1881,  thus  increasing  the  demand  for  labor  in  this  vicinity. 

Felix  Hinchman  was  superintendent  of  the  iron  works 
for  several  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Guy  M.  Hinch- 
man, who  was  identified  with  them  for  a  generation. 
More  will  be  found  concerning  G.  M.  Hinch'man  on 
another  page  of  this  book. 

The  first  blacksmith  in  Dover  was  probably  Jesse 
King,  who  lived  on  Prospect  street,  where  Dr.  Condit 
resides,  and  had  a  blacksmith  shop  near  his  house  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Jesse  King  was 
the  father  of  John  D.  King,  Andrew  King  and  Wm. 
King,  and  the  grandfather  of  Dr.  Joseph  King  and  of 
Milford,  Halsey  and  David  King,  who  are  still  in  the 
business  of  their  grandfather  Jesse.  Nearly  contempor- 
aneous with  the  first  blacksmith  was  William  Ford,  who 
was  also  a  machinist.  Elias  Garrigus,  who  learned  his 
trade  with  William  Ford,  was  a  blacksmith  for  the  Dover 
Iron  Company  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
William  A.  Dickerson,  who  also  learned  his  trade  with 
William  Ford,  and  succeeded  Elias  Garrigus,  has  been  in 
this  business  for  over  half  a  century,  and  is  still  carrying 
it  on,  with  the  prospect  of  many  years  before  him. 

There  are  now  several  other  blacksmiths  in  Dover  be- 
sides those  who  have  been  mentioned — one  or  two  in 
connection  with  carriage  factories. 

Upward  of  40  iron  mines  have  been  worked  in  this 
township,  known  as  Baker,  Black  Hills,  Brotherton, 
Bryant,  Byrara,  Combs,  Canfield,  Cooper,  Corwin,  Conner 
Fowland,  Charles  King,  David  Horton,  De  Hart,  Dal- 
rymple,  Solomon  Dalrymple,  Dickerson,  Erb,  Evers, 
George,  Henderson,  Horton,  Hubbard,  Harvey,  Kurd, 
Jackson,  Hill,  King,  Lawrence,  Lewis,  Munson,  McFar- 


MECHANICS  AND  BANKERS  OF  DOVER. 


315 


land,  Millen,  North  River,  Orchard,  Randall  Hill, 
Spring,  Sullivan,  Stirling,  Scrub  Oak,  Trowbridge  and 
Van  Doren.  Some  of  these  mines  are  now  idle.  Seven 
mines  are  located  in  Irondale  and  very  near  to  each 
other.  The  Dickerson  mine  at  Ferromonte,  which  is  the 
old  Succasunna  mine,  the  Byram  mine  and  the  Orchard 
mine  are  the  most  valuable.  A  further  account  of  these 
mines  will  be  found  on  page  6t,.  The  ore  is  of  an  ex- 
cellent quality. 

William  Ford  was  a  machinist  who  fifry  years  ago  did 
considerable  work  in  his  line.  His  shop  was  first 
where  the  locomotives  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad  are  kept;  he  afterward  had  a  larger 
shop  at  or  near  the  corner  of  Blackwell  and  McP'arlan 
streets. 

John  E.  Hoagland  was  also  a  skillful  machinist,  and 
was  for  many  years  the  superintendent  of  this  depart- 
ment of  work  in  the  Dover  iron  works.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  this  position  by  John  Mase,  who  continued  to 
occupy  it  till  the  property  was  sold  to  the  new  company. 

The  Morris  County  Machine  and  Iron  Company  is 
spoken  of  on  page  61.  It  consists  of  a  president,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  and  seven  directors,  as  follows;  Pres- 
ident, George  Richards;  secretary  and  treasurer,  Wil- 
liam H.  Lambert;  directors,  Henry  McFarlan,  Columbus 
Beach,  M.  D.,  I.  B.  JoUey,  Richard  George,  I.W.  Searing, 
Alpheus  Beemer,  George  Richards. 

The  Silk  Factory. 

A  stock  company,  formed  under  the  lead  of  Alpheus 
Beemer,  is  erecting  a  large  brick  building  a  little  west 
from  the  center  of  Dover  and  on  Granny's  Brook,  about 
200  feet  in  front  and  four  stories  high,  which  will  fur- 
nish room  for  200  hands  or  more,  to  manufacture  Ameri- 
can silk. 


James  Searing,  a  native  of  the  town,  was  for  half  a 
century,  together  with  his  sons,  knovvn  as  the  principal 
carpenter  in  the  place.  His  brother,  Jacob  Searing,  who 
built  and  worked  a  saw-mill  at  Mill  Brook,  carried  on 
the  same  trade.  His  sons,  Isaac  and  Martin  Searing,  are 
the  principal  persons  now  engaged  in  this  business. 

Mr.  Palmer  and  son  are  old  citizens  who  have  done 
much  work  in  this  line  of  business.  J.  J.  Vreeland  is  an 
excellent  carpenter  and  well  known.  The  names  of 
Joseph  Reed  and  others  are  deserving  mention.  Mr. 
Reed,  who  learned  his  trade  with  James  Searing,  was  for 
several  years  boss  of  the  car  factories  of  Dover,  where 
he  turned  out  some  excellent  work. 

For  years  the  first  settlers  in  Randolph  were  obliged 
to  go  outside  of  the  township  for  masons.  Dennis  Dal- 
rymple  of  Morristown  did  all  the  stonework  and  plaster- 
ing as  a  matter  of  course  for  the  people  in  Dover  and 
vicinity.  At  length,  about  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  a  mason  named  Fairchild  moved  into  the  town- 
ship, and  found  employment  here  until  he  moved  to  Den- 
ville.  Daniel  Lampson,  a  native  of  Randolph,  early  suc- 
ceeded in  this  business,  and  though  consumptive  in  con- 
stitution was  an  efficient  and  excellent  mason,  and  lived 
and  worked  at  his  trade  till  a  good  old  age.  David 
Tucker  for  two  score  years  and  more,  with  his  sons  and 
other  employes,  has  supplied  the  wants  of  Dover  and 
vicinity  in  this  department  of  work.  Abrara  Ross,  Ira 
Cooper  and  others  have  long  been  known  as  good  work- 
men in  Dover  belonging  to  this  craft. 

The  Banks. 


Carpenters  and  Masons. 

Emigrants  who  make   their  homes   in   the  wilderness, 
and  are  content  for  a  time  to  dwell  in  temporary  cabins  or 
log  houses,  usually  feel  competent  to  perform  for  them- 
selves the  labor  of  house  carpenters.      Some  dwellings, 
even  in  such  times,  will   appear  more  pretentious   than 
others;    and  the  owners,  if   skilled  in  the  use  of  the  ax 
and  the  saw,  will  be  sought  after  to  assist  their  neighbors 
in  improving  their  houses  or  building  new  ones.       Such 
services,  frequently  repeated,  give  one  the  advantage  of 
surpassing  others  and  lift  him  to  the  rank  of  a  mechanic 
in  his  department,  especially  among  a  class  where  no  ed- 
ucated mechanic  resides.     In  this  way  some  of  the  earli- 
est residents  grew  into  the  business  of  carpenters,  and 
did  good  work.      Still  the  more   ambitious  were  accus- 
tomed to  go  to  Morristown  or  Newark  for  skilled  labor 
when  they  proposed  to  erect  a  substantial  frame  building. 
Mordecai  Wilson,  who    was    a   carpenter   and   also  a 
moulder,  and   worked  for  the   Dover  Iron   Company,  is 
among  the  earliest  of  those  who  resided  in  the  township 
whose  names  can  be  recalled.     His  son  followed  the  bus- 
iness and  worked  on  some  of  the  finest  buildings  erected 
here  in  his  day. 


The  Union  Bank  of  Dover  was  formed  in  1832.  It 
was  owned  almost  entirely  by  Anson  G.  Phelps,  a  wealthy 
iron  merchant  of  New  York  city.  The  following  were 
its  first  officers:  President,  Colonel  John  Scott;  cashier, 
Thomas  B.  Segur  (till  his  death,  in  1854);  directors — 
Richard  Brotherton,  William  Scott,  Jacob  Wilson,  Jos- 
eph Dalrymple,  Jacob  Hurd,  Israel  C.  Losey,  John  M. 
Losey,  Freeman  Wood,  Alexander  Dickerson  and  Joseph 
Dickerson  jr. 

In  1866,  when  the  national  banking  system  came  into 
operation,  the  "  Union  "  closed  up  its  affairs,  paying  all 
its  liabilities.  A  private  bank  called  "  Segur's  Bank  " 
was  organized  in  1867;  it  continued  till  1871,  and  re- 
ceived and  paid  the  old  bills  of  the  Union  Bank.  The 
National  Union  Bank  of  Dover  was  organized  in  1872. 
The  same  year  the  Dover  Bank  was  chartered,  which 
was  a  State  bank  and  which  consolidated  with  the  Na- 
tional Union  Bank  in  the  year  1879.  The  officers  of  the 
National  Union  Bank  were:  Columbus  Beach,  M.  D., 
president;  Jay  S.  Treat,  cashier;  Edward  Smith,  book- 
keeper;   ■  Graff,  teller;  directors— George  Richards, 

Richard    George,  Ephraim    Lindsley,  Henry    McFarlan, 
Hudson  Hoagland. 

The  Morris  Canal. 

This  canal,  whose  construction  is  elsewhere  narrated, 
was  of  great  benefit  to  northern  New  Jersey,  and  was 
the  cause  of  this  portion  of  the  State  increasing  in  pop- 


42 


--3 1 6 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


■  ulation  faster  than  the  southern  portion.  '  It  tapped  the 
coal  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  arid  had  a  decided  influence 
in  reviving  the  iron  industry.     So  great  were  the  difficul- 

■  ties  of  transporting  iron  previously  that  "a  ton  of  iron 
could  be  carried  from  Arcliangel,  on  the  White  Sea,  to 
New  York  for  the  same  price  as  from  Berkshire  Valley." 
It  was  a  gala  day  in  Dover  when  the  canal  was  ready  for 
use,  in  1831.  A  handsome  boat  was  built  and  richly  dec- 
orated, culled  "  The  Dover,  of  Dover."     Byram  Pruden, 

.  now  in  his  90th  year  (the  only  surviving  soldier  of  1812  in 
Randolph),  was  appointed  captain,  and  made  a  success- 
ful trip.  Judge  Freeman  Wood,  who  was  at  that  time  a 
partner  in  the  store  of  Israel  Losey,  went  on  "  The  Do- 
ver, of  Dover,"  as  supercargo,  and  brought  back  goods 
-for  his  store.  It  was  the  most  sensational  day  that  Dover 
-had  thus  far  seen;  and  henceforth  NewYorl^was  more 
easily  reached. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  canal  the  iron  mines  would 
not  have  been  developed,  and  the  iron  business  would 
have  been  discontinued  for  many  years. 

The  Post-Office. 

The  first  post-ofifice  was  kept  by  Jacob  Losey;  the  ex 
act  date  of  his  appointment  we  have  been  unable  to  as- 
certain, but  it  is  probable  that  he  was  appointed  in  the 
first  decade  of  this  century,  though  possibly,  as  some  say, 
not  till  1820 — nearly  thirty  years  after  the  establishment 
of  an  office  at  Rockaway,  where  in  1791  Colonel  Joseph 
Jackson  was  appointed  postmaster  by  General  Washing- 
ton. Jacob  Losey 's  successors  in  this  department  have 
been  David  Sandford,  Sydney  Breese,  Ephraim  Lindsley, 
;Wilmot  .Thompson,  Alpheus  Beemer,  and  Guido  M. 
Hirichman,  who  is' the  present  incumbent. 
•  This  post-oflSce  is  now  kept  in  a  convenient  and  spacious 
.apartment  of  the  brick  building  used  for  the  National 
•Union  Bank.  Though  the  Dover  post- office  did  but 
little  business  at  first,  this  business  has  grown  until  the 
Dover  office  has  become  the  greatest  in  the  county 
except  Morristown,  and  is  placed  among  the  classified 
post-offices,  with  salary  affixed,  the  postmasters  of  which 
are  appointed  by  the  President  and  confirmed  by  the 
Senate.  The  Dover  postmaster  now  receives  a  salary  of 
$1,800  per  annum. 

Taverns. 

The  first  tavern  in  Dover  was  commenced  in  1808. 
In  1792  Dover  contained  only  four  dwellings  and  a  forge. 
Three  of  these  buildings  remained  in  1842,  and  were 
known  as  the  Beeman,  Augur  and  Doty  dwellings.  In 
1808  the  Augur  house  was  enlarged  to  fit  it  for  a  tavern, 
and  it  was  afterward  known  as  the  "  Old  Tavern  House." 
It  stood  inside  of  Mr.  McFarlan's  park,  near  the  north- 
eastern corner,  the  old  road  then  extending  in  front  of 
this  house  about  300  feet  south  of  the  canal  and  on  the 
north  side  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  McFarlan.  It  was 
torn  down  or  removed  when  the  park  was  inclosed,  about 
i860.     This  tavern  was  kept  by  Peter  Hoagland. 

The  second  hotel  in  Dover  was  kept  by  Jacob  Hurd 
who  married  the  daughter  of  Peter  Hoagland,  erected  a 


building  on  the  corner  of  Blaokwell  and  Sussex  streets, 
and  kept  a  popular  and  profitable  inn  there  for  a  great 
many  years.  He  at  length  sold  out  to  Jackson  &  Jolley, 
who  together  continued  the  business  for  a  while,  and  then 
Mr.  Jackson  sold  out  to  I.  B.  Jolley,  who  eniarged 
the  buildings  and  made  other  judicious  improvements, 
and  so  added  to  the  good  reputation  the  house  had  under 
Jacob  Hurd  that  it  has  acquired  the  name  of  being  one 
of  the  best  kept  hotels  in  the  State.  It  is  called  the 
Mansion  House.  Mr.  Jolley  is  still  the  popular  proprie- 
tor. 

The  stone  building  known  as  the  Stickle  House,  on  the 
corner  of  Blackwell  and  Warren  streets,  •  was  originally 
•built  by  the  Dover  Iron  Company,  and  used  for  a  hotel. 
From  1831  to  1847  it  was  used  for  a  bank,  called  the 
Union  Bank  of  Dover.  When  the  new  banking  house 
next  door  to  the  Presbyterian  church  was  opened  the 
stone  house  was  again  used  as  a  hotel.  It  has  frequently 
changed  keepers.  Mr.  Roff  kept  it  before  it  was  a  bank, 
and  after  it  ceased  to  be  a  bank  it  was  kept  by  Mr.  Van 
Deveer  and  others,  until  it  was  purchased  by  Edward 
Stickle.  Owing  to  the  popularity  of  the  Mansion  House 
the  various  keepers  did  not  meet  with  much  success 
until  it  came  into  the  hands  of  its  present  possessor, 
Mr.  Melek,  an  experienced  inn-keeper,  who  has  im- 
proved its  reputation  and  given  it  a  good  degree  of  popu- 
larity. 

A  third  tavern  was  opened  about  1872  on  the  corner  of 
Sussex  and  Clinton  streets,  by  Charles  Searing.  Though 
not  as  advantageously  located  in  reference  to  the  railroad 
station,  nor  as  spacious  in  its  accomodations  as  the  other 
inns,  still  the  patronage  of  Searing's  Hotel  has  been 
steadily  increasing,  and  since  the  extension  of  the  Cen- 
tral Railroad  of  New  Jersey  to  Dover  it  has  done  a  profit- 
able business. 

Another  house  was  opened  on  the  eastern  part  of 
Blackwell  street,  under  the  name  of  the  Miner's  Hotel; 
this  was  more  of  a  boarding  house  than  a  hotel  proper, 
and  was  shortlived. 

Express  Companies. 

The  first  express  business  in  Dover  was  started  in  i860 
by  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad 
Company,  employing  Mr.  H.  Breese.  This  company  sold 
out  to  the  Traders'  Express,  and  J.  M.  Losey  acted  as 
their  agent.  In  1870  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad  Company  bought  out  the  Traders'  Ex- 
press; Wm.  A.  Waer  has  been  their  agent  ever  since, 
and  is  justly  appreciated  for  his  promptness  and  fidelity. 

The  Central  Express  Company,  connected  with  the 
Central  Railroad  of  New  Jersey,  employed  David  A. 
Searing,  who  drove  a  stage  from  Dover  to  Port  Oram,  at 
that  time  the  terminus  of  the  Central  road.  Since  the 
extension  of  that  road  to  Dover  J.  M.  Brown  has  acted 
as  the  express  agent. 

Professional   Gentlemen. 

The  names  of  the  pastors  are  to  be  found  in  connec- 
tion with  the  histories  of  their  churches.      The  six  law- 


RESIDENCE^    HON    COLUMBUS     BEACH     COR     OF  ORCHARD     X    BAN  K     STS     DOVER     NJ 


■g^:? ■ 


t 


PROFESSIONAL  PEOPLE  OF  DOVER. 


317 


yers  are  James  H.  Neighbour,  Albridge  C.  Smith,  Wm. 
T.  Leport,  J.  Ford  Smith,  Moses  Blanchard  and  B.  C. 
Megie  jr.  The  names  of  physicians  are  Tiiomas  D.  Crit- 
tenden, Joseph  D.  King,  Isaiah  W.  Condit,  A.  Rossi, 
George  O.  Cummins,  R.  Bennet,  Wm.  Derry  and  Miss 
Mary  Ford. 

Of  these  Dr.  Crittenden  and  Dr.  King  were  born  in 
Dover.  Dr.  Crittenden  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Ira  Crittenden, 
who  came  from  Lennox,  Mass.,  when  a  young  man,  stud- 
ied with  Dr.  Pierson,  of  Morristown,  and  graduated  at 
the  New  York  College  of  Piiysicians  ;ind  Surgeons.  In 
i8r2  he  married  Harriet,  youngest  daughter  of  Stephen 
Jackson.  In  1813  he  built  the  house  where  Thomas 
Oram  now  lives,  at  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  lived  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  devoted  to  his  profession.  Two  of 
his  sons  succeeded  him  in  his  profession — Wra.  Critten- 
den at  Rockaway,  and  Thomas  Crittenden  at  Dover. 
Before  Dr.  Ira  Crittenden  began  to  practice  in  Randolph 
the  people  of  this  township  sought  medical  aid  chiefly 
from  Morristown. 

Dr.  Condit,  though  not  a  native  of  Randolph,  was  born 
in  Succasunna;  he  is  a  descendant  on  his  mother's  side 
from  General  William  Winds,  and  has  practiced  longer 
in  Dover  than  any  other  physician  except  Dr.  Critten- 
den. His  original  progenitor  in  this  country,  John  Con- 
dit, came  from  London  to  Newark  in  1680.  His  son 
Peter  moved  to  Orange.  Peter's  son  John  moved  to 
Morris  county,  and  his  descendants  were  Jonathan,  Isaac, 
Uzal  and  Isaiah  Condit. 

Leonhard  Nachbor,  or  Leonard  Neighbour,  came  to 
German  Valley  when  a  boy  in  1707,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  of  325  acres,  about  one  mile  below  the  Presbyterian 
church.  This  farm  is  still  in  the  family,  occupied  at 
present  by  Silas  Neighbour,  brother  of  James.  Leonard 
Neighbour  died  in  1766,  aged  68;  his  son  Leonard  died 
in  1806,  aged  75;  the  latter's  son  Leonard  died  in  1854, 
aged  90.  David  Neighbour,  son  of  the  last  named,  is  still 
living,  verging  toward  go.  His  son  James  H.  was  the 
first  settled  lawyer  in  Dover,  and  has  won  a  good  repu- 
tation and  acquired  an  extensive  practice. 

Schools. 


In  1848  a  select  school  was  held  in  Dover,  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  Presbyterian  church,  by  the  Rev.  David  Ste- 
venson. The  efficient  instruction  of  this  energetic 
teacher  not  only  benefited  his  pupils,  but  awakened  an 
interest  in  the  community  for  a  more  thorough  course  of 
education  which  has  never  died  out. 

In  1850  a  select  school  was  opened  in  Prospect  street, 
by  Mrs.  Anna  C.  Whittlesey,  who  had  been  a  missionary 
on  the  island  of  Ceylon,  but  returned  to  her  native  land 
after  her  husband's  death.  Mrs.  Whittlesey  built  a  neat 
school-house,  and  taught  in  it  till  her  second  marriage,  to 
the  Rev.  Thornton  A.  Mills,  D.  D.  Her  labors  as  a 
teacher  were  appreciated,  and  some  of  her  pupils  still 
make  grateful  mention  of  the  benefit  they  received  from 
them.  When  this  school  was  discontinued  the  Rev.  B. 
C.  Megie,  J.  L.  Allen,  Dr.  I.  M.  Condit  and  others  formed 
themselves   into  a  company,  erected  a  new  school-house 


near  Mrs.  Whittlesey's,  and  employed  teachers  from  time 
to  time.  Among  those  who  taught  with  much  accept- 
ance were  William  Hall,  S.  C.  Conant,  Mr.  Schriver,  S. 
C.  Megie  and  B.  Chalmers  Nevius.  This  was  followed 
by  a  boarding  and  day  school  in  the  house  of  Rev.  B.  C. 
Megie,  which  was  and  is  still  conducted  by  his  daughters. 
This  school,  called  the  Dover  Institute,  was  designed  for 
young  ladies,  but  admitted  both  sexes.  Many  of  the  pu- 
pils have  become  teachers;  a  few  boys  from  this  institu- 
tution  have  entered  college,  and  several  young  ladies 
have  been  prepared  for  Vassar  and  Wellesley  Colleges. 

Mention  should  also  be  made  of  the  schools-  held  in 
the  Stone  Academy — a  building  erected  for  church  and 
school  purposes.  The  upper  floor  was  used  by  the  Pres- 
byterian church  as  its  place  of  worship  from  1835  to  1842, 
when  the  members  occupied  their'  own  church  edifice. 
The  same  room  was  afterward  occupied  by  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church  until  its  beautiful  stone  sanctuary  was 
completed  in  1872.  The  first  floor  of  the  Stone  Acad- 
emy was  used  for  school  purposes.  Among  the  popular 
teachers  there  may  be  mentioned  Joseph  H.  Babcock,  a 
young  man  of  promising  talents  and  "  apt  to  teach." 
He,  while  teaching,  studied  law,  yet  never  entered  on  its 
practice,  but  studied  theology  and  entered  the  ministry 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  became  an  eloquent 
preacher.  He  took  charge  of  a  church  in  northern  Indi- 
ana, where  he  was  loved  for  his  eminent  services,  but 
from  overwork  early  died. 

Another  educator,  who  had  a  shortlived  notoriety,  was 
one  Averill,  alias  Shield,  who  claimed  to  be  a  theological 
student,  but  who  brought  a  woman  to  his  boarding  house 
whom  he  called  his  wife.  It  was  ascertained  that  she 
was  another  man's  wife;  and  a  warrant  was  obtained  for 
his  arrest.  Learning  what  was  going  on  he  shrewdly  con- 
cealed himself  in  a  hearse  which  was  standing  in  the 
street,  whence  he  saw  those  who  were  in  search  of  him 
and  heard  their  conversation.  Stiff  and  silent  as  a  dead 
man,  he  remained  the  whole  day  without  any  motion; 
and  in  the  darkness  of  the  night  made  his  departure. 
He  was  not  pursued,  nor  ever  after  heard  from. 

Another  of  the  teachers  of  this  academy,  and  one 
highly  esteemed  both  for  his  mental  and  moral  qualities, 
was  Captain  Franklin  Pease.  He  taught  several  years  in 
Dover,  and  then  entered  into  the  mercantile  business  in 
his  native  place,  Pittsfield,  Mass.  He  was  appointed 
captain  of  a  company  from  that  State  during  the  civil 
war,  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and 
died  in  an  ambulance  before  he  could  reach  the  hospital. 
Among  the  highly  successful  teachers  of  Dover  should 
be  mentioned  the  name  of  Darius  Calkins,  who  taught  a 
longer  time  than  most  teachers  in  this  place.  He  was  not 
only  an  able  instructor,  but  a  man  of  extensive  knowledge 
and  sound  judgment.  His  influence  over  the  young  peo- 
ple was  great,  and  always  in  the  right  direction.  He, 
like  Captain  Pease,  after  a  time  changed  his  vocation 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  employments  in  New  York 
city,  where  he  is  still  living. 

Several  excellent  lady  teachers  were   employed   in  the 
Stone  Academy,  whose  names  we  are  not  able  to  obtain; 


3i8 


■HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  the  names  already  mentioned  may  include  Some  who 
taught  both  in  the  public  school  and  in  the  Stone  Acad- 
emy. Miss  Hattie  Breese  Was  one  who  was  esteemed  for 
her  successful  mode  of.  teaching;  another  was  Miss  Pike, 
and  others  equally  deserving :honorable  mention  must  be 
passed  over  because  we  have  not  their  names. 

THE   CHURCHES  OF   DOVER. 

FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN. 

Lord  Perth,  a  large  stockholder  in  the  lands  of  East 
Jersey,  and  a  man  of  great  influence  among  Scotch  Pres- 
byterians, induced  many  Presbyterians  to  emigrate  to 
New  Jersey  about  the  same  time  that  the  excellent 
Robert  Barclay  prevailed  on  so  many  Quakers  of  Scot- 
land to  come;  and  Presbyterians,  who  early  formed  an 
important  and  even  ascendant  portion  of  the  population 
of  this  province,  soon  made  their  way  into  this  part  of 
Morris  county.  Within  ten  years  after  the  erection  of 
the  Quaker  meeting-house  a  Presbyterian  church  was 
organized  at.Rockaway,  and  Dover  was  recognized  for 
many  long,  years  as  a  part  of  that  parish.  The  Presby- 
terians usually  attended  that  church  and  aided  in  the 
support  of  the  pastor.  In  the  meantime  they  sustained 
a  prayer  meeting  once  a  week  in  Dover,  commonly  at  the 
sehool-house  and  not  infrequently  at  private  houses.  A 
Sabbath-school  was  organized  in  .1816,  which  has  been 
continued  ever  since.  In  1831  the  Rev.  Edwin  F.  Hat- 
field, D.  D.,  then  just  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  as- 
sisted the  Rev.  Dr.  King  of  Rockaway  in  conducting  a 
protracted  meeting,  which  resulted  in  an  extensive  revival 
of  religion.  Dr.  Hatfield  preached  many  successive 
evenings  in  the  school-house  in  Dover,  and  a  goodly 
rrumber  of  persons  became  practically  interested  in 
Christian  duties,  who  were  ultimately  formed  into  a 
church.  A  few  of  these  persons  are  still  living,  but  the 
greater  part  have  departed  this  life. 
.  The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dover  was  organized 
April  23d  1835,  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Newark,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  John  Ford,  of 
Parsippany,  and  Rev.  Peter  Kanouse,  of  Succasunna. 
The  church  consisted  of  the  following  twenty  members: 
James  F'ord,  Charity  Ford,  Martha  Chrystal,  James  Sear- 
iiig,  Rachel  Searing,  Thomas  M.  Sturtevant,  Maria  Stur- 
tevant,  William  A.  Dickerson,  Louisa  M.  Hurd,  Mary 
Wilson,  Melinda  Tuttle,  John  K.  Bayles,  Phebe  Ann 
Bayles,  Elizabeth  Hoagland,  Phebe  King,  Margaret 
King,  Thomas  B.  Segur,  Sarah  P.  Segur,  Jabez  L.  Allen, 
Caroline  C.  Allen. 

J.  L.  Allen,  Thomas  B.  Segur  and  James  Ford  were 
chosen  and  duly  set  apart  to  the  office  of  ruling  elders. 
Of  the  above  twenty  persons  eight  survive.  Of  the 
elders  Mr.  Segur  died  in  1854,  and  J,  L.  Allen  September 
22nd  1869.  James  Ford,  though  poyears  of  age,  is  in 
good  health  and  able  to  act  as  an  elder. 
:  The  first,  minister  was  the  Rev.  James  Wyckoff,  who- 
was  unanimously  called  to  become  pastor  August  12th 
1835,  and  was  installed  November  24th  1835,  when  the 
Rev.  Peter  Kanouse  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  Barnabas 


King,  of  Rockaway,  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Campbell,  of  Hackettstown,  father-in- 
law  of  Mr.  Wyckoff,  gave  the  charge  to  the  people.  Mr. 
•Wyckoff  became  ill  after  a  pastorate  of  two  years  and  re- 
moved to  Hackettstown,  where  he  died  in  May  1838. 

The  Rev.  Robert  R.  Kellogg,  of  New  York,  began  to 
supply  the  pulpit  in  July  1838,  and  continued  till  May 
1839,  when  he  received  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Gowanus,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Kellogg  preached  in 
dther  churches,  and  was  supplying  the  pulpit  of  the 
church  at  Port  Jervis,  when,  after  preaching  twice  on 
Sunday,  he  was  suddenly  taken  ill  and  died  the  same 
night,  September  26th  1866.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
B.  C.  Megie,  who  commenced  his  ministry  in  July  1839, 
preaching  part  of  the  time  at  Berkshire  Valley.  He  was 
installed  by  the  presbytery  of  Rockaway,  N.  S.,  Novem- 
ber 15th  1842,  which  was  the  day  of  dedication  of  the 
new  church.  Previously  the  congregation  had  worshiped 
in  the  old  stone  academy. 

'  A  second  church  was  erected  on  the. site  of  the  old 
one,  and  dedicated  July  26th  1872.  Rev.  Harvey  D. 
Ganse,  of  the  Reformed  church  of  New  York  city,  made 
an  address  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone,  and  Presi- 
dent Cattell,  of  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  preached  the 
sermon  at  the  dedication.  The  new  church  cost  about 
$30,000,  which  was  all  provided  for  at  the  time  of  the 
dedication,  and  every  pew  was  rented  when  the  church 
was  opened  for  service;  the  new  organ  cost  $2,000.  June 
tst  187s  Mr.  Megie  left  this  church  and  accepted  a  call 
to  the  church  of  Pleasant  Grove,  on  Schooley's  Moun- 
tain, where  he  still  resides. 

The  Rev.  William  W.  Halloway  jr.  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Dover  October  2Sth  1876, 
when  Rev.  J.  A.  French,  of  Morristown,  preached  the 
sermon.  Rev.  Albert  Erdman,  of  Morristown,  gave  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Irving  gave  the  charge 
fo  the  people.  Mr.  Halloway  is  still  in  the  pastorate  of 
that  church. 

In  1878  a  parsonage  was  built  costing  $7,000,  and  in 
1881  the  new  church,  damaged  by  a  severe  gale,  was  re- 
paired and  frescoed  anew  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  all  of  which 
is  paid. 

In  1880  the  church  reported  to  presbytery  248  mem- 
bers, with  seven  ruling  elders,  as  follows:  James  Ford, 
Titus  Berry,  I.  W.  Condict,  Ephraim  Lindsley,  J-  H. 
Neighbour,  J.  S.  Treat,  A.  C.  Smith. 

THE    FIRST  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OF  DOVER 

was-  organized  and  the  church  building  dedicated  in 
1838.  A  class  meeting  had  been  regularly  held  for  a 
considerable  time  before  this.  At  the  time  of  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  church  the  Rev.  Manning  Force  was  the 
presiding  elder,  and  the  Rev.  J.  O.  Rodgers  was  the  first 
minister.     Mr.  Rodgers.  is  still  living. 

The  following  pastors  have  successively  supplied  the 
church:  James  M.  Tuttle,  Rodney  Winans,  William  E. 
Perry,  M.  E.  Ellison,  J.  Dobbins,  William  Burroughs  (de- 
ceased), J.  P.  Fort,  WilJiam.W.  Christine  (who  died  in 
i88i),-  E.  M.  Griffiths,  J.  O.  Winner,  A.  M.  Palmer,  Garet 


CHURCHES  OF  DOVER. 


319 


Van  Horn,  S.  W.  Hillard,  John  Scarlet,  E.  A.  Hill  (de- 
ceased), Martin  Herr,  I.  W.  Seran,  C.  S.  Coit,  Thomas 
Walters  (deceased),  J.  R.  Daniels,  S.  B.  Rooney,  J.  J. 
Morrow  and  H.  D.  Opdyke,  the  present  pastor. 

PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  church  of  Dover  was  begun 
under  the  labors  of  Rev.  Charles  W.  Rankin,  rector  of 
the  first  Episcopal  church  of  Morristown,  and  of  Bishop 
Doane.  Henry  McFarlan  of  Dover  was  appointed 
reader,  and  maintained  the  worship  till  1852,  when  Rev. 
Charles  H.  Little  became  the  minister,  and  continued 
one  year.  His  successors  in  the  rectorship  were  as  fol- 
lows: Rev.  John  D.  Berry,  1853,  one  year;  Nathan  W. 
Monroe,  1854,  one  year;  Charles  S.  Hoffman,  1855,  one 
year;  Francis  Canfield,  1856,  one  year;  H.  C.  H.  Dudley, 
1857,  three  years;  Thomas  W.  Street,  i860,  one  year; 
David  Margot,  1862,  one  year;  James  A.  Upjohn,  1863, 
six  years;  J.  F.  Butterworth,  1869,  two  years;  E.  E. 
Butler,  1871,  nine  years;  D.  D.  Bishop,  1880,  present  in- 
cumbent; Messrs.  McFarlan  and  Eyland  acting  as  lay 
readers  when  the  church  was  without  a  regular  pastor. 
Confirmation  has  been  administered  by  Bishops  Doane, 
Odenheimer  and  Starkey. 

Worship  was  held  in  the  old  stone  academy  which  was 
built  in  1830  until  the  erection  of  the  new  church,  which 
was  consecrated,  free  from  debt,  in  187 1.  The  new 
church  cost  over  $15,000,  which  was  paid  by  Henry  Mc- 
Farlan, George  Richards  and  Mr.  Eyland,  each  furnish- 
ing $5,000.  There  are  now  forty-five  communicants,  and 
a  fair  congregation. 

FREE    METHODIST    CHURCH    OF    DOVER. 

In  the  year  1870,  under  the  lead  of  its  pastor,  the  Rev. 
C.  S.  Coit,  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  de- 
cided to  build  a  new  church  edifice.  A  lot  was  selected 
on  Blackwell  street  with  a  view  to  erecting  a  building 
that  would  cost  about  $40,000.  In  the  meantime  it  was 
proposed  first  to  erect  a  chapel,  and  to  build  the  church 
sooner  or  later  as  circumstances  should  allow.  One  of 
the  leading  members  of  this  church  was  John  W.  Sear- 
ing, a  young  man  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  for 
his  exemplary  character,  and  loved  by  the  Methodists  for 
his  fervent  piety.  Mr.  Searing  attended  a  meeting  of 
the  Free  Methodists  at  Rahway  and  connected  himself 
with  that  society.  One  of  their  principles  is  cheap 
houses  of  worship;  and  Mr.  Searing  opposed  the  project 
of  building  a  new  church  edifice  that  to  him  seemed  to 
be  extravagant.  In  his  opposition  he  early  organized  a 
class  meeting  of  Free  Methodists.  By  invitation,  the 
Rev,  W.  Gould,  an  influential  member  of  this  denomina- 
tion, preached  in  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Dover  August  3d  1871.  Shortly  after,  Lewis  &  Whitlock's 
hall  was  hired  for  the  use  of  this  society.  Mrs.  Dunning 
of  the  Sabine  mission  of  New  York  addressed  large 
audiences.  A  quarterly  meeting,  under  the  charge  of 
Rev.  W.  Gould,  was  held  in  this  hall  October  20th,  21st 
and  22nd  187 1.  This  may  be  considered  as  the  begin- 
ning of  the  organization  in  Dover.     John  W.  Searing  was 


the  first  member  received  into  the  church;  Manning F. 
Searing  and  his  wife  were  the  next  members. 

During  the  fall  meetings  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Gould  and  other  preachers  from  the  surrounding  cir- 
cuits. In  1872  the  old  Presbyterian  church,  made  vacant 
by  the  erection  of  a  new  one,  was  occupied  by  the  Free 
Methodists,  and  Rev.  W.  M.  Parry  did  the  most  of  the 
preaching.  Upwards  of  fifty  persons  professed  to  be 
converted  and  joined  the  society.  In  July  of  this  year  a 
camp  meeting  was  held  on  the  grounds  of  John  A.  Cas- 
terline,  a  mile  east  of  Dover.  At  this  time  a  lot  on  Sus- 
sex street  was  donated  by  Manning  Searing  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  church.  The  building  was  completed  at  a 
cost  of  $5,000,  and  was  dedicated  Sunday  December  8th 
1872,  the  Rev.  B.  P.  Roberts,  president  of  the  Free 
Methodist  body,  preaching  and  conducting  the  exercises. 
The  church  lot  was  encumbered  by  a  mortgage  held  by 
Henry  McFarlan,  which  sold  under  foreclosure  for  $1,000, 
the  amount  being  paid  by  members  of  the  Free  Method- 
ist church  living,  for  the  most  part,  outside  of  the 
bounds  of  the  Dover  society.  The  church  since  its  for- 
mation has  been  under  the  care  of  the  following  pastors: 
Revs.  W.  M.  Parry,  1872-74;  W.  Jones,  1874,  1875;  J. 
Glenn,  1875-77;  J.  E.  Bristol,  1877-79;  W.  Jones,  1879- 
81;  J.  W.  Tamblyn,  1881. 

GERMAN    SERVICES. 

Religious  services  in  the  German  language  were  held 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  1871-74  by  the  Rev  John 
Heberle,  of  Myersville,  on  Friday  evenings,  and  occa- 
sionally the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  admin- 
istered, the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  Rev.  B. 
C.  Megie,  assisting  in  this  ordinance,  and  also  in  the  bap- 
tism of  German  children.  In  1875  the  Rev.  Johannes 
Richelson,  of  the  Morristown  German  church,  succeeded 
Mr.  Heberle  in  conducting  the  German  service  in  Dover. 

THE    SWEDISH    CHURCH. 

In  1872  and  1874  a  number  of  Christian  Swedes  held 
religious  services  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  A  Swedish 
pastor  from  Brooklyn,  called  Father  Heornst,  often  con- 
ducted this  service.  At  length,  by  the  liberality  of  the 
people  of  Dover  and  the  self-denial  of  the  Swedes  them- 
selves, a  church  edifice  was  erected  on  Grant  street,  and 
this  church  called  the  Rev.  P.  Smith  to  be  its  pastor. 
Mr.  Smith  was  much  beloved,  and  had  a  small  but  inter- 
ested congregation,  until  the  paralysis  of  the  iron  indus- 
try scattered  many  of  the  Swedish  miners.  He  was  then 
compelled  to  leave  his  charge,  and  accepted  an  invitation 
to  the  pastorate  of  a  Swedish  church  in  Perth  Amboy. 
Still  he  remembers  his  Dover  flock,  and  often  visits  and 
preaches  to  them,  so  as  to  keep  them  together. 

SECOND    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH    OF    DOVER. 

This  church,  a  branch  from  the  First  Church,  was  or- 
ganized in  1876,  and  occupies  the  church  building  of  the 
First  church  which  was  dedicated  in  1838  and  made  va- 
cant by  the  occupancy  of  the  new  building  on  Blackwell 
street,  erected  in  1872.     The  old  church  was  remodeled 


320 


HISTORY  OP  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  improved  in  1876.  The  pastors  have  been  as  fol- 
lows: Rev.  W.  H.  McBride,  one  year;  Abram  M.  Palm- 
er, one  year;  William  I.  Gill,  three  years;  and  Rev. 
William  H.  McCormick,  the  present  pastor,  who  com- 
menced his  pastorate  here  in  1881. 

SOCIETIES  IN  DOVER. 

A  number  of  fraternities  or  social  organizations  exist 
in  Dover — the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Sons 
of  Temperance,  Temple  of  Honor,  Free  Masons,  Odd 
Fellows,  Order  of  United  Americans,  Sovereigns  of  In- 
dustry, etc. 

THE    YOUNG    MEN's     CHRISTIAN    ASSOCIATION 

of  Dover  was  formed  in  the  fall  of  1868,  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  of  Dover.  An  address  was  delivered  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Barclay  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Easlon.  After 
the  address  the  association  was  formed  and  officers  were 
chosen.  The  leading  members  of  this  association  were 
Warren  Sepur,  L.  C.  Bierworth,  F.  V.  Wolfe,  Garret  Gar- 
rabrant,  William  H.  Mase,  E.  Kirk  Talcott,  William  F. 
Mattes,  Daniel  Derry,  S.  D.  Gould,  John  Bulkly,  A.  J. 
Coe,  C.  F.  Trowbridge,  William  E.  Megie  and  others. 
These  young  nien  possessed  sterling  principles  and  a 
manly  spirit  of  moral  enterprise,  and  were  spoiling  for 
something  to  do.  Once  organized,  though  belonging  to 
different  religious  denominations,  they  went  to  work. 
They  sought  out  the  poor,  the  sick  and  the  neglected. 
They  relieved  many  needy  ones,  brought  some  to  the 
house  of  God  and  more  to  the  Sunday-schools,  and  in- 
duced several  young  persons  to  enter  upon  a  better  and 
happier  way  of  life.  They  hired  a  hall  and  opened  a 
prayer  meeting  on  Sunday  afternoon,  which  is  still  con- 
tinued. This  prayer  meeting  became  popular  and  was 
crowded,  and  the  members  of  the  association  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  its  proceedings,  which  awakened  in  them  and 
in  the  community  a  new  religious  interest.  A  revival 
commenced  and  a  large  number  of  young  and  old  were 
converted.  The  association  opened  an  evening  school 
for  free  instruction  in  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  and 
other  branches  of  learning.  Several  foreigners,  especially 
Swedes,  learned  to  read  and  speak  English. 

In  the  fall  of  1870  the  association  arranged  for  a 
course  of  public  lectures  and  other  entertainments  during 
the  winter.  Among  the  lecturers  were  Olive  Logan,  R. 
J.  De  Cordova,  Justin  McCarthy,  E.  P.  Whipple  and  P. 
B.  Du  Chaillu.  The  course  proved  unprofitable;  at 
its  close  the  society  was  in  debt  over  three  hundred  dol- 
lars. An  appeal  was  made  to  the  churches  for  help, 
which  was  feebly  responded  to,  and  the  association  was 
for  a  time  embarrassed  by  the  burden  of  its  debt. 

The  association  still  abounds  in  good  works;  it  has 
promoted  Christian  fellowship  among  different  denomina- 
tions, and  has  aided  in  making  the  public  sentiment  of 
Dover  religious. 

TEMPERANCE    SOCIETIES. 

Several  organizations  have  been  formed  to  repress  the 
evils  of  drunkenness  and  to  prevent  the  sober  from  be- 


coming intemperate.  The  first  and  oldest  temperance 
society  in  Dover  relied  only  on  the  signing  of  the  pledge 
of  total  abstinence  for  the  accomplishment  of  its  objecf. 
At  one  time  this  open  organization  wrought  wonders. 
The  churches  indorsed  total  abstinence,  religious  men 
practiced  it,  and  honorable  men  praised  it.  All  stores 
which  sold  intoxicating  drinks  abandoned  the  sale.  The 
licensed  inn  was  closely  watched,  and  the  public  senti- 
ment of  the  place  was  a  great  restraint  on  the  vender. 
Then  the  Washingtonian  movement  broke  out,  and  drunk- 
ards began  to  reform  all  over  the  country  by  hundreds 
and  by  thousands.  This  reform  spread  through  Ran- 
dolph township,  until  a  drunkard  was  a  rarity.  At 
length  a  relapse  took  place,  and  reformed  inebriates 
returned  to  their  cups,  like  "  the  sow  that  was  washed 
to  her  wallowing  in  the  mire."  To  prevent  this  apos- 
tasy secret  temperance  societies  were  formed — Recha- 
bites,  Sons  of  Temperance,  Good  Templars,  the  Temple 
of  Honor  and  other  orders.  It  was  not  the  design  of 
these  secret  societies  to  supersede  the  open  organizations; 
still  they  absorbed  a  good  portion  of  the  working  element 
from  the  former  method  of  work,  diverted  public  atten- 
tion, and  almost  suspended  the  action  of  the  previous  so- 
cieties. Anxious  to  secure  the  welfare  of  the  drunkard, 
and  failing  to  secure  that  object  through  secret  organiza- 
tions, yet  unwilling  to  abandon  the  effort,  the  temperance 
men  entered  upon  a  new  method  of  warfare,  and  de- 
manded the  suppression  of  the  liquor  traffic,  the  removal 
of  the  temptation  from  the  intemperate.  This  element 
in  the  temperance  reform  is  now  embodied  in  the  Tem- 
perance Alliance. 

Three  methods  of  seeking  deliverance  from  the  evils 
of  intemperance  have  their  separate  organizations  in 
Dover:  First,  the  old  society,  with  its  simple  pledge; 
second,  the  secret  society,  which  endeavors  to  keep  its 
members  from  falling;  third,  the  alliance,  which  would 
unite  all  in  an  effort  to  prohibit  the  sale. 

Besides.these  three  societies  a  fourth  temperance  so- 
ciety has  recently  been  organized  in  Dover,  known  as 
"The  Law  and  Order  League."  This  society  opposes 
the  evil  not  by  engaging  in  battle  against  the  whole  army 
of  intemperance  at  once,  but  aims  to  attack  its  weaker 
points,  and  to  destroy  its  forces  little  by  little.  Ac- 
knowledging that  there  are  some  legislative  enactments 
designed  to  restrain  the  evil,  it  propses  to  enforce  those 
enactments,  to  suppress  the  unlicensed  sale,  and  to  pun- 
ish the  violations  of  the  license  law.  This  society  is  at 
the  present  time  the  most  vigorous  organization  in 
Dover. 

LODGES   AND    COUNCILS. 

Besides  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and 
the  temperance  societies  there  are  seven  other  fraterni- 
ties in  Dover,  as  follows: 

Acacia  Lodge,  No.  20,  F.  &>  A.  i^'.— Officers:  F.  H. 
Beach,  W.M.;  George  M.  Dorman,  S.  W.;  Charles  A. 
Gillen,  J.  W.;  Edward  Jackson,  treasurer;  James  Ton- 
kin, secretary. 

Randolph  Lodge,  No.  130,  /.  O.  O.  i^.— Cooney  Mann, 


^cm^M^i^tJ 


THE  LIFE  OF  HON.   MAHLON  DICKERSON. 


321 


N.  G.;  Wm.  Doney,  V.  G. ;  George  Mann,  treasurer; 
B.  L.  Hedden,  secretary. 

Bethlehem  Encampment,  No.  50,  /.  O.  O.  F. — Daniel 
Treloar,  C.  P.;  James  Tonkin,  S.  W.;  J.  J.  Vreeland, 
treasurer;  B.  L.  Hedden,  secretary. 

Major  Anderson  Post,  No.  54,  G.  A.  R.—V).  S.  Allen, 
post  commander. 

Dover  Council,  No.  6,  O.  U.  A.  J/.— Alonzo  Searing, 
secretary. 

Morris  Council,  No.  541,  Royal  Arcanum. — A.  C.  Smith, 
regent;  C.  A.  Covert,  secretary;  James  S.  Melick,  treas- 
urer. 

Harmony  Council  Sovereigns  of  Industry. — Robert  Phil- 
lips, president;  B.  L.  Hedden,  secretary;  W.  J.  Turner, 
treasurer. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Hon.  Mahlon  Dickerson. 

Of  the  leading  men  who  were  long  residents  of  the 
township  of  Randolph,  whose  influence  has  made  the 
community  what  it  is,  the  name  of  the  Hon.  Mahlon 
Dickerson  should  stand  first.  He  occupied  more  prom- 
inent positions  than  any  other  citizen.  He  lived  at  Fer- 
romonte  and  owned  and  worked  the  Succasunna  iron 
mine,  now  better  known  as  the  Dickerson  mine.  He  was 
judge,  general,  member  of  the  Legislature,  governor  of 
New  Jersey,  member  of  Congress  and  secretary  of 
the  navy  in  the  cabinet  of  President  Andrew  Jackson. 
The  following  sketch  of  his  life  was  prepared  by  Edmund 
D.  Halsey,  Esq.,  of  Morristown,  for  another  purpose  and 
is  inserted  here  by  permission. 

Governor  Mahlon  Dickerson,  of  whose  name  it  has 
been  well  said  none  have  been  more  respected,  honored 
and  distinguished  in  New  Jersey,  was  descended  from 
the  Puritan  Philemon  Dickerson,  who  emigrated  from 
England  early  in  the  history  of  the  Massachusetts  colony 
and  who  was  among  the  freemen  of  Salem  in  1638.  In 
1643  he  purchased  from  the  Indians  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  the  north  shore  of  Long  Island  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence at  Southold.  Here  he  died  at  the  age  of  74,  leav- 
ing two  sons,  Thomas  and  Peter. 

Peter  Dickerson,  son  of  Thomas  and  grandson  of  Phil- 
emon, came  to  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  in  1741,  and  Octo- 
ber 20th  1745  married  his  first  wife,  Ruth  Coe,  daughter 
of  Joseph-  Coe.  He  was  an  ardent  patriot  and  his  house 
in  Morristown  was  from  the  beginning  of  the  difficulties 
with  Great  Britain  a  gathering  place  for  those  of  kindred 
mind.  He  took  an  active  part  in  awakening  and  organ- 
izing the  opposition  to  the  acts  of  the  British  crown,  and 
on  the  ninth  day  of  January  1775  was  appointed  one  of 
the  "  committee  of  observation  "  for  Morris  county. 
On  the  first  day  of  May  following  he  was  elected  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Provincial  Congress  which  met  at  Trenton  the 
same  month.  February  7th  1776  he  was  commissioned 
captain  of  a  company  in  the  third  battalion  of  the  first 
establishment,  and  on  the  29th  of  November  following 
captain  of  a  company  in  the  third  battalion  of  the  second 
establishment.     Both  the  companies  he  commanded  were 


equipped  at  his  private  expense,  and  the  money  he  so  ad- 
vanced stands  to  his  credit  this  day  at  Washington  un- 
paid. He  died  May  loth  1780,  in  the  56th  year  of  his 
age.  He  had  eight  children  by  his  first  wife,  one  of 
whom,  Esther,  married  Colonel  Jacob  Drake,  who  was 
also  a  delegate  from  Morris  county  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  1775,  and'who  was  colonel  of  the  western 
regiment  of  New  Jersey  militia  until  he  resigned  to  be- 
come a  member  of  the  first  Assembly  of  New  Jersey. 

Jonathan  Dickerson,  the  second  child  and  oldest  son 
of  Peter,  was  born  September  20th  1747  (O.  S.),  and  on 
the  i2th  of  October  1768  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary 
Coe,  daughter  of  Thomas  Coe,  by  Rev.  Timothy  Johnes. 
Like  his  father  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  politics 
of  his  county.  He  also  displayed  the  talent  for  invention 
for  which  many  of  his  descendants  have  been  distin- 
guished. The  eleventh  patent  issued  by  our  government, 
bearing  the  signature  of  Washington,  was  granted  to  him 
for  an  improved  water  wheel.  In  1783  he  was  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature  from  Morris  county.  The  iron 
mines  with  which  his  region  of  country  abounded,  and 
which  have  added  so  much  to  its  wealth,  were  then  little 
regarded.  The  rich  ore  bed  now  known  as  the  Dicker- 
son  mine  was  originally  returned  by  the  proprietors  of 
West  Jersey  in  1715  to  John  Reading,  who  a  year  or  two 
after  sold  it  to  Joseph  Kirkbride  for  a  mere  trifle,  though 
the  presence  of  the  mineral  was  so  well  known  even  to 
the  Indians  that  they  called  the  neighborhood  "  Soco- 
sonna  "  (which  meant  in  their  language  "heavy  stone  "), 
which  usage  has  changed  to  Succasunna.  Jonathan  Dick- 
erson seems  to  have  recognized  its  value,  and  in  1779  we 
find  deeds  to  him  from  some  of  the  Kirkbride  heirs,  and 
in  partnership  with  one  Minard  La  Fevre  he  purchased 
the  whole.  He  was  not,  however,  successful  in  making 
a  fortune  from  his  speculation,  and  it  remained  for  his 
son  Mahlon,  who  bought  the  property  in  1807  from  the 
heirs  of  his  father  and  La  Fevre,  to  develop  its  wealth, 
and  in  his  hands  it  yielded  a  handsome  income,  which 
made  its  owner  independent. 

Jonathan  Dickerson  died  November  7th  1805,  leaving 
six  children — Mahlon,  the  oldest  and  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Silas;  Mary,  afterwards  wife  of  David  S.  Canfield; 
Aaron,  John  B.,  and  Philemon.  His  widow  survived 
him  many  years,  and  died  March  ist  1827.  She  was 
buried  with  her  husband  at  Succasunna. 

Mahlon  Dickerson  was  born  at  a  place  called  Han- 
over Neck,  in  '  Morris  county,  April  17th  1770.  He 
probably  fitted  for  college  at  Morristown,  which  at  that 
time  possessed  a  classical  school.  In  the  manuscript 
diary  of  Joseph  Lewis,  a  wealthy  gentleman  of  Morris- 
town and  clerk  of  the  county,  is  this  entry:  "  1786, 
Monday,  r27th  November,  Jonathan  Dickerson's  son 
(Mahlon)  began  to  board  at  7s.  per  week.'s 

In  1789  Mahlon  entered  the  American  Whig  Society 
at  Princeton,  and  graduated  the  same  year  from  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey,  in  the  same  class  with  Dr.  Hosack. 
He  returned  to  Morristown  and  engaged  in  the  study  of 
the  law,  and  in  November  1793  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  New  Jersey.     In  the  following  year   he   accompanied 


322 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Captain  Kinney's  cavalry  company  in  the  expedition 
sent  to  Western  Pennsylvania  to  suppress  the  whiskey 
rebellion — probably  as  an  unattached  volunteer,  as  his 
nanie  does  not  appear  in  the  list  of  that  command.  He 
was  one  of  Governor  Mifflin's  aids  during  the  expedi- 
tion. 

During  the  years  1795  ^"^  1796  he  was  in  active  prac- 
tice in  his  native  county,  his  name  frequently  appearing 
in  the  minutes  of  the  court.       In  the  record  of  a  case  in 
the  common   pleas,  July  term  1797,  is   the  quaint   entry 
that  "  Mr.  Mahl&n  Dickerson,  the  attorney  for  the  above 
plaintiff,  having    removed  to  foreign    parts    and    having 
agreed  that  Alexander  C.  McVVhorter  be  substituted,  &c., 
the  court  ordered  the  substitution  to  be  made."       The 
"foreign  parts  "  were  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  where 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Pennsylvania   the   same 
year,  and  where  he  entered  the  law  office  of  John  Milnor, 
afterward    a    distinguished  clergyman   of   the  Episcopal 
church.       He  was  shortly  afterward  elected   one  of  the 
common  councilmen  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  1802  he  was 
appointed  by  President  Jefferson,  of  whom  he  was  a  de- 
voted   admirer,  commissioner  of  bankruptcy.       January 
ist  1805  Mr.  Dickerson  was  appointed  by  Governor  Mc- 
Keon  adjutant  general  of  Philadelphia.       His  name  also 
appears  in   the  record    as  quartermaster-general.       The 
title  of  "general"  adhered  to  him  through  life,  and  even 
after  his    appointment  as  governor  it  was  the   one   most 
generally  given  to  him.       His  resignation  of  the  position 
of  adjutant-general  was  accepted  July  22nd  1805,  and  he 
was  the  same  day  appointed  recorder  of  the  city  of  Phil- 
adelphia.    The  latter  office  he  used  to  say  was  more  con- 
genial to  his  tastes  than  any  of  the  higher  posts   he  was 
afterward  called  to  fill.       He  resigned  it,  however,  Octo- 
ber 2nd  1810,  to  return   to   Succasunna  to   develop  the 
mineral  property  he  had  come  possessed  of. 

A  very  earnest  and  active  member  of  the  Republican 
party,  then  in  the  ascend.mcy,  of  popular  manners  and 
sound  legal  attainments,  his  career  in  Philadelphia  was  a 
very  successful  one.  He  shared  his  prosperity  with  the 
other  members  of  his  family  and  assisted  largely  in  the 
education  of  his  younger  brothers.  His  brother  Aaron 
he  enabled  to  graduate  at  Princeton  in  1804,  and  assisted 
him  in  establishing  himself  in  a  fair  practice  in  Philadelphia 
as  a  physician.  The  daughter  of  Dr.  Aaron  Dickerson  is 
the  widow  of  the  late  Attorney-General  Vanatta  of  New 
Jersey.  His  brother  Silas  was  instantly  killed  January  7th 
1807,  at  Stanhope,  N.  J.,  his  great  coat  catching  a  screen  in 
a  raj.  idly  revolving  axle  and  drawing  him  into  some  ma- 
chinery for  making  nails,  which  he  was  having  erected. 
Philemon,  the  youngest  brother,  after  his  graduation 
studied  law  with  the  general  in  Philadelphia  and  suc- 
ceeded him  as  judge  of  the  United  States  district  court 
of  New  Jersey.  He  was  also  governor  of  New  Jersey 
and  one  of  its  congressmen.  His  son  Edward  N.  Dick- 
erson is  one  of  the  most  prominent  patent,  lawyers  of 
New  York  city. 

Returning  to  New  Jersey,  General  Dickerson  was  not 
permitted  to  remain  in  private  life,  but  in  the  three  fol- 


successively  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Assembly 
from  Morris  county.  The  Legislature  of  1813  met  Oc- 
tober 26th,  and  four  days  afterward  Hon.  William  S. 
Pennington  resigned  his  position  as  third  justice  of  the 
supreme  court,  and  Mr.  Dickerson  was  the  same  day  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  was  also  appointed  re- 
porter of  the  court.  He  declined  the  latter  office,  how- 
ever, on  the  9th  of  February  following.  At  a  joint  meet- 
ing of  the  Legislature  to  elect  a  United  States  senator, 
November  3d  1814,  his  name  was  mentioned  and  he  re- 
ceived a  flattering  vote.  No  choice  was  made  at  this 
meeting,  and  at  the  next,  held  in  February,  Mr.  Dicker- 
son's  name  was  withdrawn  and  Hon.  James  J.  Wilson 
was  elected.  At  the  joint  meeting,  held  October  26th 
1815,  he  was  unanimously  elected  governor  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  was  re-elected  to  that  high  office  without  oppo- 
sition October  28th  1816. 

He  resigned  the  gubernatorial  chair  February  ist 
1817,  having  been  elected  on  the  23d  of  the  previous 
month  United  States  senator  for  the  six  years  beginning 
March  4th  1817.  So  satisfactory  was  his  course  in  the 
Senate  to  the  people  of  his  State  that  November  ist 
1822  he  was  elected  his  own  successor  for  another  six 
years,  without  opposition. 

His  term  of  office  expired  March  6th  1829.  His 
previous  election  had  been  during  the  "  era  of  good  feel- 
ing," but  before  the  last  term  expired  the  strife  between 
Jackson,  Clay,  Adams  and  Crawford  had  begun.  He 
had  allied  himself  closely  to  the  cause  of  Old  Hickory, 
and  the  Legislature  to' choose  his  successor  was  strongly 
Whig.  At  the  joint  meeting  which  assembled  January 
30th  1829  the  resignation  of  Ephraim  Bateman,  the  other 
senator  from  New  Jersey,  was  sent  in  by  the  governor 
and  was  accepted  by  a  vote  of  only  29  to  27 — those 
voting  in  the  negative  being  mostly  Whigs.  The  meet- 
ing then  proceeded  first  to  elect  a  senator  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  this  resignation.  The  names  of 
Theodore  Frelinghuysen  and  Joseph  W.  Scott  were 
brought  forward,  but  withdrawn  with  the  understanding 
that  they  were  to  be  candidates  for  the  long  term.  The 
names  of  Samuel  L.  Southard,  William  B.  Ewing,  Wil- 
liam N.  Jeffers,  Mahlon  Dickerson  and  Garret  D.  Wall 
were  mentioned  for  the  short  term.  The  Whigs,  though 
having  a  majority  of  the  meeting,  were  divided  between 
Southard,  the  popular  secretary  of  the  navy  under 
Adams,  and  Ewing,  the  chairman  of  the  meeting.  Ten 
calls  of  the  meeting  were  had  without  result.  Mr. 
Southard's  vote  varied  from  20  to  25,  and  Mr.  Ewing's 
from  8  to  13;  the  Democrats  voting  for  Dickerson  and 
Wall  or  for  Dickerson  alone.  After  the  tenth  ballot 
Hon.  Stacey  G.  Potts  offered  the  following  resolution: 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  joint  meeting 
the  Honorable  Samuel  L.  Southard  is  not  an  inhabitant 
of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  therefore  not  eligible  to 
the  office  of  senator  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
under  the  third  article  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  his  name  be  withdrawn  from  the  list  of 
nominations." 

For  this  resolution  all  the   Democrats  and  six  of  the 


lowing  years,  i8ji,  1812  and  1813,  he  was  as  many  tinQes|  Ewing  men  voted,  and  it  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  26  to 


THE  LIFE  OF  HON.  MAHLON  DICKERSON. 


3^3 


i6.  This  made  the  friends  of  Mr.  Southard  so  indignant 
that  eight  of  them  cast  their  votes  for  Mr.  Dickerson,  who 
was  elected  on  the  next  ballot  but  one,  by  a  vote  of  28 
for  him,  23  for  Ewing,  and  2  for  Wall.  Mr.  Freling- 
huysen  was  chosen  immediately  after  for  the  long  term 
by  a  vote  of  35  against  21  for  Mr.  Scott. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Senate  in  the  following  De- 
cember Governor  Dickerson  was  made  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  manufactures — a  position  he  was  eminently 
qualified  to  fill.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
tariff,  and  agreed  with  the  President  in  protecting  Amer- 
ican industry,  so  far  as  legislation  could  do  it.  Examin- 
ing the  proceedings  of  the  Senate  during  the  time  he  was 
a  member,  it  will  be  seen  that  that  subject  seldom  failed 
to  bring  him  to  his  feet.  All  or  nearly  all  his  published 
speeches  were  on  this  subject.  Though  not  as  brilliant 
or  as  eloquent  as  many  of  his  associates,  he  was  scarcely 
less  influential  in  legislation,  through  his  familiarity  with 
his  subject,  which  close  study  and  earnest  application 
gave  him. 

The  affection  of  his  constituency  in  New  Jersey  never 
wavered.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Jackson  members  of  the 
Legislature  in  April  1832  the  resolution  was  adopted 
"  that  we  recommend  our  fellow  citizen  Mahlon  Dicker- 
son  as  a  suitable  candidate  to  be  supported  by  the  del- 
gation  of  New  Jersey  [for  vice-president]  in  convention, 
and  that  they  be  requested  to  present  his  name  as  the 
first  choice  of  New  Jersey."  Nor  was  his  name  only 
mentioned  by  those  of  his  own  State.  The  Jackson  men 
throuj^hout  the  country  favored  his  nomination  as  a  fit 
successor  to  Calhoun,  who  had  become  alienated  from 
them.  At  this  juncture  Mr.  Van  Buren's  rejection  as 
minister  to  England  by  the  Senate  made  his  vindication 
seem  necessary  to  his  party,  and  they  resolved  to  make 
him  vice-president.  Mr.  Dickerson  warmly  seconded  this 
resolution,  and  withdrew  his  own  name  from  the  canvass. 
In  all  the  political  struggles  of  the  day  and  the  various 
combinations  of  parties  and  cliques  which  characterized 
that  period  he  adhered  most  strenuously  to  the  principles 
and  policies  of  Jackson,  and  possessed  his  constant 
friendship. 

His  terra  as  United  States  senator  expired  in  March 
1833,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  was  elected  by  the 
people  of  the  county  to  represent  them  in  the  Legisla- 
tive Council  of  the  State. 

On  the  20th  of  May  1834  he  was  nominated  by  the 
President  as  minister  to  Russia,  and  the  appointment  was 
confirmed  by  the  Senate  on  the  26th.  It  is  said  he  was 
persuaded  by  Mr.  Van  Buren  to  decline  this  position, 
and  remain  in  this  country  to  further  his  (Mr.  Van 
Buren's)  plans  for  the  presidency.  Let  this  be  as  it  may, 
the  position  was  declined  and  the  president  shortly  after 
sent  his  name  to  the  Senate  as  secretary  of  the  navy  to 
succeed  Mr.  Woodbury,  and  the  appointment  was  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate  on  the  30th  of  June.  He  con- 
tinued to  occupy  this  place  in  the  cabinet  during  the  re- 
maining years  of  Jackson's  term  and  during  the  first  two 
years  of  Mr.  Van  Buren's.  He  resigned  his  seat  in  1838, 
and  again  retired  to  private  life. 


Shortly  after  his  appointment  occurred  the  diflficulty  in 
Boston  Harbor  in  regard  to  the  figurehead  of  Jackson 
upon  the  ship  "  Constitution."  The  modern  effigy,  half 
sawn  in  two,  and  the  correspondence  in  relation  to  it  are 
still  in  possession  of  the  governor's  family.  On  the  30th 
of  January  1835,  when  crazy  Lawrence  attempted  to  as- 
sassinate Jackson  in  the  Capitol,  Dickerson  was  walking 
with  him  in  the  procession  and  sharedhis  danger.  Hewas 
one  of  the  principal  witnesses  in  the  trial  which  followed. 

In  September  1840  he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Van 
Buren  judge  of  United  States  district  court  for  the  State 
of  New  Jersey,  to  succeed  Judge  Rossell.  He  held  the 
office  but  about  six  months,  when  he  resigned  (in  1841) 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  younger  brother  Philemon, 
who  held  the  position  many  years. 

In  1844,  when  the  constitution  of  his  State,  framed 
amid  the  confusion  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  in  great 
haste,  had  proved  itself  ill  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the 
State,  Mr.  Dickerson  was  selected  by  the  citizens  of 
Morris  county  to  represent  them  in  the  convention,  where 
his  judicial  training  and  practical  good  sense  made  him  a 
valuable  member. 

In  1846  and  1847  General  Dickerson  was  president  of 
the  American  Institute,  and  in  the  minutes  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  that  body,  October  5th  1846  and  October 5th 
1847,  may  be  found  two  addresses  delivered  by  him, 
which  are  characteristic.  The  reader  is  not  left  in  doubt 
as  to  what  the  speaker  thought  of  protection,  and  in  the 
closing  sentence  of  one  he  speaks  of  free  trade  as  "a 
system  as  visionary  and  impracticable  as  the  everlasting 
and  universal  pacification  of  the  world." 

He  was  elected  as  honorary  member  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Historic  Genealogical  Society  March  7th    1848. 

After  his  retirement  from  public  life  the  general  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days  at  the  handsome  residence 
which  he  erected  about  1844  near  his  mine,  among  the 
mountains  of  Randolph.  His  windows  commanded  a 
view  of  one  of  the  finest  sections  of  his  State,  and  his 
large  private  library  afforded  him  constant  amusement 
when  his  business  gave  him  leisure.  On  the  garden  and 
grounds  about  his  house  he  lavished  much  time  and 
mone)',  planting  trees  and  shrubs  of  every  variety  attain- 
able. He  was  never  married,  but  shared  his  house  with 
his  nephew  Mr.  Frederick  Canfield,  whose  tastes  for  the 
natural  sciences  were  akin  to  those  of  his  uncle  and 
whose  interesting  family  made  his  last  years  comfortable 
and  happy. 

He  died  at  his  home,  October  5th  1853,  the  immediate 
cause  of  his  death  being  a  heavy  cold.  It  was  really  the 
general  breaking  up  of  the  system  by  reason  of  old  age, 
hastened  perhaps  by  a  stroke  of  paralysis  which  came 
upon  him  the  year  before.  He  was  buried  in  the  church 
yard  on  Succasunna  Plains,  where  a  plain  monument 
marks  his  grave,  bearing  the  inscription:  "  Mahlon  Dick- 
erson, son  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  Dickerson.  Born 
April  17th  1770,  died  October  5th  1853.  His  biography 
is  written  in  the  Legislative,  Executive  and  Judicial 
Records  of  his  Country.  '  Mark  the  perfect  man  and 
behold  the  upright;  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.'  " 


43 


324 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


General  Dickerson  was  of  fine  personal  appearance, 
standing  six  feet  two  inches  high  and  showing  the  pos- 
session of  a  sound,  rugged  constitution.  He  was  a  hard 
student,  devoting  himself  assiduously  to  the  mastery  of 
every  subject  he  had  to  deal  with.  Notwithstanding  the 
time  taken  by  his  business,  public  and  private,  he  found 
opportunity  to  master  several  languages  and  attain  dis- 
tinction as  a  botanist.  He  was  eccentric  in  some  re- 
spects, and  regardless  of  his  personal  appearance.  A  lit- 
tle incident  illustrative  of  this  trait,  as  well  as  his  care 
for  others,  is  worth  relating.  While  living  in  Philadel- 
phia a  tailor  brought  to  him  a  pair  of  pantaloons  which 
by  a  mistake  in  the  measure  proved  entirely  too  short. 
He  was  unwilling  to  throw  them  on  the  hands  of  the 
luckless  tradesman,  but  had  them  pieced  out  at  the  bot- 
tom and  wore  them  so. 

He  was  a  man  of  the  highest  integrity,  having  the  very 
spirit  of  honesty.  At  one  time  he  paid  his  men  in  the 
bills  of  a  bank  which  shortly  after  suspended,  before 
the  men  had  used  their  money.  He  at  once  called  in 
the  worthless  currency,  redeemed  it  vvith  good,  and  stood 
the  loss  himself.  At  another  time  he  paid  a  workman  a 
trifle  less  than  was  due  him;  but -the  man,  supposing  he 
had  been  overpaid,  quietly  left  the  neighborhood  with 
what  he  supposed  his  employer's  money.  The  general, 
discovering  his  own  mistake,  pursued  the  man  on  horse- 
back for  several  miles  and  until  he  overtook  him.  Here 
he  lectured  him  on  his  dishonest  purpose  and  then  paid 
him  the  trifle  still  due  him. 

He  was  not  a  professor  of  religion,  but  respected  those 
who  he  believed  were  religious.  It  is  said  that  on  one 
occasion,  when  some  persons  at  his  table  were  speaking 
slightingly  of  religion  and  lightly  of  the  inconsistencies 
of  religious  people,  he  called  their  attention  to  an  excel- 
lent lady,  known  to  them  all,  the  widow  of  his  brother 
Silas,  with  the  remark  that  there  was  one  person  at  least 
whose  piety  was  unquestioned.  The  remark  was  so  just 
that  it  concluded  the  talk  on  that  subject. 

None  of  the  decisions  rendered  by  him  while  on  the 
supreme  court  bench  of  New  Jersey  are  found  in  the  re- 
ports, there  being  very  few  cases  of  any  kind  reported  at 
that  time.  He  no  doubt  contributed  to  the  newspapers 
of  the  day;  but,  otherwise  than  this  and  in  his  published 
speeches  while  in  the  Senate,  he  left  no  published  work 
behind  him.  At  the  time  of  his  death  obituary  notices 
were  published  in  many  of  the  State  papers — perhaps  tht 
best  in  the  Trenton  True  American  and  the  Newark 
Daily  Advertiser.  Short  sketches  of  his  life  may  be  found 
in  "  The  Biographical  Encyclopedia  of  New  Jersey,''  in 
Drake's  Biographical  Dictionary  and  in  several  other 
compendiums  of  biography.  Several  excellent  portraits 
have  been  preserved  of  him  in  the  Dickerson  family  and 
a  small  engraving  has  been  taken  from  one  of  them. 

Sincere  in  his  professions  and  unyielding  in  his  con- 
victions of  right,  generous  and  faithful  in  his  friendships 
and  consistent  in  his  political  faith,  his  unbroken  popu- 
larity for  so  many  years  with  the  people  he  represented 
can  easily  be  accounted  for.  Few  lives  present  so  con- 
stant a  succession  of  political  services,  and  seldom  have 
political  honors  been  more  worthily  bestowed. 


The  Hinchman  Family. 

Joseph  Hinchman,  the  first  of  that  name  of  whom  we 
have  knowledge,  had  sons  Joseph,  James  and  William 
Joseph  was  surgeon  and  James  surgeon's  mate  of  an 
English  ship  of  war  during  hostilities  with  the  French  in 
1757,  Joseph  married  Anna  Grififing,  Their  children 
were  John,  James,  Nathaniel,  William  and  Joseph. 

The  last  named  was  born  in  Jamaica,  Long  Island, 
August  28th  1762,  At  that  place  his  father  established 
a  hospital  for  poor  persons  afflicted  with  the  smallpox, 
and  attended  them  himself.  He  died  when  his  son 
Joseph  was  quite  young. 

The  latter  when  about  16  years  old  enlisted  in  the 
patriot  army.  He  was  in  several  severe  engagements,  and 
suffered  the  privations  and  hardships  of  the  winter  en- 
campment at  Morristown.  When  his  term  of  enlistment 
expired  he  studied  medicine  with  his  uncle,  James 
Hinchman,  in  Florida,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  and  com- 
menced his  medical  practice  at  Minisink.  On  the  20th 
of  December  1787  he  married  Zerviah  Seely,  a  daughter 
of  B.  Seely,  of  Milford  on  the  Delaware.  He  removed 
to  the  town  of  Chemung,  in  the  county  of  Montgomery, 
afterward  Tioga,  in  June  1788,  settling  upon  what  has 
since  been  known  as  the  Louman  farm.  In  1793  or  1794 
he  removed  to  Newtown  (now  Elmira),  where  he  had  an 
extensive  practice  as  a  physician  and  surgeon. 

By  a  commission  which  is  dated  February  i8th  1795 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  George  Clinton  sheriff  of 
the  county  of  Tioga,  which  then  comprised  within  its 
limits  Chemung,  the  present  county  of  Tioga,  Broome 
and  a  portion  of  Chenango.  On  the  13th  of  November 
1800  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  John  Jay  commis- 
sioner to  inspect  and  improve  the  road  leading  from 
Catskill  landing,  in  the  county  of  Greene,  to  Catherines- 
town,  in  the  county  of  Tioga. 

In  personal  appearance  Dr.  Hinchman  was  of  medium 
size  and  florid  complexion.  His  manners  were  affable 
and  pleasing,  and  at  the  same  time  his  energy  of  character 
was  remarkable. 

He  died  July  23d  1802,  having  secured  to  himself 
many  warmly  attached  friends.  Among  his  intimate 
friends  not  belonging  to  the  medical  profession  was  Guy 
Maxwell,  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  vicinity 
in  which  he  lived  and  died,  in  honor  of  whom  the  doctor 
named  oiie  of  his  sons. 

Dr.  Hinchman  was  a  prominent  member  ot  the  ma- 
sonic order.  In  an  upper  room  of  his  dwelling  house, 
which  was  close  by  the  old  court-house,  the  fraternity 
held  its  regular  meetings.  It  was  there  that  many  of  the 
old  pioneers  took  upon  themselves  the  first  obligations 
of  the  order. 

Dr.  Hinchman  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  new 
burying  ground  at  Newtown.  His  disease  was  a  nervous 
fever,  of  two  weeks'  continuance. 

Zerviah  Hinchman,  the  widow  of  Dr.  Hinchman,  died 
May  17th  1810.  The  date  of  her  birth,  not  before  men- 
tioned, was  October  17th  1771. 

Their  children  were:  Stella,  born  October  25th  1788, 


THE  LIFE  OF  GtJY  M.  HINCHMAN. 


325 


married  John  H.Avery;  Lesbia,  born  May  loth  1791, 
married  William  Piatt;  Hiram,  born  December  2otb 
1793,  died  December  23d  1797;  Guy  M.,  born  Novem- 
ber 29th  1795,  married  Susan  G.  De  Camp,  died  Febru- 
ary 13th  1879;  Zerviah,  born  and  died  September  13th 
1797;  Felix,  born  February  21st  1799,  married  Catherine 
Palmer. 

G.    M.    HINCHMAN. 

Guy  Maxwell  Hinchman  was  for  many  years  better 
known  than  any  other  man  in  Dover,  perhaps  than  any 
other  man  in  Morris  county.  He  came  into  the  town- 
ship when  Dover  was  in  its  infancy,  and  contributed  to 
its  growth  till  his  death,  in  1879.  He  never  held  apolit- 
ical office,  but  was  superintendent  of  the  iron  works  of 
Dover,  president  of  the  Union  Bank,  and  actively  con- 
cerned in  all  the  improvements  and  in  the  prosperity  of 
the  place.  He  was  a  man  of  extensive  information,  of 
sound  judgment,  and  refined  taste.  He  cultivated  the 
choicest  private  flower  garden  in  New  Jersey.  No  profes- 
sional horticulturist  could  excel  him  in  bringing  a  delicate 
flower  to  perfection.  He  was  quite  athletic  in  his  youth, 
and  his  agility  did  not  forsake  him  in  his  age;  for  in  his 
84th  year  he  could  mount  his  horse  and  ride  as  gracefully 
in  the  saddle  as  a  juvenile  equestrian.  His  penmanship 
was  very  superior,  and  to  the  close  of  life  he  could  write 
and  draw  with  the  pen  as  perfectly  as  in  earlier  days. 

He  died  of  pneumonia,  after  a  brief  sickness,  Febru- 
ary 13th  1879,  in  his  84th  year.  During  the  winter 
months  of  that  year  he  read  the  Bible  entirely  through 
three  successive  times.  At  his  own  request  his  former 
pastor.  Rev.  B.  C.  Megie,  preached  his  funeral  sermon 
from  Gen.  xxv.  8 — "  He  died  in  a  good  old  age,  an  old 
vman  and  full  of  years." 

Fortunately  he  has  left  us  a  sketch  of  his  life,  written 
in  March  1876,  which  will  be  found  below.  Though  long 
for' these  pages  it  will  be  read  with  interest  as  a  biogra- 
phy, while  at  the  same  time  it  illustrates  other  matters  of 
Dover  history. 

With  profound  gratitude  to  ray  Heavenly  Father  for 
his  innumerable  blessings,  at  the  request  of  my  children, 
I  sit  down  in  my  8ist  year  to  record  a  few  facts  that 
have   transpired   during  my  long   and   not  very  eventful 

life. 

I  was  born  in  Newtown,  Tioga  county  (now  Elmira, 
Chemung  county),  in  the  State  of  New  York,  on  the  29th 
day  of  November  1795,  and  received  my  Christian  name 
from  Guy  Maxwell,  merchant,  a  prominent  citizen  and 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Newtown,  and  who,  in  consid- 
eration of  my  name,  presented  me  with  a  hundred  acres 
of  land  lying  at  the  head  of  Seneca  Lake.  My  parents 
were  Joseph  Hinchman  and  Zerviah  Seely,  who  were 
united  in  marriage  December  20th  1787.  Their  children 
were  six  in  number,  Stella,  Lesbia,  Guy,  Zerviah,  Hiram 
and  Felix.  Zerviah  and  Hiram  died  in  infancy.  My 
father  was  the  first  physician  that  located  in  Newtown, 
and  I  think  the  first  in  the  county  of  Tioga.  *  *  * 
My  father  died  in  July  1802,  in  the  40th  year  of  his  age, 
and  was  interred  in  the  burying  ground  in  the  then  west- 
ern part  of  the  town.  Now,  as  I  am  writing,  I  have  re- 
ceived information  that  tlje  remains  of  those  interred  in 
the  old  burial  ground,  which  is  now  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  must  be  removed  to  the  new  Woodlawn  Cemetery. 


The  Academy  of  Medicine  of  Elmira,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  November  last,  passed  a  resolution,  and  appointed 
a  committee,  of  which  Dr.  William  C.  Wey  is  chairman, 
to  superintend  the  removal  of  the  remains  of  Dr.  Hinch- 
man and  Drs.  Mosher  and  Bliss.     *     *     * 

During  the  year  1807  my  mother  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Baldwin,  of  Chemung,  and  removed  to  his 
home.  *  *  *  On  the  J7th  of  May  1810  my  mother 
died,  in  the  38th  year  of  her  age,  and  was  interred  by  the 
side  of  my  father  at  Newtown. 

I  remained  in  Mr.  Baldwin's  family  until  the  latter 
days  of  August  1810,  when,  as  it  had  been  my  mother's 
request  that  I  should  reside  with  my  uncle  Mr.  James 
Hinchman,  I  started  in  company  with  my  uncle  Samuel 
S.  Seely  for  New  Jersey,  traveling  on  horseback.  Our 
route  was  down  the  river  to  Wilkes-Barre,  at  which  place 
we  parted  company,  he  going  by  way  of  Columbia  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  had  business,  and  I  by  way  of 
Easton,  Pa.,  distant  from  Wilkes-Barre  60  miles,  which  I 
accomplished  between  the  rising  and  the  setting  of  the 
sun.  It  was  thought  to  be  a  good  day's  ride,  but  it  was 
a  noble  horse  that  performed  the  journey.  *  *  * 
The  following  morning  early  I  crossed  the  bridge  over 
the  Delaware  into  New  Jersey,  making  my  way  toward 
Succasunna  Plains,  ray  destination,  stopping  at  Washing- 
ton, 12  miles  east  of  Easton,  for  breakfast.  I  then  pro- 
ceeded, inquiring  of  persons  my  best  route  to  Succasunna, 
but,  strange  to  say,  I  could  get  no  information  until  I 
reached  Andersontown,  some  miles  west  of  Hacketts- 
town.  Late  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day  I  reached  my 
Uncle  William  Hinchman's  residence  in  Flanders;  re- 
maining a  day  or  two  to  rest,  I  then  made  my  way  to 
my  Uncle  James  Hinchman's,  at  Succasunna,  and  at  once 
commenced  duty  in  my  uncle's  store  as  junior  clerk — 
Mr.  William  F.  Kerr  and  Chilion  F.  De  Camp  being 
seniors.  I  remained  so  employed  until  1815,  alternating 
between  the  store  on  the  Plains  and  a  supply  store  at 
Brookland,  at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Hopatcong,  where  my 
uncle  was  working  a  four-fire  forge,  a  grist-mill  and  a 
saw-mill.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1  went  to  Mount 
Pleasant  mine,  to  look  after  affairs  there,  my  uncle  hav- 
ing a  short  time  previous  purchased  it  of  Moses  Tuttle, 
Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  $4,000,  payable  in  iron  ore,  in 
monthly  installments.  In  the  latter  part  of  i8i5,or  early 
in  1816,  my  uncle  failed  in  business,  as  did  most  persons 
engaged  in  the  iron  business.  As  he  had  received  no 
title  for  the  mine  he  offered  me  his  interest  and  that  of 
his  son  John  R.  Hinchman.  I  accepted,  and  agreed  to 
pay  to  each  $900,  and  also  to  pay  Mr.  Moses  Tuttle,  in 
ore,  the  balance  still  due,  as  stipulated  in  their  contract, 
which  I  performed,  and  received  a  title  from  Mr.  Tuttle. 
I  continued  to  work  the  mine  for  seven  years.  The  ore 
was  considered  the  best  for  blooming  and  the  freest  from 
impurities  of  any  ore  in  the  county.  Many  preferred  it 
to  Governor  Dickerson's  Succasunna  ore;  it  was  thought 
to  make  an  iron  of  greater  solidity. 

In  1816  I  married  Susan  G.  De  Camp,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Jane  De  Camp,  and  we  took  up  our  residence 
at  the  mine.  Her  sisters  and  brothers  being  married, 
her  mother  gave  up  her  business  to  her  son  Chilion  Ford, 
and  came  to  reside  with  us,  occasionally  spending  some- 
time with  other  members  of  the  family. 

In  the  fall  of  1822  I  sold  the  mine  to  Nathaniel  Cor- 
win  for  $3,000,  and  in  the  spring  of  1823  removed  to 
New  York,  entering  into  partnership  with  William  H. 
Hinchman  at  No.  10  South  street  in  the  wholesale  gro- 
cery business.  In  1825  William  died.  I  continued  in 
the  same  business  until  1834,  when  my  health  became  so 
impaired  I  was  compelled  to  relinquish  business  and 
come  to  the  country  with  my  family.  I  spent  the  winter 
of  1835  at  Longwood,  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Chilion  F.  De 


326 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Camp.  During  the  winter  and  early  spring  months  my 
health  was  so  much  improved  that  at  the  solicitation  of 
Mr.  Henry  McFarlan  I  accepted  the  superintendence  of 
the  Dover  iron  works,  belonging  to  the  estate  of  Black- 
well  &  McFarlan,  which  he  then  rented  and  afterward 
purchased.  On  the  sth  day  of  May  1835  I  engaged  in 
my  new  vocation,  and  continued  in  the  supervision  of 
said  works  until  July  1869,  when  the  iron  business  be- 
came very  dull,  and  Mr.  McFarlan,  finding  his  business 
matters  perfectly  easy,  not  having  an'  obligation  unma- 
tured or  outstanding  and  anxious  to  dispose  of  his  works, 
decided  to  close  his  business.  During  the  thirty-four 
years  that  I  was  so  engaged  the  most  cordial  intercourse 
existed  between  Mr.  McFarlan  and  myself;  in  fact,  I  be- 
came so  identified  with  the  business  that  my  feelings 
would  not  have  been  different  had  my  own  interest  been 
involved,  and  I  am  happy  in  the  belief  that  I  had  Mr. 
McFarlan's  entire  confidence. 

In  1835  and  1836  I  resided  in  a  house  on  ,the  north 
side  of  Blackwell  str.eet,  nearly  opposite  the  Presbyterian 
church.  In  1837  Mr.  Chilion  F.  De  Camp  built  my  pres- 
ent residence,  to  which  I  removed,  renting  from  him  until 
1850,  when  at  his  solicitation  I  purchased  the  premises; 
at  that  time  it  embraced  several  lots,  being  2  to  feet  on 
Blackwell  street,  the  same  on  Dickerson  street,  and  in 
depth  275  feet. 

January  29th  1841  I  was  elected  president  of  the  Union 
Bank  of  Dover,  and  continued  as  such  untill  1866,  when 
the  taxes  on  capital  were  so  much  increased  that  the 
stockholders  believed  that  the  capital  could  be  used  to 
better  advantage  than  in  banking,  and  the  bank  went  in- 
to liquidation.  All  its  bills  and  indebtedness  were 
promptly  paid.  Straggling  bills  continued  to  be  pre- 
sented for  nearly  ten  years,  and  though  debarred  at  the 
latter  time  by  limitation  they  were  all  promptly  paid. 

I  have  been  mercifully  granted  health  and  strength  to 
enjoy  niy  many  years  of  happiness.  United  to  an  amia- 
ble, loving  wife  of  unerring  judgment,  who  was  ever  the 
sunshine  of  the  household,  happy  in  our  children  and  our 
friends,  our  home  was  the  abode  of  comfort  and  peace. 
Our  first  affliction  was  the  death  of  our  little  son  Felix, 
in  New  York;  and  the  next  the  death  of  our  daughter 
Stella,  the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Noble.  On  the  27th  of 
February  1875  my  beloved  wife  died,  after  an  illness  of 
six  days,  aged  77  years  and  10  days. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  us:  an  infant,  dying  soon 
after  birth,  Zerviah  and  Felix  were  born  at  Mount 
Pleasant;  Augustus,  Jane,  Louisa  and  Stella  were  bom 
in  New  York  city;  an  infant,  dying  soon  after  birth,  and 
Fronie  were  born  in  Dover,  where  I  now  reside. 

In  my  boyhood  and  early  manhood  I  was  very  active 
engaging  in  all  the  pastimes  and  sports,  such  as  wrestling! 
jumping,  hopping,  running,  skating,  hunting,  swimming^ 
etc.,  etc.,  and  I  became  tolerably  expert  in  all.  I  be- 
came fond  of  the  rifle  and  fowling  gun,  was  an  expert 
shot  at  birds  on  the  wing,  and  made  some  as  good  target 
shooting  as  was  made  in  those  days,  using  a  rifle  now  in 
my  possession,  "  Old  Hickory,"  that  I  purchased  of  a 
staunch  Jackson  man,  at  the  Thatched  Cottage  garden  at 
Jersey  City;  firing  ten  shots  at  too  yards  measuring  less 
than  five  inches  in  the  aggregate  from  the  center  of  the 
bullseye,  whose  diameter  was  two  inches.  On  the  same 
afternoon  I  witnessed  shooting  by  "Davy  Crockett,  of 
Kentucky  fame."  He  was  then  in  Congress;  a  plain  sensi- 
ble man,  and  by  no  means  the  rough  character  he  was  fre- 
quently described  as  being — the  only  thing  remarkable  in 
his  apparel  was  a  cameo  breastpin  with  the  head  of  Wash- 
ington, about  three  inches  in  diameter.  His  poise  when 
shooting  exhibited  his  familiarity  with  the  rifle.  He  shot 
well  on  that  occasion,  but  complained  that  the  gun  was 
different  from  those  he  had  been  accustomed  to  use. 


Joshua  H.  Butterworth. 

Joshua  H.  Butterworth  came  to   Dover  from   Massa- 
chusetts about  the  year  1839.     He  was  a  skillful  machin- 
ist, and  he  engaged  in  the  service  of  Henry  McFarlan, 
proprietor  of  the  Dover  rolling-mills  and  spike  and  iron 
mills.     The  machines  in  these  mills  were  constructed  by 
him,  or  under  his  supervision,  and   he  was   the   superin- 
tendent of  the  works.     Not  only  was  he   a  mechanic  of 
rare  skill  and  ability,  btit  he  possessed  a  fertile  inventive 
genius.       He   made  many  useful   inventions,  prominent 
among  which   was   a  combination  lock  for  safes.     This 
ought  to  have  secured  for  him  a  fortune;  but  he  was  like 
many   great    inventors — he  did  not  possess  the  ability  to 
bring  his  inventions  properly  before  the  public  and  make 
them  available  for  his  own  benefit.       He   left    to    others 
the    management   of    the    matter,  and    failed    to    derive 
from  it  any  returns.     He  invented  a  very  ingenious  ma- 
chine for -making  spikes,  and  heading  and  pointing  them 
automatically.     He  was  also  the  inventor  of  a  machine 
for  making  boiler  rivets.     For  this  machine,  which  made 
rivets  very  rapidly,  he  applied  for  a  patent;  but  by  rea- 
son of  some  mismanagement  his  application  failed.     He 
accumulated  a  fortune  of  about  $20,000. 

Mr.  Butterworth  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  mar- 
riage he  had  one  son.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Car- 
roll, daughter  of  James  B.  Carroll.  She  is  still  living. 
He  died  in  1879,  after  suffering  from  bad  health  during 
a  year. 

Thomas  B.  Segur. 


Thomas   B.  Segur,  a  merchant  of  Utica,   N.  Y.,  came 
to  Dover  in  1832  at  the   request  of  Anson   G.  Phelps    to 
take  charge  of  the  Union  Bank  of  Dover,  which  was  or- 
ganized that  year.  .  Mr.  Segur  continued  to  be  its  cash-# 
ier  till  his   death,  which  occurred  in  1854.      He  was  an 
excellent    officer;  during   the    twenty-four  years  of    his 
service  the  bank  doubled  its  capital,  and  it  was  said   the 
institution  never  lost  a  dollar  while  he  was  cashier.     A 
few  weeks  before  his  death  William   E.  Dodge,  the  son- 
in-law  of  Anson  G.  Phelps,  deceased,  called  together  the 
directors,  who  made  to  the   family  a  donation  of  $5,000 
as   an  expression  of  their   appreciation  of  the  cashier's 
valuable  services.     Mr.  Segur  was  a  man  of  great  activ- 
ity, and  he  took  a  leading  part  in   the   moral  enterprises 
of  the  day.     His  zeal  in  the  Sunday-school  department, 
in  missions,  in  the  Bible  cause,  dnd  especially  in  the  tem- 
perance   reform    was    untiring.     Soon    after  coming  to 
Dover  he  organized  a  temperance  society  for   the   town; 
and  the  next  year  he  organized  the  Morris  County  Tem- 
perance Society,  which  led  to  the   formation   of  temper- 
ance societies  in  all  the   other   townships.     He   infused 
such  energy  into  this  movement  that  it  commanded  pub- 
lic attention  and  produced  an  extensive  reformation.     It 
was  customary  at  that  day  to  sell  intoxicating  drinks   in 
ordinary  country  stores.     Through  his  zealous  and  per- 
sistent efforts  this  practice  was  given  up  in  every  store  in 
Dover,  and  for  years  the  tavern  was  the  only  place  where 
liquor  could  be  obtained.    Temperance  meetings  were  held 
monthly,  and  the  executive  committee  met  weekly  and  all 


^'a^^H&ctiewets,^'' 


■^^^XlZ-^^-T^t^'-ty^iyy^/^ 


It 


<>^ 


<m:^ 


^m» 


DISTINGUISHED  CttlZlENS  OF  DOVER. 


327 


the  members  attended.  The  public  monthly  meetings  were 
usually  made  up  of  the  larger  portion  of  every  family  in 
the  place.  The  pledge  of  total  abstinence  was  circulated 
at  the  close  of  each  meeting,  and  the  names  of  almost 
the  entire  community  were  on  the  pledge.  A  drunkard 
was  a  rare  sight,  and  Dover  was  known  as  the  banner 
temperance  town  of  New  Jersey.  Its  fame  extended 
wherever  the  temperance  reform  spread.  It  was  common 
for  speakers  of  national  reputation  to  address  large  au- 
diences in  Dover.  John  B.  Gough  and  orators  of  like 
fame  were  often  there.  Mr.  Segur  was  himself  an  elo- 
quent speaker,  and  he  made  frequent  addresses  at  home 
and  abroad.  He  was  president  of  the  Dover  society,  the 
Morris  county  society  and  the  New  Jersey  State  Temper- 
ance Society.  In  1841  through  his  instrumentality  the 
Rev.  Charles  Warren — a  sweet  singer  and  a  popular 
speaker — became  the  temperance  agent  of  Morris  county. 
Mr.  Segur  raised  the  funds  to  meet  his  expenses.  Mr. 
Warren  visited  every  town  and  village  and  every  Sunday- 
school,  and  organized  the  children  into  juvenile  temper- 
ance societies.  Of  the  2,458  children  in  the  Sabbath- 
schools  of  the  county,  2,000  signed  the  pledge.  In  1842 
the  great  reform  among  drunkards  began.  Mr.  Segur 
secured  the  services  of  Ira  Hall,  a  reformed  drunkard, 
who  labored  in  the  county  and  especially  in  this  town- 
ship; and  during  the  year  266  drunkards  signed  the 
pledge,  though  within  a  twelvemonth  32  relapsed.  This 
was  a  proud  period  in  the  history  of  this  reform.  Chil- 
dren hitherto  excluded  by  their  ragged  appearance  from 
the  company  of  the  more  favored,  now  clothed  by  the 
earnings  of  reformed  parents,  took  their  place  in  schools 
and  churches  with  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Sober 
and  pious.  With  countenances  indicative  of  returning 
hope  once  despairing  wives  appeared  with  their  husbands 
in  the  sanctuary  of  God.  Two  reformed  men  in  Randolph 
moved  from  hired  houses  into  their  own  dwellings,  pur- 
chased by  the  savings  of  their  industry  since  they  signed 
the  pledge.  These  two  men,  Uzal  Crane  and  Mordecai 
Wilson,  continued  total  abstainers  till  their  death. 

Thomas  B.  Segur  was  counted  among  the  leading 
temperance  men  of  the  nation.  But  his  zeal  was  not 
confined  to  the  temperance  reform.  He  was  an  earnest 
Sunday-school  worker.  While  superintendent  of  a  Sun- 
day-school he  held  at  his  own  house  during  the  week  a 
Bible  class  for  young  men.  He  also  visited  and  ad- 
dressed, the  Sunday-schools  of  the  county  and  some- 
times beyond  the  county.  He  took  a  leading  part  in 
the  missionary  cause;  obtained  in  Dover  over  fifty  sub- 
scribers for  the  Missionary  Herald,  took  an  active  part 
in  the  "  monthly  concert,"  purchased  a  large  missionary 
map,  and  with  it  lectured  in  many  churches  in  this  State. 
He  died  in.  1854.  Some  weeks  afterward  a  memorial 
service  was  held,  at  which  the  leading  men  of  the  county 
Were  present.  The  Rev.  John  M.  Johnson,  of  Hanover 
—his  faithful  coworker  in  moral  enterprises — was  the 
chief  speaker;  he  was  followed  by  others  who  pro- 
nounced brief  eulogies.  Mr.  Segur's  death  was  a  severe 
loss  to  Dover.  Since  that  event  the  temperance  reform 
has  not  advanced,  but  retreated  in  Randolph  and  in 
Morris  county. 


Hon.  George  Richards. 

Among  "the  men  of  mark"  in  the  State  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  especially  in  the  county  of  Morris,  Hon.  George 
Richards  of  Dover  stands  in  the  front  rank.  Of  humble, 
honest  and  industrious  parentage,  he  is  a  perfect  type  of 
the  self-made  man.  Denied  the  advantages  of  an  educa- 
tion in  his  youth  except  to  a  very  limited  extent,  and  at 
an  early  age  forced  to  test  the  realities  of  life,  the  active 
and  ever  ready  brain  nature  gave  him  has  developed  an 
executive  ability  surpassed  by  none,  and  a  business  ca- 
reer successful  and  varied  in  its  nature.  In  his  inter- 
course with  men  he  is  affable  and  easily  approached,  and 
is  the  same  in  manners  to  the  millionaire  that  he  is  to 
those  who  labor  for  him.  He  is  ever  ready  by  influence 
or  means  to  engage  in  any  enterprise  that  will  aid  in 
benefiting  those  around  him,  and  bestows  his  charity  up- 
on the  deserving  without  letting  his  right  hand  know 
what  his  left  hand  doeth.  He  has  thus  carved  for  him- 
self unconsciously  in  his  adopted  town,  of  which  he  has 
been  so  long  the  chief  executive,  an  epitaph  that  will  be 
rehearsed  and  remembered  as  long  as  the  town  of  Dover 
exists. 

Mr.  Richards  was  born  near  Pottsville,  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  on  the  21st  of  March  1833.  He  was  the 
eldest  son  of  Henry  and  Hannah  Richards,  natives  of 
England.  The  educational  facilities  in  those  days  were 
of  an  exceedingly  limited  character,  and  George  Rich- 
ards at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  was  removed  from  school 
and  apprenticed  to  the  maciiinist's  trade.  He  made  very 
rapid  advancement  in  this  occupation,  but  meeting  with 
a  severe  accident  in  the  third  year  of  his  apprenticeship 
he  was  forced  to  abandon  his  trade,  so  nearly  acquired, 
and  seek  other  means  of  employment.  Although  this 
was  a  great  disappointment  to-  the  young  machinist  at 
that  time,  the  lessons  he  had  learned  during  the  three 
years  at  the  lathe  and  bench  proved  of  an  incalculable 
value  in  his  later  years.  After  a  long  and  painful  illness 
he  removed  to  Durham,  Pa.,  and  there  took  his  first  les- 
sons in  practical  mining.  In  1850  he  was  sent  by  the 
Glendon  Iron  Company  to  Wiretown,  Warren  county,  N. 
J.,  to  explore  for  iron  ore,  and  in  1851  he  went  for  the 
same  purpose  to  Whitehall,  Sussex  county.  After  he 
had  remained  at  this  place  about  a  year  the  Glendon  Iron 
Company  perceived  that  a  more  extended  and  important 
field  of  operations  needed  the  management  of  Mr.  Rich- 
ards, and  placed  him  in  charge  of  the  Hurdtown  mine, 
in  Morris  county;  and  in  the  next  two  years  those  two 
important  and  valuable  mines  of  Morris  county — Teabo 
and  Hibernia — were  added  to  his  responsibility.  From 
the  time  of  his  taking  charge  of  these  three  valuable 
mines  to  the  present  time  the  pjactical  workings  of  the 
same  have  been  continuously  under  the  eye  and  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Richards;  and  the  success  thus  gained  by 
his  employers  is  due  to  his  care,  prudence  and  fore- 
thought. Not  only  has  he  held  the  responsible  office  of 
mining  superintendent,  but  he  has  held  a  number  of  pub- 
lic ofiicrs,  such  as  freeholder  and  State  director  of  rail- 
roads and  canals,  and  was  one  of  the  electors  on  the 
presidential  ticket  of  1880.     A  number  of  high   and  re- 


32^ 


HISTORY  Of  Morris  coiiNtv. 


sponsible  positions  have  been  tendered  him,  but  large 
and  important  private  business  demands  all  his  time  and 
precludes  acceptance  of  official  positions  of  a  public  na- 
ture. He  advocated  and  by  his  influence  secured  the 
act  of  incorporation  of  Dover,  which  transformed  a  rural 
village  into  one  of  the  prettiest,  busiest  towns  of  New 
Jersey — the  boast  of  the  inhabitants  and  the  admiration 
of  sojourners.  At  the  first  charter  election  of  Dover  Mr. 
Richards  was  elected  mayor,  and  since  then  he  has  held 
this  official  position  six  terms  of  two  years  each.  As 
mayor  he  has  shown  a  financial  ability  of  the  highest  or- 
der; relieving  the  town  of  a  heavy  bonded  indebtedness 
without  a  perceptible  increase  of  taxation  on  its  inhabitants. 

His  natural  ability,  force  of  character,  and  experience 
make  him  invaluable  as  an  executive  officer,  and  at  once 
he  masters  every  detail  of  the  matters  entrusted  to  his 
supervision  or  care.  These  characteristics  nave  made 
him  the  president  of  a  number  of  private  corporations, 
as  the  Ogden  Mine  Railroad,  the  Ogden  Iron  Company, 
the  Hibernia  Mine  Railroad,  the  Hibernia  Underground 
Railroad,  the  Dover  and  Rockaway  Railroad,  the  Dover 
Lumber  Company,  the  Morris  County  M.  &  I.  Company, 
the  National  Union  Bank  of  Dover,  and  the  Dover  Iron 
Company.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Miners'  Savings 
Bank,  Delaware  and  Bound  Brook  Railroad  Company, 
Prudential  Insurance  Company,  Cranberry  Coal  and  Iron 
Company,  East  Tennessee  and  Western  North  Carolina 
Railroad  Company,  Chester  Iron  Company,  Dover  Print- 
ing Company,  and  American  Sheet  Iron  Company;  and 
in  all  these  corporations  he  is  a  ruling  spirit,  and  his  in- 
fluence is  a  power  in  their  successful  management. 

In  i860  he^was  married  to  Miss  A.  E.  McCarty,  who 
has  been  to  him  a  helpmeet  of  inestimable  value,  and 
made  his  home  a  place  of  domestic  happiness;  and  a 
more  hospitable  household  cannot  be  found  than  the  one 
presided  over  by  George  Richards  and  his  amiable  wife. 

J.  L.  Allen. 

Jabez  L.  Allen  came  from  Morristown  to  Dover  about 
the  time  the  Union  Bank  was  started,  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business.  His  store  was  at  the  corner  of 
Blackwell  and  Sussex  streets,  where  for  several  years  he 
did  a  prosperous  business.  Modest  and  retiring,  he  was 
yet  always  in  his  place,  and  ever  ready  to  do  his  part. 
He  instinctively  shrunk  from  speaking  in  public;  when 
he  did  speak,  however,  he  was  attentively  listened  to, 
because  his  words  were  replete  with  good  sense.  He 
was  a  Christian  man,  and  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  was  a  moral  pillar  in  the  community,  and 
the  most  liberal  man  in  town.  As  Sunday-school  super- 
intendent, teacher,  or  worker,  he  was  most  faithful.  He 
was  concerned  in  the  organization  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  1835,  and  did  more  than  any  other  man  toward 
the  erection  of  the  first  Presbyterian  church  edifice,  in 
1842,  both  in  personal  service  and  in  money.  No  one 
did  more  to  support  the  gospel  at  home;  no  one  did  more 
for  benevolent  purposes  outside  his  own  church.  His 
religious  character  was  exemplary;  he  was  always  in  his 
place  at  church,  in  the  Sunday-school,  in  the  weekly 
prayer  meeting,  and  in  other  religious  gatherings.  He 
liiarried  Caroline  C,  daughter  of  Jabez  Mills,  the  father 
of  a  substantial  Christian  family,  whose  influence.'  gave. 
important  aid  to  the  moral  character  of  the  community. 
Mr.  Allen  became  so  interested  in  the  erection  of   the 


new  church,  which  was  dedicated  in  1842,  that  his  busi- 
ness suffered;  and  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  it. 
This  led  him  to  exchange  the  mercantile  for  the  iron 
business.  He  purchased  an  iron  mine,  which  though 
at  first  not  promising  yet  afterward  proved  to  be  a 
valuable  property.  He  paid  $10,000  for  it;  for  many 
years  realized  $5,000  and  upwards  annually,  and  finally 
sold  it  for  $100,000. 

His  health  became  poor  before  he  died,  and  in  hopes 
of  improving  it  he  purchased  property  in  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  and  intended  to  make  that  place  his  home.  He 
died  suddenly  from  the  effects  of  a  fall  from  a  tree, 
just  as  he  was  about  to  remove  to  the  south.  His  will 
left  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Dover  $10,000  to- 
ward the  erection  of  a  new  church  and  $5,000  for  a 
parsonage.  This  bequest  led  to  the  erection  of  the 
beautiful  sanctuary  now  used  by  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Dover.  His  death  was  a  great  blow  to  the 
congregation,  both  in  the  loss  of  his  personal  labors 
and  in  the  discontinuance  of  his  generous  contributions 
to  benevolent  objects,  which  stimulated  others  to  give. 
A  memorial  window  in  the  new  church  records  his  name, 
and  is  a  memento  of  his  worth. 

Robert  F.  Oram. 

Robert  F.  Oram  came  to  this  country  from  England  in 
the  year  1845,  first  settling  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa. 
There  he  married  about  two  years  after.  While  there  he 
was,  with  his  brother  Thomas  Oram,  engaged  in  mining 
and  shipping  coal  to  Philadelphia.  Coal  mining  was 
then  in  its  infancy.  It  was  then,  at  Minersville,  that  the 
first  coal  breaker  ever  erected  in  this  country  was  put  up. 

In  the  early  part  of  1848  Mr.  Oram  entered  into  an 
engagement  to  go  to  Dover,  N.  J.,  to  take  charge,  with 
his  brother,  at  Swedes  mine,  which  was  then  owned  by 
John  Stanton,  William  Green  jr.  and  Lyman  Dennison. 
This  mine  was  originally  owned  by  Colonel  Jackson,  of 
Rockaway,  and  he  sold  to  the  above  parties  in  1847. 
Early  in  1848  was  purchased  the  Mount  Pleasant  mine, 
which  Mr.  Oram  took  charge  of,  commencing  mining 
operations  on  the  i6th  day  of  August  of  that  year.  In 
1849  was  also  purchased  the  property  known  as  the  Bur- 
rel  farm,  near  Washington  forge,  on  which  are  located 
the  Orchard  mine,  the  works  of  the  Port  Oram  Furnace 
Company  and  the  whole  of  ihe  village  of  Port  Oram. 
The  Mellon  mine  and  the  Beach  Glen  property  were 
purchased  in  1850.  All  those  properties  were  sold  to 
Dudley  B.  Fuller  and  James  Brown,  of  New  York,  in 
1852.  Soon  afterward  Messrs.  Fuller  &  Lord  became 
the  owners.  The  firm  name  was  changed  to  Fuller, 
Lord  &  Co.,  and  so  continued  up  to  1875.  In  the  year 
1858  Mr.  Oram  purchased  from  Fuller  &  Lord  the  prop- 
erty on  which  the  village  of  Port  Oram  now  stands,  and 
in  the  following  year  commenced  to  improve  the  prop-' 
erty.  In  1859  he  built  four  dwelling  houses,  and  with 
John  Hance  built  the  Port  Oram  store  house.  They  be- 
gan the  business  of  storekeeping  in  i860,  associated  with 
John  Hill  and  William  G.  Lathrop  of  Boonton.  This, 
firm  continued  a  little  over  one  year,  when  Mr.  Hill  re- 
tired and  the  firm  of  Oram,  Hance  &  Co.  commenced, 
business.  It, has  continued  without  any  further  change  up! 
to  the  present  time.  All  these  properties  were  in  charge 
of  R.  F.  Oram  until  February  1881,  when  he  retired  from 
their  management. 


^1^ 


^)= 


HES.    or  ROBERT   F.ORAM,  near  DOVER,  MORRIS   CO.,N,  J. 


4')^ 


V- 


ROCKAWAY   TOWNSHIP. 


By  James  H.  Neighbour. 


^  HIS  township  lies  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  county  and  embraces  more  territory  by 
over  3,000  acres  than  any  other  township  in 
the  county.  Its  length  from  Newfoundland 
to  Shongura  is  about  twenty  miles,  and  its 
width  from  Powerville  to  the  Jefferson  township 
line  near  Lxuemburg  is  about  twelve  miles.  It 
was  erected  in  1844  from  parts  of  Pequannock  and  Han- 
over townships,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  and  made 
the  eleventh  township  in  the  county.  The  principal 
part  was  taken  from  Pequannock,  or  from  "  Old  Pequan- 
nock "  as  it  is  frequently  called  because  Pequannock  has 
existed  since  the  year  1740  as  a  separate  and  distinct 
township.  The  history  of  Rockaway  township  prior  to 
1844  will  naturally  apply  to  those  parts  of  Pequannock 
and  Hanover  up  to  that  date. 

This  township  was  settled  principally  by  the  Hol- 
landers; at  least  there  were  many  families  of  that  nation- 
ality in  the  lower  or  eastern  part  of  the  township,  who 
came  there  about  1715. 

In  the  act  of  1844  creating  the  township  of  Rockaway 
the  boundaries  are  given  as  follows: 

"Beginning  at  the  bridge  over  the  Pequannock  River, 
at  Charlottenburg  iron  works,  and  thence  running  a 
straight  line  to  the  north  end  of  the  county  bridge  first 
above  Elijah  D.  Scott's  forge  at  Powerville;  and  to  in- 
clude all  that  part  of  Hanover  that  may  lie  to  the  north 
and  west  of  said  line;  thence  a  straight  line  to  the  center 
of  the  natural  pond  in  Parsippany  woods  called  Green's 
Pond;  thence  a  straight  line  to  the  corner  of  the  town- 
ships of  Morris,  Hanover  and  Randolph,  on  the  top  of 
the  Trowbridge  Mountain;  thence  on  the  lines  of  the 
townships  of  Hanover  and  Randolph  to  the  mouth  of 
Dell's  Brook,  where  it  empties  into  the  Rockaway  River 
at  the  corner  of  the  townships  of  Jefferson  and  Pequan- 
nock, to  the  place  of  beginning." 

The  causal  reader  of  this  description  does  not  detect 
any  error  in  it;  but  when  we  come  to  locate  its  bounds 
on  a  map  it  will  be  discovered  that  our  Legislature 
has  omitted  the  last  two  lines  of  boundary,  viz.:  the 
Jefferson  line,  which  follows  the  top  of  Green  Pond 
Mountain  to  the  Passaic  county  line  at  Newfoundland, 
and  the  Passaic  county  line  from  Newfoundland  to  the 
said  place  of  beginning. 

The  commissioners  to  set  off  and  locate  the  lines  of 


the  township  were  John  Grey,  Benjamin  Crane  and 
Freeman  Wood.  Mr.  Wood,  then  a  prominent  citizen 
of  the  village  of  Rockaway,  but  at  the  time  of  this  writ- 
ing a  resident  of  Dover  and  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
county,  is  the  only  survivor  of  this  commission.  The 
township  embraces,  according  to  the  United  States  cen- 
sus of  1850,  31,204  acres  of  land,  of  which  9,822  are  im- 
proved, and  21,382  unimproved.  The  unimproved  por- 
tions consist  of  hilly,  broken  and  wooded  lands,  con- 
taining in  many  places  rich  and  extensive  veins  of  iron 
ore,. which  traverse  the  township  northeasterly  and  south- 
westerly. An  account  of  these  mineral  deposits,  and 
their  develoDment  for  over  one  hundred  years,  is  given 
in  full  detail  in  the  general  history  of  the  county;  and  any 
mention  of  the  same  made  in  this  branch  of  the  work  will 
be  merely  incidental,  and  for  the  purpose  of  preserving 
the  connection  with  persons,  places  and  events,  as  they 
may  be  from  time  to  time  referred  to. 

Population  and  Property. 

We  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  population  of 
the  township  at  the  time  of  its  erection,  but  from  the 
census  before  mentioned  we  learn  that  it  contained  on 
the  ist  of  June  1850  3,139  inhabitants,  which  made  it  the 
fourth  in  rank  of  the  eleven  townships.  The  taxable 
value  of  the  real  and  personal  property  in  the  township 
was  then  $695,999.  In  1855  the  State  ordered  a  census 
to  be  taken  that  year,  and  every  tenth  year  thereafter,  so 
that  from  the  United  States  census  and  that  of  the  State 
we  have  gathered  information  showing  the  growth  and 
increase  of  the  township  to  the  present  time.  The  State 
census  of  1855  shows  a  population  of  2,931,  which  is  a 
decrease  of  208  in  five  years. 

At  the  next  census,  which  was  that  of  i860,  taken  by 
the  United  States,  the  population  is  given  at  3,551,  show- 
ing an  increase  of  620  in  a  period  of  five  years,  and  mak- 
ing the  township  the  third  in  population.  Dr.  J.  W. 
Jackson,  of  Rockaway,  assistant  United  States  marshal 
for  the  census  of  i860,  gives  the  number  of  dwellings  in 
Rockaway  township  at  645;  families,  660;  inhabitants, 
3,552;  deaths,  31;  births,  120;  inhabitants  in  Rockaway 
village,  802;  houses  in  village,  392;  iron  mines  in  oper- 
ation, 12. 


332 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  ninth  United  States  census  made  the  population 
6,445  ^^  1870,  showing  that  the  township  had  very  nearly 
doubled  in  that  respect  in  ten  years  and  contained  the 
largest  population  of  all  the  townships  in  the  county,  and 
we  find  the  total  taxable  property  assessed  at  $1,469,350. 
When  we  come  to  the  census  of  1875,  taken  by  the  State, 
the  population  is  given  at  6,826,  showing  an  increase  of 
nearly  400  since  1870;  but,  owing  to  a  greater  increase 
in  Morris  and  Randolph  townships  in  that  period.  Rock- 
away  falls  back  to  the  third  place  in  population;  its  tax- 
able valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  at  this  time 
was  $1,606,150.  The  township  valuation  by  the  town  as- 
sessor is  given  at  $1,376,725,  a  falling  off  of  over  $225,- 
000  in  one  year. 

This  brings  us  to  the  last  census,  that  of  1880,  giving 
the  township  a  population  of  7,366  (an  increase  of  540  in 
the  last  five  years,  which  makes  Rockaway  the  second 
township  in  population  in  the  county)  and  an  assessed 
valuation  of  $1,017,950.  Village  populations  are  given 
as  follows:  Beach  Glen,  T95;  Denmark,  134;  Denville, 
384;  Greenville,  429;  Lower  Greenville,  20;  Lower  Hi- 
bernia,  943;  Lyonsville,  141;  Meriden,  99;  Middletown, 
144;  Mount  Hope,  537;  Powerville,  35;  Rockaway, 
1,052;  Upper  Hibernia,  750. 

The  valuation  of  1880  is  that  which  was  made  by  the 
township  assessor,  and  shows  a  falling  off  of  over  $500,- 
000  since  that  of  1875.  This  is  accounted  for  by  the 
general  shrinkage  of  valuations  in  real  estate,  owing  to 
the  long  depression  in  the  business  interests  of  the 
country,  which  commenced  in  1873  ^'^d  continued  to 
the  close  of  the  year  1879.  This  is  demonstrated  by  ref- 
erence to  the  local  assessments  made  by  the  townships  in 
the  years  1874,  1876  and  1879;  these  three  years  being 
taken  simply  for  the  reason  that  we  happen  to  have 
them. 

In  1874,  when  the  stagnation  of  trade  and  the  dull 
iron  market  began,  the  total  taxable  valuation  of  the 
Rockaway  property  is  given  at  $1,592,050;  and  in  1879, 
when  the  discouraging  experience  of  five  years  had 
added  its  weight  of  de[)ression  to  the  business  outlook, 
the  total  valuation  went  down  to  $1,112,700.  The  same 
condition  of  things  existed  when  the  assessments  of  the 
ye;ir  1880  were  made;  and  hence  the  still  further  de- 
crease in  valuation  reported  for  that  year,  as  before 
given.  But  in  1881  all  branches  of  trade,  business  and 
industries  took  a  new  lease  of  prosperity,  which, 
following  the  signs  of  the  times,  will  in  the  next  decade 
show  a  larger  increase  in  population  and  wealth  than  in 
any  ten  years  preceding  it. 

Surveys  and  Titles. 

In  this  branch  of  the  work  the  writer  was  greatly  assisted 
by  William  Roome,  a  resident  of  Pequannock,  who  has  re- 
cently devoted  much  time  and  labor  to  gathering 
statistics,  ancient  and  modern  maps,  surveys  and  records. 
Mr,  Roome  is  a  practical  land  surveyor,  and  with  his 
own  information  and  the  aid  of  his  father,  Benjamin 
Roome,  a  surveyor  of  over  fifty  years'  actual  field  work, 
has  compiled  a  very  valuable   record  of  the  early  days 


and  early  surveys  of  New  Jersey,  which  includes  a  chap- 
ter devoted  to  the  "  Indian  Titles." 

New  Jersey  was  divided  into  East  and  West  Jersey,  and 
each  part  was  owned  by  certain  proprietors,  who  had  a 
right  to  locate  lands  and  sell  them,  or  to  sell  a  right  to 
locate.  In  many  instances  a  settler  would  make  his  own 
location  of  unsurveyed  or  unlocated  lands  and  then  ap- 
ply to  a  proprietor  for  a  deed;  and'whenever  several  sur- 
veys were  required,  either  by  the  settler  or  by  a  proprie- 
tor, the  surveyor  general  would  visit  the  places  and  make 
the  surveys.  William  Roome  has  procured  extracts  from 
the  journal  of  a  Mr.  Reading,  kept  in  1715  and  now  in 
manuscript  form  in  the  library  of  the  New  Jersey  His- 
torical Society.  Reading  appears  to  have  been  a  sur- 
veyor, and  made  several  surveys  in  "Old  Pequannock," 
and  in  Rockaway  township.  His  first  name  is  not  given  ; 
but  in  the  diary  reference  is  made  in  several  places  to 
his  "  father."  The  "  father  "  was,  in  all  probability,  John 
Reading,  who  located  several  tracts  of  land  in  his  own 
right,  not  only  from  the  Indians  but  also  from  the  pro- 
prietors. In  this  journal  several  references  are  made  to 
Rockaway.  One  of  Mr.  Roome's  many  extracts  reads  as 
follows  : 

"17th  April  1715  John  Budd,  James  Bollen,  John 
Chapman,  Jonathan  Lad  and  I  went  out  from  father's 
about  three  in  the  afternoon  for  Sol  Davis,  upon  the 
south  branch  of  the  Rarington  River,  where  we  arrived 
just  at  9  of  the  clock  the  i8th."  We  must  keep  in  mind 
that  these  surveying  parties  always  traveled  on  horse- 
back ;  the  only  roads  in  many  instances  were  mere  bridle 
paths,  and  very  often  they  had  not  even  that  accommo- 
dation to  their  journeys.  Leaving  out  the  journal  record 
of  events  of  the  iSth,  19th  and  20th,  we  find  the 
parly  at  one  Jeremiah  Osbourn's  on  the  night  of  the  20th. 
On  the  2ist  ''  John  Budd,  Bollen,  Chapman  and  a  guide 
and  I  went  to  look  out  for  land.  We  crossed  Wippening 
[the  Whippany  River]  and  went  by  a  great  meadow  [Troy 
Meadow]  lying  upon  said  river,  and  crossing  we  went 
to  Rockaway  River,  where  we  met  Joseph  Kirkbride, 
George  Ryason  and  others.  We  all  sought  the  forks  of 
the  Rock,  and  Wyr.  [abbreviations  for  the  Rockaway  and 
Whippany  rivers],  and  so  went  back  through  the  woods 
to  Osbourn's,  where  we  slept  that  night.  22nd,  surveyed, 
and  on  the  23d  went  to  survey  William  Penn's  lot;  but 
the  water  being  out  and  otherwise  being  very  difficult, 
we  could  not  survey  the  same;  returned  and  lodged  at 
Mawris  Mawrison's."  On  the  24th  of  April  the  party 
visited  Passaic  Falls;  on  the  25th  Reading  finished 
Governor  Penn's  survey,  and  on  the  26th  a  lot  was  sur- 
veyed for  William  Penn;  "and  returned  to  Osbourn's, 
where  met  father  and  Samuel  Groom,  who  came  from 
upper  parts  of  Delaware;  this  night  likewise  came  the 
Indians  on  the  way  to  our  house."  It  appears  from 
another  part  of  the  journal  that  these  Indians  came  to 
get  their  pay  from  Reading's  father  for  the  last  Indian 
purchase,  and  it  is  also  a  fact  that  the  proprietors  often 
made  purchases  of  large  tracts  of  land  from  the  Indians. 
Joseph  Kirkbride  located  several  tracts  of  land  in 
Randoloh  township,  Succasunna  and  other  places,  and 


EARLY  SURVEYS  IN  ROCKAWAY-THE  INDIAN  TITLE. 


333 


a  part  of  the  Dickerson  mining  property.  This  accounts 
for  a  recital  in  one  of  the  Indian  titles  hereinafter  referred 
to.  April  30th,  Reading's  journal  says,  "  Thomas 
Stephens  having  gone  towards  Pequannock,  and  Mahlon 
Stacy  being  but  newly  come,  *  *  *  their  lots  not 
being  fixed,  we  surveyed  none  this  day.  Cox,  Buell, 
Haywood  and  I  went  for  Ryerson's;  we  met  with  Steven- 
son and  George  Ryer&on  at  H.  Davis's,  upon  the  Rock- 
away  River,  where  Stephenson  seemed  to  fix  upon  a  lot, 
but  by  reason  of  his  unreasonable  demands  we  did  not 
proceed.  We  then  went  along  with  Ryerson  that  night  to 
his  house  and  there  lodged."  Each  day's  proceedings  and 
surveyings  are  given  in  the  journal.  We  will  make  but 
one  more  reference  thereto,  and  then  dismiss  it:  "  May 
i2th. — Went  into  the  woods  upon  the  Rockaway  *  *  *; 
lodged  by  the  Rockaway  River."  The  surveying  party 
now  leave  the  Rockaway  River,  and  continue  their  sur- 
veys in  the  neighborhood  of  Budd's  Lake. 

We  have  said  that  in  many  mstances  locations  of  land 
were  made  by  a  purchaser's  own  selection;  and  in  such  a 
case  the  natural  result  was  that  the  best  part  of  the  land 
would  be  taken  up,  and  the  lean,  or  barren  part  around  it 
left,  to  the  loss  and  disadvantage  of  the  proprietors.  The 
proprietors  trusted  the  surveys  to  local  deputy  surveyors, 
and  of  course  they  would  be  influenced  by  the  person 
who  desired  to  settle  on  and  improve  the  land,  and  would 
include  the  most  valuable  and  accessible  portions.  The 
proprietors  in  course  of  time  became  aware  of  the  con- 
dition of  their  lands  and  the  method  of  location,  and  to 
remedy  the  evil  for  the  future  appointed  a  committee  in 
1772  to  visit  certain  portions  of  Morris  county  and  re- 
port to  the  proprietors  the  result  of  their  investigations. 
Mr.  Roome  has  made  several  extracts  from  the  journal 
of  the  proprietors.  We  will  give  one  illustrating  the  sub- 
ject now  before  us,  from  the  "journal  and  report  of 
Courtland  Skinner  and  John  Johnson  of  the  view  of  the 
land  in  Morris  county,  pursuant  to  the  orders  of  the  pro- 
prietors:" 

"Friday  October  22nd  1772  we  set  out  from  Morris- 
town  to  view  the  land  in  the  valley,  and  passed  through 
the  land  sold  to  Mr.  Faisby,  which  we  viewed  on  both 
sides  of  the  road  to  Mount  Hope.  From  thence  we  pro- 
ceeded to  Middle  forge,  and  passed  the  mountain  about 
one  and  one-half  miles  to  the  westward  of  the  forge.  In 
passing  the  hill  we  found  it  accessible  from  the  valley, 
and  that  the  road  had  been  made  part  of  the  way  up,  and 
a  great  deal  of  wood  had  been  cut  and  carried  away. 
*  *  *  We  then  proceeded  to  Kenney's  forge,  passing 
John  Young's  house,  *  *  *  and  went  on  foot  and 
viewed  Young's  91-acre  tract,  *  *  *  along  the  South 
or  Green  Mountains.  This  last  tract  takes  in  much  val- 
uable timber,  by  which  the  mountain  is  rendered  almost 
useless  to  anybody  else.  Had  these  locations  been  car- 
ried up  the  mountain,  as  they  ought  to  have  been,  the 
general  interest  would  not  suffer,  as  it  must  and  has  by 
these  irregular  surveys.     *     *     * 

"  We  then  proceeded  up  the  valley  on  the  north  side, 
and  there  we  found  the  same  practices — the  surveys  ap- 
proaching to  or  running  at  a  greater  distance  from  the 
mountain  as  the  land  was  more  or  less  tinibered  and 
good.  By  this  means  the  sides  of  the  mountains  that  are 
accessible  are  of  little  or  no  value,  and  will  never  be 
worth  any  man's  while  to  lay  rights  on.      We  then  re- 


turned and  got   a  man   to   conduct   us   over  the   South 
Mountain,  which  we  found  very  high  and  rugged. 

"  We  then  returned  to  Hibernia  furnace,  and  next 
morning  proceeded  to  view  the  land  to  be  taken  .by  Lord 
Stirling.  *  *  *  We  then  went  northeasterly,  follow- 
ing the  Charlottenburg  road,  and  found  the  same  very 
mountainous;  and,  that  we  might  have  a  view  of  the 
whole, went  with  Millage  (deputy  surveyor)  up  to  the  top  of 
a  high  mountain  which  overlooked  the  whole  tract. 
*  *  *  We  then  turned  westerly  and  met  with  an  im- 
provement and  a  field  of  wheat,  but  no  house.  This 
land  looked  well  and  the  timber  around  it  good;  but 
whose  the  improvement  we  could  not  tell.  We  then  pro- 
ceeded toward  the  hill  to  the  southward,  and  here  was 
another  improvement  on  a  small  location." 

The  Indian  title  to  all  the  soil  of  New  Jersey  was  ac- 
quired by  purchase.  In  all  grants  and  concessions  to 
the  early  proprietors  a  provision  was  embodied  that  land 
was  to  be  purchased  from  time  to  time,  "  as  there  shall 
be  occasion,  by  the  governor  and  council,  from  the  In- 
dians, in  the  name  of  the  lords  proprietors,  and  then 
every  individual  person  is  to  reimburse  the  lords  pro- 
prietors at  the  same  rate  it  was  purchased,  together  with 
the  charges."  The  Indians  conveyed  the  northern  part 
of  the  State  in  the  year  1758,  the  southern  portion  having 
been  disposed  of  prior  to  that  time.  This  conveyance 
appears  to  be  a  ratification  of  all  prior  sales  made  by  the 
Indians — as  well  to  individuals  as  to  the  lords  proprietors 
— and  was  executed  by  some  of  the  chiefs.  This  deed  of 
1758  is  dated  at  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  on  the  23d  day 
of  October,  and  is  between  Egohopoun,  chief  of  the 
Minsis,  Lapink,  Nepkas,  Mackakamee,  Cockkala,  Laman 
Lanykaman,  and  others,  of  the  one  part,  and  his  excel- 
lency Captain  Benard,  Esq.,  captain-general  and  com- 
mander-in-chief of  New  Jersey,  Hon.  Andrew  Johnson 
and  others,  commissioners,  etc.;  the  preamble  is  as 
follows: 

"Whereas,  the  proprietors  of  division  of  the  province 
of  New  Jersey,  and  the  purchasers  under  them,  have 
heretofore  bought  divers  large  tracts  of  land  from  the 
Minisink  or  Minsi  Indians,  and  the  Oping  or  Pompton 
Indians,  and  other  native  and  original  possessors  of  the 
north  part  of  this  province,  but  as  the  bounds  of  said 
tracts  have  not  been  sufficiently  ascertained,  and  divers 
disputes  between  the  native  Indians  and  the  English  in- 
habitants *  *  *  have  arisen,  to  put  an  end  to  which 
the  Mingoes  and  United  Nations  have  permitted  their 
nephews  the  Minisinks  or  Minsis  and  Oping  or  Pompton 
Indians  to  settle  on  their  lands  on  t-he  branches  of  the 
Susquehanna  and  elsewhere,  to  which  they  have  for  bet- 
ter conveniences  removed.  *  *  *  Now  all  Indians 
bearing  claims  release  to  said  commissioners  *  *  * 
beginning  at  the  station  point  *  *  *  between 
the  province  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  at 
the  most  northerly  end  of  an  Indian  settlement 
on  the  Delaware  known  by  the  name  of  Cash- 
eitong,  being  about  32  miles  in  a  straight  line 
from  the  mouth  of  Machhackomack  Creek,  near  Cold's 
Fort,  thence  on  a  line  nearly  southeast  *  *  *  through 
Pinback  to  the  drowned  lands,  *■  *  *  then  crossing 
the  northeast  end  of  Mount  Eve,  north  of  Warwick  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  to  the  mouth  of  Tappan  Creek, 
where  the  same  enters  the  North  or  Hudson's  River; 
thence  down  said  river  through  the  Narrows  to  Sandy 
Hook;  from  thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  Raritan; 
thence  up  the  same  to  the  forks  thereof;    thence  up  the 


44 


334 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


north  branch  to  the  falls  of  Alamattunk[Pottersville,  Hun- 
terdon county];  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  the  Pas- 
qualin  Mountain  [supposed  to  be  the  Delaware  Water 
Gap],  where  it  joins  on  the  Delaware;  thence  up  said 
river  to  Casheitong  where  it  began;  which  said  lines 
from  Sandy  Hook  to  Pasqualin  Mountain  aforesaid  are 
the  northeastern  boundaries  of  the  land  lately  granted 
and  released  by  the  Delaware  Indians  to  the  said  gov- 
ernor and  commissioners  the  12th  of  September  last,  and 
by  the  first  above  mentioned  Indians  is  hereby  ratified 
and  confirmed." 

This  was  signed  by  George  Croghan,  deputy  agent; 
Henery  Montour,  king's  interpreter;  Conrad  Weiser, 
provincial  interpreter,  and  eighteen  Indians. 

The  earliest  locations  of  lands  in  the  territory  embraced 
in  the  present  bounds  of  Rockaway  township  which 
we  can  identify  with  any  degree  of  certainty  were  made 
by  William  Penn.  The  first  of  them  was  loca;ted  on  the 
23d  of  August  1715.  There  are  two  surveys  returned 
to  him  under  that  date;  one  containing  2,500  acres,  and 
the  other  1,250  acres.  These  two  tracts  adjoin  on  the 
south  the  Mount  Hope  tract  (of  which  mention  is  here- 
after made),  and  lie  west  and  south  of  the  village  of 
Rockaway,  embracing  part  of  Randolph  township  and 
part  of  Rockaway  township.  We  have  every  reason  to 
believe  that  these  two  surveys  were  made  by  William 
Reading  and  his  party,  who,  as  appears  from  his  journal, 
were  in  the  months  of  April  and  May  1715  surveying  in 
other  parts  of  the  township,  and  in  parts  of  what  is  now  Pe- 
quannock  and  Hanover.  That  part  of  Rockaway  in- 
cluded in  these  surveys  may  be  designated  as  Franklin, 
John  O.  Hill's  farm,  Pigeon  Hill,  the  property  known  as 
the  General  Winds  farm  (now  owned  by  Thomas  and 
Robert  F.  Oram),  the  John  Dickerson  farm,  and  the  farms 
of  Charles  C.  De  Hart,  C.  A.  McCarty  and  others. 

About  this  time  smaller  surveys  had  commenced  to  be 
made  in  different  parts  of  the  township,  ranging  from  two 
acres  to  300  acres;  these  have  continued  down  to  the 
present  time,  so  that  very  little  if  any  unlocated  lands 
can  now  be  found  in  the  township.  The  first  of  these 
smaller  locations  were,  as  we  have  before  shown,  choice 
spots:  lands  on  a  stream  of  water  for  meadow  or  water 
power,  mineral  lands,  good  locations  for  forges,  or  valu- 
able for  wood  and  timber.  These  surveys  very  often 
had  no  reference  to  each  other,  and  sometimes  lapped  on 
former  surveys,  or'  caused  large  strips  of  unsurveyed 
lands  to  intervene;  so  that  about  the  year  1740  the  pro- 
prietors commenced  to  make  and  superintend  for  them- 
selves sweeping  surveys,  as  they  were  called,  embracing 
all  these  earlier  and  smaller  ones,  and  then  excepting 
these  from  the  larger  survey.  Nearly  all  the  territory  of 
Rockaway  township  is  included  in  such  large  surveys, 
which  we  have  grouped  and  designated  by  name  and 
locality  so  as  to  cover  nearly  the  whole  of  the  township. 

Lying  next  and  directly  north  of  Rockaway  village  is 
a  tract  known  as  the  "White  Meadow"  tract,  contain- 
ing 1,532.28  acres,  which  was  located  on  the  21st  of  June 
1774  and  returned  to  Courtlandt  Skinner  and  John 
Johnson.  This  tract  begins  at  a  stone  heap  on  the  north 
side  of  the  road  leading  from  Hanover  to   Mount  Hope 


furnaces  and  about  thirty  rods  northwest  of  Rockaway 
meeting-house,  and  includes  the  White  Meadow  mines, 
and  the  Colonel  Muir  and  other  farms.  The  Colonel 
Muir  property  is  about  two  miles  northeast  of  Rockaway, 
and  is  now  the  homestead  of  Mahlon  Hoagland. 

West  of  the  White  Meadow  tract,  and  still  north  and 
west  of  the  village  of  Rockaway,  lies  the  Mount  Hope 
trajct.  This  tract  was  surveyed  and  returned  to  William 
Burnet  and  John  Johnson,  on  the  9th  of  September  1772, 
and  contains  6,271.66  acres.  The  westerly  line  of  this 
tract  has  been  the  source  of  considerable  controversy  in 
the  courts  of  Morris  county,  owing  to  its  crossing  two  or 
three  rich  veins  of  iron  ore;  the  most  recent  of  which  is 
the  suit  brought  by  the  Thomas  Iron  Mining  Company 
against  the  Allentown  Iron  Company  for  taking  out  a 
large  quantity  of  ore  in  one  of  the  veins  claimed  by  the 
Thomas  Iron  Company.  The  whole  tract  was  surveyed 
and  resurveyed  by  expert  engineers  for  each  party,  and 
the  dispute  was  finally  compromised.  The  line  was  also 
definitely  settled  by  this  suit.  The  Mount  Hope  tract 
includes  several  valuable  iron  mines,  the  most  extensive 
and  celebrated  of  which  are  the  Mount  Hope  mine  prop- 
erty, the  Hickory  Hill  mine,  the  Teabo  mine,  the  Allen 
mine,  and  the  Richards  mine;  and  extends  west  so  as  to 
include  the  farm  lately  owned  by  James  King,  in  Rocka- 
way township,  on  Mount  Hope  avenue,  and  east  of  the 
corporate  limits  of  Dover. 

On  the  northeast  of  the  Mt.  Hope  and  White  Meadow 
tracts,  and  adjoining  them,  lies  the  Hibernia  tract,  which 
was  surveyed  between  the  years  1772  and  1774,  but  not 
returned  until  the  31st  day  of  August  1791;  and  on  that 
day  recorded  in  the  Perth  Amboy  records  in  Book  S  10, 
page  60.  This  tract  was  returned  to  John  Stephens;  it 
contains  5,222.44  acres,  and  includes  all  the  mines  of  iron 
ore  at  Hibernia.  These  mines  are  now  owned  principally 
by  the  New  Jersey  Iron  Mining  Company,  and  are  worked 
by  the  Glendon  Iron  Company,  the  Andover  Iron  Com- 
pany and  others  as  lessees.  It  extends  from  the  Egbert 
corner,  near  the  late  residence  of  Peter  D.  Henderson, 
on  the  northeast  of  the  village  of  Hibernia,  to  the  Mt. 
Hope  tract  on  the  west,'  and  adjoins  the  copperas  mine 
property,  on  which  the  Green  Pond  Iron  Mining  Com- 
pany has  been  operating. 

Lying  west  of  the  Mt.  Hope  and  Hibernia  tracts,  and 
east  of  the  Green  Pond  Mountain,  is  that  known  as  the  Den- 
mark tract,  containing  6,231.28  acres,  returned  to  Court- 
landt Skinner  and  John  Johnson  on  the  21st  day  of  June 
1774  and  recorded  in  the  surveyor  general's  office  at 
Perth  Amboy  in  Book  S  7,  page  130.  The  northeasterly 
line  of  this  survey  runs  through  the  lower  end  of  Green 
Pond,  including  in  this  tract  about  one  quarter  of  the 
pond.  The  southwesterly  lines  of  the  tract  extend  to 
Washington  forge  and  the  Randolph  township  lines,  and 
it  includes  Washington  forge,  Luxemburg,  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, the  Huff,  Barker,  Moses  Tuttle,  Moses  Phillips,  and 
Spicer  properties,  and  the  Middle  forge  and  Denmark 
lands.  The  Huff  and  Mt.  Pleasant  mines  are  located  on 
this  tract,  and  other  mineral  attractions  indicate  iron 
ore  at  various  places  on  the  property. 


LAND  PURCHASES  IN  ROCKAWAY  TOWNSHIP. 


335 


Green  Pond — or  the  part  of  it  to  the  east  of  the  Den- 
mark tract — was  located  by  Judge  Andrew  B.  Cobb,  and 
now  belongs  to  his  estate.  The  entire  area  of  the  pond 
is  600  acres. 

The  land  which  lies  to  the  northeast  of  the  Hibernia 
and  Middle  forge  tracts  and  Green  Pond  is  made  up  of 
a  large  number  of  original  surveys,  made  by  Lemuel 
Cobb,  John  Rattoon,  James  Dunham,  Abraham  Ogden, 
Azariah  Dunham,  Andrew  B.  Cobb,  Tunis  Ryerson,  Ed- 
ward Condit,  Elias  Boudinot  and  others,  who  were  either 
proprietors  or  owned  shares  of  proprietors'  rights.  None 
of  these  parties  lived  upon  their  lands  in  this  part  of  the 
township;  and  some  of  them,  we  may  safely  infer,  never 
saw  them. 

This  last  tract  of  surveys  extends  to  the  tract  herein- 
after designated  as  the  Charlottenburg  tract  on  the  north- 
east, and  to  Newfoundland,  which  is  the  extreme  north- 
erly limit  of  the  township;  and  embrace  the  Split  Rock 
forge  and  the  Durham  forge  properties,  the  village  of 
Greenville,  Timber  Brook,  Copperas  mine  and  the  south- 
erly slope  of  Green  Pond  Mountain. 

The  Split  Rock  and  Durham  forge  properties  and  also 
the  larger  part  of  the  surveys  in  this  location  are  now 
owned  by  the  estate  of  Andrew  B.  Cobb.  The  Split  Rock 
tract  proper  was  located  by  James  Parker  and  Andrew 
Bell.  Mr.  Parker  was  the  grandfather  of  the  Hon. 
Courtland   Parker,  of  the  city  of  Newark. 

The  earliest  survey  in  this  part  of  the  township  ap- 
pears to  have  been  made  on  the  loth  of  May  1751,  when 
a  return  was  made  to  Thomas  Young  of  a  tract  of  2.13 
acres,  recorded  in  Book  S  3,  page  179,  at  Perth  Amboy; 
this  land  is  now  a  part  of  the  pond  at  Split  Rock. 

The  name  Split  Rock  is  supposed  to  have  originated 
from  the  character  of  the  rock  or  bed  of  the  stream 
called  Beaver  Brook  at  this  place,  where  it  passes  be- 
tween two  rocks  apparently  cut  or  split  for  the  passage 
of  the  brook;  but  by  reference  to  a  survey  made  on  the 
30th  of  November  1774,  for  two  tracts  of  land  to  Abra- 
ham Ogden,  at  request  of  Ebenezer  Farrand,  and  re- 
corded in  Book  S  7,  page  218,  we  are  led  to  the  opinion 
that  it  takes  its  name  from  a  rock  described  in  the  return 
of  this  survey  as  the  beginning  corner  thereof.  The  re- 
turn reads:  "  For  two  tracts  of  land  in  the  mountain 
about  four  miles  to  the  southward  of  Charlottenburg 
furnace,  at  the  upper  end  of  Beaver  Brook  Swamp  [the 
first  lot  being  the  place  John  McCloud  now  lives  on]; 
beginning  at  a  split  rock  lying  at  the  head  of  a  spring  at 
the  edge  of  said  swamp,  which  rock  is  S  48°  E  162  from 
the  northeast  corner  of  an  old  log  house  belonging  to 
said  McCloud;  the  said  rock  is  on  the  side  of  a  footpath 
that  leads  from  Charlottenburg  to  the  widow  Demouth's." 
This  information  was  furnished  by  Benjamin  Roome, 
who  has  seen  this  split  rock  and  McCloud  and  his  log 
house  many  a  time;  and  he  says  the  rock  is  now  under 
the  water  of  the  pond,  and  that  the  pond  takes  its  name 
from  this  split  rock,  and  not  from  the  rock  through  which 
the  brook  passes. 

The  tract  of  land  which  lies  to  the  northeast  and 
southeast  of  the  above  named   surveys  is  a  part  of   the 


old  Charlottenburg  forge  tract,  which  lies  partly  in 
Rockaway  township  and  partly  in  the  county  of  Passaic, 
and  was  returned  to  Oliver  De  Lancy,  Henry  Cuyler  jr. 
and  Walter  Rutherford  on  the  25lh  day  of  October  1765. 
It  contains  6,475.08  acres,  and  is  recorded  in  Book  S  5, 
page  265.  About  one  thousancj  acres  of  this  tract  is  in 
Rockaway  township.  This  one  thousand  acres  extends 
from  the  village  of  Charlotteburgh,  in  Passaic  county,  up 
and  down  the  Pequannock  River,  which  is  the  dividing 
line  between  these  two  counties. 

Lying  to  the  south  of  the  said  Cobb  lands  and  Split 
Rock  property  is  the  Meriden  tract  of  669.30  acres,  re- 
turned to  Lemuel  Cobb  and  John  Salter  on  the  17th  day 
of  April  1789,  and  recorded  in  Book  S  8,  page  206.  This 
tract  includes  the  present  village  of  Meriden  and  adjoin- 
ing properties. 

To  the  west  of  Meriden  lie  two  large  surveys  of  2,745.- 
54  acres,  returned  to  Skinner  and  Johnson,  at  request  of 
Benjamin  Beach  and  John  Munson,  on   the  21st  of  June 

1774- 

Adjoining  the  above  surveys  is  a  tract  of  422.70  acres 
returned  to  Samuel  Neville  and  John  Burnett  on  the  30th 
ot  April  1748,  and  recorded  at  Perth  Amboy  in  Book  S 
2,  page  209.  The  David  Beaman  farm,  lying  between 
Rockaway  and  Beach  Glen,  east  of  the  Hubbard  Stickle 
homestead,  and  on  which  James  Ackly  built  a  house  and 
barn  about  forty  years  ago,  is  part  of  this  last  survey, 
and  no  doubt  the  said  Stickle  farm  was  called  in  1800 
the  Francis  McCarty  farm,  from  the  father  of  the  late 
Morris  McCarty  and  Judge  Cummings  McCarty. 

The  land  lying  south  and  east  of  the  Meriden  tract, 
including  Lyonsville  and  part  of  Rockaway  Valley,  is 
part  of  a  1,250  acre  tract  returned  to  William  Penn  on 
the  22nd  of  August  1715  and  recorded  at  Burlington  in 
Book  B,  page  39. 

Adjoining  the  last  mentioned  tract  on  the  southwest 
is  one  of  1,420  acres,  returned  to  James  Bolland  on  the 
8th  of  March  1720  and  recorded  in  Burlington  in  Book 
B,  page  198,  &c. 

Southwest  of  and  bounding  on  the  last  two  tracts  is  a 
survey  of  421.10  acres,  returned  to  Frederick  Miller  on 
the  17th  of  May  1788  and  recorded  in  Book  S  8,  page 
165;  it  lies  on  a  small  branch  of  the  Rockaway  River 
called  Stony  Brook.  This  survey  includes  lands  in 
Rockaway  Valley,  the  homestead  farm  of  the  late  Wil- 
liam M.  Dixon,  deceased,  and  adjoining  lands,  and  also 
a  survey  of  551.33  acres  returned  to  Jacob  Taylor  April 
i8th  1789.  On  the  southeast  of  the  above  mentioned 
1,420  acres,  421.10  acres  and  551.33  acres  lies  the  Boon- 
ton  tract,  containing  3,656.97  acres,  returned  to  William 
Burnet  and  Courtlandt  Skinner  on  the  thirteenth  of  Oc- 
tober 1765  (recorded  in  Book  S  5,  on  page  282)  and  by 
them  conveyed  to  David  Ogden.  This  survey  includes 
part  of  Rockaway  Valley,  Powerville,  Boonton  and  the 
mountain  west  of  Powerville  known  as  the  "Torn  "  or 
"  Steeple  ",  and  extends  west  from  Powerville  about  two 
miles  toward  Denville. 

Southeast  of  the  White  Meadow  tract  lies  a  survey  of 
776  acres,  returned  to  the    heirs    and   assigns   of   Hugh 


336 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Hartshorn  and  David  Barkley,  at  the  request  of  Samuel 
Neville,  on  the  loth  of  June  1748,  and  recorded  in  Book 
S  2,  page  226,  etc. 

On  the  southeast  of  the  last  mentioned  survey  lies  a 
tract  of  1,741.76  acres  returned  to  Courtlandt  Skinner 
and  John  Johnson,  at  the  request  of  Benjamin  Beach 
and  John  Munson,  on  the  21st  of  June  1774,  and  re- 
corded in  the  Perth  Amboy  records  in  Book  S  7,  page 
134,  etc.  The  two  last  named  tracts  cover  Beach  Glen, 
formerly  called  Horse  Pond,  and  a  large  part  of  Rocka- 
way  Valley,  west  of  the  village  of  Rockaway. 

The  village  of  Denville  is  located  upon  a  tract  of  1,250 
acres  returned  to  William  Bidleon  the  21st  of  February 
1716;  and  south  of  it  and  adjoining  lies  a  tract  of  1,666 
acres  returned  to  Joseph  Kirkbride  and  William  Cant 
on  the  2ist  of  February  1716. 

West  of  Denville  and  taking  in  Franklin  and  the  farm 
of  John  O.  Hill  was  a  large  survey  made  to  John  Bel- 
lars.  We  learn  this  from  a  recital  in  a  deed  to  David 
Garrigus,  made  the  23d  of  December  1800,  for  494  acres 
of  land  (said  to  be  a  part  of  this  large  survey).  David 
Garrigus  formerly  owned  the  Hill  farm  and  worked  the 
Franklin  forge.  The  deed  was  given  to  Benjamin  Chew, 
of  Philadelphia,  as  attorney  in  fact  for  Sir  John  Bridger 
of  the  county  of  Surrey,  Great  Britain,  knight,  and 
Dame  Rebecca  his  wife  and  others,  and  is  recorded  in 
the  Morris  county  clerk's  office  in  Book  D,  252. 

Robert  Hunter  Morris  also  had  lands  returned  to  him 
in  this  part  of  Rockaway  township  and  on  Pigeon  Hill. 
We  find  a  deed  in  the  Morris  county  records  (Book  D, 
page  250)  from  Richard  Morris  of  Westchester,  N.  Y., 
executor  of  Robert  Hunter  Morris,  to  David"  Garrigus, 
dated  December  31st  1793,  for  1 17.13  acres  of  land  re- 
turned to  said  R.  H.  Morris  December  5th  1761. 

These  surveys  carry  us  to  the  Randolph  and- Hanover 
lines,  and  complete,  in  a  general  way,  locations  for  nearly 
all  of  the  Rockaway  territory.  From  them  we  can  infer 
that  settlements  of  from  one  to  ten  families  commenced 
about  the  same  time  in  different  parts  of  the  township, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Rockaway  Valley,  Beach  Glen, 
Denville,  White  Meadows,  Rockaway  and  Mount  Hope, 
where  the  land  was  level  and  adapted  to  agricultural 
purposes;  but  the  remainder  and  greater  part  of  the  ter- 
ritory north  of  the  above  named  places,  being  hilly  and 
mountainous,  and  in  many  instances  quite  rocky  and 
almost  inaccessible,  offered  no  inducements  to  agricul- 
ture, and  its  growth  in  population  was,  in  consequence, 
very  slow.  There  are  many  large  sections  of  this  terri- 
tory still  remaining  uninhabited,  owing  to  the  character 
of  the  country;  and  not  unfrequently  a  ride  of  two  or 
three  miles  will  not  discover  a  sign  of  a  dwelling  of  any 
kind.  The  primitive  hut  or  log  cabin  occasionally  meets 
the  eye  in  some  secluded  spot,  and  around  it  a  few  pa- 
ternal acres  or  the  "  clearing,"  as  it  is  called,  furnish 
pasture  for  the  cattle  and  vegetables  for  the  family.  To 
the  eye  there  was  nothing  to  tempt  the  settler  who  was 
in  search  of  broad  acres  and  green  fields;  and  wherever 
from  choice  a  settlement  was  made  we  can  still  meet  with 
the  third  or  fourth  generation  of  the  settler's  descendants, 


who  were  obliged  to  remain  for  the  simple  reason  that 
their  limited  means  would  not  admit  of  their  getting 
away. 

It  very  seldom  happened  that  the  owners  of  these  sur- 
veys or  original  locations  occupied  them  in  person;  they 
were  either  too  aristocratic  to  cultivate  and  improve  the 
soil,  or  too  rich  to  need  even  rents,  issues  and  profits 
thereof.  It  was  a  matter  of  pure  speculation,  and  the 
gain  was  in  selling  in  parcels  to  actual  settlers.  But, 
while  all  these  apparent  obstacles  in  the  way  of  bringing 
settlers  into  this  part  of  Morris  county  existed,  the  pure 
air  of  the  mountains  and  the  many  never  failing  streams 
of  water  were  conducive  to  health;  and  to  one  accus- 
tomed to  the  place  threw  a  charm  over  the  secluded  life 
that  rendered  it  one  of  contentment. 

Some   of  the  Pioneers. 

Among  the  settlers  in  Denville  we  have  the  name  of 
David  Broadwell,  whose  house  and  blacksmith  shop  stood 
where  the  Menagh  hotel  now  is.  Job  Allen's  house  was 
on  the  Glover  farm.  William  and  Joseph  Hinchman 
were  also  residents  of  Denville.  The  Garriguses,  Ayers, 
Hills,  Coopers  and  Smiths  lived  at  Franklin  and  Pigeon 
Hill.  Below  Denville  and  down  the  valley  came  the 
Peers,  Samuel  and  David,  John  Husk,  John  P.  Cook, 
Peter  Hiler,  Adam  Miller,  Joseph  Scott,  David  Smith, 
William  Ayer,  Aaron  Miller,  Frederick  Hopler,  Peter 
Hopler  and  Jacob  Kanouse,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Judge  Kanouse  of  Boonton. 

The  old  David  Peer  place,  owned  lately  by  Mr.  Smith, 
was  originally  an  Indian  settlement.  David  Smith,  else- 
where referred  to  as  now  living  near  Green  Pond,  who 
was  apprenticed  to  David  Peer,  says  he  recollects  the  last 
old  Indian  of  a  tribe  formerly  living  in  Rockaway  Val- 
ley. His  name  was  Jonathan.  The  Indian  and  his 
squaw  would  occasionally  come  to  Peer's  place.  David 
says  he  has  heard  John  Peer,  father  to  David,  say  that 
these  Indians  belonged  to  a  southern  tribe.  They  had 
settled  there  long  before  the  war,  and  took  sides  with  the 
British,  and  after  the  war  were  obliged  to  leave.  John 
Peer  was  in  the  army.  He  was  quite  an  old  man  when 
David  Smith  was  a  boy.  Jonathan  and  his  squaw  lived 
at  Bald  Hill,  near  the  Kitchel  place  at  the  Cranberry 
Pond.  Smith  says  he  was  at  their  wigwam  very  often. 
Martin  Hiler  was  the  father  of  Peter  Hiler,  and  lived  in 
Rockaway  Valley.  The  old  stone  house  on  the  left  side 
of  the  road  after  crossing  Peer's  lock  toward  Power- 
ville  was  built  by  Martin  Hiler  before  the  Re-frolution. 
David  Peer  was  justice  of  the  peace  over  fifty  years,  and 
died  about  1830.  Mr.  Smith  says  that  when  he  was  a 
boy  the  old  men  were  John  Cook,  grandfather  of  John  P. 
Cook,  John  Husk,  William  Auger,  Aaron  Miller,  Jacob 
Demouth,  Frederick  Hopler,  Peter  Hopler,  Jacob  Ka- 
nouse, Conrad  Kanouse  and  old  Jacob  Bastedo,  who  was 
a  preacher,  as  he  called  him,  holding  meetings  occasion- 
ally at  different  houses,  but  was  not  settled  over  any 
church. 

Frederick  Miller  lived  further  down  the  valley,  on  the 
property  owned  by  William  M.  Dixon  at  the  time  of  his 


JOHN  JACOB  FAfiSCH  AND  HIS  NEIGHBORS. 


337 


death.  Part  of  the  Miller  house  is  yet  standing.  Wil- 
liam Dixon,  son-in-law  of  Miller,  also  lived  in  that  neigh- 
borhood. Frederick  Demouth,  or  Demoth,  as  it  was 
originally  called,  lived  further  down  the  valley,  and  was 
a  farmer  of  considerable  means  and  style  for  those  early 
days. 

A  man  who  exercised  a  large  influence  in  the  township 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  was  John  Ja- 
cob Faesch,  of  Mount  Hope,  the  ''  smart  little  Dutch- 
man," as  Miss  Agnes  Walton  calls  him.  He  came  to 
this  country  about  1766  and  in  1772  purchased  the  Mount 
Hope  property,  in  part  from  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  jr.  and 
part  from  Burnet  and  Johnson,  and  about  this  year  built 
the  Mt.  Hope  furnace. 

He  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Rockaway  church, 
and  held  several  local  offices  in  the  county.  He  took 
sides  with  the  colonists  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  Large  quantities  of  cannon  balls  for 
the  American  army  were  cast  at  his  furnace,  and  on  a  visit 
to  Mt.  Hope  by  General  Washington,  Faesch  had  the 
honor  of  entertaining  him  at  his  house.  Jonathan  Wig- 
gins, the  grandfather  of  William  F.  Wiggins,  now  of  Suc- 
casunna,  was  one  of  Faesch 's  foremen  about  his  works. 
Wiggins  was  the  driver  of  a  four-mule  team  for  Faesch, 
and  one  of  his  exploits  was  to  amuse  Faesch  by  cutting 
off  the  heads  of  chickens  with  his  cartwhip  whenever 
poultry  was  needed.  Whether  this  was  done  on  the  occa- 
sion of  Washington's  visit  we  could  not  ascertain  with  any 
degree  of  certainty.  A  Captain  Freesburgh  was  partner 
with  Faesch  during  this  time,  and  accorc'ing  to  a  state- 
ment of  William  F.  Wiggins  built  the  present  stone  Man- 
sion House  at  Mt.  Hope.  Ephraim  Burwell,  Reuben 
Walton  and  Jonathan  Fordhara  (grandfather  of  William 
F.  Wiggins  on  his  mother's  side)  were  also  among  Faesch's 
men — all  of  whom  are  buried  at  the  "Walton"  burying 
ground. 

Faesch  built  several  houses  at  Mt.  Hope,  some  of  which 
are  standing  at  this  time.  A  large  corner  cupboard  built 
by  Faesch  for  one  of  his  houses  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  Miss  Walton.  She  also  has  a  chair  over  one  hundred 
years  old,  formerly  owned  by  Adam  Miller,  who  lived  on 
the  Uhel  farm  at  Middle  forge.  William  F.  Wiggins  is 
the  owner  of  a  pair  of  spectacles  and  their  case  used  by 
Faesch  when  at  Mt.  Hope,  and  the  writer  of  this  sketch 
of  the  former  owner  used  them  in  getting  it  up,  these 
glasses  having  been  loaned  by  Mr.  Wiggins  for  that  pur- 
pose. They  are  quite  a  curiosity,  and  who  knows  but 
the  former  owner  wore  them  while  he  entertained  Gen- 
eral Washington,  on  .the  occasion  mentioned? 

The  object  of  General  Washington's  visit  to  Mount 
Hope  was  partly  to  arrange  with  Faesch  about  taking 
some  Hessian  prisoners  to  board  for  their  work  in 
chopping  wood  in  Faesch's  coaling  job;  at  least  we  know 
that  Faesch  took  250  of  these  prisoners  from  General 
Washington,  and  erected  five  log  houses  for  them.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  the  British  had  a  certain  number  of 
days  to  gather  up  these  hired  soldiers,  as  they  were  re- 
quired to  pay  for  every  one  they  did  not  return  to  the 
old  country.     Among  the  250  men  was  Leopold  Zindle. 


When  the  British  officer  visited  Mt.  Hope  for  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  these  men  he  commanded  Zindle  to  go 
with  him.  Zindle  replied,  "  Me  no  go;  me  can  die  first." 
This  so  aroused  the  officer  that  he  drew  his  sword  and 
struck  Zindle  in  the  breast,  breaking  the  weapon  in  three 
pieces — one  remaining  in  Zindle's  body,  one  in  the  offi- 
cers hand  and  one  falling  to  the  ground.  Zindle  still 
persisted  in  saying  "  Me  no  go,  me  die  first."  This  oc- 
curred in  the  presence  of  a  large  crowd,  and  seeing  the 
resistance  which  Zindle  made,  and  the  many  friends  he 
had,  the  officer  was  obliged  to  retreat  to  save  his  own 
life.  Zindle  ended  his  days  at  Mt.  Hope  about  1820,  a 
very  old  man.  William  F.  Wiggins,  who  relates  this  in- 
cident, knew  him  very  well,  and  was  at  his  funeral.  Zin- 
dle's children  were  Abraham,  George,  Charles,  Mary, 
Margaret,  Catharine  and  Sarah,  the  last  named  and 
youngest  of  whom  is  Mrs.  William  F.  King,  now  living  in 
Dover  and  the  mother  of  Dr.  Joseph  D.  King. 

The  Mt.  Hope  Pond,  back  of  the  furnace  site,  was 
supplied  entirely  by  springs  in  its  bed,  as  no  stream  ran 
into  it.  It  is  now  a  meadow  bottom  and  last  summer 
yielded  a  fine  crop  of  hay.  Besides  the  Mt.  Hope  lands 
Faesch  also  owned  the  Jackson  mine  lot  in  Irondale, 
purchased  of  Moses  Tuttle  November  27th  1772.  About 
1790  he  removed  to  Morristown,  and  became  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Morris  Academy  lot,  as  we  find  a  deed 
to  him  and  others  from  the  trustees  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  dated  August  ist  1792.  From  Morristown  he 
removed  to  Old  Boonton,  where  he  died  in  1799;  he  was 
buried  at  Morristown. 

Moses  Tuttle  was  among  the  earlier  settlers  at  Mt. 
Pleasant.  He  came  there  in  1760  to  manage  the  forge 
property  of  his  father-in-law.  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen. 
His  mansion  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  turpike,  near 
the  present  residence  of  Jesse  S.  Langdon,  until  within 
ten  or  fifteen  years  back.  It  was  a  long,  low  structure, 
with  a  porch  on  the  front,  and  was  one  of  the  landmarks 
for  surveyors,  as  we  find  several  surveys  referring  to  the 
chimney  of  Moses  Tuttle's  house,  which  was  a  prominent 
point,  and  could  be  seen  from  different  localities.  This 
is  the  same  house  elsewhere  referred  to  as  the  Mt. 
Pleasant  Hotel. 

Descendants  in  the  sixth  generation  of  both  Colonel 
Ford  and  Moses  Tuttle  are  still  living  in  the  county  of 
Morris. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Hunting  was  the  first  physician  who 
lived  within  the  bounds  of  the  township.  He  owned 
part  of  the  Pond  meadow,  lately  the  property  of 
S.  B.  Halsey,  opposite  the  present  rolling-mills.  He  was 
also  a  pew-holder  in  the  church  prior  to  1774,  for  it 
appears  that  after  his  death,  which  occurred  in  that  year, 
his  son  Matthew  occupied  the  same  pew  which  his  father 
had  occupied. 

Dr.  Ebenezer  H.  Pierson  came  next  as  resident  physi- 
cian, and  lived  near  Franklin,  on  the  Palmer  farm,  having 
bought  the  lot  used  by  the  parish  church  as  a  parsonage, 
near  Henry  B.  Palmer's  new  residence.  Dr.  Pierson 
graduated  at  Princeton  College  in  1791.  The  parsonage 
deed  is  from  Job  Allen,  Josiah  Beaman,  Thomas  Conger, 


338 


HiStORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


James  Kitchel,  David  Broadwell,  David  Peer  and  Ben- 
jamin Beach,  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  congre- 
gation at  Rockaway,  to  Ebenezer  H.  Pierson,  and  is 
dated  December  28th  1795  (Book  O,  343).  The  lot  con- 
tains 47.50  acres,  and  is  described  as  being  on  the  road 
leading  from  John  P.  Losey's  to  Rockaway  and  adjoining 
lands  of  James  Kent,  Richard  Dell,  and  John  Clark. 

Bernard  Smith,  whose  name  is  closely  connected  with 
the  early  history  of  Rockaway,  was  a  German  and  a  par- 
ticular friend  of  John  Jacob  Faesch.  He  kept  a  store  in 
the  village  in  the  old  Gaston  house,  now  owned  by  John 
F.  Stickle.  He  was  the  owner  of  White  Meadow  and 
the  Guinea  forge.  His  children  were  six  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Beman,  the  eldest,  was  a  member  of  Con- 
gress from  this  State;  James  was  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  army;  John  was  a  printer;  the  history  of  Samuel 
is  unknown;  Frederick  entered  the  navy,  and  William 
was  killed  under  Wilkinson  in  1812,  while  serving  as  an 
officer  in  the  army. 

Gilbert  Headen  (Hedden  or  Heddy)  in  1753  is  de- 
scribed as  being  of  Morristown,  in  1762  as  of  Pequan- 
nock,  and  1778  as  of  North  Carolina.  He  was  the  owner 
of  the  first  grist-mill,  which  was  standing  below  the 
present  rolling-mill,  and  the  site  of  the  rolling-mill  was 
in  all  probability  the  bed  of  the  mill  pond. 

There  are  other  persons  whose  descendants  still  occu- 
py the  land,  of  whom  honorable  mention  could  be  made 
if  space  permitted.  Suffice  it  to  say,  their  records  are 
clear,  and,  whatever  imperfections  and  shortcomings  may 
have  been  visible  in  a  few  instances,  the  general  tone  of 
the  people  in  those  early  days  was  an  honest  one.  James 
Kitchel  is  known  to  have  said,  many  a  time,  that  in  his 
business  transactions  notes  were  never  taken,  or  at  least 
very  seldom;  a  man's  word  was  as  good  as  his  note. 
Samuel  S.  Beach,  father  of  S.  S.  Beach  of  Rockaway, 
gave  his  note  for  about  $80  to  an  old  lady  in  payment 
for  some  land  which  she  had  sold  him.  The  note  was 
allowed  to  run  nearly  twenty  years  without  ever  being 
presented  for  payment  or  any  interest  asked;  after  so 
long  a  time  the  holder  of  the  note  called  upon  Mr.  Beach 
with  some  doubts  as  to  the  payment  of  it,  and  admitted 
it  outlawed,  and  so  forth,' but  Mr.  Beach  said  his  notes 
never  outlawed,  he  had  not  forgotten  it,  and  paid  it  at 
once,  principal  and  interest.  That  was  not  the  age  of 
"smart"  cashiers,  confiding  bank  officers,  and  superfi- 
cial government  officials. 

Others  of  the  early  inhabitants  are  noticed  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Rockaway,  and  in 
other  connections. 

The  Name  Rockaway. 

The  name  Rockaway  at  present  designates  several  dis- 
tinct places  and  things  immediately  connected  with  the 
history  in  question,  viz.,  the  village  of  Rockaway,  the 
Rockaway  River,  Rockaway  Valley,  Rockaway  Neck, 
"Old  Rockaway"  and  Rockaway  township;  and  all 
without  doubt  originated  from  one  and  the  same  source. 
Surveyor  Reading's  journal  of  17 15  clearly  show  that 
the  name    Rockaway  was  then  used  by  the  pioneers  to 


designate  the  stream  of  water  now  known  by  that  name 
in  Rockaway  township,  and  also  to  designate  some  of  the 
land  in  its  vicinity.  We  have  no  reason  to  conclude 
that  the  name  originated  either  from  the  Eng- 
lish or  Dutch  settlers;  on  the  contrary,  all  conjecture 
was  placed  at  rest  upon  that  question  when  among 
the  many  original  surveys  which  were  shown  us  by  Wil- 
liam Roome  we  came  across  one  made  November  20th 
1745  for  George  Ryerson,  for  425.25  acres,  described  as 
lying  "  near  to  a  brook  called  by  the  Dutch  Rotegeval,  a 
branch  of  the  Rockaway  River,  which  it  falls  into  by  an 
Indian  field  called  Rockaway,  from  which- the  river  had 
its  name;  "  and  also  another  survey,  made  the  14th  of 
August  1749,  for  Abram  Balding  and  others,  containing 
120.44  acres,  which  was  located  "at  a  place  called  by  the 
Dutch  Oullekill  [near  Montville]  and  by  the  English 
Rockaway,"  the  English  settlers,  of  course,  taking  the 
Indian  name  as  before  recognized.  From  this  evidence 
in  reference  to  the  name  of  Rockaway  it  must  be  conceded 
that  the  Indians  were  the  first  to  use  the  word,  and  gave 
it  to  the  settlers;  and  that  the  river  is  so  called  from  a 
field  or  Indian  encampment  beside  it.  The  question 
naturally  arises,  where  was  the  Indian  field  called  Rock- 
away? There  are  two  surveys  which  refer  to  "  Old 
Rockaway."  One  is  a  survey  returned  to  Frederick  De 
Mouth  on  the  5th  of  April  1748,  covering  32 J^  acres  ly- 
ing to  the  north  of  "  Old  Rockaway;  "  and  the  other  is 
a  survey  returned  to  John  Miller  on  the  ijth  of  May 
1748  for  82  acres,  lying  to  the  north  of  "  Old  Rockaway." 
The  32^  acre  tract  is  known  to  lie  east  of  the  home- 
stead of  the  late  William  M.  Dixon,  in  Rockaway  Valley, 
about  three  miles  northwesterly  from  Powerville;  and 
the  82-acre  tract  is  a  part  of  the  original  John  Miller 
farm  in  Rockaway  Valley,  and  near  said  Dixon's  farm. 
These  references  indicate  very  strongly  that  the  Indian 
field  called  Rockaway  was  the  whole  or  at  least  a  part 
of  what  is  now  known  as  Rockaway  Valley,  in  Rockaway 
township,  and  more  particularly  that  part  of  it  in  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood  of  the  junction  of  Stony  Brook 
with  the  Rockaway  River,  northwest  of  Powerville;  and 
that  the  Indian  field  was  called  "  Old  Rockaway  "  in 
1748  by  the  settlers  to  distinguish  it  from  the  village  of 
Rockaway. 

The  Iron  Mines. 

In  the  early  days  of  these  locations  the  hills  were  well 
covered  with  a  primitive  growth  of  timber,  and  several 
discoveries  of  iron  ore  before  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
induced  a  few  capitalists  to  embark  in  the  iron  business 
along  the  mountain  streams.  Iron  was  then  mined  and 
manufactured  on  a  small  scale,  and  the  business  opened 
a  market  for  wood  and  charcoal.  In  the  absence  of  all 
agricultural  inducements  the  iron  business  became  the 
leading  interest,  and  brought  in  many  families  of  miners, 
bloomers,  colliers  and  teamsters.  But  as  it  is  to-day  so 
it  was  then;  there  existed  a  marked  contrast  between  the 
forgemen  and  the  ironmasters;  the  former  were  thriftless 
working  but  for  to-day  and  not  troubled  about  the  things 
of    to-morrow,  while    the  latter   were   exclusive,  and  in 


IRON  MINES  IN  ROCKAWAY— PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


339 


many  instances  lived  in  a  style  luxurious  and  elegant  at 
home.  Yet  while  the  workmen  in  these  mountain  forges 
saved  nothing,  and  barely  subsisted  on  the  "store  "  trade 
allowed  them  for  their  wages,  they  did  not  grow  any 
poorer.  The  ironmasters,  however,  as  a  general  thing 
not  only  lost  the  capital  which  they  had  invested  in  the 
business,  but  struggled  on  against  the  tide  until  many  of 
them  became  involved  in  debt  and  were  obliged  to  quit 
and  give  way  to  their  creditors.  One  of  those  ironmas- 
ters who  was  able  to  stem  the  current  of  loss  is  the  ex- 
ception. The  proceedings  in  our  court  record  the  names 
of  several  of  these  forge  owners  whose  property  was 
struck  off  under  the  sheriff's  hammer. 

The  greater  portion  of  this  hilly  territory  of  Rocka- 
way  township  was,  as  we  have  said,  of  very  little  value 
for  farming  purposes;  and  the  discovery  of  iron  ore 
opened  up  an  industry  of  a  very  different  kind,  and,  as 
the  sequel  has  proved  in  our  times,  a  much  more  pro- 
ductive source  of  wealth.  In  the  early  days  and  early 
discoveries  of  the  iron  deposits  the  facilities  for  mining 
were  rude  indeed.  In  those  early  times  there  was  no 
market  for  iron  ore;  the  forge  and  mine,  as  a  general  thing, 
belonged  to  the  same  party,  and  there  was  no  motive  to 
mine  in  excess  of  the  ability  to  manufacture.  The  work 
was  done  with  the  least  possible  expense — all  by  man 
power,  and  without  the  shafts,  drifts,  props,  stoops,  sinks, 
pillars,  whips,  engines  and  underground  engineering  now 
thought  so  necessary  in  mining  operations. 

If  we  take  the  Hibernia  mine,  about  four  miles  east  of 
Rockaway  village,  for  an  illustration,  we  find  that  a  fur- 
nace was  located  there  as  early  as  1765,  and  the  mine 
was  worked  during  the  Revolutionary  war  and  earlier. 
Yet  during  these  many  years  no  developments  to  any  ex- 
tent were  made  until  within  the  last  fifty  years.  The 
ancient  workings  were  all  at  the  foot  of  Hibernia  Hill, 
where  mining  was  easy,  and  where  the  soft  top  ore  could 
be  procured.  In  1873  the  Hibernia  Underground  Rail- 
road Company  was  incorporated  by  the  laws  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  it  has  constructed  a  mile  of  railroad  in  the 
mines  following  the  vein,  and  is  operating  the  same  with 
two  locomotives,  and  carrying  out  for  different  parties 
about  100,000  tons  of  ore  per  year. 

Rockaway  township  may  well  be  proud  of  the  rapid 
increase  in  mineral  wealth  and  growth  in  population  and 
manufacturing  interests  which  her  own  rough-hewn  hills 
have  given  her  in  the  past  thirty-five  or  forty  years,  and 
of  the  new  developments  which  are  constantly  made  in 
her  iron  deposits.  To  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  her 
mineral  wealth  we  cite  the  purchases  made  between  the 
years  1865  and  1868  by  Conrad  Poppenhusen,  of  the  city 
of  New  York.  He  bought  a  part  of  the  Hibernia  mine, 
and  undeveloped  lands  adjoining,  embracing  between  six 
and  seven  hundred  acres.  In  these  purchases  Mr.  Pop- 
penhusen invested  about  half  a  million  of  dollars;  yet  in 
this  large  tract  there  was  not  a  building  suitable  for  a 
dwelling  place,  nor  an  acre  of  land  under  cultivation,  and 
very  few  susceptible  of  any  profitable  tillage  without  im- 
mense labor.  We  also  cite  a  fact  well  known  to  many 
who  were  then  interested  in  the  Hibernia  mining  opera- 


tions, that  a  mineral  lease  on  ten  acres  of  the  Hibernia 
vein  of  iron  ore,  made  about  the  year  1870,  fixing  the 
royalty  at  one  dollar  per  ton  for  the  ore,  sold  in  open 
market  to  the  highest  bidder  at  a  premium  of  over  $35,- 
coo  for  the  lessor. 

It  was  truthfully  said  in  the  United  States  in  years 
gone  by  "cotton  is  king,"  and  to-day  "coal  is  king"  in 
the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania.  May  we  not  also 
with  like  assurance  say  iron  is  king  in  Rockaway  town- 
ship ? 

Church  History. 

The  church  history  of  Rockaway  township  centers 
principally  in  that  of 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    AT    ROCKAWAY    VILLAGE, 

which  is  one  of  the  oldest  church  organizations  in  the 
county.  The  labor  of  collecting  the  material  for  this 
part  of  the  history  has  been  greatly  lessened  by  the  val- 
uable researches  of  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  D:  D.,  presi- 
dent of  Wabash  College,  Indiana,  and  also  by  the  his- 
torical manual  of  the  church  compiled  by  the  Rev.  H.  E. 
Platter,  and  published  in  i8»o. 

The  Rockaway  Presbyterian  church  was  for  many  years 
the  only  church  in  the  township,  and  its  history  dates 
back  to  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  although 
no  church  organization  or  building  was  in  existence  until 
about  the  year  1758.  We  get  this  last  fact  from  the  first 
known  subscription  paper  for  the  erection  of  a  church. 
On  the  second  day  of  March  1758  two  papers  were 
drawn  up  and  signed  by  those  interested  in  the  church, 
and  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  refer  to  them  here  to 
show  the  primitive  style  of  such  papers  and  the  import- 
ance of  the  undertaking;   we  will  give  them  literally: 

March  2d  1758, 
We  the  subscribers  do  by  these  mannerfest  it  to  be  our 
desier  to  Joyn  with  Porsipaney  to  call  and  settel  a  min- 
nester,  to  have  the  one  half  of  the  preachen  at  porsipa- 
ney and  the  other  half  at  rockaway,  and.  each  part  to  be 
eaicwel  in  payen  a  minnester.  Job  Allen,  Seth  Mehuran, 
David  Beman,  gilbard  hedy,  Andreu  Morrison,  Isak  og- 
den,  John  pipes,  Samuel  Shipman,  John  Minton,  Samuel 
Whithed  jr,  Joseph  burrel,  wilyam  wines,  nethanel  mich- 
el,  Jasiah  beman,  James  losey,  abraham  Masacra,  henerey 
stag,  John  Harriman,  Jonah  Austen,  Samuel  Burwell, 
John  gobbel,  Abraham  Johnson,  John  Cogswell,  John 
huntington,  Gershom  Gard,  John  kent,  Amos  Kilburn, 
william  Danels,  Samuel  Moore. 

March  2d  1758, 
We  the  Inhabitants  of  rockaway,  pigen  hill  and  upper 
inhabitence  at  the  colonals  forges  and  places  agesant,  be- 
ing met  together  In  order  to  consult  together  about  a 
place  to  set  a  meting  hous,  and  being  all  well  agreed  that 
the  most  sutable  place  for  the  hoi  setelments  Is  upon  the 
small  plain  a  letel  above  bemans  forg,  which  is  below  the 
first  small  brok  upon  that  rode  up  to  Samuel  Johnson, 
and  we  the  subscribers  a  blig  ourselves  to  pay  toward 
building  a  house  at  that  place  the  sums  to  our  names 
afixed:  Job  Allen,  ;^5;  Gilbert  Heden,  ^^5;  Andrew 
Moreson,;,^5;  David  Beman,  ;^5;  Isaac  Ogden,  ;^i  los.; 
John  Pipre,  ^i;  Samuel  Shipman,  _;^2  los.;  Seth  Mehu- 
ren,  ;^2  los.;  John  Minthorn,  ^2  los.;  Samuel  Whithed 
jr.,  ^2  los.;  Joseph  Burwell,  los.;  William  Winds,  _;^3; 


54° 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Nathaniel  Mitchel,  ^i  los.;  Josiah  Beraan,  ;^2;  James 
Losey,  los.;  Abraham  Masacra,  7s.;  Henery  stag,  15s.; 
John  Harriman,^3;  John  Johnson,  ;^3;  Samuel  burrel, 
los.;  Jonah  Huston,  ^4;  John  Gobel,  10s.;  abraham 
Johnson,  ^5;  John  Cogswell,  ^i;  John  Huntington, 
^2;  Gershom  Gard,  £1;  John  Kent,  -Qj;  Amos  kil- 
L'U'T',  £2;  henery  Tuttel,  5s.;  Joseph  Beach,  5s.;  John 
stag,  15s.;  William  Danels,  £1  los.  tod.;  Samuel  Moor, 
£1  5s,;  Jacob  Garrigues,  ]£i\  James  Milege,  £,1  los.; 
bil  Walton,  3s.  6d.;  J;icob  W.  thorp,  6s.  6d.;  Obadiah 
Lum,  £2;  Benjamin  Corey,  4s. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  pastors  of  the  Rockaway 
church: 

Rev.  James  Tuttle,  joint  pastor  of  Rockaway  and  Par- 
sippany,  ordained  and  installed  at  Parsippany  in  April 
1768,  died  December  25th  J770;  Rev.  David  Baldwin, 
installed  in  April  1784,  dismissed  May  14th  1792;  Rev. 
John  J.  Carle,  installed  in  January  1793,  dismissed  in 
1801;  Rev.  Barnabas  King,  ordained  and  installed  De- 
cember 27th  1808  (having  preached  as  supply  since  Oc- 
tober 1807),  died  April  loth  1862;  Rev.  Joseph  F. 
Tuttle,  installed  as  copastor  with  Mr.  King  April  26lh 
1848,  dismissed  April,  1862;  Rev.  Samuel  Pierson  Hal 
sey,  installed  July  8th  1862,  dismissed  in  April  1865; 
Rev.  Oliver  H.  Perry  Deyo,  installed  April  30th  1867 
(after  having  preached  nearly  one  year  as  supply),  dis- 
missed October  20th  1872;  Rev.  David  E.  Platter,  or- 
dained and  installed  July  22nd  1874,  dismissed  to  take 
charge  of  Presbyterian  church  at  Canton,  Ohio,  January 
31st  1881. 

The  pulpit  is  supplied  at  present  by  Rev.  J.  O.  Averill. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  elders  of  the  church,  as 
compiled  by  Rev.  Mr.  Platter  (the  words  ordained,  died, 
resigned,  are  designated  by  the  letters  o,  d,  r): 

Job  Allen  sen.,  o  1758,  d  1767;  John  Huntington,  o 
1758;  Obadiah  Lum,  o  1758;  Jacob  AUerton,  o  1758; 
David  Beman,  o  1758,  r  1789;  William  Ross,  o  1768  (?), 
r  1789;  John  Cobb,  o  1772,  d  1779;  David  Beaman 
(re-elected),  o  1793,  d  1802;  Job  Allen  jr.,  o  1793,  d 
1798;  John  Clark  (deacon  1809),  o  1793,  d  1813;  Wil- 
liam Ross  (re-elected),  o  1797,  d  1807;  David  Peer 
(deacon  1809),  o  1797,  d  1824;  David  Garrigus,  o  1798; 
John  Garrigus  sen.  (deacon  1832),  o  1809,  d  1850;  Rev. 
Peter  Kanouse,  o  1809,  d  1864;  Benjamin  Larason,  o 
1809,  d  1824;  Samuel  Hicks  (deacon  1832),  o  1818,  d 
1833;  Thomas  Conger,  o  i8t8,  d  1831;  John  Garrigus 
jr.,  o  1824,  d  1878;  William  Jackson,  o  1824,  d  1872; 
Joseph  Jackson,  o  1824,  d  1872;  Silas  Hamilton  (deacon 
1832),  o  1824;  Josiah  Hurd,  o  1824,  d  1841;  John  Mott, 
o  1832,  d  1866;  Jacob  Powers  (dismissed  i860),  o  1832; 
Henry  Beach  (deacon),  o  1832,  d  1864;  Samuel  B.  Hal- 
sey,  o  1841,  d  1871;  Samuel  S.  Beach  sen.,  o  1841,  d 
1859;  David  Wiggins  (dismissed  1845),  o  1841,  d  1854; 
George  Rowland,  o  1841;  Alexander  Morris  (deacon), 
o  1843,  r  1878;  David  Hamilton,  o  1861;  Samuel  S. 
Beach  jr.,  o  1861;  Joseph  H.  Beach  (deacon),  o  1861; 
Charles  C.  De  Hart,  o  1861;  James  H.  Bruen,  o  1874; 
Nathaniel  R.  Mott,  o  1874. 

There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  list  of  trustees  of  the 
church  prior  to  1787;  but  on  the  24th  of  August  1762 
Willis  Pierson  and  Job  Allen  (ist),  of  Pequannock  town- 
ship, and  Obadiah  Lum,  of  Hanover  township,  took  a 
deed  as  trustees  for  the  meeting-house  lot.  In  this  deed 
these  men  are  designated  as  "  men  indiferently  chosen 
trustees  by  the  Parrish  of  Roccaway  to  take  this  deed." 
The  first  regular  board  of  trustees  \vas  elected  under  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  passed  in  March  1786,    It  consisted 


of  seven  persons,  and  the  board  has  been  composed  of 
the  same  number  since  that  time.  We  annex  a  list  of 
the  trusteees  since  March  6th,  1787,  with  the  years  of 
their  service: 

William  Winds,  1787-92;  Stephen  Jackson,  1787-92; 
Abram  Kitchel,  1787-92;  Benjamin  Beach,  1787-98; 
Job  Allen  (2nd),  1787-98;  David  Beaman,  1787-92; 
David  Baker,  1787-92;  Moses  Tuttle,  1792-94;  Josiah 
Beman,  1792-1802;  George  H.  Brinckerhoff,  1792-94; 
Chileon  Ford,  1792-94;  Silas  Hatheway,  1792-94,  1798- 
1802;  David  Broadwell,  1794-1802;  James  Kitchel,  1794- 
1812;  David  Peer,  1794-1802;  Thomas  Conger,  1794-98, 
1802-10,  1812,  1813;  Daniel  Lewis,  1798-1805;  Joseph 
Jackson,  1798-1819;  Job  Talmage,  1802-12;  Benjamin 
Lamson,  1802-05,  1812-14,  1820-22;  Benjamin-  Jackson, 
1802-10,1812-14;  David  Hill,  1805-10;.  Benjamin  Beach, 
1805,  1806;  Job  Allen  (3d),  1805-12;  Henry  W.  Phillips, 
181012;  George  Stickle,  1810-12;  John  Hinchman, 
1810-12;  May  26th  1812  it  was  resolved  to  elect  a  new 
board  of  trustees  annually  thereafter  on  the  first  Monday 
in  November  in  each  year;  Ford  Kitchel,  1812-18,  1833- 
38;  Peter  Kanouse,  1812-18;  Jeremiah  Baker,  1812-14, 
1825-28,  183032;  Daniel  Ayres,  1813-18,  1822-25,  1830, 

1831,  1839-43;  Stephen  Congar,  1814-18,1822,  1823,  1827- 
29,  1837-43;  Joseph  T.  Hoff,  1814-16,  1829,  1830,  1832- 
39;  Isaac  Pierson  jr.,  1814-18;  Josiah  Hurd,  1816-18, 
1824-27;  Samuel  S.  Beach,  1818-22,  1830-33;  Henry 
Minard,  1818-20;  Abijah  Congar,  1818,  1819;  Chilion  F. 
De  Camp,  1818-21;  Milton  Scott,  1818-22;  Lewis  Phil- 
lips, i8i8,  1819;  William  Jackson,  1819-30;  Samuel  Palm- 
er, 1819-22,  1825-30,  1833,  1834;  Joseph  A.  Kinney, 
1819,1820;  Isaac  Hinds,  1820-22;  Silas  Hamilton,  1821- 
52;  Chileon  Beach,  1822-30;  Thomas  Muir,  1822-25; 
William  Ford,  1822-24,  18.27-29,  1832-34;  John  H.  Jack- 
son, 1823,  1824;  Timothy  Douglas,  1824,  1825;  Joseph 
Jackson,  1825-28;  Timothy  P.  Gardner,  1825,  1826; 
William  H.  Wiggins,    1825-27;    Stephen  Hall,    1826-30. 

1832,  1833;  Ira  Crittenden,  1828,  1829;  James  Ford, 
1829,  1830;  Daniel  Lamson,  1829-31;  Asa  Berry,  1830- 
45;  Henry  Beach,  1830-44;  David  Anderson,  1830-32, 
1851-56;  Samuel  Hicks  jr.,  1831,  1832;  John  Garrigus 
jr.,  1831-39;  Stephen  J.  Jackson,  1833-39,  1845-47,  1851- 
53;  Silas  S.  Palmer,  1834-37,  1843-47;  Charles  Hoff, 
1837-43;  Matthias  Kitchel,  1838-47,  1852-56;  Jeremiah 
M.  De  Camp,  1839,  1840;  Nathaniel  Mott,  1840-43, 
1849-53;  David  Menagh,  1843,  1844;  Joshua  M. 
Beach,  1843,  1844,  1846-49;  Jonathan  Benjamin, 
1843,  1844;  Freeman  Wood,  1844-49;  Charles  H. 
Beach,  1844-46;  George  Rowland,  1844,  1845;  Columbus 
Beach,  1844-49,  1856;  Samuel  B.  Halsey,  1845-49,  1856- 
59,1864,  1865;  Lyman  A.  Chandler,  1847-51;  Alexander 
Morris,  1847-49,  1851-53;  Abijah  Abbott,  1847-49,1851, 
1852;  Samuel  S.  Beach  jr.,  1849-55;  Jacob  Powers,  1849- 
55;  John  Mott,  1849-55;  Francis  Lindsley,  1849-63; 
Barnabas  K.  Stickle,  1849-51;  Selee  Tompkins,  1S50, 
1851;  Edward  J.  Benjamin,  1853-59;  James  H.  Bruen, 
1853-59;  John  Hoagland,  1853-55;  Cummins  McCarty, 
1855,  1856;  Eliphalet  Sturtevant,  1855-59;  Jacob  L. 
Fitcher,  1856-64;  Jedediah  B.  Bassinger,  1856-64;  Sam- 
uel S.  Bassett,  1859-63;  Charles  C.  De  Hart,  1859;  Hen- 
ry Tuttle,  1863,  1864;  Thomas  B.  McGrath,  1863,  1864; 
Stephen  B.  Cooper,  1864-78;  Mahlon  Hoagland,  elected 
1864;  Joseph  J.  Marsh,  1864-67;  Henry  D.  Tuttle,  elected 
1865;  Edmund  D.  Halsey,  elected  1867;  Matson  Wil- 
liams, elected  1878. 

An  alphabetical  record  of  members  of  the  Rockaway 
parish  previous  to  1808  contains  the  following  names: 

Job  Allen  sen.  and  jr.,  Mary  (two)  and  David  Allen, 
Zachariah  Allerton,  Jacob  Allerton  sen.  and  jr.,  William 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  AT  ROCKAWAY. 


341 


Alger,  Cornelius,  Eliakim  and  Sarah  Anderson,  Margaret 
Arnold,  Robert  and  Jackson  Ayers,  David  Baker,  David 
Baldwin  jr.,  Rev.  Prudence  Baldwin,  John  Barn,  Ephraim 
Bates,  Benjamin  and  Joseph  Beach,  Stephen  Beach  and 
wife,  Sarah,  Abner  and  David  Beach,  David  Beaman  (el- 
der), Mary,  Josiah,  Huldah,  Anna  and  Joseph  Beaman, 
Nathaniel  Bend,  Titus  Berry,  Gideon  Bishop,  Aaron, 
Jonathan,  Daniel  and  Josiah  Bigelow,  Zephaniah  Bogles, 
Lemuel  Bowers,  George  Brinkerhoff  and  wife,  David 
Broadwell,  Rachel  Briant,  Ezekiel  Brown,  John  and 
Ephraim  Burwell,  Susannah  and  Joseph  Casterline,  Jo- 
seph Cathcart,  Israel  Can  field,  Samuel  and  Patience 
Churchill,  John,  ReCiben,  James,  Benjamin  and  Samuel 
Clark,  John  Cobb,  Nicholas  Cobbett,  Abigail  Conklin, 
Zenas,  Stephen,  Joseph,  Thomas  and  David  Con- 
ger, Jane  Cook,  Sarah,  Benjamin,  Ichabod  and 
John  Cooper,  John  and  Mary  Cory,  Samuel 
and  Benajah  Daniels,  Rosel  Davis,  John  Day, 
Joseph  De  Camp,  Richard  Dell,  Daniel  Dickerson,  Ste- 
phen Dodd,  Moses  Doty,  Jacob  Drake,  Anna  Earl, 
Jabez  Estill,  Conrad,  Margaret  and  David  Estler,  John 
Jacob  Faesch,  Jacob  and  Charity  Farris,  George  Ferrer, 
Chilion  Ford,  Jacob  Ford  jr.,  Aaron  French,  John  Gad- 
den,  David  Garrigus,  Abigail  Garrigus,  Jacob  Garrigus 
sen.  and  jr.,  Robert  Gaston,  David  Gordon,  Josiah 
Goldsmith,  Seth  Gregory,  Silas  Haines,  John,  Josiah  and 
Joseph  Hall,  Sarah  Halbert,  Dennis  Hartley,  Samuel, 
Silas,  Prudence  and  Dency  Hatheway,  Elisha,  Aaron  and 
Samuel  Hedden,  Jacob,  John,  Lois  and  David  Herri- 
man,  John  Hiler,  David  Hill,  James  Hinds,  Cornelius 
Hoagland,  Joseph,  Charles  and  John  Hoff,  Moses  Hop- 
ping, Harriet  C.  and  Samuel  Howell,  John,  Elizabeth, 
Simeon  and  Gilbert  Huntington,  Jonathan  Hunting,  M. 
D.,  Matthew  Hunting,  Josiah,  David  and  Daniel  Hurd, 
Catherine  Inness,  Stephen,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Benjamin  and 
John  Jackson,  Rev.  Peter  Kanouse,  Mary  Kanouse,  Jo- 
siah Kern,  Helmer,  Jacob  and  Sarah  Kent,  Abraham 
Kitchel  and  wife,  Hannah  and  James  Kitchel,  Thomas, 
Andrew  and  John  King,  Eleazer,  Moses  and  Thankful 
Lamson,  Elizabeth,  Lazan,  Elijah  and  Stephen  Leonard, 
Matthias  Lerg,  Edward,  John,  Joseph,  Daniel  and  Sam- 
uel Lewis,  Amos,  Ebenezer,  Samuel  and  Moses  Linds- 
ley,  James  and  Charity-Lockwood,  James  P.,  Jacob,  John 
and  Joseph  Losey,  Samuel  and  Thomas  Love,  Enos 
Lymus  sen.  and  jr.,  Hannah  and  Jacob  Lymus,  William 
Ludlow,  Matthew  Luke,  Obadiah  and  James  Lum, 
Abraham,  Absalom,  Catherine,  Eliphalet  and  Jonah 
Lyon,  Patience  Matthews,  Thomas  Mann,  Francis  Mc- 
Carty,  John  McGibbons,  John  and  Samuel  Merritt, 
Frederick,  Jacob  and  Thomas  Miller,  Samuel  Miller  and 
wife,  William  Mills,  James,  William,  John,  Hannah  and 
Urania  Minthorn,  William  Mitchell,  Joshua,  David, 
Francis  and  Samuel  Moore,  Samuel  Morse  jr.,  Nathaniel 
Morse  jr.,  Abram  Morgan, Captain  John  Munson,  Jonathan 
and  Abiel  Nichols,  John  O'Hara,  Oliver  Ogden,  Thomas, 
Abram,  Nehemiah,  Catherine  and  Isaac  Osborne,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Osborne,  Ziba  L.  Owen,  Samuel  and  Jacob 
Palmer,  John  Parkhurst,  Eleazer  Perkins,  Willys  and 
Eben  Pierson,  David,  Elizabeth,  John,  Betsy,  Jacob  and 
Joanna  Peer,  Joel  Phelps,  William  Ray  and  wife,  John  N. 
E.  Ricts,  Jonathan  and  Thomas  Riggs,  Nathaniel  Rogers, 
William  Ross  and  wife,  Enoch,  Isaac,  Moses  and  Phebe 
Ross,  Newton  Russell,  Susan  Schidmore,  Joseph  Scott, 
Penina  Searing,  George  Shawger,  Phebe  Shores,  Isaac 
Southard  sen.  and  jr., "Benjamin  and  Timothy  Southard, 
Mrs.  Stags,  George  Stickle  and  wife,  Peter,  Elizabeth, 
Jacob  and  Edward  Stickle,  Thomas  and  Betsy  Stiles, 
John  and  Henry  Smith,  Job  Talmadge,  Mrs.  Nicholas 
Teales,  Mrs.  Jane  Ford  Tuttle,  Moses,  Daniel,  Eleanor 
and  Henry  Tuttle,  Frank  Van  Dyne,  Mark  Walton,  Ed- 
ward Wells,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Joseph  Whitehead,  Samuel 


Williams,  Jonas  WilHam,  Ruth  Williams,  Bethuel  Willis, 
General  William  Winds,  Ruhamah  Winds,  Joshua  Winget, 
William  Wallox,  Joseph  Wright,  Arthur  Young  (two), 
Matthias  Zeek. 

The  manual  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Platter  gives  an  alphabet- 
ical catalogue  of  the  members  of  the  church  from  the 
beginning  of  Mr.  King's  ministry  in  1807  to  1880.  It  is 
too  lengthy  to  insert  in  this  history,  as  it  contains  over 
1,150  names. 

Rev.  Dr.  Tuttle  says  that,  after  a  careful  examination 
of  the  subscription  papers  before  referred  to,  he  is  sat- 
isfied that  Job  Allen  is  the  scrivener  of  each  of  them;  his 
name  heads  both  subscriptions,  and  he  is  one  of  the  lar- 
gest contributors  and  takes  an  active  part  in  matters  con- 
nected with  the  church  in  later  years.  This  Job  Allen 
was  the  ancestor  of  the  Aliens  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
We  infer  this  from  the  facts  that  in  the  list  of  elders  of 
the  church  we  find  the  name  of  Job  Allen  sen.,  ordained 
in  1758,  and  that  he  died  in  1767;  in  1793  Job  Allen  jr. 
was  otdained  an  elder,  and  died  in  1802;  in  a  list  of  the 
trustees  of  the  church  the  names  of  Job  Allen  2nd 
and  Job  Allen  3d  appear.  The  original  Job  Allen 
was  a  housekeeper  and  may  have  resided  at  Denville, 
on  the  property  known  as  the  "  Glover  place,"  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Denville  Catholic  Protectory  School.  He 
was. probably  the  father  of  Job  Allen  jr.,  whose  name  ap- 
pears as  elder  in  1793.  During  the  Revolutionary  war 
Job  Allen  jr.  raised  and  commanded  a  company,  and  en- 
gaged in  actual  service  in  the  war.  The  junior  Allen 
was  no  doubt  the  owner  of  the  Glover  farm.  We  find  a 
deed  on  record  for  this  farm  of  240  acres,  made  March 
17th  1800  by  the  sheriff  of  Morris  county  to  Thomas  Os- 
born,  on  an  execution  against  Mary  Allen  as  administra- 
trix of  Job  Allen.  There  is  no  will  nor  letters  of  admin- 
istration on  the  estate  of  Job  Allen  in  the  county  rec- 
ords. This  same  deed  also  conveys  a  lot  of  land  known 
as  the  "copperas  mine  lot,"  and  says  the  description  and 
boundary  are  unknown. 

Job  Allen  the  elder  or  senior,  after  helping  to  build 
the  first  meeting-house,  is  known  to  have  put  in  the  gal- 
leries, and  to  have  finished  the  house  with  walls  and 
seats.  He  was  a  man  very  much  esteemed  in  the  par- 
ish. In  1748  there  is  a  return  of  land  in  Rockaway  to 
Jacob  Ford  jr.,  covering  the  water  power  which  includes 
"  Job  Allen's  iron  works."  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1767,  he  was  somewhat  involved,  and 
letters  of  administration  were  granted  on  his  estate  to 
Jacob  Ford  jr.  Job  Allen  jr.,  who  is  the  same  person 
designated  in  the  church  record  as  Job  Allen  2nd,  did 
not  confine  his  business  enterprise  to  the  villages  of  Rock- 
away  and  Denville;  but  from  information  furnished  by 
James  L.  Davenport,  of  Green  Pond,  it  appears  that 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  he  was  operating  the 
copperas  mines  at  Green  Pond,  and  made  red  paint,  or 
Venetian  red,  and  copperas,  and  also  kept  a  store,  and 
had  the  only  trading  post  for  all  that  part  of  the  county. 
This  is  consistent  with  the  deed  of  the  sheriff  to 
Thomas  Osborn  for  the  "  copperas  mine  "  lot  above  re- 
ferred to.     Job  Allen  3d  made  a  power  of  attorney  in 


45 


342 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


1814  (on  record  in  county  records),  appointing  Jacob 
Allen  of  Newark  his  attorney  to  pay  his  mother,  Mary 
Allen,  the  interest  of  $700  during  her  lifetime,  from 
which  it  appears  that  Job  Allen  3d  was  the  grandson  of 
the  first  Allen  named  in  the  parish  records. 

Gilbert  Hedden,  or  Hcddy,  as  he  is  called  in  one  of 
the  subscription  papers,  built  a  grist-mill  in  Rockaway 
(probably  the  first  one),  about  the  year  1760,  a  short 
distance  below  the  present  rolling-mills. 

David  Beaman,  whose  name  appears  upon  both  sub- 
scription papers,  was  considered  one  of  the  leading  men 
in  this  church  movement.  He  was  then  what  we  call  an 
old  settler,  and  owner  oL  a  forge,  grist-mill  and  saw- 
mill. His  neighbors  describe  him  as  a  man  very  quick 
in  his  movements;  being  engaged  in  his  three  branches 
of  work,  he  would  fill  his  mill  hopper  with  grain,  and 
start  the  mill;  then  run  to  the  saw-mill,  adjust  a  log,  and 
start  the  saw;  then  on  a  double-quick  get  to  the  forge, 
and  commence  to  hammer  out  a  bloom  or  a  bar  of  iron. 
Besides  these  occupations,  he  was  chorister,  sexton  and 
deacon  for  the  congregation;  represented  the  church  in 
presbytery,  and  looked  after  supplies  when  no  regular 
minister  was  present.  Yet,  while  he  was  so  lively  in 
most  things,  his  singing  must  have  dragged  "its  slow 
length  along,"  to  the  disgust  of  some  part  of  the  congre- 
gation, because  we  are  told  that  some  new  comers  in  the 
congregation  introduced  a  new  method  of  singing,  by 
discontinuing  the  reading  of  lines.  This  was  about  the 
year  1786,  while  the  Rev.  Daniel  Baldwin  was  pastor. 
Mr.  Beaman  was  very  much  disgusted  with  this  innova- 
tion. This  new  method  of  singing  was  introduced  by 
Benjamin  Jackson,  and,  although  opposed  by  Beaman, 
he  finally  yielded  "  for  the  peace  of  the  church."  Later 
subscription  papers  show  that  he  was  among  its  liberal 
supporters  for  nearly  fifty  years.  It  is  said  that  he  was 
buried  in  the  graveyard  belonging  to  the  church;  but  no 
stone  now  marks  his  grave.  He  died  about  1803.  He 
was  the  grandfather  of  Hubbard  S.  Stickle,  to  whom  fur- 
ther reference  will  be  made.  One  of  his  residences  was 
the  old  Berry  house  near  the  Mt.  Hope  iron  ore  dock,  at 
the  west  end  of  the  village.  His  wife  was  Mary  Stanbur- 
rough.  The  children  were  Josiah,  Samuel,  Lydia  (who 
married  Tommy  Conger),  Joanna,  Sarah  (who  married 
George  Stickle,  father  of  Hubbard)  and  Rahama.  Da- 
vid Beaman  had  a  brother  Josiah,  who  was  a  brother-in- 
law  of  Gen.  Winds  and  grandfather  of  the  late  Thomas 
Green,  of  Denville. 

William  Winds,  whose  name  is  on  the  subscription 
papers,  is  known  to  us  as  General  Winds  of  Revolution- 
ary fame.  He  owned  a  farm  on  the  road  from  Dover  to 
Morristown,  and  lived  on  it  for  many  years.  The  farm 
has  been  divided — part  being  owned  by  Robert  F.  Oram 
and  part  by  Thomas  Oram.  General  Winds  was  a  prom- 
inent man,  both  in  matters  of  church  and  State — a  true 
Christian,  patriotic  and  liberal. 

John  Huntington,  another  signer  of  these  papers,  re- 
sided about  a  mile  south  from  the  union  school-house  in 
this  township,  and  was  engaged  as  a  workman  in  connec- 
tion with  the  forges  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  at  Ninkie  and 


Shongun.       When  he  died  he  left   a  good  name  and  ex- 
ample. 

Obadiah  Lum,  or  Deacon  Lum,  as  he  was  more  famil- 
iarly called,  is  on  the  second  paper.  His  name  appears  on 
all  the  subsequent  subscription  papers  of  the  church  for 
several  years.  He  lived  in  Franklin,  on  part  of  the 
farm  now  owned  by  John  O.  Hill,  below  the  Palmer 
House. 

Another  name  closely  connected  with  the  early  history 
of  the  church  is  that  of  Jacob  Allerton,  also  a  deacon, 
although  his  name  does  not  appear  among  those  who 
were  considered  the  founders  of  the  church.  From  the 
records  of  the  church  it  appears  that  he  was  considered 
a  prominent  man,  and  for  many  years  filled  the  office  of 
ruling  elder  in  a  sincere,  consistent  and  Christian  man- 
ner. His  residence  was  at  Denville,  on  the  property 
lately  owned  by  Thomas  Green.  It  is  said  of  him  that 
he  was  very  conscientious  and  truthful;  in  the  govern- 
ment of  his  children  he  did  not  spare  the  rod,  yet  he  al- 
ways deferred  the  punishment  until  after  the  excitement 
of  the  occasion  had  pasred  away. 

In  those  days  the  elders  took  part  in  the  church  ser- 
vices, and  were  always  in  their  seats  under  the  pulpit;  of 
the  four  above  named  Deacon  Beaman  led  in  singing, 
Deacon  Huntington  and  the  others  alternating  in  the 
reading  of  the  psalm  line  by  line,  as  the  singing  was 
done. 

It  is  not  known  who  first  began  the  labor  of  preaching 
the  gospel  in  the  Rockaway  parish,  nor  the  time;  but  it  is 
probable  that  Rev.  Timothy  Johnes,  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Morristown,  and  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Green,  pastor  of  the  Hanover  church,  preached  there  oc- 
casionally before  the  church  was  organized.  Abner 
Beach  and  Job  Allen  were  members  of  the  Morristown 
church,  and  in  all  probability  were  interested  in  having  ■ 
Mr.  Johnes  preach  at  Rockaway. 

The  efforts  of  the  congregation  to  secure  the  privileges 
of  a  church  building  were  not  successful  at  first.  The 
subscription  before  given  amounted  to  nearly  ;£'20o;  a 
loan  of  ;£ioo  from  Colonel  Jacob  Ford  sen.,  of  Morris- 
town, gave  the  society  sufficient  funds  to  erect  a  frame 
church  in  1759,  and  in  1760  it  was  inclosed  and  the 
floors  laid.  There  was  no  ceiling,  plastering,  stove  or 
fireplace,  and  the  only  seats  were  planks  supported  on 
blocks  of  wood. 

Oh  the  24th  of  August  1762  Benjamin  Prudden  con- 
veyed to  Willis  Pierson,  Job  Allen  and  Obadiah  Lum,  as 
trustees,  "  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Roccaway,"  "  ten  acres  and  thirty  perch  "  of 
land,  which  is  the  old  church  lot. 

On  the  2nd  of  March  1758,  when  the  first  subscription 
paper  was  made,  the  people  recorded  their  desire  to 
"joyn  with  pasipaney  to  call  and  settel  a  minnester," 
and  ten  years  later  this  desire  was  realized  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Rev.  James  Tuttle  jr.  as  the  first  pastor  of 
the  church.  This  was  in  April  1768,  at  which  time  he 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  Rockaway  and  Parsippany 
churches.  The  congregation  appointed  five  persons  to 
represent  the  church  at  the  installation   and  receive  the 


PASTORS  OF  TH?:  ROCKAWAY  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


343 


minister,  namely:  William  Winds,  Obadiah  Lum,  Jacob 
Allerton,  David  Beaman  and  Benjamin  Prudden. 

Mr.  Tattle  remained  pastor  of  the  church  for  two 
years  and  seven  months,  at  which  time  he  died,  in  the 
29th  year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  at  Hanover.  He 
was  a  son-in-law  of  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  the  pastor  of  the 
Hanover  church,  and  brother  of  Moses  Tuttle,  an  old 
resident  of  Mount  Pleasant  and  an  influential  man  in  the 
Rockaway  parish.  The  parsonage  was  on  the  "Tom 
Mann  lot,"  near  the  lot  and  residence  of  Mr.  Cortright. 
Some  time  prior  to  this  Lord  Stirling  gave  the  parish 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  within  one  mile  of  the  church, 
for  parsonage  purposes.  Mr.  Tuttle's  salary  was  ^60 
for  one  half  of  his  time,  which  was  raised  by  an  assess- 
ment on  the  property  of  the  members  of  the  parish  and 
a  tax  according  to  the  assessment,  for  the  collection  of 
which  regular  appointments  from  the  parish  were  made. 
This  method  continued  until  1801. 

The  church  remained  without  a  pastor  over  thirteen 
years,  during  which  time  the  war  of  the  Revolution  in- 
tervened, and  of  course  the  community  was  in  uncer- 
tainly and  confusion.  At  this  time  pastors  were  scarce, 
and  as  the  field  was  not  a  very  inviting  one  the  church 
was  unable  to  secure  regular  preaching. 

Rev.  Timothy  Johnes,  of  Morristown,  preached  April 
15th  1770;  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis,  of  Mendham,  in  October 
1770;  Rev.  Mr.  Chapman,  of  Orange,  in  January  1771; 
Rev.  Mr.  Horton,  of  Bottle  Hill,  April  9th  1771;  Rev. 
Mr.  Kennedy,  of  Basking  Ridge,  July  nth  1771;  Rev. 
Mr.  Simpson,  July  25th  177 1.  Mr.  Simpson  preached 
twelve  Sabbaths  during  the  year  1772.  Rev.  Matthias 
Burnet  preached  three  times  in  1773.  The  church  had 
made  calls  to  Mr.  Simpson  and  Mr.  Burnet  to  become 
its  regular  pastor.     Each  call  was  declined. 

There  were  several  temporary  engagements  with  min- 
isters, for  six  months  or  shorter  periods,  from  this  time 
to  February  1784,  when  the  Rev.  David  Baldwin  accepted 
a  call,  and  was  duly  installed  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Green, 
of  Hanover.  The  church  was  then  under  charge  of  a 
Presbyterian  association  of  Morris  county,  of  which  Mr. 
Green  was  the  leader.  The  salary  of  Mr.  Baldwin  was  fixed 
at  ^80  per  year,  parsonage  and  firewood  found  him. 
The  parsonage  was  then  near  the  present  station  of  the 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad. 

The  historical  manual  of  the  church,  published  by  the 
Rev.  D.  E.  Platter,  on  page  10  says: 

"Mr.  Baldwin  was  a  good  man,  but  a  very  ordinary 
preacher.  He  took  charge  of  the  church  at  a  time 
when  its  spiritual  life  was  at  a  very  low  ebb.  The  mem- 
bers were  few  and  mostly  women,  the  congregations  were 
small,  and  there  was  a  widespread  laxity  of  manners 
and  morals.  Society  was  suffering  from  the  demoraliza- 
tion of  the  long  war.  In  addition  to  the  widespread  in- 
fidelity of  the  times,  and  the  general  indifference  to  re- 
ligion, there  was  internal  dissension,  which  neutralized, 
in  a  large  measure,  the  efforts  of  the  faithful  pastor.  The 
trouble  arose  out  of  the  singing.  The  custom  had  long 
prevailed  of  reading  the  psalm  line  by  line  while  singing 
— a  custom  which  arose  when  there  were  no  books  for 
the  people  to  sing  out  of.  David  Beaman  had  long  led 
the  singing  in  the  old  way.     A  party,  presumably  of  the 


young  people  who  had  an  ear  for  good  music,  attempted 
a  change;  Beaman  and  his  supporters  stoutly  resisted 
young  Benjamin  Jackson,  the  new  candidate  for  the 
honor  of  chorister,  and  his  party.  The  matter  was  com- 
promised at  first  by  allowing  Beaman  to  line  out  the 
psalm  and  sing  in  the  first  service,  and  Jackson  to  sing 
without  lining  in  the  second  service.  But  this  was  not 
the  end  of  the  matter.  The  quarrel  smoldered  for  years, 
occasionally  breaking  out  with  fury.  In  1789  feeling  ran 
so  high  that  William  Ross  and  David  Beaman  resigned 
their  eldership.  But,  after  hindering  for  a  long  time  the 
prosperity  of  the  church,  the  matter  was  finally  settled 
in  1792  in  favor  of  the  new  and  better  way.  During 
his  ministry  Mr.  Baldwin  purchased  a  farm  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Denville  road,  near  Savage  Corner,  and, 
moving  upon  it,  supplemented  his  meager  salary  by  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture,  'dividing  his  time  between  his 
crops  and  his  sermons." 

The  church  was  regularly  incorporated  on  the  6th  of 
March  1787,  when  William  Winds,  Stephen  Jackson, 
Abraham  Kitchel,  Benjamin  Beach,  Job  Allen,  David 
Beaman  and  David  Baker  were  elected  "  the  trustees  of 
the  first  Presbyterian  Congregation  at  Rockaway,  in  the 
county  of  Morris." 

On  the  14th  of  May  1792  it  was  voted  to  extend  to 
Rev.  John  J.  Carle  an  invitation  to  supply  the  pulpit  six 
months,  which  on  the  i8th  of  June  1792  was  made  into  a 
call  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  church.  The  call  was 
accepted,  and  in  January  1793  he  was  duly  installed. 
His  ordination  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  ever  wit- 
nessed in  Rockaway.  Mr.  Carle  soon  put  new  life  and 
energy  into  the  temporal  and  spiritual  concerns  of  the 
church,  and  the  people  commenced  an  improvement  in 
the  church  building,  by  putting  on  a  ceiling,  construct- 
ing galleries,  and  in  many  respects  making  it  more  com- 
fortable. 

The  first  record  of  elders  was  made  in  February  1793, 
although  the  office  of  elder  existed  prior  to  that  time. 
The  church  met  at  the  house  of  David  Beaman,  and 
there  were  present  Rev.  Mr.  Carle,  David  Beaman,  Job 
Allen,  John  Clark,  James  Farris,  William  Ross  and  Sam- 
uel Beaman.  David  Beaman,  Job  Allen  and  John  Clark 
were  nominated  as  candidates  for  the  office  of  ruling 
elder,  and  directed  to  be  "propounded  the  three  ensuing 
Lord's  days."  David  Beaman  was  nominated  at  this 
meeting  for  deacon. 

It  appears  that  the  congregation  had  hard  work  to 
keep  the  salary  of  Mr.  Baldwin  paid;  on  one  occasion  in 
1788  a  sale  of  part  of  the  parsonage  lands  near  the  depot 
was  made  to  pay  his  salary,  and  in  1792  the  balance  was 
sold,  a  parsonage  lot  was  procured  and  a  new  parsonage 
built  near  the  present  residence  of  Henry  B.  Palmer  at 
Franklin.  The  building  which  Mr.  Palmer  removed 
about  four  years  ago  to  make  room  for  his  new  house 
was  the  parsonage.  Mr.  Carle  did  not  live  in  the  new 
parsonage  very  long,  but  purchased  a  house  of  his  own  in 
Rockaway,  and  moved  there,  and  in  1795  ^^^  parsonage 
was  sold  to  Dr.  Ebenezer  H.  Pierson  for  $i,ioo.  After 
Mr.  Carle  moved  in  to  his  own  house  his  salary  was  raised 
from  ;^ 1 00  per  year  tO;^i8o"and  to  find  himself  in 
firewood."  Mr.  Carle's  usefulness  was  very  much  weak- 
ened by  his  indulgence  in  intoxicating  drinks,  which  be- 


344 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


came  so  frequent  and  open  that  he  was  released  from  his 
duties  in  the  spring  of  i8ot.  He  died  about  1808,  and 
is  buried  at  Basking  Ridge. 

Six  years  later  the  Rev.  Barnabas  King  came  into  the 
congregation.  During  these  six  years  there  were  occa- 
sional supplies,  who  were  paid  $5  a  Sunday  for  their  ser- 
vices. Among  these  supplies  we  find  the  names  of  Revs. 
Lemuel  Fordham,  Mr.  Cram,  James  Richards,  Amzi 
Armstrong,  Aaron  Condit,  Matthias  Burnet  and  Mr. 
Keys.  It  is  said  that  at  this  time  the  moral  condition  of 
the  community  was  at  a  very  low  ebb,  and  that  Deacon 
John  Clark  was  the  only  of  prayer  in  the  congre- 
gation. 

In  October  1807  Rev.  Barnabas  King  was  installed 
pastor,  and  for  55  years  thereafter,  until  the  loth  of 
April  1862,  the  time  of  his  death,  a  steady  work  of 
growth  and  grace  was  kept  up  in  the  congregation. 
There  are  many  persons  now  living  who  can  testify  to 
his  faithful  preparation  for  the  pulpit  and  all  the  duties 
of  his  position  as  pastor  to  a  large  and  scattered  congre- 
gation, which  extended  over  a  territory  at  least  ten  miles 
in  diameter.  Soon  after  his  charge  commenced  the 
people  began  a  fresh  effort  at  repairs  to  the  church,  and 
November  5th  1821  it  was  resolved  "that  Joseph  Jack- 
son have  leave  to  remove  the  canopy  over  the  pulpit  and 
lower  the  breastwork  in  front  as  low  as  Mr.  King  shall 
direct,  and  all  to  be  done  at  his  expense." 

In  1768  a  resolution  had  been  passed  "  that  a  stove  be 
allowed,  and  that  if  it  may  be  found  parnitious  that  then 
on  Complaint  that  it  may  be  so  parnitious  by  any  one 
['  supposed  to  be  a  person  of  sense  '  erased]  that  then 
in  such  case,  it  may  be  removed  from  thence  by  a  future 
meeting,  if  proper."  But  no  plan  for  warming  the 
church  was  carried  out  until  1820,  when  a  large  stove 
was  purchased  from  McQueen  &  Co.,  of  Mount  Hope, 
and  put  up  in  the  church,  with  the  stovepipe  running 
out  of  the  window. 

November  ist  1830  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  new 
meeting-house.  The  farm  of  General  Winds,  having 
been  devised  to  the  church,  was  sold  about  this  time, 
an.d  the  proceeds  paid  into  the  treasury.  The  "  new 
meeting-house  "  is  the  brick  structure  now  standing,  and 
was  dedicated  in  1832.  The  old  church  was  on  the 
small  elevation  about  fifty  feet  bads  of  the  new  one. 

In  September  1847  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  who  was  a 
son-in-law  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  King,  was  called  as  his  assist- 
ant or  colleague,  and  on  the  26th  of  April  1848  was  reg- 
ularly installed  as  such.  The  larger  part  of  the  work  of 
the  church  fell  upon  Mr.  Tuttle,  although  Mr.  King 
preached  frequently.  The  work  of  Dr.  Tuttle  speaks  for 
itself.  His  people  were  attached  to  him,  both  old  and 
young,  and  no  one  in  the  congregation  wished  him  to  re- 
sign his  charge,  which  he  did  formally  in  April  1862.  He 
had  declined  several  calls  to  larger  and  more  lucrative 
fields  of  labor,  and  his  work  of  fifteen  years  at  Rocka- 
way  was  finally  ended  by  a  pressing  invitation  to  accept 
the  presidency  of  Wabash  College.  This  change  in  his 
field  of  labor  was  due  partly  to  the  death  of  his  father- 
in-law.  Rev.  Mr.  King,  who  died  at  his  post  in  April  1862. 


In  the  biography  of  Rev.  Dr.  Finley,  page  95,  mention 
is  made  of  Rev.  Barnabas  King,  of  Rockaway,  N.  J.,  as 
being  one  of  a  number  of  the  brethren  in  the  synod  of 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  who  had  expressed  them- 
selves upon  the  subject  of  universal  emancipation,  and 
had  been  agitating  the  matter  in  1807  and  1812. 

On  the  8th  of  July  1862  Rev.  Samuel  P  Halsey  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church,  at  a 
salary  of  $600  per  annum,  which  in  September  1864  was 
raised  to  |i,ooo.  On  the  17th  of  January  1865  his  rela- 
tion to  the  church  was  dissolved  at  his  request,  that  he 
might  take  charge  of  a  church  at  Stamford,  Conn. 

The  Rev.  William  E.  Honeyman  was  employed  as 
stated  supply  on  the  nth  of  April  1865,  and  ren)ained 
until  the  ist  of  April  1866.  Up  to  the  time  of  Mr. 
Honeyman's  coming  "  Watts's  Select  Hymns  "  had  been 
used,  the  choir  selecting  the  tunes,  but  not  after  the 
Deacon  Beaman  style.  Mr.  Honeyman  improved  the 
singing  by  the  introduction  of  the  "  Songs  of  the  Sanc- 
tuary." 

On  the  7th  of  March  1867  the  Rev.  O.  H.  Perry  Deyo 
was  Called.  He  was  pastor  until  the  20th  of  October 
1872.  During  his  pastorate  several  improvements  were 
made  to  the  church  property,  including  a  new  slate  roof 
to  the  church,  painting,  partial  new  seating,  lowering  the 
galleries,  erecting  the  present  parsonage,  and  grading  and 
improving  the  grounds,  at  a  total  expense  of  about  $8,000. 

On  the  14th  of  April  1874  the  Rev.  David  E.  Platter 
accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor,  and  remained  an  ef- 
ficient and  acceptable  worker  until  February  1881,  when 
he  left  to  take  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Canton,  Ohio. 

The  interval  between  Mr.  Deyo's  and  Mr.  Platter's 
pastorates  was  filled  principally  by  the  Rev.  O.  S.  St. 
John,  of  the  New  York  Witness,  and  the  Rev.  Pearce 
Rodgers,  of  Mine  Hill. 

On  the  i2th  of  June  1881  Rev.  J.  O.  Averill,  of  Flush 
ing,  L.  I.,  was  called  to  this  church;  on  the    19th  of  the 
same  month  he  accepted  the  call,  and  he  is  now  in  charge 
of  the  congregation  as  its  pastor. 

MT.   HOPE    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

The  next  oldest  church  erected  in  the  bounds  of  this 
township  appears  to  have  been  a  Baptist  church,  a  log 
structure  which  stood  a  short  distance  north  of  Mt. 
Hope.  The  information  about  this  church  comes  from 
Agnes  Walton,  a  maiden  lady  of  88  years,  who  resides 
on  the  "  Walton  farm  "  between  Mt.  Hope  and  Middle 
forge;  and  from  Michael  Dolan,  residing  in  the  same 
neighborhood.  Miss  Walton  recollects  seeing  the  church 
many  times  when  she  was  a  child,  but  does  not  remem- 
ber when  it  was  taken  down  or  disappeared.  She  re- 
members her  father,  Reuben  Walton,  going  to  this 
church.  It  stood  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  cross- 
roads on  the  hill  north  of  Mt.  Hope,  where  the  Middle 
Forge  road  leaves  the  Denmark  road.  The  old  road  bed 
at  this  point  is  seen  a  short  distance  to  the  east  of  the 
present  road;  and  from  the  best  information  the  church 
it  is  thought  must  have  stood  in  the  cleared  field  east  of 


BAPTIST  ANt)   METHOt)IST  CHURCHES,  ROCKAWAY  TOWNSHIP. 


345 


the  crossroads.     A  graveyard  was  by  the  church,  but  at 
present  no  indications  can  be  seen  of  either. 

There  are  other  circumstances  besides  the  memory  of 
Miss  Walton  which  point  very  strongly  to  the  belief  that 
a  Baptist  church  was  there.  Miss  Walton's  grandfather, 
John  Walton,  lived  on  the  Walton  farm,  and  had  a  son 
John,  who  was  a  Baptist  minister  and  who  died  in  1770, 
while  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Morristown.  Old 
John  Walton  was  a  strong  Baptist,  and  had  used  every 
exertion  within  his  limited  means  to  prepare  his  son  John 
for  the  ministry  of  that  church.  The  son  was  the  second 
minister  over  the  Morristown  Baptist  church,  from  1765 
to  1770,  the  time  of  his  death.  The  name  of  Rev.  John 
Walton  appears  several  times  in  the  book  of  "  Minutes 
of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association  from  1707  to 
1807,"  which  was  shown  to  us  by  Samuel  H.Hunt,  of  New- 
ton, whose  library  of  over  2,000  volumes  abounds  in  rare 
and  valuable  books.  On  page  115  an  entry  in  the  minutes 
reads  as  follows:  "We  feel  chastisement  from  Heaven 
by  the  death  of  our  beloved  brother  Rev.  John  Walton, 
and  pray  that  God  will  not  suffer  that  church  with  whom 
he  resided  to  be  like  sheep  without  a  shepherd."  This 
entry  was  made  at  the  October  meeting,  1770.  Mr.  Wal- 
ton is  buried  in  the  Baptist  church  yard  at  Morristown. 
The  Mt.  Hope  Baptist  church  is  the  only  one  that  was 
ever  erected  in  the  bounds  of  this  township. 

METHODIST    CHURCHES. 

The  center  of  Methodism  in  Morris  county  was  at 
Flanders,  in  Roxbury  township.  The  society  there 
was  the  first  in  East  Jersey  to  erect  a  church,  which 
is  supposed  to  have  been  built  in  1785,  under  the 
leadership  of  David  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Mor- 
ristown, N.  J.,  November  25th  1749.  Prior  to 
1771  there  were  not  over  fifty  Methodists  in  all  New 
Jersey.  Bishop  Asbury  arrived  in  Philadelphia  in  that 
year,  and  in  his  journal  (Vol.  Ill,  page  121)  says,  "  In  17  71 
there  were  about  250  Methodists  in  Philadelphia,  and  300 
in  New  York,  and  a  few  in  New  Jersey."  The  next  circuit 
formed  after  Flanders  was  the  Chatham  circuit,  and  be- 
tween Flanders  and  Chatham  there  is  no  doubt  that  itiner- 
ant preachers  of  that  society  had  visited  Rockaway  some 
time  prior  to  1810,  and  held  preaching  services  from 
house  to  house  wherever  the  door  was  opened  to  them. 

The  Methodist  society  was  early  in  this  field  with  its 
preachers,  and  no  doubt  good  Bishop  Asbury  was  among 
the  pioneers  to  establish  preaching  services  in  our 
bounds. 

The  Oldest  Methodist  Church  organization  in  the  town- 
ship is  that  of  the  Rockaway  Valley  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  which  is  now  the  Denville  church.  In  Book 
A  of  Religious  Societies,  in  the  Morris  county  records, 
page  29,  is  a  record  as  follows:  "We,  Benjamin  Lum, 
Samuel  K.  Wilson  and  John  P.  Cook,  appointed  by  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Rockaway  Valley,  having 
been  sworn  as  the  sth  Sec.  of  the  law  to  incorporate  re- 
ligious societies,  passed  the  13th  of  June  1799,  do  cer- 
tify that  we  have  taken  to  ourselves  the  name,  style  and 
title  of  the  '  Methodist    Episcopal  Church  in  Rockaway 


Valley.'  "     This  record  is  dated  the  23d  and  was  entered 
the  25th  day  of  January  1810. 

The  society  at  this  time  or  in  a  year  or  so  afterward 
had  a  church  erected,  and  a  regular  minister.  The 
church  building  stood  about  a  mile  below  Denville,  on 
the  left  side  of  the  road  leading  past  the  Catholic  Pro- 
tectory to  Boonton,  at  a  place  known  as  Cook's  Corner. 
It  was  a  small  building  and  was  called  "  Cook's  church," 
in  all  probability  after  the  man  who  built  it,  as  a  deed  is 
recorded  from  widow  Mary  Cook,  John  P.  Cook  and 
Mary  his  wife,  of  Hanover,  to  the  trustees  of  the  Meth- 
odist church,  for  a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  land.  The 
deed  is  dated  January  13th  1825.  This  was  nearly 
twenty  years  after  the  congregation  was  formed. 

On  the  ist  of  April  1841  William  Hiler,  of  Denville, 
made  a  deed  to  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Denville  (William  E.  Hinchman,  Jacob  Peer, 
Stephen  Dickerson,  Eliakim  Anderson,  Samuel  D.  AVood, 
Charles  H.  Gardner  and  James  N.  Clark)  for  a  lot  there. 
In  April  of  the  same  year  the  trustees  of  the  church  re- 
solved to  take  down  the  church  building  on  the  Cook  lot 
and  move  it  to  the  Hiler  lot,  near  the  school-house  in 
Denville.  This  was  done  and  the  new  church  was  re- 
dedicated. 

It  appears  that  the  trustees  of  the  new  church  had  no 
knowledge  of  the  act  of  incorporation  of  January  25th 
1810,  and  on  the  23d  of  February  1880  Joseph  A.  Righter, 
Joseph  Hinchman,  J.  D.  Cooper,  Edward  C.  Peer  and 
Stephen  Dickerson  associated  themselves  into  a  church 
as  the  "  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Denville;"  or,  if 
the  former  organization  was  known  to  the  society,  they 
may  have  taken  it  to  be  the  church  at  Rockaway  Valley, 
near  Powerville,  which  was  then  called  the  "Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Rockaway  Valley."  At  all  events 
the  fact  was  discovered  that  there  were  two  acts  of  in- 
corporation for  the  same  church  organization,  and  two 
names.  To  remedy  the  confusion  to  which  this  would 
lead,  a  very  elaborate  and  comprehensive  resolution  was 
passed  by  the  Denville  society  in  January  1880,  accepting 
the  latter  incorporate  name,  and  confirming  all  that  had 
been  done  by  the  trustees. 

Prior  to  this  a  deed  had  been  given  by  John  Hinch- 
man and  Mary  his  wife  to  "  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  the  trustees  thereof,  for  the  time  being  and 
their  successors  in  office,  of  the  village  of  Denville,  in  the 
county  of  Morris  and  State  of  New  Jersey  "  for  a  parson- 
age lot. 

The  known  membership  of  the  Denville  and  Rockaway 
Valley  churches  is  given  in  the  minutes  of  the  Newark 
conference  at  103.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain  is  the 
present  minister. 

Joseph  Casterline,  formerly  Joseph  Casterline  jr.,  who 
resides  on  the  old  turnpike  between  Rockaway  and  Mt. 
Pleasant,  and  from  whom  many  interesting  facts  have 
been  gathered,  recollects  going  to  meetings  in  "  Cook's 
church  "  in  1812.  It  was  a  small  frame  building,  and 
quite  an  old  structure  at  that  early  day — the  oldest  and 
in  fact  the  only  church  in  the  neighborhood,  except  the 
Rockaway  and  Whippany  churches — and  he  recollects  its 


346 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


being  moved  up  to  Denville.  His  first  church  member- 
ship was  with  this  old  society.  Some  of  its  early  preach- 
ers were  Rev.  Messrs.  Kennard,  Long,  Kennedy,  Mc- 
Combs,  Page,  Atwood  and  Wenner.  He  was  at  this  time 
living  at  Rockaway  in  the  eniploy  of  Colonel  Joseph 
Jackson.  Job  Allen  owned  and  lived  on  the  Glover 
farm,  now  the  Catholic  Protectory  farm. 

The  Methodist  Church  in  Rockaway  was  incorporated 
the  2oth  of  April  1833.  David  Stickle,  James  Eakley, 
David  Cole,  Abraham  L.  Clark  and  Joseph  Casterline  jr. 
were  the  trustees  at  the  time.  The  first  church  building 
was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1833,  on  the  spot  now  occu- 
pied by  the  building  which  was  erected,  about  ten  years 
ago..  Mr.  Casterline  in  1833  was  living  near  the  union 
school-house,  and  was  called  on  by  Rev.  James  Ayres, 
who  was  the  presiding  elder  for  this  circuit,  to  get  a 
meeting  together  for  the  purpose  of  forming  the  Rocka- 
way Methodist  church.  Mr.  Casterline  took  hold  of  the 
work  and  the  result  was  the  organization  of  the  church. 
The  first  mmister  in  charge  was  Rev.  Mr.  Shepherd. 
Among  his  successors  were  the  Rev-.  Messrs.  Dunn, 
Downes,  Hewes,  Paul,  Wilson  and  Wyath  and  others, 
whose  names  are  not  remernbered. 

The  land  on  which  the  church  was  built  was  donated 
by  Joseph  Righter,  a  resident  of  P..ockaway.  The  mem- 
bership of  this  church  is  given  at  161.  Rev.  Mr.  Conk- 
lin  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  next  church  of  the  Methodist  denomination  was 
that  of  Rockaway  Valley,  which  stands  on  the  road  lead- 
ing from  the  homestead  farm  of  the  late  William  M. 
Dixon  to  Powerville.  The  society  was  incorporated  on 
the  5th  of  June  1842,  under  the  name  of  "  the  Trustees  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Rockaway  Valley," 
with  John  Decker,  Jacob  Van  Winkle,  William  M.  Dixon 
and  Caleb  W.  Edwards  as  trustees.  The  preaching 
services  are  under  the  charge  of  the  pastor  of  the  Den- 
ville M.  E.  church. 

Miners'  Churches. — A  Methodist  church  was  built  in 
February  1873,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Welsh  church, 
for  the  Allen  and  Teabo  mine  families,  on  land  given  by 
the  New  Jersey  Iron  Mining  Company.  The  title  for 
the  church  lot  is  held  by  the  Andover  Iron  Company. 
Its  cost  was  about  $1,000.  This  church  was  burned 
about  a  year  after  its  erection,  and  was  rebuilt  on  the 
same  spot  in  1874  with  the  insurance  money  of  the  first 
building.  H.  O.  Van  Nostrand,  of  New  York,  donated 
the  organ  for  this  church.  Teabo  and  Port  Oram  to- 
gether report  a  membership  of  145.  This  society  is  now 
under  the  charge  of  the  Methodist  pastor  at  Port  Oram, 
who  has  a  preaching  appointment  for  it  once  a  month. 

In  1870  the  Mount  Hope  Iron  Mining  Company 
erected  a  church  at  Mount  Hope,  for  the  benefit  of  any 
society  of  Christians  that  might  desire  to  worship  in  it 
The  Methodist  society,  being  much  more  numerous  than 
others  in  that  locality,  has  used  it  regularly  since  its  erec- 
tion, and  now  has  a  minister  of  its  own.  The  present 
pastor  is  the  Rev.  C.  W.  McCormick,  son  of  the  Rev.  W. 
H.  McCormick,  of  the  Second  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Dover. 


The  title  to  the  church  lot  is  in  the  Mt.  Hope  Com- 
pany. The  basement  of  the  church  edifice  is  used  for 
school  purposes.  The  society  reports  a  membership  of 
68. 

On  the  26th  of  October  1869  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Hibernia  was  dedicated.  It  was  built  with 
funds  contributed  chiefly  by  the  Andover  Iron  Company, 
the  Glendon  Iron  Company,  the  mercantile  firm  of  Rich- 
ards, Beach  &  Co.,  of  Hibernia,  Adolph  C.  Poppenhusen, 
of  New  York  city,  Richards  &  Tippets,  Hon.  C.  Beach 
and  others;  it  cost  about  $8,100.  The  church  lot  was 
donated  by  Mr.  Beach,  and  is  held  by  the  Andover  Iron 
Company.  The  first  trustees  were  elected  May  20th 
1871,  and  were  C.  Beach,  H.  Lumsden,  M.  Prisk,  W. 
PoUand,  M.  S.  Hiler,  T.  H.  Whitford  and  W.  Hanschka. 

In  the  spring  of  1871  a  parsonage  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $2,200.  The  mining  companies  of  Hibernia 
above  named,  together  with  several  members  and  friends 
of  the  society,  joined  in  defraying  the  expense.  The 
house  was  furnished  at  a  cost  of  $325,  and  the  parsonage 
library  was  added.  The  library  contains  the  "  Compre- 
hensive Commentary,"  presented  by  Mrs.  Dr.  Beach. 

The  pastors  have  been  as  follows:  In  1868,  J.  W.  Fol- 
som;  1869-71,  George  Miller;  1871-74,  A.  M.  Harris; 
1874,1875,  W.  S.  Galloway;  1875,  1876,  A.  H.  Bekes;  1876, 
W.  C.Buckman;  1877-80,  A.  S.  Hiller;  1880,  1881,  J.  W. 
Barritt;  1881,  G.  T.  Jackson,  the  present  pastor.  This 
society  reports  a  membership  of  86. 

Other  Methodist  Enterprises. — In  1852  a  Methodist 
class  of  forty  members  was  formed  at  Greenville,  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Cross,  a  member  of  the  Newark  Conference. 
In  1861  Greenville  was  made  a  preaching  appointment, 
and  it  is  now  under  the  charge  of  the  Hibernia  church. 
No  church  building  has  been  erected,  and  all  church  ser- 
vices are  held  in  the  school-house. 

At  Lyonsville  school-house  also  the  Methodist  society 
has  been  holding  preaching  services. 

The  most  successful  religious  enterprise  of  the  town- 
ship has  been  the  Denville  Camp  Meeting  Association, 
which  commenced  in  1870  by  purchasing,  for  $10,000, 
the  homestead  farm  of  Stephen  Dickerson,  near  Den- 
ville, a  part  of  which  was  laid  out  in  avenues  and  plats 
and  opened  for  camp  meetings  of  the  Methodist  church. 
It  is  now  a  handsome  village  in  a  splendid  grove  of 
timber,  and  a  popular  resort  for  families  during  the  sum- 
mer season.  Lot  owners  have  leasehold  titles,  with  all 
the  necessary  restrictions  for  good  government  and  the 
police  arrangements  of  a  city. 

WELSH    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

In  May  1857  Welsh  services  were  commenced  at  the 
Richards  mines  between  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Mt.  Hope,  and 
a  nucleus  for  a  church  was  formed,  services  being  held 
at  Mine  Hill  and  Mt.  Pleasant  every  other  Sunday,  under 
charge  of  the  Rev.  John  R.  Jenkins,  a- Welsh  minister, 
who  was  also  connected  with  one  of  the  mining  compa- 
nies. Soon  after  this  Mr.  Jenkins  went  to  Ohio  and  re- 
mained there  eight  months.  In  the  meantime  the  mem- 
bers joined  with  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Dover,  but  on 


ST.  BERNARD'S   PARISH— GRAVEYARDS  IN  ROCKAWAY. 


347 


the  return  of  Mr.  Jenkins  he  commenced  to  preach  for 
the  Welsh  people  at  the  Richards  mines.  In  1863  this 
society  built  the  frame  church  edifice  now  standing  near 
the  Richards  mines,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  The  land  is 
owned  by  the  Thomas  Iron  Company,  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. 

In  October  1863  the  Rev.  William  Roberts,  D.  D.,  of 
New  York,  and  Rev.  E.  B.  Evence,  of  Hyde  Park, 
Pa.,  preached  the  sermons  at  the  dedication  of  the 
church.  This  church  was  a  branch  of  the  Dover  Pres- 
byterian church  and  came  under  the  care  of  Morris  Pres- 
bytery. In  October  1869  the  Dover  church  and  the 
presbytery  decided  that  it  should  be  called  the  "Welsh 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Richards  Mines." 

The  Rev.  John  R.  Jenkins  was  ordained  pastor  of  this 
church  November  2nd  1869,  and  at  the  same  time  Rich- 
ard Jenkins,  John  Bellis  and  Morgan  Jenkins  were  or- 
dained elders.  The  death  of  John  R.  Jenkins,  which  oc- 
curred in  January  1876,  left  the  congregation  without  a 
pastor,  and  no  one  has  succeeded  him.  Preaching  services 
are  held  occasionally  by  the  pastor  of  the  Dover  Presby- 
terian church.     The  church  is  out  of  debt. 

ROMAN  CATHOLIC    INSTITUTIONS. 

On  the  29th  of  September  1875  St.  Bernard's  Roman 
Catholic  Church  of  Mount  Hope  was  duly  incorporated, 
with  Rev.  Michael  J.  Connelly  pastor,  and  John  Burke 
and  John  Finnegan  lay  members  of  the  church.  About 
1840  the  Roman  Catholic  society  built  a  church  on  a  lot 
donated  by  Barnabas  Galliger,  on  the  corner  of  the 
Mount  Hope  and  Mount  Pleasant  roads,  near  Michael 
Galligan's.  The  land  was  donated  for  the  uses  of  a 
Roman  Catholic  church  only,  but  after  the  church  had 
been  erected  it  was  also  used  for  a  school.  This  being  a 
violation  of  the  terms  of  the  deed  Mr.  Galliger  brought 
an  action  of  ejectment,  and  recovered  possession  of  the 
land  and  building.  This  church  was  very  soon  after- 
ward destroyed  by  fire,  and  another  was  erected  by  St. 
Bernard's  parish,  near  the  Teabo  mine,  on  the  road  lead- 
ing by  Matthew  Kerney's;  it  was  called  the  Mount  Hope 
Roman  Catholic  Church. 

St.  Bernard's  parish  has  within  a  very  short  time  pur- 
chased the  hall  of  the  Mount  Hope  Temperance  Society, 
at  Middletown,  on  the  Mount  Hope  and  Rockaway  road, 
and  also  a  lot  of  land  of  John  Snyder  at  the  same  place, 
and  erected  thereon  an  expensive  parsonage  and  school- 
house  (the  school  under  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity), 
which  was  completed  and  consecrated  on  Christmas  day 
1880.  The  grounds  are  large  and  commodious,  with  fine 
buildings  and  improvements. 

Father  McGann  is  the  present  pastor.  This  parish  is 
now  agitating  the  subject  of  a  new  and  substantial  church, 
of  brick,  at  Mount  Hope,  in  place  of  the  small  frame 
building  now  used  by  St.  Bernard's  society. 

About  1865  a  Roman  Catholic  church  known  as  St. 
Patrick's  was  erected  at  Hibernia,  or  rather  at  Upper 
Hibernia;  and  about  1876  a  similar  church,  designated 
as  St.  Cecelia's,  was  built  at  Rockaway,  near  the  Righter 
pond.      The    former   belongs    to    the    Roman    Catholic 


parish  of  Boonton,  and  the  latter  to  that  of  the  protectory 
at  Danville. 

The  last  named  institution  is  located  on  the  property 
known  as  the  Glover  farm,  near  Denville  (once  occupied 
by  Job  Allen,  as  before  stated),  and  is  under  the  care  of 
the  diocese  of  Newark,  N.  J.  It  has  been  in  existence 
since  187 1,  and  is  one  of  the  charitable  institutions  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church.  The  Glover  farm  is  worked  in 
the  interest  of  the  protectory,  by  those  who  are  under  its 
care. 

Graveyards. 

Rockaway  township  has  several  burying  grounds,  both 
public  and  private.  The  principal  public  ground  is  the 
Rockaway  cemetery,  connected  with  the  Rockaway 
Presbyterian  church,  and  its  history  is  that  of  the  church. 
The  land  title  is  the  same  asjhat  of^the  church  proper,  and 
the  ground  contains  about  13  acres.  The  location  is  all  that 
could  be  desired  in  a  cemetery — convenient,  retired,  un- 
dulating, with  glens  and  ravines  to  break  the  sameness, 
and  forest  trees  and  shrubbery  to  ornament  it;  and  dry 
graveled  avenues  and  suitable  lot  enclosures  have  been 
constructed.  A  stroll  through  these  ample  grounds  will 
disclose  many  time-worn  headstones,  with  inscriptions  en- 
tirely effaced-,  or  so  dim  with  age  that  a  stranger  cannot 
ascertain  the  occupant  of  the  grave.  Although  among 
the  oldest,  yet  the  slab  which  marks  the  resting  place  of 
Gen.  William  Winds  is  very  distinct  in  its  lettering,  and 
in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  It  is  composed  of  red 
sandstone,  and  bears  this  inscription:  "  Gen.  Wm.  Winds, 
died  Oct.  12  1789,  in  the  62d  year  of  age.'' 

Besides  the  graveyard  at  the  place  where  the  Baptist 
church  at  the  Mt.  Hope  crossroads  formerly  stood,  as  be- 
fore mentioned,  we  find  a  burying  ground  known  as  the 
"  Walton  yard,"  a  short  distance  north  of  the  Baptist 
ground,  and  to  the  right  of  the  road  from  Mt.  Hope  to 
Berkshire  Valley,  whicli.  undoubtedly  has  been  used  for 
over  a  hundred  years.  There  is  no  enclosure  at  preserit, 
and  it  is  used  by  the  old  families  in  the  neighborhood. 
A  few  scattering  headstones  mark  the  graves,  some  of 
them  having  inscriptions,  but  many  wiihout,  and  nothing 
to  designate  a  grave  except  the  rough  mountain  stone  of 
the  locality.  The  headstone  of  one  of  the  early  settlers  in 
this  neighborhood  is  plainly  distinguished  by  this  inscrip- 
tion: "John  Walton,  died  July  30  1787,87  years  of  age.' 
He  was  the  grandfather  of  Agnes  Walton,  and  father  of 
Rev.  John  Walton.  The  grave  of  his  wife,  Anne,  who 
died  August  20th  T791,  aged  73  years,  is  by  that  of  her 
husband.  Peter  Doland,  father  of  Michael  Doland,  and 
his  wife  Elizabeth  are  buried  in  this  yard;  the  latter  died 
in  1852,  aged  97  years. 

There  were  several  graveyards  in  Rockaway  Valley  or 
adjoining  localities  besides  the  public  cemetery  at  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  Martin  Hiler  place 
contains  many  old  headstones,  yet  to  be  seen  close  by  the 
upper  road.  This  was  first  used  over  one  hundred  years 
ago,  judging  from  statements  made  by  David  Smith,  of 
Greenville.  Martin  Hiler  was  the  great-great-grandfather 
of  Mr.  Smith  on  his  mother  side,  and  Mr.  Smith  is  now 


348 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


84  years  of  age.  He  also  speaks  of  a  graveyard  on  the 
Scott  place  between  Denville  and  Povverville,  evidences 
of  which  still  remain;  one  on  the  Deinouth  road,  near 
Stony  Brook,  and  one  on  the  John  P.  Cook  place,  near 
where  the  "Cook  "  church  stood.  The  Cook  graveyard 
is  the  principal  one  for  Denville. 

Another  very  old  burial  place  exists  on  the  Alexander 
Egbert  farm  (now  on  the  Cobb  farm),  on  the  road  from 
Hibernia  to  Green  Pond,  better  known  as  "  Egbert's 
Corner."  It  is  unenclosed,  in  an  open  field,  and  contains 
over  fifty  graves.  There  is  no  deed  for  the  site.  It  is 
kept  up  by  two  or  three  old  families  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  "  Winters  ''  burying  ground  is  about  half  a  mile 
south  of  the  Greenville  school-house;  and  is  an  old  one, 
the  Winters  family  being  among  the  very  early  settlers; 
it  is  unenclosed.  The  land  is  now  owned  by  A.  B, 
Cobb's  estate.  An  occasional  interment  is  made  here, 
among  the  last  of  which  was  Peter  D.  Henderson,  an  old 
resident.  There  is  no  charge  for  lots;  the  friends  pre- 
pare the  ground  by  clearing  off  the  brush,  stones,  etc., 
and  open  the  grave.  The  "  Zeek  "  graveyard  near 
Greenville  is  also  in  the  same  open  condition. 

The  "Cuff"  burying  ground  is  on  lands  owned  by 
Theodore  Brown,  near  Newfoundland.  It  is  one  of  the 
oldest,  judging  from  the  date  of  an  old  .stone  house, 
given  on  a  stone  over  the  door  as  1773. 

There  is  a  burying  ground — not  used  at  present — at 
Hibernia,  near  the  Green  Pond  Road,  on  lands  belonging 
to  the  Barton  farm.  St.  Patrick's  cemetery  at  Hibernia 
adjoins  the  Catholic  church,  and  was  consecrated  for  its 
purpose  about  seven  years  ago. 

At  the  Durham  forge,  between  Greenville  and  Char- 
lotteburgh,  a  plat  of  ground  was  formerly  used  for  a  bury- 
ing place,  and  also  one  on-the  old  Shawgerfarm,  on  the 
road  from  Michael  De  Graw's  to  Green  Pond. 

On  the  farm  of  John  O.  Hill,  at  Franklin,  a  family 
graveyard  exists;  although  it  was  originally  private,  inter- 
ments have  been  made  for  persons  outside  of  the  Hill 
'family,  by  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Hill. 

The  "  Harriman "  graveyard  is  used  by  the  public, 
and  is  an  old  location,  a  short  distance  east  of  William 
Lathrop's  farm,  between  Rockaway  and  Denville. 

The  cemetery  of  St.  Cecelia,  at  Rockaway  on  the  road 
to  Mt.  Hope,  was  first  opened  for  interments  by  the  Cath- 
olic church  at  the  time  the  church  of  St.  Cecelia  was 
erected  at  this  place. 

Roads  and  Bridges. 

Nearly  all  the  present  roads  in  the  township  were  origin- 
ally bridle  paths  or  by-roads,  and  in  many  localities, 
being  in  a  rough,  hilly  and  broken  territory,  were  not 
susceptible  of  any  great  degree  of  improvement.  Even 
now  some  of  the  oldest  mountain  roads  are  in  use  by  the 
public,  but  not  laid  out,  or  under  the  township  author- 
ities. 

The  first  road  record  in  the  county  is  in  Book  A  of 
Roads,  page  9,  and  refers  to  a  public  road  from  Rocka- 
way to  Dover.  It  will  be  interesting  to  give  the  return 
of  the  road  entire,  as  follows: 


"We  the  commissioners  of  Morris  county,  being  legally 
called  and  raett,  have  agred  and  laid  out  a  three  rod  road, 
and  beginning  at  Rockaway  Meeting  House,  and  then 
Running  just  to  the  west  of  David  Beaman's  Meadow, 
strat  to  William  Jackson's  house;  thence  to  kep  along 
the  cleared  road  until  it  coms  near  to  a  Hill;  then  to  turn 
to  the  right  hand  of  Said  road,  to  continue  a  strait  to 
the  head  of  the  Hollow,  leaving  the  Hills  upon  the  right 
hand;  then  down  into  the  hollow  to  a  white  oak  tree, 
upon  the  right  hand;  then  to  continue  a  straight  corse, 
just  to  the  west  of  the  low  land  in  Amos  Lindsley  field; 
thence  to  Continue  a  Straight  Course  down  to  the  Riding 
place  in  Rockaway  River  near  William  Ross's;  then  to 
keep  its  Cors  to  the  grate  Causeway  that  is  on  the  King's 
Road  in  Captain  Wind's  land,  near  the  East  Side  of  his 
field  that  adjoins  to  his  house.  The  above  road  is  all 
laid  out  in  Morris  county  and  in  Pequannock  and  Mend- 
ham  townships,  as  witness  our  hands  this  i6th  day  of  • 
September  Anno  Dom.  1761:  William  Winds,  Peter 
Young,  Ichabod  Case,  Jacob  Gould,  Hartshorn  Fitz- 
Randolph,  Nathaniel  Horton." 

"  David  Beaman's  meadow,''  referred  to  in  this  record, 
is  now  the  Halsey  meadow,  near  the  race-course;  "Wil- 
liam Jackson's  house  "  was  near  the  Wiggins  house,  by 
the  canal;  "William  Ross's"  is  now  the  John  Dickerson 
place.  The  house  of  Captain  Winds  stood  at  the  west 
end  of  the  site  of  the  lower  barn  of  R.  F.  Oram,  on  the 
Winds  farm,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  from  Dover 
to  Morristown,  referred  to  as  "  the  King's  road."  The 
Winds  well  is  to  be  seen  there  at  this  time. 

Surveyors  were  appointed  by  the  court  to  lay  out  a 
public  road  from  Hibernia  to  Newfoundland,  on  the  sth 
of  October  1803,  and  made  their  return  on  the  26th  of 
October  1804,  over  a  year  after  the  proceedings  to  lay 
the  road  were  commenced.  This  road  began  on  a  course 
S  5°  W  290  from  Hibernia  furnace  stack,  in  the  old  road, 
and  continued  to  George  Shawger's  dwelling-house. 
This  is  the  road  leading  from  Hibernia,  by  the  Barton 
and  Scott  farms,  Egbert's  Corner  and  the  Shawger  house, 
over  the  Green  Pond  Mountain,  by  the  hotel  of  James  L. 
Davenport,  to  Newfoundland.  The  Shawger  dwelling  is 
standing  on  the  farm  of  Frederick  Mathews,  and  is 
pointed  out  as  the  large  log  house  on  the  left  side  of  the 
road  after  leaving  Egbert's  Corner,  toward  the  Mathews 
house.  George  Shawger  was  a  German,  and  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  that  part  of  the  township.  Tradition  says 
the  log  house  is  over  a  hundred  years  old,  and  to  appear- 
ance it  looks  good  for  another  century.  It  is  not  occu- 
pied at  this  time. 

In  a  survey  of  a  lot  of  land  on  Green  Pond  Mountain 
made  August  12th  1793  (Book  S  10,  p.  240)  one  of  the 
courses  is  described  as  beginning  at  a  small  white  oak 
tree  "  standing  i  chain,  55  links  northwest  from  where  the 
path  leading  from  Newfoundland  over  the  Green  Pond 
Mountain  by  the  edge  of  the  pond  crosseth  a  brook  at 
the  outlet  of  a  bog  meadow."  This  path  is  no  doubt  the 
public  road  crossing  the  mountain  from  Newfoundland. 

The  road  leading  from  Rockaway  to  Hibernia  followed 
the  present  road  bed  until  it  came  to  the  David  Beaman 
house,  east  of  the  homestead  fartn  of  the  late  Hubbard 
S.  Stickle,  where  the  present  road  to  the  White  Meadow 
mine  leaves  the  Hibernia  road;  from  which  point  it  fol- 


ROAD  CONSTRUCTION  IN  ROCKAWAY  TOWNSHIP. 


349 


lowed  the  mine  road  some  distance  and  kept  to  the  rear 
of  the  Beaman  house,  through  the  woods,  and  came  out 
on  the  Hibernia  road  north  of  the  barn  on  the  farm  of 
Dr.  Columbus  Beach,  at  Beach  Glen.  Benjamin  Beach, 
the  grandfather  of  Dr.  Beach  and  Samuel  S.  Beach,  was 
in  1780  living  at  Beach  Glen,  operating  a  forge,  a  grist- 
mill, a  farm  and  other  business  enterprises,  and  was  us- 
ing his  influence  to  get  a  shorter  and  better  road  from 
Beach  Glen  to  Rockaway.  He  made  many  efforts  to 
open  a  road  over  the  present  road  bed  from  the  Beaman 
house  to  the  Glen;  but  was  vigorously  opposed  by  the 
owner  of  the  land  and  others  (among  whom  were  James 
and  Matthias  Kitchelj,  on  the  score  of  expense  and  taxes. 
Mr.  Beach  offered  to  build  the  road,  and  went  so  far  as 
to  agree  to  purchase  a  right  of  way  for  the  road  and 
open  it,  and  give  it  to  the  township;  but  failing  in  all 
these  plans,  finally  purchased  the  Beaman  farm  and 
opened  the  road.  David  Beaman  died  about  1800,  or 
before  that;  he  devised  his  farm  to  his  two  children, 
Samuel  and  Joanna  Beaman,  and  they  in  May  1803  con- 
veyed the  property  to  Benjamin  Beach,  who  then  opened 
the  road  and  dedicated  it  to  the  public. 

Rockaway  township  lay  in  the  track  of  public  com- 
munication with  Newark  and  Sussex  county,  and  several 
tornpike  companies  were  chartered  to  construct  roads 
and  support  them  by  toll-gates.  The  first  turnpike 
within  the  bounds  of  the  township  was  located  by  virtue 
of  an  act  of  the  Legislature  for  facilitating  communica- 
tion from  Morristown,  through  Dover  and  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, to  Sparta,  in  Sussex  county,  passed  February  23d 
1804;  this  road  was  afterward  built.  Elias  Ogden,  Joseph 
Hurd,  Jacob  Losey,  Edward  Condit  and  John  De  Camp 
were  incorporators  named  in  the  act,  and  the  corporate 
name  was  "  The  Union  Turnpike  Company."  This  com- 
pany is  still  operating  the  road,  keeping  it  in  repair  and 
maintaining  toll-gates  between  Dover  and  Sparta.  It 
was  successful  for  many  years  and  paid  large  dividends 
to  its  stockholders,  who  were  a  fortunate  few;  but  the 
competition  of  railroads  has  diverted  the  travel  from 
that  as  well  as  from  other  like  thoroughfares,  and  it  is 
now  barely  self-sustaining.  No  stages  have  been  on  the 
road  for  several  years. 

On  the  27th  of  February  1806  an.  act  was  passed  in- 
corporating Joseph  T.  Baldwin,  Nathaniel  Beach,  Isaac 
Pierson,  Hiram  Smith  and  Joseph  Jackson  as  a  company 
to  be  called  "  The  President  and  Directors  of  the  New- 
ark and  Mount  Pleasant  Turnpike  Company,"  with  power 
to  lay  out  a  turnpike  road,  beginning  not  more  than 
12  rods  south  of  Peck's  bridge,  over  Great  Meadow  Brook 
near  the  town  of  Newark,  and  running  as  straight  as  the 
nature  of  the  ground  permitted  to  intersect  the  Union 
turnpike  at  or  near  Mount  Pleasant.  The  road  was  not 
to  pass  through  any  burying  ground,  place  of  worship, 
or  dwelling  house,  without  the  consent  of  the  owners. 
This  road  was  built,  but  the  part  from  Rockaway 
to  the  Union  turnpike,  which  it  intersected  near  the 
Baker  homestead,  was  not  used  as  a  turnpike,  and  was 
very  soon  abandoned.  That  part  as  it  leaves  the  village 
of  Rockaway  crossed  the  Morris  Canal  west  of  the  pres- 


ent Mt.  Hope  ore  docks  and  is  very  hilly;  and  Col.  Jo- 
seph Jackson,  who  was  one  of  the  corporators,  opposed 
locating  the  road  over  these  hills  and  advocated  the 
route  around  the  head  of  the  old  pond  on  the  Mt.  Hope 
road  and  so  out  to  Mt.  Pleasant;  meeting  with  vigorous 
opposition  he  finally  withdrew  from  the  company.  This 
company's  charter  was  surrendered  in  1872. 

On  the  15th  of  November  1809  the  Legislature  passed 
an  act  to  incorporate  the  Parsippany  and  Rockaway 
Turnpike  Company.  Tobias  Boudinot,  Israel  Crane, 
Benjamin  Smith,  Lemuel  Cobb,  John  Hinchman  and  Jo- 
seph Jackson  were  named  as  corporators.  The  road 
was  to  begin  at  James  Van  Dyne's  lands  in  Morris 
county,  at  the  end  of  the  branch  of  the  Newark  and 
Pompton  turnpike  road;  thence  to  run  through  Parsip- 
pany near  the  meeting-house  to  the  village  of  Rockaway 
near  the  post-office;  thence  to  intersect  the  Union  turn- 
pike where  the  public  convenience  and  the  interest  of  the 
stockholders  would  be  best  promoted.  The  corporators 
were  known  as  the  "President  and  Directors  of  the  Par- 
sippany and  Rockaway  Turnkpike  Company."  This 
turnpike  was  built  through  Denville  and  was  of  great 
convenience  to  the  traveling  public  for  many  years,  but 
was  finally  abandoned.  A  toll-gate  was  maintained  at 
Denville.  In  July  1822,  on  application  of  Dr.  John  D. 
Jackson,  of  Rockaway,  this  road  was  made  a  township 
road  over  its  entire  length. 

The  next  turnpike  road  originated  from  an  act  to  in- 
corporate the  "  Mount  Hope  and  Longwood  Turnpike 
Company,"  which  was  passed  on  the  nth  of  February 
1815,  wherein  John  De  Camp,  William  Jackson  and 
Lewis  Phillips  were  made  the  incorporators,  and  em- 
powered to  build  a  turnpike,  not  to  exceed  four  rods  wide, 
beginning  at  the  Rockaway  and  Parsippany  turnpike  road 
at  or  near  Rockaway,  thence  running  to  Mount  Hope 
and  across  the  Green  Pond  Mountain,  till  it  intersected 
the  Union  turnpike  road  at  or  near  Berkshire  Valley. 
The  parties  above  named  as  corporators  were  required  to 
give  security  to  the  governor  of  the  State  to  pay  the  sub- 
scription moneys  which  they  might  receive  to  the  treas- 
urer of  the  turnpike  company.  They  were  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  "  The  President  and  Directors  of  the 
Mount  Hope  and  Longwood  Turnpike  Company,"  and 
were  to  have  their  first  meeting  at  the  house  then  kept 
by  Stephen  Dickerson  in  Berkshire  Valley.  On  the  7th 
of  February  1820  a  supplement  was  passed  extending 
the  time  for  completing  the  road  to  the  first  of  January 
1825,  and  empowering  the  company  to  limit  the  road  bed 
over  the  Green  Pond  Mountain  to  twenty  feet  in  width, 
and  also  in  such  other  places  as  would  not  admit  of  a 
greater  width.  This  road  was  constructed  as  far  as 
Mount  Hope,  but  soon  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  town 
committee.  Parts  of  the  old  road  bed  were  used  in  the 
construction  of  this  turnpike. 

Another  road  built  before  the  Revolutionary  war  was  the 
one  called  the  Mine  road,  leading  from  Hibernia  to  Char- 
lotteburg,  and  passing  the  present  residence  of  Michael 
De  Gravv  near  Greenville. 

There  were  two  roads   leading   from    Powerville  and 


46 


35° 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Rockaway  Valley  to  Rockaway  Village;  one  by  Beach 
Glen,  near  the  late  residence  of  Dr.  Columbus  Beach, 
now  residing  in  Dover,  and  one  by  the  Matthias  Kitchel 
place,  called  the  Bald  Hill  road  by  reason  of  its  going  on 
the  top  of  that  hill. 

The  original  roads  from  Rockaway  to  Dover  were  by 
Franklin  and  by  Swedes  mine — the  former  located  nearly 
the  same  as  now,  but  the  latter  turning  to  the  right  near 
the  present  farm  of  Charles  A.  McCarty. 

The  road  from  Mt.  Hope  to  Middle  forge  at  the  time 
Colonel  Ford,  John  Jacob  Faesch  and  others  were  work- 
ing the  forges  passed  through  the  Walton  farm  instead  of 
going  to  the  east  of  it  as  it  now  does.  In  going  from 
Middle  forge  to  Denmark  forge  the  road  led  up  to  the 
head  of  the  pond,  on  the  southerly  side,  and  then  crossed 
the  brook  and  came  out  below  the  Denmark  forge  dam 
on  the  Green  Pond  side. 

The  road  from  Mt.  Hope  to  Denmark  lay  to  the  left 
of  the  present  road  after  it  had  passed  the  house  of 
Michael  Doland,  and  in  some  places  was  half  a  mile  from 
the  road  bed  as  now  used.  The  course  of  this  old  road 
can  be  very  plainly  traced  through  Mr.  Doland's  swamp, 
not  only  by  the  surface  indications  on  the  ground,  but 
by  the  wear  of  the  wagon  wheels  on  the  rocks. 

As  a  matter  of  course  the  facilities  for  travel  were  very 
rude  in  the  early  days  in  this  part  of  the  county;  an  oc- 
casional "  gig''  was  the  only  light-wheeled  vehicle  that 
any  of  the  early  settlers  indulged  in,  and  this  was  almost 
exclusively  used  by  the  doctor  or  the  minister.  Heavy 
farm  wagons  and  such  as  could  be  used  to  transport  iron 
ore  or  manufactured  iron  through  the  mountains  were 
the  next  best  conveyance.  Traveling  on  horseback  was 
the  most  convenient  and  expeditious. 

The  construction  of  roads  created  another  public  ne- 
cessity which  came  under  judicial  authority,  namely 
bridges.  This  branch  of  road  construction  was  under 
the  care  of  the  justices  and  the  freeholders  of  the  county, 
and  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  this  body,  retained 
in  the  county  clerk's  office  from  1760  or  about  that  time, 
shows  how  the  art  of  building  bridges  and  spending  the 
public  money  was  conducted  in  those  days;  one  thing  is 
quite  certain — there  were  no  extras,  nor  raising  of  vouch- 
ers, nor  favoritism,  as  in  the  modern  dark  ways  of  build- 
ing and  paying  for  bridges.  The  earliest  record  for 
Rockaway  township  is  as  follows:  "  1781,  March  9th, 
bridge  built  across  Rockaway  River  at  house  of  Josiah 
Beman's,  sold  to  Abraham  Osborn;  inspected  and  report- 
ed 4  feet  short  and  i  foot  wider  than  contract,  and  think 
it  no  disadvantage,  and  order  it  paid.  [Signed]  William 
Windes,  Eleazer  Lampson.  N.  B.  Our  charges  for  in- 
spection is  2s.  6d.  a  peace." 

May  2ist  1782  Abraham  Kitchel,  William  Ross  and 
John  Jacob  Faesch,  justices,  and  Job  Allen  and  Ebene- 
zer  Farrand  resolved  to  build  a  bridge  across  the  Rock- 
away River  between  Stephen  Jackson's  and  Seth  Greg- 
ory's. The  contract  specifies  the  size  of  timbers  and 
other  particulars  of  the  work  in  detail,  and  is  signed  by 
the  above  named  justices  and  freeholders.  Seth  Gregory 
agreed  to  build  this  bridge  for  ^48  proclamation  money, 


valuing  a  Spanish  milled  dollar  at  7s.  6d.  in  hard  money. 
The  bridge  was  not  built  according  to  the  contract,  and 
on  the  7th  of  October  1783  a  committee  appointed  to  in- 
spect the  bridge  (viz.,  Stephen  Jackson,  Jacob  Drake  and 
Silas  Hathaway)  deducted  j£s  on  account  of  timber  not 
being  according  to  contract. 

November  2nd  1782  William  Ross  and  Abraham  Kitchel 
as  justices,  and  Job  Allen  and  Anthony  Mandeville  as 
two  of  the  freeholders,  ordered  a  bridge  to  be  built  over 
Beaver  Brook  near  Francis  McCarty's  house.  The  job 
was  sold  to  Helmer  Kent  for  ^ig  ids.  Helmer  Kent  is 
named  as  a  member  of  the  Rockaway  parish  in  1782. 
He  died  previous  to  1802,  as  appears  from  a  deed  given 
to  Benjamin  Beach  by  his  daughter  Mary  Kent  in  March 
1808,  for  a  lot  of  eight  acres  on  Beaver  Brook. 

The  Francis  McCarty  place  was  the  late  homestead 
farm  of  Hubbard  S.  Stickle,  on  the  road  from  Rockaway 
to  Beach  Glen,  and  Beaver  Brook  is  the  stream  coming 
down  from  Split  Rock  Pond,  running  through  the  mead- 
ows to  the  east  of  the  said  road. 

Schools. 

In  recording  the  history  of  the  schools  of  Rockaway 
township  we  will  commence  with  the  village  of  Rock- 
away, and  embrace  therein  the  valuable  information  pro-' 
cured  by  E.  D.  Halsey  and  published  in  the  "  Centennial 
Collections  of  Morris  County."  He  says:  Thefirst  mention 
we  find  of  a  school  or  school-house  in  Rockaway  village  is 
in  a  deed  given  by  Jacob  Mintun  (Miller)  to  David  Bea- 
man  for  one-half  of  the  grist-mill  standing  near  "  Rocka- 
way old  Forge,"  dated  October  29th  1774,  which  de- 
scribes the  lot  as  "  beginning  at  an  elm  tree  standing  on 
the  bank  of  said  river,  about  eight  rods  below  said  mill, 
and  running  a  westerly  course  to  a  corner  of  Robert 
Gaston's  land,  near  the  school-house."  Robert  Gaston 
lived  in  and  owned  the  house  (now  an  old  tenement 
house)  owned  by  John  F.  Stickle,  and  the  school-house 
stood  about  where  now  stands  the  kitchen  of  Dr.  Jack- 
son's house,  to  make  room  for  which  it  was  removed  in 
1800.  Hubbard  S.  Stickle,  who  was  born  in  1783,  recol- 
lected the  building,  but  only  knew  from  tradition  of  its 
being  a  school-house.  It  was  a  little  frame  building, 
used  in  his  day  as  a  sort  of  lumber  room,  and  occasion- 
ally as  a  tenement  house.  We  find  another  paper  en- 
dorsed by  Colonel  Jackson,  "This  was  thefirst  school 
ever  taught  in  Rockaway."  It  is  in  the  handwriting  of 
the  teacher,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  The  state  of  a  school  which  has  been  taught  by  George 
Harris,  at  Rockaway,  and  ended  on  the  26th  day  of  April 
1784,  is  as  follows:  Scholars'  names— Elizabeth  Jack- 
son, Agnes  Jackson,  Joseph  Jackson,  James  Jackson, 
Margaret  Jackson,  John  Jackson,  Katherine  Smith, 
Bernard  Smith,  James  Smith,  Elizabeth  Smith,  Elizabeth 
Wrights,  Aaron  Wrights,  Zebins  Williams,  Robert  Wil- 
liams, Sarah  Leonard,  Moses  Hoppin,  Peter  Parcel,  Wil- 
liam Jackson,  Ziba  Jackson,  Isaac  Jackson,  Jacob  Losey, 
James  Conger,  Rhoda  Conger,  Josiah  Hadden,  Daniel 
Hadden,  Coon  Stroke,  .Abigail  Baker,  James  Baker. 
Proprietors— Captain  Stephen  Jackson,  Bernard  Smith, 
Godfrey  Wrights,  Jonas  Williams,  Elijah  Leonard,  Seth 
Gregory,  Edward   Jackson,  Benjamin   Jackson,  Captain 


THE  VtRST  SCHOOLS  IN  ROCK  AWAY  TOWNSHIP. 


351 


James    Losey.    Joseph    Conger,  Aaron    Hadden,  Henry 
Stroke,  David  Baker." 

This  paper  is  beautifully  written,  and  opposite  the 
names  are  the  time  and  value  of  the  tuition,  amounting 
to  ;^8  2s.  9d.  From  Dr.  Tuttle  we  learn  that  "  Old  Har- 
ris," as  he  was  called  by  his  pupils,  first  taught  in  the 
school-room  by  the  grist-mill,  and  afterward  in  the  old 
school-house  on  the  Glen  road.  He  was  very  cruel,  and 
on  one  occasion  was  run  over  by  the  older  boys,  among 
whom  were  Bernard  Smith's  and  Stephen  Jackson's  boys. 

This  old  school-house  on  the  Beach  Glen  road  was  on 
the  hill  where  William  Gustin  now  lives.  Mr.  Stickle  re- 
membered attending  school  there  to  his  father,  George 
Stickle,  and  others.  It  was  a  long  building,  with  a  chim- 
ney at  each  end,  and  was  torn  down  about  1812  by  Wd- 
liam  Jackson,  to  whom  it  fell  in  the  division  of  his  father's 
estate.  Mr.  Stickle's  father  was  teaching  school  at  Rock- 
away  when  he  became  acquainted  with  Sarah  Beaman, 
whom  he  married  in  1782,  and  he  narrated  incidents 
which  occurred  white  he  taught  in  the  old  church — show- 
ing that  that  also  was  used  as  a  school-house. 

The  next  documentary  evidence  of  a  school  is  an 
agreement  with  William  Harris,  signed  by  him  and  Ste- 
phen Jackson  and  James  Kitchel,  June  4th  1804,  where- 
by Harris  engages  to  instruct  any  number  of  scholars 
not  exceeding  forty  in  "  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  ge- 
ography and  English  grammar,  according  as  they  maybe 
capable  of  learning,"  during  the  next  six  months,  for 
which  he  was  to  receive  f  100  and  to  be  provided  with 
suitable  board  and  lodging. 

Of  the  same  date  is  a  subscription  paper  referring  to 
this  agreement,  and  in  it  the  subscribers  promise  to  pay 
Mr.  Jackson  and  Mr.  Kitchel  "two  dollars  per  quarter 
for  every  child  we  have  subscribed."  The  names  upon 
this  paper  are  as  follows:  Stephen  Jackson  4,  Benjamin 
Beach  2,  James  Kitchel  3,  Ashur  Lyon  i,  Thomas  Con- 
ger 2,  James  Hyler  1,  James  Jackson  2,  Tritstum  Harri- 
man  i,  John  Hall  2,  William  Harriman  i,  David  Gordon, 
Frederick  Dormeyer  i,  Mary  Smith  2,  Benjamin  Jackson 
I,  William  Ketchum  i,  Daniel  Lewis  2,  David  Conger  i, 
Jacob  Hellar  2,  Henry  Berry  i  for  one  quarter,  Francis 
McCarty  i  for  one  quarter,  Samuel  Cummins  i  for  one 
quarter.  The  school  was  to  be  in  the  "  old  Rockaway 
school-house,"  no  doubt  the  one  on  the  Beach  Glen 
road.  On  the  back  of  the  papers  is  William'  Harris's  re- 
ceipt for  f  100,  dated  November  24th  1804. 

In  1806  or  1807  John  Ford — afterward  for  so  many 
years  pastor  at  Parsippany,  then  studying  for  college  un- 
der Rev.  Mr.  King  and  boarding  with  Colonel  Jackson 
— taught  school  in  the  store-house  nearly  opposite  the 
colonel's,  the  foundation  of  which  is  visible  just  east  of 
the  well. 

The  next  written  memorandum  is  a  book  which  begins 
with  ."articles  of  an  agreement  for  building  a  school- 
house  in  Rockaway  and  for  organizing  a  school,"  which 
is  dated  January  26th  1813.  The  house  was  to  be  built 
on  the  meeting-house  lot,  to  be  one  story,  S}4  feet  high, 
36  by  18,  with  .1  chimney  at  each  end,  to  be  divided  into 
two  rooms  communicating  by  folding  doors,  have  white- 


wood  weather  boards  and  oak  shingle  roof;  and,  though 
principally  designed  for  the  accom.modation  of  a  school, 
it  was  to  be  free  for  the  use  of  the  trustees  of  the  parish 
or  the  church  session,  or  any  religious   meetings  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  any  time,  provided  they  did  not 
interfere  with  the  school;  and  religious  services  might  be 
held  in  it  on  the  Sabbath  whenever  it  should  be  deemed 
most  convenient.     The  articles  then  provided  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  committees,  etc.,  to   build   the   house,   for 
contributions  in  material,  and   for   the  organization  of  a 
school  after  it  was  built.     The  school   committee  was  to 
be  chosen  annually;  the  ordained  and  settled  minister  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  congregation  at   Rockaway  to  be 
ex  officio  chairman  of  the  committee.    Three  hundred  and 
fifty-nine  dollars  were  subscribed,  of  which  Joseph,  Wil- 
liam and  John  D.  Jackson  each  gave  $50,  H.  Berry  $20, 
James  Kitchel  $12,  and   Noah   Estile,  Thomas   Conger, 
Rev.  Barnabas   King,  David   Ross,  Titus   Berry,  Francis 
McCarty  and  Benjamin  Jackson,  each  $10.     March  30th 
1813  the   subscribers    met   and   appointed   Noah    Estile, 
William  Jackson,  Henry  Berry,  David    Ross  and  James 
Kitchel  as  building  committee;  and  this  committee  Octo- 
ber nth  1813  made  an  agreement  with  David  Harriman 
and  Daniel  Harriman,  carpenters,  to  build   the  house  by 
Christmas  day  for  $too,  material  and  mason  work  to  be 
furnished    by  the    committee;    November   9th   1813    an 
agreement  was  made  with  Joel  Brown   to   do   the  mason 
work  for  $50.     January  5th    1814  the    subscribers  met, 
received    the   house    from   the  building  committee,  and 
voted   nem.  con.   that    the    Rev.   Barnabas   King,  Joseph 
Jackson,     Ford    Kitchel,     Thomas    Conger    and    Ben- 
jamin   Jackson    be    appointed    the     school    committee 
for  the  first  year.     Thus  the   old    red    school-house   was 
built  near  where  the  present  brick  church  stands,  to  give 
way  to  which  in  1832  it  was  removed  to  the  other  side  of 
the  Mt.  Hope  road,  and   placed    on    the  present  school- 
house  lot,  where  it  stood  till  torn  down  in  1853,  the  pres- 
ent   two-story   building   being   then  put  up  in  its  place. 
January  14th  1814  the  school  committee  met  and  voted 
to  engage  Jacob  P.  Stickle  to  teach  the  school.     He  used 
the  rod  with  a  freedom  that  brought  blood   even   on   the 
backs  of  his    girl    pupils.     October    loth    1814    John  J. 
Derthick  made  to  the  committee  the  following  proposals: 
To  teach  at  Rockaway  reading,  arithmetic,  writing,  Eng- 
lish grammer,  and  geography,  "  at  $i'.5o  per  quarter  for 
those  that  write  and  spell,  and  $1.75  for  those  that  write, 
study  grammar,  etc."     The  price  was  to  be  "  reconded  " 
for    the    time  that  the  "  schollars  "  went  to  school;  Mr. 
Derthick  must  be  boarded  by  his  employers.     This  pro- 
posal was  for  one  quarter  at  first;  whereupon   the  com- 
mittee agreed  to  accept  the  terms,  and    voted    that  the 
school   be    organized    accordingly.        On  the  3d  of  the 
next  month  it  was  resolved  that  every  person  who  sent  to 
school  should  deliver  at  the  school-house  a  quarter  of  a 
cord  of  good  sapling  wood  for  each  scholar  sent  to  school 
for  each  quarter's  school  from  that  date  until  the  first  day 
of  May  next,  and  have  it  cut  off  to  a  suitable  length  for 
the  fireplace  and  piled  up;  notice  of  this  regulation  to  be 
posted  at  the   grist-mill,  at  the  store  of  Joseph   Jackson 


352 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  the  smith  shop  of  Thomas  Conger.  Mr.  Derthick 
taught  until  1820,  when  he  notified  the  committee  that  he 
intended  to  leave  the  school,  and,  Mr.  Bishop  Davenport 
having  offered  stisfactory  testimonials  of  his  character 
and  ability  to  teach,  it  was  agreed  to  employ  him  at 
$1.50  per  quarter  for  reading  and  spelling,  and  $2  for 
arithmetic,  geography  and  grammar,  and  Mr.  Davenport 
to  board  himself.  In  Mr.  Davenport's  administration  a 
violent  scene  occured  in  the  school.  He  forbade  the 
bringing  of  guns  to  school,  and  attempted  to  whip  Cura- 
mings  McCarty  for  disobeying.  The  latter  attacked  and 
beat  the  teacher,  in  the  midst  of  the  cries  and  the  terror 
of  the  scholars.  Mrs.  Tuttle  and  her  sister  were  both 
present. 

September  22nd  1823  Silas  H.  Hazard  offered  himself 
as  teacher  and  was  employed  at  the  same  rates  as  Mr.  Da^-- 
enport  for  English  branches,  and  $3  per  quarter  for 
each  scholar  instructed  in  Latin — Mr.  Hazard  to  board 
himself,  and  firewood  to  be  furnished  by  the  employers 
as  usual.  The  directors  of  the  Rockaway  school  met  at 
the  school-house  March  4th  1824  and  resolved  to  employ 
a  lady  for  the  six  months  beginning  the  first  of  April  fol- 
lowing; to  teach  needlework  together  with  reading,  writ- 
ing, spelling,  geography  and  English  grammar,  and  rhet- 
oric and  history  if  required.  Mr.  Hazard  was  to  teach 
the  Latin  scholars  at  $3,  $4  and  fs  per  quarter  accord- 
ing to  their  advancement,  and  Miss  Phebe  Hazard  was 
engaged  at  $1  per  quarter  for  primary  teaching  and  $1.50 
for  all  the  branches  above,  except  rhetoric  and  history, 
which  were  left  to  be  agreed  upon  thereafter. 

This  Mr.  Hazard  married  Miss  Delia  Beach,  daughter 
of  Col.  Samuel  S.  Beach,  and  died  in  the  ministry  out 
west.  On  the  19th  of  September  1825  Miss  Phebe  Haz- 
ard having  finished  her  engagement,  Joseph  McCord,  a 
graduate  of  Princeton  (class  of  1825)  offered  to  take  the 
school  and  was  employed,  being  allowed  to  charge  for 
those  scholars  instructed  in  Latin  and  Greek  $5  per  quar- 
ter; in  history,  geography,^spelling  and  rhetoric,  $2;  in 
English  grammar  $1.75,  and  in  spelling,  reading  and 
writing  $1.50;  he  to  find  his  own  board  and  lodging,  and 
the  regulations  as  to  wood  to  remain  as  previously  estab- 
lished. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  November  1827  Cyrus  M.  Hol- 
ley  was  employed,  and  we  find  no  other  record  until 
1830,  when  Samuel  Bogart,  William  Jackson  and  E.  B. 
Gains,  school  committee  of  Pequannock  township  ap- 
pointed at  town  meeting,  set  ofl:  school  district  No.  3, 
and  from  that  time  the  school  was  under  State  law  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent. 

About  the  year  1836  a  school-house  in  the  rear  of  Mr. 
Kaufman's  residence  was  built,  and  school  was  kept 
there  for  some  years,  there  being  some  dissatisfaction 
with  the  management  of  the  old  district. 

In  1838  so  much  of  the  school  district  as  then  lay  in 
Hanover  township  was  made  a  separate  district,  since 
known  as  Rockaway,  and  in  1843  and  1844  the  academy 
was  built  in  it  for  the  accommodation  of  a  public  and  a 
select  school.  This  building  was  private  property  until 
1859,  when  it  was  purchased  by  the  district. 


Our  limits  will  not  permit  us  to  pursue  the  full  particu- 
lars of  each  school  in  the  township,  and  we  are  therefore 
obliged  to  say  generally,  that  the  education  of  the  chil- 
dren of  this  township  in  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century,  although  it  was  not  very  extensive  or  ornamen- 
tal, yet  was  so  superior,  when  compared  with  other  places 
in  the  State,  that  special  mention  was  made  of  it  in  con- 
nection with  Morris  county.  In  1828  the  Legislature  ap- 
pointed a  committee,  one  of  whom  was  the  Hon.  The- 
odore Frelinghuysen,  to  examine  into  and  report  upon 
the  condition  of  the  common  schools  in  the  State.  This 
committee  reported  that  Morris  county  enjoyed  the  ad- 
vantages of  education  more  richly  than  any  other  in  the 
State,  and  of  the  69  schools  then  in  the  county  seven 
were  within  the  bounds  of  Rockaway  township.  In 
many  localities  children  were  obliged  to  go  two  or  two 
and  a  half  miles  to  school,  and  tuition  was  from  $1.50  to 
|2  per  quarter,  paid  by  the  patrons  of  the  school.  The 
teachers  were  generally  persons  without  families  and 
boarded  around  by  the  week,  in  the  families  sending  the 
most  children  to  school.  One  of  the  qualifications  for  a 
successful  teacher  was  ability  to  make  pens  from  goose 
quills.  These  pens  required  daily  repairs,  or  "  mending  " 
as  it  was  called,  and  with  the  hard  rubs  of  a  novice  in  writ- 
ing kept  the  teacher  at  work  every  few  minutes  to  keep 
them  in  good  condition. 

We  find  that  in  a  neighborhood  where  a  school  was 
maintained  from  seventy  to  eighty  years  ago  a  school  is 
still  in  operation;  and  by  reason  of  the  growth  of  popu- 
lation additional  schools  have  been  established,  so  that 
the  present  number  is  twelve. 

The  first  school-house  at  Greenville  stood  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  present  school  building.  It 
was  burned  in  1840,  and  the  new  building  erected  three 
years  afterward.  After  the  old  building  was  burned  the 
log  house  toward  Green  Pond  from  Post's  blacksmith 
shop  was  used  as  a  school-house  two  or  three  years. 

Before  the  State  law  regulating  public  schools  was  in 
force  the  Greenville  people  had  incorporated  themselves 
into  a  school,  and  Greenville  has  the  oldest  school  incor- 
poration in  the  township,  on  record  in  tl;e  county  clerk's 
ofBce.  It  bears  the  date  December  26th  1826,  at  which 
time  Samuel  M.  Henderson,  Gideon  V.  Boss,  Christian 
Winters,  Charles  Treleaze  and  John  Bcirton,  trustees 
took  upon  themselves  the  name  of  the  "Trustees  of  the 
Greenville  School  Society  of  the  Township  of  Pequan- 
nock, in  the  County  of  Morris,"  by  that  name  to  be  for- 
ever thereafter  known  in  law. 

This  was  probably  under  the  school  law  of  1794,  or 
one  of  its  supplements. 

Matthias  Zeek,  who  lives  on  the  road  from  Beach  Glen 
to  Rockaway  Valley,  recollects  a  school-house  standing 
above  Lyonsville,  near  the  Wingit  or  Farrand  place;  it 
was  a  log  structure  and  stood  in  the  woods.  He  then 
lived  with  Matthias  Zeek  at  Durham  forge,  about  three 
miles  further  to  the  northeast,  and  went  to  school  in  this 
old  school-house  over  sixty  years  ago.  The  present 
school-house  at  Lyonsville  was  built  about  three  years 
ago  and  accommodates  Meriden  and  Split  Rock. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  EARLY  SCHOOLS  IN  ROCKAWAY. 


353 


Mr.  Zeek  also  attended  school  at  the  old  Beach  Glen 
school-house,  on  the  road  from  Beach  Glen  to  Mer- 
iden.  The  old  building  stood  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  road  from  the  present  one,  which  was 
built  about  46  or  47  years  ago  but  has  been 
enlarged  and  improved  since  then.  Miss  Euphe- 
mia  Kitchel,  Electa  Kitchel  and  Beaman  Kitchel 
taught  school  there.  At  Rockaway  Valley  a  school  has 
been  taught  since  schools  were  first  established  in  the 
township,  and  it  is  among  the  oldest  in  the  recollection  of 
the  early  settlers.  Mr.  Zeek,  one  of  our  informants,  at- 
tended school  here.  The  original  building  stood  where 
the  present  M.  E.  church  is,  and  was  torn  down  and  Si 
new  building  erected  over  forty  years  ago.  Alexander 
Kanouse,  of  Meriden,  now  over  seventy  years  of  age, 
went  to  school  in  the  old  school-house  at  Rockaway  Val- 
ley long  before  it  was  removed  from  the  present  church 
grounds  to  where  it  now  stands,  above  Ockebock's,  as  he 
called  it,  or  near  Dixon's  mills.  The  teachers  were  all 
Yankees.  Newman  Carter,  James  Curren,  Dennis  Dixon 
and  Timothy  Sarner  were  among  them.  As  a  general 
thing  Yankee  teachers  had  the  exclusive  charge  of 
schools  in  many  parts  of  New  Jersey  from  fifty  to  twenty 
years  ago;  but  now  home  talent  more  than  supplies  all 
demands  of  education. 

Judge  John  L.  Kanouse,  of  Boonton,  informs  us  of  a 
school-house  at  Powerville,  in  which  he  taught  in  1832. 
It  was  an  old  log-house  at  that  time  and  stood  where  Mrs. 
Charles  Righter  now  lives.  It  was  formerly  the  residence 
of  a  Mr.  Vanhouten,  who  carried  on  a  tannery  near  Hop- 
ler's  mills.  Capt.  William  Scott  owned  the  building  and 
fitted  it  up  for  school  purposes  sufficiently  for  summer 
accommodation,  but  not  for  winter. 

Coming  to  Denville,  we  infer  that  the  school  at  this 
place  is  nearly  as  old  as  that  at  Rockaway.  Joseph  Cas- 
terline  recollects  an  old  building  standing  in  1812  where 
the  present  building  is,  or  very  near  it;  and  in  1815  or 
1816,  when  Mr.  Casterline  was  about  19  years  of  age,  a 
teacher  by  the  name  of  Downs  taught  in  the  old  building. 
Downs  was  a  clerk  at  the  Mt.  Hope  furnace  which  had 
just  been  burned,  and  he  took  the  Denville  school  for 
one  winter.  The  building  was  open  and  very  cold;  the 
large  fireplace  with  its  ample  supply  of  logs  could  not 
drive  out  the  cold  air,  and  Mr.  Downs  undertook  to  sup- 
ply the  lack  of  heat  in  the  rear  end  of  the  room  by  in- 
troducing a  large  iron  pot,  cast  at  the  Mt.  Hope  works, 
as  a  charcoal  burner.  This  was  a  great  temptation  to 
the  boys  to  throw  bits  of  paper  on  the  burning  coal,  to 
raise  a  smoke,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  Master  Downs. 
On  one  occasion  the  spelling  class  was  arranged  on  the 
floor  in  a  row,  and  young  Casterline,  who  stood  close  by 
the  fire  kettle,  dropped  on  some  chips  and  papers  which 
he  had  smuggled  into  class  with  him;  soon  the  smoke 
was  so  dense  that  the  order  and  comfort  of  the  school 
were  completely  destroyed,  and  Mr.  Downs,  who  was  very 
hasty,  lost  his  temper  and  left  the  school.  Of  course 
the  children  went  home,  and  the  cause  was  soon  known 
—also  the  name  of  the  culprit.  Next  morning  Joseph 
was    sent   back  to  school  by  his  father  very  early,  and 


found  the  teacher  there  ahead  of  him,  engaged  in  build- 
ing the  fires.  After  getting  many  expressions  of  sorrow 
from  young  Casterline  for  the  conduct  of  the  day  pre- 
vious, Mr.  Downs  opened  the  school  and  administered  a 
lecture  to  the  children  in  general  and  to  young  Caster- 
line in  particular,  in  the  interest  of  order  and  comfort, 
and  then,  without  reference  to  his  own  shortcomings,  as- 
sumed his  usual  duties  in  the  school. 

Mr.  Casterline  also  attended  school  in  the  old  red 
school-house  at  Rockaway  (before  referred  to)  while  Ja- 
cob P.  Stickle  and  John  J.  Derthick  were  teachers — both 
of  whom  he  recollects  very  well. 

From  Joseph  J.  Ayres,  who  resides  on  the  road  from 
Dover  to  Morristown,  we  learn  that  he  first  went  to 
school  nearly  seventy  years  ago,  in  a  school-house  near 
Franklin,  on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  by  Henry  B. 
Palmer's  present  residence.  It  was  an  old  house  then, 
and  was  abandoned  about  1820,  and  a  stone  school-house 
built  in  its  stead,  where  the  present  new  school-house 
stands,  south  of  the  Dover  and  Morristown  road  in  the 
union  district.  This  stone  house  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1870,  and  it  is  said  to  have  been  set  on  fire  by  some 
evil-disposed  person.  A  neat  wooden  building  now  oc- 
cupies the  site.  The  early  teachers  to  whom  Mr.  Ayres 
went  were  Charles  Sammis,  Daniel  Lampson,  Sylvanus 
Hance,  Betsey  Losey,  and  one  Charles  Jackson,  who  was 
a  relative  of  the  Lampson  family.  Abijah  Conger  taught 
the  school  occasionally,  when  the  regular  teacher  was 
absent  or  sick,  or  no  teacher  was  engaged.  The  children 
from  the  Franklin  neighborhood  went  to  the  Denville 
school  whenever  the  Franklin  school  closed.  One  of  the 
Denville  teachers  was  Anson  Brown,  who  was  proprietor 
of  the  Denville  Hotel  at  the  same  time.  Brown  was  very 
severe  in  his  government  of  the  scholars;  on  one  occa- 
sion William  Hinchman,  one  of  the  boys  in  the  school, 
fell  asleep,  which  so  exasperated  Brown  that  he  and 
Hinchman  had  a  hand-to-hand  encounter  in   the  school. 

The  first  school-house  at  Mount  Hope  stood  on  the 
road  leading  to  Hickory  Hill.  Agnes  Walton  says  it  was 
built  by  John  Jacob  Faesch,  and  that  she  went  there  to 
school  in  Faesch's  time.  After  Faesch  left  Mount  Hope 
Moses  Phillips  came  there  and  had  a  new  school  building 
erected  where  the  present  house  stands,  near  Michael 
Doland's  on  the  road  to  Middle  forge.  Miss  Walton 
went  to  school  there,  first  to  a  teacher  named  Samuel 
Scriven.  In  1824  one  George  Doland  taught  in  this 
school-house.  He  was  a  brother  of  Michael  Doland  of 
Mount  Hope.  Robert  H.  Doland,  a  nephew  of  George, 
was  an  assistant  teacher  in  this  district  from  1873  to 
1880,  and  since  then  he  has  been  principal  of  the  school. 
This  building  was  torn  down  and  the  present  one  erected 
about  fifty  years  ago. 

At  Denmark,  at  the  time  the  forge  was  worked  by  John 
M.  Eddy,  a  school  was  organized  by  him  and  kept  some 
time  for  the  children  living  in  that  locality.  There  is  no 
school  at  this  time  at  Denmark.  The  Mount  Hope  dis- 
trict embraces  it  and  Middle  forge. 

Under  the  State  school  law  all  these  schools  which  we 
have  named  have  become  incorporated  and   numbered, 


554 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


and  come  under  the  care  of  the  county  superintendent  ot 
public  schools.  The  first  system  of  public  instruction 
under  the  State  law  was  organized  in  February  1829. 
On  the  nth  of  June  1830  John  Sherman,  William 
Wheeler  and  Francis  Lindsley  were  incorporated  as  the 
"  Denville  School  Association."  Mr.  Lindsley  is  the 
only  survivor  of  the  three  incorporators,  and  still  resides 
at  Denville. 

In  April  1836  George  Rowland,  Jacob  Powers,  John 
B.  Kelsey,  Benoni  Whitehead  and  David  Cole  were  incor- 
porated as  "  The  Trustees  of  the  Rockaway  District 
School-house  No.  2,"  for  the  promotion  of  learning. 

Prior  to  November  4th  1857  Rockaway  Valley  district 
was  known  as  No.  9,  and  it  must  have  been  incorporated 
before  that  time,  as  we  find  a  record  of  that  date  abol- 
ishing that  district,  signed  by  the  trustees,  and  by  J.  V.  S. 
Banta  as  township  superintendent. 

Rockaway  East  school  district.  No.  12,  was  incorpor- 
ated April  7th  1859,  by  William  Boyd  and  Freeman 
Wood,  trustees,  and  Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  town  superin- 
tendent. 

Union  district  Nos.  6  and  13,  part  in  Rockaway  and 
part  in  Randolph,  was  incorporated  May  i6th  i860,  by 
Charles  J.  Lampson,  John  A.  Casterline  and  Silas  S. 
Palmer,  trustees,  James  H.  Neighbour,  superintendent 
of  Randolph,  and  Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  superintendent  of 
Rockaway. 

No.  2  (Rockaway)  was  incorporated  July  loth  1851, 
by  Cummings  McCarty,  Barnabas  K.  Stickle  and  John 
Dickerson,  trustees,  and  John  O.  Hill,  town  superintend- 
ent. This  district  was  afterward  altered  by  the  trustees 
and  town  superintendent. 

Beach  Glen  district  was  incorporated  May  4th  1852, 
by  Columbus  Beach,  Samuel  S.  Beach  jr.  and  Abraham 
F.  Kitchel,  trustees,  and  Lyman  A.  Chandler,  town  super- 
intendent. 

The  Mt.  Pleasant  district.  No.  i,  was  incorporated  by 
William  F.  Wiggins,  Sylvester  Kyner  and  Lewis  W. 
Langdon,  trustees,  and  A.  D.  Berry,  town  superintendent, 
on  the  5th  of  May  1853. 

There  was  also  an  incorporation  of  the  Denville  school 
district,  No.  11,  on  the  24th  of  May  1854,  with  John 
Clark,  Conrad  Vanderhoof  and  Chileon  Cook  trustees, 
and  A.  D.  Berry  town  superintendent. 

Lyonsville  district,  No.  6,  was  incorporated  October 
9th  1854,  by  Daniel  Lyon,  John  J.  Crane  and  John  U. 
Hendershot,  trustees,  and  A.  D.  Berry,  town  superin- 
tendent. 

On  the  9th  of  March  1855  the  Mt.  Hope  school  dis- 
trict was  incorporated  as  No.  3,  by  John  E.  Branin  and 
George  E.  Righter,  trustees,  and  A.  D.  Berry,  town  super- 
intendent. 

Greenville  distiict  was  incorporated  under  the  last  law 
on  the  27th  of  April  1875,  by  the  trustees,  Daniel  Shaw- 
ger  and  Abram  Winters,  and  by  Francis  L.  Davenport, 
town  superintendent,  as  district  No.  7. 

Beach  Glen  district,  No.  5,  was  altered  on  the  26th  of 
November  1864,  and  Mt.  Hope  district  on  the  nth  of 
March  1865. 


On  the  20th  of  March  1867,  Hibernia  school  district, 
No.  4,  was  set  off  by  L.  W.  Richardson,  Aaron  Van  Bus- 
kirk  and  William  Henderson,  trustees,  and  F.  Wads- 
worth,  town  superintendent. 

The  bounds  of  these  districts  are  all  given  in  the  rec- 
ord of  incorporation;  but  in  many  instances  have  been 
changed  by  the  county  superintendent  of  public  schools, 
who  has  taken  the  place  of  the  township  superintendent, 
which  latter  office  has  been  abolished.  Lewis  W.  Thur- 
ber,  of  Dover,  has  been  county  superintendent  of  public 
schools  several  years,  and  is  still  holding  that  position 
with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
schools,  parents  and  teachers.  All  schools  in  the  county 
are  now  numbered,  from  i  upward,  and  the  Rockaway 
schools  at  this  time  are  named  and  numbered  as  follows: 
No.  10  Union,  11  Denville,  12  East  Rockaway,  13 
Rockaway,  14  Mt.  Pleasant,  15  Mt.  Hope,  16  Lower 
Hibernia,  17  Beach  Glen,  18  Rockaway  Valley,  19 
Lyonsville,  20  Hibernia,  2t  Greenville.  Owing  to  the 
large  number  of  scholars  in  districts  13,  14,  15,  16  and 
20,  a  principal  and  assistant  teacher  have  been  employed 
in  each. 

At  I>ower  Hibernia  over  fs,ooo  was  expended  in  1880 
in  a  new  and  commodious  school  building,  fitted  up  with 
steam  heaters,  and  it  has  been  under  the  supervision  of 
J.  Seward  Lampson,  of  Dover,  as  principal  since  1875. 
The  new  school  grounds  have  been,  graded  and  very 
neatly  arranged  with  walks,  grass  plats  and  flower  beds — 
all  the  work  of  the  children;  so  that  they  present  an  at- 
tractive appearance,  entirely  free  from  the  usual  un- 
sightly character  of  school-house  surroundings. 

In  1874  the  total  value  of  school  property  in  the 
township  was  rated  at  $23,550,  and  the  total  number  of 
children  between  the  ages  of  five  and  eighteen  was  2,155. 
The  average  monthly  pay  of  a  male  teacher  was  $59.44, 
and  that  of  a  female  teacher,  $39.74.  In  1880  the  value 
of  school  property  was  rated  at  $20,000  (no  doubt  the  re- 
sult of  depressed  valuations},  and  the  total  number 
of  children  was  2,307.  The  average  monthly  pay  of  male 
teachers  was  $48.60,  and  that  of  female  teachers  $34.04. 

Mills,  Distilleries,  etc. 

There  were  several  grist-mills  in  operation  at  conven- 
ient points  in  the  early  days  of  the  township;  in  fact 
water  power  was  so  abundant  that  nearly  every  farm  could 
get  up  a  water  supply  of  its  own,  and  the  "old  mill" 
was  to  be  seen  a  hundred  years  ago.  We  have  not  been 
able  to  learn  which  was  the  oldest  of  the  many  then  ex- 
isting; but  at  all  events,  wherever  a  settlement  was  made 
a  grist-mill  was  as  necessary  as  a  bake-oven.  A  whole 
day  was  generally  occupied  in  "  going  to  mill,"  as  the 
customer  had  to  take  his  turn  and  wait  for  the  "  grist  " 
and  take  it  home  the  same  day. 

We  find  that  Moses  Tuttle,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  Isaac 
Winchill  were  in  partnership  in  owning  a  grist-mill  at 
Rockaway  prior  to  1761;  because  at  that  time  they  built 
a  new  dam  across  the  Rockaway  River,  below  the  pres- 
ent rolling-mills,  for  their  grist-mill,  then  already  erected, 
which  was  located  at  the  Pond  Meadow,  and  is  now  part 


MILLS,  DISTILLERIES  AND  HOTELS  IN  ROCKAWAY. 


355 


of  the  Halsey  property,  and  used  for  a  wagon  house. 
The  present  mill  property  owned  by  E.  D.  Halsey  was 
built  by  his  father,  Judge  Samuel  B.  Halsey,  in  1854  and 
1855- 

At  Powerville  the  Hopler  milLwas  known  prior  to  1800, 
and  was  located  above  the  present  mill.  In  April  1802 
Conrad  Hopler  sold  to  Joseph  Scott,  in  consideration  of 
$95°;  19  acres  of  land  and  the  mills  (grist-mill  and  saw- 
mill), and  on  the  4th  of  March  1804  Joseph  Scott  sold 
one-half  of  this  mill  property  to  Benjamin  Beach  of  Horse 
Pond,  and  the  other  half  to  his  son  John  Scott.  Benja- 
min Beach  was  the  father  of  Dr.  Columbus  Beach,  and 
was  a  large  land-owner  in  and  around  Beach  Glen,  where 
he  had  a  grist-mill.  It  stood  in  front  of  the  present 
dwelling  house  on  Dr.  Beach's  farm,  and  about  the  only 
visible  evidence  of  its  existence  is  the  pond  bed  extend- 
ing up  the  Glen  toward  Hibernia.  This  mill  was  the  most 
convenient  one  to  that  part  of  the  township  which  lies 
around  Hibernia,  Egbert's  Corner,  Greenville  and  Mer- 
iden. 

Martin  Hiler  built  a  grist-mill  on  the  small  stream  east 
of  his  house,  which  is  the  old  stone  house  on  the  left  side 
of  the  road  after  crossing  Peer's  lock,  toward  Powerville. 
This  mill  has  been  out  of  use  nearly  fifty  years,  and 
nothing  now  remains  of  the  structure.  After  Martin 
died  his  son  Peter  Hiler  carried  on  the  milling  business 
in  the  same  place. 

Aaron  Miller  owned  and  operated  a  grist-mill  and  saw- 
mill at  Rockaway  Valley.  He  lived  in  the  old  stone 
house  where  the  widow  of  Cyrus  Dixon  now  lives.  This 
mill  was  lower  down  the  stream  than  the  present  mill, 
which  was  built  by  Cyrus  Dixon,  and  is  known  as 
Dixon's  mills.  The  Miller  saw-mill  stood  where  the 
Dixon  grist-mill  is.  Town  meetings  were  held  at  the 
Miller  residence  for  many  years.  Before  the  town  was 
divided  it  required  two  days  to  vote  at  the  fall  elections, 
and  one  day  was  given  for  the  Miller  place,  and  one  for 
Rockaway  or  Denville.  The  spring  elections  were  held 
at  Miller's  every  other  year.  No  ballots  were  used  at 
the  spring  election.  The  moderator  mounted  a  dry  goods 
box,  or  more  frequently  a  cart,  and  decided  the  voting 
by  counting  the  supporters  of  the  candidates  as  the  tivo 
groups  stood  on  the  opposite  sides  of  a  rail  placed  on 
the  ground  to  divide  them. 

In  1820  Abijah  Conger,  who  was  a  carpenter,  erected 
a  cider-mil!  and  distillery  on  the  north  side  of  the  road 
leading  from  Dover  to  Franklin,  opposite  the  new  dwel- 
ling house  of  Henry  B.  Palmer.  The  mill  has  gone 
down  and  no  business  has  been  carried  on  there  for  many 
years  past. 

A  cider-mill  and  distillery  was  owned  by  Matthias  Kit- 
chel  near  Denville,  about  1820,  and  was  carried  on  by 
him  many  years.  He  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Glover,  then  liv- 
ing on  the  Glover  farm  near  Denville,  and  was  the  builder 
of  the  large  residence  on  the  farm,  now  used  as  the  Cath- 
olic protectory  school.  Mr.  Glover  found  a  market  for 
the  product  of  this  distillery  in  the  South  principally, 
and  died  in  one  of  his  visits  to  that  part  of  the  United 
States.     It  is  related  of  him  that  he  was  very  fond  of 


apple  whiskey;  he  would  occsionally  call  on  Col.  Joseph 
Jackson  at  Rockaway,  who  was  a  strictly  temperate  man 
and  opposed  to  the  drinking  customs  of  the  day,  and  on 
one  occasion  on  leaving — not  seeing  the  favorite  bever- 
age— asked  the  colonel  what  he  should  tell  his  folks  he 
had  good  to  drink,  and  was  told  to  report  indulgence  in 
a  drink  of  Col.  Jackson's  spring  water  as  the  best  his 
hospitality  afforded. 

John  Hinchman,  who  was  first  to  open  a  store  at  Den- 
ville, also  built  a  cider  distillery  west  of  his  store,  near 
the  present  brick  store. 

James  L.  Davenport  put  up  a  distillery  on  his  farm  at 
Green  Pond  a  few  years  ago  and  is  now  operating  it. 
Thomas  Green's  distillery  at  Denville  was  erected  about 
42  years  ago,  and  is  the  principal  one  in  the  township  at 
this  time.  It  is  worked  by  steam  power.  George  Ayres 
erected  one  14  years  ago,  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  Wil- 
liam Ayres,  east  of  Pigeon  Hill,  which  is  run  by  water 
power.     These  are  the  only  ones  existing  in  this  township. 

There  were  three  tanneries:  one  at  Denville,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river  near  the  Glover  farm,  worked  by 
David  Hill;  one  at  Rockaway,  near  the  old  wheelwright 
shop  of  Beach  &  Son,  opposite  the  Mount  Hope  ore 
dump,  carried  on  by  Henry  Berry,  father  of  Titus  Berry, 
of  Dover;  and  one  near  Mt.  Pleasant,  known  as  the 
Baker  tannery,  on  the  Jeremiah  Baker  homestead.  Mr. 
Baker  commenced  his  tannery  in  1792,  and  carried  it  on 
personally  nearly  70  years,  when  it  came  into  the  hands 
of  his  two  sons,  William  H.  Baker  and  Henry  Baker. 
Jeremiah  Baker  died  in  1861,  aged  91  years. 

Hotels. 

One  of  the  first  hotels  opened  in  the  township  was 
erected  in  1790  by  Thomas  Day,  on  the  spot  now  occu- 
pied by  the  dwelling  of  James  L.  Davenport,  at  the 
upper  end  of  Green  Pond,  and  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile 
from  Mr.  Davenport's  present  hotel.  Mr.  Davenport, 
who  has  kept  the  hotel  many  years,  informs  us  that  Mr. 
Day  was  not  successful  in  his  enterprise;  in  1832  Enos 
Davenport,  father  of  our  informant,  moved  into  the  Day 
hotel,  from  Milton,  intending  to  furnish  it,  but  the  next 
year  moved  back  to  Milton,  owing  to  the  many  snakes 
infesting  the  premises,  which  rendered  it  necessary 
to  keep  a  lookout  wherever  one  went.  Mrs.  Davenport 
encountered  in  their  yard  a  rattlesnake  with  nineteen 
rattles,  which  she  dispatched.  In  1833  John  Allison, 
with  the  assistance  of  William  Scott,  opened  this  hotel. 
Scott  was  then  working  the  Hibernia  forge  and  mines, 
and  coaling  on  several  wood  jobs  in  that  neighborhood, 
and  his  hotel  was  made  headquarters.  In  1842  Allison 
built  the  Davenport  hotel,  near  the  lake,  and  remained 
until  1844,  when  James  L.  Davenport  came  there  and  en- 
larged it,  and  from  that  time  to  this  he  has  been  a  popu- 
lar and  successful  landlord,  known  far  and  near.  In  the 
summer  of  1881  he  enlarged  the  house  and  improved  it 
generally,  making  it  able  to  accommodate  at  least 
one  hundred  boarders,  His  principal  guests  are  sum- 
mer boarders,  who  are  attracted  there  by  the  pleasant 
healthy  and  retired  location. 


356 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


David  Smith,  now  84  years  of  age,  residing  near  Green 
Pond,  says  that  the  Denville  Hotel  was  built  by  John 
Hinchman  in  181 1,  and  that  he  assisted  in  the  raising  of 
the  framework.  The  original  Denville  Hotel  was  on 
the  site  of  the  residence  of  the  late  Stephen  B.  Cooper; 
Samuel  Ketchum  was  the  first  landlord.  Company  train- 
ing day  was  observed  there  under  the  old  militia  law  of 
the  State;  brigade  training  was  at  Dover  or  Parsippany. 
A  toll-gate  was  kept  across  the  Parsippany  and  Rockaway 
turnpike  for  several  years  in  front  of  the  hotel.  David 
Menagh  was  proprietor  of  this  hotel  for  many  years,  and 
was  a  kind  hearted,  obliging  and  popular  landlord.  He 
died  in  April  1871,  His  widow  remained  in  the  hotel 
until  her  death,  about  ten  years  later. 

Moses  Tuttle  was  licensed  by  the  Morris  county  court, 
at  the  December  term  of  1771,  to  keep  a  tavern,  and  this 
was  in  all  probability  at  Mount  Pleasant,  on  a  spot  very 
near  the  present  residence  of  Je'^se  S.  Langdon.  The 
Tuttle  house  was  a  long  frame  building,  two  stories  high, 
with  a  porch  the  entire  length,  and  stood  on  the  east 
side  of  the  turnpike.  At  the  July  term  of  1773  Bernard 
Smith  was  licensed  to  keep  a  tavern  at  Rockaway.  About 
that  time  he  bought  and  lived  in  the  Gaston  house, 
nearly  opposite  the  Dr.  Jackson  house. 

The  present  hotel  at  Rockaway  was  not  opened  until 
after  the  Morris  Canal  was  constructed.  The  first  struc- 
ture stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  hotel,  and  was  com- 
menced by  William  Conger  son  of  Thomas  Conger,  who 
with  his  three  sons  was  a  manufacturer  of  edge  tools  at 
Rockaway.  William  Conger  progressed  with  the  hotel 
as  far  as  the  raising  of  the  framework,  and  then  it  came 
into  the  hands  of  Joseph  C.  Righter,  who  completed  it 
about  52  years  ago.  The  first  landlord  was  Joseph,  son 
of  James  Jackson,  according  to  one  informant;  according 
to  another  authority  a  Colonel  Reading  was  the  first. 
David  Menagh  was  proprietor  for  several  years  before 
taking  the  Denville  hotel.  Morris  McCarty,  and  after 
his  death  his  son  C.  A.  McCarty,  were  successful  and 
popular  landlords  at  this  hotel  for  many  years.  It  was 
enlarged  and  improved  under  the  last  named  gentle- 
man. 

Soldiers  of  the  Revolution. 

Rockaway  township  had  many  patriots  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  We  have  the  names  of  some  of  them, 
and  there  were  no  doubt  many  whose  names  and  acts 
are  lost.  First  among  them  is  General  William  Winds, 
of  whom  mention  has  been  made  in  a  previous  part  of 
this  history.  Jacob  Ford  jr.  was  appointed  colonel  Jan- 
uary 13th  1776,  and  died  of  pneumonia  at  Morristown, 
January  loth  1777.  Colonel  John  Munson,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Robert  Gaston,  Captain  Stephen  Baldwin,  Cap- 
tain Job  Allen,  Captain  Elijah  Freeman  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Benoni  Hathaway  were  from  Rockaway.  The 
names  of  Munson,  Gaston  and  Allen  appear  on  the  Rock- 
way  church  records. 

Daniel  Dickerson,  the  grandfather  of  Stephen  Dicker- 
son,  of  Denville,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  He  lived 
on  the  Stephen  Dickerson  farm,  now  owned  by  the  Den- 


ville Camp  Meeting  Association,  and  died  in  1830,  aged 
Sr  or  86.  He  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  French  war. 
Besides  operating  his  farm  he  was  a  bloomer  for  John 
Jacob  Faesch  at  Old  Boonton. 

James  Kitchel  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and 
drew  a  pension  as  such.  He  lived  on  the  road  leading 
from  Rockaway  to  Powerville,  opposite  Hubbard  S. 
Stickle's  farm,  in  a  stone  house.  The  walls  of  the  residence 
are  still  standing,  all  the  woodwork  being  destroyed  by 
fire  about  ten  years  ago.  He  was  the  father  of  the  late 
Matthias  Kitchel.  Matthias  Zeek  says  he  was  very  fond 
of  hunting  and  kept  several  hounds,  and  would  often 
bring  in  a  deer  from  the;  Hibernia  Mountains.  He  saw 
him  shoot  a  deer  one  morning  very  near  the  spot  where 
the  Hibernia  store  now  stands.  Kitchel  rode  up  on  a 
fine  gray  horse,  and,  seeing  the  deer,  jumped  from  the 
horse  and  fired;  by  some  unexpected  spring  of  the  horse 
one  buckshot  went  through  the  horse's  neck  and  the 
others  brought  down  the  deer.  Jame?  Kitchel  died  about 
forty  years  ago. 

Jacob  Walton  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  He  was  an 
uncle  of  Agnes  Walton,  still  living  and  who  gave  this 
with  other  information.  He  was  never  lieard  from  after 
he  enlisted  and  went  from  home.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  Walton  before  named.  Such  men  as  the  Kitchels, 
the  Condits,  the  Beaches,  the  Dickersons,  the  Howells, 
the  De  Harts,  the  Jacksons,  the  Tuttles  and  others  of 
like  patriotism  came  to  the  country's  rescue,  and  shared 
in  its  hardships  and  glories. 

Secret  Societies. 

The  oldest  society  we  have  any  knowledge  of  is  that 
which  was  organized  during  the  war  of  independence. 
Its  name  was  "  The  Association  of  Whigs  in  Pequan- 
nock  Township  in  1776."  It  was  a  committee  of  safety 
organized  by  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  Pequan- 
nock  township,  and  is  further  spoken  of  in  the  history  of 
Pequannock. 

Rockaway  Lodge,  No.  68,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  was  organized  July  22nd  1852,  under  the  act  in- 
corporating societies  for  benevolent  and  charitable  pur- 
poses only.  Freeman  Wood  was  the  first  president, 
Thomas  M.  Sturtevant  vice-president,  Jacob  Powers  sec- 
retary and  treasurer.  This  is  the  only  local  secret  soci- 
ety which  is  regularly  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the 
State. 

2'he  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  is  a  benevolent  asso- 
ciation at  Hibernia,  which  has  been  in  existence  for 
some  time.  A  similar  society  was  formed  at  Mount 
Hope  about  thirteen  years  ago.  It  owned  a  hall,  and 
was  in  a  flourishing  condition  for  some  time,  but  it  being 
a  secret  society,  and  a  majority  of  its  members  belonging 
to  the  Roman  Catholic  parish,  the  Catholic  church 
opposed  it,  on  the  ground  that,  if  it  was  not  actually  in- 
imical to  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  it  was  contrary  to 
its  spirit;  the  opposition  led  to  the  disbandment  of  the 
society,  and  St.  Bernard's  church  took  its  property. 

The  Mount  Hope  Catholic  Benevolent  Society  came  into 
existence   about  six   years   ago,   and    The  Mount  Hope 


BUSINESS  CORPORATIONS  OF  ROCKAWAY  TOWNSHIP. 


357 


Temperance  Society  aboul:  twelve  years    ago;    both    are 
still  in  operation. 

Business  Corporations. 

The  Morris  Canal,  passing  through  Rockaway,  and  in 
fact  traversing  the  whole  township,  from  Powerville 
on  the  east  to  the  John  Dickerson  farm  on  the  west,  was 
the  making  of  Rockaway  village.  This  is  admitted  by  all 
who  knew  the  place  prior  to  that  time.  Rockaway  was 
the  headquarters  of  the  iron  interests  of  the  county.  Its 
rich  mineral  productions  and  manufactured  iron  had  a 
slow  and  expensive  process  of  getting  to  market,  and  at 
this  time  Rockaway  was  in  danger  of  being  obliged 
to  abandon  one  of  its  most  extensive  branches  of  indus- 
try for  this  reason.  The  canal  was  constructed  as 
related  on  previous  pages,  and  about  1830  became  the 
only  medium  of  transporation  to  and  from  Newark  for  all 
kinds  of  merchandise,  and  Rockaway  was  one  of  the 
many  places  benefited  by  it. 

The  next  enterprise  was  the  construction  of  the  Mor- 
ris and  Essex  (now  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western)  Railroad,  which  in  1848  gave  communication 
to  the  seaboard  by  rail. 

The  Rockaway  Manufacturing  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated on  the  15th  of  February  1837,  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  iron,  cotton  and  wool  in  all  their  branches, 
wirh  power  to  negotiate  with  the  Morris  Canal  Company 
for  water  to  run  the  proposed  mills.  Joseph  Jackson, 
Stephen  J.  Jackson  and  Samuel  B.  Halsey  were  the  in- 
corporators. Nothing  was  done  toward  putting  the 
plan  in  operation.  Not  discouraged,  however,  the  same 
parties,  with  an  addition  or  two,  procured  another  char- 
ter, in  the  name  of  Joseph  Jackson,  Stephen  J.  Jackson 
and  John  Mott  as  corporators,  under  a  like  corporate 
name,  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  iron  only;  and 
Joseph  Jackson,  Samuel  B.  Halsey,  John  Mott  and  Free- 
man Wood  were  appointed  commissioners  to  open  books 
and  receive  subscriptions  td  the  capital  stock.  This 
charter  was  granted  on  the  14th  of  February  1843,  to 
continue  in  force  twenty  years,  and,  like  its  predecessor^ 
the  enterprise  was  permitted  to  become  extinct  from 
neglect. 

On  the  12th  of  February  1855  a  third  company  was 
incorporated  under  the  same  name,  with  Freeman  Wood, 
George  Hand  Smith,  Lyman  A.  Chandler,  Theodore  T. 
Wood  and  Nathaniel  Mott  as  corporators,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  iron  and  steel  at  Rockaway.  The  char- 
ter was  to  continue  in  force  thirty  years.  This  company 
was  in  operation  several  years,  and  enlarged  the  rolling- 
mills,  expending  a  large  amount  of  capital;  but  was  not 
successful,  and  finally  closed  the  mills,  and  gave  up  to  its 
creditors.  These  were  the  mills  first  established  by  Col. 
Jackson,  but  of  course  with  larger  facilities  for  carrying 
on  the  iron  business  in  all  its  branches. 

The  American  Swedes  Iro/t  Company,  operating  the 
"  Judson  steel  and  iron  works,"  was  incorporated  on  the 
26th  of  February  1868,  consisting  of  Adrian  B.  Judson, 
James  L.  Baldwin  and  George  Neemus.  This  concern 
became  the  lessee  of  the  rolling-mills  at   Rockaway  and 


carried  on  its  business  for  some  time  with  more  or  less 
success  in  producing  iron  and  steel,  but  at  a  loss  of  cap- 
ital, and  finally  closed  its  fires,  and  for  the  last  ten  years 
has  been  practically  out  of  existence.  The  works,  how- 
ever, have  been  operated  during  that  time  by  various 
parties  in  the  manufacture  of  both  iron  and  steel.  For 
the  last  two  years  the  mills  have  been  in  charge  of  Joel 
Wilson,  of  Dover,  who  i=i  the  inventor  of  the  "  Wilson 
direct  process  "  and  has  been  enlisting  the  attention  of 
some  New  York  capitalists  in  the  development  of  this 
process  of  making  iron  and  steel.  The  company  is 
called  'The  American  Swedes  Iron  Company,"  and  is  at 
the  present  time  perfecting  its  machinery,  which  will 
work  a  revolution  in  the  manufacture  of  iron.  Mr.  Wil- 
son, who  is  superintendent,  informs  us  that  the  process 
is  sufficiently  satisfactory  to  induce  the  parties  to  invest 
quite  a  large  capital  to  increase  the  product.  He  claims 
to  have  developed  a  furnace  that  will  produce  a  superior 
quality  of  iron  in  bars  direct  from  the  ore,  thereby  sav- 
ing the  entire  cost  of  making  the  ore  into  pig  metal  be- 
fore making  it  into  bars. 

The  company  is  now  running  four  Catalan  forge  fires, 
making  charcoal  iron,  and  two  puddling  furnaces.  The 
furnaces  are  for  working  the  iron  ore  direct  into  wrought 
iron,  and  the  fuel  used  in  the  manufacture  of  this  iron  is 
petroleum,  which  Mr.  Wilson  claims  makes  a  better  iron 
than  mineral  coal,  and  with  a  saving  of  at  least  20  per 
cent,  in  fuel.  All  the  iron  thus  made  at  the  Rockaway 
mill  is  sold  for  the  manufacture  of  crucible  steel.  The 
ore  used  is  black  sand  from  the  ere  beds,  procured  at 
present  from  Block  Island  and  the  east  end  of  Long  Isl- 
and. It  is  separated  from  all  impurities  by  a  magnetic 
machine  invented  by  C.  G.  Buchanan,  of  Rockaway;  put 
in  bags  on  the  beach,  and  shipped  to  the  Rockaway 
works.  The  Union  foundry  in  Rockaway,  owned  by 
Mahlon  Hoagland,  is  manufacturing  these  separators. 

The  Iron  Bank  of  Rockaway  was  duly  incorporated  on 
the  20th  of  August  1855  under  the  general  State  law, 
with  a  capital  of  3,000  shares  of  $50  each.  All  the  shares 
were  subscribed  for,  as  follows:  2,000  were  taken  by 
George  P.  Williams,  of  Hoboken;  300  by  Freeman  Wood, 
of  Rockaway;  596  by  Charles  Sanford,  of  New  York; 
100  by  Nathaniel  Mott,  of  Rockaway;  and  one  share  each 
by  Elisha  Mott,  S.  S.  Beach  jr.,  John  Mott  and  Stephen 
Estile,  all  of  Rockaway. 

Freeman  Wood  was  the  first  president  of  the  bank, 
which  did  business  three  or  four  years  at  Rockaway  and 
then,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  in  1858,  was 
authorized  to  remove  its  location  to  Morristown,  where 
it  has  since  done  a  prosperous  business. 

In  May  1858,  after  the  removal  of  the  Iron  Bank  to 
Morristown,  another  banking  association  was  formed 
under  the  State  law,  under  the  name  of  the  Rockaway 
Bank,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  banking  busi- 
ness at  Rockaway.  The  capital  stock  of  1,000  shares 
was  subscribed,  but  the  enterprise  ended  v.-ith  the  cer- 
tificate, and  no  business  was  ever  transacted. 

"The  Union  Hall  Association  of  Rockaway  "  was  incor- 
porated in  March  1869,  the  incorporators  being'Barnabas 


358 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


K.  Stickle,  J.  Mills  Mattox,  Stephen  B.  Cooper,  John  B. 
Lt)nsbury,  Robert  Richards,  Samuel  Tippet  and  Jacob 
P.  Stickle,  and  the  purpose  being  to  erect  a  hall  for  the 
use  of  societies,  lyceums,  public  meetings,  concerts,  etc. 
Water  Power  Companies. — The  Rockaway  River  has 
not  been  forgotton  by  our  legislators,  but  has  been  the 
subject  of  several  acts,  in  relation  to  the  regulation  of 
fishing,  the  removal  of  obstructions  to  the  free' course  of 
its  waters,  and  the  creation  of  water  power  companies. 
This  last  class  of  legislation  commenced  about  1839,  but 
we  cannot  learn  that  any  capital  was  invested  in  these  en- 
terprises. 

The  Hibernia  Mine  Railroad  Company  was  incorporat- 
ed on  the  1 8th  of  March  1863.  Its  corporators  were 
Abram  S.  Hewitt,  Edward  Cooper,  Dudley  B.  Fuller, 
George  T.  Cobb,  Theodore  T.  Wood,  Charles  Jackson 
jr.,  George  Richards,  Thomas  E.  Allen,  Joseph  C.  Kent, 
and  Charles  Hewitt.  They  had  a  capital  stock  of 
$25,000,  with  liberty  to  increase  it  to  $100,000,  and  to 
build  a  railroad  from  the  Hibernia  mines  to  any  point  on 
the  Morris  Canal  in  Morris  county;  also  to  connect  with 
the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  and  to  build  spurs  to  any 
adjacent  iron  mine  in  the  county.  The  road  was  built 
and  fully  equipped  for  transporting  iron  ores  from  the 
Hibernia  mines  to  the  Morris  canal  by  horse  power.  In 
March  1868,  by  a  supplement  to  its  charter,  the  company 
was  authorized  to  use  steam  for  the  transportation 
of  freight  and  passengers  over  the  road,  and  the  road  has 
since  then  been  in  operation  with  steam  power.  In 
1871  its  capital  stock  was  increased  to  $200,000. 

In  March  1866  the  Mount  Hope  Mineral  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $200,000, 
and  power  to  build  a  road  from  the  Mount  Hope  mines 
to  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  and  Morris  Canal,  and 
to  construct  spurs  to  other  mines.  This  road  was  built, 
connecting  with  the  Morris  and  Essex  at  Port  Oram 
in  Randolph  township,  and  running  to  the  Mount  Hope 
mines  in  Rockaway  township,  taking  in  the  Richards, 
Allen  and  Teabo  mines,  with  a  spur  to  the  Mount 
Pleasant  and  Baker  mines,  all  in  Rockaway.  The  ores 
from  these  mines  have  since  then  been  carried  over  this 
road.  In  1867  the  company  was  empowered,  by  an 
amendment  to  its  charter,  to  extend  its  road  to  the 
Hibernia  mines.  This  extension  has  not  been  carried 
out.  Practically  it  was  of  no  benefit  to  the  company  for' 
transporting  ore,  as  the  Hibernia  Railroad  was  then 
carrying  all  the  product  of  the  Hibernia  and  adja- 
cent mines. 

The  Dover  and  Rockaway  Railroad  Coijipany  was  or- 
ganized in  1879,  under  the  general  railroad  law  of  the 
State,  and  in  the  summer  and  winter  of  1880  and 
1881  built  a  road  from  Port  Oram  (then  the  terminus  of 
the  Longwood  Valley  branch  of  the  Central  of  New  Jer- 
sey), to  Rockaway,  and  opened  the  same  for  passenger 
and  freight  trafific  in  May  1881. 

The  village  of  Rockaway  is  now  the  terminus  of  this 
new  road,  having  its  outlet  by  way  of  the  Longwood  Val- 
ley and  High  Bridge  branches  over  the  Central  Railroad 
of  New  Jersey,  and  also  connecting  at   Rockaway   with 


the  Hibernia,  and  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  West- 
ern Railroad.  All  the  Hibernia  ores  are  carried  over 
this  new  road  to  the  furnaces  in  Pennsylvania. 

Piccatinny  Powder  Depot.— li  is  proper  to  mention  in 
this  connection  the  recent  purchases  of  lands  at  Middle 
forge  and  Denmark  by  the  United  States  government 
for  powder  works.  The  name  of  this  establishment  is 
the  "  Piccatinny  Powder  Depot,"  and  it  is  about  three 
miles  from  Rockaway,  in  the  Green  Mountain  or  Middle 
Forge  Valley.  Here  in  rural  seclusion,  with  the  Green 
Pond  Mountains  on  one  side  and  the  Mt.  Hope  and 
Hickory  Hills  on  the  other,  it  is  proposed  to  build  large 
magazines  for  storage  and  mills  for  the  manufacture  of 
gunpowder.  Nearly  1,900  acres  of  land,  mountain  and 
valley,  wooded  and  cultivated,  were  purchased  of  differ- 
ent owners  in  1880  and  1881.  A  beautiful  lake  no  acres 
in  extent  occupies  a  central  point,  with  Piccatinny  Peak 
frowning  down  on  it,  and  with  the  waters  of  Green  Pond 
and  Denmark  Pond  flowing  through  it. 

In  1879  searches  and  surveys  for  suitable  tracts  of 
land  for  the  above  purposes  were  made  in  different  direc- 
tions around  New  York,  and,  none  presenting  ihe  desired 
facilities  and  advantages  to  the  degree  presented  by  the 
Middle  forge  and  surroundings,  it  was  finally  settled 
upon  and  purchase  was  made  of  several  large  tracts  of 
land,  including  the  John  E.  Kindred  and  Uhel  H.  Wig- 
gins farms.  Suitable  buildings  of  brick  and  stone  have 
been  commenced,  and  as  fast  as  the  appropriations  are 
made  by  Congress  this  picturesque  place  will  be  beauti- 
fied and  transformed  into  one  of  those  trim  military 
posts  which  are  occupied  as  arsenals  and  depots  of  sup- 
plies of  war  material.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
are  now  employed.  The  whole  work  in  all  its  branches 
is  under  the  charge  of  Major  F.  H.  Parker,  Ordnance 
Department,  United  States  army,  who  has  his  headquar- 
ters at  Dover. 

On  the  22nd  of  November  1879  the  Split  Rock  Forge 
and  Mining  Company  ^sa  incorporated  under  the  general 
act  of  the  State,  with  a  capital  of  $20,000  furnished  by 
some  New  York  parties.  The  company  operated  at  Split' 
Rock  for  a  year  or  so,  under  leases  from  the  estate  of  the 
late  Andrew  B.  Cobb;  but,  becoming  involved,  the  con- 
cern went  into  the  hands  of  Frederick  H.  Beach,  of  Do- 
ver, as  receiver.  The  works  are  now  operated  by  Wil- 
liam D.  Marvel,  of  New  York  city,  who  was  a  chattel 
mortgage  creditor  and  sold  all  the  concern  under  a  fore- 
closure of  his  claim. 

The  Denmark  Land  and  Improvement  Company.,  which 
was  a  New  York  enterprise,  was  started  six  years  ago, 
with  a  view  to  purchasing  the  lands  around  Green  Pond, 
building  roads,  laying  out  building  lots,  making  improve- 
ments, and  speculating  generally.  This  company  spent 
a  large  amount  of  money,  and  built  a  very  expensive 
wagon  road  from  Denmark  Pond  up  the  north  side  of  the 
stream  to  Green  Pond,  and  also  constructed  a  railroad 
along  the  mountain  to  facilitate  work,  which  shows  con- 
siderable engineering  skill  and  enterprise.  Land  went 
up  to  a  high  figure  in  that  neighborhood  during  the  time 
the  company  was  in  operation;  but  it  proved  an  imprac- 


THE  PATRIOT  DEAD  OF  ROCKAWAY  TOWNSHIP. 


359 


ticable  scheme,,  and  was  finally  abandoned,  and  all  the 
improvements  are  fast  assuming  the  original  wildness  of 
the  country. 

Rockaway's  Union  Soldiers. 

From  Hon.  Edmund  D.  Halsey  we  have  received 
all  the  information  we  present  in  relation  to  the  war  rec- 
ord of  Rockaway  in  the  late  Rebellion.  Mr.  Hal- 
sey is  historian  of  the  Rockaway  Soldier-s'  Association 
and  has  given  the  names  of  the  soldiers  for  publication, 
and  our  part  will  be  confined  principally  to  the  financial 
history  of  the  township  in  relation  to  the  war. 

The  rolls  show  that  about  one-third  of  the  whole 
adult  male  population  enlisted  in  the  service,  and  of 
these  one  out  of  every  three  did  not  live  to  return. 
Money  as  well  as  men  was  liberally  given.  In  the 
second  year  of  the  war,  about  July  1862,  a  subscription 
was  started  to  raise  a  fund  to  distribute  among  the  vol- 
unteers, to  promote  enlistments.  It  met  with  such 
success  that  $3,013.89  was  soon  subscribed.  Part  of 
this  fund  was  paid  to  six  men  of  Company  H  nth  N.  J., 
part  to  six  men  of  Company  C  15th  N.  J.,  part  to  16  men 
of  Company  F  15th  N.  J.,  and  the  balance  to  92  men 
who  enlisted  in  Company  L  27th  N.  J.  (entirely  com- 
posed of  Rockaway  men).  The  ladies  of  the  township 
raised  on  the  4th  of  July  1863  $300  for  distribution 
among  the  families  of  the  soldiers.  Owing  to  the  large 
number  of  men  from  Rockaway  township  who  enlisted 
in  other  places  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the  call 
of  1864  was  quite  heavy.  The  town  issued  scrip  to  the 
amount  of  $33,600  to  96  men,  by  a  vote  of  the  people; 
and  when,  by  the  proclamation  of  December  19th  1864, 
it  appeared  that  300,000  men  were  required,  and  that  the 
quota  of  Rockaway  was  20,  the  people  at  once  voted  to 
give  to  these  men  the  same  as  the  former  quota  received. 
Before  the  quota  was  completed  the  war  practically 
closed,  so  that  $35,000  was  the  entire  sum  thus' paid  in 
scrip,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  187 1  every  dollar 
of  this  scrip,  principal  and  interest,  had  been  paid  by 
the  town. 

The  following  is  Mr.  Halsey's  record  of  the  volunteers 
from  Rockaway  who  lost  their  lives  in  the  service: 

Company  L  27//^  TV.  J.  Volunteeis. — Nineteen  members 
who  were  drowned  in  the  Cumberland  River,  May  6th 
1863,  near  Somerset,  Ky.,  viz.:  Joseph  Class,  Jesse  De 
Mouth,  Lemuel  De  Graw,  James  H.  Fuller,  Lewis  O. 
Green,  Barnabas  K.  Miller,  John  McCloskey,  Edward 
Nichols,  William  Ocabock,  William  Weaver,  Thomas 
Odell,  James  O'Neil,  Gideon  Bostedo,  Ralston  Peer, 
Wilson  Pittenger,  George  Shawger,  Eliakim  Sanders, 
Samuel  H.  Smith  and  James  Shaw. 

Others  of  the  same  company:  William  Howell,  died 
April  nth  1863,  at  Baltimore,  of  fever;  John  Tenike, 
died  March  31st  1863,  at  Chesapeake  Hospital,  of  pneu- 
monia; Lewis  Ward,  discharged  July  2nd  1863  with  his 
company,  died  August  27th  following,  of  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  service;  Sergeant  James  M.  Freeman,  died 
June  8th  1863,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Sherward  Hospital, 
Hickman's  Bridge,  Ky.;  James  H.  CoUerd,  died  January 
8th  1863,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Washington,  D.  C;  Jos- 
eph De  Graw,  died  May  2nd  1863,  at  camp  near  Stan- 
ford, Ky.,  of  dysentery;  William  De  Mouth,  died  March 
ist  1863,  at  camp   near   Newport   News,  Va.,  of  chronic 


diarrhoea;  Thomas  De  Mouth,  died  January  26th  1863, 
in  hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C;  William  Haycock,  died 
March  15th  1863,  at  Newport  News. 

Company  B  27M  N.  J.  Volunteers. — William  Duly,  died 
February  20th  1863,  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  of  disease. 

First  N .  J.  Volunteers. — Clifton  Peer,  Company  K,  dis- 
charged for  disability,  August  15th  1864;  died  February 
5th  1865,  from  disease  contracted  in  the  service. 

Fifth  N.  J.  Volunteers.— Charles  Spencer,  Company  D, 
died  June  14th  1864,  at  Fairfax  Seminary,  Va. 

Seventh  Al'.  J.  Volunteers.-\N\\\\&m  Thompson,  Company 
K,  killed  September  26th  1864,  by  sharpshooters,  before 
Petersburg,  Va.  George  Wesley  Peer,  Company  K,  died 
May  13th  1862,  at  Yorktown,  Va.  Samuel  Farrand 
Kitchel,  Company  C  (transferred  from  Company  K),  died 
at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  September  12th  1864.  Elijah  D. 
Bruen,  Company  C  (transferred  from  Company  K),  died 
at  Madison  while  on  furlough,  June  7th  1865,  of  disease 
contracted  in  the  service.  George  Washington  Blakely, 
Company  K,  died  July  28th  1862,  at  St.  Luke's  Hospital, 
N.  Y.  John  Spear,  Company  C  (transferred  from  Com- 
pany K),  died  December  14th  1864,  in  hospital  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C;  had  previously  served  in  Company  L  27th 
N.  J.       John   R.  Lyon,  Company  K,  died  September  3d 

1862,  of  wounds  received  August  29th  at  Bristow  Station, 
Va.  Gilbert  D.  Blanchard,  Company  C  (transferred  from 
Company  K),  died  August  13th  1864,  of  dropsy,  at  An- 
dersonville, Ga. 

Eighth  N.  J.  Volunteers. — Henry  Weaver,  Company  A, 
discharged  on  account  of  wounds  August  15th  1865;  died 
at  home,  December  27th  1866,  from  the  effect  of  wounds. 
Anson  R.  Waer,  Company  A,  killed  July  2nd  1863,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.  Jacob  M.  Kinney,  Company  A,  taken 
prisoner  at  hospital  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  June  28th  1862, 
and  died  at  Belle  Isle,  Va.,  of  privation,  August  5th  1862. 
William  H.  Gard,  Company  I,  died  of  fever  at  Yorktown, 
Va.,  June  5th  1862.  John  W.  Palmer,  Company  A,  died 
of  fever  at  Bottom's  Bridge,Va.,  June  23d  1862.  Thomas 
Jefferson   Huyler,  Company  A,  killed   in   battle  May  3d 

1863,  at  Chancellorsville,  Va. 

Ninth  N.  J .  Vohmteers. — Hampton  Whitehead,  Com- 
pany E,  died  at  Brickyard  Hospital,  Newbern,  N.  C, 
March  17th  1862,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  New- 
bern. James  Dougherty,  Company  C;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber loth  1861,  died  of  dysentery,  August  3d  1864,  at 
Andersonville,  Ga. 

Eleventh  N.  J.  Volunteers. — Sergeant  Eliphalet  Sturte- 
vant.  Company  E,  died  at  Gettysburg,  July  13th  1863, 
from  wounds  received  in  battle  July  2nd;  Thomas  Tin- 
ney,  Company  E,  killed  by  a  shell  July  2nd  1863,  at 
Gettysburg;  Cyrus  L.  Talmadge,  Company  E,  died  Sep- 
tember 2nd  1864,  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  of  starvation 
while  a  prisoner;  Joshua  Beach,  Company  E,  died  August 
ist  1864,  at  Andersonville  prison;  Daniel  H.  Palmer, 
Company  E,  died  June  23d  1863,  from  wounds  received 
at  Chancellorsville  May  3d  1863;  Columbus  M.  Shaw- 
ger, Company  E,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Falmouth,  Va., 
March  29th  1863;  Abram  Stickle,  Company  D,  died  at 
Trenton,  August  20th  1862;  Richard  Henderson,  Com- 
pany H,  died  December  30th  1862,  near  Fredericksburg, 
Va.,  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs. 

Fifteenth  N.  J.  Volunteers. — Jeremiah  Haycock,  Com- 
pany C,  died  May  9th  1864,  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house 
of  wounds  received  in  action  the  day  before;  Alfred  B. 
Jackson,  Company  D,  enlisted  January  2nd  1864,  killed 
in  action  May  8th  1864;  John  Moran,  Company  D,  died 
May  12th  1864,  of  wounds  received  on  the  8th  at  Spott- 
sylvania; Bernard *Johnson,  Company  D,  died  May  20th 
1864,  of  wounds  received  on  the  8th  at  Spottsylvania  ; 
Felix  Cash,  Company  F,  lost  an   arm   in   battle   May  3d 


360 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


1863  at  Salem  Heights,  and  died  from  the  effects  of  the 
amputation  May  isth;  George  D.  Foulds,  Company  F, 
killed  at  "  the  Angle  "  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12th 
1864;  Benajah  D.  Waer,  Company  F,  died  May  9th  1863, 
at  White  Oak  Church,  Va. 

Thirty-ninth  N.  J.  Volunteers. — Abraham  Earls,  Com- 
pany K,  died  May  6th  1865,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  of  wounds 
received  at  Petersburg,  Va. 

First  N.  J.  Cavalry. — Edwin  Zeek,  Company  E,  en- 
listed September  28th  1864,  died  of  fever  January  i8th 
1865,  in  hospital  at  Petersburg,  Va.;  William  R.  Shores, 
Company  D,  killed  April  6th  1865,  at  Farmville,  near 
Appomattox  Court-House,  Va.;  Lemuel  O.  Smith,  Com- 
pany E,  killed  April  9th  1865,  ne'ar  Appomattox  Court- 
House. 

Second  N.  J.  Cavalry. — Elijah  Struble,  Company  C, 
died  June  4th  1864,  at  White's  Stafion,  Tenn.,  of  typhoid 
fever. 

Third  N.  J.  Cavalry. — John  T.  Heminover,  enlisted 
December  5th  1863  in  Company  E;  died  while  a  prisoner 
of  war  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  December  4th  1864. 

Battery  B  1st  N.  J.  Artillery. — Mahlon  Stickle,  dis- 
charged August  ist  1862  for  disability,  died  September 
ist  1862;  Jacob  P.  Stickle,  discharged  November  ist  1862 
for  disability;  died  at  Boonton. 

Belonging  to  Regiments  of  Other  States. — Jabez  Winget, 
Company  D  70th  N.  Y.,  shot  through  the  head  at  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  Va.,  May  5th  1862;  William  H.  Stickle, 
Company  D  70th  N.  Y.,  killed  in  battle  May  5th  1862,  at 
Williamsburgh,  Va.;  Edward  L.  Marsh,  Company  E  38th 
N.  Y.,  captured  at  the  first  Bull  Run  battle,  taken  to 
Libby  prison,  and  there  suffered  such  hardships  that  he 
died  at  home  May  30th  1862;  Joseph  E.  Dickerson,  Com- 
pany A  2nd  N.  Y.  cavalry,  died  February  3d  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington Heights,  from  starvation  on  Belle  Island;  Chileon 
Odell,  Company  A  loist  N.  Y.,  killed  August  29th  1862, 
at  Bull  Run,  Va.;  Edward  Smith,  Company  F  66th  N. 
Y.,  died  February  ist  1862;  John  Henry  Beach,  135th 
Indiana,  died  June  30th  1864,  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.;  Ed- 
ward Barnes,  Company  C  4th  Wis.  cavalry,  died  May  8th 
1864,  at  Baton  Rouge,  La. 


business  he  was  a  large  landowner,  owning  at  the  time 
much  of  the  site  of  Dover.  He  was  also  extensively  en- 
gaged in  iron  manufacture.  He  was  a  man  of  great  in- 
dustry, very  conscientious  and  just  in  his  dealings  with 
his  fellow  men.  He  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Rock- 
away  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber more  than  forty  years.  In  1798  he  was  married 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  Andrew  King.  She  was  born  June 
9th  1778.  Their  children  were  Andrew  K.,  Henry, 
Elizabeth  (who  married  James  B.  Carle),  William  H., 
Nancy  W.  (Mrs.  William  H.  Spencer),  Phebe  H.  (wife  of 
John  De  Hart  of  Parsippany),  and  Margaret. 

Henry  Baker  was  born  at  the  homestead  near  Dover, 
April  29th  1801.  He  was  reared  a  tanner  and  shoe- 
maker, but  as  he  grew  older  he  engaged  extensively 
in  other  departments  of  business  in  partnership  with  his 
brother  William  H.  They  jointly  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness of  tanning  and  currying,  milling,  and  manufac- 
turing iron,  as  well  as  farming.  They  wer6  also  joint 
owners  of  several  valuable  iron  mines. 

Mr.  Baker  was  married  October  30th  1869,  to  Lydia 
J.  Jenners.  They  have  no  children.  He  has  always 
been  a  resident  of  the  town  in  which  he  was  born,  and 
by  industry,  energy  and  perseverance  he  has  acquired  an 
ample  competency. 

Colonel  Joseph  Jackson. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Henry  Baker. 

The  Baker  family  of  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
(as  well  a«  William  H.,  whose  biography  appears  else- 
where) was  a  member  is  of  English  descent.  The  ear- 
liest history  of  the  family  in  this  country  dates  from 
the  settlement  of  Easthampton,  on  Long  Island,  where 
Thomas  Baker,  who  had  emigrated  from  England,  first 
settled  some  time  previous  to  1700,  and  from  which 
place  he  removed  to  Connecticut  Farms  (now  Union), 
where  he  died. 

Jeremiah  Baker,  the  father  of  Henry,  was  born  Au- 
gust 28th  1770,  near  Westfield,  N.  J.,  where  his  father, 
Henry  Baker,  resided.  He  learned  his  trade  of  tanner 
and  currier  and  also  that  of  shoemaker  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Ziba  Ludlow,  at  Mendham,  N.  J.,  and  removed 
to  near  Mt.  Pleasant  (in  what  was  then  Pequannock 
township),  near  Dover,  in  June  1792.  Here,  having 
worked  at  his  trade  about  two  years,  he  bought  the 
property  of  Josiah  Beman,  built  a  tannery,  and  car- 
ried on  the  business  until  he  was  succeeded  by  his 
sons  Henry  and  William  H.      In  addition  to  his  tanning 


Colonel  Joseph  Jackson,  of  whom  it  may  be  said  he 
was  the  founder  of  Rockaway  village,  was  a  son  of  Ste- 
phen Jackson  and  Mary  Burwell,  and  was  born  March. 
8th  1774,  in  the  log  house  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river 
a  mile  above  the  village,  where  his  grandfather  Joseph 
Jackson  had  lived  and  died.  At  his  birth  there  were  but 
five  houses  in  Rockaway.  His  early  education  was  con- 
ducted by  George  Harris,  of  whom  mention  has  been 
made,  w;ho  taught  the  first  school  in  Rockaway.  He  was 
one  of  the  six  children  of  Captain  Stephen  Jackson,  who 
headed  the  school  subscription  list.  December  loth  1792 
his  name  was  entered  on  the  roll  of  the  Morris  Academy 
(of  which  his  father  was  a  proprietor),  and  while  at  the 
academy  surveying  and  French  were  part  of  his  studies. 
He  made  practical  use  of  his  surveying,  and  became 
skilled  in  the  use  of  the  compass.  Having  left  the  acad- 
emy in  April  1793,  he  engaged  in  his  father's  business,  at 
first  as  assistant  and  subsequently  as  his  partner. 

May  13th  1802  Colonel  Jackson  was  married  in  New 
York  to  Eliza  Piatt  Ogden,  eldest  daughter  of  Robert 
Ogden,  of  Sparta,  N.  J. 

On  the  29th  of  November  1796  he  succeeded  in  getting 
a  post-office  established  in  Rockaway,  and  was  postmas- 
ter until  1843,  when  President  Tyler  removed  him.  Feb- 
ruary 26th  i8oi  he  was  appointed  major  of  the  ist  bat- 
talion 3d  regiment  Morris  militia,  and  in  1804  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  3d  regiment  N.  J.  militia;  as  such  he  was 
ordered  into  service  by  the  governor  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  did  duty  with  his  regiment  for  two  or  three  months 
at  Jersey  City.  He  resigned  his  commission  as  colonel 
in  1817. 

He  was  actively  engaged  in  mining  and  manufacturing 


'^''S't/Hi-Ci-i'-"**^^'"' 


^xjnyixL. 


THE  JACKSONS  AND  HOFFS  OF  ROCKAWAY— S.  B.  HALSEY. 


361 


iron.  The  Swedes  mines  between  Dover  and  Rockaway 
were  worked  by  him  for  several  years.  He  was  also 
owner  with  his  brother  William  of  the  Allen  and  Teabo 
mines.  The  Rockaway  grist-mill  and  saw-mill,  store  and 
two  forges  were  owned  and  operated  by  him,  with  other 
branches  of  industry. 

In  February  1813  he  was  elected  by  joint  meeting 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  ot  Morris  county, 
and  held  this  position  until  1833,  when  he  gave  up  the 
position  of  his  own  accord.  He  was  elected  ruling  elder 
in  the  Rockaway  Presbyterian  church  in  1818. 

Part  of  his  iron  business  he  carried  on  at  Paterson,  in 
connection  with  his  brother  William,  and  they  were  the 
first  parties  who  rolled  round  iron  in  the  United  States, 
which  they  did  as  early  as  1820.  In  that  year  the  gov- 
ernment advertised  for  five  tons  of  American  round  iron 
as  a  sample  lot  to  be  delivered  at  the  Washington  navy 
yard.  The  Jacksons  forwarded  the  lot,  which  was  found 
superior  to  that  of  their  competitors,  and  the  contract  to 
furnish  200  tons  at  the  New  York  navy  yard  was  awarded 
to  them,  and  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  government, 
at  6  cents  per  pound.  In  1820  Colonel  Jackson  and  his 
brother  William  built  the  Rockaway  rolling-mills,  and 
they  continued  in  joint  business  until  1826,  when  the 
colonel  became  sole  owner,  and  until  1834  he  carried  it 
on  very  prosperously,  having  in  the  meantime  many  prof- 
itable contracts  for  iron  with  the  government. 

In  1828  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey 
Legislature  as  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and  was  returned  for 
the  two  following  years.  He  was  a  strong  adherent 
of  General  Jackson,  but  in  his  later  years  was  a 
Whig. 

His  wife,  Elizabeth  Piatt  Jackson,  died  in  1807, 
leaving  one  daughter  (Sarah,  who  married  Samuel  B. 
Halsey),  and  two  sons,  Stephen  J.,  and  Robert  Ogden; 
the  latter  died  in  infancy.  The  colonel  died  on  the 
28th  of  January  1855,  in  the  85th  year  of  his  age, 
honored  and  respected  by  all. 

Dr.  J.  D.  Jackson. 

Dr.  John  Darby  Jackson,  the  youngest  son  of 
Stephen  Jackson  and  brother  of  Colonel  Joseph  Jackson, 
studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Pierson,  and  graduated 
from  the  old  medical  university  on  Ninth  street,  Phila- 
delphia, in  1815.  He  was  born  in  Rockaway,  and  prac- 
ticed here  all  his  life.  He  was  the  only  physician  in  the 
village  of  Rockaway  until  his  son,  the  present  Dr.  John 
W.  Jackson,  commenced  his  practice.  He  was  married 
October  24th  1816,  to  a  daughter  of  General  Solomon 
Doughty,  of  Long  Hill,  a  sister  of  Senator  Doughty,  of 
Somerset  county,  N.  J.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1835,  1836,  1855  and 
1856.  With  Judge  Freeman  Wood,  now  of  Dover, 
he  was  one  of  the  first  freeholders  after  the  formation  of 
the  township,  and  he  held  many  town  offices  both 
before  and  after  the  division.  He  died  November  17th 
1859,  aged  65.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Agnes  Jackson,  is  still 
living  in  the  old  family  mansion,  enjoying  life  at  the  age 
of  85. 


Samuel  B.   Halsey. 

Samuel  B.  Halsey  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Abraham  and 
Mary  Beach  Halsey,  and  was  born  at  Fishkill,  N.  Y., 
July  24th  1796.  He  entered  Union  College  in  1811  and 
graduated  in  1815.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law 
with  Hon.  James  Talmadge,  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  in 
1817  was  appointed  aid-de-camp  by  Governor  Talmadge. 
He  was  licensed  as  an  attorney  by  the  supreme  court  of 
New  York,  October  30th,  1818,  and  practiced  his  profes- 
sion from  that  time  until  1834,  when  he  removed  to 
Rockaway.  He  was  twice  elected  to  the  Legislature  of 
New  York  from  Dutchess  county,  once  in  1826  and  again 
in  1830.  At  one  of  these  elections  he  was  the  only 
member  of  his  party  that  was  elected.  On  his  removal 
to  New  Jersey  he  abandoned  the  active  practice  of  the 
law,  and  engaged  in  raining  and  manufacturing  iron, 
farming,  etc.,  and  in  assisting  his  father-in-law,  Colonel 
Joseph  Jackson,  in  the  management  of  his  affairs.  He 
was  frequently  engaged,  as  master  in  chancery,  in  the 
settlement  of  estates,  and  from  1846  to  1851  was  one  of 
the  judges  of  Morris  county.  He  was  twice  elected  to 
the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  first  in  September  1841, 
and  again  in  1843.  At  the  second  election  he  was  made 
speaker  of  the  house.  He  died  in  Rockaway,  Septem- 
ber 15th,  1871.  His  strict  integrity  and  kindness  of 
heart  won  the  love  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 

The  Hoff  Family. 

Joseph  Hoff  emigrated  to  Morris  county  from  Hun- 
terdon in  the  spring  of  1775,  and  took  charge  of  the  Hi- 
bernia  works  for  Lord  Stirling.  His  brother  Charles 
Hoff  soon  succeeded  him,  and  moved  to  Mount  Pleasant. 
Charles  was  a  son-in-law  of  Moses  Tuttle.  His  descend- 
ants occupied  the  family  homestead  continuously  until 
the  death  of  Miss  Harriet  Hoff  in  1878,  aged  nearly  80, 
when  the  last  family  link  with  former  generations  was 
broken.  Her  will  was  the  subject  of  a  long  contest 
about  a  year  ago  in  the  courts  of  this  county  by  some 
distant  connections,  who  sought  to  set  it  aside  by  reason 
of  undue  influence  and  incapacity  through  age.  But  her 
mental  clearness  and  sterling  good  sense  were  so  strongly 
conspicuous  in  all  she  had  said  and  done  during  her  long 
life  that  her  last  will  and  testament  was  held  good.  She 
was  the  owner  of  the  Hoff  mine.  The  Hoff  homestead 
is  still  standing,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  nearly 
opposite  the  Tuttle  homestead. 

Charles  Hoff  was  a  man  of  prominence  in  his  day,  a 
good  scholar  and  penman.  He  was  appointed  a  justice 
of  the  peace  in  1800,  and  his  method  of  keeping  his 
docket  shows  business  habits  of. the  first  quality.  This 
docket  is  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  where  it  was  de- 
posited July  15  th  18 1 2,  No.  40,  a  strong,  well  preserved 
book.  The  first  page  contains  an  acknowledgment  from 
Robert  Hays  that  Charles  Hoff  paid  him  $2.25  on  the 
20th  of  November  1800  forthat  docket,  and  says:  "  This 
docket  contains  the  proceedings  of  Charles  Hoff,  Esq., 
which  commenced  28th  November  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1800." 


362 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  first  suit  is  that  of  Abraham  Seward  vs.  Reuben 
Palmer,  which  resulted  in  a  confession  of  judgment  for 
$7.50.  David  De  Camp  was  constable  and  Experience 
Turner  was  a  witness.  On  page  5  is  a  suit  in  favor  of 
David  Howell  against  Aaron  Broadwell,  in  trespass,  for 
wounding,  while  shoeing,  a  certain  mare  on  the  10th  of 
October  1800,  which  plaintiff  alleged  was  the  cause  of 
her  death  in  a  day  or  two  afterward,  and  demanded  $60 
damages.  Warrant  was  granted  January  ist  1801  and 
given  to  David  De  Camp,  constable.  There  was  a  jury 
of  twelve  men,  and  a  verdict  of  $60  was  rendered  for 
the  plaintiff,  and  $5.07  costs.  The  docket  contains  the 
following  receipt  as  a  settlement  of  this  suit:  "  Recei\'ed 
payment  in  full  for  the  above  judgment  and  costs  from 
David  Broadwell  and  his  son  Stephen  Broadwell,  in 
Cyder  Spirits  Carted  by  Charles  Hoff.  team.  David 
Howell." 

The  docket  also  contains  a  long  list  of  marriages  per- 
formed by  the  'squire  from  January  1801  to  November 
1805,  and  we  recognize  the  names  there  of  three  or  four 
persons  who  are  still  living  in  the  county. 

A  dunning  letter  in  the  fine  round  hand  of  Mr.  Hoff 
was  also  found  in  the  docket,  which  reads  as  follows: 
"  Captain  Matthias  Winans  to  Charles  Hoff,  Dr.  January 
1796,  to  balance  on  ore,  41s.  lod.;  interest  on  ditto,  3s. 
8d.;  making  ;^2  5s.  6d.  Sir,  please  to  pay  the  above  bal- 
ance immediately  to  Esquire  Hoagland,  as  it  has  been  of 
long  standing.     Your  Humb.  Serv't  Charles  Hoff." 

William  H.  Baker. 

Henry  Baker,  the  grandfather  of  William  H.,  resided 
about  half  a  mile  from  Westfield  church,  in  Union  county, 
N.  J.,  on  the  road  to  Springfield.  He  married  Mary 
Hedges,  of  Long  Island.  They  had  six  children — five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  His  fourth  son,  Jeremiah,  was 
the  father  of  William  H. 

William  Hedges  Baker,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  January  3d  1806;  and  was  married  June  15th  1848 
to  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Maria  Dell.  They 
had  ten  children- — Jeremiah,  William  H,,  Mary  K.  (wife 
of  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Johnson),  Anna  M.  (wife  of  Horace  L. 
Dunham),  Andrew  K.,  David,  Phebe  H.,  Thomas,  Hen- 
rietta and  Lydia  J. — of  whom  seven  are  now  living.  The 
oldest,  who  was  a  tanner  and  farmer,  died  in  1873.  Da- 
vid died  suddenly"  October  i8th  1881,  lacking  only  ten 
days  of  his  majority,  and  Phebe  November  1st  follow- 
ing, in  her  19th  year. 

Mr.  Baker  owned  in  connection  with  his  brother  Henry 
the  Baker  homestead,  the  Valley  forge,  a  grist-mill,  and 
two  iron  mines.  The  De  Hart  Baker  mine,  located  on 
Mine  Hill,  was  developed  by  the  Baker  brothers,  and  af- 
terward, while  under  lease  to  S.  T.  Scranton  &  Co.,  was 
sold  to  the  lessees  and  Messrs.  Waterman  and  Beaver  in 
1873.  It  is  now  owned  by  the  Lackawanna  Iron  and 
Coal  Company,  of  Scranton,  Pa.  The  other  mine,  also 
called  the  Baker  mine,  in  the  township  of  Rockaway  and 
near  the  homestead,  was  leased  a  number  of  years  to  the 
Allentown  Iron  Company  and  was  very  productive.  Two 
veins  cross  the  property — the  Mount  Pleasant  vein   and 


the  large  vein  which  is  extensively  operated  on  the  ad- 
joining Richards  mine  lot  of  the  Thomas  Iron  Company. 
At  present  it  is  not  operated.  They  were  also  owners  of 
other  farming,  mining  and  timber  lands.  Probably  the 
most  valuable  timber  land  in  the  county  was  owned  by 
them.  Their  business  operations  were  extensive  and 
varied.  Mr.  Baker  died  June  27th  1876,  quite  suddenly, 
of  heart  disease,  as  he  was  sitting  in  his  house  convers- 
ing with  a  neighbor. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  inherited  his  fa- 
ther's industrious  habits  and  good  business  qualities. 
He  was  an  upright,  honest,  kind  and  obliging  man,  greatly 
esteemed  in  the  community,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  re- 
gretted. He  was  strongly  attached  to  his  home  and  fam- 
ily and  rarely  went  away  from  Mt.  Pleasant,  but  left  all 
outside  business  matters  to  be  managed  by  his  brother 
Henry. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  Baker  homestead  has 
been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  nearly  a  century. 
It  was  located  by  Jacob  Ford  in  1757.  Known  as  the 
"Jonah  Austin"  plantation  in  1774,  it  was  afterward  the 
property  of  Josiah  Beaman,  the  iron  manufacturer  of 
Dover,  by  whom  it  was  sold  in  1792  to  Jeremiah  Baker, 
who  devised  it  to  his  two  sons  Henry  and  William  H.  in 
1861. 

Hon.  L.  a.  Chandler. 

Hon.  Lyman  A.  Chandler  was  born  at  West  Greenville, 
New  York,  in  1821,  and  died  at  Rockaway,  September 
nth  1865.  Having  been  graduated  at  Middlebury  Col- 
lege, Vermont,  he  came  to  New  Jersey,  and  engaged  for 
a  time  in  teaching.  He  then  applied  himself  to  the 
study  of  the  law,  in  Morristown,  and  in  1845  ^^.s  admit- 
ted to  the  bar.  In  1858  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Assembly.  The  next  year  he  was  re-elected. 
In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  from  Morris 
county,  and  remained  in  the  senate  three  years.  As  a 
legislator  his  terms  of  service  were  marked  by  energy, 
ability  and  fidelity.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  State  nor- 
mal school  from  its  foundation,  and  was  one  of  its  most 
zealous  friends  and  advocates. 

He  resided  in  the  village  of  Rockaway,  having  built 
the  residence  next  to  Dr.  Jackson's.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  his  splendid  natural  ability  enabled 
him  to  stand  high  in  his  profession  as  a  lawyer,  while 
socially  he  was  genial  and  popular.  He  left  two  daugh- 
ters. His  widow,  Laura,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  John  D.  Jack- 
son, of  Rockaway,  married  Charles   A.  McCarty. 

Hubbard  S.  Stickle. 

The  progenitor  of  the  Stickle  family  in  Morris  county, 
Peter  Stickle,  came  from  Germany  to  America  about  the 
year  1760.  He  first  resided  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
where  he  married  Elizabeth  Parliman.  He  soon  after- 
ward settled  in  Rockaway  Valley,  Pequannock  township, 
Morris  county.  His  children  were  George,  Peter,  Ed- 
ward, James,  Jacob,  John,  Anna  and  Elizabeth. 

George,  the  father  of  Hubbard  S.,  was  born  in  Rock- 
away Valley,  August  3d  1763.     He  was  a  farmer.    About 


Jl '?'}€.    I'ju/hA., 


o 


THE  LIFE  OF  HUBBARD  S.  STICKLE. 


563 


the  year  17S2  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  David  and 
Mary  Beaman.  Their  children  were  Hubbard  S.,  George, 
David,  Peter,  Parliman,  Beaman,  Maria  and  Washington 
(twins),  Adams,  Mahlon,  Chilion,  Sarah,  and  two  sons 
who  died  in  infancy.  Of  these  only  Hubbard  S.,  Beaman, 
Maria,  Adams,  Mahlon  and  Sarah  are  known  to  be  living. 

Hubbard  Stansbury  Stickle,  the  eldest  of  this  large 
family,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Rockaway,  September 
4th  1783 — the  day  following  that  of  the  acknowledg- 
ment of  American  independence.  He  often  boasted  that 
he  was  the  first  free  man  born  in  New  Jersey.  He  lived 
in  the  county  during  his  entire  life.  At  the  age  of  25 
he  became  the  foreman  of  the  old  iron  forge  at  Denmark, 
and  about  the  same  time  married  Sarah,  a  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Charity  McCarty,  of  Rockaway.  From 
Denmark  he  went  to  Stony  Brook,  where  he  built  a  forge 
and  school-house,  and  also  formed  a  religious  society 
and  had  it  supplied  with  regular  preaching  services  by 
ministers  from  different  points.  He  enlisted  in  the  war 
of  1812,  but  was  not  called  into  active  service.  From 
Stony  Brook  he  returned  to  Rockaway,  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  as  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Stickle 
&  Rutan,  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  firm  of  B.  K. 
&  G.  W.  Sticikle,  his  grandchildren.  He  lived  in  the 
residence  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  B.  K.  Stickle.  He  sold 
out  this  business  to  B.  K.  Stickle,  and  lived  for  a  while 
on  a  farm  in  Denville,  afterward  known  as  the  Peter 
Ereeman  farm,  and  later  removed  to  the  Francis  McCarty 
homestead,  on  the  Hibernia  road. 

His  children  were:  Francis,  born  November  12th  1808; 


George  Parliman,  August  5th  1812;  Edward  Allen,  Oc- 
tober 7th  1815;  Barnabas  King,  October  12th  1817; 
John  McDowell,  May  7th  1820,  and  Harriet  Newell,  Au- 
gust 24th  1823.  Of  tliese  all  are  living  except  the  fol- 
lowing, who  died  at  the  dates  given:  George  P.,  Septem- 
ber 28th  1821;  John  McDowell,  September  9th  1821, 
and  Barnabas  King,  October  7th  1875. 

Mrs.  Stickle  died  April  12th  1854,  and  Mr.  Stickle  was 
married  January  4th  1863  to  Mrs.  Jane  McGrath,  widow 
of  Isaiah  W.  McGrath. 

Mr.  Stickle  was  always  prominently  connected  with 
the  business  interests  of  Morris  county  and  accumulated 
a  competency.  He  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  in 
which  he  was  careful  and  competent.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Republican.  He  said  he  "'  was  born  a  Whig  and  had 
always  been  one."  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  more  than  seventy  years.  He  always  enjoyed 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lived.  He  resided  near  the  old  homestead,  where  he 
was  born.  At  the  close  of  his  life  he  was  undoubtedly 
the  oldest  native  of  the  town,  but  he  retained  good 
health  and  perfect  memory.  His  remarkable  recollection 
of  events  of  over  four  score  years  ago  made  him  an  en- 
tertaining conversationist.  He  mana-ged  his  business 
personally,  up  to  the  last  day  of  his  life. 

He  died  suddenly  on  the  i8th  day  of  June  i88r,  aged 
97  years,  9  months  and  14  days.  With  Mr.  Stickle 
passed  away  one  of  the  landmarks  fast  receding  beyond 
the  memory  of  man,  and  his  death  severed  a  link  which 
connected  us  with  the  past  century. 


ROXBURY  TO^VNSHIP. 


By  Eev.   B.  W.   Stoddard,  D.  D. 


jjOXBURY  is  one  of  the  five  toVnships  that 
formed  the  county  of  Morris  February  21st 
1798.  The  present  towns  of  Washington, 
Chester  and  Mount  Olive  were  within  its 
limits.  In  February  1798  Washington  was 
set  off;  in  January  1799  Chester,  ^"'i  ^"  March 
1871  Mount  Olive,  so  at  this  time  Roxbury  has 
only  a  small  portion  of  its  original  territory.  The  line 
dividing  East  and  West  Jersey  drawn  in  July  1675  inter- 
sected Roxbury;  beginning  near  Waterloo,  it  passed  the 
east  side  of  Budd's  Lake,  and  west  of  Bartleyville,  on  its 
way  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  State  to  Little  Egg 
Harbor. 

The  population  of  Roxbury  township  at  different  cen- 
sus dates  has  been  as  follows:  1810,  1,563;  1820,  1,792; 
1830,2,262;  1840,2,230;  1850,2,263;  1860,2,865;  1870, 
3,320  (14  colored);  1875,  2,157;  1880,  2,139 — including 
Drakeville  (201)  and  Port  Morris  (228).  We  append  the 
assessor's  statistics  for  1881:  Acres,  12,158;  valuation  of 
real  estate,  $572,450;  personal  property,  $137, 375;  debt, 
$3'9)745;  polls,  492;  State  school  tax,  $1,705.76;  county 
tax,  $1,592.36;  road  tax,  $2,000. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  broken  by  the  School- 
ey's  Mountain  range  (named  from  William  Schooley), 
which  passes  entirely  across  it  from  the  southwest 
toward  the  northeast.  For  a  long  period  iron  has  been 
found,  though  not  in  so  large  quantities  as  in  the  range 
on  the  eastern  border,  now  in  the  township  of  Randolph. 
The  King  mine,  lying  in  the  range  northwest  of 
Drakeville,  was  opened  in  1878,  and  is  capable  of 
producing  5,000  tons  a  year.  The  Gove  mine,  opened 
in  1875,  lies  about  a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Drakeville. 
It  produces  good  ore  and  has  a  capacity  of  5,000  tons  a 
year.  Another  range  begins  in  this  township,  which, 
passing  southward,  divides  the  north  and  south  branches 
of  the  Raritan  River.  The  north  branch  of  the  Raritan 
has  its  rise  in  a  large  spring  near  McCainville.  There 
flows  from  the  spring  during  all  the  year  a  stream  of 
clear,  cool  water,  remarkable  for  its  quantity  and  purity, 
which  no  severity  of  drought  has  sensibly  diminished. 
For  about  ten  miles  it  is  known  as  Black  River.  At 
Succasunna  its  waters  spread  out  in  a  miniature  lake, 
with  a  fall  of  a  few  feet  at  the  outlet.     From  Cooper's 


Mill  to  Pottersville  it  is  called  Lamington  River.  Thence 
onward  it  is  called  the  north  branch.  The  south 
branch  of  the  Raritan  rises  about  a  mile  from  the 
source  of  the  north  branch,  with  not  so  large  a  quantity 
of  water,  and  runs  near  the  base  of  Schooley's  Mountain 
and  nearly  southwest,  till  these  two  small  streams  have 
received  large  additions  and  are  nearly  twenty  miles 
apart.  Thence  the  westward  stream  turns  eastward,  and 
unites  with  the  north  branch  near  New  Brunswick. 

From  its  broken  and  elevated  condition  Roxbury 
township  is  only  moderately  productive  in  grain  and 
grass.  Corn  and  apples  are  grown  in  abundance  ;  also 
cherries.  In  the  township  is  an  apple  distillery,  and  on 
the  border  of  the  township  arc  two  others,  which  con- 
sume each  year  many  thousands  of  bushels  of  apples  in 
producing  alcoholic  spirits. 

In  past  years  charcoal  was  made  in  large  quantities. 
Bloom  furnaces  for  the  manufacture  of  soft  iron  were 
located  near  Baker's  Mills,  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  township.  Another  was  located  at  Shippenport,  near 
Port  Morris,  and  the  best  quality  of  charcoal  iron  was 
made. 

Lake   Hopatcong. 

Roxbury  contains  about  one-third  of  Lake  Hopatcong. 
This  lake  lies  on  its  northwestern  border,  about  nine 
hundred  feet  above  tide  water.  It  is  nine  miles  long 
and  one  mile  in  width.  Its  situation  rendered  possible 
the  building  of  the  Morris  Canal.  This  lake  is  the  un- 
failing storehouse  of  the  water  that  flows  through  this 
channel,  westward  to  Easton,  and  eastward  to  the  har- 
bors of  Newark  and  New  York.  The  basin  supplying 
Lake  Hopatcong  contains  115,500  acres.  At  the  outlet 
the  banks  were  raised  eight  feet,  and  a  lock  was  set, 
controlling  the  flow  of  the  water  to  the  summit  level. 
Through  this  lock  pass  all  boats  bearing  ore  from  the 
mines  in  Jefferson  township,  and  wood  from  the  borders 
of  Sussex  county.  This  canal  was  for  many  years  one 
of  the  chief  outlets  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  coal  traflfic. 
Lake  Hopatcong  quietly  treasured  in  its  nine  miles  of 
length  the  melting  snows  and  falling  showers,  and  gen- 
erously yielded  its  waters  from  its  summit  height  to  the 
necessities  of  the  Delaware  and  the  Passaic.     The  bor- 


RESORTS  ON  LAKE  HOPATCONG— SURVEYS  IN  ROXBURY— SUCCASUNNA. 


365 


ders  of  this  lake  are  exceedingly  rugged,  broken  and 
irregular  ;  green  and  wooded  hills  rise  from  its  edge  ; 
bold  and  bare  rocks  narrow  its  bounds  and  separate 
coves  and  small  bays,  upon  which  stand  cottages  for 
summer  residences  and  here  and  there  the  humble  cabin 
of  the  fisherman.  On  its  east  border,  about  midway  in 
Its  length,  stands  the  Lake  View  House,  in  this  township. 
It  is  on  a  bold  bluff,  about  one  hundred  feet  above  and 
three  hundred  feet  east  of  the  lake.  It  has  accommo- 
dations for  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  guests  and  is 
kept  open  half  the  year.  The  "Matilda,"  a  small  screw 
steamer,  passes  down  the  lake,  through  the  lock,  to 
Hopatcong  station,  on  the  canal,  to  meet  passengers 
coming  by  railroad.  Some  years  ago  a  Delaware  Indian, 
Chinkope,  the  last  of  his  tribe,  applied  with  his  squaw 
for  a  passage  with  their  canoe  from  Jersey  City  to  Lake 
Hopatcong.  Here  they  roanried,  hunting  and  fishing, 
amidst  the  haunts  of  their  ancestors.  In  early  times 
there  was  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake  a  forge  with  four 
fires. 

This  township,  with  its  elevation  of  900  feet,  its  hills 
and  valleys,  its  clear  atmosphere  and  pure  water,  offers 
as  healthy  a  location  as  any  in  the  county  for  a  summer 
residence.  The  surroundings  of  Lake  Hopatcong  fur- 
nish for  the  country  what  the  Highlands  of  Navesink 
furnish  for  the  seashore.  The  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
and  Western  Railroad  in  two  hours  will  set  the  passenger 
from  the  city  upon  the  border  of  the  lake,  where  can  be 
found  health,  seclusion,  rowing,  fishing,  the  wildness  of 
camp  life,  the  comforts  of  the  cottage  and  the  excite- 
ment of  the  hotel.  Such  is  Lake  Hopatcong,  and  such 
is  life  in  these  high  altitudes  of  Roxbury. 

Settlement  and  First  Surveys. 

So  far  as  records  show  and  traditions  indicate  the 
earliest  settlement  of  the  township  was  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Raritan's  headwaters,  at  Succasunna  and  Drakeville. 
In  this  locality  it  is  probable  were  Indian  residences,  as 
in  the  valley  near  Succasunna  arrow  heads,  hatchets  and 
other  relics  have  been  found  in  abundance.  A  very  in- 
teresting collection  of  these  is  in  the  cabinet  gathered  by 
the  late  Frederick  D.  Canfield,  now  in  possession  of  the 
family  at  their  residence  near  the  famous  Dickerson 
mine  in  Randolph  township,  two  miles  from  Succasunna. 

The  first  location  of  land  of  which  we  find  date  was 
made  May  15th  17 13,  by  Peter  Garbut  and  Francis 
Breck,  who  took  up  2,500  acres.  Beginning  at  a  corner 
near  the  Musconetcong  iron  works  at  Stanhope,  the  first 
line  on  the  north  side  runs  to  a  point  east  of  Port  Mor- 
ris; the  second  line  runs  south  to  the  top  of  a  mount 
north  of  Budd's  survey;  another  corner  was  near  the 
Gary  stone  house,  and  another  a  little  north  of  Flanders. 
John  Reading,  June  14th  1716,  located  289.25  acres, 
which  includes  the  north  half  of  Budd's  Lake;  and  in 
the  same  year  he  located  land  from  Drakeville  to  Flan- 
ders, 588  acres,  beginning  at  a  white  oak  tree  near  an  In- 
dian path,  now  about  six  rods  north  of  Baker's  Hotel. 
October  27th  1714  John  Budd  located  1,054  acres  south 
and  west  of  Succasunna.     In  1752  a  tract  of  1,725  acres 


was  located  by  Ebenezer  Large,  north  of  Budd's  Lake 
and  extending  from  what  is  called  the  Mary  Norris  tract 
westward  toward  Hackettstown.  This  is  now  nearly  all 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Archer  Stevens.  In  1754  William 
Throckmorton  located  lands  where  Succasunna  and  Mc- 
Cainville  stand,  and  sold  the  same  to  ^CorxLeliiis_SJaight- 
Northeast  of  McCainville  is  the  Mary  Wills  tract,  now 
and  since  1869  occupied  by  the  Atlantic  Giant  Powder 
Company.  East  of  this  last  and  partly  adjoining  is  a  tract 
returned  to  James  Parker  in  :8io,  and  now  owned  by  A. 
R.  Riggs.  In  1757  Martin  Ryerson  located  218  acres,  lying 
north  of  Budd's  Lake  and  south  of  and  adjoining  the  Large 
tract.  In  1789  Jacob  Drake  located  502  acres  northwest  of 
Drakeville.  Soon  afterward  George  Eyre  located  a  large 
tract,  including  nearly  all  the  remainder  of  Budd's  Lake. 
Later  Mary  Tompkins  of  London  inherited  a  large  tract 
adjoining  and  west  of  the  London  tract  and  extending  to 
Stanhope.  Israel  Pemberton  bought  lands  north  of 
Budd's  Lake.  Joshua  Newbold  located  a  tract  of  252 
acres,  which  he  afterward  sold  to  Samuel  Wills.  This 
was  inherited  and  is  now  occupied  by  H.  C.  Seward. 
Michael  Newbold  located  a  tract  north  of  Flanders. 
Israel  Canfield  located  95  acres  where  Port  Morris  now 
stands. 

Villages  and  Post- Offices. 

The  villages  of  the  present  Roxbury  are  Succasunna, 
Drakeville,  McCainville  and  Port  Morris.  When  the 
new  court-house  was  built,  about  sixty  years  ago,  there 
was  a  sharp  contention  among  the  freeholders  whether  it 
should  be  erected  at  Succasunna  or  Morristown.  There 
was  a  tie  in  the  vote  and  the  chairman,  though  a  resident 
of  Succasunna,  gave  the  casting  vote  in  favor  of  Morris- 
town. 

Succasunna. — This  word  is  of  Indian  origin,  and  the 
original  form  was  Sogksoona,  meaning,  it  is  said,  "  heavy 
stone,"  which  the  iron  ore  resembles.  The  name  Suc- 
casunna was  first  given  to  the  Dickerson  mine,  and  the 
corporate  name  of  the  company  includes  the  word  still. 
During  the  Revolution  and  before  the  ore  from  the  mine 
was  carried  in  sacks  on  the  backs  of  horses  to  Elizabeth, 
thirty  miles,  for  smelting.  Another  signification  found 
for  "  Sogksoona  "  is  "  Black  Stone  Creek,"  and  the  name 
was  supposed  to  apply  to  the  north  branch  of  the  Rari- 
tan,  now  called,  as  we  have  said,  Black  River,  which  has 
its  rise  not  a  mile  from  Succasunna  village.  The  valley 
here,  which  is  more  than  a  mile  wide,  has  for  many  years 
been  known  as  Succasunna  Plains.  The  post-office 
(spelled  Suckasunny),  established  July  ist  1808,  James 
Hinchraan  postmaster,  was  first  east  of  Black  River,  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill  near  the  Dickerson  mine,  now  known 
as  the  Vannier  place.  The  present  postmaster  is  Josiah 
Meeker,  a  trusted  and  influential  citizen  of  the  township, 
who  has  held  the  office  since  1861;  and  the  post-office  is 
in  the  village  of  Succasunna,  half  a  mile  west  of  Black 
River. 

In  1818  Succasunna  became  known  as  a  racing  center. 
A  course  a  mile  in  length  was  built  on  a  tract  of  200 
acres,  where  noted  horsemen  of  the  day  came  from  neigh- 


48 


366 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


boring  States  to  test  the  speed  of  favorite  animals.  After 
a  few  years  this  sport  was  broken  up  by  an  enactment  of 
the  Legislature.  The  property  was  also  used  as  a  train- 
ing ground  of  the  county  militia.  The  attractions  of  the 
place  at  present  are  its  healthful  climate  and  beautiful 
scenery  and  the  conveniences  of  summer  residence. 
The  Vannier  House,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the 
Plains  from  the  border  of  Randolph,  can  entertain  one 
hundred  guests.  The  Scheer  House,  at  Drakeville,  can 
accommodate  sixty. 

The  post  road  from  Newark  through  Morristown  and 
Newton  and  westward  passed  through  the  Plains  and 
Drakeville,  and  the  post-ofifice  east  of  Black  River  was 
not  far  from  the  residence  of  General  Mahlon  Dickerson, 
one  of  the  most  noted  citizens  of  New  Jersey,  whose 
kindly  interest  in  the  village  of  Succasunna  was  mani- 
fested in  all  suitable  ways  till  the  time  of  his  death.  The 
first  service  in  the  new  church  .which  he  helped  to  build 
was  his  funeral. 

Succasunna  is  located  in  the  valley  of  the  Black  River, 
about  a  mile  in  width,  between  the  Mine  Hill  range  on  the 
northeast  and  the  ridge  separating  the  north  and  south 
branches  of  the  Raritan  on  the  southwest.  It  has  one 
broad  street,  a  mile  in  length,  crossed  by  two  streets 
leading  up  and  down  the  valley  of  the  north  branch.  It 
has  two  churches:  the  Presbyterian,  built  about  1760;  and 
the  Methodist  Episcopal,  built  in  185 1  and  1852.  There  is 
one  public  house,  which  in  th.e  days  of  the  academy 
was  built  as  a  boarding  house  for  the  students  and  for 
many  years  was  occupied  by  the  teacher  of  the  academy. 
There  are  four  stores,  a  school-house,  a  smith  shop,  a 
harness-maker,  a  shoe-maker,  a  milliner,  and  a  pottery 
selling  each  year  about  $5,000  worth  of  stone  and  earthen 
ware.  A  pottery  was  here  as  early  as  1800,  and  the  pres- 
ent building  was  erected  in  1813.  The  village  has  sev- 
enty-five houses  within  a  mile  of  the  churches,  many  of 
them  occupied  by  laborers  in  the  iron  mines  on  the  north- 
east border  of  Roxbury,  in  Randolph  township.  The 
activities  of  the  village  are  largely  sustained  by  the  iron 
interest  of  the  vicinity. 

Drakeville  was  named  after  Col.  Jacob  Drake,  who  re- 
sided there  many  years  and  located  land  in  the  vicinity. 
For  several  years  previous  to  1810  it  was  called  New  Mar- 
ket. Its  first  post-office  was  established  about  1844.  Its 
postmaster,  Albert  R.  Riggs,  a  prominent  citizen  of  the 
township,  was  born  at  Drakeville  and  has  resided  there 
nearly  seventy  years.  He  still  holds  the  post-ofifice, 
which  has  been  out  of  his  hands  only  a  brief  period  during 
forty  years,  and  it  is  kept  in  the  stone  store  where  it  was 
first  opened.  Theodore  F.  King  is  the  present  assistant 
postmaster. 

Drakeville  lies  in  the  valley  at  the  head  of  the  south 
branch  of  the  Raritan,  having  the  Schooley's  Mountain 
range  on  the  northwest.  It  is  on  the  old  turnpike  pass- 
ing through  Succasunna  on  the  way  toward  Newton.  It 
has  a  good  water  power  for  a  grain  and  saw-mill.  It  lies 
so  near  the  head  waters  of  the  south  branch,  and  so  near 
the  outlet  of  Lake  Hopatcong  toward  the  east,  that  the 
supply  of  water  is  materially  aided  by  the  lake. 


The  first  school  in  Drakeville  was  taught  in  a. cooper's 
shop,  in  1836.  The  first  school-house  was  built  in  1838, 
and  is  now  in  use. 

The  village  has  a  Baptist  church,  built  in  1874,  a  hotel, 
a  blacksmith  shop,  a  store,  a  post-ofifice,  and  about  forty 
houses  within  a  mile  of  the  church. 

The  Morris  Canal  passes  through  this  village,  having  a 
lock  and  two  planes,  by  which  the  level  of  the  canal  is 
changed  about  one  hundred  feet  within  half  a  mile. 

McCainville  is  close  to  the  headwaters  of  the  north 
branch,  and  this  valley- toward  the  northeast  leads  to 
Berkshire  Valley,  and  thence  onward  with  the  range  of 
hills  toward  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  The  first  school  was 
taught  in  1836,  in  a  small  red  building.  The  new  house 
was  built  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of  $1,300. 

This  village  contains  about  thirty  houses.  It  has  a 
store,  a  post-office,  an  apple  distillery  using  about  8,000 
bushels  yearly,  a  hotel,  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  wheelwright 
shop,  a  coal  and  lumber  yard,  and  a  shoe  shop.  The 
Central  Railroad  of  New  Jersey  has  a  station  and  tele- 
graph office.  The  Chester  branch  railroad  has  also  a 
station. 

The  post-office  at  McCainville   was   established  about 

1872,  and  its  first  postmaster  was  George  Drake.  The 
present  incumbent  is  Hiram  Hulse. 

Near  this  village  are  located  the  Atlantic  giant  powder 
works.  Here  are  made  and  shipped — mainly  by  the 
Central  Railroad  of  New  Jersey,  High  Bridge  branch — 
about  1,050  tons  per  year.  It  is  sent  to  all  parts  of  the 
country,  and  is  exceedingly  effective  for  blasting  pur- 
poses. The  works  were  built  in  1873,  and  manufacture 
began  in  1874.  May  i6th  1876  an  explosion  killed 
two  men  and  destroyed  the  mixing  house.  This 
was  soon  rebuilt.  In  May  1880  fire  destroyed  the  pul- 
verizing house,  a  wooden  structure,  which  has  since  been 
rebuilt  with  brick. 

Port  Morris. — This  village  lies  on  the  Schooley's 
Mountain  range,  at  the  highest  point,  by  way  of  canal 
and  railway,  between  Newark  and  Easton.  On  this  pla- 
teau, which  is  sixteen  feet  below  Lake  Hopatcong,  the 
waters  of  that  lake  are  drawn  out  to  float  by  the  Morris 
Canal  the  cargoes  of  iron  ore  and  merchandise  westward, 
and  the  vastly  greater  cargoes  of  coal  from  the  Lehigh 
Valley  eastward  to  the  New  York  market. 

Port  Morris  is  the  highest  point  in  New  Jersey  on  the 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad.  An  or- 
dinary engine  can  draw  only  fifty  loaded  cars  from  the 
west  to  this  point,  while  the  same  engine  will  take  from 
here  100  cars  to  New  York.  Returning  it  can  draw  only 
100  empty  cars.  In  the  fall  of  1869  the  Delaware,  Lack- 
awanna and  Western  Company  built  at  Port  Morris  the 
first  half  of  the  present  round-hcuse,  and  a  machine  shop 
attached — the  last  half  being  added  in  the  summer  of 

1873.  It  contains  room  for  twenty- three  engines.  Here 
also  was  built  the  trestle  work  for  stocking  coal.  It  was 
begun  in  1871  and  completed  in  1875.  It  is  about  half 
a  mile  in  len7th,  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  height,  four  rows  in 
width,  and  has  a  capacity  of  170,000  tons  of  coal.  When 
the  demand  is  slack  the  coal  is  dumped.     When  there  is 


kAlLROAbS  IN  ROXBURY— SUCCASUNNA  PRESBYT£RIAN  CHURCH. 


367 


a  call  the  coal  is  passed  through  screens  and  sent  at  once 
to  market.  This  labor  gives  employment  to  a  large  num- 
ber of  men.  In  1873  the  company  built  a  row  of  twelve 
houses  opposite  the  round-house  for  the  use  of  employes. 
Other  houses  have  been  erected  in  the  vicinity,  and  the 
inhabitants  number  340.  The  company  has  about  200 
employes  here,  and  some  of  them  reside  in  Stanhope. 
A  church,  a  public  school,  a  grocery  store,  a  post-office, 
a  depot  and  a  telegraph  office  are  among  the  conven- 
iences of  Port  Morris.  The  post-office  was  established 
in  1879,  with  Ira  H.  Mowery  as-postmaster;  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Thomas  Reynolds. 

Rustic. — A  post  office  called  Rustic  was  established  in- 
1878  at  Drakeville  station,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Drake- 
ville  village,  on  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad.  The 
only  postmaster  here  has  been  John  H.  Low. 

Travel  and  Transportation. 

Previous  to  1832  the  New  York  market  was  reached 
only  by  teanis,  and  going  and  returning  consumed  three 
days.  In  1824  ground  was  broken  at  Brooklyn,  the  out- 
let of  Lake  Hopa'.cong,  for  the  Morris  Canal,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  George  B.  McCuUoch,  the  projector,  the  State 
officials,  the  engineers,  the  capitalists,  and  interested  cit- 
izens. This  canal  is  peculiar  in  that  there  are  very  few 
locks.  The  hills  are  crossed  by  plane  cars.  Boats  of 
eighty  tons  are  lifted  over  an  elevation  of  100  feet  as  rap- 
idly as  the  ordinary  movement  in  the  water,  and  with 
greater  economy  than  by  locks.  The  canal  above  the  ele- 
vation furnishes  the  power,  the  fall  varying  from  30  to 
50  feet.     The  canal  was  completed  in  1832. 

The  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  was  completed  to 
Hackettstown  in  1853.  The  largest  outlay  for  improve- 
ments has  been  at  Port  Morris,  after  the  Delaware,  Lack- 
awanna and  Western  Railroad  Company  obtained  a  lease 
of  the  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad.  The  Chester  rail- 
road is  a  branch  of  the  Morris  and  Essex,  thirteen  miles 
in  length,  which  leaves  the  main  line  near  Port  Oram, 
two  miles  from  Dover,  and  passes  through  McCainville 
and  Succasunna.  It  was  opened  for  traffic  in  January 
1870.  The  High  Bridge  branch  of  the  Central  Railroad 
of  New  Jersey  was  completed  to  McCainville  July  ist 
1876,  and  extended  to  Port  Oram  in  1878.  A  further 
extension  to  Rockaway  was  completed  in  July  1881.  It 
was  designed  to  run  this  branch  through  Berkshire  and 
Longwood  Valley  and  so  on  to  Newburgh.  A  branch  to 
connect  the  Ogden  Mine  road  with  the  Central  Railroad 
of  New  Jersey  at  McCainville  will  probably  be  completed 
in  1882. 

Before  1872  the  mail  was  brought  through  this  town- 
ship by  the  post-rider,  the  four-horse  mail  coach,  and, 
when  the  railroad  came  near,  the  one-horse  mail  wagon — 
each  in  turn  waiting  for  the  changing  of  the  mail.  Since 
1872  the  Chester  branch  railway  has  brought  the  mail 
twice  each  day.  In  the  earlier  time  it  would  take  three 
days  for  a  letter  to  reach  New  York  city  and  the  answer 
to  be  received.  It  is  no  unusual  thing  for  a  letter  to  pass 
over  the  same  distance  and  bring  return  in  ten  hours. 

This  township  has  always  been  on  a  line  of  travel;  for- 


merly loaded  wagons  slowly  passed  on  their  way  to  New- 
ark and  New  York,  and  returning  carried  the  merchan- 
dise of  the  counties  of  Sussex  and  Warren. 

Churches. 

Succasunna  Presbyterian  Church  is  one  of  the  oldest  in 
the  county.  A  deed  executed  in  1756  by  James  Parker, 
one  of  the  West  Jersey  proprietors,  for  the  sum  of  five 
shillings  conveys  one  acre  for  a  church  and  burial  ground 
to  Levi  Lewis,  Daniel  Cary  and  others  resident  here. 
This  Daniel  Cary,  whose  ancestor  came  from  England  in 
1634  to  Cambridge,  Mass.,  came  to  this  place  in  1742. 
He  was  an  elder  and  trustee  of  the  church  from  its  or- 
ganization, which  is  supposed  to  have  occurred  about 
1745.  The  first  church  bi>ilding  must  have  been  erected 
about  1760.  It  is  said  that  Levi  Lewis  owned  a  saw-mill 
at  Combs  Hollow,  where  he  sawed  the  timber  for  the 
church.  The  first  pastor  known  to  have  been  settled 
over  this  church  was  Rev.  William  WoodhuU,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1764,  and  be- 
longed to  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  The  original 
call,  September  ist  1768,  for  his  services  over  this  church 
and  that  of  Chester  is  now  in  possession  of  the  Succa- 
sunna church,  with  the  signatures  of  Daniel  Cary,  Levi 
Lewis,  Jacob  Drake,  Jeremiah  Rogers,  Eliphalet  Lewis, 
Benjamin  Clark  and  Elisha  Drake;  part  of  these  were 
the  trustees  to  whom  the  deed  of  the  church  lot  was 
given.  These  two  churches  pledged  the  "  Rev'd  Pres- 
bytery of  New  York,"  for  thj  encouragement  of  the  said 
Rev.  AVilliam  WoodhuU,  ;^4o  per  year,  the  use  of  the 
parsonage,  and  his  firewood.  So  easily  were  the  pure- 
hearted  ministers  of  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago  en- 
couraged and  freed  from  worldly  care.  The  descend- 
ants of  Mr.  WoodhuU  are  still  living  in  this  vicinity,  and 
their  virtues  and  intelligence  declare  they  came  from  a 
worthy  ancestry.  The  same  may  be  said  of  those  who 
signed  the  call  and  were  co-workers  with  Mr.  WoodhuU 
in  sustaining  this  ancient  church. 

The  first  church  building  and  its  burial  ground  have 
a  share  in  the  history  of  the  Revolution.  October 
13th  1777  General  Burgoyne  and  his  army  were  cap- 
tured near  Saratoga,  N.  Y..  His  park  of  artillery  was 
brought  to  this  place,  and  the  soldiers  having  it  in  charge 
used  this  church  for  barrack  and  hospital  purposes.  The 
Hon.  Lewis  Condict,  late  of  Morristown,  when  a  child, 
saw  these  military  stores.  The  larger  cannon,  some  of 
which  required  three  yoke  of  oxen  to  draw  them,  were 
ranged  and  sheltered  outside  the  building,  and  the  mu- 
nitions in  the  church.  The  drums,  band  instruments 
and  other  accoutrements  requiring  shelter  were  stored  in 
James  Young's  garret.  When  the  new  Centennial  bell 
for  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia,  was  to  be  cast,  the 
United  States  government  contributed  one  of  these  can- 
non for  bell  metal.  These  trophies  of  British  defeat, 
the  powder-mill  near  Morristown  and  the  magazine  in  the 
town,  together  with  the  zealous  character  of  the  people, 
made  the  British  anxious  to  lodge  their  troops  within 
the  border  of  Morris  county.  But  to  the  honor  of  her 
yeomanry  be  it  said  that   the   enemy  never  reached  the 


368 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


county,  except  now  and  then  a  marauding  party.  Col- 
onel Dayton  and  Captain  Dickerson,  of  Succasunna, 
were  among  the  competent  leaders.  While  bankruptcy, 
disease,  nakedness  and  famine  were  crowding  upon 
Washington  and  the  army,  Morris  county  freely  gave  her 
sons  to  fight,  her  daughters  to  toil  and  suffer  and  her 
property  to  be  consumed  for  country  and  liberty.  The 
smallpox  was  among  the  soldiers,  and  General  Washing- 
ton required  the  inoculation  of  his  army,  then  at  Morris- 
town,  and  the  churches  there  and  at  Hanover  and  Suc- 
casunna were  used  as  hospitals.  This  old  graveyard  has 
many  nameless  graves,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  believe 
that  some  who  dared  to  die  for  their  country  lie  buried 
here.  Seven  of  those  who  fell  in  the  service  during  the 
rebellion  of  1861-65  ^1^°  I'^^t  in  this  cemetery. 

This  old  church  building  had  only  the  floor  finished 
and  plain  seats — no  plastered  walls  and  no»  ceiling.  In 
the  memory  of  some  now  living  it  could  be  said  literally 
of  this  house  of  the  Lord,  "  The  sparrow  hath  found  an 
house,  and  the  swallow  a  nest  for  herself,  where  she  may 
lay  her  young."  The  swallows  twittered  from  the  rafters 
while  the  people  worshiped  from  the  floor.  January 
28th  1818,  in  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  the  con- 
gregation "resolved  to  repair  the  meeting- house,  put  on 
new  covering,  put  in  new  windows  and  new  timbers,  and 
lath  and  plaster."  This  house,  which  was  nearly  square 
(36  by  40  feet),  with  its  pulpit  on  the  side,  continued  to 
accommodate  the  people  till  January  ist  1853,  when,  in 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  Josiah  Fisher,  the  parish  resolved 
to  build  a  new  church.  The  last  day  of  service  in  the  old 
church  of  nearly  one  hundred  years'  standing  was 
the  first  Sabbath  in  May  1853. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  May 
26th  1853.  In  that  stone  were  deposited  a  brief  history 
of  the  church,  the  names  of  its  oiificers  and  members  at 
that  time,  certain  newspapers,  and  a  bullet  found  in 
removing  the  old  building,  bearing  date,  in  etching, 
"July  4  1776."  The  new  house  was  dedicated  October 
nth  1853.  The  building  was  35  by  50  feet  and  cost 
about  $4,000.  In  August  1872,  in  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
E.  W.  Stoddard,  it  was  resolved  to  enlarge  the  church 
by  adding  12  feet  to  its  length  and  a  pulpit  recess  6 
by  14  feet.  The  work  was  begun  September  isth,  and 
the  enlarged  church  was  reoccupied  on  the  first  Sabbath 
in  January  1873.  The  cost  of  the  enlargement  was 
about  $2,500,  and  the  seating  capacity  was  increased 
forty  per  cent.    It  will  now  seat  three  hundred. 

The  records  of  the  church  from  its  organization 
to  1817  have  been  lost.  The  recorded  membership 
at  that  time  was  35,  and  from  that  date  to  this  540  have 
been  added.  The  present  membership  is  no.  Twenty- 
three  members  of  this  church  have  been  chosen  to  the 
eldership  since  1817.  At  that  time  Ebenezer  Coe  and 
Hiram  Condict  were  elders.  Albert  R.  Riggs,  Josiah 
Meeker,  Lemuel  F.  Corwin  and  Silas  H.  Hopkins  were 
the  elders  in  1881. 

Of  the  ministry  we  know  that  Rev.  William  Woodhull 
began  his  labors  in  the  early  part  of  1768.  Rev.  Ebene- 
zer Bradford  also  preached  here  before  1776.     Who  min- 


istered to  this  church  during  the  next  twenty  years  we 
do  not  find.  From  1798  Rev.  Lemuel  Fordham  was  pas- 
tor till  his  death.  Rev.  Jacob  Green  became  pastor  Aug- 
ust 3d  1817,  and- served  four  years  and  nine  months. 
From  May  ist  1822  Rev.  Enos  A.  Osborn  supplied  the 
pulpit  six  months;  from  January  23d  1823  Rev.  Peter 
Kanouse  was  pastor  five  years  and  six  months;  from 
July  [828  Rev.  E.  Hooper  supplied  a  few  months;  from 
June  8th  1829  Rev.  Enos  A.  Osborn  was  pastor  four  and 
a  half  years;  during  two  years  from  April  26th  1834  Rev. 
Messrs.  Jones,  of  Chester,  Woodbury,  George  Pierson 
and  Edward  Allen  supplied  the  church  in  the  order 
named,  and  for  a  short  time  each.  Rev.  Joseph  More 
was  pastor  two  and  one-half-years  from  April  17th  1836; 
Rev.  David  Frame  one  and  one-half  years  from  Decem- 
ber 3d  1838;  Rev.  D.  E.  Megie  three  and  three-fourths 
years  from  October  5th  1840;  Rev.  John  Ward  supply 
about  two  years  from  July  1845;  Rev.  J.  K.  Davis  about 
two  years  from  May  ist  1848;  and  Rev.  Josiah  Fisher 
pastor  thirteen  years  and  six  months  from  September 
1850.  Rev.  E.  W.  Stoddard  has  been  pastor  since  May 
ist    1864 — eighteen    years. 

A  parsonage  was  built  in  1856,  valued,  with  one  acre 
of  ground,  at  $2,000.  In  1840  one  and  a  half  acres  were 
added  to  the  burial  ground,  and  in  1872  five  and  a  half 
acres  were  purchased,  joining  the  graveyard  and  parson- 
age lot,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  and  this  addition  will  meet 
the  cemetery  necessities  for  the  next  two  hundred  years. 

The  Sabbath-school  has  been  maintained  nearly  sixty 
years,  the  present  superintendent  having  served  about 
eighteen  years  continuously  and  in  some  capacity  more 
than  fifty  years.  The  librarian,  Josiah  Meeker,  has  been 
at  his  post  nearly  twenty-five  years.  The  attendance  of 
scholars  has  reached  177.  There  are  350  volumes  in  the 
library,  valued  at  $200.  For  many  years  a  private  house 
could  accommodate  the  Sabbath-school;  now  it  more 
than  half  fills  the  church. 

Janes  Chapel. — The  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  next 
in  order  of  time,  was  called  Janes  Chapel,  after  the  late 
Bishop  E.  S.  Janes,  who  had  his  residence  here.  It 
grew  out  of  the  old  Flanders  circuit.  Its  first  place  of 
worship  prior  to  1850  was  Corwin's  Chapel,  in  the  present 
village  of  Ironia.  The  quiet  of  this  "class"  was  dis- 
turbed by  the  temperance  question,  and  the  part  living  in 
this  vicinity  decided  to  build  a  church  at  Succasunna. 
In  1849  Rev.  T.  T.  Carapfield,  of  the  Flanders  circuit, 
organized  a  class  and  preached  in  the  old  academy  and 
in  private  houses.  Rev.  J.  W.  Gilder  is  said  to  have 
preached  here  as  early  as  1832,  and,  the  academy  being 
too  small  to  hold  the  people  assembled,  the  service  was 
held  in  the  Presbyterian  church;  but  no  organization  was 
effected  till  1850.  The  members  remained  connected 
with  the  Flanders  charge,  under  Rev,  Messrs.  Campfield. 
Thackeray  and  Absalom  Steelman,  till  1852.  The  circuit 
included  Flanders,  Draketown,  Tottens,  Walnut  Grove, 
Succasunna  and  Cross  Roads.  The  New  Jersey  annual 
conference  in  1852  constituted  a  new  charge,  Succasunna 
and  Walnut  Grove,  and  Rev.  William  Day  was  appointed 
preacher.      The  official   board  consisted   of    Rev.  C.  A. 


CHURCHES  IN  ROXBURY  TOWNSHIP. 


3^9 


Lippencott,  presiding  elder;  Rev.  William  Day,  preacher 
in  charge;  Rev.  Absalom  Steelman,  local  preacher;  Silas 
H.  Hopkins,  exhorter;  Harmon  K.  Waer,  Absalom 
Steelman,  Silas  H.  Hopkins  and  E.  Lewis,  class  leaders; 
Edvi'ard  Lewis,  David  Trowbridge,  William  Fowler,  Rich- 
ard Greene  and  H.  K.  Waer,  stewards;  Richard  Greene, 
M.  Force,  John  S.  McDougall,  William  Fowler,  A.  W. 
Snyder  and  C.  A.  Lippencott,  trustees,  elected  July  3d 
1850,  at  the  residence  of  Bishop  Janes.  The  membership 
was  thirty-nine.  The  trustees  began  preparations  for 
building  soon  after  their  election,  Bishop  Janes  contribu- 
ting $500.  At  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  Rev.  W.  P. 
Corbit  preached  in  the  graveyard  adjoining.  The  church 
was  dedicated  February  17th  1852,  Rev.  J.  B.  Wakely, 
D.  D.,  officiating;  assisted  in  the  services  by  Revs.  M. 
Force,  C.  A.  Lippencott,  J.  Faull,  E.  Griffith  and  Swaim 
Thackeray.  The  church  stands  adjacent  to  the  Presby- 
terian church,  on  a  lot  of  an  acre  and  a  half,  donated  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  by  the  wife  of  Rev.  C. 
A.  Lippencott,  for  church  and  burial  purposes.  It  is  a 
frame  building,  thirty-five  by  fifty  feet,  with  end  gallery 
and  belfry.  It  is  valued  at  $5,000,  and  is  capable  of 
seating  300  people.  The  parsonage  is  nearly  opposite, 
on  a  half-acre  lot  donated  by  the  heirs  of  Rev.  C.  A. 
Lippencott.  It  is  a  neat  frame  dwelling,  built  in  1859 
and  i860,  and  is  valued  at  $1,500.  In  1872  three  acres 
of  land  were  added  to  the  burying  ground,  at   a  cost  of 

leys- 
Ministers  have. been  appointed  to  this  charge  as  fol- 
lows :  Rev.  William  Day,  1852;  Rev.  Ralph  Arndt,  1853; 
Rev.  John  Stevenson,  1854;  Rev.  John  Atkinson,  1855; 
Rev.  John  S.  Coit-  1856;  Rev.  H.  Harris,  1858;  Rev.  T. 
S.  Dederick,  i860;  Rev.  Cornelius  Clark  jr.,  1862;  Rev. 
William  W.  Voorhees,  1864;  Rev.  Fletcher  Lummis,  1866; 
Rev.  William  W.  Searles,  1867;  Rev.  J.  P.  Fort,  1869; 
Rev.  James  H.  Runyon,  1872;  Rev.  G.  H.  Winans,  1875; 
Rev.  T.  H.  Landon,  1878;  Rev.  Isaac  Thomas,  1881, 
the  preacher  in  charge. 

The  present  official  board  is  as  follows :  Presiding 
elder.  Rev.  C.  S.  Coit;  pastor,  Isaac  Thomas;  stewards, 
William  H.  Greene,  Allen  M.  Hunter,  William  F.  Potter, 
W.  C.  Thompson,  J.  S.  McDougall,  J.  C.  Buck,  John  T. 
Lawrence  and  William  Hambly;  trustees,  William  H. 
Greene,  S.  T.  Lawrence,  William  F.  Potter,  Allen  M. 
Hunter,  John  S.  McDougall,  John  T.  Lawrence,  J.  C. 
Buck,  S.  T.  Plumstead  and  Whitefield  Green;,  class- 
leaders,  S.  B.  Cook  and  John  Trevilcock.  The  church 
membership  is  170. 

The  Sabbath-school  was  organized  about  1850,  H.  K. 
Waer  superintendent.  J.  C.  Buck  filled  the  office  many 
years.  The  present  superintendent  is  Rev.  Isaac 
Thomas;  there  are  130  scholars. 

TAe  Drakeiille  Baptist  Church  was  organized  from  the 
membership  of  the  Mount  Olive  Baptist  church,  of 
which  Drakeville  was  one  of  the  out  stations.  June  29th 
1873  a  board  of  trustees  was  chosen.  July  14th  1873 
$2,000  had  been  secured  by  subscription  to  build  a 
church,  and  building  soon  began.  May  27lh  1874  the 
commiitee  of  organization   reported  ^2  members  ready 


to  organize.  May  31st  1874  the  basement  room  of  the 
church  was  finished  and  the  first  service  held;  Rev.  J. 
G.  Entreken  being  minister.  October  5th  1874  the 
organization  was  completed.  S.  D.  Salmon,  Daniel  O. 
Wilkinson  and  Thomas  K.  Wilkinson  were  chosen  dea- 
cons, and  A.  D.  Salmon,  George  W.  King,  Daniel  O. 
Wilkinson  and  Jeremiah  Baker  trustees. 

■  Membership,  48;  Sunday-school  membership,  60; 
library,  150  volumes.  The  church  was  recognized  by  a 
council,  at  which  Rev.  Mr.  Gunning,  of  Morristown,  was 
chosen  to  preside.  Rev.  Dr.  Parmely,  of  Jersey  City, 
preached  the  sermon,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Seabury,  of  Newton, 
shared  in  the  services. 

Mr.  Entreken  was  pastor  from  1874  to  1878;  Rev.  Mr. 
Millington  served  a  year  and  a  half,  to  April  ist  1881. 

Port  Morris  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — In  May 
1874  a  Sabbath-school  was  organized,  chiefly  by  the  ef- 
forts of  Miss  Mary  Mills  of  Stanhope.  For  two  years 
the  place  of  meeting  was  the  machine  shop  attached  to 
the  round-house,  where  seats  of  plank  were  arranged 
upon  blocks.  A  preaching  service  was  held  at  3  p.  m., 
after  the  Sabbath-school,  when  this  Christian  woman  and 
those  assisting  her  could  secure  the  services  of  a  minis- 
ter. In  October  1875  Miss  Mills  secured  the  assistance 
of  several  Christian  railroad  men,  working  on  the  line  of 
the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad.  Ser- 
vice was  held  in  this  machine  shop  on  Sabbath  after- 
noon. Rev.  C.  E.  Little,  pastor  at  Hackettstown, 
preached.  A  large  congregation  of  railroad  employes 
and  their  families  was  present.  The  railroad  men  re- 
lated their  experiences.  The  whole  company  was  great- 
ly moved.  Meetings  were  continued  in  the  shop  each 
Sabbath  and  each  evening  as  convenient,  till  about  one 
hundred  professed  conversion.  About  February  1876  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  some  sixty  members  was 
organized,  and  connected  with  the  Succasunna  charge, 
Rev.  G.  H.  Winans  pastor.  Official  members:  Rev. 
G.  H.  Winans,  pastor;  steward,  W.  B.  Day. 

The  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school  at  the 
organization  was  Miss  Mary  Mills;  there  were  twenty 
scholars,  and  forty  volumes  in  the  library.  The  present 
superinte'ndent  is  William  B.  Day.  There  are  ninety 
scholars,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  volumes  in  the 
library.  The  school  meets  at  half  past  two.  Rev.  T.  H. 
Landon  was  pastor  from  April  1878  to  April  1881, 
being  also  the  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  church  at  Succasunna. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  M.  Tuttle. 

The  chapel  was  built  at  Port  Morris  in  April  1876,  by 
the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  Com- 
pany, for  the  use  of  its  employes,  for  church  and  school 
purposes.  It  thus  becomes  the  center  for  a  public 
school  and  a  house  of  worship.  This  generous  act  of 
the  railroad  company  is  highly  appreciated  by  this  active 
community. 

Schools. 

There  are  nine  school  districts  and  a  suitable  building 
in  each.  At  Succasunna  and  McCainville  the  school- 
houses   have   two    rooms,    for    two    departments.     The 


37=^ 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


earliest  school  was  at  Succasunna,  previous  to  1800. 
Subscription  was  begun  February  8th  1808  for  an  acad- 
emy, which  was  built  and  occupied  in  1809.  One  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  shares  were  taken  at  $8  per  share. 
An  iron  weather  vane  in  the  shape  of  a  fish,  in  which  is 
cut  the  date  1809,  was  set  upon  this  building.  After 
forty  years'  service  it  was  transferred  to  a  carpenter  shop 
near  McCainville,  where  it  still  remains  in  good  condi- 
tion. A  bell  was  purchased  for  the  academy  in  181 1. 
About  1825,  new  proprietors  added  50  shares  to  the 
corporation.  January  29th  1827  the  shareholders  elected 
as  trustees  Thomas  Dickerson,  Thomas  Peterson,  Absa- 
lom Woodruff,  Joshua  Case  and  John  H.  Oliver.  About 
1795  Mr.  McCleod  taught  here.  In  the  academy  the  fol- 
lowing were  teachers:  Messrs.  Carpenter,  Beers  Hard, 
Payson,  Kingsbury,  E.  R.  Fairchild,  Ezra  Fairchild,  Sar- 
geant,  Brace,  Miss  Mercer,  Mr.  Decker,  Mr.  Belden, 
Joseph  Riggs  and  Joseph  McCord. 

The  Lower  Berkshire  school-house  was  built  in  1870. 
Two  miles  west  of  Succasunna  is  the  Alpaugh  school- 
house;  and  two  miles  west  of  Drakeville  a  stone  school- 
house  near  the  Hilts  iron  mine. 

Lodges. 

Emajmel  Lodge  I.  O.  G.  T.,  No.  46,  was  organized 
June  19th  1867,  by  J.  B.  Graw,  G.  W.  C.  T.,  and  John 
Simpson,  G.  W.  S',  and  consisted  of  seventeen  members. 
The  following  were  the  first  officers;  Rev.  Josiah  Fisher, 
W.  C.  T.;  Miss  Loitie  Thomas,  W.  V.  T.;  Henry  Thom- 
as, W.  Chap.;  Rev.  William  N.  Searles,  W.  Sec;  F.  M. 
Buck,  W.  Asst.  Sec;  William  H.  Buck,  W.  F.  S.;  Mrs. 
Jennie  Doering,  W.  Treas. ;  Wilbur  Palmer,  W.  M.;  John 
H.  Doering,  W.  D.  M.;  Joseph  Harvey,  W.  O.  G.;  Ste- 
phen Buddie,  W.  I.  G.;  John  Thomas,  W.  R.  S.;  John 
Doering,  W.  L.  S.;  Richard  Richards,  P.  W.  C.  T.  The 
present  number  of  members  is  sixty,  and  the  officers  are: 
John  Gordon,  W.  C;  Ada  Endean,  W.  V.;  Rev.  I. 
Thomas,  W.  Sec;  William  Thomas,  AV.  F.  Sec;  John 
Harris,  W.  Treas.;  James  Buddie,  W.  I.G.;  Samuel  Dan- 
iels, W.  O.  G.;  Bessie  Treverre,  W.  R.  S.;  John  Losaw, 
W.  L.  S.;  John  Evans,  W.  M.;  Anna  Thomas,  W.  D.  M.; 
George  Losaw,  W.  Asst.  Sec  ;  John  B.  Newcomb,  W. 
L.  D. 

Roxbury  Lodge  I.  O.,of  O.  F..  No.  184,  was  instituted 
April  14th  1874,  by  the  grand  lodge  of  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  with  thiity  members.  The  first  officers  were: 
William  Thomas,  noble  grand;  William  Case,  vice-grand; 
James  Dolan,  recording  secretary;  William  Rogers,  per- 
manent secretary;  John  N.  Young,  treasurer.  The  offi- 
cers in  September  1881  wtrt:  John  Bout,  noble  grand; 
John  R.  Gordon,  vice-grand;  John  B.  Merchant,  record- 
ing secretary;  James  Treverro,  permanent  secretary; 
Conrad  Stumpf,  treasurer.  The  membership  was  then 
fifty-one. 

Rev.  E.  W.  Stoddard,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Elijah  Woodward  Stoddard,  D.  D.,  of  Succa- 
sunna, is  a  descendant  of  Anthony  Stoddard  of  Boston, 
who  emigrated  in  1639  from  London,  where  the  records 


of  the  family  are  traced  to  1490.  The  tradition  is  that 
their  ancestor  came  with  his  cousin  William  the  Con- 
queror from  Normandy  in  1066.  The  name  Stoddard 
was  derived  from  the  office  of  standard-bearer.  There 
were  14  children  in  the  family  of  Anthony.  The  eldest 
son,  Solomon,  born  in  1643,  was  educated  at  Harvard 
College,  graduating  in  1662.  He  entered  the  ministry 
and  was  called  in  1669  to  the  church  at  Northampton, 
Mass.,  where  he  married  Mrs.  Esther  Mather,  the  widow 
of  his  predecessor.  They  had  twelve  children.  Of 
these  the  oldest  three  were  daughters,  who  married  min- 
isters. The  second,  Esther,  married  Rev.  Timothy  Ed- 
wards, whose  son  Jonathan  Edwards  was  associated  with 
his  grandfather  in  the  pastorate  at  Northampton,  and  be- 
came well  known  as  a  theological  writer.  The  seventh 
child  and  oldest  living  son,  Anthony  Stoddard,  was  born 
August  9lh  1678,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1697  and  set- 
tled as  a  minister  at  Woodbury,  Conn.,  where  he  contin- 
ued 60  years.  (His  predecessor  was  settled  40  years  and 
his  successor  50  years.)  Eliakiro,  the  eldest  living  of 
eleven  children,  was  born  April  3d  1705,  married  Joanne 
Curtis  in  1729,  and  resided  in  Woodbury,  Conn.  John, 
the  eldest  son  of  nine,  born  January  26th  1730,  married 
(April  15th  1751)  Mary  Atwood,  and  resided  in  Water- 
town,  Conn.  John,  the  fifth  child  of  nine,  born  July  ist 
1763,  married  Sarah  Woodward  in  1785.  Their  home 
was  in  Watertown,  Conn.,  until  1802,  when  they  removed 
to  Coventry,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.  Central  New  York 
was  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  famous  for  its 
large  pine,  hemlock  and  maple  trees.  The  fathers  and 
sons  of  these  New  England  families  began  the  work  of 
clearing  the  forests. 

John,  the  third  son  and  the  fourth  child  of  nine,  was 
born  July  15th  1794,  and  married  Merab  Parker  in  Sep- 
tember 181 7.  Their  seven  children  are  all  living  at  this 
date  (December  i88t). 

Elijah  Woodward,  the  second  son,  was  born  April  23d 
1820.  His  first  view  of  life  was  on  a  forest  farm,  and 
during  all  his  minority  the  clearing  of  new  land  was  a 
part  of  each  year's  toil.  The  log  house  and  the  log 
school-house  were  to  be  seen  in  all  directions.  The 
seats  of  the  school-room  were  slabs  of  pine  logs,  with 
two  oaken  pins  at  each  end  for  support.  The  writing- 
desk  was  a  smooth  board  fastened  against  the  wall,  and 
the  writer  turned  his  back  to  the  school.  The  pupils 
usually  recited  singly,  rarely  in  classes.  The  blackboard 
for  object  teaching  was  not  known.  School-going  was 
for  three  or  four  months  in  the  winter.  A  lady  teacher 
took  charge  of  the  small  scholars  in  the  summer.  Books 
were  few  and  every  child  was  needed  in  the  daily  toil. 
Fondness  for  study  alone  could  insure  success,  and 
Elijah  Woodward  gave  every  moment  of  leisure  to  the 
acquisition  of  knowledge.  The  Bible  was  emphatically 
the  book  in  that  Christian  household,  and  the  lad,  taught 
that  "  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom," 
at  the  age  of  12  years  united  with  the  disciples  of  Him 
who  at  that  age  commenced  to  teach  in  the  temple 

At  18  such  mastery  of  the  ordinary  English  branches 
as  enabled  him  "  to  pass  an  examination  "  permitted  the 


EllS*^"H'ClDFr03foH"f 


l^/t^  C^^U^^M:^ 


THE  LIFE  OF  REV   E.  W.  STODDARD,  D.  D. 


37 1 


beginning  of  school  teaching.  Here  was  enjoyed  a  priv- 
ilege at  this  day  unknown,  that  of  boarding  around.  A 
knowledge  of  parents  and  teachers  was  thus  gained  as  it 
cannot  be  under  the  present  system.  Five  winters  were 
spent  in  teaching,  the  summers  being  passed  at 
home. 

At  23  the  decision  for  the  ministry  was  reached. 
Norwich  and  Oxford  Academies  prepared  our  sub- 
ject for  Amherst  College,  which  he  entered  in  Septem- 
ber 1845.  Graduating  in  June  1849,  he  entered  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York,  in  September  of 
that  year  and  graduated  in  May  1852.  He  was  delegat 
ed  by  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society  to  Mo- 
mence,  Kankakee  county.  111.,  and  labored  there  a  short 
time;  then  the  uncongenial  climate  made  it  expedient  to 
remove  to  Hawley,  Pa.  This  pastorate  continued  three 
years.  In  November  1856  a  call  was  received  from  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.; 
in  May  i860  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  An- 
gelica, N.  Y.,  and  May  ist  1864  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Succasunna,  N.  J.  After  Mr.  Stoddard's  first 
year  in  the  ministry  there  were  but  very  few  and  very 
brief  interruptions  from  sickness.  The  students  of  the 
parish,  as  they  have  pursued  their  Latin,  Greek,  or 
mathematics,  have    spent   helpful   hours   in  the  pastor's 


study,  and  gratified  his  love  of  teaching.  In  September 
i88o  Maryville  College,  of  East  Tennessee,  conferred 
upon  him  the  unexpected  degree  of  D.  D.;  while  those 
who  knew  him  best  feel  that  it  was  honor  given  where 
honor  was  due,  his  faithful  ministrations  have  given  a 
title  to  that  heart  reverence  that  has  no  synonym  in  let- 
ters. If  we  were  to  note  some  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  man  at  work,  we  would  say  an  intense  love  of  delv- 
ing into  the  depths  of  a  subject,  which  inspires  to 
thorough  research;  a  willingness  to  undertake  any  hard 
work  in  the  line  of  duty  and  follow  it  patiently  to  the 
end;  a  practical  remembrance  of  the  commission  "  Feed 
my  lambs,"  as  well  as  "Feed  my  sheep;"  a  desire  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  service;  a  faith  that  overcomes 
the  world  in  its  every  day  toils  and  trials  and  gives  abid- 
ing peace;  a  steadfastness  in  purpose  that  proves  the 
anchorage  of  hope;  a  courtesy  that  illustrates  the  charity 
that  never  faileth;  an  equipoise  that  may  restrain  from 
an  impetuous  assault  on  the  enemy,  but  that  holds,  and 
guards,  and  moves  steadily  forward.  But  it  is  at  the  end 
of  the  race  that  the  victor  is  crowned;  it  is  at  the  har- 
vest home  that  sheaves  can  be  numbered;  it  is  when 
work  is  done  that  the  Master,  looking  on  the  folded 
flock,  shall  say  to  the  shepherd,  "Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant;  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 


WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


By  Rev.  B.  C.  Megie,  D.  D. 


jASHINGTON  is  the  most  westerly  town- 
ship of  the  county.  It  was  one  of  the  six 
townships  into  which  the  county  was  divided 
in  1798,  before  which  time  its  territory  con- 
stituted a  part  of  Roxbury.  It  is  bounded 
:e  northeast  by  Roxbury  township,  on  the 
southeast  by  Chester,  on  the  southwest  by  Tewkes- 
bury and  Lebanon  townships  in  Hunterdon  county,  and 
on  the  north  by  the  Musconetcong  River,  which  separates 
it  from  Mansfield  township  in  Warren  county. 

A  large  portion  of  it  is  occupied  by  Schooley's  Moun- 
tain, which,  although  rising  1,100  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea  and  600  feet  above  that  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, forms  a  plateau  or  tableland,  whose  soil,  unlike  that 
of  most  of  the  other  mountainous  sections  of  the  county, 
is  deep  and  rich.  The  south  branch  of  the  Raritan  flows 
nearly  through  the  center  in  a  westerly  direction,  with  suf- 
ficient fall  to  supply  a  number  of  mills  with  an  excellent 
water  power.  The  Black  River  courses  for  a  few  miles 
along  the  southeastern  boundary,  but  its  descent  is  very 
gradual  at  this  place.  The  Musconetcong  on  the  north- 
west has  considerable  decline,  and  several  fine  mills  have 
been  constructed  to  profit  by  the  aid  which  nature  has 
given.  Several  other  small  streams,  of  sufficient  size  to 
turn  mill-wheels,  run  through  different  portions  of  the 
township  and  have  been  utilized. 

The  slope  to  the  south  from  Schooley's  Mountain  is 
abrupt,  varying  from  400  to  600  feet  in  a  distance  of 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  and  faces  a  range  of  hills 
which  rise  more  gradually  to  nearly  the  same  elevation. 
These  ranges  in  the  southern  part  are  known  as  Fox 
Hill,  and  between  them  and  Schooley's  Mountain,  is  a 
valley,  which  in  this  township  is  called  German  Valley 
and  is  about  eight  miles  in  length.  Perhaps  no  portion 
of  it  is  more  beautiful  than  that  which  lies  in  Washing- 
ton; and  the  view  to  be  had,  especially  in  the  summer 
season,  in  descending  from  Schooley's  Mountain  to  Mid- 
dle or  German  Valley  is  rarely  to  be  surpassed  by  ordinary 
landscape  scenes.  On  the  northern  side  of  the  moun- 
tain there  is  also  a  very  fine  view,  looking  toward  the 
Musconetcong  Valley  in  Warren  county.  The  air  here 
is  very  clear  and  pure,  and  the  trains  on  the  Delaware 
Lackawanna   and  Western   Railroad  can  be  heard  with 


surprising  distinctness  on  a  still   night  at    a   distance    of 
several  miles. 

The  land  throughout  the  township  is  very  rich,  and 
fine  crops  of  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  rye  have  been  raised 
for  years,  both  on  the  mountain  farms  and  on  those  in 
the  valley.  It  is  said,  indeed,  that  the  farms  on  the 
mountain,  by  the  gradual  disintegration  of  the  soil,  are 
constantly  becoming  more  productive,  notwithstanding 
insufficient  manuring.  It  has  been  thought  on  some 
hands  that  deposits  of  potter's  clay,  or  kaolin,  exist 
in  considerable  quantities  in  the  township;  in  regard  to 
which  the  following  remarks  from  the  geological  report 
for  1878  on  the  "  clay  deposits  "  are  applicable: 

"  Throughout  much  of  the  highlands  and  gneissic 
rock  district  of  the  State,  and  particularly  towards  the 
southwest,  in  the  western  portions  of  Morris,  in  Warren 
and  Hunterdon  counties,  the  disintegration  of  the  strata 
near  the  surface,  resulting  in  what  is  often  called  '  rotten 
rock,'  is  a  characteristic  feature  in  the  geology  of 
these  counties.  The  Bethlehem  clay  is  one  of  these  out- 
crops or  localities  of  rock,  thus  altered  in  appearance 
and  composition.  Other  localities,  where  a  little  of  such 
clay  can  be  dug,  are  reported,  but  they  have  not  been 
considered  as  sufficiently  developed  to  be  included  in 
this  report.  That  others  of  workable  extent  and  of 
value  may  yet  be  discovered  is  highly  probable,  and  care- 
ful researches,  prudently  carried  forward,  within  the 
limits  of  the  gneissic  and  associated  outcrop  of  the 
so-called  azoic  formation  of  the  State  are  advised." 

Statistical  Information. 

The  census  of  the  township  shows  comparatively  slight 
changes  in  population  for  many  years  past.  In  the  period 
of  forty  years  from  1840  to  1880  the  gain  was  only  a  lit- 
tle over  two  hundred,  while  in  the  thirty  years  preceding 
it  was  nearly  seven  hundred.  This  difference  in  the  rate 
of  increase  is  due  in  large  part  to  the  tendency  in  the 
population  of  rural  and  old  settled  districts  to  emigrate 
to  the  west  and  to  the  towns.  It  may  be  true  also 
that  the  number  of  children  in  families  is  not  as  large 
now  as  formerly,  although  we  are  inclined  to  think  that 
the  average  has  changed  but  little,  if  at  all.  The  popu- 
lation of  the  township  in  1810  was  1,793;  1820,  1,876; 
1830,2,183;  1840,2,451;  1850,2,502;  1860,2,504;  1870, 
2,484;  1880,  3,68i.     The  figures  for  the  several  villages 


STATISTICS  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP— ANTIQUITIES. 


373 


in    1880  were   as  follows:     German  Valley,  130;  Middle 
Valley,  60;  Unionville,  57;  Naughrightville,  81. 

There  are  20,932  acres  of  land  in  the  township,  accord- 
ing to  the  comptroller's  report  for  1880,  valued  at  |i,ioi,- 
432;  in  1880  the  personal  property  was  valued  at  $481,- 
138,  making  a  total  of  $1,582,570  assessed  valuation  of 
taxable  property,  from  which  there  is  to  be  deducted 
I377f77°  for  debts.  The  number  of  polls  in  1880  was 
Ct6.  The  rate  of  tax  for  county  purposes  was  $3.33  per 
$1,000;  for  schools,  $2  per  $1,000;  for  township  pur- 
poses, 60  cents  per  $1,000;  roads,  $2.08  per  $1,000. 
Total  amount  of  taxes  to  be  raised,  $10,200.61,  of  which 
there  were  for  expenses  of  the  county  $4,016;  schools, 
$2,384.61;  roads,  $2,500;  township,  $t,3oo.  The  num- 
ber of  marriages  in  1878  was  13,  of  births  58,  of  deaths, 
22. 

According  to  Gordon's  Gazetteer  there  were  in  the 
township  in  1830  8  stores,  11  saw-mills,  6  grist-mills,  3 
forges  (?),  20  tan  vats  and  10  distilleries.  The  taxes  for 
that  year  were:  State  $314,  county  $703,  schools  $300; 
total,  $1,617. 

In  1840,  according  to  the  "  Historical  Collections  of 
New  Jersey,"  there  were  in  the  township  17  (?)  stores, 
I  lumber  yard,  i  forge,  i  tannery,  4  flouring  (?)  mills,  6 
grist-mills,  8  saw  and  4  oil-mills.  The  capital  invested 
in  manufacture  was  $127,000. 

The  following  list  of  prices,  by  decades,  for  the  period 
181 1-5 1,  was  furnished  by  Judge  Robertson,  of  Bea- 
tyestown,  a  gentleman  distinguished  throughout  the  State 
for  the  accuracy  as  well  as  the  extent  of  his  knowledge; 
and,  although  it  may  not  be  of  a  strictly  local  nature,  it 
can  hardly  fail  to  be  interesting: 


Wheat 

Rye 

Oats 

Corn 

Buckwheat. . .  . 
Day's  Labor. . 
Harvest  Wages 
Hay  Making. . 

Pork 

Beef 


i»ii. 


2.00 
1. 00 

■5° 
1. 00 

•50 

■50 

1-50 

1. 00 

.o8@.io 

■OS 


.75@.8o 
•  35@-4o 

■35 
•3S@^4o 
■35 
■50 

1-25 

1. 00 

.o4@.o5 

.04®. OS 


1831.       1841.  1851. 


1-25 

.4o@.5o 

•35 
.40®. 50 

■45@-5o 
■75 
1-5°  ^ 

I.T2}^ 
■05 
•05 


1. 00 
■50 
■25 
■50 
•50 

•75 
1.50 

1^25 
.06 

.07 


1.25 
•75 
■35 
.60 

•50 
■75 
1-50 
1-25 
.06 
.07 


Antiquities. 

In  the  year  1758  an  act  was  passed  by  the  colonial 
Legislature  appointing  commissioners  and  authorizing 
them  to  buy  up  Indian  lands  and  to  extinguish  the  claim 
of  the  Indians  to  all  lands  in  the  province  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  also  to  purchase  a  tract  for  a  dwelling  place  for 
them. 

There  was  formerly  an  Indian  trail  in  this  township, 
whose  location  is  still  remembered.  It  is  said  to  have 
commenced  at  the  falls  of  Lamington,  at  the  corner  of 
Somerset  and  Hunterdon  counties,  and  run  thence 
in  nearly  a  straight  line  to  the  Delaware  Water  Gap.  It 
crossed  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan  a  little  below  the 
German  Valley  bridge.  It^  crossed  Schooley's  Moun- 
tain a  few  hundred  feet  west  of  the  mineral  spring.      It 


is  said  that  the  medicinal  properties  of  the  spring  were 
well  known  to  the  aborigines  and  they  frequently  visited 
it.  The  trail  passed  on  to  the  Musconetcong,  near  New- 
burg,  and  thence  by  way  of  Barker's  Mills  in  Warren 
county  to  the  Water  Gap.  It  was  said  to  be  the  dividing 
line  between  two  tribes  of  Indians. 

One  of  these  tribes  is' said  to  have  released  to  the  com- 
missioners above  mentioned,  and  to  have  removed  to  a 
tract  of  3,044  acres  purchased  under  the  same  law,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Indians,  and  called  Edgepelick,  in  the 
township  of  Evesham  and  county  of  Burlington.  Al- 
though local  tradition  makes  only  one  of  the  two  tribes 
to  have  released  to  the  State,  it  is  probable  that  there 
was  little  difference  in  the  time  of  the  surrender  of  both, 
inasmuch  as  a  note  to  Allison's  laws  declares  that  the 
commissioners  appointed  by  the  act  of  1758  "obtained 
releases  and  grants  from  the  Indians,  fully  extinguishing 
their  claims  to  all  lands  in  this  colony." 

In  the  possession  of  Hon.  H.  W.  Hunt  of  Schooley's 
Mountain  are  a  number  of  very  old  and  unrecorded 
deeds.  We  quote  from  one  of  these,  which  carries 
a  claim  of  title  back  to  1726,  and  which  is  interesting, 
aside  from  other  matters,  on  account  both  of  its  similar- 
ity to  and  difference  from  more  modern  conveyances  in 
the  language  used.     It  reads  as  follows: 

"This  indenture,  made  the  23d  day  of  April  1745,  be-, 
tween  Samuel  Schooley  of  Bethelhem  in  the  county  of 
Hunterdon,  in  the  western  division  of  the  province  of 
New  Jersey,  yeo,,  and  Avis  his  wife,  of  the  one  part,  and 
William  Henn  of  Lebanon  in  the  county  of  Hunterdon 
aforesaid,  yeo.,  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth  that  the 
said  Samuel  Schooley  and  Avis  his  wife,  for  the  consid- 
eration of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  Proclamation 
money  to  them  paid  by  the  said  Wm.  H-enn,  the  re- 
ceipt whereof  they  do  hereby  acknowledge,  and  thereof 
acquit  and  forever  discharge  the  said  Wm.  Henn, 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  by  these  presents,  have  granted 
*  *  *  unto  the  said  William  Henn  *  *  *  and 
to  his  heirs  and  assigns  a  certain  messuage  or  tenement 
plantation  and  tract  of  land  thereunto  belonging,  situate 
in  Lebanon  aforesaid;  beginning  at  a  stone  set  for  a  cor- 
ner, thence  southwesterly  by  De  Cow's  land  to  a  white 
oak  tree  inraarked  (T  S)  for  a  corner;  thence  north- 
westerly by  the  land  late  of  Thomas  Stevenson  and  the 
land  of  Wm.  Cook  to  a  corner  stake;  thence  easterly 
by  the  said  Wm.  Cook's  land  to  a  corner  stone; 
thence  northerly  by  the  said  Wm.  Cook's  land  to  a 
white  oak  tree  marked  for  a  corner;  thence  easterly  by 
Honnas  Rushe's  land  to  the  first  mentioned  corner 
stone,  the  place  of  beginning;  containing  by  estimation 
one  hundred  and  ninety  (190)  acres  be  the  same  more  or 
less.  Being  the  remainder  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  which  Isaac  De  Cow,  of  the  town  and 
county  of  Burlington  in  the  western  divirion  of  the 
province  of  New  Jersey,  yeoman,  by  indenture  of  the 
eleventh  of  the  month  called  January,  anno  Domini  1726, 
did  grant  unto  the  said  Samuel  Schooley,  his  heirs  and 
assigns  in  fee.  Together  also  with  all  and  singular  the 
buildings,  improvements,  ways,  easements,  woods,  waters, 
water  courses,  fisheries,  fowlings,  hawkings,  huntings, 
rights,  liberties,  privileges,  hereditaments,  and  appurten- 
ances whatsoever  unto  the  said  messuage  or  tenement 
plantation,  tract  of  land  and  premises  hereby  granted  or 
mentioned  to  be  granted,  belonging  or  in  any  wise  ap- 
pertaining. *  .  *  *  Under  the  yearly  quit-rent  ac- 
cruing for  the  same  to  the  chief  lord  of  the  fee  thereof." 


49 


374 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


There  were  several  log  houses  in  the  township.  One 
is  not  far  from  William  Martinas's  place.  Another, 
which  stands  just  above  Stephensburg,  at  some  distance 
from  any  public  road,  was  occupied  a  long  time  by  Hetty 
Sullivan;  and  a  third  is  on  William  Hann's  place,  also 
near  Stephensburg.  There  is  also  across  the  road  from 
the  graveyard  in  German  Valley  a  log  house,  which  was 
occupied  six  or  seven  years  ago.  There  is  an  old  stone 
building  at  German  Valley,  said  to  be  one  of  the  oldest 
houses  in  the  township,  although  it  is  also  declared  to 
have  been  erected  in  1776;  it  is  called  the  "fort."  It  was 
rebuilt  in  1876,  by  Mr.  Shonheit. 

The  inscriptions  on  several  of  the  stones  in  the  old 
graveyard  at  German  Valley  are  in  German.  On  one,  of 
a  bluish  kind  of  slate,  with  prettily  carved  ornaments 
about  the  sides,  is  the  following:  Hier  Ruehet  in  Gott 
Maria  Elisabetha  Weiss.  Sie  ist  geborerr  den  29  tag 
September  im  Jahr  1724;  ist  gestorben  den  12  tag  Sep- 
tember im  Jahr  1728;  ist  alt  morden  63  jahr" — (de- 
faced). 

There  exists  a  faint  memory  of  one  Reynolds  (men- 
tioned in  Dr.  J.  F.  Tuttle's  History  of  Morris  County), 
who  was  hung  at  Morristown  for  complicity  in  counter- 
feiting the  continental  money. 

One  peculiarity  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
-  churches  deserves  notice  at  this  point.  There  was  no 
stove  or  fireplace  or  even  chimney.  A  hole  was  dug  in 
the  middle  of  the  audience  room  and  bricked  up,  and  a 
pile  of  charcoal  was  placed  therein  and  set  on  fire.  The 
smoke  which  escaped  went  out  of  a  hole  in  the  roof.  It 
is  said  that  the  people  were  frequently  made  sick  by  the 
fumes,  and  had  to  be  carried  out.  This  was  the  only 
method  of  heating  used  for  many  years,  both  in  the 
union  church  at  German  Valley  and  in  the  stone  church 
at  Pleasant  Grove. 

Four  soldiers  of  the  British  army,  who  had  been  taken 
prisoners  and  confined  in  this  section,  hearing  of  ap- 
proaching peace,  and  that  they  would  be  taken  back  to 
England,  effected  an  escape  from  their  jailers  and  made 
their  way  to  the  Musconetcong  Valley.  One  was  the  fa- 
ther of  Judge  Robertson  of  Beatyestown,  and  settled  in 
Warren  county,  and  one  was  the  grandfather  of  James 
Hance  and  settled  near  Stephensburg.  The  names  of 
the  others  we  have  been  unable  to  discover. 

The  following  is  found  in  the  records  of  the  German 
Valley  church  in  regard  to  the  death  of  Washington, 
who  died  December  loth'  1799,'  it  having  apparently 
taken  nearly  eight  weeks  for  the  news  to  reach  the  Valley: 

"February  4th  1800. — This  day  the  Trustees  of  both 
Congregations,  Valey  Meeting-house,  met  at  the  house  of 
David  Welsh  Esq.,  and  Took  in  consideration  the  ways 
and  in  what  manner  the  pulpit  shall  be  Dressed,  and  have 
agreed  that  the  pulpit  be  dressed  in  black,  under  the  in- 
spection of  David  Welsh  Esq  &  Leonard  Neighbour  jr, 
Which  we  do  hereby  Instruct  to  Carry  into  effect,  so  as 
to  have  the  same  done  by  the  22nd  day  of  this  Instant." 

The  Immigrants  and   their  Descendants. 

Many  names  of  people  dwelling  at  German  Valley  at 
a  very  early  date  are  found  in  the  records  of  the  church 


established  at  that  place  in  1746,  and  are  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  narrative.  A  more  extended  mention 
of  a  few  of  these  families,  however,  is  given  below  : 

The  Hann  family,  now  the  most  numerous  on 
Schooley's  mountain,  as  well  as  the  oldest,  traces  its  line 
of  descent  back  for  seven  generations.  A  monument  in 
the  venerable  graveyard  of  Pleasant  Grove  has  the  fol- 
lowing inscription:  "To  the  memory  of  William  and 
Elsie  Hann,  emigrants  from  Germany,  and  early  settlers 
in  this  township,  who  died  in  1794,  aged  90  years  each." 
They  came  from  Germany  to  Schooley's  Mountain  about 
1730.  Samuel  Schooley,  after  whom  this  mountain  is 
named,  was  the  first  person  who  bought  land  of  the  pro- 
prietors. In  1732  he  sold  a  large  number  of  acres  to  a 
Mr.  Holloway,  and  the  latter  soon  after  sold  it  to  William 
Hann,  who  occupied  and  cultivated  it,  and  it  remains 
still  in  the  family. 

William  and  Elsie  Hann  left  three  sons— Jacob,  Wil- 
liam and  John.  The  last  named  died  without  male  issue. 
Jacob  had  two  sons— William  and  Rhilip.  The  descend- 
ents  of  William  are  as  follows  :  Maurice,  William  Mau- 
rice, Arthur,  making  seven  generations,  including  the 
original  William.  Philip  had  three  sons,  viz.,  John, 
Philip  and  Jacob.  The  line  from  John  is  William,  Man- 
cius,  Minnie,  making  seven  generations.  Philip,  son  of 
PhiHp,  had  a  son  named  Stewart,  and  a  grandson  named 
Miller,  making  six  generations.  Jacob,  son  of  Philip, 
had  a  son  named  Philip  H.  and  a  grandson  named  Au- 
gustus, making  six  generations;  he  also  had  a  son  named 
John  and  a  grandson  named  Matthias.  William  Hann, 
son  of  William  and  Elsie  Hann,  had  a  son  named  Law- 
rence and  a  granddaughter  named  Amanda,  who  mar- 
ried the  Rev.  H.  W.  Hunt,  and  was  the  mother  of  the 
present  Holloway  W.  Hunt. 

Other  leading  families  about  Pleasant  Grove  are  those 
of  John  P.  Sharp,  who  has  three  sons^Stewart,  John, 
and  Edgar  Sharp;  James  Everitt,  James  and  Lawrence 
Fritts,  John  Sisher,  George  and  William  Lindaberry, 
John  Middleswarth,  Peter  Hoppock,  Nelson,  James,  Wil- 
liam, John  and  Philip  Sliker,  Isaac  Smith,  Theodore 
Felver  and  C.  Sargeant, 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  should  be  men- 
tioned the  families  of  Abram  Dickerson,  John  Thomas, 
Cornelius  T.  Hildebrand,  and  Messrs.  Flock,  Stevens, 
Runyon,  Trimmer,  Dufford,  Hance,  Hoffman  and 
Taylor. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  on  Schooley's  Mountain  was 
John  CoUver,  a  descendant  of  John  CoUver  of  England. 
The  last  mentioned  had  three  sons — John,  Edward  and 
Joseph.  Edward  came  to  America  and  settled  at  New 
London,  Conn.,  and  had  two  sons.  One  of  these  was 
killed  by  the  Indians;  the  other,  named  John,  had  a  son 
named  John;  he  married  Sarah  Winthrop,  granddaughter 
of  Governor  Winthrop,  and  came  with  his  family  and  lo- 
cated on  Schooley's  Mountain.  He  died  in  1760,  aged 
90,  and  his  wife  in  1766,  aged  83.  Both  were  buried  in 
the  private  burying  ground  near  Pleasant  Grove  church. 
The  farm  remained  in  the  family  for  several  generations. 

Thomas,  son  of  John  Collver,  purchased  200  acres  on 


THE  WELSHES  AND  NEIGHBOURS  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


375 


Schooley's  Mountain  in  1749.  His  son  Simon  Collver, 
born  in  1745,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  died  July  nth  1828.  David,  son  of  Simon,  born  in 
1787,  married  in  1809  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jacob  Myers, 
who  was  born  in  1792  and  died  in  1866.  He  died  in 
1878. 

David  J.  Collver,  son  of  David,  removed  in  1844  from 
Schooley's  Mountain  to  Lafayette.  In  his  90th  year  he 
composed  the  song  "  The  Republican  Victory,"  which 
was  published  in  the  Newton  Register.  His  reminiscences 
of  Hackettstown  were  published  in  the  Hackettstown 
Gazette  in  1875.  He  organized  the  first  Sunday-school  in 
northern  New  Jersey,  on  Schooley's  Mountain,  in  181.8. 

George  W.,  son  of  David  J.  Collver,  was  born  on 
Schooley's  Mountain,  in  1810.  He  married  Mary  S. 
Hays,  of  Lafayette.  He  has  lived  at  Allamuchy,  Hunts- 
ville,  Sparta  and  Lafayette. 

Jonathan  William  Welsh  was  the  first  of  that  family  to 
settle  in  this  section.  He  came  from  Germany,  and 
made  his  home  on  the  river  bank  in  front  of  Philip  L. 
Welsh's  present  location.  He  soon  came  into  possession 
of  a  tract  of  about  four  hundred  acres  of  timber  land 
and  swamp,  which  now  constitutes  the  farms  of  Philip  L. 
and  John  C.  Welsh.  Among  his  children  were  David, 
William,  Elizabeth  and  Philip. 

David  married  Anna  Maria  Sharp,  and  lived  on  that 
part  of  the  tract  now  occujjied  by  John  C.  Welsh.  They 
had  no  children.  This  David  Welsh  is  the  Judge 
Welsh  mentioned  elsewhere.  On  his  death  he  left  his 
farm  to  a  nephew  during  his  lifetime,  with  remainder 
over  to  his  children,  who  sold  it  to  the  present  owner. 

William  married,  and  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Anthony  Trimmer,  at  Middle  Valley.  One  of  their  chil- 
dren was  Dorothy,  who  married  a  prominent  merchant  of 
Hackettstown. 

Elizabeth  married  David  Miller,  a  merchant  at  Middle 
Valley.     They  had  several  children. 

Philip  married  Susan  Laric,  and  resided  on  that  part 
of  the  original  tract  now  owned  by  Philip  L.  Welsh. 
Their  children  were  Elizabeth,  Jacob,  David,  Margaret, 
Susan,  Anthony  and  Philip. 

Elizabeth  married  Jacob  Swackhammer,  and  lived  and 
died  on  the  farm  adjoining  the  Presbyterian  churih,  now 
owned  by  John  C.  Welsh.  Their  children  were:  John, 
who  married  Mary  Neighbour,  and  now  lives  at  Middle 
Valley;  Philip,  who  married  Elizabeth  Trimm.er  and  oc- 
cupied the  homestead  farm  until  his  death;  Susan  and 
Mary,  who  married  brothers,  Jacob  (2nd)  and  Isaiah 
Trimmer,  respectively,  and  live  in  Hunterdon  county, 
near  Califon;  and  Margaret,  who  married  Oliver  Vecelius, 
of  Hunterdon-  county,  and  had  one  child,  Jehial,  who 
lives  at  German  Valley. 

J'acob,  son  of  Philip,  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Susan  Couse.  He  was  a  man  of  much  influence 
and  held  in  high  estimation  in  the  community.  He  oc- 
cupied many  prominent  public  offices  in  the  county  and 
township,  and  was  for  forty-eight  years  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  German,  Valley.  His  children 
were  Mary,  who  married  David  Swackhammer  and  now 


resides  on  Pleasant  Hill;  Emily,  who  married  Isaac 
Roelofson,  a  farmer  of  this  township;  and  John  C,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Trimmer  and  was  engaged  in  business 
as  a  merchant  at  Middle  Valley  for  many  years,  but  now 
resides  on  the  farm  mentioned  above.  He  has  been  a 
successful  business  man-  and  held  many  offices  of  trust. 
He  has  been  connected  with  the  Hackettstown  Bank  for 
many  years  and  is  now  its  president,  and  is  well  known 
throughqut  a  large  portion  of  fhe  State.  His  children 
are:  Jacob,  who  married  Emma  Latourette  and  succeeded 
his  father  at  Middle  Valley;  Matthias  T.,  who  married 
Mary  E.  Hager,  and  lives  at  German  Valley,  and  John 
C.  jr.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Philip  L.  owns  and  occupies  the  farm  of  his  father. 
He  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Dufford,  and  afterward  to 
Catherine  Trimmer.  He  had  six  children  by  his  second 
wife,,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:  Gilbert,  Carrie, 
Samuel  and  Katie,  all  residing  at  home. 

Caroline  married  W.  G.  Dufford,  of  Washington,  N. 
J.  She  died  leaving  one  child,  who  married  Daniel 
Spaugenburg,  a  merchant  of  Washington,  N.  J. 

Jacob  jr.  married  Eliza  J.  Sharp.  He  was  a  merchant 
of  Hackettstown,  N.  J.,  and  left  six  children.  Of  these 
Louisa  married  Robert  Rusling,  the  present  postmaster 
of  that  place;  the  others  are  living  at  home.  By  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Caroline  Karns,  he  had  one  child,  Samuel, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Weiss.  He  was  a  merchant  of 
German  Valley,  and  died  in  the,  prime  of  life,  leaving 
one  child,  Mary,  who  married  William  Apgar,  and  now, 
resides  in  German  Valley. 

David,  son  of  Philip  and  Susan,  lived  and  died  in 
Morristown,  leaving  several  children,  one  of  whom 
is  Philip  H.  Welsh,  now  of  Morristown,  who  has  one  son 
and  several  daughters. 

Margaret  ma,rried  married  ^George  Crater,  arid  lived 
and  died  at  Flanders,  leaving  a  large  family  of  children. 

Susan  married  Leonard  Neighbour,  a  farmer  of  Ger- 
man Valley.  They  had  three  children:  Catherine  mar-- 
ried  Mancius  Hoffman  and  resides  at  Schooley's  Moun- 
tain; Lydia  Ann  and  Arthur  live  at  home. 

Anthony  married  Eliza  Voorhees,  and  lived  at  Succa- 
sunna.     He,  with  all  his  children,  died  suddenly. 

Philip. married  Catherine  Brown  and  lived  at  Chester. 
He  was  a  successful  merchant  at  that  place,  and  a  man 
of  very. active  life,  holding  many  positions  of  trust.  He 
was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  much  respected  in  the 
community. 

Leonard  Nachbur,  or  Neighbour,  came  from  Germany, 
although  probably  not  in  1707  with  the  first  company  of 
immigrants.  He  died  in  1766,  and  the.  he.adstone  of  his 
grave  is  still  to  be  seen  in  the  enclosure  of  the  old  church 
at  German  Valley.  His  son  Leonard  Neighbour  died  in 
1806,  and  the  latter's  son  Leonard  died  in  1854. 

The  children  of  Leonard  3d  were  David,  Leonard,; 
William,  Anne  and  Mary. 

The  children  of. David  are:  Silas,  living  on  the  old 
homestead;  James  H.  Neighbo.ur,  a  distinguished,  lawyer 
of  Dover;  Nicholas,  living  in  Gerhaan  Valley;  Calvin,  liv- 
ing at  Plainfield,  Leonard  D.,  living  at  High  Bridge,  and 


376 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  P.  S.  Miller,  living  at  German- 
town. 

The  children  of  Leonard  4th  are:  Arthur,  also  living 
on  the  old  homestead  at  German  Valley;  Catherine,  who 
married  Mancius  H.  Hoffman,  and  Lydia  Anne,  who 
lives  at  home. 

The  children  of  William  are  Lemuel  and  Adeline, 
both  living  at  Middle  Valley,  and  Jacob,  who  lives  in  the 
State  of  California.     Anne  lives  in  Illinois. 

Mary  married  John  Swackhammer  and  resides  near 
German  Valley. 

Of  those  who  held  a  prominent  place  in  the  township 
half  a  century  ago,  a  gentleman  well  informed  in  local 
affairs  has  given  us  the  following  names:  Richard  Lewis, 
'Squire  Lawrence  Hann,  Thomas  Fritts,  John  Dufford, 
Lawrence  Hager,  Dr.  Sanauel  Willett,  Rev.  Holloway  W. 
Hunt,  Dr.  Hutton,  afterward  of  New  York,  a^d  Rev.  Dr. 
Pohlman,  afterward  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  at 
Albany.  Aaron  Robertson,  an  old  gentleman  now  living 
near  Beatyestown,  has  a  more  than  local  reputation,  and 
is  regarded  with  the  utmost  respect  and  esteem  by  the 
entire  community.  He  was  at  one  time  a  judge  of  the 
court  of  errors  and  appeals,  and  was  surrogate  of  Warren 
county  two  terms;  he  was  also  one  of  the  commissioners 
appointed  to  examine  the  books  of  the  Camden  and  Am- 
boy  Railroad  in  1832.  William  Dellicker  sen.,  son  of 
Frederick  Dellicker,  "in  early  life  studied  for  the  minis- 
try and  actually  preached  one  or  two  sermons,  but  finally 
abandoned  his  purpose  and  went  into  business  at  Spring- 
town.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  influence  in  the 
neighborhood,  a  member  of  the  Legislature  and  a  judge 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas." 

In  addition  to  these  names,  Rev.  I.  A.  Blauvelt  has 
given  a  sketch  of  the  members  of  the  session  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  German  Valley  in  1813-17,  from 
which  the  following  is  condensed  : 

David  Welsh  was  a  man  of  considerable  wealth  and 
possessed  an  unusual  degree  of  shrewdness  and  good 
judgment.  Probably  no  man  ever  exerted  more  influ- 
ence in  the  valley.  He  held  the  offices  of  justice  of  the 
peace  and  county  judge,  and  for  twenty-five  years  in 
succession  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature.  He 
brought  home  from  Trenton  the  first  carpet  ever  used  in 
German  Valley,  and  people  came  from  far  and  near  to 
see  it.  He  was  also  the  owner  of  the  first  carriage  in 
that  place.  After  Mr.  Castner's  advent  as  pastor,  Judge 
Welsh  became  so  strict  a  Sabbatarian  that  it  is  said  that, 
in  order  to  prevent  work  on  the  Lord's  day,  he  used  to 
have  the  buckwheat  cakes  for  Sunday  baked  on  Satur- 
day afternoon. 

David  Miller  was  a  man  much  respected  in  the  com- 
munity during  his  residence  iii  the  valley,  from  which  he 
removed  to  Hunterdon  county,  and  afterward  to  Pater- 
son,  Of  his  children,  Jacob  was  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  William  was  a  lawyer  of  much 
promise,  but  met  with  an  early  death.  Jacob  Welsh  was 
a  justice  of  the  peace  for  fifteen  years,  and  a  judge  of 
the  court  of  common  pleas. 

Henry  I.  Hoffman,   Dr.  Ebenezer  K.   Sherwood  and 


Andrew  Flock  were   also  members  of  the  session  at  this 
period. 

All  accounts,  says  Mr.  Blauvelt,  point  to  the  year  1707 
as  the  time  that  the  first  settlers  of  this  township  set  foot 
on  the  shores  of  the  New  World.  They  came  from  Sax- 
ony in  Germany,  from  the  vicinity  of  a  small  city  called 
Halberstadt.  They  were  Protestants,  some  of  them 
being  Lutherans  and  others  of  the  Reformed  faith. 
Wearied  out  by  Romish  oppression  and  persecution, 
they  left  their  homes  to  seek  a  place  where  they  could 
worship  God  in  the  way  they  thought  right,  without  fear 
or  molestation.  It  was  in  the  year  1705  that  they  set 
out.  At  first  they  went  to  Neuwied,  a  town  in  Prussia. 
Their  stay  in  Neuwied  was  short.  From  there  they 
went  to  Holland,  at  that  time  the  freest  country  in 
Europe,  and  in  1707  they  sailed  for  America.  By  their 
residence  in  Holland  they  formed  many  acquaintances 
with  the  Dutch,  and  it  was  therefore  their  purpose,  in 
coming  to  this  country,  to  settle  among  the  Dutch  at 
New  York.  But  the  winds  were  adverse,  and  instead  of 
reaching  the  Dutch  settlement  they  were  carried  south 
to  Delaware  Bay.  Sailing  up  the  bay  and  river,  they 
landed  at  Philadelphia,  which  had  been  settled  by  the 
English  Quakers  about  twenty-five  years  before.  Pre- 
ferring still  to  make  their  home  with  the  Dutch  they  de- 
termined to  finish  their  journey  to  New  York  by  land. 
Accordingly  they  left  Philadelphia  from  a  point  known 
as  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Vine  streets,  and  passing  up 
through  Pennsylvania  they  crossed  the  Delaware  at  the 
spot  where  we  now  have  the  villages  of  Lambertville  and 
New  Hope.  Thence  by  what  is  known  as  the  "old 
York  road  "  they  came  to  the  site  of  Ringoes,  From 
this  point  the  precise  course  which  they  took  is  not 
known;  but  they  traveled  in  the  general  direction  of 
New  York  until  they  arrived  in  the  region  now  known  as 
German  Valley.  Tradition  has  it  that  when  these  early 
settlers  saw  the  beautiful  country  spread  out  before 
them  one  of  their  number  exclaimed,  "This,  this  indeed 
is  the  promised  land  which  the  Lord  designed  for  us  be- 
fore we  left  our  homes;  "  and  the  whole  company  forth- 
with agreed  to  give  up  their  project  of  going  to  New 
York,  and  to  settle  down  and  make  their  homes  in  this 
peaceful  valley. 

The  names  of  some  of  these  settlers  are  known  to  us 
from  the  church  records  which  have  been  preserved. 
The  names  of  the  elders  of  the  German  Valley  church 
in  1769  were  AVilliam  Welsch,  Caspar  Eick,  Conrad 
Roric  (Rarick)  and  Dietrich  Srubel;  and  in  1777  these 
were  succeeded  by  Morris  Sharpenstein  (now  Sharp), 
Jacob  Heil,  Peter  Heil  and  Jacob  Schuler.  Among  the 
names  of  those  admitted  to  the  communion  of  the  church 
in  1769  are  Sharpenstein,  Rorick,  Flammersfeld  (now 
Flumerfelt),  Hager,  Welsh,  Trumer  (now  Trimmer), 
Frees  (now  Erase),  Pees  (now  Pace),  Muller  (now  Miller), 
Hen  (now  Hann),  Yung  (now  Young),  and  Cramer.  In 
these  names  the  sound  has  generally  been  retained  more 
perfectly  than  the  orthography,  and  most  of  them  still 
have  representatives  in  the  township. 

Lawrence  Hager,  the  first   of  that  name  of  whom  we 


LAWRENCE   HAGER. 


THE  HAGERS  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


377 


have  knowledge,  was  born  November  i4lh  1735.  His 
son  John  was  born  September  21st  1759.  The  latter's 
son  Lawrence  was  born  September  15th  1786;  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Anne  C.  Sharp,  and  lived 
in  German  Valley.  His  children  were:  Angelina,  who 
married  McEvers  Forman,  of  Easton,  Pa.;  John  S.,  of 
whom  a  sketch  appears  below;  and  Jacob  M.  and 
Lydia,  both  deceased. 

It  was  the  first  Lawrence  Hager  who  figures  in  the  fol- 
lowing anecdote:  During  the  war  a  stranger  one  day  ap- 
peared at  the  inn  at  German  Valley,  and  between  the  drinks 
of  brandy  and  water  made  many  remarks  extremely  derog- 
atory to  the  American  cause  and  its  defenders.  He  de- 
clared that  the  continental  army  was  composed  of  a  par- 
cel of  ragamuffins  and  vagabonds,  and  that  the  year 
would  not  go  out  without  witnessing  the  suspension  of 
General  Washington  from  a  tree.  His  remarks  were  not 
received  with  favor,  but  he  was  a  man  of  gigantic  build. 
His  brawny  arms  and  clenched  fists  were  fine  things  to 
look  at  as  specimens  of  well  developed  manhood,  but 
would  have  been  very  disagreeable  things  to  encounter  in 
personal  combat;  and  at  that  time,  our  informant  says, 
it  was  the  custom  to  dispute  with  fists  rather  than  with 
words — an  excellent  custom  that  doubtless  saved  a  world 
of  talking,  but  which  has  fallen  sadly  into  disuse.  There 
was  no  one  about  the  tavern  who  cared  to  dispute  with 
the  stranger,  and  he  had  his  own  way  without  fear  or 
molestation  for  some  time.  At  length,  however,  one  of 
the  bystanders  bethought  himself  of  a  famous  local  de- 
bater, who  was  the  ancestor  of  a  gentleman  who  at  a  later 
day  sat  in  the  Senate  chamber  of  the  United  States. 
Lawrence  Hager  was  a  man  of  very  advanced  age  at  this 
period,  but  he  was  of  magnificent  physique,  and  he  en- 
tered the  inn  door  like  another  Cicero  and  stared  intently 
at  the  noisy  stranger.  At  that  time  it  was  a  custom 
among  the  farmers  of  that  region  to  wear  large  leathern 
aprons,  probably  to  serve  the  same  office  that  overalls  do 
now.  As  he  entered  the  tavern  he  loosened  the  apron 
from  about  hiip,  and,  casting  it  on  the  floor,  roared  in 
stentorian  tones,  "  Where  is  that  Britisher?  "  This  stir- 
ring argument  closed  the  debate.  The  unfortunate  tory 
gave  one  hasty  glance  at  the  orator  and  darted  through  a 
side  door,  to  disappear  forever — the  last  of  the  tories 
of  the  township  of  whom  tradition  preserveth  mem- 
ory. 

John  S.  Hager. 

John  S.  Hager  was  born  in  Gerrrian  Valley,  Morris 
county.  New  Jersey,  March  12th  1818.  His  ancestors 
on  both  sides  were  German  Protestants,  who,  being 
driven  from  their  homes  by  the  fierce  persecutions  that 
toolc  place  during  the  religious  wars  that  so  long  dis- 
tracted their  native  land,  first  retreated  to  Holland,  and 
afterward  emigrated  to  America.  They  landed  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1707,  and  with  other  German  colonists  finally 
settled  in  an  uninhabited  portion  of  New  Jersey,  to 
which  they  gave  the  name  of  German  Valley,  where  they 
purchased  lands  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
His  paternal  great-grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 


lution in  the  army  of  Washington,  and  his  grandfather 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  181 2. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  after  receiving  a  preparatory  training  entered 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  at  Princeton,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  1836.  Subsequently  he  entered  upon  the  study 
of  law  under  the  direction  of  Hon.  J.  W.  Miller,  formerly 
United  States  senator  from  New  Jersey.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1840,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Morristown,  in  his  native  State. 

In  1849  Mr.  Hager  emigrated  to  California,  where  he 
arrived  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  and  for  a  while 
engaged  in  mining  pursuits.  In  the  winter  of  1850 
he  became  a  permanent  resident  of  San  Francisco, 
where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
soon  acquired  a  large  practice,  and  was  recognized 
as  among  the  leading  members  of  the  bar.  In  1852, 
without  his  knowledge  or  consent,  he  was  placed  in  nom- 
ination by  the  Democratic  party  of  San  Francisco  for  the 
State  Senate,  and  being  urged  by  a  committee  of  citizens 
to  accept  he  reluctantly  consented,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority  when  his  colleague  on  the  same  tick- 
et was  defeated. 

In  185s  he  was  elected  State  district  judge  for  the  dis- 
trict comprising  the  city  and  county  of  San  Francisco, 
for  the  term  of  six  years.  Concerning  this  portion  of 
his  public  service  an  editorial  writer  in  the  New  York 
Jlerald  S3.\A:  "  In  that  capacity  he  distinguished  himself 
by  firmness,  impartiality,  and  fine  legal  attainments. 
Judge  Hager  had  to  brave  the  storm  of  the  Vigilance 
Committee  in  1856.  His  character  stood  so  high  that 
not  a  word  was  uttered  to  his  discredit  at  a  time  when 
few  magistrates  escaped  harsh  criticism."  At  the  end  of 
his  term  Judge  Hager  retired  from  the  bench  with  health 
considerably  impaired  by  intense  application  to  the  du- 
ties of  his  office.  He  immediately  entered  upon  an  ex- 
tended tour  in  Europe  and  portions  of  Asia  and  Africa, 
which  occupied  him  two  years. 

During  the  late  civil  war  he  was  a  firm  and  avowed 
Union  man.  In  1865,  and  again  in  1867,  he  was  elected 
to  the  Senate  of  California,  and  as  a  member  of  that 
body  voted  in  favor  of  the  thirteenth  amendment  of  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States,  abolishing  slavery.  He 
also  proposed  the  joint  resolution  in  the  Senate  of  Cali- 
fornia to  reject  the  fifteenth  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  and  advocated  this  resolution 
January  28th  1870,  in  a  speech  of  great  learning  and  elo- 
quence. While  presenting  with  much  force  the  injur- 
ious results  to  his  ow.n  State  if  the  proposed  amendment 
to  admit  Africans  to  the  right  of  suffrage  should  also  be 
extended  to  the  Chinese,  he  said: 

"I  have  no  prejudices  against  this  race  merely  on  the 
ground  of  color.  I  would  think  meanly  of  myself  if  I 
stood  in  my  place  here  to  djnounce  them  because  their 
skins  are  not  as  white  as  mine.  I  am  a  northern  man — 
born  in  a  northern  State;  was  a  Union  man  during  the 
war.  From  the  first  gun  fired  upon  Sumter  I  took  my 
stand  under  the  flag  and  by  the  constitution.  I  remain 
there  yet.  Regretting  the  war,  hoping  and  praying  it 
would  come  to   some   amicable    adjustment   that  might 


378 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


again  unite  us  as  a  nation,  I  believed  then,  as  I  do  now, 
that  divided  we  would  both  fall,  but  united  we  might  de- 
fy the  world.  *  *  *  If  we  extend  suffrage  to  the 
African  how  can  we  refuse  it  to  the  Chinese?  They  are 
superior  as  a  race  to  the  African;  have  maintained  a 
government  and  attained  a  civilization  superior  to  the 
negro.  We,  as  Californians,  have  to  meet  this  question 
in  our  own  State.  We  stand  here  upon  the  extreme 
verge,  the  ultima  tJnile,  If  I  may  so  express  it,  of  west- 
ern civilization.  We  can  go  no  further  west;  to  do  so, 
as  Father  Junipero  said,  is  to  take  to  the  water.  Eastern 
and  western  civilization  meet  upon  our  soil,  and  we 
alone  have  to  breast  this  new  influx  which  is  now  rolling 
in  upon  us  from  Asia.  With  our  new  commercial  rela- 
tions with  China,  and  with  steam  communication,  what 
will  the  future  reveal?  Why,  sir,  China  might  spare  from 
her  surplus  population  a  million  of  men  without  experi- 
encing the  sensation  of  a  vacuum,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years  we  may  be  entirely  under  the  dominion  of 
this  people.  *  *  *  Is  this  mere  fancy?  Is  it  more 
improbable  that  suffrage  will  be  extended  to  the  Chinese 
within  ten  years  than  it  was  ten  years  ago  that  suffrage 
would  be  extended  to  the  slaves  of  the  South? " 

While  in  the  Legislature  Mr.  Hager  took  a  leading  po- 
sition, and  was  at  the  head  of  the  chief  committee  of  the 
Senate.  He  was  instrumental  in  effecting  many  needed 
reforms  in  the  civil  and  criminal  laws.  He  was  known 
as  an  "  anti-subsidist,''  and  voted  against  all  bills  favor- 
ing the  building  of  railroads  for  individuals  at  public  ex- 
pense. In  1870,  when  it  was  the  unpopular  side,  he 
voted  against  the  bills  of  the  Central  and  Southern  Pa- 
cific Railroad  Companies  in  the  memorable  contest  which 
took  place  to  pass  them  over  the  veto  of  Governor 
Haight. 

He  also  took  a  deep  interest  in  establishing  the  Uni- 
versity of  California,  and  was  chairman  of  the  joint  com- 
mittee of  the  two  houses  appointed  to  mature  and  perfect 
the  bill  introduced  and  finally  passed  for  that  purpose. 
In  i868  he  was  elected  one  of  the  regents  of  the  univer- 
sity, and  he  continues  to  hold  that  position. 

In  October  1872  he  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  the 
late  James  H.  Lucas,  a  prominent  and  leading  citizen -of 
St.  Louis,  a  son  of  Judge  John  B.  C.  Lucas,  who  was 
born  in  Normandy,  France,  in  1762,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  and  while  repre- 
senting that  State  in  Congress  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Jefferson  judge  of  the  United  States  court  in  upper 
Louisiana,  when  he  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress  and  re- 
moved to  St.  Louis  in  1805,  where  during  a  long  and 
eventful  life  he  ranked  among  the  most  marked  and  in- 
fluential men  in  that  section  of  the  west. 

Mr.  Hager  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  as 
an  anti-monopoly  Democrat  for  th-e  unexpired  term  of 
Eugene  Casserly,  resigned.  His  election  was  noticed 
with  approval  by  leading  journals  of  all  parties.  The 
San  Francisco  Examiner  said: 

"  Long  ago  Judge  Hager  established  a  reputation  for 
learning  and  integrity,  which  he  illustrated  on  the  bench 
of  the  fourth  district  court  in  this  city,  and  during  three 
terms  in  the  State  Senate,  where  he  acquired  legislative 
experience  of  service  to  him  in  his  new  capacity.  He 
has  all  the  elements  of  success  with  him  and  within  him. 
We  have  no  doubt  he  will  make  an  impression  in  the  fed- 
eral Senate  by  his  quiet,  dignified  deportment,  his  calm, 


judicial  bearing,  his  scholarly  attributes,  his  closely  logi- 
cal yet  interesting  style  of  speech  in  debate,  his  judicial 
ability,  and  his  familiarity  with  public  affairs." 

A  Republican  journal,  the  Sacramento  Daily  Union, 
said: 

"Judge  Hager's  abilities,  culture,  educational  training, 
and  legislative  experience,  qualify  him  to  maintain  a  re- 
spectable position  in  the  national  Senate.  In  something 
like  six  years'  service  in  the  California  Senate,  commenc- 
ing as  far  back  as  1851,  he  always  showed  great  skill, 
self-possession  and  force  in  debate.  We  feel  no  apprer 
hension  but  that  he  will  prove  an  efficient  and  valuable 
ally  of  the  people's  cause." 

Mr.  Hager  took  his  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate 
February  9th  1874.  During  the  time  he  was  a  member 
of  that  body  he  took  a  modest  but  influential  part  in  the 
debates,  and  devoted  himself  with  energy  and  faithful- 
ness to  the  duties  of  his  position. 

Eajily  Taverns. 

The  earliest  hotel  was  situated  in  German  Valley;  we 
can  obtain  the  name  of  no  proprietor  previous  to  Jacob 
Drake.  It  was  certainly  in  existence  at  the  time  of  the 
Revolution. 

Another  ancient  caravansary  was  that  at  Pleas- 
ant Grove,  with  the  somewhat  unpleasantly  suggestive 
name  of  the  "  Jug  Tavern."  This  inn  was  probably 
built  when  the  turnpike  was  first  cut  through  and  con- 
tinued in  operation  for  about  fifty  years.  The  earliest 
landlord  was  Lambert  Bowman.  It  was  during  his  pro- 
prietorship that  an  accident  occurred  which  is  still  re- 
membered. A  celebration  of  the  national  anniversary 
was  held  at  the  Grove  in  1808.  Just  in  front  of  the  Jug 
Tavern  a  large  crowd  had  gathered  to  assist  in  or  witness 
the  firing  off  of  a  large  cannon.  By  some  accident  one 
of  the  discharges  of  the  gun  was  premature,  and  the 
swab  struck  Luther  Garner,  who  was  standing  nearly  in 
front  of  the  piece,  passing  through  his  body,  tearing  off 
one  of  his  arms,  mutilating  him  in  a  horrible  manner 
and  killing  him  instantly.  » 

Another  hotel  of  long  standing  is  that  at  Springtown, 
which  was  first  kept  by  Azael  Coleman,  and  which  is  still 
in  operation.  There  was  formerly  a  hotel  at  Middle  Val- 
ley and  also  one  at  "  Mud  Street."  There  are  at  present 
four  hotels  in  the  township. 

Mills,  Stores,  etc. 

Jacob  Swackhammer's  grandfather  informed  him  that 
the  earliest  grist-mill  in  the  township  was  situated  in  Ger- 
man Valley  and  was  kept  at  an  early  day  by  Henry  Neit- 
ser.  It  is  thought  that  it  was  in  existence  for  some  time 
previous  to  the  Revolution.  Nicholas  Neighbour  had  a 
similar  mill  at  Middle  Valley,  which  was  also  a  very  old' 
mill,  and  Caspar  Wack  had  a  fulling-mill  and  an  oil-mill 
at  German  Valley  during  the  time  that  he  was  pastor  of 
the  church  at  that  place.  It  is  probable  that  there  were 
not  more  than. two  stores  in  the  Valley  previous  to  1800, 
one  at  German  Valley,  kept  by  Jacob  Neitser,  and  one 
at  Middle  Valley,  kept  by  David  Miller.  The  store  at 
Pleasant  Grove  was  established  about  1820  and  was  first 


BUSINESS  INSTITUTIONS  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


379 


kept  by  Thomas  Smith,  but  it  was  not  in  the  same  build- 
ing in  which  Mancius  H.  Hann  now  carries  on  the  busi- 
ness, the  latter  building  being  erected  by  Lawrence  Hann 
about  1850.  The  store  at  Springtown,  about  half  way  be- 
tween German  Valley  and  Belmont  Hall,  was  established 
about  1812,  and  was  first  kept  by  Welsh  &  Dellicker,  af- 
terward by  Neighbour  &  Dellicker.  The  store  was  dis- 
continued about  ten  or  twelve  years  ago.  There  was  also 
a  store  at  German  Valley  kept  by  Lawrence  Hann  about 
sixty  years  ago.  There  are  now  ten  stores  in  the  town- 
ship. 

There  were  several  blacksmiths'  shops  in  operation  at 
the  commencement  of  the  century.  About  that  time  the 
one  at  German  Valley  was  occupied  by  William  Willet, 
and  the  one  at  Middle  Valley  by  Isaac  Willet.  Asher 
Jones  carried  on  the  one  at  Pleasant  Grove,  but  in  1809 
removed  to  Springtown,  where  he  either  opened  a  new 
one  or  succeeded  some  one  already  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness. We  are  informed  that  th^se  four  were  the  only 
ones  at  that  time  in  the  township.  There  are  nine  at 
present. 

An  apple  distillery  was  kept  by  one  Roelofson  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Middle  Valley  between  1800  and  1810, 
and  continued  in  operation  a  number  of  years.  Leonard 
Neighbour  carried  on  a  similar  enterprise  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  German  Valley  at  a- somewhat  earlier  date. 
Just  previous  to  1832  he  divided  the  greater  part  of  his 
property  among  his  children,  and  the  distillery  came  to 
Jacob's  share.  Soon  after  the  division  had  been  effected 
Leonard  and  his  wife  went  to  hear  a  temperance  sermon 
by  a  Mr.  Grant,  a  friend  whom  Dr.  Hutton  had  brought 
from  Philadelphia  to  lecture  on  that  subject.  So  strong- 
ly were  they  impressed  by  this  discourse  that  they  at 
once  destroyed  the  distillery  and  made  good  its  value  in 
Jacob's  share. 

There  is  a  marble  yard  at  Springtown  and  a  butcher 
shop  and  harness  shop  at  German  Valley.  Hance  & 
Apgar  and  L.  H.  Trimmer  deal  largely  in  wood  and  lum- 
ber. 

Post- Offices. 

Probably  the  first  post-offices  were  established  in  the 
township  between  i8ro  and  1820.  The  first  mail  route 
was  by  way  of  Chester  and  passed  over  the  mountain  at 
Pleasant  Grove.  At  this  time  or  a  little  later  there  were 
offices  at  Springtown,  Pleasant  Grove,  German  Valley 
and  Middle  Valley.  The  one  at  Middle  Valley  is  prob- 
ably the  oldest,  and  was  first  kept  by  David  Miller.  The 
one  at  Springtown  was  the  post-office  for  the  hotels  at 
the  "Springs,"  and  has  been  .changed  several  times  back 
and  forth  between  one  place  and  the  other.  William 
Dellicker  was  the  first  to  have  charge  of  this  office. 
Charles  Watson  was  the  first  postmaster  at  Pleasant 
Grove,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Jonathan  Wilson.  Wil- 
son's clerk  was  in  the  habit  of  opening  the  letters  con- 
taining money  which  passed  through  the  mail,  and  for 
some  time  did  so  with  impunity;  but  at  last  he  was  sus- 
pected, and,  having  taken  and  used  some  marked  money 
which  had  been  enclosed  in  a  letter,  was  arrested,  con- 


victed, and  sentenced  to  State  prison,  where  he  served 
his  term. 

In  Beemish's  Traveler's  Directory  for  the  Uriited 
States  for  1820  we  find  none  of  the  localities  in  this 
township  named  as  post-offices,  and  it  is  possible  that 
the  date  fixed  for  the  establishment  of  offices  at  the 
places  above  named  is  a  trifle  too  early.  There  were  at 
that  time  but  4,030  offices  in  the  United  States,  which  was 
regarded  as  a  marvelous  increase  over  the  commencement 
of  the  century,  when  the  total  number  was  but  903.  The 
rates  ot  postage  were  as  follows:  For  any  distance  not  ex- 
ceeding 36  miles,  6  cents;  80,  10  cents;  150,  12  J^  cents; 
400,  18^  cents;  exceeding  400,  25cents.  Double  letters 
(or  those  composed  of  two  piecesof  paper)  were  charged 
at  double  those  rates,  triple  letters  at  triple  rates, 
quadruple  letters  quadruple  rates  if  they  weighed  one 
ounce,  otherwise  triple  rates.  Newspapers  were  carried 
not  over  100  miles  for  i  cent;  over  100  miles,  1%  cents; 
but  to  any  place  within  the  State  i  cent  whatever  the 
distance.  One  of  the  old  mail  carriers  is  still  remem- 
bered. His  route  was  from  Trenton  through  Somerset, 
Hunterdon  and  Morris  counties,  and  then  back  again  to 
Trenton,  of  which  he  made  a  six  days'  journey.  He  car- 
ried a  horn  with  which  he  was  accustomed  to  signal  his 
arrival.  He  used  to  make  one  of  his  stopping  places  at 
Dr.  Jacob  Karn's,  about  half  a  mile  below  Middle  Valley, 
where  he  stayed  over  night. 

There  are  at  present  seven  post-offices  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Schooley's  Mountain  Hotels. 

The  period  between  1800  and  1820  seems  to  have 
been  one  of  marked  activity  throughout  the  northern 
portions  of  the  county.  It  was  during  this  epoch  that 
many  of  the  principal  highways  were  constructed,  at 
once  an  evidence  of  growing  enterprise  and  a  fruitful 
source  of  improvement.  The  turnpike  running  over 
Schooley's  Mountain  and  connecting  Morristown  with 
Easton  was  chartered  in  1806,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
completed  about  the  year  1810. 

One  result  of  the  opening  of  this  turnpike  was  to 
bring  the  mineral  springs  situated  on  the  mouiitain  with- 
in reach  of  travelers.  Conover  Bowne  was  the  first  to 
keep  a  hotel  at  this  place;  he  began  business  about  1810. 
His  place  was  close  by  the  mineral  spring,  and  the  first 
attempt  does  not  seem  to  have  been  very  successful. 
His  house  was_not  large  and  could  accommodate  but  few 
boarders.  An  agreement  to  sell  a  tract  of  land  (being 
the  same  on  which  now  stand  the  Heath  House,  Belmont 
Hall,  and  the  residences  of  H.  W.  Hunt  and  W.  W. 
Marsh),  by  Joseph  Colver  to  Joseph  Heath,  dated  1799, 
still  exists,  in  the  possession  of  W.  W.  Marsh.  Mr. 
Heath  came  from  Hunterdon  county,  and  saw  at  once 
the  importance  which  the  springs  might  be  made  to  as- 
sume as  a  place  of  resort  under  propef  management. 
Between  1810  and  1815  he  erected  a  number  of  build- 
ings, but  not  of  a  first-rate  order,  on  the  ground  where 
the  Heath  House  is  at  present  situated.  His  establish- 
ment was   able   to   accommodate  comfortably  between 


38o 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


thirty  and  forty  boarders.  In  1816  he  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  Ephraim  Marsh  as  manager,  and  gradually  made 
additions  to  the  buildings  and  improved  the  properly  in 
various  ways  until  about  1820,  when  he  sold  them  to  Mr. 
Marsh,  who  had  become  his  son-in-law.  From  1820  un- 
til 1850  continual  improvements  and  additions  were  made 
by  Mr.  Marsh  to  the  Heath  House,  until  it  reached  its 
present  capacity  of  about  three  hundred  guests.  The 
present  proprietor  is  J.  Warren  Coleman. 

Analyses  of  the  mineral  spring  had  been  made  between 
1810  and  1815,  by  Drs.  Jackson  and  McNevin,  of  the 
University  of  New  York,  who  declared  it  to  be  the 
purest  and  best  chalybeate  water  known  at  that  time  in 
the  country;  and  this  fact,  together  with  the  pure  moun- 
tain air  and  the  romantic  surroundings,  first  brouj^ht  it 
favorably  into  notice.  Dr.  Green,  professor  of  chemistry 
in  Lafayette  College,  who  has  recently  analyzed  the  wa- 
ter of  the  sj.ring,  declares  that  he  finds  but  very  little 
change  in  its  composition  since  the  earliest  analyses  were 
made,  nor  has  it  varied  in  quantity  in  all  that  time.  The 
waters  have  been  known  to  effect  wonderful  cures. in  re- 
storing physical  vigor,  and  especially  in  cases  of  calculus 
concretions  and  derangement  of  the  urinary  functions  or 
organs.  The  spring  itself  is  now  the  property  of  William 
Wallace  Marsh. 

The  mountain  largely  owes  its  fame  and  success  as  a 
summer  resort  to  the  enterprise  and  business  energy  of 
Judge  Marsh.  That  gentleman  (whose  portrait  appears 
herewith),  was  born  at  Mendham,  in  1796,  and  came  to 
Schooley's  Mountain  in  1816.  For  nearly  half  a  century 
he  was  one  of  the  prominent  and  most  respected  citizens 
of  the  county.  He  was  long  active  in  politics,  and  at 
different  times  represented  the  county  in  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  being  for  some  time  the  president  of  the 
Senate.  He  held  the  office  of  judge  of  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas  for  many  years;  was  a  member  of  the  conven- 
tion that  revised  our  State  constitution  in  1844;  was  a 
prominent  candidate  for  the  governorship  at  the  time  of 
the  nomination  of  Mr.  Olden,  and  was  president  of  the 
national  convention  in  Philadelphia  in  1856  that  nomi- 
nated Millard  Fillmore  for  President — but  which  nomi- 
nation he  was  constrained  to  renounce  subsequently,  and 
gave  his  reasons  for  so  doing  in  an  able  letter  published 
in  the  early  part  of  the  campaign. 

Judge  Marsh,  however,  was  better  and  more  widely 
known  from  his  longconnection  with  and  eminent  suc- 
cess in  the  management  of  the  Morris'  Canal  Company. 
The  canal,  costing  millions  of  dollars,  and  designed  as 
one  of  the  great  avenues  for  the  transportation  of  pro- 
duce and  merchandise,  but  chiefly  of  anthracite  coal 
from  Pennsylvania  to  New  York  city,  had  become  worth- 
less as  a  public  work,  when  Judge  Marsh  became  presi- 
dent of  the  company.  For  the  last  sixteen  years  of  his 
life  he  devoted  all  his  energy  and  resources  to  this  insti- 
tution, and  he  lived  long  enough  to  see  it  become  under 
his  management  not  only  a  great  business  success  but  one 
of  the  most  profitable  investments  of  capital  to  be  found 
aiiywhere.  '  - 

He  died  in  the  summer  of  1864,  in  his   68th   year, 


while  on  a  visit  to  his  only  surviving  son,  William  Wal- 
lace Marsh,  on  Schooley's  Mountain. 

The  first  buildings  of  Belmont  Hall  were  erected 
about  1820  by  Conover  Bowne,  who  had  given  up  his 
house  by  the  spring,  and  it  was  controlled  by  him  for 
some  years,  after  which  it  came  into  the  possession  of 
William  Gibbons,  of  Madison,  who  had  also  became  the 
owner  of  the  mineral  spring.  Mr.  Gibbons  did  much 
toward  enlarging  and  improving  the  property,  and  re- 
mained in  possession  of  it  until  his  death.  It  tjien  passed 
into  the  ownership  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Frank  Lathrop, 
and  then  into  that  of  Edward  Holland,  and  finally  into 
the  hands  of  David  A.  Crowell,  who  is  the  present  owner 
as  well  as  manager.  Mr.  Crowell  has  been  connected 
with  the  hotels  on  the  mountain  for  about  thirty  years, 
during  the  last  twenty  of  which  he  has  been  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Belmont,  which  has  prospered  greatly  under 
his  charge. 

As  a  summer  resort  Schooley's  Mountain  is  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  country.  The  old  hotel  registers  show  a 
goodly  list  of  distinguished  visitors.  From  Pennsylvania 
came  such  men  as  John  Sargent,  once  a  candidate  for 
the  vice-presidency;  Vice-President  George  M.  Dallas, 
ex-Governor  Edward  Coles,  Dr.  George  B.  Wood,  Rich- 
ard Vaux,  General  Cadwallader  and  others.  Among 
those  from  New  Jersey  were  Garret  D.  Wall,  Peter  D. 
Vroom,  Philemon  Dickerson,  WiUiam  L.  Dayton,  Gov- 
ernor Pennington,  Samuel  L.  Southard,  Hon.  Theodore 
Frelinghuysen  and  Hon.  Frederick  T.  Frelinghuysen. 
Among  those  from  New  York  were  Jacob  Le  Roy,  C.  V. 
S.  Roosevelt,  ex-Governor  E.  D.  Morgan,  Rev.  Dr.  Spen- 
cer H.  Cone,  Rev.  Dr.  George  B.  Cheever,  Dr.  Mcllroy 
and  others.  Many  distinguished  men  from  other  sec- 
tions of  the  country  were  frequent  guests,  and  although 
the  place  has  a  larger  number  of  visitors  at  the  present 
time  it  probably  occupied  a  much  more  prominent  posi- 
tion as  a  fashionable  resort  forty  years  ago  than  now. 
Many  of  the  guests,  not  to  be  enticed  by  the  glare  and 
attractions  of  Long  Branch,  Saratoga  or  Newport,  have 
returned  here  year  after  year  without  intermission  for 
periods  of  twenty  or  thirty  years,  and  in  a  few  instances 
for  thirty-five  and  forty  years.  David  Sargent,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, was  an  annual  visitor  for  forty  years,  and  Prof; 
Ruggles,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  for  thirty-nine  years. 

Physicians  and  Lawyers. 

There  seems  to  have  been  no  resident  physician  in  the 
township  before  1800.  Dr.  Samuel  Hedges,  ancestor  of 
the  present  Dr.  Hedges  of  Chester,  practiced  in  the  val- 
ley and  Fox  Hill  district,  and  Drs.  Cook  and  Stewart,  of 
Hackettstown,  attended  to  the  wants  of  the  people  on 
Schooley's  Mountain.  Dr.  Eliphalet  Kopp  or  Copp  is 
the  earliest  resident  physician  of  whom  there  appears  to 
be  any  remembrance.  He  lived  here  perhaps  as  long  ago 
as  1800,  and  came  from  New  England.  Dr.  Ebenezet 
K.  Sherwood  settled  at  Middle  Valley  about  1813  ot 
1814,  and  removed  from  there  to  Haeklebarney' about 
1845.  It  was  previous  to  1820  that  Dr.  SamuelWillet 
commenced  ;to  practice  at  German  Valley,  which  he  con- 


=*=#*- 


'r 


RES     OF      W"*     W.  MARSH  ,   SCHOOLEYS      MOUNTAIN, N     J 


t 


*-^^ 


SCHOOLS  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


381 


tinued  to  do  until  succeeded  by  his  son  Dr.  Eliphalet 
C.  Willet,  who  practices  there  at  the  present  time,  and  is 
much  respected  and  esteemed  both  as  a  physician  and 
citizen.  About  twelve  years  ago  Dr.  Farrow  settled  at 
Middle  Valley,  and  he  has  established  a  good  practice. 
Dr.  Martin  has  practiced  for  several  years  at  the 
"Springs." 

Ira  C.  Whitehead  once  practiced  law  in  the  township, 
but  with  that  exception  Holloway  W.  Hunt  is  the  only 
lawyer  who  has  ever  made  his  home  in  Washington.  Mr. 
Hunt  resides  at  the  "  Springs,"  and  is  already  known  as 
a  rising  man  in  the  profession.  He  has  engaged  actively 
in  politics,  and  represented  his  district  in  the  Legislature 
during  the  years  187S  and  1879.  His  grandfather,  Rev. 
H.  W.  Hunt,  was  the  youngest  of  sixteen  children,  and 
was  born  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1769.  He 
was  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Newton  and  Sparta,  and 
afterward  for  forty  years  of  the  churches  of  Bethel,  Alex- 
andria and  Kingwood  in  Hunterdon  county.  Of  his 
four  children  the  Rev.  H.  W.  Hunt  jr.  removed  to  Wash- 
ington township  in  1826,  where  he  married  Amanda, 
daughter  of  Lawrence  Hanu,  in  1827.  Two  of  their  chil- 
dren, Lawrence  H.  and  Holloway  W.,  now  reside  in  the 
township. 

Schools. 

The  following  information  regarding  schools  is  taken 
chiefly  from  the  "  Centennial  Collections  of  Morris 
County,"  pages  51  and  52. 

In  1798  there  were  six  schools  in  Washington  town- 
ship. They  were  situated  in  what  are  now  known  as  the 
districts  of  Pleasant  Grove,  Flocktown,  Middle  Valley, 
German  Valley,  Schooley's  Mountain  and  Naughright- 
ville.  The  buildings  in  the  first  three  were  of  logs;  in 
the  last  there  was  a  frame  school-house.  The  average 
daily  attendance  at  these  buildings  was  about  153,  di- 
vided as  follows:  Flocktown  20,  Pleasant  Grove  18, 
Middle  Valley  40,  German  Valley  30,  Schooley's  Moun- 
tain 25,  Naughrightville  20. 

The  city  or  town  schoolboy  of  to-day  must  regard 
with  horror  when  he  comes  to  learn  of  them  the  uncouth 
habits  and  dreadful  hours  which  prevailed  among  the  pu- 
pils of  sixty  and  seventy  years  ago.  A  good  housewife 
eighty-two  years  of  age  informed  us  that  she  used  to 
have  to  rise  very  early  and  "  scratch  around  sharp  to  get 
the  young  ones  off  in  time  for  school."  Mr.  Birch,  who 
taught  in  the  Valley,  was  not  particularly  exacting  in 
this  respect,  but  Master  Robert  Caul,  who  came  from 
Chester  and  was  of  Dutch  descent,  used  to  expect  the 
children  on  the  mountain  to  be  in  their  places  at  7  o'clock 
in  the  severest  winter  weather,  and  in  milder  seasons  be- 
gan to  teach  at  half  past  6.  School  was  dismissed  at  6 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  sometimes,  when  the  children 
had  learned  their  lessons  better  than  usual,  at   5  o'clock. 

This  same  Mr.  Birch,  the  savor  of  whose  name  still 
lingers  in  the  memory  of  an  old  gentleman  of  ninety-six 
years,  was  of  a  genial  and  vivacious  disposition.  His 
visits  to  the  tavern  were  often  more  frequent  and  more 
prolonged  than  would  be  considered  desirable  in  a  teacher 


now-a-days.  His  pupils,  getting  an  inkling  of  this  foible 
of  his,  on  one  occasion  at  noon-spell  gathered  in  the 
school-room  and  locked  the  teacher  out.  On  his  return 
they  succeeded  in  maintaining  their  position,  and  re- 
fused to  surrender  except  on  condition  of  being  treated. 
The  master  forthwith  (so  runs  the  tale)  returned  to  a 
neighboring  magazine,  procured  a  bottle  and  cup,  and 
gave  the  children  a  drink  all  round. 

A  holiday  was  procured  once  in  the  school  at  Pleasant 
Grove  by  the  mischief  of  the  boys.  They  stopped  up 
the  chimney  with  leaves  and  other  material  so  successfully 
that  the  room  was  utterly  untenable,  and  a  vacation  was 
had  until  the  chimney  could  be  cleaned. 

During  the  first  three  decades  of  the  present  century 
the  old  school-houses  were  replaced  by  stone  structures, 
whicli  were  thought  to  be  more  durable  and  handsome. 

The  stone  building  at  Flocktown  was  erected  in  1823, 
that  at  Pleasant  Grove  in  1827,  at  a  cost  of  $150;  the 
one  at  Middle  Valley  in  r8io,  that  at  German  Valley 
in  1830,  th*  at  Schooley's  Mountain  in  1825,  and  the  one 
at  Naughrightville  in   1830. 

The  average  daily  attendance  of  pupils  during  these 
three  decades  was  about  220,  as  follows:  at  Flocktown  40, 
at  Pleasant  Grove  25,  at  Middle  Valley  55,  at  German 
Valley  35,  at  Schooley's  Mountain  35,  at  Naughright- 
ville 30. 

Frame  buildings  have  replaced  the  stone  structures  in 
all  these  districts  with  the  exception  of  German  Valley, 
where  the  school-house  is  the  one  erected  in  1830.  The 
present  frame  school-house  at  Stephensburg  was  elected 
in  1835,  and  the  average  daily  attendance  during  the 
first  ten  years  was  about  28. 

A  log  school-house  was  built  in  the  Fairmount  district 
in  1826,  and  in  1836  the  present  stone  structure,  which, 
as  well  as  the  site  therefor,  was  given  by  Mr.  Philhower 
to  the  district.  The  average  attendance  at  the  log  house 
was  about  18,  and  the  former  attendance  in  the  second 
building  about  25. 

In  the  Unionville  district  a  frame  building  was  erected 
in  1830  and  had  an  average  attendance  of  20  pupils. 
This  building  was  succeeded  in  1872  by  the  present  one. 

The  average  attendance  at  these  schools  for  the  year 
1880  was  as  follows:  Flock  22,  Naughright  36,  German 
Valley  78,  Schooley's  Mountain  43,  Stephensburg  27, 
Pleasant  Grove  21,  Middle  Valley  18,  Philhower  19, 
Unionville  24.  In  1840  there  were  (according  to  the 
Historical  Collections  of  New  Jersey)  15  schools  and  753 
pupils.  In  1880  there  were  9  schools  (public),  724  chil- 
dren between  5  and  18  years  of  age,  587  pupils  enrolled 
on  the  school  register,  and  11  teachers,  of  whom  three 
were  males  and  eight  females.  The  total  amount  of  in- 
come for  the  year  was  $3,137-59,  of  which  all  except 
$149.55  was  used  to  support  the  schools.  The  male 
teachers  received  an  average  monthly  salary  of  $31.72 
and  the  female  of  $30.67.  The  schools  were  kept  open 
for  an  average  period  of  9.6  months. 

Among  the  early  teachers  were    Robert    Caul  or   Call 

George  Phillip, Hurd,  Jacob  Alpaugh,  Caspar  Wack, 

Miss  Brackett,  and  Mr.  Birch  already  mentioned.    Several 


50 


382 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


private  schools  have  existed  in  the  township.  Those  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Taylor  and  Mr.  Hunt  are  noted  elsewhere. 
Rev.  Luke  I.  Stoutenburg  conducted  one  at  Schooley's 
Mountain  for  several  years.  Mr:  Stoutenburg  is  a  gentle- 
man of  much  culture  and  refinement,  and  has  exercised 
a  larg;e  degree  of  influence  for  good  in  the  community 
where  he  has  dwelt. 

The   Stoutenburg  Family 

originally  came  from  the  Hague,  in  Holland,  and  Jaco- 
bus Stouttenburg,  its  first  representative  in  this  country, 
settled  at  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y-,  about  the 
year  1712.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  Teller,  in  1717, 
and  to  them  were  born  eight  children — Tobias,  Peter, 
John,  Jacobus,  Luke,  Anna,  William,' and  Margaret. 
Luke,  the  grandfather  of  Rev.  Mr.  Stoutenburg,  married 
Miss  Rachel  Teller,  and  to  them  were  bojn  also  eight 
children.  Of  these  James  L.  married  Sarah  Morris,  of 
Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  they  were  the  pa- 
rents of  Rev.  Luke  I.  Stoutenburg,  who  was  born  in  Clin- 
ton. The  first  two  generations  of '  Stoutenburgs- were 
large  land  owners  in  Dutchess  county,  and  the  family  has 
always  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  that  locality. 
,  Rev.  L.  I.  Stoutenburg  was  engaged,  after  the  death 
of  his  father  and  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  as  a 
clerk  in  a  dry  goods  house  in  New  York  city,  and  after 
remaining  there  for  two  years  commenced  a  course  of 
study. for  the  ministry,  which  he  completed  after  eight 
years  of  industrious  effort,  and  was  licensed  by  the  New 
York  .Congregational  Association  in  1841.  On  the  even- 
ing after  receiving  his  license  he  commenced  preaching 
to  the  Congregational  church  at  Chester,  Morris  county, 
where' he  continued  his  labors  for  nearly  twenty-seven 
years.  -  After  his  settlement  there  his  congregation  soon 
became  large,  revivals  of  religion  among  his  people  were 
■numerous,  and  large  numbers  were  converted.  Under 
his  ministry  the  old  meeting-house  was  first  repaired,  and 
afterward  replaced  by  the  present  handsome  structure. 
.His  preaching  was  mainly  directed  -against  the  existing 
evils  of  the  community  and  the  natio^n',  especially  against 
intemperance  and  slavery.  He  was  for  eleven  years  the 
superintendent  of  the  public  .schools  of  Chester  town- 
,ship,  a'nd  was  the  projector  and  oneiof  the  main  founders 
,of  the  famous  Chester  Institute,  of  which  he  was  pro-' 
.prietor  and  principal  for  three,  years  after  William 
■Rankin  (the  learned,  cultured,  generous  and  noble- 
hearted  old  gentleman  who  was  the  pioneer  schoolmaster 
of  northern' New  Jersey)  left  it  to  establish  himself  in 
.Mendham  in  1864.  On  account  of  ill  health  Mr.  Stout- 
■.enburg  was  obliged  to  give  up  both  church  and  school, 
and  he  removed  to  Schooley's  Mountain  Springs  for  the 
:improvemenf  of  his  health.  There  he  purchased  the 
Forest  Grove  House  and  esfabli.shed  the  Schooley's 
Mountain  Seminary,  which  under  his  charge  became  one 
of  the  most  successful  and  flourishing  schools  in  the 
State.  A  large  number  of  individuals,  both  ladies,  and! 
gehtlemen,  who,. have  been  educated  under  his  charge 
remember  Mr.  Stoutenburg  with  honor  and  esteem,  both 
as  a  frierid  and  preceptor;  and  although  not  now  engaged 


in  active  labor,  his  life's  work  has  been  one  of  noble 
a;nd  useful  endeavor.  By  his  first  wife.  Miss  Harriet 
E.  Reeve,  daughter  of  David  Reeve,  of  Middletowti, 
N.  Y.,  he  had  four  children — Sarah  Esther,  wife  of  Law- 
rence Hunt,  of  Schooley's  Mountain  Springs:  James 
Emmet,  a  successful  lawyer  of  Passaic,  N.  J.;  Arthur 
Tobias,  a  student  at  Lafayette  College;  and  William 
Franklin,  who  was  professor  in  the  Protestant  College  at 
Beyroot,  Syria. 

Of  the  young  gentleman  last  named,  his  pastor,  the 
Rev.  E.  P.  Lennel,  has  written  the  following  account: 
He  entered  Princeton  College  in  1875,  and  at  once 
gained  a  prominent  position  for  his  high  mental  ability 
and  moral  character,'  and  graduated  in  1879  with  high 
honor.  It  was  his  desire  to  enter  the  Christian  ministry, 
but  Providence  seemed  clearly  to  indicate  another  field. 
The  friends  of  the  Protestant  College  at  Beyroot-were 
then  seeking  a  man  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  faculty  there. 
The  unanimity  with  which  these  and  the  faculty  at 
Princeton  agreed  upon  Mr.  Stoutenburg  as  the  man  for 
the  place  was  highly  complimentary  to  him  and  gratify^ 
ing  to  his  friends.  He  went,  when  he  needed  rest,  to 
fill  a  very  important  and  difficult  position  in  the  Syrian 
College.  That  he  attained  success  and  satisfied  the  hij,h 
expectations  of  his  friends  is  shown  by  the  high  esteem 
in  which  he  was  held  by  all  who  knew  him  at  Beyroot. 
One  of  the  faculty  there  wrote  to  a  member  of  the  family, 
after  it  was  decided  that  he  must  rest  for  a  time:  "  His 
quiet,  genial,  lovable  disposition  has  endeared  him  to  all 
his  associates  and  the  mission  circle  at  Beyroot,  while 
his  talents  and  effici^ency  as  a  scholar  and  instructor 
comnaand  the  respect  of  the  students  and  the  entire  com- 
munity. I  could  almost  -believe  your  brother  a  special 
favorite  of  the  Master,  there  is  so  much  truth  and 
sweetness  in  his  disposition."  He  set  out  on  his  return 
to  this  country  during  the  year  1881,  in  high  spirits  and 
with  bright  hopes  of  meeting  familiar  faces  once  rhore, 
although  somewhat  broken  in  health.  He  was  taken 
violently  sick  on  the  return  voyage,  and  died  and 
was  buried  at  sea  when  but  two  days  out  from  New 
York.  The  first  intelligence  of  the  event  was  received 
by  his  friends  on  the  arrival  of  the  ship,  when  they  were 
waiting  to  welcome  him  home. 

Iron  Mines. 

Judge  Ephraim  Marsh  was  the  first  to  take  an  interest 
in  iron  mining  in  the  township;  he  began  to  develop  the 
vein  on  the  Mine  Hill  farm  as  much  as  fifty  years  ago, 
and  this  mine  was  the  one  chiefly  worked  in  Washington 
untili857.  The  operations,  however,  were  not  extensive, 
and  the  ore  was  carted  to  neighboring  forges  to  be 
worked  up  into  blooms.  At  a  later  day  the  Fisber  mine 
became  prominent  and  in  some  years  it  has  yielded 
as  much  as  r5;ooo  tons  of  ore. 

William  Wallace  Marsh,  son  of  Judge  Marsh,  and  now 
residing  at  Schooley's  Mountain,  has  also  been  largely 
interested  in  the  development  of  the  iron  industry.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  qne,  of  the  directors  of  the 
Thomas  Iron  Company  of  Pennsylvania.  j 


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IRON  MINES  IN  WASHINGTON— TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS 


383 


'I'he  following  extract  from  Gordon's  Gazetteer  of  New 
Jersey  (published  in  1830)  may  prove  interesting  in  this 
connection: 

"  The  first  [ore]  in  a  mine  opened  within  a  gunshot  of 
the  Heath  House  is  highly  magnetic,  so  much  so,  indeed, 
as  to  render  the  use  of  iron  tools. about  it  highly  incon- 
venient. The  following  extraordinary  circumstances  we 
give  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  [Judge]  Marsh.  The  tools 
by  continued  use  become  so  strongly  magnetized  that  in 
boring  the  rock  the  workman  is  unable  after  striking  the 
auger  with  his  hammer  to  separate  them  in  the  usual 
mode  of  wielding  the  hammer,  and  is  compelled  to  resort 
to  a  lateral  or  rotary  motion  for  this  purpose;  and  the 
crowbar  has  been  known  to  sustain  in  suspension  all  the 
other  tools  in  the  mine,  in  weight  equal  to  a  hundred 
pounds.  These  facts  are  supported  by  the  assurance  of 
Gen.  Dickerson  that  the  magnetic  attraction  of  the  tools 
used  in  his  mine  adds  much  to  the  fatigue  of  boring;  and 
that  it  is  of  ordinary  occurrence  for  the  hammer  to  lift 
the  auger  from  the  hold  during  the  process  of  boring." 

The  mines  in  this  township  according  to  the  report  of 
the  State  geologist  for  1880  are  the  Hann,  Hunt  Farm, 
Stoutenburg,  Fisher,  Marsh,  Dickerson,  Hunt,  Lake, 
Naughright,  Sharp,  Rarick,  Hoppler  and  Poole  mines 
producing  magnetic  ores,  and  on  hematite  veins  the 
Neighbour  and  Dufford  mines.  The  two  last  named  are 
in  the  neighborhood  of  German  Valley.  The  Neighbour 
mine,  two  miles  northeast  of  Califon,  sent  its  ore  to  the 
Chester  furnace,  but  it  proved  too  troublesome  on  ac- 
count of  the  zinc  in  it,  of  which  there  was  about  ten  per 
cent.,  besides  nearly  four  per  cent,  of  lead.  The  ore  of 
the  Dufford  mine  was  used  at  th-e  furnace  at  Port  Oram. 

Explorations  made  last  winter  and  spring  in  the  same 
-neighborhood  on  farms  of  Messrs.  Trimmer  by  Isaac 
Hummer,  of  High  Bridge,  discovered  under  drift  from 
five  to  eight  feet  thick  deposits  of  brown  hematite  on 
blue  limestone,  widespread  on  these  farms.  These  dis- 
coveries, together  with  previous  ones,  indicate  a  general 
occurrence  of  these  ores  in  the  valley.  The  older  open- 
ings are  on  the  Fox  Hill  side  of  the  valley,  but  these 
latest  made  are  at  the  foot  of  Schooley's  Mountain. 

Township  Officers. 

Town  Clerks  (records  lost  previous  to  1841). — John 
McCarter,  1841;  Jacob  M.  Hager,  1842-50;  John  T. 
Hoffman,  1851;  Jacob  Welsh  jr.,  1852-57;  David  Karn, 
1858-64;  Edward  Weise,  1869-71;  Lyman  Kice,  1872-7.9; 
Matthias  C.  Welsh,  1880,  1881. 

Assessors. — Jacob  Bird,  1841,  1845-47;  .Peter  Wortman, 
1842-44;  Eliphalet  C.  Willet,  1848-50;  William  Naugh- 
right, i85r-53;  John  C.  Welsh,  1854-56;-  Leonard  G. 
Neighbour,  1857-59;  August  Metier,  1860-62;  John  C. 
Emmons,  1863,  1864;  Jacob  A.  Skinner,  1865;  David  M. 
Young,  1866;  Philip  G.  Stephens,  1867-69;  Edward 
Weise,  1870-72;  Anthony  Trimmer,  1873-75;  P.  S.  Weise, 
1876-78;  Baker  La  Rue,  1879-81. 

Collectors.— ]o\ix\  Naughright,  1841-43;  Jacob  Hann, 
1844-46;  Silas  Walters,  1847-49;  Jesse  Hoffman,  1850-52; 
Jacob  M.  Hager,  1853-55,  Morris  Naughright,  1856-58; 
Philip  S.  Weise,  1859-61;  John  A.  De  Cue,  1862-64;  Si- 
las Neighbour,  1865,  1866;  George  W.  Bunn,  1867-69;  Ja- 
cob C.  Dellicker  jr.,  1870-75;  William  Runyon,  1876-78; 
E.  Dufford,  1879-81. 

Town  Comjnittee. — William  Dellicker,  1841;  William 
Emery  jr.,  1841;  William   Little  jr.,  Jesse  Hoffman,  and 


George  Bunn,  1841-43;  Staats  N.  Weise  and  Lawrence 
Hann,  1842;  Henry  Bfuner,  1843-45,  1849-51,  1855,  1856, 
1861-64;  Isaac  Trimmer,  1843,  1844;  John  Read  jr., 
1844,  1845,  1854,  1857;  George  Dufford  and  Conrad  R.. 
Neighbour,  1844;  William  Hann  3d,  Sylvester  Neigh- 
bour and  John  Frone,  1845,  1846;  Philip  G.  Stephens, 
1846-48;  Peter  Wortman,  1846;  Walter  Thorp,  1847, 
1858;  Andrew  Bay,  1847,  1848,  1857;  Henry  J.  Hoffman, 
1847-50;  John  J.  Crater,  184.7,  1848;  Daniel  Dilts,  1848; 
John  A.  De  Cue,  1849-51,  1873-78;  John  Bilby,  1849; 
David  Crater  jr.,  1849,  1850;  Philip  S.  Weise,  1850,  1852- 
54,  1856-58,  1870-72;  Morris  Naughright,  1851-55,  1859- 
64,  1879-81;  Thomas  Lake,  1851;  William  Rinehart, 
1851-53;  Isaac  Roelofson,  1852-54, 1856, 1859,  i860;  John 
C.  Welsh,  1852,  1853;  David  Karn,  1854;  George  W. 
Bunn,  1855,  1858,  1870-72;  Silas  Walters,  1855-57;  Rob- 
ert M.  Hockenburg,  1855;  John  P.  Sharp,  1856;  John  V. 
Stryker,  1857;  Jacob  Bird,  1858,  1859;  Noah  Hoffman, 
185860;  David  Miller,  1859-64;  John  E.  Tiger,  i860, 
1861;  Frederick  H.  Bryan,  1861,  1862;  Joseph  V.  P. 
Parties,  1862;  John  Rinehart,  1863,  1864;  Sylvester 
Lake,  1863-69;  Samuel  Pickle,  1865-69,  1876-78;  Oba- 
diah  Latourette,  1865-70;  1871-74;  Joseph  H.  Parker, 
186567;  Anthony  Trimmer,  186569;  William  Runyon, 
1868-71;  Elijah  Dufford,  1870-72;  William  Martinas, 
1873-78;  S.  H.  Pickle,  1873-75;  Silas  Neighbour,  1873-81; 
H.  P.  Dufford,  1875-78;  Jacob  H.  Hann,  1879-81. 

■  Commissioners  of  -Appeals. — Aaron  Howell,  1841;  John 
3.  Dufford,  1841;  David  Welsh  3d,  1841;  Lawrence 
Neighbour,  1842;  John  J.  Crater,  1842,  1843;  John  Reed, 
1842,  1843;  Nicholas  McLean,  1843-45;  Silas  Walters, 
1844;  Henry  Kennedy,  1844;  William  Sharp,  1845;  Wil- 
liam Rinehart,  1845-50,  1860-65;  Andrew  Bay,  1846; 
Jacob  Swackhammer,  1846;  William  Sharp,  1847;  Henry 
I.  Hoffman,  1847;  Jacob  Hann,  1848;  George  F.  Crater, 
1848-50;  John  T.  Hoffman,  1849,  1854-57;  Philip  G. 
Stephens,  1850,  1876:  Eliphalet  C.  Willet,  1851-53,  1861, 
1862,  1865,  1877,  1878;  John  Crater,  1851;  Peter  Wort- 
man, 1851,  1852;  John  H.  Weise,  1852;  George  W.  Bunn, 
1853,  1854;  Jacob  W.  Neighbour,  1853:  Augustus  Met- 
ier, 1854-57;  Aaron  Robertson,  1855;  Noah  Hoffman, 
1856-59;  John  Read  jr.,  1858,  1859;  Jacob  Bird,  1858, 
1859,  1861-69;  John  A.  De  Cue,  i860;  J:  V.  P.  Parties, 
1870-75,  1877,  1878;  Obadiah  Latourette,  1870-74; 
Henry  V.  Anderson,  i85o;  Frederick  H.  Bryan,  1863, 
1864;  Henry  Brunner,  1866-69;  Holloway  W.  Hunt, 
1866-72,  1876,  1878;  J.  C.  Dellicker,  1871,  1872;  A.  S. 
Sutton,  1871;  Philip  Schuyler,  1871;  Caspar  P.  Apgar, 
1873,  1874,  1876;  J.  V.  Stryker,  1875;  John  Naughright, 
1875;  William  DelHcker,  1877,  1879-81;  John  C.  Welsh, 
1879-81;  Samuel  Pickle,  1879-81. 

Constables. — Alfred  Kaar,  1841-43,  1845,  1846;  Joseph 
Knight,  1841;  Morris  Weise,  1842;  Philip  H.  Hann, 
1843;  Elias  Howell,  1843;  Christopher  Trimmer,  1844, 
1845;  Jacob  W.  Neighbour,  1844,  1847;  Andrew  Phil- 
hovver,  1844;  George  W.  Bunn,  1845,  1847,  1864,  1867- 
69;  Philip  W.  Swackhammer,  1845;  Philip  S.  Weise,  1846, 
1876-78;  Conrad  R.  Neighbour,  1846;  John  H.  Pace,i846; 
Staats  N.  Weise,  1847;  Barney  C.  Denman,  1847;  William 
T.  Hildebrandt,  1848;  Sylvester  Lake,  1848;  Daniel  Dilts, 
1849;  John  J.  Crater,  1849,  1850;  John  Craft,  1841:  E.  C. 
Willet,  1854-56,  1859;  David  Karn,  1852,  1853;  Jacob 
Cole,  1855,  1857;  William  A.  Miller,  1856;  Augustus 
Metier,  1858;  Israel  Sweazy,  i860,  1861;  James  C. 
Beatty,  1862,  1863;  David  Swackhammer,  1865;  David 
M.  Young,  1866;  Philip  G.  Stephens,  1867-69;  Jacob  C. 
Dellicker,  1870-75;  Edward  Weise,  1870-74;  A.  Trim- 
mer, 1875;  William  Runyon,  1876-80;  E.  Dufford,  1879, 
1880;  Baker  La  Rue,  1879-81;  William  Voorhees,  1880, 
1881;  L.  R.  Shoenheit,  1880,  1881. 

Chosen  Freeholders. — Andrew   Bay,    1841;     John    F. 


384 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Smith,  1841;  Lawrence  Hager,  1842-49;  Jacob  Bird, 
1842-44;  John  Naughright,  1845,  1846,  1850-54,  1865-70; 
William  Dellicker,  1847,  1852,  1855-64,  T867,  1868;  John 
A.  De  Cue,  1853-55,  1857-60;  George  W.  Bunn,  1856, 
1871,  1872;  Eliphalet  C.  Willet,  1861-63,  1873-77;  Fred- 
erick H.  Bryan,  1864-66;  Silas  Neighbour,  1869-72;  Ed- 
ward Weise,  1873-76;  L.  H.  Hunt,  1877-79;  James  An- 
thony, 1878,  1880,  1881. 

Overseers  of  Poor. — William  Naughright,  1846-50; 
David  Karn,  1851-53;  E.  C.  Willet,  1854-59;  Jacob 
Coles,  1857;  Augustus  Metier,  1858;  Israel  Sweazy, 
i860,  1861;  James  C.  Beatty,  1862,  1863;  George  W. 
Bunn,  1864,  1867-69;  David  Swackhammer,  1865;  Fred- 
erick Swackhammer,  1866;  Jacob  C.  Dellicker,  1870-75; 
William  Runyon,  1876-80;  Baker  La  Rue,  1881. 

School  Commissioners. — Holloway  W.  Hunt,  1841-46; 
William  Dellicker,  1841-45;  James  Scott,  1841,  1842;  R. 
G.  Vermilye,  1843-45;  John  J.  Crater,  1846. 

School  Superintendents. — Rev.  James  H.  Mason  Knox, 
1847,  1848;  John  F.  Edwards,  1849;  FredericTk  Dellicker, 
1850-52;  Garret  Van  Artsdalen,  1853,  1854;  Theodore 
Naughright,  1855-64;  Holloway  W.  Hunt,  1865,  1866. 

CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  GERMAN  VALLEY. 

For  our  account  of  this  church  we  are  indebted  to  the 
late  pastor,  the  Rev.  A.  Hiller. 

This  is  probably  the  oldest  church  organization  in  the 
township  and  is  the  only  Lutheran  church  in  the  county. 
It  does  not  appear  that  the   early    settlers    brought   any 
ministers  with  them  to  this  country;  neither  is  it  likely 
that   they    had  any  settled   pastors  for  many  years  after 
their  arrival.     The  Lutherans  were  probably  visited  from 
time  to  time  by  missionaries  sent  out  from  Hamburg  and 
Holland  as   early   as   1730.      We  have  information  that 
John  Augustus  Wolf,  A.  M.,  of  Lobeglen,  was  ordained 
at  Hamburg  and  sent  as   missionary   to  the   province  of 
New  Jersey  in  the  year  1734.     The  Lutheran  church  in 
the   Valley  for    many  years    formed    a   part   of   the    or- 
ganization   called   Zion   Church    at    Germantown,  Hun- 
terdon county,  eight   miles   distant.     The    pastors  lived 
there   and   preached   here    every    third    or   fourth  Sun- 
day.    There  is  a  tradition  that   the    first   church    edifice 
was   built  of  logs,  and  that   it  stood  on  or  near  the  site 
of  the  old  stone  church,  the  walls  of  which  are  still  stand- 
ing.      This    church   was   built  by  the  Lutherans  and  the 
German  Reformed   people,  probably    as    early    as   1747. 
The  old  stone  church  referred  to  above  was  also  built  by 
the  two    congregations    as    a  union  church,  in  the  year 
1774.     The  walls  are  still  standing,  and  with  proper  care 
will    continue  to    stand   for  another  century.     The  con- 
struction of  this  church  is  peculiar,  and  differs  materially 
from  the  style  of  church  architecture  of  to-day.       It  has 
no  steeple  and  no  gable  ends,  the  roof  sloping  down  to 
the  walls  on  the  four  sides.     There  are  two  rows  of  win- 
dows on  each  side  and  there  is  no  chimney.      Over  the 
little  pulpit  box  which  stood  on  one  leg  against  the  north 
side   of    the    audience    room    was    suspended    a    great 
"  sounding  board,"  and  there  were  galleries  on  three  sides 
of  the  church. 

First  among  the  early  Lutheran  ministers  who  preached 
here  was  the  Rev.  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg,  D.  D., 


known  as  the  "father  of  American  Lutheranism,"  a  man 
of  great   learning   and   deep  piety.     Besides  his  knowl- 
edge of   Greek  and  Hebrew  he  spoke   English,  German, 
Dutch,  French,  Latin  and  Swedish.     He  visited  the  dif- 
ferent German  settlements   throughout  the  country   and 
organized    the  scattered   Lutherans,   and  afterward  saw 
that    they    were   provided    with    pastors.     He  was  here 
as  early  as  1745.     In  March  1746  Rev.  John   Kurtz  was 
sent  here  for  a  season   "to   collect  the   scattered   flocks 
and   instruct   the    young."      In    1748   Rev.   John  Chris- 
topher Hartwick,  the  founder  of  Hartwick  Seminary,  N. 
Y.,  look  charge  of  the  congregation,  but  remained  only  a 
short  time,  when  he  accepted   a  call  to  New  York  city. 
He  was  followed  in  1749  by  the  Rev.  John  Albert  Wey- 
gand,  who  was  ordained  as  the  regular  preacher  of  this 
charge  on  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent,   1750.     Mr.  Wey- 
gand   was    succeeded    in    1753   by    Pastor    Schenck,    of 
whose  labors  we  have  no  further  information.     The   lat- 
ter was  followed  by   the   Rev.   Dr.   H.  M.  Muhlenberg, 
who  had  frequently  visited   this  field  before  and  exer- 
cised a  sort  of  presiding  eldership  over  it.     He  was  pas- 
tor here  from  the  3d  of  June  1759  until  the  2nd  of   May 
1760.     Dr.    Muhlenberg   was  followed   in   1760  by    the 
Rev.  Paul  D.  Brizelius,  a  Swede  by  birth,  who  had  re- 
cently  been    licensed    "  by    the    Synod  of   the    United 
American  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Swedish  and  German 
Nations."     It  was  during  his  pastorate  that  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  organized  the  congregation  at  German  Val- 
ley.    In  1767    Pastor  Brizelius  accepted  a  call   to  Nova 
Scotia  and   was   succeeded   by    the   Rev.    Peter  Gabriel 
Muhlenberg,     the     eldest     son     of    Dr.     Muhlenberg, 
who,  having  finished  his  studies   at  Halle,  in  Germany, 
had  recently  returned  to  America.     He  was  settled  here 
February    5th    1769.     In    1772    he    accepted   a   call    to 
Woodstock,    Va.     The   American    Revolution    breaking 
out  soon  after   he   earnestly    espoused   the  cause  of  the 
colonists   and  joined    the  army,  accepting  from  General 
Washington    a   colonel's    commission.       He    raised    the 
Eighth  regiment,  300  men  enlisting  from  his  own  congre- 
gations.    He  remained  in  the  army  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  at  which  time  he  occupied  the  honored  position  of 
major  general.     He  never  returned  to  the  ministry.     He 
was   succeeded    as    pastor    here    by    his   brother  Henry 
Ernst  Muhlenberg,  who  came  here  as  assistant  pastor  to 
his  father,  who  still  had  the  supervision  of  the  church  in 
the  year  1773.     He   styles   himself    "deputy   rector  of 
Zion."     It  was  during   his   ministry  that  the    old  stone 
church  was  built.     He  was    succeeded   in  July  1775  by 
the  Rev.  William  Graaf,  who  was  a  native  of  Leinengen 
in  the  southwestern   part  of  Germany.  He  pursued  his 
theological  studies  at  Geissen,  in  Hesse  Darmstadt.     He 
is  described  as  a    "  learned   and    pious   minister  of  the 
gospel,  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  and 
a  kind  and  indulgent  parent."     He  was  pastor  here  until 
his  death,  in    1809.     During   his  ministry  the  Lutheran 
church  at  Spruce  Run  was  organized.     He  was  succeed- 
ed August  31st  1809  by  the   Rev.  Earnest  Lewis  Hazel- 
ius,  D.  D.,  who,  besides  preaching  to  three  congregations 
from  nine  to  sixteen  miles  apart,  successfully  conducted 


CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


3^5 


a  classical  academy.  In  the  year  1815  he  was  elected 
professor  of  Christian  theology  and  principal  of  the 
classical  department  of  Hartwick  Seminary,  N.  Y.,  and 
immediately  entered  upon  the  work  assigned  him.  He 
was  succeeded  August  5th  1816  by  the  Rev.  David  Hen- 
dricks, a  graduate  of  Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y., 
and  who  had  studied  theology  under  the  direction  of  the 
Rev.  Frederick  Mayer,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Hendricks 
was  succeeded  August  iSth  1822  by  the  Rev.  Henry 
Newnien  Pohlman,  D.  D.,  who  was  pastor  here  twenty- 
one  years.  During  his  pastorate,  in  the  winter  of  1839- 
40,  a  remarkable  revival  occurred  in  the  church  at  New 
Germantown.  Over  200  were  converted,  of  whom  140 
joined  the  associated  churches. 

Dr.  Pohlman,  having  accepted  a  call  to  a  church  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  was  succeeded  here  November  loth  1843 
by  the  Rev.  James  R.  Keiser.  During  his  ministry  a 
separation  took  place  between  the  old  mother  church  at 
New  Germantown  and  the  church  at  German  Valley. 
The  first  resident  pastor  here  was  the  Rev.  Ephraim 
Deyoe,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Keiser  in  Nevember  1846. 
During  his  ministry  the  parsonage  was  built.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  Hiller,  September  gth  1858.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Killer's  ministry  the  church  and  parsonage  were 
rebuilt.  In  188 1  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  be 
professor  of  systematic  theology  in  the  Hartwick  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  N.  Y.,  to  enter  upon  his  labors  there 
about  the  middle  of  September  1881,  which  completed 
the  twenty-third  year  of  his  ministry  in  German  Valley. 

GERMAN  REFORMED  AND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  GERMAN 
VALLEY. 

The  following  account  is  mainly  condensed  or  copied 
from  a  most  valuable  "  Historical  Sketch  of  the  German 
Reformed  and  Presbyterian  Church  of  German  Valley, 
delivered  on  the  dedication  of  the  church  edifice,  April 
28th  1870,  by  Rev.  I.  Alstyne  Blauvelt."  We  trust  this 
acknowledgment  will  excuse  the  absence  of  quotation 
marks  or  further  notice  of  this  source  of  information. 

To  the  German  immigrants  who  had  left  their  father- 
land to  obtain  greater  religious  freedom  on  the  shores  of 
America  as  related  on  page  376  a  church  and  a  minister 
were  necessities.  After  clearings  had  been  made  and 
rude  log  houses  had  been  constructed  to  provide  them 
shelter  the  new-comers  set  to  work  to  build  a  log  church, 
which  is  said  to  have  been  located  near  the  spot  where 
the  ruins  of  the  old  stone  church  now  stand.  In  what 
manner  services  in  this  edifice  were  conducted,  or 
whether  a  regular  minister  accompanied  the  band  in 
their  exile,  or  whether  they  procured  one  soon  after  their 
arrival  ip  the  new  country,  is  likely  to  remain  always  a 
matter  of  conjecture;  certain  it  is,  however,  that  the  first 
minister  to  this  community  of  whom  we  have  any  knowl- 
edge from  record  or  tradition  was  the  Rev.  Michael 
Schlatter.  He  was.  sent  out  by  the  synods  of  North  and 
South  Holland,  as  a  sort  of  missionary  and  superinten- 
dent, "  to  visit  the  various  German  settlements,  organize 
churches,  preach  the  gospel,  administer  the  sacraments, 
prepare  the  way  for   the   settlement   of    ministers   who 


might  be  sent  from  the  old  country,  and  take  the  general 
oversight  of  the  churches."  He  was  a  regularly  edu- 
cated minister,  and  well  qualified  for  the  duties  imposed 
upon  him.  He  sailed  for  America  on  the  1st  of  June 
1746,  and  landed  in  Boston  in  August  of  that  year.  He 
went  from  Boston  to  New  York,  and  afterward  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  became  pastor  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church  of  that  place  in  connection  with  one  at 
Germantown.     In  his  journal  he  writes: 

"  When  I  arrived  safely  at  home  on  the  3d  [of  July 
1747]  I  found  a  very  earnest  and  moving  letter  written 
by  several  congregations  in  the  province  of  New  Jersey, 
namely  at  Rockaway  [now  Lebanon],  German  Valley, 
Fox  Hill  and  Amwell,  in  the  region  of  the  Raritan,  dis- 
tant about  seventy  miles  from  Philadelphia.  They  urge 
me,  with  the  strongest  motives,  yea  they  pray  me,  for 
God's  sake,  to  pay  them  a  visit  that  I  may  administer  to 
them  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  by  baptism  incorporate 
their  children  in  the  church,  who  have  already,  during 
three  or  more  years,  remained  without  baptism."  And 
again:  "  On  the  13th  I  undertook  the  journey  to  the 
three  congregations  in  New  Jersey,  from  which  I  had, 
on  the  3d  of  July,  received  a  most  friendly  and  pressing 
invitation  to  meet  them.  On  the  14th,  after  a  journey  of 
sixty  miles,  I  came  to  Rockaway  [Lebanon].  Here  I  re- 
ceived twenty  young  persons  into  the  church  after  they 
had  made  a  profession  of  their  faith;  preached  aprepara- 
tory  sermon  on  the  x5th  and  on  the  following  day  ad- 
ministered the  Holy  Supper  in  a  small  church  to  an 
attentive  and  reverent  assembly.  In  the  afternoon  I 
went  to  Fox  Hill,  where  I  preached  a  preparatory  ser- 
mon, and  on  the  following  day,  which  was  the  i8th,  I 
administered  the  Holy  Supper  to  forty  members.  After 
I  had  performed  this  solemn  service  to  the  great  edifica- 
tion of  the  congregation,  and  yet  in  each  place  preached 
a  thanksgiving  sermon  after  the  communion,  I  returned 
again  to  Philadelphia  on  the  20th,  joyful  in  heart  and 
giving  thanks  to  God  for  the  support  which  he  had  ren- 
dered me.  I  cannot  refrain  from  referring  briefly  to  the 
fact  that  those  three  congregations,  from  gratitude  for 
the  service  I  had  rendered  them,  handed  me  a  pecuniary 
reward,  the  first  money  which  since  my  arrival  in  Amer- 
ica up  to  this  time  I  have  received  for  my  labor  and 
pains." 

It  was  about  three  years  longer  before  a  pastor  was  se- 
cured for  the  church,  or  rather  the  two  churches  of  Ger- 
man Valley  and  Rockaway,  and  even  then  their  minis- 
trant  had  not  been  ordained.  His  name  was  John  Con- 
rad Wirts,  and  he  was  a  native  of  Zurich,  Switzerland. 
It  is  not  known  when  he  came  to  this  country,  but  he 
had  preached  for  some  time  previous  at  Easton,  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 

An  interregnum  of  a  number  of  years  followed  the 
departure  of  Mr.  Wirts  in  1792.  During  that  time  it  is 
thought  Rev.  Caspar  Michael  Stapel  held  occasional 
services  at  the  Valley,  but  he  was  located  at  Amwell,  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Hunterdon  county.  His  successor 
in  that  place  was  Rev.  John  Wesley  Gilbert  Nevelling, 
who  is  also  supposed  to  have  preached  to  the  community 
at  German  Valley.  One  incident  connected  with  this 
gentleman  has  come  down  to  us  through  the  mist  and 
smoke  of  years.  He  had  a  habit,  most  unfortunately  for 
himself,  of  smoking,  and  while  he  was  riding  on  horse- 
back with  his  pipe  in  his  mouth  his  horse  stumbled    and 


386 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


fell,  and  the  pipe  stem  was  driven  into  the  rider's  tliroat, 
inflicting  such  a  wound  as  ever  after  to  disable  him  from 
preaching. 

It  was  the  year  1768  before  another  regular  pastor  was 
installed  in  the  charge  of  the  church  at  the  Valley.  His 
name  was  Frederick  Dalliker.  At  first  his  charge  con- 
sisted of  the  churches  of  Rockaway,  Alexandria,  German 
Valley'and  Foxenburg  or  Fox  Hill,  at  which  latter  place 
a  separate  church  was  started  about  this  time.  A  new 
church  was  built  about  the  year  1776.  The  congrega- 
tions were  composed  of  Lutherans  or  Presbyterians  and 
the  Reformed  sect.  Before  building,  articles  of  agree- 
ment were  drawn  up  and  signed  by  the  representatives  of 
the  two  churches.  The  original  paper  was  in  German, 
and  the  following  translation  was  made  in  181 7  by  Rev. 
Caspar  Wack: 

"Whereas  we  the  members  of  the  Evangelical  Re- 
formed Congregation,  and  we  the  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Congregation,  who  by  reason  of  the 
preachen  which  we  have  with  Germantown,  by  reason  of 
the  money  expended  for  the  church  and  parsonage  house 
are  members  of  Zion's  church,  living  in  the  Dutch  Val- 
ley, Roxbury  township,  Morris  county,  are  willing  to  build 
a  meeting-house  jointly; 

"Be  it  hereby  known  to  all  men  that  the  following  con- 
ditions were  agreed  to  by  the  subscribers,  representing 
both  congregations,  viz.: 

"  I.  Both  parties  have  agreed  to  build  the  meeting- 
house at  their  united  expenses,  so  that  none  of  the  parties 
may  throw  up  anything  to  the  other. 

"  II.  As  the  church  is  built  jointly,  so  it  shall  be  kept 
by  our  posterity  jointly;  the  friendship  of  both  congre- 
gations giving  us  hope  that  in  case  of  the  necessary  re- 
pairs of  the  meeting-house  the  weaker  party  will  be  sup- 
ported by  the  stronger. 

"  III.  Both  parties  with  respect  .to  public  worship 
shall  have  an  equal  right;  in  case  both  preachers  should 
meet  together,  then  alternately  the  one  must  wait  till 
twelve  o'clock  on  the  service  of  the  other. 

"  IV.  For  the  good  of  both  congregations  none  shall 
be  permitted  to  preach  but  such  as  are  under  a  regular 
church  government. 

"  V.  Whereas,  we  do  not  only  concern  ourselves  for 
ourselves,  but  for  our  posterity  also,  it  is  our  will  and 
opinion  that  none  of  the  parties  shall  or  can  sell  their 
right  in  any  way  or  manner. 

"Acted  the  4th  day  of  February  1784,  which  is  testi- 
fied to  by  Frederick  Dalliker,  V.  D.  M.;  Henry  Muhlen- 
berg jr.,  deputy  rector  of  Zion's  corporation;  Wilhelm 
Welsch,  Diedric  Strubel,  Conrad  Rorick,  Caspar  Eick, 
Anthon  Waldorf,  Adam  Lorenz,  Philip  Weise,  Christo 
))her  Karn,  Leonard  Neighbour,  Roulof  Roulofson,  John 
Schwackhammer,  Andrew  Flucky." 

It  was  customary  in  those  days  and  for  some  time 
afterward  to  help  along  public  works  by  means  of  a  bee, 
or  gathering  of  the  good  folks  of  the  vicinage,  and  thus 
save  the  contractor's  bill.  Perhaps  all  of  the  early  school- 
houses  and  churches  built  in  the  township  were  com- 
menced in  this  manner;  certainly  several  of  them  were. 
At  all  events  there  was  a  very  lively  bee  on  this  occasion. 
To  stimulate  the  energies  of  all  it  had  been  decreed  that 
the  horses  of  him  who  brought  the  first  load  should 
be  decorated  with  flags  and  ribbons  as  a  testimonial  of 
high  honor.     There  was  much  excitement  on   the  sub- 


ject, and  each  one  determined  if  possible  to  secure  the 
prize.  Judge  David  Welsh,  who  lived  on  the  ground 
where  David  the  fourth  now  resides,  determined  to  try  a 
little  strategy.  Accordingly,  the  evening  before,  he  se- 
cretly loaded  his  wagon  with  stone  and  then  concealed  it 
through  the  night.  In  the  morning  he  was  up  betimes, 
had  his  horses  harnessed,  and  started  for  the  ground  be- 
fore sunrise.  But  he  was  none  too  early,  for  as  he  drove 
up  to  the  spot  he  heard  the  heavy  wagons  thundering 
down  the  mountains  on  both  sides;  although  he  won  the 
prize  of  the  decorations  he  was  but  little  in  advance  of 
many  others,  and  before  he  could  get  his  wagon  unloaded 
all  German  Valley  was  on  the  ground. 

Mr.  Dalliker  remained  pastor  of  the  church  until 
1782,  when  a  call  was  given  to  Rev.  Caspar  Wack,  who 
accepted  it  (probably  in  that  year),  after  some  objection 
on  his  part  and  insistance  on  the  part  of  the  congrega- 
tion. A  call  still  extant  is  dated  1786,  and  is  addressed 
to  C.  Wack  "  present  preacher  of  the  Valley  and  Fox 
Hill  congregations."  He  perhaps  did  not  labor  at  Rock- 
away  till  1786. 

Mr.  Wack  was  the  first  young  man  born  in  America 
who  entered  the  ministry  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  and  he  was  the  first  man  ever  ordained  by  that 
church  in  this  country.  In  connection  with  preaching 
he  carried  on  the  business  of  farming,  on  lands  afterward 
included  in  the  farms  of  John  Swackhammer  and  John 
Creger.  He  taught  a  singing  school,  attended  to  the 
management  of  an  oil-mill,  conducted  a  fulling-mill, 
gave  the  instruction  in  a  day  school,  baptized  the  infants, 
married  the  young,  buried  the  aged,  on  Sundays  preached 
to  the  congregations  of  German  Valley,  Fox  Hill,  Rock- 
away,  Stillwater,  Knowlton,  and  Sussex  Court-house,  and 
made  money. 

The  following  anecdotes  are  related  of  him:  When  he 
first  came  to  the  Valley  the  church  services  were  con- 
ducted in  German,  a  custom  which  he  followed  but  for  a 
time.  A  certain  army  officer  happening  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  understanding  that  Mr.  Wack  preached  in 
German,  went  to  hear  him  on  an  occasion  when  his  dis- 
course was  in  English;  after  which  he  made  the  remark 
that  he  never  knew  before  that  German  was  so  like  Eng- 
lish, and  that  he  could  understand  a  great  deal  of  what 
Mr.  Wack  said.  A  Universalist  preacher,  once  attempt- 
ing to  dispute  with  him,  affirmed  that  his  doctrine  was  an 
old  one— that  it  was  preached  in  Paradise;  meaning  to 
claim  that  the  promise  that  the  seed  of  the  woman  should 
bruise  the  serpent's  head  was  a  proof  of  the  doctrine  of 
universal  salvation.  Mr.  Wack  replied:  "  Yes,  your  doc- 
trine was  preached  in  Paradise,  and  the  devil  preached 
it;  his  text  was  '  Ye  shall  not  surely  die.'  " 

While  Mr.  Wack  was  on  one  of  his  long  rides  a  young 
man  asked  and  received  permission  to  ride  behind  him 
on  his  horse.  The  young  man  was.  one  whose  life  was  a 
great  way  from  the  teachings  both  of  law  and  gospel, 
and  when  he  was  seated  on  the  parson's  horse  Mr.  Wack 
gave  him  such  an  amount  of  wholesome  admonition  that 
he  afterward  declared  it  to  be  the  hardest  ride  that  he 
ever  took. 


PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


387 


Mr.  Wack  remained  in  this  charge  twenty-seven  years, 
during  which  time  ninety-eight  persons  were  confirmed 
as  communicants.  He  left  the  Valley  in  1809,  after 
which  the  church  was  vacant  four  years. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Wack  was  Rev.  Jacob  R.  Cast- 
ner,  whose  ministry  lasted  until  1820.  He  lived  in  a 
house  which  is  still  standing,  though  greatly  enlarged — 
the  house  where  Lawrence  Hager  lived  and  died.  The 
ecclesiastical  connection  of  the  congregation  had  been 
with  the  German  Reformed  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  until 
1 8 13,  when  it  made  application  to  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  to  be  taken  under  its  care;  and  beginning 
with  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Castner  it  became  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  German  Valley.  This  was  due  largely 
to  the  fact  that  its  previous  connection  had  been  with  a 
body  too  far  away  for  it  to  receive  proper  sympathy  and 
care  therefrom.  Mr.  Castner  was  a  very  urgent  advocate 
of  propriety  in  manners  and  life,  and  denounced  with 
great  vigor  the  very  common  sin  of  Sabbath-breaking, 
as  well  as  other  misdemeanors  of  a  religious,  or  perhaps 
sacrilegious,  nature,  to  which  some  of  his  parishioners 
were  addicted.  So  stinging  was  his  language  in  rebuk- 
ing sin  and  sinners  that  he  gained  q^uite  a  character  for 
invective,  which  virtue,  however,  was  not  always  de- 
scribed by  that  name,  as  witness  the  following: 

One  of  his  parishioners  represented  to  him  that  he 
had  several  daughters,  who  were  fair  to  look  upon,  and 
possessed  moreover  of  such  charms  and  virtues  as  to  ex- 
cite the  admiration  of  all  the  young  men  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. They  accordingly  had  many  suitors,  but  of 
course  the  fair  damsels  could  not  smile  on  all.  As  a 
consequence  the  rejected  admirers  were  very  angry,  and 
were  in  the  habit  of  venting  their  displeasure  by  unhang- 
ing the  old  gentleman's  gates,  stealing  the  bolts  and 
linchpins  out  of  his  wagons,  and  committing  many  other 
depredations  of  a  very  annoying  character.  Mr.  Castner 
expressed  his  sympathy  for  his  friend,  who  had  come  to 
ask  his  assistance,  but  remarked  that  he  did  not  exactly 
see  how  he  could  help  him.  "  Vy,"  said  the  man,  "  you 
'pints  meetin'  to  my  house.  De  boys  will  all  come;  dey 
wants  to  see  de  gals.  Den,  ven  you  gits  'em  dare,  you 
zhust  give  'em  von  real  goot  blagarden.  Dey  say  you's 
goot  at  it." 

During  Mr.  Castner's  pastorate  the  first  Sabbath-school 
was  organized  in  the  township,  in  1816.  He  served  the 
three  churches  of  German  Valley,  Fairmount  and  Ches- 
ter. 

John  C.  Vandervoort  was  pastor  from  1820  to  1828. 
Mancius  S.  Hutton  was  pastor  from  1828  to  1834.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  the  present  church  edifice  was  erected 
on  a  lot  given  by  Lawrence  Hager  and  Mr.  Swackham- 
mer.  It  was  then  esteemed  a  marvel  of  beauty,  and  still 
holds  a  front  rank  among  country  churches  for  comfort, 
neatness,  and  taste  in  furnishing.  James  Scott  was  pas- 
tor from  1834  to  1843,  and  was  the  first  who  had  no 
other  pastoral  care  than  the  church  at  German  Valley. 
Robert  G.  Vermilye  was  pastor  from  1843  to  1846,  and 
James  H.  Mason  Knox  from  1846  to  1851.  During  his 
pastorate  a  parochial  school  was    organized,  by  aid  from 


the  board  of  education.  This  school  has  made  a  deep 
and  lasting  impression  upon  the  moral  as  well  as  intellec- 
tual condition  of  the  community.  Garret  Van  Artsdalen 
was  pastor  from  185 1  to  1854,  and  William  R.  Glen  from 
1868  to  1874.  During  Mr.  Glen's  pastorate  the  church 
edifice  was  enlarged  and  refurnished.  A  large  colony 
was  also  sent  out  to  form  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Lower  Valley. 

Edward  P.  Lennel  became  pastor  in  1874  and  still  re- 
mains in  charge.  To  him  we  are  indebted  for  the  his- 
tory of  the  church  from  the  close  of  Mr.  Wack's  pastor- 
ate. 

The  church  has  ever  been  noted  for  its  Christian  unity 
and  its  large-hearted  support  of  its  ministry,  and  has  ever 
been  influential  for  good  in  a  large  region  of  country. 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH     AT    PLEASANT    GROVE. 

The  stone  church  at  Pleasant  Grove  was  built  between 
1803  and  1807.  It  is  possible  that  the  latter  year  is  the 
date  of  its  completion,  and  that  it  was  more  than  one 
year  in  course  of  construction.  There  is  a  tradition, 
however,  to  the  effect  that  a  log  house  of  worship  pre- 
ceded the  erection  of  the  stone  church,  both  standing  on 
the  site  where  the  present  one  is.  The  church  com- 
munity was  organized  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  and  the  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Joseph  Campbell,  who  left  the  principalship  of  the  pre- 
paratory school  at  Princeton  to  commence  his  labors  at 
the  Grove  church  in  1809.  None  of  the  early  records  of 
the  church  are  preserved,  and  it  is  only  from  1833 
that  the  names  of  the  ofiScers,  and  other  matters  con- 
nected with  the  organization,  can  be  learned.  Dr. 
Campbell  continued  to  minister  to  the  churth  until  Oc- 
tober 1830,  and  from  that  time  until  October  1833  there 
seems  to  have  been  no  settled  pastor. 

In  1833  the  Rev.  H.  Whitefield  Hunt  jr.  was  installed 
as  pastor.  The  elders  at  that  time  were  Conrad  Hon- 
ness,  Samuel  Stephens,  Peter  Lance,  James  Hance,  John 
Lance  and  John  Lindaberry.  Mr.  Hunt  was  a  man  of 
much  ability  and  exercised  a  commanding  influence  in 
the  community  where  he  was  called  to  labor.  He  was 
born  at  Sparta,  in  Sussex  county,  in  1799.  He  was  pre- 
pared for  college  under  Dr.  Findley  at  Basking  Ridge, 
and  graduated  from  Princeton  in  1820.  He  was  converted 
in  early  life,  and  for  a  time  previous  to  his  college  course 
assisted  Rev.  I.  Tyler  in  his  classical  school  at  Trenton. 
After  graduation  he  conducted  the  Trenton  Academy. 
He  was  licensed  as  an  evangelist  previous  to  his  gradua- 
tion from  the  Princeton  seminary,  and  in  1823  made  a 
missionary  tour  throughout  the  State  of  New  York.  He 
was  ordained  by  the  presbytery  at  Newton  in  1823  as  a 
colleague  of  his  father  in  the  church  at  Alexandria, 
where  he  remained  until  1826.  In  May  of  that  year  he 
opened  a  classical  school  at  Schooley's  Mountain,  which 
he  continued  for  about  five  years.  In  1831  he  became  a 
stated  supply  at  Pleasant  Grove,  Danville  and  Stanhope, 
and  he  was  installed  as  pastor  at  Pleasant  Grove  in  1832, 
and  at  the  2nd  Mansfield  in  1857,  in  both  of  which 
churches  he  continued   until   i860.     His  pastorate   at 


388 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


Pleasant   Grove    consequently    continued    twenty-eight 
years. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  succeeded  in  1861  by  the  Rev.  G.  Lane, 
who  remained  but  two  years  in  charge  of  the  church, 
and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Clark 
(1863-69).  Mr.  Clark  was  fond  of  gardening  and  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  signalized  his  pastorate  by  planting 
fine  orchards  of  apple,  pear  and  peach  trees  in  the 
parsonage  grounds;  an  industry  of  which  his  successors 
still  reap  the  fruits. 

The  pastorate  was  filled  from  1870  to  1872  by  the  Rev. 
M.  Ayres  Depue,  and  from  1872  to- 1876  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Sawyer.  In  the  latter  year  the  Rev.  Burtis  C.  Megie,  D. 
D.,  was  installed. 

Dr.  Megie  had  previously  been  in  charge  of  ihe  church 
at  Dover,  during  a  period  of  thirty-eight  years.  His 
original  progenitor  in  this  country  was  JohnlVIegie,  who 
came  from  Scotland  to  Perth  Amboy  in  1685.  His  son 
was  Joseph.  Joseph  had  sons,  among  whom  were  Joseph 
and  Michael.  Michael  was  the  father  of  Rev  Dr.  David 
Megie  of  Elizabeth,  and  grandfather  of  Judge  William 
Megie,  of  Elizabeth,  and  Rev.  Dr.  David  Megie  of  Pat- 
terson. Joseph  was  the  father  of  Daniel  H.  Megie,  of 
New  York  city,  and  grandfather  of  Rev.  B.  C.  Megie, 
D.  D.,  of  Pleasant  Grove,  Rev.  Daniel  E.  Megie,  of 
Boonton,  and  Rev.  William  H.  Megie,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  following  figures  show  the  number  of  communi- 
cants connected  with  the  church  since  the  year  1830: 
There  were  when  Dr.  Campbell  left,  in  1830,  83  commu- 
nicants; added  durirrg  the  pastorate  of  H.  \V.  Hunt,  223; 
of  G.  Lane,  14;  of  Mr.  Clark,  57;  of  Mr.  Depue,  16;  of 
Mr.  Sawyer,  100;  added  up  to  1879,  63;  total,  556. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  built  in  1857,  and  is  a 
handsome  and  commodious  frame  structure.  In  the 
graveyard  in  which  it  is  situated  there  are  no  stones  of 
very  great  antiquity,  but  the  cemetery  is  remarkable  for 
the  great  length  of  days  to  which  those  who  have  been 
buried  in  it  had  attained.  Perhaps  a  third  of  the  stones 
mark  the  resting  places  of  persons  of  over  seventy  years 
of  age;  several  of  those  who  rest  beneath  them  reached 
the  age  of  ninety  years  and  upward,  and  one  a  hundred. 

One  monument  in  this  inclosure,  a  plain  slab  of  mar- 
ble, is  remarkable  for  a  daguerreotype  fixed  in  it.  It  is 
the  picture  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Louisa  Dorland,  wife  of 
Rev.  Jacob  S.  Harden,  and  who  was  poisoned  by  him  in 
the  most  deliberate  and  cruel  manner.  The  event,  which 
occurred  in  1859  (in  another  county,  however),  created 
intense  excitement  throughout  all  this  portion  of  the 
State.     Harden  was  hanged  at  Belvidere  in  i860. 

Rev.  Dr.  Spencer  H.  Cone,  pastor  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  of  New  York  city,  is  buried  here. 

THE     METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH    OF    DRAKESTOWN. 

The  church  edifice  is  located  in  Washington  township, 
near  the  northwest  boundary  of  Mount  Olive.  We  can- 
not ascertain  the  exact  period  when  the  itinerant  preach- 
ers first  appeared  in  this  neighborhood,  or  when  the  first 
society  was  organized,  or  the  names  or  number  of  origi- 
nal members.  For  many  years  the  meetings  were  held  in 
the  stone  school'  house  on  the  main  road  leading  from 
Hackettstown  to  Flanders.  The  old  building  is  still  oc- 
cupied as  a  district  school-house. 

A  list  of  the  ministers  appointed  by  the  Philadelphia, 
New  Jersey  and  New  York  annual  conferences  to  preach 
at  this  place  is  as  follows: 


181 1,  David  Bartine  sen.  and  Manning  Force;  1812, 
David  Bartine  sen.  and  Charles  Read;  1813,  Sylvester 
Hill  and  George  Banghart;  1814,  James  Moore  and  Ben- 
jamin Collins;  1815,  John  Finley  and  Anthony  Atwood; 
1816-48,  William  Ogden,  James  Long,  John  K.  Shaw, 
George  F.  Brown,  Abraham  Gearhart,  Francis  A.  Mon- 
ell,  William  Wiggins,  Warren  C.  Nelson,  Curtis  Talley, 
Edward  Saunders,  Joseph  G.  Chattle,  Edmund  Hance, 
Benjamin  Kelly,  George  Winsor,  Abraham  Owen,  Sam- 
uel Jacquett,  Crooks  S.  Vancleve,  William  M.  Bur- 
roughs, Josiah  Canfield,  T.  T.  Canfield,  Caleb  Lippen- 
cott,  Swaim  Thackaray,  Robert  Sutcliff;  John  S.  Coit 
(appointed  to  the  charge  in  1854);  John  B.  Heward, 
1856,  1857;  E.  W.  Adams,  1858,  1859;  G.  B.  Jackson, 
i860;  William  C.  Nelson,  1861,  1862;  John  L.  Hays, 
1863,  1864;  Richard  Thomas.  1865,  1866;  H.  Trum- 
bower,  1867;  S.  P.  Lacey,  1868,  1869;  Thomas  Raw- 
lings,  1870-72;  J.  H.  Hartpence,  1873;  S.  K.  Doolittle, 
1874-76;  G.  F.  Apgar.  1877-79;  D.  E.  Frambes,  1880, 
1881. 

The  membership  at  the  present  time  is  90.  The  Sab- 
bath-school is  in  a  prosperous,  condition;  Mr.  Young 
is  the  superintendent.  There  is  an  average  attendance 
of  about  50  scholars.  The  school  is  kept  up  through  the 
year.  There  are  about  250  volumes  in  the  library.  In 
1855  the  church  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000.  In 
the  course  of  a  few  years  the  steeple  and  bell  were 
added,  costing  about  $600.  The  board  of  trustees  at 
the  time  the  church  was  built  consisted  of  William  H. 
Anderson,  Henry  V.  Anderson,  John  Bilby,  Sylvanus 
Lawrence  and  John  Smith  jr.  The  present  trustees  are 
William  McLean,  Henry  Wiley,  John  S.  Wiley,  Stewart 
Ayres,  Jacob  Wack  and  Jacob  F.  Force. 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    OF    SCHOOLEY'S    MOUNTAIN. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Schooley's  Mountain  is  at 
Schooley's  Mountain  Springs,  the  popular  summer 
resort.  It  is  a  young  organization,  not  large  in  numbers, 
but  filling  an  important  field.  It  has  a  commodious  and 
elegant  church  edifice,  and  sustains  a  very  efficient  and 
prosperous  Sabbath-school.  For  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury there  have  been  religious  meetings  sustained  here, 
largely  by  the  visitors  at  the  hotels.  A  stone  church 
was  built  in  1825  upon  ground  conveyed  in 
trust  to  the  trustees  of  Princeton  Theological  Sem- 
inary, and  the  present  edifice  was  erected  upon  the 
same  ground  in  1870.  There  was,  however,  no 
distinct  church  organization  here  until  March  17th 
1875,  when  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange 
constituted  this  as  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  gchooley's 
Mountain.  This  action  was  the  result  of  a  remarkable 
revival  which  had  occurred  during  the  months  preced- 
ing. Rev.  Samuel  Sawyer,  then  the  settled  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Pleasant  Grove,  had  by  invita- 
tion made  this  an  outpost.  Here  for  some  years  he  had 
been  preaching  once  on  the  Sabbath.  Convinced  that 
there  was  more  than  usual  interest  in  this  community,  he 
began  extra  services  here  late  in  1874.  These  continued 
and  grew  in  interest  until  over  seventy  were  converted. 
So  large  a  harvest  seemed  to  indicate  the  need  of  a  gran- 
ary here — hence  this  church.  The  basis  of  organization 
was  the  reception  of  twenty-four  members  from  sister 
churches,  who  were  here  constituted  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Schooley's  Mountain.  At  the  first  communion 
forty-eight  others  united  by  profession  of  faith,  and  two 
by  certificate,  making  in  all  seventy  four  persons.  Dur- 
ing the  six  years  that  have  since  passed  this  church  has 
maintained  regular  worship,  both  public  and  social. 


APPENDIX. 


Financial  History — Reformatory  Institutions. 

In  December  1876  a  movement  was  made  to  inquire  into 
the  necessity  for  so  large  county  taxation.  It  resulted  in 
an  investigation  and  reports,  from  which  we  take  the  fol- 
lowing account  and  analysis  of  county  expenditures  and 
taxation  for  25  years,  signed  by  John  L.  Kanouse,  David 
W.  Dellicker,  William  Hillard,  George  E.  Righter  and  B. 
C.  Guerin,  executive  committee  of  the  Taxpayers'  Asso- 
ciation : 

Since  the  close  of  the  late  war  our  State  and  county 


taxes  have  swelled  so  much  that  they  have  become  oner- 
ous, and  the  people  throughout  the  State  are  anxious  for 
relief.  We  have  organized  in  this  county  an  association 
of  tax-payers,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  such  relief 
and  guarding  against  a  needless  and  extravagant  expen- 
diture of  public  money  both  in  State  and  county. 
Within  ten  years  past  there  has  been  a  rapid  and  alarm- 
ing increase  in  our  county  expenses,  and  people  are  won- 
dering where  the  money  goes.  All  interested  and  desir- 
ing to  know  the  cause  would  do  well  to  give  the  items 
embraced  in  the  following  tabular  statements  a  careful 
investigation: 


1850....... 

1851 

1852 

1853 

1854 

1855 

1856 

1857 

1858 

1859 

1860 

1861 

1863 

1863 

1864 

1865 

1866 

1867 

1868 

1869 

1870 

1871 

1872 

1873 

1874 

1875 

1876  (for  5 


ID 

■a 

a 

<D    . 

P.  CO 

K 


tt  •-'  o 

;H  -^  '-^  O 

qt3  g,a 
5  Si, 
do5& 
2i 


$3,318 

2,011 

2,063 

2,221 

4,232 

3,831 

3,953 

7,996 

5,780 

3,673 

3,519 

5,776 

3,444 

5,347 

7,964 

7,601 

14,399 

37,450 

32,617 

33,323 

43,128 

31,326 

37,095 

18,088 

!9,4.36  I 


28,390 

:  of  yr.).  30,968 


a  1"^ 


199 

370 


&ti  Si 
3^3 

g«.a 

■o'Ha 

«    g 
»«§ 


gam 

p.- 5 
BfOa 

ra  a 
PhoS  <i> 

g_,  fec.a  . 

o5"a 
d.a«5 


$5,714  45 
5,373  19 
5,896  73 
5,573  61 
6,775  59 
5,130  76 
6,303  41 
7,809  17 
7.067  36 
4,769  35 
7,845  86 
6,388  13 
4,971  96 
5,331  58 
7,966  81 
5,455  82 
7,598  34 
8,717  71 
9,870  80 
6,743  90 
8,394  67 
8,645  43 
8,300  00 
9,161  36 
7,913  00 

11,087  49 
6,300  00 


I  m  1 

§■535 
"§•4. 

sis 

'30  a. 
p^"S 

SSftojp 
o 


$1,051 
1,057 
607 
512 
978 
861 
1,406 
1,838 
1,564 
1,245 
1,317 
1,229 
1,863 
3,353 
3,301 
2,872 
3,436 
3,f8t 
4.379 
4,898 
5,224 
5,139 
4,960 
4,332 
5,.576 
5,051 
4,624 


47 


a  A 

a   § 

a  b  o 

BP,J 


a  li  u 

■o  > 
5  t<n 


*i  P 

^  ~i  n  s 
2S.3§ 


$3,011  38 

3,777  25 
4,005  00 


4,228  95 
4,105  17 
3,979  79 
4,302  20 


4,945  00 
6,107  09 


$8  30645 
7,88563 
5,537  20 
5,408  70 
6,50358 
6,30270 


CO  PU 

m  t,  S  o 

<H  a 

p  <u    fd 
■Ow 

■3a  s-'O 

S  a.  o  a 

O  BPiffl 

B   

$6,766  42 

6,330  33 

6,504  36 

6,086  32 

7,753  93 

5,993  33 

7,709  89 

9,647  67 

8,633  05 

6,015  04 

9.163  10 

7,517  12 

6,835  75 

7,685  14 

10,268  41 

8,328  18 

11,034  74 

12,602  17 

14,250  33 

11,641  70 

13,519  60 

13,784  90 

13,160  50 

13,493  54 

13,488  57 

16,139  08 

10,924  47 


t.  ,1  o 

■a    •S'SS 

P«S  0)  .  o 

3  05  o:=i  i 

g£--3'3 


$891  05 

239  41 

438  16 

293  74 

836  06 

597  13 

389  90 

517  90 

530  00 

594  75 

594  70 

706  79 

530  30 

717  06 

775  61 

892  60 

1,508  07 

1,945  83 

3,544  02 

1,779  40 

5,164  10 

4,328  98 

3,013  80 

3,640  48 

3,593  59 

3,3U  49 

2,289  87 


dj  0)  a  ^ 

13  aj.P  3  « 

•3"''3o'5f 


$45  00 
47  00 
20  50 

22  50 

23  50 
33  50 
23  50 
33  50 
46  00 
31  50 
22  50 
41  00 

40  00 

41  50 
39  00 
61  50 
45  00 
71  00 

113  00 
267  00 
170  .50 
230  00 
188  00 
261  50 
350  00 
288  50 
232  00 


o  t- 
.a  £m 

o  P  ^ 

°°£ 

P,t.  oj 

°   ii 
p 
0.2 1- 

q  ©  O 

<! 


OJ 


,  C3— I 

'a  o  o 

•gp-a 

(In 


$10  00 
14  00 
32  00 
26  00 
26  00 
36  00 
26  00 
26  00 
25  00 
16  00 
50  75 

23  00 
30  35 
53  00 
25  00 

24  00 
75  00 
64  75 
77  ,50 
60  00 

120  35 
93  00 
135  00 
167  00 
109  00 
158  00 
133  00 


;ir 


a  o 

=■3  . 

Sc3  to 

CS  O  S^ 

•P^ 

aS,a 

Ph 


$35  00 

35  00 

35  00 

25  00 

35  00 

25  00 

25  00 

25  00 

25  00 

25  00 

35  00 

35  00 

30  00 

35  00 

35  00 

35  00 

35  00 

35  00 

25  00 

300  00 

250  00 

250  00 

250  00 

3.50  00 

350  00 

350  00 

350  00 


„ 


$15  00 


100  00 
100  01 

100  00 

100  00 
100  00 
100  00 
100  00 
100  00 


Ph 


$353  33 
247  64 
253  33 
253  33 
253  33 
290  00 
290  00 
290  00 
390  00 
290  00 
200  00 
290  00 
575  35 
446  90 
455  29 

474  40 

475  76 
478  55 
471  83 
471  05 
540  00 

1,055  13 
1,067  46 
1,243  73 
1,000  TO 
1,000  00 
1,M0  00 


SS 


3  P 


$15,198  87 
18,125  76 
15,461  60 
16,913  80 
21,803  82 
21,983  33 
23,412  75 
25,.597  56 
25,883  05 
20,937  10 
25,185  43 
33,005  32 
31,050  37 
36,010  17 
28,943  79 
35,198  53 
41,303  44 
63,088  63 
67,040  90 
61,683  14 

105,933  12 
83,063  34 
70,988  80 
66,9.57  81 
77,148  31 
87,437  87 


'5 

a 
no 

§    S 

i-J  o  ® 

06  Pi 
o 


$15,000  00 
13,000  00 
16,000  00 
16,000  00 
16,000  00 
23,000  00 

21,000  00 

21,000  00 
26,000  00 
26,000  00 
26,000  00 
35,000  00 
26,000  00 
26,000  00 
26,TO0  00 
26,000  00 
30,000  00 
50,000  00 
60,000  00 
60,000  00 
75,000  00 
85,000  00 
70,000  00 
75,000  00 
70,000  00 
75,000  00 
90,000  00 


P  rA 

it 
h 

B 

'3 

p< 

a^ 

p.s 
a. a 

s 

■a 
'S 
p. 

^e 

§1 

a. a 

Amount    paid   for 
constables      and 
crier    attending 
court. 

Amount   paid    for 
costs    on    indict- 
ments. 

c  oja 

2.a 
aP!>, 

If. 

as  8 

0 

s  . 

t  bn 

Total  of  court   ex- 
penses   after   de- 
ducting costs  and 
fines     collected, 
and  not  including 
amount  paid  per 
diem    to   sheriff" 
and  stenographer 

Total  of  court   ex- 
penses, including 
amount  paid  per 
diem    to  sher- 
iff  and  stenogra- 
pher. 

1850 

$617  94 
485  77 
989  36 
904  38 
1,600  17 
2,289  03 
2,483  94 
1,085  15 
3,234  47 
1,231  10 
939  20 
2,213  50 
1,946  60 
1,283  74 
1,587  70 
3,503  60 
3,094  40 
3,684  80 
3,372  20 
2,425  00 
2,363  55 
2,238  60 
2,140  40 
2,374  10 
1,687  20 
1,646  75 

$24100 

239  00 

245  00 

300  00 

895  50 

638  00 

388  50 

522  00 

606  00 

845  00 

630  00 

588  00 

43100 

583  50 

530  50 

618  00 

1,299  09 

927  00 

927  00 

870  00 

879  00 

1,120  50 

1,044  00 

1,733  25 

1,243  00 

2,519  50 

$2,131  00 
2,166  00 
1,113  75 
1,618  00 
3,074  00 
1,617  00 
1,916  00 
1,578  00 
1,314  00 
3,363  00 
7,636  00 
2,143  00 
1,404  00 
1,893  05 
1,340  05 
3,053  00 
2,649  00 
5,044  96 
4,118  00 
4,438  00 
4,338  00 
4,844  00 
3,606  00 
4,183  00 
4,654  00 
4,754  00 

$584  35 

498  00 
400  00 
376  00 
553  00 
53100 
494  00 
528  00 

499  00 
730  00 
553  00 
646  00 
550  50 

1,129  50 
884  40 
748  50 
1,.589  00 
3,023  50 
1,478  00 
2,171  00 
2,502  39 
2,634  90 
1,348  75 
3,006  75 
2,261  75 
3,011  51 

$832  98 

848  24 

448  06 

774  42 

1,497  91 

813  69 

989  30 

1,076  43 

717  53 

1,168  42 

96182 

765  84 

1,300  00 

81719 

1,015  58 

510  87 

1,705  48 

79138 

939  04 

1,157  06 

1,331  59 

l,ia500 

1,069  91 

1,802  44 

2,061 45 

2,377  64 

$329  32 

$4,077  85 

4,337  01 

2,486  62 

3,832  80 

6,556  58 

5,888  72 

5,736  29 

4,789  58 

4,632  88 

5,617  07 

9,566  58 

4,630  36 

5,026  00 

5,696  98 

4,321 19 

8,378  38 

9,532  50 

12,058  92 

9,943  57 

10,863  66 

10,293  98 

10,393  49 

8,046  06 

9,391  08 

11,337  86 

709  55 
140  00 
64  00 

jg53     

Ig55      

Ig5g   

535  45 

1858           •  •  ■ • 

638  12 

720  45 

1,043  44 

1,725  98 

59610 

10  00 

1,027  04 

55  59 

804  47 

412  72 

290  67 

18710 

1,119  55 

1,580  51 

1,163  00 

2,707  46 

669  54 

1,138  06 

1359  "    

1861 

1  QfiA                                          

lRft7              ...  . 

"Iflfift 

$282  00 
288  00 
318  00 
267  00 
294  00 

$370  00 
310  00 
3.30  00 
450  00 
450  00 



$11,044  49 

1 Q72     

8,644  09 

Igiyg 

9,949  08 

18»)'4 

11,954  86 

13,18134  1.... 

13,181  33 

1876,  %  of  a  year 

460  00 

1.... 

51 


390 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  chief  items  of  county  expense  are  bridges,  pau- 
perism and  crime,  and  litigation.  As  to  the  relative 
amount  of  these  items  up  to  1866,  pauperism  stood  first, 
crime  and  litigation  next  and  bridges  last.  But  suddenly 
in  one  year's  time  there  came  a  change,  and  in  1869 
bridges  stood  first,  next  pauperism,  and  then  crime  and 
litigation,  and  such  has  continued  to  be  their  relative  po- 
sition to  the  present  time.  From  1849  to  1855,  five 
years,  the  average  yearly  cost  of  pauperism  was  $6,6go; 
from  1870  to  1876,  five  years,  the  average  cost  of  pau- 
perism was  $14,013,  showing  an  increase  of  $7,323, 
or  no  per  cent.  This  is  for  cash  expended,  and  does 
not  include  produce  of  the  farm.  From  1849  to  1856, 
six  years,  the  average  yearly  cost  of  crime  and  litigation 
was  $4,5 13,  and  from  1869  to  1876,  six  years,  the  average 
yearly  cost  was  $10,985,  showing  an  increase  of  $6,472 
— equal  to  an  increase  of  149  per  cent,  in  twenty  years. 

From  1849  to  1856,  a  period  of  six  years,  the  yearly 
average  of  current  expenses  of  the  county  was  $18,247; 
from  1869  to  1876,  a  similar  period,  the  yearly  average 
of  current  expenses  was  $81,919,  showing  an  increase 
of  $63,672,  equal  to  an  increase  of  349  per  cent,  in 
twenty  years. 

From  1849  to  1856,  a  period  of  six  years,  the  average 
yearly  taxation  for  county  purposes  was  $16,500;  from 
1869  to  1876,  a  similar  period,  the  average  was  $75,000, 
showing  an  increase  in  such  taxation  equal  to  354  per 
cent,  in  twenty  years.  Some  may  think  that  such  large 
increase  in  the  latter  period  was  owing  to  the  payment  of 
the  county  war  bonds,  but  not  a  dollar  of  the  large  taxes 
above  stated  as  raised  for  county  purposes  went  to  pay 
the  war  bonds.  The  tax  necessary  to  pay  the  county 
war  debt  as  especially  provided  by  law  was  raised  in  ad- 
dition to  that  for  county  purposes.  The  war  debt  is 
paid,  but  yet  our  tax  bills  show  an  increasing  county  tax. 

An  addition  of  $15,000  to  that  tax  was  made  in  the 
year  1876;  this  was  necessary  to  pay  an  indebtedness  of 
that  amount,  the  result  of  excessive  expenditures  in  pre- 
vious years.  In  1850  the  population  of  the  county  was 
30,158;  in  1875  it  was  49,019,  showing  an  increase  of 
18,861  in  twenty-five  years;  a  gain  of  63  per  cent. 
From  these  data  it  appears  that  from  1850  to  1876  the 
increase  of  population  in  the  county  has  been  63  per 
cent.;  the  increase  of  pauperism  has  been  in  twenty 
years  no  per  cent.;  the  increase  of  the  cost  of  crime 
and  litigation  to  the  county,  149  per  cent.;  'the  average 
-  increase  of  current  expenses  has  been  349  per  cent.;  the 
average  increase  of  taxation  for  county  purposes  alone 
has  been  354  per  cent.;  the  average  increase  of  cost  for 
bridges  in  twenty  years  was  800  per  cent.  From  1849  to 
1856,  a  period  of  six  years,  there  was  paid 
for  iDridges  and  freeholders'  services  in  attending  to 
bridges,  $20,853,  making  a  yearly  average  of  $3,475; 
from  1869  to  1876,  six  years,  the  corresponding  payment 
was  $188,315,  making  a  yearly  average  of  $31,386,  and 
showing  an  average  increase  of  $27,911,  equal  to  over 
800  per  cent,  increase  in  twenty  years.  The  records  show 
that  {in  one yeary from  1865  to  1867  the  cost  of  bridges 
and  freeholders'  services  suddenly  increased  nearly  four 
times  in  amount,  and  that  frx>ra  1866  to  1876,  a  period  of 
nine  years,  the  yearly  average  cost  for  bridges  and  free- 
holders' services  has  been'  $29,775.  During  several  years 
many  of  the  smaller  bridges  have  been  constructed  of 
stone  and  in  a  permanent  manner,  and  some  of  the  larger 
of  iron,  so  that  the  number  of  bridges  in  the  county  re- 
quiring attention  and  repairs  must  be  largely  diminished, 
and  labor  and  materials  have  gone  down  in  price;  and 
therefore  there  is  reason  to  believe  that,  if  our  freehold- 
ers would  exercise  a  wise  economy,  this  item  of  county 
expenditures  could  be  reduced  at  least  one-half  in 
amount. 


The  increased  items  of  expenditure  connected  with  the 
courts  are  as  follows:  In  1867  the  pay  of  jurymen  vras 
increased  from  one  to  two  dollars  per  day.  Prior  to  1850 
the  pay  of  constables  attending  court  was  75  cents  per 
day;  in  1850  it  was  raised  to  one  dollar  per  day;  in  1869 
to  two  dollars,  and  mileage  five  cents  per  mile.  Since 
187 1  the  sheriff  has  been  allowed  three  dollars  per  day 
for  attending  court;  prior  to  that,  nothing.  In  1871  an 
act  was  passed  authorizing  the  employment  of  a  stenog- 
rapher for  the  supreme  and  circuit  courts,  and  the  court 
of  oyer  and  terminer,  at  a  price  not  to  exceed  ten  dollars 
per  day;  the  full  price  thus  allowed  by  law  has  always 
been  paid.  In  1873  the  per  diem  of  common  pleas 
judges  was  raised  from  three  to  five  dollars,  and  the  per 
diem  of  the  crier  from  two  to  three  dollars;  The  cost  t& 
the  county  per  day  for  running  all  the  courts,  with  the 
attendance  of  a  full  panel  of  jurymen,  arid  ten  consta- 
bles, as  now  allowed  by  law,  is  $157,  and  is  made  up  as- 
follows: 


1  supreme  court  judge,  $5 

3  judges  of  common  pleas,  $5  each 

Crier 

Sheriff 

Stenographer 

48  jurymen,  $3  each 

10  constables,  $3  each,  and  mileage  estimated 


$5 
15 
3 
3 
10 


$157 


The  cost  of  holding  court  of  common  pleas  and  orphans'^ 
court,  without  a  jury  and  held  by  common  pleas  judges 
only,  is  $15  per  day;  the  cost  of  running  the  court  of 
quarter  sessions  in  trying  criminal  cases,  and  using  a  part 
of  the  jurymen  while  in  attendance  on  the  circuit  court,, 
is  nothing  additional  to  the  county;  nor  is  there  any  ad- 
ditional cost  to  the  county  in  running  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas,  trying  appeals  by  jury  while  jurymen  are  ia 
attendance  at  the  circuit  court  or  court  of  oyer  and  ter- 
miner. The  cost  of  running  the  court  for  the  trial  of 
appeals  without  a  jury,  held  by  common  pleas  judges- 
only,  and  attended  by  one  constable,  is  $17  per  day.  By 
reference  to  the  tabular  statements  herewith  presented  it 
will  appear  that  from  1866  to  1872,  a  period  of  five  years 
(and  after  the  pay  of  jurymen  had  been  raised  from  one 
to  two  dollars  per  day),  the  average  yearly  cost  of  crime- 
and  litigation  was  $10,710;  and  from  1871  to  1876,  a  pe- 
riod of  four  years,  the  average  cost  was  $10,464,  being; 
$246  less  than  the  average  of  the  five  preceding  years,, 
although  in  1873  the  per  diem  of  the  common  pleas 
judges  had  been  raised  from  $3  to  $5  and  increased  pay 
was  also  allowed  to  constables.  The  cost  for  jurors  from. 
1866  to  1872,  five  years,  averages  $4,534;  and  from  1871 
to  1876,  four  years,  it  averaged  $4,299,  showing  a  de- 
crease in  the  average  of  $255,  notwithstanding  in  the 
latter  period  there  was  a  large  increase  of  business.  SO' 
also  the  average  cost  for  constables  in  attending  court 
from  187 1  to  1876  is  less  than  the  average  in  the  five 
years  preceding,  and  although  in  three  of  the  five  preced- 
ing years  the  pay  of  constables  was  less  than  half  of  what 
it  was  from  1871  to  1876.  The  increased  amount  of  bus- 
iness before  the  courts  within  the  last  four  years  would' 
have  increased  the  court  expenses  had  it  not  been  for  the 
fact  that,  when  it  could  be  advantageously  done,  different 
branches  of  the  courts  were  kept  running  simultaneously^ 
thus  economizing  time  and  the  use  of  jurymen,  and  as  a 
consequence  saving  largely  in  cost  to  the  county.  SO' 
long  as  there  is  occasion  to  administer  and  enforce  law 
there  will  be  necessity  for  courts,  and  the  length  of  time 
that  they  must  necessarily  be  kept  open  will  depend  up- 
on the  amount  and  nature  of  the  business  before  them,. 
and"the  readiness  of  those  engaged  in  transacting  it. 

Pauperism,  including   the   maintenance  of  the  pauper 
and  indigent   insane  at  the  asylum,  constitutes,  next  to- 


COUNTY  FINANCES. 


391 


bridges,  the  largest  item  of  county  expenditure.  The 
county  poor-house  was  established  in  1838;  attached  to 
it  is  a  farm  of  about  240  acres,  a  considerable  portion  of 
which  is  in  an  improved  state  of  cultivation.  From  1838 
to  1850  an  average  of  185  persons  yearly  as  inmates  re- 
ceived support,  and  to  an  average  of  38  yearly  of  persons 
out  of  the  house  relief  was  given;  and  for  the  support 
and  relief  thus  given  in  that  period  of  twelve  years  the 
average  annual  outlay  in  cash  was  .$4,463.  The  products 
of  the  farm  during  the  same  time  averaged  at  their  esti- 
mated value  $2,192  yearly,  all  of  which  went  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  institution  and  its  inmates.  From  1850  to 
1858  the  products  of  the  farm  averaged  $3,915  annually; 
since  that  we  find  the  amount  of  the  estimated  value  of 
the  farm  products  reported  for  only  two  years — 1870  at 
$4,945,  and  1871  at  $6,107.  From  1861  to  1868  the  aver- 
age yearly  expenditure  of  cash  for  the  support  of  the 
poor,  in  addition  to  the  farm  products,  was  $6,673;  ^^'^ 
from  1868  to  1876  the  average  cash  expenditure  was 
$8,739,  showing  an  increase  of  nearly  one  hundred  per 
cent,  since  1850;  and  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  as- 
certain there  has  not  been  a  corresponding  increase  in 
the  number  of  inmates  at  the  house,  and  for  years  past 
the  rule  has  been  to  grant  no  relief  out  of  the  house,  ex- 
cept in  extreme  cases,  wliere  the  physical  condition  pre- 
vented removal. 

From  1861  to  1868  the  average  annual  cost  to  our 
county  for  the  support  of  indigent  and  pauper  luna- 
tics at  the  asylum  was  $2,765;  and  from  1868  to  1876  it 
was  $4,945,  showing  an  increase  of  78  per  cent.  From 
the  opening  of  the  Trenton  asylum  in  1848  to  1863  the 
charge  per  week  for  such  lunatics  was  $2;  from  1863  to 
1866  it  was  $2.35;  from  1866  to  1869  it  was  $3,  and 
since  that  it  has  been  $3.50  per  week.  For  eight  years 
next  prior  to  1876  the  county  paid  to  the  asylum  for  the 
support  of  pauper  and  indigent  lunatics  $3.50  per  week, 
the  State  also  paying,  in  addition,  $1  per  week;  the 
county  being  subject  to  additional  charges  for  clothing, 
making  the  direct  cost  to  the  county  about  $4  per  week, 
and  the  cost  to  the  county  and  State  together  fully  $5 
per  week.  Considering  the  appropriations  made  from  time 
to  time  to  the  support  of  the  asylum,  and  the  amount  paid 
for  salaries  of  officials,  this  cost  per  week  is  probably 
under  rather  than  over  estimated.  Many  years  ago,  but 
since  the  opening  of  the  Trenton  asylum,  our  county 
sent  some  pauper  lunatics  to  the  asylum  at  Brattleboro, 
Vt.,  and  some  private  patients  also  from  this  county 
were  sent  there,  because  they  could  be  properly  cared 
for  at  $1.25  per  week.  These  are  facts  presented  in  the 
practical  lessons  of  experience,  facts  which  the  people 
cannot  afford  to  ignore  if  they  would  intelligently  seek 
to  know  the  causes  of  the  greatly  increased  public  ex- 
penditure. 

There  are  other  items  beside  those  already  mentioned 
which  aggregate  from  twelve  to  twenty  thousand  dollars 
annually.  The  principal  one  is  interest  and  discounts 
paid  for  loans,  which  from  1870  to  the  present  time 
amount  to  $39,670,  making  an  annual  average  of  $6,611 
for  six  years  past.  Of  this  sum  from  $1,200  to  $2,400 
annually  has  been  for  discounts  for  temporary  loans. 
For  a  number  of  years  the  excessive  expenses  of  the 
county  have  exhausted  the  tax  within  a  few  months  after 
it  has  been  paid  in,  and  as  a  consequence  the  county 
commences  a  new  year  often  with  a  deficiency  or  a  float- 
ing debt,  or  with  a  very  small  balance,  which  has  neces- 
sitated borrowing  largely  to  meet  current  expenses  and 
in  anticipation  of  next  year's  tax.  The  larger  part  of 
this  item  of  interest  is  for  the  interest  on  what  is  called 
the  surplus  revenue  and  which  amounts  to  over  four 
thousand  dollars  annually.  In  1836  Congress  passed  an 
act  distributing  a  surplus  of- funds  in  the  national  treasury 


among  the  several  States.  New  Jersey  received  $764,- 
670,  and  distributed  it  to  be  held  in  trust  by  the  several 
counties;  Morris  county  received  about  $80,000.  Of 
this  the  county  used  $14,000  to  buy  a  farm  and  build  a 
county  poor-house;  the  balance  was  loaned  to  individ- 
uals on  bond  and  mortgage,  and  the  interest  was  an- 
nually distributed  to  the  townships,  and  at  first  was  used 
to  pay  ordinary  expenses.  After  a  few  years  it  was  voted 
generally  to  the  use  of  the  schools,  and  finally,  by  law, 
has  been  made  an  annual  appropriation  to  the  support  of 
schools.  The  county,  having  used  the  whole  of  this  fund, 
has  been  liable  for  the  interest,  and  thereby  this  has  be- 
come an  additional  item  and  of  large  amount  in  our 
county  tax. 

Under  the  head  of  work-house  and  court-house  we 
find  an  aggregate  of  expenses  which  for  seven  years  past 
has  averaged  $3,803.  This  includes  cleaning  and  re- 
pairs, charges  for  water,  gas,  fuel,  medicines  and  medical 
attendance  for  prisoners,  and  a  part  of  the  pay  of  the 
keeper  of  the  prison,  but  does  not  include  any  charge  for 
the  board  of  prisoners.  Considerable  work  has  been 
done  about  the  court-house  and  grounds  within  two 
years  past,  and,  as  everything  seems  to  be  in  good  con- 
dition so  tar  as  regards  the  grounds  and  buildings,  it  does 
seem  that  if  a  wise  economy  should  be  used  this  part  of 
the  annual  expenditure  could  be  reduced  nearly  or  quite 
$3,000.  In  1852  the  sheriff  was  allowed  $75,  and  in 
1855  $100,  for  fuel  and  light  for  the  court-house;  now  the 
county  pays  for  gas  alone  over  $160  per  year,  and  in  ad- 
dition pays  for  the  fuel  used  in  and  about  the  court-house 
and  sheriff's  apartments.  Formerly  the  clerk  and  surro- 
gate furnished  their  own  fuel  and  light;  now  the  county 
pays  from  $50  to  $60  annually  for  gas  for  these  two  of- 
fices, and  also  pays  for  the  fuel. 

There  is  another  item  in  the  list  of  expenses  which 
recently  has  appeared  in  larger  proportion,  and  that  is 
printing.  By  an  act  passed  in  1865  the  boards  of  chosen 
freeholders  were  required  to  publish  a  copy  of  the  county 
collector's  account  with  the  items  in  detail.  The  propriety 
of  that  requirement  will  hardly  be  questioned,  as  un- 
doubtedly it  is  proper  and  necessary  that  the  people  who 
pay  taxes  should  know  how  their  money  is  expended^ 
The  cost  to  the  county  in  1874  for  printing  was 
$1,124.45,  which  amount  included  the  printing  of 
the  collector's  quarterly  reports  and  all  blanks 
required  by  the  clerk's  and  surrogate's  offices,  as 
well  as  the  advertising  of  bridges.  The  printing 
of  the  last  quarterly  report  of  the  county  receipts  and 
disbursements,  which  was  done  in  five  papers  (three  in 
.Morristown,  one  at  Dover,  and  one  at  Boonton)  cost  $54 
for  each,  or  $270  for  all.  The  rate  at  which  this  work 
appears  to  have  been  charged  is  the  same  as 
fixed  in  an  act  passed  in  1876  providing  for  the  pub- 
lication of  laws  in  newspapers,  60  cents  per  hundred 
words,  under  which  such  publication  costs  the  State  over 
$68,000.  At  that  rate  the  publication  of  these  quarterly 
reports  of  the  county  collector  alone  will  cost  the  county 
from  $700  to  $1,000  per  year,  subject  to  vary  in  amount 
with  the  length  of  such  report.  In  1864  publishing  the 
laws  cost  only  about  $4  per  newspaper  column,  but  the 
printing  of  the  last  quarterly  report,  which  occupied  less 
than  four  columns  as  it  appeared  in  the  newspaper,  and 
for  which  $54  was  paid  to  each  paper,  cost  about  $14  per 
column.  In  1864  labor  and  material  were  at  extremely 
high  prices;  now  there  is  a  great  reduction,  and  the  pur- 
chasing power  of  a  dollar  has  fully  doubled. 

Another  matter. deserving  of  notice  is  the  prison  and 
work-house.  In  1866,  1867  and  1869  the  county  paid  30 
cents  per  day  for  boarding  prisoners;  since  that  the 
price  has  been  35  cents.  The  work-house  was  estab- 
lished twenty-five  years  ago,  and  certain  rules  and  regu- 


392 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


lations  for  its  government  were  adopted  by  the  board  of 
freeholders.  Its  history  shows  that  only  for  a  brief  pe- 
riod from  the  commencement  were  these  rules  enforced. 
Their  non-observance  seems  to  have  been  less  a  tax  upon 
the  time  and  attention  of  the  keeper,  and  hence,  by  the 
suffrance  of  the  board  of  freeholders,  these  rules  and  reg- 
ulations fell  into  disuse.  About  two  years  ago  the  board 
of  freeholders  abolished  work  and  discharged  the  keep- 
er; since  that  but  little  work  save  the  breaking  of  a  few 
stones  has  been  done.  As  a  consequence,  there  being  no 
work,  the  prisoners,  averaging  generally  from  twelve  to 
twenty-five  and  sometimes  more,  have  been  allowed  to 
congregate  in  the  common  hall,  and  in  idleness  to  amuse 
themselves  almost  as  they  saw  fit.  As  might  have  been 
expected,  the  result  has  been  that  the  work-house  has 
become  a  school  of  vice,  tending  not  to  reform  but  to 
confirm  criminals.  The  keeper  had  been  paid  |6oo 
a  year  for  attending  to  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  one 
of  those  duties  was  to  keep  the  prison  record.  P"or 
about  four  years  that  record  had  not  been  written  up. 
The  board  of  freeholders  appoint  a  committee  on  court- 
house and  work-house,  whose  special  duty  it  is  to  look 
after  the  condition  of  the  court-house  and  prison.  For 
several  years  past  it  appears  it  has  been  the  practice  to 
allow  that  committee  $240  per  year  for  their  services, 
and  sometimes  a  little  extra.  Yet  such  to-day  is  the 
condition  of  our  county  work-house — a  place  of  idleness 
and  a  school  of  vice,  instead  of  a  prison  where  a  proper 
reformatory  influence  is  exerted  over  the  inmates.  It 
is  but  just  to  the  sheriff  and  present  keeper  to  say  that 
the  want  of  employment  for  the  prisoners  is  no  fault  of 
theirs.  The  condition  of  the  court-house  and  grounds 
and  the  prison,  as  regards  cleanliness,  is  far  better  than 
it  has  been  for  years,  and  the  cleaning  and  paint- 
ing have  been  mostly  done  by  the  labor  of  the 
prisoners.  From  June  ist  1874  to  January  ist  1875 
(seven  months)  226  commitments  were  made  for  drunk- 
enness, vagrancy,  and  disorderly  conduct,  and  that 
the  aggregate  of  days  of  confinement  of  those  thus  com- 
mitted was  1,499,  which  at  35  cents  per  day  amounts  to 
$524.65,  which  is  equal  within  a  fraction  to  $75  per 
month;  and  it  appears  that  210  of  these  226  commit- 
ments were  made  by  magistrates  in  Morristown  alone. 
Moreover  the  record  shows  that  the  same  names  appear 
frequently  among  the  commitments,  and  some  repeatedly 
in  the  same  year,  and  for  a  similar  offense,  drunkenness 
or  disorderly  conduct.  This  class  of  offenders  seem  to 
regard  the  prison  as  a  pleasant  place  for  them,  a  place 
of  refuge  from  the  overpowering  influence  of  their  bad 
habits,  an  asylum,  where  in  idleness  they  can  be  safe  and 
enabled  to  recruit  their  wasted  strength,  being  bounti- 
fully fed  upon  a  plain  but  wholesome  and  substantial 
diet  at  the  public  expense;  and  when  the  short  term  of 
their  confinement  is  ended  they  go  forth  to  enter  upon 
another  debauch.  This  is  the  way  in  which  the  present 
management  of  our  prison  and  work-house  is  operating  to 
encourage  vagrancy  and  drunkeness  at  the  public  ex- 
pence.  Vagrancy  is  incipient  criminality,  and  therefore 
it  is  fair  to  infer  that  the  present  method  of  conducting 
our  prisons,  without  employment  for  the  prisoners,  has 
been  the  means  of  adding  hundreds  of  dollars  to  our 
county  expense,  and  in  connection  with  the  increased 
price  allowed  for  board  of  prisoners  has  caused  an  addi- 
tion to  our  county  tax  of  from  $600  to  $1,000  per  year. 
The  foregoing  facts  and  statements,  carefully  collected 
and  compiled  from  the  county  records,  are  presented  to 
the  people  as  proper  subjects  for  study  and  reflection. 
They  show  in  a  condensed  form  why  the  people  have 
been  so  heavily  taxed,  and  for  what  purposes  their  money 
has  been  expended.  Let  it  not  escape  attention  that  in 
the  six  years  next  preceding  1876  the  county  paid  for  the 


support  of  pauperism,  including  indigent  and  pauper  lun- 
atics, $83,586.19;  for  crime  and  litigation  $65,812.63; 
for  bridges  and  freeholders'  services  in  attending  to 
bridges,  $118,316;  for  interest  on  permanent  and  tempo- 
rary loans  as  hereinbefore  explained,  $39,944.26;  and 
for  miscellaneous  items  $113,859.17;  making  a  total  in 
six  years  of  $491,518.25,  nearly  half  a  million  dollars. 
In  the  same  time  the  people  were  taxed  $450,000  for 
such  purposes,  and  yet  owing  to  the  excessive  expendi- 
tures in  the  same  period  a  debt  of  over  $40,000  was  in- 
curred. Of  this  sum  about  $15,000  was  a  floating  debt, 
and  the  balance  a  permanent  debt  to  the  surplus  revenue 
fund.  This  great  increase  in  expenses  is  not  confined  to 
any  one  particular  part,  but  extends  to  every  department 
of  the  county  administration,  and  appears  to  enter  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree  into  almost  every  item  of  expendi- 
ture. 

The  following  statement  by  Judge  Kanouse  exhibits 
some  of  the  chief  items  of  county  expenses  from  1876 
to   1880,  inclusive: 


^  W  'sj  '^^^  ^  ^  ^  ^ 
^  >i  *^  n't  n-i  '^  n  n 
0000000000 

B5BBBBB3BB 
po  »  o»o»  rtg  5 
i-'S  1-E5 12  0=°  ^° 

go-So' D-cr"2ff„ 
Z.S  L.""  H-""  So  — ° 

gl|S(S?So;i|!B 

|gSg§.ggs|s 

£5^f^?^SgS3 

CO  CD  CO  CO  3 -J  CO 


BBBiB|S"|Z: 

cncn  toi^ 

t     Jl   •     fa 


S'l> 
IB 

=1  8= 


ss 


MCOi-'COQ 
QOtf-OOOC 


en  05 
O  O 
D 


O  PO  .^ 

III 

SO)  & 

K  D  ED 
(DOS 

D  CD  3 
O^S 

III 

tj'P'g, 

o'e+m 
c>  o  2. 


"02. 


m  ^  P 

'^^'^ 

w  fo  3 
■■3S 


o 

»B 
<  o 


00  09 
00-5 
050 


GOOOCO 


:  I 


OQO        000 

800     ©oo 
OS     000 


O3  0O 
COCO 

cot© 


MO  WOCn 

OCA  (MtOtO 

COQO  -^1— 'CO 

COO  00C!«&3 


Amount  Tax  for 
County  Purposes. 


Bridges. 


Freeholders'  Ser- 
vices. 


Oil-' 


■^00  'CJtOlM 
COCO  -^CJifc— 
OhF^        030;i0 


Court 
Expenses. 


Pay  of   Common 
Pleas  Judges. 


oT-iM    I 
OsOSrf*- 
Oil— i-i 
COh-iO 


Court-House  and 
Jail. 


poo  , 

SOO   ' 


Poor -House  Ex- 


a?!: 


coosoa 


Support  of  Indi- 
gent and  Pauper 
Lunatics. 


00  OT        CTOSrf^ 

sis    SSS  I  Interest  and  Dis- 
-qi-     SeoiS  counts. 


8Si 

00000 

SSSi 


Printing. 


Boarding  Prison- 
ers. 


Value  of  the  Pro- 
duce of  the  Poor- 
House  Farm. 


Average  Number 

of  Paupers  at  the 

Poor-House. 


Number  Deaths 
at  the  Poor- 
House. 


Number  of  Births 
at  the  Poor- 
House. 


The  above  statement  clearl.v  shows  that  within  the  past  six  years 
the  prison  has  been  overcrowded.  Many  of  the  prisoners  were 
iJ''?"P?-  ^  There  are  other  items  beside  the  35  cents  per  day  for  meals 
that  add  to  the  cost  of  keeping  the  prisoners.  The  record  of  1876 
shows  for  tobacco  $107.40,  tea  $61.24,  shoes  182.50,  clothing  »151.68,  medi- 
cmes,  etc.,  raakmga  total  of  court-houseand  jail  expenses  of  $4,241:  the 
cost  per  week  for  each  prisoner  being  fully  $3.50  that  year. 

A  mere  glance  at  the  average  number  of  prisoners  as 


^cr 


REFORMATORY  INSTITUTIONS— THE  PROPRIETORS'  TITLE. 


393 


presented  in  the  foregoing  statement  will  not  give  a  cor- 
rect idea  of  the  whole  number  of  commitment's  to  the 
prison  during  a  year.  We  are  unable  to  find  a  clear 
statement  for  each  year  of  such  commitments,  either  in 
a  carefully  kept  prison  record  or  otherwise.  But  we  do 
find  in  the  minutes  of  the  board  of  freeholders  a  specific 
statement  for  the  year  from  May  ist  1874  to  May  ist 
i^75i  gi^'ing  the  whole  number  of  commitments  for  that 
year  as  507;  males  480,  females -27;  391  for  drunkenness, 
35  for  larceny,  56  for  assaults  and  25  for  other  offenses. 
In  that  year  it  will  be  seen  the  amount  paid  for  boarding 
prisoners  was  $1,687.20,  about  one-third  of  what  it  was 
annually  for  three  years  prior  to  November  1878,  and 
about  one-half  of  what  it  was  for  three  years  prior  to 
November  1881.  This  furnishes  a  criterion  for  deter- 
mining at  least  the  approximate  numbers  of  commit- 
ments each  year  during  the  past  six  years.  The  number 
thus  indicated  seems  almost  incredible,  yet  the  figures 
lead  irresistibly  to  the  conclusion,  large  as  it  may  appear. 
A  large  majority  of  the  commitments  were  for  short 
terms,  and  were  of  the  vagrant  class.  The  only  remedy 
provided  by  the  laws  of  the  State  for  vagrancy  is  the 
county  jail  or  work-house,  and  yet,  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  the  remedy  appears  to  increase  and  aggravate  the 
evil.  To  many  the  reason  is  obvious.  The  management 
of  the  prison  for  seven  years  past  appears  to  have  been 
such  as  to  render  it  a  favorite  place  of  resort  for  the 
tramp — a  "  hotel,"  so  to  speak,  "where,  at  the  public  ex- 
pense, he  is  housed,  lodged  and  fed  and  in  many  cases 
clothed  in  comfort  superior  to  the  family  of  the  honest 
laborer,  and  allowed  to  spend  his  time  in  idleness  and 
vicious  association,  which  is  his  chief  delight."  By  this 
state  of  affairs  the  ends  of  justice  are  defeated  and  the 
law.  rendered  powerless  in  effecting  its  object.  Such  are 
some  of  the  results  of  experience  in  this  county  as  pre- 
sented in  the  history  of  its  financial  affairs,  which  it 
would  be  well  for  the  people  to  seriously  consider.  In 
the  opinion  of  many  an  effectual  remedy  may  be  found 
in  the  enforcement  of  hard  work  and  solitary  confine- 
ment. Experience  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  proves 
this.  The  control  and  management  of  the  prison  by  law 
is  vested  in  the  board  of  freeholders.  The  present  in- 
dications are  that  m  view  of  the  circumstances  a  system 
of  labor  and  solitary  confinement  will  be  adopted  and 
carried  into  effect. 

Early  in  the  year  1881  a  movement  was  made  with  a 
view  to  better  the  moral  condition  of  the  inmates  of  the 
county  poor-house,  and  more  especially  to  provide  for 
the  better  care  and  training  of  the  children  committed 
to  that  institution,  it  being  evident  to  those  who  had 
looked  into  the  matter  that  the  depraving  influences  sur- 
rounding the  children  there  are  calculated  to  train  them 
to  be  paupers  and  criminals.  The  public  are  indebted 
to  the  Rev.  John  P.  Appleton,  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal church  at  Boonton,  for  his  disinterested  and  energetic 
efforts  in  this  behalf.  In  furtherance  of  this  object  at  a 
public  meeting  called  at  Morristowii,  and  which  was  ad- 
dressed by  Rev.  H.  C.  Potter,  D.  D.,  of  New  York,  a  society 
was  organized  called  "The  Charities  Aid  Association," 
of  which  A.  B.  Hull  was  chosen  president  and  Rev.  J.  P. 
Appleton  secretary,  and  other  officers  were  appointed. 
This  meeting  was  attended  by  a  number  of  prominent 
gentlem.en  and  quite  a  large  number  of  intelligent  ^nd 
influential  ladies  from  different  sections  of  the  county, 
all  manifesting  a  deep  interest  in  the  object. 

As  an  offshoot  of  this  "Charities  Aid  Association" 
we  have  "  The  Morris  County  Children's  Home,"  incor- 
porated December  6th  1881,  which  is  to  be  located  in  a 
commodious  house  rented  for  the  purpose  at  Parsippany; 
the  object  being  to  furnish  a  temporary  home  for  desti- 
tute children   who  have  become  a  public  charge,  where 


they  can  be  properly  cared  for,  trained  and  educated. 
The  county  is  authorized  to  pay  $1.50  per  week  for  each 
child  toward  their  support.  This  sum  paid  by  the  county 
will  not  be  sufficient,  and  the  institution  will  be  in  part 
dependent  on  voluntary  contribution. 


Abstract  of  the  Proprietors'  Title. 
By  Monroe  Howelij. 

In  1497  Sebastian  Cabot,  sailing  under  the  English 
flag,  discovered  and  touched  upon  various  places  along 
the  shores  of  what  is  now  the  United  States  {Hakluyt's 
Voyas;es).  It  is  from  this  first  visit  that  the  English  title 
to  the  country  was  derived.  It  was  afterward  visited  and 
to  some  extent  settled  by  the  Dutch  and  Swedes,  but 
without  recognized  title. 

March  1 2th  1664  Charles  II.  of  England  granted  to  his 
brother  James,  Duke  of  York,  all  the  lands  between  the 
west  side  of  the  Connecticut  River  and  the  east  side  of 
Delaware  Bay,  together  with  the  right  of  government. — 
Learning  and  Spicer's  Grants,  Concessions,  etc.,  page  3. 

June  24th  1664  James  Duke  of  York  conveyed  to  John 
Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret  that  part  of  the 
above  grant  which  lies  between  the  Hudson  and  the  Del- 
aware and  south  of  a  straight  line  drawn  from  41°  north 
latitude  on  the  Hudson  to  41°  40'  on  the  Delaware. — 
Learning  and  Spicer,  page  8. 

July  30th  1673  New  York  and  New  Jersey  were  taken 
by  the  Dutch. —  Whitehead's  ^''  East  Jersey  under  the  Pro- 
prietors," page  73. 

February  9th  1674  New  York  and  New  Jersey  were  re- 
stored to  the  English. —  Whitehead' s  "East  Jersey  under 
the  Proprietors,"  page  77. 

June  29th  1674  Charles  II.  renewed  his  grant  to  James 
Duke  of  York. — Learning  and  Spicer,  page  41. 

July  29th  1674  James  Duke  of  York  renewed  his  grant 
to  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret. — Learning  and 
Spicer,  page  46. 

July  ist  1676  the  "  quintipartite  deed  "  was  executed. 
By  this  deed  the  province  was  divided  into  East  and  West 
Jersey.  East  Jersey  was  confirmed  to  Sir  George  Car- 
teret, and  the  partition  line  was  described. — Learning  and 
Spicer,  page  61. 

February  ist  and  2nd  1683  the  widow  and  other  exec- 
utors of  Sir  George  Carteret  sold  East  Jersey  to  William 
Penn  and  eleven  others,  and  within  the  same  year  twelve 
other  proprietors  were  joined  to  the  above. —  Whitehead's 
"East  Jersey  uiider  the  Proprietors,"  page  103. 

March  14th  1683  James  Duke  of  York  confirmed  the 
title  to  East  Jersey  to  the  twenty-four  proprietors. — 
Learning  and  Spicer,  page  141. 

November  23d  1683  Charles  II.,  by  letter  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  council  of  East  Jersey,  recognized  the  propri- 
etors' right  to  the  soil  and  government. — Learning  and 
Spicer,  page  151. 

August  ist  1684  a  board  of  commissioners  comprising 
all  the  proprietaries  in  the  province  was  organized. — 
Whitehead's  "East  Jersey  under  the  Proprietors," -'p2igt 
141. 

November  13th  1684  the  first  meeting  of  the  council 
of  proprietors  was  held,  and  semi-annual  meetings  of  this 
body  are  still  held  regularly. — Gordon's  History  of  New 
Jersey,  page  67. 

April  15th  1702  the  proprietors  surrendered  the  powers 
of  government  to  the  qu^en. — Learning  and  Spicer,  page 
609. 

April  [5th  1783  the  treaty  of  peace  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  of  America  (Art.  6)  estab- 
lished the  title  to  all  property  not  previously  confiscated, 
in  the  owners  and  possessors. 


52 


394 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


The  proprietors'  right  of  property  in  lands  above  water 
is  unquestioned,  but  their  right  in  lands  under  water 
has  been  the  subject  of  much  discussion  and  litigation. 
The  decision  adverse  to  their  rights  in  the  case  of  Mar- 
tin V.  Waddell,  i6  Peters,  page  367,  by  the  majority  of 
the  judges  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  has  been 
accepted  by  many  persons  as  a  final  settlement  of  the 
question.  -But  the  opinion  of  the  respectable  minority 
of  that  court  was  so  strongly  in  favor  of  the  rights  of  the 
proprietors  that  there  seems  good  ground  for  a  re-exam- 
ination of  the  whole  case,  or  if  not  of  the  whole  at  least 
of  some  peculiar  parts  included  in  it. 

The  original  grant  to  the  proprietors  was  in  consider- 
ation of  a  competent  sum  of  money,  and,  in  addition  to 
all  the  lands  in  the  described  boundaries,  gave  "  all 
rivers,  mines,  minerals,  woods,  fishings,  hawkings,  hunt- 
ings and  fowlings,  and  all  other  royalties,  profits,  com- 
modities and  hereditaments  whatsoever,"  etc. 

In  1687  the  proprietors  of  East  Jersey  say  they 
"bought  it  with  their  money,  having  paid  above  twelve 
thousand  pounds  for  it,  and  are  notwithstanding  forced 
to  buy  every  acre  over  again  at  a  considerable  rate  from 
the  Indians,"' — New  Jersey  Archives,'Sfo\.  I.,  page  535. 

This  title  gave  the  purchasers  rights  in  all  the  lands 
and  general  property  in  the  province,  and  also  in 
the  government.  The  right  of  government  was  ex- 
ercised till-1702,  when  it  was  surrendered  to  the  queen. 
The  whole  property  was  subject  to  the  rights  of  its  In- 
dian owners,  and  the  grant  from  the  king  gave  the  pro- 
prietors the  exclusive  privilege  of  purchasing  from  the 
Indians.  See  William  Penn  and  others  on  this  sub- 
ject. {Gordon's  New  Jersey,  pages  40,  41.)  This  priv- 
ilege, though  contested  in  the  earliest  provincial  courts, 
was  always  sustained,  and  at  the  session  of  the  first 
Legislature  after  the  proprietors'  surrender  of  the  gov- 
ernment the  law  first  enacted  was  that  "  for  regulating 
the  purchasing  of  lands  from  the  Indians."  {Neville, 
page  I.)  This  law  forbade  with  heavy  penalty  any  per- 
sons purchasing  lands  from  the  Indians  except  by  au- 
thority of  the  proprietors;  declared  all  such  purchases 
previously  made  illegal,  and  required  the  possessors 
to  take  title  from  the  proprietors  within  six  months 
thereafter. 

The  Indians  highly  valued  their  rights  of  fishing,  as 
the  references  to  them  in  their  deeds  of  sale  show, 
and  the  immense  quantities  of  shells  piled  in  heaps  at  all 
convenient  places  along  the  shores  bear  witness  that 
they  improved  these  rights  to  great  profit.  There  are  a 
hundred  acres  or  more  of  land  at  South  Amboy  which 
are  covered  from  six  to  eighteen  inches  deep  by  these 
Indian  shell  deposits.  The  soil  about  Communipaw 
is  full  of  them,  and  they  can  be  seen  along  all  the  creeks 
and  bays  from  South  Amboy  to  Cape  May. 

The  proprietors  purchased  all  these  rights  of  the 
Indians,  and  paid  satisfactory  prices  for  them.  The  yjur- 
chases  were  generally  made  in  tracts  of  a  few  square 
miles  each,  until  nearly  the  whole  State  was  covered  by 
their  deeds.  Many  of  these  deeds  are  recorded  in 
the  proprietors'  books  and  in  the  secretary  of  state's  of- 
fice. At  an  assembly  of  all  the  Indian  tribes  of  New  York, 
New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  held  at  Easton,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October8th-26th  1758,  two  deeds  were  executed  by 
the  Indians  and  their  attorneys.  One  of  these,  by  the  Dela- 
wares,  was  for  all  the  land  south  of  a  line  drawn  from 
Sandy  Hook  up  the  Raritan  River  and  its  north  branch 
to  the  Alamtong  (Lamington)  Falls,  and  from  thence  to 
the  Delaware  River  at  the  Paoqualin  Mountain  (Water 
Gap).  In  this  the  boundary  along  tidewater  is  low 
water  mark.  The  other  deed,  executed  by  the  Minisink 
and  Pompton  Indians,  was  for  all  that  part  of  the  State 
lying   north  of  the  above-mentioned  division    line  and 


terminated  at  the  north  by  a  straight  line  drawn  across 
the  country  from  the  mouth  of  Tappan  Creek,  in  latitude 
41°  north,  on  the  Hudson,  to  Cochecton,  in  latitude 
41°  40'  north,  on  the  Delaware.  These  deeds  were  exe- 
cuted and  the  purchases  made  by  the  governor  and 
council  for  the  proprietors,  at  their  expense.  (See  Direc- 
tions, etc..  Learning  and  Spicer,  page  37.  The  deeds  in 
Book  12,  pages  85  and  89,  secretary  of  state's  office.) 
In  1832  Bartholomew  S.  Calvin,  a  Delaware  chief  and 
representing  that  tribe,  memorialized  the  Legislature  for 
certain  fisheries  in  the  southern  tract,  which  he  said  had 
never  been  sold  by  the  Indians.  The  Legislature  did 
not  acknowledge  the  legality  of  his  claim,  but  in  sheer 
compassion  gave  -him  $2,000  and  received  a  deed  of  re- 
lease from  all  further  claims.  This,  as  Gordon  says  in 
his  History  of  New  Jersey  (page  65),  was  done  on 
"principles  of  justice,  humanity  and  sound  policy.  No 
pecuniary  benefit  resulted  directly  to  the  treasury,  as  she 
[the  State]  possessed  in  her  own  right  not  a  single  acre 
of  the  soil.  This  by  every  title,  legal  and  equitable,  was 
fully  vested  in  the  proprietaries  respectively  of  East  and 
West  Jersey." 

When  the  proprietors  in  1702  surrendered  the  right  of 
government  to  the  crown  it  was  distinctly  expressed  by 
the  English  Boa'rd  of  -Trade,  who  had  the  matter  in  hand 
at  that  time,  that  the  proprietors  only  desired  to  secure 
their  rights  in  such  things  as  are  matters  of  property. 
{Learning  and  Spicer,  page  607).  In  the  discussions  be- 
tween the  proprietors  and  the  British  Board  of  Trade 
respecting  the  surrender  {Learning  and  Spiur,  page  590), 
the  proprietors  ask  that  "  all  lands,  goods  and  chattels  of 
felons,  felons  of  themselves,  deodands,  fugitives,  persons 
outlawed  and  put  in  exigent,  waifs,  estrays,  treasures 
trove,  mines  and  minerals,  royal  mines,  wrecks,  royal 
fish  that  shall  be  forfeited,  found  or  taken  within  East 
Jersey  or  by  the  inhabitants  thereof  within  the  seas  ad- 
jacent, remain  to  the  proprietors,  with  all  other  privi- 
leges and  advantages  as  amply  as  in  the  grant  and 
confirmation  to  them  of  the  14th  March  1683."  The 
answer  of  the  Board  of  Trade  is:  "This  article  may  be 
reasonable  except  as  to  the  goods  and  chattels  of  tray- 
tors,  fugitives,  and  persons  outlawed,  which  is  matter  of 
state;  nor  can  right  accruing  to  the  proprietors  from  the 
seas  adjacent  be  well  circumscribed.  The  grant  also  of 
1683  ought  to  be  duly  considered,  and  such  particulars 
therein  as  are  proper  may  be  allowed  of  without  such  a 
general  and  undetermined  reference." 

And,  after  accepting  the  surrender,  Queen  Anne  in  her 
instructions  to  Lord  Cornbury,  the  first  royal  governor, 
directed  him  to  secure  the  rights  of  the  proprietors  by 
proper  legislation.     Section  36  of  the  instructions  is: 

"  Our  will  and  pleasure  is  that,  for  the  better  quieting 
the  minds  of  our  good  subjects,  inhabitants  of  our  said 
province,  and  for  the  purpose  of  settling  the  properties 
and  possessions  qf  all  persons  concerned  therein  (either 
as  general  proprietors  of  the  soil  under  the  first  original 
grant  of  "said  province  made  by  the  late  King  Charles  H. 
to  the  late  Duke  of  York,  or  as  particular  purchasers  of 
any  parcels  of  land  from,  the  said  general  proprietors), 
you  shall  propose  to  said  General  Assembly  of  our  said 
province  the  passing  of  such  act  or  acts  whereby  the 
right  and  property  of  the  said  general  proprietors  to  the 
soil  of  said  province  maybe  confirmed  to  them  according 
to  their  respective  rights  and  title;  together  with  all  such 
quit  rents  as  have  been  reserved  or  are  or  shall  become 
due  to  the  said  general  proprietors  from  the  inhabitants 
of  our  said  province;  and  all  such  privileges  as  are  ex- 
pressed in  the  conveyances  made  by  the  said  Duke  of 
York,  excepting  only  the  right  of  government,  wliich  re- 
mains in  us.  And  you  are  further  to  take  care  that  by 
the  said  act  or  acts  so  to  be  passed  the  particular  titles 

I 


TITLE  To  LANGS  UNDLR  WAT£R. 


395 


and  estates  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  that  province  and 
other  purchasers  claiming  under  the  said  general  proprie- 
tors be  confirmed  and  settled,  as  of  right  does  iippertain, 
under  such  obligations  as  shall  tend  to  the  best  and 
speediest  settlement'  or  cultivation  of  the  same;  pro- 
vided always  that  you  do  not  consent  to  any  act  or  acts 
to  lay  any  tax  on  lands  that  lie  unprofitable." 

Section  37  is:  "  You  shall  not  permit  any  other  person 
or  persons  besides  the  said  general  proprietors  or  their 
agents  to  purchase  any  lands  whatever  from  the  Indians 
within  the  limits  of  their  grant." 

That  everything  which  was  matter  of  properly  still  re- 
mained with  the  proprietors  is  evident  from  the  act  of 
the  Legislature  in  relation  to  settling  the  partition  line 
between  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  which  was  passed 
February  23d  1764  [^Allison,  New  Jersey  Laws,  page 
265,  Chap.  397),  and  which  is  entitled  "  An  Act  for  sub- 
jecting the  estates  of  the  general  Proprietors  of  the  East- 
ern Division  of  this  Colony  to  the  indemnification  of  this 
province  from  any  expense  in  running  the  line  between 
New  Jersey  and  New  York."  In  running  this  boundary 
the  proprietors  were  subject  to  an  expense  of  ;^7,ooo, 
and  a  loss  of  more  than  342,000  acres  of  land  which 
they  had  purchased  of  the  Indians,  and  they  received  no 
indication  from  the  State  that  this  loss  was  of  any  public 
importance. 

It  is  only  within  comparatively  recent  times  that  the 
productive  value  of  lands  under  water  and  the  advan- 
tages pertaining  to  them  have  come  to  be  appreciated  in 
East  Jersey.  But  as  long  ago  as  1756  Jacob  Spicer,  of 
Cape  May,  purchased  from  the  proprietors'  agent  all  the 
rights  of  the  West  Jersey  proprietors  in  Cape  May  county. 
These  rights  consisted  mainly  of  the  natural  privileges — 
that  is,  the  rights -of  fishing,  fowling,  etc.,  in  the  sounds, 
bays,  creeks,  and  thoroughfares  which  border  the  shores 
of  the  county.  These  rights' were  afterward  sold  to  the 
inhabitants  of  th'e  four  townships  of  that  county,  and  the 
following  is  a  brief  of  their  title  and  legislative  action  on 
it:  First  Deed. — West  Jersey  Society  to  Jacob  Spicer 
sen.,  dated  August  2nd  1756,  for  all  their  lands,  etc.,  in 
Cape  May  county.  Second. — Jacob  Spicer  sen.  to  his 
son  Jacob  Spicer  jr.,  dated  May  6th  1762,  devising  all  his 
rights  to  the  shell,  scale  and  fin  fisheries  in  said  county. 
Third. — Deeds  of  lease  and  release,  dated  August  3d 
1795,  between  Jacob  Spicer  jr.  of  the  first  part,  Franklin 
Davenport  of  the  second  part,  and  John  Lawrence  jr.  of 
the  third  part,  for  the  same  in  order  to  cause  proceedings 
in  court  of  chancery  whereby  a  common  recovery  of  the 
said  common  or  fisheries  might  be  had  in  the  supreme 
court,  confirming  Spicer's  title.  In  the  supreme  court  of 
New  Jersey  in  September  1795  such  recovery  was  had, 
and  Spicer' held  the  estate  therein  in  fee  simple.  Fourth 
Deed. — Jacob  Spicer  and  wife  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  (by  name)  inhabitants  of  the  Lower  town- 
ship, dated  November  9th  1795.  The  Legislature  passed 
acts  February  5th  1813  and  February  26th  1839  mcor- 
porating  said  owners  in  each  township  for  25  years,  and 
extending  20  years,  granting  them  corporation  powers  to 
make  by-laws  and  regulations  as  to  the  management  and 
use  of  said  fisheries,  impose  penalties  on  tresspassers,  etc. 
Also  an.  act  March  23d  18.S9  extending  the  term  20  years 
longer,  the  owners  thus  holding  by  legislative  grant  and 
judgment  of  New  Jersey  supreme  court  in  addition  to  or 
in  confirmation  of  the  title  from  Spicer.  An  act  was 
passed  in  March  1879  extending  20  years  longer  all  fish- 
eries whose  charter  expired  that  year. 

The  fisheries  along  the  Delaware  a're  all  held  under 
grants  from  tlfe  proprietors,  and  they  extend  to  the  mid- 
dle of  the  river.  Th.ey  are  of  great  value.  The  right 
in  them  is  recognized  in  our  State  laws,  and  the  title  has 
never  been  questioned  until   the  recent  sale  of  some  of 


the  shore  by  the  riparian  commissioners  has  tresspassed 
on  the  fisheries,  and  a  case  has  been  made  up  in  regard 
to  the  ownership,  which  is  now  awaiting  trial  before  the 
■United  States  district  court. 

The  right  to  hold  oyster  lands  as  the  property  of  the 
original  proprietors  has  been  contested  in  several  cases 
before  our  State  courts,  and  has  been  decided  against 
them  [Arnold  v.  Mundy,  I  Halstead,  page  i);  but  the 
Legislature  by  its  acts  has  recognized  the  rights  of  in- 
dividual property  in  these  oyster  beds,  as  in  the  case  of 
Shark  River,  where  individual  owners  hold  leases  from 
the  county  of  Monmouth  for  lands  under  water  which 
are  planted  with  oysters;  and  the  common  sense  and 
practice  of  the  people  all  along  the  seashore,  and  the 
bays,  creeks  and  sounds  of  salt  water  recognize  the  rights 
of  property  in  grounds  planted  with  oysters,  and  such 
grounds  are  respected  as  individual  property  and  con- 
sidered of  great  value. 

The  council  of  proprietors  has  in  many  instances  made 
grants  of  land  under  water,  and  persons  taking  title  from 
them  still  hold  possession. 

The  practice  of  the  proprietors  from  the  beginning  has 
been  to  sell  any  land  which  parties  desiring  to  purchase 
would  improve;  considering  that  sales  of  this  kind,  if 
the  conditions  of  sale  were  fulfilled,  would  enhance  the 
value  of  those  lands  which  remain  unsold.  This  is  ex- 
pressly stated  in  the  grants  and  concessions,  and  it  is 
further  made  a  condition  in  those  early  grants  of  head- 
lands and  patents  which  require  only  the  yearly  payment 
of  a  half  penny  an  acre,  or  in  some  cases  much  less. 
("  That  if  any  plantation  so  granted  shall,  by  the  space 
of  three  years,  be  neglected  to  be  planted  with  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  servants,  as  is  before  mentioned,  that 
then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  us  otherwise  to  dis- 
pose thereof  in  whole  or  in  part,  this  grant  notwithstand- 
ing."— Learning  a7id  Spicer,  page  25.)  -And  it  evidently 
was  for  the  protection  of  the  proprietors  in  their  unim- 
proved or  then  unproductive  lands  that  the  clause  was 
inserted  in  the  instructions  to  Lord  Cornbury,  that  he 
should  "  not  consent  to  any  act  or  acts  to  lay  any  tax 
upon  lands  that  lie  unprofitable."  This  agreement  still 
holds,  and  lands  that  have  never  been  sold,  or  if  sold 
have  never  been  improved  according  to  conditions  of 
rent,  still  belong  to  the  proprietors.  Such  lands_  are 
now  coming  to  be  in  demand,  at  considerable  prices. 
The  oyster  grounds  in  the  navigable  waters,  and  the  mud 
flats  bare  at  low  tide  or  covered  by  water  too  shallow  for 
navigation,  are  in  some  cases  of  great  productive  or  pros- 
pective value.  The  ownership  of  all  these  by  the  suc- 
cessors of  the  original  owners,  from  whom  they  pur- 
chased them,  is  just  and  equitable.  The  demand  for 
them  for  useful  jiurposes  is  now  so  immediate  that  we 
think  it  is  due  to  the  proprietors  and  to  the  State  to  have 
the  titles  fully  investigated  and  the  questions  at  issue 
settled. 


The  Eleventh  New  Jersey  Regiment. 

The  following  account  of  the  services  of  the  nth  N. 
J.  volunteers  is  from  a  letter  by  Major  Thomas  J.  Hal- 
sey,  of  that  regiment,  to  Hon.  Edmund  D.  Halsey: 

The  first  engagement  was  that  in  front  of  Fredericks- 
burg, in  which  the  regiment  lost  two  men  only;  but  we 
had  been  under  fire  and  the  regiment  stood  up  to  its  work. 

Our  next  engagement  was  the  hard  fought  battle  of 
Chancellorsville.  We  were  then  in  the  isf" brigade,  2nd 
division,  3d  corps.  The  regiment  went  into  that  fight  on 
the  afternoon  of  May  2nd  1863.  After  fighting  until  dark 
put  an  end  to  the  contest  we  lay  on   our  arms  all  night. 


396 


HISTORY  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


On  the  morning  of  the  3d  the  contest  was  renewed,  and 
it  was  a  most  terrific  fight.  My  company  (E)  suffered 
terribly.  I  took  into  the  fight  54  men;  seven  were  killed 
outright  and  twenty  wounded,  of  whom  two  died  from 
the  effects  of  their  wounds.  I  was  shot  through  the 
thigh  about  9  o'clock,  and  was  carried  to  the  rear  by 
three  of  my  men,  one  of  whom — Sergeant  James 
McDavit,  of  Dover — was  shot  through  the  head  and  fell 
dead  by  my  side;  and  Lieutenant  E.  E.  Newberry  was 
shot  through  the  leg.  The  regiment  did  splendid  work, 
losing  157  killed  and  wounded. 

At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  record  shows,  the  nth 
put  in  good  work,  as  every  field  officer  and  all  the  captains 
but  one  were  killed  or  wounded.  Captain  D.  B.  I.ogan,  a 
most  splendid  officer,  from  old  Morris,  was  killed  in  the 
fight. 

Having  sufficiently  recovered  from  my  wound,  I  joined 
the  regiment  in  August  at  Beal's  Station,  and,  finding 
myself  the  senior  officer,  took  command  until  Colonel 
McAllister's  return. 

The  next  battle  was  at  Locust  Grove,  on  the  27th  of 
November  1863.  We  had  a  hard  fight.  The  Excelsior 
brigade  on  our  right  and  the  26th  Pennsylvania  on  our 
left  gave  way,  being  hard  pressed,  and  the  nth,  being 
left  alone,  had  to  follow  suit. 

We  then  went  into  winter  quarters,  and  I  was  sent  to 
Trenton  on  recruiting  service.  I  rejoined  the  regiment 
in  April  following. 

On  the  morning  of  May  4th  1864  the  grand  old  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  under  Grant,  took  up  the  line  of  march 
to  find  Lee  and  a  battle.  It  did  not  take  us  long  to  find 
him,  ready  for  a  fight,  and  we  had  plenty  of  it.  On  the 
5th  we  struck  the  enemy  on  the  Brock  road.  On  the  6th 
the  fighting  was  terrible.  At  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
Lee  massed  his  forces  and  tried  to  break  the  center;  but 
it  was  of  no  use,  as  our  boys  were  behind  works.  We 
punished  him  most  terribly.  Many  of  our  men  shot  over 
100  rounds  of  ammunition  apiece. 

It  was  a  series  of  fights  from  that  time  on  until  we  ar- 
rived in  front  of  Petersburg,  in  which  the  nth  regiment 
was  in  every  engagement.  On  the  i6th  of  June  we  had 
a  hard  fight,  keeping  it  up  until  2  o'clock  next  morning. 
The  firing  was  incessant.  In  that  engagement  Captam 
Layton  of  Jersey  City  was  killed,  and  many  of  our  men 
were  killed  or  wounded.  On  the  21st  the  regiment  was 
sent  to  the  skirmish  line  and  remained  on  the  line  all 
night.  On  the  22nd  we  had  a  hard  fight  with  General 
Birneyin  command  (General  Hancock  being  unwell).  By 
some  oversight  there  was  a  gap  on  our  left,  through  which 
General  Mahone  brought  his  division,  completely  flank- 
ing us,  capturing  1,600  prisoners,  among  which  number 
I  found  myself.  I  thus  remained  in  the  sunny  south  un- 
til the  next  March,  when  I  was  exchanged.  I  rejoined 
the  regiment  near  Appomattox,  and  had  the  extreme  sat- 
isfaction of  heading  the  regiment  in  the  march  through 
the  city  of  Richmond  on  our  way  home. 

Below  is  a  list  of  the  Morris  county  men  in  Company  E 
of  the  I  ith  regiment  who  were  killed  or  died  from  disease: 

Sergeant  James  McUavit,  William  H.  Sweet  and  Dan- 
iel Talmadge,  killed  at  Chancellorsville;  Sergeant  E. 
Sturtevant,  Thomas  Tinney  and  Jacob  Miller,  killed  at 
Gettysburg;  Joshua  Beach,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner 
at  Locust  Grove,  and  died  in  prison;  Isaac  Odell,  Colum- 
bus Shauger  and   Cyrus  Talmadge,  died  of  disease. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  th.it  the  company  lost 
ten  men  by  bullets  and  disease  of  the  63  that  went  from 
Morris  county. 

I  can  truly  say  that  all  the  men  but  three  or  four  acted 
their  part  well  and  did  splendid  service.  Company  E  was 
the  finest  company  in  the  regiment,  and  I  was  proud  of  it. 

The  nth  did   its  full  share  in  the   glorious  cause  in 


which  we  were   engaged,  and   New-  Jersey  may  well  feel 
proud  of  her  gallant  sons,  as  they  stand  second  to  none. 


The  Village   of  Butler. 
By  IsiDOR  Lewi. 

The  youngest  village  in  Morris  county — Butler — is  sit- 
uated in  Peqiiannock  township,  on  the  Pequannock  River 
and  on  the  line  of  th&-New  York,  Susquehanna  and  West- 
ern Railroad.  It  was  until  recently  that  portion  of  the 
village  of  Bloomingdale  located  in  Morris  county. 

Butlgr  has  about  [,ioo  inhabitants,  and  has  grown  up 
around  the  factory  of  the  Rubber  Comb  and  Jewelry 
Company,  which  gives  employment  to  about  800  persons, 
two-thirds  of  whom  are  men,  the  remainder  women  and 
children.  This  factory,  a  view  of  which  is  given  here- 
with, is  the  largest  hard  rubber  factory  in  the  world,  its 
buildings  covering  an  area  of  upward  of  four  acres  in  its 
present  incomplete  condition;  additions  being  in  the 
course  of  erection  as  we  go  to  press. 

The  "  Newbrough  Hard  Rubber  Company "  con- 
structed the  nucleus  of  these  works  some  years  ago;  also 
the  large  raceway,  nearly  two  miles  long,  which  now  sup- 
plies the  works  with  water  sufficient  to  drive  two  large 
turbine  wheels,  which,  together  with  a  two  hundred  horse 
power  engine,  give  the  power  for  the  vast  quantity  of  ma- 
chinery employed. 

"The  Union  Vulcanite  Company,"  which  succeeded 
the  Newbrough,  made  very  few  if  any  improvements,  and 
in  December  1876  the  Rubber  Comb  and  Jewelry  Com- 
pany became  possessors  of  the  factory,  consisting  at  that 
time  of  one  one-story  building  50  by  200  feet.  It  was  at 
this  time  that  S.  S.  Sonneborn,  one  of  the  most  ex- 
perienced rubber  manufacturers  of  this  country,  whose 
experience  as  a  practical  manufacturer  extends  now  over 
a  period  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  entered  the  abandoned 
factory.  Surrounding  himself  with  able  scientific  assist- 
ants, whom  he  had  met  and  been  associated  with  in 
Europe,  and  being  himself  a  model  of  energy  and  indus- 
try, he  soon  resurrected  the  manufacture  of  hard  rubber 
at  this  place,  and  became  a  powerful  competitor  to  the 
then  larger  manufacturers. 

Among  the  more  prominent  of  Mr.  Sonneborn's  assist- 
ants might  be  mentioned  William  Kiel  and  J.  P.  Lange. 

The  buzz  of  the  water  wheel  and  the  clatter  of  ma- 
chinery were  again  heard  in  the  quiet  mountain  valley 
and  served  to  attract  people  from  the  neighborhood.  Just 
at  this  time  some  factories  near  by,  giving  employment  to 
large  numbers  of  hands,  had  suspended  operations,  and 
the  roads  leading  to  "the  rubber  works"  were  thronged 
with  sturdy  men  seeking  a  new  field  for  their  labors,  a  new 
home.  The  number  of  hands  in  the  factory  soon  in- 
creased from  60  to  upward  of  200;  houses  began  to 
spring  up;  the  factory  grew  daily;  its  products  became 
known  and  were  sought  in  the  market,  and  thrift  and 
general  prosperity  were  everywhere  apparent. 

In  July  1879  Richard  Butler,  late  of  the  firm  Howard, 
Sanger  &  Co.,  was  made  president  of  the  Rubber  Comb  and 
Jewelry  Company  and  manager  of  the  New  York  office, 
while  the  treasurer,  Mr.  Sonneborn,  remained  in  charge  of 
the  factory.  Although  numerous  and  important  additions 
had  been  made  to  the  factory  prior  to  this  time,  the  larg- 
est improvements  were  now  undertaken.  Besides  enlarg- 
ing the  works  to  facilitate  the  production  of  the  goods, 
which  were  now  in  great  demand,  the  company  began  to 
improve  the  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  large  tracts 
of  which  had  been  purchased  by  them.  Streets  were  laid 
out  and  a  number  of  dwelling  houses  erected,  which  were 
rented  to  the  employes  at  low  rates.  One  street  is  shown 
in  the  cut.     The  last   house  on    this  street  was  finished 


THE  RUBBER    COMB  AND    JEWELRY     COMPANY'S      TACTOf 

CITY    OFFICE   33   Jv^Eg^crq 


^A^t' 


>"*»^*^  ^^  (■jr*v*?r>'^>tsj^  ^ 


.t^  - 


"'?f-^^    rt-H&k,     .^ 


^■*-r^^*.fe.  ; 


?!'*'» 


%*^^Vte-^  ^««^^„   ^X^  *H  TiH^^??^,.-*^*!^^^  j^ 


'''*«^^  ^_ 


;^^7^         BUTU^R,    MORRIS      COUNTY,      NEW     JERSEV. 


HARD  RUBBER  AND  EXCELSIOR  FACTORIES. 


397 


on  the  day  of  the  death  of  Sanford  R.  Gifford,  the  gifted 
American  artist,  and,  as  a  tribute  to  his  memory  and  a 
compliment  to  his  personal  friend  and  executor  Mr.  But- 
ler, the  street  was  named  by  Mr.  Sonneborn  "Gifford 
street."  The  artist  had  visited  the  place  only  a  short 
time  prior  to  his  death,  and  was  so  charmed  with  the 
beautiful  mountain  scenjry  that  he  looked  forward  with 
great  pleasure  to  the  time  when  he  would  return  and  add 
bits  of  the  picturesque  landscape  to  his  collection.  Alas! 
his  hopes  were  not  realized;  and  as  his  works  remain  a 
monument  to  his  industry  and  his  devotion  to  the  art  he 
loved,  so  does  Gifford  street  betoken  the  apprecia- 
tion of  his  friends  and  their  sorrow  at  his  untimely 
end. 

About  this  time  Messrs.  Howell  &  Noble,  of  Morris- 
town,  who  are  large  land-owners  here,  erected  a  number  of 
dwellings,  a  large  store,  public  hall  and  hotel,  laid  out 
streets,  and  did  much  toward  the  imoroveraent  of  the 
village. 

Up  to  this  time  all  mail  matter  for  the  factory  and 
the  village  of  which  it  was  the  center  still  came  to  a  post- 
ofific-e  situated  in  another  county,  viz.  Bloomingdale, 
Passaic  county.  The  necessity  for  a  new  post-office  be- 
came greater  daily,  and  in  July  1881  the  Hon.  Thomas 
L.  James,  postmaster  general,  in  answer  to  the  petition 
of  the  residents  of  the  Morris  county  portion  of  Blooming- 
dale,  established  a  new  post-office,  appointing  Edward 
J.  Lewi,  the  proprietor  of  the  largest  store  in  the  place, 
postmaster,  and,  in  recognition  of  the  fact  that  to  the  Rub- 
ber Comb  and  Jewelry  Company  was  due  the  growth  of 
the  place,  named  the  office  "Butler"  after  Richard 
Butler,  president  of  the  company. 

Shortly  after  this  action  on  the  part  of  the  government 
a  meeting  of  the  property  owners  of  the  place  was  held 
at  the  Park  Hotel,  on  which  occasion  the  residents  re- 
ceived official  notice  of  that  action.  A  resolution  was 
unanimously  carried  endorsing  this  step  and  asking  the 
Midland  Railroad  Company  of  New  Jersey  (now  the 
New  York,  Susquehanna  and  Western)  to  change'  the 
name  of  the  station  to  Butler,  to  conform  to  the  name 
of  the  post-office.  Thus  the  Morris  county  portion  of 
Bloomin};,dale  and  the  station  on  the  line  of  the  railroad 
became  "  Butler." 

There  is  probably  no  important  branch  of  manufacture 
of  which  the  public  has  less  information  than  in  regard 
to  the  making  of  hard  rubber;  for  that  reason  it  will  not 
be  amiss  to  give  here  a  sketch  of  the  interesting  process 
by  which  a  comb,  a  pipe  stem,  a  delicately  chased  pistol- 
stock  or  a  surgical  instrument  is  produced.  These  ar- 
ticles and  hundreds  of  others  are  being  manufactured 
»  here,  since  hard  rubber  has  become  a  necessity  in  trade 
and  the  household.  It  has  superseded  dark  woods,  bone 
and  ivory,  in  articles  which  can  thus  be  produced  at  a  much 
lower  figure  and  are  more  durable  and  ornamental. 
As  a  material  for  scientific  instruments,  particularly 
electrical  and  surgical,  and  for  telephone  appliances,  it 
has  become  absolutely  indispensable,  its  insulating  prop- 
erties, flexibility  and  withal  its  comparative  cheapness 
making  it  preferable  to  any  other  material. 

The  crude  material,  the  sap  of  the  rubber  tree,  is  found 
in  the  largest  quantities  in  South  and  Central  America 
and  Afri.ca.  Having  been  cured  and  hardened,  it  is 
shipped  knd  comes  to  the  factory  in  bales  and  cases,  and, 
after  being  thoroughly  cleansed  o.f  all  impurities  by  a 
system  of  grinding  on  slowly  revolving  rollers  which  run 


in  water,  it  is  mixed  with  sulphur  and  other  ingredients, 
which,  when  the  mass  is  vulcanized,  harden  and  blacken. 
After  these  ingredients  have,  by  repeated  passages  through 
the  cylinders,  been  thoroughly  incorporated  with  the 
rubber,  the  whole,  a  soft  putty-like  mass,  is  calendered 
and  becomes  a  sheet  of  grayish  color  and  of  a  doughey 
nature.  This  sheet  is  then  plated,  i.  e.,  it  is  incased  in 
sheets  of  very  thin  tin  foil,  which  a-re  pressed  firmly  on 
the  soft  mass  in  order  to  expel  all  particles  of  air  and 
moisture.  The  tin  foil  used  for  this  purpose  is  made  of 
the  very  best  metal  and  is  all  rolled  here,  three  pairs  of 
rollers  of  huge  size  being  used  for  that  purpose.  The 
"  plated  sheets  "  are  then  cut  into  strips  of  various  sizes, 
according  to  what  is  to  be  made  of  them.  If  a  comb  is 
to  be  made,  the  rubber,  sandwiched  between  the  tin,  is 
pressed  in  the  desired  shape  by  the  toggle  press,  five  of 
which  are  in  constant  operation.  The  mould,  consisting 
of  two  plates,  closes  on  the  compound,  forcing  out  be- 
tween the  edges  the  surplus  matter,  and  forming  in  a 
moment  of  time  a  solid  comb  of  correct  shape  and  thick- 
ness, and  without  a  possible  flaw.  The  power  of  these 
presses  is  calculated  at  1,000,000  pounds  to  the  square 
inch.  The  rubber  now,  although  pressed  into  shape,  is 
still  a  soft,  useless  mass;  the  principal  step  toward  its 
becoming  a  black,  hard  body  must  yet  be  taken,  viz.  the 
vulcanization.  This  is  done  by  exposure  to  a  tempera- 
ture of  about  275°  in  steam-heated  cylinders.  After 
about  twelve  hours  the  moulded  mass  is  taken  from  the 
vulcanizer  transformed.  The  tin  is  stripped  off,  and  the 
soft,  putty-like  mass  has  become  a  hard  black  comb — 
without  teeth.  The  process  of  making  rubber  combs 
from  the  plate  thus  produced  is  very  much  the  same  as 
that  for  horn,  bone  or  other  hard  material.  The  auto- 
matic sawing  and  cutting  machines,  the  processes  of 
gririding,  rubbing  and  polishing  are  each  interesting  to 
the  visitor  of  these  various  departments,  which  contain 
labor-saving  machinery  of  the  latest  and  most  perfect 
patterns. 

All  the  paper  boxes,  of  which  great  quantities  are  used 
daily,  are  made  in  the  company's  own  box  factory,  where 
about  fifty  hands  are  employed. 

The  turning-room,  where  telephones,  syringes  and 
countless  articles  useful  and  ornamental  are  made,  gives 
employment  to  about  fifty  experienced  rubber  turners, 
and  the  work  in  this  department  is  known  throughout 
the  country  for  its  superior  character. 

THE    EXCELSIOR    FACTORY. 

The  excellent  water  facilities  have  attracted  other 
manufacturers  to  this  place,  most  prominent  among  them 
being  the  firm  Demarest  &  Russell,  manufacturers  of 
"  excelsior."  The  factory  is  situated  on  the  Pequannock 
River,  about  one  mile  from  the  station  and  post-office  of 
Butler.  The  machines  used  to  cut  the  poplar,  basswood 
and  whitewood  into  the  various  grades  of  excelsior  are 
run  by  water  exclusively,  a  30-inch  turbine  wheel  giving 
the  power. 

The  demand  for  this  article,  which  is  used  extensively 
for  bedding,  upholstering  and  packing,  has  become  so 
great  that  Messrs.  Demarest  &  Russell  have  been  com- 
pelled to  build  additions  to  their  factory,  which  now 
gives  employment  to  sixteen  men,  which  number  will  be 
considerably  increased  when  the  additions  now  in  course 
of  erection  are  completed. 


INDEX   TO    NAMES. 


The  names  composing  the  following  classes  or  lists  are,  on  account  of  their  great  number,  necessarily  omitted 
from  this  index:  Members  of  military  organizations;  members  of  fire  companies;  township  officers  (pages  239,  240, 
382,  383);  pastors  of  M.  E.  churches  (pages  258,  388);  church  members  (pages  304,  308,  309,  318,  341);  church 
officers  (pages  340,  346,  347,  369);  pupils  (page  350);  school  trustees,  etc.  (page  354);  Morris  county  soldiers  who 
died  in  the  civil  war  (pages  359,  360). 

When  the  only  distinction  between  two  or  more  names  consists  of  middle  names  or  initials  such  distirrction  is 
omitted;  thus  John  Smith,  John  B.  Smith  and  John  C  Smith  will  be  found  under  the  name  of  John  Smith. 


lblrs,!^l"-^bam,  293. 
Samuel  T.,  293. 
Ackerman,  Alexander,  21. 
Ackerson,  Alexander  W.,  313. 
Ackley,  James,  335. 
Adams,  Ephraim,  44. 

James  S.,  153, 164. 

Joseph  A.,  152. 

Samuel,  39. 

Stephen,  44,  234. 
Aikman,  Hohert,  71,  209. 
Albright,  Robert,  77,  78,201. 
Alden,  Wllliara,  288. 
Allen,  family,  341. 

David,  77,  275. 

D.  S.,  321. 

Edward,  368. 

Erastus,  157, 164. 

Gilbert,  133, 138. 

Henry,  310. 

Jabez,  64,  318,  328. 

Job,  25,  41,  42,  45,  66, 132,  274, 
336,  339,  343,  346,  350,  356. 

John,  58. 

Pierson,  308. 

Thomas,  58,  358. 

William,  77. 
Allerton,  Jacob,  343. 
Allien,  Jacob,  138. 

John,  138,  355. 
Ailing,  Pruden,  53,  67,  74,  79. 
Alpaugh,  Jacob,  381. 
Alrich,  Peter,  8. 
Alyea,  Abbott,  25. 
Ames,  John  G.,  144. 
Anderson,  Calvin,  201. 

Ellakim,  345. 

Henry  V.,  388. 

James,  49, 164. 

John,  10, 15,  39,  75. 

William,  75, 138,  200,  388. 
Andross,  Sir  Edward,  9, 15. 
Anson,  H.  J.,  3!i3. 
Anthony,  George,  183. 
Appleton,  John  P.,  73, 183,  393. 
Arms,  Clifford  S.,  208. 
Armstrong,  Alfred  M.,  158. 

Amzi,  71, 152,  248,  344. 

Ellis  T.,  147, 158,  164. 
Arnold,  Isaac  G.,  147. 

Jacob,  36,  38,  44,  74,  78,  113, 
146, 149, 191. 


Arrowsmith,  Michael,  77. 

Nicholas,  76. 
Ashley,  Pelatiah,  153. 
Atno,  Francis  R.,  164. 

Sherwood  S.,  163. 
Atwood,  Anthony,  140. 
Auger,  William,  336. 
Austin,  Jonah,  44,  339. 
Averill,  James  0.,  73,  344. 
Axtell,  Charles,  78,  242,  248. 

Daniel,  248. 

Bbenezer,  29. 

Henry,  149,  241,  342,  244,  248. 

Jacob  T.,  163. 

Samuel,  79,  243. 

Silas,  38,  79,  248. 

Aylrs,h"»«°«-T«- 
Horace,  162. 
George,  3.55. 
John,  138, 146, 148. 
Joseph,  3.53. 
Stewart,  388. 
William,  355,  356. 

B. 

Babbitt,  Joseph,  164. 

Seth,  76. 

William,  76,  143,  156,  158,  248. 
Babcock,  James,  .52. 

Joseph  H.,  317. 
Badgley,  family,  263. 
Bailey,  Benjamin,  130, 133, 149. 

John,  320. 

William,  1.57,  311. 
Baker,  family,  293,  360,  362. 

David,  343. 

Henry,  43,  63,  360. 

•lames,  150. 

Jeremiah,  43,  45. 

Thomas,  263. 

William,  45,  63, 151, 163,  363. 
Baldwin,  Bethuel,  250. 

Caleb,  341. 

Daniel,  33,  226. 

David,  213. 

Elijah,  250. 

Ezekiel,  353. 

Isaac,  69. 

James,  5f ,  ,357. 

John,  219. 

Joseph,  67,  349. 


Samuel,  132. 

Stephen,  356. 
Ball,  Aaron,  76. 

Caleb,  21. 

Isaac, 77. 

James,  78. 

John,  149. 

Joshua,  49, 115, 152. 

Samuel,  26,  33. 
Ballentine,  John,  77. 

Joseph,  74, 151, 162, 164. 
Banghart,  C.  L.,  72. 

George,  140. 
Banta,  Henry,  269. 

J.  V.  S.,  354. 
Barclay,  David,  109. 

John,  17. 

flobert,  9, 15, 17. 
Bard,  Elisha,  77. 
Bardwell,  D.  M.,  71. 
Barker,  P.  C,  143, 163. 
Barkley,  David,  336. 
Barnes,  Albert,  134,  136,.150. 

Asa  A.,  140. 
Barr,  George  G.,  275. 
Bartine,  D.  W.,  140. 
Bartley,  Hugh,  79. 

Jonathan  P.,  78. 

William,  255,  259. 
Barton,  John,  352. 

Thomas,  42. 
Bartow,  Thomas,  40. 

William,  52. 
Basse,  Jeremiah,  15. 
Bastedo,  Jacob,  336. 
Bates,  Alexander,  275. 

David,  32,  76. 

John,  78, 163. 
Batolf,  Guillian,  49. 
Bayard,  Nicholas,  266. 

Samuel,  266. 
Bayles,  Augustin,  148. 

Benjamin,  132, 159. 

Samuel,  133. 
Beach,  family,  349. 

Abner,  42, 132, 138. 

Benjamin,  19,  20,  42,  76,  132, 
335,  336,  338,  343,  355. 

Chilion,  42. 

Columbus,  42,  77,  78, 162,  315. 

Frederick  H.,  358. 

Enoch,  36,  38. 

Ephraim,  69,  70. 

Ezekiel,  36. 


F.  H.,  320. 

Isaac,  77. 

Joseph,  32,  35,  75,  241. 

Joshua,  396. 

Moses,  77. 

Nathaniel,  349. 

Samuel,  76,  78, 145,  262,  338. 

William,  78,  147. 
Bean,  Moses,  77. 
Beardslej',  George,  39. 
Beatty,  John  C,  164. 
Becker,  William,  157, 158. 
Bedell,  family,  362. 
Bedford,  Joseph,  275. 
Bedle,  Joseph  D.,  15. 
Beekman,  Hinojossa,  8. 

William,  8. 

Beaupland,  V.  B.  K.,  209. 

Beaman, ) 

Beeman,  >- family,  342. 

Beraan,    ) 

Alpheus,  40,  313,  315,  316. 

David,  40, 43, 53, 375, 339, 342. 

Josiah,  40,  43,  45,  57,  275, 
292,  295,  314,  337,  339,  350. 

Samuel,  343. 
Beers,  Jabez,  79, 157. 

John  H.,  62. 
Belcher,  Jonathan,  10, 15, 132. 
Belden,  William,  256. 
Bell,  Andrew,  355. 

Augustus  W.,  163. 
Bellars,  John,  336. 
Benuet,  K.,  317. 
Bentley,  E.  D.,  139. 

J.V.,  140, 157, 163. 
Bergen,  John  G.,  207. 
Berkle.v,  Lord,  9. 

1-fj^-^  family,  392. 

Aaron,  61. 

Edward  Payson,  311. 

Henry,  375,  351,  355. 

John  D.,  319. 

Martin,  281. 

Paulus,  20. 

Samuel,  18,  266. 

Stephen,  313. 

Titus,  318,  351. 
Biard,  John,  375. 
Bierworth,  L.  C,  320. 
Biddle,  Clement,  125. 

Edward,  45,  56,  64. 

William,  19. 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


399 


Bidleman,  George,  67. 

Bright,  Lemuel,  237. 

Byllinge,  Edward,  9, 15. 

8^S;^lr;fj-°b,2U,38-. 

Bidleon,  William,. 336. 

Thomas,  2:i6. 

Byrara,  Aaron,  343. 

Bigalow,  family,  275. 

Brinckerhott,  George  D.,  228,273. 

Abigail,  26. 

John,  255. 

Aaron,  42,  275. 

James  G.,  253. 

Abraham,  246. 

Caul,  Robert,  381. 

John,  19,  42,  48. 

Brittin,  Abraham,  78, 160. 

Ebenezer,  75,  242,  246. 

Cazad.  Samuel,  350. 

Bilby,  John,  388. 

William,  38,  69,  76,  77,  78, 162. 

Eliab,  246. 

Chadwel),  George  H.,  144. 

Bird,  Ellsha,  19. 

BrizeliuB,  Paul  D.,  384. 

John,  63,  69, 163,  246. 

Chamberlain,  A  ,  239. 

Isaac,  77, 140, 163. 

Broadwell,  Burtis  M.,  311. 

William  H.,  204. 

Horace,  45,  47,  78. 

John,  164. 

David,  338, 338. 

Joseph,  44. 

Bishop,  David  D.,  72,  319. 

Josiah,  75,  206. 

Lewis,  44. 

Edwin,  80. 

Simeon,  76,  162. 

c. 

Rev.  W.,  72. 

Nathan,  198. 

Brookholst,  Anthony,  18,  266. 

Chandler,  family,  362. 

Heuben,  208. 

Broderick,  James,  31. 

Cain,  John  V.,  313. 

Lyman  A.,  58,  77,  78,  357, 

362. 

Blackwell  &  McFarlan,  45,  314, 

Bronson,  Asahel,  257. 

Caffrey,  Patrick,  287. 

Chapman,  Chalmers  D.,  2.56. 

Blair,  Samuel,  275. 

Brookfleld,  James,  193. 

Caldwell,  family,  262. 

John,  333. 

Blanchard,  George,  313. 

John,  76,  138. 

Charles  H.,  311. 

Cheever,  Ezekiel,  1.32. 

Moses,  313, 317. 

Moses  A.,  77, 140. 

Elias,  262. 

Jonathan,  148. 

Blanchet,  Dureste  203. 

Brotherton,  Henry,  291,  310. 

James,  192,  195,  i96,  263. 

Cherry,  Moses,  142. 

Blatchley,  Ebenezer,  31. 

James,  291. 

Calkins,  Darius,  317. 

William,  13:3. 

J.  Warren,  156. 

Richard,  280,  307,  315. 

Callam,  John,  308. 

Chester,  Alfred,  151. 

Blauvelt.  George  M.,  214. 

Brower,  David,  251. 

Camp,  Caleb,  35. 

Chew,  Benjamin,  a36. 

I.  Alslyne,  385. 

Brown,  Abbott,  210. 

Campbell,  Caleb,  67. 

R.  S.,  157. 

Blaw,  Cornelius,  252,  282. 

Andrew,  64. 

'Joseph,  71,  387. 

Child,  Francis,  76, 142. 

Blecker,  John  A.,  76,  78. 

Anson,  353. 

Campfield,  Abraham,  132. 

Chovey,  Charles  L.,  204. 

Bloomfleld,  Joseph,  15. 

Abraham,  250. 

Isaac,  80. 

Christine,  William  W.,318. 

Blything,  Joseph,  223. 

A.  M.  E.,  226. 

Jabez,  31,  75,  76,  113,  1.33, 149, 

Church,  William  E.,  1.37, 1.58. 

Board,  Cornelius,  48. 

Daniel,  206. 

1.50, 155. 

Clancy,  T.  F.,  2-57. 

Bockover,  George,  76. 

Henry  I.,  159, 162, 

William,  38,  57,  74,  78,  80, 147, 

Clark,  Ab;-aham,  346. 

Bogart,  Samuel,  352. 

James  M.,  81,  82, 158. 

149,  153,  1.55. 

Benjamin,  367. 

Boisaubin,  Amedie,  209. 

John,  29,  48, 141,  239,  275. 

T.  T.,  368. 

Daniel,  263. 

Beauplain,  190. 

J.  M.,  316. 

Canfleld,  Abraham   C,  77,   141,  153, 
1.59  2fi3 

Henry,  241,  245. 

Vincent,  202. 
Bolland,  James,  335. 
BoUen,  James,  332. 
Bolton,  J.,  144. 

Jonathan,  29,  39. 
Joshua,  153. 
Peter  B.,  48,  236. 
Thomas,  41,42. 

Augustus  C,  77,  78, 163. 
Benjamin  0.,  76, 142, 164,  264. 
Dayton  L,  141,  162. 
Francis.  183  319 

Isaac,  132. 

James  N.,  345. 
J.  H.,  388. 
Jesse,  245. 

Bonnell,  family,  263. 
Benjamin,  193. 

Uriah,  154. 
Bruen,  David,  25,  76, 188. 

Frederick,  63,  310,  365. 

Henry,  38. 

Isaac,  42,  43,  57, 149. 

Israel,  .57,  67,  74.  76,  147    149 

John,i33,  338,343,  .344. 
Nathaniel,  245. 

Carman,  293. 
Enos,  200. 

F.  A.,  72. 
Ichabod,  196,  208. 

Sylvester,  293. 
William  X.,  263. 

James,  31. 

James  H.,  78. 

153,  159,  263,  314. 

Clemson,  T.  G.,  144. 

Jonathan,  69, 162. 

Joseph,  193. 

James  C  57,  75, 160. 

Cobb,  Andrew  B.,  46,  56,  66,  76,  345. 

Nathan,  262. 

Brundage,  Albert,  71. 

John,  141, 164,  264. 

Ebenezer,  46,  48. 

Bonsall,  James,  140, 147. 

Buchanan,  Charles  G.,  61,  357. 

Mahlon,  63. 

Edward,  224. 

Boone,  Thomas,  10, 15,  273. 

Buck,  J.  S..  72. 

Silsrs  D.,  63. 

George  T.,  74,  77,  78,  140, 

146, 

Boss,  Gideon  V.,  352. 
Booth,  K.  M.,  181. 

BufkiVT'l-J--^^^-"«- 

William,  38,  51. 
Cardiff,  James,  275. 

151, 156, 162, 182,  219, 
John,  41,  42,  74,  76,  78,  234. 

358. 

Boozer,  John,  138. 
Bostedo,  Jacob,  52,  71. 

John,  320. 
Budd,  family,  215. 

Cardy,  John,  275. 
Carle,  family,  263. 

Lemuel.  46.  52,  56,  67,  70 
160,  219,  223,  227,  335, 
Lewis  B.,  162. 
Cobbett,  Edward,  158. 

79, 
349. 

Boudinot,  Tobias,  67,  349. 
Elias,  335. 

Abraham,  256. 
Bernardus,  198. 

John,  23,  24,  25,  38,  75,  77,  78, 
263,  343. 

Boutelier,  L.,  226. 

Daniel,  162,  215. 

Carmichael,  Alexander,  36,  74,  76,  78, 

Cochran,  I.  W.,  71,  72. 

Bowers,  Lemuel,  75. 

John,  198,  254,  332,  365. 

147, 149. 150. 

Coe,  A.  J.,  320. 

Samuel,  75. 

Bull,  Richard,  268. 

A  uisustus,  1.58. 

Benjamin,  133, 149. 

Bowlsby,  George,  225. 
Richard.  36. 

William,  31. 
Bunn,  Lewis  D.,  164. 

Charles,  147, 162. 
David,  74. 

Ebenezer,  78,  388. 
Jared,  45. 

Bowman,  Lambert,  76. 

Bunting,  James  H.,  204. 

Carnes,  William,  233. 

Joseph  W.,  20,  21. 

S.  L.,  72,  140. 

Burchell,  Samuel,  313. 

Zophar,  29. 

Peter  E.,  313. 

Bowne,  Andrew,  15. 

Burnett,  Aaron,  188,  206. 

Carpenter,  John  M.,  357. 

Ruth,  25. 

Conover,  380. 
Boyd,  William,  354. 

David,  77. 

Carr,  Sir  Robert,  8. 

Thomas,  46,  77,  79,  291. 

Edward,  247. 

William  A.,  78. 

Cogswell,  John,  339. 

Boykin.  John,  141. 
Boylan,  James,  226. 
Boyle,  family,  282. 

Solomon,  79,  262,  263. 

James,  108,  206. 
John,  335. 
Josiah,  193. 
Matthew,  76. 

Carrell,  Daniel,  291,  308. 

James,  148, 151, 164,  291,  313. 
Carrington,  Jonathan,  275. 
Carroll,  Thomas  M,  140. 

Nathan,  20. 
Coghlan,  A.  J.  &R.,223. 

Daniel,  78, 223. 
Cole,  David,  346,  354. 

Bradley,  William  R.,  79. 
Bradford,  Ebenezer,  206,  368. 
Brady,  James,  306. 
Brainerd,  David,  246, 290. 

Matthias,  25, 138,  148, 188,  344. 
Samuel  C,  141. 
William,  188,  269,  334. 
Burnham,  F.  G.,  142. 

Carter,  Azariah,  77,  201. 

Benjamin,  193,  205. 
Jeremiah,  193. 
Lewis,  38. 

E.,  152. 
Henry,  77. 
Peter,  ,38. 
Coleman,  Azal,  378. 

Brant,  David,  201. 

Era=itus.  311. 

Gordon,  163. 
Burr,  J.  K.,  140. 

Luke,  205. 
Thomas,  71, 183 

Benjamin,  39. 
James  S.,  162. 

Samuel,  204. 

Burras,  James,  1.57. 

Carteret,  Sir  George,  9. 

John,  8. 

Bray,  William  H.,  309. 
Breck,  Francis,  254.  .3«5. 
■Breese,  Sidney,  316. 
Brewerton,  G.  D.,  139. 

Burrel,  Joseph,  339. 
Burrill,  Samuel,  233. 

i;j??Sre^,NA---«''- 
John,  31,  190. 

Philip,  9, 15. 
Gary,  Amzi,  143. 
Daniel,  367. 
Ephraim,  243. 
John,  242,  247- 

Joseph,  77. 
J.  Warren,  380. 
Colfax,  George  R.,  76. 

Robert,  46,  67,  75,  76,  160 
279. 

274 

Brewster,  George  D.,  80. 

James  F.,  71,  214. 
Briant,  1   .     go 
Bryant,  f'^  •'''"■ 

D.  L.,  63. 

William,  318. 
Burwell,  Ephraim,  337. 

Ca.se,  Charles  P.,  158. 
Ichabod,  .348. 

William,  31,  38,  266. 
Colics,  George  W.,  151, 159, 164. 

Samuel,  339. 

William  H.,  311. 

Collier,  J.  H.,  253. 

Bushnell,  Thomas  C.,  137, 1.59. 

Casen,  Joseph,  22. 

CoUvcr,  family.  374. 

James  W.,  74,  75,  313. 

Buskirk,  Lawrence,  36. 

Caskey,  Enoch  T.,  137, 138: 

Joseph,  379. 

John  J.,  69. 

Butler,  E.  E.,  319. 

John,  79. 

Combs,  Moses,  67. 

Samuel  O.,  76. 
Daniel,  291,  308. 

Butler,  Richard,  396. 

Robert  v.,  256. 

Peter,  293. 

Butterworth,  Joshua  H.,  326. 

Samuel  C,  77. 

Comley,  James,  280. 

Jacob,  308. 
Briddin,  Joseph,  21. 
Briggs,  Thomas  H.,  259. 

J.  F.,  319. 
Buttz,  Henry  A.,  140,  403. 

William  C,  168, 162, 164. 
Casterline,  John  A.,  313,  319. 

Condict,  1  <,„„„„  Qii- 
Condit,    ^'"""y'^l'- 

Byard,  Samuel,  18. 

Joseph,  345,  348,  353. 

Aaron,  78,  225,  344. 

400 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Benjamin,  76,  77,  78, 250. 

n.  S.,  318,  23V. 

Edward,  67,  74,  75,  76,  159, 

162,  SJo,  849. 
Hiram,  368. 
Isaiah  W.,  317. 
Israel,  58,  69. 
I.  W.,  318. 
Jonatlian,  13, 137. 
Lewis,  39,  69,  74,  76,  77,  78, 

150, 153, 160,  367. 
ilelvin  S.,  75,  334. 
Nathaniel  0.,  39,  250. 
.Peter,  26,130, 132, 148. 
Philip,  l.TO,  138. 
Silas,  26,  32,  76,  78,  113,  117, 

148, 162. 
Swain  A.,  250. 
Stephen,  250. 
Timothy,  80,  250. 
Cone,  John,  275. 

Nathan,  375. 
Spencer  H.,  388. 

CoS|lr;}Abioah,353,355. 

Benjamin,  132. 
David,  136,  351. 
Joseph,  274. 
Stephen,  76. 
Thomas,  278,  337,  351. 
William,  a56. 

Snkltak,[  Benjamin,  263. 

Cornelius  S.,  183. 

B.  H.,  72. 

John,  131. 

Jonathan,  133. 

Nathaniel,  71, 183,  253. 

Stephen,  159. 

William,  78,  263. 

Z.  W.,  141. 
Conlifl,  Joseph,  36. 
Connett,  Henry,  262. 

Madison,  42. 
Conrad,  John,  313. 
Conway,  John,  39. 
Cook,  Abraham,  77. 

Daniel,  76. 

Ellis,  35,  26,  53,  75,  76,  78, 188, 
193. 

Fred.  W.,350. 

Henry,  248. 

Horace,  233. 

James,  34,  38,  69,  78, 140. 

Jacoh,  241,  248, 

John,  79, 193,  336,  346,  347. 

Joseph,  348. 

Michael,  250, 253. 

Nathan  A.,  77. 

Silas,  76,  78,  160,  250,  252. 

Sylvanus,  77. 
Cooper,  family,  210,262. 

Abraham,  2il. 

Benjamin,  49,  50,  75, 109. 

Daniel,  74,  75,  262. 

David  T.,  77,  78. 
(  Elijah,  153. 

Ezra,  142. 

George,  363. 

Henry,  67,  76. 

John  G.,  76,  363. 

J.  D.,  345. 

Nathan,  63,  76,  78,  241,  248. 
Stephen  B.,  358. 
Corbit,  Israel  S.,  309. 
Coriell,  James  N.,  164. 

Walter  N.,  159. 
Corliss,  Alonzo  B.,  184. 
Cornelius.  John,  39. 
Cornell,  Frederick  F.,  3,53. 

S.  F.,  144. 
Cornish,  Alonzo,  263. 

Robert  N.,  72, 363. 
Cornine.  John,  237. 
Corrine,  William,  38. 
Cortelyou,  John  W.,  138. 
Cortland,  John,  19. 
Philip,  23.  1 


Cortright,  Harlan  W.,  23«. 

Corwin,    iQeorB-eS    163 
Corwine,  1  '^eorge  b.,  io-. 

John,  308. 

L.  F.,  72',  368. 

Nathan,  77. 

Samuel  W.,  182. 

William,  76,  78. 
Cossett,  .Tacob,  255. 

Job,  355. 
Cosby,  William,  10, 15. 
Cough,  William, 375. 
Coursen,  William  A.,  74. 
Coulter,  James,375. 
Courter,  family,  268. 

John,  30. 
Covert,  C.  A.,  331. 

Coxe,[l3euJamin,159. 

Daniel,  10, 15, 17,  318. 

Samuel,  348,  307. 
Craig,  Daniel  D.,  163. 
Cramer,  James,  SOS. 
Crane,  Albert,  183. 

Augustus,  163.' 

Benjamin,  76,  351,  331. 

Edward,  21. 

George,  59. 

Henry,  60. 

H.  W.,181, 184. 

Israel,  67,  381,  349. 

J.  T.,  140, 156. 

Matthias,  138, 153. 

Nathaniel,  193. 

Obadiah,  76. 

Oliver,  145. 

Samuel,  42. 

Stephen,  11. 

Timothy  W.,  183. 

William,  31. 

Uzal,  337. 
Cranston,  Alfred,  147. 
Crater,  David,  77. 

Philip  W.,153.  • 

P.  J.,  73. 
Crawley,  Charles,  275. 
Creger,  John,  386. 
Crittenden,  family,  317. 

Ira,  306. 

Thomas  D.,  317. 
Crome,  Oliver,  298. 
Crooks,  "G.  H.,  203. 
Cross,  John,  131. 
Crossett,  Robert,  307, 310. 
Crowell,  David  A.,  380. 

F.  J.,115. 

Seth,  301. 

Cullen,  William,  1,38. 

Cummins,    }n„„^„^rt    ait 
Cummings,  f  George  0.,  317. 

Guillian  T.,  77. 

Robert,  341,  243. 

Samuel,  351. 
Cumit,  Aaron,  138. 
Cutler,  Augustus,  26,  74,  77,  78,  151, 
162, 172. 

Jesse,  138. 

Joseph,  26,  80. 

Silas  C,  141. 

CTriah,  130, 132. 

W.  W.,  159. 
Cuyler,  Henry,  335. 

John  M.,  141. 


D. 

Dally,  James,  275.  ' 
Dallas,  Archibald,  28, 28,  29, 31. 
Dalliker,  Frederick,  386. 
Dalrymple,  family,  391. 

Charles,  141, 157, 163, 164. 

Dennis,  315. 

Henry  M.,  137, 138, 157. 

John,  77. 

Joseph,  75,  76,  291,  315. 

Vanclever,  75. 


Danels,  Benjamin,  275. 

William,  239. 
Danforth,  George  H.,  143. 

Edward  J.,  143. 
Darby,  John,  220. 
Darcy,  John,  31,  38, 30,  78,  79, 157, 160 

198,  352. 
Darly,  J.  P.,  309. 
Davenport,  Abraham,  251. 

Bishop,  352. 

Charles  P.,  236. 

Cornelius,  44,  76,  229,  234,  236- 

Enos,  77,  234,  235,  355. 

Hugh,  275. 

Humphrey,  350,  368,  375.- 

H.  H.,  289. 

John,  19,  21,  230,  250, 275. 

James  L.,  348,  355. 

Leonard,  251. 
Davis,  Joel,  137, 138. 

J.  J.,  158. 

J.  Kirby,  237, 368. 

Dawson,  E.  B.,  182. 
Day,  Artemas,  76. 

Aaron,  237. 

Benjamin ,  75. 

Charles,  79. 

David,  75,  77. 

Francis  A.,  140. 

Henry,  60. 

Israel,  68. 

Jemima,  138. 

John,  21. 

Paul,  204. 

Phebe,  26. 

Samuel,  32, 132, 193. 

Stephen,  25,  76, 141, 193,  262. 

Tunis,  43. 

Thomas,  355. 

Wilbur  F.,  140, 158. 

William,  193,  369. 
Dayless,  William,  31. 
Dayton,  Ellas,  28,  30,  31. 
Dean,  Thomas,  311. 
De  Baun,  Jacob  A.  N.,  329. 

Peter,  379. 


D«Boug^4  family,  S 


De  Bow,     f 

Garret,  31,  279. 

John,  76,  78,  275. 

Paul  B.,  78. 
De  Camara,  Joseph  B.,  80. 
De  Camp,  Augusta,  65. 

Chilion  F.,  48,  335. 

David,  44,  77. 

Edward,  48. 

G.  I.,  337. 

Jane,  64. 

Jeremiah  M.,  75. 

John,  67,  76,  333,  234,  335,  349. 

Joseph,  44, 45. 

Lemuel,  44. 

Samuel,  44. 

William  S.,  66. 
Decker,  Joseph,  346. 
Decker,  John,  46, 182. 
De  Hart,  Charles,  308,  334. 

Job  W.,  311. 

John,  11. 

Matthias,  24. 

Robert,  73. 

Stephen,  63. 

William,  23,  24,  26,  28,  32,  77, 
148. 
De  Lancey,  Oliver,  335. 
Dell,  Richard,  293,  295,  338. 
Dellicker,  David,  76. 

Frederick,  47,  75. 

William,  76,  78,  379. 
Demarest  &  Russell,  397. 

Jacob,  36. 

Samuel,  38,  79. 
De  Mott,  family,  267. 

Frederick  A.,  75, 172. 

Garrett,  75. 

DeiSh!'  \  Frederick,  79,  337,  338. 
Jacob,  76, 269, 336. 


Denman,  Matthias,  38. 

Samuel,  193. 
Dennison,  James  R.,  77. 

Lyman,  59, 328. 
Denton,  Daniel,  320. 
Depue,  M.  Ayres,  388. 
Derickson,  George  W.,  158. 
Derry,  Daniel,  320. 

J.  J.,  144. 

William,  317. 
Dertbick,  John  J.,  a51,  353. 
Dey,  Tunis,  367. 

De^oe,Khraim,385.. 

Oliver  H.  P.,  73, 344. 
Dickerson,  family,  321. 

Alexander,  77,  78,  315. 
Cornelius,  78. 
Daniel.  145,  356. 
Edward  N.,  63. 
Esther,  35. 
James  L.,  44, 234. 
John,  78,  334. 

Jonathan,  25,  63,  78,  133, 153, 
148,  291. 

Joseph,  45,  78,  160,  234,   236, 
239,  315. 

Joshua.  145. 

Mahlon,  1.5,  25,  47,  63,  76,  78, 
114, 160,  310,  313,  321.  366. 

Mahlon  L.,  237. 

Peter,  145. 

Philemon,  1.5,  30,  52,  63,  122, 
230,  262. 

Silas,  47. 

Stephen,  176,  234,  345,  349. 

Sylvester,  313. 

Thomas,  25,  76. 

William,  77, 314. 
Dickinson,  Jonathan,  198. 
Dixon,  Calvin,  77. 

James,  46, 148,  288. 

Lot,  76. 

William,  147, 159,  335,  336,  346. 
Dobbin,  E.  L.,  140. 

J.,  318. 

Dodd,[*''°'«y'263- 

Abner,  38. 

Baldwin,  243. 

Lebbeus,  243, 248. 

Stephen,  78,  241,243, 248. 
Dodge,  J.  Smith,  144. 

Dfe,[f«-nily,353. 

Bishop,  64. 

Michael,  344,  347,  350. 

Peter,  347. 
Doley,  Jacob,  76. 
Donaldson,  Jeremiah  F.,  163. 
Doney,  William,  321. 
Doremus,  family,  267. 

Abraham,  234. 

Cornelius  B.,  78,  250,  267,  284. 

Frederick,  274. 

James,  376. 

John,  275. 

Thomas,  284. 
Dorman,  George  M.,  320. 

Philip,  275. 
Dormeyer,  Frederick,  351. 
Doty,  family,  292. 

Aaron,  76,293. 

E.  A.,  158. 

Joseph  D.,  72. 

Moses,  45,  293. 

Solomon,  162. 
Douglass,  Benjamin,  141. 

James,  156. 

Nathaniel  F.,  77. 

Doughty,  John,  29,  45,  55,  67,  75,  76, 
79, 113, 119, 160. 

Solomon.  79,  263. 
Dow,  John,  44, 46,  234. 
Downes,  Patrick  F.,  73. 
Downing,  Roswell  B.,157. 
Drake,  A.  A.,  255. 

Ebenezer,  67. 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


401 


Eliphalet,  77. 

Elisha,  867. 

George  K.,  75,  78, 133,  154, 159, 
160,  366. 

Jacob,  25,  26,  32,  76,  78,  14], 
241,  308,  350,  365. 

James  W.,  42,  78,  79,  245. 

John,  242. 

Jullua  A.,  164. 

Nelson  H.,  78. 

Silas,  25. 

Zephanlah,  75,  77, 211,  212. 
Brinkwater,  J.  M.,  215. 
Drum,  Lewis  B.,  140,  209. 

Jacob,  32. 

William,  39. 
Drummon,  William,  275. 
Duberceau,  Laville,  203. 
Dudley,  H.  C,  319. 

Joseph,  15. 
Duer,  William  A.,  49,  76, 144. 
Dumont,  A.  Henry,  13T. 

H.A.,150. 
Duncan,  Nellie,  147. 
Dunham,  Azariah,  335. 

Asher,  36. 

Hampton,  39. 

James,  335. 

Stephen,  28. 
Dunzoy,  Lewis  D.,  275. 
Dupuy,  Eugene,  203. 
Duryea,  Daniel,  251. 

Garret,  253. 

Biohard,  252. 


Eagles,  Charles  H.,  313. 
Earls,  William  S.,  158. 
Easton,  William  J.,  164. 
Eaton,  G.  W.,  60. 

i^kll?;|j--«^'346. 

Thomas,  75, 187. 
Eddy,  Samuel,  140, 157. 
Edsall,  Joseph,  38. 
Edwards,  Caleb  W.,  346. 

C.  A.,  144, 159. 

James  C,  142. 

William,  275. 
Egbert,  Theodore,  144. 
Eick,  Caspar,  386. 
Elliott,  Alexander,  62. 
Ellis,  John,  138. 
Ellison,  M.  E.,  140,  318. 
Elmer,  family,  26  J. 

Jonathan,  263. 
Ely,  George  C,  159. 

James,  77. 
Embley,  John,  20. 
Bramell,  H.  G.,  168. 
Emmons,  Nicholas,  76. 
Bnslee,  William,  138. 
Erdman.  Albert,  71, 143,  3)8. 
Erskine,  Eobert,  53,  75. 
Ervin,  David,  32. 
ffiKfc<Jnrad,350,275. 

Lewis,  78. 
Esseler,  John,  275. 
Bsten,  George  W.,  184. 
Bstley,  Moses,  147, 149. 
Estile,  Noah,  351. 

Stephen,  357, 
Evans,  James  S.,  213. 

John  D.,  63. 
Swing,  Charles,  72. 

Byers,  j,  George.  365. 
Eyre,   ) 

J.  E.,  152. 


Faesch,  family,  281. 

John  Jacob,  38, 41, 45, 53, 55, 64, 
75,76,14.5,149,281,337,350. 

Kiohard  B.,  57,  64, 145,  281. 


Fairchild,  family,  228. 

Abraham,  76,  222,  223. 

Anna,  131. 

Benjamin,  275. 

Caleb,  74. 

Ebenezer,  246. 

Elias,  208,  248,  308. 

Elijah,  248. 

Ezra,  228,  248,  287. 

F.  H.,  143. 

H.  H.,  159. 

Joseph,  138. 

B.  V.W.,238. 

Stephen,  157, 225,  228,  253. 

William  W.,  75, 164. 
Fancher,  James,  76. 
Farmington,  A.  C,  67. . 
Farrand,  Daniel,  38,  79. 

Ebenezer,  335,  350. 

Henry  D.,  75. 

Phineas,  274, 276. 

Samuel  A.,  184,  275. 
Farrall,  Garret,  275. 
FauU,  John,  72. 

Feagles,  Bobert  S.,  145, 356, 308. 
Felch,  Benjamin  M.,  78. 
Felter,  S.  A.,  184. 
Fennell,  W.  P.,  159. 
Fenwick,  John,  9. 
Ferguson,  James  A.,  71, 109, 225. 
Ferris,  James,  343. 
Fichter,  Frederick,  232, 

William,  44. 
Fiedler,  Ernest,  45. 
Field,  Jacob  T.,  282. 
Fisher,  Jonathan,  136. 

Joslah,  337,  868. 

Samuel,  71, 136. 

William,  275. 
Fishpool,  John,  213. 
Fitz-Eandolph,    Hartshorn,  40,  390, 
295,  314,  348. 

Phineas,  47,  305. 
Flagler,  Thomas  B.,  157, 163. 
Flanagan,  Samuel,  29. 
Flanahan,  John,  29. 
Fleck,  Andrew,  77. 
Fleming,  James  M.,  77. 
Fleury,  Victor,  137, 163. 
Flucky,  Andrew,  386. 
Flynn,  Joseph  N.,72, 144. 
Fogg,  M.  M.,  72,  259. 
Foote,  John  T.,  163. 
Forbes,  Arthur,  17, 109. 
Force,  Jacob  F.,  388. 

Manning,  140, 235,  258. 

Foa?d,!  Charles,  76,  77. 

Chilion,  55,  79,  149. 

David,  43,  6T,  147, 149, 153. 

Gabriel,  55, 6T,  149, 150, 153, 160. 

Henry,  75, 140, 350, 154, 162, 164. 

Horace,  47. 

Jacob.  21,  23,  25,  33,  34,  40,  41. 
43,  45,  53,  55,  64,  75,  111, 
113,118,130,138,145.  337, 
343. 

James,  318. 

John,  40,  47, 67, 74, 133, 182, 220, 
235,  234,  344,  318,  351. 

Mahlon,  31, 147. 

Mary,  317. 

Nathan,  43, 149. 

Samuel,  31, 49,  6^  111. 

Sidney,  47. 

William,  77,  109,  314. 
Fordham,  Jonathan,  337. 

Lemuel,  71,  314,  255,  344,  368. 
Forman,  David,  30. 
Forsyth,  George  W.,  71, 151,  245. 
Fort,  George  F.,  15. 

J.  P.,  318. 
Foster,  E.  S.,  140,  203. 
Fountain,  William,  39. 
Fowland,  Connor,  62. 
Fowler,  Joseph,  132. 
Fox,  Daniel  W.,  71, 259. 
Frarabes,  D,  E.,  72. 


Frame,  David,  368. 
Frampton,  John  H.,  182. 
Francisco,  Peter,  275. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  10,  44. 

William  T.,  15. 
Frederick,  Martin,  275. 

Peter,  248. 

Thomas,  250. 
Freeman,  Alonzo,  311. 

Benjamin,  67, 153. 

Charles,  77,  79, 141. 

Elijah,  356. 

Harrie  A.,  147. 

John  B.,  138. 

Peter,  77. 

Pierson,  A.,  74,  75. 

Samuel,  138. 

.Stephen,  130, 133, 141. 

Zophar,  138. 
Frelinghuysen,  John,  38. 

Theodore,  73, 154,  353. 
French,  J.  A.,  137,  318. 
Frost,  Charles  B.,  204. 

Elias,  256. 

James.  132. 
Fry,  Thomas,  141. 
FuUer,  Dudley  B.,  59,  180, 182. 

James,  61. 
Furman,  Lansing,  159. 


Gage,  Charles  F.,  311. 
George,  60,  78. 

GaiSs,^'  [  E.  B.,  77,  78, 183,  251,  252,353. 

Nathaniel,  253. 
Gano,  John,  138. 
Garbut,  Peter,  354,  365. 
Gard,  Daniel,  310. 

Ephraim,  310. 

Gershom,  339. 

gS^ife!-';'!  Charles  H.,  345. 

Henry,  148. 

John  G.,  214. 

Samuel,  53. 
Garrabrant,  C.  P.,  78. 

Garret,  320. 
Garrigus,  Alexander  W.,  313. 

David,  336. 

Elias,  314. 

John,  77. 
Gaston,  Eobert,  274,  350,  356. 
Gatson,  Bobert,  25,  32. 
Gauden,  David,  132. 
Genung,  Cornelius,  193. 
George,  Eichard,  64,  315. 
Germania,  Eeuben  I.,  141. 
Gibbons,  William,  146,  209,  880. 
Gibbs,  C,  135. 
Gifford,  Sanford  E.,  397. 
Gilbert,  Jonathan,  19. 
Gilder,  J.  W.,  368. 
Glldershaw,  Zophar,  133. 
Gildersleeve,  Finch,  31. 
Gill,  W.  I.,  72,  320. 
Gillen,  Charles  A.,  74,  75, 320. 

Elijah,  74. , 
Glen,  William  B.,  387. 
Glover,  John  H.,  160. 

Paul,  60. 
Goble,  Benjamin,  138. 

Daniel,  19. 

Ephraim,  138. 

Gershom,  138. 

George,  138. 

Nick  M.,  204. 

Eobert,  138. 

William,  138. 
Godwin,  Abraham,  67. 

Gould,  [J«<^°b.  76,  348. 

John,  275. 

Eobert,  21,  75,  76,  274. 
Goldsmith,  Josias,  375. 


Gordon,  David,  36,  3,51. 

Joshua,  31. 
Graaf,  William,  384. 
Graham,  Charles,  39,  52,  66. 

Sylvester,  329. 
Grandine,  Samuel,  75. 
Graves,  E.  A.,  143. 

E.  B.,  163. 

Edwin,  143. 

«-y;f  Jacob,  223. 

James,  43. 

John,  77,  331. 

Eichard,  77. 
Green,  Ashbel,  36, 189, 191,  202. 

Benjamin,  67. 

Charles  H.,  164. 

George,  140. 

Henry,  76, 198, 308. 

Jacob,  18,  71,  109, 189, 198, 204, 
224,  307,  342,  368. 

J.  C„  259. 

Nathaniel,  125. 

Euf  us,  71,  72,  137,  153, 173. 

Thomas,  40. 

William,  59,  338. 
Greenman,  Nathaniel,  205. 
Gregory,  Samuel  S.,  47. 

Seth,  350. 
Grimes,  William  H.,  320. 
Grover,  Stephen,  39. 
Guerin,  Byram  C,  146, 147, 244. 

John  D.,  141, 151, 159, 164. 

Stephen  O.,  73,  244. 
Gunning,  J.  Henry,  139. 


H. 

Htflr!  I  family,  376. 

John  S.,  377. 

Lawrence;  76, 160,  387. 

Morris,  77. 
Haggerty,  Noah,  311. 
Haines,  Daniel,  15. 

Jared,  312. 

Stephen  E.,  77, 215. 
Hall,  John,  351. 

Josiah,  32,  35, 133. 

Samuel,  144. 

William,  317. 
Halliday,  Samuel,  75,  78, 159. 
Halloway,  William  W.,  308,  318. 
Halsey,  Ananias,  138,  301. 

Banjamin,  75,  133, 148. 

David  F.,  80. 

Edmund  D.,  78, 162,  395. 

Ezra,  22, 138,  148. 

George  A.,  74. 

Henry,  79,  255. 

Isaac,  35. 

John,  67, 153, 154. 

Joseph,  76. 

Samuel,  41,  64,  75,  78,  355,  357, 
361. 

Stephen,  67, 109, 159. 

Thomas  J.,  313,  395. 

William,  154. 
Halstead,  Caleb  O.,  64. 

John  H.,  147. 

William,  13, 147, 164. 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  10, 15, 135. 

John,  15. 

Silas,  298. 

Stephen,  298. 
Hampton,  Eeuel,  38. 
Hance,  Edward,  61. 

James,  387. 

John,  45,  60,  234, 310.  328. 

Isaac,  301,  313. 

Sylvanus,  353. 
Hancock,  George  H.,  204. 

John,  76,  78,  200,  210. 
Hand,  Eobert,  77. 

Silas,  193. 
Hanly,  James,  72,  309. 


402 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


Harm,  family,  374. 

J^aoob,  76. 

Lawrence,  379. 

WiUiam,  374. 
Haroourt,  James,  225. 
Hardy,  Jim,  301. 

John,  45,  77. 

Josiah,  10, 15. 
Hare,  John,  151. 
Harker,  Samuel,  213. 
Harris,  Benjamin,  193. 

John  F.,  283. 

Samuel,  275. 

William,  351. 
Harrison,  John,  275,  339. 

Joseph,  275. 

Bichard,  275. 

Stephen,  29. 

Tritsum,  351. 

William,  351. 
Hart,  WiUiam.  25. 
Hartshorn,  Hugh,  336. 
Harvey,  Joseph  C,  77. 

Levi,  254. 
Hastings,  Thomas  S.,  242,  246,  348. 
Hasenolever,  Francis  Caspar,  53. 

Peter,  40,  43,  44,  48, 53. 
Hathaway,  Abraham,  21, 132, 146. 

Benjamin,  19,  21,  75, 132. 

Benoni,  31,  32,  36,  38,  147,  356 

Jonathan,  42, 149. 

Shadrach,  29, 132. 

Silas,  275,  350. 
Hatt,  Josiah,  138. 
Haven,  W.  L.  B.,  148, 158. 
Hawley,  WiUiam,  140. 
Hay,  Philip  C,  248. 
Hayden,  Lewis,  141, 159. 
Hayward,  Daniel,  275. 

James,  19. 

John,  19. 

Joseph,  241. 
HazeliuB,  Earnest  L.,  384. 
Hazen,  Ziba,  76. 
Hazeltine,  A.  G.,  143. 

Charles  G.,  143, 151. 
Hazzard,  Silas  H.,  352. 

g|^fl^f'[j.Boyd,162. 

Bichard,  29. 

Samuel,  140,  234. 

William,  44,  77,  232. 
Heard,  Nathaniel,  28,  32,  36. 
Heath,  Joseph,  379. 
Heaton,  James,  255, 259. 
Heberle,  John,  319. 
Hedden,  1 

Headen,  >■  Aaron,  276. 
Heden,    j 

B.  L.,  321. 

George,  146. 

Gilbert,  338,  342. 

Joseph,  263. 
Hedges,  Joseph,  76,  215. 

Samuel,  77,  380. 
Helby,  Joseph,  109, 280. 
Hellar,  Jacob,  351. 
Henderson,  George,  63. 

Peter  D.,  334,  348. 
Hendricks,  David,  385. 
Hendrickson,  George  F.,  257. 

Samuel  M.,  352. 
Henn,  Lawrence,  76. 

William,  373. 

H^S?on°'Ko'>«"nes,281. 

Joseph,  21. 
Henry,  William,  75. 
Herr,  Martin,  319. 

Herriman  (see  Harriman),Joseph,21. 
Hertel,  Jacob,  54. 
Hiler,  1 

Hiller,  ^family,  268. 
Hyler,  I 

Bev.  A.,  72,  384. 

Jacob,  275. 

James,  351. 

John,  275. 


Martin,  336,  347,  355. 
Nicholas,  21,  250,  251,  268,  275. 
Peter,  46,  275,  336, 355. 
Philip,  275. 
William,  345. 
HiU,  Jeams,  138. 

John,  74,  77,  78,  139,  182,  310, 

328,  334. 
T.  E.,  279. 
HiUard,  Charles,  78,  79. 

Henry,  78, 159, 162. 
Hillman,  James  W.,  145. 
Hillyer,  James  W.,  145. 
Hilts,  Samuel,  76,  77. 
Hinchman,  family,  325. 

Felix,  314. 
Guide,  316. 

Guy  M.,  58, 64, 230, 305, 314, 325. 

James,  46,  365. 

John,  38,  46, 64, 79, 345,  349, 356. 

Joseph,  79,  336,  345. 

William,  47,  336,  345. 
Hines,    | 

Hindes,  }■  James,  275. 
Hynds,  ) 

John  C,  143. 

Joseph,  75. 

Bichard,  162. 
Hoagland,  Cornelius,  79. 

Hudson,  315. 

John  B.,  315. 

Mahlon,  61,  65,  334,  357. 

Peter,  316. 
Hobart,  John  Henry,  210. 
Hobbs,  William,  139. 
Hoff,  family,  361.- 

Charles,  45,  50,  55,  275,  361. 

Hannah,  64. 

Garret,  275. 

Joseph,  50,  274,  361. 
Hoffman,  Charles  S.,  319. 

Christian,  275. 

Nicholas,  280. 

Philip  H.,  159, 163, 164. 
Holenkous,  Philip,  275. 
Holland,  Edward,  380. 
HoUoway,  Benjamin,  42, 45. 

Elijah,  153. 

Jacob,  77. 

W.  W.,  71. 
Holmes,  Benjamin,  141. 

Jacob,  178. 

James,  60, 162, 184. 

Joseph,  275. 
Hone,  John,  144, 164. 
Honeyman,  William  E.,  344. 
Honness,  Conrad,  387. 
Hood,  Thomas,  281. 
Hoops,  Arthur,  164. 
Hoover,  Charles,  137, 150. 
Hopkins,  Charles  F.,  289. 

Hezekiah  B.,  259. 

Boyal,  157. 

Samuel  J,,  156. 

Silas  H.,  368. 
Hopler,  Conrad,  355. 

Frederick,  336. 

Peter,  336. 
Hopper,  Benjamin,  339. 

Moses,  79. 
Hopping,  Albert  G.,  157. 

Daniel,  76. 

James  P.,  77. 

Joseph,  79. 

Moses,  234. 

Ho?a,}j-ob,275. 

Moses,  46,  235. 
Horn,  Benjamin,  29. 
Hombeok,  Isaac  36. 
Horner,  James,  58. 

HortoS;[^^"'*l^'"'^-2<16- 
Caleb,  32, 193. 
Daniel,  76. 
David,  62,  79. 
Elijah,  76,  79. 
Jonathan,  32. 


Bev.  M.,  202. 

Nathaniel,  343. 
Howard,  Hiram,  275. 

John,  65. 

Joseph,  130, 132. 

William,  36, 275. 
Howell  &  Noble,  397. 

Benjamin,  25,46,  59,1 


Calvin,  76,  78. 

Charles,  132. 

Edward,  78. 

Blias,  241. 

George  W.,  72. 

Jared,  77. 

John,  29, 193. 

Levi,  32. 

M.  B.,  259. 

Monroe,  66,  224. 

Nelson.  77. 

Bichard,  15. 

Samuel  N.,  151. 

Silas,  26,  28,  S2. 

William  H.,  76,  78,  224. 
Rowland,  William  H.,  163. 
Hoyt,  Charles  A.,  204. 

H.  A.,  121. 

Henry  S.,  146. 
Hubbard,  Mahlon,  218,  226. 
Hubbell,  Nathaniel,  224. 
Hudson,  Abram,  29. 

George,  299. 

Henry,  8. 
Huff,  Joseph,  234. 
Hughson,  Charles  A.,  313. 

Nelson,  308. 
Hulme,  Daniel,  47. 
Hull,  Aurelius  B.,  137, 154, 163, 170, 393. 

George  L.,  158, 164. 

H.  T.,  159. 

Joseph,  275. 

Samuel  P.,  141, 144, 152. 
Hunloke,  Edward,  15. 
Hunt,  family,  381. 

Andrew,  151. 

Holloway  W.,  373,  381,  387. 

William,  160. 
Hunter,  Gov.  Bobert,  10, 15. 
Huntington,  Thomas,  26, 43,  339,  342. 

§;;Sg,[j='™e=M.,71. 

Jonathan,  337. 
Stephen,  79. 
Hurd,  family,  230,  292. 

Daniel,  46,  76,  230,  234. 
David  B.,  75,  230,  235,  239. 
Jacob,  315,  316. 
James  L.,  230, 235. 
John,  66. 

Joseph,  45,  46,  67,  79,  230,  233, 
335,  349. 

Lewis,  230. 

Moses,  291,  313. 
Hurlbut,  Benjamin,  241. 
Hurst,  J.  F.,  203. 
Husted,  John  N.,  259. 
Husy,  Thomas,  348. 
Hutton,  Mancius,;387. 


I. 


Ingoldsby,  Gov.  Bichard,  10, 15. 
Irving,  David,  137, 173. 


Peter,  274,  279. 

Stephen,  25,  35,  40.  42,  45,  48, 
63,  fi5,  76,  274, 343, 350, 357. 
Timothy,  256. 

William,  43, 48, 52, 58,76,348,351. 
Jacobus,  family,  267. 
Abraham,  275. 
6,76,224,  Brant,  275. 

Cornelius  A.,  275. 
James,  275. 
James,  David  M.,  256. 
John,  262. 
William  H.,  157. 
Janeway,  John  L.,  253. 
Jaguet,  Johannes  Paul,  8. 
Jayne,  David,  138,  236, 256. 
Jenkins,  David,  309. 

George,  59.  60, 180. 
H.  C,  60, 180. 
John  B.,  309. 
Jennings,  .Tames,  27.5. 
Joshua,  76,  79. 
Samuel,  15. 
Jerome,  John  A.,  210. 
Johnes,  George  W.,  109. 
J.  L.,  141. 

John  B.,  77, 138, 142. 
Timothy,  32,  39,  57, 71, 113, 115, 
118, 131, 133, 141, 148,  162, 
342. 
William,  153. 
Johnson,   1 

Jonson,      i- Abraham,  339. 
Johnston, ) 

Alexander,  132. 
A.  V.  C,  200. 
Daniel  H.,  248. 
Prank  A.,  72,  213. 
Gabriel,  77. 
Ichabod,  29. 
Jacob,  37,  78, 113, 120. 
James,  150, 248. 
J.  Henry,  150. 
J.  Searing,  141, 158, 164. 
Jeremiah,  132. 

John,42,49, 133, 225, 327,334,  336. 
Jonathan,  275. 
Levi.  72, 158. 
•  Mahlon,  149, 163. 
Manning,  164. 
Nehemiah  H.,  145. 
Peter,  76, 138,  152, 159,  275. 
Bichard.  28,  32,  74,  76. 
Sir  William,  7. 
William,  77,  78, 138, 158. 
Joline,  John,  248. 
Jollamons,  Peter,  138. 
JoUey,  Isaac  B.,  313,  315,  316. 
Jones,  Asher,  379. 
Charles,  213. 
Nathaniel,  60. 
Judson,  Adoniram,  58. 
Adrian  B.,  357. 


J- 

Jackson,  family,  360. 

Benjamin,  79,  351. 

Charles,  353,  358. 

Daniel,  275. 

Edward,  275,  320. 

Bev.  G.  T.,  309. 

James,  351. 

John,  40,  41,  78,  237.  238,  275, 
295,  314,  349,  361. 

Joseph,  38, 40,  58,  64,  67,  76,  78, 
163,  179,  274,  316,  344,  349, 
351,  355,  356,  360. 


K. 

Kaiser,  Andrew,  313. 
Kallock,  Sheppard,  192. 
Kanouse,  family,  269. 

Alexander,  353. 

Conrad,  336. 

Jacob,  67,  178,  252,  336. 

John,  76,  78, 177,  250,  270,  353. 

Peter,  233,  270,  318,  E68. 
Karn,  Christopher,  386. 

||y|;[john,19,109. 

^len!  I  -fames,  35, 43,  44. 
Kearney,  Michael,  318,  336. 

Colonel  Phil.,  13. 
Keep,  Henry,  309. 
Keepars.,  Thomas,  44,  204. 
Keiser,  James  B.,  385. 
Kellogg,  Bobert  B.,  318. 
Kelly,  Isaac,  375. 

William,  75. 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


403 


Kelsey,  John  B.,  354. 
Kelso,  John,  76,  339. 
Kemble,  Peter,  22,  75. 

Richard,  264. 
Kemlo,  James,  73,  253. 
Kemper,  Jacob,  28. 
Kemple,  Peter,  77. 
Kenneady,  John,  140. 
Kennealy,  Father,  72. 

Henry,  77,  79. 
Kenney,  Thomas,  148. 
Kent,  Rodolphus,  153,  223,  273. 

.Thomas,  132. 
Ketohum,  Enoch,  142. 

Samuel,  356. 

■William,  351. 
Kidder,  D.  P.,  203. 
Kleft,  Governor,  7, 15, 17. 
Klersted,  Luke  John,  282. 
Kilburn,  Amos,  339. 

Daniel,  39. 
Kill,  William,  396. 
King,  family,  293,  314. 

Barnabas,  71,  304, 318,  314,  351. 

Charles.  63, 144. 

Constant,  75,  76. 

Frederick,  138, 153. 

George,  25,  225. 

Henry,  153, 159. 

Jacob,  141, 153. 

James,  334. 

Jason,  153. 

Jesse,  242, 314. 

John,  43,  111,  275. 

Joseph,  33,  317,  337. 

Preston,.  43. 

Theodore  F.,  366. 

Thomas  L.,  75. 

Victor,  38. 

William  L.,  143, 1.54, 163, 164. 

V".  B.,  144. 
Kingsbury,  J.  A.,  72. 
Kingsland,  Edmund,  252,269,  275, 276. 
Klngsley,  Washington,  139. 
Kinsey,  Charles,  67. 

James,  11. 
Kip,  William  I.,  141. 
Kirkbride,  Jacob,  269. 

Joseph,  63,  291,  303,  332,  336. 
Kirkpatrick,  David,  31. 

Eugene  W.-,  237. 

Walter,  78,  237. 
Kirtland,  Orlando  L.,  118, 137, 143. 
Kissam,  Edward  V.  B.,  141.  • 
Kitchen,  Aaron,  30, 35, 35, 36, 38,  75, 76, 
78,111,163,191,319. 

Abraham,  -20,  35,  26,  35,  ,38,  43, 
.56.  73,  75,76,78,  111,219, 
272,  280,  343,  350. 

Bzekiel,  76,  78. 

Ford,  351. 

James,  35,  338,  349,  351. 

John,  76. 

Joseph,  26,  75, 191,  219, 356. 

Matthias,  46,  77,  78,  319,  355. 

Moses,  33. 

Timothy,  78.         , 

Uzal,  37. 

William,  21B. 

W.  M.,  190. 
Kline,  Peter,  38. 
Knapp,  Josiah  P.,  77. 
Knighton,  Frederick,  248. 
Knowles,  J.  H.,  72. 
Knox,  James  H.  N.,  387. 

H.,  125. 
Koarter,  1  J  ,^      289 
Courter,  j 
Kool,  Jacob,  368. 
Kopp,  Bliphalet,  380. 


Lad,  Jonathan,  332. 

La  Fevre  (see  Le  Fevre),  Minard,  63. 

William  B.,  77. 
Lamb,  John,  138. 


Lambert,  John,  15. 

William  H.,  63,  313,  315. 

LaSpsSnJ^^"^'^"^"'^"'^^*- 

Charles,  292. 

Daniel,  297,  315,  353. 

Eleazer, 350. 
Lanee,  John,  387. 

Peter,  387. 
Lane,  G.,  388. 
Landon,  Thomas,  77,  79, 

T.  H.,  73. 
Langmuir,  Gavin,  137. 
Laporte,  John,  132. 
Large,  Ebenezer,  254,  363. 
La  Rue,  D.  A.,  150. 
Latham,  John,  291. 

Joseph,  40,  295. 
Lathrop,  Francis  S.,  166, 210,  314. 

William  G.,  60, 163, 184,  269, 
328. 
Lawrence,  Jacob,  301. 

John,  17, 125. 

Sylvanus,  388. 
Lawrie,  Gawen,  9, 10, 15, 17, 109. 
Layton,  Peter,  155, 263. 
Leddell,  John,  314. 
Lee,  John,  275. 

William,  79. 
Leek,  Daniel  H.,  164; 

Lrff?erf'}fa-"y.292. 

Hippolyte,  337,  292. 

John,  237. 

Minard,  45,  237,  291,  392. 

William,  236, 237,  293. 
Leforge,  Lewis,  293. 
Leitze,  John,  313. 
Le  Maitre,  Isaac,  266. 

John,  266. 
Lennel,  Edward  P.,  387. 
Lepard,  John,  138. 
Leport,  William  T.,  317. 
Lewis,  Aaron,  293. 

Daniel,  351. 

Eliphalet,  367,  369. 

Jefferson,  140. 

Job  J.,  157. 

John,  79. 

Joseph.  37,  7.5,  76, 124,  126,  133, 
147,  153,155. 

Levi,  367. 

Richard,  78. 

William,  148,  1.59. 
Lieurs,  Edward  B.,  313. 
Lineton,  Hannah,  138. 
Lindaberry,  John,  387. 
Lindley,   ) 

Lindsley,  [-Benjamin,  76, 147. 
Lindsey,  ) 

Charles  R.,  158. 

Daniel,  21, 133, 148, 153. 

David,  79, 138. 

Demas,  248. 

Eleazer,  31,  76,  78. 

Elizabeth,  131. 

Ephraim,  61. 

Frances,  163,  354. 

Ira  J.,  158. 

Isaac,  76. 

J.  C,  147, 164. 

John,  31,  75, 130, 138, 148. 

Jonathan,  132. 

Joseph,  19,  20,  32,  75, 113, 133, 
138, 142, 163. 

Moses,  190. 

Oscar,  78. 

Philip,  138. 

Samuel,  275. 

Sarah,  131. 

Silas,  76,  78. 

Simeon,  131. 
Link,  Henry,  275. 
Linnell,  E.  R.,  71,  73. 
Lippineott,  Caleb  A.,  140,  235. 
Little,  Charles  H.,  319. 

Eliakim,  193, 196. 

James,  67. 


Peter,  275. 

S.  H.,  144. 

Theodore,   137.  138,  151,   157, 
158, 162, 172. 

William,  77. 
Livingston,  William,  11, 15. 
Logan,  Dorastus  B.,  312,  395,  396. 

John,  279. 

Robert,  29. 

Thomas,  76. 

William,  76, 78. 
Long,  Ephraim,  233. 

f:rn&,h'>--L-i«^- 

John  B.,  358. 

Lord,  Edward  C,  144, 163. 

J.  Cowper.  59,  60,  63,  64,  70, 
163, 180. 

Jeremiah  S.,  253. 
Loree,  Job,  241. 

Lewis,  79,  241,  243. 
Lorenz,  Adam,  386. 
Losey,  Betsey,  3.53. 

Israel  C,  315. 

Jacob,  57,  314,  316,  349. 

James,  312,  319. 

John,  41,  77,  78,  230,  234,  239, 
314,  316,  338. 

Nehemiah,  79. 

Philip,  237. 
Lott,  Abraham,  219. 
Loughenner,  Abraham,  375. 
Love,  Andrew  J.,  313. 

George,  312. 
Lovelace,  Lieut.  Governor,  10, 15. 
Lovell,  Joseph,  76. 
Low,  Abraham,  369. 

John  H.,  367. 
Loweree,  Christopher,  178. 
Lowerus,  Henry,  275. 
Lucas,  Nicholas,  9. 

I;;jce-[  David,  75. 

Nathan  B.,  1,53. 

S.  W.,  146. 
Ludlow,  Abraham,  138. 

Benjamin,  76,  79,  263, 263. 

Cornelius,  32,  76, 180,  383. 

George,  15,  75,  77, 163, 263. 
Luffbury,  David,  138. 
Lum,  Benjamin,  76,  34.5. 

Israel,  76. 

Matthew,  21, 130, 132, 138. 

Obadiah,  342. 

Squier,  76. 
Lundy,  F.  L.,  153. 
Luzerne,  Chevalier  de  la,  120. 
Lyman,  Asa,  150, 199. 
Lyon,  Ashur,  351. 

E.  T.,  140. 

Edward  C,  151, 161. 

Eliphalet,  275. 

Isaac  S.,  59,  223. 

Jacob,  275. 

John,  19. 

Stephen,  22. 

M. 

McBride,  W.  H.,  320. 
MoCandless,  J.  H.,  214. 
McCarter,  John,  67,  75. 
Robert,  75. 

McCartyt  (  ^-  ■*■•'  ^3*'  ^^■ 

Cummings,  76,  325. 

Dennis,  73. 

Francis,  335,  350. 

Morris,  335,  356. 
MoCauley,  J.  B.,  72. 

Joseph  P.,  309. 
McClellan,  George  B-,  15. 
McClinton,  John,  140. 
McCiintock,  J.,  203. 
McCord,  Joseph,  352. 
McCormick,  C.  W.,  73. 

Daniel,  77. 

William  H.,  72,  320. 


McConnell,  G.,  256,  275. 

MccSrry; !  Benjamin,  75,  78,  78, 160. 

McCuUough,  I  G.  P.,  117, 141, 151,  157, 
McCulloch,     I  178. 

George  B.,  367. 
McCuUum,  Charles,  147. 
McCurdy,  Samuel,  247. 
McDavit,  James,  312,  395, 396. 

William  H.,  75,  313. 
McDowell,  William  A.,  136, 150. 
McBweuyJohn,  31.. 
McFarlan,  Charles,  237,  238. 

Henry,  45,  57,  58,  314,  319. 
McGahan,  Patrick  A.,  72. 
McGee,  David,  248. 
McGowen,  John,  158. 
Mcllrath,  Samuel,  243,  264. 

Sarah,  243. 
McKay,  William  H.,  164. 
McKinnon,  William,  306. 
McLane,  I  Michael,  71. 
McLean,  (  William,  388. 
McMurray,  James,  308. 
McPherson,  Gillis,  275. 
McBank,  Edward,  275. 
McQueen,  Robert,  55. 
MeUrdy,  James,  275. 
McViekers,  James,  241. 
Magie,  John,  275. 
Mahurin,  Ebenezer,  132. 

Seth,  275. 
Malley,  Thomas,  164. 
Mandell,  Albert,  209. 
Manderfield,  Giles,  21. 
Mandeville,   (.),„„.,„  „„, 
Manderville,  r"™''5^' ^'^■ 

Anthony,  274,  284,  350. 

Cornelius  W.,  76,  79. 

David,  18,  266. 

Giles,  279. 

Hendrick,  18. 

Henry,  75,  76,  279,  288. 

Nicholas  W.,  79. 

Samuel,  225. 

W.  A.,  79. 
Mann,  Cooney,  321 . 

George,  321. 

Jacob,  38, 140, 152, 163. 
Mapes,  Lev^s  T.,  140. 
Marcelle,  Peter,  233. 
Margot,  David,  319. 
Marinus,  David,  252,  281. 

John,  375. 
Marjoram,  Stephen  F.,  47. 
Markle,  Josiah,  214. 
Marsh,  Ephraim,  78,  78,  380,  382. 

E.  E.,  158. 

Hampton  O.,  143, 151, 154,  163, 
245. 

John,  345. 

Joseph,  133,  245. 

William  Wallace,  380, 382. 
Martin,  Daniel  C,  79,  80, 141, 160. 

Ephraim,  32. 

Marcus  W.,  183. 

Samuel,  275. 
Marvin,  Jonathan  D.,  138. 
Mase,  John  F.,  313,  315. 

William  H.,  320. 
Mather,  F.  G.,  139. 
Mathews,  Frederick,  348. 
Mattes,  William  F.,320. 
Mattoon,  R.  D.,  326. 
Matiox,  J.  Mills,  358. 
Maury,  James,  144. 
Maxwell,  Anthony,  31. 

William,  29,  33. 
Mead,  George  D.,  251. 

Giles,  38, 29. 

Heman,  143,  151. 

Isaac,  79. 

Jan,  267. 

John,  18,  266. 

R.  R.,  125. 
Meeker,  Andrew,  147. 

C.  B.,  187. 

Elisba,  313. 


404 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


George,  D.,  73. 

Joseph,  28. 

Josiah,  78,  368. 

Stephen,  77. 

tJzal,  31. 

W.  J.,  187. 
Megie,  family,  388. 

Burtis  C,  72,  309,  317,  318. 

Daniel  E.,  182,  368. 
Meliok,  James  S.,  313,  321. 
Menagh,  David,  356. 
Menard,  Henry,  291. 

"William  E.,  330. 
Mercer,  John,  28,  29. 
Merchant,  family,  291. 

Daniel  P.,  77,  291,  308. 

Fi-auk,  308. 
Merritt,  Robert  N.,  72, 141,  150, 156. 

Samuel,  45. 
Mesler,  Abraham,  253, 282. 
Mey,  Cornelius  Jacobsen,  8. 
Meyer,  Hermanus,  252,  282. 

John,  182. 
Miley,  John,  203. 

Sfl}}[fe!'}j--es,268. 

Thomas,  36,  42,  74,  75. 
MlUer,  Aaron,  236. 

Adam,  276, 336. 

Alexander,  207. 

David,  76,  77,  79, 159,  378. 

Frederick,  253,  335. 

Halsey,  79. 

Henry  W.,  141, 143, 164. 

Isaac,  275. 

Jacob  "W.,  75,  76,  78, 141, 154, 
312,  396. 

James,  138. 

John,  188,  193,  201,  208,  209. 
275,  238. 

Jonathan,  76. 

Luke,  79, 193, 197. 

Silas,  79. 

William  W.,  80. 
MiUs,  Alfred,  75, 141, 150, 156,  162, 164, 
174. 

David,  26,  74,  76,  78,  80, 153. 

Edward,  153. 

Ezra,  138. 

Henry,  136, 150. 

James,  225. 

John,  136, 148, 159. 

Lewis,  188, 147, 150, 159, 160. 

Samuel,  132. 

Thornton  A.,  317. 

Timothy,  132, 138, 148. 
Minard,  Abel,  164. 
Minthome,  George,  193. 

Samuel,  79. 
Minton,  Jacob,  76, 350. 

John,  339. 

William,  79. 
Minuit,  Peter,  15. 
MiraUes,  Don  Juan  de,  120. 
Misel,  Henry,  236. 

Simon,  236. 

Mitchell,  I  A   xj^       lio 
Michill.    f-a^rtnur,ii/«. 

James  N.,  375. 

Matthew,  148. 

Nathaniel,  339. 
Monell,  Francis,  140. 

Thomas,  148. 
Moru:oe,  Nathan  W.,  319. 

William,  258. 
Monson,  Moses,  138. 

Montgomerie,  1  j  ,      ,q  ■,. 
Montgomery,  ( Jotm,  lu,  16. 

Michael,  275. 
Mooney,  Henry,  141. 
Moore,  family,  263. 

Augustus,  75. 

David,  139, 345. 

Isaac,  268. 

James,  71. 

Joshua,  275. 

Loammi,  77,  159. 


Martin  S.,  77. 

Samuel,  310,  339, 

S.,  158. 

Van  Clever,  39. 
More,  David,  132. 

Joseph,  368. 
Morehouse,  family,  263. 

John,  193. 

Simon,  263. 

Stephen,  206. 
Moreland,  John,  158. 
Morrell.  Francis,  140. 

Jacob,  208. 

Thomas,  148. 
Morris,  Alexander,  48. 

Daniel,.  138. 

Elder,  133. 

Grandin,  45. 

Isaac,  32. 

J.  Ford,  2.53. 

Jonathan  F.,  28. 

Joseph,  26, 38,  32. 

Lewis,  10, 15,  41. 

Robert,  37,  44,  48, 118,  336. 

Staats  Long,  109. 
Morrison,  Hendrick,  39. 

Morris,  19, 30,  332. 
Morrow,  David,  140. 

W.  F.,304. 
Morse,  Abner,  313. 

J.  B.,  139. 
Moses,  Erastus,  140. 
Mott,  family,  393. 

Elishr.,  77,  357. 

Gershom,  75. 

John,  77,  357. 

Nathaniel,  58,  79,  357. 

William,  293,  310. 

W.  C,  157. 
Mourison,  Andrew,  339. 

Henry,  253,  275. 

Maurice,  266,  275. 
Mowery,  Ira  H.,  367. 
Moyland,  John,  125. 

Stephen,  51. 
Muchmore,  William  M.,  78. 
Muddell,  Samuel,  146. 
Muhlenberg,  Henry  Melchior,  384. 

Henry,  384,  386. 

Peter  G.,  384. 
Muir,  C.  A.,  144. 

E.  A.,  158. 

Peter,  65. 

Robert,  79. 

Thomas,  43,  55,  65. 
Mulford,  Charles  H.,  164. 

Daniel,  160. 

John  R.,  207. 
Mulligan,  Charles,  312. 
Munn,  Jeptha  B.,  69,  76,  78, 160, 162, 

198. 
Munro,  William,  76,  77,  78. 
Munson,  family,  293. 

Caleb,  138. 

Charles  H.,  313. 

Ezekiel,  292. 

John,  30,  33,  42, 51, 375,  335, 356. 

Solomon,  131, 138. 

Stephen,  35. 

Waitstill,  138. 
Murray,  John,  53. 

N. 

Nadal,  D.  H.,  303. 
Nafee,  Francis,  79. 
Nash,  Francis,  29. 
Naughright,  John,  78. 
Neal,  Ava,  283. 
Nealy,  Abraham,  31. 

Neimu|'[Ge-^«*.59,357. 
Neighbour,  family,  317,  375. 

James  H.,  60, 173,  313, 317,  318. 

Leonard,  76,  78,  386. 

Lemuel,  76,  374. 


Nicholas,  67,  76,  78,  378. 
Neitser,  Henry,  378. 

Jacob,  378. 
Neville,  Samuel,  336. 
Nevins,  B.  Chalmers,  317. 
Newcomb,  Silas,  29. 
Newberry,  E.  E.,  395. 
Newell,  Richard,  209. 

William  A.,  15, 74. 
Newton,  A.  H.,  72, 143. 
Nicholas,  David  A.,  72, 162,  255,  258. 

Walter,  348. 
Nichols,  Rhoda,  77. 

William,  77,  215. 
NicoU,  Richard.  8. 
Niles,  Nathaniel,  72,  78. 
Nix,  John,  275. 

Noble,  Charles  E.,  163, 164,  326. 
Norman,  Edward  N.,  236. 

Thomas  K.,  230. 
Norris,  Alexander,  55. 

Mary,  354. 

Silas,  164. 

William  K.,  159. 
Nortman,  James,  313. 
Norton,  James,  275. 
Norway,  Charles,  178. 
Nox,  James,  275. 
Noyes,  Isaac  R.,  143. 
Nutman,  John,  224. 

Samuel,  132. 
Nutting,  T.B.,  158. 
Nystrom,  John,  141. 


O. 

0«kes,  Samuel,  182. 
Odell,  Isaac,  396. 
O'Donnell,  T.  J.,  153. 
Ogden,  Aaron,  31,  38. 

Abraham,  33, 34,  44,  48,  75, 148, 
335. 

Barne,  31. 

Charles,  35,  141. 

David,  24,  48,  56,  233,  269,  273, 
280,  335. 

Elias,  67,  349. 

Isaac,  48,  56,  280,  339. 

John,  48, 115. 

Jonathan,  76,  78, 159, 162. 

Joseph  M.,  199. 

Josiah,  48. 

Matthias,  29,  30,  31, 197. 

Moses,  31. 

Robert,  52. 

Samuel,  33, 24,  44,  48, 50, 56, 75, 
153,  223,  280. 

Stephen,  204. 

Uzall,  48,  75. 
O'Hara,  George,  72, 146, 153. 

William  M.,  159. 
Ohlen,  Henry  C,  204. 

Stephen,  204. 
Olden,  Gov.  Aaron,  12, 15. 

Charles  S.,  15. 
Olive,  Benjamin,  254. 

Thomas,  10,  15. 
Oliver,  Jonathan,  136. 
Olrastead,  Henry  M.,  137, 162. 
Olyphant,  David.  IK,  342. 
Opdyke,  H.  D.,  73. 
Oram,  Robert  F.,  60, 163,  310,  338,  334. 

Thomas,  313,  334. 
Orr,  John,  31. 
Osborne,  family,  263. 

Abraham,  350. 

Daniel,  363. 

Enos  A.,  368. 

Jeremiah,  332. 

Jonathan,  31,  41. 

William  K.,  215. 
Ostrander,  Stephen,  252,  282. 
Overton,  D.  B.,  62. 

Stephen,  71,  212. 
Owen,  F.  W.,  143, 158. 


P. 

Page,  George  S.,  200. 
Palmer,  Abram  M.,  320. 
Daniel,  -312. 
S.  F.,  200. 
Pannell,  C.  H.  H.,  145. 
Parcels,  Swain,  232. 
Pardee,  Ario,  42,  63. 
Park,  C.  C,  256. 
Parker,  Addison,  72, 139. 

C.  C,  326. 

James,  140, 168,  335,  365, 367. 

Joel,  15,  74. 
Parlaman,  John,  374,  275,  276. 
Parrots,  Thomas,  76. 

William,  67. 
Parson,  L.  D.,  141. 
Patterson,  William,  15,  76, 141. 
Paubel,  Louis,  203. 
Paul,  John„150. 
Paulmier,  Jacob  S.,  204. 
Pear, ) 

Peer,  J- Abraham,  275,  276. 
Pier,  ) 

Daniel  T.,  179,  250, 

David,  76.336,  388. 

Edward  C,  345. 

Jacob,  269,  345. 

John,  275. 

Samuel,  336. 

Thomas,  56, 280. 
Pearce,  Andrew,  77. 

B.  H.,  200. 
Pease,  Franklin,  317. 
Peck,  Aaron,  235. 

Timothy,  134. 
Peiterson,  David  de  vrics,  8. 
Pemberton,  Israel,  252, 365. 

Robert,  31. 
Penn,  William,  9, 19. 
Pennington,  Frederick,  48. 

Thomas,  48. 

William  S.,  15, 138. 
Peppard,  Francis,  71,  247. 
Perrine,  Matthew,  207. 

Robert,  39. 
Perry,  Joseph,  256. 

O.  H.,  71. 

William  E.,  318. 
Peters,  Hewlet  R.,  141. 
Pettit,  John,  75. 
Pewtner,  James,  379. 
Phelps,  Samuel  M.,  221, 225. 

W.  Walter,  74. 

?S'  [George,  381. 

Henry  W.,  55,  76. 

Jonas,  138, 148. 

Joshua,  232. 

Lewis,  349. 

Moses,  45,  55. 

Robert,  321. 
Phoenix.  Daniel,  133, 147, 149. 

Theodore  W.,  78,  244. 153, 159, 
163. 
Pierce,  John,  125. 
Piorson,  Aaron,  153. 

Abraham,  21,  111,  188, 247. 

Benjamin,  21,  67,  76, 131, 148. 

Charles  J.,  164. 

D.  L.,145, 164. 

Ebenezer  H.,  76,  79,  159,  163, 
;W,  338,  342. 

Edward,  137, 154, 163. 

Elijah,  115, 138. 

George,  368. 

Isaac,  67, 138, 148, 158,  349. 

Jabez,  67. 

Jacob,  138. 

John,  204,  247,  250,  278,  275. 

Jonathan,  138. 

Moses,  138. 

Samuel,  129, 193. 

Stephen,  151, 158. 

Willis,  343. 
Finney,  A.,  139. 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


405 


Pitdney,  Samuel,  32. 
Pitney,  Aaron,  78. 

Benjamin,  248. 

Charles  A.,  159. 

Henry  0.,  75, 137, 150, 154, 162, 
245,  246. 

James,  241,  242. 

Mahlon,  77. 1.59. 
Platter,  David  B.,  340, 344. 

H.  B.,  339. 
Plumstead,  Thomas,  312. 
Poels,  James  P.,  72. 
Pohlman,  Henry  N.,  385. 
Poillon,  Winfleld,  141. 
Poineer,  John  W.,  142. 
Pollard,  Robert,  193. 
Poppeuhusen,  Conrad,  64,  65, 338. 
Porter,  Joseph,  275. 

Nathan,  140. 
Post,  John  v.,  72,  78,  279. 

Peter,  2S1. 

Stephen,  279. 
Potter,  Brastus  B.,  310,  313. 

H.  C,  393. 

Samuel,  19. 
Potts,  John,  140. 
Powers,  Jacob,  77,  354. 

John,  312. 
Price,  Benjamin,  312. 

Bphraim,  75. 

Isaac,  256. 

Nathan,  132. 

Philip,  275. 

Hodman  M.,  IS. 

Samuel,  275. 

Thomas,  275. 

William,  275. 
Prime,  D.  H.,  lS2. 
Primrose,  Henry,  132, 149, 159. 
Printz,  John,  8, 15. 
Provost,  David,  286. 
Prudden,  Amos,  143. 

Benjamin,  342. 

Isaac,  138. 

Joanna,  131. 

Joseph,  40, 130,  131, 138,  148. 

Moses,  148. 

Peter,  132,  148. 

Stephen  A.,  138. 
Pruden,  Byram,  316. 

B.  L.,  140. 

Moses,  32. 


Quayle,  E.  A.,  159. 
Quigg,  Hugh,  275. 
Quimby,  Isaac,  76,  78. 

James,  79, 157. 

Joslah,  224. 
Quinn,  B.,  308. 

Michael,  256. 


Randall,  Samuel,  210. 
Randolph,  Charles  F.,  47, 159. 

Joseph  P.,  143, 151. 

Theodore  F.,  15,  60, 78, 168, 309. 
Rankin,  Charles  W.,  141,  319. 

William,  214,  268. 
Bspalye,  Garret,  46. 
Bawlings,  Thomas,  309. 

C.  T.,  59. 
David,  111. 
H.  R.,  59. 
John,  275. 
Reading,  Alexander,  39. 

John,  10, 15, 19,  63,  254,  269, 292, 
295,  307,  332,  365. 

iTeltk] '''''-''''■ 
Nathan,  148. 


Reed,  B.  N.,  141. 

Charles,  71. 

John,  31. 

Richard,  39, 160. 
Requa,  Austin,  138, 162. 
Revere,  Joseph  W.,  164. 

Paul,  159. 
Richards,  George,  58,  62,  65, 313,  315, 
319,  327,  358. 

James,  128, 134, 137, 153,  344. 

John,  18,  216,  224. 

Samuel,  55. 

Thomas,  55, 141. 
Richardson,  John,  275. 
Biohelson,  family,  327. 

Johannes,  319. 

Robert,  358. 
Ricber,  Jan,  267. 
Riggs,  Albert  R.,  44,  47,  230,  366,  368. 

Blias,  149,  242. 

Jetur  R.,  44, 236. 

John,  47,  76. 

Preserve,  76, 242. 

Zebulon,  241,  242, 248. 
Rlghter,  Charles  A.,  223. 

George  B.,  45,  72.  ' 

John,  46,  77,  223,  281. 

Joseph,  61,  76,  345,  346,  356. 

Peter,  224. 

Samuel  F.,  45,  79. 
Riker,  Jacob,  44. 
Riley,  Philip,  79. 
Ritchey,  Thomas,  257. 
Bivington,  James,  25. 

RoS;  I  Charles  W.,  140. 

J.  W..  143, 158. 

John,  193. 

Samuel,  75, 132, 148, 159. 
Robeards,  Alexander,  132. 

Luman,  275. 
Robeson,  John, '275. 
Robertson,  Alexander,  77. 

Colin,  75. 

Robert,  29. 
Robinson,  Benjamin,  79. 

Remus,  73. 
Roburds,  Peter,  275. 

Benjamin,  53. 

C.  P.  R.,  144. 

Jeremiah,  367. 

Joseph,  275. 

J.O.,  318. 

Ransford,  128. 

Robert  C,  72,  210. 
Rodney,  David  H.,  140, 159. 
Roe,  Jacob  D.,  237. 

Uriah,  268, 280. 
BofE,  Blias,  312. 

Enoch,  293. 
Rolands,  Joseph,  72. 
Romine,  Jacob,  253. 
Ronal,  James,  275. 

Roome,  [^^"j^"""''"'' *«•'«•  ^• 

Francis,  183. 

Peter,  267,  274. 

William,  332. 
Roomer,  Samuel,  282. 
Roriok,  Conrad,  386. 
Rose,  William,  275. 
Rosenkrans,  Benjamin,  39. 
Ross,  Abram,  315. 

David,  351. 

Edwin,  140. 

George,  28, 164. 

Isaac,  275. 

Justice,  38. 

Thomas  K.,  140. 

William,  76,  274,  275. 
Rossi,  A.,  317. 
Roulofson,  Rolouf,  386. 
Rowe,  Samuel,  257. 
Rowland,  George,  354. 
Roy,  Joseph  I.,  153. 


Rude,  Noah,  22. 
Rudyard,  Thomas,  10, 15. 
Rue,  Ephraim,  20. 
Runyon,  Daniel,  77, 282. 

John  R.,  73,  80, 153, 163. 

Josis,  267. 

Heune,  138, 256. 

Richard,  262. 

Theodore,  74. 
Russell,  Caleb,  42,  75,  76,  147, 148,  150, 
152. 

Henry  P.,  142, 147, 152, 159. 

Israel.  142. 

J.  C,  75. 

Sylvester,  67, 141, 150, 159, 160. 
Rutan,  Manning,  314. 

Peter,  263. 
Rutherford,  Walter,  52,  335. 

Ryason"'  [  <^eorge,  18, 266, 279, 333, 338. 
Jonas,  282. 

Martin,  48,  67,  254,  c65, 
Samuel,  36,  276. 
Thomas  C,  38. 
Tunis,  335. 


Salmon,  Aaron,  77,  254,  256. 

A.  L.,  255,  256. 

Charles,  254. 

George,  47, 257. 

John  S.,  256. 

Joshua  S.,  78. 

Stephen,  76. 

William,  256. 
Salsbury,  Jonathan,  275. 
Salter,  John,  76,  250, 335. 
Sammis,  Charles,  353. 
Samson,  B.  TJ.,  208. 
Sanders,  Ephraim,  241, 244. 

Henry  C,  78, 244. 

Peter,  52. 
Sanford,  David,  77,  316. 

Frank  Ford,  244. 

John,  31. 
Sargeant,  Edmund  K.,  182. 

Samuel,  200. 
Sawyer,  Samuel,  388. 
Sayer,  Bphraim,  193, 196. 

Samuel,  77, 160. 

William  Y.,  147, 164. 
Scarlet,  John,  319. 
Schanck,  Garret  C,  267,  283. 
Sehenck,  Aaron,  140. 

A.  A.,  159. 

John  V.  N.,  267,  283. 
Schermerhorn,  John  P.,  144. 
Schlatter,  Michael,  385. 
Schooley,  Robert,  40,  291. 

Samuel,  373. 

William,  291,  303,  310. 
Schrauderbach,  F.,  159. 
Schubarth,  C.  D.,  60. 
Schuyler,  Arent,  18, 266. 

John,  43. 

Philip,  69,  76,  282. 
Scofleld,  James  A.,  75. 
Scott,  Elijah  D.,  46,  59,  69, 181,  331. 

James,  387. 

John,  78, 178,  368,  315. 

Joseph,  350,  336,  355. 

Truman  H.,  159. 

William,  46,  48,  53,  59,  65, 157, 
178, 181,  350,  281,  314,  353. 

Winfleld,  12. 
Seranton,  Selden  T.,  63. 
Scribner,  Phebe,  151. 

ieT^Sf'}^«-"y.315. 
Alonzo,  321. 
David  A.,  316. 
Charles,  316. 
Ichabod,  140. 
I.  W.,  315. 
John  W.,  74,  319. 
Manning  F.,  319. 


Martin  V.  B.,  313. 

Samuel,  138. 

Walter  A.,  72. 
Seeley,  Elias  P.,  15. 

Sylvanus,  28,  30. 
Segur,  Anson  G.  P.,  47. 

Thomas  B.,  315,  318,  327. 

Warren,  320. 
Seward,  Abraham,  233, 293. 

Henry,  78. 

John,  39,  52,  67,  77,  235,  239. 

Obadiah,  233. 

William  H.,  311, 212,  232. 
Shadrick,  John,  138. 
Shafer,  S.  C,  333. 

Polydore,  335. 
Shane,  James,  275. 
Sharp,  family,  374. 

Jesse  M.,  78,  255. 

Joseph,  67,  77. 

Morris,  77. 
Shaub,  Samuel  B.,  182. 
Shaver,  Abraham,  80. 
Shaw,  Henry,  141. 

John,  140. 

K.  B.,  141. 
Shawger,  Columbus,  396. 

George,  53, 348. 

James,  158. 
Sheerau,  James,  144. 
Sheldon,  Elisha,  30. 
Shepard,  Charles  I.,  383. 
Sherman,  Abijah,  42. 

Byron,  168. 

John,  77,  354. 
Shermer,  H.  B.,  257. 
Sherred,  Samuel,  67. 
Sherwood,  Ebenezer  K.,  380. 
Shipman,  Benjamin,  21, 133. 

Samuel,  339. 

William,  134. 
Shongon,  George,  233. 
Shores,  WilUam,  19. 
Shotwell,  Joseph,  40,  392. 
Showen,  Ada,  275. 
Shuiler,  Jacob,  76. 
Shute,  William,  52. 
Sibb,  Peter,  72. 
Simpson,  Clark  D.,  236. 

John  N.,  72. 
Sitcher,  William,  31. 
Skellenger,  Ehas  M.,  78. 
Skene,  John,  10, 15. 
Skldmore,  W.  B.,  140. 
Skinner,  Cortland,  113, 367, 334. 

Stephen,  36. 
Slaight,  Cornelius,  365. 
Slater,  Joseph,  279. 
Slaughter,  T.  J..  204. 
Slingerland,  family,  287. 
Smith,  family,  338. 

Adam,  47. 

Albridge  C,  313,  317, 318, 321. 

Andrew,42,  78,  224. 

Benjamin,  67,  78,  349. 

Bernard,  42,  54,  78,  338,  356. 

Cadwallader,  79. 

Calvin  D.,  77. 

Qaudius,  36,  275. 

David,  336,  356. 

Ebenezer  F.,  39,  42,  76,  78. 

Edward,  315. 

George,  58,  357. 

Henry,  312. 

Hiram,  67,  74,  76,  78,  349. 

I.  Condit,  226. 

Jecaniah,  126. 

Jesse,  151. 

John,  38,  48, 76, 79, 313, 317, 388. 

Jonathan,  142. 

Joseph,  76,  77,  78. 

Peter,  76, 193. 

Samuel,  33,  75. 

Sanford  H.,  248. 

Thomas,  379. 

William,  31. 


4o6 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 


ZlbaS.,245. 
Sonneborn,  S.  S.,  396. 
South,  Charles,  39. 
Southard,  Henry,  263. 

Isaac,  162. 

Solomon,  138. 

Timothy,  77. 
Spalding,  Joshua,  71. 

Wayland.  137, 138, 150. 
Spargo,  Charles,  313. 

James  T.,  313. 
Speer,  John  T.,  279. 

Richard,  74,  78, 163, 279. 
Spencer,  Oliver,  30,  31.      ' 

William,  52,  76. 
Spriggs,  William,  77. 
Stagg,  Henry,  339. 

Peter,  132. 
Staght,  Robert,  77. 
Stalter,  Sidney  W.,  157, 163. 

Jeremiah,  139. 
Stanbury,  Samuel,  263. 
Stanburrough,  family,  230. 

Albert,  11,  78, 163,  230,  234. 

John,  44,  77,  79,  230,  239. 
Stanford,  Christian,  226. 
Stanton,  John,  328. 

William,  141. 
Stark,  Aaron,  76, 138. 

Amos.  79. 

John,  76,  78,  79, 138. 

Jonathan,  29. 

Starkey,  Benjamin,  251. 

Steelman,  Absalom,  369. 

Stephens,!  ifl        go 
Stevens,    j -^-aam,  ^. 

Amzi  C,  256. 

Archer,  76,  254,  258,  363. 

Henry,  77. 

Ira  B.,  236. 

John,  257,  334. 

Biehard,  61,  255,  236. 

Robert  C,  77,  78. 

R.  H.,  255, 

Samuel,  387. 

Stephenson,  I  y,^^,^  o,,, 
Stevenson,    ( ^avid,  dn. 

James,  138. 

Richard  W.,  138, 156. 

Thomas,  109, 263. 

Srt'}Henry,75. 

James,  75. 

John,  36.  ^ 
Stickle,  family,  362. 

Adam,  280. 

Barnabas  K.,  358. 

Bvon  K.,  162. 

David,  346. 

Edward,  316. 

Francis,  77. 

George,  46,  279. 

Hubbard  S.,  42,  43,  46, 52, 77, 
280,  362. 

Jacob  P.,  338. 
Stlger,  John  S.,  157. 

iiyfls,hpl"-^i™P-'^- 

J.  H.,  141. 

Jonathan,  20,  23,  24,  26,  30,  32, 
38,  75,  78,  218. 

Joseph,  159. 

Levi,  253,  268,  287. 

Lewis  B.,  142,  278. 

L.  O.,  152. 

Moses,  275. 
Stilman,  John,  308. 
Stirling,  Lord,  29,  43,  49,  .31,  52,  75. 
Stites,  Jonathan,  74, 75, 148. 

Joseph,  132, 149. 

Richard,  76,  80, 147, 137,  164. 

Thomas,  49. 
Stock,  Henry,  275. 
Stockton,  Robert  F.,  12. 
Stoddard,  family,  370. 

Elijah  W.,  71,  368. 
Stokes,  Elwood  H.,  140. 
Stone,  H.  B.,  162. 


KoUin  G.,  72. 

William  W.,  137, 138. 
Stoutenburg,  family,  382. 

Luke  I.,  214,  382. 
Straight,  Christian,  44. 

Stephen,  44,  234. 
Stratton,  J.  V.,  139. 

William,  12, 15. 
Street,  Thomas  W.,  319. 
Strong,  James,  203. 

Strubel  Diedric,  386. 
Stuart,  Charles,  273. 
Sturtevant,  Eliphalet,  55,  396. 
Stuy  vesant,  Peter,  15. 
Sullivan,  James  P.,  139, 138, 164. 
Sumner,  W.  G.,  144. 
Sutton,  Abner,  256. 

Samuel  M.,  313. 
Swackhamer,  family,  375. 

Jacob,  77. 

John,  386. 
Swain,  George,  310. 
Swan,  Charles  Y.,  141, 163. 

iwirze,hamuel,73.77. 

William,  39.     . 
Sweet,  William  H.,  396. 
Sweezy,  Samuel,  21,  75, 132,  212. 
Symmes,  John  C,  77. 
Sym,  William,  138. 

T. 

Talbot,  Theodore  F.,  159. 
Talcott,  E.  Kirk,  320. 

W.  &  C,  60. 
Talmadge,  Cyrus,  396. 

Daniel,  275,  396. 

Ellas  C,  237. 

James  H.,  283. 

Zophar  0.,  44,  234. 
Taulman,  Peter,  31. 
Tappen,  Abraham,  75. 
Tatham,  John,  15. 
Taylor,  Horace  E.,  180. 

Jacob,  335. 

John  B.,  144, 158, 164,  279. 

William  J.  &  Co.,  215. 
Teabo,  William,  61. 
Teasdale,  John,  256. 

Thomas,  39. 
Temont,  Frederick,  21. 
Temple,  Ebenezer  W.,  47. 

William,  47. 
Tenbrook,  William,  28. 
Terris,  Apollos,  279. 
Terry,  Nathaniel,  38,  76. 
Thai-p,  James,  275. 
Thatcher,  John,  161. 
Thomas,  Edward  D.,  29. 

Isaac,  309. 

Joseph  A.,  COO. 

Rev.  J.,  72, 

Nodiah,  223,  226. 

Samuel,  59. 
Thompson,  Alexander  H..  137. 

Benjamin,  .32. 

Calvin,  77. 

Charles,  246. 

David,  25,  20,  32,  39,  75,  76,  78, 
126,  247. 

GeorgeH.,  76,  78. 

Jonathan.  77, 138. 

Joseph,  163,  241,  242,  309. 

Joshua,  233. 

J.  W.,  141. 

Mark,  73. 

Peter,  52. 

Samuel,  52. 

Stephen,  78, 126,  247,  248. 

William,  77, 207. 

Wilmot,  316. 
Thomson,  Andrew,  31. 
Thornburn,  John,  36. 
Thorp,  David,  17. 
Throckmorton,  William,  303. 


Thurber,  Lewis  G.,  73. 
Tice,  Peter,  275. 
Ticbenor,  Caleb,  132. 

Jabez,  193. 

James  H.,  228. 

Tighlman,  Tench,  125. 

Till,  Philip,  293. 

Tinney,  Thomas,  396. 

Tippet,'  Samuel,  338. 

Tobey,  William,  225. 

Todd,  Isaac,  40. 

Tolan.  W.  B  ,  188. 

Tomkins,    (  nntiipi  D    ifa 
Tompkins, }  "^^^^^  "■'  !*«• 

Ichabod,  138. 

L.  C,  139. 
Tonkin,  James,  330, 321. 
Townley,  John  H.,  137. 
Tracy,  Peter,  47. 
Travis,  Richard  H.,  204. 
Treadwell,  Alfred  M.,  72,  78, 190,  210. 
Treat,  Jay  S.,  315,  318. 
Treleaze,  Charles,  352. 
Treloar,  Daniel,  321. 
Trimmer,  George,  77. 
Troop,  John,  36. 
Trott,  Samuel,  138. 
Trowbridge,  Charles,  313. 

C.  F.,  320. 

David,  293. 
Troxell,  Eugene,  164. 
Tucker,  David,  315. 

George,  78, 149. 

Timothy,  138. 
Tunnell,  John,  257. 
Tunis,  Charles  M.,  313. 

John  S.,  72. 
Turner,W .  J.,  321. 
Turton,  W.  H.,  138. 
Tuthill,  Samuel,  23,  25,  41,  74,  147, 
148, 155, 169. 

Stephen,  20. 

Theodorus,  149. 
Tuttle,  A.  H.,  204. 

Ebenezer, '45,  76,  276. 

Daniel,  77,  313. 

David,  28,  32,  38,  310. 

Henry,  42,  263. 

Jacob,  207. 

James,  204,  207,  225,  318,  342. 

John,  46,  222. 

Joseph,  46,  49, 75,  111,  113, 116, 
120,  187.  218,  222,  223, 
339,  336. 

Moses,  28,  64,  75,  76,  274,  295, 
337, 343,  354,  356. 

Robert  K.,  77, 122. 

Silas,  78,  222. 

Samuel  L.,  113, 115, 123,  131, 
187,  208,  275. 

Timothy,  21,  28,  37,  75. 

William,  79,  121,  153. 
Tyack,  Thomas,  237. 
Tyng.  J.  H..  144. 


U. 

Upham,  S.  F.,  203. 

William,  275. 
Upjohn,  James  A.,  309, 319. 
TJpson,  Jesse,  73,  76,  78. 


V. 

Vail,  Abby,  123. 

Alfred,  144, 160. 

Davis,  157. 

George,  74,  78,  157, 172. 

Henry,  138. 

Stephen,  57,  76,  142, 160, 172. 

William  P.,  169. 
Valentine,  Arthur,  79. 
Vanaoken,  Abraham,  75. 
Van  Anglen,  John,  29. 
Vanatta,  Jacob,  63,  78, 172. 
Van  Artsdalen,  Garret,  387. 
Van  Benschoten,  S.,  140. 


Vance,  Alanson  A.,  152,  153, 157. 

Joseph,  182, 248. 
Van  Campen,  Abraham,  75. 
Van  Cleve,  C.  S.,  140. 

S.  W.,  140. 
Van  Cook,  Richard,  275. 
Van  Cortland,  Philip,  24, 25,  36,  75. 
Vanderbeck,  Paul,  279. 

Paulus,  267.  274, 281. 
Vanderhoof,  Peter,  313. 
Vanderpool,  David,  275. 
Vanderveer,  James,  75, 
Vandewoort,  John  C,  387. 
Van  Dine,     1  Abraham,  19,  20,  274, 
Van  Duyne, )  288. 

Alfred,  77. 

A.  C,  78. 

Cornelius,  250. 

Isaac,  21,  75,  275. 

Jacob,  275. 

John  M.,  230. 

Mott,  233. 

Martin,  274. 

Matthew,  20, 21. 

William  T.,  182. 
Van  Doren,  Abraham,  215. 

John,  215. 

Joseph  H.,  137, 138, 158, 182. 

Luther  H.,  253. 
Van  Duzer,  Gabriel,  237. 

Tusten,  239. 
Van  Dyke,  John,  255. 
Van  Gilder,  Abraham,  141. 

Evert,  79. 

V?ShorTl««^^t,319. 

William,  138. 
Van  Houten,  Abraham,  67. 

Henry,  275. 
Vanlien,  John,  248. 
Van  Ness,  family,  267. 

Henry,  250, 252,  274. 

Samuel,  75,  78, 279. 

Simon,  46,  266,  279. 
Van  Orden,  Cornelius,  250. 
Van  Rensselaer,  William,  158. 
Vansant,  Samuel,  140. 
Van  Schaick,  John,  71. 
Van  Winkle,  Jacob,  346. 

Thomas,  76. 
Vermilye,  Robert  G.,  387. 
Verrazanno,  John  de,  8. 
Vliet,  William,  39. 
Vogt,  Louis  C,  132. 

L.  A.  &  B.  H.,  140, 164. 
Voorhees,  A.  E.,  146. 

Cornelius,  76,  78,  223. 

Georges.,  158, 162. 

James,  137, 138, 153, 159. 

John  F.,  156, 162. 

William,  147. 
Von  Beaverhoudt,  Lucius,  218, 253. 
Vreeland,  Conrad,  237. 

Coon,  275. 

Daniel,  193. 

George  W.,  164. 

J.  B.,  159. 

J.  J.,  321. 

John,  268. 

Simon,  268. 
Vroom,  Peter  D.,  15. 

W. 

Wack,  Caspar,  378,  381,  386. 

Jacob,  388. 
Waddell,  William  C.  H.,  46. 
Wade,  Isaac,  38. 

Jonas,  38. 

Nodiah,  29, 32, 193. 
Waer,  Harman  K.,  369. 

William  A.,  316. 
Waldorf,  Anthon,  386. 
WaldrutE,  John,  76. 
Walser,  O.  H.,  72. 
Walters,  David,  309. 

Thomas,  319. 


INDEX  TO  xNAMES. 


407 


Walton,  John,  138,  345, 347. 

Mark,  42, 275. 

Reuben,  337,  344. 
Wankle,  Agnes,  344,  347. 

Benjamin,  275. 

Jacob,  356. 
Ward,  Elijah,  38,  75,  76,  78. 

En  OS,  76. 

John,  368. 

Lebbeus  B.,  137, 138, 163,  176. 

Marons  L.,  15,  74. 

Nathan,  132. 

Silas,  176. 

Stephen,  21. 

Thomas,  225. 
Washburn.  Bleazer,  242. 
Washington,  Gen.  George,  12. 
•  Waterman,  Isaac  S.,  63. 
Wation,  Charles,  379. 

Luke,  220. 
Weatherby,  Benjamin,  31. 
Webb,  Abraham,  39. 

James  A.,  163,  202. 
Weir.  Collins,  16t. 
Weise,  Jacob,  76,  78. 

Lnnis,  312. 

Philip,  388. 

Samuel,  77. 
Wells,  Elijah  D.,  308. 

John,  77. 

Samuel.  73. 
Welsh,  family,  375. 

David.  67,  75,  78,  78,  162,  374, 
386. 

Jacob,  76. 

John,  77. 

William,  10. 

Wilhelm,  386. 
Welahear,  Thomas,  275. 
West,  Andrew  J.,  150. 
Weston,  D.  C,  210. 
Wetmore,  A  polios,  59. 

David  W.,  59, 17fl,  281. 

William  H.,  159. 
Wheeler,  William,  354. 
Whelpley,  Edward  W.,  78, 131. 

Samuel,  149, 150. 

William  A.,  150. 


White,  Ellas  M.,  78. 

N.  H.,  152. 
Whitehead,  Aaron  D.,  137, 138. 

Asa,  69. 

Benoni,  3,54. 

Calvin',  225. 

Edward,  164. 

Francis  L.,  137. 

Ira  C,  78,  138,  150,  381. 

Isaac,  21,  77. 

James,  279. 

J.  H.,  72,  283. 

John,  1,56,  275. 

Samuel,  258, 339. 

Sylvester  H.,  138. 

Theodore  F.,  248. 

William  A.,  111. 
Wick,  Henry,  22,  241. 
Wigger,  W.  M.,  72,  209. 
Wiggins,  Albert,  310,  313. 

Daniel  F.,  313. 

Gershom,  275. 

Jonathan,  64,  337. 

William  F.,  337. 
Wiley,  Henry,  388. 

John  S.,  388. 

Wilkinson,  I  ._„„,.  ,00 
Wilkison,    fAnne>,ld8. 

J.,  12.5. 

Willi""  ^EliphaletC,  381. 

Isaac,  379.  -^ 

Samuel,  78,  380. 
Willford,  C.  B.,  157. 

E.  P.,157. 
Williams,  Joseph  E..  313. 

William  T.,  313. 
Williamson,  Abraham,  314,  235,  308. 

Benjamin,  69. 

Isaac  H.,  13. 
Willis,  Aaron,  373. 

Edwin  E.,  73; 

James.  147. 

Jcmas  L.,  38. 

Thomas,  46.  56,  59, 182,  276. 
Willocks,  George,  266. 
Wills,  James,  19,  22,  241. 

John,  109. 

Samuel,  76. 


Wilson,  Jacob,  75,  76,  313. 

James  J.,  38, 152. 

Jonathan,  379. 

Mordecar,  315,  327. 

Kobert,  76,  275. 

Samuel  K.,  315. 
Winans,  Rodney,  318. 
Winchill.  Isaac,  354. 
Windeyer,  Walter,  210. 
Winds,  Josiab,  79. 

William,  21,  23,  24,  26,  28,  32, 
38,  51.  78,  113,  292.  299, 
339,  342,  348,  350. 
Wingst,  Joshua,  42. 
Winslow,  J.  B.,  162. 

John  F.,  48, 182. 
Winters,  Charles,  52. 

Christian,  352. 
Wirts,  John  Conrad,  385. 
Witherspoon,  John,  124. 
Witte,  M.  C.  G.,  143. 

™'[  Aaron,  248. 

Augustus,  2.35. 

D.  H.,  237. 

Edward,  313. 

F.  v..  320. 

George  H.,  313. 

Job,  293. 

John  Augustus,  384. 

William,  257. 
Wood,  family,  230. 

Clement,  29. 

Freeman,  46,  .58,  61,  65,  76,  78, 
2:10,  235,  315,  316,  331,  a5l, 
3.57. 

James,  67,  76,  153,  159, 160, 182. 

Jonathan,  138. 

Joseph,  76, 138,  143,  304. 

Nelson.  163. 

Richard  S.,  162. 

Samuel  D.,  34.5. 

Theodore  T.,  58, 83, 131, 3.37,358. 

Thomas,  133,  138. 

William,  69,  75,  78. 163,230,236. 

W.  B..  1.39. 
Woodhull,  James  H.,  182. 

Nathan,  214. 

William,  38,  73,  76,  78, 182,  212, 
2.35,  387. 


Woodruff,  Absalom,  25, 143,  245. 

Ebenezer,  25. 

E.  B.,  146, 163. 

John,  149. 

Seth,  67. 
WooUey,  Abraham,  39. 
Woolsey,  Elijah,  258. 
Wootten,  Philip,  60. 
Wright,  Samuel  G.,  55. 
Wurts,  George,  253, 287. 

John,  78. 

Wyckoff,  James,  318. 


Yager,  Jacob,  255. 
Yard,  Joseph  A.,  12. 

Robert  B.,  140. 
Yates,  George,  143, 159. 
Yawger,  James  C,  78. 
York,  Joseph,  164. 
Young,  Arthur,  275. 

David,  219, 227,  287. 

Ephraim,  143. 

Henry,  275. 

James,  367. 

John,  76,  77,  141,  333. 

Martin,  275. 

Peter,  348. 

Robert,  21,  33. 

Stephen,  80, 138. 

S.  L.,  143. 

Thomas,  333. 

WilUam,  30, 76. 
Youngs,  family,  291. 

Grover,  79. 

Israel,  23.3,  275. 

James,  212. 

Samuel,  308. 
Youngblood,  James.  77,  78. 
Younglove,  Israel,  75. 


Zabriskic,  Albert  J.,  251. 

Josiah,  251. 
Zeek,  Matthias,  352, 836. 
Zindle,  Leopold  and  family,  337. 


m 


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