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HISTORY 


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JBergen  County 


Nkav  Jersev     ^fh 


I  r^T^lTSTR  ATTi:  D 


J.    M.    Van^    VAi^Risr 


New  Jersey  I'UBLISHI^G  and  Engraving  Company 
New  York 

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S  17. 


BinvKKs  Pkintint.  Comi-anv 

Pmi.AIlKI.l'HIA 

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PREFACE 


The  "History  of  Ik-rg-yn  County"  is  now  suliUiitted  to  tho  reader 
for  his  criticism.  The  book  has  been  written  by  a  number  of  ])ersons. 
all  of  them  being  old  residents  of  the  county  and  abundantly  able  to 
write  on  the  subjects  assigned  them.  It  is  for  this  reason  the  imblishers 
somewhat  confidently  send  the  \-olume  forth,  defective  though  it  may  be 
in  some  minor  particulars. 

The  compilation  of  the  worfc  covers  a  period  of  more  than  two 
centuries.  In  securing  facts  recourse  has  been  had  to  divers  authorities, 
including  histories  and  historical  collecticms,  implying  almost  an  endless 
array  of  papers  and  documents,  public,  private,  social  and  ecclesiastical. 
That  so  much  matter  could  he  gathered  from  so  many  original  sources 
and  then  sifted  and  assimilated  for  the  production  of  one  volume,  with- 
out incurring  a  modicum  of  errors  and  inaccuracies,  would  be  too  much  to 
expect;  but  it  is  believed,  nevertheless,  the  historical  value  of  the  work 
has  not  been  impaired  therebv.  Much  credit  is  due  to  Hon.  J.  M.  Van 
Valen  for  his  editorial  review,  his  revision  having  been  of  incalculal)le 
benefit. 

As  to  the  biographical  department,  the  work  has  been  prepared 
somewhat  in  accordance  with  the  idea  entertained  by  England's  greatest 
of  historians,  Macaulay,  who  said  the  history  of  a  country  is  best  told 
in  the  lives  of  the  people.  For  this  reason  we  have  published  personal 
sketches  by  the  hundred,  because  of  their  historical  worth,  making  that 
part  of  the  work  as  exhaustive  as  possible. 

As  to  the  general  history,  due  credit  has  been  give  in  most  cases  tor 
the  borrowed  matter.  Particular  mention,  however,  should  be  made  ot 
the  following  authorities:  "  Whitehead's  Work  on  East  Jersey,"  "Everts 
&  Peck's  History  of  Bergen  and  Passaic  Counties,"  "Rutherford  Illus- 
trated," "Things  Old  and  New."  "  Hackensack  Illustrated,"  "The 
Bergen  County  Democrat's  History  of  Hackensack,"  "C.  H.  Dunn's 
Picturesque  Ridgewood"  and  other  works,  among  which  might  be  mem- 
tioned  those  by  Dr.  Edward  H.  Dixon  and  Dr.  Thomas  Dunn  English, 
on  the  history  of  Fort  Lee.  all  of  which  ha\'e  furnished  valuable 
material,  and  the  same,  whenever  needed,  has  been  uns])aringly  utilized. 
Among  those  who  have  written  for  the  work,  and,  in  several  instances, 
have  done  so  somewhat  extensively,  may  be  eninnerated  by  the  following 
contributors  and  their  contributions:  Ridgewood,  Cornelius  Doremus; 
Upper  and  Ivower  Saddle  River  Boroughs,  John  (1.  Esler;  Union  Town- 
shij),  W.  H.  Castles;  Rutherford.  Addison  Ely  and  others;  Reminiscences 
of  Lodi,  Henry  Kipp;  "In  Ye  Olden  Time,"  and  other  sketches,  J.  J. 
Haring,  M.  D.;  Ridgeticld  Park,  John  E.  Hoey;  Early  Settlement  of 
Kinderkamack.  and  other  sketches.  Hiram  Loxier.  Newburgh.  N.  Y.; 
Hasbrouck    Heights.     W.  S.  Laurence;   Coloni.'il     Buildings.    Ernst    Bil- 


4  PKEFACE. 

huber,  Maywood;  Revolutionary  Reminiscences  and  other  data  on  Fort 
Lee,  James  F.  Tracey;  Org-aniiiation  of  the  City  Government  of  Engle- 
wood,  Robert  Jamieson;  History  of  Borough  Organizations,  George  Cook. 
Allendale;  Bernard  Koster,  Wallingtou,  Frederic  L.  Colver,  Tenafly;  and 
a  number  of  borough  and  township  clerks,  whose  valuable  contributions 
of  this  kind  have  been  graciously  given  and  thankfully  received;  Church 
history  of  Hackensack,  Rev.  H.  Vanderwart;  Church  history  of  Ruther- 
ford and  vicinity.  Rev.  Edwin  A.  Bulkley,  D.  D.,  and  this  list  should 
include  the  names  of  Revs.  Allan  McNeil,  of  Ridgefield  Park;  Rev.  C. 
Mondorf,  Carlstadt;  Rev.  Artemas  Dean,  D.  D.,  Englewood  Cliffs;  Rev. 
Joseph  Dally,  Englewood;  Rev.  A.  Van  Neste,  of  Ridgewood,  and  J.  J. 
Ilaring,  M.  D.,  Tenafly,  each  of  whom  wrote  special  articles  on  church 
history.  Due  credit  is  also  accorded  to  Professor  R.  S.  Maugham,  of 
Tenafly,  for  sketches  on  the  various  societies  and  organizations  of  Tena- 
fly; to  Dr.  David  St.  John,  for  a  well-written  pen  description  of  Hacken- 
sack, including  its  sanitary  history,  and  tn  James  E.  Church,  for  the 
history  of  Hackensack  Hospital. 

In  the  illustration  of  certain  chapters  of  the  work,  we  are  in- 
debte<l  to  Ernst  Bilhuber,  of  Maywood;  Superintendent  John  Terhune 
and  to  Dr.  David  St.  John,  both  of  Hackensack;  and  to  Mr.  W.  O.  Alli- 
son, of  Englewood  Cliffs,  for  cuts  of  different  kinds;  and  to  other  parties 
all  over  the  county,  including  the  secular  press,  in  particular,  for  the 
valuable  assistanee  rendered  in  the  comjiilation  of  this  work,  the  kindest 
thanks  are  extended  by 

Thk  Publisheks. 


■^-J  ty  £■  C-  i*«««^^  ^ 


CONTENTS 


Genekai,  History. 


Chapter  I 

Indian  History. 

Chai-tkr  II 


■In  Ye  Olden  Time. 


Chai'Tek    VIII. 


Civil  (Jriranization  of  the  Cininty  of  Berg-en. 


Chapter  IX. 


Civil  List  of  Berg-en  County. 


Chapter  X. 


City.  Viij.ac.e.  Township  and  BouorCH   History. 


ChaiTER    XV 


11 


Discovery  and  Occupati(jn  of  the  New  Netherlands. 

Chapter  III ■^'* 

Early  Settlement  and  Land  Patents. 

Chapter  IV ^'i 

Land  Patents  in  Berg^en  County. 

Chapter  V 24 

Old  Bergen  Town  and  Township. 
Chapter   VI   -' 

The  Old  Township  of  Hackensack. 

Chapter    VII 


32 


38 


41 


48 


Courts  and  Court  Houses. 
Chapter  XI ^^ 

Bergen  County  in  Time  of  War. 
Chapter  XII "<> 

Societies  and  Incorporated  C'ompanies. 

Chapter  XIII ^^ 

Internal  Improvements. 
Chapter   XIV 89 

Schools. 


92 


New  Barbadoes — Hackensack. 

Chapter   XVI '62 

Saddle  Kivtr  Township— B.)roMgh  of  (iarfield. 

Chapter   XVII 1?** 

Franklin  Township— Oakland.  Wyckoff.  Wortendyke. 

Chapter   XVIII 1*^7 

Hohokus     Kamseys,  Mahwah. 
Chapter  XIX 209 

Orvil  Towii.ship- Hohokus.  Waldwick,  New  Prospect. 

Caapter    XX 219 

Boroughs— Allendale.  Upper  and  Lower  Saddle  Kiver. 
Chapter    XXI 238 

Ridgewood      Borouglis  (.f  (ilcii  Rock  and  Midland  Park. 


(,  CONTENTS. 


CllAl'TKK     XXII     -^'J 

Wa^hinirtoii  Townsluii-  Boroiiy-Iis  of  Ridsc  Park,  Muiitvale  Wood- 
clilV,  Westwood:  the  Township  of  Hill.sdale.  Pascack. 

Chai'TKk    XXIII -^l^* 

Midlaiui  To\vnshii)--Borou<,'-hs  of  Uelford.  Riverside  and  Maywood: 
Vilhiijes  of  Oradell,  New  Milford.  Cherry  Hill,  and  Spring  Valley. 

ClIAl'TKR    XXIV •'■'^■+ 

Lodi  Township  Boroiig-hs  of  Lodi.  WallinH-fon.  Carlstadt.  Wood- 
rid.ye.  Hasbrouck  Heig-hts,  Little  Ferry  and  the  Township  of 
liers'en. 

CiiAi'TKK    XXV -tlJ! 

Union  Township— Kingslaiid,  Lyndhurst,  and  the  IJorouirh  of 
North  Arling-ton. 

CllAl'TKK    XXVI 42M 

Borou<,rhs  of  Rutherford  and  East  Rutherford 
ChapTKk    XXVII 49+ 

The  Township  of  Rid^elield— -Fort  Lee.  Ridsrefield  Park. 
Ch A I'TKK    XXVIII .  ; .^.^2 

Borou!;hs  of  Ridgefield — Leoiiai,  Fairview,  tindercliff.  Palisades 
Park,  and  Bog-ota. 

Cli  A  I'THK    XXIX .=^85 

Englewood  Township-City  <if  Knglewood  and  Englewood  CliR's. 

Chaptkk    XXX 6,?'» 

Teaneck  Township— The  Villa  Grange. 

Cm  Ai'TKK    XXXI h,^l 

Palisades  Township  -  Boroughs  of  TenaHy.  Cresskill.  DunKint  and 
Bergen  field. 

Chai'TKk    XXXII 6S0 

Harrington  Township — Northvale.  Closter.  Ueniarest.  and  Boroiig-h 
of  Tappan. 


LLUSTRATIONS 


I'ACK 

Avfis.  Dr.  M.  S 551 

Alison,   Edward   M 410 

Atwood.  Georg^e   H 12.? 

Ackerman,  Abraham  H 217 

Ackerman,  Peter   255 

Ackerman,  Residence  of  Peter  . .  25? 

Allison,  W.    0 538 

Allison,  Residence  of  \V.  U.  and 

Palisade  Avenue.  638 

.\  venue,   May  wood 322 

Hauer,  Jacob 153 

Kechtel,  Herman 17<) 

Rechtel  Hotel ;..  177 

Bilhuher,  Ernst 330 

Bilhuber,  Residence  of  Ernst 331 

Hog-ert,  Andrew  D <i29 

Hog'ert,  Residence  of  Andrew  D.  fi32 

Bog-ert,  Isaac  D 29(> 

Robert,  John  \V 218 

Heniiett,  William  \V 648 

Bulkley,  Edwin  A 451 

Bell,  John  M 449 

Banta,  William  S 118 

Brinkman,  Dr.  Max.  R 160 

Bridgman,  R.  M 281 

Barrett.  David  L 636 

Rush.  David   C 193 

Hhike,  J.  J    456 

Castles,  W.  H 226 

Cass,  Alexander 618 

Carrigan,  Residence  of  J.  F 284 

C<iok,  Georg-e 224 

Church,  t'liion 518 

Crouter,  C.  P 268 

Cumming.  Thomas  H 142 

Cane,  F.  W ,S81 

Christie,  Cornelius 521 

Christie,  Residence  of  C-ornelius  525 

Christie  Homestead 523 

Colver,  F.  E b77 

Christie,  Cornelius  [Leonia]  ....  563 

Demarest,  Garret  Z 687 

Demarest,  Daniel  1 346 

Demarest,  C.  V.  B 1^4 

Demarest,  Clayton    144 

Demarest  School 583 

Dupuy,  J.  J 481 

Doremus,  Cornelius 265 

Doremus,  Residence  of  Cornelius  266 


DoGroot.   Samuel  E... 539 

De  Rondo,  .Vbram 621 

Darlington  School    207 

Edsall.  J.  G 556 

Easton,  Edward  D 332 

Easton,  ResideiKTe  of  Edward   D  334 

Esler.  John  (i 2.% 

Feitner,  John  F 3i)9 

Feitiier,  Residence  of  John  F 370 

Garrison,  Aaron  G 191 

Glcncourt 109 

Gramlich,  Alfred 4011 

Gramlich,  Residence  of  Alfred    .  401 

Hariiig,  Dr.  J.  J 674 

Hackensack  Hospital 106 

East  Rutherford  .School 475 

High  School,  Ridgewood 239 

Hales,  H.  W 279 

Hales,  Residence  of  H.  W 271 

Home,  Rethmore 662 

Hudson  River  and  Palisades  ....  637 

Hutton,  Isaac  E 277 

Hotel.  Overpeck 531 

Hose  Company,  Maywood 326 

Haa.s,  Nelson ISO 

IvLson.  David  B 454 

Iviswold 453 

Jaeger,  Gustav  L 32S 

Jaeger,  Residence  of  Gustav  L.  .  329 

Jacobus,  Nicholas 543 

John.son.  W.  M 121 

Jones,  J.  Wyman 605 

Kohbertz,  Mansion  of  F 397 

Kohbertz,   Residence  of  F 401 

Koch.  Louis 424 

Lydecker,  Garret  A 6U9 

Lydecker,  Thomas  W 613 

Lydecker,  Residence  of  Thos.  W  bl5 

Laurence,  William  S 407 

Eozier,  John  B 3.vS 

Lozier,  Residence  of  John  B ..  .  .  340 

Lozier,  John  B.,  Dining  Room.  .  341 

Eozier.  John  H..  Winter  (Juarters  342 

I,ozier,  John  B.,  Stock  Barns 343 

Eozier,  Hiram 344 

Ea  Fetra,  Daniel  W 2til 

La  Fetra.  Residence  of  Daniel  W  26,! 

Eibrary  Hall 6.S6 

Marsellus,  Henry 172 


8 


ILLUSTKATIONS. 


PAGE 

McMaiiLs,  William "«* 

.Moliiiari,  Anton 398 

Molinari,  Residence  of  Anton  ...  402 

Moeuch,  A ■^^^ 

Mittag,  Frank  O ^03 

Mittag  &  Volger.  Offices  of 305 

Movverson,  J.  E 1^5 

Mercer,  George  C 384 

Mondorf ,  Rev.  C 374 

McKenzie,  William 477 

Mountain  House,  Ruins  of 590 

Moore,  J.  Vreeland 5/1 

Moore,  Stephen  H.  V -is 

Moore,  Residence  of  J.    V.    and 

S.  V.  H 567 

Maywood  Avenue 322 

May  vf  cod  School  House 325 

Maywood  Art  Tile  Works 324 

Maywood  Hose  Company 327 

Osborne,  John  H.,  Residence  of..  234 

Ockf ord,  George  M 273 

Phelps,  William  Walter 641 

Paramus  Church 251 

Palisades     and    Hudson     River, 

View  of h52 

Post,  Peter  J 482 

Quackenbush,  John 208 

Roehrs,  Julius 389 

Roehrs,   Residence    and    Flower 

Houses  of 389 

Residence,  Colonial 327 

Ridgefield  School   533 

Ravekes,  Albert 527 

Roraeyn,  Rev  James  Campen.  .  .  127 

Romeyn,  Rev.  Theodore  Bayard  131 

Romevn,  Rev.  James  129 


P.\GE 

Romeyn,  James  A 133 

Rutherford  School 433 

Rouclere  House 282 

Ridgewood  High  School 239 

Ridgewood  Reformed  Church —  249 

Richter,  Paul 668 

Richter,  Dr.  August 372 

Springer,  Moses  E 625 

Snyder,  A.  V.  D 285 

St.  John,  Dr.  David 124 

Shuart,  James 204 

Stagg,  Peter 135 

Shafer,  Luther .' 447 

Sullivan.  A.  D 395 

St.  John,  Residence  of  Dr.  D 97 

Tallman,  Abram 634 

Terhune,  John 148 

Tracey,  James  F 512 

Van  Bussura,  John 408 

Van  Buskirk,  Jacob 336 

View  of  Hackensack 96 

Von  Hartz,  Carl 458 

Volger,  Theodore  G 306 

Vogel,  Charles 509 

Van  Dien,  John  B 259 

Wheeler,  George  W 146 

Wallington  School 386 

Wenger,  Chas.  L,.  A 67I 

Westervelt,  Jasper 645 

Winton,  Henry  D 140 

Zabriskie,  David  D 275 

Zabriskie,  Andrew  C 158 

Zabriskie,  Peter  L 279 

Zabriskie,  Peter  G 348 

Zinimermann,  George 367 


History  of  Bergen  County 


CHAPTER  I 
INDIAN    HISTORY 


\Vithout  the  histdry  of  the  Indians  who  inhabited  this  section  of  the 
State  the  history  of  Bergen  County  would  be  incomplete.  But  neither 
history  nor  tradition  can  tell  from  whence  these  savag-e  tribes  came,  nor 
how  long-  they  had  dwelt  on  these  shores.  A  few  statements,  however, 
relative  to  them  may  not  be  without  interest. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  Indians  inhabiting  New  Jersey  were  very 
numerous.  An  old  publication,  entitled  '  'A  Description  of  New  Albion  " 
and  dated  A.  D.  1648,  states  that  the  Indians  inhabiting  New  Jersey  were 
governed  by  about  twenty  kings,  but  the  insignificance  of  the  power  of  these 
kings  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  only  twelve  hundred  of  these 
people  were  under  the  two  Raritan  kings  on  the  north  side  next  to  the 
Hudson  River.  Whitehead,  in  his  "  East  Jersey  Under  the  Proprietary 
Ciovernment,"  says  there  were  not  more  than  two  thousand  Indians 
within  the  province  while  it  was  under  the  Dutch.  The  Indians  inhab- 
iting the  Lower  Hudson  and  East  Jersey  country  as  far  south  as  the 
Karitan  are  considered  by  most  writers  as  belonging  to  the  Delaware  or 
Lenni-Lenape  nation.  Lenni-Lenape  in  the  Indian  tongue  signifies 
"Original  People."  The  tribes  who  occupied  this  section  of  New  Jersey 
were  called  Raritans,  Hackensacks,  Pomptons  and  Tappeans. 

That  "Wicked  Nation,"  as  DeLaet  calls  the  Manhattans,  dwelt  on 
the  island  of  Manhattan.  Before  the  white  man  took  up  his  residence  in 
this  country  the  Lenape  nation  was  subjugated  by  the  powerful  Iroquois. 
The  conquered  nations,  however,  were  permitted  to  remain  on  their 
former  hunting  grounds  by  the  payments  of  tribute,  which  as  an  acknow- 
ledgment of  their  vassalage  was  exacted  of  them  annually. 

During  the  year  1630  the  first  hostility  of  the  Indians  against  the 
Dutch  was  directed  against  their  plantation  on  the  Delaware,  which  was 
totally  destroyed  and  thirty-two  men  killed.'  In  1641  an  expedition  was 
fitted  out  against  the  Indians  on  the  Raritan,  they  having  been  accused, 
though  wnmgfully,  of  trespassing  and  committing  theft.  Various 
causes  led  to  the  outbreak  of  UAX  One  cause  was  the  exacting  of  a 
tribute  from  the  Indians  by  Kieft,  the  Director-General,  in  1639;  another 
was  the  killing  of  a  white  man  by  an  Indian  in  1641  in  retaliation  for 
the  r.)l)bery  and  murder  of  (me  of  his  tribe  many  years  before. 

In  1655  trouble  again  arose  among  the  Indians  during  the  absence 
of  (xovernor  Stuyvesant  at  which  time  they  sought  safety  by  flight  to 
the  West  side  of  the  river  and  at  which  time  Staten  Island  was  laid 
waste  and   Pav.mia  was  burned.      The  Pomptons   and  Minsies  removed 


10  HISTORY    OK    BKKtiEN    COX^NTY 

from  New  Jerse}- about  1730  and  in  the  treat}'  of  1758  the  entire  remain- 
ing- claim  of  the  Delawares  to  lands  in  New  Jerse}-,  was  relinquished 
except  that  there  was  reserved  the  rig-ht  to  fish  in  all  the  rivers  and  bays 
south  of  the  Raritan  and  to  hunt  in  all  uninclosed  lands  A  tract  of 
three  thousand  acres  of  land  was  also  purchased  at  Edge  PiHock,  in 
Burling-ton  County,  New  Jersey,  and  on  this  the  remaining  Delawares 
of  New  Jersey,  about  sixty  in  number,  were  collected  and  settled.  They 
remained  there  until  the  year  1802  when  they  removed  to  New  Stock- 
bridge  near  Oneida  Lake,  New  York,  becoming  there  the  Stockbridge 
tribe.  In  1832  there  remained  about  forty  of  the  Delawares,  among  whom 
was  still  kept  alive  the  tradition  that  they  were  the  owners  of  the  hunt- 
ing and  fishing  privileges  of  New  Jersey.  They  resolved  to  lay  their 
claims  before  the  Legislature  of  this  State  and  request  that  a  moderate 
sum  of  ($2,000)  might  be  paid  them  for  its  relinquishment.  The  person 
selected  to  act  for  them  in  presenting  the  matter  before  the  Legislature 
was  one  of  their  own  number  whom  they  called  Shawuskukhkung,  mean- 
ing "Wilted  Grass",  but  who  was  known  among  the  white  people  as 
Bartholomew  S.  Calvin.  He  was  born  in  1756  and  was  educated  at  the 
expense  of  the  Scotch  Missionary  Society.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Revolution  he  left  his  studies  to  join  the  patriotic  army  under  Wash- 
ington, serving  with  credit  during  that  struggle  At  the  time  he  placed 
this  matter  before  the  Legislature  he  was  seventy-six  years  old,  and 
when  the  Legislature  granted  the  request  Mr.  Calvin  addressed  to  that 
distinguished  body  a  letter  of  thanks  which  was  read  before  both  houses 
in  joint  session  and  was  received  with  repeated  rounds  of  enthusiastic 
applause 


History  of  Bergen  County 

CHAPTER  II 

DISC(  )VKRY  AND  OCCUPATION  OF  NKW 

NETHERLANDS 


The  harbor  or  hay  of  New  York  was  discovered  b_y  Estevan  Gomez 
in  1(>25.  Gomez  was  sent  out  b\'  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  of  Spain,  who 
had  fitted  out  the  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  discovering-  a  shorter 
passage  to  the  East  through  the  continent  of  North  America.  From 
Winfield's  History-  we  find  that  all  the  country  extending  from  New 
Jersey  to  Rhode  Island  was  named  "Estevan  Gomez"  at  that  time.  It 
was  from  Gomez  the  natives  obtained  the  maize,  or  Spanish  wheat. 

It  is  possible  that  Verrazzano  in  his  voyage  from  the  Cape  of  the 
Breti.n  Southwest  to  Florida  sailed  into  the  harbor  of  New  York  in  1524, 
as  the  charter  of  Henrj-  IV  of  France  was  granted  to  De  Monts,  in  1603 
by  '.irtue  of  that  claim.  The  Charter  of  Acadia  embraced  all  that  por- 
tion of  the  country-  lying  between  the  fortieth  and  forty-sixth  degrees 
north  latitude  and  consequently  included  the  greater  part  of  New  Jersey. 
The  grant  of  the  French  King,  however,  was  ignored  by  the  English, 
and  in  1()07  Henry  Hudson  was  sent  out  by  the  East  India  merchants  in 
pursuit  of  northwest  passage  to  East  India,  but  he  was  unsuccessful  in 
his  search.  The  Dutch  East  India  Company  with  unshaken  faith  in  the 
■"bold  Englishman",  as  they  termed  Hudson,  put  him  in  command  of  a 
yacht  or  Vlie  boat  of  thirty  tons  burden  called  De  Halve  Mann,  ( Half 
Moon ),  to  make  search  for  that  much  sought  after  northwest  passage  to 
India.  Hudson  left  port  on  April  (>,  1()09  for  New  Foundland,  his  boat 
being  manned  by  a  crew  of  twenty,  partly  English  and  partly  Dutch. 

*  "  By  his  agreement  with  the  Company,  dated  January  8,  1609,  he 
was  to  sail  about  the  first  of  April  in  search  of  a  passage  to  the  north  of 
Nova  Zembla,  and  to  continue  along  that  parallel  until  he  was  able  to 
sail  south  to  the  latitude  of  sixty  degrees,  and  then  hasten  back  to  report 
to  his  employers.  For  this  service  he  was  to  receive  eight  hundred  guil- 
ders, and,  in  case  he  did  not  come  back  within  a  year,  they  were  to  give 
his  wife  two  hundred  guilders  more.  In  case  he  found  the  passage,  the 
Company  were  to  reward  him  for  his  dangers,  troubles  and  knowledge, 
in  their  discretion." 

■(■"Hudson's  anxiety  to  discover  his  favorite  passage  led  him  to  dis- 
regard his  orders,  and  he  coasted  southward  as  far  as  Chesapeake  Bay, 
and,  returning,  cast  anchor  inside  of  Sand}'  Hook  on  the  3d  of  Seji- 
teinber.  The  scenery  around  delighted  him,  and  he  pronounced  it  "  a 
very  good  land  to  fall  in  with,  and  a  pleasant  land  to  see.' 

■Ju.-l-..  .loinnal  .,1  IIuiKoirs  V.ivairc.     (History  .)f   lii-ifiii  aii.l  I'assaic  Coumii's. 


12  HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEX  COUXTV 

"  Hero  Hudson  mot  the  natives  for  the  first  time.  The  journal  says. 
'The  people  of  the  country  came  aboard  of  us,  seeming  very  glad  of  our 
coming,  and  brought  green  tobacco  and  gave  us  of  it  for  knives  and 
beads.  Thev  go  in  deer-skins  loose,  well  dressed.  They  have  yellow 
copper.  Thev  desire  clothes,  and  are  very  civil.'  On  the  6th  of  Sep- 
temljer,  John  Coleman,  an  Englishman  of  the  crew,  with  four  men.  was 
sent  to  sound  the  river  opening  to  the  north, — the  Narrows.  They 
sailed  through  and  found  'a  very  good  riding  for  ships."  They  found 
also  'a  narrow  river  to  the  westward  between  two  islands,' —  the  Kill 
VanKull.  Passing  through  these  two  leagues  they  came  to  an  open  sea, 
—Newark  Bay.  The  Dutch  called  it  Achter  Cull— that  is,  the  after 
bay,  because  it  lay  behind  the  Bay  of  New  York.  It  was  called  by  the 
English  After  Coll,  and  sometimes,  corrupting  the  word,  they  called  it 
Arthur  Cull.  It  is  sometimes  applied  to  the  territory  bordering  on  the 
Itav.  as  well  as  to  the  bay  itself.  On  their  return  they  were  attacked  l>y 
a  hostile  party  of  twenty-six  Indians  in  two  canoes :  Coleman  was  killed 
bv  an  arrow  which  struck  him  in  the  throat,  and  two  more  were 
wounded.  It  is  th<mght  that  these  Indians  came  from  Staten  Island,  as 
the  Jersey-  Indians  visited  the  ship  the  next  da}-  and  were  ignorant  of 
what  occurred.  The  next  day  the  body  of  Coleman  was  buried  on  Sandy 
Hook,  and  the  place  where  it  was  interred  still  bears  the  name  of  Cole- 
man's Point." 

Returning  again  through  the  Narrows,  Hudson  cast  anchor  on  the 
11th  of  September  in  the  Harbor  of  New  York,  "and  saw  that  it  was  a 
very  good  harbor  for  all  winds." 

The  report  of  Hudson's  discovery  caused  a  new  field  of  trade  to  be 
opened  which  the  East  India  Company,  becoming  eager  to  monopolize, 
sent  out  another  ship  in  1610  for  the  purpose  of  trading  in  furs.  Five 
years  afterwards  a  company'  of  merchants  who  had  procured  from  the 
States-General  of  Holland  a  patent  for  the  exclusive  trade  on  the  Hud- 
son River,  had  built  forts  and  established  trading  posts  at  New  Amster- 
dam (New  York),  Albany  and  the  mouth  of  the  Rondout  Kill.  The 
fort  at  New  York  on  account  of  the  "'fierce  Manhattans"  was  erected  on 
what  is  now  the  Battery. 

May  11th,  1647  Petrus  Stuyvesant  succeeded  the  reckless  Kieft  as 
Director  General,  under  whose  ordinances  villages  and  communities  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Hudson  began  to  spring  into  existence. 

Lords  and  Patrons  of  New  Netherlands  now  supplied  the  Schouts 
and  Schepens  for  Bergen  County  and  until  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch  to 
the  English  in  1664  this  change  of  government  was  followed  bv  a  grant 
or  charter  from  Charles  II  to  his  brother  James,  Duke  of  York,  of  the 
territory  from  the  western  side  of  the  Connecticut  River  to  the  Eastern 
side  of  the  Delaware  River  including  New  York  and  New  Jersev.  In 
the  same  year  James,  Duke  of  York  by  indenture  of  lease  and  release, 
granted  and  sold  to  John,  Lord  Berkely,  Baron  of  Stratton,  and  Sir 
(k'orge  Carteret,  of  Saltrum,  the  territory  of  Nova  Ca?sarea,  of  New  Jer- 


HISTOKV    OF     HKK(;i'".\     COrXTY  1,1 

st'v.  Under  their  charter  from  the  Duke  of  York,  Berkeley  and  Carteret 
])r<iccede(l  to  establish  civil  g-overnment  in  New  Jersey.  For  this  pur- 
jiosl'  thev  had  a  constitution  drawn  up  in  Eng-land,  entitled  "Tlu'  t'on- 
cessions  and  Ag-reement  of  the  Li>rds  Proprietors  of  the  Province  of 
New  Cttsarea  or  New  Jersey  to  and  with  all  and  every  the  x\dventin'ers. 
and  all  such  as  shall  settle  or  plant  there."  This  instrument  was  en- 
L;riisst'<l  iin  parchment,  and  signed  by  ttu'ni  on  the  10th  of  February. 
\hh4.  Philip  Carteret  was  appointed  (iovermir  of  the  province,  but  did 
Ucit  arrive  thither  till  August,  1665.  In  the  mean  time  New  Jersey  was 
placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Col.  Richanl  Nic(dl.  (iovernor  of  New 
York.  During  the  interval  a  legislative  council  or  assembly  convened 
at  Flizabethtown  on  the  loth  of  A])ril,  l<i(i4.  Bergen  was  represented 
in  this  Assembly — the  first  e\er  held  in  the  province — by  Engelbert 
Steenhuysen  and  Herman  Smeeman.  This  government  was  continued 
over  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  until  the  estaljlishment  of  the  separate 
Pro])rietary  governments  after  the  division  into  East  and  West  Jersey. 
On  the  1st  of  July,  1()7().  jiartition  was  madeof  New  Jersey  by  deed, 
so  that  the  eastern  part,  known  as  East  Jersey,  was  allotted  to  Sir 
(Jeorge  Carteret.  Sir  (ieorge,  by  his  last  will  and  testament,  dated  De- 
cember S.  1()7S,  devised  the  same  to  John,  Earl  of  Bath, and  others,  as 
trustees,  to  sell  the  same,  and  ap]iiiinteil  IClizabeth  Carteret  sole  execu- 
trix .  and  she,  with  other  trustees,  by  deed  nf  lease  and  release,  dated  1st 
and  2d  of  February,  IdSO,  s(dd  and  conx'eved  all  East  Jersey  to  William 
Penn  and  eleven  others,  which  twelve  persons  were  known  by  the  name 
id  the  "Twelve  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey."  These  twelve  proprietors, 
by  twelve  separate  deeds,  in  1682,  conveyed  each  one-half  of  their  re- 
spective interests  in  East  Jersey  to  James.  Earl  of  Perth,  and  eleven 
others,  whereby  East  Jersey  became  held  by  twenty-four  General  Pro- 
prietors, each  holding  in  fee  one-twenty-fourth  part  or  propriety  of  the 
same.  Thus  from  these  proprietors  ha\e  issued  from  time  to  time  their 
deeds  for  tlie  jmrtions  of  territnry  sold  bv  them  in  East  Jersey,  their 
office  being  at  I'erth  Amboy,  where  all  such  conveyances  and  other 
records  have  been  kept. 


History  of  Bergen  County 

CHAPTER  III 
EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  AND  LAND   PATENTS 


Aert  Tunisson  \'an  Putten  was  the  first  white  resident  in  Hoboken. 
Winfielrt  sa3-s,  that  "On  Kebruarj- 15,  l(i40,  Van  Putten  leased  a  farm 
at  this  place  on  which  was  a  farm-house  and  a  brew-hoitse,  but  no  set- 
tlement as  yet  had  been  made  north  of  Hoboken."  Jan  Evertse  Bout 
had  settled  at  Cummunipaw  in  1(>.^4,  which  was  one  of  the  first  settle- 
ments on  the  west  banks  of  the  Hudson.  The  first  ferrj"  across  the 
Hudson  connecting-  the  Jersey  shore  with  Manhattan  Island  was  estab- 
lished at  this  point  in  1661  and  William  Jansen  was  the  legalized  ferry- 
man.    In  1()S(),  Cummunipaw  was  a  village  of  twenty  families. 

The  peninsular  of  Paulus  Hook  on  which  Jersey  City  is  now  situ- 
ated belonged  from  a  very  remote  period  to  the  Van  Vorst  family.  Jer- 
s.>y  City  was  a  township  in  Bergen  County  from  1838  to  1840.  On  the 
2Sth  of  July  1()85,  live  hundred  acres  of  laud  in  Monmouth  County,  N.  J., 
was  granted  to  George  Scott,  by  the  East  Jersey  proprietors.  Scott 
wrote  a  book  in  which  he  gives  a  general  view  of  the  plantations  and 
settlements  in  East  Jersey  in  part  as  follows : 

"There  are  other  plantations  upon  Hackensack  River,  whicli  goes  a  jrreat  way 
lip  the  country,  almost  northwest  ;  others,  also,  on  the  east  side  of  another  creek  or 
river  at  Hackensack  River. 

"A  larg-e  neck  or  tract  of  land  for  which  one  Mrs.  Sarah  Kirstead.  of  New 
York,  had  a  patent  <fiven  by  an  old  Indian  .sachem  in  recompen.se  for  interpretinfr 
the  Indian  lanffiiatfe  into  Dutch,  as  there  was  occasion  ;  there  are  some  little  families 
thereon. 

"  Two  or  three  miles  up.  a  f,'reat  plantation  settled  by  Capt.  John  Berry,  whereon 
he  now  lives. 

"  .\nother  plantation  adjoining-,  belonging-  to  his  son-in-law,  Michael  Smith  : 
another  to  Mr.  Baker.-  This  neck  of  land  is  in  breath  from  Capt.  Berry's  new  plant- 
ation on  the  west  side,  where  he  lives,  over  to  his  old  plantations,  to  the  east  at 
Hud.son's  River  side,  about  three  miles,  which  distance  serves  to  Constable's  Hook, 
upwards  of  ten  miles. 

"  To  go  back  to  the  .south  part  of  Bergen  Neck,  that  is  opposite  to  Staten  Island, 
where  is  but  a  narrow  passage  of  water,  which  ebbs  and  flows  between  the  said 
island  and  Bergen  Point,  called  Constable's  Hook.  There  is  a  considerable  plant- 
ation on  that  side  of  Constable's  Hook,  extending  inland  about  a  mile  over  from  the 
bay  on  the  east  side  of  the  neck  that  leads  to  New  York,  to  that  on  the  west  that 
goes  to  Hacken.sack  and  Snake  Hill,  the  neck  running  up  between  both,  from  the 
s  lUth  to  the  north  of  Hudson's  River,  to  the  utmost  e.vtent  of  their  bounds.  It  was 
Hrst  settled  by  Samuel  Edsall  in  Col.  Nichol's  time,  and  bv  him  sold  for  ;^t>00." 

Other  small  plantations  along  the  Neck,  to  the  east  are  named. 
Among  them  one 

•■  belonging  to  George  Iliupane  (Gomouneepan)  which  is  over  against  New  York, 
where  there  is  about  forty  families,  within  which,  about  the  middle  of  the  neck, 
which  is  here  about  three  miles  over,  stands  the  town  of  Bergen,  which  gives  name 
to  that  neck.  Then,  again,  northward  to  the  water's  side,  going  up  Hudson's  River, 
there  lies  out  a  point  of  land  where  is  a  plantation  and  a  water  (mill)  belonging  to  a 
merchant  in  New  York. 


HISTOKV    OK    liKKCKX    CcirxTV  ]r> 

"  Southward  there  is  a  stnall  village,  of  about  five  of  six  families,  which  is  cutr.- 
moiilv  called  the  Duke's  Farm.  Further  up  is  a  ^ood  plantation  in  a  neck  of  land 
almost  an  island,  called  Hobuck  ;  it  did  Ijelonif  to  a  Dutch  merchant,  who  formerly 
in  the  Indian  war  had  his  wife,  children,  and  servants  massacred  by  the  Indians, 
and  his  house,  cattle,  and  stock  destroyed  by  them.  It  is  now  settled  aijain,  and  a 
mill  erected  there  by  one  dwelling-  at  New  York. 

"  Up  northward  along-  the  river  side  are  the  lands  near  to  Mr.  William  Lawrence, 
which  is  si.x  or  seven  miles  further.  Opposite  thereto  there  is  a  plantation  of  Mr. 
Ed.sall.  and  above-that  Capt.  Rienfield's  plantation  :  this  last  is  almost  opposite  the 
northwest  of  Manhatta's  Island. 

•'  Here  are  the  utmost  extent  of  the  northern  bounds  of  East  Jersev,  as  alwavs 
contemplated. 

"Near  the  mouth  of  the  bay,  upnn  the  side  of  Overpeck's  Creek,  adjacent  to 
Hacken>ack  River,  several  of  the  rich  valleys  were  settled  by  the  Dutcli  ;  and  near 
Snake  Hill  is  a  fine  plantation  owned  by  Pin'horne  A-  Eickbe.'for  half  of  which  Pin- 
horne  is  said  to  have  paid  ^500 

■"  The  plantations  on  both  sides  of  the  neck  to  its  utmost  extent,  as  alsc.  tlio^e  at 
Hackensack,  are  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Berg-en  Town,  sitnate  about  the  middle 
of  the  neck."  .  .  . 

Soon  after  the  settlements  above  described  Ca])tain  William  Sand- 
ford  in  1668  acquired  title  to  lands  kno-wn  as  New  Barbodoes  Neck  com- 
prisino-  15,30S  acres.  Sandford  was  presiding  judge  of  the  court  at  Ber- 
gen in  1673.  In  17(1M,  his  widow  Sarah  Sanford  conveyed  to  her  friend, 
Katherine  Van  Emburgh  a  portion  of  this  estate  between  the  Hacken- 
sack and  Passaic  rivers.  In  Idd')  Captain  John  Berry  and  his  associates 
acquired  title  to  lands  north  of  the  Sandford  tract  embracing  a  large  ex- 
tent of  country  in  and  about  Hackensack.  Judge  Sandford  sold  a  large 
tract  also,  to  Nathaniel  Kingsland  the  ancestor  of  the  Kingsland  family 
of  New  Barbodoes.  William  Kingsland  son  of  Nathaniel,  was  the  first 
to  settle  on  it  about  16')(i.  John  Richards  who  was  connected  1)V  mar- 
riage with  the  Kingsland  r.-unily,  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  a  part  id' 
which  is  now  Rutherford,  Richards  was  murdered  in  the  Bergen  woods 
by  refugees  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Schuyler  Copper  Mines 
a  part  of  the  Kingsland  tracts  was  purchased  by  Arent  Schuyler  about 
the  year  1700.  John,  son  of  Arent  Schuyler,  1)y  his  second  wife,  built 
the  old  Schuyler  mansion  which  stood  on  the  east  bank  of  tlie  Pas- 
saic below  Belleville.  This  house  was  visited  and  frei|uentlv  violated 
l)y  the  British  during  the  Revolution. 

In  1700  there  were  some  ten  families  all  living  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Bergen  County,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ponds  Church.  Arent 
Schuyler,  and  Anthony  Brojkholst  lived  here  in  1()')7.  The  tlarretsons, 
\'an  Alens,  (  who  owned  six  hundred  acres  on  the  pond  flats)  the  Berdan 
l)rothers,  John  Stek  (now  Stagg)  Van  Romaine,  who  purchased  of  Wil- 
locks  an<l  Johnstone  six  hundred  acres.  May  !<*,  1724,  Simon  Van  Win- 
kle who  is  said  to  have  been  the  owner  of  the  first  wagon  in  the  countrv 
and  who  came  here  in  173,3,  were  among  the  early  settlers.  I'^ive  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  land  lying  at  Wikehoff,  Saddle  River,  on  wliieli 
the  church  at  Wikehoff  stands  was  purchased  (d'  John  IJarln'tie,  IVter 
Fauconicr  and  Andrew  Barbetie,  August,  17,  1720,  by  John  and  Williinn 
Van  Voor  Haze;  and  for  some  reason  they  repurchased  this  tract  Ap.ril  2, 
1745  of  John  Hamilton,  Andrew  Johnstone,  and  John  Burnet.  William 
\'an  \'oor  Haze   (  Van  \'oorhis  i   was  twice  married.      He   died  Julv   17, 


1(,  HISTORY    OK   BEKOEN    COUNTY 


1744.  A  tract  near  Paraimis  of  tiYe  hundred  and  lifty  acres  was  boujjht 
August  17,  1720,  by  the  Albertises  who  also  leased  i>f  the  same  live  hun- 
dred and  tiftY  acres  adjoining-,  the  rent  for  every  one  hundred  acres  be- 
ing- two  fat  fowls  on  or  before  the  feast  of  St.  Michael,  the  Archangel. 
Van  Blarconi,  Van  Voorhis,  Winters,  Couriers,  Young-s,  Storms,  Acker- 
mans,  yuackenbushes,  Van  (^elders,  Pulisfelts  mow  Pulis)  and  Bogerts 
were  also  among  the  early  families  in  this  part  of  the  county.  The  fol- 
lowing sketch  on  land  patents  in  Bergen  County  taken  from  Clayton  & 
Nelson's  Historv  is  worth  v  of  record. 


CHAPTER  IV 
LAND  PATENTS  IN  BERGEN  COUNTY 


Among  the  original  land-owners  in  the  Countv  of  Bergen  we  name 
the  foll<.)wing : 

Abraham  Isaacsen  Plank  purchased  Paulus  Hook  of  the  Dutch  West 
India  C(mipany  Ma^-  1,  1()38.  The  deed  was  confirmed  by  Philip  Carte- 
ret May  12,  lf)68.  Martzn  Andriesen  obtained  a  patent  for  Weehawken 
from  William  Kieft,  Director-General  of  New  Xetherland,  May  11,  1()47; 
confirmed  by  Philip  Carteret,  April  18,  1670.  Andriesen  was  a  free- 
booter and  a  desperate  character,  and  was  chieilv  responsible  for  the 
terrible  massacre  of  the  Indians  in  1643.  Being  charged  with  this  re- 
sponsibility by  Governor  Kieft,  he  attempted  to  shoot  the  Governor,  for 
which  he  was  arrested  and  sent  in  inms  to  Holland  for  trial.  He  re- 
turned to  New  Amsterdam,  and  purchased  Weehawken  in  1()47. 
He  was  born  in  Holland  in  1600,  and  came  first  to  this  country  in  1()31. 
Nicholas  Varlet  obtained  a  patent  of  Hoboken  of  Petrus  Stuvvesant, 
February  5,  1()63;  C(mfirmed  by  Philip  Carteret,  May  12,  1(><)S.  Mr. 
Varlet  was  one  of  the  noted  men  of  his  times.  His  second  wife  was 
Anna,  sister  of  Governor  Stuyvesant,  and  widow  of  Samuel  Bavard. 
In  1657  he  was  appointed  commissary  of  imports  and  exports,  and  in 
1()58  became  farmer  of  duties  on  e.xports  and  imports  to  and  from  New 
England  and  Virginia;  was  admitted  to  the  right  of  "Great  Burger," 
and  appointed  searcher,  inspector,  and  commissary  of  the  West  India 
Company  stores;  in  1660  was  sent  with  Brian  Newton  and  ambassador 
to  the  Colony  of  Virginia;  in  1664  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners 
to  agree  upon  terms  of  capitulation  to  the  English;  in  1665  was  com- 
missioned captain  of  the  militia  of  Bergen,  Communipaw,  Ahasimus,  and 
Hoboken;  same  day  was  made  a  member  of  the  court  at  Bergen,  and 
the  vear  following  a  member  of  Governor  Carteret's  Council.  He  died 
in  lfi75. 

Ide  Cornelison  Van  Vorst  received  of  Governor  vStuyvesant  a  grant 
of  land  at  Ahasimus,  April  5,  1664;  confirmed,  with  an  additional  grant, 
by  Philip  Carteret,  March  13,  16()8.  This  property  was  inherited  l)y  his 
only  son  Cornelius,  and  from  him  descended  to  Cornelius  n{  the  seventh 
generation.     It  is  now  the  finest  part  of  Jersey  City. 

Jan  Evertse  Bout  obtaine<l  of  the  Governor  and  Council  of  New 
Netherland  a  tract  of  land  at  Communipaw,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
copy  of  the  deed: 

••  We, 'William  Kieft,  Governor-General  and  Council  muler  llie  IIif,'h  and  Mighty 
Lords  States-(;eneral  of  the  United  Netherlands,  His  Highness  of  Orange  and  the 
Honorable  the  Directors  of  the  authorized  W^est  India  Conipanj',  residing  in  New 


18  HISTOKV    OF    BERCiEN    COUXTV 

Netherlands,  make  known  and  declare  that  on  this  daj-  underwritten,  we  have  g-iven 
and  granted  Jan  Evertse  Bout  a  piece  of  land  lying:  <'"  the  North  River  westward 
from  Kort  Amsterdam,  before  then  pastured  and  tilled  by  Jan  Evertse,  named 
(iamochepaen  and  Jan  de  Lacher's  Houck,  with  the  meadows  as  the  same  lay  with- 
in the  post-and-rail  fence,  containing  eightj'-four  morg-ans. 

"  In  testimony  whereof  is  these  by  us  signed  and  with  ovir  Seal  confirmed  in 
Fort  Amsterdam  in  New  Netherlands,  the  which  land  Jan  Evertse  took  possession 
of  Anno  1638,  and  began  then  to  plow  and  sow  it." 

This  farm  was  sold  to  Michael  Jansen  by  Bout  for  eight  thousand 
Horins,  Sei)tember  9,  l().Sf),  and,  Jausen  dying,  part  of  it  was  confirmed 
to  his  widow,  Fitje  Hartman,  by  Philip  Carteret,  May  12,  1668. 

Caspar  Steinmets  purchased  of  Philip  Carteret,  May  12,  1668,  two 
tracts  of  land  and  meadow  near  the  town  of  Bergen.  He  resided  at 
Ahasimiis,  and  during  the  Indian  troubles  of  1655  retired  to  New  Ams- 
terdam, where  he  was  licensed  in  1656  to  "tap  beer  and  wine  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Burghery  and  Strangers."  In  September,  1657, 
he  was  made  lieutenant  of  the  Bergen  militia,  and  in  1673  was  promoted 
to  captain.  He  was  deputy  from  Bergen  in  the  Council  of  New  Orange 
(after  the  Dutch  had  retaken  New  York),  1674,  and  a  representative 
from  Bergen  in  the  first  and  second  General  Assemblies  of  New  Jersey. 
He  died  in  1702.  His  descendants  at  one  time  were  quite  numerous,  but 
have  long  since  died  out. 

Adrian  Post  obtained  a  patent  of  (lovernor  Carteret  dated  May  12, 
1668.  for  "sundry  parcels  of  land  lying  in  and  abotit  the  Town  of  Ber- 
gen." He  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Post  family  in  Bergen  County,  and 
had  numerous  descendants.  The  first  we  hear  of  him  he  was  agent  for 
the  Baron  van  derCapelleu,  and  in  charge  of  his  colony  on  Staten  Island 
when  the  place  was  destroyed  by  the  Indians  in  1665.  In  October  of 
that  year  he  was  appointed  to  treat  with  the  Hackensack  Indians  for  the 
release  of  prisoners.  He  was  ensign  of  the  Bergen  militia  in  1673,  and 
was  the  keeper  of  the  first  prison  in  East  Jersey,  the  house  of  John 
Berry  in  Bergen  being  used  for  that  purpose.     He  died  February  28, 1677. 

Englebert  Steinhuysen  received  a  deed  of  "  sundry  parcels  of  land 
in  and  about  the  Town  of  Bergen,"  from  Philip  Carteret,  Julv  22.  l()7(t. 
This  land  comprised  seven  lots,  amounting  in  all  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres.*  This  patentee  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  came  from  Soest. 
the  second  city  in  Westphalia.  He  arrived  at  New  Amsterdam  in  the 
ship  "Moesman,"  April  25,  1659.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Director-Gen- 
eral the  first  schoolmaster  in  Bergen,  October  6,  1662.  He  was  commis- 
sioned schepen  in  the  Bergen  Court,  October  13.  Ifi62;  and  with  Harman 
vSmeeman  re])resented  Bergen  in  the  "Landtag"  in  1664. t 

Harman  Edward  purchased  of  Petriis  Stuyvesant  "sundry  parcels 
of  land  lying  in  and  about  the  Town  of  Bergen,  September  14, 1662."  He 
was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  fortify  Bergen  in  1663;  and  with  Joost 
Van  der  Linde,  Hendrick  Jans  Spier,  and  Hendrick  dc  Backer,  June  15. 

'  Wiiilield's  Land  TUK-s.  iU. 

t  Hrodlu'ad.  i.  729.— Land  Titli's.  'il. 


IIISTOKY    (IK    KKkGEX     COTNTY  V) 

1()74,  petitioned  the  g-overnment  for  land  on  Staten  Island  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Kill  Van  Kull.t 

Balthazer  Bayard  obtained,  with  Nichnjas  \'arlot,  a  grant  of  land 
from  Philip  Carteret,  dated  August  Id,  1()71,  lying  in  and  about  the  Town 
of  Bergen.  Bayard  was  a  brewer  and  a  l)rother  of  Nicholas.  He  was 
appointed  schepen  in  Bergen,  December  17,  l()(>,i,  and  March  17,  l()fi4;  repre- 
sented Bergen  in  the  first  and  second  (ieneral  Assembly  of  New  Jersey, 
1()(>.S.  Shortly  after  this  he  became  a  resident  of  New  York,  where  he 
was  schepen  under  the  Dutch  (New  Orange)  in  1<>73,  and  alderman  in 
1(>')1.  Of  the  lands  in  Bergen  the  patentees  held  as  joint-tenants.  Var- 
let  died  before  any  division  was  made,  whereupon  Bayard  took  the  land 
bv  right  of  survivorship. S 

Tielman  Van  Vleck  obtained  by  patent  from  Philip  Carteret,  (kited 
March  25,  1(>70,  a  grant  of  sundry  parcels  of  land  near  the  Town  of 
Bergen.  Van  Vleck  was  a  lawj-er.  He  studied  under  a  notary  in  Ams- 
terdam, came  to  this  countr}^  in  1658,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  the 
same  vear.||  He  has  the  honor  of  having  been  the  founder  of  Bergen, 
and  was  made  the  first  schout  and  president  of  the  court,  September  5, 
K.I.I. 

Hans  Diedrick  was  granted  by  Philij)  Carteret  sundry  parcels  of 
land  lying  in  and  about  the  Town  of  Bergen,  May  12,  K.f.S.  Hans  kept 
the  second  hotel  in  Bergen,  licensed  February  1.^,  1(>71,  and  was  appointed 
lieutenant  of  the  Bergen  militia,  September  4,  lr>7.>.  He  was  one  of  the 
patentees  of  Aquacknonck,  May  28,  1679,  and  died  September  30, 1(>'>8.  He 
"probably  left  his  land  to  his  son  Wander,  who  died  intestate,  August  13, 
1732.  His  children  Johannes,  Garret,  Cornelius,  Abraham,  Antje,  wife 
(if  Johannes  Vreeland,  and  Margaret  Van  Rypen,  widow,  sold  to  their 
brother  Daniel,  February  17,  1764,  a  lot  called  'Smiths  land.'  seven  mor- 
gans, also  a  lot  of  meadow,  also  tlie  Steenhuvseii  lot,  and  lot  114.  They 
partitioned  in  1755."^! 

(ierrit  Gerritse  was  granted  by  Philij)  Carteret  a  p.itent  for  sundry 
parcels  of  land  lying  in  and  about  the  Town  of  Bergen,  May  12,  H>(>H. 
"This  patentee  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Van  Wagenen  family.  By  his 
will,  dated  October  13,  1708,  he  gave  all  the  land  included  in  this  patent, 
and  a  preceding  patent,  to  his  eldest  S(m  Johannes.  By  the  will  of 
Johannes,  dated  July  24,  1752,  proved  November  8,  1759,  he  gave  all  his 
lands  in  Bergen  to  his  son  Johannes,  who  was  the  owner  in  17()4." 

The  Secaucus  jiatent  was  granted  by  Petrus  Stuyvesant  to  Nicholas 
Varlet  and  Nicholas  Bayard,  December  10,  1663,  and  confirmed  by  Philip 
Carteret,  October  30,  1667.  In  the  deed  of  Carteret  it  is  recited:  "The 
said  plantation  or  parcel  of  land  is  esteemed  and  valued,  according  to 
the  survey  and  agreement  made,  to  contain  both  of  upland  and  meadow, 
the  sum  of  two  thousand  acres  English  measure."  It  coni])rise(l  all  tlic 
land  between  Penhorn's  Creek  and  the  Cromahill  on   the  east  and   the 

•  Col.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  ii.  731. -Land  Till.-s.  'Ir. 
S  Land  Titles,  l(l'). 

N.  v.  Col.  MSS..viii.  '132.     Xolf  to  l.-.uu]  Till.-s.  114. 

•  Land  Titles,  118. 


20  HISTOKY    OF    BEKC.EX    COUNTY 

Hackensack  on  the  west.  The  Indians,  in  lf)74,  claimed  that  their  right 
to  this  hind  was  not  inchided  in  their  deed  to  Stuyvesant  of  1658,  that 
the  said  deed  included  only  "Espatingh  and  its  dependencies,"  and  that 
they  were,  therefore,  still  owners  of  Secaucus.  The  Dutch  Council  at 
Fort  William  Hendrick  settled  the  controversy  with  them  by  making 
them  a  present  of  an  "anker  of  rum."  Nicholas  Varlet  died  while  the 
tract  was  in  the  possession  of  the  patentees,  and  his  administrators, 
Samuel  Edsall  and  Peter  Stoutenburgh,  joined  Bayard  in  selling  it  to 
Edward  Earle,  Jr.,  of  Maryland,  April  24,  1676.  Earle  sold  to  Judge 
William  Piiihorne,  March  26,  1679,  for  five  hundred  pounds,  one  indi- 
vidual half  iif  the  tract,  also  one-half  of  all  the  stock,  "Christian  and 
negro  servants."  The  following  schedule  of  property  was  annexed  to 
the  deed:  "One  dwelling  house,  containing  two  lower  rooms  and  a 
lean-to  lielow  stairs,  and  a  loft  above  ;  five  tobacco  houses ;  one  horse, 
<me  marc  and  two  colts,  eight  oxen,  ten  cows,  one  bull,  four  yearlings, 
and  seven  calves;  between  thirty  and  forty  hogs,  four  negro  men,  five 
Christian  servants."  This  was  the  Pinhorne  plantation  referred  to  by 
George  Scott  in  his  "Model  of  the  Government  of  East  Jersey. "'■' 

In  16f>8  Capt.  William  Sandford  obtained  of  the  Indians  a  deed  for 
New  Barbadoes  Neck,  extending  northward  seven  miles  and  containing 
fifteen  thousand  three  hundred  and  eight  acres  of  upland  and  meadow. 
A  considerable  portion  of  this  land  Capt.  Sandford  devised  in  his  will  to 
his  wife  Sarah,  who  on  the  7th  of  December,  1709,  gave  by  deed  about 
fi\-e  hundred  acres,  including  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  meadow  on 
the  Passaic,  to  her  "dear  friend  Katherine  Van  Eml)urg."  Apart  of 
Sandford's  tract,  soon  after  his  purchase  from  the  Indians,  was  bought 
by  Nathaniel  Kingsland,  who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  island  of  Bar- 
badoes, and  from  this  circumstance  it  received  the  name  of  New  Bar- 
badoes. 

Capt.  William  Sandford  was  presiding  judge  of  the  Bergen  courts 
in  1676,  and  a  member  of  the  first  Council  of  East  Jersey,  under  Gover- 
nor Rudyard,  in  1682. 

Isaac  Kingsland,  son  of  Nathaniel,  of  New  Barbadoes,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Governor  Neill  Campbell's  Council  in  1(>86. 

CAFT.  .lOHX  berry's  PATENT. 
In  1669,  Capt.  John  Berrj-  and  associates  obtained  a  grant  for  lands 
lying  northward  of  Sandford's,  "six  miles  in  the  country."  This  grant 
extended  from  the  Hackensack  River  to  what  is  now  Saddle  River,  and 
probably  included  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Hackensack.  In  the 
same  year  a  grant  was  made  to  Capt.  Berry  of  land  lying  between  Hack- 
ensack River  and  Overpeck  (now  English)  Creek,  bounded  on  the  south 
by  lands  of  William  Pardons,  and  running  north,  containing  about  two 
thousand  acres.  This  must  have  inckaded  a  large  portion  of  what  are 
now  Ridgefield,  Englewood,  and  Palisade  townships, — that  portion  of 
them,  at  least  lying  between  the  creek  and  the  Hackensack  River. 

*  Land  Titles,  130. 


HTSTOKV    OK    BEKGKN     COrxTV  21 

John  Berry  was  a  large  land-owner.  He  resided  at  Berg-en,  where 
lie  also  owned  six  meadow-lols  and  six  upland  lots,  besides  two  lots  in 
the  town  purchased  of  Philip  Carteret.  .July  2(i,  16f><J.  Most  of  Ihis 
hind  was  in  the  Newkirk  familr  in  17()4.  when  the  land  were  surv  yed 
by  the  comissioners.  John  Berry  was  i>residing  judge  of  the  courts  at 
Bergen,  and  one  of  the  magistrates  before  whom  Thomas  Rud^'ard,  the 
Deputy-Governor  of  East  Jersey  under  Barclay,  was  sworn  into  offije,  De- 
cember 20,  1082.  His  house  in  Bergen  on  the  19th  of  July,  1()73,  was  made 
the  "prison  for  ye  province"  until  a  house  cimld  be  built  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  Adrian  Post,  constable,  was  made  keeper. t 

The  oldest  deed  on  record  in  the  county  clerk's  office  at  Hackensack 
is  one  from  John  Berrv  to  Zuarian  Westervelt.  dated  Jan.  1.^,  l(iS7,  con- 
veying a  portion  of  his  estate  in  the  old  township  of  Hackensack. 
March  20,  1687,  he  conveyed  another  piece  of  land  to  Walling  Jacobs. 
of  the  county  of  Essex. 

DEMAREST   PATENT. 

Another  early  patent  was  one  for  tliree  thousand  .acres  of  land  in 
the  old  township  of  Hackensack,  extending  along  the  easterly  side  of 
the  river  fnmi  New  Bridge  to  a  point  beyond  Old  Bridge,  and  easterly 
as  far  as  the  line  of  the  Northern  Railroad.  This  was  granted  to  David 
Demarias  (Desmeretz)  and  others,  by  Philip  Carteret,  June  8,  l()77.t 
The  patentee  was  a  Huguenot,  and  came  from  France  to  this  country 
with  his  three  sons,  Dayid,  John,  and  Samuel,  about  the  year  167(>.  He 
was  the  ancestor  of  the  numerous  family  of  Demarests  in  this  country. 
It  is  said  that,  as  far  back  as  1820,  one  interested  in  the  family  found 
by  search  seven  thousand  names  connected  with  it,  -branches  of  the 
original  stalk.;; 

According  to  tradition,  Mr.  Demarias  lirst  settled  at  Manhattan 
Island,  where  he  purchased  the  whole  of  Harlem  ;  but  he  soon  after- 
wards disposed  of  that  property  and  removed  to  the  Hackensack.  where 
he  made  the  purchase  above  mentioned,  his  design  being  to  establish  a 
colony  of  some  thirty  or  forty  lamilies.  to  be  transported  from  Europe. 
It  was  probably  in  view  of  this  declared  purjKJse  that  the  patent  was 
granted  him  ;  for  it  must  have  been  known  by  the  Governor  or  the  land- 
ofRce  that  the  grant  was  already  covered,  in  large  part  at  least,  by  the 
prior  patent  of  two  thousand  acres  given  to  John  Berry.  It  is  stated 
that  Mr.  Demarias  and  his  associates  were  so  harassed  l)y  the  claims  ol 
different  persons  during  half  a  century  that  the  land  was  purchased  by 
them  no  less  than  four  times.  Berry,  however,  at  the  request  of  the 
Ciovernor,  waived  his  claim  for  a  time  in  view  of  the  prospective  settle- 
ment, and,  in  case  of  its  failure,  was  promised  a  like  grant  in  some  other 
locality.  On  the  1st  of  July,  17(»'>,  Demarias  having  failed  to  fultill  his 
stipulati(m  in  regard  to  the  settlement.  Berry  petitioned  the  "Captain- 
(leueral  and  Governor-in-Cbiel'  of  the  Provinces  of  New  Jersey  and  New 

t  BoDk  3  »f  Deeds,  'W,  Trenu.ii. 

;  Difii  i>n  record  al  Penh  Amlx.v. 

5  Riv.  T.  U.  Ronievirs  Historic.il  IJiscoui^e. 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKGEN    COUNTY 


York,  etc.,  to  listen  to  ;i  demonstration  of  the  invalidity  of  a  pretense  of 
John  Deniarest  &  Company  to  three  thousand  acres  of  land  which  they 
received  from  the  Indians."  1|  The  Governor  subsequently  withdrew  the 
•jrant  from  the  sons  of  David  Demarest,  according  to  Berry's  represen- 
tation, and  g-ave  them  a  smaller  grant,  which  included  a  part  of  the  two 
thousand  acres  of  Berry.*  This  latter  grant  was  known  as  the  French 
Patent,  probably  because  the  Demarests  came  from  France. 

WILLOCKS'  AND  JOUXSTOX's  PATENT. 

Ceorge  Willocks  and  Andrew  Johnston  were  the  patentees  of  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  what  are  now  Ridgewood  and  Franklin  townships.  It 
extended  from  the  Big  Rock  at  Small  Lots  ( now  called  Glen  Rock ) 
northward  to  the  Ramapo  River,  about  one  mile  in  width,  and  has  been 
known  as  the  "  Wilcox  and  Johnson  Patent,"  both  names,  however, 
being  erroneously  spelled. 

George  Willocks  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  came  to  this  country  in 
1()S4.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  brother  of  Dr.  James  Willocks,  of 
Kennerv,  Scotland,  from  which  he  inherited  a  large  estate.  He  was  the 
agent  of  the  East  Jersey  proprietors  for  the  collecticm  of  the  quit  rents, 
and  obtained  various  grants  of  land  from  them.  Upon  the  issuing  of 
the  writ  of  quo  warranto  by  James  II.'  with  the  view  to  vacating  the 
proprietary  government  of  New  Jersey  and  placing  the  whole  North 
American  colonies  under  one  tiovernor-General,  in  lf>8(), Willocks  and 
Lewis  Morris  took  strong  ground  in  favor  of  the  proprietors.  Through- 
out that  memorable  contest  between  the  proprietors  and  the  king,  which 
was  not  finally  settled  till  1702,  when  the  proprietors  surrendered  their 
claim  to  the  civil  jurisdiction  of  the  province  to  Queen  Anne,  Willocks 
and  Morris  were  staunch  adherents  to  the  rights  of  the  proprietors.  In 
1()'>^),  Willocks  was  their  representative  in  the  Assembly,  and  was  dis- 
missed from  that  body  by  the  famous  act  of  the  opposition  excluding 
from  the  Assembly  "any  proprietor  or  representative  of  one."  The 
people  of  Amboy  elected  Lewis  Morris  in  his  stead,  and  the  historians 
tell  us  there  were  "serious  apprehensions  of  an  insurrection  under  the 
leadership  of  Willocks  and  Morris."  Willocks  never  settled  on  his  patent 
in  this  county  ;  he  resided  chief!}'  at  Perth  Amboy,  where  he  died  in  1729. 
Andrew  Johnson  ( Jonstone),  the  other  patentee,  was  born  December 
20, 1694.  When  a  voungmanhe  was  a  merchant  in  New  York.  Hesubse- 
sequently  became  associated  with  the  proprietors  of  East  Jersey,  and  was 
chosen  i)resident  of  the  Proprietary  Board.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Provincial  Assembly,  and  for  several  years  Speaker  of  the  House; 
and  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  runninu:  the  Lawrence  line  between 


'-  Land  F; 

IIXM 

■s,  New  York. 

II  Purclia- 

ilTS 

.  of  proprielar. 

y  Ian 

ids  al  Uiat  li 

me. 

an.l 

ear 

lier.  h; 

lid  I. 

oextin.j-u 

lisll 

1   the  Illd 

iaii  claim 

IS 

for  theiiiselvt'S 

on 

the  best  term 

s  thi 

.luUI   nia 

lie. 

So 

met 

inies    1 

hey 

did    ilin 

ail 

vane-  by 

buyiili^  ( 

>f 

tlie  Iiiriians  tirt 

u  ai 

lid  then  trenin 

._'  111. 

fir  1 

:nriian  d. 

i-eds 

coil 

ilini 

ned,  ail 

id  s< 

1  mutinies 

by 

irettin^r 

their  deed 

Ik 

liiM  of   Ihc  !.'0\ 

ern 

nient  and  ext 

MiL'-u 

ishii 

HIT  the   I 

nclia 

in  c: 

lain 

1  after 

wanls.     Tho! 

*es 

shrewd   i 

n  the  bus 

i 

iless  could  u*u: 

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do  il  for  a  ver 

y  sn 

i.iH 

in  He,  OS 

peci 

ally 

if  1 

nixed  ' 

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with  the 

im 

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-troiiir  bei 

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n<. 

ca^f  was  an  Ii 

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rued 

hy   the  ;; 

ov, 

■rnmenl. 

HISTOKY   OK   bi:k(',I':n   COT'NTY  23 

East  and  West  Jersey  in  1743.     For  some  time  he  was  treasurer  of  the 
College  of  New  Jerse}-.     He  died  at  Perth  Amboy,  June  24,  17()2.t 

The  lands  south  of  this  tract  on  the  Passaic,  including  a  portion  of 
tire  site  of  Paterson,  were  purchased  of  the  Indians  in  170'>  by  George 
Rverson  and  Uric  Westervelt.  The  original  deed  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  late  John  J.  Zabriskie,  of  Hohokus,  and  is  among  the  papers  left 
in  the  hands  of  his  widow,  now  living  in  Paterson.  In  this  deed  an  ex- 
ception is  made  of  Sicomac,  which  was  an  Indian  burving-ground. 

t  Wliitt'head's  New  Jersey  under  the  Proprietors. 


CHAPTER  V. 
OLD  BERGKN  TOWN  AND  TOWNSHIP. 


Bv  an  act  of  the  General  Assemblj-,  in  1662,  East  Jerse}-  was  divided 
into  lour  counties,  viz:  Bergen,  Essex,  Middlesex  and  Monmouth. 
The  territory  between  the  Hudson  and  Hackensack  rivers  extending 
from  Constable  Hook  to  the  Providence  Line  constituted  the  county  of 
Bergen,  it  being  a  narrow  strip  of  land  in  no  place  over  five  or  six  miles 
wide,  but  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  miles  in  length.  The  old  township 
of  Bergen  was  constituted  in  1658  twenty-four  years  prior  to  that  time, 
and  it  comprised  the  southern  portion  of  this  strip  of  territory  as  far  up 
as  the  present  northern  boundary  of  Hudson  county.  In  1693  an  act 
defining  the  boundaries  of  townships  was  passed  by  the  General  Assembly 
and  from  that  act  we  obtain  the  boundaries  of  Hackensack  Township  as 
follows  :  "That  the  Township  of  Hackensack  shall  include  all  the  land 
between  the  Hackensack  and  Hudson  rivers  that  extends  from  the  Cor- 
poration Town  Bounds  of  Bergen  to  the  Partition  of  the  Province." 

By  an  act  passed  Jauuar}-  21,  1709,  the  territory  of  the  county  was 
extended  and  comprised  the  Hudson  county  and  part  of  Passaic.  The 
boundary  line  was  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  Constable  Hook  so  up 
along  the  bay  and  Hudson  River  to  the  partition  point  between  New 
Jersey  and  the  Province  of  New  York  ;  along  this  line,  and  the  line 
between  East  and  West  Jersey  to  the  Pequanock  river  ;  down  the  Pequa- 
nock  and  Passaic  rivers  to  the  Sound  and  so  following  the  Sound  to 
Constable  Hook,  the  place  of  beginning."  In  1837  thecount}-  of  Passaic 
was  set  off  and  in  1840  the  county  of  Hudson  was  constituted,  leaving 
the  county  of  Bergen  with  an  area  of  230  square  miles  or  147,622  acres. 
The  township  of  Union  again  became  a  part  of  Bergen  Count}'  in  1653. 
The  township  of  New  Barbadoes  in  1693  comprised  all  the  land  between 
the  Hackensack  and  Passaic  rivers  from  Newark  Bay  on  the  Southeast 
to  the  present  boundary  line  of  Sussex  County.  This  territory,  a  part 
of  Essex  County,  was  annexed  to  Bergen  County  in  1709,  out  of  which 
came  the  townships  of  Hohokus,  Franklin,  Washington,  Midland,  Lodi, 
Union,  and  the  present  township  of  New  Barbadoes,  while  Englewo(jd 
and  its  neighboring  townships  on  the  north  and  south  of  it  were  consti- 
tuted out  of  the  township  of  Hackensack  in  1871. 

The  territory  now  comprising  Hudson  County,  then  known  as  Ber- 
ge;i  Town  was  piurchascd  from  the  Indians  by  the  Director-General  and 
Counsellor  of  New  Netherlands  for  Michael  Pauw,  Burgomaster  of 
Amsterdam  and  Lord  of  Achticnhoven,  near  Utrecht,  August  10,  18()0. 
Pauw  also  obtained  a  deed  from  the  Indians  for  Staten  Island  and  on 
the  22nd  of  November  following,  a  deed  for  the  western  shore  of  the 
Hudson  between  Communipaw  and  Weehawken  where  Jersey  City  is  now 
situated.      This  purchase  on  the  Jersey  shore  of  the  Hudson  was  namod 


HISTOUY    OK    BKKCiEN    COUNTY  25 

Pavonia,  the  name  being  derived  from  Latanizing-  the  name  of  Mr. 
Pauw,  the  purchaser  ;  and  was  applied  to  the  general  colony  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Hudson  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Pauw  by  an  agreement 
was  obliged  to  plant  a  colony  of  fifty  souls,  upwards  of  fifteen  years  old 
within  the  bounds  of  his  purchase  within  four  years  from  the  date  of 
his  contract,  but  that  project  evidently  failed.  In  l(>3>3  there  was  a  col- 
ony in  Pavonia  under  the  charge  of  Michael  Paulusen  or  Paulaz,  and 
the  West  India  Company  appears  at  this  time  to  have  had  an  agent  there 
in  the  interest  of  the  proprietor  or  patroon  Difficulties  arising  finally 
between  the  Patroon  and  Mr.  Pauw  and  the  Directors  of  the  Company, 
the  latter  finally  succeeded  in  purchasing  Pavonia  for  26,000florins.  Part 
of  it  ( Ahasimus)  became  known  as  the  West  India  C'  mpanv's  Farm  and 
was  leased  by  Jan  Evertsen  Bout. 

In  1638  the  Indians  became  troublesome  and  the  county,  on  this 
account,  was  kept  in  an  unorganized  condition  for  many  years  resulting 
finally  in  the  Ordinance  of  1656  creating  a  fortified  town  and  the  pur- 
chase of  Bergen  Township  from  the  Indians  in  1658.  This  latter  deed 
conveyed  all  that  part  of  Old  Bergen  east  of  the  Hackensack  river  and 
Newark  Bay  now  known  as  Hudson  County.  The  hill  on  which  Bergen 
was  built  is  now  called  Jersey  Cit}-  Heights.  The  town  was  laid  out  in 
a  square,  the  sides  of  which  were  eight  hundred  feet  long.  Around  this 
square  run  a  street  flanked  on  the  exterior  by  Palisades  enclosing  the 
whole  town.  The  town  was  divided  into  four  quarters  by  two  streets 
crossing  each  other  at  right  angles.  Gates  were  on  the  four  sides  to 
lead  through  the  Palisades.  The  village  having  grown  so  rapidl}-  on 
the  5th  of  September.  1651  an  ordinance  was  passed  erecting  a  Court  of 
Justice  at  Bergen,  by  Petrus  Stuyvesant  on  behalf  of  the  High  and 
Mighty  Lords  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands,  etc.,  etc.  The 
first  officers  of  the  court  appointed  under  the  Directors  of  the  West  India 
Company  were  Tielman  Van  Vleck,  Schout  (Sheriff^);  Hermanius 
Smeeman  and  Casparus  Stuymets  Schepens,  (Magistrates).  These 
officers  were  held  until  the  surrender  ui  New  Netherlands  to  the  Crown 
of  Great  Britain  in  1664  which  resulted  in  the  new  charter  of  Bergen  on 
the  22nd  of  September  1668  confirmatory  of  the  rights  under  the  Dutch 
Charter  of  1658.  Under  this  charter  the  Government  of  the  township 
was  maintained  until  January  14,  1714  when  an  act  was  passed  in  the 
reign  of  Oueen  Anne  giving  the  township  still  more  extensive  powers, 
and  this  Government  of  the  town  continued  until  necessities  resulted  in 
the  erection  of  the  territory  into  a  county 

The  name  Bergen  was  given  to  the  village  and  subsequently  ajjplied 
to  the  township  and  county.  Smith,  Whitehead  and  some  others  think 
the  name  is  derived  from  Bergen  in  Norway,  but  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Win- 
tield  and  others  reasonably  conclude  it  was  a  Dutch  name.  In  speaking 
<if  the  origin  of  this  name  Mr.  Winfield  says  :  — 

"  IJerfjen  in  Norway  received  its  name  from  the  hills  which  almost  surnjiind  it. 
Herffen  op  Zoom,  eig'hteen  miles  north  of  Antwerp,  stands  on  a  hill  surrounded  1)V 
low  marshj-  ground,  which,  with  its  fortifications,  afforded  great  security.     Thus   it 


2(>  HISTOKV  OF  BEKGKN  COUNTY 

will  be  seen  that  the  two  supposed  g-odfathers  of  our  Bergen  received  their  name 
from  local  circumstances.  Are  not  the  same  circumstances  existing  here  to  give 
the  same  name  to  the  new  village  ?  On  two  sides  of  the  hill  was  marsh,  and  the 
onlj'  other  place  for  settlement  was  along  the  river.  To  the  eye  of  the  Hollander, 
accustomed  to  look  upon  marshes  or  lowland  redeemed  from  the  see,  the  ridge  grow- 
ing in  height  as  it  extended  north  from  the  Kill  Van  Kull,  was  no  mean  affair.  To 
him  it  was  Bergen,  the  Hill,  and,  like  the  places  of  the  same  name  in  Europe,  it 
took  its  name  from  the  hill  on  which  it  was  built.  This  I  believe  to  be  the  true 
origin  of  the  name." 


CHAPTER  VI. 
THE  OLD  TOWNSHIP  OF  HACKEXSACK. 


"In  1682  Bergen  County  embraced  only  the  territory  between  the 
Hackensack  and  Hudson  Rivers,  from  Constable's  Hook  up  to  the  prov- 
ince line — a  narrow  strip  of  land  along  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  at 
no  place  over  five  or  six  miles  wide,  and  from  twentj'-five  to  thirty  miles 
in  leng-th.  The  old  township  of  Bergen,  from  the  date  of  its  charter,  in 
1658,  comprised  the  southern  portion  of  this  strip  of  territory,  as  far  up 
as  the  present  northern  boundary  of  Hudson  County  ;  and  the  settlements 
above  that,  being  regarded  as  "outlaying  plantations,"  were  attached 
to  Bergen  for  judicial  purposes,  and  so  remained  until  1693,  when  an  act 
defining  the  boundaries  of  townships  was  passed  bv  the  General  Assem- 
bly.    That  act  recites  as  follows  : 

"That  the  Township  of  Hacksack*  shall  include  all  the  land  between  Hackin- 
sack  and  Hudson's  River  that  extends  to  the  Corporation  Town  Bounds  of  Bergen 
to  the  Partition  line  of  the  Province." 

*Si)  spelled  in  the  act. 

It  appears  from  this  act  that  the  township  of  Hackensack  was  bound- 
ed on  the  north  by  the  province  line  of  New  York,  on  the  east  by  the 
Hudson  River,  on  the  south  bj-  the  corporation  line  of  Bergen,  and  on 
the  west  by  the  Hackensack  River.  It  covered  nearly  the  whole  table- 
land of  the  Palisades  Mountains,  and  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Hack- 
ensack on  its  eastern  side  from  the  New  York  State  line  to  the  northern 
boundary  of  Hudson  County.  The  scenery  of  this  region,  including  the 
Palisades  and  the  views  of  the  Hudson  and  its  valley  from  their  summits, 
is  among  the  most  picturesque  and  romantic  in  America.  Here  the  In- 
dians loved  to  roam  before  the  advent  of  the  white  man,  and  their  bark 
canoes  glided  down  the  smooth  waters  of  the  Hackensack  to  their  summer 
resort  on  Staten  Island.  This  was  their  avenue  from  Tapaan  to  the  Kill 
van  Kull.  and  out  among  the  bays  and  inlets  around  New  York. 

(;i<.\NTS    OF    I.ANIJ. 

Amotig  the  early  purchasers  of  land  from  the  Indians  in  this  town- 
ship were  Casper  and  Alattvs  Jansen.  We  find  the  following  allusion  to 
them  and  their  lands  in  1684,  in  the  records  of  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  East  Jersey  : 

"The  petition  of  Casper  Jansen  and  Alattys  Jansen,  setting-  forth  that  about 
seven  years  since  II677)  the  petitioners  obtained  by  gift  from  the  Indians  a  parcel  of 
Land  lying  at  Hackinsack,  on  the  North  side  of  the  creek,  which  gift  was  then  also 
acknowleilged  by  the  said  Indians  before  the  late  Governor  Carteret,  who  promised 
the  petitioners  a  Confirmation  of  the  sanie,  only  delayed  the  full  grant  or  the  patent 
till  the  adjoining  lands  should  be  purchased  from  the  Indians  aijd  laid  out  into  I^ots, 
and  that  since  one  Jacques  Le  Kow  hath  entered  upon  tile  said  lands  and  taken  pos- 
sesion of  the  same  without  having  any  Indian  deed  of  gift.  The  petitioners  jiray- 
ing  a  warrant  to  lay  out  the  same  directed  to  the  surveyor-General  in  order  for  a 
patent,  which  being  read  and  the  petitioners  called  in,  wlio  brought  with  them  ttvo 
Indians  that  had  formerly  given  the  said  land  to  the  petitioners,  and  the  Indians 
being  examined  concerning  the  premises,  declared  that  they  never  made  any  deed 
to  Jacques  Le  Row  of  the  said  land,  but  that  the  same  did  belong  to  the  petitioners, 


28  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

whereupon  it  was  ordered  that  both  parties  attend  this  board  the  27th  9ber  next, 
that  they  bring-  with  them  the  Indians  concerned,  and  that  Jacques  Le  Row  have 
notice  thereof."* 

*  From  the  History  of  Bergen  and  Passaic  Counties. 

This  extract  from  the  authentic  records  carries  us  back  to  lf>77, 
when  lands  were  purchased  from  the  Indians  by  Casper  and  Alattys 
Jansen.  They  show  that  the  Indians  are  still  residents  of  the  township, 
and  were  ordered  broug-ht  before  the  Governor  and  council  at  Elizabeth- 
town.  The  "creek"  referred  to  in  the  Indian  g-rant,  on  "  the  north  " 
of  which  lay  the  lands  in  dispute,  was  probably  that  of  English  Neig-h- 
borhood.  One  Jacques  Le  Row  was  then  a  settler  in  that  vicinity,  for  he 
IS  complained  of  as  having  "  taken  possession  without  grant  or  warrant"" 
from  the  Indians. 

The  name  of  the  township  and  that  of  the  river  which  formed  its 
western  boundary  had  been  derived  from  the  Indians,  who  had  lived 
along  its  banks  and  had  fished  in  its  waters  from  time  immemorial 

Most  of  the  early  purchases  of  lands  from  the  Indians  and  grants 
from  the  g-overnment  within  the  bounds  of  the  township  are  referred  to 
in  another  portion  of  this  work,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here.  The 
early  settlers  were  of  the  same  class  as  those  who  colonized  the  township 
of  Bergen  and  gradually  extended  themselves  from  the  Neck  northward 
between  the  two  rivers. 

TR.\DITIONS  OF  VAN  DEK   HOKST  AND  OTHEKS. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  lands  between  the  Hudson  and 
the  Hackensack  were  selected  in  the  early  days  of  New  Netherland 
settlement  as  the  manors  of  some  wealthy  patroon  from  Holland.  Myn- 
dert  Myndertsen  Van  der  Horst,  of  Utrecht,  was  one  of  these,  and  in 
1641  he  had  a  plantation,  purchased  of  the  Indians,  extending  from 
Achter  Kull,  or  Newark  Bay,  far  up  the  valley  of  the  Hackensack.  It 
is  said  that  he  selected  for  his  town  site  the  beautiful  situation  on  the 
Hackensack  now  known  as  Little  Ferry,  and  that,  in  consequence  of  the 
introduction  of  strong-  drink  among-  the  Indians,  he  and  his  settlement 
were  doomed  to  destruction.  The  house  of  Van  der  Horst  was  burned 
onthenightof  SeptemberlT,  164.^,  andhisplantationmadedesolate.  This 
story  is  not  wholly  traditional ;  there  are  enoug-h  historical  facts  to  war- 
rant the  conclusion  that  Von  der  Horst  was  an  actual  resident  of  the 
vicinity,  althoug-h  it  is  difficult  to  tell  precisely  where  his  house  was 
located,  or  what  his  plans  were  with  reference  to  the  establishment  of  a 
town.  On  the  oldest  map  of  New  Netherland,  that  of  Vanderdonck, 
published  in  1656,  we  find  the  colony  of  Van  der  Horst  laid  down.  It  is 
called  the  "Colonie  van  der  Heer  Neder  Horst,"  and  is  situated  on  the 
Hackensack,  as  described  above. 

The  Baron  Van  der  Capellon  also  essayed  to  establish  a  colony  in  the 
old  township  of  Hackensack.  He  had  purchased  Staten  Island  of  the 
Indians,  and  founded  a  colony  there,  which  was  destroyed  in  1655.  He 
then,  throug-h  his  agent,  "concluded  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  with 
submission  to  the  courts   of  justice    at   Hospating.    upon   Wearkamius- 


HISTOKY    Ol'    BKKC.KN    COUNTY  2') 

Connie,  near  Hdckensack."  This  was  in  1657.  The  place  "  Hospatinuf" 
('•Espatin,"  a  hill'  was  on  Union  Hill,  between  the  Hudson  and  the 
Hackensack,  and  on  the  boundary  line  between  the  old  townships  of 
Hackensack  and  Bergen.  This  attempt  to  establish  a  settlement  and 
courts  of  justice  was  temporary.  If  it  existed  till  the  conquest  of  1(>64, 
it  was  probably  g-iven  up  at  that  time.  Traces  of  the  foundations  of 
buildings  were  known  to  exist  in  that  locality  not  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury ago. 

THK  PATENT  OK  JOHN   DEMAKEST, 

located  in  this  township,  is  thus  referred  to  in  the  records  of  the  flovernor 
and  Council  of  East  Jersey.  May  30,  1684,  page  109  : 

"The  petition  of  John  De  Maris  for  licence  to  purchase  2''0  acres  of  land  of  the 
Indians  at  Kinderkamacke,  at  Hackensacke,  ahove  the  mill,  in  order  to  patetitinf;' 
thereof.  Ordered  that  he  have  licence  g^ranted  him  to  purchase,  making-  use  of  such 
persons  as  the  Governor  shall  appoint  for  Nicholas  De  Vow  and  others,  who  pre- 
sented their  petitions  yesterday."' 

In  the  same  records,  on  page  30,  it  appears  that  David  De  Maris 
presented  a  petition,  and  was  asked  by  the  council  : 

■'  what  lands  he  had  purchased  of  the  Indians  for  the  supply  of  his  saw-mill, 
although  the  land  is  not  patented  to  him  and  his  son.  The  land  purchased  is  about 
two  miles  in  breadth,  and  coming  to  a  point,  and  six  miles  in  length.  Agreed  that 
David  De  Maris  have  patents  for  the  lands  which  is  surveyed  to  him  and  his  sons  at 
two  shillings  an  acre.  But  that  we  cannot  see  reason  to  grant  liberty  to  cut  the 
timber  from  the  land  he  takes  not  up  until  further  matters  appear  than  what  is  yet 
manifested,  and  that  our  purpose  is  to  view  the  same." 

It  is  of  record  that  Peter  Fanconier  purchased  of  William  Davis  2424 
acres  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hackensack  in  1709 

CIVIL  ORG.\NIZ.A.TION  OK  THE  TOWN.SHIP. 

After  1()"<3  the  township  had  its  local  court  for  the  trial  of  small 
causes.  We  hnd  this  several  times  referred  to  in  different  records,  but 
in  no  instance  in  such  a  manner  as  to  indicate  where  in  the  township  the 
court  was  held.  Probably  English  Neighborhood  was  the  chief  place, 
as  that  was  one  of  the  most  important  early  settlements. 

The  minutes  of  the  board  of  justices  and  freeholders  from  1715  i  the 
earliest  extant  in  the  clerk's  office  at  Hackensack  )  to  May  10,  1769,  while 
they  give  the  meetings  and  transactions  of  the  board,  do  not  indicate  the 
representatives  from  the  particular  townships.  At  the  meeting.  May 
111,  1769.  Martin  Rowleson  appeared  for  Hackensack  township,  and  was 
freeholder  in  1770,  '71,  '72,  '73,  '75,  and  in  the  May  meeting  of  1776  : 
Jacob  Demot,  1769,  '70,  '71,  '72.  '73,  and  '75.  They  were  also  freeholders 
in  176S,  and  Demot  in  1767  :  Jnhn  Benson  in  1773.  '74.  "75,  '76,  and  Yost 
Zabriskie  in  1774. 

There  was  no  meeting  of  the  board  from  Mav  15.  1776,  ti>  May  13, 
177S.  The  last  entry  in  1776  is,  "Ordered  that  this  book  lie  kept  in  the 
charge  of  W^illiam  Serrell,  clerk.'"  Serrell  had  been  clerk  of  the  board 
from  May  10,  1769.  The  stormy  times  of  1776  admonished  them  of  the 
uncertainty  of  their  next  meeting,  and  so  they  made  this  order.  When 
they  met  again  a  new  order  had  superseded  the  old  provincial  system, 
and  New  Jersey  had  been  nearly  two  years  a  State.      Hence  on  the   13th 


?.0  HISTORY    OK    BEKGKN    COUNTY 

day  lit"  May,  177S.   when   they   assembled   again,  the   first  entry   in  the 
hook,  in  round,  bokl  letters,  is, 

"State  ok  New  Jek.skv." 

Some  of  the  members  of  the  board  just  before  and  during  the  Revo- 
lution had  suffered  loss  of  property  and  life  in  maintaining  the  cause, 
which  in  1778  was  still  one  of  doubt  and  uncertaint3%  although  the  cam- 
paign in  New  Jersey  had  ended  in  defeat  to  the  British,  and  the  au- 
thority- of  the  latter  had  been  superseded  by  a  republican  form  of  gov- 
ernment. 

From  1794  the  following  were  freeholders  of  the  township: 

1794.  1800-2,  John  Demott :  1794,  John  Huyler;  1795-96,  ISly,  John  G.  Benson; 
1795,  Nicholas  Westervelt :  1-96-97,  Dawes  Westervelt ;  1797-99,  1802-15,  John  P. 
Diirie:  1798-99,  Isaac  Nicoll  ;  1800,  Cornelius  Banta;  1801,  Cornelius  Westervelt, 
James  Westervelt:  1803,  Henry  Demott;  1804-5,  Albert  A.  Westervelt;  1806-7,  Geo. 
Brinkerhoff;  1808-15.  Richard  Powels  ;  1813,  Isaiah  Johnson  ;  1816-18,  John  Wester- 
velt. Jr.  Peter  C.  Westervelt :  1817,  .S.  Brinkerhoff  :  1819,  1821-24,  1827-28,  Peter  C. 
Westervelt;  1819-24.  1827-28,  John  Westervelt,  Jr.;  1820-26,  1829-33,  William  Elv  ; 
1820.  John  Edsall  ;  182.5-2b,  Richard  Paulison  ;  1829-33,  Jacob  C.  Terhune  ;  1834-3'6. 
John  I.  Demarest,  Jr.  ;  1834-36,  1848-.50,  John  R.  Paulison  ;  1837-39,  Peter  C.  Wester- 
velt ;  18.37-38,  Garret  Westervelt ;  1839-41,  1846,  Abraham  Elv  :  1840-42,  1849-51,  Jacob 
H.  Brinkerhoff  ;  1842-44,  Peter  R.  Bogert ;  1843-45-John  C.  Westervelt;  1845-47,  Jacob 
P.  Westervelt ;  1847-48.  John  W.  Westervelt ;  1851-53,  James  Elv  ;  1852-54,  Thomas 
W.  Demarest  ;  1854-56.  John  J.  Bertholf  ;  1856.  John  A.  V.  Terhune;  1857-60,  Paul  R. 
Paulison  ;  1857-59.  David  I.  Westervelt;  1860-62,  Peter  Bogert,  Jr.  ;  18bI-63,  Samuel 
Degroot ;  1863-64,  1866,  George  Huvler ;  1864-6f),  Albert  J.  Bogert ;  1867'68,  Garret  A. 
Lv'decker;  1868-69.  Perer  P.  Westervelt;  I869-7O,  Jo.seph  Stagg ;  1870,  Samuel  S. 
Demarest. 

This  old  township  during  the  Revolution  was  the  theatre  of  some 
battles  and  of  many  e.xciting  scenes  and  raids  b}-  the  British  and  Tory 
refugees.  At  every  accessible  point  along  the  Hudson  from  Weehawken 
to  Tappan  the  British  soldiery  penetrated  to  the  interior,  driving  off 
cattle,  seizing  and  destroying  the  property  of  the  settlers,  burning 
buildings,  and  often  slaughtering  in  cold  blood  men,  women,  and  de- 
fenseless citizens,  whose  only  crime  was  their  patriotism  and  hatred  of 
British  opprcssi<m.  In  this  township  stood  Fort  Lee  and  the  old  block- 
house, so  famous  as  the  place  of  refuge  for  a  band  of  the  most  unscrup- 
ulous Tories  of  the  Revolution.  We  will  only  give  one  extract  here 
from  the  records  of  that  period.  It  is  c(mtained  in  a  letter  dated  Clos- 
tcr.  May  10.  1779: 

"This  day  about  one  hundred  of  the  enemy  came  by  the  wav  of 
New  Dock,  attacked  the  place,  and  carried  off  Cornelius  Tallman,  Samuel 
Dtmarest,  Jacob  Cole,  and  George  Buskirk ;  killed  Cornelius  Demarest ; 
wounded  Htndrick  Demarest,  Jeremiah  Westervelt,  Dow  Tallman,  etc. 
They  burnt  the  houses  of  Cornelius  Demarest,  Matthias  Bogert,  Cornel- 
ius Huyler,  Samuel  Demaresfs  house  and  barn,  John  Banta's  house  and 
barn,  and  Cornelius  Bogert's  and  John  Westervelt's  barns,  Thev  at- 
tempted to  burn  every  building  they  entered,  but  the  fire  was  in  some 
places  extinguished.  They  destroyed  all  the  furniture,  etc.,  in  manv 
houses  and  abused  many  of  the  women:  In  their  retreat  they  were  so 
closely  pursued  by  the  militia  and  a  few  Continental  troops  that  thev 
took  off  no  cattle.      They  were  of  Buskirk's  corjjs, — some  of   our  Closter 


HISTOKY    or    KEKGEN    COrNTY  31 


and  old  Tappan  neig-hbors,  joined  by  a  parlv  of  negroes.  I  should  have 
mentioned  the  negroes  first,  in  order  to  grace  the  British  arms." 

Hendrick  and  Cornelius  and  Samuel  Deniarest  were  probably  des- 
cendants of  the  old  proprietor  of  Hackensack  of  that  name.  Their 
neighbors  had  turned  Tories,  and  in  that  awful  contest  for  their  fire- 
sides and  their  homes,  brother  may  have  fought  against  brother  and 
father  against  son. 

Nearly  four  years  before  these  calamities  at  Closter,  New  Jersey 
had  declared  herself  independent  of  the  British  crown,  and  nearly  three 
years  before  all  the  American  colonies  had  joined  in  the  same  patriotic 
declaration.  The  burning  dwellings  and  barns  and  the  insults  to  their 
W(mien  only  served  to  tire  the  hearts  and  nerve  the  arms  of  the  people  of 
Hackensack  in  defending  their  country. 

"The  town.ihip  in  1840  was  ten  miles  long  and  from  three  to  five 
miles  wide.  It  then  largely  supplied  the  New  York  markets  with  gar- 
den vegetables.  Its  annual  sales  of  these  products  amounted  to  near 
S42,000,  a  large  township  income  at  that  day,  more  than  doubling  that 
of  any  other  township  in  the  county.  Its  four  bridges  crossed  the  Hack- 
ensack River,  viz.,  at  Hackensack  Village,  New  Milford,  Old  Bridge, 
and  New  Bridge.  At  these  places  and  at  Schraalenburgh,  Closter,  and 
Mount  Clinton  were  a  few  dwellings,  scarcely  enough  even  then  to  call 
any  of  them  a  hamlet.  English  Neighborhood,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  township,  was  thickly  settled,  and  had  one  Reformed  and  one  Chris- 
tian Church.  The  township  then  c(mtained  five  stores,  nine  grist-mills, 
six  saw-mills,  six  schools,  and  two  hundred  and  eighty -one  scholars.  It 
had  a  population  of  2631. 

By  the  census  of  1865  the  old  township  of  Hackensack  had  a  popu- 
lation of  7112,  and  by  the  census  of  1870,  which  was  the  last  enumer- 
ation before  the  division  and  linal  cessation  of  the  township,  it  had  a 
population  of  8039. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
IN  YE  OLDEN  TIME." 


A  few  years  ago  there  appeared  in  the  columns  of  "The  Record." 
Tenafly,  a  series  of  articles  bearing  upf)n  the  former  customs  and  habits 
of  the  people  of  the  "Old  Township  of  Hackensack,"  which  at  the  time 
created  more  than  passing  interest.  The  easy  fluent  style  of  the  writer, 
J.  J.  Haring,  M.  D.,  under  the  pseudonym  of  the  "  Whittler  "  makes  it 
exceedingly  difficult  to  abridge  his  articles  without  impairing  his  sen- 
tence structure;  yet  his  treatment  of  the  varit)us  subjects  which  fell 
under  his  notice  was  so  elaborate  that  of  necessity,  we  are  obliged  to 
discard  much  interesting  matter  simply  because  it  is  less  historical  than 
otherwise.  We  haye  therefore  taken  wholly  such  paragraphs  from  his 
writings  as  bear  directly  upon  our  subject,  and  in  so  doing  haye,  we 
think,  placed  upon  record  much  valuable  matter  which  should  be  pre- 
seryed.  In  speaking  of  the  people  of  colonial  and  later  times  who  took 
up  their  abode  on  the  east  side  of  the  county,  the  writer  says,  "nearly 
all  of  them  to  the  'manor  born'  had  descended  from  good,  honest,  in- 
dustrious Holland  and  Huguenot  stock."  Although  within  sound  al- 
most of  the  hum  of  the  great  metropolis  they  had  become  known  only 
to  the  tourist  and  occasional  stranger  pedestrian,  and  so  had  escaped  its 
distracting,  disturbing  and  disintegrating  influences. 

Their  perserying  industry  had  not  only  rendered  the  broad  acres  of 
the  valley  productive,  but  had  cleared  and  tilled  the  slopes  well  on  to 
the  high  plateau  west  of  the  Palisades.  The  immense  walls  resulting 
from  freeing  these  slopes  of  stones  and  which  scarce]}'  suggest  a  retro- 
spective thought  to  the  modern  dweller,  are  monuments  to  their  pluck 
and  industry. 

The  cattle  roamed  through  the  farmers'  broad  fields  and  the  silence 
of  nature,  through  many  a  quiet  afternoon,  w^as  only  broken  by  the 
tinkling  of  the  bell  attached  to  the  leader  of  the  herd  and  by  the  lowing 
of  the  kine  saluting  and  answering  each  other  from  adjacent  farms. 

Ouaint  houses  and  commodious  barns  dotted  the  valley  from  "the 
Sloat"  (Pierraont),  to  English  Neighborhood  (Englewood)  and  beyond. 
Here  and  there  through  the  valley  still  stands  one  of  the  old  time  dwell- 
ings answering  to  the  following  description  : 

The  main  building  was  constructed  of  stone,  for  the  most  part 
small,  irregular,  and  pointed  with  white  mortar,  making  the  walls  pe- 
culiarly conspicuous. 

The  roof  was  broad  and  angulated  about  ten  feet  from  the  peak. 
From  the  angle  the  roof  sloped  more  abruptly  till  near  the  eaves  where 
it  curved  gracefully,  extending  usually  about  six  feet  beyond  the  wall. 
These  stone  houses  had  usuall}'  a  broad  hall  running  midway  through 
from  the  front  to  rear.      The  inside  walls  were  plastered  but  the  ceilings 


HISTOKV    OF    HKKdKN    COVXTY  .^,> 

over  head  were  formed  by  the  bare  beams  often  of  extravagant  dinien-  . 
sions  and  the  upper  floor  board,  Ixith  unpainted  but  smoothly  plaiud 
and  kept  scrupulously  clean  by  the  periodic  use  of  soap  and  brush.  'JMie 
outer  doors  were  cut  in  two  laterally  and  designated  as  the  upper  and 
under  door.  In  moderate  weather  the  former  was  nearly  always  opened 
during  the  day  and  often  during  the  evening  affording  fine  ventilation, 
while  the  latter  served  to  exclude  curious  eyes  and  prevent  the  exit  of 
the  baby  and  the  two  frecjuent  intrusion  of  the  house  dog  and  other  do- 
mestic animals. 

The  peculiar  customs  and  manners  of  the  toilers  of  the  Northern 
Railroad  Valley  a  half  century  ago  were  largely  due  to  the  cmditions 
favoring  if  not  compelling  the  exercise  of  frugality. 

The  soil  of  the  Northern  Valley  and  slopes  owing  to  geological 
causes  and  conditions  a  description  of  which  would,  if  time  permitted, 
make  an  interesting  paper  of  this  series,  was  not  noted  for  its  natural 
fertilitv.  Its  productiveness  was  in  proportion  to  the  care  and  labor  be- 
stowed upon  it,  and  its  adaptation  to  certain  staple  crops  needed  the 
farmer's  careful  consideration.  Rye  being  grown  much  more  success- 
fullv  than  wheat,  naturally-  became  the  leading  cereal.  Ground  into 
flour  by  the  local  miller  it  found  its  way  into  the  bread  tray  and  by  the 
skillful  manipulation  of  the  wife  or  daughter  it  furnished  bread  for  the 
family — sweet,  nutritious  and  wholesome.  This  spread  with  golden 
butter  and  overlaid  with  wholesome  home-jnade  cheese  was  the  combi- 
nation associated  with  almost  every  man's  meal. 

Cornmeal  supplied  material  for  cornbread  and  mush,  the  latter 
usually  eaten  with  milk.  A  bushel  of  choice  corn  was  occasionally  sent 
to  the  miller  who,  soaking  it  for  a  few  hours  in  cold  water  then  passed 
it  coarseh'  through  his  burr  stones,  removing  the  shell  and  breaking  it 
into  coarse  grains.  This  called  "samp"  cooked  as  it  was  by  the  farm- 
ers' wives  was  equal  if  not  superior  to  the  best  modern  hominy.  Corn 
and  oats  were  relied  upon  for  the  farm  stock.  Potatoes,  vegetables  and 
fruits  were  of  course  at  hand  in  their  season  and  preserved  with  care 
and  judgment  for  winter  use.  No  canning  of  fruit  was  known  but  the 
farmer's  wife  always  provided  a  good  stock  of  sweetmeats  in  the  form 
of  preserved  peaches,  quinces,  plums,  pears  and  other  small  fruits.  One 
of  these  was  upon  the  table  at  almost  every  meal.  Concerning  their  use 
there  was  however  an  unwritten  law  emphasized  b}-  an  occasional  pa- 
rental hint  that  they  were  to  be  spread  thinly  over  the  buttered  bread 
and  not  eaten  by  the  saucerful  with  a  spoon  as  the  occasional  city  \  is- 
itor  did,  much  to  the  amazement  and  consternation  of  the  family. 

The  apple  crop  was  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  farmer's  pro- 
ducts. Three  or  four  score  dollars  found  their  way  into  his  exchequer 
from  the  sale  of  his  choice  fruit.  The  dropped  apples  were  gathered 
for  the  pigs,  the  sweet  ones  usually'  given  to  the  colt.  Upon  almost 
every  farm  there  was  a  frostproof  apple  cellar  built  of  stone,  partially 
under  ground  and   thatched   with   straw.      Into  these  the  winter  apples 


34  HISTORY    OF    BEKfVKN    COl'NTV 

were  placed  and  the  door  barred  not  to  be  opened  till  earl}'  spring  when 
the  market  price  suited  the  owner,  and  the  apples  were  then  quickly 
shipped  to  the  New  York  market.  From  one  to  four  barrels  of  u;ood 
cider  were  annually  made  by  the  average  farmer.  In  large  families 
nearly  an  entire  barrel  was  utilized  in  the  making  of  apple  butter  which, 
wholesome  and  satisfactory  to  the  palate  was  rarely  absent  from  the 
farmer's  table  for  months  following.  The  vinegar  barrel  was  always 
kept  well  tilled.  So  fast  as  used  it  was  replenished  from  the  stock  of 
hard  cider.  A  good  share  of  at  least  one  barrel  of  the  best  cider  was 
kept  for  table  use  and  for  evening  gatherings.  In  these  olden  times  a 
load  or  two  of  apples  from  the  larger  growers  found  their  way  to  the 
distillery  at  so  much  per  bushel.  Candor  compels  the  admission  that 
occasionallv  in  preference  to  hard  cash  the  farmer  received  in  return  for 
his  apples  a  certain  number  of  gallons  of  apple  whiskev  mutually  agreed 
upon.  This  was  alwa^'s  convenient  for  external  use  and  considered  by 
some  of  the  old  timers  conducive  to  the  comfort  of  the  inner  man. 
Temperance  and  total  abstinence,  to  the  mind  of  the  latter  were  not 
synonymous  terms. 

Every  large  farmer  under  the  good  olden  calendar  from  which  these 
chips  are  whittled  produced  and  packed  his  own  pork  and  beef.  The 
surplus  buttermilk  and  the  odds  and  ends  from  the  kitchen  were  utilized 
in  the  pork  production,  and  a  horned  animal  bought  at  a  low  price  in 
the  summer  or  raised  perhaps  on  the  farm  was  turned  to  pasture  and 
cornfed  for  a  month  or  two  in  the  autumn.  About  the  last  week  in  No- 
vember usually  on  Tuesday',  from  one  to  four  fat  dressed  porkers  were 
seen  hanging  in  a  row  in  the  farmer's  back  yard.  A  week  or  two  later 
the  dressed  carcass  of  beef  would  be  hanging  in  the  farmer's  barn. 

The  clothing  of  the  farmer's  family  presented  questions  which 
necessarily  found  their  solution  along  the  same  practical  lines  as  those 
growing  out  of  the  subsistence  department.  There  are  in  the  older 
ranks  of  the  farmers  to-day  those  who  to  the  period  of  earlv  manhood 
were  clothed  almost  entirely  in  home-made  fabrics  from  domestic  ma- 
terial. Their  fathers  and  grandfathers  were  flax  and  wool  growers  and 
passed  their  raw  material  through  the  various  stages  and  processes  till 
it  came  from  the  local  looms  and  shops  in  substantial  fabrics  adapted  to 
the  farmers'  wants,  and  were  made  into  needed  garments  chieflv  bv  the 
wives  and  daughters. 

In  the  Dutch  homesteads  of  to-day  through  the  valley  there  are  still 
treasures  in  the  shape  of  home  made  linen  sheetings,  wtiolen  blankets, 
&c.,  which  are  highly  prized  by  the  owners  as  the  work  of  their  worth  v 
and  industrious  grandfathers  and  grandmothers. 

The  farmer's  wardrobe  was  not  elaborate.  All  ordinary  garments 
were  made  at  home  in  the  family,  the  tailor  being  only  employed  by  the 
day  occasionally  to  l;iy  out  the  work.  The  best  suit  of  the  farmer  as 
well  as  that  of  the  wife  and  daughter  was  expected  to  last  for  several 
j-ears  and  the  expectation  was  rarely  disap]iointed. 


HISTORY    OF    BKK(;KN    COUNTY 


A  wuolen  cloak  of  >r()o(l  quality  i>t  those  days  was  placed  away  each 
sprinsr  and  Iiroug-ht  out  in  the  fall  aud  worn  for  a  dozen  years  affordinir 
to  the  wearer  the  most  genuine  satisfaction  during  the  entire  period. 

Woolen  underg-arments  were  not  considered  necessarv  as  a  rule. 

Stockings  ^vere  knit  during  the  long  winter  evenings,  linen  ones  for 
warm  and  woolen  ones  for  cold  weather. 

Working  clothes  were  made  in  the  most  sim])le  manner,  comfort  and 
dural.)ility  I)eing  the  governing  considerations. 

The  furniture  in  the  old  homesteads  of  the  valley  was  simple  and 
inexpensive.  A  good  jiroportion  of  it  was  home  made  including  the 
tables,  stands,  chairs  and  cupboards.  The  last  named  were  for  various 
uses  and  very  capacious.  The  bureaus  in  which  were  kept  the  linen, 
were  usually  more  pretentious.  In  every  family  there  were  one  or  two 
large  chests  in  which  to  pack  winter  clothing.  These  were  made  if  pos- 
sible from  cedar  wood  supposed  to  afford  protection  against  moth  and 
insects  generally. 

The  long  clock  found  in  many  homesteads  was  the  one  article  of 
extravagance  and  luxury  in  which  the  olden  time  fathers  indulged. 

At  the  period  from  which  these  chips  are  whittled  stoves  were 
luiknown,  and  broad  fire  places  and  brick  ovens  furnished  the  ways  and 
means  for  warming  and  cooking. 

The  capacious  chimney,  the  wide  tire  places,  and  the  and-irons  the 
■'  back  log,"  the  '"  fore  stick,"  and  the  intervening  wood,  the  last  three 
all  ignited,  the  blazing  lire  leaping  upward  changing  each  moment  in 
shape  and  form,  throwing  darker  and  lighter  shadows  upon  the  walls, 
all  made  up  a  picture  which  the  eye  tired  not  in  watching,  and  which 
possessed  an  attractive  force  and  mellowing  influence  which  have  been 
sadl}'  missed  since  modern  ideas  and  requirements  made  the  scene 
described  only  a  memory  of  happy  hours  long  gone  never  to  return. 

Fifty  years  ago  matches  had  not  been  invented  and  the  flint  :in(l 
steel  with  the  accompanying  "  tinder  box  "  were  upon  the  mantel  ol 
every  kitchen.  The  light  for  this  room  was  furnished  for  the  most  ])art 
by  the  blazing  wood,  and  that  of  the  sitting  room  l)y  the  tallow  candle 
made  by  the  dipping  process  in  the  outer  kitchen. 

The  servant  girl  question  in  these  hap])y  times  was  almost  wholly 
eliminated  from  the  ])rol)]em  of  domestic  life.  The  wife  and  daughter 
were  eijual  to  all  emergencies  and  the  idea  of  delegating  any  jtart  of 
their  home  duties  to  a  menial  was  as  unnatural  to  them  as  it  was  pri-ju- 
dicial  to  the  family  finances. 

At  certain  seasons  the  farmer's  life  was  indeed  a  busy  one,  bringing 
him  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  the  work  of  feeding  his  stock  and 
pre])aring  for  the  work  of  the  day.  At  six  or  before,  breakfast  was  in 
readiness,  and  before  seven  he  was  at  the  axe,  scythe,  or  plow,  and  after 
ten  or  twelve  hours  in  the  field  there  still  remained  the  chores  and  even- 
intr  work  in  the  barn. 


•■^f>  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEX    COTNTV 

The  farmer's  wifes  and  daug-hters  did  their  household  work 
thoroughly.  Cleanliness  was  the  almost  invariable  rule  and  the  tables 
and  floors  even  in  the  kitchen  must  on  at  least  cme  day  of  each  week  be. 
made  spotless  by  soap  and  brush.  In  addition  to  regular  indoor  work 
including-  all  the  work  of  the  dairy,  they  were  ready  to  help  in  any  out- 
door emergency.  But  for  their  cheerful  presence  and  help  many  a  load  of 
waiting-  hay  safely  housed  would  have  been  injured  by  the  approaching 
afternoon  shower  or  ruined  by  the  coming  storm. 

The  man  doing  faithful  and  valuable  work  for  his  employer  expected 
to  sit  down  with  the  latter  to  his  usual  meals,  aud  it  was  not  expected 
that  either  would  lose  his  self-respect  or  forfeit  the  respect  of  the  other. 

At  these  meals  if  an  outer  garment  was  uncomfortable  or  cvunber- 
some,  it  was  simply  discarded  on  common  sense  principles 

At  the  table  the  knife  or  fork  was  brought  into  requisition  according 
as  either  seemed  best  adapted  to  the  work  to  be  done.  If  the  morsel  of 
pumpkin  pie  was  considered  to  be  in  less  danger  on  the  knife  while  being 
conveyed  to  its  intended  destination,  the  pie  was  g-iven  the  benefit  of  the 
theory  and  the  onlookers  were  never  known  to  have  received  a  hopeless 
or  dangerous  shock. 

The  country  district  schoolhouse  was  usually  about  eighteen  feet 
square,  and  painted  red  if  painted  at  all.  It  was  usually  built  at  the 
intersection  of  two  roads,  as  near  the  corner  as  possible,  or  in  the  edge 
of  a  woods  and  as  near  as  possible  in  many  cases  to  a  pond  of  stagnant 
water.  This  latter  plan  has  not  been  altogether  given  up  at  the  present 
time  judging  from  recent  occurrences.  The  school  furniture  was  not 
luxurious.  The  desks  were  arranged  on  three  sides  of  the  room  with 
their  backs  permanently  fastened  to  the  wall  and  the  long  scats  over 
which  both  girls  and  boys  had  to  climb  were  made  of  slabs. 

The  curriculum  of  study  was  not  especially  comprehensive.  It  usu- 
ally comprised  spelling,  reading,  writing  and  "ciphering."  Occasion- 
ally a  little  grammar  was  thrown  in  by  way  of  ornamentation. 

The  teacher's  salary  varied  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  dcdlars  a 
month.  Under  the  salary  first  name  he  was  expected  to  "broad  around'- 
through  the  district  in  the  more  substantial  or  liberal  families,  changing 
his  boarding  place  about  every  two  weeks.  If  the  pedagogue  was  old, 
conservative,  and  stern,  this  arrangement  was  very  unpopular  with  the 
children.  If  young,  sympathetic  and  socially  inclined,  these  changes  of 
boarding  places  were  anticipated  with  the  keenest  pleasure. 

Of  the  moral  and  religious  condition  of  the  valley  community  a  half 
century  ago  it  may  be  said  that  it  was  fully  up  to  the  average  standard. 

The  churches  were  simply  furnished,  poorly  ventilated,  and  imper- 
fectly heated.  Notwithstanding,  on  Sabbath  mornings  the  roads  leading 
to  the  churches  were  dotted  with  vehicles  and  predestrians  from  miles 
around.  Stormy  weather  was  not  considered  a  valid  excuse  for  absence 
from  church. 


IIISTOKV    OK    BKUC.KN     COUNTY  37 

TliL'  vehicles  were  of  every  description.  Not  a  few  were'  the  farm 
wagons  which  conveyed  the  siiri)lus  ])r(i(hicts  to  market.  Some  of  the 
worshipers  came  on  horseback. 

It  was  an  old  time  habit  to  reach  church  early.  The  horses  having 
lieen  hitched  the  worshipers  collected  in  groups  under  the  trees  or  about 
the  church  doors  where  greetings  all  around  were  in  order  and  inipiirics 
made  about  absent  relatives  and  acquaintances. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  state  of  crops,  the  condition  of  the  mar- 
kets, and  the  aspect  of  jxilitics  were  occasional  features  of  these  peculiar 
gatherings. 

A  voluntary  or  paid  choir  was  an  institution  unknown  in  these 
churches  fifty  years  ago.  The  chorister  a  professing  member  receiving 
and  holding  his  position  by  the  formal  action  of  the  officers,  read  all  the 
verses  of  the  first  hymn  usually  one  of  his  own  selection,  then  led  the 
singing  in  a  slow  and  sometimes  nasal  tone.  Before  the  first  line  was 
finished  the  discovery  was  not  unfrequently  made  the  line  was  pitched 
several  notes  too  high  or  low,  when  of  course  a  fresh  start  became 
necessary.  This  naturally  diverted  attention  somewhat  from  the 
sentiment  of  the  sacred  poem  usually  by  Watts,  Dodridge  or  Toplady, 
but  the  system  had  its  compensating  advantage  by  rendering  impossible 
the  complications  incident  to  the  modern  methods. 

Of  instumental  music  it  may  be  said  that  any  attempt  to  introduce 
it  fifty  years  ago  would  have  been  regarded  as  an  innovation  incompat- 
ible with  religious  orthodoxy  or  church  harmony. 

The  dutj'  of  reading  the  Scripture  selections  devolved  upon  the 
chorister  called  also  the  "  voorleeser "  or  head  reader.  This  exercise 
was  grave,  measured  and  slow,  with  inflections  not  always  thoughtless. 

The  prayers  were  earnest,  fervent  and  loud.  The  sermons  long, 
doctrinal  and  of  numerous  headings.  They  were  rarely  delivered  from 
notes.  Written  sermons  being  regarded  with  disfavor  and  not  considered 
edifying. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
CIVIL  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY  oF  BERGEN 

.Ki-(pin  the  Hi.storv  of  Bi>rf,''fii  and  Passaic  Counticsi. 


In  Ueceml)er,  1(>82.  the  Asscmbl}-  <>f  East  Jersey  passed  an  act  divid- 
ing- the  province  into  four  counties,  viz.  :  Bergen,  Essex,  Middlesex,  and 
Monmouth.  *  Bergen  included  all  the  settlements  between  the  Hudson 
and  Hackensack  Rivers,  and  extended  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
province.  Bergen  and  its  outlying  plantations  comprised  about  sixt}- 
thousand  acres  of  land.  In  the  act  of  January  21,  1700,  "for  determin- 
ing the  bounds  of  the  several  counties,"  those  of  Bergen  were  extended 
as  follows  :  "Beginning  at  Constable's  Hook,  so  along  the  bay  and  Hud- 
son's River  to  the  partition  point  between  New  Jersey  and  the  province 
of  New  York;  along  this  line  and  the  line  between  East  and  West 
Jersey  t  to  the  Pequaneck  River ;  down  the  Pequaneck  and  Passaic 
Rivers  to  the  sound ;  and  so  following  the  sound  to  Constable's  Hook, 
the  place  of  beginning." 

In  16')3  the  counties  were  divided  into  townships.  But  those  of 
Bergen  County — viz  :  the  townships  of  Bergen  and  Hackensack — had 
existed  for  many  j'ears  and  been  organized  municipalities,  the  former 
under  the  Dutch  government  of  the  New  Netherlands,  +  and  the  latter 
vuider  the  proprietary  government  of  East  Jersey,  No  court  existed  at 
Hackensack  in  1682.  Smith  says,  in  his  "History  of  New  Jersey,"  under 
(late  of  this  vear  :  "The  plantations  on  both  sides  of  the  Neck,  as  also 
those  at  Hackensack,  were  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Bergen  Town,  situ- 
ated about  the  middle  of  the  Neck."  The  act  of  organization  established 
the  countv  courts  at  Bergen,  where  they  remained  until  the  enlargement 
of  the  county  in  1709. 

'Bergen,  in  1680,  is  thus  described  by  George  Scott,  of  Edinburg,  who 
pultlished  a  book  entitled  "The  Model  of  the  Government  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  East  Jersey  in  America  :" 

"Hero  is  a  Town  Court  held  by  Select  Men  or  Overseers,  who  used  to  be  four  or 
nmre  as  they  please  to  choose  annually  to  try  small  causes,  as  in  all  the  rest  of  the 
Towns;  and  two  Courts  of  Sessions  in  the  year,  from  which,  if  the  cause 
e.xceed  twenty  pounds,  they  may  appeal  to  the  Governor  and  Council  and  Court  of 
Deputies  in  their  Assembly,  who  meet  once  a  year.  The  town  is  compact,  and  hath 
lieen  fortified  against  the  Indians.  There  are  not  above  seventy  families  in  it.  The 
acres  taken  up  by  the  town  may  be  about  10,000,  and  for  the  Out  Plantations,  50,000, 
and  the  number  of  Inhabitants  are  computed  to  be  350,  but  many  more  abroad.  The 
111  order  to  raise  fifty  pounds,  the  le^isK^lure  convened  in  lfi^:t  laid  assessments  to  be  raised  in 
Uie  four  counties  as  follows  :     Berfren,  All;  Middlesex,  iUl ;  Essex,  i:i4;  Monmuuth,  fl'i. 

In  U.'.M  the  sum  of  jClt  Us.  'id.  was  .issessed  for  IJergen  County  ;  JSerjfen.  £7  '.is.  d.,  Hackensack. 
i.^  is>.  'Id. 

T  Tile  Tine  between  East  and  West  Jersey,  liere  referred  to.  is  not  the  line  finally  adopted  and 
l.nown  as  the  Lawrence  line,  which  was  run  by  John  Lawrencein  Septemberand  October,  174;'..  It  was 
tile  compromise  line  agreed  upon  between  Governors  Coxe  and  Barclay  in  1082,  which  ran  a  little  north 
ol  .Morristown  to  the  Passaic  River  ;  thence  up  the  Peiiuancck  to  forty-one  dc<f  rees  of  north  latitude  : 
iii.l  ihence  by  a  straisrht  line  due  east  to  the  New  York  Slate  line.  This  line  bain;,'  afterward  objected 
l4»  by  the  East  Jersey  proprietors,  the  latter  procured  the  runniii'r  of  the  Lawrence  line. 

■The  D.ilcli  iiovernnient  formed  no  counties  in  N'ew  .Xelherlands. 


IIISTOKY    OF    1{1-;km-.I-.X    CofNTV 


part  of  the  Inhabitants  which  ure  in  this  jurisdiction  are  Dutcli.nf  wliich  sonic  have 
settled  here  upwards  of  forty  years  ag-o." 

Hackensack  Villag-c,  it  is  well  known  was  in  Essox  Counlv  till  ITo'i, 
and  only  upon  the  enlaro;ement  of  Ber<,'-eu  County  in  that  year  was  made 
the  county-seat  of  the  same.  This  was  done  because  it  was  a  (hrivino- 
village  more  centrally  located  than  any  other  in  the  enlarsred  county. 

County  officials  in  the  reign  of  George  II  had  to  subscribe  to  certain 
oaths  which  sound  strange  to  their  descendants  of  these  days  in  Repub- 
lican America.  We  give  a  list  found  attached  to  an  old  parchment  roll 
in  the  clerk's  oflice,  dated  1755,  wherein  the  names  are  subscribed  in  the 
following  oaths: 

"  Al.I.liC.IAXCli    To    THli    Kl.NC. 

•'  I  do  heartily  and  sincerelj-  acknowledge,  profess,  testify,  anil  declare,  in  niv 
conscience,  before  God  and  the  world,  that  our  sovereiyn  lord.  Kiny  George  the 
Second,  is  lawful  and  rig-htful  king  of  Great  Britain  and  all  other  his  Majesty's 
d(.niinions  and  countries  thereunto  belonging-,  and  I  do  solemnly  and  sincerely 
declare,  and  I  do  believe  in  my  conscience,  that  the  person  pretendino-  to  be  the 
Prince  of  Wales  during-  the  life  of  the  late  King  James,  or  since  his  decease,  pre- 
tending to  assume  to  himself  the  title  of  King  of  England,  by  the  name  of  James 
the  Third,  or  James  the  Eighth,  or  the  full  title  of  the  King  of'Great  Britain,  or  by 
any  right  or  title  whatever  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  or  any  other  dominions 
thereunto  belonging  ;  and  I  do  renounce,  refuse,  and  abjure  any  and  all  allegiance 
or  obedience  to  him  ;  and  I  do  swear  that  I  bear  faithful  and  true  allegiance  to  his 
Majesty  King  George  the  Second,  and  him  will  defend  to  the  utmost  of  my 
power  against  all  traitorous  conspiracies  or  attempts  whatsoever  to  be  made 
against  his  person,  crown,  or  dignity,  and  I  will  <lo  my  utmost  endeavors  to  disclose 
and  make  known  to  his  Majesty  and  his  successors  all  treasons  and  traitorous  con- 
spiracies which  I  shall  know  to  be  against  him  or  them  :  and  I  do  faithfully  promi.se 
t(j  the  utmost  of  my  power  to  uphold  and  defend  the  sacredness  of  the  crown  against 
him,  the  said  James,  under  any  title  whatsoever;  which  succession,  by  an  act  enti- 
tled "An  act  for  the  succession  of  the  crown  and  the  better  securing  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  subjects,'  is  limited  to  the  Princess  Sophia,  electress  and  duchess 
dawager  of  Hanover,  and  the  heirs  of  her  body,  being  Protestants.  And  all  these 
things  I  do  plainly  and  sincerely  acknowledge  and  swear  according  to  the  express 
words  by  me  spoken,  and  according  to  the  plain  sense  and  understanding  of  the 
same,  without  any  equivocation,  mental  evasion,  or  .secret  reservation  whatsoever. 
And  I  do  make  this  recognition,  acknowledgment,  abjuration,  renunciation,  and 
Ijromise  heartily,  willingly,  and  truly,  upon  the  true  faith  of  a  Christian. 

'•  So  help  me  God." 

"AhJIRATION    (M-    'I'HK    I'.M'vev. 

"I  do  swear  that  I  do  from  my  heart  abhor,  detest,  and  abjure  as  impious  and 
heretical  that  damnable  doctrine  and  position  that  princes  excommunicate  1  by  the 
Pope  or  any  authority  of  the  See  of  Rome  may  be  deposed  or  unu-dercd  by  their  sub- 
jects or  any-  other  Catholics  ;  and  I  do  promise  that  no  foreign  prince,  person,  jire- 
late,  or  potentate  shall  or  ought  to  take  any  jurisdiction,  superiority,  pre-eminence, 
or  authority,  either  ecclesiastical  or  civil,  within  the  realm  of  (ireat  Britain. 

■'  So  help  me  God. 

"William  Kingsland,  Arent  Schuyler.  Johannes  Van  Houten.  Michael  Vree- 
landt  [his(M.  V.)  mark],  John  Cardan,  Isaac  Kingsland,  Jost  Van  Boskirk.  Walingh 
Van  Winkel,  Johannes  Bougart,  Philip  Schuyler,  Jan  Van  Orden,  Jacobus  Wyn- 
koop,  Pieter  Bogert,  (Jeorge  Keyorse,  Jr.,  Riieletf  Van  Der  render,  Theunis  Day, 
Siimm  Vreeland,  Albert  Zabriskie,  Jacobus  Van  Buskirk,  Abraham  Leydecker, 
Jacob  Home  |his  (X)  mark].  Theodore  Vallou,  Robert  Van  Houten.  Helmage  Van 
Home,  Jacob  Van  Nostrand,  Jr.  ]his  (Cl  mark],  Ivukc  Reyerse,  Albert  Berdan, 
Jacob  Sitson,  Ardsen  Kersoris,  Garret  HoUcnbeck,  John  Schuyler,  William  J.  Kint'-s- 
laiul,  Jacob,  his  son,  Isaac  Kingsland,  Jacob  Van  Buskirk,  Helmage  Van  Houte, 
.\braham  (iouveuier,  Isaac  .Schuyler.  Jacobus  Van  Winkel.  Johannes  Vreelandt  |lus 
iJ.V.)  mark],  George  Vreelandt,' Jan  Terhuyn,  Hendrick  Doreunis.  Johannes  Rey- 
erse. Johannes  Bougart,  Pieter  Demarest,  Sorens  Jan  Van  Buskirk,  David  Van  Bus- 
kirk, Henry  Van  Dalinda.  Cornelius  Wynkoop.  Roelef  \'an  Bouten,  Derick  Cuyper, 
George  Reyerse.  Johannes  Post,  Rejof  Lvndaker.  .*\braham  Ackerman.  Michael 
Xoorland  ]iiis  CM.)  mark].  David  Demarest.' Timothy  Ward,  Henry  Van  De  Linda. 
Jacoben    Wyckoff.    Pieter    Post.    David    Terhuyn.    Sanniel    Bogert.    James    Hoard. 


40  UISTOKV    Ol-    BERGEX    COUXTV 

Peter  Schuyler,  John  Berdan.  Jacob  Mag-el,  Johannes  Van  Houten,  Johannes  Wag-- 
ner  [his  (V.W.)  mark],  Roelef  Westervelt,  Hendrick  Yeshopp,  Abraham  Dirick  |his 
(A.  D.)  mark],  Dirick  Guysen.  Peter  Marsetin.  Jansen  Post.  Jacobus  Buck.  Rej-nier 
V.  (iiere.  Timothy  Moore,  Jr.,  Jacob  Mead,  Johannes  Reyerse,  Dirick  Cuyper. 
Samuel  Moore,  Jacob  Dobson,  Cornelius  Bog^ert,  Housens  Van  Biiskirk,  Casparus 
Schuyler,  Simon  Juland,  William  Van  Emburg-h,  Johannes  Demarest,  Ephanus  Van 
Home,  Wabigh  Van  Buskirk,  Peter  Bog^ert.  Rydsley  Jecken,  Jacobus  Jeter,  Isaac 
Kingsland. 

■■Qualitied  as  Vendue  master  this  22d  May.  1755,  before  me.  '*■ 

John  .Scihylek." 

*Thiii  piDbaWy  refers  lo  the  last  person   named.  Is.iac  Kiiiifsland.     The  followin(r  note   fron]   the 
records  will  throw  some  li^hl  upon  the  office  of  "vendue  master  :" 

"  It  IK  ordered  by  the  Board  of  Justices  and  Freebtdders  of  the  County  of  Bergen  that  Jacob  Titshort 
shall  be  vendue  master  to  sell  armsand  accoutrements,  and  to  receive  for  his  trouble  (.  pence  per  pound. 

"Oct.  4.  l7o;i." 

These  were  arms  and  accoutrements  used  in  the  French  war.     They  were  s(»ki  at  the  court-house  in 
Hackensack  on  Monday,  Oct.  17, 17f,:!. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
CIVIL  LIST  OF  BERCtEN  COUNTY. 


At  the  hoad  of  this  list  wc  give  the  buard  of  justices  and  freeholders 
from  1715 — the  date  of  the  earliest  records  to  be  found — to  \~')4,  when 
the  justices  ceased  to  act  in  the  board  with  the  freeholders,  and  the 
board  from  that  time  forward  was  composed  only  of  the  latter.  The 
freeholders  will  be  found  named,  so  far  as  data  could  be  obtained,  in 
their  respective  town  histories  : 

jrSTICKS  AMI  l-KEEHOLDERS. 

I7I.5.  Justices. Thomas  Lawrence.  George  Rversoii,  John  Berdan.  Martin  Powlson. 
Freeholaers,  John   Fla^;-"-,   Kyer   Ryer-;on,  Riitt  Van   Home.   Cornelius   Blinkerhof, 

V-i^icholas  Lazier.  John  Bogart.  l7lb.  Justices,  David  Provost,  Thomas  Lawrence, 
Thomas  Van  Buskirk,  George  Ryerson,  John  Flagg.  David  Demarest.  Freeholders, 
Hendrick  Cooper.  Cor.  elius  Blinkerhof,  Miholes  Lasire.  Jacob  Blinkerhof,  Ryer 
Kyerson,  David  Danjelse.  Peter  Garretson.  Cornelius  Van  Vorst,  John  Van  Houte, 
John  DeMott,  John  Huyler,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Jr.,  Arent  .Schuyler,  Jacob  Berdan, 
Abraham  Haring.  Abraham  G.  Haring.  1717,  Justices.  David  Provost,  Thos.  Law- 
rence, Thos.  Van  Buskirk.  Geo.  Ryer.son.  Jno.  Flagg.  Freeholders.  Andries  Van  Bus- 
kirk,Riilt  Van  Home,  Jacob  Bantaw,  Jacobus  Blinkerhof,  Dsrvid  Ackerman,  Harp  Gar- 
rabrantse,  Peter  Garretson,  Thos.  Garretson.  I72O,  Justices,  David  Provost,  Thos. 
Lawrence.  Thomas  Van  Buskirk,  George  Ryerson.  John  Berdan.  Freeholders.  David 
Ackerman,  Lucas  Kinstud.  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk.  Rutt  Van  Home,  Ruelef  Bogert. 
Roelef  Westervelt.  1721,  Justices.  Thomas  Lawrence.  Thomas  Van  Buskirk.  Geo. 
Ryerson.  John  Berdan.  John  Flagg.  Freeholders.  Hendrick  Cooper,  Kutt  Van 
Home,  Charles  Lazier.  David  Demarest.  Michael  Van  Winkle.  David  Ackerman. 
William  Flagg,  Arent  Turce.  1722.  Justices,  Thomas  Lawrence.  Thomas  Van  Bus- 
kirk, George  Ryerson.  John  Flagg.  Freeholders.  Hendrick  Cooper,  Garret  Tury- 
ance,  David  Demarest.  Andriese  Van  (Jrden,  Thomas  Fredrickson,  Johannes  Nefie, 

♦  Johannes  Walingson.  1723.  Justices,  Thomas  Lawrence.  Thomas  Van  Buskirk. 
George  Ryerson,  John  Berdan,  John  Flag^g,  Wander  Deadrick.  Freeh(jlders.  John 
Wright,  iigbert  Ackerson.  Andriese  Van  (Jrden,  William  Dey,  Cornelius  Blinkerhof, 
David  Danjelson,  John  H(jpper,  Peter  Tebou.  1724,  Justices,  Thomas  Lawrence, 
Thomas  Van  Buskirk.  John  Berdan.  Ryer  Rverson.  P'reeholders,  Philip  Schuyler. 
Garrett  Garretsmi,  Martin  Powlson.  John  Loats.  Cornelius  Blinkerhof,  Johannes 
Garret.s'on,  Johannes  Ackerman.  1725,  Justices,  Thomas  Van  Buskirk.  Isaac  Van 
Geren,  John  Berdan.  Freeholders,  Philip  Schuyler.  Garret  Garretson,  Martin 
Powl.son,  John  Loats,  Cornelius  Blinkerhof,  Johannes  (iarretson,  Jrihannes  Acker- 
man. 1/26,  Justices.  Thomas  Van  Buskirk,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Isaac  Van  Gesen. 
John  Berdan.  Thomas  Oldwater.  Freeholders.  Cornelius  Blinkerhof,  Johannes  Van 
Wagen,  John  Bogert,  Jacobus  Blinkerhof,  Michael  Van  Winkle,  Egbert  Ackerman, 
Johannes  (iarretson.  1 727,  Justices,  Thomas  Van  Buskirk,  John  Berdan,  George 
Ryerson.  Freeholders,  Henry  Brockholst,  Derrick  Barentson,  John  Guest,  Egbert 
Ackerman.  Claes  Lazier,  John  Bogert,  Johannes  Garretson,  Cornelius  Blinkerhof. 
I72K,  Justices,  Thomas  Van  Buskirk,  (ieorge  Ryenson,  Isaac  Van  Geren,  Ryer  Ryer- 
son. Freeholders,  Philip  Schuyler,  Derrick  Barentson,  Abraham  Ackerman,  Tury 
Westervelt,  Johannes  Van  Wagene,  Claes  Lazier.  John  Zabriskie.  I729,  Justices, 
Thomas  Van  Buskirk.  Thomas  Lawrence,  Isaac  Van  tiesen.  Freeholdsrs,  Mathias 
De  Mott.  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Johannes  Van  Wagene.  John  Zabriskie,  Arie  Banta, 
Hendrick  Van  Der  Linde.  Egbert  Ackerman.  l73().  Justices,  Thomas  Van  Buskirk, 
I.saac  Van  (iesen.  Thomas  Oldwater,  (Jeorge  Ryer.son,  Roelef  Van  H<iuten.  Free- 
holders. Hendrick  K.  Kuyfer,  Corneleius  Blinkerhof,  Arie  Banta.  Derrick  Van 
Houte,  Derrick  Blinkerhof,  Hendrick  V^an  Der  Linde.  1731,  Justices,  William  Pro- 
voost,  George  Ryerson,  Isaac  Van  (ie.scn,  Ryer  Ryerson,  John  Flagg,  Henry  Van 
Der  Linde.  Derrick  Kuyper.  Mathias  De  Mott.  Richard  Edsall,  Benjamin  Demarest. 
Freeholders,  Hery  Van  Der  Linde,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Cornelius  Blinkerhof,  Arie 
Banta,  Thomas  Fredericks.  I732,  Justices.  William  Prov<jost,  Ryer  Ryerson,  Henry 
Van  Der  Linde,  Benjamin  Demarest,  Derrick  Kuyper.  Freeholders,  Egbert  Acker- 
man, Hendrick  Kuyper.  Hendrick  Van  Winkle,  Jacob  Hendrickse  Banta.John  Chris- 
tian. I733,  Justices,  William  Provoost,  George  Ryerson,  Ryer  Ryerson,  Henry  Van 
Der   Linde,  Derrick  Kuyper,   Benjamin  Demarest,  Mathias   Dc   Mott.      Freeholders. 


42  .  HISTOKV    Ol-    BEKC.EX     COrXTY 

John  Rmiiine,  Reynier  Van  Gesen,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Martin  Powlson.  Jan  Duryea, 
Hendrick  Van  Winkle.  Johannes  Garretse,  Garret  (iarretse.  I734,  Justices,  William 
Pro\  oo.st.  David  Provoiist,  Isaac  Van  Gesen.  Freeholders.  Martin  Powlson,  Jacob 
Hey,  John  Roniine,  Rynier  Van  Gesen,  Philip  S-huyler,  John  Garietson,  Henry 
Cooper.  Henry  Van  Winkle.  IjoS,  Justices.  William  Provoost,  David.  Provoost. 
Henry  Van  Der  Linda,  Poulus  Van  Der  Beck.  Freeholders,  Martin  Powlson,  Yost 
Zabriskie,  Derrick  Dey,  John  Garretson.  John  Van  Orden,  John  Van  Home,  Henry 
Van  Winkle.  Garret  Hopper.  173b,  Justices,  William  Provoost,  John  Flaffg.  David 
Provoorst,  Paul  Van  Der  Beck.  Freeholders.  John  Garretson,  Yost  Zabriskie, 
Jacob  Day,  John  Van  Home,  Henry  Van  Winkle.  Derrick  Dey.  1737,  Justices. 
William  Provoost,  David  Provoost,  Paul  Van  Der  Beck,  Henry  Van  Der  Lindie 
James  Duncan.  Freeholders,  John  Garretson.  Jacob  Dey.  John  Post.  Garret  Van 
enbeck,  Eden  Sipp,  John  Van  Home,  Egbert  Aekerm^-n.  1/38.  Justices.  David  De- 
marest.  Paul  Van  Der  Beck.  Henry  Van  Der  Linda.  James  Duncan.  Benjamin  De- 
marest.  Garrett  Halenbeck.  Freeholders.  John  Romine,  Cornelius  Wynkoop,  Henry 
Kipp,  Arie  Siebe  Banta,  Jacobus  Pick.  1/4^.,  Justices,  Paul  Van  Der  Beck,  John 
Berdan, jacobus  Bertholf.  Freeholders,  Michael  Van  Winkle,  Jacob  Dey,  Derrick 
Dey,  Rynier  Van  Gesen,  John  Duryea.  Derrick  Van  Gesen.  I742,  Justices,  David 
Provoost;  Paul  Van  Der  Beck,  Henry  Van  Der  Beck,  Henry  Van  Der  Linde.  Free- 
holders, Cornelius  Van  Hoss,  Derrick  De_v,  Derrick  Van  Gesen,  Cornelius  Lydeker, 
Cornelius  Wynkoop,  Michael  Vreeland,  Jacobus  Blinkerho.'.  John  Duryea,  Cornelius 
Van  Horst,  John  Van  Horn.  Derrick  Van  Gesen.  Jacob  Oldwater.  Jactibus  Bertholf. 
Rynier  Van  Ge.sen,  Jacobus  B^tholfV  1743,  Justices,  Paul  Van  Der  Beck.  Henry 
Van  DerLin  :le.  John  Berdan.  Freeholders,  Luke  Ryerson,  Garret  Garretse,  Jacobus. 
■  Bertholf,  Cornelius  Van  Horst,  Cornelius  Wynkoop,  Cornelius  Leydeker.  1-44. 
Justices.  David  Demarest,  Hendrick  Van  Der  Linde,  Cornelius  Wynkoop.  Free- 
holders, Jacobus  Bertholf;.- Cornelius  Leydeker,  Jacobus  Blinkerhof.  Abraham 
Ackerman,  Garret  Garretson,  Luke  Ryerson.  Cornelius  Van  Horst,  Derrick  Cadmus. 
1745,  Justices.  Hendrick  Van  Der  Linde,  Abraham  Ackerman,  Lawrence  Van  Bus- 
kirk.  Freeholders,  Jacobus  Blinkerhof,  John  Berdan.  Cornelius  Leydeker.  Derrick 
Dey.  Garret  Garretson.  Derrick  Cadmus.  Cornelius  Van  Vorst.  I746.  Justices,  Gar- 
ret Halenbeck,  John  Vad  Norde,  Derrick  Leydeker,  John  Bog-ert.  Freeholders. 
Derrick  Cadmus,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst.  Jacobus  Blinkerhof.  Cornelius  Lej'deker, 
Derrick  Dey.  Garret  Garretson,  Jacob  Bertholf.-.  174/,  Justices,  Derrick  Kuyper, 
Garret  Halenbeck,  Jacob  Oldwater.  Freeholders,  Derrick  Dey,  Jacobus  Blinkerhof. 
Cornelius  Van  Vorst.  John  Van  Home,  Cornelius  Leydeker,  Gairet  Garretson. 
Jacobus  Bertholf(  John  JJerdan.  1748,  Justices,  Derrick  Kuyper,  Garret  Halenbe-k, 
Jacob  Titsort.  Freeholders,  Jacobus  Bertholf  ^Jacobus  Blinkerhof,  John  Berdan, 
John  Van  Horn,  Derrick  Dej-,  Garret  Garret.son,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst.  1749.  Jus- 
tices, Jacobus  Peck,  Jacob  Titsort,  Garret  Halenbeck.  1750.  Justices,  Georg-e 
Ryerson.  Derrick  Kuyper,  Garret  Halenbeck,  Jacobus  Peck.  Freeholders.  John 
Van  Horn.  John  Durie.  Cornelius  Van  Vorst.  Cornelius  Leydecker,  Derrick  Geisen, 
Ciarret  Van  Waj>ene.  lyJl.  Justices,  Derrick  Kuyper.  Reynier  Van  Geisen,  Abra- 
ham Van  Buskirk.  Freeholders,  John  Van  Horn,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst,  Cornelius 
Leydecker.  John  Darje  (Duryea?).  Derrick  Van  Geisen.  Garret  Van  Wagene,  Jacob 
Titsort,  John  Zabriskie.  1-52.  Justices.  Derrick  Kuyper.  Jacobus  Peck.  Jacob  Tit- 
■sort.  Freeholders,  Isaac  Kingslarid.  Garret  Garretse,  Hendrick  Van  Winkle,  Der- 
rick Van  Gei.sen,  John  Van  Horn,  Johannes  Bogert,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk.  1753, 
Justices,  Jacobus  Peck,  .Samuel  Moore,  Reynier  Van  Geisen.  Freeholders,  Garret 
Garretse,  Derrick  Van  Geisen,  Isaac  Kingsland,  Cornelius  Leydocker,  Barent  Cool, 
Hendrick  Van  Winkle,  John  Van  Horn.  1754,  Justices,  Jacobus  Peck,  Jacob  Tit- 
sort, Samuel  Moore.  Freeholders,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Hendrick  Van  Geisen,  Barent 
Cool,  Cornelius  Leydocker,  John  Van  Horn,  George  Vreeland,  Derrick  Van 
Gei.sen.  1755.  Justices,  Jacobus  Peck,  John  Demarest,  Jacob  Titsort.  Freeholders. 
Peter  Zabriskie.  Jacob  Oldwater,  John  Van  Horn,  George  Vreeland,  Derrick  Van 
Geisen.  Turja  Pieterse.  Lawrence  Van  Bu.skirk,  Johannes  Bogert.  1756.  Justices, 
Lawrence  Van  Buskirk.  Jacobus  Peck.  Johannes  Demarest.  Freeholders,  John 
Van  Horn,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Jacob  Oldwater,  Lawrence  Ackerman,  Barent  Cool. 
Cornelius  Leydocker,  Turja  Pieterse.  Derrick  Van  Geisen.  1/57,  Justices,  Jacobus 
Peck,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk,  Johannes  Demarest.  Freeholders,  Cornelius  Ley- 
docker, Barent  Cool,  John  Van  Horn,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Lawrence  Ackerman,  Jacob 
Oldwater,  Turie  Pieter.se,  Derrick  Van  Geisen.  1758.  Justices,  Jacobus  Peck,  Rey- 
nier Van  (Jei.sen.  Lawrence  Van  Bu.skirk.  Freeholders,  Jacob  Oldwater,  Lawrence 
Ackerman,  Henarick  Kuyper,  Cornelius  Leydocker,  Michael  De  Mott.  Barent  Cool. 
Theunis  Dey.  Derrick  Van  Geisen.  1759.  Justices,  Reynier  Van  Gei.sen,  Jacob  Tit- 
short,  Johannes  Demarest,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk.  Freeholders,,  Cornelius  Ley- 
docker, Barent  Cole,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Michael  De  Mott.  Tennis  Dey,  Alberttis 
Terhune.  John  Zabriskie.  I760.  Justices.  Reynier  Van  Geisen.  Lawrence  Van 
Buskirk,  Jacob  Titshort.     Freeholders.  Cornelius   Leydocker.   Barent  Cole.   Tennis 


HISTOKY    OK    HICKCIKN    COCNTY  43 

Dey,  Derrick  Van  Gei.sen,  Lawrence  Ackenn.in.  I7iil.  Justices,  Jacobus  Peck.  Rev- 
nier  Van  Geisen,  Lawrence  \'an  Ruskirk.  Jacol)  Titshort.  Hartman  Hlinkerhof. 
Daniel  Harinjf,  Derrick  Van  Geisen.  Rnelcf  Westervelt,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst.  Hen- 
drick  Kuyper.  1762,  Justices,  Revnier  Van  Geisen,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk.  Jacob 
Titshort.  Freeholders,  Derrick  Van  Gci.--cn,  Roelef  Westervelt.  Peter  Zabriskie. 
Lawrence  Ackeruian,  Hartman  Rlinkerhof,  Daniel  Hariuf^,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst, 
Hendrick  Kuyper.  1763.  Justices,  Reynicr  Van  Geisen,  Roelef  Westervelt,  Jacob 
Titshort.  Freehnlders,  Peter  Eabriskie,  Lawrence  Ackcrnian,  Jacobus  Berio,  Edo 
Marcelese,  Michael  De  .\Iott,  George  Cadnnis,  Johannes  Demarest,  John  Duryca. 
17h4,  Justices,  Reynier  Van  Geisen,  Jacob  Titshort.  John  Berry.  Freeholders,  Peter 
/iabriskie,  Lawrence  Ackerman,  Jacobus  Berio,  Kdo  Marceles,  Johannes  Demarest, 
John  Duryea,  Michael  De  Mott,  Toi-es  Cadmus.  176.5.  Justices,  Lawrence  Van  Bus- 
kirk, Jacob  Titshort,  George  Vreeland.  Freeholders,  Hendrick  Blinkerhof,  Cor- 
nelius Gari  abrantse,  Geori;e  Blinkerhof,  Peter  Zamhriskie,  John  Zanibriskie,  Arent 
Schuyjer,  Edo  Marceles.  17()6.  Justices,  Reynier  Van  Geisen,  Peter  Zanibriskie, 
Hendr  ck  Kuyper,  Roelef  Westervelt.  Freeholders,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst,  Cornelius 
Garrabrantse,  Jr.,  Abraham  Van  Buskirk,  Derrick  Terhiiiie.  Georg-e  Blinkerhof, 
John  Demarest,  Arent  Schuyler.  Edo  Marceles.  I767,  Justic  s.  Reynier  Van  Geisen, 
Lawrence  Van  Bu.skirk,  Jacob  Titshort.  Freeholders,  Arent  Schuyler,  Edo  Marce- 
lese. Abraham  Van  Buskirk.  John  Terhune.  Jacob  De  Mott,  John  Demarest,  Hen- 
drick Brinkerhof.  1768.  Justices,  Reynier  Van  (ieisen,  Lawrence  L.  Van  Buskirk. 
Peter  Zabriskie.  Freeholders.  John  Demarest,  Jacob  De  Mott,  Hendrick  Blinker- 
hof, Cornelius  (Jarrabrante,  John  Terhune.  Edo  Marcelese.  1769,  Justices.  Reynier 
Van  (Jsisen,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk.  Freeholders,  John  Terhune, 
Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Idumus  Marcelese,  John  Ryerson,  Martin  Pauli.son,  Jacob  De 
Mott,  Helmer  Van  Houten,  Abraham  Prior.  1770,  Ju.stices,  Reynier  Van  Geisen, 
Peter  Zabriskie,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk,  Roelef  Westervelt,  Thomas  Moore.  Free- 
holders, John  Terhune.-'"  Samuel  Berry.*  Hendrick  Van  Houten.*  Abraham  Prior, t 
Jacob  De  ;\Iott,  *  Mathias  Roulse, }:  Edo  Marcelese.;;  1/71,  Justices,  Reynier  Van 
Geisen,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk,  John  Tell,  Roelef  Westervelt,  Thomas  Moore.  Free- 
holders, John  Terhune,  Sanniel  Berry,  Abraham  Prior.  Hendrick  Kuyper.  Jacob  De- 
Mott,  Mathias  Roulse,  Jacob  Post,  Edo  Marcelese.  1772,  Justices."  Reynier  Van 
Geisen,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Roelef  Westervelt.  Freeholders,  Samuel  Berry,*  Hendricus 
Cooper.}  Albert  Banta.J:  Mathias"  Roulese.J:  Edo  Marcelese,;;  Hendrick  Doremus.;: 
1773,  Justices,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Roelef  Westervelt.  Free- 
holders, Georg-e  De  Mott,  Mathias  Roulese.J  John  Benson,^  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,* 
Nicause  Terhune,"*  Edo  Marceles,  Hendrick  Doremus.  Albert  Ackerson,||  James 
Board.  I  1774.  Justices,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk.  Peter  Zabri.-vkie,  Roelef  W^ester- 
velt.  Freeholders,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Nicause  Terhune,  Hendrick  Kuyper,f  John 
Van  Hornet  John  Benson,  Yost  Zabri.skie,  Albert  Ackerman.  James  Board,  Edo 
Marceles,  Hendrick  Doremus.  1775,  Justices,  Lawrence  Van  Buskirk,  Peter  Zabris- 
kie, Roelef  Westervelt,  Thomas  Moore,  Abraham  Montayne.  Freeholders,  Hen- 
drick Kuyper,  John  Van  Home,  John  Benson,  Marten  Roulese,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck. 
Nicause  Terhune.  Edo  Marceles,  Hendrick  Doremus,  Jacot)us  Bertholf,  Cornelius 
Lazier.  177b.  Justices,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Thomas  Moore,  Stephen  Baldwin,  Abraham 
Montayne.  Freeholders,  Hartman  Brinkerhoif,  Job  Smith,  John  Benson,  Martin 
Roulese.  John  Richards.  Cornelius  Cooper,  Hendrick  Dorennis,  Garrabrante  Van 
Houten,  Garret  Hopper,  David  Board,  John  Van  Boskirk,"   Jacb  Cole.* 

There  is  no  tneetino-  of  the  ho;iril  recorded  for  1777.  Tlie  first  meet- 
ing under  the  State  of  New  Jersey  was  held  at  the  house  of  Stephen 
Bogert,  at  Haring's  Phiin  (Harrington  township?).  May  l.^,  17Si).  The 
members  of  the  board  were  : 

Justices,  Roelef  Westervelt,  Jacob   Ream,  .\hraluim   .Vckerman.      Freeholders. 
John  Ryerson,  Edo  Marceles,  David  Board,  Lawrence  Ackerman. 

No  business  was  transacted,  except  the  appointment  of  Abraham 
Westervelt  as  county  collector,  in  the  place  of  Jacob  J.  Demarest. 

The  next  meeting  was  on  the  12th  of  September.  177S,  at  Carrel 
Hopper's  house  in  Paramus,  the  board  being  : 

Justices,  Roelef  Westervelt,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Abraham  Ackerman.  Peter  Har- 
ing.     Freeholders,  John  Ryerson,  Edo  Marceles,  David  Board,  Lawrence  Ackerman. 

•  New  BarbadoL-s.        t  Bc-rccii.       f  Hackeiisack.       S  Saddle  River. 
I!  Franklin  Township,  first  representod  in  ilie  board. 

•  Harrin(jt<in  Township  first  represented. 


44  HISTOKY  OK  BEKGEX  COUNTY 

The  former  collector,  Jacf)b  J.  Demarest,  at  this  meeting  rendered 
an  account  of  ;^142  17s.,  being  part  of  a  tax  raised  in  the  county  by  order 
of  the  Continental  Congress  in  1776,  and  ;i{^357  8s.  9d.,  "received  for 
the  county  arms  sold  out  of  the  court-house  at  New  Barbadoes."  He 
also  turned  over  the  balance  of  the  sinking  fund  in  his  hands,  amount- 
ing to  ^95  lis.  9d. 

Abraham  Westervelt  was  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  reord-book 
of  the  board. 

1779*,  Justices,  Hendrick  Kuyper.  Peter  Hariiiif,  Garret  Lyndaker,  Abraham 
Ackermaii,  Jacob  Terhiine.  Freeholders,  William  Christie,  David  Banta.  David 
Terhune.  Jacob  Zabriskie,  Edo  Marcelese,  Adrian  Post,  David  Board,  Lawrence 
Ackerman.  Daniel  Haring-.  1780,  Justices,  Hendrick  Kuyper.  Peter  Harin^f,  Garret 
Leydacker,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck.  David  B.  Demarest,  Jacob  Terhune.  Kreeholdera. 
William  Christie,  David  Banta,  David  Terhune,  Martin  Ryerson,  Daniel  Ilarinjr. 
\yilliam  Najfal,  Jacob  Zabriskie,  Lawrence  Ackerman.  l'7Sl.  Justices,  HeTidrick 
Kuyper.  Abraham  Ackerman,  Henry  Mead,  David  Demarest.  Freeholders.  Ivaw- 
rence  Ackerson,  Andrew  Hopper.  Garret  Van  Houten,  Peter  Demarest,  Jacob  De- 
marest, John  Kuyper.  Albert  Banta.  l782,t  Justices,  Abraham  Ackerman.  Peter 
Harinif,  Yost  Beam,  Henry  Mead,  David  Demarest,  John  Benson.  Freeholders, 
Garrebrant  Van  Houten.  Edo  Marceles.  Lawrence  Ackerman.  Andrew  Hopper,  Peter 
Demarest,  Th(5mas  Blanch,  Peter  Boyert,  Jacob  Zabriskie,  John  T\:rhune,  Samuel 
Demarest.  1783,j:  Justices,  Abraham  Ackei-man,  Peter  Haring,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck. 
Jacob  Terhune,  John  Benson,  David  Demarest,  Daniel  Van  Riper.  Freeholder-, 
Job  .Smith,  M.  Garrabrant.  Garret  Leydacker,  Jost  Zabriskie.  Jacob  Zabriskie,  E  lo 
Marceles,  Lawrence  Ackerman,  Thomas  Blanch,  Abraham  Haring.  l~8-l,t  Justices, 
Peter  Haring,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Jacob  Terhune.  Freeholders,  Job  Smith,  Nich- 
olas Toers,  Jost  Zabriskie.  Garret  Leydacker.  David  Terhune.  E;ien  Merselis.  John 
Mead,  Lawrence  Ackerman,  Abraham  Haring.  Ij'^S.t  Justices,  Peter  Haring. 
Jacob  Beam.  John  Benson,  Jacob  Terhune,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Daniel  Van  Reipen, 
Isaac  Blanch,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Jr.  Freeholders,  Nicholas  Toers,  Daniel  Van 
Winkle,  Jacob  Zabriskie,  John  Berdan,  Garret  Leydacker,  John  Mauritius  Goet- 
shius,  David  Haring,  Abraham  Blauvelt.  I785.  j;  Justices.  Peter  Haring.  Jost  Beam. 
John  Benson,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck.  Isaac  Blanch,  Garret  Leydacker.  Albert  Van 
Voorhis.  Freeholders,  Nicholas  Toers.  Garret  Van  Reipen,  John  Cutwater,  Abra- 
ham Huysman,  Abraham  Westervelt,  Cornelius  Haring,  William  Christie.  J.  Mauri- 
tius Goetshius.  1787.  Justices,  Peter  Haring.  John  Benson.  Isaac  Blanch.  Garret 
Lydecker,  Jacob  Terhune,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Henry  .Spier.  Albert  Van  Voorhi.>. 
Freeholders,  Job  Smith,  Cornelius  Garrebrant,  John  Dev,  Mauritius  Goets;hiiis, 
Cornelius  Hinsman,  Garret  Durvea,  Abraham  T.  Blauvelt.  I788,  Justices,  Peter 
Haring,  Isaac  Van  Der  Beck,  Isaac  Blanch,  Jacob  Terhune.  Freeholders,  Job 
Smith,  Cornelius  Garrebrant.  J.  M.  Goetshius,  John  Dey,  Peter  Zabri.skie,  Nicausie 
Van  Voorhis,  Samuel  Van  Zaen,  George  Doremus.  Abraham  Westervelt.  Peter 
Ward,  Abraham  T.  Blauvelt.  Albert  Bogert.  1789.  Justices.  Peter  Haring,  Garret 
Lydecker,  Daniel  Van  Riper,  Albert  Van  Voorhis,  Henry  Spier.  Freeholders. 
Hclmigh  Van  Houten,  Garret  Van  Geisen,  John  Dev,  Albert  C.  Zabriskie,  Samuel 
Van  Zaen,  George  L.  Ryenson,  Garret  Ackerman,  John  W.  Hopper.  Albert  Bogert. 
Jacob  Vlauvelt.  1790,  Justices,  Peter  Haring,  Jacob  Terhune.  Albert  Van  Voorhis. 
Freeholders,  Garret  Van  Geisen,  John  Van  Horn,  Jr.,  Albert  C.  Zabriskie.  Isaac 
Kipp,  Nicausie  Van  Voorhis,  Henry  Kingsland,  Samuel  Van  Zaen.  George  L.  Rver- 
■son,  John  Haring,  Jacob  Blauvelt,'  John  H.  Camp.  1791.  Justices.  Peter  Haring. 
Jacob  Terhune,  John  Cutwater,  Abraham  Westervelt,  Daniel  Van  Revpe.  Garret 
Lydecker,  Garret  Durvea.  Freeholders.  Garret  Van  Geisen.  John  Van  Home.  Nic- 
ausie Van  Voorhis,  Henry  Kingsland,  David  Board,  Albert  Zabriskie,  Isaac  Kipp. 
Samuel  Van  Zaen,  Jacob  Blauvelt,  John  Hogan  Camp.  1792.  Justices,  John  Benson. 
Jacob  Terhune,  Daniel  Van  Revpe.  Abraham  Westervelt.  Freeholders,  Cornelius 
Van  Vorst,  John  Van  Houte,  Isaac  Nicoll,  John  I.  Westervelt,  Christian  Zabriskie, 
Nicausie  Van  Voorhis,  George  L.  Ryerson,  Peter  Dev,  Peter  Ward,  Abraham  De- 
marest. David  Durvea.  1793,  Justices.  John  Benson,  Jacob  Terhune.  Abraham 
Westervelt,  William  Davis.  Freeholders,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst,  John  Van  Houte. 
John  Westervelt,  Christian  Zabriskie,  George  L.  Ryerson,  Peter  Dev.  Peter  Ward, 
John  Hagan,  Abraham  Demarest,  David  Durvea."  1794,  Justices,  Peter  Haring. 
John  Cutwater,  Jacob  Terhune,  Abraham  Westervelt.  Adam  Boyd.  William  Davis, 
Peter  Dey. 

"  Met  this  year  at  Pompton. 

t  Met  in  Paraous,  at  the  house  of  Capt.  John  Kverson. 

t  Met  at  the  house  of  Archibald  Campbell,  in  New  Barbadoes   villas-e  of  Hackeusack;. 


HISTOKV    OK    BKKC.EX    COUNTY 


FKEEHOI.DKKS  OV  BKKC.KN  TOWNSHIP. ^ 
1794,  Cornelius  Van  Vorst :  1794-95.  John  Van  Houte  ;  :795.  Garret  Van  Geisen  ; 
1796-1K15.  John  Van  Home ;  I796,  Garret  Van  Revlanil  ;  l7')7-18i  0.  John  Smith: 
I797.  Jasper  Zabriskie  ;  1798-99,  1807,  Garret  Freeland  ;  ISO),  Cornelius  Van  Vorst. 
Jr.;  18111-2,  1805-5,  1803-9,  Cornelius  Doremus;  1801-4,  Ja^ob  Van  \Vd-.foiu'r;  H0.1, 
Casparus  Cadmus  :  1804-13.  Richard  Cadnuis ;  1800-11.  1816,  Peter  Sipp  ;  lslO-12. 
Thomas  Dickerson  ;  1812,  Elias  Binfrer  ;  1813-14.  Rvnier  Van  Geisen  ;  1814-1^.  Jo'.iii 
Goodman  ;  1815.  James  Van  Buskirk  ;  1816,  Cornelius  Van  Riper;  I8I7-I8,  Casparus 
Prior  ;  1817-18,  Adrian  Post;  1819-20,  1822.  Casparus  Prior;  1819-20.  .\d-ian  P)st; 
1821-26  1828-29.  1831,  P.-t^r  Sipp  ;  1821,  Stephen  V.-e.-l:ind;  lS22-2o,  1831,  Cornelius 
,Van  Winkle;  1823-25,  I827,  1833-35.  1839.  Hartman  Van  Waffoner ;  1827-28.  1830. 
1832-34,  Abel  I.  Smith;  1829.  Cornelius  Van  Vorst;  1830,  Jacob  D.  Van  Winkle; 
l-;32,  Merselis  Merselis  ;  1835.  Garret  Vreeland ;  1836.  Asa  Wrisrht ;  1835.  Mitchel 
Saunier;  1837,  Dudley  S.  Greg-ory;  1837-38,  Garret  Sipp;  1838-39,  William  C.  Vreeland. 
JIDGES  OF  THE  COURT  OF  COMMON  PLEAS. 
Edmund  W.  Kintcslaiid  1789.  Petrus  Haring-  '89,  Garret  Lydecker  '89.  Daniel 
Van  Reyan  '90,  Petrus  Haring  '91,  John  Benson  '91,  Jacob  Terhune  '97.  William 
Colfax  1800,  John  Cutwater  I'tOO,  Abraham  Westervelt  1800,  William  Davis  I8OI1. 
Abraham  Rverson  1800.  Martin  Rverson  1800.  John  Hipper  1801.  Daniel  Van  Rvan 
1801.  Adam  Boyd  1803.  Isaac  Nicoll  1803.  BenjaraTn  Rlacklidii^e  1803,  Henry  Van  Dal- 
som  1803,  Lewis  Moses  1804.  Jacob  Terhune  1804.  Garret  Durie  1804.  Mirtin  I.  Rver- 
son 1805,  Abraham  Westervelt  1805.  David  P.  Haring-  1805,  Adam  Bovd  1  05,  Abra- 
ham Rverson  1805.  John  Hopper  1805.  William  Colfax  1803.  Dmiel  Van  R-van  180). 
William   Davis  1806.  Samuel    Reach   1807.  B-njamin   Blacklidi^e   1803.  John'  Cassidv 

1808,  John  Westervelt  1808,  Peter  Ward  1808,  Jacob  C.  Terhune  1809.  Lewis  Moore 

1809.  Garret  Durie  1809,  Martin  I.  Rverson  1809,  John  Cutwater  '10.  David  P.  Har- 
ing '10.  Abraham  Westervelt  '10,  Garret  Van  Houten  '11,  John  A.  Berrv  '11,  Daniel 
Van  Reyan  '11,  John  D.  Haring  '12,  Christian  Zabriskie  '12,  Elias  Brevoort  '12. 
Dower  Westervelt  '12,  Cornelius  Merselis  '12.  John  Al.  Voorhis  '12.  John  Hopper '12. 
William  Colfax  '12.  Jacob  C.  Terhune  '13,  Adam  Boyd  '13,  Jacob  Banter  '13.  Jo'm 
Westervelt  '13.  Lewis  Moore  '14.  Jacob  C.  Terhune  '14.  Martin  I.  Rverson  '14.  Wil- 
liam Colfax  '14,  John  T.  Banta  '15,  R.  H.  Haring  15,  Simon  Mead  '15,  Garret  Van 
Houten  '16,  Garret  Durie  '16,  John  D.  Haring  '17,  John  Cutwater  '17,  Christian  Za- 
t)riskie 'I7,  Elias  Brevoort  '17,  John  Al.  Voorhis  'I7,  Dower  Westervelt  '17,  John 
Hi2pe,-j'17,  Adam  B  >vd  '18,  Peter  Sipp  '18,  Cornelius  Van  Winkle  '19,  Cornelius 
Merselis  '19,  Henrv  W.'  Kingsland  '19.  Jacob  Banta  '19,  William  Colfax  '20,  John  T. 
Banta  '20,  Garret  Van  Houten  '21,  John  D.  Haring  '21,  Peter  I.  Terhune  '21,  David 
I.  Christie  '21.  Dower  Westervelt  '21.  John  Cutwater  '21.  Elias  Brevoort  '21.  Cornel- 
ius Van  Winkle  '21.  Christian  Zabriskie  '21.  John  Al.  Voorhis  '21.  Henry  B.  Ha-er- 
man  '22,  John  A.  Westervelt  '22,  Adam  Boyd  '22,  Charles  Board  '22,  John  Cassidv 
'23.  Peter  Sipp  '23,  Jacob  Banta  '2-,.  Henry  W.  Kingslani  "23.  Garret  P.  Hopper  '2t, 
David  I.  Christie  '24.  Garret  Ackerson  '25.  Garret  Van  Houten  '25.  Marcus  B.  Doug- 
lass '25.  William  Colfax  '26.  Christian  Zabriskie  '26.  John  D.  Harinar  '26.  Peter  I. 
Terhune  '26.  Nathan-el  Board  '26;  John  Al.  Voorhi-i'26.  Henry  B.  Hagerman  '27, 
Albert  G  Doremus  '27,  John  D.  Groot  "27,  Adam  Bjvl  '27,  John  A.  Westervelt  '27. 
Cornelius  Van  Winkle  '27,  J.  Wells  '27.  Charles  Board  '27.  Henry  W.  Kingsland  '28, 
Pete'- 1.  Terhune  '2i.  John  Cassidv  '28,  John  A,  Berry  '28,  Peter  Sipp  '28.  Cornelius 
Van  Winkle '29.  Herr*-  B.  Banta''29.  Richard  Ackerman  '29.  Garret  P.  Hjpper  '19, 
Jf>hn  G.  Ackerman  '30.  Charles  Kinsey  '30,  Peter  D.  Westervelt  '30,  Girret  Van 
Houten  '30,  Garret  Ackerson  '30.  Mir:us  B.  Douglass  '30.  James  R.  Mullanv  '30, 
Cornelius  Van  Winkle  '30.  William  Colfax  '31.  Perriguin  Sandford  '31.  Peter  I.  Ter- 
hune '31.  Nathaniel  Board  '31,  John  Al  Voorhis  '31.  A  lam  Bovd  '32.  Ch-^rles  Board 
J.  Wells  '32.  Henrv  B.  Hagerman  '3i.  William  H.  Rathbone  '3?.  Albert  G  Doremus 
'M.  John  De  Groot  'i3>.  John  A.  Westervelt  '83.  Albert  Van  Beuren  '33.  Samuel  H. 
Berrv  '3.^,  John  Cassidv  '33,  C.  B.  Zabriskie  '33,  Peter  Sipp  ':'ji.  Cornelius  I.  Wester- 
velt '33,  John  H.  Zabriskie  '33,  David  H.  Keen  '.«,  Davifi  D.  Van  Bus.sum  -ii.  Cor- 
nelius Van  Winkle  '34,  Garret  P.  Hopper  '34,  John  H.  Hopper  '54,  Joseph  Post  '34, 
Thomas  M.  Gahagan  '34,  William  Jenner  '34,  Henrv  I.  Spear  '35,  Jacob  Berdan  '35, 
Cornelius  Van  Revpen  '35,  Charles  Kinsey  '35,  (iarret  Ackerson  '35,  Francis  Price 
•3(1,  William  Colfax  '36,  Perreguin  Sandford  '36,  Peter  I.  Terhune  '37.  Stephen  H. 
Sutkins  '37.  Peter  I.  Ackerman  '37.  Abraham  Westervelt  '37.  Chandler  Dayton  '37. 
Andrew  H.  Hopper  '37.  Martin  Van  Houten  '37,  Henrv  W.  Kingsland  '37,  John  A. 
Berrv  '.^7.  David~L  Christie  '38.  John  R.  Hlauvclt  '38.  William  P.  Rathbone  '38. 
Henrv  H.  Banta  '38,  H.  Southmavd  '38,  Cornelius  Van  Winkle  '.W,  Peter  Sipp  '39, 
<Je(^rge  C.  De  Kav  '39,  Robert  S.  Gould  '40,  Charles  Kinsey  '40,  Abraham  Wester- 
velt '40,  (ieorge  Zabriskie  '41,  Henry  H.    Hagerman  '41,  Albert  G.  Doremus  '42,  An- 

»  This  list  ciituaiiis  the-  names  and  years  nf  service  of  llie  chosen  freeholders  of  IJerircn  town- 
ship, which  became  the  county  of  Hudson  in  l.s4ll.  They  aret'iven  f|-<ini  the  clo^e  of  the  above  list 
'17!'4i  until  the  township  ceased  to  exist  as  such. 


4()  HISTOKV    or    BEKGEX    COUNTY 

drew  H.  Hopper  '42.  Abraham  Westervelt  '43,  John  A.  Blauvelt  '43,  David  I.  Chris- 
tie '43,  Abraham  I.  Ackerman  '43,  Peter  I.  Ackerman  '43,  Henry  H.  Banta  '43,  Mar- 
fin  Van  Houten,  Jr.  '43,  Samuel  H.  Kerry  '43,  Abraham  Carlock  '43,  John  G.  Acker- 
man '43,  Peter  I).  Westervelt  '43,  Garret  Ackerson  "43,  Isaac  I.  Haring'  '43.  Peter  I. 
Terhune  '43,  Abraham  J.  Terhune  '43,  James  Van  Houten  '43,  John  H.  Hopper  '43, 
David  D.  Van  Hnssnm  '43,  Garret  P.  Hopper  '43,  Joseph  Post  '43,  Garret  A.  Za- 
briskie  '44.  Christian  De  Baun  '44.  John  H.  Zabriskie  '44,  Stephen  Berdan  "44,  Gar- 
ret S.  Demarest  '45,  James  Rennie  '4.S,  James  P.  Demarest  '46,  Andrew  H.  Hopper 
'47,  Peter  I.  Ackerman  '48,  Abraham  J.  Ackerman  '44.  Garret  S.  Demarest  '."(1. 
Jacob  I.  Zabriskie  '.-1.  Samuel  H.  Berry  '82.  Albert  J.  Terhune  '53,  Jacob  J.  Brink- 
erhof  '.S4,  Henry  H.  Voorhis  '57.  Albert  J.  Terhune  '58.  Peter  I.  Ackerman  '.S9,  John 
H.  Zabriskie  '62,  Albert  J.  Terhune  '63,  John  R.  Post  '64,  Thomas  Gumming-  '(.7. 
William  Grei^:  "67,  Richard  R.  Paulison  '68,  Charles  H.  Voorhis  '68,  John  R.  Post 
'69.  A^hbel  Green  '69,  William  S.  Banta  '72-77,  Peter  I.  Ackerman  "72-77.  Nehamiali 
Millard  '74-79.  Garret  G.  Ackerson  '77-82,  William  E.  Skinner  '78-83,  William  S. 
Banta  "79-84,  William  Skinner  '84-88.  James  M.  Van  Valen  '88-98,  David  D.  Za- 
briskie '98. 

SHEKIFFS. 

Adam  Bovd  1789;  William  M.  Betz  '91  ;  Albert  C.  Zabriskie  '98;  Lawrence  Ack- 
erman 1800  ;  Casparus  Bogert  l!-01 ;  John  T.  Banta  '10;  Samuel  H.  Berrv  '13 ;  James 
H.  Brinkerhoii  '16;  Samuel  H.  Ber'-y  '19;  Andrew  P.  Hopper  '21  ;  AndVew  H.  Hop- 
per '24;  John  R.  Blauvelt  "27;  Garret  Van  Dien  '30;  John  G.  Ackerson  '33;  Jacob 
C.  Terhune  '36;  Georg-e  H.  Brinkerhoff ',W  ;  David  D.  Demarest  '41;  Peter  Van 
Pimburgh  '44;  John  A.  Hopper  '47;  John  V.  H.  Terhune  '50;  Abraham  B  Haring 
'53;  Cornelius  L.  Blauvelt  '55;  James  J.  Brinkerhoff  "59;  Henrv  A.  Hopper  "62; 
John  H.  Banta  "65  ;  Jacob  C.  Van  Blarum  '68  ;  David  A.  Pell  '71  ;  Garret  R.  Hering 
'74;  David  A.  Pell  '78;  Isaac  A.  Hopper  '82;  Nicholas  Demarest  '87  ;  Albert  Bogert  '92: 
James  B.  Brinkerhoff  '84;  Tennis  A.  Haring  '89;  William  C.  Hering  '95;  Jacob  L. 
Van   Buskirk  "^W. 

SI'U'WdiVATKS. 

John  A.  Boyd  1803;  David  I.  Christie  "28;  Abrahim  ().  Z-ibriskie  '38;  Richard 
R.  Paulison  '48';  Isaaj  Wortendvke  '68-72;  John  M.  Knapp  '77;  David  A.  Pell  "82: 
Tennis  A.  Haring  '93;  David  A'.  Pell  '98. 

PHOSEcrxoRS  OF  THK  i»i,f;as. 

Lewis  D.  Harden  burg- 1836  ;  Abraham  O.  Zabriskie  '42  ;  Manning  M.  Knapp 
'51;  William  S.  Banta  '61;  Garret  G.  Ackerson  '69;  Abraham  D.  Canipbell  '70-80; 
Peter  W.  Stagg  '95. 

ei.RKKS. 

Peter  Stoutenburg  I728 ;  Nemiah  Wade  "89:  Henry  Van  Dalsem  1804  ;  Abraham 
Westervelt  '11  ;  Abraham  Westervelt  ;  Samuel  H.  Berry  '35;  John  H.  Berry  '40  ; 
(iarret  G.  Ackerson.  '45;  Cornelius  L.  Blauvelt  "60;  Thomas  W.  Demarest  '70 ; 
Thomas  W.  Demarest  '75  :  Samuel  Taylor  '80  ;  Samuel  Taylor  '95  ;  John  M.  Ramsey 
"95-19(10. 

JIEMKKKS  OF  THE  CorNCII,. 

Peter  Haring  1792-'96;  John  Outwater  1796-'1807;  Peter  Ward  1807:  Adrian 
Post  '15:  John  b.  Haring  '16;  Martin  I.  Ryerson  'I7  ;  Adrian  Post  '18;  John  D. 
Haring. '19-'22;  Christian  Zabriskie -'22-'24  ;  Charles  Board  '24-"27  :  Nathaniel  Board 
'2-/-'?,0;  Charles  Board  '.lO  ;  Jaco^)  M.  Ryerson  '31  ;  Charles  Board  '32-'34  ;  Christian 
Zabriskie  .?4-'36  ;  Samuel  R.  Demarest '36-'38  :  Francis  Price '38  ;  Albert  G.  Doremus 
'40  :  John  Cassedv  "41-43  :  John  H.  Zabriskie  "43-'44. 
ST.\TE  SEN.\TOHS. 

Richard  R.  Paulison  1m44-"47  :  Isaac  I.  Haring-  '47-49  ;  John  Van  Hrufit  ■  '49  :  John 
Van  Brunt  ',50-"51  :  Abraham  Hopper  f  "51.  Daniel  D.  Depew  '.53-'56  :  Thomas  H. 
Haring  '56-'59:  Ralph  S.  Demarest  '59-'62  ;  Daniel  Holsman  '62- '65  ;  John  Y.  Dater 
'65-'68;  James  J.  Blinkerhoff  '68-'7l  ;  Cornelius  Lydecker '7l-'74  ;  George  Dayton 
'74-'77  ;  Cornelius  S.  Cooper  '77-'80 ;  Isaac  Wortendvke  '80-'83  ;  Ezra  Miller  'bSi 
John  W.  Bogert  '86-'89;  Henry  W.  Winton  '90-'95  ;  William  M.  Johnson  '9j-'99 
MEJIBEKS  OF  .\SSRMBLV. 

1792,  Henry  Berry,  lacob  Terhune,  Peter  Ward.  '93  Peter  Ward,  Henry  Berry, 
Adam  Boyd.  '94.  Adam  Bovd,  Peter  Ward,  Benjamin  Blackledge.  '9?',  Adam 
Boyd.  Benjamin  Blackledge,  John  Haring.  '96,  John  Haring.  Henrv  Berry.  William 
C.  Kingsland.  '97,  Thomas  Blanch.  Robert  Campbell,  Peter  Wayd.  "'98,  Peter 
Ward,  Robert  Campbell,  Benjamin  Blackledge.  I799-I8OI.  Peter  Ward,  Thomas 
Blanch.  John  Dey.     1802.  Thomas  Blanch.  Peter  Ward,  Isaac  Kipp.     1803,  Thomas 

'  To  (in  |)1ai:<-  ..1  Isa.-ic  I.  Hjriuf.'.  ilecc-a-;..il. 
1  T<.  (ill  plac-  (.r  .1.  Vail  'inuii.  ri-sitrnt-d. 


Blanch.  Isaac  Kipp,  Martin  I.  KY>'rs..n.  lsil4-'o5.  Vru-r  Ward.  I',.  Tin. ma-  I'lan.-h. 
Adrian  Post.  ISdo.  I>aac  Kipp,  Adrian  l>..>t,  William  (.■..If.ix.  l.soj,  John  Van 
Horn.  Abraham  Koreshoe,  William  C'nlfax.  IS(l').  Adrian  Post,  William  Cidfax.J(]hn 
Hopper.  '15.  Martin  Van  Heuten.  John  Ontwati-r.  William  Colfa.x.  'Id.  Peti-rKipj). 
Jacob  Banta,  Cornelius  Marselis.  'l-,  Albert  C.  /iabrisUio.  Cornelius  Marselis. 
Jacob  Banta.  '1«.  Casparus  Prior.  Nathaniel  Board.  John  Hopper.  '1'),  Cornelius 
Van  Winkle.  Casparus  Bog-ert,  Seba  Brinkerhoff.  '20.  Seba  Brinkerhoff,  Cornelius 
\'an  Winkle.  Charles  Board.  '21.  Peter  Kipj).  John  Westervelt.  Jr..  Charles  Board. 
'22.  Peter  Kipp.  John  Westervelt.  Jr..  David  I.  Christie.  '23.  (iarret  .\ckerson,  John 
Westervelt.  Jr..  David  I.  Christie.  '24,  (iarret  Acker.son,  John  Van  Wa^enen. 
Nathaniel  Board.  '25.  Cornelius  Van  W'inkle.  Henry  B.  Ha.trt'rnian.  David  I.  Chris- 
tie. '26,  Cornelius  Van  Winkle,  Charles  Kinscv,  David  I.  Christie.  '2-.  David  I. 
Christie,  Peter  I.  Terhune.  Cornelius  D.  Van  Kiper.  '2^,  Cornelius  Van  Winkle. 
John  Ward,  Andrew  P.  Hopper.  '.'0.  Pet^r  I.  Terhune.  Samuel  R.  Deniarest.  John 
Ward.  "31.  tJaret  Kipp.  Andrew  H.  Hopper,  John  R.  Blauvelt.  '32-'3,-.  J<diii  .M.Cor- 
nelius, Samuel  R.  Demarest.  Garret  P.  Hopper.  "34.  Abraham  Lydecker,  John  H. 
Hopper,  Peter  I.  Ackerman.  '35,  Abraham  Lydecker.  Micliael  Sauiiier.  John  H. 
Hopper.  '36,  Michael  Saunier,  Henry  Doremus.  Peter  R.  Riif-^s.  ■37-'3S.  John 
Cassedy,  Albert  G.  Lydecker,  David  D.  Van  Kussum.  '40.  John  G.  Ackerson.  Albert 
J.  Terhune.  ■41-'42,' James  I.  Deniarest,  John  H.  Zabriskie.  '43-'44,  William  (i. 
Hopper.  Jacob  C.  Terhune.  '45-'46.  John  G.  Banta,  Jacob  J.  Brinkerhoff.  ■47-'4s. 
John  Ackerman.  Jr..  Henry  H.  Voorhis,  Jr.  '49-'50,  John  Huyler,  John  H.  Hopper. 
'.^1.  John  Huyler.  John  H.  Zabriskie.  '52-".xi.  Jacob  1.  Demarest.  Abraham  Van 
Horn.  '.S4-'55.  Thomas  W.  Demarest.  Ralph  S.  Demarest.  '56-'57.  Daniel  Holsman. 
Aaron  H.  Westervelt.  '.^«,  Enoch  Hrinkerhoff,  Andrew  C.  Cadmus.  '59.  Enoch 
Brinkerhoff,  John  H.  Hopper.  '60.  Abraham  Carlock,  John  R.  Post.  '61,  Thomas 
Ward,  John  R.  Post.  •62-'63.  Thomas  Dunn  English.  John  Y.  Dater.  •64-'65.  Isaac 
Demarest.  Abraham  B.  Haring-.  '66.  Abraham  Van  Emburg^.  Cornelius  Christie. 
Henrv  G.  Hering-.  '68.  Eben  Winton,  Henry  G.  Herinf^-.  '69,  Henry  A.  Hopper. 
Ehen  Winton.  '7O,  Jacob  G.  Van  Riper.  Henry  A.  Hopper.  '7I,  Jacob  G.  Van 
Riper.  Georg-e  J.  Hopper.  '72,  Georg-e  J.  Hopper.  John  J.  Anderson.  "7.^4,  Henry 
C.  Hering.  John  W.  Bogert.  '75-'76.  John  H.  Winant,  Barney  N.  Eredon.  '77,  M. 
Corson  Gillam.  Southv  S.  Parramore.  '78.  John  A.  Demarest,  Southv  S.  Parranuire. 
'79,  John  A.  Demarest,  Oliver  Drake  Smith.  'S0-'81,  Johti  Van  Bu'ssum.  Elias  H. 
Sisson.  '84.  Peter  Ackerman.  '8.5,  Eben  Winton,  Peter  Ackerman.  '86,  Eben 
Winton,  John  Van  Bussum.  '87,  Anderson  Bloomer,  Peter  Ackerman.  '88.  Ander- 
son Bloomer,  Charles  F.  Harrington.  '89,  Abram  De  Ronde.  Charles  F.  Harrington. 
"90,  Abram  De  Ronde,  George  Zimmermann.  "91,  George  H.  Huyler,  George  Zim- 
mermann.  '92,  Samuel  G.  H.  Wright,  John  J.  Dupuv.  "93,  Samiiel  G.  H.  Wright, 
John  J.  Dupuv.  '94,  Walter  Dewsnap,  David  I).  Zabriskie.  '9.5,  David  D.  Zabris- 
kie, Frederick  L.  Voorhees.  '96,  Jacob  H.  Ullmann.  Frederick  L.  Voorhees.  '97. 
Jacob  H.  Ullmann.  Abram  C.  Hoklruui.  '98,  John  M.Bell.  Abram  C.  Hoklruni. 
■99,  John  M.  Bell,  Edmund  W.  Wakelee. 

MEMBERS   OF    THE    I'KOVINCIAI.   COXGKESS   OK     .NEW    JEKSEV    I-KOM    BEKC.EN    COINTV. 

June  and  Aug'ust.  177.5.  John  Fell,  John  Demarest,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Abra- 
ham Van  Boskirk,  Edo  Marseles.  October.  177-^,  John  Demarest,  Jacobu.s  P<ist, 
.\braham  Van  Boskirk. 

MEMBERS   OE   THE   CONSTrriTIO.V AI.   CONVE.NTIONS. 
I776,   John  Demarest,    Jacobus  Post.    Ji>hn    Van  Boskirk.    Jacob  Ouackenbush. 
Daniel  Isaac  Brown.     1844,  Abraham  Westervelt,  John  Cassedy.  ..f  Bergen  County; 
Elias  B.  D.  Ogden,  Andrew  Parsons. 

MEMBERS   OF   CONGRESS. 

H<jn.  Adam  Boyd  1803-5;  to  fill  vacancy  1809  and  in  Twelfth  Congress  1811-13: 
Hon.  John  Huyler'  1857- .59;  Hon.  William  Walter  Phelps  187.3-75;  Hon.  Charles  H. 
Voorhis  1879-81':   Hon.  William  Walter  Phelps  1885-86. 

(lOVERNOR. 
Hon.  Rodman  M.  Price  1854-57. 

JISTICE    OF    Sri'KEME    COl   KT. 
Hon.  Manning  .M.  I\ini))p  187.5-82. 


CHAPTER  X. 
THE  COURT  AND  COURT  HOUSES, 

The  province  of  East  Jersey  was  not  divided  into  counties  until  1()S2. 
Althouj>-h  the  Gerieral  Assembly  of  the  whole  colony  by  an  Act  jiassed  on 
the  3()th  of  November,  1(>75  had  declared  Berg-en  and  the  plantations  and 
settlements  in  its  vicinity  to  be  a  county,  in  name  Berg-en  county, 
though  the  Act  does  not  say  so  in  so  many  words. 

Old  traditions  have  located  a  county  court  in  the  present  village  of 
Hackensack  as  far  back  as  1()()S.  The  sessions  of  the  court  were  on  the 
first  Tuesday  in  March,  June,  September  and  December.  By  the  above 
Act  provision  was  made  for  the  trial  of  small  causes;  also  tax  cases  were 
to  be  tried  by  three  persons  without  a  jury  having  jurisdiction  in  all 
matters  of  forty  shillings  and  under  with  right  to  appeal  to  either  party 
iqxin  the  request  and  at  his  cost.  Criminal  jurisdiction  was  confined  to 
the  county  court. 

In  17(IS  Bergen  county  was  ealtirged  taking  in  all  the  territory  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Hackensack  to  the  Passaic  River,  northward  to  the 
boundarv  of  the  province  and  southward  to  Constable  Hook.  The  vil- 
lage of  Hackensack  in  New  Barbadoes  then  became  a  part  of  Bergen 
county. 

The  Act  of  l(i.S2  provided  for  a  Supreme  Court  then  designated  as 
the  "t'ourt  of  Common  Right."  This  court  sat  at  Elizabethtown,  then 
capital  of  tlie  province. 

To  the  end  that  British  sovereignty  should  be  recognized  and  main- 
tained, all  warrants  with  process  and  attachments  were  issued  in  the 
name  <>f  the  king  of  England.  In  Ki.SS  the  court  for  the  trial  of  small 
causes  was  to  be  held  monthly  at  the  house  of  Lawrence  Andriss,  of 
New  Hackensack.  and  also  ''  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Johannes,  on  the  Hack- 
ensack River,  then  in  the  county  of  Essex,  and  for  the  inhabitants  of 
New  Barbadoes  and  Acquickanick." 

Profane  swearing  or  cursing  in  lt)82  cost  the  offender  one  shilling. 
One  of  the  early  laws  enacted  was  as  follows: 

"Concerning  that  beastly  vice, drunkenness, it  is  hereby  enacted  that 
if  any  person  found  to  l)e  drunk  he  shall  jiay  one  shilling  fine  for  the 
first  time,  two  shillings  for  the  second,  and  for  the  third  time,  and  for 
every  time  after,  two  shillings  and  six  jience;  and  such  as  have  nothing 
to  pay  sh;ill  suffer  ciiri)oreal  punishment;  and  for  those  that  are  unruly 
and  disturbers  of  the  peace,  they  shall  be  jnit  in  the  stocks  until  they  are 
sober,  or  during  tin-  i)leasure  of  the  officer  in  chief  in  the  ])lace  where  he 
was  drunk."  • 

New  Jersey  remained  partitioned  into  East  and  West  Jersey  under 
two  co-ordinate  governments  until  17(12.  When  Oueen  Anne  ascended 
the  throne,  in  17(i2,  the  two  ])ro\-inces  were  consolidated  into  one  govern- 


lUSTOKV    Ol'     HICKCICN     COINTV  4') 

nie-.il  ;i;i(l  tluis  roiiiainod  uikIli-  royal  aiiihoritv  until  the  Kt'volutiou  of 
177:).  The  Ciovcriior  and  (.'oiincil  were  emixiwerod  to  ereet.  constitute 
and  establish  such  courts  as  they  should  deem  proper;  and  to  a])point 
and  to  commission  judy-es  and  other  oflici'rs  without  limitation  of  time 
in  these  commissions. 

A  Court  of  Chancery  was  early  reco<>-uized.  Hv  an  ordinance  of 
Lord  Cornhury,  the  {governor  or  the  Lieutenant-liovernor,  or  any  three 
of  the  Council,  could  constitute  a  ccmrt  to  hear  and  determine  causes  in 
equity,  as  in  the  English  Court  of  Chancery. 

(iovernors  Hunter  and  Franklin  exercised  chancery  powers  under  the 
colonial  system,  and  so  that  court  was  presided  over  lonji^  after  the  Revo- 
lution, and  until  a  chancellor  was  provided  for  under  the  State  constitu- 
ti<iu.  Pjcclesiastical  jurisdication  was  exercised  over  the  province  bv  the 
Bishop  of  Fvoiidou,  excepting-  "the  coll.atiny  to  beneiices,  i^rantint;- 
licenses  of  marriage,  and  probate  of  wills,"  which  were  confined  to 
the  Goveriior.  The  Bishop  „(  London  thus  became  the  ordinarv  and 
metropolitan  of  the  I'rerogative  Court.  But  surrogates  were  soon 
:il)pointed,  but  vested  only  with  the  clerical  powers  they  now  have;  and 
(  )rphans"  Court  were  established  in  the  several  counties  in  17S4.  'I^he 
original  jurisdiction  of  the  ordinary  remained  unchanged  till  1820.  Sur- 
rogates were  appointed  in  joint  legislative  meeting  till  1822,  and  after- 
wards were  elected  by  the  people,  as  at  present.  The  Supreme  Court 
always  had  ])lenary  jurisdiction,  civil  and  criminal.  There  were  also 
special  conmiissions  for  terms  of  the  Oyer  and  Terminer,  Init  to  be  held 
at  the  regular  circuits.  They  were  presided  over,  as  now  bv  a  justice  of 
the  Supreme  C()urt  and  the  associate  judges  of  the  Common  Pleas  in 
each  county.  Before  the  county  org-anizations  were  established  special 
terms  of  the  Oyer  and  Terminer  were  sometimes  ai)])ointed  to  fie  held  at 
Woodbridge,  and  frequently  at  the  capital  (d'  tlu'  ])rovince.  A  judge  of 
the  Sujireme  Court  and  special  judges  were  then  ajjpointed  tt>  hold  that 
court. 

In  connnon  with  other  colonies  slavery  came  to  the  province  of  New 
Jersey  at  a  very  early  day.  In  existence  of  this  institution  called  for 
jieculiar  laws,  one  of  which  was  passed  in  the  twelfth  year  of  the  reign 
of  (Jueen  Anne  il71.>),  entitled  "An  Act  for  regulating  slaves."  This 
Act  forbade  any  traffic  with  any  indian,  negro  or  mulatto  slave  without 
the  consent  of  the  owner."  The  necessity  which  called  for  such  laws 
1  volved  sulisecpient  enactments,  manifestly  very  unjust  to  the  colored 
IK-ople. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Justices  and  Freeholders  for  the  county  of 
liergen,  in  17.^5,  is  found  the  following  entry  of  a  trial  of  a  negro  slave  : 

"  New  Jersey,  Bergen  County,  the  15  of  August.  1735.  Upon  infor- 
mation made  to  William  provoost,  Kstjr  that  the  negro  man  of  peter 
Kipp  called  Jack,  having  beaten  his  sd  master  and  threatened  Several 
Times  tr)  murder  him,  his  said  master  and  his  son  and  Also  to  Burn  down 
his  House  Whereupon    the  Said  \Vni.    ])rov<iost    I'".sqr  Cranted  a  Warrant 


5t)  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGHN    COUXTV 


Directed  ti)  the  Constable  to  take  the  said  Negro  Jack  Into  Custody  and 
Was  Committed  by  the  vSaid  Wm.  provoost  Esqr  to  (ioal. 

"This  Is  In  His  Majestyes  Name  to  Will  and  Require  you  to  Sum- 
monds  Thre  or  more  Justices  and  five  principal  freeholders  lor  Said 
County  to  appear  at  the  Court  House  for  the  said  County  on  friday 
morning  at  Nine  of  the  clock.  Being-  the  fifteenth  Day  of  this  Instant 
August  to  try  the  Negro  of  petre  Kipp  named  Jack,  for  having  Beaten 
his  Said  Master  and  Threatened  several  times  to  murder  him  and  his  son 
and  Also  to  Burn  Down  his  House  on  Wednesday  the  Thirteenth  day  of 
this  Instant  and  in  this    you  Are  Not  to  fail. 

"Given  Under  my  Hand  this  fourteenth  Day  of  August  In  the 
Ninth  Year  of  our  Reign  :  17,>5 

(sd)  "William  Pkovoost. 
"To  David  Ackeman,  High  Constable 

"This  Is  In  his  Majesties  name  to  \yill  and  Require  you  to  Sum- 
mond  these  Under  Named  to  Appear  at  the  Court  House  on  Friday 
the  15  day  of  this  Instant  to  Give  Evidence  In  the  Behalf  of  Our  Lord 
the  King  Against  the  Negro  of  Peter  Kijip  called  Jack  &  In  this  you  are 
Not  to  fail.  Given  Under  my  Hand  this  14  day  of  August,  1735  and  In 
the  Ninth  year  of  our  Reign. 

"To  David  Ackeman,  High  Constable.  Peter  Kipp,  Elshe  Kipp, 
Their  Son,  Henry  Kipp,  Derrech  Terhune,  Jacobus  Housman,  Isaac  Kipp. 

"Nevi'  Jersey,  Bergen  Cty.  Whereas  William  provoost  Esqr  Being 
Informed  that  the  Negro  of  peter  Kipp  Called  Jack  having  Beaten  his 
Sd  Master  and  often  times  threatened  the  Lifes  of  his  Sd  master  and  his 
Son  Likewise  to  burn  his  Sd  Masters  House  and  then  Destroy  himself  on 
Wednesday  the  13  day  of  August  1735  for  which  We  here  Under  Subscrib- 
ed was  Summond  by  the  Justices  to  appear  at  the  Court  House  of  the  Said 
County  the  15  Day  of  the  Sd  Instant  to  Try  the  Said  Negro  Jack  Ac- 
cording to  the  Direction  of  Act  of  General  Assembly  Entitled  an  Act  for 
Regulating  Slaves  Whereupon  having  Duily  Examined  the  Evidence 
According  to  ye  direction  of  the  Aforesaid  Act  found  the  Aforesaid 
Negro  Jack  Guilty  of  the  Said  Crime  Alledged  Against  him — 

(Sd)  "  Wm.  Provoost,  Isaac  Van  Gesen,  John  Stagg,  Henry  Van- 
delenda,  Paulies  Van  Derbeek,  Justices,  present. 

"  Abraham  Vack,  Abraham  Ackerman, Egbert  Ackerman,  Lawrence 
Ackerman,  Garret  Hoppe,   Freeholders,  present. 

"  New  Jersey,  Bergen  County  :  Att  a  meeting  of  the  Justices  &  free- 
holders for  the  Trying  of  the  Negro  Man  of  Peter  Kipp  Called  Jack  at 
the  Court  House  for  the  said  County  (m  friday  the  15  Day  of  August 
1735.  Present  the  above  Named  Justices  and  freeholders,  the  freeholders 
Being  Sworn  &  proceeded  to  Tryal. 

"  David  Provoost  Esqr  Being  appointed  by  the  justices  to  Prosecute 
the  said  Negro  Man  of  Peter  Kipp  called  Jack.  Gentlemen  I  am  ap- 
l)ointed  by  the  Justices  to  Prosecute  the  Negro  Man  of  Peter  Kipp  Called 
Jack  for  having  on  the  13  Day  of  this  Instant  August  struck  his  Said 
Master   Severall  (Idowsi  and  offered  to  kill  him  With  an   Ax  and  often 


HISTOKV    Ol'    Hl'.K-C.lCN     COINTY  51 

limes  Said  that  he  would  kill  liis  Said  Master,  and  Master  Son,  Hurn  his 
Master's  House  and  then  Destroy  himself  Which  I  am  Keady  to  Make 
Appear  hv  Good  and  Lawful  Evidences  that  the  abovesaid  Negro  Jack 
Is  Guilty  of  Both  Striking-  his  Master  Several  IJlows  and  Attempting-  to 
Kill  him  With  an  Ax  and  Likewise  of  Threateninif  Several  times  to 
Kill  his  Said  Master  and  his  Master's  Son  and  Sett  lire  to  his  Masters 
House  and  then  Destroy  himself  For  WHiich  Reason  I  Desire  Your  hon- 
ours that  the  Above  Said  Neijro  May  Be  tryed  as  the  Law  Directs  that 
the  King  May  have  Justice  Done,  which  was  (iranted  by  the  Jus- 
tices and  freeholders  and  Did  proceed  Accordingly. 

'■  THE  K\-ir)i;NCKS  —  DICCI.AKATION. 

■•  Peter  Kipp  Declared  upon  the  Holy  Evangelist  rhat  he  was  going 
to  one  of  his  tields  with  his  Negro  Man  Jack  and  on  the  Road  he  Cave 
the  Said  Negro  a  Blow  which  at  the  Said  Negro  Risisted  &  fought  with 
his  Master,  Striking  him  Several  Blows  and  Afterwards  taking  up  an  Ax 
threatened  to  kill  him  his  Said  Master  and  his  Son  ;ind  then  Destroy 
himself.  Upon  \Vhicli  his  Said  Master  Ran  away  for  assistance  and 
somtime  after  he  Was  Tyed  he  Said  that  he  would  In  the  Night  When 
his  Master  Slept  Sett  his  house  on  tire. 

"  Henry  Kipp  Declared  Ui)oii  tlu-  Holy  Evangelist  that  he  being  one 
of  the  Assistance  at  the  Taking  and  Tying  of  the  Said  Negro  that  when 
they  came  to  the  Said  Negro  they  found  two  Axes  by  him  and  after  h;i  v- 
ing  tved  him  he  said  that  when  his  Master  Slept  he  would  Sett  his 
House  a  tire. 

•■Then  Isaac  Kipp  and  Jacobus  huysman  declared  likewise  with 
Henry  Kipp.  Then  Henry  Kipp  declares  that  his  father  gave  the  negro 
a  blow  at  which  the  negro  resisted  and  fought  his  father:  striking  him 
Several  blows  and  taking  up  an  ax  and  threatening  to  kill  him  and  then 
de.strov  himself:  and  then  the  record  proceeds  as  follows:  Then  the  prisoner 
With-Drew  and  the  justices  and  the  freeholders  proceeded.  The  justices 
and  freeholders  having  taken  the  matter  into  Consideration  and  Did  (live 
Sentence  of  Death  Upon  him  as  followelh: 

"That  is  to  say  that  ye  Said  Ni'gro  Jack  Shall  be  brought  from 
hence  to  the  place  from  Whence  ht>  came,  and  there  to  Continue  untill 
the  1(.  day  of  This  Instant  August  till  Ten  of  TheClockof  the  Morning, 
and  then  to  Be  Burut  Untill  he  Is  Dead,  at  some  Convenient  ])lace  on  the 
Road  between  the  Court  TIous^-  and  Ouacksack. 

••This  Is  therer.>re  to  Will  and  Recpiir  you  to  take  ye  Body  of  the 
Negro  Jack  Into  vour  Custody  &  See  him  Executed  According  to  the 
Sentence  givi  ii,  and  for  your  so  Doing  this  Shall  be  your  Sufficient  W"ar- 
rant.  Given  Under  our  hands  this  1.^  day  of  August.  In  the  '•  Year  of 
his  Majesties  Reign,  Annoy  Domini  \~?>S. 

••  To  PKUCI.U.S  p.M<.MKKTo.\,  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Bergen, 
and  signed  by  the  Justices  and  Free  holders,  whose  names  are  mentioned 
at  the  beginning  of  this  procei'ding." 


HISTORY    Of    BEKGKN  COTNTY 


By  a  l>rief  analysis  nf  this  proceediiiif  it  will  W  seen  ihat  when  the 
negTo,  Jack,  was  ti^oin^r  to  the  field  with  his  master,  on  Wednesday. 
Aug'iist  13,  17.>,^  ;  that  the  master  gave  Jack  a  hlnw.  He  was,  therefore, 
the  first  assailant,  though,  as  a  master,  he  deemed  himself  empowered 
to  chastise  his  slave  ;  that  the  negro  struck  back,  and  made,  in  his  anger, 
sundry  threats ;  that  all  the  f(.)rmal  proceedings  were  done  and  the  matter 
disposed  of  Friday  following,  and  sentence  passed  directing  the  Sheriff 
of  the  county  to  burn  the  negro  on  Saturday  morning,  August  U).  1735. 
"  til  he  is  dead." 

On  Wednesday  the  African  offended,  and  on  Saturday  morning  he 
was  burned  to  ashes,  and  all  this  was  done  lawfully  and  under  the 
British  Constitution  in  1735,  less  than  a  century  and  a  half  ago. 

In  1741  two  negroes,  charged  on  suspicion  of  having  set  seven  barns 
on  tire,  were  convicted  and  burned  to  death  at  Yellow  Point,  <m  the  east 
side  of  the  Hackensack  River,  near  the  house  of  Dierech  Van  Horn. 
This  act,  as  appears  from  the  records,  was  frequently  invoked,  and  con- 
tinued even  down  to  the  Revolution.  During  this  period  the  stocks,  the 
whipping  post  and  the  pillory,  "at  convenient  places"  in  different  parts 
of  Bergen  County,  performed  their  part  also  in  punishing  petty  crimes. 
and  misdemeanors  also  of  greater  magnitude.  At  the  Octoljer  term  of 
the  General  Quarter  Sessions,  sitting  at  Hackensack,  in  17()"i,  we  have 
the  following  record,  showing  how  the  prisoner  was  imnished.  The 
case  is  entitled 

"The  King  agst  Uiuick,  a  Negro  Man  beU)nging  to  Mary  Terhune. 
The  prisoner  arraigned  on  his  Indictment  pleaded  guilty,  and  submits 
himself  to  the  niercv  of  the  Court.     On  motion  of  Mr.  Brown  for  the 
Lord  for  judgment,  the  Court  ordered  that  as  in  the  Warrant. 
"To  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Bergen: 

"Thomas  Ouack,  a  Negro  Man,  belonging  to  Mary  Terhune.  was 
this  day  indicted  before  us,  (ieorge  Ryerson,  Rynear  Van  Gieson,  Law- 
rence L.  Van  Boskirk,  Peter  Zabriskie,  John  Fell  and  RulilT  Westervelt. 
Esqrs.,  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  and  for  the  County  of 
Bergen,  one  whereof  bin  of  the  Ouorum  of  the  Court  of  General  Quarter 
Sessions  of  the  peace,  holden  this  dav  in  and  for  the  County  of  Bergen. 
for  leloniously  stealing,  taking  and  carrying  away  from  the  dwelling- 
house  of  Isaac  Kipp,  Junior,  certain  goods,  and  has  pleaded  guilty  to 
his  said  Indict.  Therefore,  in  His  Majesty's  name,  you  are  hereby  com- 
manded forthwith  to  take  the  said  Negro  Quack  from  this  Bar  to  the 
public  Whipping  Post,  at  the  Court  House,  and  there  cause  the  said 
Quack  to  receive  fifteen  lashes,  well  laid  on  his  bare  back,  and  from 
thence  you  are  to  take  him  tyed  at  a  Cart's  tail  to  the  corner  of  the  Lane 
opposite  Renier  Van  (xieson,  P^sqr.,  and  then  cause  the  said  Quack  to 
receive  fifteen  hishes  more  as  aforesaid,  and  innn  thence,  at  the  Cart's 
tail,  take  him  to  the  corner  of  the  Lane  opposite  to  J.  Isaac  Ryerson. 
and  there  cause  said  Quack  to  receive  nine  lashes  more,  in  manner  afore- 
said, and  on  Friday  next,  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  you  are  again  to 
take    the   s.-iid    Quack  to    the    Whipping-Post  aforesaid,  ;ind   cause   him 


IIISTOKY    l)l-    TiKKC.liN    CorXTY  -•^.i 

to  roceive  lifteeu  lashes  more,  in  manner  aforesaid,  and  from  thenee 
to  the  Street  facintj  Mr.  William  I'rovoost.  and  there  eau  ;e  said 
(Juack  to  receive  fifteen  laslu-s  m  )re,  in  nruin^r  a<  afores:u'l,  and 
from  thence  to  the  lane  oi)posite  to  Mr.  Isaac  Kipp's,  and  cause  him  !o 
receive  nine  lashes  more  in  manner  aforesaid,  and  on  Monday  next  you 
are  again  to  take  the  said  Oiiack  to  the  Whipjiinn'  Post  aforesaid,  and 
cause  him  to  receive  fifteen  lashes  more  in  manner  aforesaid,  and  from 
thence  over  the  Bridj^e,  opposite  to  Mr.  (leorsre  Camijhell's  House,  and 
there  cause  him,  said  Uuack,  to  receive  lifteen  lashes  more,  in  manner 
aforesaid,  and  from  opposite  Mr.  Jacob  Zahriskey's  dwelliiif^-House.  and 
cause  the  said  Ouack  to  receive  nine  lashes  more,  in  manner  aforesaid, 
and  the  several  constables  of  this  County  of  Hers,^ -n  are  hereby  com- 
manded to  attend  and  assist  you.  (liven  under  our  hands  and  seals  this 
Twentv-fifth  Day  of  October.  Anno  Domini  17()'i. 

I  Signed  I  "George  Ryerse,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Lawrence  L.  \'.  Bos- 
kirk.  John  Fell." 

Within  a  week  the  negro,  in  nine  whii)i)ings  on  three  several  days, 
and  at  the  whipping-post  and  other  pul)lic  places  in  and  about  the  village 
of  Hackensack,  was  scourged  one  hundred  and  seventeen  lashes.  It  is 
said  that  two  slaves,  named  Ned  and  Pero,  in  attempting  to  rob  in  the 
night,  had  broken  a  man's  skull  in  an  atrocious  assault,  whereby  his  lite 
was  endangered,  and  on  conviction  they  were  sentenced  to  receive  five 
hundred  lashes  each,  one  hundred  lashes  to  be  inflicted  on  each  succeed- 
ing Saturdav  till  the  punishment  was  C(miplcte.  These  several  whip- 
pings were  to  be  imposed  in  different  public  places  in  the  county.  One 
of  the  slaves  survived  the  five  hundred  lashes,  but  the  other  died  on  the 
fourth  Saturday,  after  having  received  four  hundred  lashes.  Xo  record 
of  this  affair  has  been  found.  It  is  stated,  however,  on  information 
which  is  deemed  reliable.  The  wlii].i)ing-post.  stocks  and  pillory  con- 
tinued long  after  the  Revolution,  but  llir  awful  scenes  of  l)urning  at  the 
stake,  let  us  hope,  were  too  abhorrent  to  have  been  of  fre.pient  occur- 
rence long  before  177(>. 

C()tKT-H()rs)-;s.   ci.ickk's  .xxn  siKKcjcA'rK's  oi-i-icK. 

No  coui-t-house  could  have  l)een  built  in  Hackensack  for  the  County 
of  Bergen  earlier  than  about  17(l'i  to  171ii.  then  the  first  court-house  was 
built  on  the  (Ireen,  fronting  on  Main  Street.  That  structure  ccmiprised 
a  jail  and  court-house  built  together.  It  was  destroyed  by  the  British 
in  17S(I. 

The  second  court-house  and  jail  were  built  in  Vougli])ough.  in  the 
township  of  Franklin,  during  the  Revolution,  and  the  c.mrts  were  held 
there  for  a  few  years,  as  deliberative  Justice  during  that  stormy  period 
found  itself  too  near  the  British  lines  and  British  invasion  in  attempting 
to  sit  statedly  at  Hackensack.  Of  ccmrse,  Ycmghpough  (pronounced  in 
modern  times  Yoppo)  was  only  the  county-seat  mi  interim,  and  until 
Justice  could  resume  her  more  ancient  seat  in  i)eace  and  safety  at  Hack- 
ensack.     There  was  a  log  jail  built  at  Youghpougli.  but  the  courts  seem 


S4  rrisTOKS'  of  BEKc7iiN  catrNTr 


ti>  havo  bofii  held  there  either  in  the  Pond  Reformed  Church  or  even  at 
private  houses  in  the  vicinity,  to  such  judical  extremities  had  the  British 
driven  us  during  the  Kevolutixm.  It  is  related  that  Noah  Collington,  or 
Kellingham,  a  Tory,  was  hung-  near  the  log  jail  at  Youghpough.  He 
had  been  indicted  for  murder  and  robbery  in  this  county.  In  attempting 
to  escape  in  disguise  across  the  Hudson  near  Fort  Lee,  in  order  to  get 
within  the  British  lines,  he  was  cajitured  near  that  place  and  brought  to- 
this  jail.* 

The  third  court-house,  and  first  after  the  Revolution,  was  built  at 
Hackensack,  near  Main  Street,  now  the  brick  storehouse  of  Richard  Paul 
Terhune.  The  land  for  that  purpose  was  conveyed  to  the  county  by- 
Peter  Zabriskie  as  grantor.     His  deed  is  dated  October  27,  17S4. 

On  May  18th,  1785,  Peter  Zabriskie  executed  another  deed  to  the 
countv  in  consideration  of  eighty-two  pounds  lawful  currency  of  New 
Jersey  for  another  lot,  and  on  May  'Jtli,  1793,  deeded  to  the  county  an 
additional  piece  of  land  adjoining  the  east  side  of  the  Court  House  lot, 
four  feet  wide,  extending  the  whole  length  of  that  lot. 

Two  hundred  pounds  was  ordered  to  be  raised  by  county  tax  to  build 
the  Court  House.  Nehemiah  Wade  deeded  the  land  on  which  the  former 
Clerk's  office  stood,  July  3d,  1786.  The  Clerk's  ()ffice  w^as  built  between 
1812  and  181'),  a  little  north  of  the  Midland  Railroad,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  street.      There  it  remained  until  1853. 

An  effort  was  made  by  the  up-town  people  to  locate  the  Court  House 
there,  but  the  offer  by  Robert  Campbell  was  accepted,  and  in  1819  the 
building  so  familiar  to  the  people  of  the  county,  was  erected,  with  the 
Green  in  front,  and  the  Clerk's  and  Surrogate's  Offices  near  it. 

Tielman  Van  Vleck  was  the  presiding  judge  of  the  first  court  pro- 
l)ablv  ever  held  within  the  present  territory  of  New  Jersey.  The  early 
list  of  lawyers  in  this  county  down  to  1776,  as  fully  as  can  be  obtained 
are  given  with  their  dates  of  admission  as  follows: 

Iddl,  Tielman  Van  Vleck,  admitted  as  attorney  in  1(>6(I. 

1(>|)4  to  1678,  Claes  Arentse  Toers,  Balthazar  Bayard,  and  William 
Pinhorne,  admitted  f  probably  )  attornevs  about  16()1.  The  latter  was 
also  a  merchant. 

1707,  John  Pinhorne,  .idmitted  as  attorney  in  1707. 

172H  to  1750,  David  Ogden,  Mr.  Duane,  and  Mr.  Lodge,  admission  as 
attorneys  unknown. 

1750  to  1756,  Rt)bert  Morris  and  John  De  Hart,  admission  as  attor- 
neys unknown. 

1756  to  17()1.  Mr.  Legromsie,  Mr.  Nicoll.  and  Dr.  Isaac  Brown, 
admission  as  attorneys  unknown. 

Elisha  Boudinot,  appointed  sergeant-at-law  in  1792. 

Cortlandt  Skinner,  ajipointcd  attorney-general  July  10,  1754. 

tieorge  Ross,  Lewis  ()g(len.  A.  Moore,  and  Isaac  Ogden.  admission 
as  attorneys  unknown. 

1776,  John  Chetwood  and  Abraham  Ogden,  admission  as  attorneys 
unknown. 

Sc-  sli.-lch  1.11  Uk-  HUl.ny  .it   OaUl:iiul. 


Willi.iin  Pinhnrne,  who  oaiiio  to  this  coiiiitrv  from  Eiiyhmd  in  ]<i7H, 
^v;^s  second  jiidufo  of  the  Supreme  (.lourt  of  New  Jersey  in  1704,  jndg-e  of 
the  Berg'en  County  Common  Pleas  in  17U5,  and  of  the  Bergen  Oyer  and 
Terminer  in  170'l,  and  of  the  Common  Pleas  in  17(1').  He  had  previously 
been  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  and  at  one  time  presi- 
dent i)f  its  Council,  and  commander-in-chief  or  (xovernor.  He  died  in 
171'*.  His  son  John  was  clerk  of  this  county  in  17(15,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  June  <>,  17(l7,  and  practiced  in  this  county,  and  probably  resided 
at  Hackensack  or  Hoboken.  His  sister  Martha  married  Roger  Mompes- 
sim.  who  was  chief  justice  of  New  York  and  Pennsvlvania,  and  in  1704 
was  also  chief  justice  of  New  Jersey. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

ber(;en  county  in  time  of  war. 

Till-:   i-:i-;\"()i,u'ri()NAKv  struggle.  -  tiiic   wai':  ok  the    rebellion. — the 

RAILROAD    STRIKE. -THE    WAR    WITH    SPAIN. 

'Pho  niilitarv  history  of  the  L-ounty  of  Berj^en  extends  over  the  whole 
period  of  its  OL'cupation  bv  the  white  man.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  first 
settler  he  was  obliged  to  place  himself  on  the  defensive,  and  stand  ready 
for  eoniliat.  The  Indian,  of  course,  resented  the  intrusion  of  white  men 
ui)on  the  domains  which  he  considered  his  by  right  of  possession,  and 
enjoying  the  right  of  priority,  was  happy  in  his  simple  and  indolent  life, 
and  desired  no  other  kind  of  existance.  The  astute  Dutch  settler  saw 
before  him  wealth,  independence  and  consequently-  a  cause  for  even  fight- 
ing for  a  name  and  place  in  the  New  World.  After  many  conflicts  and 
many  sad  disasters  to  both  the  civilized  and  uncivilized  participants,  the 
poor  ignorant  savage  was  obliged  to  yield  to  the  wiser  and  more  enlight- 
ened adversary.  This  was  the  only  outcome  possible  in  such  a  conflict- 
pathetic  as  it  is  to  contemplate.  The  first  Indian  war  having  ended  in 
1()4S,  and  a  treaty  of  peace  concluded,  quiet  prevailed  for  a  time. 

It  was  not  until  1774,  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  that  a  point 
was  reached  in  the  methods  used  by  the  mother  country,  to  force  the 
j)avment  of  ta.xes  by  her  subjects  on  this  side,  without  the  privilege  of 
sending  representatives  to  look  after  their  interests,  which  brought  out 
the  necessity  for  a  decisive  step.  A  military  force  must  now  be  organ- 
ized to  meet  an  enemy  of  equal  intelligence  and  of  greater  numerical 
strength,  for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  rights  of  those  who  had  braved 
all  sorts  of  hardships  in  their  effort  to  build  up  homes  in  this  country. 

Accordingly  a  local  Committee  of  Safety  was  organized  in  Bergen 
county,  a  measure  probably  hastened  by  the  closing  of  the  port  of  Boston 
in  the  Spring  of  that  year,  ( 1774).  T^^c  Freeholders  and  people  of  Ber- 
gen C(_)unty  held  a  meeting  at  the  court  house  on  the  25th  of  June  and 
with  Peter  Zabriski*'  as  chairman  adopted  the  following  preamljle  an<l 
resolutions  : 

This  meeting  lieing  deeply  affected  with  the  calamitous  condition  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Boston  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  con- 
seiiuence  of  the  late  Act  of  Parliament  for  blocking  up  the  port  of  Boston, 
and  considering  the  alarming  tendency  of  the  Act  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America. 

••  Do  Resolve,  1st,  That  they  think  it  their  greatest  happiness  to  live 
un<ler  the  government  of  the  illustrious  H<nise  of  Hanover,  and  that 
thev   will  steadfastly  and  uniformly  bear  true  and  faithful  allegiance  to 


HISTOKV    Ol'    DKKdKN    COUNTY 


His  Majesty  Kinu;  Georgo  the  Third  undi-r  tlu'  onjovineiit  of  their  eonsti- 
tutidiial  riifhts  and  privilejfes. 

••  2(1.  That  we  conceive  it  to  \>v  mn  in(lul)itahle  pri\  ilc>^e  to  be  taxed 
only  hy  our  own  consent,  t;-iven  by  ourselves  or  by  our  representatives; 
and  that  we  consider  the  Acts  of  Parliament  declarative  of  their  rig-ht 
to  impose  internal  taxes  on  the  subjects  of  America  as  manifest  encroacli- 
ments  on  our  naticmal  rights  and  privileges  as  British  subjects,  and  as 
inconsistent  with  the  idea  id'  an  American  Asseml)lv  or  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. 

".mI.  That  we  will  heartily  unite  with  this  Colonv  in  choosing  dele- 
gate >  to  attend  at  a  general  congress  from  the  several  provinces  of  Ame- 
rica in  order  to  consult  on  and  determine  some  effectual  method  to  be 
l>ursued  for  obtaining  a  repeal  of  the  said  Acts  of  Parliament,  which 
appear  to  us  evidently  calculated  to  destroy  that  mutual  harmony  and 
dependence  between  (ireat  Britain  and  hiT  colonies  which  are  the  basis 
and  support  of  both. 

■■  And  we  do  appoint  Theunis  Dey.  John  Demarest.  Peter  Zabriskie, 
t'ornelius  Van  Vorst,  and  John  Zabriskie,  Jr.,  Esquires,  to  be  a  commit- 
tee for  corresponding  with  the  committees  of  the  other  counties  in  this 
Province,  and  particularly  to  meet  with  the  other  count}'  committees  at 
New  Brunswick,  or  such  other  place  as  shall  be  agreed  upon,  in  order  to 
elect  delegates  to  attend  the  general  congress  of  delegates  of  the  Ameri- 
can Colonies  for  the  purpose  aforesaid." 

After  these  resolutions  were  signed  hv  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
eig-ht  citizens  of  Bergen  Countv.  a  local  Committee  of  Safety  was  organ- 
ized of  which  John  Fell,  a  devoted  ])ai:ri.)t  of  Paratnus  was  made  chair- 
man. Nothing  of  a  startling  n.ature,  however,  occurred  until  in  177ii 
when  it  became  known  that  Lord  Howe  was  on  his  way  to  New  York. 
Lord  Stirling  was  then  in  conunand  of  the  militia  in  this  part  of  Jersey 
when  he  made  an  attempt  to  build  fortifications  on  the  eastern  side  of 
he  C(  untv,  along  the  Hud^(^n  and  also  at  Bergen  Point  opposite  Staten 
Island.  Three  companies  were  now  organized  in  Bergen  County  and 
joined  in  Battalion  with  three  from  Kssex  and  two  from  Burlington, 
while  the  regular  militia  id"  IJergen  was  organized  in  one  regiment. 
This  order  came  from  the  Pro\incial  Congress  in  session  in  Burlington  '■ 
"Ordered  that  Cornelius  A'an  Vorst  be  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Richard  Day' 
First  Major,  and  John  Martinius  Cloetschius,  Secimd  Major  of  the  battal- 
lion  of  foot  militia  in  the  County  of  Bergen."  Lord  Stirling,  in  order  to 
be  prepared  for  defending  Bergen,  set  several  hundred  of  the  militia  to 
work  in  the  construction  of  roads,  one  from  Weehawken  to  Hackensack 
Ferry  and  the  other  from  Paulus  Hook  to  Brown's,  and  before  (ieneral 
Wasiiington  arrived  he  had  both  these  and  the  forts  at  Paulus  Hook  and 
Bergen  Neck  well  underway.  Ceneral  Washingtim  ordered  the  work 
to  proceed  at  Paulus  Hook,  and  upon  its  completicm  was  garrisimed,  but 
the  British  were  occupying  Staten  Island  before  the  work  could  be  finish- 
ed at  Bergen  Point.  On  the  4th  of  July  177(.,  General  Washington 
ordered  General  Mercer  to  station  live  hundred  men  at  Bergen  Neck, 
and  to  guard  the  ferries  over  the  Hackensack  and  Passaic  Rivers,  ])rom- 


58  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUN'TV 

ising  to  send  an  eng'ineer  from  New  York  on  the  followin<f  day  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  works  for  the  safety  of  those  places.  Fort  De 
Lancev  was  erected  at  that  time  at  a  point  a  little  below  the  present 
canal  at  Bayonne  and  General  Wadsworth's  brigade  was  sent  to  Ber- 
gen and  there  joined  by  a  battalion  of  Jersey  troops. 

The  records  were  removed  from  Perth  Amboy  to  Burlington  early 
in  the  year  of  1776  by  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress.  No  attack  was 
made  by  either  side,  nor  was  any  active  movement  made,  although  Gen- 
eral Mercer  had  planned  an  attack,  which  was  foiled  by  bad  weather. 

The  British  were  concentrating  their  forces,  until  about  30,000  men 
had  gathered  within  the  harbor  and  upon  Staten  Island.  The  first  firing 
was  by  the  patriots  on  the  12th  of  July,  when  the  two  British  men-of- 
war  the  "Phoenix"  and  the  "Rose,"  sailed  up  the  habor,  the  first  a 
vessel  of  forty  guns  and  the  second  of  twenty  guns.  The  firing  was 
from  Palus  Hook,  but  did  little  harm  to  the  vessels,  as  their  sides  were 
protected  by  sand  bags.  As  Lord  Howe  sailed  up  the  harbor  on  that 
evening  he  was  greeted  with  cheers  and  booming  of  cannon  from  the 
British,  who,  on  the  15th  of  July,  took  possession  of  New  York. 

Bergen  was  headquarters  until  October  5th,  1776.  when  Washington 
began  his  retreat  to  the  Delaware.  Removing  first  to  Fort  Constitution 
(  now  Fort  Lee  ),  which  in  turn  was  evacuated  on  November  20th,  leaving 
East  Jersey  to  the  enemy,  who  no  doubt  felt  that  they  had  gained  a 
great  victory.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Van  Buskirk,  of  Saddle  River,  who 
had  joined  the  British,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  post  of  Paulus 
Hook,  while  the  fort  at  Bergen  Neck  was  occupied  almost  wholly  by 
"refugees."  This  was  named  Fort  DeLancey,  in  honor  of  Oliver  De 
I^ancev,  of  Westchester,  who  had  also  joined  the  British. 

The  following  account  of  the  evacuation  of  Fort  I^ee  was  written 
bv  Thomas  Paine,  author  of  "The  American  Crisis:" 

"  As  I  was  with  the  troops  at  Fort  Lee,  and  marched  with  them  to 
the  edge  of  Pennsj-lvania,  I  am  well  acquainted  with  many  circumstances 
which  those  who  lived  at  a  distance  knew  little  or  nothing  of.  Our  situ- 
ation there  was  exceedingly  cramped,  the  place  being  on  a  narrow  neck 
of  land  between  the  North  River  and  Hackensack.  Our  force  was  in- 
considerable, being  not  one-fourth  as  great  as  Howe  could  bring  against 
us.  We  had  no  army  at  hand  to  have  relieved  the  garrison  had  we  shut 
ourselves  up  and  stood  on  the  defense.  Our  ammunition,  light  artillery 
and  the  best  part  of  our  stores  had  been  removed  upon  the  apprehension 
that  Howe  would  endeavor  to  penetrate  the  Jerseys,  in  which  case  Fort 
Lee  could  be  of  no  use  to  us,  for  it  must  occur  to  every  thinking  man, 
whether  in  the  army  or  not,  that  these  kind  of  field-forts  are  only  for 
temporary  purposes,  and  last  in  use  no  longer  than  the  enem}-  directs 
his  force  against  the  particular  objects  which  forts  are  raised  to  defend. 

"  Such  was  our  situation  and  condition  at  Fort  Lee  on  the  morning 
of  the  20th  of  November,  when  an  officer  arrived  with  information  that 
the  enemy,  with  two  hundred  boats,  had  landed  about  seven  or  eight 
miles  above.      Major    General   Greene,    who    commanded    the    garrison. 


HISTORY    OI-    BICKOEN    COUNTY  5<) 


immediately  ordered  them  under  arms,  and  sent  an  express  to  His  Ex- 
eellencv  General  Washington,  at  the  town  of  Ilackensaek.  distant  bv 
the  way  of  the  ferry  six  miles.  Our  lirst  object  was  to  secure  the  bridg-e 
over  the  Hackensack,  which  laid  uj)  the  river,  between  the  enemy  and 
us — about  six  miles  from  us  and  three  irom  them.  General  Washinj^ton 
arrived  in  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  marched  at  the  head  of  his 
troops  towards  the  bridge,  at  which  place  I  expected  we  should  have  a 
l)rush.  However,  they  did  not  choose  to  dispute  it  with  us,  and  the 
greatest  part  of  our  troops  went  over  the  bridge,  the  rest  over  the  ferrv, 
except  some  which  passed  at  a  mill  on  a  small  creek  between  the  bridge 
and  the  ferry,  and  made  their  way  through  some  marshy  ground  up 
to  the  town  of  Hackensack,  and  there  passed  the  riv.r.  We  brought  off 
as  much  baggage  as  the  wagons  could  contain,  the  rest  was  lost.  The 
simple  object  was  to  bring  of?  the  garrison  and  to  march  them  on  until 
they  could  be  strengthened  by  the  Pennsylvania  or  Jersey-  militia,  so  as 
to  be  enabled  to  make  a  stand.  We  stayed  four  days  at  Newark,  col- 
lected in  our  outposts,  with  some  of  the  Jersey  militia,  and  marched  out 
twice  to  meet  the  enenn-  on  information  of  their  being  advancing,  though 
our  tumibers  were  greatly  inferior  to  theirs." 

An  eye-witness  has  given  the  following  statement: 
"It  was  about  dusk  when  the  head  of  the  troops  entered  Hacken- 
sack. The  night  was  dark,  cold  and  rainy,  but  I  had  a  fair  view  of  them 
from  the  light  of  the  windows  as  they  passed  on  our  side  of  the  street. 
They  marched  two  abreast,  looked  ragged,  some  without  a  shoe  to  their 
feet,  and  most  of  them  wrapped  up  in  their  blankets.  Washington 
then,  and  for  some  time  previous,  had  his  headquarters  at  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Peter  Zabriskie,  a  private  house,  now  called  'The  Mansion 
House,'  the  supplies  for  the  General's  table  being  furnished  b>-  Mr. 
Archibald  Campbell,  the  tavern-keeper.  The  next  evening  after  the 
Americans  had  passed  through  the  British  encamped  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river.  We  cf)uld  see  their  fires,  about  one  hundred  yards 
apart,  gleaming  brilliant]}-  in  the  gloom  of  night,  extending  some  dis- 
tance below  the  town  and  more  than  a  mile  up  towards  New  Bridge. 
Washington  was  still  at  his  quarters,  and  had  with  him  his  suite,  life- 
guard, a  companv  of  foot,  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  some  soldiers  from 
the  rear  of  the  army.  In  the  morning,  before  the  (ieneral  left,  he  rode 
down  to  the  dock,  where  the  bridge  now  is,  viewed  the  enemy's  encamp- 
ment about  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  returned  to  Mr.  Campbell's 
door  and  called  for  some  wine  and  water.  After  he  had  drank,  and  Mr. 
Campbell  had  taken  the  glass  from  him,  the  latter,  with  tears  streaming- 
down  his  face,  said,  '(ieneral,  what  shall  I  do?  I  have  a  family  of 
small  children  and  a  little  proi)erty  here;  shall  I  leave  them?'  Washing- 
ton kindly  took  his  hand,  and  re])lied,  'Mr.  Campbell,  stay  by  your 
family  and  k-ccp  iini/ra/:'  then  bidding  him  good-by,  rode  off. 

••About  noon  the  next  day  the  British  tt)ok  possession  of  the  town, 
and  in  the  afternoon  the  Green  was  covered  with  Hessians,  a  horrid, 
frightful  sight   to  the  inhabitants.      There  were  between  three  and  four 


f)0  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


tlidusand,  with  llu-ir  whiskers,  brass  caps  and  kettles  or  base  drums.  A 
part  of  these  troops  were  taken  prisoners  two  months  after  at  Trenton." 

The  British  made  raids  in  New  Jersey  from  time  to  time  devastat- 
int^  the  county  bv  these  foraging-  expeditions.  It  was  during  one  of 
these  raids  that  Colonel  Aaron  Burr  distinguished  himself  by  surprising 
the  enemy's  men  on  picket  duty  and  afterward  calling  upon  the  people 
to  rally  the  country.  His  attack  had  so  encouraged  the  people  that  they 
turned  out  and  put  themselves  under  his  command,  when  the  enemy  im- 
mediately fled  leaving  the  greater  part  of  the  plunder  behind. 

What  was  called  Clinton's  Raid  occurred  in  1777,  and  was  planned 
bv  Sir  Henry  Clinton  who  divided  his  force  into  four  columns,  the  gen- 
eral point  of  rendevous  being  New  Bridge  above  Hackensack.  One 
column,  under  General  Campbell,  entered  New  Jersey  bj-  way  of  Eliza- 
bethtown;  one,  under  Captain  Drummond,  by  Schuyler's  Ferry;  one, 
under  General  Vaug-hn,  by  way  of  Fort  Lee,  and  the  other,  under  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Campbell,  by  way  of  Tappan.  It  was  on  September  12, 
the  expedition  set  out,  Clinton  following,  going  to  Schuyler's  Landing 
on  the  Hackensack,  (Dow's  Ferry),  and  going  by  the  Belleville  turn- 
pike to  Schuyler's  house  he  found  Captain  Drummond  with  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  General  Campbell  arrived  with  his  men  during  the 
night  bringing  the  cattle  they  had  collected  by  the  way.  The  ccdumns 
met  on  the  ISth,  as  before  arranged.  On  the  Kith  (leneral  Campbell 
marched  his  force  over  to  Staten  Island,  from  the  English  Neighbor- 
hood. From  the  people  of  Essex  and  Bergen  Counties  they  took  four 
hundred  cattle,  four  hundred  sheep,  and  a  few  horses,  but  they  had 
eight  men  killed,  eighteen  wounded,  ten  missing  and  live  taken  prisoners. 

The  most  interesting  episode  in  this  portion  of  our  history  is  the 
attempt  to  capture  the  fort  at  Paulus  Hook  by  Major  Henry  Lee.  This 
gallant  and  dashing  officer,  who  had  frequently  been  employed  by 
Washington  as  a  scout  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  had  dis- 
covered that  the  British  fort  at  Paulus  Hook,  although  a  strong  place, 
was  negligently  guarded,  and  he  conceived  the  idea  of  its  capture  by  a 
night  march  and  a  sudden  surprise.  By  permission  from  Washington, 
Lee  moved  from  his  encampment  at  New  Bridge  about  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  of  August  IS.  1779,  following  what  is  known  as  the  lower 
road  which  intersects  the  present  Hackensack  road,  near  the  English 
Neighborhood  church,  having  taken  the  precaution  to  send  forward 
boats  in  charge  of  Captain  Peyton,  with  instructions  to  have  them  at 
Dow's  Ferry  at  a  certain  hour  of  the  night,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
his  troops  over  the  Hackensack;  he  also  detached  patrols  of  horse  to 
watch  the  communications  with  North  River,  and  posted  Lord  Stirling 
at  New  Bridge  to  cover  his  retreat,  if  necessary.  The  whole  movement 
was  conducted  with  such  secrecy  that  they  arrived  at  the  fort  without 
being  discovered,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that,  on  account  of  the  ignor- 
ance or  the  treachery-  of  their  guide,  they  were  compelled  to  wander  three 
hours  in  the  woods  between  LTnion  Hill  and  the  fort,  and  the  still  more 
remarkable  fact  that  they  were  in  danger  of  encountering  Colonel  Van  Bus- 


HISTOKV    01-~    Bi:k(-,KN-    COl'NTY  (>  1 

kirk,  \vh,<  had  left  the  fi>rt  at  I'aulus  ILx.k  ahdut  the  time  tliat  Major 
Jvee  started,  with  a  fi>ree  of  one  hundred  and  tliirlv  men  mi  a  r.iid  to  the 
Eng-Hsh  Neig-hborhood.  That  these  two  forees.  one  of  them  at  le.ist 
straggliii'f  and  flounderini>-  idou  a  niisdireeteil  course  tlirouy-h  the  wil- 
derness and  in  the  darkness  of  nijj^ht.  should  entirely  escape  each  other 
seems  i'lcredible.  liut  such  is  the  well-attested  fact.  Pi'rhaps  their 
,!,rettini,r  lo>t  and  m,irchinL;-  out  of  the  direct  course  mav  have  I)een  the 
very  means  of  their  escape.  He  this  , as  it  niav.  "Major  Ijce  reached 
Prior's  Mill  at  three  o'clock  ..n  the  morninii'  of  the  I'Hh.  The  dav  was 
near  at  hand,  and  the  tide  that  would  till  the  ditch  .and  overflow  the  ro.id 
between  Warren  and  (iro\e  Streets  ^  Jer--ev  Citv  ■  was  risin-^-.  Not  a 
moment  was  to  be  lost.  They  reached  the  ditch  at  the  intersection  of 
Newark  Avenue  and  Warren  Street  at  half-past  three  o'clock  on  Thurs- 
day mornin}^.  The  guards  were  either  asleep  or  took  the  a])])roachinii' 
force  to  be  Colonel  Van  Busk-irk's  men  returnin'^  from  their  raid.  Thev 
were  not  undeceived  until  the  ;id\-ance  had  pluntjed  into  the  ditch.  Im- 
mediately a  firiiiif  beg-an.  The  block-hcnise  sjfuards  ran  out  to  see  what 
was  the  matter,  and  were  seized.  The  forlorn  hope,  sn-pijorted  bv  Major 
Clarke,  broke  throug'h  all  o])position.  and  soon  became  masters  cd'  the 
niaia  work,  with  the  cannon,  etc.  So  ra])id  were  thev  in  their  move- 
ments that  the  fort  was  gained  before  a  piece  of  .irtillerv  \v;is  tired. 
The  troops  came  pouring  through  the  abati>.  and  in  a  few  minutes  were 
victorious.  Unfortunately,  in  crossing  the  ditch  thi.'  ammunition  was 
destroyed,  and  tlius  their  tirearms  were  useless.  As  soon  as  Major 
Sotitherland.  then  in  command  of  the  fort,  comjirehended  tlie  situation, 
he  threw  himself  into  a  small  redoubt,  with  a  i-ajitain.  subaltern,  and 
forty  Hessians.  Major  I^c-e  had  no  time  to  dislodge  him  or  to  remove  or 
destroy  property.  Daylight  was  at  h.md,  :ind  he  had  some  anxiety 
about  the  boats  at  Uow's  Ferry.  besides  this,  the  firing  had  aroused 
the  British  in  New  York,  who  could  in  a  few  minutes  throw  a  large 
body  of  troops  across  the  ri\er.  He  therefore  ordered  an  immediate  re- 
treat, and  -sent  Ca])tain  Forsyth  to  Prior's  Mill  to  collect  such  men  as  were 
most  tit  for  the  action  anfl  tal<e  a  ])osition  on  Bergen  Heights  to  cover 
the  retreat.  Major  Clarke  was  in  the  advance  with  most  of  the  pris- 
oners; Lieutenants  Armstrong  and  Reed  formed  the  rear-guard.  Lee  now 
rode  forward  to  lo(d<  after  the  boats  at  the  ferry.  To  his  dismay  not  a 
boat  was  there  to  receive  them.  Captain  Peyton,  owing  to  the  lateness  of 
the  hour,  had  removed  them  to  Newark.  I^ee  immediately  counter- 
marched liis  troo])s  to  the  Bergen  road  en  mute  for  New  Bridge,  com- 
municated with  I.,ord  Stirling,  and  returned  to  the  rear-guard  at  Prior's 
Mill.  His  ])rospects  were  now  discmtraging.  With  troops  worn  down, 
amnumition  destroyed,  encumbered  with  prisoners,  fourteen  miles  (d  re- 
treat before  him  on  a  route  lial)le  to  be  intercepted  by  troops  from  New 
York,  with  no  way  of  escai)e  to  the  left,  he  could  only  depend  upon  the 
invincible  courage  of  liis  men.  On  reaching  the  heights  opposite  'Wee- 
hock,'  Captain  Handy  moved  on  the  main  road  to  facilitate  the  retreat. 
T[ere  Cajjtain  Catlett  came  U])  willi  lifty  men  and  good  ammunition.      ( )nc 


(,■2  H■r.sTal<^■  of  bekcen  couxtv 

partv  was;  then  detiiched  in  the  rear  of  Major  Clarke  on  the  Bergen  road, 
and  I  me  to  move  along  the  bank  of  the  river.  In  this  manner  a  sudden 
attack  was  prevented.  At  the  Fort  Lee  road  Colonel  Ball,  who  had  been 
forwarded  to  Lee's  assistance,  met  him  with  two  hundred  fresh  men. 
Shortly  afterwards  a  b(Kly  of  the  enemy  appeared  upon  the  right  and 
opened  fire  on  the  retreating  Americans.  Lieutenant  Reed  immediately 
forced  them,  and  Lieutenant  Rudolph  threw  himself  into  a  store-house 
which  commanded  the  road.  This  disposition  checked  the  enemy  and  gave 
the  force  time  to  cross  the  English  Neighborhood  creek  at  the  Liberty 
pole,  now  Englewood.  Just  at  that  moment  Major  Southerland,  who 
had  followed  Lee,  came  up,  but  halted,  and  finally  fell  back  without 
venturing  an  attack.  Major  Lee  arrived  safely  at  New  Bridge  about 
one  o'clock  in  the  afterncxm.  He  had  captured  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  of  the  garrison,  including  officers,  and  lost  two  killed  and  three 
wounded." 

The  principal  actirrs  concerne<l  in  the  affair  were  honored  by  con- 
gratulatory resolutions  passed  by  Congress,  September  24,  177'». 

Congress  also  placed  in  the  hands  of  Major  Lee  fifteen  thousand 
dollar^  to  be  distributed  among  the  soldiers  engaged  in  the  attack. 

The  massacre  at  Old  Tappan  occurred  in  177S,  the  year  of  unpre- 
cedented suffering  in  the  continental  army  at  Valley  Forge,  the  noted 
battle  at  Monmouth,  and  of  the  two  other  terrible  massacres  of  Wyoming 
and  of  Cherrj'  Valley. 

The  old  block-house  which  stood  on  Block-House  Point  above  Bull's 
Ferry  was  probably  built  by  the  Tories  as  a  shelter  while  they  were  se- 
curing wood  from  the  hill  in  that  vicinity  to  supply  the  British  in  New 
York,  (luring  the  years  177'»-'SO.  This  block-house  was  placed  on  the 
liigh  point  above  the  ravine  which  extended  back  of  the  river  on  the 
north  side  of  Guttenberg.  It  was  protected  on  two  sides  by  perpendicu- 
lar rocks  which  rise  from  tlie  shore  and  the  ravine,  and  surrounded  on 
the  other  sides  by  abatis  and  stockades,  with  a  ditch  and  parapet.  It 
hid  but  one  entrance,  which  was  a  covere  1  way  large  enough  to  admit 
liut  one  person  at  a  time. 

Under  the  Act  passed  Uecem'.ier  2<>,  177S,  an  order  was  issued  to 
raise  eight  hundred  and  twenty  men  to  serve  two  years.  One  hundred 
;ind  twenty  men,  the  quota  for  Bergen  County,  were  organized  into  two 
companies. 

The  first  was  under  the  following  ofti:ers:  John  Outwater,  Captain; 
.Joseph  Catterline,  Lieutenant;  Abraham  Hoagland,  Ensign.  The 
second  company  was  under  Captain  Blanch  ;  I^ieutenant,  David  Demar- 
est  ;  and  Ensign,  Jacobus  Boggart.  On  December  29th,  1871  another 
call  was  made  for  men  to  serve  one  year,  when  four  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  n;en  were  placed  in  command  of  Major  Samuel  Hayes.  The  officers 
of  the  Bergen  Company  were  Peter  Ward,  Captain;  Joseph  Catterline, 
Lieutenant  ;   Samuel  Verbyke,  Ensign. 

Bergen  County  had  one  companv  of  niililia  and  four  companies  of 
minute   men   in    the   service.      The   minute    men   were    enlisted    for    four 


mSTOKY    (M-    Hl'.KCl'A'    Cl>t">;TV  h.i 

months,  and  were  always  ready  to  yfo  when  called  and  had  precedence 
nf  rank  over  the  militia  (iF  the  i)r<ivinco.  The  C(inii)anies  from  each 
«.-()unty  fornied  a  battalion,  ten  in  all. 

In  177(>  three  cotiipanies  from  Bergen  were  joined  in  battalion  with 
three  from  Essex  and  two  from  Burlington,  under  Col.  Philip  Van  Port- 
land. Lieutenant-Colonel  David  Brearley,  and  Major  Richard  Dev.  The 
reg-ular  militia  of  Berg-en  County  was  organized  in  one  regiment,  as 
follows: 

Tennis  Dey,  Cohmel  ;  J(din  Zabrislcie.  Lieutenant-Colonel  ;  Cornelius 
^'an  \'oorst,  Lieutenant-Colonel  ;  Peter  Fell,  Lieutenant-Colonel  ;  Rich- 
ard Dey,  Captain.  First  Major  :  John  Mauritius  Gcjeschius,  Captain, 
Second  Major  ;  George  Ryerson,  Adjutant  ;  Abr;.  lam  Van  Boskirlc. 
Surgeon. 

Captains. — Crynes  Bartholf.  Thomas  Blanch,  Joseph  Board.  James 
Christi,  Samuel  Demarest.  Abraham  Harring-,  Cornelius  Harring.  Abra- 
ham A.  P.  Harring-.  John  Hopper,  Jonathan  Hopper,  (murdered  bv 
Tories  at  New  Barbadoes,  Berg-en  County,  April  2L  17^)9  ),  Adam  Huyler. 
John  Huyler,  ( twice  a  prisoner  of  war),  Jacobus  Jaraloman,  Henricus 
Kuyper,  David  Marinus.  Henry  Obest  ( wounded  near  Hackensack,  March 
17,  1780),  John  Outwater  (wounded  March,  1780),  Elias  Romine,  Jucol) 
Terhune,  Nicausa  Terhune,  David  Van  Hossum,  Coriner  Van  Honten. 
John  Vreeland.  Peter  Ward,  John  Willis. 

Lieutenants. — Henrv  Bardan,  Thomas  lihiir.  David  Dnffe.  William 
Denniston.  David  Doremus,  John  D.  Haring,  David  \'a!i  Busse,  Peter 
S.  Van  Order. 

First  Lieutenants.—  Cornelius  D.  B]au\-eli.  (ieorg-e  Brinkerhoff. 
Peter  Sanford. 

Second  Lieutenants. — (iilliam  Bogfart,  John  Uriancy. 

Sergeants. — Anthony  Beam. Cooms,  John  F.  Harring,  Carpen- 
ter Kelly,  James  Riker,  Benjamin  Romine,  John  Hasbrook.  Cornelius 
P.  Westervelt,  Epson  Van  Winkle,  Albert  Wilson. 

Corporals,  etc. — Abram  Vreeland  ;  .\l)raham  King,  drummer  ;  Wil- 
liam Blair,  drummer  ;  Garrett  Post,  farrier,  "Lee's  Leg-ion,"  Coiitineiit.il 
.•\rmv  ;  Jacob  \'anderpool,  bombardier.  Continental  Army. 

SCK-MC  (II'    MAJdlv'   ANDKIv's  KATIC. 

The  little  villag-e  of  Tajjpan,  X.  Y.,  although  not  a  part  of  Bergen 
County,  is  nevertheless,  incidentally  conn.'cted  with  the  Revolutionary 
part  of  it.  The  villag-e  is  but  a  few  rods  over  the  State  line,  and  is  the 
place  where  Major  Andre,  the  British  sjiy  met  his  fate  October  2.  1780, 
an  incident  of  the  Revolution  which  will  ever  hold  its  own  for  interest 
with  any  eng;agement  in  that  stirring  struggle. 

In  1821  the  remains  of  Major  Andre  were  disinterred  by  order  .d  the 
Duke  of  York  and  taken  to  Westminster  Abbey,  where  they  now  rest. 
When  Dean  Stanley  was  in  this  country,  in  October.  1878,  he  and  Mr. 
Cyrus  W.  Field,  his  host,  visited  the  spot  where  Andre  was  executed 
and  originallv  buried.  The  cedar  trees  which  originally  marked  the  s])ot 
had  lieeii  dug   up  and  removed    with  the   reiiKiins   in  1S21.    and  two   wild 


64  HISTOKY    or-'    BEKCIEX    COr'NTV" 

liirrrv  trees  planted  in  their  place.  A  curious  fact  in  this  connection  is 
that  a  peach-tree  which  had  sprung'  up  on  the  f^rave  was  found  to  have 
wraj'ipcd  its  roots  around  Major  Andre's  skulL 

WASHINC.TON    AT    HACKKXSACK. 

Tlie  follovvin<)-  account  of  Washington's  march  and  brief  sojourn  at 
Hackensack  was  written  l)y  Rev.  Theodore  B.  Koneyn,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  Washinjj;ton,  at  the  head  of  his  army,  consisting  only  of  about  ?,Qiii> 
men,  having  sent  on  his  baggage  to  Acquackenouch,  crossed  the  new 
bridge  into  the  town.  This  crossing  was  made  at  a  point  now  called 
'  Old  Bridge,'  about  four  miles  north  of  Hackensack  village.  It  was  about 
dusic  when  the  head  of  the  troojjs  entered  Hackensack.  The  night  was 
dark,  colil  and  rainy,  but  I  had  a  fair  view  of  them  from  the  light  of  the 
vvind(>\v>  as  they  passed  on  our  side  of  the  street.  They  marched  two 
abreast,  looked  ragged,  some  without  a  shoe  to  their  feet,  and  most  of 
ihem  wrapped  up  in  their  blankets.  Washington  then,  and  for  some 
time  jjrevious,  had  his  headrjuarters  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Peter  Zabris- 
kie,  a  private  house,  now  called  'The  Mansion  House,'  the  su])plies  for 
the  General's  table  being  furnished  by  Mr.  Archibald  Campbell,  the 
tavern-keeper.  The  next  evening  after  the  Americans  had  passed 
throttgh,  the  British  encamped  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  We 
could  see  their  tires  about  one  hundred  yards  apart  gleaming  brilliantly 
ill  the  gloom  of  the  night,  extending  some  distance  below  the  town,  and 
more  than  a  mile  up  toward  the  New  Bridge.  Washington  was  still  at 
his  quarters,  and  had  with  him  his  suite,  life-guard,  a  company  of  foot, 
a  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  some  soldiers  from  the  rear  of  the  army. 

■'  In  the  morning  before  the  (leneral  left,  he  rode  down  to  the  dock 
where  the  bridge  now  is,  viewed  the  enemv's  encampment  about  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes,  and  then  returned  to  Mr.  Campbell's  door  and  called  for 
some  wine  and  water.  After  he  had  drank  and  Mr.  Campbell  had  taken 
the  glass  from  him,  tlie  latter,  with  tears  streaming  down  his  face,  said, 
■  (xeneral,  what  shall  I  do?  I  have  a  family  of  small  children  and  a  little 
])roperty  here ;  shall  I  leave  them?'  Washington  kindly  took  his  hand 
and  re])lied,  •  Mr.  Campljell.  stav  bv  vour  familv  and  keep  neutral"  then 
bidding  him  good-bye,  rode  off. 

••About  noon  the  next  dav  the  British  took  possession  of  the  town, 
and  in  the  afternoon  the  (Ireen  was  covered  with  Hessians,  a  horrible 
sight  to  the  inhabitants.  There  were  between  ."^OOD  and  4000,  with  their 
whiskers,  brass  caps  and  kettles,  or  brass  drums.  A  part  of  these  troops 
were  taken  prisoners  two  months  after  at  Trenton. 

A   picrrKic  oi'  Tine  pati^iots. 

■' Tliey  marched   two   al)reast,  looked   ragged,  some   without  a  shoe 

to  their  feet,  and  most  of  them  wrapped  up  in  their  blankets."     What  a 

]iicture  these  words  suggest  of  the  condition  of  that  struggling  band  of 

liatri'  ts  as  tluy  marclud  1hr(aigh  our  streets  that  cold  and  rainy  night." 


HISTORY    OF    ni'.KCKN    COTNTY  (,~. 


TOKY    AM)    HKITISH     K'AIDS. 

The  accounts  of  these  r;ii<ls.  tr.-mscrihed  below,  are  taken  from  The 
State  Historical  Collections:   also  ,]uote<l  l)v  F.  IJ.  Konieyn. 

WW     H^SKII^■K"S    RAID. 

"Northward  from  Ilackensack  a  few  miles  some  of  the  most  serious 
depredations  were  made.  Amonjr  these  was  a  Torv  raid  of  a  hundred 
men,  led  by  Colonel  Van  Buskirk,  who  on  the  Itlth  of  Mav,  177"»,  entered 
by  way  of  Closter,  and  carried  off  a  number  <>i  inhabitants;  firin;,'-  build- 
ing-s,  as  well  as  destroyin,i>-  life.  Another  detachment  swept  desolation 
on  the  17th,  and  not  a  house  of  a  Whiij-  escaped.  In  the  first  of  these 
raids  Cornelius  Tallman.  Samuel  Uemarest.  Jacob  Cole,  (leorsre  p.us- 
kirk,  were  cajjtured.  Cornelius  Demarest  was  killed,  and  Henderick 
Demarest,  .leremiah  Westeryelt  and  Dow  Westervelt  were  wourdec'. 
The  buildings  of  Peter  Demarest,  Matthew  Bogert,  Cornelius  Hyler  and 
Samuel  Demarest  were  burned.  In  the  latter  Abram  Allen  and  Ceorge 
Campbell  were  murdered.  Jacob  Zabriskie  was  stabbed  in  fifteen  ])laces, 
and  t^yo  negro  women  were  shot  down." 

It  is  doubtless  to  these  yery  same  raids  that  reference  is  made  in  a 
letter  from  Closter  dated  >Iay  1(1,  177"»  ;  and  (|uote<I  in  the  History  of 
Bergen  Coxinty,  page  77.  That  letter ^adds  some  details  not  giyen  in 
the  preceding  account  and  is  therefore  transcribed  :  "  This  day  about 
<me  hundred  of  the  enemy  came  by  the  way  of  the  New  Dock,  attacked 
the  place,  and  carried  off  Cornelius  Tallman,  Samuel  Demarest.  Jacob 
Cole  and  George  Buskirk;  killed  Cornelius  DeTuarest ;  wounded  Hen- 
derick Demarest,  Jeremiah  Westeryelt,  Dow  Tallman,  etc.  They  burnt 
the  houses  of  Cornelius  Demarest,  Matthias  Ilogert  and  Cornelius  Huv- 
ler,  Samuel  Demarest's  house  and  barn,  J(din  llanta's  house  and  barn, 
and  Cornelius  Bogert's  and  John  \Vester\-ell's  barns.  They  attempted 
to  burn  eyery  building  they  entered,  but  the  lire  was  in  some  ])Iaces  ex- 
tinguished. They  destroyed  all  the  lurniture.  etc.,  in  many  houses  ar.d 
abused  many  of  the  women.  In  their  retreat  they  were  so  closely  pur- 
sued by  the  Militia  and  a  few  Continental  troo])s  that  thev  took  off  no 
cattle.  They  were  of  Buskirk's  corjjs  some  of  our  Closter  and  old 
Ta])])an  neighbors,  joined  by  a  ])art\'  of  negroes.  I  should  haw  men- 
tioned the  negroes  first  in  order  to  grace  tlu'  liritish  arms." 
tiKiTisn   AM)  ui;ssi\x   raid  rroN    iiacki:.\S-VCK. 

Another  <>{  these  raids  is  described  as  f(dlows:  "In  the  latter  part 
of  March,  17<S0,  a  party  of  about  four  hundred  British  Hessians  and 
refugees  passed  through  Hackeiisack  on  their  way  to  attack  some  Penn- 
syh-ania  troo])s  at  Paramus.  It  was  about  three  o'clock  in  the  night 
vyhen  they  entered  the  lower  ])art  of  the  town.  .\11  was  <|uiet.  A  small 
company  of  twenty  or  thirty  Militia,  under  Cai)lain  John  Outwater,  had 
retired  for  the  night  to  the  barracks,  barns  and  outhouses,  where  those 
friendly  to  the  American  cause  generally  resorted  to  rest.  One-half  of 
the  enemy  marched  quietly  through,  when  the  rear,  consisting  mostly 
of  Hessians,  arriyed,  they  l)roke  open  the  doors  and  windows,  robbed 
and   ]>hiiider<.'d  and   took  jjrisoners   a    few  peaceable   inhabitants,  among 


f,6  HISTOKV  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

whom  was  Mr.  Archibald  Campbell.  This  gentleman,  who  had  been 
for  several  weeks  confined  to  his  l)ed  with  the  rheumatism,  they  forced 
into  the  street  and  compelled  to  follow  them.  Often  in  their  rear,  they 
threatened  to  shoot  him  if  he  did  not  hasten  his  pace.  In  the  subse- 
quent confusion  he  escaped  and  hid  in  the  cellar  of  a  house  opposite 
New  Bridge.  He  lived  until  179iS,  and  never  experienced  a  return  of  the 
rheumatism." 

Mr.  Romeyn  gives  another  version  of  that  incident  to  this  effect: 
"He  is  said  to  have  escaped  at  New  Bridge  by  hiding  under  the  bridge, 
and  standing,  as  one  version  of  the  affair  has  it,  for  some  time  in  two 
feet  of  water,  which  hydropathic  treatment  may  account  for  the  fact 
that  he  was  cured  of  his  painful  disease,  unless  we  may  suppose  that 
vigorous  bodily  exercise  at  the  point  of  a  bayonet,  or  a  good  thorough  ' 
fright,  could  serve  as  a  curative." 

The  first  narrative  continues  :  "The  Hessians  burnt  two  dwellings 
and  the  Court  House.  The  latter  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  green, 
eight  or  ten  rods  from  Campbell's  tavern.  Fortunately  the  wind  was 
from  the  west,  and  drove  the  flames  and  sparks  over  the  green,  and  the 
tavern  was  saved  by  the  family  throwing  water  over  the  roof.  At  this 
those  in  the  outhouses  were  aroused,  and  the  militia  hastened  across  the 
fields,  mounted  horses,  and  alarmed  the  troops  at  Paramus.  By  the  time 
the  enemy  had  arrived  at  what  is  now  Red  Mills,  four  miles  from  Hack- 
ensack,  they  ascertained  the  Americans  were  on  the  way  to  meet  them. 
Disappointed,  they  retraced  their  steps,  and  when  near  Hackensack 
turned  off  to  the  north,  on  the  road  leading  to  New  Bridge  (  Old  Bridge  ), 
to  the  left  of  which  there  is  a  range  about  half  a  mile  distant  from  the 
road,  the  intervening  ground  being  level.  Here  the  Continentals  and 
Militia  were  hurrying  over,  kept,  however,  at  a  distance  by  large  flanking 
parties  of  the  enemy,  who,  on  arriving  at  the  bridge,  were  detained  about 
two  hours  in  replacing  the  plank  torn  up  by  the  Americans.  In  the 
meantime  their  parties  were  skirmishing  with  our  people.  Having 
crt)ssed  over,  they  marched  down  the  east  side  of  the  Hackensack  through 
the  English  neighborhood,  being  pursued  twelve  miles  to  a  considerable 
distance  within  their  lines,  down  to  Bergen  Woods.  They  lost  many 
killed  and  wounded.  There  were  none  killed  im  our  side.  A  young  man 
of  the  town  was  wounded  by  a  spent  ball,  which  cut  his  upper  lip,  knocked 
out  four  teeth,  and  was  caught  in  his  mouth.  Captain  Outwater  received 
a  ball  below  the  knee  that  was  never  extracted.  He  carried  it  for  many 
years,  and  it  was  buried  with  him." 

THE    ATTACK    I!Y    M AJOK-C.ENEKAL    HE.\TH. 

The  account  of  another  raid  is  to  this  effect:  In  December,  ]77(i,  it 
was  reported  that  there  were  at  Hackensack  about  one  thousand  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  suggestion  of  Huntington  to  Major-General  Heath  was 
to  intercept  them  in  their  foragings.  The  latter  on  the  14th  expressed 
his  purpose  to  sweep  the  village,  which  he  did  the  next  day.  Making  a 
forced  march  by  way  of  Tappan,  he  came  upon  the  inhabitants  by  sur- 


HISTOKV    <)1-    BKKtiH.N     COrNTY  f)7 


])risc;  but  the  enemy  had  k-l't.  He  says.  -The  enemy  had  left  the  hiwer 
town  some  (hiys  since,  except  live,  whom  we  took,  two  of  them  heinj;- 
sick.  We  had  taken  about  hfty  .d'  tlie  disalTected,  and  about  lifty  or 
sixty  muskets,  the  greater  ])art  of  which  had  been  taken  from  the  Whiffs, 
it  is  supposed,  and  stored.  At  the  ihick  we  found  <me  sloop  k)adcd  with 
hay,  house  furniture,  and  some  sjjirits.  etc..  which  we  have  this  dav  un- 
h)aded,  etc.  A  brig-,  loaded,  ran  down  the  river  about  seven  miles  and 
grounded.  I  am  afraid  we  shall  not  be  able  to  secure  the  effects.  A 
schooner  loaded  with  hay.  furniture,  etc.,  wliich  had  sailed  from  tin- 
dock,  ran  on  the  banks  ^)i  the  river,  the  wind  being-  verv  fresh,  and  in 
the  nig-ht  overset,  by  which  the  goods  are  damaged,  if  not  lost.  Two 
or  three  companies  have  been  raising  here  and  ther  in  the  vicinitv,  and 
field-ofiicers  appointed:  one  Van  Buskirk,  Colonel.  At  his  home  we 
found  lifty  barrels  of  flour,  a  number  of  hogsheads  (d'  rum.  and  at  one 
Brown's,  who  is  Lieutenant-Colonel,  about  one  thousand  pounds  of 
cheese.  One  Tenpenny  is  Major.  They  are  all  gone  to  New  York  to 
have  matters  properly-  settled,  get  ammunition,  arms,  etc..  and  were  to 
have  returned  yesterday.  I  believe  we  have  luckily  disconcerted  them. 
Such  inhabitants  as  are  friendly,  received  us  with  joy,  but  are  almost 
afraid  to  s_),iak  their  sentiments,  and  indeed,  little  or  no  intelligence  can 
lie  got  from  the  inhabitants.'  "  In  referring  to  the  brig  that  ran  aground 
seven  miles  l)elow,  Mr.  Romeyn  writes:  "The  brigantine  w-hich 
grounded  just  below  the  village  was  subsequently  boarded,  but  was  re- 
taken by  the  eneni}-.  Among  other  articles  taken  from  her  was  a  large 
chest  of  plate,  said  to  belong  to  a  Mr.  Yates,  but  it  had  been  ])ut  in  his 
possession  for  safety  at  Hackensack  by  Mr.  William  Wallace^  It  was 
worth  about  fifteen  hundred  pounds." 

KEVOLl'TI().N.\KV    KKMINI.SCKNCK. 

l'>om  the  History  of  Hackensack  published  in  the  Bergen  County 
Uemocrat  we  copy  the  following: 

It  is  related  by  our  worthy  citizen,  Mr.  Henry  \'anderbeck.  of  Kiver 
Street,  that  in  lis7S,  a  party  of  British  soldiers  came  up  the  Hackensack 
River  and  burned  the  Court  House  and  raided  the  neighboring  farm- 
houses. 

Among  the  ])laces  visited  was  the  house  of  his  grandfather.  I'aul 
Vanderbeck,  situated  near  the  present  home  of  the  grandson.  At  the 
time  of  this  raid,  Paul  \'an(lerl)ick  was  in  camp  with  Captain  Outwater, 
then  staticmed  near  Paramus.  ,\Irs.  Vanderbeck  was  at  home  alone, 
and  tried  by  every  possible  means  to  hide  away  some  few  things  in  the 
cellar,  among  which  she  unfortunately  stored  away  three  or  four  geese. 
When  the  British  had  stolen  all  the  pigs  and  geese  and  almost  every 
eatable  thing,  including  a  batch  of  hot  bread  just  from  the  oven,  together 
with  all  the  butter  in  the  house,  and  were  about  to  retire  with  their 
booty,  one  of  tlie  imprisoned  ganders,  with  goose-like  simplicity,  gave  a 
loud  cry  which  called  attention  to  their  hiding  place,  and  resulted  in 
their  being  taken  along  with  the   ,,ther  iihnider.      These  raiders  ])laced 


68  ursToKV  01-"  bkkgex   cointv 

the  lii)t  l)rca(l  in  the  same  bag  with  the  rolls  of  butter,  already  stowed 
away.  ai;(l  Mrs.  Vaiiuerbeck  rejoiced  greatly  when  watching  them  depart 
ali.iig  the  lane  to  note  the  melted  butter  running  down  the  backs  of  the 
red  coati;  of  the  Britishers  who  bore  that  part  of  the  forage. 

Some  two  hours  later,  two  British  officers  rode  up  and  asked  Mrs. 
Vanderbeck  if  she  could  furnish  them  with  something  to  eat,  and  she 
irifdinied  them  that  their  Hessian  troopers  had  stolen  eyerything  she 
had  to  eat.  except  a  loaf  of  bread  which  she  had  hidden  and  the  cream 
which  she  was  just  almut  to  churn  when  the  raid  took  place.  They  told 
her  to  i>lace  the  cream  in  the  churn  and  they  would  do  the  churning  for 
her.  which  tliey  did.  When  they  obseryed  Mrs.  Vanderbeck  working 
the  liutter  with  a  wooden  ladle,  they  expressed  surprise  and  commented 
on  the  superiority  of  this  method  oyer  that  of  working  it  with  the  hand, 
such  as  i)revailed  in  their  country.  After  being  supplied  with  the  re- 
maining loaf,  and  the  new  butter,  and  a  liberal  quantity  of  fresh  milk, 
they  each  gave  her  a  guinea  to  compensate  her  for  her  loss  and  took 
their  departure. 

rilKKl';  COMMAXDEKS — COLON'EI.  AAKON  BTKIv'.  COLOXEI.  CEOKGK  BAyLOK, 

kki(;adiek-(;i;.vekal  exuch  pook. 

Thev  find  place  ;ind  mention  here,  for  a  reason  previously  given, 
and  that  has  governed  in  the  selection  of  the  subject  matter  of  this 
portion  of  the  work,  viz.,  their  relation  to  <.)ur  local  history. 

Mr.  Komjvn  wrote  of  Colonel  Aaron  Burr  as  follows  :  "It  was  just 
above  the  village  of  Hackensack,  aljout  two  miles,  in  September,  1777. 
that  Colonel  Burr  i  Aaron  Burr  <  played  a  very  active  part  which  gave  him 
his  rirst  military  reputation.  Hearing,  at  the  point  where  his  regiment 
was  lying,  that  the  British  had  marched  out  of  New  York,  and  were 
devasting  the  country,  and  were  within  thirty  miles  of  him,  he  started 
to  meet  them  with  his  small  force.  About  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
when  within  three  miles  of  Hackensack,  he  received  information  that 
the  most  advanced  of  the  enemy  pickets  were  cmly  a  mile  distant.  His 
men  having  marched  thirty  miles  since  breaking  camp,  and  being  ex- 
tremely fatigued,  he  ordered  them  to  lie  down  and  keep  silent  until  he 
returne<l.     In  a  few  moments  they  were  all  asleep. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Colonel  Burr  went  forward  alone  to  reconnoitre, 
slealthilv  he  felt  his  way  toward  the  picket,  and  found  them  lying  on 
the  ground  guarded  bv  the  sentinels.  He  was  near  enough  to  hear  their 
watchword.  He  ascertained  by  making  a  wide  detour  that  this  picket 
was  so  far  in  advance  of  the  main  body  as  to  be  out  of  hearing.  In 
gaining  this  information,  so  much  time  was  spent,  that  it  was  within  an 
hour  of  daybreak  before  he  returned  to  his  regiment.  Quietly  and 
quickly  waking  his  men,  lie  informed  them  of  his  purpose  to  attack  the 
enemy's  picket,  and  ordered  them  to  follow  a  certain  distance,  and  for- 
bade any  man  to  si)eak  on  pain  of  instant  death.  So  accurately  had  the 
Colonel  noted  the  locality  and  calculated  the  position  of  the  senti- 
nels,   that    he    was    al)le    to    lead    his     men    between    those    two    unsus- 


IIISTOKV    OK    BKKC.liN    COI'NTY  (i'> 


pjcliny  individuals  at  the  in  )11umU  when  thev  wcro  farthest  apart; 
and  he  was  ahnost  upon  the  sleepinj;-  picket  In'fore  a  man  of  it  bef^an  to 
>tir.  When  at  a  distance  of  ten  yards,  Burr  was  challenged  bv  a  sentinel, 
whom  he  immediately  shot  dead,  and  thon  s>-ave  the  word  of  attack. 
One  officer,  a  sergeant,  a  corjioral  .ind  twenty-seven  privates  fell  into 
their  hands,  on  this  occasion.  Only  one  of  the  pickets  besides  the  sen- 
tinel, made  any  resistance,  and  he  was  overpowered  after  he  had  received 
two  bayonet  wounds.  He  attempted  to  march  awav  with  his  comrades, 
but  after  going  a  short  distance  was  comi)elled  to  lie  down  exhausted 
and  fainting  from  loss  of  l>lood.  "(io  a  little  further  niv  g-ood  fellow." 
said  Burr,  "and  we  will  get  a  surgeon  for  vou."  "Ah  I"  gasped  the 
dying  veteran,  "all  the  doctors  in  America  can  do  me  no  service,  for  I 
am  a  dying  man;  but  it  grieves  me  sore  to  the  heart  that  I  have  served 
my  King  upward  of  twenty  years,  and  at  length  must  die  with  a  charged 
nuisket  in  my  hand." 

From  the  more  extended  account,  found  in  the  history  of  Bergen 
and  Passaic  Counties,  we  extract  the  f>)llowing  statements  concerning 
Colonel  George  Baylor  :  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  the  British  Commander,  to 
divert  attention  from  some  <)f  his  projected  military  movements,  ordered 
Ivord  Cornwallis,  Major-General  Charles  (Irey,  and  General  Knyphausen, 
to  undertake  a  foraging  expedition  into  Kast  New  Jersey.  General 
Washington,  in  order  to  check  this  movement  of  the  British  up  the  Hud- 
son, "  ordered  Colonel  Baylor  with  the  Third  Regiment  Light  Dragocms 
of  Virginia,  to  move  frimi  their  stati(m  at  Paramus,  a  small  hamlet  on 
Saddle  River  about  six  miles  northwest  from  Hackensack,  and  post  them- 
selves on  the  Hackensack  River  to  watch  the  movements  northward  of 
the  force  under  Lord  Cornwallis.  Colonel  Baylor  had  up  to  this  time 
proved  himself  a  very  gallant  officer." 

"It  was  just  at  twilight,  September  27.  177S,  when  Colonel  Baylor 
and  his  troopers  came  to  the  little  stream  of  the  Hackensack,  somewhat 
over  three  miles  scmthwest  from  Tappan  Village.  Here  he  learned  that 
Brigadier  General  Anthony  Wayne  was  Imt  a  short  distance  north  of 
Tappan  with  a  body  of  militia.  So  fearing,  perhaps,  the  superior  rank 
of  Wayne,  and  not  wishing  to  lose  his  detached  authority,  he  halted  bis 
men  on  the  Overkill  Neighborhood  Road,  and  (juartered  his  dragoons  in 
the  barns  r)f  thrifty  farmers.  His  force  consisted  of  twelve  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  four  enlisted  men.  Colonel  Baylor,  with  his  regimental 
staff  officers,  knocked  at  the  farm  house  of  Cornelius  A.  Haring,  and 
his  son  Ralph,  who  had  just  been  married,  opened  the  door  for  them. 
They  told  Mr.  Haring  of  their  desire  to  spend  the  night  there,  and  he 
received  them  willingly,  although  he  informed  them  that  he  understood 
the  British  were  lying  at  New  Bridge  and  might  at  any  time  come  upon 
them.  Cohmel  Baylor  ilid  not  ai)])ear  alarmed  at  this  statement,  but 
after  seeing  that  his  men  were  well  provided  for,  and  after  posting  a 
guard  of  sergeant  and  twelve  men  at  the  bridge  over  the  Hackensack 
about    half  a  mile   south    of   Mr.  Haring's   house,    with    strict   orders  to 


70  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN  COX'XTY 

kec])  a  patrol  (if  two  men  oil  each  road  to  watch  them  a  mile  below  and 
to  he  relieved  ever}'  hour,  he  retired  to  sleep  in  fancied  security." 

Meanwhile  Major  General  Grey — known  as  "No  flint  General," 
from  his  habit  of  ordering  his  troops  to  take  the  flints  from  their  i^uns. 
and  depend  on  their  bayonets — advanced  to  make  the  ordered  attack 
ui)on  C'ohmel  Baylor.  The  remainder  of  the  stor_v  is  soon  told.  "The 
troo])s  (British)  just  before  midnig-ht,  September  27th,  marched  on  the 
road  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hackensack  River  silently  and  in  perfect 
order  until  thev  arrived  withiri  half  a  mile  of  the  patrol  on  th.il  mail. 
Here  thev  halted,  and,  guided  by  some  Tories  who  knew  the  ground,  a 
party  of  picked  men       *       *  made  a  detour  to  the  left  through  the 

fields,  and  then  passed  to  the  rear  of  the  sergeants'  guard  at  the  bridge 
and  the  patrol  on  the  river  road,  and  without  the  slightest  difiiculty 
ma  1,' them  prisoners.  O.ij,  at  least,  however,  escaped.  The  sentinel  who 
liatl  escaped  from  the  sergeants' guard  at  the  Bridge  awoke  Ralph  Haring. 
who  aroused  his  father.  The  warning,  however,  came  too  late,  as  the 
Lritish  soldiers  were  upon  the  heels  of  the  sentinel,  and  burst  into  the 
house  with  the  cry  of  "no  quarter  to  the  rebels.'  Then  the  brutal  sol- 
diers began  to  bayonet  the  inmates.  Lieutenant  John  Smith  and  his 
company,  quartered  in  the  barn,  were  quickly  surrounded,  and,  although 
thev  surrendered,  were  inhumanly  treated  and  wounded,  and  but  few 
escaped.  Other  houses  and  barns  in  the  neighborhood,  where  the 
American  soldiers  had  been  quartered,  were  visited  by  the  British  troops 
and  the  scenes  of  cruelty  and  bloodshed  repeated.  'The  cries  for  mercy 
of  the  defenseless  soldiers  were  answered  only  by  acts  of  savage  cruelty.' 
'The  dragoons,  stirprised,  incapable  of  successful  defense,  with  no  pros- 
pect of  inflicting  injury  on  their  f<ve,  could  only  sue  for  pitv.  But  the 
bayonet  was  still  at  its  bloody  work,  and  thrust  after  thrust  was  given 
whenever  any  sign  of  life  ajjpeared." 

"Tile  result  of  this  slaughter  was  that  out  of  the  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  men  of  the  regiment,  eleven  were  instantly  bayoneted  to  death, 
seventeen  left  behind  covered  with  bayonet  wounds  and  expected  to  die, 
and  thirtv-niiie  were  taken  prisoners,  eight  of  wh(mi  were  severely 
wounded.  The  rest  of  the  troopers  escaped  in  the  darkness.  All  the 
arms  and  seventy  horses  were  i)art  of  the  booty  captured." 

"A  strong  feeling  of  indignation  spread  over  the  country  when 
this  cruel  massacre  was  announced."  "The  affair,  while  it  seemed  so 
very  brutal,  was  also  certainly  very  impolitic,  as  the  killing  a  few  de- 
fenceless men  in  the  night  would  hardly  reward  the  enemy  for  the  bitter 
haired  engendered  in  the  hearts  and  openly  expressed  in  the  homes  of 
the  patriots."  Congress,  bv  s])ecial  resolution,  directed  an  investiga- 
tion of  tlie  affair  bv  Governor  Livingston,  and  when  he  had  secured  the 
desired  infornialioil.  his  re])ort  of  the  barb.irous  action  was  ])ublished  to 
the  world,  and  served  to  keep  alivt'  for  two  generations  thereafter,  the 
feelings   of  hatred  cherished   bv  Americans   toward   their   former   foes. 

While  great  sviii])atliv  was  expressed    for  Ccdonel   Baylor,  his  care- 


HI.S'1X)KY    OK    BKKCKN     COINTY  71 


Jcssness  and  unsoldierly  conduct  und.-r  the  oircum^t.inces  brou'^ht  iDu-i 
liini  severe  and  merited  eondonination. 

"In  September,  17iS0.  the  American  Army  lay  at  Kimlerhamack,  in 
what  is  now  Washington  Townslii]).  InT>;vn  County.  While  here,  on 
tlie  Stli  of  SepteJnber,  occurred  the  death  ol'  Hrii;-adier  (General  Knoeh 
I'oor."" 

A  military  journal  ol'  Se])tember  Kith,  17S((,  records  the  followinsr: 
■•We  are  now  lamentinjr  the  loss  of  Brii-adier  (General  Poor,  who  died 
last  niu^ht  of  putrid  fever.  His  funeral  solemnities  have  been  atten<led 
this  afternoon.  The  corpse  was  brousrht  this  morninij  from  Paramus. 
and  left  at  a  house  ab<mt  a  mile  frtmi  the  burying  vard  at  Hackensack. 
whence  it  was  attende<l  to  the  place  of  interment  b\  the  following  \)V<)- 
cession:  A  regiment  (d'  light  infantry  in  uniform  with  arms  reversed; 
f<mr  field  pieces;  Major  Lee's  regiment  of  light  horse;  General  Hand 
and  his  brigade;  the  Major  on  horseback;  two  chaplains;  the  horse  (d'  the 
<lecease(U  with  his  boots  and  spurs  suspended  from  the  saddle,  led  bv  a 
servant;  the  corpse  borne  by  ftmr  sergeants,  and  the  pall  su])ported  l)v 
six  general  officers.  The  coffin  was  of  mahogany,  and  a  pair  <<\'  pistols, 
and  two  swords  crossing  each  other,  and  tied  with  black  cra])e,  wtre 
])laced  on  the  top.  The  corpse  was  followed  by  the  officers  of  the  New 
Hampshire  brigade,  the  officers  of  the  brigade  of  light  infantry  which  the 
deceased  had  lately  commanded.  Other  officers  fell  in  promiscuously,  and 
were  followed  by  His  Excellency.  General  Washington,  and  other  general 
officers.  Having  arrived  at  the  burying-yard  the  troops  opened  to  the  right 
and  left,  resting  on  their  arms  reversed;  and  the  j)r<)cessiou  passed  to  the 
grave  i  in  the  yard  of  the  First  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Hackensack  i 
where  a  short  eulogy  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Evans.  A  band  of 
music  with  a  number  of  drums  and  fifes  pl.iyed  a  funeral  dirge,  the 
drums  were  muffled  witli  black  crajie,  and  tlu'  oflicers  in  the  procession 
wore  crape  around  the  left  arm. 

■'The  regiment  of  light  infantry  were  in  handsome  uniform,  ami 
wore  in  their  caps  long  feathers  of  black  and  red.  The  elegant  regiment 
of  horse,  commanded  by  Major  Lee,  in  comi)lete  uniform  and  well  dis- 
ci])lined,  exhibited  a  martial  and   nolde  a])])earance." 

On  the  tablet  covering  his  remains  this  inscrii)tion  may  l>e  found: 
"In  memorv  of  Hon.  Brigadier  GeniT.-il  i'^noch  Poor,  of  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  who  departed  this  life  on  tile  Sth  of  September,  17S(i, 
aged  44  years,'"  Washington,  Lafayette  and  a  jiortion  of  the  iVnurican 
Army  attended  the  funeral  of  (ieneral  Poor. 

In  1.S24  Lafayette  revisited  this  grave,  and.  turning  away  much 
much  affected,  exclaimed:  "  Ahl  that  was  one  of  my  (ienerals," 

IJrigadiiT  (General  Poor,  who  was  a  native  of  New  IIami)shire.  re- 
ceixed  that  titK'  in  1777,  and  was  one  of  the  most  competent  and  re- 
spected <ifticers  uf  the  Continental  Army,  antl  serve<l  throughout  his 
career,  in  which  he  rose  rajjidly  through  the  ranks,  from  Colonel  to 
General,  with  distinction  and  honor. 


/2  HISTORY    OF    BEKCJIJN    COUNTY 

THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION. 

Upon  the  breaking-  (uit  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  in  1861,  when 
call  was  issued  by  the  President  for  seYenty-tive  thousand  men,  the  quota 
for  the  State  of  New  Jersey  was  three  thousand,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
men,  or  four  regiments  of  seYen  hundred  and  eig-hty  each,  to  be  detached 
from  the  four  general  military  diYisions  of  the  State.  The  War  Depart- 
ment also  required  that  in  addition  to  the  reg-iments  called  for,  the  reserYe 
militia  in  the  seYeral  states  should  be  organized  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

(ioYcrnor  Olden  received  the  requisition  of  the  War  Department  on 
the  17th  of  April,  and  immediately  issued  a  proclamation  directing  all 
individuals  or  organizations  willing  to  respond  to  the  call,  to  report 
themselves  within  twenty  days.  On  the  same  day  he  notified  the  War 
Department  that  the  call  for  troops  would  be  attended  to  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  and  issued  orders  to  Major-Generals  of  the  several  military 
divisions  of  the  State,  to  detail,  each  one  regiment  of  ten  companies, 
and  also  to  organize  immediatelv  the  reserve  militia  in  their  respective 
brigades.  The  Major-Generals  in  detailing  the  regiments  required, 
were  directed  to  accept  the  services  of  volunteers,  but  if  the  requisite 
number  did  not  offer,  they  were  required  to  draft  from  the  reserve 
militia  to  make  up  the  deficiency. 

New  Jersey's  quota  under  the  first  call  was  filled  in  a  few  days. 

At  Hackensack  a  meeting  was  held  on  April  22,  1S()1,  presided  over 
1)Y  Hon.  J.  A.  Zabriskie,  when  a  committee  was  appt>inted  to  draft  reso- 
lutions, and  after  remarks  by  William  S.  Banta,  Esq.,  the  following  were 
drafted  : 

"Whereas,  The  union  of  the  States  is  in  danger,  and  the  Consti- 
tution, framed  at  so  great  a  cost  by  our  fathers,  which  contains  within 
itself  all  needful  provisions  for  the  necessities  of  the  government,  has 
been  set  at  defiance  ;  and  whereas  our  national  flag  has  been  insulted 
and  government  property  invaded  and  seized  by  armed  traitors,  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  the  Union  shall  be  preserved  at  all  hazards,  the 
Constitution  upheld,  the  right  of  the  government  vindicated,  and  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  maintained  in  its  full  spirit  and  power. 

"Resolved,  That  for  the  defense  and  maintenance  of  (mr  country 
and  its  institutions  we  are  prepared,  if  need  be,  to  sacrifice  our  wealth, 
shed  our  blood,  and  lay  down  our  lives. 

"  Resolved  that  our  country  is  the  l)est  country  in  the  world,  and 
that  we  are  not  prepared  to  witness  its  destruction  without  first  exerting 
all  the  means  at  our  command  for  its  perpetuation. 

"Resolved,  That  Bergen  County  will  stand  by  our  national  banner 
in  the  eventful  crisis,  and  those  who  go  out  from  among  us  to  the  tented 
field  to  uphold  that  sacred  banner  merit  and  will  receive  our  warmest 
sympathy  and  aid. 

■'Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  six  be  appointed  by  this  meeting 
to  provide  means  for  the  sup])ort  of  those  left  destitute  by  the  absence  of 
their  husbands  or  fathers  who  may  volunteer  in  the  defense  of  their 
countrv." 


HISTOKY    OK    Bi;Kt;HN     CorNTV 


The  fnlln\\in<r  gentleiiien  were  appointed  such  committee  :  D.  A. 
Berry,  (iarret  C.  Ackerson,  W.  S.  I'.anta.  John  L.  Harle,  John  H.  Banta. 
and  John  J.  Anderson.  A  book  heinj.;-  then  opened  tor  volunteer:,,  a 
large  number  of  names  were  enrolled. 

Under  an  Act  of  Congress  ai)proved  July  22.  ISdl,  the  Twenty-sec- 
ond Regiment  was  organized,  and  on  September  22.  1S()2,  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service,  for  nine  months.  This  regiment,  the 
Twenty-secimd  Infantry,  was  the  contribution  of  Bergen  County,  and 
consisted  of  nine  hundred  and  thirty-nine  men.  including  officers.  These 
men  consisted  chiefly  of  men  from  the  agricultural  districts,  robust  and 
soldierly  in  appearance.  The  regiment  started  to  Washingtcm.  I).  C. . 
on  the  2''th  f)f  September,  lSh2,  and  upon  their  arri.il  were  ordered  into 
Camp  at  Georgetown,  having  been  assigned  to  a  provisional  brigade 
"Casey's  defenses  of  Washington."  After  remaining  until  the  lust  of 
December  they  were  sent  to  Aquia  Creek,  \'a.,  and  assigned  to  Patrick's 
bridge,  ])rov()st-guard  Army  of  the  Potomac,  their  duties  being  the 
guarding  of  the  railroad,  transferring  of  wounded,  prisoners,  etc.  Thev 
were  next  placed  in  the  Third  Brigade,  First  Division,  First  Army  Corps, 
Their  only  imjiortant  engagement  was  that  of  Chancellorsville,  Virginia, 
on  the  2nd  and  3rd  of  May,  1S(),^.  Upon  the  expiration  of  their  term  of 
enlistment  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  return  to  New  Jersey  for  its  dis- 
charge, and  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Trenton  on  the  25th  of  June. 
l.S()3,  their  term  of  service  having  expired  on  the  l.sth  of  that  month. 

"  Previous  to  being  mustered  out  at  Trenton  they  were  given  amagni- 
licent  reception  by  the  ladies  and  citizens,  Maj.  I'Vank  Mills,  of  that  city, 
delivering  an  appropriate  address  on  the  occasion.  The  companies 
returning  to  Hackensack  were  also  received  with  warm  congratulations, 
and  a  collation  was  served  at  the  Mansion  House." 

The  original  field,  staff  and  line  officers  of  the  regiment,  were. 
Field  and  Staff — Cornelius  Fornett.  Colonel;  Alexander  Douglas,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel; Abraham  (I.  Demarest.  Major;  Jidin  1'^.  Satterthwaite, 
Adjutant;  Ural  B.  Titus,  (Juartermaster ;  Jacob  B.  Ouick,  Surgeon; 
Samuel  A.  Jones,  Assistant  Surgeon  ;  John  iv  Cary,  Second  Assistant 
Surgeon;  Abraham  G.  Kverson,  Chaplain. 

The  non-Commissioned  Staff  were  :  John  Ferdon,  Sergeant-Major; 
James  T.  (lunnelly,  yuartermaster-Sergeant ;  i''re<lerick  P.  Van  Kiper. 
Commissary-Sergeant ;  Benjamin  S.  Mennier.  Hospital-Steward.  Line 
officers-  Company  A..  Robert  \V.  Berry.  Cai)tain  ;  Jacob  Post,  b'irst 
[.rieutenant  ;  Jacob  S.  Lozier.  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  B..  Abra- 
ham Van  Kmburgh,  Captain  ;  Jacob  Z.  Van  Blarcom,  First  Lieutenant; 
Benjamin  Z.  Van  Kmburg,  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  C.  Samuel 
D.  Demarest,  Captain;  William  J.  Demarest,  First  Lieutenant;  Joseph 
P.  Vreeland,  Second  Lieutenant.  Com])any  D..  John  C.  Westervelt, 
Captain;  Walter  H.  Rumsey,  First  Lieutenant;  Nicholas  Collingnon, 
Sec<md  Lieutenant.  Ccmipany  F.,  William  Chippendale,  Captain  ;  Wil- 
liam Drem,  First  Lieutenant;  John  (lilham,  Second  Lieutenant.  Com- 
jjany    F..   James    M.    Avers,   Cajitain  ;  Jacob    Titus,    First    Lieutenant; 


74  HISTOKV  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

George  W.  Cubberlev.  Second  I^ieutenant.  Company  G..  John  H.  Mar- 
gerum,  Captain;  Richard  H.  Ivory,  First  Lieutenant;  William  C.  Van- 
derwater.  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  H.,  Daniel  D.  Blauvelt,  Cap- 
tain; Thomas  G.  T.  Paterson,  First  Lietitenant ;  George  Kingsland, 
Second  Lieutenant.  Company  L,  Thomas  H.  Swenarton,  Captain; 
Joseph  A.  Blauvelt,  First  Lieutenant;  David  C.  Blauvelt,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. Company  K.,  Richard  C.  Dey,  Captain  ;  Garret  J.  Christie, 
First  Lieutenant ;  James  Christie.  Second  Lieutenant. 

Early  in  January,  1863,  the  Twenty-second  Regiment  was  removed 
to  Belle  Plains  and  attached  to  the  left  wing  of  General  Franklin's  di- 
vision, brigade  of  General  Paul.  On  February  1st,  186.3,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Alexander  Douglas  resigned  his  commission,  and  Major  A.  G. 
Demarest  was  afterward  promoted  to  the  Colonelcy. 

Promotions  were  :  Major  Abraham  G.  Demarest,  promoted  to  Col- 
onel January  26,  18()3  ;  Captain  Abraham  Van  Emburg,  promoted  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  vice  Alexander  Douglass,  resigned,  February  20, 
1863;  Captain  Samuel  D.  Demarest,  promoted  to  Major  February  2(1, 
1863  ;  First  Lieutenant  Jacob  Post,  promoted  to  Adjutant  January  1, 
1863  ;  Assistant-Surgeon  William  S.  Janney,  promoted  to  Surgeon  March 
27,  1863,  died  of  typhoid  feyer  in  camp  near  White  Oak  Church,  Va., 
June  1,  1863;  Second  Lieutenant  Jacob  S.  Lozier,  promoted  to  Captain 
January  16,  1863 ;  First  Lieutenant  Joseph  A.  Blauvelt,  promoted  to 
Captain  May  18,  1863  ;  Second  Lieutenant  George  Kingsland,  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant  November  20,  1862  ;  Second  Lieutenant  James  Chris- 
tie, promoted  to  Captain  May  18,  1863  ;  Second  Lieutenant  Benjamin  Z. 
Van  Emburg,  promoted  to  Captain  February  21,  1863;  Second  Lieuten- 
ant Joseph  Vreeland,  promoted  to  Captain  February  22,  1863;  Sergeant 
Stephen  G.  Hopper,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  March  11,  1863  ;  First 
Sergeant  Garret  M.  Campbell,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  January 
16,  1863  ;  Corporal  Richard  A.  Terhune,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
March  11,  1863  ;  Sergeant  Milton  Birley,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant 
September  1,  1862;  First  Sergeant  John  A.  Van  Buskirk,  promoted  to 
First  Lieutenant  September  2,  1862 ;  First  Sergeant  Albert  F(5rbush, 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  May  18,  1863 ;  First  Sergeant  (iilbert  T. 
Bogert,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  November  20,  1862,  and  to  First 
Lieutenant  May  18,  1863  ;  Sergeant  George  A.  Ward,  promoted  to  First 
Sergeant  January  1,  1863;  First  Sergeant  Andrew  Van  Emburg,  pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant  February  21,  1863,  and  to  Captain  May  18, 
1863  ;  Sergeant  Charles  Van  Riper,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  May 
18,  1863  ;  Sergeaat  Thomas  Eckerson,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  March 
8,  1863;  Corporal  John  S.  Townsend,  promoted  to  Sergeant  June  1,  1863; 
Corporal  William  Cowperthwaite,  promoted  to  Sergeant  January  1,  1863  ; 
Corporal  Nicholas  P.  Royce,  promoted  to  Sergeant  February  4,  18()3 ; 
Corporal  Cornelius  Van  Horn,  promoted  to  Sergeant  March  11,  1863; 
Corporal  George  A.  Brinkerhoff,  promoted  to  Sergeant  March  11,  1863; 
Cor])oral  Aaron  Vanderbeck,  promoted  to  Sergeant  March  18,  1863; 
Cor])oral  Al)raham  H.  Hopper,  promotCMl   to  Sergeant  March   18,  1863; 


IIISTOKV    OK    BKKC.ICN    COTNTY 


Corporal  David  J.  Blacklcds^'-e,  promotod  to  Scrj^eant  April  7,  ISd.^  ;  Pri- 
vate Peter  L.  Conklin,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  Februarv  22, 
18f)3;  Corporal  Isaac  D.  Bo-fert,  ])roinoted  to  Seru-eant  March  1,  1S(>.^; 
Private  Cornelius  Koert,  promoted  to  Coriioral  March  1,  ISf),^. 

Tin-;  iv'Aii.K'OAi)  s'l'ix'iKi;. 

The  famous  railroad  strike  in  ls77  readied  New  Jersey,  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  West  \'iryinia  and  ei<ihtof  the  Western  States. 
The  extent  of  the  movement  was  so  yreat  that  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment was  called  upon  for  assistance.  New  Jersey  bein^  the  East- 
ern terminus  of  the  two  great  trunk  lines  of  railroad,  with  their  im- 
mense railroad  property  and  interests  subject  to  'he  communistic  and 
criminal  elements  of  the  two  great  cities,  rendered  ihe  jjosition  in  this 
State  critical. 

To  quell  these  riots  the  militia  of  nearly  a  dozen  States  was  called 
into  service.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  of  July  the  Second  Battalion, 
under  Major  James  Vreeland  Moore,  wasordered  to  report  to  Colonel  Hart, 
at  Hoboken,  and  were  quartered  there  on  a  barge  in  the  river  with  the 
Ninth  Regiment.  C)n  the  27th  the  command  accompanied  Battery  A  to 
Jersey  Cit}-,  but  the  next  day  rejoined  the  Ninth  Regiment  at  Hoboken. 
There  being  disorders  and  obstructions  at  Port  Morris,  Major  Moore  re- 
ceived instructions  from  the  Governor  to  re])ort  to  (General  Sewell,  and 
at  that  point  "  to  aid  the  authorities  there  in  ])utting  down  all  lawless- 
ness, or  if  they  fail  from  any  cause,  do  it  vourself,  using  your  best 
judgment." 

The  battalion  reached  Port  Morris  at  12.4ii  A.  M.  July  2'tth.  On 
Monday,  the  M)th  of  July,  General  Sewell  reported  trains  running.  On 
the  3d  of  August  a  force  of  United  States  troops  having  reached  Easton, 
Pa.,  the  Second  Battalion  and  regiments  of  National  Guard  were  re- 
lieved. During  this  strife  "the  Second  Battalion."  under  Major  Moore, 
according  to  General  Sewell's  rejjort,  "■  was  a  credit  to  any  man  in  either 
])eace  or  war." 

THK    WAK    WITH    SPAIN. 

During  the  Spanish-American  War  four  cotn])anies  from  Bergen 
County  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Sea  Girt,  N.  J., 
May  2,  1898.  Their  destination  was  Cuba.  On  June  1st  the  regiment 
left  Sea  (iirt  for  Cuba  Libre,  Jacksotix  ille.  i'^Iorida,  and  was  attached  to 
the  Second  Brigade,  First  Division,  Seventh  Army  Corps,  (reneral  Fitz- 
hugh  Ivee  Commander.  It  returned  home  September  24th,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service  November  1 7th,  18<)8.  at 
Paterson,  N.  J.  The  history  of  each  -of  these  comj)anies  is  given  in  the 
chapters  to  which  they  severally  belong. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SOCIETIES   AND  INCORPORATED   COMPANIES  OF 

BERGEN  COUNTY. 

THE    BEKC'.KN    COItnTY    BIBI.K    SOCIKTV. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Haekensack, 
June  l()th,  1S47,  for  the  purpose  of  considering-  the  practicability 
of  forming  a  Bible  Society-  for  the  County  of  Bergen,  Rev.  H. 
H.  Warren  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Cornelius  Blauvelt  was 
chosen  Secretary.  The  meeting  adjourned  to  the  first  day  of 
July,  at  which  date  an  organization  was  effected  and  the  follow- 
ing officers  chosen:  Rev.  W.  Elting,  D.  D.,  President;  Revs.  Bar- 
banas  V.  Collins  and  John  Manley,  Vice  Presidents;  Christian  De  Baun, 
Secretary,  and  A.  ().  Zabriskie,  Treasurer.  Executive  Committee,  Rev. 
A.  H.  Warner,  Henry  H.  Banta,  Peter  Vestervelt,  Jr.,  Jacob  Van  Bus- 
kirk,  Andrew  H.  Hopper.  Edward  B.  Force,  Robert  Rennie. 

The  society  has  been  from  its  organization  an  effective  auxiliary  uf 
the  American  Bible  Society,  and  has  worked  in  co-operation  with  the 
parent  institution. 

The  first  anniversary  of  the  society  was  held  at  the  North  Dutch 
Church  in  Schraalenburgh,  March  14,  1848.  Dr.  Elting  was  re-elected 
President,  and  Christian  De  Baun,  Secretary.  Agents  were  appointed 
to  canvass  the  different  townships,  and  Bibles  were  obtained  from  the 
parent  Bojiety.  The  colpDrteurs  reported  the  first  year  1859  families 
visited,  S300.7-5  worth  of  books  sold,  S26  worth  gratuitously  distributed, 
S102..^()  collected  from  contributions,  7.^  destitute  families  supjjlied  and 
S.i'>2.75  paid  for  Bibles  and  Testaments. 

At  the  second  anniversary,  held  in  Haekensack,  February  6th,  184<), 
Rev.  John  M.  McAuley  preached  the  occasional  sermon.  Rev.  S.  Iritmus 
Prime,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  was  present 
and  delivered  an  able  address.  Rev.  Dr.  Elting  was  re-elected  Presi- 
dent and  Christian  De  Baun,  Secretary.  For  the  year  ending  October 
1st,  1899,  330  Bibles  and  Testaments  were  donated  and  95  sold/ 

The  present  officers  are  Rev.  Edward  Lode  wick.  President:  Revs. 
Isaac  Thomas  and  W.  Williams,  Vice  Presidents;  Rev.  David  W.  Tal- 
madg.  Secretary;  Mr.  A.  S.  D.  Demarest,  Treasurer. 

KKKGKN    COUNTY    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    ASSOCIATION. 

This  organization  was  formed  in  1867,  and  has  been  largely  par- 
ticipated in  by  clergymen  and  Sunday-school  workers  throughout  the 
county. 

William  Williams  was  elected  the  first  president.  He  remained  in 
office  two  vears,  and  was  succeeded  by  Judge  Thomas  Cumming,  who 
was  elected  Se])tember  12,  1870.      The  county  is  divided  into  three   dis- 


HISTOKY    Ol--    Hi;i<(",KX     COVNTY 


tricts,  the  vieo-presidi-nts  of  the  associ;itin;i  heiuji"  ex-offioio  i)i-esi(lenls 
III'  their  respective  dislricts.  Each  towiiship  lias  a  secretary  wlinse  duv 
it  is  t(i  furnish  statistics  in  a  rejiort  each  vear  tn  tlie  county  secretary. 

<'.AS    AM)    MI.IX'TK'IC    COMPA.Xy    IM'    UlCKl ;  K\    corxTY. 

The  tirst  lightinu-  company  established  in  Hackensack  \yas  in  ISd". 
when  by  special  Act  of  the  Leg-islature.  th-  H;i:kensack  (iasli  jht  C  rn- 
pany  was  incorporated,  a  meetino^  for  the  purjiose  havinif  been  held  on 
July  loth,  of  that  year.  The  tirst  directors  were:  L.  J.  Van  Bod;erck. 
John  J.  Ward,  M,  M.  Knapp,  Garrett  Ackerson,  Jr.,  R,  \'.  Terliune. 
John  J.  Anderson  and  N.  S.  Banta.  The  first  ofticers  were  :  Pri'sident, 
M.  M.  Knapp;  Treasurer,  N.  S.  Banta;  Secreta-^-,  K.  P.  Terliune. 
The  g-as  company  in  these  days  had  the  tield  to  tiiemselves.  reai>in<i- 
large  profits,  with  gas  at  five  dollars  per  thousand  feet,  and  sjiending 
only  so  much  money  as  the  necessities  of  the  case  demanded.  Business 
was  profitable  and  good  dividends  were  i)aid  for  about  twenty  years,  the 
town  being  obliged  to  pay  at  the  r.ite  of  thirty  seven  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  annum,  for  each  light.  On  moonlight  nights  lami)>  were  not 
lighted.  The  only  reason  why  greater  revenues  were  not  realiznl,  lav 
in  the  fact  that  fewer  lamps  were  used  on  a  street,  and  a  less  number  of 
streets  lighted  than  at  present. 

When  electricity  came  into  use,  howexer,  all  this  was  changed.  \u 
electric  plant  was  put  in  by  another  company,  when  the  income  of  the 
gas  company  fell  off,  and  they  soon  found  that  .a  new  order  of  things 
must  be  instituted  in  order  to  save  themselves  from  banlcrui)tcy.  The 
new  company  found  greater  obstacles  to  overcome  than  had  lieen  .antici- 
pated, and  to  add  to  their  troubles,  their  generating  plant  was  Imrneil, 
in  November,  1S"I4.  The  gas  company  which  in  l.S'»2,  ha'd  come  under 
new  control,  now  m.ide  radical  changes  realizing  that  more  modern 
methods  must  be  used,  and  that  impro\-ements  were  necessary.  In  1S').=, 
a  completion  of  the  jil.ins  culminateil  in  the  purchase  of  tlu'  electric 
plant,  both  comjianies  coming  under  one  control. 

The  stockholders  were  all  persons  interested  in  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  town,  and  fully  cotivinci'd  of  thi-  fact  that  in  the  near 
future  not  only  gas  but  electricity  also  would  be  largely  used  for  cook- 
ing purposes  as  well  as  lighting. 

The  present  gas  generator  has  a  capacity  of  something  over  a  ipiar- 
tiT  of  a  million  cubic  feet  i)er  day,  and  storage  of  about  seventy-five 
thousand  cubic  feet,  using  over  thirty  miles  of  mains.  The  electric  light- 
ing power  of  the  ]>resent  ])lant  being  about  twelve  thousand  lights  with 
over  fifty  miles  of  ])ole  line,  and  about  three  hundred  miles  of  wire. 
This  plant  is  now  a  ])art  of  the  new  gas  and  Klectric  Comi),iny  ot 
Bergen  County,  a  consolidation  of  the  old  Hackensack  (ias  and 
Electric  Company,  the  Kidgewood  IClectric  (.'onipany,  the  E  iglewood 
(ias  and  Electric  C(m:])any.  the  Rutherford  (ias  Company,  and  the  Ru- 
therford Electric  Com])any. 


IlISTOKV  OF  BHKGEX  COl'NTV 


Extensive  enlargements  to  the  g^enerating-  plant  in  Hackensack  are 
now  under  way  with  a  view  to  shutting  down  all  of  the  smaller  outlying 
plants  and  supplying  the  entire  C(.unty  from  the  one  station,  gas  to  be 
supplied  from  the  same  point. 

This  is  a  progressive  cc^rporation  quickly  adopting  the  latest  im- 
provements and  keeping  to  the  front  in  all  matters  upon  which  depend 
the  maintenance  of  a  first  class  service.  In  1S')8  the  company  spent  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  in  improvements,  and  expect 
to  spend  a  quarter  of  a  million  in  the  present  year,  (  1899  i. 

The  new  company  starts  out  with  an  authorized  capital  of  two  mil- 
lions of  dollars  and  an  authorized  bonded  issus  of  one  million  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  the  same  interests  controlling  as  heretofore,  with  : 
Frank  B.  Poor,  President;  Arthur  B.  Sturges,  Vice-President;  W.  C. 
Thomas,  Treasurer  ;  and  Ivemuel  Lozier,  Secretary.  The  Board  of 
Directors  will  number  fifteen,  all  well  known  men  of  the  county.  They 
are  Frank  B.  Poor,  (ieorge  W.  Conklin,  David  St.  John,  E.  A.  Pearce, 
Lemuel  Lozier,  W.  C.  Thomas,  and  Samuel  Taylor  of  Hackensack;  E. 
A.  Waltim,  Ridgewood  ;  F.  A.  E.  Cott,  Englewood  ;  William  McKenzie, 
Addis(m  Ely,  Rutherford  ;  Hamilton F.  Kean,  Elizalieth  ;  T.  N.  McCartor, 
Newark  ;  and  Arthur  B.  Sturges,  New  York. 

bkkc;kn  county  medical  society. 

In  \h40  Harvard  College  was  established  followed  in  1701  by  Yale  ; 
Princeton  in  1746;  King's  College  in  1754,  and  Oueen's  in  1770.  These 
institutions  were  for  the  promotion  and  maintenance  of  a  high  grade  of 
>c!'.olarship,  but  with  no  especial  object  in  view. 

Holland  sent  thoroughly  trained  theologians  to  look  after  the  spirit- 
ual interests  of  the  Colonists.  She  sent  also  able  lawyers,  as  did  boih 
England  and  Scotland,  to  attend  to  the  legal  interests  of  those  who  had 
come  to  the  new  world,  but  the  physical  ailments  incident  to  man  were 
nut  tlinught  of,  to  the  extent  of  making-  a  special  study  of  medicine. 

The  universitv  at  Leyden  was  noted  for  its  interest  in  the  study  of 
sciences,  especially  the  science  of  chemistry,  but  chemicals  were  then 
but  little  used  as  curatives,  herb  constituting  a  large  proportion  of  the 
natirial  used  in  the  healing  of  diseases. 

The  lirst  medical  school  in  America  was  founded  in  Philadelj)hia  in 
17(>5,  in  which  Drs.  Shippen  and  Morgan  were  Professors.  Two  years 
later  New  York  established  her  first  school  of  medicine  in  connection 
with  King-"s  College.  But  few  students  entei-ed  upon  the  work,  however, 
as  is  proven  by  the  records  which  show  that  only  eleven  degrees  were 
conferred  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revidution,  when  studies  in  that  depart- 
ment were  suspended  until  1784.  From  1792  to  1816,  a  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Uueen's  College,  New  Brunswick,  was  located  in  New  York. 
Its  location  in  the  city  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  founders,  D.'-. 
Nicholas  Romaine  and  associates  having  failed  to  place  in  New  York, 
with  the  institution  they  desired,  applied  and  secured  authority  under 
the  charter  of  (Jueen's  College   to  perfect  their  organizati<m.      In  1S25 


HISTOKV    OK    HKKC.KN     COVNTY  7') 

Princctiin  undertook  a  Medical  l)e])artnient.  in  which  Ur.  ^'a^  ("iove.  a 
<listiug'uished  physician  took  an  active  interest,  I>nt  his  death  caused  a 
delay  in  its  establishment. 

New  Jersey  claims  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  colonies  to  ortran- 
ize  a  Medical  Association.  The  Medical  Society  of  New  Jersey  have  in 
their  possession,  the  well  preserved  oriifinal  Ixiok  of  minutes  of  that  or- 
g'anization.  The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  DulT  in 
New  Brimswick,  wliere  sixteen  ])hysicians  met  nn  the  23rd  day  of  Julv 
17(>(),  and  formed  themselves  into  a  "  Standiuir  Society  and  Voluiitary 
Incorporatiim,"  and  sijrned  the  '"Instruments  of  Association  arid  Consti 
tution  of  the  Medical  Society  of  Ne\y  Jersey.""  The  names  ni  thos  ■  who 
signed  these  instruments  were  Robert  McKean,  Liiris.  Manlove.  John 
Cochran,  Moses  Bhxmifield,  James  (iilliland,  William  Burnet.  Jmia. 
Uayton,  Thomas  Wig-gins,  Williams  Adams.  Bern.  Budd,  Lawrence  \'. 
Deryeer,  John  Griffith.  Isaac  Harris  and  Joseph  Sackett.  Jr.  The  meet- 
ings of  the  Society  were  hold  semi-annually,  uninterruptedly  unlil  177.^. 
when  the  Reyolution  interfered  and  no  meeting  was  again  held  until 
17S2.     Again  from  1795  until  1S(I7  a  cessation  occured. 

In  1790  another  society  was  forme<i  in  East  Jersey  known  as  the 
"Medical  Society  of  the  Eastern  District  of  New  Jersey." 

Dr.  Micheau,  of  Klizabethtown,  was  the  prime  mover  in  this  n/w 
society  which,  for  a  time,  dre\y  chielly  fr.mi  East  Jersey,  be:ause  of  the 
majority  of  the  physicians  being  located  on  that  side.  In  time,  howe\-er, 
the  tirst  society  gained  control,  which  it  has  ever  afterwards  held. 

In  1771  the  Medical  Society  of  New  Jersey  petitioned  the  Assembly 
for  an  act  "Regulating  the  practice  of  medicine,""  and  restdved  "That 
members  of  the  society  get  petitions  signed  by  the  res])ectable  inhabi- 
tants of  their  neighborhoods,"'  and  send  these  to  the  care  of  the  com- 
mittee <d"  the  society  charged  with  the  prosecution  of  the  measure  be- 
fore the  Legislature.  This  act  wa-.  adopted  in  Septemlier.  1772  A 
table  of  rates  and  fees  was  now  arranged,  which  was  ])ractically  the 
basis  of  charges  until  17S4,  when  it  was  unanimously  adopted.  It  i>  a 
piece  of  interesting  reading.  Medicine,  as  a  science,  is  of  comi)arative]y 
recent  date.  It  was  not  until  1754  that  lectures  to  students  was  first  in- 
troduced. Dr.  William  Hunter,  of  Newport.  R.  I..  In-ing  the  first  to 
use  them  as  a  means  of  instruction,  the  lirst  instruction  in  dissection 
having  been  given  prior  to  that  time  by  Dr.  Bard  of  Middletown,  in 
New  York  City. 

The  Provincial  or  State  Society  exerted  a  healthful  influence,  and 
soon  district  societies  began  to  spring  up  in  dilTerent  parts  of  the  State. 

Bergen  County,  owing  ])robably  to  its  close  proximity  to  New  York. 
Newark  and  Elizabethtown.  had  few  physicians  until  a  later  date  than 
many  other  ccmnties.  Joseph  Sackett.  Jr.,  who  ]>racticed  at  Paranius 
during  the  Rey(dution.  is  the  <mly  member  from  Bergen  County  whose 
name  is  on  the  ndl  of  the  society  until  179(>. 

The  earliest  physician  of  whom  we  can  lind  any  record,  in  Bergen 
County,  was  Dr.  Van  Kmburgh.      He   lived  prior  to  17u'i,  as  is  attested 


■"^O  HISTOKV    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

I)y  the  deed  to  his  widow,  u^iven  by  her  friend  Sarah  Sandford  dated  De- 
cember 7,  170''.  The  land  so  i^iveii  was  probably  bestowed  purely  out 
of  friendship,  and  consisted  in  all  of  ahoui  six  hundred  acres  of  land. 

Dr.  Abraham  Van  Boskirk  was  a  surgeon  in  the  First  Militia  of 
Eero-en  County,  and  (m  May  I2th,  1775,  was  one  of  the  committee  of 
correspondence  for  Bergen  County  of  which  John  Fell  was  chairman. 
Dr.  .loseph  Sackett  was  Ijorn  Febru;iry  1(),  1733,  O.  S.,  and  was  one  of 
the  original  charter  members  of  the  New  Jersey  Medical  Society,  taking 
an  actiye  part  until  1772  when  he  remoyed  to  Newton,  I^.  I.  Dr.  John 
Campbell,  who  was  a  physician  in  Hackensack  after  the  I'^evolution, 
was  a  son  of  Archibald  Campbell,  wlio  was  adyised  by  Washington  to 
"kee])  neutral"  and  stay  by  his  family.  Dr.  Campbell  was  born  Febru- 
Mry  1.^,  1770.  He  spent  his  life  in  Hackensack.  He  died  in  1814,  and 
is  buried  in  Hackensack  by  the  side  of  his  wife  w'ho  died  in  1853.  Jo- 
siah  Hornblower.  a  brother  of  Chief  Justice  Joseph  C.  Hornbhrn-er,  of 
the  vSupreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  practiced  medicine  in  Bergen  County 
in  17s'>.  Dr.  Hornblower  was  born  at  Belleyille  May  23,  1767.  He 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Thomas  Steele  of  Belleyille,  and  began  prac- 
fice  in  the  town  of  Bergen  in  178').  His  practice  extended  over  a  large 
expanse  of  country-  covering-  Hudson  County,  including  the  old  Town- 
slii]!  of  Hackensack,  Fort  Lee,  with  a  considerable  practice  in  Staten 
Island.  He  was  appointed  surgeon  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  assigned 
to  duty  at  the  old  arsenal  on  the  heights.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
lirst  wife  being  Annetje  Merselis,  who  became  the  mother  of  six  chil- 
dren. His  second  wife,  Hannah  Town,  had  two  children.  He  died  at 
th.e  good  old  age  of  eighty-one  years,  having  been  in  active  practice  in 
Bergen  County  for  a  period  of  fifty-five  years.  Two  of  his  sons,  Wil- 
liam and  Josiali  became  physicians,  and  three  of  his  sons-in-law,  Doctors 
DeWitt,  (iautier  and  Zabriskie  were  also  physicians  .as  were  two  of  his 
grandsons,  the  sons  of  William.  The  family  was  thus  widely  repre- 
sented in  the  profession.  Cornelius  Blauvelt  was  a  practitioner  in  Hack- 
ensack in  ISl'). 

It  was  not  until  1854  that  the  District  Medical  Society  of  Bergen 
County,  was  organized.  A  meeting  for  this  purpose  was  held  in  the 
Washington  Institute  Building,  in  Hackensack,  on  February  28,  where 
the  licensed  physicians  and  surgeons  met  by  authority  of  the  Medical 
Society  of  New  Jersey,  through  a  conimissi(jn  issued  for  that  purpose. 
Those  present  ^ve^e  Drs.  William  H.  Day.  Charles  Hasbrouck,  George 
B.  Brown,  Henry  A.  Hopper  and  DuBois  Hasbrouck.  The  meeting  was 
organized  by  making  W^.  H.  Day,  M.  D.,  President,  and  Dr.  Henry  A. 
Hopper,  Secretary.  William  H.  Day  was  elected  the  first  president  of 
the  Society  and  Charles  Hasbrouck  secretary. 

The  Society  held  no  meetings  from  1858  to  1S()S,  when  a  re-organi- 
zation took  place  and  the  by-laws  were  revised. 

KOLI,  OF   .MEMDl'.KS   A  D.M  FrTl-;  1)   V  \'   TO    lS7ll. 

A.  Hopper,  1854;  W.  H.  Day,  1854;  C.  Hasbrouck.  1854;  H.  A. 
Ilopier.  1S44;  (1.  B.  Fh-own,  1854;   D.  Hasbrouck,    1S54 ;  A.  S.  Burdett, 


HISTOKV    OF    lUvKl.lCX    COINTV  81 


1854;  B.  Oblenis.  1855;  J.  J.  Harin-r,  ISSh;  I.  J.  Well,  lSf.8;  W.  II. 
Hall,  18(.S:  J.  T.  Dvimiiid;  Isr.S;  H.  (\  Noer,  18(>8;  F.  M.  Wrig-ht, 
1S()8;  J.  M.  Simpson,  1S(,<);  R.  Stewart.  1S(,<);  S.  J.  Zabriskie,  1870; 
A.  P.  Williams,  187U;  H.  A.  Crary,  1871;  W.  Fr.incis.  1,S71:  I).  A. 
Currie,  1872;  M.  S.  Avers,  1872;  I).  C.  C'.irr.  1874;  (i.  K.  Simi)s..ii, 
1874;   F.  A.  Davis,  1874;   A.  Clendinen,  1875. 

PRESENT  MEIIBEKS  AM)  SCHOOLS  AT  WHICH  THI•^•  KMCCKIVKD  THEIK  DKf.  NiaC. 

Henry  A.  Hopper,  Colleg-e  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York. 
1847;  A.  S.  Burdett,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York,  1S52: 
H.  C.  Neer,  Berkshire  Medical  College,  1860;  D.  Augustus  Currie,  Uni- 
versity of  Buffalo,  1864;  University  of  Kdinburgh.  18f>7;  M.  S.  Avers, 
Long  Island  College,  1871;  G.  C.  Terhune,  New  York  Medical  College, 
1853;  Charles  H.  Hasbrouck,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Fair- 
field, New  York,  1839;  D.  St.  John,  Bellevue,  1875;  Alexander  Clendinen, 
University  of  Maryland,  1859;  Milton  Terhune,  Kentucky  School  of 
Medicine,  lf)76;  J.  M.  Simpson,  Bellevue;  186f>;  S.  J.  Zabriskie,  Uni- 
versity Medical  College,  New  York,  185f);  J.  J.  Haring,  Jefferson  Medi- 
cal College,  1855;  A.  P.  Williams,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons. 
New  York,  18f>0;  E.  M.  Garton,  University  Medical  College,  1878;  G.  R. 
Brown,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York,  1875;  C.  L. 
Demarest,  Bellevue,  1876;  Thomas  Reid,  University  Medical  College, 
New  York,  1876. 

Presidents:  1854,  William  H.  Dav;  1855-'56,  Abraham  Hopj)er; 
1857,  William  H.  Day;  1858,  I.  J.  Wells;  18()8,  Charles  Hasbrouck; 
1869-70,  A.  S.  Burdett;  1871-72,  John  .1.  Ilaring;  1873,  F.  Marc 
Wright;  1874,  H.  C.  Neer;  1875,  A.  S.  liurdett  :  187(),  D.  Augustus 
Currie;  i877,  Henry  A.  Hopper;  1878,  A.  S.  Burdett;  i879,  S.  J.  Za- 
briskie; i880,  Milton  Turmure;  i88i.  Henry  A.  Hopper;  i882,  II.  A. 
Hopper;  i883,  D.  St.  John  ;  i884,  M.  S.  Ayers  ;  i885,  Milton  Turnnn-e; 
1 886,  John  W.  Hopper  ;  i8S7,  J.  W.  Terry  ;  iS88,  Wni.  II.  O.  Tayli>r  ; 
1 889,  Lewis  Parsells  ;  i89(l,  John  A.  Willis;  i8"»i,  M.S.  Ayers;  rS92. 
H.  C.  Neer  ;  Samuel  A.  Armstrong  ;  i8'M,  .1.  W.  B.  Lansing  ;  i8"»5,  \V. 
L.  Vroom  ;  i896.  Hardy  M.  Banks:  i8'»7,  L.  B.  Parsells:  i8')8,  Howard 
McFadden;    i899,  Chas.  Calhoun. 

Secretaries:  i854-58,  Charles  Hasbrouck;  i868,  I.J.Wells;  i8(.9. 
J.  T.  DeMund  ;  1 870-76,  Charles  Hasbrouck;  iS77-'78.  A.  S.  Burdett; 
1879,  Henrv  A.  Hoi)])er  ;  i880,  Alexander  CK'udinen  :  i88i-'9't  inclusive, 
1).  A.  Currie  ;    i8S2-'9'»,  Dr.  David  St.  John,  'i'reasurer. 

THE  BEKCEN  CorNTV   I'A  KM  IsNS'  MrTl'AI.  KIKE   INSURANCE  COiVIPANV. 

This  institution  is  located  at  Oradell,  Bergen  county.  N.  J.  It  was 
incorporated  May  i,  i849,  by  the  following  named  persons:  Jacob 
Van  Buskirk,  Nicholas  C.  Durie,  Charles  Hasbrouck,  Benjamin  Z.  Van 
Emburgh,  David  A.  (J.  Demarest,  John  G.  Demarest,  Isaac  D.  Demarest. 
Garret  S.  Demarest,  Henry  N.  Voorhis,  George  T.  Brickeli,  (Barrett  A. 
Eckerson,  Henry  H.  Voorhis.  .Ir..  John  Ackcrman,  Jr. 


82  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

The  Compan}-  was  org'anized  wtih  Garret  S.  Demarest  as  president, 
and  Henry  H.  Voorhis  as  secretary.  These  g-entlemen  occupied  these 
positions  respectively  many  years.  The  company  insures  farm  and  other 
property  for  cash  premiums  only.  The  present  officers  of  the  company 
are  as  follows:  Abram  C.  Holdrum,  President:  John  T.  Haring,  Vice- 
President:    Elmer  Blauvelt,  Secretary:  Ilaniel   I.    Demarest,    Treasurer. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
INTERNAL  IMPK(  )VEMENTS. 

DOKOrCHS. 

Bergen  county  is  diviiK-d  into  fifteen  townships,  thirty-five  V)or- 
oughs  and  has  one  city  and  one  incorporated  villag-e.  The  fxiroiigh 
formation  comes  under  the  law  of  iS7S,  having  for  its  object  the  secur- 
ing of  certain  improvements  in  water,  lights,  sewerage,  roads,  etc. 
Under  this  law  each  borough  thus  formed  had  the  right  of  electing  free- 
holders to  the  County  Council.  Subsequent  enactments,  however,  an- 
nulled the  right,  but,  nevertheless,  boroughs  formed  parts  of  different 
townships,  and  had  a  right  to  elect  freeholders  until  the  law  of  May. 
1894,  annulled  this  privilege  only  under  certain  cases.  Under  the  old 
law  of  1878,  citizens  of  municipalities  secured  the  formation  of  their 
Ijorough  by  petiticm,  a  certain  number  representing  the  taxable  list  of 
the  community  having  the  right  to  petition.  Under  the  present  regime 
the  Legislature  creates  a  borough. 

Following  we  have  a  list  of  the  boroughs  of  the  county,  the  sjiecial 
history  of  each  being  found  in  the  respective  localities  in  which  the 
borough  exists: 

North  Arlington,  Rutherford,  East  Rutherford.  Wallington,  Carl- 
stadt,  Woodridge,  Hasbrouck  Heights,  Lodi,  Little  Ferry,  Ridgetield. 
Leonia,  Undercliff,  Palisade  Park,  Fairview,  Bogota,  Englewood  Cliffs, 
Tenafly,  Cresskill,  Bergentiekls,  Schraalenlnirgh,  Old  Tappan,  May- 
wood,  Uelford,  Riverside,'  Westwood,  Woodcliff,  Parkridge,  Montvale, 
Allendale,  Midland,  Upper  Saddle  River,  Lower  Saddle  River.  Midland 
Park,  (ilen  Rock  and  (iarfield. 

KOADS. 

The  first  Commissioners  of  Highways  for  Bergen  county,  and  tin- 
first  known  to  have  been  appointed  in  the  State  were  John  Berry,  Law- 
rence Andries  (Van  Boskirk),  Enoch  Micliielsen  i  \'reeland  i,  Hans 
Diedricks,  Michael  Smith,  Hendrick  Van  Ostruni  and  Claes.lans  en 
Van  Purmerendt.  They  were  appointed  by  an  act  of  the  ( General  As- 
sembly, and  it  is  doubtful  if  there  exists  anywhere  i  record  of  their  pro- 
ceedings. They  apjiear  to  have  held  office  a  long  time,  for  in  ff.'M  (ler- 
brand  Claesen  was  apjjointed  in  the  place  of  Van  Purmeren<lt. 

Hv  resolution  of  the  (ieneral  Assembly,  ado])ted  Sei)teml)er  '>.  17(i4. 
the  (irand  Jurv  nf  each  and  every  county  was  authorized  to  ap])oint 
yearly  at  the  February  and  March  terms  of  court,  with  the  approval  of 
the  bench,  two  persons  in  each  county.  ])recinc't,  district  or  township,  to 
lav  out  all  necessary  cross-roads  and  l)y-roads,  which  were  to  be  four  rods 
wide,  and  -also  "to  settle"  other  matters  pertaining  to  the  highways. 

Beginning  with  the  old-lime  wagon  roads,  the  first  in  the  county  of 
Berx-en  was  the  one  leading  from  Comnuinipaw  In  the  village  ol  liergen. 


84  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

The  road  was  probably  laid  about  the  year  l*i()(i.  On  the  .>d  of  June, 
i7i8,  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Cromkili  to  Weehawken  Ferry,  which  Mr. 
Wintield  is  of  the  opinion  was  part  of  the  present  Hackensack  turnpike. 

The  road  from  Berg'en  to  Bergen  Point  was  the  old  King's  High- 
way, but  the  date  of  its  construction  is  unknown.  In  1743  James  Alex- 
ander, of  the  Council,  reported  a  bill  for  continuing  the  King's  High- 
way to  some  convenient  point  on  the  Hudson,  but  the  bill  was  not  passed. 
On  October  10.  1764,  a  King's  highway  was  laid  out  from  Hendrick 
Sickles'  barn  to  a  point  opposite  the  Dutch  Church,  on  Staten  Island, 
and  the  old  road  was  abandoned.  The  new  road  became  a  part  of  the 
great  stage  roiite  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia.  The  Hackensack 
turnpike  was  constructed  in  1S04  by  the  Bergen  Turnpike  Company, 
incorporated  November  M).  1S(I2,  to  build  this  road  from  Hoboken  to 
Hackensack. 

The  road  from  Paulis  Hook  to  Newark  over  the  Hackensack  and 
Passaic  Rivers  was  built  in  17b5,  and  was  the  only  thoroughfare  from  the 
Hudson  to  Essex  county  for  nearly  thirty  years.  The  road  first  known 
as  the  New  Barbadoes  turnpike,  but  subsequently  as  the  New  York  and 
Paterson  turnpike,  was  surveyed  and  constructed  in  1816.  This  road  ori- 
ginally divided  the  township  of  Union  from  Lodi,  and  passed  through 
Passaic,  and  objective  points  being  Paterson  and  Hoboken. 

The  Belleville  turnpike  though  not  one  of  the  oldest  roads  in  the 
county,  is  a  much  travelled  one,  and  is  the  boundary  between  Hudson 
and  Bergen  counties.  The  old  Pollifly  road  was  one  of  the  tirst  in  the 
county,  also,  and  was  opened  over  two  hundred  years  ago.  It  runs  irom 
Hudson  county  through  the  old  townships  of  Union  and  Lodi.  The 
Paterson  and  Jerse}-  City  plank  road  was  completed  about  1S20;  the 
Hackensack  and  Paterson  road  in  1826,  and  soon  after,  the  road  leading 
from  Hackensack  to  Little  Ferry  was  constructed.  About  the  year  IS.^o 
the  road  from  Lodi  village  to  the  Polliily  road  was  opened.  The  road 
following  the  course  of  the  Passaic  River,  now  designated  as  the  Passaic 
Valley  road,  was  an  early  highway  opened  long  before  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  The  Indians  called  the  northern  portion  of  this  highway 
the  Wagara  road  and  the  southern  division  as  Slauter  Dam  road. 

The  Paramus  road  running  from  Pompton  to  Hoboken  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  historic  days  of  the  Revolution.  It  was  the  thoroughfare 
of  the  old  Goshen  and  Hoboken  stage  line,  and  created  a  demand  for  the 
numerous  taverns  which  lined  its  course.  This  road  came  through  New- 
burgh.  N.  Y.,  to  Closter,  and  passed  through  Old  Hook  to  Westwood  and 
from  thence  southwest  to  Paramus. 

The  Stone  Arabia  road  beginning  at  Hackensack  and  following  a 
northeastly,  then  a  northerly  direction  to  Rockland  county,  N.  Y.,  was 
an  imjjortant  thoroughfare  during  the  early  part  of  the  present  century, 
as  was  also  the  Spring  Valley  road,  which  was  opened  about  the  sam 
time,  and  run  through  the  central  part  of  Midland  township,  north. 

The  Wieremus  road,  so  christened  by  the  Indians  who  in  early  times 
followed    it   as   a    trail,    ran  throusih  Pascack  Ridgfe  to  New  York  State 


mSTOUY    ()1-    BKKC.KN    COl-NTY  }S5 

-and  was  also  cuii'  of  llu-  iiiiinirtain  roads  in  tlic  norllu-rn  ])ortion  of  Hvi- 
ufcn  County. 

ThosL'  aro  a  ffw  of  thv  earliest  roadways  in  In'r^^on  Conntv  import- 
ant iu  this  (.'onnLx-tion  only  because  of  ilu'ir  use  in  colonial  and  Kevolu- 
tionary  days. 

That  New  Jersey  is  a  friend  to  yood  roads  is  shown  liv  the  report  of 
State  Commissioner  lUuld.  During  the  last  year  eif^ditv-l'ive  miles  of 
new  roads  have  been  built  under  State  aid.  makini;-  three  hundred  and 
citrhty-tive  miles,  since  the  State  made  ajipropriations  for  the  ]iur]>ose  in 
1S'»3,  at  total  cost  beino-  3.s().s.82(>. 

Berji^en  County  excels  in  its  roadways,  in  fact  thev  constitute  an 
interesting-  feature  <»f  the  county,  the  <irives  bein^  -iiual  to  the  shell  roads 
of  the  South  and  West. 

The  various  trolley  lines  running  through  Jiergen  Countv  are  fast 
changing  not  only  the  old  m<idc  of  tTa\-el.  but  .ire  ,ilso  o])ening  up  new 
fields  for  country  homes  which  steam  car  lines  fail  to  reach. 

The  Bergen  County  Traction  Coni])any  was  formed  M.arch  d,  IS'W,. 
The  President  of  this  road  is  William  T.  Harrows.  The  road  runs  from 
Undercliff  to  Englewood.  A  branch  line  from  Leonia  to  Hackens.ack  is 
now  in  operatiim. 

The  Hudson  County  Railway  was  built  in  IS"),^.  then  known  as  the 
Palisade  Railroad.  This  trolley  line  enters  the  countv  at  Hudson 
Heights  and  extends  as  far  north  as  Covtes\-ille.  David  'S'oung  is  its 
President. 

The  Rutherford  an<l  Hackensack  trolley  line  was  built  in  1S<)7.  It 
begins  at  Arlington  and  is  built  as  far  as  Woodridge.  ( )n  .January  27. 
1894,  this  road  was  sold  to  William  C.  Ciles  for  the  lN!e-organization 
Committee  representing  *>()  j)er  cent,  of  the  bond  holders.  It  is  intended 
now  to  build  the  road  to  Hackensack.  The  Hoboken.  Passaic  and  I'at- 
erson  trolley  line  was  built  recently.  It  runs  through  the  places  named 
its  title  and  is  an  im])ortant  ro.ad  and  does  a  large  Imsiness. 

I'l:  K'kTIiS. 

The  ferries  which  connect  the  old  iiortion  of  Bergen  County  with 
New  York  City  are  numerous.  There  are  f  1  )  the  Comnninipaw.  '  2  '  the 
Weehawken,  (3)  the  Jersey  City,  i4i  the  Hoboken,  i  .s  ■  the  I'avonia. 
Besides  these,  are  still  in  operation,  there  were  several  others  ol  an  early 
date  which  have  long  ceased  to  exist.  These  latter  were  Bndil's  Dock, 
in  HarsimusCove  to  New  York,  establislu'd  in  1S02.  and  contimied  a  few 
years  ;  Bull's  Ferry,  at  the  u]>per  line  of  the  jM-eseut  e'onntv  of  Hudson, 
well  known  during  th^'  Revolution,  which  took  its  name  from  a  f.imilv 
by  the  name  of  Hull  residing  there-.  Wintield  gives  the  names  of  the 
lessees  of  this  ferry  as  follows  :  Cornelius  Huyley,  177S-"'*2:  'Plu'odore 
Brower,  17't2-180.s  ;  (iarret  Neefie,  ISO.S;  L.-wisConcklin,  1S(I(,  ;  Abraham 
Huyler,  18(18. 

De  Klyn's  Ferry  was  started  by  John  Towne  and  Harnet  I  )e  Klyn, 
from   the  wharf   ^  south   and   north)    of  the  State    Prison  to    Hoboken  in 


86  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

I'i'H,.     No  record  is  found  of  this  ferry  later  than  ISOh. 

F<ir  many  years  the  farmers  and  others  in  the  northern  i)art  of  Ber- 
gen County  reached  New  York  by  means  of  the  Weehawken  Ferry 
established  by  Samuel  Bayard  about  the  year  1700.  The  charter  for 
this  ferry  was  g-ranted  by  George  II  in  1752  to  Stephen  Bayard. 

The  Hoboken  Ferry  was  established  to  connect  the  Corporation 
Dock  at  the  "Bear  Market,"  in  New  York  with  Hoboken  in  1774,  and 
was  leased  to  H.  Tallman  for  /^5(>  a  year.  During  the  Revolution  this 
ferry  was  subject  to  the  army  occupying  New  York.  In  1789,  the  ferry 
Was  owned  by  John  Stevens,  the  proprietor  of  the  Hoboken.  In  1811 
Mr.  Stevens  completed  a  boat,  which  he  put  on  trial  in  September, 
announcing  "  the  trial  trip  of  the  first  steam  ferry  boat  in  the  world." 

The  Pavonia  Ferry  was  established  by  letters  patent  from  King 
(leorge  II,  January  17,  17.^,>,  to  Archibald  Kennedy  his  heirs  and  assigns. 

Dows  Ferry  over  the  Hackensack,  a  little  north  of  the  New  Jersey 
Railroad  was  a  noted  place  during  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Winiield  thinks 
it  was  constructed  about  the  time  that  Colonel  John  Schuyler  constructed 
Belleville  turnpike,  during  the  French  War,  and  that  it  remained  in 
operation  until  superseded  by  the  bridge  erected  in  1794.  It  received  its 
name  from  John  Douw,  a  friend  of  Colonel  Schuyler.  The  ferry  and 
Douw's  tavern  were  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hackensack.  It  was  at  this 
ferry  that  boats  had  been  provided  on  the  night  of  Major  Lee's  attack 
on  Paulus  Hook  to  facilitate  the  retreat  of  his  forces.  The  ferry  Jersey 
Cit3-  was  established  June  IS.  1S(>4. 

KAII.KOADS. 

The  first  railroad  in  America  was  laid  in  old  Bergen  County.  Mr. 
L.  y.  C.  Elmer,  of  Bridgeton,  N.  J.,  says  in  the  Springfield  Republican. 
"Reading  the  very  interesting  account  of  the  Hoosic  Tunnel  in  your 
paper  of  November  28th,  I  find  a  new  illustration  of  the  difficulty  of  ob- 
taining correct  historical  data.  The  writer  states  that  in  182(>  Dr. 
Phelps  presented  the  first  proposition  ever  made  for  a  railroad  before 
any  legislative  body  in  the  United  States.  This  is  a  mistake.  About 
April,  1811,  Colonel  John  Stevens,  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  presented  a  mem- 
orial to  the  Legislature  to  authorize  a  railroad  in  New  Jersey,  and  in 
February,  1815,  a  law  was  passed  incorporating  'The  New  Jersey  Rail- 
roa<l  Company,  authorizing  a  road  from  Trenton  to  New  Brunswick.' 
This  road  was  not  built.  In  1S2(I  I  saw  at  Hoboken  Colonel  Stevens' 
short  railroad,  laid  as  an  experiment.  Locomotive  steam-engines  had 
not  been  perfected,  and  the  best  engineers  did  not  sujjpose  there  would 
be  sufficient  traction  in  plain  wheels  to  draw  a  heavy  weight.  The 
railway  put  uj)  by  Stevens  was  pro\  ided  with  a  middle  rail  having  teeth 
for  a  driving-track.  This  gentleman  was  father  oi  the  Messrs.  Stevens 
who  built  the  tirst  railroad  in  New-  Jersey  by  virtue  of  the  Act  of  1842. 
He  entered  into  competition  with  Fulton  to  run  the  tirst  steamboat  on 
the  waters  of  the  Hudson,  and  thus  obtained  the  mcraopoly  granted  by 
the   law  of  Nt-w  York,  but   falling  a    little   behind   in   time,  he  sent  his 


HisToin'  oi-   1!i;k(; i:n   corxTv  87 

boat  round  to  the  Delaware,  and  I  was  carried  hv  her  in  1S12.  The 
family  maintained  a  line  of  boats  on  the  Delaware  individually  or  bv  the 
eompany  until  their  death." 

The  Paterson  and  Hudson  Kiver  Railroad  Company  \vas  incorpor- 
ated January  21,  18,il.  The  road  went  into  ojieration  between  Paterson 
and  Aquackanonk  (now  Passaic)  June  22,  1S,>2.  The  rollin^--stock  at 
that  time  consisted  of  "three  splendid  and  commodious  cars,  each  caj)- 
able  of  accommodating  thirty  passengers,"  which  were  drawn  by  "  fleet 
and  gentle  horses."  It  was  thought  to  bj  a  "  rapid  and  delightful  m  >  le 
of  trayeling."  The  trial-trip  oyer  that  part  of  the  road  was  June  7, 
1832.  It  connected  with  the  New  Jersey  Railroad  at  West  End.  The 
road  was  leased  to  the  Union  Railroad  Company  September  '».  IS.^2. 
This  lease  was  assigned  to  the  Erie  Railway  Company,  and  the  road  is 
now  part  of  the  main  line  of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western 
Railroad.  The  assignment  and  transfer  (d'  the  road  was  conlirmed  by 
the  Legislature  March  14,  1.S53. 

The  Erie  Railway  Company  was  first  recognized  by  the  laws  of  New 
Jersey,  March  14,  1853,  as  the  Ne\y  York  and  Erie  Railroad  Company, 
then  as  the  Erie  Railway  Company.  After  leasing  the  Paterson  and 
Hudson  Riyer  Railroad  and  the  Paterson  and  Ramapo  Railroad,  which 
two  roads  formed  a  direct  line  from  Jersey  City  to  Sufferns,  Piermont 
was  abandoned  as  a  terminus,  and  the  cars  were  run  to  the  depot  of  the 
New^  Jersey  Railroad  Company  in  Jersey  City  until  May,  18(i2.  "The 
Long  Dock  Company,"  incorporated  February  2(>.  185(),  in  the  iiiterLst 
of  the  Erie  Railway  Company,  completed  the  Bergen  Tunnel  January 
28,  1861.  The  first  passenger  train  ])assed  through  it  May  1,  1S(,1.  at 
which  date  the  Erie  traffic  was  transferred  to  its  present  termiinis  at 
Ltmg  Dock.  In  1865  the  Erie  Company  C(mstructed  a  telegrajjh  line 
through  the  Bergen  Tunnel,  so  that  managers  of  signals  at  either  end 
could  be  duly  warned  of  approaching  trains,  and  collision  thus  ayoided. 
The  interior  of  the  Bergen  Tunnel  was  arched  over  in  18(>7. 

The  New  York  and  Oswego  Midland  Railroad  C()in])any  was  incor- 
porated January  1,  186(..  Construction  began  June  2't.  ISdS.  The  first 
train  ran  over  the  western  end  of  the  road  November  5,  1S(>'),  and  the 
first  through  train  August  18,  1873. 

On  M<mday,  December  19,  1871,  the  first  locomotive  was  put  on  the 
New  Jersey  Midland  at  Hawthorne,  a  station  on  the  ICrie.  one  mile  from 
Paterson.  The  locomotive  was  built  at  the  Roger-"  Locomotive  Works 
in  the  City  of  Paterson,  and  was  named  the  "Passaic."  Another  loco- 
motive put  up(m  the  road  the  following  July  was  named  "  Bergen."  this 
plan  of  naming  the  locomotives  after  the  counties  traversed  l)y  the  road 
being  ado])ted  by  the  company. 

The  New  Jersey  Midland  Comi)any  was  incorporated  March  IS. 
1867.  March  18,  1870,  it  was  announced  that  S75,(MKI  had  been  sub- 
scribed by  those  interested  in  having  the  road  go  through  Hackcnsack. 
Additional  sums  .were  subsequently  raised,  increasing  the  amount  to 
S100,0(MI,    the  sum    required  to   lie  raised    by   Hackcnsack    and   vicinity. 


S8  r-IISTOKY    OI-'    BI-KGUX     COTXTY 

Other  liberal  sums  were  contributed  along  the  entire  route.  On  Mon- 
day-, March  18,  1872,  the  first  passenger  train  ran  through  between 
Hackensack  and  Paterson,  at  8.30  a.  ni.,  carrying  about  thirty  passen- 
gers.    After  thaftrains  ran  regularly. 

The  Hackensack  and  New  York  Railroad  Company  was  incorporated 
March  14,  1856.  Work  was  begun  on  the  road  in  the  spring  of  18(i'J.  It 
was  opened  northward  to  Hillsdale,  twenty-one  miles  from  New  York, 
and  the  first  excursion  train  ran  over  it  on  Saturday,  the  4th  of  March, 
lS7i).  The  officers  of  the  n^ad  at  that  time  were  D.  P.  Patterson,  Presi- 
dent; G.  S.  Demarest,  Vice  President;  H.  G.  Herring,  Secretary,  and 
J.  D.  Demarest,  Treasurer.  The  extension  of  the  road  to  Grassy  Point, 
about  two  miles  above  Haverstraw,  on  the  Hudson,  was  chartered  by 
the  New  York  Legislature  in  the  spring  of  1870,  and  during  the  fall  was 
put  under  contract  to  Messrs.  Ward  e^'  Lary  for  construction.  From 
a  report  made  in  January,  1872,  we  learn  that  through  the  untiring  ex- 
ertions of  Mr.  J.  A.  Bogert,  at  Xanuet.  S'Ml.tKH)  had  been  subscribed,  over 
S4(), ()()()  of  which  had  been  paiil  in.  Subscripti(ms  also  to  the  am<mnt  of 
S230,(»0()  had  been  secured  by  Mr.  Patterson,  the  President  of  the  com- 
pany, and  of  this  sum  S130,()(H)  had  been  i)ai(l  in.  At  the  northern  ter- 
minus at  (irassj^  Point  the  company  received  a  donation  of  250(1  feet  of 
river' frontage  from  Mr.  David  Munro.  The  eastern  terminus  of  this 
road  is' in  the  Erie  depot,  at  I.,<ing  Dock,  and  it  is  under  the  same  man- 
agement as  the  Erie. 

The  Northern  Railroad  Com])any  of  New  .lersey  was  chartered 
February  •)  1854,  and  the  road  was  completed  October  1st,  185'). 
In  18(>'»  it  was  leased  to  the  Erie  Railway  Company.  This  road 
], asses  through  the  eastern  part  of  Bergen  County,  along  the  table- 
land of  the  Palisades,  many  porti(ms  of  which  it  has  been  the 
means  nf  redeeming  from  forests  and  converting-  into  beautiful  parks 
and  villas.  Englewood,  on  this  road,  one  of  the  most  delightful  suburbs 
of  New  York,  has  been  entirely  l)uilt  up  since  the  road  was  opened. 

The  Jersey  City  and  Albany  Railroad  was  opened  to  Tappan  July 
.>Oth,  1873.  This  road  passes  thnmgh  Bergen  County  from  the  Midland, 
at  Ridgefield  Park,  in  a  directiuu  nearly  parallel  with  the  Northern 
road. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
SCHOOLS. 

KDUCATIONAL    KKPOKT. 

The  first  apportionment  of  the  school  fund  of  the  State  was  made 
to  Berg-en  county  by  the  trustees  in  1S31  and  consisting- of  one  thousand, 
two  hundred  and  ninety-nine  dollars  and  ninet3--two  cents.  Benjamin 
Zabriskie  and  Cornelius  Van  Winkle  were  appointed  a  committee  of  the 
board  of  Chosen  Freeholders  to  apportion  the  am<junt  among  the  several 
townships  which  resulted  as  follows:  Bergen,  S214.56;  Lodi,  Sl()8.38; 
Saddle  River,  S168.19;  New  Barbadoes,  S't4.10;  Hackensack,  S142.')4; 
Harrington,  S226.55 ;  Franklin,  S181.55;  Pompton,  S163.65. 

The  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  passed  an  Act  in  1837  appropriating 
the  surplus  revenues  of  the  general  government  for  school  purposes  in 
the  several  counties  of  the  State,  placing  the  several  amounts  appor- 
tioned to  the  counties  under  the  management  of  the  respective  hoards  of 
Chosen  Freeholders. 

A  report  made  to  the  board  on  the  2d  day  of  May,  1838,  showed  that 
the  sum  of  $41,182.14,  surplus  revenue,  had  been  recsived  from  the  State 
treasurer,  and  that  the  same  had  been  loaned  out  in  various  sums  through 
the  county.  The  interest  on  this  money  has  been  collected  annually  on 
the  1st  of  May  and  devoted  to  the  support  of  public  schools. 

Upon  the  division  of  the  county  the  following  adjustment  was  made 
of  the  surplus  revenue  : 

TOWNSHIPS.  STATE  TAX.    COUNTY  TAX.    TOTAL. 

Bergen,  including  Jersey  City  S()(.4.75  S1047.44  S1712.K. 

Lodi.  252.40  (.58.()5  ')11.(I5 

Saddle  River       324.34  875.57  ll"»'i.'»l 

Hackensack        2(.7.')()  S3().(.5  l(i'>8.55 

Harrington  34(..12  1127.44  1473. 5(, 

P>anklin.    2't2.57  874.18  11(.(..75 

New  Barbadoes 201.82  457.80  (.5').(i2 

Pompton.  142.84  381.54  524.».8 

West  Milford.  147.35  370.43  523.78 

S2f)40.()()  Sf)f)30.()0      S')270.()r. 

Before  the  division  ot  the  surplus  revenue  took  place  the  towns  of 
West  Milford,  Pomjjton  and  a  part  of  Saddle  River  was  annexed  to 
Passaic  County,  leaving  the  sums  from  these  towns  to  be  deducted  there 
from.  The  County  of  Hudson  having  been  erected  February  22,  1840, 
the  sums  allotted  to  the  towns  of  Bergen  and  Jersey  City,  and  a  part  of 
Lodi,  under  the  names  of  Harrison  were  also  to  be  deducted. 

After  the  division  of  the  county  in  1840  the  amount  apportioned 
from  the  school  fund  was  SIOOO.. 50,  divided  among  the  townships  as  fol- 
l<iws,  and  so  remained  until  the  new  school  ajjpropriation  was  made: 


<>0  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEX    COUXTY 

NewBarbadoes,  S13S.(><>;  Lodi,  S()f).45  ;  Saddle  River,  S52. 41  ;  Hack- 
ensack.  S334,09  :  Franklin.  ?21i). 02  ;  Washington.  8174.19 ;  Harrington. 
SI  IS.  7.^. 

The  interest  on  the  surj)lus  revenue  began  to  be  available  for  school 
purpi)ses  May  1.  IS.^S.  The  sum  of  S140;i  had  then  ac:rued,  and  was 
divided  among  the  townships  as  follows: 

Lodi.  Sl(>4.40  ;  Hackensack,  S174.50  ;  Franklin Sl<){). 5ft  ;  Saddle  Kiver. 
SSO.<(()  ;  Harrington,  S225.3ft  ;  NewBarbadoes,  §131.40  ;  Bergen.  S2')S.70; 
Jersey  City,  S134.12.  In  1839  the  interest  on  the  fund  amounted  to  S2-. 
ft.^5.38.     In  1840  the  interest  was  S3, 112.05. 

Continuing  the  history,  John  Terhune.  Superintendent  of  Bergen 
County  Schools,  says  : 

"Prior  to  18ft7  the  schools  of  Bergen  County  were  in  ])art  free. 
They  were  under  township  superyisi<m,  and  the  buildings  in  rural  dis- 
tricts were  of  a  yery  primitive  type. 

The  report  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  for  18ft(>.  which  was  the 
last  year  of  the  township  method  of  Superintendents,  gives  the  total 
population  in  the  nine  townships  21,ftiy,  and  the  school  census  ft, 888. 
The  total  amount  of  money  to  be  expended  was  twenty-five  thousand, 
seven  hundred,  forty  dollars  and  seventy-four  cents,  received  from  the 
following  sources  :  Raised  by  tax,  eleven  thousand,  twenty-nine  dollars 
and  eighty-one  cents  ;  from  State  three  thousand,  fifteen  dollars  and 
thirty-nine  cents ;  other  sources  one  thousand,  six  hundred,  twenty-two 
dollars  and  forty-two  cents;  raised  for  building  and  repairing  two  thousand, 
seven  hundred,  seventy  dollars  and  ninety-nine  cents  ;  from  tuiticm  fees, 
seven  thousand,  five  hundred,  forty-six  dollars  and  seventeen  cents. 
There  were  thirty-seven  male  teachers  at  an  average  salary  of  forty- 
three  dollars  per  month,  and  thirty-eight  female  teachers  at  an  average 
salary  of  thirty-two  dollars  per  month.  There  were  fifty-five  schools, 
seven  of  which  were  free. 

The  office  of  County  Superintendent  was  created  by  Act  of  the  Leg- 
islature, approved  March  21st,  18ft7.  Under  this  syetem  the  number  of 
schools  in  1899  is  one  hundred  and  four  with  three  hundred  and  niaeteen 
teachej-s,  of  which  sixty-two  are  males  at  an  average  monthly  salary  of 
ninetj'-three  dollars  and  sixty-four  cents,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
females  with  an  average  salary  of  fifty-two  dollars  and  sixty-one  cents. 
The  total  amount  of  monies  lo  be  expended  the  present  year  is  as  follows  : 

Balances,  S53,Sftft. 57  ;  apportioned  by  County  Superintendent,  S130.- 
984.89;  raised  by  district  tax  5232,143.59  ;  from  State  for  Manual  train- 
ing 33,200.00,  making  a  total  of  8420,195.05.  The  school  census  for 
1898  was  88,028.  The- school  buildings  with  but  few  exceptions  are 
scientifically  lighted,  heated,  ventilated  and  decorated ;  and  the  grounds 
as  a  rule  are  planted  with  shade  trees  and  flower  beds,  due  to  Arbor  Day. 
This  day  was  set  apart  by  law  in  1884,  and  has  caused  much  improve- 
ment in  school  surroundings.  The  Arbor  Day  programmes'  issued  by 
the  present  Superintendent,  John  Terhune,  have  become  popular,-  and  are 
used  in  nearly  every  county  in  the  state. 


HISTOKV    Ol'    liKKT.lCN    COTNTV  'Jl 

At  the  last  anniversary,  held  April  2Sth.  there  were  4271  visitors  in 
attendance  in  the  several  schools  of  this  county. 

The  school  library  question  has  also  iinproved  under  his  administra- 
tion, and  the  number  of  books  taken  out  increased  from  .^5(il  in  ISSS.  to 
f)5.421  in  18')9.  They  are  now  an  indispensable  factor  in  the  education 
of  the  children. 

Bergen  County  was  the  first  to  establish  a  ]>rofessiunal  library  for 
teachers,  which  now  c<intains  140(1  \-(ilumes  uf  peda^-o<,rical  books.  It 
was  the  first  county  to  secure  an  office  which  now  is  an  educational 
centre,  and  contains  numerous  cabinets  of  school  work  for  ins])ection.  a 
model  school  library,  a  teachers'  library,  and.  besicbs,  is  ;ui  object  lesson 
in  school  decoration.  Copies  o{  tlie  most  important  school  periodicals 
and  school  devices  are  found  at  this  office,  known  as  Educational  Hall, 
and  it  is  constantly  visited  by  teachers  and  educators. 

A  uniform  course  of  study  for  primary  and  grammar  gr.ades  has 
been  in  operation  since  18"^)5,  and  the  work  in  general  is  being  done  sys- 
tematically and  progressively.  There  are  now  fifty-five  school  districts, 
of  which  eighteen  are  t<;iwnshi])s.  thirty-four  ari'  boroughs,  two  are 
special  charters  and  one  a  citv. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
NKW  BARBADOES. 

ANCIENT  AND  MODEKN    BOUNDAKIES — EARLY   SETTLEMENT — CIVIL    OKGAN- 

IZATION — FKEEHOLDERS HACKENSACK — ITS  SCHOOLS,   CHURCHES, 

NEWSPAPERS,    HOSPITAL,    IMPROVEMENT    COMMISSION,    SOCI- 
ETIES,   LODGES    AND    CLUBS,    BANKS,    MILITARY,    MANI- 
FACTUKES — BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

In  1()')3,  two  centuries  ago,  New  Barbadoes  was  a  township  in  Essex 
County,  and  comprised  the  territory  lying  between  the  Hackensack 
and  Passaic  Rivers,  from  Newark  Bay  on  the  southeast  to  the  present 
boundary  line  of  Sussex  County.  The  present  boundaries  are  limited  to 
New  Bridge  on  the  north  and  Little  Ferry  on  the  south,  with  an  average 
width  of  about  two  miles  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hackensack  River,  the 
whole  length  being  only  about  iive  miles.  Along  the  Hackensack  the 
land  is  generally  level,  in  some  places  below  high  tide,  rising  to  a  greater 
elevation  in  the  western  portion.  There  are  some  marsh  lands,  but  they 
are  mostly  capable  of  cultivatit)n.  The  clay  lands  are  valuable  from 
their  proximity  to  the  Hackensack  River,  and  much  of  this  land  is  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  while  the  clay  is  extensively  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick. 

The  Hackensack  River,  which  is  navigable  to  New  Bridge,  is  well 
ccmfined  within  its  banks,  varying  in  width  from  one  hundred  to  five 
hundred  feet.  The  origin  of  the  name  "New  Barbadoes"  is  more  a  matter 
of  conjecture  than  of  history.  It  is  supposed,  however,  that  the  earliest 
proprietors  of  the  township,  who  emigrated  from  the  islands  of  Barba- 
does, gave  the  name  by  prefixing  "New"  to  the  name  of  their  former 
home.  In  1868  Captain  William  Sandford  secured  a  title  to  15,308  acres 
of  land  running  northward  from  the  junction  of  the  Hackensack  and 
Passaic  Rivers.  Captain  John  Berry,  and  others  associated  with  him, 
secured  a  title  to  all  the  land  north  of  the  Sandford  possessions,  compris- 
ing the  territory  within  the  limits  of  Hackensack  and  the  present  town- 
ship of  New  Barbadoes.  It  is  not  known  at  what  date  Captain  Berry 
came  to  the  province,  although  he  became  possessor  of  the  land  in  lf>()'). 
There  are  deeds  recorded  in  the  Clerk's  Ofi&ce  in  Hackensack  giving  by 
him  and  dated  1696,  showing  that  he  was  living  and  able  to  transact 
business  at  that  time.  Captain  Berry's  son-in-law,  Michael  Smith,  who 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  Bergen  County,  1683,  owned  a  plantation  adjoin- 
ing that  of  Captain  Berry,  and  it  is  probable  that  these  were  the  first 
lands  in  the  township  which  had  any  considerable  improvements,  espe- 
cially since  these  are  prominently  mentioned  in  a  historical  and  descrip- 
tive account  published  in  Edinburgh  in  1685,  by  George  Scott. 

The  island  of  Barbadoes  became  an  English  possession  in  1()25. 
Both  Captain  Sandford  and  Captain   Berry  were  Englishmen,  and  both 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKCKN    COl'N'TY  <J3 


came  from  the  West  Indies.  Ciiptain  Berry  may  Ii.ivc  iHcn.  assdiiie  mi]!- 
posed.  captain  of  a  merchant  vessel,  hut  it  is  a  matter  of  reeurd  that  h^' 
was  a  Captain  of  Militia  in  Berg^en  t'ountv. 

Captain  Sandford  lived  in  Newark  in  loVS,  and  was  a  meinher  of  the 
Provincial  Council  from  1681-84.  He  died  in  1(.'»2,  havinf^  requested  to 
he  huried  on  his  own  plantation.  His  children  were  Ardinah,  who  mar- 
ried Richard  Berry,  Constable  of  New  Barhadoes  in  16<)5;  Pereiifrine, 
who  married  Fytje,  daug-hter  of  Enoch  Michielse  ( Vreeland  i;  William, 
Grace  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Captain  James  Davis. 

CUII.  ORGANIZATION. 

The  civil  organization  of  this  township  was  effected  in  l()K,s.  when 
the  (ieneral  Assembly  at  Perth  Amboy  passed  an  act  empowering  the 
inhabitants  of  Hackensack  and  New  Barhadoes  ti.  build  pounds,  "the 
charge  whereof  to  be  paid  by  the  inhaliitants  of  each  of  the  respective 
out  plantations."  This  was  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  James  H. 
In  1()<»2  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary,  an  act  was 
passed  bv  the  General  Assembly  at  Perth  Amboy,  dividing  the  counties 
of  East  Jersey  into  townships.  This  act  was  so  defective  in  its  provis- 
ions as  to  become  inoperative,  and  a  supplementary  act  was  passed  in 
169,'?,  by  which  the  Townships  of  "Acquikanick  and  New  Barhadoes." 
were  know  for  the  first  time  in  legislation,  having  apparent] v  l)een 
united  to  form  one  township.  The  boundaries  included  "all  the  land 
on  Pissiack  River  above  the  third  river,  (  Yantacaw  i  and  fr<mi  the  mouth 
of  the  said  third  river,  northward,  to  the  partiti<m  line  of  the  province, 
including  also  all  the  land  in  New  Barhadoes  Neck,  between  Hackinsack 
and  Pissiack  Rivers,  and  thence  to  the  partition  line  of  the  province." 
From  this  it  would  appear  that  Acquackanonk  was  included  in  the  orig- 
inal township  with  that  of  all  the  territory  lying  between  the  Hacken- 
sack and  Passaic  Rivers  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  province.  If 
this  be  true,  the  township  then  comprised  all  the  present  organizations 
of  Hohokus,  Washington,  Franklin,  Saddle  River,  Midland,  Union,  Lodi 
and  the  present  New  Barhadoes,  besides  Acquackanonk  including  the 
site  of  the  present  City  of  Passaic.  Other  proofs  that  Acquackanonk 
and  New  Barhadoes  were  united  in  one  township  are  to  be  found,  in  a 
record  of  Decembers,  1683,  when  the  "inhabitants  o(  Aquaninoncke," 
are  authorized  to  join  with  those  of  "New  Barhadoes  Neck"  in  the 
"choyce  of  a  Constable."  At  another  date  Major  William  Sandford  of 
New  Barhadoes  Neck  was  ordered  to  "appoint  an  officer  to  exercise  the 
inhabitants  of  Aquaninoncke."  During  the  following  two  liundred 
years,  the  one  ancient  township  was  divided  and  subdivided  until  the 
present  boundaries  cover  the  small  space,  before  noted. 

The  g-overnment  of  a  county  at  that  time  differed  greatly  from  that 
of  the  present  forms.  Each  township  or  plantation  was  then  governed 
by  a  Board  of  Selectmen,  exercising  judicial  and  legislative  powers  of  a 
restrictive  kind,  confined  to  the  local  affairs  of  their  respective  planta- 
tions, and  limited  in  their  jurisdictitm  to  "small  causes."  On  May  1st, 
1688,  a   hill  was  drawn  u])   bv   the   Provincial  Secretary   to  constitute   a 


94  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEiST  eOflNTV 


"Court  of  small  Causes  for  the  out  plantations  of  Berg-en  County,  and 
for  Aiiuackiuick  and  New  Barhadoes  in  Essex  County."  This  was  sent 
to  the  House  of  Deputies  by  Major  John  Berry  of  the  Council,  was 
signed  b}'  the  Governor,  and  became  a  law  May  22d,  of  the  same  year. 
No  records  of  these  courts  were  kept  and  all  we  find  is  an  occasional 
allusion  to  them.  They  granted  licenses  to  sell  liquors  and  keep  ordin- 
aries, fixing  the  rates  for  "man  and  beast,"  in  detail,  and  also  super- 
\ise<l  the  roads  and  bridg'es.  Sometimes  these  judges  of  the  "Court  of 
small  Causes,"  overstepped  their  authority,  when  an  appeal  could  be 
carried  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  or  even  to  the  King  and  Parliament 
if  necessary. 

In  the  Provincial  Council,  William  Sandford,  John  Berry,  and  Isaac 
Kingsland  were  Legislators  for  New  Barbadoes  and  vicinity, — Sandford 
from  1682  to  1703;  Berry  from  1682  to  lf)'»2,  and  Kingsland  from  16S4 
to  !(,'»(..  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  chosen  Freeholders  of  the  town- 
sliip  from  17't4  to  1899  inclusive. 

1794-95,  1802,  Isaac  Vanderbeck,  Jr.;  1794-95,  Arendt  Schuyler; 
179()-99,  Chris.  A.  Zabriskie ;  1796-97,  Abraham  W.  DePeyster ;  1798- 
1805,  lidmund  Wm.  Kingsland;  1800-1,  Garret  G.  Lansing;  1802,  Joost 
Bogert;  1803-6,  Luke  Van  Zaen  ;  1806-8,  John  I.  Hopper;  1807-8,  Cas- 
perus  Bogert ;  1809-14,  Henry  I.  Zabriskie  ;  18(f'»-ll,  Henry  Van  Dolsem  ; 
1812,  John  Berry;  1813-16,  Henry  P.  Kipp;  1815-1(.,  John  D.  Romeyn; 
1817,  John  A.  Schuyler;  1817-18,  Jacob  J.  C.  Zabriskie;  1818,  Philip 
Berry;  1819-21,  John  J.  Hopper,  Peter  A.  Terhune;  1822,  John  T.  Banta; 
1822-23,  1825-27,  John  A.  Boyd;  1823-27,  Albert  G.  Hopper;  1824,  Jacob 
J.  Brinkerhoff  ;  1828-33,  John  Zabriskie;  1828-32,  Henry  W.  Banta;  1833, 
David  I.  Christie;  1834-35,  Andrew  Zabriskie;  1834-35,  John  D.  Romevn; 
lS3()-+2.  Albert  A.  Brinkerhoff;  18,>6-37,  Andrew  Demarest;  1837-3'*, 
Albert  (i.  Doremus;  1838-40,  John  J.  \^an  Saun;  1841-43,  George  Voor- 
his;  1843-45,  Ralph  Westervelt;  1844-4(,,  Richard  T.  Cooper;  1846-48, 
1852,  William  Winant;  1847-49,  Jacob  I.  Zabriskie;  1849-51,  Christian 
De  Baun;  18,50-52,  John  A.  Zabriskie;  1853-54,  1856,  Richard  R.  Hawkey; 
185.^-54,  William  Blair;  1856-58,  Peter  A.  Terhune;  1857-59,  Wilhelmus 
Berry;  1859-61,  Abraham  I.  Demarest;  1860-62,  Abraham  A.  Banta; 
18f,2-(>4,  Lucas  A.  Voorhis;  186.>-r)4,  18f.(>,  Garret  G.  Ackerson;  18()(>-()7, 
(;arret  A.  Hopper;  18!,7-f>9,  William  D.-  Wolfe;  1868-70,  Nicholas  A. 
Demarest;  1870,  Henry  C.  Harring;  1871,  Garret  G.  Ackerson;  1872-74, 
Jacob  Yercance;  1875-78,  Wm.  Huyler;  1879,  Frederick  Steinle;  1880-89, 
John  O.  (;rode;  1889-92,  Jacob  L.  Van  Buskirk;  1892-94,  Jacob  H.  Fank; 
lS94-'»(..  Jacol)  L.  Van  Buskirk;  189f)-99,  W.  W.  Curry;  1899,  Charles 
Cutikliu  and  Cornelius  K.  Eckerson. 

It  is  not  deliniiely  known  at  what  date  the  first  settlement  was  made 
in  tliis  townshi]).  According  to  traiiition.  Dr.  Van  Imburg  erected  the  first 
dwelling  house  in  Hackensack.  This  house,  it  is  said,  stood  on  the 
creek  just  back  of  the  site  of  the  ])resent  ctmrthouse.  Another  of  the 
very  old  houses  is  said  to  have  stood  on  what  was  formerly  known  as  the 
\'arick-  jirojji'rty.      Among  the  first  families  to  settle  in  this  locality  were  : 


HISTOKV    OK    KKK{'.i:N    COI'NTV 


Albert  Zabriskic,  and  Ivawrince  in  l<)ii2;  I.ouric  in  l(iS5;  llousi-man  in 
Id'iS.  while  Kijip  came  a  little  earlier  :  \"an  Buskirk  1<.')7;  \'aii  (iiosen. 
lliS'i;  Disniario.  1(>'(5.  'Pne  rej<>r<ls  uf  the  t'hureh  on  the  (Ireen.  note  in 
li>'i4.  the  reception  ii'lto  membership  of  Martin  I'owelse.  Jan.  Christyn 
and  Lena,  also  Maria  Etsal  and  Rachel  .lackse.  In  the  Tollowini;-  six 
years  there  were  more  than  sixtv  meml>ers  added,  showing  an  increase  in 
the  number  of  inhalntants. 

HACKKN.SACK. 

Hackensack,  as  a  place  of  residence,  is  unsurjiassed  bv  anv  other 
suburb  of  New  York  City. 

Beautifully  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hackensack  Ri\er,  from 
the  commanding-  heigfhts  on  its  western  border  can  l^o  seen  the  river  wind- 
ing- throug-h  the  valley,  with  the  rang-e  of  the  Palisades  beyond  and  New 
York  twelve  miles  in  the  distance.  A  i)o])ulation  of  Id, (too  covers  an 
area  of  2,000  acres,  thus  affording  wide  streets,  ainjjle  grounds  and 
abundance  of  air  and  sunshine  to  the  inhabitants. 

The  sandy,  porous  soil  has  a  substrata  of  gravel  and  is  well  drained 
by  the  most  approved  system  of  sewerage.  The  outlet  sewers  are  large 
and  C(instructed  of  brick  with  pipe  laterals,  furnishing  means  for  good 
drainage  to  buildings,  as  well  as  the  soil.  In  all  there  are  about  20  miles 
<if  sewers,  thoroughly  flushed  twice  daih  by  tide  water.  The  compara- 
tivelv  few  cesspoyls'  are  required  to  be  laid  u\>  with  cemeflt  and  made 
water  tight.  They  are  emptied  by  scavengers  and  the  odorless  excavat- 
ing company.  :'■ 

The  streets  and  wahks  are  well  kept  under  the  su])ervision  of  a  com- 
]ietent  street  superintendent,  (ias  and  electricity  '  Edison's  system  i  are 
used  for  street  and  general  lighting  purposes.  There  are  about  oil  miles 
of  llagg-ed  walks  .and  40  miles  of  macadam,  which  work  the  Improvement 
Commission  is  e.xtending  as  rapidly  as  the  ai)])ropriations  will  allow. 

The  water  supply,  furnished  by  the  Hackensack  Water  Company,  is 
shown  by  careful  analyses  from  time  to  time  to  be  of  excellent  quality. 
It  is  obtained  from  the  Hackensack  River  at  New  Milford,  far  above  the 
influence  of  tide  and  sewerage  or  other  containinating  matter.  The  reser- 
voir is  at  an  elevation  of  110  feet,  with  sufficient  ]»ressure  to  bi-  ut'liz  mI 
bv  the  fire  department  in  throwing  a  stream  over  tlu'  highest  I)uilding. 
It  is  .to  be  regretted  that  few  of  our  wells  ari'  free  from  organic  matter; 
and  as  this  is  a  possible  source  of  disease,  it  is  de-irable  that  the  river 
water  should  entirely  su])plant  the  use  of  wtdls. 

The  climate  is  mild  yet  variable.  The  snowfall  is  usually  light  - 
rarely  sufficient  for  lengthened  sleighing.  The  health  of  the  town  will 
compare  favorably  with  that  of  any  other  in  the  State.  Statistics  of  bs'  7 
and  IS'KS,  showing  it  to  !)e  lirst  in  ])oi'nt  of  health,  with  the  county  rank- 
ing second  among  the  counties  of  the  state. 

.Malaria  prevails  to  some  extent.  Ih.iugh  many  of  the  oldest  inhal)i- 
tants  have  never  been  affected  l)y  it.  Typhoid  fever  and  diptluria,  the 
great  terrors  in  many  localities,  are  \'ery  rare  here. 


<)b 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


\  llvW    UK    HACKEXSACK    FKOM    (JKOINDS    OF    C.    E.    ECKEKSON. 


Epidemics  are  not  common,  and  as  they  areg-enerally  of  a  mild  type, 
are  readily  controlled  by  the  vig-ilance  of  the  local  physicians  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  Health  Board.  Each  case  of  contagious  disease  is  reported 
to  the  B(5ard  by  the  attending-  physician  as  soon  as  he  learns  its  charac- 
ter. It  is  endeavored  to  isolate  such  patients,  and  none  of  the  children 
lit  the  famih-  are  allowed  to  attend  school  while  any  danger  of  contagion 
exists.  A  certain  sum  is  appropriated  each  year  for  the  use  of  the  Board 
of  health,  which  is  doing  a  good  work.  A  very  noticeable  feature  is 
the  general  cleanliness  of  the  town,  it  being  absolutely  without  the 
usual  dirty  quarters. 

The  dwellings  are  chiefly  built  of  wood,  many  of  them  surrounded 
by  large  lawns  pleasantly  shaded.  There  are  no  crowded  tenement 
houses.  The  markets  are  clean  and  free  from  any  evil  influence  to 
Health.  The  public  school  buildings  are  the  pride  of  the  community. 
In  their  ventilating,  heating  and  plumbing  a  careful  regard  has  been 
given  to  sanitary  laws.  The  other  public  buildings,  including  the  Hos- 
I)ital,  Court  House  and  Jail  are  also  in  good  condition.  The  Health 
Board  is  composed  of  intelligent,  progressive  men,  representing  several 
professions. 


98  HISTORY   OF    BERGEN    COUNTY  , 

"The  word  Hackensack  has  been  so  variously  spelled  and  defined  it 
mav  be  an  open  question  to-day  as  its  orthography  and  signification. 
From  Hackensack  or  Ackensack,  either  of  which  is  spelled  probably 
correct  according  to  the  original  Indian,  pronunciation,  it  has  wandered 
through  Aackingsack,  Ackinghassack,  Akkingsakke,  Ackenkishacky, 
Ackenkeshacky,  Hagensack,  Haghkinsack,  Hackensacky,  Hackingke- 
shacky,  Hackingkasacky,  Hackinsack,  Hackquinhacq,  Hackquinhacq, 
Hacquinkacy,  Hackinsagh„Haghkingsack,  Hackkensak. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  township  of  New  Barbadoes  is  divided  into  four  districts  known 
as  Nos.  10,  comprising  Fairmont  and  Cherry  Hill,  and  a  portion  of 
Midland  township;  31,  all  the  township  between  the  commission  line  or 
boundary  -between  Fairmont  and  the  New  York  Susquehanna  and  West- 
ern Railway,  and  32,  all  the  territory  of  the  township  south  of  the  last 
named  line,  to  Kansas  Street  and  the  southern  commission  line,  while 
33,  contains  the  remaining  territory  in  the  township  to  Little  Ferry. 
31,  and  32,  are  largest  and  most  deserving  of  notice. 

In  1825.  Cornelius  C.  Bogert,  Dr.  Abraham  Hopper,  and  Archibald 
Campbell  were  appointed  trustees  to  take  steps  toward  the  establishment 
of  a  school  in  which  all  the  branches  of  a  classical  education  could  be 
obtained.  They  first  secured  ground  upon  which  to  erect  a  building, 
and  for  this  purpose  purchased  a  lot  fbrmerlj^  owned  bv  James  Hill,  on 
the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  and  north  of  the  lands  of  Henry  Berdan. 
This  was  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  use  of  stockholders  for  the  proposed 
new  academy.  Lafayette,  having  not  long  before  passad  through  on  his 
visit  to  the  scenes  of  his  earlier  years  when  he  fought  side  by  side  with 
Washington,  the  patriotic  and  grateful  people  named  the  new  institu- 
tion, Lafayette  Academy,  in  his  honor.  The  building  was  erected  by 
Benjamin  Oldis,  twentj-  feet  on  Main  Street  and  forty- live  feet  deep, 
with  an  upper  story  for  lectures  and  religious  purposes.  This  was  sur- 
mounted by  a  cupola  and  bell  from  the  old  "Passaic  Church.  The  first 
teacher  was  John  Wash,  Professor  of  Languages,  from  New  York,  fol- 
lowed by  William  Lynn,  Michael  Doyle,  Simon  Z«ibriskie,  M.  S.  Wick- 
man,  Jacob  Vanderbilt,  Hugh  Norton.  William  C.  Smith  and  J.  G. 
Williams. 

The  old  academy  was  sold  in  1853,  when  a  new  and  more  commodi- 
ous brick  building  was  erected  on  the  northwest  corner  of  State  and 
Berry  Streets.  J.  G.  Williams  was  the  first  teacher  (1853),  followed  by 
James  B.  Burlew,  Isaac  J.  Willis,  Thomas  H.  Gimmel,  B.  F.  Shaffer, 
A.  Rider  and  G.  T.  Probst,  followed  by  S.  G.  Lippincott.  This  house 
was  forty  b}'  fifty  feet,  with  an  addition  of  twenty  by  forty  feet,  and 
with  accommodations  for  five  or  six  hundred  scholars.  The  whole  was 
valued  at  $10,000.  In  1877,  a  new  three-story  building  was  erected  on 
the  same  site. 

In  early  colonial  days  a  law  was  passed  rating  the  inhabitants  for 
public  instructiem  in  the  various  towns  of  the  province. 


HISTOKY    OK    Br-:i\'GEN    COl^NTV  99 

A  mooting-  was  hold  in  Hackonsack  in  17f>7  at  whioh  was  disoussed 
the  locating-  of  Queen's  (now  Rutg-or'si  College,  the  two  places  be  fore 
the  meeting-  being  Hackensack  and  New  Brunswick.  After  it  was  de- 
cided to  locate  at  New  Brunswick,  the  jieopleof  Hackensack  wore  aroused 
to  a  greater  interest  in  the  cause  of  education. 

Two  years  later  (1769)  Reinen  Van  (iiesse,  an  (dd  aiul  extensive 
land  owner,  gave  a  site  to  the  old  Washington  Academy,  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  Main  and  Warren  streets.  Upon  this  site  was  erected  a 
large  stone  building,  seventy-live  by  thirty-live  feet  and  two-stories 
high,  with  a  belfry  in  the  centre.  In  this  belfry  was  hung  the  bell 
which  became  famous,  .ind  on  which  was  the  inscription,  "Presented  to 
Washington  Academy  by  William  Bayard,  1776."  This  institution  be- 
came famous  through  a  line  of  able  instructors  of  that  day,  Dr.  Peter 
Wilson  being  the  first  on  the  list.  He  was  a  distinguished  Scotchman, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1763.  Next  came  Henry  Traphagen,  John 
Traphagen,  Bayard  Bayard,  Thomas  Geaghan,  Christian  Zabriskie, 
John  Hayward,  Henry  Blackman,  William  Howell,  John  Bogart,  Henry 
Howell  and  John  Vanderbilt.  The  first  trustees  elected  (1790),  were 
Solomon  Frcieligh,  scholar  and  theologian;  John  Van  Buren,  Isaac  Van- 
derbeck,  Jr.,  and  the  two  able  lawyers,  Robert  Campbell  and  Nehemiah 
Wade.  The  building  was  remodeled  in  1846,  and  again  in  1858.  In  1865 
the  school  was  made  free,  and  in  1869,  the  necessary  books  and  papers 
were  supplied  free  of  charge  to  all  scholars.  In  1873  a  story  was  added 
to  the  building,  but,  the  number  of  pupils  increasing,  it  became  neces- 
sary to  have  greater  accommodations,  and,  in  1878,  the  building  at  the 
corner  of  Union  and  Meyers  streets,  was  erected,  and  first  occupied  on 
December  2d  of  that  year.  Dr.  Nelson  Haas,  j)receded  by  a  list  of  emi- 
nent educators,  became  principal  of  this  school  in  1871,  and  continued 
in  the  work  for  a  period  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  1895,  up(m 
the  establishment  of  a  separate  high  school,  he  was  made  its  principal, 
and  in  1897  was  made  Superintending  Principal  of  all  the  schools  in  the 
township,  and  is  at  this  time  holding  these  two  offices. 

The  Hackensack  Academy  was  erected  about  the  year  1S()"),  but  was 
never  a  prosperous  enterprise,  financially.  This  building  was  located 
on  State  Street,  near  Centra!  Avenue.  Dr.  John  B.  Hague  was  its  first 
principal.  He  was  followed  by  Professor  Charles  Hasbrouck,  he  in 
turn  by  Professor  W.  W.  Richards,  and  next  came  Stephen  Brooks, 
who  was  succeeded  by  Charles  W.  Boyd.  About  1S82  the  academy  was 
closed. 

The  Fairmont  school  house  was  built  in  189(1,  and  for  some  time 
was  utilized  for  both  Fairmont  and  Cherry  Hill,  but  this  was  not  found 
to  be  satisfactory,  and  the  Board  of  Education  was  authorized  to  sell 
the  property  and  build  a  house  for  Fairmont. 

The  Hudson  Street  school  was  enlarged  and  newly  furnished  in 
18')3. 

The  High  School,  formerly  conducted  as  a  separate  department  in 
the  Union  and  State    Streets   schools,  was.  from   1895  to  1896,  pl;iced  in 


L  ofC. 


100  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

the  State  Street  school,  but  later  in  the  Union  Street  house,  awaiting- 
the  construction  of  the  new  High  School  building,  which  was  opened  on 
Thanksgiving  Day,  1897.  The  High  School  prepares  for  admission  to 
the  Freshman  class  in  college,  or  to  the  second  year  in  the  State  Nor- 
mal School. 

The  Board  of  Education  consists  of  nine  members,  and  by  the  school 
law  enacted  in  1866,  all  the  schools  of  the  township  are  placed  under 
the  supervision  of  this  board.  A  uniform  course  of  study  has  been 
adopted  requiring  eight  years  of  work,  beginning  with  the  kindergarten. 
This  includes  a  course  of  manual  training  and  preparation  for  entrance 
to  the  High  School. 

In  addition  to  these,  there  are  two  private  kindergarten  schools  in 
the  village,  and  also  one  parochial  school,  established  in  1871  by  Rev. 
J.  Rolands,  in  connection  with  the  parish  of  Holy  Trinity.  The  present 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Mr.  John  Terhune,  is  doing  a  good 
work  in  the  county.  The  city  owns  school  property  to  the  amount  of 
nearly  $10(1,000. 

HACKENSACK    CHUKCHES. 

No  histor}-  of  Bergen  County  would  be  complete  without  a  record 
of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  Hackensack.  She  claims  to  be  the  fruit- 
ful mother  of  all  the  English  speaking  Reformed  Churches  of  the  county, 
and  the  benevolent  step-mother  of  all  the  other  Protestant  Evangelical 
churches.  She  survives  to-day  after  the  storms  and  vicissitudes  of  over 
two  hundred  years,  one  of  the  oldest  and  staunchest  of  the  denomination 
in  America.  Like  an  old,  gnarled  oak  she  has  sent  her  roots  all  through 
the  religious  soil  of  the  county  and  nourished  the  ecclesiastical  growth 
in  all  her  hamlets. 

Two  earliest  records  give  the  date  of  the  organization  as  1686,  when 
under  the  ministry  of  Dominie  Petrus  Taschemaker,  thirty-three  persons 
united  to  lay  the  foundation  of  this  ancient  church.  The  original  officers 
of  the  organization  were  Hendrick  Jorense  and  Albert  Stevense,  elders  ; 
and  Hendrick  Banta  and  Volkert  Hansen,  deacons.  Dominie  Tasche- 
maker was  settled  at  New  Amstel  (now  New  Castle),  on  the  Delaware 
River,  serving  the  feeble  congregation  at  Hackensack,  with  a  good  deal 
of  sacrifice  and  devotion.  He  came  four  times  a  year  to  administer  the 
Lord's  Supper  and  baptize  the  children.  Never  their  settled  pastor,  he 
did  however  excellent  service. 

The  first  settled  pastor  was  Guilliam  Bertholf.  a  very  pious  man 
who  acted  as  "voorleer,"  in  the  absence  of  a  regular  pastor.  He  was 
sent  to  Holland  by  the  people  at  their  expense,  where  he  fitted  himself 
for  pastoral  work  and  came  back  a  regularl}-  ordained  minister.  For 
nearly  thirty  years  this  first  pastor  labored  incessantly  among  his  own 
people,  and  cared  for  the  scattered  colonies  of  Dutch  settlers  in  New 
Jersey  and  New  York  States,  laying  the  foundation  of  the  present  Home 
Missionary  work  of  the  Reformed  Church.  In  1696,  ten  years  after  the 
organization  of  the  church,  a  building  was  erected  on  the  spot  where  the 
present  venerable  sanctuar}-  stands.     Having  been  altered  and  enlarged 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKC.EX    COUNTY  101 

several  times,  it  is  still  known  to-day  as  "the  old  clnirch  on  the  j^reen." 
After  Dominie  Bertholf  died  in  1724,  there  came  several  i)astors,  all  of 
them  to  the  Dutch  manor  born  and  bred.  Time  forbids  to  enter  into 
particulars,  put  the  work  of  Curtenius  and  Goets.hius,  Errickson  and 
Coens  abides  in  its  influence  until  the  present  time.  The  congfregation 
which  was  scattered  over  a  large  territory  erected  another  house  of  wor- 
ship at  Schraalenburg-h  where  the  pastor  preached  every  other  Sabbath 
to  accommodate  the  worshippers  in  that  part  of  the  county.  In  common 
with  all  the  other  Dutch  congregations  of  that  time,  the  church  passed 
through  the  disturbing  waters  of  ecclesiastical  strife  which  weakened 
and  rent  in  twain  elements  that  needed  all  adhesion  possible  in  order  to 
flourish. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutinnarv  War,  after  the  death  of 
Dominie  Goetschius,  Rev.  Theodorick  Romeyn  t  usually  shortened  into 
Dirck  Romeyn),  came  as  pastor,  when  peace  and  prosperity  returned. 
He  did  not  stay  long  however,  leaving  to  settle  in  the  old  Dutch  Church 
of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  where  he  became  instrumental  in  founding  Union 
College.  In  1799  the  church  called  Rev.  James  V.  C.  Romevn  as  col- 
league with  Rev.  Dr.  Solomon  Froeligh.  The  progress  of  theological 
thought  in  New  England  had  begun  to  be  felt  in  these  staid  old  Dutch 
Churches.  The  younger  men  felt  the  impulse  of  the  new  doctrines  and 
antagonized  the  older  preachers.  In  182.^  this  same  Dr.  Froeligh  started 
in  the  old  church  a  secession,  partly  from  disappointed  ambition  and 
partly  from  aversion  to  new  methods  which  were  coming  in  vogue. 
Several  other  ministers  took  umbrage  at  the  preaching  of  the  new  views, 
alleging  that  it  was  a  departure  from  the  good  old  ways.  These  seced- 
ing parties  were  suspended  by  their  respective  classes  for  insubordina- 
tion and  schism.  For  the  time  being,  it  engendered  a  good  deal  of 
strife  and  bad  feeling;  families  were  divided  and  churches  broken  up. 
But  being  a  conservative  and  combative  secession  it  did  not  make  much 
headway,  and  to-day  it  is  passing  into  oblivion.  Dominie  Romeyn  lab- 
ored in  the  church  over  thirty  years,  repairing  the  breaches  of  the  seces- 
sion and  strengthening  the  church  work.  He  was  followed  by  his  son 
James  who  continued  the  work  for  the  short  period  of  three  years. 
Then  followed  the  fruitful  ministry  of  Dominie  Alexander  Warner  who 
labored  with  his  flock  for  over  twenty-eight  years  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Theodore  B.  Romeyn,  a  grandson  of  Rev.  James  V.  C. 
Romeyn.  This  church  has  had  what  no  other  church,  as  far  as  is 
known,  has  ever  had,  viz.,  a  succession  of  three  generations  of  preachers 
of  one  name  and  family.  Dr.  Theodore  B.  Romeyn  continued  as  pastor 
for  eighteen  years  when  he  died  and  left  as  his  monument,  a  strong 
united  church.  In  IS-SO  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  H.  Vanderwart  assumed 
charge.  For  over  thirteen  years  he  has  labored  to  keep  this  venerable 
old  church  true  to  her  record  and  she  stands  to-day  foremost  in  the 
county,  having  a  large  and  growing  membership,  a  flourishing  combi- 
nation of  several  societies,  large  congregations  both  morning  and  even- 


102  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

ins;-,  verifying  the  promise  of  (iod  that  instead  of  the  fathers  shall  be 
the  children. 

THE    SECOND    KliKOKMED    CHURCH 

was  a  swarm  out  of  the  old  hive,  settling  in  the  upper  part  of  Hacken- 
sack,  on  State  Street.  It  was  organized  in  October,  1855,  and  has  had 
a  stead_y,  vigorous  growth  ever  since.  Its  first  pastor  was  Rev.  James 
Demarest,  Jr.,  who  was  followed  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Fisher,  under  whose 
pastorate  the  church  developed  in  every  department  of  activity.  Failing 
health  compelled  him  to  resign  and  liand  the  reins  to  Rev.  C.  B.  Durand, 
who  continued  for  twelve  years,  when  he  changed  his  ecclesiastical 
views  and  entered  the  Episcopal  ministry.  The  present  incumVjent  is 
Rev.  Arthur  Johnson,  who  has  labored  with  much  success  in  this  im- 
portant field,  since  December  12th,  1884.  He  was  graduated  from  Prrnce- 
tcm  College  in  1872,  and  at  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1875. 

A  building  site  having  been  donated  by  Mrs.  Maria  Berry,  the  corner- 
stone of  the  new  church-house  was  laid  on  July  30tli,  1856,  by  Rev.  John 
Knox,  D.  D.     The  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1850,  at  a  cost  of  S3000. 

THE  THIRD  GERMAN  REFORMED  CHUKCH 

\yas  organized,  as  its  name  imports,  by  our  German  citizens,  in  Jan- 
uaf'y,  1858,  in  that  part  of  Hackensack  known  as  the  Plank  Road,  in 
order  to  supply  the  religious  needs  of  the  increasing  number  of  Ger- 
mans in  our  midst.  During  the  forty  years  of  its  existence,  owing  to 
weakness,  it  has  been  served  by  eleven  pastors.  At  the  present  time  it 
is  not  strong,  oviring  to  the  death  of  many  of  its  old  supporters.  Its 
present  pastor.  Rev.  John  Bombin,  a  scholarly  man  and  an  earnest  and 
devoted   worker,  has  under  his  care  about  eighty  members. 

CHRISTIAN    REFORMED    CHURCH. 

The  Christian  Reformed  Church  ( formerly  known  as  the  True  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church)  has  a  history  dating  back  to  1822,. when  differ- 
ences in  doctrine  and  practice,  caused  eleven  (11)  congregations  to  with- 
draw from  the  judicature  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  and  organized 
as  the  Claseis  of  Hackensack  of  the  True  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

Six  of  these  congregations  are  entitled  to  recognition  in  the  history 
of  Bergen  County,  and  are  situated  at  Ramseys,  (formerly  Ramapo), 
Schraalenburg,  (now  Bergen  Fields),  English  Neighborhood,  (now 
Leonia),  Paramus,  (now  Ridgewood),  Englewood  and  Hackensack.  In 
the  3-ear  ,1890  after  ah  acquaintance  of  several  years  the  two  branches 
of  the  True  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  east  and  west,  united,  and  for  the 
sake  of  ecclesiastical,  uniformity  and  compatibility  with  the  Mother 
Church  in  the  Netherlands,  they  assumed  the  name.  Christian  Reformed 
Church,  still  retaining  their  corporate  title,  observing  the  same  form  of 
church  government  and  doctrinal  standards,  worshipped  for  a  time  in 
private  houses,  barns  and  halls,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Solomon 
Froeligh,  D.  D.,  until  1830,  when  Rev.  C.  T.  Demarest  served  the  church 
for  one  year,  and  Rev.  Christian  Z.  Paulison  was  installed  pastor.  In 
183")   Rev.  C.  T.  Demarest   was  again   called  to  Hackensack,  and  served 


HISTOKY    OV    BEKGEN    COUNTY  103 


the  church  jdiiitly  with  Leonia,  until  1S52,  Re\-.  Cornelius  J.  ]>lauvelt 
succeeding  to  the  pastorate  in  1SS4,  remaining  until  his  death  in  l.S()il. 
Rev.  John  Y.  De  Bauu  was  with  the  congregation  for  twentv-seven 
3-ears.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1S33  on  Hud-jon  Street, 
enlarged  in  1861,  and  again  in  18()7.  In  the  year  1S')<)  a  new  edifice  in 
modern  style,  was  built  on  State  Street  to  rei)lace  the  old  one.  The  new 
church  is  called  the  Town  Clock  Church. 

Rev.  John  C.  Voorhis,  who  is  the  sixth  incumbent  since  the  secession, 
was  called  to  this  pastorate  in  1887,  since  doing  a  good  work,  both  in 
his  church  and  in  educational  affairs,  being  a  member  and  for  several 
years  President  of  the  Board  of  Education.  He  was  ordained  in  1875, 
and  became  pastor  of  the  church  at  Englewood  where  he  remained 
twelve  years,  just  ])rior  to  coming  to  Hackensack. 

KIKST    PRESBYTHKIAN    CHURCH. 

The  Church  known  as  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  originally 
the  result  of  a  secession,  owing  to  a  dispute  of  Rev.  C.  Z.  PauHson  with 
the  Claseis  of  the  True  Reformed  Church.  Thinking  himself  and  his 
following  aggrieved,  they  organized  a  church  similar  to  the  Seccder 
Church  but  entirely  independent  of  it.  Finally  in  1S71  the  Consistory 
applied  to  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey  City  for  admission  to  the  Presby- 
terian Church  which  was  granted.  Thus  this  church,  organized  in 
1832  as  an  independent  True  Reformed  Cliurch,  came  eventually  into  the 
Presbyterian  fold.  There  has  been  a  succession  of  short  i)astorates 
until  in  18'Jl  Rev.  R.  Kuebler  was  called  who  continues  to  the  present 
time.  He  was  graduated  from  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  IS'd. 
The  church  has  recently  been  enlarged  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

THK  FIKST  METHODIST  CHUKCH. 

In  1837  an  organization  was  effected  by  the  Protestant  Methodists, 
but  disbanded  after  six  or  seven  years.  It  was  not  until  184*),  that  the 
first  class  was  established,  and  shortly  afterward  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  built  on  the  rear  of  the  same  lot,  upon  which 
stands  the  present  church  and  parsonage.  The  front  was  on  Warren 
Street.  The  present  church  was  begun  in  April  1874,  the  lecture  room 
being  dedicated  in  January  1875  and  four  years  later  the  work  was  again 
taken  up  and  the  church  completed. 

ASBUKY  METHODIST  KPISCOP.M.  CHUKCH 

was  organized  in  1868,  when  thirty-six  members  were  transferred  from 
the  First  M.  E.  Church,  and  on  New  Year's  Day  1871,  they  dedicated 
their  new  church.  One  month  later  it  was  burned  down.  It  was  not 
until  nearly  ten  years  had  elajjsed,  that  the  present  church  was  built. 
They  have  now  a  membershii)  of  nearly  15(1,  and  church  jjroperty  worth 
probably  SI 2,1)00. 

HOI.V  TRINITY   WOMAN  CATIIOIJC  CHUKCH. 

Not  until  1863  did  the  Roman  Catholics  of  Hackensack  have  a  church 
of  their  own.  Both  the  foreign  and  native  born  Catholic  element  is 
large  and   the  congregation  worships  in  a  commodious  edifice  on  Majile 


104  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN  COUNTY 

Avenue  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  J.  Cunnelly.  Already  a  new 
church  has  sprung  out  of  the  old  one  and  worships  in  a  sanctuary  of  its 
own  on  \'reeland  Avenue. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Brann  purchased  the  site  of  the  present  church  from 
the  late  John  C.  Myers  on  March  31,  1867.  The  Rev.  P.  Corrig-an  the 
first  resident  pastor  preceded  Dr.  Braun  and  officiated  at  Hackensack  and 
Fort  Lee,  from  September,  1863,  to  May,  1866. 

THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 

was  organized  in  1832  by  Elder  Griffiths,  but  for  various  reasons  the 
membership  dropped  off  until  Deacon  De  Woff,  his  wife  and  daughter 
alone  remained.  It  was  not  until  1870  that  an  effort  was  made  to  again 
establish  a  church  of  this  creed,  and  in  July  of  that  year,  eleven  mem- 
bers united  to  form  the  First  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  George  H.  Atwood 
alone  secured  S1500  toward  a  fund  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  house  of 
worship.  At  the  completion  of  the  building  the  first  pastor  Rev.  Zelotes 
Grenell,  senior,  was  installed  on  the  day  of  dedication  December  30,  1870. 
The  pastorates  have  in  no  case  covered  a  long  period  but  have  for  the 
most  part  been  vigorous  and  fruitful  of  much  good. 

CALVARY  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

About  seventy  members  withdrew  from  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
and  organized  temporarily  on  May  5,  1896,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  William 
E.  Taylor.  On  December  3,  18'K>,  the  church  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  Calvary  Baptist  Church  of  Hackensack,  Bergen  County, 
New  Jersey. 

The  membership  is  now  about  eighty.  The  church  property  at 
Union  Street  and  Central  Avenue  is  valuable  and  the  financial  atfairs, 
generally,  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The  various  church  helps,  Sunday 
School,  Young  Peoples'  Societies,  etc.,  are  active  and  grt)wing. 

CHKIST    CHUKCH. 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  known  as  Christ  Church,  dates  back 
to  1861,  and  has  attracted  a  large  number  of  people.  The  noble  edifice  on 
State  Street,  with  its  rectory,  tells  of  the  zeal  and  labors  of  the  present 
pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  William  Welles  Holley,  who  has  labored  with  his  present 
charge  for  more  than  twenty-eight  years.  There  are  now  about  6U0 
members  zealously  working  in  their  especial  field.  In  its  short 
life  this  church  organization  has  given  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  million 
dollars  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 

Dr  Holley  is  a  native  of  Geneva.  N.  Y.,  and  a  graduate  of  Trinity 
College.     He  was  ordained  tf)  the  ministry  in  18()5. 

THE    l"XITAKIAXS 

established  a  church  organization  in  February-,  1898,  and  incorporated 
soon  after  under  the  name  of  the  "First  Unitarian  Congregational 
Church  of  Hackensack."  They  worship  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  This 
society  has  many  prominent  financial  people  of  the  city  among  its  sup- 
porters, and  is  doing  a  successful  work  in  the  broad  field  covered  by  the 


IIISTOKV    OF    lilCKdHN    corxTV  1(15 

"Love  to  God  and  Love  to   Man,"  which   they  recognize  as  practical 

relis>-ii)n. 

MorxT  ()i.i\'i"r  liAi'Tisr  ciukch. 
The  colored  people  are  quite  weak,  hut  succeed  in  keepinjr  uji  the 
interest  of  two  conjj'reg'ations  of  the  Methodist  and  Baptist  denomina- 
tions. There  are  about  tifty-four  members  in  this  org'anization,  but 
they  ha\e  church  property  valued  at  S25t(U.  The  work  of  orsfanizin<>  a 
cong-regation  was  commenced  on  Sundav.  July  2(1,  ISS'i.  The  Mission 
was  rcorg-anized  and  recoofnized  in  1S'>2,  when  the  lot  for  the  ])resent 
church  building-  was  purchased  and  paid  for  at  a  cost  of  S2')(). 

ZIOX    M.     IC.     CHI'KCll 

was  org-anizee  in  l.S()5,  and  Mr.  L.  H.  Sagfe  douijted  the  lot  on  which 
the  church  stands,  the  building  having  been  erected  some  three  years 
later. 

n')';wsp.\i>]:ks. 

The  first  news]):iper  published  in  Hackeiisack  was  the  Bergen  Coun- 
ty Joui-nal,  with  Mr.  Joseph  Baldwin  as  its  edit(jr  until  1S(>1' w^hen  he 
enlisted  in  the  Civil  War.  About  this  time  Mr.  C.  C.  Burr  began  pub- 
lishing the  Bergen  County  Democrat  and  Rockland  County  Journal.  In 
the  meantime  Mr.  Eben  Winton  having  boug-ht  the  plant  of  the  lately 
suspended  Journal,  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Burr  in  piiblishing 
the  Bergen  County  Dcmcjcrat,  and  at  the  same  time  discontinued  the 
Rockland  County  edition.  In  less  than  a  year,  however,  Mr.  Burr  with- 
drew, and  Mr.  Winton  remained  alone  in  the  publication  until  1S7(>. 
when  he  took  his  s<m  Henry  into  the  businos,  and  the  firm  became 
known  as  E.  Winton  &  Son.  One  year  later  Mr.  Henry  Winton  became 
sole  owner. 

In  politics  the  paper  is  Democratic,  and  is  on  a  good  financial  'oasis, 
biing  i>ne  of  the  best  paying  newspapers  in  the  State. 

THK    HACKKNS.VCK    KEPUHI.IC.\N, 

the  only  permanent  Republican  pa])er  of  general  circulation  in  Bergen 
County,  was  established  in  1870  under  the  editorship  of  Arnold  B.  John- 
son, as  "The  New  Jersey  Republican." 

Mr.  Johnson  remained  with  the  iiajier  until  1.S74,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hugh  M.  Herrick  of  the  Paterson  tiuardian.  Mr.  Herrick 
returned  to  the  Guardian  a  year  later  and  was  succeeded  on  the  New 
Jersey  Republican  Isy  William  H.  Bleecker  and  Thomas  II.  Rhodes. 
.Mr.  Rhodes,  however,  retired  after  a  few  months  leaying  Mr.  Bleecker 
sole  proprietor  until  1S78.  Thomas  H.  Chrystal  then  purchased  the 
plant,  and  changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to  that  of  The  Hackensack 
Republican,  at  the  same  time  enlarging  the  sheet  and  improving  its 
mechanical  department,  while  adding  to  its  attractiveness  by  his  hu- 
morous writings. 

In  1882  Hon.  William  .M.  Johnson  purchased  the  pajjcr,  ])lacing 
Eugene  K.  Bird  at  the  head  of  its  editorial  department.  Mr.' Bird  is  of 
recognized  al)ility  and  has  been  with  this  paper  since  1877. 


106  HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

In  1889  Mr.  Herrick,  former  owner,  again  took  charg-e,  where  he 
still  continues,  with  Mr.  Bird  as  local  editor  and  business  manager. 
This  paper  is  progressive  and  independent,  devoted  to  local  interests  as 
well  as  to  State  questions.     It  is  on  a  solid  business  basis. 

THE    EVENINC".    RECORD, 

jiublished  in  Hackensack,  is  the  only  daily  paper  in  Bergen  County. 

In  June,  1895,  some  young  men  of  enterprise  undertook  this  publi- 
cation, which  they  continued  until  January  following,  when  "The 
Evening  Record  Publishing  Compan},"  incorporated  and  purchased  the 
business. 

Herbert  W.  Collingwood,  the  president  of  the  company,  became 
editor-in-chief,  James  A.  Romeyn,  treasurer  and  manager,  with  James 
Smith  as  local  editor. 

In  September  Mr.  Collingwood  retired  when  Mr.  E.  G.  Runner  was 
made  president,  and  James  A.  Romeyn  became  editor,  in  addition  to  his 
offices  of  secretary  and  treasurer. 

In  politics  this  paper  is  independent  and  aggressive,  always  loyal 
to  local  interests,  while  maintaining  a  courteous  demeanor  toward  its 
contemporaries.  The  circulation  is  large  and  increasing,  promising  a 
bright  future. 

THE  HACKENSACK  HOSPITAL. 

[Contribution  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Board.] 
In  the  early  spring  of  1888  Dr.  David  St.  John,  who  had  then  already 
become  prominent  in  this  section  and  whose  extended  practice  brought 
him  into  contact  with  many  cases  which  could  be  so  much  more  success- 
tuUy  treated  in  a  hospital,  under  took  the  organization  of  such  an  insti- 
tution in  town.  His  efforts  met  with  a  ready  response  and  resulted  in  a 
preliminary  meeting  which  was  held  at  the  office  of  Hon.  William  M. 
Johnson  on  April  23rd,  1888.  This  meeting  was  attended  by  a  goodly 
number  of  representative  citizens  and  it  was  then  decided  to  proceed  to 
organize  and  a  committee  on  permanent  organization  was  appointed.  At 
a  second  meeting  held  at  the  same  place  on  May  1st,  of  that  year,  the 
committee  on  permanent  organization  reported  in  favor  of  an  organiza- 
tion dual  in  form  viz  :  The  Hackensack  Hospital  Company  to  be  managed 
by  a  board  of  eleven  directors  which  might  consist  of  seven  gentlemen 
and  four  ladies,  said  company  to  acquire  and  hold  title  to  the  Hospital 
property.  Second,  The  Hackensack  Hospital  Association  to  be  directed 
by  a  board  of  twenty-four  governors,  the  last  named  organii.ation  to 
lease  the  property  from  the  company  at  a  nominal  annual  rental  and  to 
equip  and  manage  the  hospital.  This  report  was  adopted  as  was  also 
the  constitution  and  by-laws  reported  by  the  same  committee,  provision 
being  made  for  the  appointment  of  a  ladies  auxiliary  board  by  the  board 
of  Governors.  Permanent  organization  was  then  effected  by  the  election 
of  the  following  named  Board  of  Directors  for  the  Company:  Hon.  Wil- 
liam M.  Johnson,  Hon.  William  S.  Banta,  Edward  H.  Dougherty, 
Nicholas  Mehrhof,  Sr.,  John  C.  Van  Saun,  Adonijah  S.  Boyd,  William 


insTOKY  OF  Hi;iu;n.\  coi"nty  l(i7 


P.  Ellory,  Mrs.    Frederick   Jacnhson,  Sr..    Mrs.    Kli/.  ibjtli    F.    Chrvstal. 
Mrs.  Theodore  B.  Romeyn,  and  Mrs.  E.  M.  Moses. 

For  Governors  of  the  Association  :  Nicholas  Mehrhof.  Sr.,  David 
Terhune,  Charles  H.  H.  Harris,  Peter  L.  Conklin.  William  T.  E.  Wells 
Edwin  Ackerman,  (leorg-e  W.  Conklin,  William  V-.'illiams,  Edward  Poor, 
Sr.,  Lewis  Perrot,  John  ().  (rrode,  (ieor<;-e  M.  Fairchild.  Jr.,  James  A. 
Romeyn,  Lemuel  Lozier.  John  ().  Hilyer.  Cornelius  A.  Herriny;,  Weslev 
Stoney.  Abraham  (i.  Munn,  Jr.,  M.-ilthew  E.  Clarendon,  James  E. 
Church.  Abrahams.  Burdette,  I\L  D..  David  St.  Jidm,  M.  D.,  James 
.^L  Van  Valen,  and  Nicholas  C.  Demarest.  The  B  lard  of  (iovcrnors 
met  at  once  with  Hon.  James  ]SL  Van  Valen  jri.sidinfif  and  James  A. 
Romeyn  as  Secretary.  A  committee  on  nomination  of  officers  was  a]i- 
pointed,  consisting  of  Nicholas  Mjhrhof,  Sr.,  Dr.  D.  St.  John,  and 
William  Williams.  That  ccmimittce  reported  for  President,  David  Ter- 
hune ;  Vice-Presidents,  James  AL  Van  Valen  and  M.  E.  Clarendon  ;  Sec- 
retary, James  E.  Church  ;  and  Treasurer,  Charles  H.  Harris,  which 
report  was  adopted.  At  a  subsecpient  meeting  of  the  board  on  Mav  7tli, 
John  O.  Hilyer,  P.  L.  Conklin,  and  N.  C.  Demarest  declined  to  serve  as 
(rovernors  and  were  rejilaced  l)y  Alvah  Towbridt^e,  and  William  M. 
.lohnson.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Harris  als  >  declined  the  treasurership  and 
James  A.  Romeyn  was  unanimously  chosen  in  his  stead.  The  President" 
a]ipointed  a  large  and  rejjresentative  auxiliary  board,  the  various  com- 
mittees of  which  are  to  be  presided  over  by  the  following:  Visiting 
Committee,  Mrs.  William  Williams,  (Camden  Street);  Finance  Comr 
mittee,  Mrs.  William  T.  Wells  ;  Supply  C<mimittee,  Mrs.  William  Wil- 
liams, (State  Street:  Nurses  xVid  Committee,  Mrs.  Dr.  Hollev  ;  Ward- 
robe Committee,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Moses:  Special  Needs  Ccmimittee,  Miss.  A. 
Barling.  Want  of  space  forbids  naming  the  entire  Auxiliary  Board,  but 
very  largely  to  the  ladies  of  that  board  and  to  Dr.  St.  John,  David  Ter- 
hune, and  Cornelius  A.  Herring  belongs  the  credit  of  the  speedy  and 
successful  opening  of  this  much  needed  institution.  The  first  Medical 
Board  were  :  Dr.  D.  St.  John,  President :  Dr.  Altram  S.  Burdette. 
Secretary;  with  Fordyce  Barker,  M.  D.,  Edward  C.  Janeway.  .M.  D.. 
and  Abin  Jacobi,  M.  D.,  as  consulting  physicians.  Lewis  H.  Sayre,  ,NL 
D.,  consulting  surgeon  ;  W.  (rill  Wylie.  M.  D.,  consulting  gynecologist; 
David  Webster,  M.  D.,  consulting  occulist;  Visiting  physicians  and 
surgeons,  Dr.  D.  St.  John  and  Dr.  Abraham  S.  Burdette.  Homeopathic 
ward,  Chas.  V.  Adams,  M.  D.,  attending  physician  ;  Dr.  G.  Howard 
McFadden,  interne;  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Livingston,  matron.  Later  on 
a  Nurses  Training  School  was  organized,  whose  graduates  now  minister 
to  the  sick  and  injured  in  many  States. 

In  additi(m  to  the  names  already  mentioned  as  prominent  in  its  orga- 
nization and  early  management,  the  name  of  Mrs.  Theodore  B.  Romeyn 
should  also  be  mentioned. 

Fnmi  its  incei)tion  there  has  been  most  worthy,  consistent  an<l 
enthusiastic  efforts  ])ut   forth   by  its  promotors  and  man;igers,  each  sue- 


108  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

ceeding'  annual  report  showing-  increased  facilities,  a  more  and  more  sat- 
isfactory financial  standing,  a  better  corp  of  trained  nurses,  additions  to 
and  improvements  of  the  hospital  property  and  buildings  and  most  skill- 
ful treatment  on  the  part  of  its  physicians  and  nurses  until  it  is  to-day 
recognized  everywhere  as  a  strictly  first-class  institution  of  its  kind  as 
shown  by  the  fact  that  its  last  annual  report  shows  $3826.40  received 
during  the  year  from  patients  and  nurses  earnings,  in  a  total  receipts  for 
the  year  of  $6486.84  while  the  expenses  were  $5544.83,  leaving  a  balance 
of  $942.01.  The  last  year  (1899)  the  institution  has  been  taxed  to  its 
utmost  capacity  and  though  519  cases  were  treated  during  the  year 
some  had  to  be  turned  away  for  want  of  room,  and  the  board  of  govern- 
ors are  now  considering  plans  to  enlarge  and  otherwise  increase  its 
usefulness.  The  present  board  of  officers  are  Albert  V.  Moore,  Presi- 
dent;  M.  E.  Clarendon  and  Alvah  Trowbridge,  Vice  Presidents ;  John 
Dunlap,  Treasurer ;  and  James  E.  Church,  Secretary.  The  associates  of 
-Dr.  St.  John  on  the  medical  board,  are  Doctors  A.  L.  Van  De  Water, 
Frank  H.  White,  E.  K.  Conrad,  and  G.  Howard  McFadden.  Dr.  N.  A. 
Harris  is  attending  physician  to  the  Homeopathic  ward.  Dr.  Elmer  W. 
Scott  is  the  present  house  physician  and  Miss  Emma  F.  Crum,  supervis- 
ing nurse.  The  hospital  has  been  peculiarly  fortunate  in  having  the 
hearty  assistance  of  many  of  the  most  prominent  medical  men  in  New 
York  City,  on  its  consulting  staff.  Among  these  are  such  eminent  names 
as  Edward  G.  Janeway,  M.  D.,  Abin  Jacobi,  M.  D.,  consulting  physicians  ; 
Joseph  D.  Bryant,  M.  D.,  and  George  F.  Shrady,  M.  D.,  consulting  sur- 
geons, W.  Gill  Wylie,  M.  D.,  and  Roberf  H.  Wylie,  M.  D.,  con- 
sulting gynecologists;  David  Webster,  M.  D.,  consulting  opthalmic 
surgeon;  J.  Le(mard  Corning,  M.  D.,  consulting  neurologist;  Rob- 
ert Newman,  M.  D.,  consultant  in  genito-urinary  diseases;  Regi- 
nald H.  Sayre,  M.  D.,  consultant  in  diseases  of  spine  and  gen- 
eral deformities,  Charles  W.  Allen,  M.  D.,  consulting  dermatologist, 
and  S.  M.  Payne,  M.  D.,  consultant  in  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear, 
nose  and  throat.  The  present  Hospital  Governors  are  Dr.  D.  St. 
John,  M.  E.  Clarendon,  Alvah  Trowbridge,  Major  John  Dunlap,  James 
E.  Church,  J.  O.  Grode,  A.  G.  Munn,  Jr.,  C.  E.  Breckinridge,  E.  H. 
Dougherty,  C.  E.  Eckerson,  Chas.  Henderson,  Edward  E.  Moore,  J.  A. 
Romeyn,  Lemuel  Lozier,  Hon.  William  M.  Johnson,  E.  M.  Barnes,  Cap- 
tain i.  J.  Phelps,  A.  V.  Moore,  William  T.  Knapp,  L.  Perrot,  E.  E. 
Poor,  Sr.,  G.  L.  Jaeger,  Charles  H.  Harris  and  George  W.  Conklin. 

After  due  credit  has  been  given  to  all  others,  more  than  to  any  one 
else  the  chief  credit  for  organization  and  most  successful  management  of 
this  admiral)le  and  worthy  institution  belongs  to  Dr.  David  St.  John. 

James  E.  Chukch. 

the  hackensx\ck  impkovement  commission. 
This  Commission  was  created  by  act  of  the  State  Legislature   of 
New  Jersey  in  1868,  supplemented    in  April,    1871  by  a  provision  em- 
powering the  Commission  to  organize  a  Fire  Department.     On  June  1, 


no  HISTORY    OF    BEKGKN    COUNTY 

following,  two  coinparics  were  org-anized,  Bergen  Hook  and  Ladder 
Company,  Xo.  1,  and  Relief  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  2.  Two 
trucks  were  purchased,  but  not  being-  of  equal  value,  in  order  to  make 
a  satisfactory  adjustment  of  numbers  and  awarding-  of  trucks,  the.conir 
mittee  agreed  to  give  choice  of  trucks  to  one  and  choice  of  numbers  to 
the  other.  It  thus  came  that  Bergen  became  No.  1,  but  received  the 
interior  apparatus. 

Their  truck  was  first  kept  in  a  little  building  'now  made  into  a 
dwelling  house)  on  State  Street,  near  the  Susquehanna  Track.  Soon 
after  .this,  however,  thev  moved  into  the  new  house  on  Bergen  Street, 
and  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  have  done  active  service,  with 
but  one  interruption.  Their  enrollment  at  present  twenty-seven.  Relief 
Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  2,  was  organized  at  the  old  Park  Hotel- 
on  Passaic  Street.  They  first  kept  their  truck  in  the  old  D^Baun  black" 
smith  shop  on  Union  Street,  and  afterwards  used  La  Favorita  boat  house 
on  Anderson's  dock.  In  March,  189(),  they  took  possession  of  their  State 
Street  fire  house. 

The  first  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department,  John  J  Ward,  was  from 
this  company.  The  company  was  organized  \yith  eleven  members,  but 
have  now  twice  that  number.  Their  truck  was  used'twenty  years  with- 
out repair,  except  jiainting.  A  new  truck  was  furnished  them  in  1S').S 
at  a  c(jst  of  81,^50. 

Protection  Engine  Companv,  No.  1,  was  organized  in  November  of 
the  same  year,  and  in  1884  James  Conklin,  of  this  company,  was  elected 
Chief.  In  1S')5  a  new  house  was  erected  for  them  at  a  cost  of  S3500, 
and  the  same  year  the  fine  La  France  steam  fire  engine  was  furnished 
them.     This  company  now  has  twentv-seven  members. 

Liberty  Hose  Companv,  No.  1,  now  known  as  Liberty  Steamer 
Company,  No.  1,  wa?  the  first  lios2  co:npany  in  the  department,  and  was 
organized  September,  I'J,  1882,  but  did  not  incorporate  until  1885.  They 
are  a  prosperous  company,  and  in  ISSS  pur.ihased  a  new  hose  carriage, 
of  which  thev  are  sole  owners.  This  they  turned  over  to  the  Commis- 
mission,  and  subsequently  invested  in  a  new  steam  engine,  which  cost 
S.^dOd.  It  also  was  accepted  on  April  14,  ISy.l,  and  was  the  first  steamer 
in  town.  They  now  l)ought  one  of  (ileasou  &  Bailey's  improved  hose 
carts,  at  the  same  time  disposing  of  the  old  carriage  to  the  Maywood 
Fire  Department.  This  brought  about  the  change  of  name  to  that  of 
Liberty  Steamer  Company,  No.  1.  They  tuunber  twenty  on  the  roll. 
These,  with  the  Fire  Patrol,  which  had  been  organized  in  187(>  with  ten 
members,  comprised  the  Department. 

Tin-  next  company  to  come  into  existence  was  the  Alert  Hose  Com- 
pany No.  2,  March  22,  1883.  Their  place  of  organization  was  the  cigar 
store  of  Jacob  H.  Fank,  at  70  Main  Street.  Mr.  Fank  was  made  head 
of  the  Department  in  June,  1889,  and  in  1893  John  Weickert  was  elected 
assistant  engineer.  This  company  now  has  seventeen  members.  Six 
years  later  Hudson  Hose  Company  No.  3  was  org-anized  in  the  old  Third 
District  of   Hackensack,  (afterwards   tlie  I'irst  i  at   the  Franklin   House 


HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COVNTY  111 

on  Hudson  Street.  Tliey  have  twenty-one  members.  Union  Hose  Com- 
pany No.  4,  followed  ill  May,  1S')5,  and  was  accepted  on  June  1.  They 
had  twelve  members  and  still  keep  that  nvimbiT.  The  duties  of  the  Fire 
Patrol  were  more  specilically  defined  by  an  Act  of  the  Letfislature  March 
14,  1S7'',  which  made  the  company  to  number  twenty  men.  In  Aug-ust, 
1887,  a  wagon  for  carr^-intr  canvas  covers,  stretchers,  ropes,  lanterns, 
etc.,  was  furnished  and  placed  in  the  Innise  of  the  Relief  Engine  Com- 
{lany,  where  it  was  kept  until  their  removal  to  their  new  house  <m  Mer- 
cer Street.     The  total  number  of  men  in  the  Department  is  1()"). 

The  Exempt  Firemen's  Association  was  organized  February  l'>. 
1890,  at  the  rooms  of  Liberty  Hose  Company  No.  1.  The  aims  of  the 
organization  are  both  social  and  beneficial.  There  are  numy  e.xenipt 
firemen  who  are  still  in  active  service.  They  nuinl)er  at  this  time  ino 
members. 

The  Firemen's  Insurance  Association  of  Ilackensack.  is  another 
commendable  institution,  having  in  view  the  payment  of  an  insurance 
fee  of  one  dollar  per  member,  upon  the  death  of  a  fireman  connected 
with  the  organization.  The  (jnly  expense  connected  with  this  is  that 
of  stationery  and  printing.  The  only  persons  eligible  to  membership 
are  local  firemen.     There  are  now  168  enrolled. 

The  Firemen's  Relief  Association  is  intended  to  benefit  members 
who  are  injured  while  on  duty.  The  companies  have  equal  rights  by 
representatives  and  trustees.  The  Association  has  now  about  S7.(l(;(', 
invested  in  first  class  bond  and  mortgage  security. 

THE    H.\CKENS.\CK    \V.\TER    COMPANY. 

This  is  a  private  enterprise  operated  by  a  stock  com))any  incorporated 
March  12,  1869.  The  incorporators  were  Richard  R.  Hawkey,  John  H. 
Banta,  Garrett,  Ackerson,  Jr.,  Eben  Win  ton  and  Samuel  Sneeden.  After 
ten  years,  the  finances  of  the  company  running  low,  a  receiver  was  ap- 
])ointed  in  the  person  of  the  Hon.  Augustus  A.  Harden  burg,  of  Jersey 
City.  The  following  year,  under  new  conditi(ms,  it  was  reorganized 
and  named  "The  Hackensack  Water  Company  Reorganized." 

The  source  of  water  supjdy  is  the  Hackensack  River,  from  which 
the  water  is  taken  at  New  Mil  ford,  about  five  miles  above  Hackensack. 
There  are  probably  200  miles  of  force  mains,  with  three  high  service 
pumps  of  ten,  five  and  three  million  gallons  daily  capacity,  respec- 
tively. The  two  reservoirs  at  Weehawken  Heights  have  a  capacity 
of  eighteen  and  forty-live  million  galhms  each,  while  the  average 
daily  consumption  is  about  8,000,000  gallons.  This  water  is  com- 
paratively pure,  the  source  being  Rockland  Lake,  which  is  fed  from 
mountain  springs.  A  new  pumping  service  is  soon  to  l)e  in  operation, 
with  a  capacity  of  13,000,000  gallons  daily. 

SOCIETIES,  LODGES    AND    CI.tlBS. 

The  man  who  does  not  belong  to  a  club  or  a  lodge,  is  the  exception 
and  not  the  rule.  Hackensack  has  its  share  of  these  institutions  for  the 
benefit,  amusement  or  entertainment  of  its  many  citizens  who  may 
choose  to  become  members. 


112  HISTOKV  OF  BRKGEN  COUNTY 

The  oldest  secret  order  in  Hackensack,  is  that  of  Berg-en  County 
L<>di;e,  No.  73,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  which  was  instituted  in  1845,  and  held  its 
first  meeting's  in  a  small  room  over  the  ball-room  of  the  "Washington 
Mansion  House."  This  proving  inadequate  the  lodge  sought  more  suit- 
able rooms  in  which  to  meet  until  a  permanent  home  could  be  secured. 
A  building  association  was  subsequentl}-  formed,  a  site  purchased,  and 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall  built.  This  house  which  they  had  occupied  many 
years,  was  burned  in  1897,  but  their  present  hall  was  in  process  of  erec- 
tion prior  to  the  destruction  of  the  old  one.  In  addition  to  the  parent 
lodge,  is  Hope  Encampment,  No.  3.^,  and  Uhland  Lodge,  No.  177,  a 
German  Lodge  instituted  in  1874,  with  thirteen  charter  members.  This 
is  a  prosperous  organization  holding  its  meetings  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall, 
a  line  building  recently  finished. 

THE  OKITANI    KIHLD   CLfB 

(if  Hackensack,   is  the  leading  athletic  organization  of  Bergen  County. 

To  Mr.  F.  A.  Anthony  is  due  the  honor  of  suggesting  the  idea  of 
such  a  club,  associating  afterwards  with  him  as  founders,  Messrs.  J.  S.  C. 
Wells,  John  R.  Bogert,  William  P.  EHery,  George  M.  Fairchild,  Jr.,  C. 
Julian  Wood,  E.  E.  Poor,  Jr..  Asa  W.  Dickinson  and  William  Welles 
Holley,  Rector  of  Christ  Church. 

Soon  after  the  first  public  meeting,  which  was  held  in  Library  Hall, 
on  the  8tli  of  November,  1887,  the  club  was  organized.  Mr.  F.  A.  An- 
thony was  elected  President,  with  I.  B.  Bogert,  First  Vice  President;  G. 
M.  Fairchild,  Jr.,  Second  Vice  President  ;  C.  Julian  Wood,  Secretar^^ ;  E. 
E.  Poor,  Jr.,  Treasurer;  J.  S.  C.  Wells,  Captain.  The  Governors  were 
Messrs  W.  P.  EHery.  R.  S.  Jacobson,  B.  J.  Richardson,  A.  W.  Dickin- 
son. A*.  B.  Banta,  C.  W.  Berdan,  Rev.  W.  W.  Holley,  Rev.  Arthur  John- 
son and  A.  Trowbridge. 

The  club  at  once  incorporated  with  an  enrollment  of  ninety-seven 
members.  Soon  after  this,  the  Anderson  homestead  was  purchased  and 
necessary  alterations  and  improvements  made.  The  house  and  toljoggan 
slide  were  opened  to  members  on  the  26th  day  of  December,  1887.  The 
club  was  a  popular  organii,ation  from  the  first,  and  at  the  end  of  this 
year  the  membership  numbered  234.  The  formal  opening  of  the  grounds 
took  place  on  July  4th,  1888,  with  an  appropriate  programme.  No 
less  than  5000  people  assembled  to  witness  the  game  of  base  ball  and 
tennis  matches,  and  to  hear  the  fine  music  by  Drake's  Military  Band. 
A  drill  of  Company  C,  was  an  interesting  feature,  the  whole  closing 
with  a  display  of  fireworks  in  the  evening.  The  house  and  grounds 
have  now  become  valuable  property.  The  ball  field  has  been  enlarged, 
fine  bowling  alleys  adjoin  the  club  house,  and  some  of  the  members 
being  expert  bowlers,  tfiese  alleys  are  in  great  deihand.  A  reading 
room,  billiard  and  pool  room,  excellent  tennis  courts  and  a  boat  house, 
are  all  open  to  the  members.  They  have  also  a  fine  hall  equipped 
for  entertainments  and  dances.  Tlie  family  of  each  member  is  al- 
lowed all  the  benefits  and   privileges  which   he  enjoys,  except  that  of 


HISTOKV    OV    HKh'CiHN    COUNTY  ll.i 

voting-  and  liDldinsj;-  office.  This  has  been  a  hcnelit  to  the  chih  linan- 
cially,  since  the  women  have  hehl  alTairs,  which  have  netted  a  neat  sum 
each  time. 

The  present  oflicers  are  :  F.  A.  Anthony,  President  ;  I.  F.  Hinds. 
First  Vice-President;  C.  M.  Horton.  Second  Vice-President;  Dr.  A.  C". 
Hevd(m,  Correspondin":  Secretary;  H.  De  Mott,  Recording-  Secretary;  I. 
H.  Labag-h,  Treasurer. 

(Governors:  .T.  P.  Chirendon,  \V.  J.  Fisher,  F.  \V.  Beattie,  A.  T. 
Holley,  J.  J.  Phelps,  (t.  W.  Conklin,  H.  (I.  Terluuie,  W.  P.  Ellerv  R., 
S.   Bruns. 

THK  OKDEK  OF  AMKKICAN  ,M  ICCII AXICS 

wliich  was  founded  in  Phihidelphia,  July  Sth,  l^-S,  had  as  its  chief  ob- 
jects, the  advocacy  of  free  schools,  and  tlie  non-union  of  church  and 
state.  Columbia  C(amcil  Ko.  (.(>  of  this  order,  was  organi/xnl  in  Hacken- 
sack  September  5,  1S71  with  seventeen  members,  but  has  passed  out  of 
existence. 

I'lOXKlCK   LODCIv 

No  70  F.  and  A.  M.  was  instituted  April  4th,  1S()5,  under  dispensation, 
the  first  meeting-  being-  held  in  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  Hackensack.  Its 
officers  were :  William  H.  De  Wolfe,  W.  M.  ;  Dr.  William  H.  Hall,  S.  W.  ; 
Robert  W.  Goslee,  J.  W.  ;  Richard  A.  Terhune,  S.  D.  (  acting  treasurer)  ; 
Isaac  E.  Bigert,  Sjjretary  ;  Thoinis  Picker,  J.  D.  ;  a  id  David  M.  Hall, 
acting  as  Tvler.  In  the  Fall  of  18(>5  the  meeting  place  was  changed  from 
Odd  Fellows  Hall  to  Anderson  Hall,  a  room  in  the  third  story  having 
been  fitted  up  specially  for  the  lodge.  Its  first  regular  meeting  was  held 
under  charter  or  warrant,  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  Jersey,  Febru- 
ary 12,  1866.  After  passing  through  some  adverse  experiences  the  lodge 
settled  again  in  Anderson  Hall  where  it  remained  until  its  reni<ival  to 
the  Bank  Building.      The  present  membership  is  about  one  hundred. 

BKKCIiX   ClIAPTICK' 

No  4(1  K.  A.  M.  was  instituted  in  l.S').^  with  eighteen  members  and  now 
has  forty-three. 

The  Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics,  was  organized  Aug- 
ust 4,  IS'H,  and  has  an  enrollment  of  about  2(10.  Having  no  home  of 
its  own,  this  lodge  meets  at  Odd  Fellows"  Hall  every  Friday  night. 
The  objects  of  the  organization  are  such  as  to  interest  all  true  Ameri- 
cans. Hackensack  Lodge  No.  64,  Ancient  Order  United  Workmen, 
meets  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  the  first  and  third  Thursdays  of  each 
month.  This  organization  has  a  limit  of  twenty  annual  assessments  of 
one  dollar  eacli,  with  a  benefit  at  death  of  S2000,  and  in  addition  to 
this  they  have  a  sick  benefit  class,  ])aying  a  weekly  sick  benefit  of  six 
dollars  to  its  members. 

Bergen  Ltxlge  14.\  Knights  and  Ladies  of  the  (iolden  Star,  was 
organized  in  March,  1897.  This  fraternal  insurance  organization,  as 
its  name  implies,  admits  both  sexes.  Any  member  of  the  family  over 
twelve  years  of  age  is  eligible  to  membershi]). 


114  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

The  Hackensack  Wheelmen  en  February  11th,  1895,  organized  with 
111  charter  members.  The}-  have  a  home  which  they  have  occupied 
since  May,  1896,  having  prior  to  that  time  occupied  the  old  Bank  Build- 
ing, now  owned  and  occupied  by  C.  A.  Bogert.  The  enrollment  is  now 
250  active  members,  while  Mr.  E.  C.  Humphrey  is  the  only  honorary 
member. 

Besides  these,  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  was  org- 
anized in  1883,  and  the  Hackensack  branch  of  the  Children's  Home  So- 
ciety, a  national  organization,  for  the  placing  of  homeless  children,  was 
organized  March  23,  1895. 

There  are  also  many  societies  for  musical  and  dramatic  culture. 
Among  this  number  we  lind  the  Gunod  Society  founded  for  the  purpose 
of  promoting  the  study  of  choral  music  and  also  for  developing  a  taste 
for  the  music  of  the  great  masters.  The  Hackensack  Dramatic  Associa- 
tion has  been  fortunate  in  securing  the  services  of  Mr.  Alfred  Young, 
stage  manager  of  the  Brooklyn  Amaranth.  To  his  training,  is  largely 
due  no  doubt,  the  success  achieved  by  the  members.  They  now  enjoy 
the  services  of  Mr.  George  G.  Ackerman  of  the  late  Schubert  Club,  who 
comes  with  a  commission  to  form  the  Dramatic  Association  Orchestra. 
and  in  which  he  will  act  as  musical  director. 

The  Deutscher  Kriegerbund  of  Bergen  County,  is  an  association  for 
the  relief  or  assistance  of  regular  army  veterans  and  was  organized  July 
11,  1S94. 

THE    t;EKM.\N    SCHUTZENBUNDICS    WASHINCTON    RIFLES, 

State  of  New  Jersey,  organized  March,  ISSl,  and  the  Bruderliebe  So- 
ciety, organized  in  1kS()4,  are  both  fraternal  institutions. 

THE    HACKENSACK    CORNET    B.\ND 

is  a  creditable  band  of  twenty-one  instruments. 

THE    KALAMAZOO    BAND 

was  formed  in  1892,  and  is  a  social  organizaticm  of  about  eighty  mem- 
bers. There  are  also  the  German  Dramatic  Harmonic,  the  Liedertafel 
German  Singing  Society  and  the  Court  Hackensack,  No.  47,  F.  of  A.; 
Hackingshackey  Tribe,  No.  189,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men;  Order  of 
United  PMends,  Royal  Council,  No.  1151,  Royal  Arcanum,  National 
Union,  with  many  others  of  a  fraternal,  beneficiary  or  social  nature. 

BANKINC;    INSTITLTTIONS. 

There  have  been  several  banking  institutions  in  Hackensack  during 
the  last  sixty  years,  but  none  of  them  are  now  in  operation.  The  first 
banking  institution  of  any  importance  was  the  Washington  Banking 
Company,  which  came  here  from  Hoboken,  where  it  had  been  previously 
organized  under  a  State  law.  It  transacted  business  here  about  seventy 
years  ago,  but  after  a  few  years  met  with  financial  failure.  John  De 
Grott  was  President  and  George  Y.  Allaire  Cashier.  It  was  first  located 
in  the  present  southwest  parlor  of  the  Mansion  House,  and  subsequently 
moved  to  its  banking  house,  erected  by  the  company  on  the  north  side  of 
Mansion  Street,  near  Main. 


lusTdKV  OF   lu'Kci-N    c■()^^'|■^  115 

The  Hank  ol"  BerirL-n  County  was  ostahlislu'd  .lanuarv  2(1,  1S72,  with 
a  capital  of  $(>(), 000,  and  in  January,  1S74.  incroasnl  to  Sl(iil,oO(i,  and  in 
the  same  year  a  spacious  and  substantial  liankiny  house  was  built  on 
Main  Street,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Campbell  tavern,  of  Kevolutioiiary 
memory. 

Bergen  County  Savings  Bank  was  chartered  in  1S70.  and  commenced 
business  in  iS72.  Its  business  was  mainly  carried  on  bv  the  officers  of 
the  Bank  of  Bergen  County. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Hackensack  was  organized  October  2:>. 
1871,  and  commenced  business  the  following  .lanuary,  with  a  capital  of 
3100,000. 

The  Hackensack  Savings  Bank  was  incorporaU'd  April  4,  1S7.^,  and 
commenced  business  the  following  Mav.  This  bank  was  managed  by 
the  officers  generally  of  the  First  National  Bank.  All  of  these  f(.ur 
financial  institutions  continued  in  business  till  about   Iwinity  years  ago. 

Tin-:    llACKKXSACK    KAXK, 

now  carrying  a  capital  of  350,000,  was  incorporated  in  ISS't,  when  iJavid 
A.  Pell  was  made  President;  M.  E.  Clarendon,  \'ice-Presi(lent,  and  H. 
D.  Terhune,  Cashier.   These  officials  still  continue  to  hold  their  positions. 

The  directors  are  David  A.  Pell,  William  M.  Johnson,  F.  A.  .\n- 
thony,  James  \V.  Gillies,  Samuel  Taylor,  M.  E.  Clarendon,  David  St. 
John,  M.  D.,  C.  J.  Cadmus.  John  J.  Phelps,  Frank  B.  Poor,  II.  D. 
Terhune. 

The  bank  has  added  to  its  capital  350,000,  a  surplus  of  350,000  and 
undivided  profit  of  325,000,  and  carries  about  half  a  million  dollars  in 
•leposits. 

In  proportion  to  its  c;ii)ital  and  vidume<if  !)usiness  it  is  one  of  the 
wealthiest  banks  in  the  State. 

Mir.ITAKV    C<)MPAMi:S    O).-    11 ACK  I'lN'S  \CK. 

The  organization  of  the  Hackensack  Continental  (luard,  as  a  military 
company  was  effected  in  1.S55.  Later  it  formed  a  union  with  the 
Bergen  C<mnty  Rifles  and  then  l)ecame  known  as  the  Bergen  County 
Battalion.  It  was  then  officered  as  follows:  Colonel  A.  (j.  Ackerman; 
Major.  David  A.  Barry;  Adjutant,  John  J,  Anderson:  Ouartermaster, 
K.  1'.  Terhune.     The  battalion  was  disbanded  in  1<S(>1. 

Company  (i,  Sec(md  Regiment  X.  (t.  N.  J.,  was  organized  by  Hon. 
J.  M.  Van  Valen,  October  Sth,  1.S72.  Through  the  instrumentality  of 
Mr.  Van  Valen,  who  had  removed  to  the  town,  a  number  of  persons 
had  become  interested  in  the  formation  of  this  company,  which  w.is 
organized  as  "Company  C."  and  in  which  the  people  of  the  county  have 
always  taken  a  pardonable  pride.  The  officers  elected  at  the  above  date 
were  Garret  Ackerman,  Jr.,  Ca])tain;  James  M.  Van  Valen,  First  Lieu- 
tenant; Nicholas  C.  Demarest,  Second  lyieutenant;  (leorge  T.  Haring. 
Sergeant.  To  Lieutenant  Van  Valen  is  due  the  credit  of  not  only  organ- 
izing this  company  but  also  of  perfecting  a  discijiline  in  drills,  which 
made  it  a  name,  and  ij-ave  it  ;i  perinanencv  in  the  popular  o])inion  of  the 
peopl.. 


116  HISTOKV    OF    BKKGEN    COUNTY 

In  l.S7()  chang-es  were  madt-  in  the  oryfanization  (if  the  company. 
In  March  of  that  year  Captain  Ackerson  resii»-ue(l.  and  soon  after. 
Lieutenant  Van  Valen  was  appointed  quartermaster  of  the  battalion. 
Lieutenant  Demarest  also  having-  resigned. 

The  new  officers  were  elected  March  7,  1S7(>,  and  were  as  follows:  A 
D.  Campbell,  formerly  Uuartermaster  was  elected  Captain;  John  Eng-el, 
First  Lieutenant;  and  John  E.  Huyler,  Second  Lieutenant  May  .lOth, 
ls7(i.  In  i<S77  the  company  was  called  out  in  the  railroad  strike,  and  ujjon 
returning  was  presented  a  purse  of  three  hundred  and  fiftv  dollars. 
In  January  i8"h  Captain  A.  D.  Campbell  retired  with  the  brevet  rank  of 
Major,  and  John  Eng-el  was  elected  Captain.  (ieorg-e  E.  Wells  was 
promoted  to  fill  the  place  of  Lieutenant  Freeman,  ^vho  had  removed 
from  town.  Upon  the  retirement  of  Judg-e  Ackerman  he  was  appointed 
Judge  Advocate,  becoming  in  time  Judge  Advocate  General  (d'  the 
State.  June  15th,  18'I6,  Lieutenant  Van  Valen  resigned  the  office  of 
Uuartermaster  of  tlie  Second  Battalicm.  On  February  2()th,  ISS.v  he 
was  made  Captain  and  inspector  of  rifle  practice  of  the  battalion,  follow- 
ing-which,  on  June  Sth,  1SS(),  he  was  made  Colonel  and  Assistant  In- 
spector of  rifle  pratice,  after  which  he  was  retired  as  Brevet  Brigadier- 
(xeneral.  On  May  .^Ist,  1S<S3,  Company  C  became  Company  (1,  in  the 
Second  Regiment,  New  Jersey  National  Guard,  and  took  part  with  that 
regiment  in  its  movements  in  the  war  with  Spain,  as  will  be  seen  else- 
where. The  company  left  Hackensack  with  a  full  complement  of  officers 
and  one  hundred  and  three  men,  and  in  the  regiment  with  them  Major 
John  Engle,  Major  Charles  F.  Adams,  Surgeon  of  the  reg-iment,  and 
Adjutant  A.  T.  Hollcy.     Officers  of  the  com])any  were  as  follows: 

Captain  (ieorge  E.  Wells;  First  Lieutenant,  Garret  H.  Sturr; 
Second  Lieutenant,  Irving  R.  Pierson;  First  Sergeant,  Walter  Bur- 
roughs; Ouartermaster  Sergeant,  Charles  H.  Mabie;  Sergeants,  Edward 
A.  Burdett,  Addison  B.  Burroughs,  James  H.  Russel,  Edgar  Vreeland; 
Corporals,  Fred  V.  Bates,  James  A.  Van  Valen,  George  M.  Edsall 
Ward  G.  Berry,  Harrv  Fosdick,  Uncas  E.  Richter;  Musicians,  William 
Campl)elt,  (barrel  Robertson;  Artificer,  William  D.  Newman,  Wagoner, 
I'aul  T.  Scoskie. 

jA-vncs  li.  sTpiiJiKSON  POST,  NO.  .52,  c.  a.  k. 
Post  ,52,  Department  of  New  Jersey,  (irand  .\rniy  of  the  Republic, 
was  mustered  in  on  the  evening  of  July  13,  ISSL  by  Mustering  Officer 
Commander  Rodrigo.  Delegates  from  Post  7,  17  and  .i5  were  present. 
Details  from  the  visiting  comrades  filled  the  different  chairs.  The  fid- 
lowing  veterans  were  mustered  in  as  charter  members:  (George  M.  Hun- 
ter, James  H.  Russell,  John  Engel,  Simeon  Van  Wetering,  William  H. 
De  Wolfe,  John  Si>yri,  John  G.  l->eam,  William  H.  Harper,  Albert  C. 
Bogert,  Conrad  Hoffman,  T.  K.  Lonergan,  Frederick  Zeeb,  William 
Brant,  Daniel  W.  Demarest.  Frank  W.  Hover,  Josejdi  Scott,  Aaron  E. 
Ackerman,  Lewis  C.   Cotte. 


HISTOKV    Ol"    UEKC.ICN    COUNTY  117 

Cdiiimandor  Sjtroiil  of  Post  Xu.  7  of  Passaii.',  at  the  same  incetin.i;' 
installed  the  foll()\vin<r  comrades  as  the  first  officers  of  the  post  :  Com- 
mander. Gec^rye  M.  Hunter;  Senior  \'ice-C-<)mman<ier,  William  J.  Brant: 
Junior  Vice-Commander,  James  H.  Russell  ;  Uuartermastor,  John  Enu;el  ; 
Surg'eon,  John  G.  Kream  ;  Chaplain,  William  11.  Harper;  Officer  Day. 
Frank  W.  Hover;  Officer  (iuird.  Alb?rt  C.  Boirert ;  Adjutant,  Daniel 
W.  Demarest ;  Serg'eant  Major.  Simeon  \'an  Weterintr  ;  Ouartermaster 
Sergeant,  A.  E.  Ackerman. 

The  officers  of  the  post  for  IS'ts  are  :  Comm.-inder,  Janics  H.  Russell  ; 
Senior  Vice-Commander,  William  P.  Amerman  ;  Junior  Vice-C(mimander, 
William  O.  Labagh  ;  Adjutant,  L.  S.  Marsh  ;  Ouartermaster,  Aaron  K. 
Ackerman;  Surgeon,  Evcradus  Warner;  Chaplain,  Jasper  Westervelt; 
Officer  of  the  Day,  David  J.  Myers;  Officer  of  the  (iuard,  John  Kngel  : 
Sergeant  Major.  A.  McKinney ;  Ouartermaster  Sergeant,  Alber  Cr. 
Smith. 

On  the  evening  of  July  2'),  1881,  the  name  of  James  U.  McPherson 
was  adopted  as  the  name  of  Post  No.  .S2,  after  Major  General  James  !>. 
McPherson,  who  was  killed  July  22,  18()4,  in  a  rebel  ambuscade  at  Atlanta. 
Ga.  We  have  in  our  possession  his  dressing  gown  and  the  leather  case 
coutaing  the  field  order  book  used  by  him.  They  were  sent  us  by  his 
mother  in  gratitude  for  having  adopted  the  name  of  her  son. 

This  post,  aided  by  the  citizens  of  Hackensack.  erected  a  tine  monu- 
ment in  the  Hackensack  Cemetery,  at  a  cost  of  over  one  thousand  dollars. 
There,  too,  provision  is  made  for  the  interment  of  all  Bergen  County 
comrades. 

TlIK    SII.K    iWII.L 

owned  by  (iivenaud  Brothers  Comi)any,  of  West  Hoboken,  was  erected 
in  1S7'J.  They  began  with  about  (me  hundred  and  eighty  looms  ;ind 
tliree  hundred  and  fifty  employees  The  new  building  wHl  contain  two 
hundred  and  thirty  looms  and  five  hundred  employees.  The  Silk 
Weavers'  Union  for  the  mutual  protecticm  of  its  members,  has  for  offi- 
cers:  A.  Bunger,  President;  John  Grass,  Secretary. 

KKONE    BKOTlIIvKS 

are  publishers  of  educational  work  and  make  a  specialty  of  penmanshi]) 
and  drawing  books,  in  addition  to  a  great  variety  of  school  stationery. 
Many  of  their  publications  are  their  own  copyrights.  Herman  Krone.  Jr.. 
eldest  son  of  the  senior  member  of  the  tirni,  is  in  charge  of  the  New- 
York  salesrooms  and  offices,  and  H.  Martini,  son-in-law  of  the  senior 
member,  has  the  su])erintendcy  of  the  factory. 

Hlx'lCK    MA  K  INC, 

is  another  im])ortant  industry.  This  ])lant  was  established  about  hall 
a  century  ago  by  Moses  and  Andrew^  Sears  who  were  followed  by  Philip 
Shafer  and  he  in  turn  by  John  Sjhnniltz  and  Mr.  Brunsey.  The  same 
yard  is  now  operated  by  the  (Tardner  firms  and  J.  W.  (iillies. 

THK    H.VCKKXSACK    Ml'TFAI.    lUII.DINC    AND    I.().\N    ASSDCI.XTION, 

organized   in    1887,  has  been   a   great  jjower   in  the  develojiment  of   the 


118  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

town.  Its  officers  consist  of:  William  A.  Linn,  President;  Georg-e  W. 
Conklin,  Vice  President;  Frank  Pitcher,  Secretary;  A.  S.  D.  Demarest, 
Treasurer  and  Abram  DeBaun,  Counsel. 

THE  HACKENSACK  KEALTY  COMPANY, 

org-anized  in  18')7  with  W.  A.  Linn,  President;  W.  C.  Thomas,  Secretary 
and  Lemuel  Lozier,  Treasurer,  is  improving  a  section  of  the  city,  by  ex- 
tending Clinton  Place  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  \vhere  they  have  graded  the 
streets  and  made  other  improvements. 

THE    HACKENSACK    HEICHTS    ASSOCIATION 

is  an  incorporated  company  that  purchased  the  old  Red  Hill.  This  is  a 
tract  of  ninety  acres  of  land,  which  the  company  so  improved  as  to  make 
of  it  a  desirable  residence  section.  Water,  gas  and  electric  lighting 
have  all  been  secured,  streets  laid  out  and  a  railroad  station  house  built, 
known  as  Prospect  Avenue  Staticm.  So  beautiful  is  the  location,  and 
so  substantial  the  improvements  that  the  enterprise  is  proving  a  finan- 
cial success. 

WILLIAM   SICKLES  BANTA. 

William  Sickles  Banta.  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Epke  Jacob  Banta 
who  emigrated  to  this  country  in  16S9,  coming  from  Amsterdam  in  the 
ship  De  Trow.  This  emigrant  was  born  at  Harlengen  West  Friesland, 
Holland.  Upon  his  arrival  in  America  he  settled  at  English  Neighbor- 
hood, now  Fairview,  and  in  1679  was  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer.  The  Banta  family  remained  in  this  part  of  Bergen  County 
until  about  1750,  when  Yan  Banta,  the  great-grandfather  of  William  S. 
removed  to  Pascack,  Washington  Township,  where  he  died.  His  large 
landed  estate  was  divided  among  his  children.  Hendrick  his  eldest  son 
who  was  born  May  27,  1749,  succeeding  his  father  in  the  old  homestead. 
In  l!^03  Hendfick  died  leaving  500  acres  of  land  to  be  divided  among  his 
five  sons,  one  of  whom  was  Henry  H.,  the  father  of  William  S.  In  those 
early  days  it  was  a  custom,  born  of  necessity,  for  young  men  to  learn 
some  useful  trade.  Of  the  five  sons  of  Hendrick  Banta,  but  one  left 
home  to  engage  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Henry  H.,  the  father  of  Judge 
Banta,  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  but  the  real  business  of  his  life 
was  merchandise  and  farming.  In  1833,  he  removed  to  Hackensack  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  Teunis,  under  the  firm  name  of 
H.  H.  &  T.  Banta,  in  which  he  continued  until  his  'death  in  1849.  Mr. 
Banta  was  for  some  years  postmaster  of  Hackensack,  receiving  his  ap- 
pointment from  General  Francis  Granger,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
New  Jersey  State  Militia,  with  the  rank  of  Adjutant. 

He  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  serving 
three  terms,  from  1829  to  1834,  from  1838  to  1843,  and  1843  to  1848. 
Public  spirited,  active  and  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  both  church 
and  state,  he  wielded  an  influence  for  good,  commanding  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 

The  maternal  ancestry  of  Judge  Banta  are  of  good  stock,  his 
mother  being  Jane,  daughter  of  William   Sickles  of  Rockland  County, 


IIISTOKY    OI-    BEHGEX    COl'NTY  119 

N.  Y.,  born  January  V),  17<)2,  and  died  September  2,  1870.  She  was  a 
descendant  <if  Zacharias  Sickles,  who  was  born,  in  Vienna,  Austria, 
going-  to  Holland  and  from  there  to  Curacoa,  one  of  the  Dutch  West 
Indies,  serving  in  the  military  rank  of  cadet.  It  was  here  he  met 
(Governor  Peter  Stuyvesant,  and  came  to  New  York  with  him  in  1655, 
soon  after  becoming  attached  to  the  garrison  at  Fort  Orange  (Albany), 
returning  to  New  York  in  1(>')3. 

Judge  William  S.  Banta  was  born  at  Pascack,  December  12,  1S24, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  finishing  his  preparatory  course 
for  college,  in  the  private  classical  school  of  Rev.  John  S.  Mabon  at 
Hackensack.  After  being  graduated  from  Rutg-rs  College  in  1844,  he 
began  the  stud}-  of  law  in  the  office  of  Abram  O.  Zabriskie,  of  Hacken- 
sack, afterward  Chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Banta 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  New  Jersey  as  an  attorney  in  1847,  and  as  a 
counsellor  in  1S51.  Soon  after  his'  admission  to  the  Bar,  Judge  Banta 
was  appointed  Master  and  Examiner  in  Chancery,  later  being  made 
special  Master  in  Chancery  and  Supreme  Court  Commissioner. 

After  acting  as  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  the  Township  of  New 
Barbadoes  (under  the  old  law),  he  was  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Free- 
holders to  act  with  Rev.  Albert  Amerman  on  the  Board  of  Examiners,  a 
place  which  he  filled  with  efficiency  for  several  years.  In  1860  he  was 
appointed  Prosecutor  of  the  Pleas  for  the  County,  and  reappointed  in 
1865.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  held  the  office  of  Deputy  Internal  Col- 
lector from  1862  to  1865.  The  Judge  was  President  and  Treasurer  of 
the  Hackensack  Gas  Light  Company  for  many  years,  and  also  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Bergen  County  Mutual  Fire  Assurance  Associa- 
tion, and  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Hackensack  Improvement 
Commission.  In  1872  he  was  appointed  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term 
of  Judge  Ashbel  Green,  Presiding  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
and  in  1873  was  reappointed  to  the  same  place  for  five  years.  In  1879 
Judge  Banta  was  appointed  Associate  Judge  of  the  same  court.  He  was 
for  several  years  one  of  the  managers  of  the  Morris  Plains  Asylum. 

In  1850  Judge  Banta  was  married  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and 
Katy  Ann  ( Hopper )  Zabriskie,  of  Hohokus,  who  died  in  185.^,  leaving  a 
son,  who  died  in  infancy.  His  second  wife  was  Adelia,  a  sister  of  his 
first  wife,  who  died  in  1869.  His  present  wife  is  Jane  Anne,  daughter 
of  Abram  H.  and  Maria  (Anderson)  Berry,  a  lineal  descendant  of  John 
Herry,  one  of  the  original  patentees  of  IJergen  County. 

ABKA.M     I!.     liANTA 

Abram  B.  Banta  who  for  forty  ^-ears  has  been  identiiied  with  the 
grocery  trade  in  Hackensack,  is  a  son  of  John  H.  Banta  and  grandson 
of  Henry  W.  Banta  both  of  whom  were  life  long  residents  of  Hacken- 
sack. The  father  established  the  grocery  trade  on  Main  and  Bridge 
Streets  in  1846,  and  was  identified  with  that  stand  until  his  death  thirty- 
eight  years  afterward.  In  1830  he  was  married  to  Lydia  Bartholf,  who 
is  still   living  at  the  age  or  eighty-one  years.      Their  children  were. 


120  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Henry,  Jane  T.,  wife  of  Thomas  H.  Cumming-;  Abram  B.,  John,  and 
Cornelius  T. 

Mr.  John  H.  Banta  was  at  one  time  Sheriff  of  Berg-en  County. 

Abram  B.  Banta  was  born  in  1842  and  when  seventeen  years  of  age 
went  into  the  grocery  business,  which  he  has  followed  ever  since.  In 
1S82,  the  Banta  Brothers  started  their  branch  store  at  Passaic  Avenue 
and  Main  Street.  In  1860,  Mr.  Banta  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Westervelt  and  five  chihlren  have  been  born  of  this  union. 

JAMKS    M.    VAN    VALEX. 

Among-  the  lineal  descendants  of  David  Van  Valen.  who  came  to 
America  from  Holland  in  lr)52.  followed  by  his  father  Johannes  Van 
Valen  five  years  later,  is  James  M.  Van  Valen,  ex-Judg-e  of  Berg-en 
County,  whom  the  writer  of  this  sketch  knows  from  personal  contact 
with  the  people  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  useful  and  important 
citizens  of  the  county. 

For  a  brief  period  of  time  the  ancestors  of  this  family  in  Bergen 
County  lived  in  New  York  City,  then  removed  to  Harlem  where  Johan- 
nes became  one  of  the  original  patentees  of  the  Harlem  Grants,  and  the 
last  survivor  of  them.  In  course  of  time  his  descendants  removed  to 
Bergen  County,  N.  J.,  where  they  became  extensive  land  owners.  Deeds 
bearing  date  of  1701  record  the  purchase  of  2600  acres  of  land  by  Jo- 
hannes, Bernardus.  Gideon  and  Rynier  Van  Valen,  from  Lancastar 
Syms,  comprising  all  the  Palisade  lands  from  the  Jay  Line,  extending 
from  the  Hudson  on  the  east  to  Overpeck  on  the  west.  Bernardus  Van 
Valen  was  the  great-grandfather  of  James  M.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
militia  serving  as  militiaman,  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  when  he  was 
taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  the  Old  Sugar  House  in  New  York  City. 
A  stone  house  built  by  him  is  still  standing  near  the  railroad  depot  at 
Closter.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  years  and  died  in  1820,  leaving 
live  children,  James,  Andrew,  Cornelius,  Isaac  and  Jane.  James,  the 
grandfather  of  James  M.,  was  for  a  time  a  farmer  at  Closter,  but  re- 
moved to  Clarkstown,  Rockland  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  Aug- 
ust. 1786,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  He  left  three  children  Barney, 
Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Henr}'  Westervelt;  and  Cornelius.  Cor- 
nelius was  born  at  Clarkstown  May  21,  1786.  He  married  first  Elizabeth 
Klackledge,  and  lived  for  s<mie  years  in  New  York  City.  In  1832  he 
bought  a  farm  at  Englewood,  then  Hackensack  Township,  where  he 
lived  seven  years,  when  he  sold  that  farm  and  purchased  another  at 
Tcaneck,  where  his  wife  died  soon  after. 

Caroline,  wife  of  David  Lamberson,  and  Cornelius  were  children  of 
this  marriage.  His  second  wife  was  Jane,  daughter  of  Abram  Zabris- 
kie  of  Paramus.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  three  children,  Eliza,  wife 
of  Edward  Barr,  who  died  in  1867;  James  M.  and  Sarah  A.,  wife 
of  Cornelius  D.  Schor,  of  T^eimia. 

James  M.  Van  Valen  was  born  at  Teaneck,  July  21st,  1842.  When 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion   broke  out  he   left  school  to  enlist  in  Company 


;,  z>i^/ji^frtxSSr-o.  My. 


^.  ^u^ .  h'T^^^-^^o^ 


HisToKV  oi-'  iu':k(;i;n   cotntv  121 

I.  (if  the  TwL'iity-SLVond  Ktoiiiuiu.  Now  .Krsev  Volunteers,  and  served 
ten  months  in  the  Army  ()1  the  Potomae.  Upon  his  return  he  ensfa-red 
in  tile  book  trade  in  New  York  eity  until  1S(„S.  when  he  betrau  teachini»- 
in  Bergen  county,  continuing  in  that  profession  for  five  years.  He 
taught,  among  other  places,  at  I'arannis  Church,  New  Bridge  and  Hack- 
ensack.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Garret  Ackerson, 
and,  under  his  direction,  pursued  a  course  of  study,  being  admitted  as 
attorney  in  1S75,  and  as  a  counsellor  in  ISTS.  Immediately  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Ackerson,  which 
continued  for  eleven  years,  terminating  with  the  death  of  Mr.  Ackerson 
in  December,  1>SS().  In  1887,  Governor  Robert  S.  Green  appointed  Mr. 
\'an  Valen  Presiding  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Bergen 
county.  At  the  close  of  this  term  he  was  reappointed  for  a  like  term 
by  (iovernor  Werts,  his  term  expiring  in  April,  1898. 

In  1872,  Judge  Van  Valen,  havingbecome  interested  in  thi'  National 
(iuard,  organized  Company  C,  Second  New  Jersey  Regiment,  and  l)e- 
came  first  lieutenant.  He  was  afterwards  made  quartermaster  of  the 
battalion.  Soon  after  this  he  was  made  Inspector  of  Riile  Practice, 
with  rank  of  captain,  and  subsequently  was  appointed  Assistant  Ins])ec- 
tor  General  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  At 
his  own  request  he  was  retired  on  July  5,  1893,  with  rank  of  IJrevet 
Brigadier  General,  and  still  holds  that  commission. 

Judge  Van  Valen,  always  interested  in  educational  matters,  was 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Educatitm  of  Hackensack  for  a  period  of 
eighteen  years,  declining  a  re-election  on  account  of  pressure  of  business. 
He  is  first  Vice  President  of  the  Bergen  County  Bar  Association,  and  is 
\'ice  President  of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  member  since  its  organization.  He  is  also  a  prominent  Mason, 
member  of  Pioneer  Lodge,  No.  70,  and  has  been  Master  of  that  Order. 
Judge  Van  Valen  has  been  signally  successful  in  the  various  lines  in 
which  he  has  been  engaged.  As  soldier,  teacher,  lawyer  and  judge,  he 
has  made  an  enviable  reputation,  and.  as  a  jurist,  his  opinions  have  stood 
without  reversal,  except  in  two  cases.  Socially,  Judge  Van  \'alen  stands 
without  a  ])eer. 

Me  was  married  in  1S74  U>  Miss  ^Vnna  Augusta  Smith.  daui;liter  of 
'riu'odore  Smith.      They  ha\e  nine  children,  seven  boys  and  two  girls. 

WII.I.IAM     .M.      IDli.NSON. 

William  M.  Johnson,  President  oi  Hackensack  Trust  ComiJany, 
well-known  lawyer  and  legislator,  was  born  in  1S47.  in  Newton,  Siisse.\ 
county,  N.  J.,  and  is  the  son  <d'  Wliitlield  S.  Juhnscn.  who  served  as 
Secretary  of   State  for  the  State  of   New  Jersey  fri>m  18(,1  to  1S(,.S. 

Mr.  Johns(m  was  educated  at  Princeton  Cnllege,  and  subset|ucntly 
entered  the  office  of  the  late  Judge  ScuiUKr.  of  Trenton,  under  whose 
direction  he  jjursued  the  study  of  law.  Inin-  admitted  to  the  bar  as  an 
attorney  in  1.S7().  After  practicing  lour  years  at  Trenton,  he  removed  to 
Hackensack.   and   located    jjermanentlv.      iiis   ability  as  a    lawyer  soon 


122  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

brought  to  him  a  large  and  growinif  clieutaiJ-e.  and  he  became  a  recog;- 
nized  legal  light  in  that  part  of  the  State  in  the  various  departments 
of  the  profession. 

Politically  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Rejniblican.  He  has  served  on  the  Re- 
pul)lican  State  Committee,  aud  was  a  delegate  in  1888  to  the  Nationa 
Republican  Convention  that  nominated  Harrison  for  the  Presidency. 
He  was  elected  Senator  from  Bergen  count}-  in  1895,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  legislation.  In  the  session  of  1898,  and  also  in  the  session  of 
1899,  he  was  the  leader  of  his  party  in  the  Senate.  He  has  been  con- 
spicuous for  many  years  in  all  enterprises  tending  to  a  healthy  and  per- 
manent growth  of  his  town.  He  served  four  years  as  a  member  of  the 
Hackensack  Improvement  Commission,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Governors  of  the  Hackensack  Hospital,  which  institution  he  greatly 
aided  in  establishing,  and  continues  to  support.  He  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  Hackensack  Board  of  School  Trustees  ana  a  director  of 
the  Washington  Institute.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Oritani  Field  Club, 
the  Hamilton  Club  of  Paterson,  the  Princeton  Club,  the  Lake  Hopatcong 
Club  and  other  societies. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Johnson  married  Miss  White,  of  Trenton.  Of  this  mar- 
riage there  are  two  children,  George  W.,  the  elder,  a  graduate  of 
Princeton  College,  class  of  1898,  and  William  Kempton.  Mr.  Johnson 
occupies  offices  in  the  Hackensack  Bank  Building. 

<;hok(;k   h.   atwood. 

In  full  view  of  the  White  Hills  of  Mount  Washington  stands  "Sugar 
Hill,"  in  the  town  of  Lisbon,  N.  H.,  where  (ieorge  H.  Atwood  was  born, 
on  November  9th,  1838.  He  was  the  seventh  son  of  Moses  K.  Atwood, 
a  wheelwright  and  maker  of  fine  sleighs  and  carriages.  The  familv 
ancestors  came  from  England  at  an  early  period,  and  both  father  and 
mother  were  pious  and  devoted  Christians. 

rpon  the  death  of  his  father,  the  mother  was  left  with  nine  chil- 
dren, and  shortly  after  this,  George  H.,  then  hut  eight  _years  of  age, 
went  t<i  live  with  Joseph  Clark,  who  owned  a  good-sized  farm  at  Carroll, 
N.  H.  .Mr.  Clark  had  no  children,  and  young  Atwood  worked  on  the 
farm,  and  during  the  winter  and  school  terms  did  the  chores  and  at- 
tended the  village  school.  He  spent  the  evenings  in  reading,  and  fre- 
quently engaged  in  the  village  debating  society.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
he  jjrofessed  ctmversion.  and  was  baptized  in  a  pond,  fed  by  mountain 
sjjrings,  at  Whitetield,  N.  H.,  and  united  with  the  Baptist  Church. 

In  18.=57,  Mr.  Atwood's  real  business  career  began  when  he  became  a 
clerk  in  his  uncle's  jewelry  store,  at  Littleton,  N.  H.,  continuing  in  that 
business  until  he  came  to  New  York,  in  IHh?,,  where  he  engaged  with  the 
old  linen  collar  and  cuff  house  of  Bennett.  Strickland  &  P^ellows,  as 
entry  clerk,  and  was  rapidly  advanced  to  bookkeeper,  then  to  cashier, 
and,  in  18f>8,  to  the  position  of  manager  and  credit  man  of  the  New  York 
house,  a  place  he  has  occupied  with  honor  to  the  house  for  the  past 
thirtv-six  years.      During  these  years  he  has  managed  the  credits  of  the 


GEOKliK   H.   ATWOOD 


HISTORY  OF  BKKdEN  COUNTY  12.> 

New  York  house,  had  charg-e  of  the  salesmen  and  directed  the  affairs  of 
this  extensive  business  throuj^h  successive  changes  of  firms,  the  present 
firm  of  FeHows  &  Company  beinj^  really  the  oldest  collar  and  cuff  manu- 
facturers in  the  United  States,  havinjr  been  established  in  Troy,  N.  Y., 
in  1834.  In  all  his  transactions  he  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  emplov- 
ers  in  the  highest  degree. 

In  1SI)4  Mr.  Atwood  was  made  a  Mason  in  Sagamore  Lodge  No.  .^71. 
New  York  Citv.  and  became  Senior  Deacon,  Senior  Warden  and  Wor- 
shipful Master  in  rapid  succession,  the  lodge  greatlv  prospering-  under 
his  brilliant  administration.  The  lodge  presented  him  with  a  gold 
watch  and  chain  upon  his  retiring  from  the  mastership.  He  was  made 
a  Royal  Arch  Mason  in  1865,  in  Phcxniix  Chapter  No.  2,  New  York,  and 
was  immediately  elected  Principal  Sojourner  of  the  Chapter.  He  was 
also  made  a  Knights  Templar  in  Palestine  Commandary  No.  18,  New 
York,  in  1865,  under  a  dispensation  of  the  Grand  Commander,  being 
given  all  the  degrees  at  one  conclave,  and  was  at  the  next  conclave 
elected  Prelate  of  the  Commandary,  tilling  the  office  with  marked  ability 
for  years.  During  1865-6-7,  while  visiting  Hackensack  and  when  Pion- 
eer Lodge  was  young,  he  attended  the  lodge  meeting,  conferred  de- 
grees, installed  officers  and  gave  valuable  counsel.  His  membership  is 
now  with  Pioneer  Lodge  No.  7().  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Hackensack  as  a  Past 
Master. 

In  18()5  he  became  a  l)oarder  at  the  Hackensack  House,  kept  by  A. 
Van  Saun,  and  on  December  22nd,  1866,  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Shel- 
drake, eldest  daughter  of  the  late  (ieorge  H.  Burt  of  Hackensack,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Six  children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage, 
three  boys  and  three  girls,  all  living. 

Early  identifying  himself  with  the  interests  of  the  town,  he  became 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Public  rvil>rary  and  Reading  Room  and  one 
of  its  first  trustees.  Taking  the  lead  he  arranged  for  a  course  of  po])ular 
lectures  for  its  benefit,  which  netlerl  them  S.^SO.  So  anxious  was  Mr. 
Atwood  for  the  financial  success  i>f  this  cause  that  he  personally  sold 
lecture  tickets  on  the  trains. 

He  18i)'»  he  was  a  nu'inlier  ni  the  choir  in  the  Second  Reformed 
Church.  Dr.  George  H.  Fisher.  ])asti>r.  Being  a  Baptist,  in  May,  187(t, 
he  started  a  subscription  to  build  a  Baptist  Church,  and  personally 
secured  S15(t(l  before  any  one  else  had  raised  a  dollar,  and  on  the  third 
of  July  a  church  was  organized  with  eleven  members  who  received  the 
right  hand  of  fellowshij)  by  Deacon  DeWolfc  and  his  wife,  the  only 
surviving  members  of  a  church  that  existed  in  Hackensack  about  thirty- 
five  years  prior  to  that  time,  Mr.  Atwood  being  one  of  the  eleven 
organiy.ers.  Ground  was  broken  on  September  '»th  of  that  year  and  on 
December  ."^Oth  following  the  present  church  edifice  was  dedicated.  He 
has  labored  zealously  in  both  church  and  Sunday  school  ever  since, 
holding  the  various  offices  of  trustees,  clerk  and  deacon  in  the  church 
while  he  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Sundav  school  for  twenty-nine  years, 


124  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

and  three  times  elected  superintendent,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
In  1873  he  was  President  of  the  New  Jersey  Sunday  School  Convention, 
comprising-  thirty-live  schools. 

Mr.  Atwood  has  been  a  liberal  and  cheerful  giver  to  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions,  and  to  every  good  and  benevolent  work. 

DK.    DAVID    ST.    JOHN. 

Dr.  David  St.  John  is  descended  from  Matthias  St.  John  (Sention) 
who  came  from  England  in  1(>35,  settling  in  New  England.  His  grand- 
father, Noah  St.  John,  removed  to  New  York  State  upon  his  marriage 
with  Elizabeth  Waterbury,  of  Waterbury,  Conn.  Dr.  St.  John  was  born 
in  Berne,  Albany  County,  New  York,  in  1850,  his  father  being  David 
St.  John  and  his  mother,  Mary  Johnson  of  Scotch  ancestry. 

After  pursuing  a  preparatory  course  in  the  Albany  Schools,  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  H.  W.  Bell  of  Berne,  N.  Y., 
afterward  entering  the  office  of  Professor  James  H.  Armsby,  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  then  the  leading  surgeon  in  that  part  of  the  state.  He  took 
courses  of  lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  Buffalo  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  graduating  from  the  latter 
institution  in  1875.  He  located  in  Hackensack  where  he  has  become 
prominent  in  his  profession;  and  has  been  closely  and  prominently  iden- 
tilie<l  with  all  matters  of  town  interest. 

In  1888,  realizing  the  great  advantages  that  a  hospital  would  offer 
tor  the  better  treatment  of  a  class  of  medical  and  surgical  cases.  Dr.  St. 
John  conceived  the  idea  of  organizing  the  Hackensack  Hospital,  and 
while  his  energetic  and  untiring  efforts  in  its  behalf  have  been  ably 
seconded  by  all  classes  of  citizens,  his  indefatigable  labors  have  been 
the  primary  cause  of  its  great  success.  He  is  President  of  the  Medical 
Board,  and  visiting  physician  and  surgeon  to  this  institution,  ex-Presi- 
dent and  member  of  the  Bergen  County  Medical  Society;  a  member  of 
the  New  Jersey  State  Medical  Society;  New  York  State  Medical  Associ- 
ation and  the  American  Medical  Association.  He  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Griggs  one  of  the  managers  of  the  State  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane, Morris  Plains,  and  is  surgeon  for  the  Erie  Railroad.  He  also  per- 
forms a  good  share  of  the  surgical  work  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
county  outside  of  his  hospital  practice.  Associated  with  him  as  assist- 
ant is  Dr.  A.  A.  Swayze,  graduate  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  Baltimore,  Md. 

The  doctor  is  First  Vice  President  of  the  Hackensack  Trust  Com- 
pany, a  director  of  the  Hackensack  Bank  and  of  the  Gas  and  Electric 
Company  of  Bergen  County,  and  President  of  the  Hackensack  Heights 
Association,  owners  of  a  large  track  of  valuable  real  estate  on  Hacken- 
sack Heights. 

Dr.  St.  John  is  a  courteous  and  dignified  gentleman.  Sympathetic 
and  thoughtful,  he  gains  the  confidence  of  his  patients  as  he  does  of 
others  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


^^ss^. 


'/■ 


HISTORY    OF    BKKGEN    COVNTY  125 

He  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss  Jennie  Angle,  of  Hope,  New  Jersey. 
They  have  three  chilnren — Olive  Graham,  Fordj'ce  Barker  and  Florence 

An<rk>  .  THE    ROMEYN    KAMII.V. 

Prior  to  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  Giacomode  Ferentino, 
an  Italian  gentleman,  settled  at  Rongham  Manor,  Norfolk,  England, 
married  Isabella  de  Rucham,  a  lady  of  that  place,  by  whom  there  were 
two  sons.  Peter  and  Richard  (or  Thomas).  Thev  were  sent  to  Rome  to 
be  educated.  After  their  return,  Peter,  at  least,  took  surname  of  Rom- 
aeyn  (Peter  the  Roman).  Although  educated  for  the  priesthood,  he 
married  the  daughter  of  Thomas  de  Leicester.  Her  mother's  name  was 
Agatha  de  Cringleford,  of  Norfolk.  Peter  Romaeyn  devised  property, 
made  out  leases,  granted  "charters,"  many  of  which  still  exist  over  the 
name  assumed  by  him.  His  widow  sold  the  property  at  Rongham  in 
that  name.  In  the  third  year  of  Edward  II,  A.  D.,  1387,  Thomas 
Romayn  was  Lord  Mayor  of  London.  His  arms  (foreign)  not  granted 
in  England.  Described  in  the  register  '*  Argent"  (white)  on  a  fesse 
gules  (red)  three  crosses  pater,  or- crest,  a  deer's  head  Erased.  Soon 
after  the  above  date,  troubles  broke  out  between  the  king  and  the  house 
of  Leicester  (see  History  of  England )  and  many  of  the  Leicester  family 
and  adherents  were  forced  to  flee  the  kingdom,  and  it  is  probable,  though 
not  a  part  of  family  history,  that  some  of  the  Romayns  went  to  the 
•■  low  countries"  at  that  time.  There  is  a  claim  made  that  the  name  in 
France  is  spelled  Romaine,  in  England,  Romain,  and  in  Holland,  Romeyn 
— the  latter  we  know  to  be  a  fact.  Jan  Romeyn,  of  Amsterdam,  Holland, 
was  a  descendant  of  the  Romeyns  who  went  from  England  to  the  low 
countries,  he  had  three  sons,  Simon  Janse,  Christoffel  and  Claasor  Klass. 
(Note — In  Valentine's  Manual,  1803,  is  the  facsimile  signature  of  Simon 
Jansen  Romeyn,  1661,  in  the  Dutch  Church  records  of  New  York  is  the 
marriage,  1()68,  of  "Simon  Jansen  Romeyn,  young  man  from  Amster- 
dam and  Sophie  Jans,  maiden  from  the  Hague.";  Christoffel  and  Claus 
sailed  from  Rotterdam  for  Brazil  with  the  expedition  of  Prince  Maurice. 
When  Brazil  was  ceded  to  Portugal,  they  sailed  for  New  Netherlands, 
and  settled  (m  Long  Island  (there  is  a  dispute  as  to  the  date,  some  claim- 
ing 1654,  others  1661),  then  removed  to  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  remaining 
about  ten  years,  and  later  to  Greenwich, on  the  island  of  New  York.  Claus 
married  Christianje  or  Styntie  Albertse  T<;rhune,  May  2,  UtHO,  of  Ams- 
fort  now  (Gravesend,  N.  Y. ),  and  died  at  (Ireeuwich,  N.  Y.  His  children 
were  Garrebregt,  (a)  John,  Elizabeth,  Lydia,  Albert,  Cora  and  Daniel. 
Daniel  married  in  Hackensack,  May  17,  1716,  Martie  (Mary)  Westervelt. 

JOHN     KOMEYN, 

(a)  John  Romeyn  (of  Holland)  married  Lammatje  Bougeart  at 
Hackensack,  in  1699.  Of  this  union  there  were  also  seven  children,  (b) 
Nicholas,  Roelif,  Isaac,  Aquietjin  (David),  Rachael  (Berdan),  Asseltjin 
(  Van  Voorheest).  At  this  point  it  may  be  opportune  to  produce  the  names 
that  belong  under  this  head,  as  they  are  found  in  the  records  of  the  Dutch 
Church  at  Hackensack.     Garrebreght  Klas  Romeyn,  Elizabeth  Romeyn, 


126  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Lydia  Romeyn,  Jans  Clasen  Romeyn,  Clara  Romeyn,  Daniel  Romeyn, 
Rachael  Janse  Romeyn,  Klaes  Romeyn,  Jan  Romeyn,  Geisjan  Romein, 
Annastjen  Romeyn,  David  Romayn,  Isack  Romeyn,  Ang^uietjin  Romeyn, 
Leude  Romein,  Cristyntjen  Romein,  Claes  Romeyn,  Roelif  Romeyn, 
Nicholas  Romein,  Antje  Romein,  Guetje  Romeyn,  Eyntje  Romeyn,  Jan 
Romeyn,  John  Romeyn,  Nikase  Romeyn,  Eliza  Romeyn,  Sarah  Romeyn. 

NICHOLAS    ROMEYN. 

(  b)  Nicholas  Romeyn  was  born  in  1700,  died  in  1763,  married  Eliza- 
beth Outwater  1726,  who  died  1732.  His  second  wife  ( 1733)  was  Rachel 
Vreelandt,  who  died  in  1761.  The  issue  by  his  first  wife  was  (c)  Rev. 
Thomas  Romeyn.  By  his  second  wife,  John,  born  1734.  The  latter  first 
married  Julia  and  second  Lady  Mary  Watts.  Issue  Eliza  (Simmons), 
John  and  the  Rev.  Theodoric  (Dirk)  Romeyn,  D.  D.,  born  1744,  died 
1804,  who  married  Elizabeth  Broadhead.  The  latter  was  pastor  of  the 
Dutch  Churches  of  Hackensack  and  Schraalenburgh  about  ten  years. 
The  pastorate  beginning-  May,  1776.  He  is  largely  quoted,  and  in  the 
list  of  names  of  distinguished  personages,  he  is  considered  one  of 
the  prominent  American  theologians. 

REV.    THOMAS    ROMEYN. 

(e )  Rev.  Thomas  Romeyn  ( see  Corwin's  Manual )  was  born  at  Pomp- 
ton,  March  20th,  1729,  and  died  October  22d,  1794.  He  graduated  from  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  1750.  Studied  theology.  After  preaching  a  few 
times  on  Long  Island,  he  went  to  Holland  in  1752  for  ordination,  and  was 
settled  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  until  1760.  It  is  said  that  the  spelling  of 
the  name  Romeyn  was  adopted  in  this  form  from  his  researches  in  Hol- 
land. Prior  to  that  the  name  was  spelled  in  several  ways;  but  his  informa- 
tion obtained  in  Holland  led  him  to  a  certaint}'  that  "Romeyn"  was  the 
proper  spelling,  and  it  is  in  that  form  to-day  in  Holland.  He  married  twice, 
first  a  Margarita  Freelinghuysen,  June  29th,  1756,  who  died  at  Jamaica, 
December  13th,  1757,  leaving  a  son,  Rev.  Theodore  F.,  who  died  at  Somer- 
ville,  N.  J.,  in  1785.  Secondly,  Susanna  Van  Campen,  whose  ashes  rest 
in  the  graveyard  of  the  old  Church  on  the  Green,  in  Hackensack.  He 
died  at  Fonda,  N.  Y.,  October  22d,  1794,  and  was  buried  under  the  pulpit 
of  his  church.  The  issue  was  (Rev.)  Thomas,  Nicholas,  Abraham,  Eesf. 
John  Broad-bead,  at  one  time  pastor  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian 
Church  in  New  York  (Dr.  Hall's),  Benjamin  and  Rev.  James  Van  Campen. 

REV.  JAMES  VAN  CAMPEN  ROMEYN. 

Rev.  James  Van  Campen  Romeyn  was  born  at  Minsink,  Sussex 
County,  N.  J.,  November  15th,  1765,  died  at  Hackensack,  June  27th, 
1840,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  churchyard  on  the  Green,  by  the  side  of 
his  first  wife.  He  attended  the  Schenectady  Academy,  1784.  Studied 
theology  under  Rev.  Theodoric  (Dirk)  Romeyn,  his  uncle.  He  was  a 
trustee  of  Rutgers  College.  He  had  several  charges,  the  last  of  which 
was  the  Reformed  Churches  of  Schraalenburg  and  Hackensack  from  1799 


KKV.    JAiMKS    VAN    CAiMPKN    K'OMKVN 
Dcceasi-d. 


128  HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

to  1833.  "  Without  ever  having  seen  or  heard  him,  he  was  called  to  the 
distracted  churches  of  Berg-en  County,  N.  J.,  on  the  ground  of  his  repu- 
tation as  a  man  of  forbearance,  discretion  and  piety."  (Taylor's  An- 
nals, Sprague's  Annals).  He  married  twice,  Susanna,  a  daughter  of 
Maus  Van  Vranken,  of  Schenectady,  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pell,  who  sur- 
vived him.  There  was  a  family  of  two  sons  and  seven  daughters,  Susan 
(Zabriskie)  born  1790,  died  1868;  Harriet  (Stafford)  born  1792,  died  1849, 
Anna  Maria  (Varick)  born  1794,  died  1855;  Rev.  James  Romeyn,  D.  D. 
born  1797,  died  1859;  Anna  (Taylor)  born  1801),  died  1868;  Eliza  (  Berry  ) 
born  1803,  died  1849;  Caroline  (Danforth)  born  1807,  died  1845;  Theodore, 
born  1810,  died  1885  (Lawyer,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Sarah  (Hornblower)  born 
1814,  died  1874.  They  resided  on  the  property  now  owned  by  the  Oritani 
Field  Club,  in  Hackensack-.  About  1827  he  lived  in  the  homestead  now 
occupied  by  Hon.  William  S.  Banta,  Main  Street,  where  most  of  his  daugh- 
ters were  married.  In  1833  he  erected  the  house  just  north  of  the  latter, 
on  Main  steet,  now  the  property  of  Mr.  O.  O.  Shackleton,  where  he  died. 

REV.  JAMES    KOMEYN. 

Rev.  James  Romeyn  was  born  at  Blooming  Grove,  N.  Y.,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1797.  He  graduated  from  Columbia  College  in  ISlb,  and  from 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  in  1819.  He  de- 
clined the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  bestowed  on  him  by  Columbia  Col- 
lege. He  was  settled  at  several  places — was  pastor  of  the  First  Re- 
formed Church  of  Hackensack  from  1833  to  1836 ;  was  elected  a  trustee 
of  Rutgers  College  in  1842.  He  married  Joanna  Bayard  Rodgers,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Richardson  Bayard  Rodgers,  M.  D.,  a  leading  physician  and 
professor  in  Columbia  College,  New  York.  There  were  two  sons,  James 
Rodgers  and  Theodore  Bayard  Romeyn.  Mr.  Romeyn  was  a  man  who 
threw  his  whole  energy  into  his  labor.  He  was  a  student  and  very  pre- 
cise in  his  work ;  an  exceedingly  rapid  speaker  and  there  are  those  who 
remember  him  to-day  who  rapturcmsly  speak  of  him  as  a  wonderfully 
powerful  preacher.  His  nature  was  exceedingly  sensitive  ;  but  his  phy- 
sical strength  was  not  equal  to  the  mental  strain,  always  at  a  high  ten- 
sion. His  manner  of  writing  his  sermons  was  most. remarkable — a  few 
are  in  existence — the  manuscripts  are  written  so  fine  and  condensed  that 
they  cannot  be  read  without  the  aid  of  a  strong  magnifying  glass. 
While  in  Hackensack  he  resided  part  of  the  time  in  the  parsonage  of  the 
First  Church,  on  Essex  Street,  and  part  of  the  time  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Main  and  Ward  Streets.  He  died  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  in 
1862,  and  his  ashes  mingle  with  his  kindred  dust. 

REV.    THEODOKP:    B.\YAKD    ROMEYN.    D.    D. 

Rev.  Theodore  Bayard  Romeyn,  D.  D.,  was  the  second  son  of  Rev. 
James  Romeyn.  He  was  born  at  Nassau,  N.  Y.,  October  22,  1827.  He 
attended  school  at  Hackensack  and  other  places.  He  graduated  from 
Rutgers  College  with  the  distinction  of  the  Honorary  Oration  in  1846, 
and  from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  New  Brunswick.  N.  J.,  three 
years  later.     The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him 


KKV.    JAMIiS    KOMKYN 

Deceased. 


130  HISTOKY    OF   BERGEN    COUNTY 

by  Rutgers  College.  He  was  called  to  preach  Christ  at  Blawenburgh, 
N.  J.,  near  Princeton,  immediately  after  his  graduation,  where  he  lab- 
ored with  a  united  people  who  reverence  his  memor}-  and  treasure  his 
ministrations  among  them.  He  responded  to  a  call  from  the  church  of 
Fathers — the  First  Reformed  at  Hackensack — in  1865,  where  for  twent}' 
years  he  labored  "faithful  unto  death."  He  was  a  man  whose  retiring 
tendencies  were  predominant.  He  despised  shams,  and  when  once  his 
mind  was  made  up  there  was  no  compromise.  He  inherited  a  keen  sen- 
sitiveness from  his  father.  He  carried  the  joys  and  the  sorrows  of  his 
congregation,  sharing  with  each  member,  especially  in  their  sorrows. 
He  was  exceedinglj-  sympathetic  and  his  charity  was  a  marked  feature 
of  his  life,  though  the  left  hand  knew  not  the  gifts  of  the  right.  He 
was  the  embodiment  of  faithfulness,  never  shirking  duty,  but  many 
were  the  occasions  when,  phj-sically  incapacitated,  he  responded  to  the 
calls  of  his  parishioners,  and  was  present  at  the  post  of  duty,  in  the 
vineyard  of  his  Master,  which  was  always  his  pleasure.  He  was  a  close 
and  persistent  student,  a  deep  thinker,  eloquent  in  his  discourses,  fer- 
vent in  his  labors  and  ardent  in  effort  to  lead  the  erring  into  the  paths 
of  rectitude  and  to  the  Throne  of  Grace.  Dr.  Romeyn  had  been  on  a 
longer  vacation  than  he  usually  indulged  in  and  among  the  scenes  of  his 
boyhood,  near  Catskill,  N.  Y.  He  came  home  upon  a  Friday  evening, 
the  following  morning  the  Master  called — he  was  stricken  with  paraly- 
sis. His  illness  was  of  but  brief  duration,  in  a  few  hours  he  had  passed 
into  the  holy  atmosphere  of  the  Delectable  Mountains,  August  18,  1885. 
His  body  was  laid  in  God's  acre,  hard  by  "the  old  Church  on  the  Green," 
from  which  pulpit  with  an  unfaltering  zeal  he  had  proclaimed  the  un- 
speakable truths  of  his  Redeemer.  The  following  is  quoted  from  a  bio- 
graphical sketch  in  the  memorial  volume  published  by  the  consistory. 
"It  is  also  worth  a  passing  notice  to  observe  the  large  ministerial  circle 
of  which  he  was  a  member  by  family  ties.  His  maternal  great-grand- 
father was  Rev.  John  Rodgers,  forty-four  years  pastor  of  the  Wall 
Street  Presbyterian  Church,  New  York  City.  *  *  *  His  paternal 
grandmother  was  a  sister  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Van  Vranken.  In  these 
several  branches  of  relationship  there  are  found  nearly  or  quite  forty 
names  of  those  who  have  devoted  themselves  to  the  ministry  of  the 
Gospel,  and  of  this  number,  three-quarters  belong  to  the  Romeyn  fam- 
ily. Dr.  Romeyn  married  Amelia  A.  Letson,  daughter  of  Johnson  Let- 
son,  Esq.,  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  Mrs.  Romeyn  survived  her  husband 
a  few  years  and  was  called  home  October  22,  1897.  The  issue  was  Mary 
Letson  Romeyn,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  James  A.  Romeyn,  surviving. 

JAMES    A.    ROMEY'N. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Blawenburgh,  Somerset 
County,  New  Jersey,  1853.  He  is  the  only  son  of  Rev.  Theodore  Bayard 
Romeyn,  D.  D.  and  Amelia  (Letson)  Romeyn.  His  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  Johnson  Letson  and  Eliza  Shaddle,  of  New  Brunswick,  N. 
J.     Mr.  Letson  was  a  trustee  oi  Rutgers  College  and  a  liberal  contributor 


KKW    TIllCODOKE    HAVAKl)    KOMEYN 


132  HISTOKY    OF    BEKCEN    COUNTY 

to  its  support  and  endowment.  He  was  President  of  the  Norfolk  and 
New  Brunswick  Hosiery  Company  and  the  New  Brunswick  Rubber 
Company.  Br.  and  Mrs.  Ronieyn  settled  at  Blawenburg-h  in  1850,  where 
James  A.  attended  the  public  school,  until  IbdS,  when  his  father  was 
settled  as  Pastor  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  at  Hackensack,  N.  J., 
the  "Old  Church  on  the  Green."  He  was  prepared  for  college  at  the 
academy  at  Lawrenceville,  N.  J.,  and  at  the  Rutgers  Grammar  School 
at  New  Brunswick.  In  1872  he  entered  Rutgers  College  and  was 
graduated  in  1876.  He  entered  the  law  office  of  Bedle,  Muirheid  & 
McGee  in  Jersey  City,  in  187(),  took  a  course  of  study  of  Columbia  Law 
School  and  was  admitted  to  practice  law  at  the  New  Jersey  State  Bar  in 
1879.  He  practiced  law  in  Jersey  City  until  18M0.  part  of  which  time 
was  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Romeyn  &  Griffin.  The  practice  of  law 
becoming  distasteful  to  him,  he  abandoned  it  ISVO. 

In  1894  he  became  editor  of  The  Evening  Record,  an  independent 
dail\-  newspaper,  published  in  Hackensack,  the  only  daily  in  Bergen 
County.  He  entered  upon  the  work  of  journalism,  as  he  would  upon  the 
high  professions  with  a  firm  conviction  that  it  was  equal,  if  not  of  more 
importance  than  the  profession  of  theology,  law  or  medicine.  He  has 
continued  this  work  with  great  energy  and  success  until  his  paper 
has  become  an  important  vehicle  of  news  and  thought,  and  a  necessary 
institution  of  the  city. 

His  whole  thought  and  discussions  have  been  on  the  side  of  good 
morals  and  the  public  welfare.  No  questionable  paragraphs  have  ever 
found  place  in  the  columns  of  his  paper.  His,  has  been  a  successful 
effort  to  make  the  Evening  Record  one  of  the  most  influential  papers  in 
this  locality,  an  with  a  very  flattering  circulation,  he  has  made  an  envi- 
able reputation  throughout  the  whole  State. 

Mr.  Romeyn  has  never  taken  any  active  part  in  politics,  though  his 
political  principles  are  p.QSitive  and  fixed.  He  has  been  called  to  fill 
places  in  local  boards  and  was  treasurer  of  the  Hackensack  Hospital  for 
seven  years. 

He  married  Miss  Flora  M.  Cochran  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  in  1884,  who 
died  in  1891.  From  this  marriage  he  has  two  children,  Theodore  Bay- 
ard and  Katharine  Cochran.  He  again  married,  Miss  Susie  B.  Conover 
of  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1894. 

MK.    JACOB    H.    FANK. 

Mr.  Jacob  H.  Fank,  the  present  postmaster  of  Hackensack,  was 
Ixirn  in  that  city  August  I7th,  1855,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place.  When  but  fifteen  years  of  age  he  became 
telegraph  operator  for  the  New  York  and  New  Jersey  Railroad  Com- 
pany. Afterward  he  filled  similar  positions  with  the  New  York,  On- 
tario and  Western,  and  the  New  York,  Susquehanna  and  Western  Rail- 
road, returning  in  1875,  to  Hackensack. 

In  1879  Mr.  Fank  began  the  manufacture  of  cigars  at  71  Main 
Street,  but  in  188.>  disposed  of  this  business  and  resumed  that  of   tele- 


J. \ Mies    A.     KOMl'.VN 


134  HISTOKV    OF    BKKC.EN    COUNTY 

graphy,  accepting  a  position  with  the  West  Shore  Railroad  Company, 
subsequently  becoming-  operator  for  the  Long  Island  Railroad  at  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.  In  1885,  upon  his  return  to  Hackensack,  he  opened  a  gro- 
cery store,  in  which  he  did  a  good  business  until  1896,  when  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  by  President  Cleveland,  a  position  which  he  con- 
tinues to  hold. 

In  1887  Mr.  Fank  was  elected  chief  engineer  of  the  Hackensack 
Fire  Department,  and  re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  1888.  He  served 
four  years  as  tax  collector  for  New  Barbadoes  township. 

Mr.  Fank  is  a  member  of  many  lodges:  Pioneer  Lodge,  No.  70,  F., 
&  A.  M.;  Uhland  Lodge,  No.  177.  I.  O.  O.  F.;  and  Hope  Encampment; 
Hackingeshacky  Tribe,  No.  189,  I.  O.  R.  M.;  Court  Hackensack  F.  of 
A.;  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Exempt  Firemen  Association.  He  is  also 
secretary  of  the  Hackensack  Firemen  Insurance  Association;  vice  pres- 
ident of  the  State  Exempt  Firemen  Association  of  New  Jersey;  Master 
Workmen  of  Hackensack  Lodge,  No.  64,  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Kalamazoo  Band;  Alert  Hose  Association,  and  is  L.  A.  W.  Local 
Consul. 

Mr.  Fank  was  married  December  7,  1879,  to  Miss  Thresa  Mattjets- 
check.  They  have  two  children  living,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  In 
politics  Mr.  Fank  is  a  Democrat. 

PETKK    \\.    STAGG. 

Peter  W.  Stagg,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Hackensack,  was  born  in 
New  York  city  October  24th,  185(1.  His  childhood  and  early  life,  how- 
ever, were  spent  in  Cresskill,  N.  J.,  where  he  attended  the  public  school. 
In  1875  Mr.  Stagg  went  to  Jersey  City  where  he  became  a  student  of 
law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Charles  Scholfield,  and  where  he  remained 
two  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Hackensack,  and  entered  the  office  of 
Ackerson  &  Van  Valea,  continuing  with  them  until  1879,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  at  the  June  term.  Immediately  after  being  admit- 
ted, he  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  which  he 
rapidly  built  up  a  good  business. 

At  the  June  term  of  1883  he  was  made  a  counsellor-at-law.  He 
served  as  assistant  clerk  to  the  House  of  the  State  Assembly  at  the 
sessions  of  1891-2,  and  in  1895  was  appointed  by  Governor  Werts,  as 
Prosecutor  of  Bergen  county,  for  a  term  of  five  years. 

Prior  to  the  time  at  which  Mr.  Stagg  became  prosecutor,  this  coun- 
ty had  been  infested  with  pool  room  and  green-goods  gangs.  These 
the  new  prosecutor  drove  out,  in  addition  to  conducting  the  ordinary 
criminal  business 

Mr.  Stagg  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Bergen  County  Lodge, 
and  has  been  Grand  Master  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  having  in  18'»7 
the  care  and  jurisdiction  of  249  lodges  in  different  parts  of  the  state, 
comprising  a  membership  of  25,000  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Fire  Patrol.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Regiment  New 
Jersey  Volunteers  in  the  late  Spanish  War. 


PE'IKK    W.    .STACKJ 


1,^()  HISTOKV  OK  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

Mr.  Stagg  was  married  on  January  14,  1875,  to  Miss  Jennie  E. 
Westervelt,  of  Bergenfields.  The  oldest  of  their  five  children,  Arthur 
A.,  is  in  his  father's  office. 

HON.     WILLIAM    I).    SNOW. 

H(in.  William  D.  Snow,  son  of  Josiah  Snow,  founder  of  the  Detroit 
Tribune,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  February  2d,  1832.  He  was  educated 
at  Romeo,  Michigan,  afterwards  studying  law  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  under 
the  late  Attorney  General  Edson,  of  that  state.  For  several  years  he 
was  associate  editor  of  the  Tribune.  He  was  a  strong  advocate 
of  anti-slavery  doctrine,  and  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  the 
magazines  and  journals  of  that  day,  and  also  a  hymn  writer  of  some 
note. 

Mr.  Snow  settled  at  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas,  in  1860,  and  aferwards 
represented  Jefferson  county  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Arkan- 
sas. The  convention  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  a  Free  State 
Constitution,  the  first  in  any  seceding  state. 

Mr.  Snow  was  elected  in  1865  for  the  long  term  to  the  United  States 
Senate  from  Arkansas.  At  the  close  of  his  term  he  declined  a  re-elec- 
tion, coming  to  New  York  city  for  the  purpose  of  studying  law.  In 
1871,  however,  Mr.  Snow  went  to  Paris,  where  he  spent  two  years  in 
the  study  of  civil  law.  In  1875  he  was  admitted  to  the  New  York  Bar, 
receiving,  the  same  year,  the  degree  of  L.L.  B.  from  Columbia  College. 
In  1882  he  became  secretary  and  counsel  to  one  of  the  New  York  Trust 
companies,  but  resigned  in  1888  to  take  up  general  practice.  He  acted 
as  volunteer  Aide  to  General  Powell  Clayton  and  Major  General  Steele 
during  the  Civil  War,  and  was  instrumental  in  the  enlistment  and  organ- 
ization of  three  regiments  in  the  state  of  Arkansas.  Governor  Murphy 
afterward  tendered  him  an  appointment  as  Brigadier  General  of  Volun- 
teers.    This  he  declined. 

Mr.  Snow  is  of  retiring  and  studious  habits,  and  in  religion  a  Uni- 
tarian, president  of  the  Unitarian  Congregational  Society  of  Hacken- 
sack.  He  belongs  to  the  Lawyers'  Club,  the  Bullion  Club  of  New  York 
and  the  Oritani  of  Hackensack. 

Several  of  his  iuventines  have  proved  successful,  his  Thermostat 
being  regarded  as  the  most  reliable  and  sensitive  of  its  class. 

Mr.  Snow  is  now  a  member  of  the  bar  in  three  states,  having  been 
admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Bar  in  1894.  After  residing  in  the  northern 
part  of  Bergen  county  for  more  than  twenty  years,  while  practicing  in 
New  York  city,  he  gave  up  his  city  practice  in  1896  and  removed  to 
Hackensack,  where  he  hopes  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  among 
his  New  Jersey  friends. 

EKNEST    HENKY    KOESTEK. 

Ernest  Henry  Koester,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  Bergen  county, 
is  a  native  of  Norristown,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  April  28th,  1855. 
After  receiving  a  preparatory  education  in  the  High  School  of  Philadel- 
phia, he   went  to   Heidelberg,  Germany,   remaining   in   that  insitution 


HISTORY    OK    BKKGEN    COUNTY  l.i7 

tlircc  years,  and  subsequently  took  a  three  years' ciiurse  of  itistruelioii 
ill  AUeg'heny  College,  at  Meadville,  I'ennsylvania,  taking  his  degree  ol 
A.  B.  in  187').  He  now  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  M.  L. 
Richmond  &  Son,  of  Meadville,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  iS,S2. 
He  immediately  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  McKean  county. 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  his 
state  in  ISSd,  in  the  meantime  tilling  the  office  of  District  Attorney  of 
his  county  for  three  years.  In  i.S')4  he  located  in  HackensAck.  and  in 
June  of  the  same  year  was  admitted  to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of  New 
.1  erse  y . 

Mr.  Koester  has  a  large  clientage  in  Bergen  county,  and  is  known 
in  the  state  as  an  able  criminal  lawyer.  He  defended  Ryan  in  the 
famous  green-goods  affair  of  New  York,  winning  the  case  after  it  had 
been  carried  against  him  in  both  the  ujjper  and  lower  courts. 

Mr.  Koester  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  having  taken 
the  thirty-second  degree.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Hackensack 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  other  societies. 

JOHN    J.     .VNDICKSON. 

Jolin  J.  Anderson,  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  families  of 
Hackensack,  resides  at  tlie  Anderson  homestead,  corner  of  Passaic 
Avenue  and  Main  Street,  where  his  grandfather,  John  Anderson, 
located  about  the  year  r8(W.  The  grandfather  was  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent. He  came  tirst  to  New  Bridge,  Bergen  county,  and  after  his 
marriage  to  Catharine  Zabriskie,  located  in  Hackensack.  where  he  pur- 
chased the  propertvTiow  owned  by  the  Oritani  Field  Club.  He  was  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  operated  a  store  at  the 
oirner  of  Passaic  and  Main  Streets  for  many  years,  but  the  business  was 
latterly  put  into  the  hands  of  his  sons  John  C,  and  David.  John  died 
in  IS.^f)  at  thirty-four  years  of  age,  and  John,  his  father,  died  in  1S4(), 
eightv-two  years  of  age.  In  18().S  Mr.  Jolin  J.  .-\nderson  tore  down  the 
old  building  and  erected  Anderson  Hall,  placing  in  the  wall  a  corner- 
stone of  the  (dd  house,  on  which  was  subscribed:  "W.  C.  W.,  1711." 
Fron;  this  it  is  sui)pose(l  the  building  was  erected  by  W.  C.  Waldron  in 
1711.  The  store  on  the  other  corner  of  the  street,  now  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  John  II.  T.  Banla,  was  then  operated  by  H^U.  T.  I!anta,  and 
lafore  him  bv  Mr.  Doremus,  subsequently  Judge  Doremus.  There  were 
a  few  other  lumses  at  intervals  along  the  road,  now  Main  Street,  then 
fenced  in  with  rails. 

.\l)out  the  vear  IS.SS  the  .Morton  (louse  was  built  by  Mrs.  Abram 
I'.errv.  the  daughter  of  John  Andi-rsou.  Judge  Banta  married  a 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Berry.  John  C.  Z.  Anderson  married  Harriet  Meyers, 
of  Knglish  Neighborhood,  and  had  live  children,  (iarret  Meyers,  who 
married  Leah  I^ouis  Sl<)pe  in  1S4'»,  and  then  Mary  (lalloway  in  I.S54; 
Catherine  C.  who  married  Lucas  J.  Van  Bnskirk  in  i,S48;Jane,  who 
married  \V.  C.  Smith  in  18.s2;  .Maria,  who  married  Leveret  H.  Sage  in 
18.=^4,  and  J<din  J.,  who  was  born  in   iSM),  and    married    Jane    Ann    Deni- 


138  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN   COUNTY 

arest  in  i853.     The  wife  of  John  J.  died  in  i883.     Their   children  were 
Martha,  Catharine  Z.,  Pauline  and  Cornelius  H. 

Mr.  John  J.  Anderson  was  one  of  the  prominent  merchants  of  Hack- 
ensack  until  his  retirement  in  i878.  He  was  Collector,  and  held  other 
offices  in  the  town  of  New  Barbadoes,  and  was  the  first  Republican 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature  for  tifty-four  years. 

iMATTHEW    E.    CLAKENDON. 

Matthew  E.  Clarendon,  a  leading  leather  merchant  of  New  York 
city,  was  born  in  i835,  and  formerly  lived  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Upon  bis  removal  to  Hackensack,  in  i87(),  he  immediately  began  to 
devise  means  of  improving  the  roads.  Hackensack  had  been  slow  to  see 
its  own  needs  in  this  regard,  or  the  advantages  to  arise  from  a  better 
C(mdition  of  things.  In  i890  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Hacken- 
sack Improvement  Commission.  He  soon  found  those  who  were  willing 
to  aid  in  the  matter  of  macadamizing  the  streets,  and  during  the  seven 
years  he  has  served  on  this  board,  much  has  been  done  in  the  way  of 
advancement. 

Mr.  Clarendon  has  been  governor  and  also  vice  president  of  the 
Oritani  Field  Club,  and  has  also  been  vice  president  of  both  the  Hack- 
ensack Bank  and  the  Hackensack  Hospital  Association  since  their  organ- 
ization. 

CHARLES    EK.\NCIS    ADAM.S,    M.    D. 

Occasionally  we  find  an  American  born  with  royal  lineage,  but 
very  seldom  do  we  find  that  lineage  traceable  through  both  the  English 
and  P^rench  royalties  to  the  earliest  rulers  of  the  Norman-French 
dynasties. 

The  sul)jcct  of  this  sketch  furnishes  such  an  instance.  From 
Charles  Martel  to  Charlemagne,  touching  the  English  line  in  Matilda, 
the  wife  of  William  the  Conqueror,  and  again  in  the  Welsh  line,  in  the 
marriage  of  Sir  John  Ap.  Adam  to  Elizabeth  De  Gournai  and  from 
there  to  Sir  William  Adams,  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1630,  whose 
brother  Henry,  the  immediate  ancestor  of  John  and  Samuel  Adams,  the 
line  continuesiin  unbroken  links  to  the  present  Dr.  Adams.  Still  fur- 
ther. Ruth  Wadsworth,  a  descendant  of  John  Alden  and  daughter  of  the 
first  president  of  Harvard  College,  was  the  great-grandmother  of  the 
doctor.  Thus  allied  with  royal  blood  on  the  other  side  of  the  water, 
this  family  of  such  honored  distinction  in  American  statesmanship  and 
literature,  gains  for  itself  a  greater  renown  where  there  are  no  thrones 
to  mount  or  titles  to  augment  the  name. 

Rev.  John  Uuincv  Adams,  the  father  of  Dr.  Adams,  was  a  distin- 
g\iishe(l  clergyman  of  the  Baptist  church  in  the  city  of  New  York.  It 
was  here  Charles  Francis  Adams  was  born  March  IH,  i857.  A  course 
in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  was  followed  by  a  three  years'  course 
in  Mount  Washington  Institute. 

lie  then  engaged  in  business,  in  which  he  cioitiinud  three  years. 


HISTORY    OF    BERC.EN    COUNTY  139 

In  1S74  he  entered  the  Hudson  River  Institute  at  Chiverack.  N.  Y., 
and  in  1S77  was  graduated  from  the  schiiiil  with  honors.  Knterinj^ 
Brown  University  immediately  after  this,  he  was  srraduated  noii  lainlc 
in  the  class  of  1881. 

His  medical  studies  were  bei^^un  in  the  New  York  Hom(t'i)athic  Col- 
leg'e,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  high  honors  in  the  class  of 
1884.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  medical  studies  Dr.  Adams  settled  in 
Hackensack,  where  he  has  not  only  attained  to  eminence  in  his  profes- 
sion, but,  during  the  fourteen  years' residence  here,  has  also  maintained 
the  honor  and  dignity  of  the  family  name. 

Upon  the  declaration  of  war  with  Spain,  Dr.  Adams,  who  was  one 
oi  the  assistant  surgeons  of  the  Second  Regiment,  N.  G.  N.  J.,  at 
once  went  out  with  his  regiment.  He  was  soon  promoted  to  be  regi- 
mental surgeon,  with  the  rank  of  major,  and  served  with  distinction 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

JOHN    RATHBONE    RAMSl'.Y. 

John  Rathlione  Ramsey,  clerk  of  Berg'en  county,  was  born  in  Wyck- 
otT,  Bergen  county.  New  Jersey,  April  25th,  lSf>2,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
P.  and  Martha  (Rathbone)  Ramsey.  He  was  educated  at. the  private 
school  of  Professor  John  C.  Nash,  in  Parkersburg,  West  Virginia,  after 
which  he  read  law  in  Hackensack  with  the  late  George  H.  Coffey  and 
Abraham' D.  Campbell,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883  as  an  attorney 
and  in  1887  as  counsellor,  after  which  he  beg'an  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Hackensack.  Being  a  successful  lawyer  and  a  popular  Re- 
publican, he  was  put  in  nomination  for  the  office  of  County  Clerk  of 
Bergen  count}'  in  1890,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority.  In  1895, 
however,  he  was  again  nominated  for  the  same  office  and  was  elected. 
He  has  successfullv  filled  the  office  ever  since. 

HKNKV    D.     WINTON. 

Henry  I).  Winton,  editor  and  proj)rietor  of  The  Bergen  county 
Democrat,  the  .oldest  newspaper  published  in  Bergen  county,  is  the  son 
of  Eben  Winton,  the  first  publisher  of  this  paper. 

Mr.  Winton  was  born  February  14.  1848,  and  has  been  a  resident  of 
Hackensack  since  18f)l.  He  entered  his  father's  office  at  the  ag-c  of 
fifteen  years,  and  after  si.x  years  close  application  to  business,  was  made 
a  partner  in  the  concern,  the  firm  being  known  as  E.  Winton  &  Son. 
In  1870  Mr.  Winton,  Sr.,  retired,  the  Son  becoming  sole  jiroprietor. 
Under  his  manag-ement  the  paper  has  -g-rown  iu  popularity  and  value 
both  financially  and  as  an  exponent  of  the  party  which  it  represents. 

Mr.  Winton  keeps  pace  with  all  political  questions  and  party  move- 
ments. He  was  made  a  delegate  from  the  Fifth  Congressional  District 
to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  which  met  at  Cincinnati  in  188(1, 
and  nominated  General  Hancock  and  again  acted  in  the  same  capacity 
in  18")f),  at  the  Nati(mal  Conventicm  which  nominated  Mr.  Bryan.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  five,  of  which  ex-Governor  Russel  of 


HENKV     L).    WIXTUN 


HISTORY    OF    RERGEN    COUNTY  141 

Massachusetts  was  the  chairman,  representing'  the  '"gold  states",  in 
opposition  to  the  •' silverites"  of  the  party.  Mr.  Winton  acted  as  chair- 
man of  the  state  committee  of  the  sound  Democracy  during-  the  cam- 
paign, the  Bergen  County  Democrat  espousing  the  cause  of  Palmer  & 
Buckner. 

In  ISSO,  Mr.  Winton  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey, 
and  re-elected  in  1884,  for  a  term  of  three  years,  being  the  only  case  of 
a  re-election  of  a  senator  from  this  county.  In  1884  he  was  clerk  of 
the  House  of  Assembly,  and  at  the  same  time  was  one  of  the  members 
of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  New  Jersey  Lunatic  Asylum,  at  Morris 
Plains.  It  was  through  him,  in  connection  with  the  late  Theodore 
Varick  of  Jersey  City,  that  the  medical  and  business  departments  of  this 
institution  were  separated.  This  has  thus  far  proved  a  successful 
change.  Other  institutions  of  the  kind  have  followed  the  example  of 
this  one,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all. 

JACOB    L.    V.\N    BU.SKIKK. 

Jacob  L.  Van  Buskirk,  Sheriff  of  Bergen  county,  is  probably  one 
of  the  most  popular  officials  to  be  found  in  the  state.  He  was  born  in 
Saddle  River,  N.  J.,  in  1851,  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  blacksmithing  for 
nine  years.  In  1852  his  father  came  to  Hackensack,  where  he  resided 
for  forty-seven  years.  In  1890  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Freeholders,  and  re-elected  in  1893.  In  1892  he  was  elected  director  of 
the  board  and  held  that  position  three  years,  and  in  Novetnber  1S98, 
was  elected  sheriff  by  a  majority  of  709  votes,  he  being  the  only  suc- 
cessful Democrat  on  his  ticket,  which  is  proof  sufficient  that  the  people, 
not  the  party,  elected  him  to  the  office. 

Mr.  Van  Buskirk  has  always  taken  a  lively  ititerest  in  everything 
of  a  public  nature,  and  is  also  prominent  in  social  and  fraternal  organ- 
izations. 

.\KK.\M    DH  B.Al"N. 

The  i)arents(if  Ahram  De  Baun  were  Kev.  John  Y.  and  Margaret 
( Iserman )  De  Baun,  and  his  grandparents  Isaac  De  Baun  and  Abram 
Iserman.  His  father  was  for  twenty-six  years  pastor  of  the  True  Re- 
formed Church  at  Hackensack.  During  his  pastorate  here  he  was  editor 
of  the  Banner  of  Truth,  a  monthly  magazine  of  the  True  Refi.rnud 
Church.     The  De  Bauns  are  of  French  Huguenot  descent. 

Mr.  De  Baun  studied  law  under  A.  D.  Campbell,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  as  attorney-at-law  in  1877,  and  as  counsellor  in  1880.  He  was 
a  partner  of  Mr.  Campbell  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years,  but  is  now 
of  the  firm  of  Demarest  &  De  Baun.  He  was  clerk  of  the  Board  of 
Freeholders  from  1878  to  1895,  and  member  of  the  Hackensack  Improve- 
ment Commission  three  years,  during  two  of  which  he  was  its  treasurer. 
For  twelve  years  he  has  been  counsel  for  the  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciatiun  of  Hackensack.      He  is  a  director  of  the  Old  Ladies'  Home. 


142 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


THOMAS    H.    GUMMING. 

Thomas  H.  Cummiag.  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  a  well-known  busi- 
ness man  of  Hackensack,  was  born  in  New  York  city  November  6th, 
1839.  He  received  his  education  in  his  native  city,  and,  after  leaving- 
school,  became  an  employe  in  a  large  dry  goods  store,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years.  A  partnership  was  now  entered  into  with  his 
father  in  the  business  of  contracting,  which  was  carried  on  chiefly  in 
New  York  and  New  Jersey.  Among  other  large  contracts  secured  was 
that   for  the   construction  of  the  Lodi  branch   of  the  New  Jersey  and 


JUSTICE  THOM.\S  H.   CUMMING 


New  York  Railroad,  and  also  for  the  line  running  from  Essex  street  to 
Woodridge.  In  New  York  their  business  was  mostly  in  the  line  of 
building  large  sewers.  Beginning  in  1861,  Mr.  Gumming  conducted  a 
business  for  two  years  in  the  oil  trade  in  Greenwich  street,  following 
which,  he  was  in  the  leather  business  for  a  period  of  sis  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  time  he  removed  to  Hackensack,  again  engaging  in 
contracting.  In  connection  with  his  present  business  of  insurance  and 
real  estate,  he  is  Commissioner  of  Deeds  and  a  Notary  Public,  holding 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  since  1885.  * 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY  143 

He  has  always  been  interested  in  the  Fire  Department,  and  was  an 
active  member  of  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  2,  for  twenty-six 
years,  part  of  this  time  its  Foreman,  and  is  at  present  an  honorary 
member  of  that  organization.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been 
President  of  the  Hackensack  Relief  Association,  and  has  also  been  Col- 
lector of  License  for  the  Hackensack  Commission  for  the  past  twelve 
years. 

Mr.  Cumrning-  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  a  charter 
member  of  the  National  Union.  He  is  an  active  Republican,  and 
his  father,  Thomas  Cumming-,  Sr.,  was  for  years  a  lay  judge  of 
Bergen  county. 

Mr.  Cumming's  wife  was  the  only  daughter  of  the  late  John  H. 
Banta,  of  Hackensack.     They  have  three  sons. 

CL.VYTON    DEM.A.REST. 

One  of  the  fullest  and  most  interesting  of  the  numerous  records  of 
the  Demarest  family,  is  that  of  the  branch  descending  from  David  des 
Marie,  whose  date  of  landing  in   America  is  taken  from  an  "entry  in 
Emigrants  Account  Book,"  reading  as  follows: 
"David  des  Marie  from  Picardie,  for  passage  and  board  when  he  came 

here  on  board  the  Bontekoe.  the  l')th  of  Apr.  1()63.    ■ ;£39 

for  his  wife , 39 

&  4  children  of  18,  11,  <>  &  1  yr 97.10 

fl.  17.^.1(1 
David  des  Marie  (son  of  Jean)  was  born  at  Beauchamp,  in  Picardie 
about  the  year  1()20,  and  married  Marie,  daughter  of  Francois  Sohier, 
Jul}-  24,  1643.  Of  their  six  children,  three  married  and  reared  families, 
Jean,  born  April  1645,  David,  Jr.,  born  1652,  and  Samuel,  born  1656. 
Clayton  Demarest,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of 
David,  Jr.,  second  son  of  the  first  David  des  Marest. 

David,  Jr..  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  Pierre  Cresson,  April  4, 
1665.  The}'  had  twelve  children.  Jacobus  being  the  fifth,  and  through 
him  the  line  descends.  He  married  Leah,  daughter  of  Peter  DeGroot, 
March  8,  1707,  and  after  her  death  married  Margrietie  Cozine  Herring 
September  26,  1719.  In  all,  his  family  numbered  seventeen,  the  line 
coming  down  through  Daniel  the  sixteenth  child,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 11,  1738.  Daniel  Demarest  had  two  sons,  James  D.,  and  Ralph, 
the  lines  coming  through  James  D.,  the  eldest,  who  was  born  March  20, 
1763,  and  married  Rachel  Demarest.  Of  their  five  children  Abram  J., 
born  October  4,  1793,  was  the  grandfather  of  Clayton.  He  married 
Rachel  Blauvelt,  April  8,  1815,  and  the  youngest  of  their  seven  children, 
David  Demarest,  was  born  February  1,  1832,  and  married  Christina  De 
Baun  September  8,  1853.  They  had  six  children  the  youngest,  and  only 
son,  being  Clayton  who  was  born  December  IS,  1865. 

David  Demarest  now  resides  on  the  farm  at  Schraalenburgh  where 
the  Demarests  have  lived  for  over  two  hundred   vears.      The  old  house 


144 


HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEX  COUNTY 


has  passed  throufrh  so  many  changes  and  has  so  often  been  remodelled 
that  but  little  remains  of  its  orig-inal  construction.  The  barn  has  two 
large  overhead  beams  hewn  from  red  gum  trees,  and  are  marked  1721. 

Abram  J.  Deraarest  was  a  Captain  in  the  National  Guard  until  he 
was  thirty-five  years  of  age.  His  commission  papers  from  the  Governor 
of  New  Jersey,  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  family.  David  Demarest 
enlisted  as  a  volunteer  in  the  Civil  War,  September  1,  l.S(i2,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  June  25,  1863. 

Clayton,  his  son,  was  educated  in  the  public  school  in  Schraalen- 
burgh,  afterwards  taking  a  course  of  instruction  in  Thompson's  Busi- 
ness College  in  New   York  city.      Having  accepted   a  position  with   the 


CLAYTON  DEMAREST 

Chemical  National  Bank,  December  1,  1S82,  Mr.  Demarest  has  continued 
with  that  institution  to  the  present  time,  the  past  ten  years  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  Assistant  Paying  Teller. 

In  Hackensack,  the  home  of  Mr.  Demarest,  he  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  Fire  Department,  having  become  a  member  of  Relief 
Hook  &  Ladder  Company  No.  2,  in  December  1841.  in  which  he  has 
served  two  years  as  secretary  and  four  years  as  foreman,  being  now 
assistant  engineer,  and  is  justly  proud  of  his  work  in  the  department. 

Socially  Mr.  Demarest  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  Fire- 
man's Relief  Association,  Exempt  Firemen  and  Hackensack  Debating 
Society.  He  is  an  active  member  and  teacher  in  the  Sunday  School  of 
the  Second  Reformed  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  the  past 
twelve  years. 


HISTORY   OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  145 

Mr.  Demurest  married  Miss  Marie  Kipp,  daug-hter  of  Nicholas  R. 
Voorhis  (and  <irranddau!rhter  of  Ralph  Voorhis  of  River  Edge)  on  Sep- 
tember 18,  18S<).      They  liave  three  sons. 

A.    S.    I).    DEM  A  K  EST. 

A.  S.  D.  Demarest,  the  well-known  undertaker,  of  Hackensack,  is  a 
son  of  David  S.  and  Marg-aret  ( Durie )  Demarest.  and  was  born  at  Ber- 
genlields  in  1834.  His  father  was  born  at  Schraalenburgh  in  17'»5,  and 
spent  his  life  there,  dying  in  1877.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  was  a  de- 
scendant of  David  Demarest,  who  settled  at  River  Edge  over  200  years 
ago.     Mr.  Demarest's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  David  Durie,  of  Tenafly- 

He  spent  his  early  years  amid  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  subse- 
quently removing  to  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  business, 
but  in  187()  returned  to  New  Jersey,  and  located  in  Hackensack,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

Upon  coming  to  Hackensack  he  was  interested  in  the  book  and 
stationery  business  for  a  time,  but  in  1886  established  his  present  busi- 
ness of  undertaking.  He  is  strictly'  a  business  man,  has  been  Treasurer 
of  the  First  Reformed  Church  for  nine  years  and  chorister  of  the  same 
church  for  ten  years,  and  treasurer  of  Hackensack  Mutual  Building  and 
Loan  Association  for  over  seven  years. 

Mr.  Demarest  was  married  in  1861  to  Miss  Lavinia  Blauvelt,  (laui;li- 
ter  of  John  D.  M.  Blauvelt,  of  Bergen  county.  They  have  two  daugh- 
ters, both  married. 

CHAKLES    CONKLIN. 

Charles  Conklin,  the  well  known  real  estate  man  and  President  of 
the  Board  of  Health  is  a  native  of  Hackensack  and  was  born  thirty-four 
years  ago.  His  father  Robert  Conkliu  was  a  dry  goods  merchant  and 
held  the  agency  of  the  county  for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  Company, 
for  which  he  sold  over  1000  machines  in  Bergen  county-  alone.  He  died 
in  1877.  Mr.  Charles  Conklin  was  in  the  dry  goods,  business  during  the 
earlier  years  of  his  life,  and  later  was  Secretary  of  The  Conklin  Bros. 
Company.  In  1894  he  established  himself  in  the  real  estate  business, 
which  with  that  of  insurance,  yielded  him  in  the  aggregate  hand- 
some results. 

Mr.  Conklin  had  l)ecn  President  of  the  iJoard  of  Health  seven  years, 
and  was  serving  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Freeholders  of  the  county. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  Hackensack,  and  was 
deacon  in  that  body  eight  years,  and  also  its  treasurer.  Wv  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  pVllows,  O.  U.  A.  M.,  Red  Mem.  Wheelmen  and  of  the 
Onit.ini  Field  Club.      Mr.  Conklin  died  in  is'i"). 

(■.i;OK(;i'.    WAKICMAN    WIlJvEI.liK. 

(icorge  Wakeman  Wheeler,  son  of  Charles  and  Jeruslia  (  ilr.idley) 
Wheeler,  was  born  at  Eastern,  Fairfield  County,  Connecticut,  October 
15th,  1831.  The  name  Wheeler  is  one  well  known  in  judicial  and  legis- 
lative  circles   in    the   State   of  Connecticut.      Ste])lu'ii    Wheeler,  grand- 


F 


GEORGE  WAKEMAN  WHEELEK 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  147 

father  of  Georg-e  W.,  served  with  distinction  for  some  years  as  county 
Judg-e  of  Fairfield  county.  His  father,  Charles  Wheeler,  was  member 
of  Assembly  of  his  state,  servin<f  also  as  Probate  Judge  of  his  county. 
Mr.  Wheeler's  only  brother  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  and  a 
judge  in  Louisiana,  and  continuing  down  the  line,  his  son  George  W. 
Wheeler.  Jr.,  is  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Connecticut.  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  graduated  from  Amherst  College  in  lH5(^,  having  taken  his 
preparatory  course  at  Dudley  School,  Northamptcm,  Mass.  After  grad- 
uation he  taught  school  for  a  short  period  after  which  he  located  at 
Hackensack,  and  conducted  classes  in  Greek  and  Latin  for  two  years, 
and  following  this,  in  185*>,  became  principal  of  McGee's  Institute  at 
Woodville,  Miss.,  continuing  in  this  position  ten  years.  He  was  county 
superintendent  during  three  years  of  this  time,  and  also  a  member  of 
the  board  of  aldermen.  Here  also  he  assisted  in  organizing  a  local 
cavalry  company  of  which  he  served  as  a  member  with  the  rank  of 
major.  In  the  Masonic  order  he  was  a  prominent  member  being  High 
Priest  of  Royal  Arch  Chapter.  Mr.  Wheeler  has  resided  in  Hackensack 
C(mtinuously  since  18f)4,  and  where  he  for  a  time  was  associated  with 
James  M.  Van  Valen  and  Peter  Bogert.  Jr..  as  judge  of  the  Common 
Pleas  Court.  For  the  past  thirty  years  he  has  occupied  his  present 
offices,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  management  of  estates  and  as  a 
broker  in  stocks  and  bonds.  Interested  in  various  institutions  and  or- 
ganizations, he  has  been  president  and  director  of  Hall  and  Armory 
Association  since  its  organization,  was  a  director  of  the  Bank  of  Bergen 
County,  and  the  Hackensack  Savings  Bank;  is  treasurer  and  director 
of  the  Hackensack  Cemetery  Company;  is  a  member  of  the  State  Geo- 
logical Board,  and  was  for  ten  years  president  of  the  Bergen  Turnpike 
Company,  and  later  its  vice  president.  For  a  long  period  he  was  a  di- 
rector of  the  Hackensack  Gas  Company,  and  for  twenty-seven  years  rep- 
resented the  Home  Insurance  Company  for  Bergen  County,  but  resigned 
in  1897,  at  which  time  the  company  as  a  proof  of  their  appreciation  of 
his  service,  tendered  him  a  letter  of  thanks  accompanied  with  the  pre- 
sentation of  a  fine  gold  headed  cane.  In  his  religious  relations  he  is  an 
Episcopalian  and  in  politics  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  married  in  1859  to  Miss  Lucy  Dowie,  of  Andes, 
Delaware  County,  N.  Y.  Their  only  children  are  Judge  George  W. 
Wheeler,  Jr.,  of  Connecticut,  and  Harry  D.,  who  resides  in  Hackensack, 
doing  a  commission  business  in  New  York  City. 

Mr.  Wheeler  is  a  man  of  culture  and  refinement;  has  been  an  ex- 
tensive traveller,  and  is  a  thorough  and  capable  busines-;  mm. 

WILI.IAiM    K.\IK. 

William  Fair  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  emigrated  to  America  with 
his  wife.  Mary  Hume,  and  three  children.  Mary.  John  and  Jane,  and 
settled  in  New  Barbadoes,  now  Hackensack,  aljout  178.S. 

He  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade,  and  carried  (m  his  business  (m  the 
site   of    the    Fair  Homestead,  in  Hackensack,  until  his  death,  which    oc- 


148  HISTOKV    OF    BERGEN    COUNTV 

curred  February  24,  1<S3'»,  dying-  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  His 
wife  died  at  the  age  of  severity  years,  September  23,  1824.  Mary  died 
unmarried,  October  12,  1852,  and  Jane  died  unmarried,  July  I'J,  1848. 
John  was  a  successful  merchant  in  New  York  for  many  years,  and  died 
January  6,  1854,  aged  seventy-six  years. 

George  Fair,  fourth  child  of  William  and  Mary  Hume  Fair,  was 
born  in  Hackensack,  on  the  homestead,  November  27,  1785.  He  received 
during  his  boyhood  only  a  common  school  education,  but  the  rigid  home 
discipline  of  his  Scotch  parents  early  impressed  him  with  habits  of  in- 
dustry, economy,  and  self-reliance. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  young  Fair  became  a  clerk  in  a  dry -goods 
store  in  New  York  city,  where  he  continued  for  many  years,  and  until 
he  had  saved  enough  money  from  his  earnings  to  establish  business  for 
himself.  With  his  elder  brother,  John,  he  engagfed  in  the  dry-goods 
trade  on'his  own  account  in  Vesey  Street,  New  York  city,  where  for 
many  years  they  continued  a  successful  trade.  They  invested  of  their 
surplus  means  in  city  real  estate,  which  increased  in  value  on  their  hands 
and  gave  both  a  large  competency. 

In  1859  Mr.  Fair  completed  the  homestead  formerly  occupied  by  his 
father,  a  substantial  residence  on  Essex  Street,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  October  16,  1868. 


sri'T.  JOHN  •ri;KiirN'i-: 
Mr.  John  Terhune,  the  popular  and  efticient  superintendent  of  tht? 
schools  of  Bergen  county,  was  born  at  Midland  Park,  this  county,  Au- 
gust 4th,  1846.  He  was  educated  there  in  a  district  school.  Later  he 
attended  the  New  Jersey  State  Normal  School,  and  subsequently  East- 
man's Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  After  being  engaged 
for  some  time  as  an  accountant  and  in  mercantile  pursuits,  he  took 
charge  of  the  Midland  Park  Public  School.  He  held  this  position  for 
about  nine  years,  until  appointed  to  his  present  oftice,  thirteen  years  ago. 


HISTOKY    OK    BERGEN    COUNTY  149 

To  Mr.  Terhime  belongs  the  credit  of  having-  i)oi)ularize(l  the  ob- 
servance of  Arbor  Day  in  the  schools  of  the  state.  He  has  given  a 
great  amount  of  labor,  time  and  money  for  this  purpose.  The  fine  Arbor 
Day  programmes  which  he  prepared  and  printed  at  his  owh  expense  for 
a  number  of  ^-ears,  have  been  widely  distributed  throughout  the  country 
and  have  received  the  highest  commendation  from  teachers  and  school 
officers  everywhere. 

Mr.  Terhune  is  also  the  author  of  the  Teachers'  Library  Act  for 
the  establishment  of  professional  libraries  in  each  county,  securing 
state  aid  to  the  amount  of  SlOO  the  first  year  and  $50  each  subsequent 
year.  The  profit  derived  from  the  sale  of  his  Arbor  Day  publications 
he  donates  to  the  Teachers'  Library;  he  raised  by  subscription  and  dona- 
tions sufficient  money  to  purchase  900  volumes  for  the  library,  which, 
with  the  cost  of  cases,  printing,  etc.,  has  cost  over  SIOOO.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  what  has  since  proved  to  be  a  valuable  library.  In  the 
1  ibrary  are  to  be  found  many  valuable  works  on  the  history,  theory  and 
practice  of  education.  When,  in  1891  and  '92,  the  Legislature  of  New 
Jersey  made  a  special  appropriation  of  SIOOO  for  school  library  purposes, 
Mr.  Terhune  secured  S810  of  the  money  for  Bergen  county. 

The  teachers  of  Bergen  county  appreciate  Mr.  Terhune's  labors  for 
their  advancement.  A  piece  of  beautiful  silver  service  with  which  they 
presented  him  at  his  wedding  anniversary,  in  1892,  bears  the  following 
inscription:  "From  the  teachers  of  Bergen  county  to  their  County  Su- 
perintendent, John  Terhune,  as  a  token  of  respect  and  esteem,  and  of 
their  appreciation  of  his  faithful  services  and  eminent  achievements  in 
the  cause  of  public  school  education." 

Recently  the  teachers  of  the  county  presented  him  a  \aluable  gold 
watch,  very  finely  engraved. 

"Educational  Hall"  has  a  complete  teachers'  library,  from  which 
the  teachers  are  furnished  with  books  free  of  cost. 

DK.    NELSON    HAAS. 

Dr.  Nelson  Haas,  the  efficient  principal  of  the  High  School  at 
Hackensack,  is  a  son  of  Mathias  Haas  and  Melinda  Holgate,  and  was 
born  at  Chestnut  Hill,  city  of  Philadelphia,  August  3d,  1838.  His  father 
was  of  German  descent,  a  business  man  of  strict  integrity,  who  was,  for 
sixteen  years,  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  of  Philadelphia.  His 
mother  was  of  Welsh  origin,  the  daughter  of  a  prominent  and  success- 
ful business  man  of  the  city,  and  for  seveenteen  years  .i  niember  of  the 
State  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania. 

Two  of  Dr.  Haas's  brothers  founded  the  Hightstown  Classical  and 
Scientific  Institute  and  the  New  Jersey  Collegiaie  Institute  at  Borden- 
town,  situated  on  a  part  of  the  old  Bonaparte  property.  Mr.  Haas  be- 
gan teaching  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  having  been  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  city.  In  1859  he  went  to  Port  (iibson,  Mississippi, 
as  teacher  of  mathematics  and  physics  in  the  academy  at  that  place, 
but  returned    North    after   two  years,   when   he   was  ajipointed  Deputy 


150 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEX    COUNTY 


Provost  Marshal  of  the  Ninth  District  of  Pennsylvania,  under  A.  W. 
Bolenius,  who  was  succeded  as  Marshal  by  Thaddeus  Stevens,  Jr..  dur- 
ing Mr.  Haas's  term  of  service.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  joined  Com- 
pany B,  Ninth  Union  League  Regiment,  Philadelphia,  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant. After  a  few  weeks  he  was  made  commissary  of  the  brigade, 
and  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Upon  his  return,  Mr.  Haas  began  the  study  of  law  in  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  office  of  General  William  H.  Miller,  and  was  ad- 
mitted as  attorney  in  1868.  After  a  few  months'  practice  at  Harrisburg 
he  removed  to  California,  and  opened  a  law  office  at  Stockton,  where, 
however,  he  had  remained  only  a  short  time,  when  the  death  of  his 
father  caused  his  return  East. 

In  1871  he  was  tendered  the  position  of  principal  of  Washington 
Institute,  District  No.  32,  at  Hackensack.   N.  J.,  and  continued  in  that 


IN     HAAS.    PH.  D. 


place  twenty-four  years.  Upon  the  organization  in  18'i5  of  a  High 
School  for  the  entire  town.  Dr.  Haas  was  made  its  principal,  and,  in 
1897,  the  additional  duties  of  supervising  principal  of  all  the  schools  in 
the  township  were  assigned  him,  which  two  positions  he  still  holds. 


MANNING    M.    KNAPP. 

Manning  M.  Knapp  is  a  native  of  Newton,  Sussex  Count}-,  N.  J., 
and  was  born  June  7th,  1825.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  and  under  the 
direction  of  the  late  Colonel  Robert  Hamilton,  being  a^lmitted  to  prac- 
tice as  attorney  in  1846,  when  he  began  practice  in  Hackensack,  and  was 
made  a  counsellor  in  1850.  The  late  Chancellor  Zabriskie,  at  that  time 
Prosecutor  of  the  Pleas  for  Bergen  county,  resigned  his  office  in  1850. 
because  of  his  removal  to  Jersey  City.  Chief  Justice  Green,  then  pre- 
siding at  the  Bergen  Circuit,  appointed  Mr.  Knapp  to  prosecute  for  the 
State  until  the  office  should  be  filled  under  the  constitution.     Governor 


HISTOKY    OK    HEKCIKX    COl'N'TY  151 

Fort  appointed  him  in  February,  lSr>l,  for  a  full  term  and  by  follciw- 
inof  appointments  he  held  the  office  until  18()1.  During-  these  years,  he 
^vas  building-  up  a  profitable  practice  in  the  county  and  state,  taking 
high  rank  in  his  profession.  In  1875,  when  Judge  Bedle  was  elected 
Governor,  he  appointed-  Mr.  Knapp  his  successor  on  the  bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  his  Judicial  District  covering  the  counties  of  Hudson, 
Bergen  and  Passaic.  Huds(m  being  made  a  district  alone.  Judge  Knajip 
\vas  assigned  to  this  new  field  where  he  continued  until  his  death  which 
occurred  on  January  26,  1892.  The  Bar  of  the  State  in  suitable  resolu- 
tions expressed  to  the  Supreme  Court,  "the  universal  sorrow  felt  at  the 
pathetic  death  of  Mr.  Justice  Knapp  while  in  the  discharge  of  his  pub- 
lic official  duties,"  and  they  further  desired  "to  bear  witness  to  his 
virtues,  his  learning,  and  the  beauty  of  his  character." 

Judge  Knapp  was  married  in  1850  to  Anna  Mattison,  a  daughter  of 
the  late  Captain  Joseph  Mattison  of  the  United  States  Navy.  Mrs. 
Knapp  continued  to  make  her  home  in  Hackensack  after  the  death  of 
her  husband,  surviving  both  her  children — the  daughter,  Anna  M.,  wife 
of  Walter  V.  Clark,  of  Hackensack,  and  their  son,  Joseph  M.  Knapp, 
both  having  died  since  the  death  of  their  father,  and  she  herself,  the 
last  of  the  family,  died  in    18<)8. 

JOSEPH    M.    KNAPP. 

Joseph  M.  Knapp  was  born  at  Hackensack  October  2t),  1856.  He 
went  to  Colorado  immediately  after  his  graduation  from  Columbia  Col- 
lege in  June  1878,  hoping  to  overcome  pulmonary  disease,  which  was 
apparently  making  inroads  upon  his  health.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  practiced  law,  residing  in  Colorado  thirteen  years.  Believing 
himself  restored  to  permanent  health  he  returned  to  New  Jersey,  but 
not  long  after  he  declined  and  died  on  May  2,  1895.  He  was  a  man  of 
Itriifht  intellect,  hiirh  attainments  and  fine  character. 


DK.     AliKAM     HOPPICK. 

Dr.  Abram  Hopper  was  the  son  of  a  farmer  at  Hohokus,  and  was  born 
April  26th,  1797.  After  taking  an  academic  course  of  study  in  New 
York  city,  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  John  Rosencrantz,  at  Hohokus, 
with  whom  he  studied  medicine  one  year,  when  he  returned  to  New 
Yf)rk,  and  continued  his  medical  studies  with  Dr.  Valentine  Mott,  at- 
tending lectures  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgetms,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  The  following 
year  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine,  continuing  to  reside  here  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  died  December  14th,  1872.  Making  surgery 
a  specialty,  he  was  the  onlj-  operating  surgeon  in  Bergen  county  for 
many  years,  and  gained  an  enviable  rejjutation  in  that  department  of 
his  profession.  His  wife  was  Euphemia  DeWolf.  They  had  five  sons 
and  two  daughters. 


152  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

DK.    HENRY    A.    HOPPER, 

Dr.  Henry  A.  Hopper,  who  was  born  August  8th,  1824,  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New  York  City  in 
1847.  His  life  was  spent  in  Hackensack,  where  he  became  a  prominent 
practitioner,  and  also  identified  himself  with  the  best  interests  of  the  town. 
Like  his  father,  he  began  practice  when  young,  being  only  twenty-three 
years  of  age.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  the  first  secretary  of  the 
Bergen  County  Medical  Society,  and  was  the  organizer  and  president 
of  the  Hackensack  Board  of  Health. 

Dr.  Hopper  married  Maria  Colfax  Ward,  and  three  children  survived 
him,  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Reformed  Church,  to  which  he  was 
greatly  devoted.     He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years. 

DR.  JOHN    WARD    HOPPER. 

Dr.  John  Ward  Hopper,  only  son  of  Dr.  Henry  A.,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 10th,  1856,  and  choosing  the  profession  of  his  fathers,  was  graduated 
from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  1879,  having  been  grad- 
uated from  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York  in  1876.  While  in  the 
Medical  College,  he  took  a  special  course  in  microscopy,  afterwards,  and 
for  sometime  making  microscopic  tests  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Alonzo  Clark. 
It  was  his  intention  to  eventually  devote  his  time  to  surgery  in  which  he 
was  particularly  interested.  He  was  for  eighteen  months  on  the  Surgical 
Stafi"  of  Roosevelt  Hospital  immediately  after  his  graduation.  Dr. 
Henry  Sands  now  asked  him  to  take  his  Ouiz-class,  which  he  did  for  one 
winter,  the  first  time  it  had  ever  been  given  to  another.  The  following 
year  he  spent  in  Europe,  principally  at  the  Hospitals  of  Vienna  and 
Prague,  and  during  special  work  under  Doctors  Virchow,  Schroeder  and 
others.  After  his  return  he  began  practice  here  but  died  three  years 
later,  on  June  30th,  1890,  ending  a  line  of  physicians  holding  high  place 
not  only  in  the  medical  profession  but  in  other  walks  of  life. 

PETER    WARD. 

Peter  Ward  was  a  member  of  the  State  Council  when  he  died,  and 
was  captain  of  a  company  of  militia  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 
His  wife  died  in  1806  at  the  age  of  forty-six.  Their  children  were  Peter, 
John,  Jane,  Catherine,  Thomas,  James,  William,  and  Mary.  Peter  was 
born  at  Campgaw,  and  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Robert  Colfax,  niece 
of  General  William  Colfax,  and  second  cousin  of  the  late  ex-Vice  Presi- 
dent Schuyler  Colfax.  The  children  born  of  this  union  were  Captain 
Robert  C.  A.,  Peter  H.,  Sally  Ann,  wife  of  Harden  Burgess;  Harriet, 
wife  of  Chauncey  Gooderich;  Jane,  wife  of  Abram  Willis;  Mary,  wife 
of  Anthony  E.  Fatin;  Catherine,  died  young;  Lucy,  was  first  the  wife 
of  John  Hall,  and  after  his  death,  of  Charles  Bennett;  John;  Peryna, 
wife  of  Henry  A.  Berry;  Maria,  wife  of  Dr.  Henry  A.  Hopper,  of  Hack- 
ensack; and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  R.  Lydecker. 

Peter  Ward  was  a  Brigade  Major  under  General  William  Colfax  in 
the  War  of   1812,  stationed  at  Bergen  Heights  and  afterwards  at  Sandy 


JACOB  BAIIKR 

Commissioner  iif  the  !,l  W.ml  ll.uktnra.'k.  ^.  I. 


154  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGKN    COUNTY 

Hook.  He  was  a  tanner  and  currier,  a  farmer  and  distiller  at  Campg-aw. 
In  1812  he  beg'an  to  speculate,  was  unfortunate,  and  lost  his  property. 
He  afterwards  removed  to  Booneville,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  died  on  Long  Island.  His  wife  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety  years,  about  1877. 

Captain  Robert  C.  A.  Ward  spent  his  early  life  on  the  farm.  In 
1827  he  came  to  Hackensack,  and  was  employed  by  D.  &  J.  Anderson, 
merchants,  where  he  remained  until  the  death  of  one  member  of  the 
firm,  John  C.  Z.  Anderson,  in  1836.  He  was  employed  by  the  Ander- 
sons in  the  coasting  trade  between  New  York  and  Virginia,  dealing  in 
wood  and  lumber.  As  early  as  1832  he  became  interested  with  the  firm 
in  the  purchase  of  some  3000  acres  of  land  in  Virginia,  known  as  the 
"Green  Spring-  Plantation,"  the  residence  of  the  Governor  of  the  State, 
when  Jamestown  was  its  capital.  Upon  the  decease  of  John  Anderson, 
Captain  Ward  became  a  joint  owner  of  the  business  and  lands,  by  pur- 
chase, with  the  remaining  partner,  David  Anderson,  and  the  firm  was 
"  Anderson  &  Ward"  until  1840,  when  Anderson  disposed  of  his  interest 
to  Captain  Ward,  and  John  Ward,  his  brother,  became  a  partner,  under 
the  firm-name  of  R.  &  J.  Ward.  This  plantation  has  supplied  large 
quantities  of  wood  for  the  New  York  market,  and  especially  before 
steamboats  began  to  use  coal  was  the  demand  considerable,  also  supply- 
ing large  timber  for  other  purposes,  besides  having  several  hundred 
acres  under  good  state  of  cultivation.  John  Ward  died  in  September, 
1871,  leaving  a. widow  and  one  daughter,  who  reside  in  Hackensack. 

Captain  Ward  usually  made  two  trips  per  month  between  New  York 
and  Virginia  until  the  connection  of  his  brother  with  the  business, 
when  he  gave  up  the  duties  of  the  coasting  trade  to  him.  During  the 
same  year,  1840,  Captain  Ward  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Hacken- 
sack, upon  which  he  resided,  having  his  house  located  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Passaic  streets,  and  where  he  carried  on  agricultural    pursuits. 

Captain  Ward  was  one  of  the  stockholders  upon  the  rebuilding  of 
the  Washington  Academy,  was  one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Bergen 
County  Turnpike  Company  in  1852,  when  it  was  converted  into  a  plank- 
road,  and  for  several  years  was  president  of  the  road,  and  a  stockholder 
of  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  and  of  the  New  Jersey  Midland 
Railroads. 

Captain  Ward  was  united  in  marriage,  September  2,  1841,  to  Har- 
riet, daughter  of  Garret  Myer,  and  widow  of  John  C.  Z.  Anderson,  who 
was  born  June,  1803,  and  died  October  23,  1873. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  WAKD. 

Captain  John  Ward  was  born  at  Campgaw,  X.  J.,  February  4th. 
181").  Having  become  a  resident  of  Hackensack  in  1857,  he  did  much 
for  the  good  of  the  villag-e.  Energetic  and  public  spirited  he  became 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  volunteer  fire  department  and  was  its  first 
chief.      He  was  also  one  of    the  originators  of    the  Hackensack   Librarv. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKOEN    COUNTY  15S 

and  since  his  death  a  liandsome  bookcase  to  his  memory  was  phiccd  in 
the  library  especially  for  books  of  reference. 

The  Second  Reformed  Church  owes  much  to  his  untiring  efforts  in 
solicitinif  aid  for  the  liquidation  of  its  debts  and  to  his  subsequent  sup- 
port. Captain  Ward  was  associated  for  some  years  with  his  brother 
Captain  Robert  Colfax  A.  Ward  in  the  transportation  of  lumber  from 
their  Virginia  plantation. 

He  married  Leah  Maria  Uuackenbush.  They  had  two  children, 
one  of  whom,  a  daughter,  lives  in  Hackensack.  He  died  September  Id, 
1872,  and  his  widow  died  January  18,  1898. 

CAKKET    ACKEKSOX. 

It  is  not  known  at  what  date  the  Ackerscm  family  was  first  lepre- 
sented  in  America,  but  it  was  many  years  prior  to  the  Revolution.  The 
lirst  of  the  name  was  Garret,  the  great-grandfather  of  Colonel  Garret 
G.,  who  came  from  Holland,  and  settled  at  Old  Tappan,  in  Bergen 
county,  but  subsequently  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  at  Pascack,  up(>n 
which  he  placed  his  eldest  son,  John.  The  other  two  sons,  Cornelius 
and  Abram,  at  his  death,  became  the  possessors  of  the  old  homestead  at 
Tappan.  The  name  was  then  as  now,  often  spelled  Eckerson.  John 
was  born  in  1743,  and  died  at  ninety-four  years  of  age  at  Pascack.  He 
married  Garritje  Hogencamp.  Their  children  were  Garret  and  Hannah, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Zabriskie.  Garret  was  born  in  \~~'>. 
He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  John  Hogencamp,  originally,  from 
Rockland  county,  N.  Y.  Garret  was  something  of  a  politicim,  was 
twice  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  a  major  in  the  old  State  Militia, 
and,  with  his  command,  was  stationed  at  Sandy  Hook  during  the  War 
of  1812.  He  was  afterwards  a  major  general  of  the  Northern  Militia 
of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  Bergen,  Essex  and  Morris  being  then  the 
only  three  counties  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  He  had  four 
children,  John,  Cornelius,  Garret  G.  and  James.  Garret  G.  was  born  at 
Pascack,  April  9,  1810,  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  George 
Achenbach  was  one  of  his  teachers.  He  was  a  schoolmate  of  Jacob  R. 
Wortendyke.  Like  many  of  the  farmers  of  that  day  he  engaged  in  other 
lines  of  business,  having  a  cotton  mill,  a  distillery  and  a  store  on  the 
farm.  The  son  took  charge  of  these  under  the  general  superintendence 
of  his  father,  until  1840,  when  he  took  a  farm  and  established  a  woolen 
mill  of  his  own. 

The  first  political  experience  Mr.  Ackerson  had,  was  when  he  was 
elected  Assessor.  When  but  fifteen  years  old  he  became  captain  of  a 
company  of  uniformed  militia,  and  held  the  office  for  ten  years.  In  189.=^ 
he  was  elected  county  clerk  over  John  N.  Berry,  the  first  clerk  elected 
under  the  new  c(mstitution.  This  necessitated  his  removal  to  Hacken- 
sack. He  remained  in  the  office  three  terms,  gradually  becoming  the 
leader  of  his  party.  He  became  counsellor  and  banker  to  many  of  the 
old  people  of  thatday,  the  vault  of  the  clerk's  office  sometimes  containing 
thousands  of  dollars  in  gold  and  silver  awaiting  investment.      Soon  after 


15()  HISTORY    OF    BKKGEN    COUXTY 

j^oing-  to  Hackensack  he  was  made  chairman  of  the  Democratic  Execu- 
tive Committee  in  place  of  Judge  Garret  Hopper,  who -had  held  the 
position  almost  ever  since  the  organization  of  the  Democratic  party. 

During  the  time  that  he  was  county  clerk  he  raised  a  company  of 
Continentals,  becoming  the  captain,  afterward  being  elected  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  an  independent  battalion  which  had  been  organized  by  special 
Act  of  the  Legislature.  It  remained  in  existence  until  18(>1,  when  most 
of  the  men  volunteered  to  form  the  Twent3--second  State  Regiment  for 
service  in  the  war.  In  1858  and  '59,  Hackensack  being  without  a  rail- 
road. Mr.  Ackerson  and  others  subscribed  a  sufficient  amount  of  mone^- 
to  build  a  road  from  this  point  to  intersect  with  the  Erie  Railroad.  The 
new  road  was  known  as  the  Hackensack  Railroad.  When  Mr.  Ander- 
son resigned  the  presidency  of  the  road  before  its  completion,  Mr.  Ack- 
erson was  unanimously  elected  to  fill  his  place  and  although  sinking 
S10,000  each  year  for  the  first  three  years,  it  eventually  became  a  pay- 
ing institution.  He  and  Judge  Zabriskie  at  one  time  assumed  the  per- 
sonal responsibility  of  about  S()0,000. 

Colonel  Ackerson  was  active  in  1872,  in  organizing  the  Bergen 
County  Bank  which  had  George  Achenbach  for  its  first  president,  and 
at  his  death  was  succeeded  by  the  Colonel  who  remained  in  office  until 
the  bank  closed.  April  1st,  1877,  he  took  his  seat  as  a  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  having  been  appointed  in  the  winter  of  1S7()- 
77,  by  Governor  Bedle. 

Judge  Ackerson  married  in  1837,  Sophia,  daughter  of  James  I. 
Blauvelt  and  Martha  Wortendyke,  of  Washington  township,  who  was 
born  July  4th,  1821.  They  had  two  children — Colonel  Garret,  Jr.,  de- 
ceased, and  Martha,  wife  of  B.  F.  Randall  of  Hackensack.  Colonel 
Ackerson  died  December  12,  1891. 

COLONEL    CrAKKET    ACKERSON,  JR. 

Colonel  Garret  Ackerson.  Jr.,  son  of  Colonel  Garret  G.,  was  born  at 
Pascack,  N.  J.,  September  15,  1840.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  and 
private  schools  of  Hackensack,  and  in  a  private  school  at  Claverack,  N. 
Y.,  at  that  time  conducted  by  the  well  known  Alonzo  Flack.  In  1859 
he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Jacob  R.  Wortendyke  of 
Jersey  City,  and  was  admitted  as  attorney  at  the  June  term  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  in  1863.  He  immediately  opened  an  office  in  Hackensack 
for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  in  1878  was  made  counsellor-at- 
law,  having  been  appointed  prosecutor  of  Pleas  for  Bergen  County  in 
18(.f>. 

In  18t>7  he  was  apjiointed  judge  advocate  of  a  battalion  of  Militia 
in  the  county,  and  in  IS72  was  elected  Captain  of  Company  C,  of  the 
Second  Battalion  National  Guards,  resigning  the  office  in  1875.  He  was 
appointed  Judge  Advocate  General  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  with 
rank  of  colonel  by  Governor  George  B.  McClellan  in  187'».  At  this  time 
he  was  appointed  President  of  the  Hackensack  Railroad.  He  was  also 
for  a  time  on  the  Board   of    the   Hackensack  Improvement  Commission, 


HISTOKY    Ol'    UEKGEX    COUNTY  157 

and  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Bertren  County  Mutual  Assur- 
ance Association  from    18()3  to  lS(i7. 

Colonel  Ackcrson  was  a  delegate  in  187()  to  the  Democratic  National 
Convention  that  nominated  Samuel  J.  Tilden  for  the  Presidency. 

He  was  married  July  <»,  18f)3,  to  Ann  Elizabeth,  daug'liter  of  John 
A.  Zabriskie  and  Mary  Anderson,  and  is  survived  by  three  sons,  John 
Zabriskie,  James  B.,  and  Garret  (t.  Ackerson,  Jr. 

CAPTAIN    ANDREW    C.    ZABKISKII-;. 

Captain  Andrew  C.  Zabriskie,  son  of  Christian  A.  Zabriskie  and 
Sarah  J.  Titus,  was  born  in  New  York  city  May  30th,  18,53.  His  g-rand- 
father,  Andrew  C.  Zabriskie,  was  born  at  Paranius,  N.  J.,  at  the  ances- 
tral homestead.  His  fortune,  however,  was  made  in  business  in  New 
York,  after  which  he  retired  to  enjoy  his  declining  years  in  the  old  home  at 
Paramus.  His  four  children  consisted  of  three  sons.  Christian,  A., Martin, 
John,  John  Jacob  and  one  daughter,  Matilda  Mary,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Martin  E.  Greene.  John  Jacob  owned  a  cotton  mill  atHohokus,  and 
was  well  known  throughout  Bergen  County.  Martin  changed  his  name 
to  the  original  Polish,  Zborowski.  He  was  by  profession  a  lawyer,  but 
abandoning  practice,  he  devoted  his  time  to  real  estate  investments,  which 
have  proved  to  be  of  immense  value.  He  has  two  children,  Anna,  wife 
of  the  Comte  de  Montsaulpin,  and  Eliott.  Christian  A.  Zabriskie  was 
also  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  in  Bergen  County,  and  was  greatly 
lamented  at  his  death,  especially  in  church  circles,  being  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Paramus,  where  he  spent  much  of 
his  time.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Jane  Titus,  daughter  of  Captain  William 
M.  Titus  and  Maria  Gardner,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  (Gardner,  a 
wealthy  resident  of  Paramus,  and  who  was  somewhat  eccentric  in  dispo- 
sition. Captain  and  Mrs.  Titus  frequently  drove  from  New  York  in 
their  carriage  to  spend  the  day  with  Mr.  Gardner,  often  starting  early 
enough  to  see  the  sunrise  from  Weehawken  Hill.  Mrs.  Zabriskie  was 
then  a  little  girl,  and  the  Bergen  Turnpike,  over  which  she  drove,  has 
now  as  its  president  and  controlling  stockholder  her  son,  Andrew  C. 

Captain  Zabriskie  is  well  known  in  Hackensack  partly  through  his 
presidency  of  this  ancient  turnpike  which  was  incorporated  in  1802, 
with  Colonel  John  Stevens  of  Hoboken  as  its  first  president,  and  partly 
by  his  large  real  estate  interests  in  the  vicinity. 

Andrew  C.  Zabriskie,  grandfather  of  Captain  Andrew,  was  adjutant 
of  the  squadron  of  horse  of  the  county  of  Bergen,  and  his  maternal 
grandfather,  William  M.  Titus,  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  afterwards 
becoming  captain  in  the  Eleventh  Regiment  New  York  Artillery. 
When  but  twenty  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Seventh  Regi- 
ment N.  G.  N.  Y..  in  which  he  served  more  than  seven  y-ears  and  was 
then  elected  captain  of  Company  C,  Seventy-first  Regiment  N.  G.  N.  Y. 
Still  later  he  was  appointed  inspector  of  rifle  ])ractice  on  the  staff  of 
this  regiment,  and  upon  resigning  in  1890,  was  elected  to  his  old  com- 
mand  soon  after  bringing  his  company  up  to  such  an  efficient  state,  as 


CAPTAIX  ANDKEW  C.   ZABKISKIE 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  159 

to  inspect  one  hundred  per  cent;  but  after  a  military  experience  of  near- 
ly twenty-five  years  he  resigned  in  1897. 

The  captain  is  a  member  of  man}-  clubs,  the  Metropolitan,  City, 
Army  and  Navy,  National  Arts  and  Church  Clubs,  and  to  the  Holland 
Society,  the  Military  Society  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  the  Veterans  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment.  He  is  also  a  devoted  and  active  Episcopalian,  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  the  Incarnation,  and  a  delegate  to  the  Diocesan 
Convention  from  that  church,  a  manager  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  a  trus- 
tee of  the  Sheltering  Arms,  the  Children's  Fold  and  the  Archdeaconry 
of  New  York,  in  addition  to  which  he  is  treasurer  of  the  American 
Church  Missionary  Society  and  the  House  of  Rest  for  Consumptives. 
Interested  in  the  collection  of  coins  and  medals  since  boyhood,  he  is 
president  of  the  American  Numismatic  and  Archaeological  Society. 

Captain  Zabriskie  was  married  in  1895  to  Frances  Hunter,  youngest 
daughter  of  the  late  Charles  F.  Hunter,  president  of  the  Peoples  Bank, 
New  York,  and  Juliana  M.  W.  Zabriskie.  Her  grandfather  passed  m(«t 
of  his  time  in  New  York,  although  a  native  of  Hackensack,  and  was  for 
some  years  one  of  the  lay  judges  of  Bergen  County.  Mrs.  Zabriskie's 
grandmother  was  Susannah  Van  Campen  Romeyn,  a  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  James  Romeyn,  well  known  in  the  vicinity,  early  in  the  century. 
Mrs.  Zabriskie  is  interested  in  many  charities  and  has  a  large  circle  of 
friends.     She  is  a  skilled  pianist  and  possesses  marked  musical  talent. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Zabriskie  reside  at  No.  2  West  Fifty-Sixth  Street, 
New  York,  and  have  a  fine  country  home  at  Lake  Memphramagog,  just 
over  the  Canadian  line,  where  they  own  Province  Island  comprising  over 
100  acres.  They  also  own  and  occupy,  a  portion  of  each  year,  a  large 
estate  called  "Blithewood"  at  Annandale  on  the  Hudson.  They  have 
two  children,  Julia  Romeyn  Zabriskie  and  Christian  Andrew  Zabriskie. 

MAJOR    JOHN    ENGEL. 

Major  John  Engel,  son  of  Charles  and  Augusta  (Kuhn)  Engel,  was 
born  at  Bunde,  Prussia,  April  16,  1845.  After  completing  his  course  at 
the  Prussian  Military  School  at  Schloss  Annaburg,  in  the  Province  of 
Sachsen,  he  came  to  America  in  the  month  of  October,  1860.  Upon 
coming  to  this  country  he  became  identified  with  its  interests,  adapting 
himself  to  the  habits  and  customs  by  which  he  became  surrounded.  A 
mere  lad  in  years,  he  was  a  man  in  mental  vigor  and  high  aspirations. 
His  military  training  was  soon  to  be  put  to  use  in  his  new  home. 

In  August,  1862,  two  years  after  landing  in  America,  he  enlisted  in 
the  famous  Duryea's  Zouaves,  165th  New  York  Volunteers,  serving  until 
October,  1865.  Major  Engel  served  in  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  in 
the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  taking  part  in  all  the  battles  of  that  corps. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Cedar  Creek  and  Winchester  in  1864,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  Red  River  expedition  at  Cane  River  Crossing  in  the 
same  year. 

Octobers,  1872,  uiK>n  the  formation  of  Company  C,  which  became 
:i  i)art  of  the  Second  Hattalion  N.  Y.  N.  G.,  Mr.  Engel  enlisted  as  a  pri- 


160  HISTOKY    OF    BEKOEN    COUNTY 

vate,  and  on  the  18th  of  the  same  month  was  elected  Serg-eant.  On  May 
30,  1876,  Sergeant  Engel  was  elected  First  Lieutenant,  and  under  his 
efficient  drill,  continued  with  untiring  energy  and  self-devotion,  the  com- 
pany has  ever  sustained  an  enviable  reputation.  On  January  27,  18'»1, 
Lieutenant  Kngel  was  elected  Captain. 

The  reorganization  of  the  National  Guard  of  New  Jersey  in  1892 
made  this  battalion  a  part  of  the  Seccmd  Regiment,  and  December  7,  1898, 
the  Captain  was  made  Major.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Spanish- 
American  War,  this  regiment,  on  May  2,  1898,  entered  the  service  as  the 
Second  Regiment  N.  J.  Volunteers,  U.  S.  A.,  Major  Engel  going  to  the 
front  in  his  official  capacity.  His  military  career  covers  in  all  a  period 
of  about  thirty-three  years. 

In  private  life  the  Major  has  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and 
was  for  eight  years  manager  of  the  Hackensack  Opera  House.  He  was 
postmaster  of  Hackensack  from  1888  to  1892  and  has  twice  been  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the 
Red  Men,  Wheelmens'  Club,  Hasbrouck  Heights  Field  Club,  Pioneer 
Club,  and  a  member  of  James  McPherson  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he 
is  a  charter  member. 

He  married  Miss  Mathilda  H.  (xcrrels  at  Charlestown,  S.  C,  October 
30,  18()7. 

MAJOR    ABRAHAM    D.    CAMPBELL. 

Major  Abraham  D.  Campbell,  deceased,  was  a  great-grandson  of 
John,  who  settled  in  Closter,  and  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  located 
in  Washington  Township,  at  Pascack. 

Abraham  D.,  son  of  David  A.  Campbell  was  born  October  10,  1842. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place  and  at  Hack- 
ensack, and  after  teaching  for  a  short  period,  during  which  time  he  was 
elected  school  superintendent  of  his  township,  he  resigned  and  entered 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Trenton,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1863.  After  leaving  school  he  engaged  in  teaching  until  1865,  when  he 
entered  the  office  of  Colonel  Garret  Ackerson,  Jr.,  at  Hackensack  as  a 
law  student,  being  admitted  as  attorney  at  the  June  term  in  1869,  and 
as  counsellor  in  1875.  A  few  months  after  his  admission  as  attorney, 
he  opened  an  office  in  Hackensack,  and  on  August  7,  1870,  was  appoint- 
ed Prosecutor  of  Pleas  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Colonel  Ackerson,  and  September  1,  of  the  same  year  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Randolph  to  fill  that  office  until  the  close  of  the  next  session 
of  the  Legislature.  April  5,  i87i  he  was  appointed  for  the  full  term, 
and  by  subsequent  appointments  held  the  office  for  twenty-five  years. 

Having  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Second  Battalion,  N.  (t.  N.  J.,  Oc- 
tober 8,  1 872,  he  was  commissioned  quartermaster  of  the  battalion  with 
rank  of  first  lieutenant,  January  i4,  i873,  and  on  March  i5,  i876,  re- 
ceived the  commission  of  captain.  He  served  during  the  railroad  strike 
of  1 877.  and   retired  with  the  rank  of   brevet-major,    December   i6,   i890. 


..Vc..^; 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKOKN    COrNTY  161 

Mr.  Campbell  \vas  married  September  22,  i8<)')  to  Ann  E.  Hopper. 
<laiighter  of  Jacob  Hopper  and  Lydia  Botfert,  of  Hackensack.  They 
had  five  children,  Luther  A.,  Eva,  David  (deceased),  Harry  (deceased), 
an<l  N.  Deraarest  Campbell. 

I.l"THKK    A.    C.'\MPBKI.I.. 

Luther  A.,  son  of  the  late  Abraham  D.,  and  Ann  E.  (Hopper) 
Campbell,  was  born  at  Hackensack,  November  28,  1872.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  was  graduated  vvith  honors  from  the 
Union  Street  High  School,  of  which  Dr.  Nelson  Haas  was  principal. 
Immediately  after  leaving-  school  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  his 
father's  office,  and  in  June  18'H  was  admitted  to  the  bar  as  attorney, 
subsequently  becoming  associated  with  his  father  under  the  firm  name 
of  A.  D.  &  L.  A.  Campbell.  In  1S')5  at  the  organization  of  the  Improve- 
ment Commission,  Mr.  Campbell  became  counsel  and  clerk  of  that  board. 
and  was  also  for  several  terms  clerk  to  the  Grand  Jury  by  appointment 
of  Judge  Dixon,  but  was  forced  to  give  up  this  position  because  of  grow- 
ing business  in  general  practice.  He  has  also  been  chosen  counsellor  in 
several  townships  and  boroughs  in  Bergen  county. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  a  member  of  Bergen  County  Lodge  No.  7.%  and  of 
Hope  Encampment  No.  33,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

He  was  married  April  22,  1896,  to  Miss  Mae  E.,  daughter  of  Richard 
I*.  Paiilison  of  Hackensack. 

COKNKT.Il'S    W.    BERDAN. 

Cornelius  W.  Berdan,  lawyer,  was  l)orn  in  the  City  of  New  York 
December  24,  1850.  A  few  years  afterwards  his  father,  the  late  James 
Berdan,  moved  with  his  family  to  Maywood,  N.  J.,  where  he  died  in  1862. 
The  widowed  mother  then  removed  to  Hackensack,  where  Cornelius 
continued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools  and  at  Williams'  private 
academy.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  took  a  mercantile  position  in 
New  York,  but,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  left  that  to  study 
law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Manning  M.  Knapp,  continuing  his  studies 
subsequently  with  the  late  Garret  Ackerson,  Jr.,  being  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1878.  He  has  folk)wed  his  chosen  profession  ever  since.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Pioneer  Lodge,  No.  70,  F.  and  A.  M..  and  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum. 

On  October  i5,  i870.  he  married  .Miss  Mary  1'.,  daughler  of  John 
C.  O'Connor,  a  prominent  citizen  of  .MiH'ord,  Conn.  One  daughter  was 
born  of  this  union. 

Mr.  Berdan  is  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  and  has  done  much  to 
promote  the  cause  of  good  government  in  his  cit}-  and  county. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
SADDLE  RIVER. 

DESCRIPTION      AND     EARLY     SETTLEMENT  —  CIVIL      LIST GARFIELD  —  ITS 

CHURCHES    AND    MANUFACTURING  —  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

This  township  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county.  It  was  formerly 
a  part  of  New  Barbadoes,  and  was  then  embraced  in  Essex  county  but 
became  a  portion  of  Bergen,  in  ilO'K 

When  first  set  off  it  comprised  all  the  former  territory  of  New  Bar- 
badoes lying-  between  Saddle  River  and  the  Passaic  River  to  the  prov- 
ince line,  embracing  nearly  half  the  territory  of  that  township.  About 
1 772  Franklin  township  was  erected,  its  boundary  including  the  present 
townships  of  Hohokus,  Ridgewood  and  Franklin.  The  following  des- 
cription given  of  the  township  at  that  time  may  be  of  interest: — 

"It  is  centrally  distant  northwest  from  Hackensack  Town  eight 
miles,  its  greatest  length  east  and  west  being  ten  miles,  its  breadth 
north  and  south  eight  miles,  its  area  4i,000  acres,  of  which  about   i7,- 

000  are  improved.  The  surface  is  generally  hilly,  the  First  and  Second 
Mountains  of  Essex  county  crossing  the  Passaic  and  continuing 
through  it.  On  the  east,  however,  between  the  Passaic  and  Saddle 
Rivers,  there  is  a  neck  of  low  and  level  land,  the  soil  red  shale  and  loam 
the  valleys  fertile  and  well  cultivated,  and  the  hills  well  wooded. 
Through  the  valleys  flow  several  small  brooks,  such  as  Singack,  Preak- 
ness,  Krokaevall,  Gofifle,  and  Ackerman's  Brooks. 

"Goffle  and  New  Manchester,  a  part  of  Paterson,  are  the  chief  vil- 
lages of  the  township.  The  population  in  1830  was  3397.  In  1832 
there  were  741  taxables,  4")()  householders  whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
S30  in  value,  80  single  men,  7  stores,  8  grist-mills,  1  cotton  manufactory, 

1  furnace,  10  saw-mills,  13  tan-vats,  2  distilleries,  1  wool-factory,  506 
horses  and  mules,  and  1324  neat  cattle  over  three  years  of  age.  The 
township  paid  a  State  tax  of  S364.10,  and  a  county  tax  of  $690.26." 

Saddle  River  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Ridgewood, 
south  by  Lodi,  east  by  Saddle  river,  and  west  by  Passaic  river.  Aside 
from  Garfield  which  is  of  recent  origin,  there  are  no  villages  in  the 
township,  and  until  recently  none  but  agricultural  pursuits  have  been 
engaged  in,  the  soil  and  climate  not  only  being  adapted  to  the  raising 
of  all  kinds  of  grain,  but  also  to  the  culture  of  fruit  and  vegetables. 

The  New  York,  Susquehanna  and  Western  Railroad  passes  through 
the  Township  from  east  to  west,  with  stations  at  Rochelle  Park  and 
Dundee  Lake.  The  Bergen  county  Short  Cut,  a  branch  of  the  Erie 
Road,  runs  through  the  entire  length  of  the  township  from  north  to 
south,  C(mnecting  Ridgewood  with  Rutherford.  Of  the  highways  in 
Bergen  county  that  of  Slaughter  Dam,  now  designated  as  the  Passaic 
Vallev  road,  is  one  of  the   oldest.     This  thoroughfare   was  in  use  long 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  163 

before  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  was  constantly  travelled  at  that 
period.  It  was.  in  fact,  the  Indian  trail  formerly  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river.  The  township  has  now  twenty-seven  miles  of  road,  and  in  i893 
it  was  bonded  in  the  sum  of  S')0,000  for  the  improvement  of  its  high- 
ways. 

The  names  of  many  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  township,  because 
of  the  removal  of  their  descendants  to  other  places,  have  been  quite 
forg-otten.  Lands  entered  by  these  pioneers,  in  many  cases,  have 
changed  hands,  their  homes  having  been  transferred  to  the  stranger. 
Among  those  whose  heritage  have  been  assumed  by  others  may  be 
mentioned  the  Post  and  Home  families  in  particular. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Saddle  River  was  the  Doremus  family, 
the  progenitor  of  whom  was  John  Doremus,  who  in  i74()  purchased  the 
original  property  near  Areola.  He  was  in  i747  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Maria  Lutkins,  and  on  his  death  in  i784  left  a  son  and  daughter.  Mr. 
Doremus  was  during  the  Revolutionary  war  taken  prisoner  by  the 
British,  and  confined  in  the  old  Sugar  House  prison  in  New  York  city. 
On  .his  release  he  returned  to  his  home,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life 
was  spent.  His  son  George  occupied  the  homestead  until  his  death  in 
1 830,  leaving  live  sons,  Richard,  Albert,  George,  John  B.  and  Pe'.er, 
and  one  daughter,  who  became  the  wife  of  Andrew  H.  Hopper,  well 
known  as  a  General  of  the  Bergen  County  militia.  John  B.  occupied 
the  farm  for  a  period  of  half  a  century  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
and  subsequently  removed  to  Paterson.  His  son  Jacob  occupied  the 
homestead  afterwards. 

Two  brothers  of  this  family.  Cornelius  and  Henry,  on  their  arrival 
in  America,  first  repaired  S(juth,  but  not  being  favorably  impressed  with 
the  land  repaired  to  New  Jersey,  one  having  located  in  Passaic  and  the 
other  in  Morris  county.  Cornelius  died  in  the  latter  county,  leaving  a 
grandson,  Henry,  who  removed  to  Saddle  River,  on  the  homestead  after- 
wards occupied  by  William  Doremus,  the  deed  of  conveyance  bearing 
date  July  i2,  i782.  Among  his  large  family  of  children  was  Peter,  who 
inherited  the  farm  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  a  Miss  Berry,  of  Carl- 
stadt,  to  whom  were  born  children,  Henry,  William  and  Cornelius,  all 
of  whom  located  in  the  townshi]). 

George,  onl}'  son  of  John  Doremus.  succeeded  to  the  home  i)roperly. 
and  married,  in  1777,  Anna,  daugher  of  John  and  Catharine  Berdan,  by 
whom  he  had  the  following  children:  John,  born  July,  177'),  died  May 
9,  17')f>;  Maria,  born  November  12,  1783,  and  became  the  wife  of  General 
Andrew  H.  Hopper;  Richard,  born  June  16,  1786,  was  a  farmer  at 
Preakness,  N.  J.;  Albert,  born  April  25, 17'H),  spent  most  of  his  business 
life  in  stage-driving  and  carrying  the  mail  between  Hoboken  and  Hack- 
ensack  and  on  the  Albany  mail  route;  George,  born,  November  13,  17'»4, 
was  a  blacksmith,  farmer,  and  inn-keeper:  John  B.  born  June  26,  17'W; 
and  Peter,  born  1801,  was  a  blacksmith  by  occupation,  for  many  years 
was  a  teacher,  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Saddle  River  township 
for  several  terms. 


1()4  HISTOKY    OF    BERC.EN    COUNTY 

The  Berdan  family  are  of  Holland  extraction,  the  first  member  uf 
whom  was  Rinear.  He  emigrated  from  his  native  land  at  a  very  earh' 
date,  and  choosing  Bergen  county  as  a  favorable  point  of  location  made 
Haclvensack  his  residence.  His  sons  were  six  in  number  of  whom  two 
John  and  Rinear,  settled  on  farms,  afterwards  owned  by  Rinear  J., 
and  G.  V.  H.  Berdan  respectively.  The  former  was  married  to 
Miss  Ann  Romaine,  and  had  one  son,  John,  whose  wife  was  Miss  Hen- 
rietta Van  Dien.  Their  son,  Rinear,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Charity 
Ryerson,  and  became  the  parent  of  two  children,  John  and  a  daughter 
Ann.  The  former  married  Miss  Mary  Van  Houten,  and  had  two  sons — 
Rinear  and    Garrabrant — and  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Daniel  Romaine. 

John,  the  second  son  of  the  first  Rinear,  the  progenitor  of 
the  family,  had  three  sons — John,  Richard  and  Stephen — and  one  daugh- 
ter. John,  who  served  with  credit  in  the  war  of  iSi2,  is  represented  bj- 
a  son,  Cornelius  Z. 

John  Berdan,  died  August  22,  iS7i,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years; 
and  his  grandfather,  Rinear,  also  lived  to  be  eighty  years  of  age,  dying 
January  28,  i843. 

Charity  Ryerson,  his  grandmother,  was  born  in  i7()0  and  died  in 
1 848.  She  was  a  descendant  of  Joris  Ryerson,  a  native  of  Amsterdam, 
who  settled  first  on  Long  Island,  and  afterwards,  in  i70i,  in  Bergen 
county,  with  his  two  sons.  The  children  of  Rinear  and  Charity  Berdan 
were  John  R.  and  Ann,  wife  of  Richard  Berdan. 

Mary  Van  Houten,  born  June  22,  i79i,  was  the  wife  of  John  R.  Ber- 
dan, and  died  January  12,  1862,  leaving  three  children — Rinear,  G.  V.  H., 
and  Ann,  the  wife  of  Daniel  Romaine,  of  Lodi. 

Rinear  J.  Berdan  was  born  on  the  homestead  June  28,  1809,  and 
married  March  7,  1833,  Catharine,  daughter  of  General  Andrew  H. 
Hopper  and  Maria  Doremus,  of  Saddle  River  township.  Both  the 
Hoppers  and  Dt)remuses  were  among  the  earliest  settled  families  in 
Bergen  county. 

Mrs.  Berdan  was  born  December  22,  184(),  and  by  this  union  the^- 
have  one  son  and  one  daughter,  viz.:  John,  married  Christina  M.  Berry; 
both  are  dead.  The  former  died  July  20,  i87(),  the  latter  February  19, 
1 88 1,  leaving  one  son — Walter  H.  Berdan.  The  daughter  Mary  Ann, 
became  the  wife  of  William  H.  Cadmus,  of  Saddle  River  township. 

The  Hopper  family  are  also  among  the  oldest  families  in  Saddle 
River.  One  branch  is  descended  from  Andrew  Hopper,  who  emigrated 
from  Holland  and  had  children,  among  whom  were  Peter  and  Andrew. 
Andrew  joined  the  army  during  the  Revolutionary  conflict,  and  fell  in 
one  of  the  engagements.  Peter  settled  in  the  township  on  land  still  in 
the  family  and  had  three  sons,  Ciarret,  Andrew,  and  Henry,  all  of  whom 
remained  in  Saddle  River.  Andrew  married  and  became  the  father  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  two,  John  A.,  and  Henry  A.,  located  in  the 
township,  the  latter  on  the  homestead  which  was  the  birthplace  of  his 
father.  Another  representative  of  this  family  was  Henry  Hopper,  who 
resided   in  the   j'resent  Franklin   township  and  had  four  children, — two 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKC.EN    COUNTY  1()5 

sons  and  two  daughters.  The  sons  were  John  H.,  and  Andrew  H.,  the 
latter  of  whom  married  Maria  Doremus  and  had  seven  children,  of 
whom  Henry  A.,  occiii)ied  the  homestead,  and  a  daughter.  Mrs.  Rinear 
J.  Berdan. 

Peter  Hopper,  owned  some  300  acres  of  land,  and  was  the  first  of 
the  family  that  settled  the  homestead  where  Sheriff  Hopper  now  resides. 
He  died  in  1818,  at  an  advanced  age.  His  wife  was  Anna  Doremus, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight,  and  bore  him  the  following  chil- 
dren: Keziah,  wife  of  Jacob  Demarest;  Mrs.  Voorhis,  Garret,  Andrew 
P.,  and  Henry;  all  were  married  and  reared  families,  excepting  Garret. 

Of  these  children  Andrew  P.  Hopper  was  born  on  the  homestead  in 
1777,  which  he  afterwards  inherited,  and  resided  there  during  his  life, 
engaged  in  farming.  He  also  took  part  in  politics,  representing  his 
township  in  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders,  and  for  two  terms  served 
as  county  collector.  He  served  as  sheriff  of  Bergen  county  for  one  term, 
and  for  one  term  represented  his  Assembly  district  in  the  State 
Legislature. 

Henry  A.,  son  of  Andrew  P.  Hopper  was  born  August  3,  1819.  He 
was  sheriff  of  Bergen  county  and  member  of  State  Legislature  one  term. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Garretsons  (the  name  being  spelled  Garretson 
or  Garrison  by  members  of  the  same  family)  was  Peter,  a  native  of 
Holland,  who  left  his  native  land  in  1664  and  settled  in  Bergen  county, 
where  he  purchased  an  extensive  tract  of  land.  Among  his  sons  was 
John  P.,  who  married  a  Miss  Ryerson  and  had  children, — John,  Jacob, 
Garret,  and  one  daughter.  John  P.,  spent  his  life  upon  the  homestead, 
and  here  his  death  occurred.  His  sons  John  and  Garret  remained  in 
the  township,  the  latter  having  married  a  daughter  of  Ralph  Romaine 
and  had  eight  children,  among  whom  were  three  sons,  John  (i.,  Ralph, 
and  Abram. 

Two  branches  of  the  Van  Riper  family  claim  Saddle  River  as  their 
residence.  Jeremiah  resided  on  the  Passaic  river,  above  the  Dundee 
bridge,  and  early  purchased  land  of  a  very  old  resident  named  Van 
Horn.  His  sons  were  Simeon,  Stephen  and  Nicholas,  all  of  whom 
remained  in  the  township.  The  latter  branch  is  represented  by  John 
N.  Van  Riper. 

The  Zabriskie  family  in  Saddle  Kiver  are  descended  frorn  Andrew 
Zabriskie,  whose  son  Christian  had  three  scms,  Andrew,  Cornelius  and 
Abram.  Abram  married  Maria  Zabriskie,  of  New  Bridge,  and  had  one 
son.  Christian  A.,  who  took  up  his  residence  in  Saddle  River  townshij). 
The  daughters  were  Mrs.  Cornelius  Van  Houten  and  Mrs.  Henry  Demarest. 

Johannes  Berdan  was  the  pioneer  of  the  family  by  that  name  in 
this  township.  He  had  two  children,  John  and  Anna,  and  was  grand- 
father of  John,  Jr.,  Richard,  Ste])hen  and  Mary  and  great-grandfather 
of  Cornelius  Z.  Berdan. 

The  Terhunes,  Ackermans  and  Romaines  and  a  branch  of  the  Dem- 
arest family  were  also  settlers  in  the  township,  some  of  them  coming 
here  before  the  Revolution. 


lf)6  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Philip  Van  Bussom  early  settled  in  Saddle  River,  having-  purchased 
land  of  Dominie  Marinus.  He  had  children — John,  Andrew,  Peter,  and 
two  daughters.  The  sons  located  in  Saddle  River,  Peter  having-  retained 
the  homestead  and  married.     He  had  three  children. 

OKGAXIZATION. 

It  is  difficult  to  learn  the  exact  date  ot  the  erection  of  Saddle  River 
as  an  independent  township.  In  the  list  of  freeholders  immediately 
following,  the  first  of  these  officials  served  in  the  year  i794.  It  may, 
therefore,  be  assumed  that  Saddle  River  was  erected  as  an  independent 
township  either  in  that  or  the  previous  year. 

civil.    LIST. 

The  list  of  freeholders  it  is  possible  to  give  complete  since  1794. 
The  remainimg  more  important  township  offices  cannot  be  secured  for 
the  period  prior  to  1862,  as  the  records  are  not  obtainable.  The  free- 
holders are  as  follows  : 

1794,  Jacob  Berdan,  Martin  Ryerson  ;  179b,  Samuel  Van  Zaen,  John 
C.  Bogert;  1797-1801,  1809-15,  George  Doremus;  1797,  John  Benson,  Jr.: 
1798-1801,  John  Dey;  1802-6,  Henry  Mead,  John  Garrison;  1807-11,  Jacob 
Ackerman;  1807,  Richard  Degray;  1808,  William  Colfax;  1812,  Isaac 
Van  Saun;  '13-14,  Robert  Van  Houten;  '15-18,  Martimus  Hogencamp; 
'16-18,  John  J.  Berdan;  '19-20,  Isaac  Van  Saun;  '20-25,  Garret  P.  Hop- 
per; '22-25,  '30-31.  Martimus  Hogencamp;  '26,  Jacob  Berdan;  '56-27, 
Richard  Ackerman;  '27,  Adrian  R.  Van  Houten;  '28-29,  Andrew  H. 
Hopper,  Richard  Doremus;  '30-'34,  Samuel  C.  Demarest;  '32-35,  '43-45, 
Andrew  P.  Hopper;  '35-36,  Perigan  Sanford;  '35,  Henry  Doremus;  '37-39, 
Henry  P.  Hopper;  '37-38,  Turnier  Van  Iderstine;  '39-42,  Henry  C.  Van 
Houten;  '40-42,  Cornelius  Post,  Jr.;  '43,  '45-46,  Andrew  B.  Van  Bussum; 
'44,  Henry  P.  Doremus;  '46-48,  John  B.  Doremus;  '47-48,  Henry  Cole; 
'49-51,  Peter  A.  Hopper;  '49-51,  '57-61,  Andrew  C.  Cadmus;  '52,  Simeon 
G.  Garrison;  '52-54,  William  Doremus;  '53-54,  John  A.  Hopper;  '56, 
Cornelius  p.  Doremus;  '56-57,  David  Alyea;  '58-61,  Peter  I.  Demarest; 
•62-64,  Richard  Van  Winkle;  '62-67,  '68,  Henry  A.  Hopper;  '()3-64,  "66, 
John  Vreeland;  '66-67,  James  G.  Cadmus;  '68-70,  Cornelius  R.  \'an 
Houten;  '69-71,  John  G.  Garrison;  '72-74,  J.  W.  Doremus;  '75-77,  John 
B.  Schoonmaker;  '78,  James  V.  Joralemon;  '79-81,  '82,  Martin  Romaine; 
'82-92,  Albert  Bogert;  '93-96,  William  Readio;  '96-98,  William  H.  Fair- 
child;  '98-99,  C.  V.  B.  Demarest,  who  died  in  August  1899  and  the  va- 
cancy filled  by  appointment  of  Tunis  W.  Vreeland. 

The  remaining  important  officers  are  : 

1862. — Township  Clerk,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Collector,  James  C. 
Post;  Assessor,  Jacob  W.  Doremus;  Township  Committee,  Augustus 
Hasbrouck,  William  P.  Doremus,  A.  C.  Cadmus,  George  Doremus,  John 
A.  Hopper. 

1863. — Township  Clerk,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Collector,  Gustavus 
A.  De  Groot;  Township  Committee,  Andrew  C.  Cadmus,  Augustus 
Hasbrouck,  George  Doremus,  Wm.  P.  Doremus,  Wm.  A.  Van  Houten; 
Assessor,  Jacob  W.  Doremus. 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN  COUNTY  1  f)7 

1864. — Township  Clerk,  James  V.  J<iralenion;  Cdllcctor,  (iustavus 
A.  De  Groot;  Assessor,  Jacob  W.  Doremus;  Township  Committoe,  An- 
drew C.  Cadmus,  Augustus  Hasbrouck,  Cieorg'e  Doremus,  \Vm.  Dore- 
mus, Wm.  A,  Van  Houten. 

1865. — Township  Clerk,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Collector,  (iustavus  A. 
Dc  Groot;  Township  Committee,  Augustus  Masl)r()uek,  Wm.  Doremus, 
Henry  P.  Doremus,  John  A.  Hopper,  John  C.  Post. 

1866. — Township  Clerk,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Collector,  John  C.  Post; 
Assessor,  Jacob  W.  Doremus;  Township  Committee,  Henry  P.  Dore- 
mus, C.  C.  Post,  John  B.  Schoonmaker,  Garret  H.  Ho])per,  Andrew  C. 
Cadmus. 

1867. — Township  Clerk,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Collector,  Ahdrew  C. 
Cadmus;  Assessor,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Township  Committee,  Henry 
P.  Doremus,  C.  C.  Post.  J.  B.  Schoonmaker,  Garret  H.  Hopper,  G.  V. 
H.  Berdan. 

1868. — Township  Clerk,  John  B.  Schoonmaker;  Collector,  Cornelius 
Z.  Berdan;  Assessor,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Township  Committee,  Wil- 
liam Doremus,  G.  H.  Hopper,  Henry  P.  Doremus,  G.  V.  H.  Berdan, 
Cornelius  C.  Post. 

1869. — Township  Clerk,  John  B.  Schoonmaker;  Collector,  Cornelius 
Z.  Berdan;  Assessor,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Township  Committee.  Wm. 
Doremus,  G.  V.  H.  Berdan.  Andrew  Cadmus.  Henry  A.  Hopper,  Frank 
Henry. 

1870.  —  Township  Clerk,  John  B.  Schoonmaker;  Collector,  Cornelius 
Z.  Berdan;  Assessor,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Township  Committee,  Wm. 
Doremus,  Kinear  J.  Berdan.  Peter  H.  Doremus.  Albert  Alyea.  Frank 
Henry. 

1871. — Township  Clerk.  David  P.  Alyea;  Collector,  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Township  Committee,  Cornelius  G. 
Cadmus,  John  F.  Barclay.  Ral])li  G.  Garrison.  Albert  Alyea.  Frank 
Alyea. 

1872.— Township  Clerk,  David  P.  Alyea;  Collector,  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  James  V.  Joralemon;  Township  Committee,  C.  G.  Cad- 
mus, Ralph  G.  Garrison,  Wm.  Doremus,  R.  T.  Snyder,  Frederick  Baker. 

1873.— Township  Clerk,  David  1'.  Alyea;  Collector,  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hoi)])er;  Township  Committee,  Cornelius  G. 
Cadmus,  R.  G.  Garrison,  Wm.  Doremus,  Richard  T.  Snyder,  Frederick 
Baker. 

1H74.— Township  Clerk,  David  P.  Alyea;  Collector.  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hojjper;  Township  Committee,  A.  E.  Miller.  R. 
(J.  Garrison,  WilliamT)oremus,  R.  T.  Snyder. 

1875. — Township  Clerk,  David  P.  Alyea;  Collector,  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Township  Committer,  Tunis  W.  Vree- 
land,  John  Madden,  R.  T.  Snyder.  John  G.  Garrison,  George  Hubschmitt. 

1876.- -Township  Clerk,  John  E.  Kipp;  Collector,  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Township  Committee,  Tunis  W.  Vree- 


168  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

land,  John  Madden,   John  G.  Garrison,  George   Hubschmitt,  P.  H.  Van 
Iderstine. 

1877. — Township  Clerk,  John  E.  Kipp;  Collector,  James  G.  Cadmus; 
Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Township  Committee,  John  G.  Garretson. 
George  Hubschmitt,  T.  W.  Vreeland,  Adam  Hopper,  John  W.  Doremus. 

1878.— Township  Clerk,  John  E.  Kipp;  Collector,  J.  H.  Van  Saun; 
Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Township  Committee,  Adam  Hopper,  John 
W.  Doremus,  Andrew  W.  Ochs,  John  G.  Garretson,  William  H.  Gill. 

1879.— Township  Clerk,  William  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  J.  H.  Van 
Saun;  Assessor,  J.  H.  Kipp;  Townihip  Committee,  Adam  Hopper,  John 
W.  Doremus,  William  H.  Gill. 

1880.— Township  Clerk,  William  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  John  B. 
Caldwell;  Assessor,  John  E.  Kipp;  Township  Committee,  William  H. 
Gill,  Henry  Stiehl,  John  B.  Schoonmaker. 

1881.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  John  B.  Caldwell; 
Assessor,  John  E.  Kipp;  Township  Committee,  John  B.  Schoonmaker, 
Henry  Stiehl,  William  H.  Gill. 

1882.- Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  John  B.  Caldwell; 
Assessor,  John  B.  Kipp;  Township  Committee,  Albert  Alyea,  Gilbert 
B.  Ackerman,  Richard  L.  Snyder. 

1883.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  John  B.  Caldwell; 
Assessor,  John  E.  Kipp;  Township  Committee,  Richard  L.  Snyder,  Gil- 
bert B.  Ackerman,  Albert  Alyea. 

1884.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  John  B.  Caldwell; 
Assessor,  John  E.  Kipp;  W.  H.  Doremus  on  Committee. 

1885. — Township  Clerk,  John  B.  Shoonmaker;  Collector,  John  B. 
Caldwell;  Assessor,  Tunis  W.  Vreeland;  Gilbert  B.  Ackerman  on  Com- 
mittee. 

1886.— Township  Clerk,  John  B.  Shoonmaker;  Collector,  Jacob  W. 
Doremus;  Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Richard  L.  Snyder  on  Committee. 

1887.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  W.  H.  Doremus  on  Committee. 

1888.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  Jacob  W.  Dore- 
mus; Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Gilbert  B.  Ackerman  on  Committee. 

1889. — Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  Jacob  Doremus; 
Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Township  Committee,  Peter  Alyea,  elected 
for  three  years,  and  Henry  A.  Hopper  for  two  years. 

1890.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  C.  V.  B.  Demar- 
est;  Assessor,  Isaac  H.  Hopper;  Albert  Conklin  on  Committee. 

1891.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  C.  V.  B.  Demar- 
est;  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Henry  A.  Hopper  on  Committee. 

1892.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  C.  V.  B.  Dem<-vr- 
est;  Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Peter  Alyea  on  Committee. 

1893.— Township  Clerk,  Herman  Bechtel;  Collector,  C.  V.  B.  Demar- 
est;  Assessor,  Isaac  A.  Hopper;  Richard  L.  Snyder  on  Town  Committee. 

1894.— Township  Clerk,  Herman  Bechtel;  Collector,  C.  V.  B.  Dem- 
arcst;  Assessor,  Peter  J.  Smith; Gerritsen  on  Committee. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEX    COUNTY  1,6') 


1805.— Township  Clerk.  Herman  Bechtel;  Collector.  C.  N.  B.  Dema- 
rest;  Assessor.  Peter  J.  Smith;  Township  Committee,  Peter  Alyea 
elected    for  three  years,  W.  H.  A.  Mavnard  for  one  vear. 

189f..— Township  Clerk,  Herman  Bechtel;  Collector,  C.  V.  B.  Dem- 
arest;  Assessor,  ;  Township  Committee,  Charles  E.  Martin, 

George  MacDonald. 

1897.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector,  Herman  Bechtel: 
Assessor,  Smith  Chittenden;  George  MacDonald  on  Committee. 

1898.— Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadmus;  Collector.  Herman  Bechtel; 
Assessor,  Smith  Chittenden;  Sela  Doremus  on  Committee. 

GAKFIELD. 

The  village  of  Garfield  is  properly  an  adjunct  of  Passaic — and  lies 
east  of  that  city,  just  across  the  river.  The  land  was  originally  owned 
by  the  Cadmus  and  VanWinkle  estates.  About  the  year  188.'?,  Gilbert 
D.  Bogart,  and  Henry  Marcellus.  began  improvements  in  the  place. 
Bogart  bought  lands  of  James  G.  Cadmus  and  his  property  was  laid  off 
into  town  plots.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  East  Passaic  Land  Com- 
pany and  in  this  way  became  instrumental  in  building  up  (iarfield.  As- 
sociations began  to  be  formed,  buildings  were  erected,  the  B.-rgen  Cduu- 
ty  Short  Cut  Railroad  was  built,  a  depot  given  to  the  village,  and  a 
post-office  for  the  people  was  established.  With  these  accommodations 
for  the  general  public,  stores  were  built,  two  churches  erected  and  two 
very  important  manufacturing  industries  are  now  in  operation.  The 
Mr.  G.  Cadmus  above  mentioned  is  of  Holland  lineage. 

John  Cadmus,  the  first  to  locate  on  this  site  had  two  sons,  Andrew 
and  Cornelius,  and  five  daughters.  The  sons  fell  heir  to  the  homestead. 
Andrew  married  Katrina  Doremus  and  has  no  descendants  now  residing 
in  the  township.  Cornelius  was  united  to  Jane  VanRiper  and  had  six- 
sons,  John,  (iarret,  David,  Andrew,  James  and  Cornelius,  all  of  whom 
with  the  exception  of  Cornelius  settled  in  Saddle  River.  David  located 
on  the  homestead,  and  his  son  James  (i.  Cadmus  was  the  one  above 
mentioned. 

John  Cadmus  suffered  much  during  the  Revolution.  His  home  was 
exposed  to  the  depredations  of  the  British,  and  he  himself  was  finally 
captured,  taken  a  prisoner  to  the  old  Sugar  House  in  New  York,  where 
his  health  became  so  impaired  by  confinement  that  he  only  lived  two 
weeks  after  being  released.  In  May  i898  the  village  was  organized  in- 
to a  borough,  and  William  O.  Bush  elected  Mayor. 

M.\NliK.\CTfKIN(;. 

Fritzsche  Brothers  established  their  chemic.il  works  inlS'»2.  They 
manufacture  essential  oils,  chemical  preparations,  etc.,  and  deal  in  fine 
drugs.  Their  store  is  in  New  York.  They  employ  fourteen  men,  have 
one  seventy-five  horse  power  engine  and  consume  some  3(K»,()fl()  pounds 
of  cloves  annually  in  the  manufacture  of  the  oil  of  clo\'es  alone.  Their 
main  works  are  in  (iermanv. 


170  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

The  Haminersclilag  ISIanufacttiring  Company  is  also  located  in  this 
town  and  has  had  an  existence  here  since  18y().  They  employ  about  fifty 
men,  and  manufacture  wax  paper.  It  is  a  New  York  enterprise. 

CHUKCHKS    OF.  GAUFIELD. 

The  Presbyterian  Society  of  Gariield  was  org-anized  in  February, 
188S,  and  soon  after  presented  with  lots  upon  which  to  build.  A  church 
of  fourteen  members  was  organized  in  May,  and  work  began  on  the 
building  in  June.  Mr.  James  Hall  was  ordained  and  installed.  He  saw 
the  edifice  completed,  but  his  pastorate  terminated  in  November  1889, 
before  its  occupancy.  For  a  time  the  church  was  supplied  with  students. 
A  call  was  extended  to  Mr.  James  S.  Young,  and  he  was  ordained  and 
installed  in  June,  1890. 

The  church  then  enrolled  nineteen  members.  The  property  was 
mortgaged  for  S1500;  all  its  furniture,  save  100  chairs,  was  borrowed. 
Toward  the  new  pastor's  salary  a  grant  was  made  from  Synod's  Fund  of 
S.^UO.  Soon  the  church  was  properly  furnished  and  a  library  procured 
for  the  Sunday  School.  The  close  of  the  first  year  saw  the  membership 
increased  to  sixty-four,  with  205  on  the  roll  of  the  Sunday  School.  Cer- 
tain special  helps  toward  the  salary  were  relinquished  after  the  first 
year,  and  later  the  requests  for  aid  from  Synod's  Fund  were  diminished. 

On  the  fifth  anniversarv  of  Mr.  Young's  pastorate  the  cancelled 
mortgage  was  publiclv  burned.  The  membership  grew  from  nineteen  in 
1890  to  141  in  189f).  During  the  past  six  years  over  S9000  has  been  raised 
for  all  purposes.  Of  this  sum  $978  has  been  given  to  benevolences  of 
the  church   at  large. 

THK   KEFOKJIED    CHUKCH. 

The  Reformed  church  in  Garfield  was  organized  in  January,  1891- 
Rev.  Seibert  its  first  pastor  was  installed  in  October,  1891,  and  died  in 
1892.  His  son,  the  Rev.  George  S.  Seibert,  succeeded,  remaining  until 
the  month  of  September,  1896,  when  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  W.  C.  G. 
Myles,  took  charge.  The  members  of  the  cotisistory  are  C.  Terhune, 
C.  Miller,  O.  Kevit,  F.  (iarrctson  and  G.  Schooley. 

THE    CIU'KCHES. 

The  Passaic  Valley  Union  Chapel  was  the  first  organization  for 
religious  worship  in  the  township.  It  originated  in  a  small  gathering 
for  religious  instruction  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Henry  Van  Riper.  It  num- 
bered at  first  but  three  scholars,  but  gradually  increased  until  it  was 
thought  expedient  to  secure  a  building.  For  this  purpose  Ralph  G. 
Garrison,  Henry  A.  Hopper  and  Peter  D.  Henderson  were  elected  as  a 
board  of  trustees  and  subscriptions  were  solicited  for  the  building  of  the 
church.  The  land  was  donated  by  Henry  Van  Riper  to  be  devoted  for 
forty  years  to  the  uses  of  a  union  chapel.  The  edifice  was  erected  in 
187.1,  the  building  dedicated  in  December  of  that  year,  and  in  which 
services  have  been  held  ever  since. 


HISTOKY    OK    1!ER(;EX    COUNTY  171 


HENKY    IMAKSEI.I.X-S    ESQ.,    OK    GAKEIEI.D. 

Henry  Marsellus.  the  well  known  real  estate  agent  of  former  years 
in  Passaic,  and  one  of  the  two  promoters  of  Garfield,  is  a  native  of  the 
city  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  born  April  Id,  1S2(..  Mr.  Marsellus  speaks  of 
himself  as  coming  from  Holland,  French  extraction,  and  can  show  a 
long  and  honored  ancestry.  The  progenitor  of  the  Marsellus  stock  was 
Pieter  Van  Marselis  who  had  been  in  the  di])lomatic  service  of  Denmark, 
and  was  made  a  member  of  the  knightly  order  of  the  Danebrog,  by 
Frederick  HI,  King  of  Denmark  and  Norway,  September  I7th,  i(>4.^. 
He  arrived  in  the  Province  of  New  Netherlands  in  the  ship  Beaver  with 
his  wife,  four  children,  and  two  servants  in  the  month  of  May,  ibf.i. 
and  settled  in  the  Dutch  out-post  colony  of  Bergen,  now  part  of  Jersey 
City.  In  August  1673,  he  was  appointed  a  "Schepen"  of  Bergen,  but 
the  Dutch  Government  about  this  time  traded  the  Province  of  New 
Netherlands  for  Surinam,  when  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources. 
Pieter  Van  Marselis  died  September  4th,  1681,  and  as  a  mark  of  special 
honor  was  buried  under  the  old  Dutch  Church  on  Bergen  Hill.  A 
grandson  of  Pieter  Van  Marselis  named  Edo,  bought  two  large  tracts 
of  land  in  what  was  then  the  wilderness  of  North  Jersey,  one  at  Preak- 
ness,  and  the  other  extending  from  Dundee  Lake  through  Paterson  to 
the  Great  Falls  of  the  Passaic.  These  estates  were  divided  among  his 
five  sons,  and  one  of  these  sons,  whose  lands  were  near  the  Great  Falls, 
was  the  grandfather  of  Henry  Marsellus  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Peter  E.  Marsellus  the  father  of  Henry  was  born  in  Paterson  in  ISlXt, 
but  in  1836  he  moved  t,o  Passaic  where  he  died  in  1882.  He  was  a 
builder  by  trade  and  erected  a  number  of  houses  still  standing  in  the 
city  of  Paterson. 

To  Peter  E.  Marsellus  were  born  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  but 
of  these  only  Henry  and  his  youngest  sister  Helen,  are  alive.  Henry 
was  raised  a  farmer,  and  talks  to-da\%  with  a  good  deal  of  just  pride  of 
the  straight  furrow  he  could  draw  in  his  youth.  Having  a  taste  for 
business  Mr.  Marsellus  in  1868  moved  to  Passaic  where  he  became  one 
of  the  most  successful  business  men  in  real  estate,  in  the  state  of  New 
Jersey,  handling,  some  years,  close  upon  half  a  million  dollars.  His 
office  in  Washington  Place  was  popularly  known  as  the  "Eel  Pot,"  and 
was  the  centre  for  the  leading  business  men  of  the  neighborhood.  In 
those  days,  Mr.  Marsellus  became  the  recognized  leader  in  real  estate, 
and  was  then,  as  he  is  now,  familiarly  known  as  "Boss"  i  or  as  Judge 
Barkalow  insists  on  spelling  it  "  Baas."  i 

On  November  'Hh  1S4.S.  Mr.  Marsellus  was  married  to  Miss  Cather- 
ine Van  Winkle,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Annie  Van  Winkle,  and 
granddaughter  of  James  Van  Winkle,  by  whom  Mrs.  Marsellus  possesses 
her  wealth,  being  his  only  issue — Mr.  James  Van  Winkle,  who  was  a 
remarkable  man  in  his  way,  was  a  justice  of  the  jjeace  for  over  twenty- 
five  years,  and  died  widely  rcspectc;!,  in  l.S')4.  Marines  Van  Winkle 
the  "-randfather  of  James  Van  Winkle  was  a  chair  maker,  and  a  full  si't 


HKNKV    MAKSKI.I.US 


HISTOKY    OF    BEHGEN    COUNTY  173 

of  his  chairs  of  the  mist  ex:[uisite  w  irknianship,  manufactured  over  175 
years  ago,  are  now  in  use  in  the  commodious  parlors  of  Mrs.  MarseUus. 
Mr.  Marsellns  is  full  of  joke  and  reminiscence,  and  can  tell  of 
happy  acquaintance  with  such  men  as  Daniel  Webster,  Robert  Collier, 
Vice  President  Hobart  and  Attorney  General  Grig-gs.  The  following 
incident  is  worthy  of  preservation:  When  Mr.  Marsellus  and  his  wife 
were  returning  from  Boston  on  their  honeymoon,  and  had  boarded  a 
train  for  New  York,  there  came  into  the  same  car  a  stranger,  who  took 
his  seat  immediately  behind  them,  and  the  young  husband  seeing  the 
stranger  laden  with  papers  and  periodicals,  which  he  carelessly  threw 
into  the  seat  he  intended  to  occupy,  whispered  to  his  wife,  "  We  evi- 
dently are  to  have  the  company  of  a  book  peddkr."  The  seeming  book 
peddler  turned  out  to  be  the  famous  orator  and  statesman,  Daniel  Web- 
ster. An  acquaintanceship  thus  sprang  up  in  this  casual  way.  The 
great  man  asked  the  young  farmer  and  his  wife  to  accompany  him  to  his 
hotel,  where  they  all  dined  together,  and  in  the  evening  all  three  at- 
tended theatre  in  company. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsellus  have  but  two  children  living,  Herbert  and 
Annie  (Mrs.  C.  Demerest),  out  of  a  family  of  seven.  There  home  is 
beautifully  situatecTat  the  upper  end  of  Garfield,  and  Mr.  Marsellus 
says  their  diamond  jubilee  is  just  twenty-years  ahead,  which  he  and  his 
worthy  consort  are  looking  forward  to  enjoying. 

CORNELIUS    V.    B.    DEMAKEST. 

Cornelius  V.  B.  Demarest  was  born  at  Dobbs  Ferry,  Westchester, 
county,  N.  Y.,  June  11th,  1854,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Daniel  Demarest 
and  Mary  Cordelia  Garrison.  When  he  was  one  year  old  they  located 
at  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  residing  there  about  two  years,  when  they  became 
infected  with  the  western  fever  and  removed  to  Michigan.  After  s])end- 
ing  several  j-ears  in  the  West  and  South,  the  family  returned  to  New 
York  city  in  1863,  and  inlSOf)  settled  at  Passaic,  N.  J.,  where  for  more 
than  thirty  years  the  name  of  Daniel  Demarest  has  been  prominently 
before  the  public  as  a  reliable  Architect  and  Builder.  In  holding  differ- 
ent positions  of  trust,  by  his  integrity  and  fair  dealing  he  has  earned 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all. 

Cornelius  V.  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  after  leaving  the  public 
school,  entered  the  private  Academy  of  Professor  John  A.  Monroe,  at 
Passaic,  afterwards  taking  a  course  in  Packards  Business  College,  in 
New  York  city.  Being  inclined  to  mechanics,  he  then  served  an  appren- 
ticeship with  the  New  York  Steam  Engine  Works  then  located  at  Pas- 
saic. After  working  at  his  trade  of  machinist,  for  a  time  he  was  em- 
ployed as  master  mechanic  in  the  New  York  Belting  and  I'acking 
Company  works  at  Passaic.  Afterwards  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Standard  Oil  Works  at  Philadelphia  and  later  at  the  Garfield  Pumping 
Station  at  Garfild,  Bergen  county,  now  the  national  pipe  line,  where  he 
continues  in  charge  of  the  largest  and  most  powerful  oil  i)uin])s  in  the 
section,  if  not  in  the  United  States. 


CORNELIUS  V.   B.   DEMAKEST 
(Deceased) 


HISTOKY    OK    BERGEN    COUNTY  175 

He  was  married  in  May  1881,  to  Miss  Belle,  daughter  of  William 
and  Rachel  Christie  of  Passaic.  Their  children  are  two  sons,  Daniel, 
and  David  Van  Buskirk,  and  one  daughter,  Hilda  Rae. 

The  Demarest  family  are  of  French  origin,  and  honorably  trace 
their  line  of  descent  from  the  Huguenots,  who  were  driven  from  France, 
by  religious  persecution.  They  first  sought  homes  in  Holland  and 
afterwards  in  Long  Island  in  counties  bordering  on  the  Hudson  and 
according  to  the  oldest  records  appear  to  have  been  among  the  first 
settlers  in  Bergen  county.  From  actual  data  the  connecting  links  have 
been  established  through  eight  generations  between  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  David  Demarest  the  first  of  that  name  to  settle  in  Bergen 
county  and  who  emigrated  in  the  year  1663.  Cornelius  V.  B.  Demarest 
purchased  a  home  in  Garfield,  Saddle  River  township,  in  1888.  In  1891 
he  was  elected  Tax  collector  of  Saddle  River  township  and  re-elected  in 
1895,  having  served  with  entire  satisfaction  in  that  capacity  for  seven 
years.  His  constituency  elected  him  in  1897,  to  the  county  board  of 
Chosen  Freeholders.  He  was  defeated  for  Assembly  a  few  years  since 
when  the  party  failed  to  elect,  the  successful  candidate  being  David  Za- 
briskie  the  present  county  Judge.  Mr.  Demarest  was  a  member  of  the 
citizens  committee  who  (>rganized  the  Borough  of  Garfield  in  1898.  He 
died  in  August  1899. 

HEKMAN    BECHTEL. 

Herman  Bechtel,  proprietor  of  the  Dundee  Lake  Hotel,  Dundee 
Lake,  and  Collector  for  the  township  of  Saddle  River,  is  a  native  of 
New  York  citv,  and  was  born  January  29,  1867.  He  is  the  son  of  Albert 
and  Adelia  (  Blauvelt )  Bechtel,  his  mother  being  the  daughter  of  Abram 
Dow  and  Jane  E.  Blauvelt,  representatives  of  old  families  of  New  York. 
Albert  Bechtel,  the  father  of  Herman,  is  a  native  of  Stuttart,  Germany, 
and  is  a  brother  of  August,  who  was  private  secretary  to  the  king  of 
that  province.  Albert  Bechtel  came  to  this  country  when  nineteen  years 
of  age,  locating  in  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  served  in  the  capacity 
of  expert  bookkeeper  for  many  years,  for  an  old  standard  firm.  Subse- 
quently he  came  to  New  Jersey  and  built  up  the  coal  and  fertilizing 
business  where  he  is  now.  He  is  also  postmaster  and  station  agent  of 
Dundee  Lake.  When  five  years  of  age  Mr.  Herman  Bechtel  was  sent 
to  the  Hoboken  Academy,  N.  J.,  and  subsequently  to  Rockland  College, 
Nyack,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  with  his  grandmother,  going  to  school 
there  until  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  then  came  to  New  Jersey,  but  after- 
wards spent  five  years  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  the  capacity  of  mes- 
senger boy.  Life  was  thus  begun  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  but  advance- 
ment was  rapid,  and,  in  1885,  he  found  himself  ])artner  with  his  father  in 
the  coal  and  fertilizing  business  at  Dundee  Lake.  In  1894  he  gave  up  the 
coal  business  and  took  the  hotel  which  he  still  conducts.  In  1892  land  was 
purchased  of  Gillian  Zabriskie,  and  aycaror  so  later  the  hotel  was  erected. 

Mr.  Bechtel  is  a  representative  man  of  his  town,  and  as  necessity 
requires  is  advanced  to  public  positions  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was 
elected  first  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  served  as  clerk  of 


HKKMAX    BECHTKL 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKOKN     COUNTY 


BKCHTKL  S    HOrHI,.    DINDKK    LAKK 

this  Board  two  years.  He  was  elected  Township  Clerk  in  lS'i3  and  re- 
elected in  1896,  but  resigned  that  position  in  18<)7  to  accept  the  collector- 
ship  of  the  town,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  has  also  been  a 
prominent  member  of  the  County  Committee  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Bechtel  was  married  to  Miss  Claire  Cornet  in  1889,  and  has  two 
children. 

JACOB    DKMAKIvST.    -' 

Jacob  Demarest  who  located  (m  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Fairlawn 
in  Revolutionary  times,  was  the  father  of  Peter  J.  Demarest,  who  died 
March  19,  1888  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 

The  children  of  Peter  J.,  were:  Margaret,  Jacob,  Maria,  Janus  J. 
Ciarret  H.  and  John  H. 

James  J.  Demarest  occujnes  the  homestead  when  he  erected  a  house 
in  1890.  On  January  2.Sth,  18()9  he  was  married  to  Miss  Charity  Banta, 
daughter  of  John  H.  Banta,  of  Orvil.  Mr.  Demarest  is  a  successful  far- 
mer. He  is  a  descendant  of  the  Demarests  who  came  to  America  to  find 
an  asylum,  from  religious  persecuticm.  They  were  French  Huguenots, 
first  going  to  Holland  and  thence  to  America,  where  they  settled  on 
L(mg  Island,  afterward  removing  to  Bergen  County.  The  family  which 
is  numerous,  were  am()ng  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  part  of  New  Jersey- 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
FRANKLIN. 

DESCKIPTION — CIVIL     LIST — EARLY    SETTLEMENTS — INDIANS — VILLAGES 

WORTENDVKE — WYCKOFF CAMPGAW OAKLAND — RAILROAD — 

MANUFACTURING — JAIL    AND    COURT    HOUSE — CHURCHES 
— SCHOOLS — BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Franklin  is  one  of  the  oldest  townships  in  Berg-en  County.  It  took 
its  name  from  Governor  William  Franklin,  the  natural  son  of  Dr.  Benja- 
min Franklin.  He  was  born  about  1730.  Who  his  mother  was  is  not 
known.  In  1762  he  was  appointed  by  Lord  Bute  Governor  of  the  prov- 
ince of  New  Jersey.  He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  February 
28,  1763. 

The  township  is  in  the  northwesterly  corner  of  the  county,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Passaic  County,  on  the  east  by  the  townships 
of  Hohokus  and  Ridgewood  in  Bergen  County,  and  south  by  Ridgewood, 
Midland  Borough,  and  on  the  west  b}'  Passaic  County.  The  southern 
part  of  the  township  is  hilly,  and  the  northern  is  mountainous.  It  is 
well  watered  with  lakes  and  streams,  and  the  Ramapo  River  runs 
through  its  entire  width  near  the  northern  boundary.  The  hills,  val- 
leys and  mountains  afford  some  of  the  most  picturesque  views  in  the 
county.  The  Ramapo  Valley  from  Pompton,  near  the  line  of  Franklin 
township,  to  Hohokus  township,  and  for  miles  beyond,  flanked  as  it  is 
by  the  Ramapo  Mountains  on  the  north  and  long-  stretches  of  meadow- 
land  and  the  undulating  hills  on  the  south,  afford  some  of  the  most  de- 
lightful views  to  be  found  in  the  State.  Some  of  the  old  residences 
here  go  back  to  a  period  before  the  Revolution.  Rodman  M.  Price,  one 
of  the  honored  ex-Governors  of  New  Jersey,  had  a  beautiful  and  spacious 
residence  in  this  valley,  in  Franklin  township,  near  the  Hohokus  line. 
Visitors  from  .Europe  to  this  retired  spot  have  often  admired  the  rare 
beauty  of  the  mountains  with  the  river  running  at  their  foot.  Farther 
up  this  valley  was  once  the  country  residence  of  that  famous  lawyer, 
Hugh  Maxwell,  district  attorney  of  New  York  City,  and  still  farther  up 
the  valley  the  wealth  and  refinement  of  the  great  metropolis  still  find 
desirable  places  for  country  residence. 

Judge  Garrison  of  Oakland  fully  describes  the  scenery  of  the  beau- 
tiful valley  of  Ramapo  in  verse  as  follows: 

"Here  the  Ramapo  River  passes  along. 

And  the  birds  in  the  trees  enchant  us  with  song. 

While  lilies  and  tulips  the  meadows  adorn, 

And  fields  sparkle  bright  with  rich  dews  of  the  morn. 

This  beautiful  valley  is  encircled  around 
By  forests  and  mountains  where  pure  springs  abound; 
And  the  elms,  oaks  and  maples  are  shading  the  rills, 
Meanderinar  with  music  between  the  green  hills. 


HISTOKY   OF    BEKGEN  COUNTY  179 

Here  groves  of  tall  pine  trees  can  also  be  seen, 
Arrayed  in  their  robes  of  perennial  green; 
And  thousands  of  fruit  trees,  when  in  their  full  hluoin 
Emit  sweet  odors  the  air  to  perfume." 

civil,  OKGANIZATION. 

P^ranklin  became  a  township  separate  from  Saddle  River  township 
about  1772.  May  13th  of  that  year  it  is  named  in  the  book  of  the  board 
of  freeholders  as  the  township  of  Franklin,  and  for  the  first  time  is  rep- 
resented in  that  body  by  Jacobus  Bertolf  only,  though  most  of  the 
other  townships  were  represented  by  two  freeholders  at  that  time.  At 
the  January  session  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  that  year,  David  Van 
Norden,  Isaac  Bogert,  and  Abraham  Rutan  were  appointed  constables 
for  Franklin  township.  Before  1772  Franklin  belonged  to  Saddle  River 
township,  and  before  that  township  was  organized  it  belonged  to  the 
ancient  township  of  New  Barbadoes. 

We  give  below  a  list  of  the  chosen  freeholders  of  the  township  since 
1794,  the  date  at  which  the  freeholders  became  a  board  separate  from 
the  justices.  The  justices  and  freeholders  who  preceded  the  change 
made  in  1794  are  named  in  the  general  county  history,  as  they  are  not 
found  in  the  records  identified  with  the  townships  which  they  respec- 
tively represent: 

1794,  Joseph  Board;  1794,  Peter  Slutt;  1795,  Henry  Wanmaker;  17'»S. 
Garret  W.  Hopper;  1796-97,  Peter  Wend;  179()-1800,  Andrew  Hopper; 
1798-1813,  Garret  Lydecker;  1801,  1803,  1806.  1812,  John  Hopper;  1801-2, 
David  P.  Harring;  1802-4,  Abram  A.  Quackenbush;  1803,  Albert  Wilson; 
1804-13-18,  Abram  Forshee;  1805,  John  Van  Blarcom;  1805-12-14.  C. 
Stor;  1806-8,  Abrm.  Harring;  1807-11,  Peter  Ward;  1809-11,  Henry  \'an 
Emburgh;  1815-18,  Daniel  Gero,  Jr.;  1819-20,  John  A.  Van  Voorhis;  181'», 
John  Hopper;  1820-24,  1826-27,  William  Hopper;  1821-24,  Henry  Van 
Emburgh;  1825,  David  I.  Christie;  1825-27,  1834-35,  John  Ward;  182S- 
30,  Martin  Van  Houten;  1828-30,  John  Mandijo;  1831,  1833,  John  Wil- 
lis; 1831,  Christian  A.  Wanmaker;  1832,  David  I.  Ackerman;  1832-.V% 
Isaac  I.  Bogert;  1834-35,  Garret  Van  Dien;  18.%-.38,  William  G.  Hopper; 
1836-38,  John  H.  Hopper;  1839-40,  Henry  B.  Hagerman;  1839-41,  Henry 
A.  Hopper;  1841-43,  Simeon  Van  Winkle;  1842-44,  Henry  I.  Spear; 
1844-4(,,  Anthony  Crowter;  1845,  1849-51,  John  R.  Post;  1846-48,  Wil- 
liam P.  Van  Blarcom;  1847-48,  James  S.  Wanmaker;  1849,  1853-.54. 
James  Van  Houten;  1850-52,  Stei)hen  D.  Bartholf;  1852-54,  Abram 
Wortendyke;  1856,  Garret  Hopper;  1857-60,  John  D.  Marinus;  185"(-61, 
John  Halsted;  1861-63,  (kirret  D.  Ackerman;  1862-64,  David  C.  Bush; 
1864,  Daniel  Ackerman;  1866-67,  1871,  Garret  J.  Hoi)per;  186<)-67, 
Samuel  P.  Demarest;  1868-70,  Garret  A.  Hopper,  John  H.  Speer;  1872- 
75,  Peter  H.  Pulis;  1876,  Daniel  D.  Depew;  1877-78,  Charles  White; 
1879-80,  Abram  C.  Wortendyke;  1880-85.  Abram  C.  Wortendyke;  1S85- 
86,  David  H.  Spear;  1886-88,  John  R.  Carlough;  1889-94.  David  H. 
Spear;  1894-'»7,  John  H.  Post;   1897-1900,  Thomas  Post. 


ISO  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 


Cornelius  Schuyler,  son  of  Arent  Schuyler,  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Franklin  township  in  1730.  The  Carretson  from  Bergen  Town 
came  and  settled  near  where  the  Ponds  Church  now  stands.  The  Van 
Aliens  owned  six  hundred  acres  on  the  Pond  Flats.  George  Ryerson  and 
Urie  Westervelt  (1709)  purchased  an  extensive  tract  of  the  Indians,  ex- 
cepting the  land  at  Sicamac  and  land  on  the  present  farm  of  Isaac  D. 
Van  Blarcom,  as  it  was  an  Indian  burial-ground.  The  Berdan  family 
settled  at  Preakness,  in  this  vicinity,  in  1720.  John  Stek,  now  Stagg. 
"settled  back  of  Knickies'  Pond"  in  1711.  This  is  undoubtedly  part  of 
the  Judge  Millard  farm  at  Sicamac.  Stagg  and  his  descendants  lived  on 
this  farm  till  about  sixty  years  ago.  Yan  Romaine,  yeoman  of  Hackeu- 
sack,  purchased  600  acres,  located  in  the  vicinity,  from  the  Willcox  & 
Johnson  patent.  May  19,  1724,  and  sold  200  acres  to  Rulef  C.  Van  Houten, 
March  17,  1737,  for  seventy  pounds.  This  property  in  modern  times  has 
been  occupied  by  John  V.  Hennion,  William  De  Baun,  and  John  Acker- 
man.  Simeon  Van  Winkle  came  in  i733  and  settled  on  the  property 
lately  belonging  to  Tennis  Van  Slyke.  For  four  or  five  generations  the 
Van  Winkles  honored  the  consistory  of  the  Ponds  Church.  August  i7, 
1 720,  found  John  and  William  Van  Voor  Haze,  yeomen  of  the  county  of 
Bergen,  buying  of  John  Barberie,  Peter  Fauconiere,  and  Andrew  Fres- 
near,  merchants  of  New  York  City,  550  acres  of  land  at  Wikhoof  ( so 
spelled  and  said  to  be  of  Indian  origin),  present  Wyckoff,  The  tif ty  odd 
acres  were  allowed  for  roads.  William  Van  Voor  Haze  was  married  first 
Susanah  Larne,  May  i7,  i7i7,  and  second  to  Maria  Van  Gildee,  January 
2,  1728,  and  died  July  i7,  i744,  leaving  five  sons  and  four  daughters. 
An  extract  from  his  will  says,  "I  give  and  bequeat  unto  my  eldest  son. 
Jacobus  Van  Voorhees,  the  big  bybel,  for  his  first  birthright,  as  being 
my  heir-at-law.  I  will  that  my  youngest  dater,  which  I  have  by  myn 
dear  beloving  wife,  which  is  named  Marytie  Van  Voor  Haze,  that  she 
shall  have  for  her  poorshon  the  sum  of  ^iV."  To  his  other  daughters, 
he  gave  twelve  pounds  each.  His  son  entered  the  king's  service  and 
died  in  i767.  His  son  Albert  lived  on  the  present  Uriah  (Juackinbush 
farm,  and  Abraham  lived  on  the  Lewis  Oouman's  farm.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1 830,  aged  ninety-four.  Near  his  dwelling,  at  twilight,  shortly 
before  his  death,  seeing  a  light  upon  the  knoll,  he  chose  that  spot  as  his 
resting  place,  and  there  he  slumbers;  and  beside  him  sleeps  his  wife, 
Margaret  Hinter,  who  followed  him  to  the  grave  in  the  May  following 
his  own  death.     John  lived  on  the  Henry  Blauvelt  farm. 

The  Alburtises  were  also  early  settlers  here,  near  the  Van  Voor 
Haze  property.  The  Winters,  Courtins,  Youngs,  Storms,  Ackermans, 
and  (Juackenbushes  all  came  before  i760,  and  the  Van  Gilders  about 
1 730.  The  Pulisfelts  (now  Pulis)  lived  on  the  Peter  Ward  farm,  and 
the  Bogerts  on  the  Henry  Vandenhoff  property,  going  into  Yaupitugh 
Valley.  VandenhoiT  is  said  to  have  lived  in  a  cave  for  some  time  about 
1 760.     These  are  the  names  of  many  of  the  early  settlers  in  what  is  now 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKGKN    COUNTY  181 

Franklin  township.  Many  more  there  may  have  been,  but  their  names 
are  lost  or  forg-otten. 

Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  purchases  were  made  of  the  Indians 
of  tracts  of  land  lying  to  the  southward  of  the  "Wilcox  and  Ji)hnson 
patent."  Arent  Schuyler,  of  Albany,  and  Anthony  Brockholst,  of  New 
York  City,  were  interested  in  these  lands.  The  Garretsons  from  Bergen, 
the  Van  Aliens,  the  Berdans,  the  Staggs,  the  Romaines,  the  Van  Wink- 
les, and  the  Van  Voorhises  were  purchasers  of  extensive  tracts  in  this 
section  forty,  fifty,  or  sixty  years  before  the  Revolution.  lOO  years  ago 
in  the  present  township  of  Franklin  the  lands  were  generally  taken  up, 
although  the  territory  was  sparsely  inhabited.  Extensive  tracts  were 
under  limited  cultivation.  Then  there  was  scarcely  a  manufacturer  in 
the  township.  Cornelius  Wortendyke,  it  is  true,  was  manufacturing 
about  1 00  years  ago  at  Newtown,  but  nearly  all  the  industry  was  con- 
rined  to  the  raising  of  corn,  wheat,  and  potatoes.  These  same  abundant 
crops  to-day  at  present  jirices  would  make  any  economical  farmer  rich 
in  a  few  vears. 

This  township  in  the  Revolutionary  period  became  important  as  a 
place  of  refuge  and  retreat.  The  courts  of  Bergen  County  were  driven 
hither  from  Hackensack.  Washington  and  his  army  were  hovering  in 
the  vicinity,  keeping  an  eye  on  the  British  invader;  a  British  Tory  was 
hung  by  Sheriff  Manning  near  Oakland,  in  this  township,  as  is  recited 
elsewhere  in  this  history.  Cornelius  Schuyler,  son  of  Arent  Schuyler, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Franklin  township  in  i730.  The 
(iarretsons  from  Bergen  Town  were  also  early  settlers. 

VII.LAOJvS  AM)  HAMI.ETS. 

There  are  no  large  villages  in  this  township;  the  people  generally 
are  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Abundant  crops  of  grapes,  both 
wild  and  cultivated,  are  grown  in  this  township,  the  apple  crop  is  also 
abundant.  The  New  York,  Susquehanna  and  Western  Railroad,  for- 
merly the  Midland,  and  before  that  the  New  Jersey  Western,  which  had 
its  first  inception  in  this  township  through  the  energy  and  enterprise  of 
Cornelius  A.  Wortendyke  some  years  since,  gave  a  sudden  impetus 
and  excited  the  highest  hopes  for  the  future  growth  of  the  township. 
This  road  enters  F'ranklin  from  Ridgewood  township,  about  one  mile 
below  Midland  I'ark,  and  passing  nearly  midway  through  it  till  con- 
fronted by  the  Ramapo  Mountains.  In  crossing  the  river  near  Oakland 
it  runs  along  the  foot-hills  of  these  mountains,  leaving  the  township  for 
Pompton  about  one  mile  from  Oakland.  Thus  it  runs  about  ten  miles 
through  this  township. 

The  villages  and  hamlets  locally  named  as  such  in  the  townsliip  are 
Wortendyke,  Wyckoff,  Campgaw,  Oakland. 

The  Ramapo  Indians  sometimes  visited  the  settlements  in  the  town- 
ship. The^'  were  known  formerly  as  the  Hackensacky  Indians  but  are 
more  properly  the  race  described  as  the  "Jackson  Whites."  They  bear 
little  resemblance  to  the  Indians,   vet  as  tradition  gives  it  they  are  des- 


182  HISTORY    OF    BEKOEN    COUNTY 

cendants  of  Hessians,  Indians  and  negroes  but  know  nothing  of  their 
ancestry,  so  ignorant  have  they  become.  Thej'  dwell  in  huts  or  caves  in 
the  sides  of  the  mountains,  and  subsist  on  fish  and  game,  principally. 
When  Judge  Garrison  was  a  bo3\  one  of  these  people,  an  old  man,  Uncle 
Rich  De  Groate  by  name,  would  often  leave  his  home  for  a  visit  to  the 
villagers,  coming  among  the  people  without  hat,  or  covering  for  his  feet 
and  legs  to  his  knees.  When  asked  whether  or  not  his  lower  limbs  did 
not  suffer  from  excessive  cold  he  would  reply  by  asking  the  same  ques- 
tion concerning  the  exposure  of  the  face.  He  died  probably  sixty  years 
of  age. 

WOKTENDYKE. 

The  village  of  Wortendyke,  formerly  called  Newtown,  was  founded 
by  Cornelius  Wortendyke  in  the  year  179().  Tradition  says  two  brothers 
of  this  family  located  at  Pascack,  and  from  thence  Cornelius  removed  to 
this  place  where  in  1812  a  wool  carding  mill  was  erected  for  the  immed- 
iate county  trade.  Abraham  Wortendyke,  his  son,  succeeded  him  and 
in  1832  changed  the  business  from  wool  to  cotton.  Subsequently  this 
was  changed  to  a  silk  mill.  A  few  years  since  the  village  was  called 
Godwinville.  Another  silk  mill  was  added  later  on  and  since  then  these 
mills  have  been  enlarged  and  re-enlarged  giving  employment  to  hun- 
dreds of  hands.     The  mills  are  now  operated  by  Francis  H.  Mayhew. 

Cornelius  H.  Wortendyke  procured  the  original  charter  of  the  New 
Jersey  Western  Railroad,  and  in  1867  was  elected  its  president.  In  1870 
this  road  was  consolidated  with  the  New  Jersey,  Hudson  and  Delaware, 
and  the  Sussex  Valley  Railroad,  under  the  name  of  the  New  Jersey 
Midland  Railway  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Wortendyke  also  held  the 
office  of  President.  When  the  railroad  was  built  through  this  place  a 
station,  a  hotel,  and  other  houses  were  erected,  the  supposition  being 
that  Wortendyke  would  rapidly  increase  in  population.  The  hotel  is 
owned  by  John  T.  Ramsey,  and  the  store  by  H.  T.  Lawrence,  who  came 
into  possession  of  this  property  in  1881,  and  has  operated  it  successfully 
ever  since.     Mr.  Lawrence  has  also  been  postmaster  since  1888. 

The  mills  of  Wortendyke,  and  the  railroad  shops  have  called  hither 
many  native  Hollanders,  nearly  all  of  whom  are  professing  Christians 
and  members  of  the  old  Holland  Reformed  Church. 

SCHOOLS. 

In  1811  Cornelius  Wortendyke  leased  for  school  purposes  a  small  lot 
near  where  the  Methodist  Church  now  stands.  Isaac  Blauvelt  and 
Jacob  Quackenbush,  owned  this  ground  for  twenty-five  years,  which  was 
leased  and  on  which  a  schoolhouse  was  erected,  probably  the  first  in  the 
locality.  In  1822  this  structure  was  burned,  when  a  new  one  was  built 
this  in  turn  being  abandoned  probably  forty  years  ago,  for  another.  It 
was  a  brick  structure  which  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  the  road  to 
Ridgewood  ;  and  was  erected  in  1859.  This  was  next  abandoned  for  the 
new  school  house,  built  in  1880  at  a  cost  of  $2500.  In  the  old  school  of 
1 822,  Henry  Westervelt,  Tunis  Crum,  Isaac  Sherr,  Richard  Ellsworth, 
Ashbel  Abbott,  John  Turner,  Rev.  Matthew  Mallinson,  Amos  B.  How- 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  183 

land  and  Asa  W.  Roath,  are  mentioned  as  the  teachers.  The  Methodists 
have  a  church  at  Wortendj-ke,  which  was  organized  December  14,  1S05. 
Mark  McCraken,  Aaron  Ackerman,  James  Dods,  John  Van  Blarcom, 
Cornelius  Lozier,  James  Stagg-,  Morris  Sharpenstine,  William  Van  Blar- 
com, and  Alexander  McCall  were  its  first  trustees.  John  Morrow,  de- 
ceased, a  worthly  and  most  saintly  man,  during  a  long  and  useful  life 
was  most  active  and  efficient  in  the  erection  of  a  new  Methodist  Church 
here  in  iS30.  In  iS68  another  church  was  erected  and  the  old  one  re- 
movefl.  This  edifice,  was  greatly  aided  in  erection  through  the  means 
and  efforts  of  Cornelius  A.  Wortendyke,  but  Mr.  Morrow  never  ceased  to 
be  an  active  and  efficient  supporter  of  this  church  according  to  his 
means,  and  was  a  most  exemplary  member  of  this  Methodist  Church  to 
the  day  of  his  death.  The  Methodists  also  have  a  prosperous  society  at 
Campgaw,  and  a  church  edifice  erected  in  1856. 

Rev.  Thomas  Hall  is  now  pastor  of  the  church.  Rev.  H.  Luback  is 
pastor  of  one  of  the  Reformed  churches,  the  other  churches  not  having 
a  pastor  at  this  time. 

WVCKOFF. 

Wyckoff,  is  a  beautiful  little  village  in  this  township  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna railroad,  twenty-eight  miles  from  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
owes  its  existence  to  the  railroad. 

Abram  Van  Vorhis  probably'  built  the  first  house  in  the  place.  He 
owned  a  store,  cider  mill,  distillery  and  blacksmith  shop  on  grounds 
now  occupied  by  Samuel  Winters  residence.  He  afterwards  removed  to 
Wortendyke  where  he  bought  property  in  Midland  Park. 

Among  the  early  settlers  at  Wyckoff  and  vicinity  should  be  men- 
tioned Abram  Van  Voorhis,  James  Van  Blarcom,  William  Winters, 
Jacob  Stur  and  David  Folley.  The  sons  of  William  Winters  were  Henry, 
William,  Cornelius,  John,  Barney,  Abram  and  Peter,  all  of  whom  settled 
in  this  vicinity.  Henry,  son  of  Henry,  now  eighty-three  years  of  age,  and 
Samuel  Winters,  his  grandson,  still  live  here.  Cornelius  Ackerman 
and  Andrew  Ackerman  lived  here  in  an  early  day.  John  P.  Ramsey, 
one  of  the  original  owners  of  the  village,  rebuilt  the  hotel  now  leased 
to  Benjamin  Coleman.  At  an  early  day  a  cotton  mill  stood  below  the 
hotel  on  the  Van  Blarcon  estate.  No  manufacturing  is  now  in  the  place 
save  a  cider  mill  erected  about  18')0  by  Daniel  Winters. 

Daniel  DePew  was  the  first  agent  of  the  railroad  and  the  post  office 
was  kept  in  the  depot.  After  Mr.  DePew  came,  one  or  two  changes  were 
made,  when  the  present  agent,  Mr.  Peter  S.  Pulis,  took  charge  of  the 
staticm  July  1,  1883. 

Stoat  &  Board,  Samuel  I'ulis,  the  De  Pews  and  Mr.  J.  E.  Mowerson 
have  all  been  merchants  in  the  place.  Mr.  Mowerson,  present  owner  of 
the  store  and  also  postmaster,  has  done  a  large  business  here  since  1877. 

CAMPCJAW. 

This  hamlet  has  a  store,  post  office,  saw  mill,  grist  mill  and  a  shoj) 
or  two  all  under  the  name  of  Peter  H.  Pulis  &  Son.      Mr.  Pullis  was  the 


184  HISTUKV    OF    BEKC'EN    COUNTY 

first  agent  of  the  road  here,  and  under  his  management  business  always 
kept  on  the  increase.  His  son,  Samuel  Pulis,  and  grandson,  William 
G.  Pulis,  are  now  in  charge. 

THE    REFOKMED    CHURCH    AT   WYCKOFF. 

In  1803  a  movement  was  made  for  a  new  church,  and  out  of  this 
grew  the  building  of  a  church  at  W^xkoff.  Many  of  the  members  of 
the  Ponds  Church  lived  near  Wyckoff. 

The  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church  at  Wjckotf  was  established  about 
ninety-two  years  ago.  It  has  a  large  and  convenient  structure,  bfiilt  of 
stone  on  foundations  solid  enough  to  last  for  centuries. 

The  old  church  had  stood  for  sixty  years,  and  a  new  edifice  seemed 
necessary.  Judge  J.  A.  Van  Voorhees,  A.  Stevenson,  and  others  of 
Wyckoff  and  vicinity  prevailed,  when  the  old  church  was  partly  taken 
down  and  a  new  one  erected,  but  in  1840  to  1845  the  old  hexagonal 
church  was  restored  and  reconstructed,  much  in  the  shape  it  is  at  pres- 
ent, a  parallelogram  or  oblong  square.  The  deed  for  the  Wyckoff 
Church  is  dated  September  27,  1805,  to  William  Pulisfelt,  Conrad  Stur, 
Lawrence  Ackerman,  and  James  L.  Ackerman,  the  consistory  of  the 
Ponds  Church,  with  Judge  Van  Voorhees  as  treasurer  and  general  ad- 
viser or  director.  The  steeple  was  struck  by  lightning  in  1829.  In 
1811,  Rev.  John  Demarest  became  pastor  of  the  church  or  society  at  the 
Ponds  and  of  the  Wyckoff  Church.  Mr.  Demarest  was  born  and  edu- 
cated in  Hackensack,  at  the  famous  school  of  Dr.  Wilson,  and  studied 
theology  under  Dr.  Froeligh.  Mr.  Demarest  subsequently  became  a 
member  of  the  True  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  at  one  time  owned 
the  farm  on  which  Major  Andre  was  executed  at  Tappan.  He  died 
April  8,  1837.  The  two  congregations  at  the  Ponds  and  Wyckoff  were 
divided  May  10,  1822,  and  the  Ponds  Church  was  reorganized.  The 
two  churches  were  incorporated  in  1824.  The  division  line  between 
them  commenced  at  the  house  of  Garret  Post,  near  High  Mountain, 
thence  to  John  Ackerman's  house,  thence  to  Abraham  Winter's  house, 
and  thence  to  Yaupough.  Rev.  Zachariah  H.  Kuypers,  son  of  the  pas- 
tor of  that  name  at  Hackensack,  in  April,  1825,  became  pastor  of  the 
Ponds  and  Wyckoff  Churches.  He  also  was  educated  under  Dr.  Wilson. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  J.  Thompson  in  1842.  Thompsoi  was  a 
graduate  of  Rutgers  in  1834,  and  appointed  tutor  of  ancient  languages 
there  in  1838,  and  filled  that  position  with  great  credit.  These  churches 
now  entered  upon  a  new  and  brighter  day  of  activity  and  success.  He 
remained  pastor  till  1845.  From  this  time  they  have  had  separate  pas- 
tors. Rev.  B.  V.  Collins  became  pastor  of  the  Ponds  Church,  Novem- 
ber, 1845,  and  remained  there  to  January,  1868.  Rev.  A.  G.  Ryerson 
became  pastor  of  the  Wyckoff  Church  April  7,  1846,  and  remained  till 
May  24,  1864,  the  church  prospering  under  his  ministry.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by.  Rev.  William  B.  Van  Benschoten,  April  11,  1865.  Van  Ben- 
schoten  was  a  graduate  of  Rutgers  College  and  Theological  Seminary. 
He  remained  there  about  six  years,  and  died  while  pastor  of  a  Reformed 
Church  at  Ephrata,   in  the  State  of  New  York.     He  was  succeeded  at 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  185 

Wyckoff  by  Rev.  S.  T.  Searles  1872,  who  was  pastor  many  years.  The 
Rev.  A.  Westeveer,  successor  of  the  Rev.  William  Faulker,  is  the 
present  pastor. 

The  church  has  a  memliership  of  l(>()  persons,  and  has  for  its  officers 
at  the  present  time  the  following:  Riders— Samuel  D.  Winters,  Thomas 
H.  Winters,  Daniel  Snyder,  James  E.  Mowerson;  Deacons — Charles  F. 
Hopper,  Charles  Duryea,  John  J.  Vanderbeck,  John  W.  May. 

0.\KL.\ND. 

The  little  village  of  Oakland  is  situated  on  the  Susquehanna  rail- 
road near  the  border  line  of  Franklin  township,  about  thirty-three  miles 
from  New  York  city.  It  is  one  of  the  beautiful  and  picturesque  places 
in  the  county.  The  Ramapo  Mountains  on  its  western  side  give  it  that 
peculiar  charm  which  a  mountain  only  can  give  little  villages,  when 
nestled  along  its  side  under  its  sheltering  protection.  The  village  has 
a  reputation  worthy  of  an  enterprising  people,  and  with  its  railroad, 
hotel  and  stores,  and  two  prominent  manufacturing  enterprises,  it  is  on 
the  progressive. 

The  place  was  known  l.SO  years  ago  by  the  name  Youghpaugh — 
Yoppo — and  was  the  seat  of  government  of  the  county  for  three  or  four 
years,  dating  from  the  year  178(t.  It  was  known  also  as  the  "Ponds," 
that  name  coming  from  the  Church,  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  township. 
There  was  a  small  pond  of  water  in  this  vicinity,  and  a  grist  mill  stand- 
ing near  the  church,  served  the  people  long  before  the  Revolution.  The 
Rev.  Guilliam  Bertholf  probably  preached  here  as  early  as  1710,  and  for 
twenjy  years  thereafter.  The  worshippers  in  that  old  church,  whoever 
they  were,  formed  the  first  settlement  at  the  Ponds.  The  Garretsons 
from  Bergen  Town  came  here  as  early  as  17()0.  The  Van  Aliens  owned 
600  acres  on  the  Pond  flats,  and  the  Bogerts  and  others,  as  will  be  seen 
in  the  general  sketch,  were  early  on  this  land.  At  a  later  day,  Aaron 
Garrison  and  his  brother  Abram,  who  was  drowned  in  the  Hudson 
River  in  1804,  settled  in  the  upper  end  id'  the  valley.  Martin  Van 
Houten  early  occupied  the  ground  upon  which  the  residence  of  (ieorge 
Calder  now  stands.  A  stone  house  was  first  built  on  that  site.  Still 
later,  the  Hoppers,  Judge  (Harrison,  John  Bush  and  David  C.  Bush  with 
others  came  into  the  place.  The  "Ponds,"  however,  assumed  no  im- 
portance until  after  the  building  of  the  railroad  in  1870,  when  the  depot 
was  erected,  a  post  office  was  estalilished,  and  H.  W.  Bush  started  a  store 
where  Lloyd  &  McNomes  are  now.  Henry  Bush  was  the  first  postmaster 
in  the  village,  after  which  David  C.  Bush,  to  whose  enterprising  spirit 
principally,  the  village  owes  the  office,  succeeded  to  the  position,  which 
he  held  from  time  to  time,  for  sixteen  years.  The  hotel  was  built  in 
1882. 

THK    KAII.KOAD. 

David  C.  Bush,  at  the  instance  of  C.  A.  Wortendyke,  became  a 
prominent  factor  in  the  building  of  the  railroad  through  Oakland. 
These  two  men  probably  secured   more   stock  for  the  enteri)rise   and  diil 


18t>  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

more  to  insure  success  in  that  undertaking  than  any  other  two  men  in  the 
company'.  Land  for  the  yard  and  depot  and  the  right  of  way  through 
the  place  was  given  by  Mr.  Bush,  who  was  also  one  of  the  largest  con- 
tributors to  the  present  depot  built  by  the  citizens.  Upon  the  comple- 
tion of  the  road,  in  March,  1869,  five  or  six  hundred  people  gathered, 
and  under  the  inspiration  of  a  couple  of  barrels  of  apple-jack  and  good 
cider,  with  the  booming  of  cannon,  the  event  was  properly  chronicled  in 
the  hearts  and  minds  of  the  people.  The  opening  exercises  began  at 
one  o'clock.  Beginnihg  at  two  o'clock,  speeches  were  made  by  ex-Gov- 
Price,  Judge  Garrison,  Isaac  Wortendyke,  Dr.  William  Colfax,  cousin  of 
Vice  President  Colfax,  and  others,  and  at  six  o'clock  refreshments  were 
furnished,  which  terminated  the  gala  exercises  of  the  day. 

This  part  of  the  Ramapo  Valley  in  an  early  day  went  by  the  roman- 
tic name  the  Indians  gave  it.  It  was  subsequently  the  Ponds,  then  called 
Scrub  Oaks,  and  perforce  of  family  influence  was  known  still  later  as 
Bushville.  Upon  the  completion  of  the  road,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the 
citizens  to  select  a  new  name,  some  preferring  that  of  Breakcliff,  some 
Pleasant  Valley,  some  Bushville,  and  so  on.  The  meeting  was  held  at 
the  store  of  Henry  Bush.  J.  P.  Storms  was  elected  Chairman,  and  Z. 
H.  Post,  secretary.  Different  names  were  offered  by  different  parties, 
and  after  all  disscussions  were  over,  Mr.  David  C.  Bush  arose  and  pro- 
posed the  name  "Oakland,"  which  was  chosen,  and  which  name  it  now 
bears. 

THE    AMERICAN    E.    C.    &    SHULTZ    POWDER    COMPANY. 

This  concern  began  operations  in  Oakland  in  i890,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  smokeless  powder,  for  sporting  purposes  purely.  They  purcjiased 
1 20  acres  of  land  from  Judge  Garrison.  David  C.  Bush,  James  Van 
Blarcom  and  Jacob  A.  Terhune,  and  began  the  erection  of  a  number  of 
buildings,  the  largest  of  whieh  is  thirty  by  300  feet.  They  employ 
thirty  men  and  have  a  capacity  of  2000  pounds  daily.  Captain  A.  W. 
Money  is  the  managing  director  and  treasurer  of  the  company. 

O.'VKLAND    HAIK    WORKS. 

A.  D.  Bogert  was  manufacturing  fillings  for  mattresses,  chairs,  etc., 
under  the  name  of  the  Wood  Type  Manufacturing  Company,  in  and  before 
1 876.  He  made  his  product  from  wood  fibre,  weeds,  etc.,  and  carried  on 
the  business  for  many  years.  This  industry  was  largely  increased  b}- 
the  Wilkens  Brothers,  who  came  to  the  village  in  i894,  and  purchased 
from  S.  P.  Demarest  forty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  they  erected  a 
number  of  buildings.  They  ship  fibres,  hogs'  hair,  and  various  pro- 
ducts from  every  known  country  on  the  globe,  by  train  load,  and  do  a 
business  in  curled  hair  and  in  materials  for  brushes,  mattresses,  etc., 
world  wide.     Thev  employ  abont  lOO  men. 

JAIL    AND    COURT    HOUSE. 

The  first  Court  House  and  Jail  on  the  public  Green,  Hackensack, 
was  burned  in  1780. 

The  second  Court  House  and  Jail  was  built  at  Youghpaugh  (Oak 
land)  in  the  township  of  F^ranklin,  where  the  courts  of  the  count}-  were 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  187 

held  for  a  fe\v  years.  Youg-hpaugh — Yoppo — was  only  the  County  Seat 
ad-interum,  and  courts  seem  to  have  been  held  there,  or  in  the  Ponds 
Reformed  Church  during-  those  troublous  days,  to  such  judicial  extrem- 
ities had  the  British  driven  us  during  the  Revolution.  The  Jail  was 
built  near  the  Sheriff's  dwelling-  about  three  hundred  yards  north  of  the 
station,  where  the  foundations  are  still  to  be  seen. 

Abraham  Manning  was  Sheriff  of  the  county  and  resided  near  the 
Oakland  station.  Among  others  confined  in  the  Jail,  was  a  notorious 
traitor,  named  Noah  Collington,  or  Kellingham,  who  was  hung  on  gal- 
lows erected  on  a  little  mound  near  by  which  bears  the  traitor's  name  to 
this  day.  He  had  been  indicted  for  murder  and  robbery  in  the  county, 
and  while  attempting  to  escape  in  disguise  acrob>  the  Hudson  near  Fort 
Lee,  in  order  to  get  within  the  British  lines,  he  was  captured  near  that 
place  and  brought  to  the  Jail.  Upon  trial  and  conviction  he  was  sen- 
tenced to  be  hung.  During  the  inclement  winter  he  was  allowed  a  fire, 
whereupon  he  attempted  one  night  to  burn  down  his  prison  house  and 
make  his  escape.  Vanderhoff,  the  miller,  while  watching  his  dam  dur- 
ing a  freshet,  discovered  the  threatened  conflagration  and  giving  the 
alarm  the  fire  was  soon  extinguished,  and  Collington  was  manacled  and 
subjected  to  much  closer  confinement.  Upon  Manning's  return  he  was 
infuriated  and  beat  his  prisoner  most  severely  with  a  club.  A  physician 
came  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  man,  who  was  hung  early 
the  next  morning. 

An  old  Englishman  named  "Rench"  was  teaching  school  opposite 
the  Ponds  Church.  At  the  time  the  Jail  and  Court  House  was  destroyed 
he  left  this  school  and  joined  the  refugees  at  Hopperstown — now  Ho- 
hokus.  Sheriff  Manning  hearing  the  noise  of  guns,  there,  together 
with  a  few  neighbors  hastened  to  New  Prospect  where  they  saw  a  com- 
pany of  Refugees  or  Tories,  coming  from  Hopperstown  towards  New 
Prospect.  Concealing  themselves  behind  a  stone  wall  they  waited 
while  the  enemy  approached.  The  old  teacher  was  recognized  by  the 
sheriff  who  deliberately  aimed  at  his  head,  but  the  bullet  only  passed 
through  his  hat,  and  hid  itself  in  a  tree.  After  peace  was  declared  the 
old  teacher  ventured  to  the  Ponds  but  the  sheriff  was  too  patriotic  to 
allow  him  to  remain. 

From  a  discourse  delivered  in  the  Oakland  church,  November  .^Oth, 
1 876,  we  take  the  following  historical  notes  of  the  old  church  in  early 
days,  known  in  connection  with  the  old  Paramus  church  as  the  "  Panne" 
(Ponds).  There  is  no  record  of  the  first  church,  and  all  the  informa- 
ti<m  in  regard  to  its  early  history  must  be  found  with  that  of  other 
churches,  with  which  it  was  connected. 

The  Rev.  Guilliam  Bertholf  returned  from  Holland,  alter  his  ordi- 
nation, if)'M,  and  became  the  pastor  of  Hackensack  and  Acjuackanonk 
churches.  He  was  registered  at  Second  River,  now  Belleville,  in  about 
1700  and  at  Ponds  i710.  This  was  the  first  public  worship  of  (lod  in 
this  place.  Here  Rev.  Bertholf  remained  over  twenty  years.  He  was 
also   the    first   minister    at   Ta])pan,    and     besides,    ordained    elders   and 


188  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

deacons  at  Raritan,  and  administered  the  sacraments.  He  was  for  many 
years  the  only  Dutch  pastor  in  New  Jersey.  The  old  Log  Church  was 
located  east  of  the  new  cemetery,  near  the  public  road,  and  was  the  first 
religious  structure  north  of  the  Passaic  River,  but  there  is  not  a  vestige 
of  it  left  to  mark  the  spot. 

Rev.  Henricus  Coens  succeeded  Mr.  Bertholf  in  the  Log  Church  in 
1725,  ministering  at  the  same  time  in  the  churches  of  Belleville  and 
Pompton. 

The  Rev.  Johannes  Van  Driessen,  the  next  minister,  was  settled  in 
Aquackanonk  in  1735,  and  was  pastor  of  Pompton  and  the  Ponds  in  con- 
nection with  Aquackanonk.  Mr.  Van  Driessen  was  the  last  preacher  in 
the  Log  Church. 

The  plot  of  land  upon  which  stands  the  present  (1876),  church  was 
given  by  John  Romaine  and  Jacob  Garrison,  a  part  of  which  was  appro- 
priated for  a  graveyard. 

The  edifice  was  built  of  stone,  hexangular  in  style,  the  roof  converg- 
ing to  a  point.  The  materials  were  provided  by  the  congregation.  The 
interior  of  the  church  was  furnished  with  chairs.  There  was  a  high 
pulpit  and  a  short  gallery,  all  very  plain  but  substantial.  As  near  as 
can  be  determined  it  was  built  about  1745. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Vanderlinde,  the  next  pastor,  was  a  native  of  Bergen 
county,  born  at  Pollifly  in  1719,  and  was  called  to  this  church  in  connec- 
tion with  Paramus  on  August  21st,  1748.  This  is  the  first  record  in  the 
old  Dutch  Book.  The  Elders  at  this  time  were  :  Albert  Van  Dien,  Steve 
Terhune,  Yan  Romaine,  Barbent  Van  Hoorn,  Hendrick  Van  Aele,  Roe- 
lof  Van  Houten,  The  deacons  were  :  Johannes  Stek,  Kleet  Zabriskie, 
Albert  Bogert,  Simeon  Vanwinkle,  Cornelius  Van  Houten,  and  Steve 
Bogert.  The  Ponds  Church  belonged  to  the  Classis  of  Hackensack 
until  the  year  i800,  to  the  Classis  of  Bergen  until  iS39,  and  is  at  this 
time,  (1876),  connected  with  the  Classis  of  Passaic.  The  Rev.  Peter 
Leydt  was  licensed  and  became  pastor  at  the  Ponds  about  1788,  and  died 
in  1793,  and  the  Rev.  Peter  Dewitt  was  called  to  this  pastorate  in  1798. 
The  Hexangular  Church  had  now  been  in  use  fifty  years  and  the  Consists 
ory  decided  to  furnish  a  new  roof,  a  new  pulpit,  and  to  substitute  pew- 
for  the  chairs.  All  improvements  that  were  made,  added  to  the  value  of 
the  property.  Mr.  Dewitt  extended  his  labors  to  Wyckoff  on  the  east 
and  to  Preakness  on  the  south. 

The  people  of  Wyckoff  now  built  a  new  church.  Judge  Van  Voorhees 
acting  as  treasurer  and  general  manager.  The  work  of  building  began 
in  1806,  and  the  same  Fall  the  pews  were  sold.  Mr.  Dewitt  died  in  1809, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  under  the  old  church.  The  Rev.  Demarest  was  next 
installed  as  pastor  on  November  11th,  1811.  There  were  no  stoves  in 
the  church,  but  this  did  not  deter  people  from  going  to  the  services. 
Mr.  Demarest's  ministry  closed  about  i820.  He  always  signed  his  name, 
John  Demarest,  V.  D.  M.  (Minister  of  the  Word  of  God.)  The  elders 
at  this  time  were  :  Joseph  Van  Cleve,  Conrad  Sturr,   Nicholas  Romeyn, 


HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COl'NTY  1 8'J 

and  William  Pulis.  The  deacons  were  :  George  Snyder,  Simeon  Van 
Winkle,  Samuel  Romeyn  and  John  A.  Van  Voorhees. 

Upon  coming  to  the  Ponds,  the  people  honored  Mr.  Demarest  with 
a  large  deception,  This  was  his  last  regular  charge.  His  daughter, 
Mrs.  Jacobus  Blauvelt,  of  Paterson,  has  given  some  facts  in  regard  to 
her  father.  He  was  born  at  New  Bridge,  N.  J.,  in  i763.  He  moved 
from  Tappan  where  he  owned  the  farm  upon  which  Major  Andre  was 
executed  and  buried.  Mrs.  Blauvelt  relates  that  she  was  at  that  time  a 
young  lady,  and  stood  by  when  the  body  was  exhumed  by  the  British 
Consul  Buchanan  and  Captain  Park.  She  further  says:  Two  cedar  trees 
grew  on  his  grave,  fastening  their  roots  into  his  coffin.  The  grave  was 
protected  by  a  stone  wall.  The  trees  entire  were  transported  with  the 
coffin  to  England  and  converted  into  snuff  boxes.  One  box,  says  Mrs. 
Blauvelt,  "was  elegantly  finished,  being  lined  with  satin  and  velvet, 
covered  with  red  morocco,  bound  with  gold,  and  sent  to  my  father,  bear- 
ing this  beautiful  inscription:  "From  his  Royal  Highness,  the  Duke  of 
York,  to  mark  his  sense  of  the  Rev.  John  Demarest's  liberal  attention 
upon  the  occasion  of  the  removal  of  the  remains  of  the  late  Major  John 
Andre  at  Tappan,  on  the  10th  of  August,  1821."  Each  line  was  written 
in  a  different  style  of  letters.  We  examined  it  and  pronounced  it  a  rare 
and  costly  present." 

At  the  close  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Demarest  returned  to  his  farm  at 
Tappan.  The  seal  of  this  church  was  bought  by  Simon  Van  Winkle, 
and  cost  Si. 75.  The  church  was  incorporated  October  25,  1824,  as  the 
"  First  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Ponds."  Prior  to  this,  however,  is 
the  following  record:  "Ponds,  May  10th,  1822.  According  to  the  grant 
of  the  Classis  of  Bergen,  the  members  in  full  communion  of  the  Church 
at  Ponds,  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  having  their  congregation  regu- 
larly organized.  Petitions  for  every  necessary  aid  and  assistance  were 
offered  at  the  throne  of  grace.  They  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of 
elders  and  deacons.  The  elders  chosen  were:  Joseph  Van  Cleve  and 
George  Snyder,  the  deacons  Benjamin  Bartholf  and  Simeon  Van  Winkle. 
Whereas  there  are  but  few  members,  it  is  judged  best  to  ordain  two  elders 
and  two  deacons  at  this  present  time,  to  serve  as  consistory. 

It  is  agreed  that  next  spring  one  elder  and  one  deacon  shall  be 
chosen  in  the  room  of  George  Snyder  and  Benjamin  Bartholf,  and  if 
practicable  add  four  to  the  present  number.  The  line  agreed  upon  ver- 
bally between  the  two  congregations,  by  the  consistory,  is  the  following: 
Beginning  at  the  house  of  Garret  Post,  from  thence  to  James  Acker- 
man's;  from  thence  to  Abraham  Winter's;  and  from  thence  to  Garret 
Garrison's.  A  sermon  was  preached  by  the  minister  named  by  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Classis,  and  after  the  sermon  the  consistory  chosen  were 
ordained  to  their  office." 

Rev.  Zachariah  H.  Kuypers,  licensed  by  the  Classis  of  Hackensack, 
was  called  to  this  church,  the  call  being  dated  February  24,  1825.  The 
elders  then  were:  Benjamin  Bartholf,  Samuel  Romaine,  Simeon  Van 
Winkle  and  Jacob  Garrison,  Jr.     The  deacons:     Samuel  P.  Demarest, 


190  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Henry  I.  Spear,  William  H.  Winters,  David  N.  Romaine.  One-third  of 
Mr.  Kuj-pers  time  was  given  to  this  congregation,  preaching  every  third 
Sabbath,  twice  a  day  in  summer  and  once  in  winter. 

The  Hexangular  Church  which  had  then  been  in  use  about  eighty 
3'ears,  was  considered  unfit  for  use,  and  the  entire  structure  was  re- 
moved, and  a  new  house  erected  on  the  same  spot.  The  trustees  at  this 
time  were:  Martin  Van  Houten,  William  H.  Winters,  Peter  C.  Bogert 
and  John  S.  Post,  Jr.  The  builder  was  Cornelius  Demarest  and  the 
principal  mason,  William  Winters  of  Paramus.  It  was  several  years 
before  the  front  was  finished,  when  Mr.  Nicholas  D.  Romaine  and  his 
cousin  put  on  the  white  wall  of  cement. 

The  work  of  building  began  in  1829  and  the  pews  were  offered  for 
sale  on  the  17th  of  November.  During  this  season  the  church  service 
was  held  in  the  barn  of  Peter  S.  Demarest.  Mrs.  Maria  Garrison,  wife 
of  Samuel  P.  Demarest,  presented  a  hymn  book,  baptismal  cup  and  table 
cloth  to  the  new  church.  Black  velvet  bags  attached  to  long  poles  were 
used  for  collections.  It  is  said  that  in  some  churches  a  little  bell  was 
placed  at  the  bottom  of  these  bags  to  wake  up  the  sleepers.  Mr.  Ku}-- 
pers  ministry  closed  in  1841.  On  July  20th  1S42  the  Consistory  of  the 
Church  of  Ponds  met  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Albert  Bartholf  and  prepared 
a  call  for  William  J.  Thompson  and  upon  his  signifying  his  acceptance, 
the  Classis  convened  at  the  Church  on  August  23,  for  the  purpose  of 
ordination  and  installation.  One-half  of  Mr.  Thompson's  time  was 
given  to  the  Ponds  and  one-half  to  the  Church  of  Wyckoff,  which  had 
united  in  the  call.  The  pastoral  relations  were  dissolved  July  12,  1845, 
and  thereafter  these  churches  became  independent,  each  calling  a  pastor 
of  its  own.  The  Wyckoff  church  called  Rev.  Abram  G.  Ryerson,  whose 
successor  was  Rev.  William  B.  Van  Bcnschoten,  and  the  next  (1876), 
Samuel  T.  Earle. 

On  November  13,  1845,  Rev.  Barnabas  V.  Collins  was  installed  at 
the  Ponds.  The  congregation  provided  a  suitable  home  for  the  pastor 
with  thirty  acres  of  ground  attached.  This  was  the  first  time  in  their 
history  that  a  parsonage  had  been  provided.  Among  other  resolutions 
adopted  for  the  good  of  the  church  was  this:  "Resolved,  that  any  per- 
son not  paying  salary  shall  pa}'  two  dollars  for  a  funeral  sermon,  and 
fifty  cents  for  a  baptism."  Mr.  Collins  remained  until  1867  when  he  re- 
signed and  was  followed  in  1869  by  Rev.  Alburtus  Vandewater,  whose 
pastorate  extended  over  the  short  period  of  three  years,  when  the  church 
called  Rev.  Theodore  F.  Chambers  the  same  year  (1872),  and  in  1876  he 
received  a  call  which  he  accepted. 

The  Pompton  Church  was  founded  in  1815.  The  first  Sabbath 
school  at  the  Ponds  was  organized  in  1883,  with  some  -opposition. 
Pleasant  Valley  organized  a  Sabbath  school  in  1867,  in  the  old  tavern 
of  Stephen  Bartholf.  Chrystal  Lake  organized  a  school  in  January 
187(),  using  the  depot  as  a  place  of  meeting. 


AAKON    G.    t'.AKKISON 


HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  191 

KOD.MAN    M.     PKICE. 

Rodman  M.  Price,  fornior  (luvernor  of  New  Jersey,  was  horn  in 
Sussex  county,  N.  J.,  November  .^,  ISIS,  and  was  the  son  of  l''rancis 
Price,  who  subsequent!}- remo\ed  to  New  York  city. 

Here,  in  the  Hig-h  School,  and  l.ater  in  Lawrenceville  i  N.  J.  i  Aca- 
demy, Rodman  M.  prepared  for  college,  but  after  a  brief  period  spent  in 
the  class  of  18,'i4,  in  Princeton,  he  was  oblig-ed  to  give  up  his  studies  on 
account  of  ill  health.  After  studying-  law  for  a  short  term  he  became 
interested  in  politics,  and  in  the  interest  of  the  Democratic  party  he 
addressed  large  assemblages  when  but  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was 
sent  as  a  deleg-ate  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at  Baltimore  in 
1840.  After  his  marriage  to  the  daughter  of  Captain  Edward  Trenchard, 
United  States  Navy,  he  applied  to  President  Van  Buren  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  purser  in  the  navy.  Mr.  Price  was  first  ordered  to  the  ste.im 
frigate  "Fulton,"  Captain  Newton.  After  a  year's  service.  Captain 
Newtcm  and  Mr.  Price  were  ordered  to  the  new  steam  frigate  "  Missouri," 
whicli,  with  her  sister  ship,  the  "Mississippi,"  were  the  largest  in  the 
world,  carrj-ing  at  that  time  the  heaviest  guns,  and  considered  the  finest 
specimens  of  steam  naval  architecture.  This  was  in  1842.  In  184.^  the 
"  Missouri"  was  ordered  to  take  Caleb  Cushing,  minister  to  China,  to 
Alexandria,  and  the  night  after  her  arrival  in  the  harbor  of  (libraltar 
she  was  destroyed  by  fire.  After  Mr.  Price's  return  he  did  special  duty, 
disbursing- for  the  "  Allegheny,"  the  first  iron  steamship  built  by  the 
government.  He  was  next  ordered  to  the  slooi>of-war  "Cyane,"  which 
eventually  sailed  for  Monterey,  where  it  arrived  on  July  .^d,  and  on  the 
7th  of  July,  1846.  formal  possession  was  taken  of  Upper  CaliforniM,  Mr. 
Price  being  one  of  those  who  manned  the  halliards  that  run  up  the  tlag. 
which  still  floats  over  California.  In  18,^0  he  was  elected  member  of  the 
Thirty-second  Congress.  On  Jimuary  17th,  18S4,  he  was  inaugurated 
(Governor  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  after 
retiring  from  this  office,  he  established  the  Weehawken  Ferry,  which  he 
managed  for  a  number  of  years.  His  last  public  work  of  im])ortatice  was 
as  representati\-e  of  the  Peace  Congress  at  Washington. 

.\.\K()N     C.    (;.\!<K-|SI)N. 

Among  the  old  residents  of  Bergen  county  no  life,  perhaps,  is  more 
interesting  in  detail  than  that  <if  Aaron  (1.  (iarrison,  whose  Imme  is  in 
the  Rama])o  Valley.  (Jarret  (iarrison  and  Kli/..-ilieth  Hop])er  were  the 
parents  of  five  children,  Mary  Ann,  Kliza,  .\aron,  Sally  .-ind  Peter  of 
whom  Mary  Ann,  Aaron  and  Sallv  ;ire  now  living. 

Aaron  (i.,  the  snl)ject  of  this  sketch  ;nid  the  eld>'sl  son,  w:is  born 
Se])tembi-r  21.  ISl't.  He  became  the  chief  hel]>  of  his  fatlu-r.  who  w.-is  :i 
farmer,  and  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  independent  thouglil.  although 
of  limited  education.  I^he  son  inherited  his  father's  intellect,  i-arly 
acquiring  a  ])ractical  knowledgeof  general  business  transactions,  which 
was  recognized  by  the  connnunity.  .\t  twenty-oni-  yi-ars  of  age  he  was 
elected  town  clerk  of  tlu'  original  townshi]i  of  j-'ranklin.  serving  the  full 


192  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

term  of  three  years.  Upon  declining'  a  re-election  to  this  office,  he  was 
immediately  elected  member  of  the  town  committee  for  the  following 
three  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  term  he  was  again  elected  town 
clerk,  and  has  sin:e  served  a  number  of  terms  in  this  office.  Prior  to  the 
creation  of  the  office  of  School  Superintendent,  Mr.  Garrison  was  made 
member  of  the  school  committee,  and,  as  chairman,  discharged  the 
duties  of  that  office  for  a  period  of  three  years. 

An  advocate  of  the  cause  of  education,  he  established  a  new  schotd 
district,  and  contributed  largely  toward  the  building  of  two  new  school 
houses,  one  at  Riverdale  and  one  at  Oakland. 

For  more  than  forty  years  of  his  life  he  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  has  drawn  up  deeds,  bonds,  mortgages,  wills,  and  all  sorts  of  docu- 
ments, agreements,  contracts,  etc.,  for  many  people  in  both  Passaic  and 
Bergen  counties. 

In  the  spring  of  1S()S,  Judge  A.  Garrison  was  elected  County  Collector 
of  Bergen  county,  and  during  his  incumbency  (to  187.^),  received  and 
disbursed  over  $1,000,000.  He  was  foreman  of  the  Grand  Jury  several 
terms  of  court,  and  was  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  two  terms, 
of  five  years  each.  In  the  spring  of  the  present  year  ilS't'))  he  was 
again  elected  justice  of  the  peace  by  both  i>olitical  ])arties,  and  has 
accepted,  being  now  established  in  that  office. 

In  private  life  he  has  often  been  called  upon  to  act  as  executor  of 
estates.  Being  something  of  a  musician,  the  Judge  has  been  chorister 
of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Ponds,  has  composed  sacred  music,  and,  in 
his  younger  days,  taught  "singing  school."'  Remarkably  versatile,  he 
can  invoke  the  muses  and  indite  his  thoughts  in  rhyme,  which  he  often 
does  for  friends  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

Judge  Garrison  was  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  New  Jersey 
Western  Railroad  for  five  years,  and  contributed  liberally  towards  its 
ccmstruction.  In  summing  up  his  various  avocations  the  Judge  has 
apth"  said: 

"At  ten  years  old  I  drove  a  team. 

At  twelve  I  grain  did  sow. 
For  fifty  years  I  fished  the  stream 
And  walked  behind  the  plough." 

DAVID    CHU'ISTIK    Bl'SII. 

The  first  train  of  cars  on  the  Midland  Railroad  through  the  village 
of  Oakland  was  run  on  Mav  1,  1>S70.  This  important  event  was  due 
mainlv  to  the  foresight  and  public  spirit  of  David  C.  Bush,  who  was 
one  of  the  leaders  in  a  movement  which  has  built  up  this  place  to  a 
j)ros])erous  village,  which,  with  its  stores  and  manufacturing  industries, 
is  ecpuil  to  any  other  place  of  its  age  and  size  in  the  county. 

David  C.  Bush  is  the  grandson  of  Samuel  Bush,  who  came  to  Mah- 
wali  from  Holland  in  colonial  times.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  manu- 
facturer of  cowbells,  in  which  industry  he  was  an  expert.  His  son. 
Peter    S.  Hush,  was   a    ■soldier   in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.      Peter  S. 


n.wii)  c.   lusii 


194  HISTORY    OF    BEKCIEN    COUNTY 

Bush  and  his  wife  Bridget  Christie  were  the  parents  of  Samuel,  John, 
Mary,  Magdalene,  Elizabeth  Ann,  David  C,  Rachel  and  Peter.  The 
father  died  eighty-four  years  of  age,  soon  after  the  late  war.  David  C. 
Bush  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  at  Mahwah  in  1827.  In  1848  he 
married  Miss  Anna  Van  Blarcom,  and  in  1852,  he  located  at  Oakland, 
where  he  has  resided  since  that  time.  His  business  has  been  farming 
and  following  various  callings  and  pursuits,  looking  to  his  own  material 
interests  and  the  growth  of  the  village.  As  one  of  the  sponsors  for  the 
success  of  the  railroad  he  took  stock  in  that  company,  and  helped  in 
part  to  build  it.  In  1869  he  erected  his  present  residence,  and  upon  the 
completion  of  the  railroad,  used  one  room  of  his  new  house  for  a  few 
months  as  a  ticket  office,  and  subsequently  became  agent  for  the  com 
pany,  where  he  served  for  seventeen  years.  He  was  postmaster  of  the 
village  sixteen  years;  was  on  the  Township  Committee  seven  years;  a 
Freeholder  during  the  troublous  times  of  the  late  war,  and  has  held 
various  other  offices  and  positions  of  trust  when  necessity  so  required. 
In  1887  he  built  a  store  and  did  merchandizing  until  recently  when  he 
retired  from  active  business. 

He  was  married  to  his  present  wife  Jemima  Van  Houghten,  daugh- 
ter of  Martin  Van  Houghten,  May  7th,  1867,  and  his  son  David  C.  Bush, 
Jr.,  and  her  son,  W.  H.  Shuart,  by  a  former  marriage,  now  own  and 
operate  the  store. 

J.    E.    MOWEKSON. 

J.  E.  Mowerson,  of  Wyckoff,  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Mary  Ann 
(Pulis)  Mowerson,  of  Bergen  county.  At  an  early  age  he  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter,  and  later  followed  the  business  of  trucking  in  New 
York  for  a  period  of  three  years.  In  1878  he  located  in  Wyckoff, 
embarking  in  the  business  of  general  merchandise,  now  dealing  in  all 
kinds  of  groceries,  provisions  and  hardware,  with  marked  success.  Mr. 
Mowerson  was  born  at  Saddle  River,  December,  9th,  1846.  In  1867  he 
married  Miss  Lettie  C.  Ackerman,  of  Westwood.  They  have  had  five 
children.  Anna,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  G.  DeBaun;  James 
A.  (now  deceased),  Ida  and  Archie  J.,  who  assist  in  their  father's 
store,  and  George. 

Mr.  Mowerson  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  for  many  years  post- 
master of  Wyckoff.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

PETEK    S.    PT'LIS. 

Mr.  Pulis  Ijccame  an  employee  of  the  New  York,  Susquehanna  & 
Western  Railroad  Company  at  Wyckoff,  when  a  Imy,  and  although  en- 
gaged in  other  l)usiness,  still  retains  his  place  at  the  head  of  the  office, 
where  he  has  had  charge  since  his  twentieth  year.  In  addition  to  the 
responsibilities  devolving  upon  him  as  an  employee,  Mr.  Pulis  carries  on 
an  extensive  ice  trade,  from  which  he  realizes  a  handsome  profit,  while 
being  the  owner  and  ])roi)rietor  of  what  is  known  as  "Spring  Lake 
Farm,"  on  which  poultry  raising  is  the  chief  industry,  bringing  in 
;■■   njTous  incomi:. 


J.     K.     M()\V)':i\'S()N 


19(> 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


Mr  Pulis  was  born  Decembei  9,  1863,  in  Bergen  County  where  he 
received  a  limited  education  in  the  common  schools.  His  father  Samuel 
Pulis,  is  a  native  of  Bergen  county,  carrying  on  farming  and  also  doing 
a  good  business  in  the  grocery  trade. 

Mr.  Pulis  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Jennie  Demarest,  daughter  of 
John  C.  Demarest  of  Bergen  county.  They  have  two  children  :  Charles 
S.,  and  Ida.  In  politics  Mr.  Pulis  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  ot 
the  Junior  Order,  United  American  Mechanics. 

H.    T.    LAWKENCE. 

H  T  Lawrence  is  the  s<:.n  of  Thomas  Lawrence,  formerly  State 
Senator  f^om  Sussex  county  and  an  honored  and  highly  respected 
citizen  Mr.  Lawrence  was  born  at  Sparta,  a  village  of  bus- 
sex  countv,  in  i846.  He  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Wortendyke,  where 
he  has  conducted  a  business  in  general  merchandise  covering  a  period  of 
seventeen  years.  His  industry  and  economical  business  methods  have 
established  him  as  a  reliable  business  man.  In  P^^^^ics  Mr  Lawrence 
is  independent,  voting  for  the  candidate  who  seems  best  fitted  for  the 
place,  while  he  never  seeks  office  himself.     His   time  and   energies  have 

been  devoted  to  his  business,  in  which  he  has  been  successful. 

He  has  a  delightful   home,  and  is  a  man  of  means  and  influence  m 

the  county. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
HOHOKUS. 

THE     OLD     TOWNSHIP     OF     HOHOKUS  —  CIVIL      LIST  —  ITS     ENTERPRISES  — 
ORGANIZATION — RAMSEY'S     COUNTRY    SEATS  —  MAHWAH  —  INDUS- 
TRIES— SCHOOLS — CHURCHES — BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

The  township  of  Hohokus  presents  alternately  valleys  and  ridges, 
picturesque  as  to  scenery  and  of  great  fertility.  The  town  is  well 
watered,  rich  in  meadow  lands,  and  is  very  beautiful.  The  abundance 
of  water  furnishes  excellent  power  which  is  utiliiied  along-  the  streams 
for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  the  numerous  grist  and  saw  mills  en- 
joy home  patronage. 

The  name  "Hohokus"  is  an  In<lian  word  signifying  "Cleft  in  the 
rock,"  which  name  of  itself  is  indicative  of  the  abode  of  the  Red  Man  at 
some  former  period.  For  successive  generations  much  of  the  land  in 
this  township,  has  been  held  by  its  original  owners  and  their  descendants, 
other  portions  of  it  having  been  taken  up  by  city  purchasers  who  have 
erected  elegant  mansions  of  architectural  beauty  for  their  homes.  In 
point  of  enterprise  the  town  is  fortunate.  The  Ramapo  and  Paterson — 
now  the  Erie  railroad,  passes  through  the  township  and  has  since  its 
advent,  assisted  greatly  in  the  development  of  the  place. 

Among  the  early  names  in  the  township  of  Hohokus  are  those  of 
Bogert,  Ackerman,  Hopper,  Voorhis,  Zabriskie,  Rosencrantz,  De  Baun, 
Wannamaker,  Christie,  Conklin,  Ramsey,  Van  Gelder,  Garrison,  May, 
(roetschius,  Valentine,  Vauderbeck,  Quackenbush,  Storms,  and  Powell. 
Of  these  families  a  full  account  is  given  in  our  biographical  department. 

HOHOKUS. 

The  township  of  Hohokus  was  taken  from  the  township  of  Franklin 
as  shall  appear  and  since  its  formation,  has  been  divided  and  subdivided 
until  but  a  portion  of  its  original  area  is  comprised  within  its  former 
boundary  lines.  Originally  the  township  was  made  to  include  Upper 
and  Lower  Saddle  River  Borough,  Allendale  Borough  and  Orvil  town- 
ship, all  of  which  have  since  been  taken  off  leaving  simply-  the  villages 
of  Ramsey  and  Mahwah,  and  their  vicinities  as  a  relic  of  the  old  town- 
ship. 

OKGANIZATION. 

The  act  organizing  the  old  township  of  Hohokus  reads   as   follows: 
"An  act  to  set  off   from  the  township  of  Franklin,  in  the  county  of 
Bergen,  a  new  township,  to  be  called  the  township  of  Hohokus. 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  (xeneral  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
New  Jersey,  That  all  that  part  of  the  township  of  Franklin,  in  the 
county  of  Bergen  that  lies  north  of  the  following  line  :  beginning  at  the 
Saddle  River  Creek,  at  the  U])])er  end  of  Daniel  Perry's  mill-pond  opposite 
the  course  of  the  road  leading  from  the  Saddle  River  road  to  Fairfield  ; 


1">S  HISTORY    OF    BEKOEN    COUNTY 

thence  a  staiglit  course  to  said  road  ;  thence  along  the  middle  of  said 
road  until  it  intersects  the  road  leading  from  new  Prospect  to  Paramus; 
thence  across  said  road,  the  course  of  the  aforementioned  road,  direct  to 
the  Paterson  and  Ramapo  Railroad  ;  thence  along  said  railroad  northerly 
to  the  Hohokus  Brook  ;  thence  along  said  Hohokus  Brook  westerly  until 
it  crosses  the  public  road  leading  from  Campgaw  to  Paterson,  at  the 
upper  end  of  John  Halsted's  mill-pond  ;  thence  westerly  along  the  line, 
between  the  lands  of  Andrew  G.  Ackerman,  Abram  J.  Hopper,  Henry 
Sturr,  Conrad  Sturr,  and  Peter  H.  Pulis  on  the  north  and  Lewis  You- 
mans  and  others  on  the  south,  to  the  middle  of  the  road  leading  from 
Wyckoff  to  Campgaw,  at  the  southeasterly  corner  of  lands  of  Peter  H. 
Pulis  ;  thence  westerly  along  the  middle  of  said  road  to  the  division  line 
between  lands  of  Henry  B.  Winter  and  Daniel  Thomas;  thence  a  straight 
course  to  the  middle  of  the  Youpoh  road,  north  of  the  house  of  David 
Bertholf,  at  the  intersection  of  the  mountain  road  leading  from  Wynockie; 
thence  a  northerly  course  through  the  Ramapo  Mountain,  parallel  with 
the  New  York  State  line,  to  the  line  between  the  counties  of  Bergen  and 
Passaic,  shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  into  a  separate  township, 
to  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  township  of  Hohokus.  in  the 
county  of  Bergen." 

It  was  also  enacted  that  the  township  of  Hohokus  should  hold  its 
tirst  annual  meeting  on  the  day  appointed  by  law  for  holding  the  annual 
township  meetings  in  other  townships  in  the  county  of  Bergvrn,  at  the 
house  of  John  W.  Ramsev.  at  Mount  Prospect,  in  said  township  of  Ho- 
hokus. 

This  act  was  approved  February  5.  1849. 

Cn^IL    LIST. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  township  officers  since  184'): 
Freeholders,   1849.  James  S.  Wanamaker;  1850-52.  Elijah  Conklin; 

1849,  John  G.  Ackerman;  1850-51.  Abraham  Van  Horn;  1852,  Jacob  I. 

De   Baun;  1853-54,  1861-64.   Peter   P.  Ramsey;  1853,  John   W.  Ramsey; 

1854,  Abraham  Ackerman;  1856-58,  1868-70,  Aaron  Ackerman;  1856-58. 

John  A.  Winter;  1859-60,  Andrew  Van  Buskirk,  David  P.  Ramsey;  1861- 

63,   Andrew  N.  Hopper;    1864-66,  Thomas  Henyon;    1866-67,  Jacob  H. 

Bamper;    1.S67-69,    Garret   H.   Van   Horn;    1870-71.    1873-75,    Aaron  H. 

Westervelt;    1872,    Henry  P.   Wannamaker;    1876-78,    Cornelius  Folly; 

1879-81,  John  E.  Hopper;  1882-83,  W.  H.  Packer;   1884-85,  Andrew  H. 

Ackerman;  1886-89,  Martin  M.  Henion;  1890-93,  A.  A.  Ackerman;  1894- 

97,  Daniel  S.  Wanamaker;  1898,  Albert  A.  King. 

Township  Clerks,  1849-51,  Peter  P.  Ramsey;    1850-52,  Peter  Ward; 

1853,  Richard  H.  Wanamaker;  1854-56,  Isaac  J.  Storms;  i855,  Henry  R. 

Wanamaker;    1857-59,    Jacob   P.    Herring;  1860,   Abram  H.  Ackerman; 

1861-6,3-75-77,  John  A.  Garrison.   Jr.;   1864-66,  John  W.  Bogert;  1867-69- 

79-81,   John  Q.   Voorhees;  1870,   Andrew  J.   Winter;   1871-73.   John   G. 

Esler;   1874,   Albert  W.  Conklin;   1878,   Daniel   S.  Wanamaker;  1881-83. 

John  y.  Voorhees;  1884-89,  Richard  Wanamaker;  1890-92.  John  Acker- 
man; TsgS,  W.  J.  Thurston;  1899,  W.  Van  Horn. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  19<) 

Assessors,  1849-51,  Abram  H.  Lydecker;  '5(t,  Edward  Salver;  '52-34, 
John  Young':  '55,  Abram  A.  \'an  Riper;  '5()-5S,  John  W.  House;  '59. 
Christian  W.  Christie;  '00,  Albert  G.  Lydecker;  '61,  George  W.  Whitley; 
'()2,  Abram  Garrison,  '63-05;  Isaac  J.  Storms;  '66-68,  John  E.  Hopper; 
'69,  Albert  A.  Lydecker;  '70,  John  W.  Bogert;  '71,  David  A.  Pell;  '72-73, 
Matthew  D.  White;  '74-75,  Stephen  J.  Terhune;  '76-78,  James  Shuart; 
'79-81,  William  H.  Murray;  '84,  Lewis  H.  May;  '81,  Albert  W.  Conklin* 
'86-94,  W.  H.  Murray;  '94-99,  John  Ackerman. 

Collectors,  1849-51,  George  Esler;  '52-54,  Richard  Christie;  '55-57, 
John  W.  Ramsey;  '58-60,  Elijah  Conklin;  '60-1)2-63,  Andrew  Winter;  '64- 
()6,  Garret  H.  Van  Horn;  '67-69,  John  H.  Henion;  '70,  John  O.  Voorhees; 
"71-73,  Levi  Hopper;  '74-76,  John  V.  B.  Henion;  '77-79,  George  L  Ryer- 
son;  '80-81,  W.  E.  Conklin;  "83,  W.  H.  Youmans;  •,s4-8();  A.  A.  Acker- 
man;  '87-99,  Garret  \'alentine. 

VILI.AClliS. 

The  most  important  \-illage  iu  the  township  is  Ramsey,  so  named 
from  Peter  J.  Ramsey,  the  original  owner  of  the  land.  It  was  sold  after 
his  decease,  about  the  year  1854,  at  Commissioner's  sale,  to  William  J. 
Pulis,  the  tract  disposed  of  embracing  sixty  acres.  Mr.  Pulis  resold 
twent-two  acres  to  John  Y.  Dater,  of  Hohokus  township,  with  whose 
advent  an  era  of  enterprise  dawned  upon  the  locality.  Mr.  Dater  at  once 
began  the  erection  of  buildings,  and  opened  a  store  of  general  merchan- 
dise, adding  to  this  an  extensive  suppl}-  of  coal  and  building  materials. 
The  earliest  structure  was  of  brick.  About  the  same  time  a  hotel  was 
erected  by  David  W.  \'alentine,  which  was  burned,  and  the  Fowier 
House  since  built  vipon  the  site.  Mr.  August  Schroder  has  owned  this 
property  since  1885.  Mr.  Dater  next  erected  a  building  for  the  manu- 
facture of  sleighs,  and  for  a  long  period  did  a  thriving  business,  finally 
leasing  to  M.  B.  Deyoe.  William  J.  Pulis  then  built  a  store  of  which 
his  son  subsequently  became  the  propretor,  he  dying  in  1895.  His  son, 
J.  W.  Pulis,  and  his  grandson,  W.  H.  Pulis,  the  present  postmaster,  each 
have  stores  in  this  place.  A  station  had  been  established  on  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Ramapo  and  Paterson  (now  the  Erie)  Railroad,  which 
was  called  Ramsey,  and  a  post  office  was  located  here  by  the  Govern- 
ment with  Albert  G.  Lydecker  as  the  first  postmaster,  and  John  Y.  Dater 
as  his  successor.  As  the  location  became  more  favorably  known,  capital 
flowed  into  the  embryo  village,  residences  were  erected,  business  in- 
creased and  Ramsey  took  a  place  among  the  growing  towns  of  the  county. 

The  Reformed  Dutch  C'hurch  at  Ramseys  was  erected  in  1876,  the 
ground  on  which  it  stands  having  been  donated  by  Mrs.  William 
Halstead. 

William  Slack  has  been  a  prominent  merchant  in  the  place  for  about 
forty  years.  He  first  came  to  Ramsey's  in  1849  and  at  that  time  there 
were  but  two  or  three  houses  in  the  place.  He  followed  the  cabinet 
business,  and  after  a  few  years  in  Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  pursuing  his 
trade,  he  returned   in    1S6(»  and  since  that   time   has  been  the   i)rincip:il 


200 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


undertaker  not  only  for  Ramseys  but  for  a  large  portion  of  this  part  of 
Bergen  county.  Mr.  Slack  still  has  the  old  hearse  he  himself  made 
many  years  ago.  In  1869  he  built  his  present  store,  in  which  he  carries 
a  fuilline  of  hardware  and  furniture,  also  a  full  equipment  of  stock  for 
caskets  and  funeral  supplies.  When  Mr.  Slack  first  came  to  Ramseys 
he  was  honored  with  the  office  of  Constable,  and  one  of  the  tirst  duties 
that  fell  to  his  lot  was  the  arrest  of  Ben.  Moore,  a  notorious  character, 
for  stabbing  a  man  in  Fowlers  Hotel,  taking  him  to  Hackensack  Jail. 
Moore  was  a  bully,  and  Slack  was  a  slight  young  man  not  particularly 
skilled  in  ruffianism,  but  he  succeeded  finally  in  landing  his  man,  though 
it  was  a  herculean  task.  The  yictim  of  the  affray  died  nine  days  after 
the  sad  eyent  and  Moore  got  ten  years  in  the  penitentiary. 

In  1870,  James  Shuart,  a  man  well  known  in  Bergen  county,  came 
to  Rimsey's  where  he  built  his  house  in  1871,  and  subsequently  built  a 
half  dozen  other  houses.  Mr.  Shuart  has  been  in  the  meat  business 
during  all  this  time  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  butchers  m  the  county- 
It  has  not  been  an  unusual  thing  for  him  in  former  years  to  kill  a  100 
sheep  in  a  week  and  a  half  do.en  steers.  He  bought  and  sold  only  the 
best  and  his  trade  was  phenominal.  On  the  17th  of  Noyember  1888  he 
celebrated  the  election  of  Harrison  oyer  Cleyeland  by  treating  the  people 
of  Ramseys  and  of  the  surrounding  country  to  a  "barbacue.  For  that 
occasSn  he  roasted  an  ox  that  weighed  750  pounds,  provided  three  ba  - 
reTof  the  Cream  of  Ale,  and  400  loaves  of  bread,  and  fully  loOO  people 
partook  of  that  banquet,  the  like  of  which  had  never  been  seen  before. 
in  this  part  of  the  State. 

The  Dater  Building  is  one  of  the  attractive  features  of^Ramsey  s. 
It  was  commenced  by  J.  Y.  Dater  on  Thanksgiving  D^^-^  l^..  and  com- 
pleted in  May  1898.  It  is  seventy-five  by  eighty-nine  feet  front,  con 
Sins  four  stores,  Lodge  rooms  for  the  J.  O.  A.  M.;  Mahwah  Counc  1 
Nr45;  Ramsey  Council  No.  26;  Ramapo  Valley  Counci  No.  1..9; 
Royal  Arcanum  and  also  offices  for  the  Ramseys  Journal.  It  is  a  sub- 
stantial brick  building  and  does  credit  to  the  place. 

LODGE    NO.    178,    I.    O.    O.    F. 

Two  members  of  Amity  Lodge  of  Spring  Valley,  N-  J-,  located  iri 
Ramseys  and  the  Lodge  was  finally  instituted  on  March  19,  1874      Her 
geTcounty  Lodge  No'.  73  had  charge  of  the  work  and  the    «, 
men  constituted  the  Charter  Members:  D.  S.  Wanamaker  John  H.  ler 
Hune    W   H.   Murray,   Thomas  H.   Howard,  William  Slack  and  John 
IZch      The  lodge  was  named  Hohokus.     The  first  meeting  was  held  m 
thetilding  afterwards  occupied  by  Murray's  Meat  Market.     The  nine 
members  of  the  Lodge  struggled   on  and  in  the  fourth  fiscal  year^  they 
experienced  their  darkest  period.     No  new  members  -re  added,  bu^ 
four  were  dropped  from  the  roll,  and  two  withdrew.     The  Lodge  then 
withdrew   to  the  Dater  Building.     The   first  death   occurred   after  the 
Lodge  had  been  instituted  fifteen  years. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  201 


XKWSI'APKKS. 

The  people  of  North  Berg-en.  centre  their  financial  interests  natur- 
ally at  Ramseys,  and  thus  followed,  as-  a  consequence,  the  "  Ramseys 
Journal,"  to  give  the  news  of  the  week.  This  paper  was  established  bv 
J.  Y.  Dater  who  issued  Volume  I  No.  1.  Thursday  May  26,  1892.  It 
was  the  successor  of  the  Courier,  a  previous  publication  by  Mr.  Dater, 
but  as  a  monthly  it  did  not  prove  a  financial  success.  Mr.  Dater  not  de- 
spairing, however,  established  the  weekly,  taking  care  to  equip  it  as  it 
should  be,  as  the  official  organ  of  Hohokus  township,  and  then  success 
came  to  him.  There  are  probably  no  better  equipped  offices  in  Bergen 
county,  not  only  for  newspaper  printing  but  for  pamphlet  work,  than 
those  in  the  Dater  Building  at  Ramsey.  There  is  also  a  bindery  con- 
nected with  the  Journal.     J.  Y.  Dater  is  proprietor. 

k.\msey's  fire  comp.\xy. 

Provision  against  fire  was  made  in  18')5,  by  the  organizatian  of  a 
company  November  18th  of  that  year,  consisting  of  forty-six  members, 
leading  men  of  Ramsey's,  The  officers  elected  were  J.  Y.  Dater,  Presi- 
dent:  A.  C.  Zabriskie,_Yi'-'e::Ptesident :  W.  H.  Pulis,  Treasurer;  W.  P. 
Halstead,  Recording  Secretary  ;  C.  G.  Sargent,  Financial  Secretary  ;  A. 
(i.  Sherwood,  Foreman  :  C.  Rose,  Engineer.  .Tames  Shuart  is  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

The  Department  owns  a  four  wheeled  apparatus  on  which  are 
mounted  two  forty-gallon  copper  cylinders  which  are  charged  with  chem- 
icals; and  it  is  claimed  that  one  gallon  of  this  acid  is  equal  in  effect  to 
forty  gallons  of  water. 

SCHOOL.S. 

In  184(t  the  people  of  this  district  erected  a  wooden  structure  sixteen 
by  twenty  feet  in  size  which  was  used  for  a  school  building  unril  1874. 
The  building  was  then  condemned  by  the  County  Superintendent,  when 
a  more  commodious  edifice  was  erected  in  its  stead.  This  house  was 
twenty-five  by  forty-five  feet  in  dimentions  one  story  high  with  belfry; 
attractive  in  appearance  and  well  furnished.  It  cost  S500U.  The  present 
building  was  erected  in  1892  at  a  cost  of  Slti.dOO.  James  Shuart  is  pre- 
sident of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  W.  S.  Stowell  is  principal  of  the 
school.     There  are  257  scholars  in  attendance  and  five  teachers  employed. 

The  True  Reformed  Church  at  Ramsey's  was  organized  on  the  24th 
of  May,  1824,  and  was  the  outgrowth  of  a  separation  from  the  Reformed 
(Dutch  )  Church.  The  causes  of  this  departure  from  the  parent  church 
will  not  be  deemed  of  essential  importance  in  a  history  of  this  character, 
and  are  therefore  not  given.  The  following  persons  who  left  the  orig- 
inal body  placed  themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  True  Reformed 
Church  of  America:  Rev.  James  D.  Demarest,  V.D.M.,  David  Valen- 
tine and  wife,  David  Christie  and  wife,  Peter  S.  Bush  and  wife,  Henry 
F.  Forte  and  wife,  John  I.  Post  and  wife.  Peter  Haring  and  wife.  John 
J.  Post  and  wife.  John  A.  Ackerman  and  wife.  William  Kmmit  and  wife. 
David    C.  Christie   and    wife,    Matthew    Dougherty,   Jacob    Mitchel    and 


202  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

wife.  Widow  Jemima  Van  Rhoder,  Widow  Margaret  Wanamaker,  Wid- 
ow Isabella  Donaldson,  David  Meyers  and  wife,  Jacob  Valentine,  Eliza- 
beth Christie,  James  P.  Ramsey,  Mrs.  Abram  Van  Roda,  Mrs.  Charles 
Townsend, — making  a  total  of  thirty-six  members. 

During-  the  year  1826  a  church  building  was  erected  one  mile  from 
Ramsey's  Station,  on  the  road  leading  to  Darlington.  Here  regular 
worship  was  maintained  until  1868  (a  period  of  forty-two  years),  when 
the  inconvenience  of  the  location  caused  a  change  to  be  suggested, 
(iround  was  partly  purchased,  and  the  remainder  donated  in  the  village 
of  Ramsey's,  and  an  edifice  erected  which,  together  with  furniture,  cost 
$5000.  This  was  dedicated  in  the  year  of  its  completion.  During  the 
year  1875  the  walls  were  frescoed,  a  new  and  effective  heating  apparatus 
added,  and  a  new  chandelier  and  an  organ  presented  by  Mrs.  John  Y. 
Dater.  Several  gentlemen  in  the  congregation  contributed  liberally 
towards  beautifying  the  edifice,  which  is  now  free  of  debt.  It  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  250  persons.  The  Rev.  James  D.  Demarest,  the  first 
pastor,  labored  alternately  between  this  church  and  the  one  at  Monsey 
until  1855  or  1856,  and  at  a  ripe  old  age  retired  from  the  ministry.  Rev. 
John  Y.  De  Baun  next  reeeived  a  call  from  the  same  churches,  and  con- 
tinued pastor  during  a  period  of  four  years  and  six  months,  when  a 
larger  field  was  opened  to  him  at  Hackensack.  The  church  was  then 
served  by  supply  and  by  stated  supph-,  the  Rev.  Isaac  J.  De  Baun  offi- 
ciating until  1875.  In  April  1875  Rev.  Samuel  I.  Vanderbeck  received 
and  accepted  a  call,  continuing  his  ministrations  here  fourteen  years, 
when  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  Jacob  N.  Trompen,  then  a  young  gradu- 
ate from  Princeton,  accepted  a  call,  taking  charge  in  the  Spring  of  1891. 
The  church  is  now  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  The  elders  of  the 
church  are  Abram  A.  Ackerman,  David  Tracy,  Jacob  Halstead.  Dea- 
cons:    John  Y.  Dater,  John  Terwilliger,  Peter  Winter. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  at  Ramsey's, 
was  organized  under  the  auspices  of  Rev.  E.  De  Yoe,  on  the  1st  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1867.  Soon  after  a  committee  consisting  of  James  N.  Bogert, 
George  Hosey,  Heney  R.  Wanamaker,  J.  W.  Valentine,  Martin  Litch- 
hult,  David  Carlough,  and  Charles  A.  May  were  appointed  to  secure  a 
building  lot  and  erect  thereon  a  church  edifice.  In  the  fall  of  1867  a  lot 
was  secured  of  David  Valentine,  and  the  plan  of  the  church  having  been 
drawn  by  Henry  Rehling,  work  was  begun  by  excavating  for  the  found- 
ation and  basement.  The  contract  for  the  erection  and  completion  of 
the  building  was  awarded  in  March,  1868,  to  Mr.  Rehling,  but,  owing  to 
delay  in  securing  the  lumber,  operations  were  not  begun  until  the  fall  of 
that  year. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  September  12,  18()8,  with  appropiate  ser- 
vices, Rev.  Henry  A.  Pohlman,  D.D.  of  Albany  having  preached  the 
sermon  in  the  house  of  David  Valentine.  In  1869  services  were  held  in 
the  basement  in  the  new  church,  and  on  the  25th  of  March,  the  following 
officers  were  elected.  Martin  Litchhult,  James  N.  Bogert.  David  Car- 
lough  and  Thomas  Ackerman,   elders;   Richard  C.  Straut,    William  S. 


HISTOKV    OF    lilCKC.HN    COUNTY  20.^ 

\'alentinc,  John  A.  Slraut,  .ind  C.  Ouackciibush,  Deacons.  The  church 
was  dedicated  September  (>,  1871,  Rev.  E.  lielfour  of  Easton,  I'a.,  preach- 
in^i.;-  the  sermon.  Kev.  E.  De  Yoe,  who  was  from  the  bei^inniny  the 
pastor  of  this  little  flock,  continued  in  that  relation  until  February  1878. 
Kev.  L.  A.  Burrell  became  pastor  in  October  of  that  same  year.  He  was 
succeeded  shortly  after  that  by  Rev.  J.  W.  I^ake.  The  present  i)astor, 
the  Rev.  Carlton  Bannister,  succeeded  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Weaver  in  18')2. 
The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  sixty-nine  and  a  flourishing-  Sab- 
bath school,  under  the  superintendency  of  William  Slack.  The  elders 
are  George  F.  Hosey,  W.  H.  Pulis,  (ieorge  Shuart,  A.  J.  Bloomer.  The 
deacons  are  Abram  Pulis,  James  Hopper,  Everet  Pulis,  William  Ro- 
maine.  j.vmks  .sihi.\kt. 

In  Bergen  county  are  many  of  the  descendants  of  soldiers  of  thi' 
War  of  the  Revolution,  an  honor  to  which  they  mav  well  refer  with 
].ride.  Among  these  we  iind  James  Shuart,  of  Ramseys,  whose  grand- 
father, Adolphus  Shuart,  fought  in  the  war  of  Independence,  while  his 
maternal  grandfather,  John  Sutherland,  was  in  the  war  of  1<S12,  and  re- 
ceived a  pension  of  twelve  dollars  per  month  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
The  Shuarts  are  of  German  ancestry,  but  have  made  their  home  in  Ber- 
gen county  since  coming  to  America. 

Our  subject,  a  son  of  Henry  A.  Shuart,  and  grandson  of  Adolphus, 
was  born  in  Hohokus  township,  August  19,  1844.  After  receiving  a 
limited  education  in  the  common  schools,  he  began  business  in  the  dr^- 
goods  and  grocery  trade  in  Orange  county.  This  proved  successful, 
and  in  1870  he  came  to  Ramseys,  where  he  opened  a  meat  market.  This 
also  became  a  profitable  business,  and  in  i8*)6  he  retired. 

Mr.  Shuart  was  married  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  to  Susan  Jane 
Hunter,  a  daughter  of  David  Hunter  of  Orange  county.  By  this  union 
there  was  one  son,  Franklin  Shuart,  who  now  lives  in  Ramseys.  Mr. 
Shuart's  first  wife  died  in  1S()8,  and  he  married  in  1872,  Miss  Eleanor 
N.  Litchult  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  four  children.  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  Albert  G.  May,  of  Ramseys;  Eva  R.,  who  married  S. 
G.  Conklin,  of  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  and  one- 
half  years;  Harry  now  in  I'eddie  Institute,  ])reparing  for  the  studv  ol 
law;  and  Edna  at  home. 

Mr.  Shuart  is  a  Free  Mason  and  also  a  prominent  Odd  l"'ellow.  He 
served  three  years  as  a  member  and  president  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  was  recently  elected  to  serve  three  years  more  in  the  same  cajiacity. 
He  has  also  served  as  assessor  and  road  commissioner  of  Hohokus  lown- 
sh.ip  for  three  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  (  He  was  christi'ued 
James  K.  Polkj.      He  and  family  attend  the  F/utheran  Church. 

J.VMKS    W.    PUT. IS. 

About  the  year  18.=;4  Mr.  William  J.  Pulis  bought  a  tract  of  sixty 
acres  of  land,  re-selling  twenty-two  acres  to  John  Y.  Daters  who  soon 
after  built  and  opened  a  store  of  general  merchandise.  Subsecpientl v 
Mr.  Pulis  built  another  store  which  he  conducted  for  some  years,  and  to 
which  his  son,  James  W.  succeeded  in  1874.  lie  still  continues  in  the 
business  where  he  has  been  for  more  than  thirty  years. 


JAMES    SHUAKT 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  205 

James  W.  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  in  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1862  having  com- 
pleted the  classical  course. 

He  is  a  Republican  and  was  postmaster  of  Ramseys  for  a  period  of 
more  than  thirty  years.  Mr.  Pulis'  first  wife  died  in  early  life,  leaving 
him  one  son,  William  H.,  who  married  in  i88(>,  when  the  business  was 
divided,  William  H.  opening  a  grocery.  He  is  also  the  present  post- 
master. 

James  W.,  married  in  1870,  Miss  Onderdonk  of  New  York  state. 
Thev  have  two  sons,  James  Everet,  attending  a  business  college,  and 
Arthur  G.,  attending  Hashrouck  Institute.  James  W.  still  conducts  the 
Emporium.  Mr.  Pulis'  father,  William  J.  Pulis.  died  in  1895  at  the 
age  of  ninety-three  years. 

W.  H.  Pulis,  son  of  James  W.,  was  l)orn  in  Ramseys  December  7, 
1S(>4.  After  leaving  the  public  school  he  was  employed  in  his  father's 
store  until  1886,  when  he  went  into  business  for  himself,  building  up  a 
good  trade.  He  is  engaged  in  general  merchandise,  and  is  postmaster 
of  the  village.  Mr.  Pulis  was  married  in  1886  to  Miss  Jennie  Acker- 
man,  daughter  of  Abram  Ackerman.  They  have  two  children.  Luella 
and  James  Wilbur.  In  politics  Mr.  Pulis  is  a  Republican.  He  belongs 
to  the  Hohokus  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  With  his  family  he  attends  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

WII.I.IA.M    SLACK. 

Seth  Slack,  a  native  of  Canada  removed  to  New  York  going  finally 
to  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  to  Stonington,  Conn.,  where  he 
died  and  where  his  son,  William,  was  born  August  15,  1824.  In  the 
family  were  Mary  .\nn,  who  married  a  Mr.  Valentine,  oi  Bergen  county; 
William,  Jane,  who  lives  in  New  York  state;  Thomas,  deceased;  and 
Sarah,  wife  of  Charles  Corey,  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

In  his  boyhood  days  Mr.  Slack  was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  cab- 
inet making  and  upholstering.  This  was  to  continue  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-one,  which  would  be  in  seven  years,  four  months  and 
eighteen  days.     His  master  died,  however,  at  the  end  of  four  years. 

He  afterwards  lived  in  Stonington  for  a  short  time  working  at  his 
trade.  From  there  he  shipped  aboard  a  whaling  vessel,  the  voyage  con- 
tinuing four  years.  Upon  returning  he  went  to  Haxerstraw  where  he 
spent  seven  years,  working  at  his  trade. 

He  has  been  a  resident  of  Ramseys  for  many  years  and  is  success- 
fullv  carrying  on  a  general  hardware-  trade,  in  addition  to  a  complete 
undertaking  establishment,  which  is  fully  e<|uip])ed  with  all  modern 
ap])liances. 

Mr.  Slack  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace 
for  eighteen  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which 
he  is  an  active  worker,  having  been  sui)erinten(Ient  of  the  Sunday  scIkkiI 
for  manv  vcars. 


206  HISTOKY    OK    BERGEN    COUNTY 

He  was  married  in  1845  to  Miss  Matilda  Valentine.  They  had 
three  children,  all  of  whom  died  in  early  life.      His  wife  died  in  1894. 

MW.    GKOKOE    WELCH. 

Mr.  George  Welch,  a  florist  living  near  Ramseys,  came  here  in  1844 
and  purchased  a  small  tract  of  land,  which  he  improved  by  the  erection 
of  buildings  and  otherwise  equip]>ingfor  the  purpose  of  growing  plants 
and  flowers  for  market.  In  his  enterprise  he  has  succeeded  admirably, 
finding  a  liberal  patronage  in  New  York  and  Paterson.  Mr.  Welch 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  seven  years  as  gardener  in  England,  coming 
to  America  in  1868,  where  he  has  since  followed  his  trade. 

He  was  born  in  Reading,  Berkshire,  England,  June  2'),  1843.  In 
1 870  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Adams,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Richard  Adams, 
a  farmer  of  Stafford,  England,  of  which  place  Mrs.  Welch  is  a  native. 

They  have  two  children,  daughters. 

In  politics  Mr.  Welch  is  inde])endent.  • 

MAHWAH. 

The  hamlet  of  Mahwah  is  the  last  station  in  Bergen  county  on  the 
Erie  Railroad.  Aside  from  the  old  church,  a  hotel  and  "Owena," 
there  is  nothing  of  importance  in  the  place.  The  land  was  originally 
owned  by  John  Winter.  Andrew  J.  Winter  now  owns  the  only  store  in 
the  place.  Andrew  Hagerman  built  the  hotel  a  number  of  years  ago. 
It  was  bought  by  John  Petry  in  1891,  who  owns  and  runs  it  now.  The 
"  Owena  "  was  built  by  Colonel  Ezra  Miller  in  iS76  at  a  very  great  cost. 
It  is  an  elegant  mansion  situated  on  a  beautiful  and  commanding  site. 
The  property  is  now  owned  by  his  son,  Ezra  W.  Miller,  who  preserves  the 
grounds,  the  fish  ponds  and  other  attractions  in  keeping  with  the  tastes 
of  its  original  owner. 

Andrew  H.  Hagerman.  son  of  Andrew,  has  been  station  agent  for 
twenty-seven  years,  and  postmaster  most  of  that  time. 

THE    RAMAPO    KEFORMEl)    DUTCH    CHURCH. 

The  Ramapo  Reformed  Dutch  Church  was  doubtless  established  as 
early  as  the  begining  of  the  present  century,  or  possibly  before,  and 
has  been  the  place  of  worship  of  successive  generations,  having  formerly 
been  familiarly  known  as  the  Island  Church.  The  old  cemetery  adjoin- 
ing the  church  is  of  equal  antiquity,  and  is  the  ])lace  of  sepulture  of 
many  of  the  old  families  in  the  congregation.  A.  A.  King,  the  present 
pastor,  succeeded  Rev.  W.  W.  Letson  in  1892.  The  church  has  a  mem- 
bership of  125.  Its  eJder  are  David  Hopper,  Henry  Van  Gilder,  R.  V. 
Valentine.  M.  M.  Henion,  A.  J.  Winter  and  R.  Wannaker. 

The  Havemeyer  estate  cDnsisting  of  .'^SOO  acres  of  land  is  in  this 
township.  In  1881  the  estate  of  Jacob  W.  DeCostra,  consisting  of  500 
acres  of  land  was  purchased  by  F.  O.  Havemeyer,  and  the  erecticm  of  a 
large  barn  and  other  extensive  buildings  were  made.  Subsequently 
other  lands  were  purchased  until  all  this  portion  of  the  township  with 
the  manv  homesteads  represented,  were  swallowed   uj)  in  the  one  estate. 


HISTOKY    OK    BEK(.;EN    COUNTY 


207 


Fdlldwing-  this  came  im])r<>vonients  of  roads,  the  buildiiiir  of  other 
stables,  chicken  _yar(ls,  calf  sheds,  bull  barns,  piggeries,  for  the  hous- 
ing of  which  and  in  the  taking  care  of  stock  a  large  compan}-  of  men  is 
constantly  emploTed.  Ramapo  River  runs  back  of  the  place  but  water 
is  supplied  from  large  reservoirs  especially  constructed. 

THE    DAKLINC,    KAH^M. 

The  Darling  Farm  is  an  addition  to  this  township  in  a  wav.  He- 
sides  being  a  private  affair  the  people  take  an  interest  in  it  also;  for 
the  love  they  have  for  the  man.  For  they  remember  him  not  onlv  as 
a  broad  minded  and  charitable  gentleman,  but  one  who  did  not  com.' 
among  them,  wholelv  for  his  selfish  interest  and  only  for  luxurious  gain. 
Consequently,  ^Ir.  Darling's  extensive  establishment  the  largest  struct- 
ures he  once  erected  his  piggeries  and  bull-pens,  his  full  blooded  stock 
of  fine  brood-mares,  his  imported  cattle  and  rare  chickens  etc.,  etc., 
have  broujjfht  credit  to  him. 


DARLINGTON'    HCHOOI, 

The  hamlet  of  Darlington,  the  creation  of  Mr.  A.  B.  Darling,  the 
proprietor  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  N.  Y.,  is  the  country-seat  of  a 
very  fine  estate.  Mr.  Darling  came  to  this  part  of  the  county  probablv 
about  the  time  of  the  Centennial  Year  and  having  made  his  selection  be- 
gan impr(jving  the  place.  The  spirit  of  progress  siezed  at  once  upon 
the  people.  The  Hopkins  &  Dickinson  bronze  works,  where  some  2(tO 
hands  were  employed,  before  its  removal  to  Newark,  being  one  of  the 
results. 

JtDCE    JOHN    yiACKKNBUSH. 

The  tirst  ancestor  of  the  Ouackenbush  family  in  this  vicinitv  was 
Rynier,  who  descended  the  Hudson  River  in  17(tO  from  Albany,  where 
the  original  family  had  been  settled  since  1626,  and  settled  near  Nyack. 
He  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  one  of  whom  was  Abraham,  the  great- 
grandfather of  the  judge.  His  grandfather,  John  yuackenbush,  was  a 
native  of  Tappan,  New  York.  His  father  was  John,  also,  and  married 
Mary  Ann  Van  Sise,  a  relative  of  the  Demarest  family,  and  resided  at 
Oakland,  N.  J.,  where  our  subject  was  born  ()ctoi)er  1,  1S27. 


jrl)(;F.    JOHX    OfACKKNBl'SH 


HISTOKY    OK    KKK(;EN    COUNTY  200 

The  Judge  is  of  pure  Holland  ancestry,  speaking-  the  original 
Holland  dialect  fluently,  and  taking  great  interest  in  the  history  of  the 
Holland  people.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  after- 
ward received  an  academic  training,  taking  his  law  course  in  the 
University  of  New  York,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1S56.  In 
1857,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  elected  Police  Justice  in  New 
York  city  and  was  President  of  the  Board  of  Police  Justices  for  six 
years,  being  the  youngest  member  of  the  Board.  Upon  his  retirement 
from  this  position,  he  practiced  law  in  New  York,  in  the  firm  of  Ouack- 
enbush,  Dusenbury  &  Briggs.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  to  a  position 
in  the  Custom  House  and  later  was  made  Deputy  Collector  of  Customs, 
and  has  held  that  position  ever  since;  he  has  charge  of  the  Second 
Division  in  which  assessments  of  custom  duties  are  levied. 

Judge  Ouackenbush  was  married  in  1846  to  Miss  Harriet  A. 
Christopher,  daughter  of  Joseph  Christopher,  of  Allendale,  N.  J.  The 
Judge  is  a  Republican,  but  does  not  take  an  active  part  in  politics.  He 
is  a  Free  Mason  and  belongs  to  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York, 
being  Vice  President  of  the  organization.  He  attends  the  Reformed 
Church  and  contributes  liberally  to  the  support  of  charitable  enterprises. 

COLONKL    KZKA    MII.LKK. 

Among  those  who  were  interested  in  the  railroads  of  our  country 
when  first  put  in  operation,  was  Colonel  Ezra  Miller,  who  became  widely 
known  as  the  inventor  of  what  is  known  as  the  "Miller  Platform 
Coupler  and  Buffer." 

He  was  born  May  12,  1812,  in  Bergen  county,  opposite  Fort  Wash- 
ington, his  parents  removing  to  New  York  city  a  few  years  later,  even- 
tually becoming  residents  of  Flushing,  L.  I.  Here  Mr.  Miller  spent  his 
boyhood  days,  receiving  a  thorough  English  education.  In  September 
1833,  he  enlisted  in  a  company  of  horse  artillery  belonging  to  the  Second 
Regiment,  First  Brigade,  New  York  Militia,  in  which  he  was  promoted 
to  the  Colonency  in  1842.  In  1848,  Colonel  Miller  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  and  engaged  in  surveying  United  States 
and  state  lands.  Having  become  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
state,  he  was  appointed  in  1851,  by  (iovcrnor  Dewey,  to  the  Colonelcy  of 
the  Eighth  Wisconsin  Regiment,  an  office  he  continued  to  hold  during 
his  residence  in  the  state.  The  following  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  serving  one  term,  but  declining  a  second  nomination.  About 
this  time,  his  attention  being  called  to  defects  in  the  matter  of  car  couj)- 
ling,  which  was  causing  accidents  resulting  in  great  loss  of  life,  he 
began  investigations  looking  toward  a  remedy.  His  great  "  Platform 
Coupler  and  Buffer"  was  the  result  of  his  perseverance.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  Colonel  Miller  was  representing  Bergen  county  as  senator. 

Colonel  Miller  was  married  in  May,  1841,  to  Miss  Amanda,  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  Seth  Miller,  of  New  York.  They  had  five  children, 
Amanda  J.,  wife  of  Marshall  L.  Hinman,  of   Dunkirk,  N.  Y.;   Ezra  W., 


210  HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEX    COUNTY 

(Hir  subject;  Harriet  M.,  wife  of  John  H.  Van  Kirk,  of  New  York; 
Jordan  G.,  and  Dr.  Frank  P. 

Ezra  W.  Miller  was  born  May  2(>,  1S4S,  at  Fort  Hamilton,  N.  Y. 
His  early  life  was  spent  in  Wisconsin,  where  his  classical  studies  were 
prosecuted  at  Racine  Colleufe,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  18()5. 

Returning-  to  the  East,  he  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale drug  trade,  subsequently  becoming  associated  with  his  father  in 
New  York,  in  connection  with  the  business  of  his  inventions.  In  1874, 
he  removed  with  his  father  to  Mahwah,  N.  J.,  where  they  erected  a 
mansion  known  as  the  "  Owena,"  a  fine  establishment  which  Mr.  Miller 
is  at  present  conducting  as  a  hotel  with  good  success.  This  is  a  beau- 
tiful place,  commanding  a  line  view  of  the  surrounding  country. 

He  was  married  in  1870  to  Caroline  I.  Rollins,  daughter  of  True  W. 
Rollins,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  They  have  one  daughter,  Adele  R.  In 
politics  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

Mr.  Miller's  mother  died  in  1S81,  and  his  father  in  1885. 

JOHN     PKTKV. 

John  Petrv,  of  Mahwah,  is  of  French  ancestry,  a  son  of  George 
Petry,  who  was  a  harness  maker  by  trade,  and  a  native  of  Canada. 

The  family  lived  near  Paterson,  N.  J.,  where  John  was  born  August 
24,  1824.  The  first  experience  of  young  Petry  as  a  wage  earner  was  in 
Paterson,  when  he  was  employed  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  various 
cott(m  mills.  In  1853  he  went  to  California,  taking  the  route  by  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama.  After  an  absence  of  two  years  he  returned,  and  sub- 
sequently engaged  in  the  retail  liquor  trade  for  a  number  of  years  in 
New  York  city.  Having  accumulated  a  considerable  fortune,  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  near  land  Mahwah  in  1864,  which  he  improved  at  a  great 
expense.  Afterward,  however,  meeting  with  financial  loss,  he  sold  this 
farm  to  Mr.  Havemeyer.  Mr.  Petry  then  removed  to  the  village  of 
Mahwah,  where  he  opened  a  hotel,  which  has  proved  a  profitable  busi- 
ness, and  where  he  continues  to  reside. 

Mr.  Petry  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Jemima  Gerll.  By 
this  marriage  were  two  children,  Jesse  and  John.  After  the  death  of 
his  first  wife  he  married  Miss  Ruth  De  Fau.  Four  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  Harry,  Herbert,  Milred  and  Howard. 

Mr.  Petry  is  a  Democrat,  and  held  the  office  of  postmaster  under 
Cleveland's  last  administration.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  F"ree 
Masons. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
ORVIL  TOWNSHIP. 

ITS    OKOAXIZATION — X'lI.LAGES — HISTORIC  A  I.     RESIDENCES — MANUFACTUR- 
ING   INTERESTS — CHURCHES — BIOGRAPHY. 

This  township  was  incorpor.ited  in  1885,  and  was  formed  out  of  the 
southerly  part  of  Hohokus  and  the  westerly  part  of  Washington.  In 
1894,  owing  to  troubles  growing  out  of  the  school  law,  three  boroughs, 
namely.  Saddle  Riyer,  Upper  Saddle  Riyer  and  Allendale,  were  taken 
off  the  township.  The  borough  of  Saddle  Riyer  was  taken  off  the 
eastern  part  of  Orvil;  Upper  Saddle  Riyer  was  formed  out  of  part  of 
Orvil  and  part  of  Washington,  and  Allendale  borough  comprised  the 
northwest  part  of  Oryil,  part  of  Hohokus  and  part  of  Franklin  town- 
ship. The  township  was  named  in  honor  of  Oryille  Victor,  whose 
sketch  is  giyen  in  this  chapter  of  the  work. 

The  prime  moyers  in  the  formation  of  the  township  of  CJrvil  were 
Martin  M.  Smith,  Abram  H.  Ackerman  and  John  G.  Esler.  The  first 
officers  of  the  township  were:  Township  Committee— Dr.  B.  Oblenis, 
Elijah  Rosencrantz,  Nathaniel  Orr.  Collector — Albert  De  Baun.  As- 
sessor— Abram  H.  Ackerman.  Freeholder  -Dr.  B.  Oblenis.  Town 
Clerk— S.  Nelson  Woodruff. 

The  officers  for  i899  are:  Township  Committee — A.  S.  D.  Dcmarest, 
John  W.  (Juackenbush,  Haryey  Springstead.  Freeholder —Abram  H. 
Ackerman.  Collector — John  Magee.  Assessor — J.  B.  VerNooy.  Town- 
ship Clerk — I.  B.  Keiser. 

yil.I.AGKS. 

There  are  two  yillages  in  Orvil  Township.  Hohokus,  former]  v  known 
by  the  name  of  Hoppertown  is  on  the  Erie  railroad,  with  "Uudercliff" 
as  one  of  its  stations,  and  is  situated  in  the  extreme  part  of  the  township. 
The  land  covering  the  site  of  this  yillage  was  taken  up  by  Abram  Hopper 
bmg  before  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  This  influential  family  lived 
here  many  years,  and  from  them  the  place  aptly  received  it  name  Ho])- 
pertown. 

The  American  Pegamoid  Company's  works,  also  the  Brookdale 
Bleachcry,  are  located  here,  besides,  there  are  stores,  a  hotel  a  school  and 
a  post  office. 

The  old  Mansi(m  House  still  occupied  as  a  hotel,  is  one  of  the  indeli- 
ble landmarks.  Both  the  Bleachery  and  the  Pegamoid  w<irks  of  very 
recent  origin,  (i.  J.  B.  Keiser  has  been  postmaster  in  the  village  since 
iS76,  and  virtually  since  i8()4.  The  two  store  are  kei)t  Ijy  .1.  E.  .Miller 
and  E.  W.  Learj-  respectively. 

The  old  school  house  in  this  district,  was  a  rude  affair  but  nothing 
in  particular  is  known  at  this  late  day,  concerning  its  erection.  The 
Ilnhokus   District   embraced    territory    both    in    Hohokus   and    l-'rankliii 


212  HisTOKY  OF  bekgp;n   county 

Township.  In  1856  another  house  was  erected  by  subscription,  and  this 
in  turn  gave  place  to  a  better  one  erected  in  the  village  on  the  avenue 
leading  to  the  Paramus  Church.  Until  i87()  the  school  was  maintained 
by  a  tuition  fee  of  one  dollar  per  quarter,  but  it  is  now  entirely  free. 
/"  In  the  village  of  Hohokus  are  three  very  old  houses,  dating  back  to 
colonial  times.  They  were  built  by  the  Hoppers  and  are  known  as  the 
old  Stone  Building  South  of  the  Brook ;  the  old  Stone  House  and  the 
Mansion  House.  The  first  narhed  is  probably  the'  oldest.  A  cannon 
ball  was  shot  into  it  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  still  remains 
as  a  relic  of  that  struggle  for  our  independence.*  On  June  i3,  1803, 
this  property  was  sold  by  John  A.  Hopper  to  William  Bell,  who  sold  it 
to  Andrew  J.  Zabriskie,  in  1827.  Mr.  Zabriskie  owned  a  cotton  mill  and 
a  saw  mill  in  the  town  at  that  time.  About  1857  John  J.  Zabriskie,  son 
of  Andrew,  came  into  possession  of  the  property,  and  the  whole  Hopper 
estate  is  now  in  the  possession  of  McCaiferty  &  Buckley,  including,  of 
course,  the  old  Mansion  House.  This  is  the  famous  old  tavern  on  the 
old  stage  route  from  Albany  to  New  York,  when  the  stage  coach  was 
the  chief  means  of  travel. 

The  old  Ouackenbush  estate,  subsequently  known  as  the  John  A. 
Bogert  Hotel,  was  also  used  for  a  tavern  in  Hohokus  before  the  railroad 
diverted  travel.  This  tavern  was  on  the  road  about  half  way  from 
Hohokus  to  Paramus. 

Waldwick,  another  enterprising  little  town  of  the  township,  where 
the  Post  silk  mill  is  located,  is  on  the  Erie  railroad.  Waldwick  is  a 
Saxon  word,  which  means  beautiful  grove,  and  the  old  village  was  well 
named.  Besides  the  manufacturing  interests,  there  are  several  stores, 
two  hotels,  a  church  and  a  fine  school.  The  village  proper  is  of  recent 
origin.  Henry  L.  Hopper  was  the  first  postmaster,  and  took  the  ofBce 
in  i890.  George  Oughten,  the  present  postmaster,  started  the  first 
grocery  store  in  the  village  in  1881.  His  commission  as  postmaster 
dates  back  to  1892.  The  next  store  was  opened  by  George  Tonkin.  F. 
F.  Wagner,  proprietor  of  the  Waldwick  Hotel,  began  business  in  i84i. 
The  Orvil  House  was  built  in  1894.  The  school  house  also  built  in 
1 894,  is  a  well  constructed,  commodious  structure  with  departments  for 
three  teachers.     William  McKenzie  is  the  principal  at  the  present  time. 

A  portion  of  the  agitation  that  led  to  the  good  roads,  for  which  Ber- 
gen county  is  now  noted,  began  in  Orvil  Township.  The  leaders  in  the 
movement  were  John  G.  Esler,  Alfred  P.  Smith,  Martin  M.  Smith,  and 
AbramW.  Ackerman  of  Saddle  River,  and  Garret  H.  Bamper  of  Hohokus. 
The  first  appropriation  for  Macadam  was  ma'de  in  March  1891  and  with 
a  portion  of  this  money  the  first  Macadam  on  the  Paterson  road  was  put 
down  in  the  Fall  of  that  year.  Ridgewood  Township  and  Saddle  River 
Township  quickly  followed  the  example  set  by  Orvil. 

In  June  1882  Alfred  P.  Smith,  a  lame  and  invalid  colored  man 
started  at  his  home  in  Saddle  River,  "  The  Landscape,"  which  is  prob- 
ablv  the  smallest  paper  in  the  Unite<l  States.      It  is  <>x8  inches  and  has 


HISTOKV    (Jl-    BKKl'.KN     COUNTY  213 

been  published  every  month  since  the  initial  issue.  It  is  a  sheet  that 
reflects  the  ability  of  its  editor  in  ever\-  line,  and  by  many  is  retained  as 
and  encyclopaedia  of  events  in  Saddle  River  borough,  both  past  and 
present.  The  influence  of  "The  Lan<lsca])e"  in  securing- g-ood  roads  was 
an  important  factor  in  IS'U. 

HISTOKICAL    KESIDKNCKS. 

Among  places  of  historic  interest,  that  of  the  beautiful  Theodosia 
Provost,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Colonel  Aaron  Burr,  is  worthy  of  n<ite. 
It  was  once,  in  ante-Revolutionary  days,  the  residence  of  a  wealthy 
English  family,  and,  during  the  war,  at  different  times,  the  stopping 
place  or  headquarters  of  Washington.  At  that  time  it  was  called  the 
"Little  Hermitage,"  and  many  of  Mrs.  Provost's  letters  to  Burr  were 
dated  here.  It  was  while  residing  here  that  she  became  acquainted 
with  the  Colonel,  who  was  then  stationed  at  Ramapo. 

Only  a  part  of  the  original  building,  which  was  a  substantial,  tirst- 
class  country  house,  now  remains.  It  is  not  known  by  whom,  or  when, 
the  original  buildings  were  erected.  The  principal  structure  has  on  one 
of  the  stones  in  the  front  of  the  house.  Masonic  emblems  inscribed,  and 
there  was  one  room  in  the  building  that  could  be  entered  only  by  a  trap 
door.  These  facts  led  to  the  conjecture  that  the  house  was  erected  at 
an  early  date  by  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Elijah  Rosencranz,  Jr.,  father 
of  William  Rosencranz,  the  present  owner,  had  a  door  cut  into  this  room. 

Mrs.  Provost  was  a  sister  of  De  Wisum,  a  French  nobleman,  who 
owned  the  property  at  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  In  1812 
it  was  rebuilt  by  William  Ranlett,  Esq.,  for  Dr.  Elijah  Rosencranz,  and 
has  been  in  the  possession  of  that  family  ever  since. 

The  design  of  the  house  is  of  the  old  English  style,  and  is  finished 
inside  and  out  in  the  most  substantial  manner.  The  walls  are  con- 
structed of  hammer  dressed  brownstone  from  quarries  in  the  vicinity. 
The  timber  is  of  oak  and  chestnut  and  the  roof  of  cedar.  The  original 
house  had  a  piazza  on  the  western  side.  Mr.  William  Rosencranz  is  of 
the  opinion  that  Burr  was  married  in  the  dining  room  of  this  house, 
The  general  belief  is  that  the  marriage  took  place  in  the  Paramus 
church,  but  there  is  no  record  in  the  church  books  to  that  effect. 

TiiK  nAMPi<;w  iionsic. 
The  Hamper  House  was  a  fjiinous  tavern  in  ante  Revolutionary 
times.  It  is  not  knwon  by  whom  nor  at  what  time  this  building  was 
erected.  The  house  was  built  for  a  tavern,  and  did  duty  in  that  capa- 
city, from  timeout  of  mind,  until  the  railroad  was  built.  It  was  known 
formerly  as  the  "Old  hi  Rue"  tavern,  and  came  into  the  i)i)ssesion  of 
Captain  Damper,  probably  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
His  son,  G.  H.  Bamper,  the  last  of  a  long  line  of  proprietors,  who  en- 
tertained stage  drivers  with  their  passengers,  on  the  way  from  Albany 
to  New  York,  owned  four,  four  horse  stage  coaches.  He  died  soon  after 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  aged  eighty  six  year.  The  j>roperty  is  now 
owned  by  the  widow  of  G.  H.  Bamper,  Jr. 


214  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COITNTV 

The  beautiful,  picturesque  residence  and  grounds,  now  the  property 
of  John  B.  Miller,  but  formerly  owned  by  Joseph  Jefferson,  the  famous 
actor,  are  also  in  Orvil  township.  The  grounds  are  kept  under  the 
highest  state  of  improvement  and  with  the  antique  buildings  the  stately 
trees  of  shade,  the  fish  ponds  and  other  attractions,  the  place  never 
ceases  to  be  an  object  of  general  interest. 

MANUF.\CTUKING    INTERESTS. 

On  the  Hohokus  Brook  are  located  the  paper  mill  of  White  &  Co.; 
the  Brookdale  Bleachery,  formerly  Rosencrantz  Cotton  Mills  ;  the  Saw 
Mills  of  M.  D.  White  ;  the  Paper  Mill  of  C.  S.  White,  and  the  Silk  Mills 
of  John  A.  Post.  C.  A.  and  J.  B.  Wortendyke  also  owned  a  cotton  mill 
on  this  brook,  for  the  manufacture  of  warp  and  3'arn. 

John  Rosencrantz,  the  founder  of  these  cotton  mills,  came  to  Hohokus 
in  1787.  In  1812  his  brother  Dr.  Elijah  Rosencrantz  came.  Klijah 
Rosencrantz  was  both  a  preacher  and  a  physician,  and  became  a  partner 
with  his  brother  in  the  mill  interests,  which  they  carried  on  for  many 
years  together.  In  1853  John  Rosencrantz,  Jr.,  became  sole  owner.  The 
mills  were  run  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  warps,  the  product  being 
sold  in  Philadelphia.  The  brothers  employed  as  many  as  forty  and  fifty 
hands  at  times,  and  the  business  was  continued  up  to  recent  times  when 
all  was  sold  to 

THE  BKOOKDALE  BLEACHEKV. 

This  business  was  inaugurated  in  18"J8.  It  is  a  stock  company 
organized  for  the  bleaching  of  goods. 

E.  White,  president;  Thomas  A.  Deery,  vice-])resident  ;  J.  L.  "\'an 
Sant,  secretary  ;  Isaac  T.  Johnson,  treasurer. 

On  the  site  now  owned  by  C.  S.  White,  John  White,  his  father, 
established  the  original  mill  in  18,^7.  He  came  here  from  Milburn,  New 
York,  where  he  had  been  conducting  a  paper  mill.  He  continued  the 
busness  here  until  his  death  in  1848.  After  that  his  widow  kept  the  mill 
in  operation  until  1876,  when  she  died  and  her  son,  C.  S.  White  took 
charge,  and  for  some  time  manufactured  paper  twine,  but  recently  manu- 
factures toilet  paper.     He  employs  a  number  of  men  continously. 

THE    WAI^DWICK    SAW    MILL. 

The  Wakhvick  saw  mill  was  built  in  1850  for  a  paper  mill  and  during 
the  war,  from  fifteen  to  twenty  barrels  of  paper  twine  was  made,  daily. 
About  twenty  years  ago  it  was  burned,  and  was  rebuilt  by  Matthew  D. 
White,  for  a  saw  mill,  having  been  used  for  that  purpose  since  that  time, 
sawing  and  shipping  hard  wood.  Mr.  White  keeps  a  force  of  sixteen 
men  and  four  teams  employed,  and  furnishes  lumber  to  the  New  York 
and  Paterson  markets,  principally. 

THE    PO.ST    SILK    MILL    COMPANV. 

The  Post  Silk  Mill  Company  is  located  at  Waldwick,  and  was  estab- 
lished in  18'n,  by  John  A.  Post,  where  he  engaged  in  silk  throwing, 
exclusively,  doing  a  strictly  commission  business.  H»  began  with  but 
twelve  hands  but  increased  until  he  had  a  force  of  eighty  men  employed, 
and  on  February  1,    18'(9,   the  concern  was  incorporated,  wifh  John  A. 


HrSTOKV    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  215 

Post,  president;  F.  C.  Streckfuss,  treasurer  and  secretary.  Thev  nnw 
employ  about  one  hundred  men.  preparing  thread  from  the  raw  silk,  for 
the  loom. 

THE    AJIEKICAN    PECAMOID    COMPANY, 

The  American  Pegamoid  Company  \vas  incorporated  December  17. 
1897,  with  the  capital  stock  of  Hve  million  dollars.  The  incorporators 
and  those  interested  are  John  R.  Bartlet  and  many  others  of  New  York 
and  Boston,  it  being  a  foreign  company  though  the  works  are  at  Under- 
cliflF.  The  certificate  of  incorporation  says:  that  the  company  is  organ- 
ized to  import,  deal  in,  and  manufacture  paper  materials  and  paper  sub- 
stitutes of  all  kinds  of  raw  substances,  pulps  preparatimis  and  all  articles 
to  be  made  from  paper  or  paper  substitutes. 

NEW    PKOSPICCT    Jl.    i;.    ClIUKCH. 

The  New  Prospect  M.  E.  Church,  now  better  known  as  the  Wald- 
wick  M.  E.  Church,  was  the  first  society  of  that  denomination  in  Bergen 
County.  No  records  remain  of  its  first  organization,  nor  any  earlier 
than  1797;  but  the  tenor  of  those  existing  seems  to  imply  that  the  society 
had  been  in  existence  for  some  time. 

These  quaint  old  records  are  interesting,  showing  the  conti'ast 
between  those  days  and  the  present.  Accounts  were  kept  in  "pounds, 
shillings  and  pence;  "  the  building  was  illuminated  at  night,  first  by 
tallow  candles,  then  by  oil,  then  by  "camphene,"  and  not  till  compara- 
tively recent  times  by  "kerosene."  The  curious  archaic  spelling,  the 
signatures  of  men  of  note  in  their  day  as  pastors,  presiding  elders  and 
as  private  members,  make  the  faded  lines  and  age-yellowed  pages 
interesting. 

Rev.  J.  Fountain  was  pastor  in  1797;  Barnabas  Mathias  associate 
pastor.  "The  circuit"  to  which  this  appointment  was  attached 
extended  then  from  Haverstraw,  Rockland  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Belville, 
N.  J. 

Revs.  Manning  Force,  J.  Mallinson  and  George  Banghart,  all  nun 
of  mark  in  their  day,  were  among  its  lirst  pastors.  In  fact  the  roll  of 
New  Prospect's  ministers  in  charge  includes  none  but  honored  names. 
Those  still  living  are  Rev.  W.  A.  Dickinson,  Rev.  J.  E.  Switzer,  Rev. 
J.  R.  Daniels.  Rev.  H.  D.  Opdyke,  Rev.  E.  Clement,  Kev.  E.  V.  King, 
Rev.  J.  E.  Gilbert,  Rev.  J.  Tyndall,  Rev.  J.  A.  Piper  and  Rev.  A.  J. 
Conklin,  now  serving  his  second  term  as  pastor  liere. 

A  church  building  was  first  erected  near  where  the  Erie  Railroad 
now  runs,  within  the  bounds  of  Waldwick.  This  growing  too  small  for 
their  needs  was  replaced  by  another,  a  neat  frame  structure  near  the 
l)resent  building,  and  now  altered  into  an<l  used  as  a  dwelling  ht)use. 

The  present  edifice,  a  handsome  white  frame  building,  was  erected 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Switzer  (  i8f>5-18(>7)  and  is  a  taste- 
fully furnished  and  well  planned  church,  with  belfry  and  bell. 

By  the  untiring  diligence  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  from  1S91  lo 
1894,    a  convenient  and   pleasant   new   parsonage   and   a    large  hall    fur 


216  •  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Sunday  School,  business  and  social  uses  were  erected  upon  lots  adjoining' 
the  church. 

Many  are  the  chang-es  that  have  taken  place  in  this  hundred  years. 
Many  are  the  good  men  and  good  women,  noble  and  true,  who  have  gone 
to  their  reward  from  this  church.  They  are  no  longer  with  us,  but  are  not 
forgotten.  The  names  of  Whitman  Phillips,  Abraham  Ackerman  and 
wife,  Aaron  Ackerman  and  wife,  John  A.  Storms,  Peter  U.  Bush,  Stephen 
Hammond  and  many  others  will  long  be  remembered  in  the  annals  of 
this  church. 

From  this  old  mother  church  of  Bergen  Methodism  have  gone  out 
other  societies,  who  have  built  beautiful  churches  in  Allendale,  Camp- 
gaw,  Wortendyke,  Little  Zion.  Sloatsburg  and  Suffern — the  last  two  in 
Rockland  County-,  N.  Y. 

The  trustees  are  as  follows:  Matthew  D.  White,  George  Storms,  E. 
D.  Lear3%  D.  Van  Blarcom,  Andrew  Storms,  Abram  Storms,  G.  Winters, 
J.  Terwilliger  and  G.  Simmons. 

The  Catholic  Church  in  Hohokus  is  a  branch  of  the  Lady  Mount  of 
Carmel,  Ridgewood,  and  is  under  the  pastorate  of  Father  E.  A.  Kelly. 
Ground  for  this  building  was  given  by  Jacob  Zabriskie  in  1864.  The 
society  was  organized  and  the  building  erected  under  the  pastorate  of 
leather  McNulty. 

ABKAH.XM    H.    .\.CKKK:\1AN. 

During  the  reign  of  King  George  IH,  the  ancestor  of  the  Acker- 
man family  of  Orvil  township,  found  a  home  in  this  part  of  Bergen 
county,  where  several  generations  of  his  descendants  have  continued 
to  reside. 

In  the  year  1763,  Johana  Arie  Ackerman  came  to  New  Jersey  and 
in  1773  began  purchasing  land,  subsequently  continuing  these  transac- 
tions until  large  portions  of  this  part  of  the  old  township  of  Franklin, 
now  Orvil,  came  into  his  possession.  His  son  Abraham  I.  Ackerman 
was  born  October  10,  1766.  Abraham  I.  married  Sarah  Cooper  who  was 
born  November  5,  1766.  They  were  married  May  12,  1784.  Their  son 
Henry  A.,  was  born  November  28,  1787,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Hopper 
was  born  May  28,  1799.  Henry  and  his  wife  were  married  January  16, 
1819.  He  died  May  18,  1879.  She  died  December  29,  1881.  Their 
children  were  Abraham  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was 
born  May  22,  1820,  and  Nicholas  H.,  born  September  17,  1837.  died, 
October  23,  1892.  Abraham  resided  on  the  old  homestead  until  his  death 
which  occurred  December  8,  1891.  He  married  Mary  Van  Riper, 
daughter  of  Harmon  Van  Riper,  November  1,  1838.  At  the  time  of  this 
marriage  his  father,  Henry  A.,  built  a  house  on  the  farm  on  the  Pater- 
son  road  and  with  his  wife  and  younger  son,  Nicholas  H.,  removed 
there,  leaving  Abraham  H.,  to  care  for  his  grandfather  and  grandmother, 
which  he  did  for  five  years,  his  grandfather  dying  November  22,  1843. 

Abraham  H.  Ackerman  began  life  as  a  farmer.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  school  at  the  Paramus  Church,  which  was  at  that  time 


AKKAHAM     II.     ACKKIOIAN 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  217 

a  small  structure,  furnished  with  Ihul;-  wdnden  l)enches  fur  seating  pur- 
poses. School  opened  at  nine  and  closed  at  four  o'clock.  The  teachers 
were  exacting,  and  made  full  use  of  the  rod  as  a  means  of  discipline. 
Mr.  Ackernian  received  a  very  good  common  school  education,  however, 
and  began  farming  for  himself  in  the  spring  of  ls,^'),  on  this  farm  of 
sixty  acres.  He  had  no  money  to  start  with,  but  he  and  his  wife  worked 
faithfully  for  a  few  years,  and  accumulated  enough  means  to  purchase 
more  land.  In  1SS5  he  bought  thirty  acres  from  Mr.  Andrew  Zabriskie, 
subsequently  buying  more  from  other  i)arties. 

In  his  younger  da3s  he  was  a  somewhat  extensive  strawberry  grower, 
selling  his  berries  in  New  York.  In  order  to  be  ready  for  the  morning 
trade,  he  would  go  at  night  and  return,  a  fter  making  his  sales,  to  prepare 
for  the  following  day.  His  berries  brought  good  prices  for  those  times. 
In  addition  to  his  trade  in  this  line,  he  was  also  in  the  milk  business  for 
a  period  of  about  ten  years,  furnishing  milk  during  all  this  time  to  one 
dealer  in  Jersey  City,  receiving  two  and  one-half  and  three  cents  per 
quart.  To  these  two  commodities  Mr.  Ackernian  attributed  a  good 
share  of  his  success  in  money  making.  He  was  a  successful  farmer, 
and  his  crops  were  well  tended;  they  yielded  well,  and  when  disposed 
of,  the  money  was  safely  invested  in  farms,  until  about  lS().s,  when  he 
began  purchasing  real  estate  in  Paterson.  Tliis  was  simplv  as  an 
investment,  for  he  never  sold  any  land,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  a  large  number  of  houses.  In  1852  he  and  his  wife  became  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church,  at  Paramus,  where  they  had  attended  all 
their  lives,  and  from  that  time  he  was  closely  identified  with  all  the 
interests  of  that  church,  serxing  as  deacon  .md  elder  a  greater  ])art  of 
the  time  until  his  death. 

Two  children  were  l>orn  to  them,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and 
the  other,  Elizabeth  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  A.  A.  Blauvelt,  resides  on 
the  old  homestead,  being  the  lifth  generation  who  have  occu]jied  this 
]jlace  as  ;i  residence.  Mr.  Ackernian  was  a  R<.'itublican  in  i)olitics, 
serving  often  in  townshij)  offices. 

ai!K'a:\i   a.   Hi.Ar\'i-;i.T. 

The  Blauxelt  family  in  this  ])art  of  Bergen  county  are  descendants 
of  Henry  Blauvelt,  who  settled  on  a  considera1)le  tract  of  land  early  in 
the  present  century,  and  lived  there  until  he  died,  Deci'inbi-r  27,  1897, 
aged  ninety-three  years.  He  was  born  Junt'  22,  1S()3.  Ilis  wife,  Chris- 
tina Baldwin,  was  born  January  1'),  1807.  Slie  died  .M.irch  l.\  IS.Sl. 
Their  children  were  Garret  H.,  Thomas  H.  and  .lolm  Henry,  who  is 
living  in  Michigan,  and  David  A.,  who  jives  on  the  old  t.irm. 

(larretB.  Hlauvet  was  born  Sej)teniber  20,  1824.  He  married 
Jemima  Ackernian,  who  was  born  February  l.i,  182.^,  and  died  Sejitem- 
ber  2.  1S')S.  He  died  September  24,  18';8.  They  at  lirst  lived  on  u  liirni 
at  .\rcola.  About  thirty  years  before  they  died  tlie\-  retiri'd,  taking  u]) 
their  residence  at  Paramus. 

Abram  A.  Blauvelt.  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  their  son.  Ho 
was  born   August  20,    1.S44.      His   life   has  been   s]nnt   on   a  farm   in  the 


218  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

quiet  pursuit  of  an  avocation  that  has  always  been  congenial  to  his 
tastes.  He  cares  nothing'  for  political  preferments,  but  is  an  official  in 
the  church,  and  has  identitied  himself  with  the  Paramus  Society  for  over 
twenty-five  years.  He  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  elder  of  that 
church.  Mr.  Blauvelt  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Ackerman 
October  17,  1S(>().  She  was  born  April  2,  1848.  The^'have  no  children. 
Thev  live  on  the  old  Ackerman  homestead,  and  have  a  delightful  home. 

HON.    JOHN    W.    BOGEKT. 

Hon.  John  W.  Bogert,  the  well-known  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Errors 
and  Appeals,  whose  appointment  first  by  Leon  Abbett,  the  Democratic 
Governor  of  New  Jersey,  in  18'U,  and  again  by  Governor  Griggs  in  1897, 
proclaims  both  his  efficiency  and  popularity.  As  a  representative  of  the 
Bogert  family,  which  came  to  this  country  from  Holland  several  genera- 
tions ago  and  settled  in  Bergen  county,  the  Judge  inherits  many  of  the 
admirable  traits  and  characteristics  of  this  sturdy  race.  Born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1839.  and  reared  within  the  precincts  of  the  home  of  his  immedi- 
ate ancestry,  he  has  been  called  to  numerous  positions  of  trust  and  con- 
fidence which  he  has  filled  to  his  own  credit  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  constituents.  The  great  grandfather  of  John  W.  was  Stephen,  and 
his  grandparents  were  James  S.  and  Sarah  ( Westervelt)  Bogert,  whose 
son,  Stephen  J.,  was  born  April  3,  1813.  His  wife  was  Catharine  Hop- 
per, the  daughter  of  Albert  G.  Hopper,  late  of  Ridgewood.  John  W. 
was  their  only  child.  He  now  owns  and  occupies  the  farm  upon  which 
his  father  passed  his  life,  dying  February  3,  1854.  The  Judge  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Hohokus.  He  was  elected  township 
clerk  when  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  has  held  the  office  of  township 
assessor,  and  was  for  fourteen  years  county  collector.  In  1874-1875  he 
was  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Assembly,  and  served  as  State 
Senator  for  four  years,  188(),  1887,  1888  and  188'>,  and  as  Judge  of  the 
court  he  has  filled  the  office  with  distinction  and  to  the  general  satis- 
faction of  the  public. 

Judge  Bogert's  wife  was  Miss  Etta  Ackerman.  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Mariah  Snyder  Ackerman.  She  died  in  January,  189(),  leaving  two 
children.  Sarah  C,  wife  of  Stephen  L.  Van  Emburgh  and  Daniel  A., 
unmarried. 

N.    B.     KirKTCK. 

N.  B.  Kukuck  is  a  native  of  New  York  city,  born  August  <>,  1827. 
He  was  for  years  associated  with  John  Anderson  &  Company,  tobaccon- 
ists, of  New  York,  and  after  a  successful  business  career  retired  in  i872. 
Having  purchased  the  old  Ackerman  homestead  in  18«.'t.  he  has  con- 
tinued to  reside  there  to  the  present  time. 

In  politics  Mr.  Kukuck  is  independent  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

PETER    O.    TEKHEUN. 

Peter  ().  Terlieun  is  of  the  numerous  family  of  that  name  in  Bergen 
county.  His  grandfather  was  Peter  I.  Terheun,  of  Hackensack,  whose 
son,  John  R.,  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Achenbach,  and  became  the  father 


Jl'Df.K    JOHN     W.     BIMIKKT 


HISTOKY  OK  BKKGKN  COUNTY      .  2V) 

of  our  subject.  Mr.  Torheun  was  born  in  the  earlv  forties,  on  the  old 
homestead  near  Ilohokus,  and  still  resides  there.  After  receiving  a  com- 
mon school  education  he  entered  Hartwick  Seminary,  near  Cooperstown, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  took  a  course  of  instruction,  which  finished  his  school 
career.  Upon  leaving  school,  he  immediately  began  learning  the  trade 
of  wood  turning,  with  his  father  who  was  then  conducting  a  profitable 
business  in  general  wood  work.  After  the  war  the  business  increased, 
assuming  proportions  of  considerable  magnitude.  When  the  revenue 
was  placed  upon  the  product  of  their  factory  it  reached  at  one  time  the 
sum  of  sixty  dollars  per  month  to  the  government. 

Mr.  Terheun  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  Townshij) 
Collector  and  of  Freeholder,  and  was  also  one  of  the  Commissioners  to 
determine  and  fix  the  Boundry  Line  between  Passaic  and  Bergen  counties. 

OKVn.I.K    J.    \'1CT()K. 

Mr.  Orville  J.  Victor,  a  well  known  resident  of  Hohokus  in  this 
county,  was  born  and  bred  in  Ohio,  educated  for  the  law,  but  in  his  early 
manhood  taking  a  turn  toward  literary  ])ursuits,  he  secured  an  interest 
in  The  Sandusky  (O.)  Register  as  co-editor  with  the  late  Henry  B. 
Cooke,  the  Washington  banker. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Victor  removed  to  New  York  city  to  edit  The  Cosino- 
politon  Art  Journal.  He  also  assumed  editorial  control  of  The  United 
States  Journal,  in  185't.  He  wrote  his  '■Hist<iry  of  American  Cons])ira- 
cies,"  one  vol.,  octavo,  18W)-()1,  and  contributed  much  to  the  New  York 
press  and  magazines  of  that  period.  From  1862  to  1867  Mr.  Victor  was 
devoted  to  the  production  of  his  "History  of  the  Southern  Rebellion," 
completed  in  four  royal  octave  volumes — a  herculean  task.  It  gave  the 
author  great  prominence. 

Mr.  \'ictor  has  been  a  life-long  student  of  Ann-rican  historv  and 
affairs,  and  has  gathered  a  unique  collection  of  books  and  ])a]X'rs.  of 
which  he  has  made  am])Ie  use  in  his  own  contrihutiniis  to  our  historical 
and  political  literature.  His  very  extensive  collection  of  books  and  doc- 
uments on  the  civil  war  he  has  sui)plemented  with  "  scissorings  "  from 
the  press,  until  now,  it  may  be  said,  his  data  is  unicpie  and  complete. 
This  careful  gathering  has  been  with  reference  to  a  total  rei)roduction 
of  his  voluminous  history — bringing  it  within  the  compass  of  two  octavo 
volumes,  and  making  it  what  he  believes  is  now  possible  a  clear,  im- 
partial and  permanent  library  record  of  the  great  struggle. 

JOHN    A.     I'OST. 

John  A.  Post,  one  of  the  enterprising  and  successful  men  of  Wald- 
wick,  is  termed  a  self-made  man,  or  in  other  words  he  has  built  up,  and 
carried  on  business,  unaided,  to  a  successful  issue.  Mr.  Post  is  the  son 
of  Abram  Q.  and  Jane  (Valentine)  Post  and  was  born  June  14,  1856. 
His  father  was  a  carpenter,  the  son  learning  the  same  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  four  years.  He  then  became  employed  by  tiie  Wortendyke 
Manufacturing  Com])anv,  in  the  manufacture  of  silk,  where  he  learned 


220  '  HISTOKY    OK    BHKf.KX  COUNTY 

the  trade  of  throwing'  and  weaving-.  In  1891,  he  began  business  for 
himself  at  his  present  location  in  Waldwick,  in  the  work  of  silk  throwing- 
ing,  doing  a  strictly  commission  business.  Beginning  in  a  small  way, 
with  onlv  twelve  hands,  he  has  steadily  increased  his  capacity  by 
extending  the  buildings  and  machinery,  as  the  case  demanded,  until  the 
establishment  is  now  equipped  with  the  latest  modern  appliances, 
keeping  eightv  hands  employed.  His  custom  is  almost  wholly  in  New 
York. 

He  has  under  c(mtemplation  a  reorganization,  as  a  stock  company 
in  order  to  further  extend  and  enlarge  his  business,  offering  special 
inducements  for  a  safe  investment  of  capital. 

Mr.  Post  is  a  member  of  the  F.  and  A.  M.  at  Ridgewood,  and  in 
politics  is  independent.  He  was  married  in  iS<S.^  to  Miss  Anna  Acker- 
man,  daughter  of  Abram  A.  Ackerman,  of  Bergen  county.  They  have 
one  son,  Abram  J. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
BOROUGHS. 

ALLENDALE — UPPEK    AND    LOWER  SADDLE    KIVEK — OKOANIZATION-     INUIS- 
TKIES — SCHOOLS— CHURCHE.S — OLD    HOTELS — BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  enterprising  little  villag'e  of  Allendale  is  of  comparativlv 
modern  growth,  but  is  fast  assuming-  proportions  worthy  of  a  more  dig- 
nified name.  The  place  was  named  for  Colonel  Allen,  one  of  the  engin- 
eers engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  Erie  Railroad.  It  has  now  sev- 
eral stores,  a  hotel  and  two  flourishing  churches. 

The  land  was  first  owned  by  John  Lawbaugh  and  Paul  Van  Houten, 
and  descended  to  their  heirs,  among  whom  were  Joseph  and  Henry  Mal- 
linson.  Paul  Van  Houten  was  killed  in  the  war  of  1812.  Johq  Van  Hou- 
ten, his  brother,  married  Margaret  Nickler,  June  28,  1794  and  settled 
subsequently  f  probably  in  a  few  years)  in  a  little  house  near  where  John 
Youmans  lived  and  died.  He  was  born  January  30,  176.^  and  died  May 
7,  1848.  His  wife  died  October  in,  185.^.  Their  children  were  Paul  and 
Margaret.  Paul  was  born  March  14,  1795,  and  died  March  11,  1870. 
He  was  married  May  30,  1835  to  Miss  Rebecca  Demarest  (born  1819, 
died  June  5,  1881 ),  daughter  of  James  Demarest,  of  Oakland.  Margaret 
married  John  Lawbaugh  who  was  the  father  of  Joseph  Mallinson's  first 
wife. 

Margaret,  daughter  of  Paul,  and  Rebecca  Demarest,  was  born 
August  3i,  1835.  She  married  John  Youmans  May  25,  1855,  and  in  1807 
moved  from  Wyckoff  to  Allendale  where  she  still  resides.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1885.  Anthony  Crouter  was  an  early  settler  here  also.  Henry 
Mallinson,  his  son-in-law  owned  the  old  homestead  subsequently  pur- 
chased by  O.  P.  Archer,  who  came  to  the  place  thirty  years  ago  from 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.  Smith  Roswell  began  working  on  the  Erie  rail- 
road here  in  1848,  at  which  time  (ieorge  Brady,  an  Irishman,  was  carry- 
ing the  mail  from  Ramsey's  to  Allendale,  making  the  trip  on  foot,  Mr. 
Roswell  became  postmaster  in  1857  or  1858,  securing  his  ap])ointment 
from  President  Buchanan.  He  kept  the  office  without  interruption  unti 
1884,  receiving  the  munificent  income  of  twelve  dollars  a  year,  for  the  first 
twelve  years  of  his  official  life.  He  was  succeeded  by  R.  V.  Ackerman 
who  in  turn  was  followed  by  Mr.  Roswell  who  had  the  office  the  second 
time.     Mr.  A.  F.  Krause,  the  station  agent,  is  postmaster  now. 

When  thirty-two  years  old  Mr.  Roswell  became  connected  with  the 
Erie  railroad  and  was  their  station  agent  at  this  jilace  over  thirty  years. 
In  1805  he  built  his  house.  When  he  became  postinasler  of  AlUiidale 
the  following  perstms  lived  in  the  vicinity  : 

John  G.  Ackerman,  Paul  Van  Houten.  Anthony  Crouter.  John  A. 
(iarrison.  PeterG.  Powell,  Daniel  Anthtmy,  Joseph  and  Henry  Mallinson 
John  L.  Youmans,  (i.  A.  Smith,  A.  h.  Zabriskie,  all  of  whom  except  (i. 
A.  Smith,  Joseph  Mallinson  and  Albert  L.  Zabriskie  are  now  dead. 


•ZZZ  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

BOKOUGH    OF    ALLENDALE. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1894.  the  residents  of  Allendale, 
fearing-  that  the  neighboring  towns  would  incorporate  under  the  Borough 
Act,  and,  by  including  a  portion  or  the  whole  of  Allendale,  would  thus 
divert  its  taxes  to  the  improvement  and  maintenance  of  the  other  towns, 
determined,  in  order  to  protect  themselves,  to  also  incorporate.  The 
survey  was  made  to  include  about  four  square  miles  of  territory,  and 
the  incorporation  effected  at  the  time  mentioned.  The  population  of 
the  territory  included  within  the  boundries  of  the  Borough  is  about  650. 
At  its  first  election  the  following  officers  were  installed:  Peter  D. 
Rapelje,  Mayor;  Walter  Dewsnap,  E.  E.  Burtis,  H.  C).  Doty,  George  W. 
Hatch,  Charles  Parrigot,  C.  A.  Ouackenbush,  Council;  R.  L.  Ximmu, 
Clerk. 

In  the  regular  spring  election  of  l.S'>S,  they  were  re-elected  for  a 
second  term. 

In  spring  election  of  1897  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
(rcorge  Cook,  Mayor;  Walter  Dewsnap,  J.  J.  Pulis,  C.  A.  Hopper,  Jesse 
Brown.  John  A.  Mallinson,  J.  J.  \'an(lerbeck,  Council;  G.  G.  Smith, 
Clerk. 

In  the  spring  of  18')'i,  the  above  officers  were  elected  for  a  second 
term. 

The  Board  of  Education  now  consists  of  W.  C.  Tallman,  President; 
G.  C;.  Smith,  Treasurer;  H.  J.  Appjrt,  S.  J.  Van  Blarcum,  S.  T.  Van 
Houten,  C.  A.  Ouackenbush,  John  Ackerman.  J.  J.  Van  Horn,  C.  W. 
Stocker. 

The  Board  of  Health  consists  of  M.  H.  Blauvelt,  President;  G.  G. 
Smith,  Secretary;  P.  D.  Rapelje,  J.  A.  Mallinson,  S.  D.  Brainard,  R.  R. 
Letts. 

Allendale  proper  is  made  up  entirely  of  residences,  mostly  of  those 
persons  who  have  removed  from  New  York,  Brooklyn,  and  other 
adjacent  cities.  Since  its  incorporation  as  a  Borough,  the  village  has 
constantly  expanded,  and  the  income  from  its  taxes  having  been  devoted 
to  the  improvement  of  its  streets,  avenues,  roads,  school  buildings,  etc., 
and  being  entireh-  devoid  of  all  manufacturing  plants,  factories,  etc.. 
It  is  rapidly  becoming  one  of  the  favored  spots  for  those  seeking  suburban 
homes. 

SCIIOCLS. 

In  lS2i)  the  little  old  red  scho(d  house — a  (me  story  frame  building, 
sixteen  by  twenty  four  feet  in  dimensions,  was  built  a  half  mile  below 
the  Allendale  depot.  Previous  to  this,  two  buildings  had  been  erected 
for  school  purposes,  but  nothing  definite  has  been  learned  concerning 
them.  In  this  old  school  house,  desks  were  arranged  around  the  room 
on  which  the  luckless  urchins  were  doomed  to  sit  from  nine  in  the  morn- 
ing until  four  in  the  afternoon.  The  first  board  of  trustees  was  com- 
posed of  John  G.  Ackerman,  John  (}.  Ackerson  and  Albert  A.  Garrison, 
who  employed  Isaac  Demarest  as  their  earliest  teacher.      James  Alfred 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGKX    COUNTY  223 

Ackerman  now  seventy  six  years  of  aye  taug'ht  his  first  schoul  in  this 
buiklinLT,  fifty  eight  years  ago.  Henry  II.  \'an(lerbeck,  James  A.  Acker- 
man,  John  Binder,  son  of  the  former  Governor  (ieneral  of  the  ishind  of 
Antiqua,  and  ISIiss  Mary  (ieroe,  afterwards  Mrs.  Jacob  Oatmaii  of  Pater- 
son,  were  all  teachers  here  at  different  times.  In  1S(>2  the  old  building 
was  removed  to  John  Wilson's  farm  where  it  now  does  duty  as  a  gran- 
ary, and  a  new  building  twenty  live  by  thirty  five  feet  in  dimensions, 
adorned  with  belfry  and  blinds,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  S2<l(iil,  to  take 
its  place.  Mr.  James  Alfred  Ackcrman  was  a  teacher  also  in  this  l)uild- 
iug  and  his  nephew.  J.  J.  Ackerman,  is  principal  of  the  school  al  the 
present  time.  The  house,  which  is  an  eleg-ant  one,  with  new  systems 
of  improvement,  was  erected  in  IS'U)  at  a  cost  of  S.-^(i(i.  A  kindergarten 
school  is  also  maintained  in  connection  wiili  it  and  an  excellent  vourse 
of  instruction  secured. 

STOKKS. 

The  Borough  of  Allendale  carries  on  no  manufacturing  industry', 
but  its  commercial  and  mercantile  enterprises  are  worthy  of  a  name  and 
helps  to  give  support  to  a  good  hotel.  Smith  Roswell  was  the  first  to 
divert  trade  from  adjoining  towns  to  Allendale,  by  opening  up  a  little 
store  just  opposite  the  depot,  soon  after  he  became  identified  with  the 
villag'e,  and  the  venture  proved  a  profitable  one  to  him  for  about  eight 
years.  A  business  centre  having  now  become  established,  Morris  S. 
Ackerman  began  selling  goods  in  a  part  of  the  hotel  and  in  iS72  A.  G. 
Ackerman  began  a  business  which  he  has  kept  going  to  the  present 
time. 

Twelve  years  ago  Smith  &  Ilenion  succeeded  Winter,  Leaman  &. 
Co.,  and  in  iS'M,  Smith  &  Cliristo])her  succeeded  Smith  &  Henion. 
These  gentlemen  with  an  extensive  ]>atronage  add  elements  of  strength 
to  the  village  of  Allendale. 

THE  MISSION   CHAPKI,  OI"  Till':   lU'I  THAN  V. 

Allendale,  is  the  fruit  of  good  seed  planted  by  gentle  and  faithful 
hands.  In  January,  1872,  Mrs.  Stephen  Cable,  moved  with  compassion 
for  the  lambs  without  a  shepherd,  opened  her  house  f(jr  a  Sunday  school. 
On  Epiphany  Sunday,  the  good  work  was  begun,  fifteen  scholars  and  six 
teachers  being  present.  The^names  of  the  teachers  were  Mrs.  James 
Reading,  a  communicant  of  Christ  Church,  Ridgewood,  and  a  daughter 
of  St.  Mary's  Hall,  Burlington,  N.  J.,  Mr.  J.  Reading.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harris,  Miss  Powell,  and  Miss  Southwick.  The  school  soon  increased 
to  seventy  scholars,  and  other  teachers  enlisted,  Mr.  C.  Conner  and  Miss 
Conner  among  the  first.  The  enterprise  enlisted  the  sui)])ort  of  all 
Christian  people,  and  friends  aided  the  good  work. 

The  following  summer  a  barn  was  fitted  n\t  comfortably,  and  tlie 
school  increased  in  favor.  The  ccmtributions  for  the  Sunday  school 
amounted  in  two  years  to  S104,  and  from  1S72  to  1S7(>  nearly  S70()  were 
raised. 


224  HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

In  September,  1873,  public  worship  was  held  by  the  Rev.  L.  R. 
Dickinson.  These  services  were  continued  at  first  monthly,  and  after- 
wards on  alternate  Sundays,  and  Hope  Chapel,  as  it  was  then  called,  en- 
joyed the  full  service  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  mission 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  rector  of  Christ  Church,  Ridgewood,  and 
during-  two  years  the  faithful  missionary  horse  did  Sunday  duty,  driving 
to  Ridgewood  and  returning,  and  then  back  again,  a  round  of  sixteen 
miles,  that  the  flock  may  be  fed.  Afterwards  the  Erie  Railroad  re- 
lieved him  of  this  labor,  and  he  rested,  as  a  good  Christian,  from  work. 
"Peace  to  his  ashes." 

In  1874  Daniel  A.  Smith  became  superintendent  and  the  school  flour- 
ished under  his  care.  He  was  the  first  warden,  then  T.  Calloway.  E. 
G.  Washburne  is  the  present  warden,  while  A.  L.  Zabriskie  has  been 
treasurer  from  the  beginning. 

June  10th,  1876,  the  chapel  was  opened  bv  the  minister  in  charge, 
for  divine  service,  and  on  the  25 th  of  June  Bishop  Odenheimer  laid,  the 
corner  stone  and  confirmed  four  persons.  Mr.  Smith  was  appointed  lay 
reader,  and  $972  was  contributed  for  building  and  furniture.  On  July 
4th,  1880  at  an  early  Communion  service  the  chapel  bell  bought  by  the 
class  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Harris,  was  first  rung.  They  are  now  about  to 
build  a  new  edifice.  Rev.  C.  H.  S.  Hartman  was  appointed  in  charge 
May  24,  1892;  he  was  here  until  April  1894.  Rev.  William  Haskel  was 
a  supply  until  November  1895,  and  the  Rev.  William  Allen,  the  first 
resident  priest,  at  present  in  charge,  was  appointed  by  the  Bishop  Sep- 
tember 6,  1896.  Under  the  faithful  and  efficient  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Allen,  the  number  of  communicants  has  increased  from  thirty-two  to 
eighty. 

THE    AKCHEK    MEMORIAL    CHI'KCH. 

A  chapel  was  built  here  by  O.  P.  H.  Archer  in  1876,  and  was  con- 
siderably enlarged  by  him  in  1893,  several  niem(5rial  windows  were 
included,  the  whole  cost  being  about  §18,000.  The  church  now  has  a 
membership  of  150  persons  under  the  pastorate  of  C.  C.  Winans,  who 
came  here  in  April,  1898.  Mr.  O.  H.  P.  Archer,  president  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  died  in  May,  1899. 

GEOROE    COOK. 

George  Cook,  Allendale's  second  an(#  present  Mayor,  was  born  in 
St.  Ciair,  Schuylkill  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  13th  daj'  of  July, 
1862,  and  is  directly  descended  from  the  old  English  stock  of  that  name. 
His  father,  John  Cook,  was  born  in  I^ancashire,  England,  his  mother's 
people  coming  from  Leicestershire.  Emigrating  to  this  country  when 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  his  father  took  up  his  residence  in 
Schuylkill  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  boots  and  shoes.  In  1863  he  volunteered  as  a  captain  in  the  Union 
Army,  and  served  with  distinction  until  the  close  of  the  war,  at  which 
time  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  still 
resides,  and  at  the  present  time  is  one  of  the  city's  wealthy  and  leading 


HISTOKY    Ol-    HKK(;EN'    county  IZT! 

financiers.  George,  one  of  his  two  living'  children,  attended  the  public 
schools  until  about  twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  Emerson  Insti- 
tute, and  from  which  he  was  graduated  four  years  after.  He  then 
entered  Columbia  University,  from  the  law  dei)artment  of  which,  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  he  was  graduated  and  received  his  several  degrees,  sub- 
sequently being  admitted  to  practice  before  the  Courts  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  later  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

In  1885  he  removed  to  New  York,  where,  in  the  special  branch  of 
patent  law,  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice,  his 
clientage  consisting  largely  of  manufacturing  firms  and  corpi)rations, 
located  in  New  York,  Pennsylvania.  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cook  is  an  ardent  Rej^ublican,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
first  election  as  Mayor,  was  president  of  the  Allendale  Republican  Club. 
Mr.  Cook  is  a  member  of  several  of  the  leading  social  clubs  of  Bergen 
and  Passaic  counties.  Past  Master  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  in  Ridgewood, 
is  a  Knight  Templar,  and  a  member  of  Mecca  Temple  <if  the  Mystic 
Shrine  in  New  York  city. 

In  1885  he  married  the  daughter  of  Ex-Governor  Charles  P.  John- 
son, of  Missouri,  a  grand-daughter  of  the  late  Thomas  Parker,  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  a  short  time  afterward,  about  ISS",  taking  up  his 
residence  in  Allendale,  where  he  still  resides. 

He  was  first  elected  Mayor  in  March,  IS'iT.  and  re-elected  in 
March,  1899. 

JOSEPH    JIAI.IJNSOX. 

Joseph  Mallins<m.  of  Allendale,  is  a  son  of  Henry  C.  and  Mary 
(Netherwood)  Mallinson.  and  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  January 
17th,  1822.  His  father,  who  was  a  woolen  manufacturer,  emigrated  to 
America  in  1829,  locating  first  at  Mill  Neck,  L(mg  Island,  where  he 
followed  wool  weaving  for  a  few  years,  when  he  removed  to  Clarkstown, 
Rockland  county,  N.  Y.,  continuing  in  the  same  business.  He  finally 
removed  to  New  Jersey,  where  he  i)assed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  Of  the  ten  childr^-n  in  the  family,  the  eld- 
est, Henry,  was  a  wheelwright,  and  passed  his  life  in  Bergen  county. 
Joseph,  the  second,  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Robert  Hamilton,  Joshua,  of 
Susquehanna,  Pa.,  Sarah,  wife  of  (reorge  Smith,  .Mary  Jane,  wife  of 
(ieorge  Harrison,  of  Kansas,  Lydia.  now  Mrs.  Joseph  l<'ishtr.  of  New 
York  state,  Rachel,  who  married  Martin  Seward,  of  Saver,  Pa.,  .Iuli:i. 
now  Mrs.  Wilkinson,  and  John  James. 

Mr.  Mallinson  married  first,  in  1848,  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Lawl)augh, 
daughter  of  John  Lawbaugh.  Tluir  children  are  John  Andrew,  a 
farmer  and  carriage  painter,  who  is  connected  with  his  father  in  busi- 
ness, William  Henry,  Sarah  Ellen,  and  Anna  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Corne- 
lius Hopper.  Mrs.  Mallinson  died  in  1S(,1.  and  in  lSf).>  Mr.  Mallinson 
married  Mary  Ann  Wcstervelt. 

Mr.  Mallinson  is  now  the  oldest  settler  in  Allendale-,  having  loc:i- 
ted  here  in  i84S.      With  his  sons  hi-  has  followed   c;irriage  i)ainting  and 


22t)  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

decorating-  while  also  conducting  a  small  farm.  He  and  his  family  be- 
long to  the  Methodist  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  independent.  Mr. 
Mallinson  originally  owned  a  considerable  portion  of  the  land  now  em- 
braced in  the  village  of  Allendale. 

GAKKET    G.    SMITH. 

Garret  G.  Smith,  merchant,  in  Allendale,  and  in  various  capacities 
serving  the  borough  officially,  is  a  grandson  of  Albert  G.  Smith  of 
Holland  origin,  who  died  in  this  part  of  Bergen  county  in  1868,  ninety 
years  of  age.  The  grandmother's  name  was  Hopper,  and  their  children 
were. Cornelius  A.,  John  A.,  and  Garret  A.  The  homestead  is  on  the 
road  leading  from  Allendale  to  Wyckoff.  Garret  A.  Smith  was  born  in 
1820,  and  is  still  living-.  He  was  formerly  a  millwright  and  has  been  a 
successful  and  somewhat  extensive  farmer.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  Jane  Lake,  daughter  of  Abraham  Lake,  who  owned  large  property 
in  Paterson.  His  garden  then  covered  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
Passaic  Hotel.  Mr.  Lake  used  to  cart  molasses  from  New  York  to 
Paterson,  but  later  in  life  moved  to  the  Pond  (Oakland)  where  he  died. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Smith,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Albert 
G.,  the  oldest  son,  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  fourteen  years  in  Camp- 
gaw,  N.  J.,  and  has  been  re-elected.  Garret  G.  Smith  was  born  in  18(>(). 
He  was  educated  in  the  State  Normal  School,  but  when  twenty-six  j-ears 
of  age  came  to  Allendale  where  he  has  followed  merchandizing.  In 
1894  when  the  borough  of  Allendale  was  formed  he  was  chosen  its  first 
collector  and  was  also  elected  Clerk  of  the  Board.  He  became  a  member 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  was  also  made  secretary 
of  the  Board  of  Health.  He  is  an  influential  citizen  of  the  Borough 
and  is  frequently  called  to  office. 

His  wife  was  Miss  Matilda  Blauvelt.  daughter  of  Abram  A.  l>lau- 
velt,  who  was  deputy  sheriff  of  this  county  for  many  years. 

I'PPEK    AND    I.OWEK    SADDLE     KIVEK    BOKGI'GHS. 
BY    JOHN    G.    ESLEK. 

Saddle  River  became  a  borough  on  December  l'»,  l,s'>4,  I)y  a  \-ote  of 
fiftv-six  to  six  of  its  inhabitants. 

It  was  prior  to  its  formation  as  a  borough  a  portion  of  Orvil  town- 
ship. The  first  officers  of  the  boroug-h  were  B.  Oblenis.  mayor;  G.  A. 
Ackerman,  Albert  Z.  Winters,  John  G.  Esler,  Frank  Blackledge.  and 
Frederick  Demarest,  councilmen;  Abram  H.  Ackerman.  assessor;  and 
William  H.  Packer,  collector. 

There  is  very  little  authentic  record  concerning  the  early  settlers  of 
what  now  constitutes  Saddle  River  Borough,  but  an  old  Indian  deed 
conveying  the  Wearimus  Tract  to  Albert  Zaborowsky  given  in  1702.  bv 
several  Indian  Chiefs,  points  to  the  Polish  Pretender  as  probably  the 
earliest  land  owner  of  the  Saddle  River  valley.  A  copy  of  this  deed  is 
given  in  full  below. 

"Whereas  in  the  year  i(>7.=>  according  to  the  Christian  account, 
Mamshier,  the  Indian  Sachem,  as  also  Metotoch  and  Checkepowas  owners 


HISTORY    OK    BKKGEN    COUNTY  22/ 

and  Natural  proprietors  of  several  tracts  of  land  lying  on  and  above  the 
place  where  the  Eng'lish  have  made  Division  of  the  Provinces  of  York 
and  the  Jerseys — Did  by  Having  commerce  contract,  Debts  with  the 
Susjects  of  the  King  of  England  our  Royal  Friend  &c  and  particularly 
with  one  Albert  Zaborowskv  of  Hackingsack  in  the  Province  of  h^asl 
Jersey,  and  in  order  to  the  discharging  the  same  Did  give  unto  the  Said 
Albert  Zaborowsky  a  certain  tract  of  land  by  us  known  by  the  name  of 
Naracchoug  but  before  the  same  was  Regularly  by  Deed  Conveyed  unto 
the  said  Albert  Zaborowsky  to  the  end  abovess,  the  above  named  Sachem 
and  owuerf  dyed  and  the  said  tract  of  land  intended,  was  by  us  his  Suc- 
cessors Made  over  to  other  Men  and  the  Debts  of  the  Defunct  left  un- 
paid, for  the  Defraying  whereof,  and  the  fulfilling  the  known  Desires  of 
our  Dead  Brethern,  Bee  it  known  unto  all  people  and  Nations,  Before 
whom  this  testament  Shall  or  may  come  That  we  (e)  Orachanap 
alias  Metachenah  Coorang  and  Nemeriscon  Have  given,  granted,  made 
over  and  Confirmed  and  by  these  presents  Do(e)  give  grant, 
make  over  &  Confirm  unto  the  Said  Albert  Zaborowsky  his  helpers  and 
Assigns  all  that  tract  of  land  lying  on  the  South  East  side  of  Saddle 
River  beginning  on  the  North  East  bounds  of  a  Certain  piece  of  land 
which  Cleass  Janson  Romayn  bought  of  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors, 
close  to  the  Said  Saddle  River,  from  thence  running  along  the  Line  of 
of  the  Said  Class  Jasson  Romyn  until  it  comes  to  the  utmost  Marked 
black  oak  of  his  said  line  from  thence  further  beyond  said  tree  until  it 
Shall  come  to  a  great  Rock  near  about  Whom  a  certain  Tree  marked  on 
all  four  sides  shall  be  found,  from  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  a  certain 
small  runn  Which  is  Easterly  Just  below  a  certain  old  Indian  field  or 
plantation  known  by  the  name  of  Weromens  i  to  a  certain  marked  peach 
( h  )  tree  Marked  on  all  four  sides  from  thence  in  a  straight  course  till  it 
comes  to  a  certain  wild  cherries  tree  or  white  oak  Tree  Marked  on  thr^e 
sides  and  from  thence  quite  to  the  Saddle  River  and  then  along  the  said 
Saddle  River  to  the  place  where  it  began,  accounting  the  said  tract  of 
Land  to  be  one  thousand  and  two  hundred  acres  of  English  Measur.'" 
within  the  limits  and  bounds  Mentioned  and  S])ecified  provided  that  if 
the  Said  number  of  acres  should  perhaj)s  not  ai)])ear  within  the  sai  d 
Limits,  and  vice  versa  if,  there  should  hap])en  U>  ap])ear  a  greater  num- 
ber of  acres  than  above  specified,  we  the  above  named  owners  shall  l)e 
also  contented  with  it,  &  grant  the  same  over  plus  by  these  present  to  the 
Said  Albert  Zaborowsky  his  Heirs  and  Assigns  within  the  aforesaid  limits 
with  all  the  Rights,  Titles,  Priviledges  and  Apputtenances,  of,  or  to  the 
said  Tract  of  land  or  any  part  thereof  belonging  or  in  any  manner  ol 
ways  appertaining.  To  Have  and  to  hold  the  Said  Tract  of  Land  and 
premises  with  all  and  every  its  a])])urtenances  unto  the  Said  Albert  Zabo- 
owsky  his  heirs  and  Assigns  forever.  To  Be,  and  Remain  to  the  sole  & 
proper  use.  Benefit  and  behoof  of  Him  the  Said  Albert  Zaborowsky  his 
Heirs  and  assigns  forever,  and  Hereby  Desire  Her  Most  Sacred  Majesty 
the  Oueen  of  England,  that  she  will  be  graciously  pleased  to  Protect  the 
Said  Albert   Zaborowskv  his  Heirs  and  Assigi.s  in  the  ])eacealile   iiosses- 


228  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

sion  thereof  so  that  we  may  never  be  obstructed  in  our  Just  Intentions  and 
fair  Dealings  with  her  subjects.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto 
set  our  hands  and  fixed  our  Scales  according-  to  the  English  manner  this 
first  day  of  June  1702  &c  in  the  first  yeare  of  the  Reign  of  the  Most 
Sereen  Lady  Annie  Queen  of  England. 

Signed  sealed  &  Delivered  &c  in  the  presence  of  L.  B.  L.  Burgh 
Johannis  Jlyngsrlurd  (Slinkerland  )  John  Ccmrad  Codwere  Then  follows 
their  peculiar  signitures. 

The  title  of  the  deed  is  Deed  of  Conveyance  from  the  Indians  to 
Albert  Zaborowsky  for  Weeromnensa. 

The  following  Memorandum  is  written  on  the  left  hand  corner  of 
this  deed: 

"That  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  May,  in  the  Twelfth  year  of  the 
Reign  of  our  Soverigu  Lady  Anne  by  the  Grace  of  God  our  Great  Bri- 
tain, France,  Ireland,  Queen  Defender  of  the  Faith  &c  Anno  Doni  1713 
personally'  appeared  before  me  Peter  Soumans  Esq  of  her  Majestys  Coun- 
cil for  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  Johannus,  Slingerland  within  named 
who  being  sworn  upon  the  holy  Evangelist  of  Almighty  God  declared 
that  he  saw  the  within  Named  Indians  execute  the  Instrument  on  the 
other  side  as  their  free  and  voluntary  Act  and  deed  and  heard  them  de- 
clare their  meaning  and  intention  to  be  as  the  other  side  to  mentioned 
on  the  day  and  year  the  rein  Specified. 

Petek  Soum.yns." 

On  the  reverse  of  the  Indian  deed  is  a  conveyance  of  half  of  the 
Weareomensa  tract  by  Albert  Zaborowsky  to  Thomas  Van  Boskerk. 
This  deed  is  dated  March  29,  1708,  and  is  signed  by  Albert  Zaborowsky. 
This  document  is  at  present  in  the  possession  of  J.  Hosey  Osborn,  of 
Paterson.  It  is  said  that  this  is  the  only  signature  of  that  famous  indi- 
vidual who  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Zabriskie  family  of  the  present  day. 
There  is  little  doubt  but  that  Thomas  Van  Boskerk  was  the  first  settler 
of  the  Saddle  River  Vallev,  and  his  descendants  to-day  occupy  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  land  which  Albert  Zaborowsky  bought  from  the 
Indians  and  conveved  to  their  progenitor.  Other  early  settlers  were  the 
Ackermans,  Ackenbachs,  C(mk!ins  and  Baldwins.  John  George  Achen- 
bach  located  on  the  Eastern  hill  overlooking  the  Valley.  He  was  a 
German  Shepherd  boy  who  ran  away  with  his  employer's  daughter,  and 
the  eloping  pair  never  c(mimunicated  their  whereabouts  to  their  relatives 
in  the  Fatherland.  The  graves  of  these  early  settlers  are  located  on  a 
])romontory  overlooking  the  Saddle  River  Brook  a  few  rods  soutli  of  the 
land  of  Thomas  Eckerson.  A  flat  stone  gathered  from  their  farms, 
marks  their  resting  place,  but  the  winds  and  storms  of  a  century  and  a 
half  have  effaced  the  rude  inscriptions  that  denoted  their  individual 
graves.  The  only  person  from  Saddle  River  to  actively  participate  in 
the  American  Revoluti(m  was  the  notorious  Lieutenant  Colone  IVan 
Buskerk,  wlio  joined  the  Royalists  and  led  predatory  bands  of  Tories  in 
a  number  of  raids  into  Bergen  county.  With  one  exception  the  sym- 
pathies of  the  Van  Buskerk  family  was  with  the  Royalists.     The  Acker- 


HISTOKV    OK    BKKC.KN    COUNTY  229 

mans  wuro  <li\'i(le(l  in  their  synipathii's,  and  the  Achenbacks  were  do- 
cidc<lly  in  favor  of  the  rebels,  as  was  Louis  Cc)nklin,  whose  brother-in- 
law,  Henry  Esler,  of  Rockland  county,  was  an  officer  in  the  rebel  arniv. 
A  portion  of  Washington's  army  at  one  time  passed  through  the  vallev 
and  encamped  for  one  night  on  the  farm  now  belonging  to  the  estate  of 
Henry  G.  Ackerman.  This  was  supposed  to  be  Colonel  Burr's  regiment 
on  one  of  its  raids. 

The  war  of  1812  found  Mrs.  Valleau,  an  estimable  and  patriotic 
lady,  the  occupant  of  what  is  at  the  time  of  writing  the  Dewsnap  prop- 
erty. One  <if  her  sons,  Ming  Valleau.  enlisted  in  the  American  army 
and  was  killed.  His  brother  Lieutenant  John  \'alleau  went  to  the  front 
to  avenge  his  brother's  death  and  was  likewise  killed  in  the  gallant 
charge  on  Oueenstown  Heights.  Valleau  Cemetery  at  Pararaus  in  later 
years,  was  named  for  this  patriotic  mother  who  sent  her  sons  to  do 
battle  for  their  country.  Foremost  among  those  who  made  Saddle  River 
famous  in  the  early  days  of  the  nineteenth  century  was  David  L  Acker- 
man  the  proprietor  of  the  works  known  as  the  Triphammer. 

Mr.  Ackerman,  the  grandfather 'of  ex-sheriiT  and  present  surrogate 
David  A.  Pell  of  Bergen  county  w^as  an  energetic  business  man,  a  large 
landed  proprietor,  and  slaveholder,  who  was  noted  for  his  liberality  a  nd 
philanthropy-.  Andrew  Esler  a  millwright  and  builder  was  widely  known 
as  the  builder  of  the  tide  water  Mills  on  the  Hackensack  River,  and 
as  the  architect  and  builder  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Saddle  River. 
Trade  unions  w'ere  unknown  in  the  twenties  and  Esler  and  his  men 
shouldered  their  tools  on  Monday  morning  and  walked  to  the  Hacken- 
sack River  a  distance  of  ten  miles  in  time  to  commence  work  at  sunrise, 
(iarret  Zabriskie,  a  descendant  of  Albert  Zaborowskv,  a  school  teacher 
and  land  surveyor,  was  also  widely  known.  Thomas  Van  Buskerk.  a 
descendant  of  the  first  settler  by  the  same  name,  w  as  noted  as  a  large 
slaveholder  and  one  of  the  last  to  own  a  slave  in  the  vicintv  of  Saddle 
River.  The  last  slave  owned  by  the  old  gentleman  was  incited  to  run 
away  Ijv  William  Osborn,  Mr.  \an  Buskerk's  son-in-law.  Garret  Acker- 
man, another  large  Landowner  and  the  ancestor  of  a  great  man\  of  the 
Ackermans  of  the  northern  portion  of  Bergen  county  was  widely  known 
and  Abram  Van  Riper,  Sr.,  a  manufacturer  of  cotton  goods,  was  one  of 
the  leading  spirits  of  his  time.  Thomas  .Achenbach,  father  of  (ieorge 
Achenbach  the  first  president  of  the  Hackensack  Bank,  was,  together 
with  David  I,  Ackerman  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Lutheran  Congrega- 
tion. John  'Van  Buskerk,  great  grandfather  of  the  ])resent  sheriff  of 
Bergen  county,  Jacob  \'an  Buskerk,  was  one  of  the  first  mill  owners  in 
the  valley  and  was  widely  noted  for  his  corporosily,  being  of  such 
breadth  that  he  was  unable  to  tie  his  own  shoe  laces. 

The  earliest  utilization  of  the  water  i)ower  of  the  Saddle  River  was 
a  grist  and  saw  mill  owned  by  Garret  Ackerman  upon  the  site  of  John 
R.  Achenbach's  grist  mill.  In  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth  century 
the  "Triphammer"  was  widely  known.  The  "  Trijjhammer"  forged  the 
farmer's  tools  in   vogue  in  those  days.     In    llu'  early   fifties    it    ])assed 


230  ■  HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

into  the  hands  of  John  Woodruff  who  ran  a  foundry  and  also  manufac- 
tured farmers"  tools.  Parker  &  Terwillig-er  succeeded  Woodruff  and 
they  in  turn  were  succeeded  by  W.  W.  Packer  &  Son,  who  still  manu- 
facture tools  and  also  haye  added  two  warehouses,  in  which  a  large 
stock  of  wagons  are  stored. 

In  1822  John  Van  Buskirk  built  a  grist  mill  upon  the  present  site 
of  Thurston  &  Clark's  hosiery  mill.  In  1856  Dr.  Oblenis  and  John 
Demarest  purchased  the  property  and  began  the  manufacture  of  woolen 
yarn,  under  the  firm  name  of  Oblenis  &  Demarest.  In  1860  Dr.  Oblenis 
purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Demarest  continuing  the  business  for 
nearly  twenty  3'ears,  when  J.  Augustus  Bogert  became  the  partner  of 
Dr.  Oblenis,  and  the  new  firm  manufactured  Cardigan  Jackets.  H. 
W.  Thurston  succeeded  Oblenis  &  Bogerty  and  hosiery  was  manufac- 
tured until  the  mill  was  burned  October  .^1,  18')7.  Thurston  &  Clark 
then  erected  the  present  hosiery  plant. 

A  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  cloth,  was  erected  in  the  early  thirties, 
on  the  present  site  of  Hardy's  Ice  Houses.  In  a  few  years  Abram  Van 
Riper  became  the  owner.  This  mill  burned  and  Mr.  Van  Riper  erected 
a  shingle  mill,  which  in  the  early  fifties  was  turned  into  a  basket 
factory,  by  Abram  Van  Riper,  Jr.  In  1863  the  basket  factory  was  torn 
down  and  a  mill  was  built  for  the  manufacture  of  woolen  yarn,  the 
owners  being  Van  Riper  &  Blessing.  This  property  in  1868  passed  into 
the  possession  of  W.  W  Ward,  who  for  many  years  manufactured  high 
grade  mechanics' tools.  In  addition  to  these  in  the  early  half  of  the 
nineteenth  century  yarn  was  manufactured  at  what  was  known  as  the 
Blue  Mill,  now  the  Hamlyn  property. 

A  hat  factory  was  run  near  the  "Triphammer".  A  tannery  was 
operated  on  property  now  owned  by  Thomas  Van  Buskirk,  and  also  a  shoe 
factory.  Cigars  and  tobacco  were  marufactured  by  Henry  and  George 
Esler,  in  the  early  forties.  M.  M.  Smith's  basket  factory  was  started  in 
1878,   and  is  still  running. 

The  first  school  building  in  the  Saddle  Riyery  Valley  was  erected 
before  the  dawn  of  the  ninetweenth  century.  The  exact  date  of  its  erec- 
tion is  shrouded  in  mystery  but  it  seryed  as  a  shelter  to  those  who 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  rudiments  of  the  "three  R's"  until  1825. 
The  building  was  of  stone,  fitted  up  with  rude  desks  and  slab  benches, 
and  was  heated  by  a  huge  fire  place,  which  in  summer  was  used  as  a  place 
of  imprisonment  for  unruly  boys;  a  fireboard  being  fitted  so  as  to  close 
the  fire  place  when  not  in  use.  A  loose  partition  was  used  to  make  the 
room  larger  or  smaller  as  the  attendance  required.  After  this  building 
was  torn  down,  the  then  rising  generatiim  supplied  themselyes  with  slate 
pencils  found  on  the  site  of  the  old  building,  which  had  been  lost  by  their 
fathers  through  the  chinks  in  the  floor.  The  building  was  located  a  few 
yards  west  of  the  present  residence  of  William  Henry  Osborn.  In  1825  a 
two  story  frame  school  house  was  erected  where  the  Hall  of  the  Ladies 
Social  Union  now  stands.  The  land  was  dtmated  by  Dayid  Ackerman, 
for  school  purposes  and  reyerted  to  his  heirs  when  the  school  was  moyed 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  2^1 

to  another  site  in  later  years.  The  ground  floor  of  this  buihliniJ-  was 
used  as  a  school  room  and  the  second  story  as  a  lecture  and  class  room 
for  the  Lutheran  Sabbath  School.  The  early  furniture  was  slab  benches 
and  home  made  desks,  but  during'  the  last  years  of  its  use  it  was  fitted 
with  lid  desks  and  neat  wooden  benches  which  were  arranged  around  the 
outer  edge  of  the  room  with  scholars  facing  the  wall.  This  building 
when  too  delapidated  for  school  purposes  was  sold  to  William  Osborn  who 
for  many  years  thereafter  used  it  as  a  paint  shop.  One  of  the  first 
teachers  who  taught  school  in  this  building  was  Garret  Zabriskie,  a 
direct  descendant  of  the  original  Albert  Soborowski.  He  was  a  local 
celebrity  who  taught  the  village  school,  pulled  teeth,  and  surveyed  his 
neig'hbors  lands  besides  giving  good  advice  to  all  who  applied.  Another 
teacher  was  a  Mr.  Dunspaugh  of  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  who  is  still 
remembered  by  many  for  the  thorough  manner  in  which  he  taught  the 
multiplication  table,  and  the  Rev.  Matthew  Waltemire  who  having  been 
diciplined  by  the  Lutheran  Conference,  and  debarred  from  preaching 
because  of  confessed  immorality,  taught  school  in  the  old  red  school  house 
and  made  a  record  that  drew  pupils  from  neighboring  towns.  The  build- 
ing was  abandoned  in  1855  for  school  purposes  but  before  being  entirely 
discarded  had  to  be  closed  in  the  Winter,  because  it  was  impossible  to 
keep  the  children  warm.  The  school  furniture  was  moved  to  a  building 
located  where  Debauns  grocery  now  stands,  which  had  been  rented  of 
John  D.  Naugle  for  school  purposes.  Here  a  teacher  who  was  christened 
by  the  boys  "Old  Fitch"  taught  for  a  single  Winter.  This  pedagogue 
was  noted  for  his  love  of  ease  and  it  was  common  for  him  to  fall  asleep 
during  school  hours,  and  while  he  soared  in  dreamland  his  pupils  learned 
more  mischief  than  arithmetic.  In  1855  a  brick  school  house  was  built 
on  the  old  site.  The  erection  of  a  school  building  by  taxation  was  an 
innovation  and  that  this  building  was  erected  by  this  method  was  due  to 
the  persistent  efforts  of  John  Demarest,  Henry  Esler  and  Henry  Achen- 
bach,  three  of  the  most  progressive  men  in  the  district  who  were  the 
trustees  and  who  led  the  fight.  School  meeting  after  School  meeting  was 
called  and  time  and  again  they  were  beaten  until  at  length  Abram  Van 
Ryper,  Senior,  who  was  the  proprietor  of  a  basket  manufactory  espoused 
their  cause  and  with  his  employees  carried  the  last  meeting  in  favor  of 
the  erecticm  of  a  school  house  by  taxation.  This  building  was  remodeled 
1868  and  was  used  until  188()  when  the  present  edifice  was  erected.  John 
H.  Morrow,  now  a  well  known  citizen  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  commenced  his 
career  as  a  teacher  in  this  building.  Cornelius  P.  Crouter  who  won  the 
good  will  of  his  scholars  and  maintained  discipline  by  persuasion  mostly, 
but  by  force  when  necessary  wielded  the  birch  for  the  first  time  in  the 
brick  school  house.  John  Moore,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  here 
also  acquired  his  first  experience  with  a  district  school.  His  dis- 
cipline was  so  strict  that  the  big  boys,  "a  la  Dewey,"  planned  to  "  lick  the 
teacher"  but  the  trustees  nip])ed  the  incipient  plot  in  the  bud.  Moore 
afterwards  adopted  different  tactics  and  won  the  good  will  of  his  scholars. 
J.  Alfred  .Vckerman  and  .lohn  J.   .\ckerinan  both  of  whom  have  taught  in 


232  HISTOKV    OK    BEKGEX    COUXTV 

Berg-en  County  Schf)ols  for  the  past  twent3--five  years  here  commenced 
their  careers  as  instructors  of  the  3-oung.  The  present  school  building 
was  built  in  1886  and  enlarged  in  1898,  when  it  was  fitted  with  hot  air 
furnace  and  latest  improved  furniture.  It  is  capable  of  seating  one  hun- 
dred scholars  and  is  at  the  present  time  under  the  direction  of  Miss  Elsie 
Stephenson,  in  the  advanced  department,  and  Miss  Helen  E.  Morley  in 
the  primary  department.  Miss  Emma  Backster  of  Hackensack  died  in 
the  Spring-  of  1891  while  in  charge  of  the  school.  Her  untimely  death 
was  universally  lamented  as  she  had  endeared  herself  to  pupils  and  par- 
ents alike.  J.  Hosey  Osborn  now  a  Paterson  book  seller  was  also  a  popu- 
lar teacher  and  Arthur  Ackerraan  of  local  fame  also  taught  the  school 
for  one  season.  The  people  of  Saddle  River  Boroug-h  are  noted  for  their 
pride  in  the  school  and  roads,  and  money  for  all  necessary  requirements 
is  voted  without  hesitation. 

Prior  to  1820  the  inhabitants  of  what  now  constitutes  Saddle  River 
Borough,  worshipped  in  the  old  Reformed  Church  at  Upper  Saddle 
River,  or  the  Reformed  Church  at  Paramus.  In  1801  a  call  was  extended  to 
the  Rev.  John  Frederick  Ernst  Ijv  a  small  body  of  Lutherans  but  for 
some  reason  was  not  accepted.  This  movement  however  led  to  the 
organization  of  a  Lutheran  cougreg-ation  and  in  1820  the  corner  stone 
of  the  present  Lutheran  Church  was  laid  up<m  land  donated  by  Thomas 
Van  Buskirk.  The  church  was  designed  and  built  by  Andrew  Esler. 
Rev.  Henry  N.  Pahlman  was  the  first  pastor.  He  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  David  Hendricks  and  he  by  the  following  pastors  in  the  order 
named.  Rev.  Henry  I.  Schmidt,  Rev.  William  L.  Gibson,  Rev.  John 
Eisenlord,  Rev.  J.  C.  Duy,  Rev.  George  Nepp,  Rev.  Matthew  W. 
Waldenmeyer,  Rev.  Nicholas  Wert,  Rev.  Ephraim  Deyor,  Rev.  Laurent 
D.  Wells,  Rev.  W.  A.  Julian,  Rev.  Jnhn  E.  Switzer,  Rev.  Peter  M. 
Rightmeyer,  Rev.  David  M.  Shetler,  Rev.  J.  V.  Bodine,  Rev.  E.  Hughes 
and  the  Rev.  Charles  Hutton,  the  present  incumbent.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Schmidt  after  leaving  the  Saddle  River  charge  became  a  literary  pro- 
fessor in  Columbia  College,  New  York.  William  Osborn  served  as  sext(  n 
of  the  church  for  upwards  of  forty  years  after  its  organization  and  Henry 
Esler  served  as  choristor  for  as  many  years,  before  musical  accompani- 
ments became  fashionable.  The  grounds  for  the  original  cemetery  in 
rear  of  the  church  were  donated  by  David  I.  Ackerman,  and  afterwards 
an  additional  donation  of  land  was  made  for  cemetery-  purposes,  by  Mr. 
Ackerman,  with  the  proviso  that  the  money  accruing  from  the  sale  of  lots 
should  be  used  to  purchase  a  bell.  This  was  about  the  j-ear  1850  and  the 
bell  is  still  in  use.  The  cemetery  has  recently  been  enlarged  by  lan<l 
purchased  from  Jnhn  H.  Osborn  and  ground  donated  by  John  I),  and 
George  D.  Berdan.  In  1891  a  meeting  of  the  N.  Y.  and  N.  J.  Lutheran 
Synod  was  held  in  the  Saddle  River  Lutheran  Church. 

The  Saddle  River  post  office  was  established  March  27,  i852,  at 
which  time  Henry  Esler  was  appointed  postmaster.  Prior  to  that  date 
the  inhabitants  received  their  mail  from  New  Prospect  post  office  (now 
Hohokus)  three  miles  distant.     In  the  P"all  of  i85i  John  Cole,  a  resident 


HISTOKV    OF    lilCKGEN  COl-NTY  233 

of  Rochester,  New  York,  but  a  frequent  visitor  at  Saddle  River  began 
an  agitation  for  a  post  office.  A  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of 
Henry  Esler.  Prominent  among  those  present  were  John  Cole,  Henry 
Achenbach,  John  Demarest,  William  Osborn,  Garret  A.  Osborn,  Garret 
Ackerman,  John  J.  Hopper,  Colonel  Henry  G.  Ackerman,  John  U.  Ik-r- 
dan,  Henry  Esler  and  (ieorge  Esler.  The  petition,  signed  by  these 
gentlemen  and  others,  bore  fruit  the  following  Spring  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Saddle  River  post  office.  John  D.  Berdan  secured  the  first 
contract  for  carrying  the  mail,  and  made  the  weekly  trip  on  foot  on 
Saturday  evenings,  and  only  once  in  his  eight  years  service  as  mail 
carrier  did  he  fail  to  deliver  the  mail  promptly,  and  on  that  occasion  a 
freshet  had  carried  away  the  Hohokus  bridge,  thereby  making  it  impos- 
sible for  him  to  reach  his  destination.  Henry  Esler  served  as  post- 
master from  the  time  of  his  appointment  in  i852,  until  his  death  in  iSS4, 
nearly  thirty  two  and  one  half  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  (i. 
Esler  who  served  four  years,  and  he  by  John  N.  Leamon  who  held  the 
office  two  years.  The  next  postmaster  William  F.  Barkham  served  four 
years  and  Frank  H.  Storms  also  served  a  four  year  term.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  G.  Debaum,  the  present  incumbent.  The  mail  service 
during  Henry  Esler's  term  was  gradually  increased  from  a  weekly  mail 
to  a  daily  mail,  and  under  the  regime  of  Postmaster  F^rank  H.  Storms, 
the  postal  service  was  increased  to  a  mail  twice  a  day.  The  mail  carrier 
who  succeeded  John  D.  Berdan  was  Peter  P.  Ackerman  a  blind  man, 
familiarly  known  as  Blind  Pete,  who  performed  the  service  on  horseljack. 
David  Tice  was  the  succeeding  c(jntractor  but  the  mail  was  carried  by 
his  son  John  J.  Tice.  He  was  succeeded  by  Edward  Eckerson,  and 
Eckerson  by  Garret  Ackerman  and  he  in  turn  by  (iarret  H.  Osborn  as 
contractor  although  for  a  long  time  the  actual  carrier  was  his  father, 
William  Osborn.  Mr.  Osborn  was  succeeded  by  the  present  sub-con- 
tractor Abram  H.  Ackerman.  During  the  contract  of  Edward  T.  Ecker- 
son the  mail  route  was  changed  so  as  to  embrace  Pascack  P.  ().  In  the 
early  eighties  the  mail  route  was  changed  to  Allendale  as  a  terminus  in- 
stead of  Hohokus  and  since  that  tiair  the  mail  service  lias  been  by  way 
of  Allendale. 

From  the  earlv  thirties  to  the  commencement  of  the  civil  war  Col- 
onel Henry  G.  Ackeman  kept  a  noted  hostelrie  in  the  Saddle  K\\cr 
Valley.  Mr.  Ackeman  was  known  far  and  wide  as  "Old  Tij)."  Tlu' 
sobriquet  having  been  obtained  from  his  ardent  advocacy  of  William  II. 
Harrison,  (  Tippecanoe  )  for  president. 

In  the  days  when  Mr.  Ackcman's  hotel  was  in  its  glory,  campmeet- 
ing  at  Hohokus  and  Haverstraw  was  in  vogue  and  this  inn  being  on  the 
line  of  travel  was  largely  patroniztd  by  those  who  attended  these  con- 
vocations, as  accommodations  for  man  and  beast  could  always  be 
secured. 

The  sign  of  a  hotel  which  was  in  existence  before  the  Revdlution- 
arv  war  is  in  the  possession  of  John  R.  Achenbach,  but  where  it  was 
located  is  not  known. 


234 


HisTOKv  OF  bhk(;kn  county 


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KESint:NCK   OF    JOHN    H.    OSBOKSE--SArH>LK    KIVP;k    BOROUGH 

In  1860  C.  S.  DeBauu  started  a  hotel  on  the  "corner"  and  after  a 
few  years  William  Christie  became  the  landlord.  He  was  succeeded  b_v 
Owen  Rumsey,  and  he  in  turn  by  David  Palis.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  there  has  been  no  hotel  within  the  territory  which  now  constitutes 
the  boroug'h. 

I'PPKK    S.\DDLE    KIVKK    BOKOUGH. 

Upper  Saddle  River  Borough  was  organized  a  few  days  before  its 
neighbor,  Saddle  River  Borough,  and  it  comprises  the  upper  portion  of 
the  Saddle  River  Valley.  Its  first  officers  were  James  D.  Carlough, 
mayor;  Samuel  J.  DeBaun,  Peter  P.  Bush,  George  Osborn,  Jacob  Banta, 
Jacob  H.  Zabriskie  and  James  Hennion,  Councilmen;  Herman  Hopper, 
assessor;  and  Herman  Terhune,  collector.  The  oldest  church  in  the 
Saddle  River  Valley  is  located  near  the  state  line  and  is  known  as  the 
"  St(me"  Church.  The  present  edifice  was  built  in  1819  and  its  prede- 
cessor, also  a  stone  church,  was  erected  at  least  fifty  years  previous. 
The  first  church  had  no  pews  and  attendants  at  worship  brought  chairs 
or  wooden  benches  upon  which  to  sit.  The  denomination  is  Reformed 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Campen  is  its  present  pastor.  A  Methodist 
church  familiarly  known  as  "  Little  Zion  "  was  erected  in  1849  through 
the  efforts  of  Abram  Van  Riper,  James  V.  B.  Terwilliger,  Peter  Crouter 
and  Herman  Tice.     Its  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Joseph  Ware. 

The  first  school  house  built  in  the  Borough  Limits,  dates  back  to 
the  early  da^-s  of  the  ninteenth  century,  and  was  located  nearly  opposite 
the  present  residence  of  Edgar  Terhune.  Afterwards  a  school  building 
was  erected  upon  the  site  and  was  succeeded  by  the  present  modern 
structure  built  in  iS9().     About  sixty  years  ago  a  small   school  building 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  235 

was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  "  Stone  "  Church  for  the  purpose  of  em- 
ploying- the  Rev.  Mr.  Brough,  a  Baptist  minister  to  teach.  This  seced- 
ing- school  -w-as  run  for  abont  t-wentv  years  when  the  school  district  com- 
prising- the  present  Boroug-h  was  again  united. 

The  cemetarj  in  the  rear  of  the  Reformed  Church  contains  the 
remains  of  some  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  Saddle  River  Vallev. 

JOHN    H.    OSBOKNE. 

John  H.  Osborne  was  born  at  Saddle  River,  November  1*<,  1.S.^2,  and 
is  the  son  of  William  Osborne  and  Catharine  Van  Buskirk. 

After  being-  for  thirty-five  years  in  the  commission  business  in  New 
York  city  he  retired  from  active  life  about  seven  years  ago,  living  since 
that  time  in  comparative  retirement. 

Mr.  Osborne  married  Miss  Catharine  Hossey.  They  have  three 
children:  William,  John  Hossey  and  (iarret. 

JOHN    G.    KSI.KK. 

John  G.  Esler,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  G.  &  A.  Esler,  flor- 
ists of  Saddle  River,  is  genial  and  affable  in  disposition,  pleasing  in 
address,  and  judicious  in  all  his  dealings.  Of  German  extraction  he  has 
the  determination,  aggressiveness  and  continuity  of  that  thrifty  race. 

Mr.  Esler  is  descended  in  direct  line  from  Henry  Esler,  who  with  his 
father,  John  Esler,  came  to  America  in  March  1739,  from  the  village  of 
Plattenburg  in  the  province  of  Oldenburg,  Germany,  and  settled  near 
Suffern,  Rockland  county,  N.  Y.  A  house  now  standing,  near  Suffern, 
was  erected  by  Henry  in  1765  and  is  said  to  be  the  oldest  building  in  the 
county. 

Henrv  Esler  was  a  Lieutenant  in  Washington's  army  during  the 
Revolution.  His  son  Andrew  was  a  millwright  and  an  enterprising  man, 
having  built  a  number  of  mills  on  the  Hackensack  river  and  the  Luth- 
eran Church  at  Saddle  River.  Andrew  had  two  sons,  Henry  and  George. 
Henrv  who  was  the  father  of  John  (i.,  was  for  thirty-five  3'ears  post- 
master of  Saddle  River,  and  also  f(dlowed  the  occupation  of  millwright. 
His  wife,  (the  mother  of  John  (i., )  was  Miss  Jane  Snyder,  a  native  of 
Rockland  county,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Esler  was  born,  in  the  locality  in  which  he  now  lives,  on  Sej)- 
tember  17,  1846.  After  receiving  a  common  school  education,  he  entered 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College  in  New  York  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  March  1866.  Immediately  thereafter  he  took  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  a  commission  dealer  in  Barclay  street,  from 
which  he  was  eventually  compelled  to  retire  on  account  of  his  eyesight 
becoming  impaired  by  the  use  of  gaslight. 

During  the  following  two  years  Mr.  Esler  engaged  in  the  cattle 
trade,  but  when  his  partner  was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  Mr.  Esler 
took  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  serving-  as  clerk  of  Hohokus  township 
for  three  years  of  this  time.  He  also  served  as  Postmaster  from  i8,s4  to 
1888.  In  1 873  he  built  a  small  greenhouse  in  which  he  became  so  much 
interested  that  in  i878  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  cousin  .Andrew 
Esler,  for  the   growing  of  plants  and  flowers,  to  which  they  now  (le\-ote 


JOHN    G.    KSI.KK 


HISTOKY    OF    BHKOKX    COUNTY  237 

some  10,000  feet  of  glass.  At  present  he  is  the  secretary  of  the  Flor- 
ists' Hall  Association  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  originators.  In  iSS7, 
a  few  men,  among  them  Mr.  Esler,  met  in  New  York  city  and  completed 
a  set  of  by-laws  for  the  government  of  this  orgiinization  and  through 
his  efforts  an  amendment  to  the  insurance  laws  of  New  Jersey,  allowed 
of  its  incorporation  in  that  state.  In  this  association  over  l(i,(>()(i,(H)(i 
square  feet  of  glass  is  now  insured. 

In  addition  to  his  labors  in  the  different  societies  and  other  organi- 
zations connected  with  his  business,  he  has  been  president  of  the  Orvil 
Co-operative  Building  and  Loan  Association  for  ten  years  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  and  was  a  member  of  the  Borough  Council  of 
Saddle  River  Borough  for  five  years  after  its  organization.  He  is  now  a 
director  in  the  De  Lamere  Printing  and  Publishing  Co.  of  New  York, 
and  has  also  been  connected  with  the  Hackensack  Republican,  besides 
contributing  to  various  periodicals.  Mr.  Esler  was  married  in  iS7()  to 
Miss  Rosea  J.  C.  Ward,  daughter  of  William  Ward,  of  English  parent- 
age. They  have  three  children,  Lola  W.,  Nellie  J.,  and  Mary  U.  In 
religion  he  is  an  agnostic  and  in  politics  a  Republican,  inclining  to  be 
indejiendent. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
R  I  D  G  E  W  O  O  D. 

(lENEKAL    DESCKIPTION  —  SCHOOLS  —  MANUFACTURING  —  HIGHWAYS  —  THE 

VILLAGE    OF    KIDGEWOOD — CIVIL    LIST — ORGANIZATION — 

NEWSPAPERS — CHURCHES — BIOGRAPHY. 

Ridgewood  (one of  the  smallest  townships  in  the  countv)  is  remark- 
able for  its  natural  beauty  and  the  diversity  of  its  scenery.  From  the 
ridg'e  tops  a  magnificent  panorama  opens  to  view,  in  some  instances 
extending  miles  in  all  directions,  while  the  fertile  valleys  between  the 
heights  and  along  the  brooks  lend  an  added  interest  to  this  charming 
locality.  The  shady  roadways  and  fine  drives  constitute  an  interesting 
feature  of  this  township,  the  drives  being  so  fine  as  to  be  much  used  by 
cyclers  during  pleasant  weather.  The  town  is  watered  by  the  Saddle 
River,  which  forms  its  Eastern  boundary  line,  and  the  Hohokus,  which 
runs  through  the  central  portion.  The  chief  point  of  historical  inter- 
est in  this  township  is  said  to  have  been  the  marriage  of  Aaron  Burr  to 
the  widow  Provost,  in  the  old  Paramus  Church. 

An  Act  organizing  the  township  of  Ridgewood  was  approved 
March  30,  1876.  The  territory  of  this  township  was  taken  from  that  of 
Franklin.  The  township  officers  for  the  year  1876,  were  as  follows: — 
Freeholder,  Garret  G.  Van  Dien  ;  Township  Clerk,  Nathaniel  R.  Bunce  ; 
Assessor,  John  A.  Marinus ;  Collector,  James  Zabriskie ;  Township 
Committee,  Cornelius  J.  Bogert,  N.  R.  Bunce,  Peter  G.  Hopper,  Albert 
P.  Hopper,  Thomas  Terhune.  During  the  following  years,  the  Van 
Diens,  Terhunes,  Hoppers,  Zabriskies  and  Ackermans,  have  principally 
held  the  offices  of  the  township. 

The  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Hohokus,  south  b}-  Saddle 
River  township,  east  by  Saddle  River,  and  west  by  Franklin  township, 
and  is  traversed  by  two  railroads,  the  Erie  Railroad,  with  a  station  at 
Ridgewood,  and  the  Susquehanna,  which  has  a  depot  at  Midland  Park. 

The  names  that  figure  most  prominently  in  the  early  histor}'  of 
Ridgewood  township  were  those  of  Hopper,  Van  Dien,  Van  Emburgh, 
Bogert,  Zabriskie,  Banta.  VanDerbeck,  VanHouten,  DeBaun,  and 
Ackerman.  The  earliest  recollected  member  of  the  Van  Dien  family 
was  Albert,  who  resided  upon  the  land  afterwards  inherited  and  occu- 
pied by  Lawrence  Snyder.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Van  Buskirk.  Andrew, 
Cornelius  and  Thomas  Van  Dien  were  also  early  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship. The  name  Hopper  is  common  also,  several  branches  of  which 
family  are  represented  by  sketches  given  below.  The  Ackerman  family, 
are  of  Holland  lineage,  and  date  back  to  David,  one  of  Ridgewood's 
early  settlers,  who  resided  on  the  homestead  afterwards  occupied  by 
Garret  G.  Ackerman.  Jacob  Van  Derbeck.  husband  of  Lydia  Van 
Bussum,  and  father  of  Abram  and  Harmanis  was  born  in  this  township 


HISTOUV    OF    BEKCEX    COUNTY 


23'J 


on  the  land  afterwards  occupied   by  Jacob  Carlock,  whose  wife  was  a 
<f rand-daughter  of  Mr.  Van  Derbeck. 

Rev.  David  Marinus,  a  native  of  HoHand,  located  early  in  Bergen 
county  and  married  in  the  Du  Bois  family.  He  had  three  children, 
David,  John  and  Hannah.  The  Van  Kmburghs  and  Terhunes  are  of 
Holland  ancestry.  John,  son  of  Albert  Terhune,  married  Margaret 
Ackerman,  and  became  the  father  of  seven  children.  A  number  of 
sketches  of  various  members  of  this  family  may  be  found  in  different 
parts  of  this  book. 

The  Zabriskie  family  is  also  one  of  prominence  in  the  county. 
Albert  Zabriskie,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  America,  was  of  Polish 
descent.  He  was  the  greatgrandfather  of  Abram  J.  Zabriskie  and  the 
father  of  Henry  H.  who  married  a  Miss  Bogert. 

KAK'LY    SCHOOLS. 

The  scho(jl  territory  of  Ridgewood  was  formerly  embraced  in  that 
of  Franklin  township  and  was  divided  into  three  districts,  Ridgewood 
Grove,  No.  44;  Paramus  Church,  No.  45,  and  Ridgewood,  No.  f)i.  Ridge- 
wood Grove  is  located  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  township,  and  in- 
cludes a  part  of  Saddle  River.  The  original  school  building  in  this  dis- 
trict was  constructed  of  stone,  about  1770,  and  was  used  until  its  destruc- 
tion bv  a  gale  of  wind  in   1S24.     It  was  located  near  the  division  line 


)^ 


till    ^:- 


between  Franklin  (at  that  date  i  and  Saddle  River  townships,  a  short 
distance  south  of  the  residence  of  Garret  I.  Hopper.  In  1824  aiiotlur 
school  building  was  erected  upon  land  of  Paul  Van  Derbeck  and  used 
until  I8f>4,  when  it  was  succeeded  by  a  brick  structure  built  at  the  Grove, 
on  lands  of  Henry  P.  Hoi)per,  at  which  time  also  the  district  was  incor- 
porated. 

The  e.\act  <late  of  the  formation  of  the  Paramus  Church  District  is 
not  known,  but  evidentlv  a  school  was  established   there  about  the  time 


240 


HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 


<,f  the  organisation  of  the  Paramus  Church  which  was  m  17.0.     There 
exists  a  tradition  that  in  the  grant  of  land  for  Church  purposes  by  Mrs 
Valleau,  provision  was  made  for  the  maintenance  of  a  school  here,  and 
enoujrh  weight  v-as  given  this  tradition  to  influence  the  consistory  m  i8/. 
to  give  the  tru.tees  a  free  lease  in  perpetuity  on  the  ground  since  occu- 
pied for  school  purposes.  .    ,     ,       +  i^u..  f^^i 
About  the  year  i785,  a  small  building  was  erected  about  hft>    feet 
south  of  the  present  church  edifice,  and  parents  of  some  of  the  persons 
still  living  attended  school  there.     In  1810  the  location  seems  to  have 
been  changed  and  a  small  stone  house  was  erected  for  school  purposes 
near  the  house  lately  built  for  the  sexton  of    the  Paramus  Churchy     A 
Mr   Westervelt  was  one  of  the  early  teachers  of  this  school      In  18„0  a 
se  ond  stone  building  was  erected  and  that  gave  way  m  1845  to  a    ram. 
edifice  near  the  same  ground.     It  was  a  low  building,  badly  ventUat  d 
furnished  with  rude  benches,  and  having  the  door  open  from  the  rear 
upon  the  highway.  •  t     i 
The  present  building  is  a  commodious  structure  in  keeping  with  the 

progress  of  the  town. 

Ridgewood  District  No.  61  is  located  west  of  the  centre  of  the  town- 
ship and  embraces  the  village  of  Ridgewood.  It  was  formed  April  7 
18  ^7  and  formerly  included  portions  of  the  district  of  Godwinville, 
Hohokus,  and  Small  Lots.  A  wooden  building  two  stories  high  was 
Wit  upon  the  formation  of  the  district.  In  1893  the  elegant  commodi- 
ou  High  School  building  was  erected,  and  there  are  few  public  sch.u,! 
buildings  in  the  State  equal  to  it.      It  is  of  buff  brick  with  brownstone 

trimmings  and  is  an  object  of  interest  to  the  citizens. 

Board   of   Education  1897-99-D.  W.   La  Fetra,  President,    H  _ U 

Ward    Secretary;  Rev.  E.  H.  Cleveland.  C.  P.  Crouter,  Sylvanus  \^  hitc, 

Dr   W.  L.  Vr..om,    Dr.  J.  B.   Hopper,   Ck.,rge  E.  Knowlton,    J.   D.  \  an 

Emburgh,  Jr. 

MANUFACTUKINCt. 

The  first  -rist  mill  in  Ridgewood  stood  cm  grounds  now  occupied 
by  "The  Peerless  Manufacturing  Company"  and  was  used  as  such 
Z  hllf  a  century  and  until  burned  in  February  ff  ^^^Z 
that  year  a  new  frame  building  was  put  up  and  leased  to  J.  J.  Zabnskie 
or  a  cotton  mill,  and  six  years  later  that  too  was  burned.  In  18M.  ground 
wL  broken  for  k  new  frame  structure  which  was  leased  to  Edwin  Tay  or 
for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  this  too  was  destroyed  by  fire  m  1873. 
Durint  this  year  a  brick  building  was  erected  on  these  grounds  and  in 
1S9  leased  to  "The  Peerless  Manufacturing  Company"  for  the  manu- 
facture of  soft  rubber  goods,  such  as  hose,  mats,  springs,  etc. 

The  woolen  mills  of  G.  Morrow  &  Son  were  established  in  1853,  on 
the  Midland  railroad  in  the  south  west  corner  of  Ridgewood  They  were 
lu  iffor  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods  exclusively,  and  good  sets  of 
niachinery  were  put  m  use.  The  product  of  these  mills  hnds  a  read, 
market  in  New  York  and  elsewhere. 


■Of-'i 


HisToKv  OF  beki;kn  county  241 

hic;h\vavs, 

The  road  territory  of  the  towuship  in  the  earlier,  or  Revolutionary 
days,  gives  some  interesting-  matter  worthy  of  record.  The  earlist  re- 
membered road  is  the  Godwinville  thoroughfare,  which  entered  the 
township  on  the  west  side,  made  a  detour  to  the  north,  and  again  to  the 
east  across  the  township  where  it  intersected  the  Paramus  road.  This 
road  was  associated  with  the  historic  days  of  the  Revolution.  Another 
road  ran  southerly  through  the  southwest  part  of  the  township  having 
its  rise  at  the  highway  described  above,  and  intersecting  the  old  Wagara 
road  near  the  Passaic  River. 

The  Paramus  road  ran  from  Poinpton  to  Hohoken  and  was  the 
<dd  Goshen  and  Hoboken  stage  line.  It  ran  parallel  with  the  east  town- 
ship line  and  curved  to  the  west  entering  the  northeast  portion  of 
Ridgewood  deviating  again  to  the  north  and  then  passed  into  Hohokus. 

BTKIAI.    PI.ACl-:s. 

The  oldest  burial  place  in  the  township  was  given  to  the  consistory 
of  the  Paramus  Church  by  Peter  Fauconier  in  17.^0,  and  it  is  probable 
that  interments  took  place  there  soon  after,  as  the  church  edifice  was 
ccmipleted  in  1735.  Abraham  J.  Ackerman,  born  March  8,  •1793,  died 
October  29,  1801,  was  buried  here.  Mary  Bogert  who  died  March  24, 
1793  and  Maria  Ackerman,  wife  f)f  Cornelius  Demara,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 18,  1803  are  among  others  whose  epitaphs  can  still  be  deciphered 
from  old  memorial  slabs  in  this  yard,  in  wiiich  many  inscriptions  are  fast 
going  to  decay. 

The  land  embraced  in  the  Valleau  cemetery  was  given  to  the  con- 
sistory af  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  Paramus  by  Magdalen  Valleau, 
daughter  of  Peter  Pauconier,  the  deed  having  been  made  out  "'  the 
thirteenth  day  of  April,  in  the  twenty-third  year  of  the  Reign  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Second,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great 
Britain,  F^rauce  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  faith,  etc..  Anno 
Domini,  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty.  Between  Magdalen 
Valleau  of  Hackensack  in  the  county  of  Bergen,  and  Eastern  Division  of 
the  province  of  New  Jersey,  widow,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  present 
Elders  and  Deacons  of  the  Paramus  Church  of  the  other  ])art  witnes- 
seth"  etc. 

This  cemetery  was  incor])orated  in  1S.=.9. 

The  True  Reformed  cemetery  lies  adjacent  to  the  church,  its  age 
being  the  same  as  that  of  the  edilice  which  was  erected  in  IS.S.S. 

Iv'IDGKWOOI). 

The  only  village  in  this  township  is  Ridgewood,  better  known  in  the 
earlier  period  of  its  history  as  Godwinville  named  in  honor  of  General 
Godwin,  a  Revolutionary  hero  of  Paterstm,  New  Jersey.  In  1853  an 
effort  was  made  by  Samuel  Dayton  to  develop  a  hamlet  at  this  i)lace  bv 
jjurchasing  a  ])ortion  of  the  Van  Emburg  estate  and  soon  thereafter  plot- 
ting it  for  a  town. 


HISTOHV  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 


The  Piterson  and  Ramapo  Railroad  »-as  surveyed  as  early  as  184(,. 
a„d  2:  ffter  was  cons.ruc.ed.  TMs  road  co.uec.ed  -«  *=  ^ne  Ra  - 
r„ad  at  Suffern,  and  with  the  Patetson  and  Hudson  Railroad  at  l-attr 
"n      In  1S59  the  residents  of  the  vicinity  erected  the  hrs.  statton  bmld- 

"'^  tC  uS"  i:;L  wh^'htSLod  stands  helon.ed  originally  to  the 
HoiJer  Van  Ei-burg  and  Wes.ervelt  families;  and  for  many  years  .he 
""structure  in  the  ficinity  «a,  a  house  o,ned  by  George  Van  Em  urg^ 
The  first  buildin-  erected  after  this  date  was  occupied  by  P.  J.  Hopper 
drelUo"  a°I  thou-h  its  dimensions  were  limited,  room  was  found 
S  whth  "^l/aL  a  sma-ll  stoch  of  goods.     Mr.  Hopper,  thus  own.ng  the 

''"■"Thrfirst  hotel  was  huilt  by  John  W.  Halstead,  and  in  1*.=.  the  Epis- 
copaTcon^egation  built  a  church  on  a  7"  i»f  "'^  ^jf"' f 
r^fdirrL^Ti-^t-raLtalLrt-irstraigh.  line 

'""clreuS°ShuaTw''ho  was  the  first  to   purchase  a  por.i<.n  o,  the 
Wesrell  property  and  lay  ,t  out  .nto  -"j'^^.^f-- ,',  LrSt" 

'";'-'°!:^:.^:r::rrs"":a^s:'rs'   mlutd":  et!;    the  name  of 

a  struggle  of  nearly  sixjear  ^^^^._^^^ 

the  station  to  Ridgewood,     Mr.  ^^ua^t  the  n  .^^^^^^^  ^^^^ 

^^^^W  ie:;"r  f  '^n::X^Z^^  ^oA  short  tin.,  then 
nf  r    HuVenrneJer  was  agent  for   a    period   of    fifteen    years.     The 

-^r  ?r  o^e  :::::l^S::""--  thro.,h  the  persi^e.  e.^s 
.,  Ji/d  G.  Walton,  stiU  residing  ^n  the  v^^j^g  ^  ^  P-^- ^sln 
Citizens  Insurance  Company,  New  ^or^'  ^'"^^  .^"^^^^^^^^  ,tief  clerk, 
r^^^rt^;^::^  -  -:r^st^,  a-^-^d  e«ici.tly 

:;i^^:stti;.isd.th,his^owc^^^^ 

trip^HX^S  thL'followTdlor  afour  years  term  being  succeeded 
AdolphHvrttenm  y  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^  ^^  ^^^  present  occupant, 

Mr    R:  M.  Brfdgman  who  tooK  the  office  November  1,  1897.     There  are 
""^The^rs^'ostL  awakening  in  Ridgewood  commenced  about  1880. 
.  nhlisale    of    property  took    place    comprising    the   Kidder 

t-tte  '  The  bous  th  n  belonging  to  it  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
nr  J  T  DeMu,!  The  property  was  purchased  by  several  gentlemen 
Mr  Pe^er  l^kerman  coming  into  possession  of  a  large  part  of  it;  and 
^i  ;!stute7nd  enterprising  man  did   not  hesitate  to  improve  and  place 

^^^^:^err::-^:ir^?^^^^^^ 


HISTORY    OK    BKKOHN    COUNTY  243 

]>(>rtiiin  of  Uniuti  street  from  the  Reformed  Church  up  to  and  includiiiL;- 
the  h)t  of  Mr.  Ci.  Nickerson,  was  offered  to  the  pastor  of  the  Kelornvd 
Church  for  S300,  and  no  money  required.  It  was  afterwards  bouj^ht  bv 
I.  E.  Hutton  and  disposed  of  by  him."  The  boom  in  real  estate  had  come. 
Lots  were  offered  for  sale,  and  throu<rh  the  efforts  of  such  men  as  Hut- 
ton,  Bogert,  Edwards,  Crouter.  Walton,  Godwin,  Richardson,  Suckert 
and  Hopper,  streets  were  laid  out,  sidewalks  built,  and  improvements 
ifenerally  made.  The  villag'e  slowly  increased  in  population  and  numer- 
ous houses  were  built  until  the  year  187?  when  there  came  a  financial 
depression  resulting'  in  the  vacating  of  many  homes  and  a  stagnation  in 
business  of  every  kind.  The  name  Ciodwinville  was  not  satisfactorv, 
and  a  change  was  advocated. 

A  number  of  New  Yorkers  came  to  the  hamlet  about  1S()(),  most  of 
whom  still  remain  residents.  These  gentlemen  purchased  buildings  lots 
and  soon  thereafter  the  place  began  to  take  upon  itself  a  new  appear- 
ance, since  with  their  advent  came  the  constructions  of  beautiful  homes, 
the  improvement  of  roads  and  the  general  beautifying  of  the  village.  It 
was  through  the  influence  of  these  gentlemen  that  the  name  was  changed 
from  Godwinville,  to  that  of  Ridgewood.  This  name  was  suggested  l)v 
Mrs.  Cornelius  Dayton. 

The  following  is  a  sketch  of  Ridgewood  pulilished  by  C.  H.  Dunn, 
in  1898.     It  is  given  entire  and  is  as  follows: 

"In  lf)62  Albert  Saboroweski,  the  progenitor  of  the  Zabriskie  fami- 
lies of  Bergen  County,  came  from  Holland  and  purchased  from  the 
Indians.  '"The  New  Paramus  Patent,"  a  tract  of  land  in  this  vicinity 
containing  nearly  2,000  acres,  which  was  named  the  Paramus  Highlands, 
the  earliest  settlements  being  near  Paramus  Church.  Subsequently, 
Newtown  was  established  near  the  present  site  of  Wortendyke  and 
extended  to  Lydcckcr's  Mills,  mar  Midland  P.irk.  The  name  was 
changed  to  (iodwinville  in  honor  of  General  Godwin,  a  Revolutionary 
hero  who  lived  in  Paterson. 

The  settlement  progressed  and  soon  covered  all  the  territi>rv  between 
Paramus  and  Wortendyke,  (iodwinville  becoming  a  hamlet  four  miles  in 
length,  the  centre  being  near  the  Methodist  Church,  yet  standing  at 
Midland  Park.  The  history  of  tlu'  Paramus  is  uneventful,  except  during 
the  Revolutionary  period,  when  the  armies  passed  within  its  limits. 
The  early  settlers  were  agriculturists  and  prosjiered  by  their  well-directed 
labors.  About  the  beginning  of  the  century  manufacturing  interests 
began  to  occupy  the  residents  of  Newtown  and  Hoppertown,  but  it  never 
extended  from  these  centers.  The  distance  from  the  city  and  tlie  ])oor 
roads,  prevented  much  communication  with  the  outer  world.  The 
Paterson  &  Ramapo  Railroad,  the  first  section  of  the  present  ICrie.  was 
completed  in  IH.SO,  and  instilled  new  life  into  the  settlement.  The  Inst 
station  was  located  at  Hohokus,  and  soon  after  a  post-office  was  estab- 
lished at  Godwinville  and  located  a  mile  west  of  the  village.  The  mails 
were  put  off  at  Hohokus  and  carrie.l  over  the  intervening  country  on 
horseback.      The  manufacturers  at  Godwinville  asked  for  ,i  station  nearer 


244  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


works,  but  were  refused,  and  it  was  only  after  a  controversy  of  three 
years  that  one  was  established.  There  only  freight  trains  stopped,  and  it 
was  two  years  more  before  it  was  made  a  passenger  station,  that  being 
only  a  platform.  The  residents  of  Godwinville  erected  a  depot  m  lb5). 
Commutation  began  a  year  earlier. 

In  i860  several  New  Yorkers  settled  in  the  village,  erected  homes  m 
the  vicinity  of  the  depot,  and  began  a  commendable  regime  of  landscape 
o-ardenino-.  The  name  Godwinville  did  not  suit  these  newcomers,  who 
Tmmediately  agitated  a  change.  An  estimable  lady  Mrs.  Corneha 
Dayton,  long  since  deceased,  suggested  the  name  of  Ridgewood,  wh  ch 
was  adopted.  The  railroad  company  was  then  requested  to  change  the 
nam*  of  the  station,  but  consumed  six  years  in  doing  so,  and  not  until 
Uncle  Sam  had  made  them  drop  mail  bags  marked  "Ridgewood  for 
a  year  at  this  station.  A  post-ofBce  was  established  in  1865  and  the  name 
of  the  station  changed  in  1866.  ^,     ,     ■    +  , 

-  The  newcomers  to  Ridgewood  infused  metropolitan  methods  into 
the  place,  and  in  1876  induced  the  Legislature  to  create  the  township 
of  Ridgewood.     At  the  time  of  the  change  it  included  territory  atout 
three  miles  square  and  had  a  population  of  about  twelve  hundred.     The 
u-rowth  was  slow,  being  influenced  by  disturbances  in  the  hnancial  wor  d, 
but  for  the  past  ten  years  there  has  been  no  interruption  in  its  growth. 
"The  first  postmaster  was  B.  F.  Robiason,  who  did  faithful  service 
for  the  munificent  sum  of  ten  dollars  per  year.      The  present  incumbent 
is  a  Presidential  appointee,  and  the  expenses  aggregate  32^00   per   an- 
num     The  citizen  swere  alive  to  needed  improvements,  and  sidewalks, 
lio-his   and    good  roads  were   soon   added    to  the  natural    advantage's 
Rid..ewood  township  was  the  pioneer  of  macadamized  roads,  and  in  18  i. 
the  sum  of  $30,000  was  expended  on  the  roads,  making   them  second  to 
none  in  the  State.     The  town  progressed  steadily  until   the  borough 
craze  struck  the  county  in  18^4.     A  large  section  of  the  southern  portu.n 
was  first  cut   off,    forming  the   Borough  of  Glen  Rock;  then  Midland 
Park  took  a  section  of  the  western  border.      The  balance  of  the  town- 
ship was  then  incorporated  to  prevent  further  inroads. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  elected  was:  M.  T.  Richards.m,  A  Cx. 
Hopper,  J.  W.  Edwards,  G.  M.  Ockford  and  W.  J.  Fullerton^  Upon 
organization,  Mr.  Richardson  was  elected  President.  Mr.  Fullerton 
Treasurer  and  R.  M.  Bridgman  became  Village  Clerk.  In  18)-,  Mr. 
Richardson  resigned.  Dr.  Ockford  being  elected  his  successor  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Village,  and  G.  E.  Knowlton  taking  his  place  as  Trustee. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  Village  Board  there  has  been  marked  im- 
provement in  the  village  from  several  standpoints,  while  its  growth  has 
been  steady  and  material.  Physicians  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn 
learned  that  the  Paramus  Highlands  was  one  of  the  few  places  within 
fifty  miles  of  New  York  where  malaria  was  unknown.  They  recom- 
mended this  location  to  their  patients,  and  they  were  not  the  on  y  ones 
benefited  by  the  healtfulness  of  this  location.  Its  fame  for  health-giv- 
ing qualities  soon  spread,  and  many  who  came  to  spend  the  summer  be- 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  245 

came  permanent  residents  and  induced  <ithers  to  locate  here.  There  is 
no  spot  as  near  New  York  that  otTers  such  inducements  as  Ridg'ewooil 
to  prospective  residents.  Chihlren,  particuhirly,  acquire  a  vigor  of  con- 
stitution that  is  unusual,  and  severe  e])idemics  are  unknown.  It  is 
situated  far  enouijh  from  the  ocean  to  escape  the  dampness  incident  to 
maritime  climates,  and  the  air  is  at  all  seasons  dr^-  and  pure.  Dr.  Wil- 
lard  Parker,  during  his  lifetime  standing  at  the  head  of  the  medical 
profession  of  New  York  city,  was  in  the  habit  of  recommending  his 
patients  suffering  from  lung  troubles  to  go  to  Paramus  Plains  or  High- 
lands as  the  most  favorable  spot  east  of  the  Mississi])pi  River.  The 
distance  to  New  York  is  twenty-one  miles  and  places  us  within  easy 
reach  of  the  IMetropolis.  The  train  service  is  excellent,  seventy  trains 
stopping  daily  at  the  Ridgewood  station.  In  addition  to  this,  Under- 
cliflF  station  on  the  Erie  and  Midland  Park  station  on  the  Susquehanna 
and  Western  are  also  within  the  limits  of  the  village,  thus  furnishing 
every  section  with  frequent  and  convenient  trains." 

Village  Trustees  for  1899 — James  Cornelius,  President.  Jos.  W. 
Edwards,  John  R.  Stevens,  C.  P.  Crouter  and  Wm.  J.  FuUerton.  H. 
G.  Ward,  Clerk.  Justice  of  the  Peace— Isaac  M.  Wall.  Town  Clerk 
— Hudson  Campbell.  Constables — Peter  E.  Pulis,  Garret  G.  Ackerman, 
Samuel  E.  Edsell,  Klaus  Heerema.  Superintendent  of  Streets — J.  R. 
Stevens.  Superintendent  of  the  Poor — Rev.  E.  H.  Cleveland.  Fire 
De])artnient — Protection  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  R.  M.  Bridgman,  Presi- 
dent; H.  A.  Tice,  Vice  President;  S.  F.  Lynch,  Secretary;  W.  O.  Cruse, 
Recording  Secretary;  J.  Blauvelt  Hopper,  Treasurer.  Trustees — Asa 
Zabriskie,  Wm.  P.  Morgan,  J.  D.  Van  Emburgh,  Jr.  Chief  Engineer — 
E.  Nickerson.  First  Assistant  Engineer  C.  Sidney  Keyser.  Fore- 
man— Daniel  Soman.  Assistant  Foreman — J.  A.  Bogert,  Jr.  Head- 
quarters, truck  house,  Hudson  St.  Regular  meeting,  second  Tuesday  of 
each  month.  Board  of  Health — Village  Trustees  (as  above)  with 
Health  Ofticer,  Dr.  J.  T.  DeMund.  Freeholders— Theodore  V.  Terhune, 
Chairman.  Collector -Peter  ().  Terheun.  Assessor  Thos.  Terheun. 
Commissioners  of  Appeals  Edwin  Clark,  (ieo.  E.  Knowlton,  R.  W". 
Terhune. 

"The  Ridgewood  Club  was  organized  in  December,  i.s'».i,  with  the 
following  officers  and  governors:  President,  Henry  S.  Patterson;  \'ice- 
President,  M.  T.  Richardson  ;  Treasurer,  W.  J.  Fullerton  ;  Secretary. 
Paul  Walton;  Croverning  Committee,  Joseph  F.  Carrigan,  Robert  T. 
Maskins,  E.  F.  Hanks,  John  A.  Edwards.  Clarenci'  K.  Chapman,  Lucius 
Smith  and  Thomas  Watlington. 

"Mr.  Patterson  served  as  President  of  the  club  for  two  years,  and 
was  ably  succeeded  by  Robert  T.  Raskins,  who  has  just  completed  his  sec- 
ond term. 

"Under  the  administration  of  these  gentlemen,  earnestly  seconded 
by  the  Chairman  of  the  (ioverning  Committee,  Joseph  F.  Carrigan,  the 
original  plan  of  the  club  has  been  sucessfullv  develo])ed  and  its  ])olicv 
defined;   and.  in  a   great   measure  owing  to  their  efticiint   methods  and 


246  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Wise  counsel,  and  it  has  become  one  of  the  leading  institutions  of    the 
villao-e    and  certainly  the  center  of  its  social  life  and  activity. 

°l't  has  been  th^  aim  of  the  club  from  its  inception  to  appeal  partic- 
ularly for  the  interest  and  support  of  the  ladies,  to  which  tact  its  growth 
and  success  are  mainly  attributable. 

'Two  days  of  each  week  are  set  apart  as  '  Ladies'  Days,'  and  weeklj 
entertainments  are  given  throughout  the  season  which  are  -"^^^^^  by 
the  Entertainment  Committee,  with  a  view  to  meeting  the  wishes  of  the 
ladies  and  securing  their  regular  and  general  attendance 

"During  the  winter  season  afternoon  lectures  are  held  in  the  club 
narlors    followed  by  a  5  o'clock  tea. 

'  '  The  dub  is  a  member  of  the  Whist  League,  and  the  devotees  ot 
the  o-ame  have  made  it  one  feature  of  the  club  life.  Several  of  its  mem- 
bersCe  taken  part  in  inter-town  and  inter-state  contests  with  much 

credit  to  themselves  and  to  the  club.  .  ,,       i   k     v^^^ 

"  The  following  gentlemen  are  the  present  of&cers  of  the  club  :  Pres- 
ident E.  LeB.  Gardiner;  Vice-President,  R.  M.  Wmans;  Secretary  C. 
TCayler-  Treasurer,  C.  H.  Dickson;  Governing  Committee,  Joseph  F 
Ca^rSln,  RobeTtT.  Haskins,  Lucius  Smith,  Henry  A.  Dunbar,  Joseph 
W.  Edwards,  Henry  S.  Patterson,  H.  H.  Wehrhane 

"The  scenery  around  Ridgewood  is  pleasing  to  the  eye,  and  from 
the  hei-hts  on  the  western  side  of  the  town  is  spread  out  a  magnificent 
pLrama  which  extends  for  miles  in  all  directions.  Other  points  gn. 
equally  charming  outlooks.  The  streets  are  well  shaded  and  the  resi 
dences  pleasant,  Comfortable  and  attractive.  Bicycling  is  much  indulged 
fn  and  during  pleasant  weather  out-of-town  cyclers  throng  t^e  village 
a«ra"td  not^only  by  the  fine  roads,  but  by  the  excellence  of  the  hotel 

^'T^^.  recognised  factor  in  the  many  social  diversions  of  the 
townspeople.  The  public  schools  have  long  been  known  as  among  the 
be!  nthf  State,  the  new  High  School  ^eing  a  model  o  convenience 
and  utility.  A  corps  of  teachers,  under  the  able  principa  ship  of  Pro 
fessor  B.  C.  Wooster,  have  shown  much  ability  in  the  --^-1 -ted  for 
them  The  school  is  graded  from  the  Kindergarten  to  the  High  School. 
The  last  census  shows  a  gain  of  sixty  per  cent,  m  five  years. 

"Th  Board  of  Trustees  has  done  much  to  bring  the  vUlage  up  o 
its  present  model  condition.  James  Cornelius  is  the  P--lent  of  the 
■  Villa-e  and  his  associate  members  on  the  Board  are  Joseph  W.  Edwards, 
W  J  Fullerton,  C.  P.  Crouter  and  John  R.  Stevens.  They  are  gentle- 
men of  high  character  and  rare  executive  ability,  • 

"In  a  work  of  this  limited  scope  many  details  must  necessarily  be 
omitted,  but  the  facts  relating  to  the  village  herewith  presented  have 
been  -athered  from  reliable  sources  and  are  believed  to  be  accurate  . 

The  Ridgewood  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  established  m 
1885  This  institution  has  had  fourteen  years  of  successful  business  and 
has  been  the  means  of  making  a  good  many  men  and  women  in  this  part 
of  the  county  happy  and  independent. 


HISTOKV    OK    KKKCKN    COIINTY  247 

The  officers  for  1S9S  are  as  follows  :  W.  J.  Fullerton.  President  ;  M. 
T.  Richardson,  Vice-President  ;  E.  Nickerson,  Treasurer  ;  O.  W.  Read. 
Secretary  ;  C.  Doremus,  Counsel  ;  Directors,  W.  J.  Fullerton,  II.  S.  Pat- 
terson, M.  T.  Richardson,  E.  Nickerson,  C.  P.  Crouter,  Edwin  Clark,  P. 
G.  Zabriskie,  Frank  Wilson,  B.  C.  Wooster,  O.  W.  Reed,  J.  McCiuinness. 

The  Co-Operative  Building  and  Loan  Association  of  Ridgewood  was 
org-anized  February  1,  18<tl,  Officers  for  1897-'),  are  :  Georg-e  R.  Young, 
President;  Isaac  M.  Wall,  Treasurer;  Hudson  Campbell,  Secretary; 
Directors,  Edgar  Cromwell,  Asa  Zabriskie,  John  J.  Storms,  William  E. 
Maltbie,  George  M.  Ockford,  Andrew  V.  D.  Snyder,  Jas.  A.  Hales  ; 
Counsel,  D.  D.  Zabriskie. 

SOCniTV    DIIv'KCTt>KV    AND    OFFICEKS    FOK    18'»8. 

Fidelity  Lodge,  No.  ii3,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Ridgewood,  was  organized 
first  at  Hohokus  Station,  under  and  by  virtue  of  a  dispensation  granted 
by  M.  W.  Robert  Rusling,  Grand  Master,  dated  October  17,  A.  L.  5870, 
A.  D.  1870  and  was  set  at  work  by  R.  W.  William  E.  Pine,  D.  <;.  M., 
on  November  7,  A.  L.  587o. 

Officers  for  18<)8:— John  R.  Stevens,  Worshipful  Master  ;  James 
Cornelius,  Senior  Warden;  Leonard  N.  Taft,  Junior  Warden;  John  F. 
Cruse,  Treasurer;  John  F.  Weiss,  Secretary;  Rev.  Edward  H.  Cleveland, 
Chaplain;  William  W.  Holcomb,  Senior  Deacon;  William  Morrison, 
Junior  Deacon;  Harry  Terhune,  Marshal;  Alfred  A.  Stansfield.  S.  M. 
of  Ceremonies;  Isaac  M.  Wall,  J.  M.  of  Ceremonies;  George  M.  Ock- 
ford, Senior  Steward;  Charles  W.  Banta,  Junior  Steward;  Charles  W. 
Kohler,  Tyler;  George  M.  Ockford,  Past  Master,  proxy  to  the  Grand 
Lodge;  Henry  Hales,  Trustee  for  three  years. 

The  officers  were  installed  by  W.  Geo.  Morrison.  Past  Master;  John 
P".  Cruse,  Past  Master,  acting  as  Grand  Marshal. 

Stated  Communications  second  and  fourth  Fridays  at  Masonic  Hall, 
corner  of  Ridgewood  and  Rock  Avenue. 

JK.    O.    r.   A.   M.   ELECT    OFFICEKS. 

On  Monday,  January  23,  1899,  the  Junior  (_)rder  United  American 
Mechanics  met  and  api)ointed  the  following  officers  for  the  current  year: 

J.  D.  Van  Emburgh,  Jr.,  Councilor;  Roger  M.  Bridgman,  Vice- 
Councilor;  J.  H.  Christopher,  Past  Councilor;  C.  C.  Ackerman,  Record- 
ing Secretary;  John  Knowlton,  Assistant  Secretary;  Harvey  Terhune, 
H^inancial  Secretary;  Chas.  Sworn.  Conductor;  Winfield  Terhune, 
Warden;  I.  M.  Wall,  Treasurer;  Rev.  Franklin  Mathiews,  Chajjlain; 
J.  A.  Van  Emburgh,  Orator;  T.  L.  Ackerman,  Inside  Sentinel;  W'm.  (i. 
Ackerman,  Outside  Sentinel;  Dr.  J.  B.  Hopper,  Daniel  Soman.  I-'Jls- 
worth  Pell,  Trustees;  J.  Irving  Bogert,  Representative  to  State  Council. 

I.EC.IO.N    OF    IIO.NOIK,    COfNCII.    llOO. 

Officers  for  1898:  -Henry  Hales,  Commander;  J.  H.  Christopher, 
Treasurer;  J.  Cruse,  Secretary;  J.  Naugle,  Guide;  J.  H.  Zabriskie,  Warden; 
J.  J.  Hopper,  Sentry;   E.  D.  Leary,  Chaplain. 


248  IIISTOKY    OF    REKGEN    COUNTY      ' 

Meets  first  Wednesday  evening  of  each  month  in  Masonic  Hall. 
Companions  of  other  Councils  are  cordially  invited. 

HALL    -VND    PARK    .AS.SOCLATION. 

M.  T.  Richardson,  President;  E.  A.  Walton,  Vice  President;  Paul 
Walton,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  John  B.  Van  Dien,  J.  F.  Carrig-an. 
Maurice  Fornachon.  C.  P.  Crouter,  Cornelius  Dorenius  and  N.  B.  Kukuck. 

KNICHTS    OK    HONOK. 

List  of  Ofticcrs:— D.  J.  O'Neill.  Past  Dictator;  J.  D.  ^'a^  Emburirh. 
Jr.  Dictator;  C.  Snyder  Keyser,  \'ice  Dictator;  S.  Frank  Lynch,  Assist- 
ant Dictator;  C.  M.  Keyser,  Reporter;  F.  M.  Merritt,  Financial  Re- 
porter; D.  D.  Zabriskie.  Treasurer;  Harvey-  G.  Ward,  Chaplain;  Geo. 
E.  Miller,  Guide;  Chas.  L.  Jackson,  Guardian;  Stanley  G.  Cheel,  Sen- 
tinel; Dr.  Harry  S.  Williard,  Medical  Examiner. 

ROYAL    AKCAXUM. 

Paramus  Valley  Council,  No.  15'»7,  meets  first  and  third  Tuesday  in 
Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  Hall. 

Officers  for  1898:— R.  M.  Winans,  Regent;  H.  G.  White,  Vice  Re- 
gent; H.  A.  Brown,  Orator;  V.  A.  Ross,  Past  Regent;  W.  A.  Cheel, 
Secretary;  John  R.  Stevens,  Treasurer;  Arthur  White,  Chaplain;  A.  A. 
Fitzhugh,  Guide;  A.  Frank  Halsted,  Collector;  John  B.  Hopper,  War- 
den; Jacob  Ward,  Sentry. 

THE  kid(;e\vood  news. 

The  Ridgewood  News  was  first  issued  in  i890  by  W.  J.  Tonkin,  as  a 
monthly,  the  mechanical  work  being  done  in  New  York,  Mr.  Tonkin 
carrying  his  office  in  a  cigar  box.  Mr.  L.  N.  Taft  took  charge  the  sec- 
ond year,  putting  in  presses  and  type  in  a  room  over  Eglin's  blacksmith 
shop.  About  one  year  later  Mr.  John  A.  Ackerman  owned  the  paper  for 
a  short  time,  returning  it  to  Mr.  Taft  in  1892.  when  he  removed  it  to 
Ridgewood  Avenue  where  it  is  now  located. 

Mr.  Frank  A.  Baxter  has  made  it  a  nine  column  quarto.  It  is  the 
official  organ  of  Ridgewood  and  Orvil  Townships  and  of  (ilen  Rock  and 
Midland  Park  boroughs,  being  non-partisan  in  politics. 

KIDCEWOOD    KECOKD. 

The  Ridgewood  Record  has  been  regularly  issued  as  a  weekly  for 
upwards  of  a  year,  and  is  Republican  in  politics.  It  is  edited  and  owned 
by  E.  F.  Farrell.  with  W.  P.  T^Iillar  as  associate  editor. 

CHT'KCH    HISTORY. 

The  old  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Paramus  is  one  of  the  land 
marks  in  which  Ridgewood  Township  is  intensely  interested.  That  the 
first  church  building  was  erected  in  1735,  appears  to  be  well  established, 
from  writings  which  have  been  found  bearing  upon  this  subject.  On  the 
flyleaf  of  the  baptismal  register  is  a  sentence  which  translated  reads: 
"On  the  21st  day  of  April  1735,  was  the  first  stone  of  the  church  laid."' 
It  is  also  confidently  asserted  that  on  January  15.  1735,  a  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  assembled  consistory  and  congregati(.n,  to  consider  and 


HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN  COUNTY 


249 


make  arrangements  for  the  building-  of  a  church  and  to  formuhite  rules  for 
the  promotion  of  the  best  interests  of  the  church,  Conradus  Vanderlieck 
and  Johannes  Wynkoop  being  the  persons  chosen  to  superintend  and  con- 
duct these  important  matters.  After  adojjting  seventeen  articles  for  the 
government  of  the  seating  of  the  members,  and  for  the  control  nf  the 
calling  of  ministers  to  their  pulpit,  they  pruceeded  to  erect  the  house  nf 
worship. 


IV  ^  K 


KHKOKMliD    CHrKClI-    ICII)(;i;\VO()l) 


In  those  times  all  the  Dutch  churches  were  built  of  st<mc,  and  of 
similar  style,  having  an  octagonal  roof  with  a  steeple  in  the  centre,  the 
chairs,  which  were  used  instead  of  pews  such  as  we  have,  being  marked 
(m  the  back  with  the  owner's  name.  The  law  of  compensation  being 
observed  here  as  in  all  things  else,  Peter  Fauconicr  was  allowed  two 
seats,  one  each  for  himself  and  wife  "  for  a  continual  possession  for 
themselves  and  their  heirs" — "  as  an  acknowledgement  <)[  their  donation 


250  HISTORY    OF    BEKGHN    COUNTY 

of  the  land  on  which  the  church  is  built."  This  donation  appears  to 
have  been  for  the  church  edifice,  as  Mag-dalen  Valleau,  in  1750, 
gave  a  parsonay;v  farm  of  forty  acres.  A  school  is  now  located  on  these 
grounds,  to  which  the  consistory  a  few  years  ago  gave  the  trustees  a  per- 
petual lease,  owing  to  a  tradition  extant,  to  the  effect  that  Mrs.  Valleau 
embodied  a  provision  in  her  original  grant  of  land  that  a  school  should 
be  maintained  on  this  tract.  The  church  is  located  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  township,  adjacent  to  which  lies  the  True  Reformed  Ceme- 
terv,  the  oldest  burial-place  in  the  township.  In  the  old  church  on  this 
spot  Aaron  Burr  married  the  Widow  Provost,  an  incident  always  recalled 
in  connection  with  this  time  honored  place  of  worship. 

Manv  years  prior  to  the  building  of  the  church,  however,  an  organi- 
zation had  been  effected  and  the  preaching  of  the  Word  regularly 
attended  by  these  pious  people.  As  early  as  1725,  in  a  letter  written  by 
Rev.  Reinhart  Erickson  to  a  brother-in-law,  Henricus  Coens,  at  Acquack- 
anonk,  he  speaks  of  being  "minister  at  Hackensack,  Schraalenburgh, 
and  Peremus."  From  this  statement  we  conclude  that  "Paramus  "  at 
that  time  was  a  recognized  congregation.  While  Rev.  Guillam  Bert- 
holf  preached  to  the  united  societies  of  Hackensack,  Acquackanonk  and 
Tappan,  from  1(>*:I4  to  1724,  it  gave  the  people  of  this  vicinity  the  oppor- 
tunity to  attend  his  ministrations  according  to  their  location;  but  they 
were  progressive,  and  had  determined  upon  independent  action  as  is 
evidenced  by  a  document  in  possession  of  the  consistory,  dated  Decem- 
ber 26,  1730,  and  signed  by  Peter  Fauconier,  in  which  he  pr(miises  to 
give  land  on  which  to  build  a  church. 

The  lirst  building  erected  stood  intact  until  ISOd,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  repairs  made  necessary  by  the  injuries  sustained  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  it  having  been  used  during  that  period,  for  various 
purposes.  From  1731  to  1732,  Rev.  George  W.  Mancius  ministered  to 
the  two  churches  of  Schraalenburgh  and  Paramus,  but  no  further  evi- 
dence is  given  of  their  having  another  pastor  until  sixteen  years  later, 
although  much  advancement  was  made  during  this  time,  which  if  acconi- 
l)lished  without  an  appointed  leader,  shows  a  wonderful  devotedness  to 
the  cause,  as  well  as  an  indomitable  will  to  do  needed  work.  Rev. 
Benjamin  Van  Der  Linde  received  a  call  from  the  two  churches  of  Para- 
mus and  the  Ponds,  on  August  21,  1748,  Rev.  Antonius  Curtenius  of 
Hackensack  moderating  the  call,  in  which  stipulations  were  made  as  to 
the  davs  upon  which  he  was  to  preach  and  the  number  of  sermons  each 
(lav.  This  was  signed  by  Elders,  Albert  Van  Dien,  Steve  Terhuen,  Jan 
Romjm,  Barent  Van  Hocjrn,  Hendick  Van  Aele,  Roelof  Van  Houte; 
Deacons,  Johannes  Stek,  Klaes  Zabriski,  Albert  Bogart,  Simon  Van 
Winkle,  Cornelius  Van  Houte,  Steve  Bogert.  Mr.  Van  Der  Linde  is 
described  as  a  man  of  muscular  strength  and  quickness  of  movemeht, 
qualities  which  were  needed  in  those  times,  when  long  and  tiresome 
trips  had  to  be  taken  without  opportunity  for  rest  or  refreshment.  They 
could  onlv  promise  sixty  pounds  a  year  with  parsonage  and  wood,  but 
later  on,    added   enough  to  make  ninety  pounds.      Although  these  two 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKC.KX    COITNTY  251 

churches  were  a  tuimber  of  inik-s  apart  ho  continued  to  be  their  pastor 
for  forty  years,  until  old  age  ohlij^ed  him  to  have  assistance.  Rev.  Van 
Der  Linde  with  Elder  Stephen  Zabriskie,  were  the  representatives  of 
this  church  in  1771  in  the  convention  which  met  to  form  a  constitution 
of  the  Reformed  Dutcli  t'hurch  (d'  North  America.  After  the 
ortcanization  of  the  church  at  Sa(l<lle  River,  which  would  achl  to 
his  labors,  the  ccmsistory  called  Rew  (1.  Kuyi)ers,  a  ne\vl\-  licensed 
minister,  to  assist  him.  This  was  in  I7.s7,  as  after  .about  one  \-ear 
and  a  half  Mr.  Kuypers  was  called  to  the  Colleyiate  Church  in 
New  York,  leaving-  Paramus  April  1.^.  17S'».  Rev.  Van  Der  [yiude 
died  July  8,  178'*.  When  \vi'  consider  what  liis  labor  nuist  have 
been  to  attend  to  the  pastoral  work  oi  a  tiejd  covering  an  area 
of  tweaty-five  miles  in  length  and  fifteen  in  breadth,  we  co:iclude 
that  nothing  less  than  an  athlete  could  have  borne  up  under  the  strain. 
That  he  was  loved  and  appreciated  by  his  people,  is  proven  l^v  the  fact 
that  in  1800,  when  the  edifice  was  erected,  his  bones  were  removed  and 
placed  beneath  the  pulpit.  Following  Rev.  Kuypers,  Rev.  Isaac  Blau- 
velt  was  called  in  December,  17')(l,  Ponds,  not  now  being  connected  with 
the  Paramus  Church,  which  at  this  time  consisted  of  (mly  the  original 
congregation  with  that  of  Saddle  River.  Rev.  Blauvelt  was  a  i)opular 
man,  and  it  was  for  him  tlie  parsonage  was  built  in  17'll.  His  ser\-ice 
here,  however,  was  discontinued  in  the  summer  of  17'>2,  the  Rev.  William 
P.  Kaypers  being  called  in  May,  i7'».v  remaining  until  May,  17'M>. 
During  the  three  years  following  they  were  witliout  pastoral  care,  after 
which  they  called  Rev.  Wilhelmus  Eltinge,  then  but  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  his  pastorate  extending  over  this  church  and  that  of  Saddle 
River.  In  1811,  the  care  of  Saddle  River,  in  connection  with  Paramus 
was  disctmtinued,  Mr.  Eltinge  confining  his  work  to  the  Paramus 
Church,  without  any  formal  call  until  five  years  later,  when  a  call  was 
tendered  him  from  the  joint  congregations  of  Paramus  and  Totowa, 
which  he  accepted,  continuing  these  relations  until  IS.^.i.  when  Paramus 
claimed  his  sole  attention.  After  a  lapse  of  tifty-one  years  in  cliarge 
of  this  church,  he  was  obliged  on  account  of  the  inlirmities  of  age  to 
retire  from  active  service,  closing  his  earthly  career  in  June,  1S.=.1. 

At  this  time  there  were  four  hundred  and  thirty  conuniuiicants  in 
the  congregation.  Rev.  Aaron  B.  Winfield  succeeded  Rev.  Pvltingi'.  be- 
ginning his  ministry  in  January  lS.=il,  which  was  continued  until  his 
death  in  18.5(>.  when  he  was  laid  beside  his  predecessor  in  the  ministers' 
plot  in  Valleau  Cemetery.  Rev.  Edward  Tanjore  Corwin  succeeded  to 
this  place  in  July  of  the  following  year,  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Isaac  De  Mund.  During  the  incumbency  of  Rev.  (ioyn  Talamge, 
D.  D.  from  1871  to  187'>,  a  handsome  new  parsonage  was  built  and  the 
<dd  church  remodelled,  the  walls  alone  remaining  of  the  old  structure. 
Kev.  J.  C.  Van  Deventer  was  installed  the  same  year  of  Dr.  Talinage's 
de])arture. 

The  present  pastor  Rev.  \V.  11.  \'room  has  been    in    charge   of    this 


252  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

church  since  iSHl.  In  1893  the  latest  improvements  were  made  bv 
putting'  in  steam  heat,  pipe  organ,  etc. 

This  congreg-ation  now  comprises  two  hundred  and  eight  members 
with  a  flourishing  Sunday  school  of  about  one  hundred  and  sevent_T- 
tive  scholars. 

The  officers  are  as  follows: — Superintendent,  S.  T.  Van  Emburgh, 
Assistant  Superintendent  and  Secretary,  J.  A  Van  Emburgh;  Treasurer, 
A.  G.  Zabriskie;  Librarian.  A.  H.  Vroom,  Organist  (Juvenile  Depart- 
ment ),  Mrs.  R.  A.  Post.  There  are  seventeen  teachers:  Rev.  W.  H. 
Vroom  and  Mrs.  \'room,  Mrs.  E.  Ackerman,  Mrs.  Vermilye,  Mrs.  E. 
Nickerson,  Mr.  C.  V.  A.  Lacour,  Mrs.  S.  T.  Van  Emburgh,  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Van  Emburgh,  Miss  F.  I.  Vroom,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  G.  Hopper,  Miss 
Lida  Vermilye,  Miss  Mary  Van  Dien,  Mrs.  P.  D.  Westervelt  and  Miss 
L.  L.  Newcomb. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Vroom  conducts  a  Bible  class  for  men.  and  Mrs.  E. 
Ackerman  and  Mrs.  Vermilye  each  conduct  a  Bible  class  for  women. 

PKKSKXT    f)FFICl-:KS. 

Pastor,  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Vroom;  Elders,  A.  A.  Blauvelt.  \Vm.  Hard- 
ing, (i.  H.  winters  and  (ieo.  Demarcst. 

Deacons,  Peter  J.  Westervelt,  Wm.  J.  Hanham,  James  W.  Mower- 
son  and  A.  G.  Zabriskie. 

(i.  H.  Winters.  Treasurer;  A.  (1.  Zabriskie,  Clerk;  W.  H.  Ackerman, 
Organist;  Cornelius  Banta,  Sexton. 

I.ADIi:s'   AID   socnjTY. 
Mrs.  W.  F.  Palmer,  President;  Mrs.  D.  S.  Hammond,  Vice  President; 
Mrs.  John  T.  Ackerman,  Treasurer;   Miss  Mary  Van  Dien,  Secretary. 

wom,\n's  mission.\kv  sociicty. 

Mrs.  W.  H.  Vroom,  President;  Mrs.  E.  G.  Board,  Vice  President; 
Mrs.  J.  A.Van  Emburgh,  Secretary;  Miss  Irene  Van  Emburgh,  Treasurer. 

The  First  Reformed  Church  of  Ridgewood,  N.  J.,  was  organized  by 
a  committee  from  the  Classis  of  Paramus,  consisting  of  Reverends  John 
H.  Duryea,  D.  D.,  John  Gaston,  D.  D.,  W.  H.  Clark,  D.  D.,  and  Elder 
Garret  S.  Blauvelt  at  Shuart  's  Hall,  Rock  avenue  (since  burned  ),  on  May 
24,  1875.  The  following  persons  were  received  by  certificate  and  organ- 
ized as  the  "First  Reformed  Church  of  Ridgewood,  N.  J.,"  viz:  Edward 
Jardine,  from  Church  of  Puritans,  New  York;  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Jardine, 
from  Reformed  Church,  Harlem ;  Edward  H.  Leggett,  from  Church  of 
Puritans,  New  York ;  John  M.  Knapp,  from  Second  Reformed  Church, 
Hackensack,  N.  J.;  Cornelius  Z.  Berdan,  from  Reformed  Church,  Para- 
mus; Margaret  R.  Ackerman  (wife  of  Cornelius  Z.  Berdan),  Margaret 
A.  Van  Orden  (wife  of  Henry  A.  Hopper),  Rachel  L.  Hopper,  also 
from  Reformed  Church,  Paramus;  Mrs.  Esther  Earl,  from  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Paterson,  N.  J.  Elders,  Edwaid  Jardine  and  Cornelius 
Z.  Berdan,  and  Deacon  Edward  H.  Leggett  were  constituted  the  first 
Consistory  by  afore-mentioned  committee  from  Classis  of  Paramus. 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKCKN    COTXTY  2^3 

At  the  first  regular  meeting-  of  the  Consistory,  June  17,  1S75.  pre- 
sided over  by  Rev.  Govn  Talmage,  D.  1).,  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church 
of  Paramus,  N.  J.,  a  call  to  become  the  first  pastor  of  the  Church,  was 
then  formulated,  and  afterward  presented  to  a  student,  John  Alfred  Van 
Neste,  graduated  in  May  1875.  who  accepted  it  and  was  ordained  and 
installed  July  12,  1875,  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  Ridgewood  Church.  The 
Rev.  J.  A.  Van  Neste  has  remained  the  only  Pastor  during  the  twenty- 
four  years  since  the  organization  of  the  Church. 

For  two  years  from  the  genesis  of  the  church  the  congregation  wor- 
shipped in  Shuart's  Hall  on  Rock  Avenue.  But  the  place  soon  became 
too  small,  the  development  and  future  growth  depending  upon  a  more 
suitable  building,  it  was  resolved  on  August  7,  1877  to  secure  a  location 
and  begin  at  once  the  erection  of  a  church.  After  failures  and  numerous 
hindrances  a  building  was  partially  finished  upon  a  lot  donated  by  Mr. 
Frederic  Kidder.  The  basement  was  first  used  for  divine  worship 
November  4,  1877.  Since  that  the  grr)wth  of  the  church  has  been  con- 
tinuous. In  the  meantime  the  church  has  been  greatly  enlarged  and 
beautified,  improved  appliances  for  work  and  convenience  being  C(m- 
stantly  added.  At  date  of  writing  the  congregation  numbers  among 
its  adherents  a  large  proportion  of  the  most  influential  and  intelligent 
members  of  the  community.  In  addition  to  the  church  building,  a  spa- 
cious and  attractive  parsonage  located  on  Prospect  Street,  and  valued  at 
seven  thousand  dollars,  is  ownod  by  the  congregation. 

Notwithstanding  that  within  si.x  years  practically  three  other  church 
organizations,  viz.  the  Baptist,  Methodist  and  the  Reformed  at  Glen 
Rock  have  been  organized  from  the  membership  of  the  Ridgewood 
Reformed  Church,  the  congregation  is  still  as  large  as  before  the  new  en- 
ter prises  were  brought  into  existence.  The  following  statistical  table 
will  illustrate  in  brief  the  ])resent  status  of  the  Reformed  Church  family 
of  Ridgewood. 

Organized  1875  with  nine  members.  Received  in  fellowship  in 
twenty-three  years,  401.  Present  resident  membership  240.  Disburse- 
ments during  the  year  1898  nearly  S8000. 

There  are  numerous  Christian  organizations  within  tlie  church,  all 
prosperous  and  effective  in  maintaining  and  de\elo])ing  the  general  work 
of  the  church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Neste  is  arranging  to  celebrate  the  twenty-lifth 
anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  church,  and  his  installation  as 
pastor  at  one  and  the  same  time  on  May  25,  1900. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Van  Neste,  Pastor;  W.  P.  Millar.  Isaac  A.  IIoi)])er.  J. 
F.  Cruse,  J.  C.  Wilkinson,  Elders;  W.  J.  Fullerton.  .1.  II.  Christuidur. 
F.  A.  Ross,  R.  S.  Cortelyou,  Deacons. 

In  18()0  a  committee  was  ajjiiointed  to  act  in  a  matter  looking 
toward  the  founding  of  an  Episcopal  ])arish.  ])reliminary  organi- 
zation of  Christ  Church  Parish  being  effected  in  1804,  when  a  meeting 
had  been  called  at  the  house  of  Captain  Samuel  Dayton  on  February  (> 
of  that  year.     Captain  Dayton  at  this  time  offered    a   lot  one  mile  east 


254  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUXTY 

of  the  dei)()t  as  a  site  t\)r  a  church  building,  which  was  accepted  on 
February-  17, 

The  name  <>f  the  church  being-  decided  upon,  Messrs.  James  Keelv 
and  J.  T.  Walton  were  elected  wardens,  and  A.  J.  Cameron,  Samuel 
Dayton,  E.  Rosencrantz,  W.  H.  Hawlett  and  E.  A.  Walton,  vestrymen. 
After  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  eighteen  hundred  dollars  had  been 
secured,  an  organ  was  purchased  and  placed  in  the  house  of  B.  F. 
Robinson  for  the  use  of  the  choir.  March  28,  18t)5,  the  corner-stone 
was  laid  by  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese.  Right  Rev.  W.  H.  Odenheimer, 
D.  D.,  who  held  service  the  same  day  in  Union  Hall,  Paramus.  On 
Sunday,  May  13,  1866,  the  church  was  opened  for  divine  service,  the 
Rev.  J.  M.  Waite  officiating.  The  pews  were  rented  on  May  16,  several 
persons  paying  a  premium  for  choice  of  seats.  The  cost  of  the  build- 
ing, including  furniture  and  sheds,  was  a  little  more  than  S6()00.  Rev. 
Leigh  Richmond  Dickenson,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  became  the  first 
rector,  administering  holy  communion  to  twelve  communicants.  On 
May  12,  following,  a  Sunday  school  was  organized  with  E.  A.  Walton  as 
superintendent  and  Thomas  T.  Walton  librarian.  Twenty-one  scholars 
and  seven  teachers  were  present.  The  congregation  increased,  until 
in  March,  1869,  the  question  of  enlarging  the  church  was  agitated  and 
a  subscription  started  to  assist  in  accomplishing  the  work.  This  was  a 
successful  undertaking  and  the  foundation  was  begun  on  August  2, 
and  on  December  19,  the  church  was  reopened  for  service.  A  beautiful 
chancel,  three  new  windows,  one  of  which  was  presented  by  the  Sunday 
school.  A  vestry  room,  organ  room  and  ten  pews  were  added  at  this 
time,  the  whole  costing  §2600,  a  part  of  which  was  paid  by  the  indi- 
vidual liberality  of  ^Ir.  Christian  A.  Zabriskie  and  others.  In  May, 
1869,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Newton  organized  a  Sunday  school  in  her  home  which 
was  continued  until  1S70  when  a  Missitm  Snuday  school  was  opened  in 
Shuart's  Hall  in  the  village  of  Ridgewood,  continuing  until  September, 
1875,  when  it  was  merged  into  the  Parish  School. 

In  1873  the  vestry  resolved  to  move  the  church  to  a  central  location 
in  the  village.  A  lot  was  tendered  by  Mr.  Robinson  and  accepted.  This, 
with  an  additi<mal  plot,  purchased  for  a  sum  somewhat  exceeding  eleven 
hundred  dollars  became  the  site  of  the  new  church.  W^ork  began  on 
August  4,  1873  and  in  October  the  new  church  was  opened  for  public 
worship.  In  1874  the  old  site  was  sold  for  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. Mr.  E.  A.  Walton  resigned  the  treasurership,  at  Easter  of  this 
year  after  having  held  the  office  ten  years.  The  present  officers  are  as 
follows:  Wardens,  E.  A.  Walton  and  Henry  Hales;  Vestrymen,  W.  E. 
Maltbie,  H.  C.  Lawrence,  F.  E.  Palmer,  H.  S.  Patten,  Alexander  Bell,  S. 
M.  Orne,  Thomas  Watlington,  E.  LeB.  Gardiner,  John  R.  Stevens  and 
Lagnel  de  Berier.  The  Sunday  school  has  a  roll  call  of  about  fifty 
pupils.  The  school  is  superintended  by  the  Rector,  Rev.  E.  H.  Cleveland. 
Mr.  Cleveland  held  his  first  service  as  Rector  on  March  4,  1894. 

The  Baptist  church  is  located  on  Hope  Street  and  Ridgewood  Ave- 
nue.     'Phe  Society  was  ort^anized   about   the  year   1890    and  named  The 


PKTKK     ACKKKMAN 


256  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Emmanuel  Baptist.  Mr.  Frank  White,  the  present  and  efficient  super- 
intendent of  the  Sabbath  School,  with  a  few  other  gentlemen,  were  in- 
sti'umental  in  securing  a  class  for  religious  worship.  The  work  of  these 
members  eventually  led  to  the  formation  of  the  Church  Society,  and  to 
its  present  membership  of  over  109  persons.  Elder  Shrive  was  the  first 
pastor  and  under  his  pastorate  the  church  building  was  erected,  Rev. 
Frank  K.  Mathiews,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University  and  of  Crozier 
Seminary,  is  the  present  pastor.  The  Deacons  are,  Sylvanus  White, 
William  C.  Parker,  George  E.  Ferguson  and  George  Barr.  The  build- 
ing originally  cost  S3200. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  this  place  was  organized  in 
189f).  It  has  a  flourishing  membership  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Frank  Chadwick.  They  worship  in  the  old  schoolhouse  on  Prospect 
Street. 

The  Unitarians  have  but  recently  organized.  They  hold  religious 
services  at  stated  intervals  in  the  Town  Hall.  The  Rev.  George  Badger 
is  the  officiating  pastor. 

The  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  worship  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
T.  T.  B.  Reed,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Pastor. 

Our  Lady  of  Mt.  Carmel  is  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Father 
Killy,  graduate  of  Seton  Hall  of  the  class  of  1885.  The  building  was 
dedicated  by  Bishop  Wigger,  and  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  building 
was  laid  in  1890.     The  church  has  about  400  communicants. 

PETEK    ACKEKMAN. 

Peter  Ackerman  of  Ridgewood  belongs  to  the  old  Dutch  family  of 
Ackermans,  who  came  from  Holland  about  the  year  1610.  Mr.  Acker- 
man  was  born  ip  Paterson,  September  16,  1831,  and  is  the  son  of  David 
D.,  and  Martha  (  Stevens  )  Ackerman. 

When  but  fifteen  years  of  age  he  left  home  to  try  his  fortune  in 
new  fields,  going  to  New  York,  where  he  found  employment  in  the 
business  of  stair  building,  but  only  remained  a  short  time  in  this  work. 
Upon  leaving  this  business  he  became  employed  with  a  firm  in  this  city 
doing  trucking,  and  in  1849,  started  a  line  of  carts  and  wagons,  doing 
storage  business  on  his  own  account.  In  1885,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother  who  was  in  the  same  line  of  work,  and  continued  under 
the  firm  name  of  D.  &  P.  Ackerman.  Business  increased  until  it  became 
one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  New  York  city. 

In  1887  Mr.  Ackerman  retired  with  ample  means  at  his  command, 
and  has  since  spent  his  time  in  the  care  of  his  property.  He  has  served 
his  state  in  the  Assembly,  first  in  1885,  when  he  defeated  Lydecker  by  a 
plurality  of  forty  votes,  but  the  following  year  was  defeated  by  John 
Van  Bussum  by  a  majority  of  seventy-nine,  and  the  next  year  he  defeated 
Van  Bussum  by  a  pluralty  of  seventy-four.  In  the  session  of  1885.  he 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  agriculture  and  a  member  of  com- 
mittee on  incidental  expenses  and  the  Soldiers'  Home. 


258  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

In  1892  he  was  nominated  by  acclamation,  for  state  senator,  but  was 
defeated  by  HenrY  D.  Winton.  He  has  in  addition  to  these,  held  various 
offices  in  his  county. 

Mr.  Ackerman  married  Elizabeth  Hopper,  daughter  of  John  Hojjper 
of  Fairlawn,  in  1856. 

His  wife  died  December  •»,  1894. 

He  isnowPresident  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ridg'ewood.  which 
was  opened  for  business  July  24,  1899. 

JOHN    B.    VAN    DIKN. 

The  family  of  this  name  date  their  residence  in  Bergen  county  to  an 
early  period  of  its  history.  The  Van  Diens  have  owned  and  occupied 
their  present  homestead  for  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  years. 
Garret  Van  Dien,  the  father  of  John  B.,  was  a  well  known  man  of  his 
time,  who  successfully  served  his  generation  in  various  capacities.  At 
that  time  Bergen  county  comprised  a  greater  scope  of  territory  than  it 
does  at  present,  Hudson  county  then  being  included  within  its  boundary. 

Mr.  Van  Dien  held  prominent  offices  in  his  day,  those  of  surveyor 
and  township  assessor  being  among  the  number.  He  also  held  the 
responsible  office  of  sheriff  for  a  term  of  three  years.  The  county  was  a 
large  area  to  cover,  but  the  population  was  inconsiderable  as  compared 
with  that  of  the  present  Bergen. 

In  politics  Mr.  Van  Dien  was  an  old  time  Whig.  His  religi<)us 
affiliations  connected  him  with  the  old  Dutch  Church. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Van  Dien  was  Jane  Demarest  of  French  Hugue- 
not extraction.  The  children  were  Albert,  Rachel,  IVtaria,  John  B., 
Catherine,  Casper  and  Garret.  Of  these,  Catherine  married  Jacob  Banta 
while  Maria  became  the  wife  of  Abram  Carlock.  The  great  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  Harmon  Van  Dien,  the  first  of  the  name  of 
whom  we  have  any  definite  account,  in  this  country.  Harmon's  son, 
Albert,  the  grandfather  of  John  B.,  was  always  a  farmer.  Mr.  Van 
Dien  learned  the  trade  of  Carpenter  becoming  a  builder  of  some  note. 
He  erected  the  Town  Hall,  the  residences  of  M.  T.  Richardson,  Peter 
Ackerman,  Dr.  De  Mund,  Judge  Zabriskie,  Isaac  Hopper  and  other  build- 
ings. 

His  first  marriage  was  to  Eliza,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret 
Doremus,  whose  only  child  was  Albert  A.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  he  married  Miss  Sarah  M.  Force,  daughter  of  Edward  B.  and  Lydia 
Force.  The  children  of  this  union  are  Anna,  wife  of  Jonas  Stewart, 
John  D.,  Martha,  wife  of  John  Taylor,  Edward  B.,  and  William  who 
married  Miss  Rachel  Doremus. 

Mr.  Van  Dien  was  born  September  12,  1818,  and  is  now  living,  more 
than  fourscore  j-ears  of  age,  a  respected  and  honored  citizeu  of  his  county. 

DANIKL    W.    LA    FKTKA. 

Daniel  W.  La  Fetra,  member  and  president  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, Ridgewood,  is  a  man  of  merit  and  influence  in  his  locality. 


JOHN     B.     \  AN     DIl'.X 


260  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


He  is  of  rugged,  as  well  as  versatile  extraction,  combining  the 
English,  Dutch  and  French  blood.  His  paternal  ancestry  traces  through 
the  La  Fetra  name,  by  his  father  William  P.  La  Fetra,  born  in  1803, 
died  in  1873.  to  Samuel,  son  of  James,  son  of  James,  son  of  Edmond, 
son  of  Edmond  who  died  in  1687.  The  La  Fetras  were  French  Hugue- 
nots, whose  blood  mingled  with  that  of  the  Hollanders  through  the  line 
of  Browers  to  Bogardus,  and  that  of  Jansen  to  Tryn  Jansen  about  156S. 

Mr.  La  Fetra's  maternal  ancestry  may  be  traced  through  his  mother 
Elizabeth  T.  Woolley,  born  in  1807,  died  in  1862,  to  Daniel  Woolley  who 
married  Elizabeth  Wolcott,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Wolcott,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Wolcott,  son  of  Henry  Wolcott,  born  in  1690  and  died  17S0,  whose 
father  was  Peter  Wolcott.  These  maternal  ancestors  were  of  English 
birth,  and  all  the  lines  of  the  three  names  are  traced  without  a  break  to 
the  dates  given. 

Mr.  La  Fetra  was  born  at  Eaton  town,  Monmouth  county,  N.  J.,  on 
March  31,  1834.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
county,  supplemented  by  private  study  at  home.  At  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  engaged  in  teaching,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
public  school  work.  President  of  the  Board  of  Education,  he  has  for 
the  past  twelve  years,  been  influential  in  educational  matters  in  Ridge- 
wood,  and  to  his  efforts  the  people  are  largely  indebted  for  the  line  com- 
modious school  building,  and  a  school  second  to  none  of  its  class  in  the 
state. 

For  some  years  Mr.  La  Fetra  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  but 
during  many  past  years  has  filled  a  responsible  position  in  R.  G.  Dunn's 
great  mercantile  agency. 

Although  deeply  patriotic  and  devoted  to  his  country's  interests,  he 
has  never  sought  honor  or  distinction  in  military  circles.  This  may  be 
to  some  extent  attributed  to  the  fact  that  he  was  of  Quaker  parentage, 
and  that  his  earlier  years  were  spent  under  the  influence  and  teachings 
of  that  peace-loving  sect. 

Exceedingly  domestic  in  his  habits,  he  is  yet  elastic  enough  to  lend 
his  aid  to  all  that  tends  to  the  advancement  of  the  community,  socially 
or  otherwise.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ridgewood  Club,  an  organization 
for  social  entertainment  and  improvement. 

Mr.  La'  Fetra  married  Miss  Emma  Hendrickson  of  an  old  Long 
Island  family  of  Dutch  descent. 

REV.    JOHN    A.    VAN    NESTE. 

The  earliest  ancestors  of  Mr.  Van  Neste  came  to  this  country  from 
Holland  in  1726,  and  settled  near  P^latbush  on  L(mg  Island.  The  father 
of  the  three  brothers  who  came  first  to  America  was  Burgomaster  of 
the  province  ot  Zeeland  in  Holland.  Abram  Van  Neste  the  father  of 
our  subject  is  the  great  grandson  of  John  G.,  one  of  these  three  brothers, 
who  subsequently  settled  in  Somerset  county,  near  Somerville,  where 
the  Rev.  John  A.  was  born  December  25th  1849.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  was  graduated  from  Rutgers 


DANIlil.    \V.     LA    1-KTK,\ 


262  HISTOKY    OF    BKKGEN    COUNTY 

College  in  1.S72,  afterwards  taking  a  course  in  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  New  Brunswick,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1875" 
While  in  college  he  was  considered  an  athlete,  taking  an  active  part  in 
all  college  sports.  The  much  coveted  Junior-Oratorship  prize,  which  he 
divided  with  an  other,  was  secured  in  competition.  Almost  imme- 
diately after  leaving  the  Seminary  he  located  at  Ridgewood  where  he 
became  the  first  pastor  of  the  First  Reformed  church,  and  he  has  re- 
mained there  ever  since.  He  has  seen  his  congregation  grow  from  a 
mere  handful  to  that  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most  influential,  in 
Bergen  county.  Although  frequently  solicited  by  other  congregations, 
he  prefers  to  remain  at  his  present  post. 

Mr.  Van  Neste  was  married  in ,  1875  to  Miss  Ray  C.  Wikoff,  of 
Griggstown,  N.  J.,  daughter  of  the  late  Peter  W.  Wikoff,  who  was  a 
highly  respected  and  useful  citizen.  Of  this  union  was  one  son,  Alfred 
Wikoff  born  June  20,  1876,  died  April  1,  1898.  He  was  a  sophomore  in 
the  University  of  New  York  at  the  time  of  his  death,  a  promising  student 
and  a  young  man  of  exemplary  character.  He  had  intended  to  pursue  a 
])rofes8ional  career.  The  death  of  this  son  was  a  sad  bereavement.  Mr. 
Van  Neste's  mother  was  Marie  S.  French.  His  sisters  are  Mrs.  Mary  T. 
Wilson  of  Somerset  county,  the  other  is  Mrs.  Emma  Sturr  of  Ridgewood. 

Mr.  Van  Neste  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics. 

COKNELU'S    DOKEMU.S. 

The  Doremus  family  is  among  the  oldest  of  the  settlers  of  Bergen 
County.  The  earliest  American  ancestor  of  whom  we  have  any  definite 
account  and  who  resided  in  that  county  is  John,  born  September  1,  1720, 
died  July  22,  1784.  He  owned  and  occupied  the  farm  which  is  yet  in  the 
hands  of  his  descendants.  He  married  Maria  Lutkins  who  was  born 
February  25,  1730  and  died  December  20,  1777.  Their  two  children  were 
Marretje  and  George.  John  Doremus  died  from  a  disease,  contracted 
while  in  the  old  Sugar  House  where  he  was  confined  six  months,  after 
being  taken  prisoner  by  the  Tories  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  His 
son  George  succeeded  to  the  home  property  and  married  Anna,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Catherine  Berdan,  in  1777.  Among  their  children  was 
John  B.,  the  grandfather  of  Cornelius,  who  was  born  June  26,  170"). 
He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Albert  A.  and  Elizabeth  Lydecker 
Westervelt.  The  old  home  property  came  into  his  possession  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  1869,  when  he  retired  from  active  life  removing 
to  Paterson.  His  sou,  Jacob  W..,  succeeded  to  the  old  homestead,  in 
part  by  purchase  and  partly  by  inheritance.  He  was  born  December  ?<, 
1835,  and  married  October  12,  1858,  Sophie,  only  daughter  of  Corne- 
lius G.  and  Susan  (Smith)  Van  Dien.  Their  son,  Cornelius,  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  on  the  old  farm  at  Areola,  January  22,  1862. 

Mr.  Nelson  traces  the  earlier  history  of  the  family  back  to  an 
ancient  province  in  France  when  the  name  was  spelled  De  Rhaims. 
They  left  their  native  home  to  find  a  refuge,  as  other  Huguenots  did,  in 
Holland,  from  whence,  after  many  years,  they  emigrated  to  America. 


264  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


Young-  Cornelius  attended  the  public  schools  of  Areola  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  entered  Stevens  Institute  at  Hoboken  spending 
two  years  there,  after  which  he  began  the  study  of  his  profession  in  the 
Law' School  of  the  University  of  the  city  of  New  York  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  May  1883,  with  the  degree  of  L.  L.  B.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  New  York  in  June  of  the  same  year,  as  Attorney 
and  Counsellor-at-Law,  and,  in  November,  i884,  was  made  Attorney- 
at-Law  to  the  bar  of  New  Jersey  and  as  Counsellor-at-Law  in  November 
1889.  From  that  time  and  ever  since  he  has  practiced  his  profession  in 
New  York  city,  and  in  both  Hackensack  and  Ridgewood,  having  moved 
to  Ridgewood"  in  1887.  In  several  important  suits  which  he  has  tried, 
the  Appellate  courts  have  passed  upon  new  points,  raised  by  him,  which 
has  settled  the  law  in  questions  involved.  Mr.  Doremus  was  coun- 
sel for  Bergen  County  board  of  Freeholders  from  1892  to  1896;  for 
Ridgewood  township  from  1896  to  1897,  and  has  been  counsel  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  for  Saddle  River  township;  for  three  Building  and  Loan 
Associations,  and  other  organizations,  director  of  Ridgewood  Hall  and 
Park  Association  and  other  corporations.  He  is  a  member  of  Ridge- 
wood Club,  Hohokus  Golf  Club,  Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of  Honor. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  Ridgewood.  In  1895 
he  was  a  candidate  for  State  Senator  but  was  defeated  by  Hon.  W.  M. 
Johnson. 

Mr.   Doremus  was  married  in  December,    1885  to  Miss  Jennie  M. 
Lake  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Sarah  Lake. 

CORNELIUS    p.    CKOUTER. 

Mr.  Crouter,  the  oldest  dealer  in  the  meat  business  in  Ridgewood,  is 
a  native  of  the  county  and  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  July  25,  1844, 
where  he  remained  until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  In  the  meantime  his 
education  was  advanced  as  rapidly  as  circumstances  would  permit  and 
the  knowledge  acquired  in  this  way  was  put  into  actual  practice  as  fast 
as  opportunities  presented  themselves.  Mr.  Crouter's  father  was  a 
farmer  of  respectability  and  a  man  of  sound  judgment  who  brought  his 
son  up  to  the  same  avocation  as  he  himself  had  followed  during  his 
whole  life.  Young  Crouter,  however,  was  ambitious  to  master  some 
useful  trade  and  carry  on  business  other  than  farming.  He,  therefore, 
chose  carpentering  and  served  an  apprenticeship  therein  for  that  pur- 
pose, but  after  tollowing  his  trade  five  years  he  came  to  Ridgewood 
where  he  opened  up  a  meat  market  in  1874,  which  business  he  still  con- 
tinues to  follow.  The  financial  success  attending  Mr.  Crouter's  enter- 
prises, during  these  twenty-five  years,  have  enabled  him  to  invest  largely 
in  real  estate  giving  him  an  additional  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  village. 

Mr.  Crouter  is  not  a  politician,  nevertheless  he  is  an  active  man  m 
politics  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  best  interests  of  the  village.  He  is  at 
present  a  trustee  of  the  village  and  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, and  takes  an  interest  in  social  institutions  being  a  member  of 
Ridgewood  Lodge,  K.  H.  2723: 


COKNELIUS    DOKKMUS 


HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  2f>7 

At  the  beginning-  of  our  Civil  War,  when  the  call  was  made  for  men 
ti)  volunteer  for  nine  months,  Mr.  Crouter  responded,  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany D,  22nd  Regiment,  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  serving  his  full  term  of 
enlistment  under  Colonel  A.  D.  Demarest,  in  1861. 

Mr.  Crouter's  father  is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead,  a  man  full 
of  years  and  of  honors,  nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  The  family  are  of 
German  ancestry. 

Mr.  Crouter  was  married  in  18(>5  to  Miss  Sarah  Van  Saun,  daughter 
of  John  I.  Van  Saun  of  Bergen  County.  They  have  two  children,  Agus- 
tus  P.,  who  is  in  business  in  New  York  city,  and  one  daughter.  La  Venia. 
The  family  attended  the  Methodist  Church  at  Ridgewood.  In  his  politi- 
cal affiliations  Mr.  Crouter  is  a  Republican  and  has  held  a  number  of 
local  offices. 

HENKY    H.\LES. 

Henry  Hales,  an  Knglishman  by  birth,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Yarmouth,  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  February  3,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  Hales,  a  Shoe  Dealer,  and  who  later  held  the  office  of  coal 
meter  on  the  Quay  of  his  native  town.  Mr.  Hales  came  to  America  in 
September  1854,  and  lived  in  New  York  until  1868,  following  the  trade 
of  interior  decorater,  at  which  he  had  served  an  apprenticeship  of  six 
years,  prior  to  coming  to  the  United  States.  An  expert,  showing 
taste  and  originality,  he  has  been  successful  in  this  business,  which  he 
has  followed  continuously. 

In  1868,  he  purchased  the  tract  of  land  where  he  now  lives,  near 
Ridgewood,  and  began  farming  and  gardening.  In  addition  to  farming 
he  has  a  collection  of  fancy  poultry,  especially  Dorkings,  'of  which  he 
has  some  fine  specimens  and  is  president  of  the  American  Dorking 
Club. 

Enthusiastically  interested  in  Ornithology  and  Ethnology,  especi- 
ally the  former,  he  has  one  of  the  finest  collections  of  warblers,  taking 
special  delight  in  local  songsters.  His  many  articles  written  for 
scientific  papers  on  these  subjects  are  both  interesting  and  instructive. 

While  travelling  in  New  Mexico  Mr.  Hales  collected  many  fine 
pieces  of  earthern  ware,  relics  of  pre-historic  dwellers  in  that  land, 
showing  a  superior  knowledge  of  the  art  of  decorating.  Part  of  this 
collection  was  on  exhibition  at  the  World's  Fair. 

Mr.  Hales  was  married  in  1850,  in  Londcm.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren, Henry,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Caro- 
line, who  resides  at  home ;  Florence,  the  widow  of  Charles  D.  (iraves, 
late  of  Middletown  ;  James  who  conducts  the  farm  and  Alice  both 
at  home. 

In  religion.  Mr.  Hales  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  In 
politics,  a  Republican,  he  holds  a  number  of  local  offices.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Legion  of  Honor,  and  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order  at  Kidgewood. 


COKNELIUS    P.    CKOUTEK 


HISTOKY    OK    BERGEN    COUNTY  2(>') 

HKNKV    W.     IIAT.KS. 

Henry  W.  Hales,  proprietor  of  the  Ridg-ewood  Floral  Nursery,  is 
the  son  of  Henry  Hales,  above  mentioned.  He  was  educated  at  St. 
Andrews'  School  in  New  York  city,  and  early  evinced  an  inherited  taste 
for  floriculture.  After  completing-  his  studies  he  was  led  to  travel  abroad 
somewhat  extensively  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  culture  of  j)hri's 
and  flowers,  making  England  his  special  field  of  observation.  Much 
valuable  information  and  experience  was  thus  obtained,  which  has 
proved  of  great  practical  benefit  in  his  business.  A  man  of  inquii-ing 
mind  and  close  observation  he  was  not  content  to  simply  grow  and  mir- 
ket  the  plants  and  flowers  as  he  found  them,  but  by  careful  study  and 
experiment  has  been  able  to  produce  new  plants  never  before  placed  on 
sale.  Among  these  have  been  entirely  new  specimens  of  coleus  grown 
from  seed,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  this  country.  He  also  introduced  a 
sweet  scented  chrysanthemum  a  few  years  ago  which  was  quite  a  noveltv. 

Mr.  Hales  started  his  present  nursery  in  1874,  which  was  the  first  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ridgewood,  beginning  on  a  comparatively  small  scale, 
but  making  extensive  improvements  at  the  outset,  with  reference  to  his 
especial  business.  The  establishment  is  now  a  well  appointed  one  from 
which  the  local  trade  is  supplied  with  palms,  ferns,  etc.,  while  cut  flowers 
are  shipped  to  the  New  York  market.  He  is  also  well  known  as  a  writer 
on  flowers,  and  his  articles  are  frequently  seen  in  the  horticultural  mag- 
azines and  papers. 

Mr.  Hales  is  also  an  inventor,  of  considerable  note,  and  has  not 
imly  benefitted  the  public,  but  has  been  handsomely  remunerated  for  his 
work.  Among  his  horticultural  inventions  is  a  mole  trap  that  has  had 
a  very  large  sale.  Owing  to  a  difficulty  he  experienced  in  getting 
artistic  photographs  of  plants  and  flowers,  he  became  interested  in 
photog-raphy  and  for  some  years  has  made  a  thorough  study  of  the  art. 
more  for  pleasure,  however,  than  for  profit.  Some  of  his  inventions  in 
this  line  have  come  into  general  use,  among  which  are  a  photographic 
camera;  photographic  level  and  finder;  photographic  flash  lamp;  photo- 
graphic shutter,  and  also  a  rollable  film  camera.  In  practicing  the  art 
of  photog-raphy  as  a  means  of  recreation,  he  has  become  so  proficient 
that  his  work  is  very  well  known,  and  his  pictures  have  given  him  the 
reputation  of  being  an  expert.  The  photograph  from  which  the  ac- 
companying view  of  "  Floratnere  "  was  made  is  Mr.  Hales'  own  work. 
As  a  writer  on  photographic  subjects  he  has  also  become  well  known, 
and  his  lantern  slides  and  transparencies  are  said  to  be  exceedingly  fine. 

Mr.  Hales  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  New  York  Horticul- 
tural Society,  and  in  its  palmiest  days  took  a  great  interest  therein.  He 
believes  in  doing  everything  he  undertakes  in  the  best  possible  manner, 
and  his  nursery  is  noted  more  for  the  quality  of  its  products  than  even 
its  large  amount.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  served  on  the 
Township  Committee  for  some  years,  and  was  also  Township  Treasurer. 
In  his  religious  preference  he  is  an  Ejnscopalian.      His  jdace  of  residence 


HEXKY    W.    HALES 


272  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

on  Spring  Avenue,  is  named   "  Floramere  "  and  is  beautifully  located  in 
close  proximity  to  the  greenhouses  and  nursery. 

DK.    GEORGE    M      OCKFOKD 

Dr.  George  M.  Ockford  is  a  well-known  ph^-sician  of  Ridgewood  in 
which  village  he  has  resided  since  1891.  He  has  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.  He  made  a  good  record  as  a  public  official,  having  served  the 
village  in  the  capacity  of  Trustee,  Health  Officer  and  President  of  the 
Village. 

He  was  born  March  2'>,  1845,  at  London,  moving  with  his  family  to 
Nothern  New  York  in  1853.  His  father  was  Samuel  Ockford,  a  de- 
scendant of  the  old  Saxons  of  England,  and  his  mother  Sarah  Marchant  a 
descendant  of  the  Huguenots  who  settled  in  England  on  the  revocation 
of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  in  1665.  The  father  went  to  the  front  and  lost 
his  life  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  in  1864.  The  doctor  spent 
his  early  days  in  New  York  State,  becoming  a  member  of  the  National 
Guard  in  1864,  and  receiving  a  discharge  with  the  rank  of  captain  in 
1871.  In  1872,  he  was  graduated  from  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Hos- 
pital College,  and  settled  in  Hackensack.  After  leaving  Hackensack, 
he  practiced  in  Burlington,  Vt.  and  Lexington,  Ky.,  removing  from  the 
latter  place  to  Ridgewood.  During  his  residence  in  Kentucky,  he  was 
elected  President  of  the  Southern  Homeopathic  Association,  a  society 
embracing  all  the  territory  of  the  United  States  south  of  the  Ohio  river. 
He  has  been  a  valuable  contributor  to  medical  literature.  His  papers 
have  been  published  in  foreign  and  American  journals,  and  a  work  on 
Practice,  by  him  in  1882,  reached  the  dignity  of  a  college  text  book. 
He  is  a  senior  member  of  the  American  Institute  Homeopathy,  an 
active  member  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Homeopathic  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  an  honorar}^  member  of  several  State  Organizations.  He  has 
been  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  a  Past  Master  in  the 
Lodge  and  Past  Commander  of  ^nights  of  Templar.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  one  of  the  medical  examiners  of  the 
order. 

He  was  married,  at  Hackensack,  in  1877,  to  Miss  M.  E.  L.  Home, 
a  native  of  Middletown,  Conn.  They  have  three  children,  Florence, 
George  and  John.  The  religious  home  of  the  family  is  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

DAVID    D.    ZABKISKIE. 

David  D.  Zabriskie,  the  present  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court  of 
Bergen  county,  is  a  son  of  John  C.  and  Jane  D.  Zabriskie.  He  was  born 
at  Paramus,  November  27,  1856.  After  preparing  for  college  at  Erasmus 
Hall,  Flatbush,  Long  Island,  young  Zabriskie  entered  Rutgers  college  at 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J., 'and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1879.  He  began 
the  study  of  his  profession  in  the  office  of  Collins  &  Colvin  in  Jersey 
City,  completing  his  course  in  the  Law  Department  of  Columbia  College. 
New  York,  in  1881.  After  being  addmitted-  to  the  Bar  of  New  Jersey 
as  Attornev-at-Law  in  November  1882,  he  continued  to  practice  in  his 


7. 


.Q 


274  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

native  State  until  June  1889,  when  he  was  admitted  as  Counsellor.  From 
1894-1895  Judg-e  Zabriskie  was  a  member  of  Assembly  from  Bergen 
county  and  was  counsel  for  his  county  from  1896  to  1897.  Shortly  before 
Governor  Grig-g-s  retirement  from  the  Governorship,  he  appointed  Mr. 
Zabriskie  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  to  succeed  Judge  Van  Valen,  his 
commission  being  issued  by  Governor  Voorhees  in  April  1898.  Although 
his  official  duties  call  him  to  Hackensack  much  of  the  time,  yet  he 
maintains  his  offices  both  in  Jersey  City  and  Ridgewood. 

Judge  Zabriskie  married  Miss  Lizzie  S.  Suydan,  in  October  1883,  and 
resides  in  Ridgewood. 

ISAAC    E.    HUTTON. 

Isaac  E.  Hutton,  the  well  known  lumberman,  is  a  native  of  New 
York  and  was  born  in  1853.  He  started  out  in  his  preparation  for  life 
work  with  the  idea  of  making  architecture  his  profession,  but  as  the 
years  went  by  he  drifted  back  to  his  early  business  in  the  lumber  trade. 
His  apprenticeship  in  this  industry  was  served  under  his  father,  Henry 
O.  Hutton  of  Rockland  County,  N.  Y.,  who  was  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Hutton  Brothers. 

Mr.  Hutton  received  his  academic  education  in  the  Spring  Valley 
Academy  of  New  York  State.  A  short  time  was  then  spent  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  entered  Cornell  College  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1875,  having  pursued  the  scientific  course  making  a  speci- 
alty of  architecture,  which  he  intended  to  follow.  From  a  class  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-five  members  only  forty-five  took  degrees.  Among 
his  class  mates  who  have  risen  to  positions  of  prominence  are  Colonel 
H.  W.  Sackett,  of  New  York ;  Frank  Hiscock,  Judge  of  Supreme  Court 
of  Nev7  York  State  ;  Professor  E.  L.  Nichols,  of  Cornell  College ;  George 
H.  Fitch,  a  noted  editor,  now  of  San  Francisco ;  Charles  S.  Harmon,  a 
prominent  attorney  of  Chicago,  and  J.  T.  Newman,  Trustee  of  Cornell. 
After  finishing  his  course,  Mr.  Hutton  changed  his  plans,  as  many  col- 
lege men  do,  and  in  1878  came  to  Ridgewood,  where  he  went  into  the 
lumber  business.  In  this  he  has  been  highly  successful,  at  present  con- 
ducting the  most  extensive  trade  in  his  line  in  that  vicinity,  handling  all 
kinds  of  building  material. 

Mr.  Hutton  married  Miss  Nellie  Demarest  of  the  same  county.  They 
have  two  children,  Robert  Le  Roy  and  Clyde  Demarest.  Mr.  Hutton  is 
a  Republican. 

W.   I..   VKOOM,  M.  D. 

Dr.  W.  L.  Vroom,  of  Ridgewood,  is  a  descendant  of  the  well  known 
family  of  that  name  in  New  Jersey.  His  father  is  Rev.  William  Henry 
Vroom,  D.  D.,  of  Paramus,  son  of  William  and  grandson  of  Henry. 
William  was  first  cousin  to  Peter  D.,  who  was  made  Governor  of  New 
Jersey,  for  five  successive  terms.  Rev.  William  Henry  Vroom,  D.  D., 
was  born  February  11,  1840,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Somerset  county,  and  afterwards  was  graduated  from  Rutger's  College 
in  1802.     In  1865  he  finished  his  course  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 


DAVID    D.    ZABKISKIE 


27(>  HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

New  Brunswick  and  immediately  became  pastor  of  a  church  in  Hoboken, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  From  there  he  removed  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  where  he  resided  two  ^-ears.  His  next  call  was  to  La  Cyg-ne, 
Kansas,  at  which  place  he  org-anized  a  congregation,  becoming  its 
pastcjr  for  live  years.  He  then  returned  East,  taking  pastoral  charge  of 
a  church  at  High  Falls,  N.  Y.,  remaining  with  it  thirteen  years. 
Finallv  in  1887.  he  removed  to  his  present  location  where  he  has  since 
been  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Paramus. 

He  was  married  in  18(o,  to  Miss  Marietta  Gow,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
and  by  this  union  they  have  three  children.  Dr.  \V.  L.  being  the  eldest, 
and  who  was  born  in  Hoboken  April  1,  1866. 

Dr.  Vroom  received  his  education  in  the  University  of  New  York, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  medical  department  in  1888.  He  at  once 
took  up  his  residence  in  Ridgewood,  where  he  is  enjoying  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bergen  county  Medical 
Society,  and  in  November,  i898,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Coroner. 

Dr.  Vroom  was  married  in  1895,  to  Miss  Blanche  Girard  Miller,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  John  H.  Miller,  formerly  of  Philadelphia.  They 
have  one  child  Cecilia.  They  are  members  of  the  Reformed  church  of 
Paramus. 

PKTEK    L.    ZAKKI.SKIE. 

Peter  L.  Zabriskie,  a  builder  and  contractor  of  Ridgewood  and 
one  of  the  enterprising  voung  men  of  this  section,  is  a  son  of  Ct.  J. 
G.  and  Anna  (  Banta  )  Zabriskie.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Banta.  Mr.  Zabriskie  was  born  IMay  f),  1870,  and  although  a  young- 
man,  has  made  a  place  for  himself  among  the  business  men  of  Ridge- 
w^ood.  Associated  with  him  in  business  is  his  brother  G.  J.  G.  Zabris- 
kie, Jr.  Another  brother  John  A.  is  a  farmer.  His  sister  Kate  became 
the  wife  of  Peter  Pulis.  Many  of  the  handsome  houses  in  and  around 
Ridgewood  were  erected  by  Mr.  Zabriskie,  among  the  number  being 
the  residences  of  O.  W.  Reed,  W.  F.  Catterfield,  R.  W.  Muns,  M.  W. 
Whritenour,  A.  L.  D(m  and  H.  A.  Brown,  with  many  others,  all  of 
which  are  models  of  our  present  beautiful  architecture. 

Mr.  Zabriskie  is  a  member  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican  wath  independent  tendencies. 

THE    TEKHfNE    F.^MILV. 

The  Terhune  family  of  New  Jersey  are  descended  from  three  broth- 
ers. Huguenots,  who  migrated  from  France  to  Holland,  thence  to 
America,  generations  ago,  one  settling  at  Hackensack,  one  at  Saddle 
River  and  a  third  at  Raritan  River.  The  name  was  originally  spelled 
Ter  Hune,  but  as  in  several  other  like  names  the  second  capital  has  been 
dropped  and  a  small  letter  substituted.  Albert  Terhune  the  grandfather 
of  Theodore  was  a  native  of  Bergen  county.  His  children  were  Richard, 
Lavina,  who  married  Mr.  John  De  Gray,  Jemima  who  married  Jacob  De 
Baun  of  Saddle  River,  Isaac,  who  married  Margaret  Snyder,  Qarret,  and 
Andrew  who  married  Margaret  Mowcrson.     The  children  of  Richard- 


ISAAC    K.     Hl'TTON 


278  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

who  married  Margaret  Valentine,  were  James,  who  died  at  the  ag-e  of 
twenty-one  years,  Lavina  who  became  the  wife  of  Richard  Huff,  two  who 
died  in  childhood  and  Theodore  Valentine  who  was  the  youngest  and  is 
the  only  survivor. 

Mr.  Terhune  was  born  in  New  York  city,  October  22,  1839.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York,  and  of  Berg-en  county,  N. 
J.,  afterwards  attending  a  boarding  school  in  Hackensack,  kept  by  Rev. 
John  T.  Demarest.  On  leaving  school,  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpen- 
ter and  for  a  time  followed  farming  and  carpentering.  In  1866  he  bought 
a  tract  of  ground  in  Ridgewood  where,  in  1867,  he  erected  a  dwelling, 
and  in  1872  a  store  and  embarked  in  general  merchandise.  He  built  the 
tirst  house  in  Ridgewood  after  the  village  was  laid  out  in  streets.  Mr. 
Terhune  has  been  successful  in  his  undertaking  having  now  a  large  and 
paying  business. 

He  married  first  Miss  Martha  Ann  Zabriskie,  daughter  of  John 
Zabriskie  of  Paramus,  Bergen  county.  Of  this  union  were  born  three 
children,  Richard  W.,  who  married  Miss  Ida  Miller  and  resides  in  Ridge- 
wood, Theodore  Leonard,  who  married  Jennie  Bogert  and  lives  in  Ridge- 
wood, and  Nelson  Holmes  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  After  the 
death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Terhune  married  on  February  16,  1876,  Charlotte 
Augusta  Bills,  a  native  of  Tioga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  by  this  marriage 
two  children  have  been  born,  Margaret  Helena  and  Ethel  May. 

Mr.  Terhune  was  a  member  of  the  National  Guard  of  Hohokus 
several  years  previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war.  In  1862  he  volun- 
teered as  sergeant  serving  nine  months  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
chiefly  in  the  defenses  of  Washington.  He  was  a  member  of  Company 
B,  22d  N.  J.  Regiment,  and  is  a  Republican  ;  has  served  nine  years  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  when  he  resigned  and  is  now  a  chosen  Freeholder. 
In  religion  Mr.  Terhune  is  a  Methodist  Episcopal. 

ROGER    M.    BRIDGMAN. 

Roger  M.  Bridgman,  postmaster  at  Ridgewood,  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Hovell)  Bridgman  and  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
October  26,  1852.  His  mother  was  born  in  New  York  city,  while  his 
paternal  ancestry  are  English,  his  father  being  a  native  of  Stone- 
market,  England,  from  whence  he  emigrated  to  America  when  but 
twelve  years  of  age.  After  coming  here  he  learned  the  trade  of  baker, 
which  he  followed  through  life,  passing  away  in  1895. 

Roger  M.  Bridgman  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York 
city,  and  at  an  early  age  became  an  employee  of  the  Erie  Railroad 
Company  at  Jersey  City,  remaining  in  their  counting  department  for  a 
continuous  period  of  seventeen  years.  In  1883  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Ridgewood.  Mr.  Bridgman  is  a  Republican  and  held  the  office  of 
clerk  of  the  town  for  eight  years,  and  also  clerk  of  the  village  after  its 
organization.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Ridgewood  in  October 
1897,  and  re-appointed  January  12,  1898,  the  term  of  office  of  his  pre- 
decessor having  expired  while  congress  was  not  in  session. 


PHTKK    L.    ZAHKISKII-; 


280  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

In  1882  Mr.  Bridgman  married  Miss  Isabella  Brown,  daughter  of 
Napoleon  and  Margaret  Brown  of  New  York.  Of  this  union,  one 
daughter  was  born,  Isabella  Marguerite,  who  was  graduated  from  the 
the  Ridgewood  High  School  in  the  class  of  1898,  following  which  she 
has  just  completed  a  course  of  Kindergarten  training  in  New  York 
city.  Mrs.  Bridgman's  father.  Napoleon  Brown,  lost  his  life  in  our 
late  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Bridgman  and  his  family  attend  the  Reformed  Church.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Junior  O.  U.  A.  M.,  and  president  of  the  Fire 
Department. 

HAKKY    TEKUNE 

The  proprietor  of  the  Rouclere  House  in  Ridgewood,  is  Mr.  Harry 
Terhune,  son  of  Abram  Terhune.  He  was  born  in  Paterson,  N.  J., 
June  3,  1866,  and  received  a  common  school  education  in  the  town  of 
Ridgewood.  While  still  a  mere  lad  he  showed  a  marked  talent  for  jug- 
glery and  sleight  of  hand  and  at  the  age  of  eight  years  had  a  local 
reputation  as  a  boy  magician.  He  entered  the  profession  as  a  means  of 
livelihood  in  1878,  under  the  name  of  "Harry  Rouclere"  doing  a  short 
act  of  magic  and  working  a  troop  of  dogs.  A  few  years  later  he 
branched  out  as  a  gymnast  and  acrobat  but  sustaining  a  severe  fall 
from  the  trapeze  he  abandoned  the  gymnast  line.  He  then  devoted  his 
entire  time  to  jugglery  and  in  a  few  years  became  the  recognized 
American  manipulator,  appearing  with  marked  success  in  nearly  every 
large  city  in  America. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Mildred  Searing  of  Brooklyn  and  shortly 
after  conceived  the  idea  of  a  mind  reading  performance.  Assisted  by 
his  wife,  their  success  has  been  marked  in  this  peculiar  line  of  work 
attracting  the  attention  of  the  press  and  public.  This  baffled  the  inves- 
tigations of  the  most  ingenious  scientists  and  physicians  of  this  country. 
On  May  22,  1891,  they  startled  the  scientific  world  by  producing  a  new 
version  of  hypnotic  mental  telegraphy,  which  they  called  "Psychon- 
otism,"  and  in  it  demonstrated  that  one  intelligent  person  can  convey 
ideas  to  another  without  visible  means  of  communication.  This  act 
created  a  sensation  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  so  great  was 
their  success  that  they  were  pictured  and  headlined  on  all  bills  and 
programmes. 

Apart  from  her  many  accomplishments  Mildred  Terhune  is  en- 
dowed by  nature  with  a  marvellous  memory.  She  can  not  only  instantly 
give  the  day  of  the  week  that  any  date  falls  on,  or  the  cube  or 
square  root  of  any  number  or  numbers  but  on  one  occasion  memorized 
Longfellow's  "Hiawatha"  in  two  readings.  This  is  most  remark- 
able from  the  fact  that  the  poem  is  in  blank  verse. 

Mr.  Terhune  besides  his  hotel  business,  is  owner  and  proprietor  of 
the  "Mildred  Novelty  Company,"  (an  organization  which  tours  the 
cities  every  winter,)  is  manager  of  the  Opera  House  at  Ridgewood, 
and  is  reaping  the  rewards  of  his  ingenuity  and  industry. 


HISTORY    OF    BHKORN    COUNTY  283 

He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  the  Masonic  Order,  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  the  Heptasophs. 

VAN    EMBUKGH    &    Tl^KIirNK. 

Van  Emburgh  and  Terhune,  of  Ridgewood,  N.  J.,  Funeral  Direc- 
tors and  Embalmers,  is  composed  of  Messrs.  J.  D.  Van  Emburgh.  Jr., 
and  Harvey  Terhune,  now  conducting  an  extensive  business.  Mr.  Van 
Emburgh  is  a  son  of  Jacob  D.  Van  Emburgh,  a  native  of  Bergen  county. 
In  his  boyhood  days  he  went  to  school  to  Judge  Van  Valen,  the  editor 
of  this  work. 

Mr.  Terhune  the  Junior  member  of  the  firm  is  a  son  of  A.  D. 
Terhune  of  Bergen  county.  He  received  a  special  education  in  the 
U.  S.  school  of  Embalming  of  New  York,  where  he  perfected  himself 
in  the  art,  thereby  giving  the  firm  a  special  prestige  by  being  prepared 
with  all  modern  appliances  in  embalming.  Both  the  above  gentlemen 
are  members  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  Mr.  Van  Emburgh  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  Mr.  Terhune  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  The  service  of  this  firm  is  of  the  highest  order,  and  their 
territory  extends  over  a  wide  area,  largely  in  Bergen  county.  They 
also  conduct  funerals  in  and  around  Brooklyn  and  New  York. 

WILLIAM    F.    SCHWKINl'UKTH. 

William  F.  Schweinfurth  is  a  son  P.  L.  Schweinfurth  and  was  born 
February  13,  1859  in  west  Hoboken.  His  father  who  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  emigrated  to  this  country  about  the  3"ear  1848.  He  was  a 
cooper  by  trade  but  in  1865  removed  to  Hudson  county  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  vinegar  and  also  in  the  sale  of  mineral 
water.  Young  Schweinfurth  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  village,  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  vears. 

After  this  he  was  employed  in  various  lloral  establishments  near 
his  home. 

In  18'.»2  he  and  his  brother  began  business  as  florists  under  the  firm 
name  of  F.  &.  W.  Schweinfurth,  at  Bronx ville,  Westchester  county,  N. 
Y.,  in  which  they  were  successful.  Mr.  William  Schweinfurth,  in  1897, 
sold  his  interest  to  his  brother,  afterward  purchasing  the  establishment 
of  H.  E.  Forbes,  at  Ridgewood.  This  is  a  plant  of  three  acres  in  ex- 
tent ,  and  contains  nine  hundred  square  feet  of  glass. 

Mr.  Schweinfurth  makes  a  specialty  of  roses  and  cut  flowers,  selling 
to  New  York  customers  almost  wholly.  His  business  is  prosperous, 
owing  to  his  ])ersonal  energy  and  industry,  having  started  in  l.S")2  with- 
out capital. 

He  is  a  Republican  and  an  attendant  uf  iIk-  Kefornu'd  Church. 

JOSICru    H.    CHKISTOPIII'IK. 

One  "f  the  ablest  architects  and  builders  of  the  county,  is  Mr.  Joseph 
H.  Christopher  of  Ridgewood.  His  father  was  William,  son  of  Joseph 
Christopher  and  his  mother  Rosanna  Lake.  Joseph  H,,  was  born  in  the 
village  of  Allendale,  September  17,  18(,3. 


284  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

After  receiving  a  common  school  education  he  took  a  special  course 
in  scientific  drawing  in  New  York,  afterward  stud^-ing  mechanical  and 
architectural  drawing. 

For  some  years  he  worked  as  a  machinist  and  mechanical  engineer, 
in  New  York,  becoming  an  expert  in  that  line.  In  1889  without  capital, 
he  established  himself  in  Ridgewood,  beginning  business  necessarily  in 
a  small  way.  By  industry  and  perseverance  he  increased  his  business, 
building  many  of  the  handsome  residences  of  Ridgewood,  a  number  of 
these  being  models  of  modern  architecture.  Being  a  thoroughly  equipped 
architect,  he  is  skilled  in  every  department  of  house  building,  superin- 
tending the  painting  and  plumbing  as  carefully  as  any  other  part  of  the 
work. 

The  public  school  building  attests  the  thoroughness  of  his  methods. 
Mr.  Christopher  remodelled  the  Almshouse,  and  erected  many  other 
prominent  structures.  He  may  be  truly  said  to  have  been  the  "archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortune." 

Mr.  Christopher  was  married  in  1886  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hopper, 
daughter  of  Peter  G.  Hopper,  a  native  of  Bergen  county.  They  have 
two  children,  Rachel  and  Rowena. 

In  politics,  a  Democrat,  he  has  never  aspired  to  office ;  is  a  member 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  a  member  of  the 
Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  He  belongs  to  the  Ridgewood  Fire  Company.  Mr. 
Christopher  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Ridgewood  of  which 
he  has  been  deacon  and  has  also  been  treasurer.. 

EDWIN    NICKEKSON. 

Edwin  Nickerson  is  a  descendant  of  French  and  Irish  ancestry,  who 
for  generations  back  have  lived  in  America.  His  immediate  ancestors 
resided  in  New  York  state,  his  grandfather  Zalraon  Nickerson,  and  his 
father  George  W.,  who  was  the  eldest  of  Zalmon's  thirteen  children 
living  in  Rockland  county,  where  Edwin  was  born  April  2('th,  rS59. 
Mr.  Nickerson's  mother  was  Amelia  (Johnson)  Nickerson,  a  very  pious 
woman  and  a  devoted  member  of  the  Reformed  church.  She  died 
January  1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 

Mr.  Nickerson  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county,  and  began  business  for  himself  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  by 
taking  charge  of  a  farm,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  which  he  success- 
fully managed  for  three  years.  He  then  came  to  Ridgewood  and  for 
sixteen  years  was  associated  with  I.  E.  Hutton  in  the  retail  lumber 
business.  At  present  he  is  in  the  same  line  of  business,  with  J.  Blau- 
velt  Hopper  and  his  brother  Walter  J.  Nickerson.  He  married  Miss 
Anna  A.,  daughter  of  John  R.  Westervelt.  They  have  three  children. 
In  their  religious  relations  they  are  members  of  the  Reformed  church. 
Mr.  Nickerson  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics. 


A.  V..B..    SNVDKK 


286  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

GLEN    ROCK. 

The  borough  of  Glen  Rock  was  formed  in  1894,  its  area  to  extend 
from  a  point  near  John  H.  Storm's  marble  shop,  on  the  Paterson  road, 
to  a  few  rods  beyond  Van  Wagoner's  Hotel,  and  from  the  east  side  of 
Cherry  Lane  to  Hohokus  Brook.  Mr.  A.  V.  D.  Snyder,  David  Zabriskie, 
John  A.  Marinus  and  a  few  others  were  the  promoters  of  the  borough 
scheme,  and  have  from  the  beginning  officiated  in  its  government.  It  is 
a  farming  community  wholly,  has  one  church,  a  branch  of  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Ridgewood,  but  no  pastor  at  present.  It  comprises  one 
school  district,  a  new  building  for  which  is  now  being  erected  at  a  cost 
of  S5000. 

A.  V.  D.  Snyder  is  the  present  Mayor. 

ANDREW    V.    D.    SNYDER. 

Andrew  V.  D.  Snyder,  Mayor  of  Glen  Rock,  son  of  John  R.  and 
Sarah  (Van  Dien  )  Snyder  was  born  March  28,  1856,  and  is  a  native  of 
Midland  Park.  F^or  four  generations  the  Snyder  family  have  been  resi- 
dents of  this  part  of  the  county.  In  the  family  of  Mr.  Snyder's  grand- 
father were  the  following;  Thomas  R.,  who  lives  at  Midland  Park; 
Maria,  who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Ackerman ;  Garret  R.,  of 
Midland  Park;  John  R.,  the  father  of  our  subject  and  Rachel  who  mar- 
ried David  Van  Houten. 

Young  Snyder,  after  leaving  the  common  schools,  attended  the 
Paterson  Seminary  from  which  he  took  his  degree,  and  afterward  took  a 
special  course  in  the  French  and  German  languages.  He  was  employed 
for  a  short  time  by  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  and  subse- 
quently by  a  hardware  concern  in  Paterson.  After  embarking  in  the 
butchering  business  in  which  he  was  unsuccessful,  losing  the  result  of 
several  years  labor,  he  took  a  position  with  the  Metropolitan  Steamship 
Company  of  New  York,  where  he  remained  a  short  time.  In  1886,  how- 
ever, he  began  business  in  Ridgewood  as  a  florist,  and  has  gradually 
built  a  thriving  trade  in  that  line,  making  a  specialty  of  importing 
bulbs  from  France  and  Holland,  and  also  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  farm 
and  garden  seeds.  Having  made  extensive  improvements  in  his 
premises,  his  buildings  and  equipments  are  now  new,  and  modern 
throughout.  Mr.  Snyder  is  an  energetic  business  man  and  is  self  made 
in  every  respect.  He  was  married  in  1875,  to  Miss  Hopper,  daughter  of 
Garret  N.  Hopper  of  Paramus,  and  by  this  union  they  have  had  four 
children:  Christina,  and  Andrew  J.,  now  living,  Sadie  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  and  Fred  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  months.  Mr. 
Snyder  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  has  been  a  Freeholder  and  Town 
Clerk  of  the  town  of  Ridgewood  and  has  served  for  five  years,  as  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Executive  Committee.  He  is  now  Mayor  of 
the  Borough  of  Glen  Rock,  also  Vice  President  of  the  Ridgewood 
Co-operative  Building  and  Loan  Association.  The  family  attend  the 
Reformed  Church. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGKN    COUNTY  287 

Till-;    UOKOUGH    OF    MIDLAND    PAKK. 

The  Borough  of  Midhmd  Park  was  incorjioratcd  September  (>,  IS'M. 

The  first  Mayor  was  William  B.  Morrow;  Councilmen:  H.  A. 
Lawrence,  C.  A.  Tillotson,  John  Klopman,  Marcus  Young',  Louis  Smith; 
Clerk,  Thomas  Holt;  Freeholder,  John  R.  Carlousfh;  Collector,  E.  M. 
Krech;  Assessor,  Will  Holt. 

Present  Mayor,  M.  B.  Wilson:  Clerk,  Thomas  Holt;  Councilmen: 
Francis  H.  Mayhew,  (Tcorg-e  B.  Krech,  tiarret  Klopman,  Garret  Mul- 
der, John  Beattie,  John  R.  Carloug-h;  Collector,  William  R.  Morrow; 
Assessor,  Will  Holt.  Board  of  Health,  Thomas  Holt,  president;  Jacob 
Leames,  secretary;  John  Klopman,    Henry   Deiphauser,  John  L.  Guyre. 

EDWAKD    M.    KKKCH. 

Edward  M.  Krech,  son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Glasser)  Krech 
was  born  in  Saxemeiningen,  Germany,  November  17,  1836.  Mr.  Krech 
had  three  brothers.  Christian  was  a  resident  of  Hackensack  and  died 
there  in  iS89.  August  lives  in  Milwaukie.  and  Adolph  is  still  in  Ger- 
many. Edward  M.  was  educated  in  his  native  land,  coming  to  the 
United  States  in  1854.  Immediately  after  his  arrival  he  became  em- 
ployed in  the  cotton  mills  of  David  Perry,  at  what  is  now  Midland  Park, 
continuing  in  that  business  for  four  years.  The  following  twenty-six 
years  he  spent  with  the  Wortendyke  Manufacturing  Company.  This 
Company  failed  in  1884,  when  Mr.  Krech  engaged  in  business  on  his 
own  account.  In  1895  Mr.  Krech  retired  from  active  life,  after  a  suc- 
cessful business  career  covering  a  period  of  more  than  forty-two  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Krech  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  the  first  collector  of 
Midland  Park,  and  is  chairman  of  the  school  board.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  Wortendyke  Lodge,  175,  Odd  Fellows,  which  was  organized 
twenty-six  years  ago.  In  his  religinus  life,  Mr.  Krech  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church. 

He  was  married  in  1868  to  Miss  Theresa  Lassman,  who  is  also  a 
native  of  Germany.  They  have  had  four  children,  Rosa,  wife  of  John 
S.  Payne,  of  Wortendyke;  George  E.,  married  to  Jessie,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  J.  S.  Gilbert,  former  pastor  of  the  Wortendyke  Methodist 
Church;  Dora,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  and  Theresa,  who 
is  at  home  unmarried.  George  E.,  is  manager  of  the  agency  account 
department  of  the  German  American  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  New 
York. 

JOHN     U.     I'OS'I". 

John  H.  Post  general  merchant  and  postmaster,  of  Midland  Park,  is 
a  native  of  Bergen  county  born  July  22,  1844.  His  father  Henry  1'. 
Post,  is  also  a  native  of  Bergen  county,  and  a  son  of  Peter  Post  of  Hol- 
land ancestry.  Mr.  I'ost  had  one  brother,  Peter,  who  enlisted  in  the 
22nd  New  Jersey  volunteers,  and  died  of  wounds  received  in  the  army. 

Our  subject  received  a  common  school  education,  and  afterwards 
learned  the  trade  of  brick  and  stone  mason,  which  he  followed  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.      In   1888  he  purchased  the  property  where  he  is  n(jw  loca- 


288  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

ted,  and  after  improving-  it,  entered  into  the  retail  of  general  merchan- 
dise, in  which  industry  and  honorable  business  methods  have  made  him 
successful.  In  1863  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Coe,  daug-hter  of  Abram 
Coe,  also  of  Berg-en  county.  They  have  two  children,  both  of  whom 
have  received  a  high  school  education.  Thomas,  the  son,  is  assistant  in 
the  store  with  his  father.  In  politics  Mr.  Post  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
been  postmaster  at  Midland  Park,  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  excepting 
one  year,  after  which  he  was  reinstated.  He  has  also  served  as  town 
committeeman,  and  as  school  clerk.  Mr.  Post  and  family  attend  the 
Methodist  church. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 
WASHINGTON. 

KAHLY    SETTLEMENTS — BOKOLGH    KKVKK — FAMILY    IHSTOKY — CIVIL    LIST — 
WESTWOOD — PASCACK — \VOODCLIFF  BOKOUGH — HILLSDALIC  TOWN- 
SHIP— PARK    KIDGE — MONTVALE — BIOGKAPHICAL. 

The  township  of  Washington  was  taken  from  the  township  of  Har- 
rington by  an  Act  of  the  Legiskiture  passed  January  30,  1S40,  and 
was  made  to  consist  of  all  that  territory  lying  wes'  of  the  Hackensack 
River,  which  belong'ed  to  Harrington,  at  that  time.  Its  area  covered 
19,525  acres  in  extent.  It  was  in  this  part  of  the  old  township  at  a  place 
known  as  the  Overkill  Neighborhood,  where  occurred  the  surprise  and 
slaughter  of  Col.  Baylor's  light  horse  on  the  night  of. October  27,  1778. 
A  geographical  description  of  Washington  township  at  the  time  of  its 
formation  is  as  follows:  Bounded  on  the  north  by  Rockland  county,  N. 
Y.,  south  b\-  Midland  and  Harrington,  east  by  Harrington  and  west  by 
Hohokusand  Ridgewood.  The  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Railroad  runs 
through  the  township  in  nearl\'  a  northerly  direction  with  stations  at 
Etna,  Westwood,  Hillsdale  Manor,  Woodcliif,  Park  Ridge  and  at 
Montvale. 

The  borough  fever  attacked  this  townsliip  in  hS'M,  and  soon  after 
each  of  the  above  named  places,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  became 
the  capital  of  a  borough  formed  within  its  precincts.  First  came  the 
formation  of  the  boroughs  of  Westwood,  Woodcliff,  Park  Ridge,  Mont- 
vale and  Eastwood  leaving  Hillsdale  for  the  center  of  a  rather  distorted 
area,  for  the  old  township.  Eastwood  finally-  returned  to  the  township 
having  become  tired  of  borough  life.  Hillsdale,  looking  after  its  own 
interests  organized  into  a  township — in  189S  leaving  "Old  Hook"  in 
the  desert  waste  to  look  after  its  own  municipality  with  Etna  for  its 
trading  post,  and  the  old  romantic  name  of  Kinderkamack  for  its  legacy. 

Etna,  or  Aetna,  as  it  was  formerly  called,  is  located  in  the  old  town- 
ship of  Washington.  It  was  originally  known  as  Kinderkamack,  the 
name  in  accordance  with  popular  tradition  being  of  Indian  origin  and 
signifying  "the  place  where  the  cock  crowed."  The  i)lace  was  the 
scene  of  some  of  the  more  important  incidents  of  the  Revolutionary 
period.  During  the  time  the  American  army  encamped  here,  occurred 
the  death  of  Brigadier  General  Poor,  ime  of  the  bravest  generals  of  the 
Revolution.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  old  cemetery  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Hackensack,  his  funeral  obsequies  having 
been  attended  by  both  Washington  and  Lafayette.  His  grave  is  marked 
by  a  plain  slab  bearing  the  following  inscription:  "In  memory  of  the 
Hon.  Brigadier  General  Enoch  Poor,  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire, 
who  departed  this  life  on  the  8th  day  of  September  1780,  aged  forty- four 
Years." 


290  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  township  of  Washington  in  its  early  history  is  associated  with 
the  names  of  Wortendyke,  Blauvelt,  Eckerson,  Hering-,  Deraarest,  Hol- 
drum.  Storm,  Brickell,  Hopper,  Westervelt,  Bogert,  Van  Eniburg, 
Campbell,  Banta,  Perry,  and  others.  Many  if  not  all  of  these  names  are 
still  represented  by  later  generations,  a  portion  of  whom  have  inherited 
the  paternal  estates.  The  tradition  of  the  fathers  have  in  a  few  instan- 
ces been  preserved,  but  with  most  of  these  families  little  of  interest  is 
remembered  prior  to  the  present  century.  The  Wortendykes  are  among- 
the  earliest  residents  of  the  township,  the  progenitor  of  whom  was  Jacob, 
who  came  from  Holland  at  the  period  prior  to  the  Revolution  and  settled 
in  Harrington  township.  He  had  two  sons,  Rinear  and  Frederick,  both 
of  whom  located  in  Washington.  Rinear  married,  and  had  as  descend- 
ants Cornelius,  Rinear,  Frederick,  Albert,  and  Jacob.  The  latter  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Campbell,  and  had  children,  Rinear  and  two 
daughters.  Frederick,  the  son  of  Jacob  first  mentioned,  had  sons,  Fred- 
erick, Peter  and  James. 

Albert,  the  son  of  the  first  Rinear,  married  and  had  children, — 
David,  Abram,  Rinear,  and  a  daughter,  Jane.  Abram  had  two  sons, 
Abram,  and  Albert  A.  Frederick  F.  and  Peter  Wortendyke  each  repre- 
sent other  branches  of  the  same  family. 

The  Hopper  family  are  of  Holland  descent,  the  earliest  one  remem- 
bered in  VVashington  being  Abram,  who  had  among  his  children  one 
Jacob.  He  resided  at  Kinderkamack,  on  property  recently  occupied  by 
John  Smith,  and  which  was  formerly  the  homestead.  Jacob  had  one 
son,  Abram,  who  settled  on  ancestral  land  and  had  children, — Abram, 
Garret,  Isaac,  John,  James,  and  Jacob,  and  one  daughter.  Jacob  located 
upon  the  farm  afterwards  occupied  by  his  only  son,  Richard  Hopper,  and  a 
daughter,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Westervelt.  Another  branch  was  that  of  Nicholas 
Hopper,  who  resides  in  Hohokus,  and  had  three  sons,  John,  Jacob,  and 
Andrew. 

The  Brickell  family  were  originally  from  Rockland  County,  the  first 
member  of  whom  was  probably  George,  who  fell  in  the  Revolutionary 
conflict.  He  had  two  sons,  George  and  Thomas,  the  latter  of  whom 
came  to  the  township  of  Washington  (then  Harrington)  and  pursued  the 
weaver's  craft.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Altye,  daughter  of 
William  Bogert,  and  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  seven  reside  in  the 
township.  The  sons  were  George,  John,  and  David,  of  whom  George 
and  David  lived  in  Washington,  and  John  in  Newark.  Much  of  the 
land  now  embraced  in  the  village  of  Westwood  belonged  to  the  family. 

Among  the  oldest  families  in  the  township  is  that  of  Bogert,  who 
are  of  Holland  ancestry,  and  the  pioneer  of  whom  was  Isaac.  See  spec- 
ial sketch. 

Conrad  Storms  of  Holland  descent  was  probably  the  first  of  that 
family  to  come  to  the  township.  His  children  were  Henry  and  a 
daughter.  Henry  married  Margaret  Holdrom,  and  their  children  were 
Conrad,  Cornelius  and  two  daughters. 


HISTOKV    OK    BEKGKN  COUNTY  291 


Peter  Perry  was  an  early  resident  and  ijurchasod  a  lart^e  tract  in  the 
north  east  corner  of  the  township.  lie  had  sons,  Peter,  Johannes  and 
Jacob.  A.  P.  Perry.  Mayor  of  Park  Kidjre,  is  a  descendant  of  this 
early  settler. 

The  Deniarest  family  in  this  township  descend  from  Garret  who 
located  on  the  mill  site  but  recently  occujjied  by  Robert  Yates.  His  sons 
were  Tunis,  James,  Abram,  Samuel  and  John,  all  of  whom  became  resi- 
dents of  the  township.    One  of  his  daug-hters  became  Mrs.  John  Hopper. 

Another  branch  of  the  Demarest  family  was  represented  bv  two 
brothers  John  and  Abram  who  settled  in  the  south  east  part  of  the  town- 
ship but  neither  left  families.  Still  another  member  of  this  family- 
Jacobus  Deniarest — was  a  resident  of  this  township,  living-  first  at  Old 
Hook  then  at  Montvale.  He  had  children  David,  Abram  and  John  and 
two  daug-hters.     The  sons  all  lived  and  died  in  the  township. 

The  Alyea  family,  none  of  whom  now  live  in  the  township,  was 
represented  by  Jacobus,  who  was  buried  in  the  Old  Hook  cemeterv  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  last  century. 

The  earliest  of  the  Banta  family  to  settle  in  Washington  township 
was  John,  born  October  f>ri824,  who  resided  at  Pascack.  He  married 
Margaret  Duryea  and  had  children,  Henry,  John,  Jacob,  and  Agnes. 

The  Westervelt  family  are  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship. Casparus  I.  had  a  son  John  C.  who  was  married  to  Agnes  Van- 
derbeck,  and  had  children,  Casparus  I.,  Sarah  and  Martyntie.  Casparus 
I.  married  Maria  Van  Riper  and  had  one  son.  Captain  J.  C.  Westervelt 
of  West  wood. 

*"The  Blauvelt  family  are  of  Holland  descent,  and  associated  with 
some  of  the  most  stirring  events  of  the  Revolutionary  period.  Among 
a  large  family  of  brothers  were  Jacobus  and  Cornelius  D..  the  former  of 
whom  settled  near  Mont  Vale  and  had  four  sons — James,  John,  David, 
and  Tunis — and  six  daughters.  Among  these  sons  his  land,  embracing  a 
tract  of  two  hundred  acres,  was  divided.  All  but  Tunis  left  descend- 
ants. John  I.,  the  son  of  John,  was  a  resident  in  the  township.  Cor- 
nelius D.,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  had  a  son,  David  C,  who 
was  the  father  of  James  D.  and  John  D.  Blauvelt.  both  residents  of 
Washington. 

"At  the  home  of  Cornelius  D.  Blauvelt,  whose  wife  was  a  member  of 
the  Hering  family,  occurred  one  of  the  most  heartless  massacres  of  the 
Revolution — the  surprise  and  slaughter  of  a  detachment  of  Col.  Bay- 
lor's command.  The  spot  upon  which  the  Blauvelt  home  was  located, 
as  described  to  the  historian  by  one  of  the  descendants  of  the  family, 
was  at  River  Vale,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  on  the  site  of  the  house 
more  recently  occupied  by  L.  Cleveland,  the  original  structure  having 
long  since  been  demolished.  The  night  was  severely  cold,  and  the 
troops  were  quartered  in  the  barn,  the  officer  in  command  with  some  of 
his  subordinates  having  been  more  comfortably  provided  for  at  the 
house.     Guards  were  stationed  about  the  place,  who  at  three  successive 

♦From  the  History  of  Bereen  and   Pass.iic  Counties. 


292  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

times  reported  to  the  officer  the  impossibility  of  longer  enduring  the 
terrible  cold.  He  remarked  to  the  troops  that  they  must  protect  them- 
selves as  the  guards  were  relieved.  A  part}-  of  Hessians  surrounded  the 
buildings,  and  at  once  directed  their  attention  to  the  barn  where  most 
of  the  troops  were  quartered.  The  major  and  surgeon,  who  were  in  the 
house,  were  taken  prisoners.  The  defenseless  soldiers  found  escape 
impossible.  They  were  captured  and  slaughtered  without  quarter,  and 
their  bodies  thrown  into  a  neighboring  tan-vat;  but  three  escaped  by 
fleeing  to  an  adjoining  wood  and  secreting  themselves. 

"  The  Hering  family  are  of  Dutch  descent,  and  intimately  associ- 
ated with  the  early  history  of  the  county.  Four  brothers  purchased  a 
tract  of  one  thousand  acres  in  New  York  State,  the  deed  bearing  date 
172'),  and  subsequently  an  additional  six  hundred  in  Washington  (then 
Harrington)  township,  upon  which  three  cousins,  sons  of  the  original 
settlers,  and  all  named  Cornelius,  located,  each  of  whom  was  given  a 
tract  embracing  two  hundred  acres.  One  portion  of  this  land  was  situ- 
ated at  Pascack,  the  descendants  of  the  son  who  settled  here  being 
William,  John,  Cornelius  and  James. 

One  of  the  four  brothers  first  named  was  Abram  A.  F.  Hering, 
whose  son  Cornelius  Abram,  settled  upon  the  farm  afterward  occupied 
by  Abram  C.  Hering.  The  children  of  Cornelius  A.  were  Ralph,  Abram, 
and  four  daughters.  Both  sons  located  upon  the  family  estate.  The 
children  of  Ralph  were  Cornelius  R.  and  David.  David  had  two  sons, 
Ralph  D.,  and  David,  the  former  of  whom  resided  in  the  township.  The 
earlier  members  of  this  family  were  identified  with  many  of  the  Revo- 
lutionery  scene  which  transpired  in  the  township." 

CIVIL    LIST. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  freeholders  since  the  organization  of 
the  township: 

184U-42,  Garret  I.  Demarest;  1341.  Thomas  Achenbach;  1842-4.\  1.S45, 
1853,  Henry  Blauvelt;  1843,  1845-46,  1851,  Cornelius  R.  Harring;  184(i, 
John  Achenbach;  1847-4'J,  James  I.  Demarest;  1847-50,  Harmon  F.  Van 
Riper;  1850-51,  John  P.  Duryea;  1852-53,  John  I.  Ackerman;  1852, 
James  D.  Van  Horn;  1854,  1856,  Cornelius  G.  Ackerson;  1854,  Henry 
H.  Kingsland;  1856-58,  Andrew  M.  Hopper;  1857-59,  Benjamin  Z.  Van 
Emburgh;  1859-61,  Peter  R.  Wortendyke;  1860.62,  James  L.  Ackerman; 
1862-64,  Thomas  Van  Orden;  18()3-64,  1866,  1870,  Jacob  D.  Van  Em- 
burgh; 1866,  Frederick  F.  Wortendyke;  1867,  Abraham  Van  Emburgh; 
1867-69,  James  G.  Harring;  1868-69,  John  Christopher;  1870-72,  Nicholas 
B.  Ackerman;  1873-75,  Thomas  Post;  1876-78,  B.  S.  Demarest;  1879, 
Abraham  C.  Holdrum;  1880-81,  Thomas  Eckerson;  1889-90,  Garret  Her- 
ing; 1891-97,    Isaac   D.   Bogert;  1898-99,  J.  A.  Eckerson. 

Township  Clerk,  1840-41,  Cornelius  R.  Haring;  '42-43-45,  Henry  G. 
Banta;  '46-48,  P.  M.  Holdnm;  '49-51,  John  C.  Westervelt;  '52-54,  '56-58; 
"55,  Frederick  Wortendyke,  Jr.;  Frederick  P.  Van  Riper;  '59-61,  Henry  G' 
Hering;   ■(>2-63,  Jacob  J.  Storms,   '65-67,  Garret  R.  Haring;  '68-70,   Gar- 


HISTOKV  OF  BKKGEN  COTNTY  2'J3 

ret  J,  Lydecker:  "71-73.  John  1*.  Wortendyko;  '74-7(>,  James  A.  Acker- 
mau;  '77-79,  John  J.  Meyers;  "80-81,  Garret  J.  Wortendyke;  '82  (Garret  J. 
Wortendyke;  'S,V84-S5,  Schuyler  Bauta;  '86-87-88;  Garret  N.  Aekennan; 
'89-91,  Edward  Sarson;  '92-99,  John  H.  Ackerman. 

Assessors,  1840-42,  (iarret  S.  Detnarest;  1843-4f.,  John  A.  D^marest; 
1847-49,  John  I.  Demarest;  1850-51,  James  K.  Bo-^ert;  1852-54,  George 
T.  Brickell;  1855-57,  John  P.  Johnson;  1858-60.  James  G.  Herins^;  18(.l- 
()3,  Garret  F.  Hering;  l864-6(>,  1873-75.  Peter  M.  Holdron;  1867-(.9,  John 
H.  Demarest;  1870-72.  Louis  M.  Plauck;  1876-78,  F.  F.  "Wortendyke; 
1879-81.  Henry  G.  Hering-;  1882-83-84.  John  P.  Wortendyke;  1885-86-87, 
John  H.  Ackerman;  1888,  John  H.  Wortendyke;  1889-90,  John  H.  Wort- 
endyke; 1891-96,  John  G.  H.  Knoner:  1897-98.  John  W.  Kinmouth;  1899, 
Nicholas  Cleveland. 

Collectors,  '40-42,  Casparus  I.  Zabriskie;  43-46,  Peter  F.  Van  Kiper; 
47-49,  Henry  Achenbach;  50-51,  John  P.  Westervelt;  52,  Jacob  J.  Storms, 

53,  55-56,  66-()8,  Peter  R.  Wortendyke;  54,  Abraham  Bergen;  57-59, 
Abraham  Van  Emburgh;  ()0-62,  Cornelius  F.  Crouter;  63-65,  H.-nry  (i. 
Hering;  69-71,  Albert  Z.  Ackerman;  72-74,  John  H.  Ackerman;  72-75, 
John  H.  Ackerman;  75-77,  Garret  J.  Lydecker;  78-81,  Jacob  M.  Myers; 
82-83-84,  Peter  R.  Wortendyke;  85,  Isaac  D.  Bogert;  86-87-88,  Andrew 
H.  Smith;  89-92,  Andrew  H.  Smith;  93-95.  John  A.  Eckerson;  96-98, 
John  Heck;  99,  John  H.  Ackerman. 

Township  Committees,  1840-42,  John  R.  Blauvelt;  '40-41,  David 
Bogert;  '40,  Cornelius  Ackerman;  '40-41,  James  L  Demarest;  '40-43,  '49- 
51,  John  Flearoboam;  '41-43,  45,  Herman  Van  Riper;  '42-43,  45,  49-51, 
J.  A.  L.  Demarest;  '42-43,  45,  John  P.  Perry;  '43,  45-46,  Lawrence  Van 
Buskirk;  '45:47,  Garret  S.  Demarest;  '46-48,  Peter  A.  Westervelt.  J.  A. 
Lozier,  Isaac  Mabie ;  '47-49,  Peter  Crouter;  '48-49,  James  P.  Westervelt ; 
'49-51,  Henrv  Pullis;  '50,  Garret  C.  Ackerman,  Cornelius  R.  Haring;  '51. 
J.  Z.  Van  Blarcora,  William  C.  Holdron;  '52-53.   A.  H.  Westervelt;  '52- 

54,  James  L.  Ackerman,  Garret  J.  Lydecker ;  '52.  J.  H.  Van  Emburgh  ; 
'52-53,  James  A.  Campbell ;  '53-54,  '76-78,  Thomas  Van  Orden  ;  '54-56. 
64-66,  Albert  A.  L.  Demarest;  '54-55,  Andrew  M.  Hopper;  '55-56,  Benja- 
min S.  Demarest;  '55-57.  (>l-62.  Frederick  Crouter;  '55,  James  Demarest, 
Jr.;  '57-59,  Peter  J.  Banta ;  '56-58,  69-71,  Henry  Z.  Ackerman;  '56-,S8,  63- 
65,  John  A.  Ackerman;  '57-59,  H.  A.  L.  Demarest;  '58-60,  Nicholas  B. 
Ackerman;  '59-60,  John  P.  Johnson;  '59-60,  Jacob  Z.  Van  Blarcom  ;  '60- 
62,  Thomas  Post;  '60-62,  73-75.  Anthony  C.  Tice  ;  "61-63,  John  I.  Blau- 
velt. David  A.  Campbell ;  '6.3-65.  William  A.  Demarest.  Garret  J.  Hopi)er; 
'64-66,  Thomas  D.  Blanch;  '66,  Nicholas  A.  Demarest;  '66-68,  David 
Tice.  F.  F.  Wortendyke.  Jr.;  '67-69,  Garret  F.  Hering,  Daniel  J.  Post, 
Jacob  H.  Van  Derbeck ;  '(.9.  John  W.  Christie;  '70-72,  John  A.  Felter, 
Abram  J.  Allen.  John  A.  L.  Blauvelt.  Stephen  J.  (ioetschius;  '72-74, 
David  Brickell;  '73-75,  Richard  Van  Derbeck;  '7.V74,  John  Messenger; 
'73-75,  Abram  Si.  Van  Horn  ;  '75-77,  Garret  D.  Van  Bussf)m,  Isaac 
Onderdonk ;  '76-78,  Samuel  B.  Demarest,  John  I).  Durie ;  '78-80.  Abram 
A.    Campbell;   '78-79,    Mercelius    Post;    '79-81.    .\1>ram    Gurnee:    ■80-81, 


294  HISTOKY    OF    BEKCfEN    COUNTY 

Schuyler  Banta ;  '81,  John  Henry  Ackerman ;  '82,  Schuyler  Bauta,  John 
Henry  Ackerman,  James  Alfred  Ackerman ;  '83,  John  Henry  Ackerman, 
James  Alfred  Ackerman,  Jacob  D.  Demarest ;  '84,  James  Alfred  Acker- 
man, John  J.  Myers,  J.  H.  Wortendyke ;  '85,  John  J.  Myers,  J.  H.  Wort- 
endyke,  Gilbert  Bell;  '86,  Gilbert  Bell,  J.  H.  Wortend3-ke,  Abram  S. 
Van  Horn;  '87,  Gilbert  Bell,  Abram  S.  Van  Horn,  A.  J.  House;  '88, 
Abram  S.  Van  Horn,  A.  J.  House,  J.  C.  Blauvelt ;  'S'),  W.  D.  Ackerman; 
''»0,  W.  D.  Ackerman ;  "Jl,  Daniel  O' Mara,  W.  D.  Ackerman  ;  '<)2,  Daniel 
O 'Mara,  John  H.  Ackerman ; '93,  Daniel  O'Mara,  John  H.  Ackerson, 
A.  B.  Van  Emburg-h  ;  '94,  John  B.  Lozier,  John  H.  Ackerson,  A.  B.  Van 
Emburgfh;  '95,  David  L.  Lwkwood,  John  B.  Lozier,  A.  B.  Van  Emburg-h; 
'96,  David  L.  Lockwood,  Abram  A.  Hopper,  John  B.  Lozier;  '97,  David 
L.  Lockwood,  Peter  J.  Westervelt,  Thomas  C.  Demarest;  '98,  Daniel 
O'Mara,  Peter  J.  Westervelt,  Thomas  C.  Demarest;  '99,  John  G.  H. 
Knoner,  Daniel  O'Mara,  Peter  J.  Westervelt. 

WEST  WOOD. 

Westwood,  a  beautiful  village  21.6  miles  from  New  York  on  the 
New  Jersey  and  New  York  Railroad,  has  a  population  of  about  one  thou- 
sand persons.  The  land  occupying  this  site  was  purchased  of  John  Mar- 
sellus  on  the  26th  of  March,  1765,  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of 
George  HI,  and  another  tract  ajdoining,  was  bought  of  Jacob  Hopper 
April  5,  1780  by  Isaac  Bogert,  of  New  York,  who  was  the  ancestor  of 
Isaac  D.  Bogert,  the  present  mayor  of  Westwood.  Albert  Bogert,  son 
of  Isaac,  was  a  carpenter,  and  having  fallen  from  the  roof  of  a  building 
and  broken  his  leg,  his  father  was  induced  to  move  from  the  cit}'  to  this 
township,  where  he  purchased  in  all  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  one  tract 
of  which  nearly  covers  the  site  of  Westwood. 

David  I.  Bogert,  George  T.  Brickell  and  David  Brickell  were  the 
first  to  cause  a  survey  to  be  made  of  the  lots  for  a  village  at  this  place. 

Isaac,  grandson  of  Isaac  and  grandfather  of  Isaac  D.  Bogert 
lived  here  fifty  years  ago.  His  son  David,  the  father  of  Isaac,  was 
killed  on  the  Midland  railroad  at  Central  Avenue,  Hackensack  in  1871. 
Mr.  Isaac  D.  Bogert  rebuilt  the  old  house  in  1852.  The  old  mill  just 
below  the  house  was  rebuilt  in  1823. 

In  1869  Isaac  D.  Bogert  and  Z.  B.  Van  Emburgh  built  the  first  store 
in  the  village.  It  is  now  one  of  the  leading  stores  in  the  county.  Z.  B. 
Van  Emburgh  was  the  grandson  of  Henry  and  Mary  Voorhis  Van  Em- 
burgh and  son  of  Albert  and  Hannah  Zabriskie  Van  Emburgh,  and 
brother  to  H.  A.  and  Nicholas  Van  Emburgh,  all  of  Washington  Town- 
ship. He  was  the  father  of  Albert  Van  Emburgh,  now  of  the  firm  of 
Bogert  and  Van  Emburgh. 

The  Westwood  Hotel  was  built  by  A.  B.  Bogert  at  this  time  and 
was  the  beginning  of  the  village  history  of  Westwood.  In  i870  at  the 
time  of  the  building  of  the  railroad.  Dr.  S.  J.  Zabriskie,  now  the  old- 
est practicing  physician  in  the  county  located  here,  at  which  time  there 
were  only  two  or  three  houses  in  the  place.     At  present  there  are  three 


HISTORY    OK    RK1«;HN    COUNTY  295 

grocery  stores,  one  hardware  store,  two  churches  and  two  hotels  and 
other  places  of  importance.  The  Bsrough  of  W'estwood  was  formed  in 
1 894,  the  first  officers  of  the  incorporation  being:  as  follow^: — Isaac  D. 
Bogfert,  Mayor;  W.  W.  Voorhis,  John  C.  Kent,  J.  H.  Ackcrson,  George 
\V.  CoUignon,  Walter  Ray,  George  W.  Youmans,  Council;  James  E. 
Demarest,  Clerk.  Mr.  Bogert  was  followed  by  T.  G.  Brickcll,  Mayor, 
who  held  the  office  four  years.  The  officers  for  iS99  are:  Isaac  D. 
Bogert,  Mayor;  Dr.  S.  J.  Zabriskie,  Walter  DeBaun,  Walter  G.  Ray. 
John  W.  Horn,  A.  B.  Bogert,  John  J.  Blauvelt,  Council;  Charles  D. 
Westervelt,  Clerk. 

The  Borough  of  Westwoo(l  was  formed  into  one  school  district  at 
the  time  of  its  organisation.  The  school  building  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  four  thousand  dollars.  A  Union  Chapel  was  built  in  the  place 
in  i878.  On  August  25,  1886,  on  Sunday  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.  a  fearful 
cyclone  tore  down  the  church,  and  schoolhouse,  and  damaged  other 
buildings. 

CHUKCHES. 

Religious  services  were  for  a  period  held  at  a  public  hall  in  West- 
wood,  but  a  building  was  erected  in  1872  at  a  cost  of  $4000,  and  union 
services  regularl}- conducted  by  clergymen  from  Closter,  Schraalenburgh 
and  other  villages.  This  house  was  destroyed,  and  rebuilt  at  a  cost  of 
S4000,  and  an  elegant  school  house  was  also  erected.  The  edifice  has 
since  that  time  received  important  additions,  and  the  church  is  supported 
by  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen.  It  started  with  twenty-seven 
persons.  The  Rev.  David  Talmage,  nephew  of  Dr.  DeWitt  Talmage, 
formerly  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  this  church 
in  1887,  and  is  still  in  charge  of  the  congregation.  Isaac  D.  Bogert 
gave  the  grounds  for  the  church  building,  and  has  been  one  of  the  elders 
since  its  organization. 

A  Catholic  Church,  having  a  limited  membership,  was  established 
twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago.     It  has  no  resident  pastor. 

The  borough  of  Westwood  is  supplied  with  excellent  cool,  clear, 
spring  water,  for  domestic  use.  Mr.  C.  S.  De  Baun  first  drove  a  number 
of  wells,  which,  for  a  scries  of  years,  suj)plied  the  people  through  tanks, 
but  subsequently  an  inexhaustable  supply  of  spring  water  was  found, 
which  abundantly  supplies  both  the  fire  de])artment,  and  the  water  for 
domestic  purposes. 

The  Fire  Department  of  Westwood  is  under  the  control  of  one 
capable  foreman  and  thirty-six  voluntary  assistants,  while  one  marshal 
and  constables  look  after  the  peace  of  the  borough. 

IS.'\.\C  D.  Boc.i;i<T, 
Isaac  D.  Bogert,  Mayor  of  Westwood  and  leading  merchant  of  tliat 
borough,  was  born  on  the  old  Bogert  homestead  in  Westwood  in  ls.i4. 
His  great  great  grandfather  Isaac  Bogert,  had  children.  Jacobus  and 
Albert,  of  whom  the  first  died  in  the  Revolution.  Albert  inherited  the 
estate   in    Washington    township,  and   his  son    Isaac   married    Margaret 


ISAAC    D.    BOGEKT 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  297 

Durie  and  had  children  David  and  Leah.  Hannah  Ackerman  became  the. 
wife  of  David  and  the  mother  of  three  chiUlren  of  whom  two,  Isaac  D. 
and  Mrs.  Z.  B.  Van.Emburg-h  reside  in  the  township,  the  former  on  the 
land  purchased  in  1765. 

Having  spent  his  early  life  in  school,  Isaac  continued  on  the  farm 
until  1869  when  he  began  a  mercantile  career,  and  which  he  has  con- 
tinued from  that  time  having  been  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Bogert  &  Van 
Emburgh  from  the  time  the  business  was  started.  Besides  the  grocery 
business  he  was  postmaster  for  twenty  years.  The  firm  maintained  a 
large  trade  in  lumber  and  coal  also.  Aside  from  his  business  career, 
Mr.  Bogert  has  been  selected  by  his  fellow  townsmen  at  various  times  to 
represent  their  interests  in  official  life.  He  was  Freeholder  six  years 
during  a  part  of  which  time  he  was  a  director  of  the  county  board.  He 
also  filled  the  office  of  Collector  for  Washington  Township.  He  was 
elected  the  first  Mayor  of  Westwood  in  1899. 

In  conjunction  with  Richard  Hopper,  Abram  B.  Bogert  and  others 
he  organized  the  Reformed  Church  at  Westwood  in  1887,  of  which 
Church  organization  he  has  filled  the  office  of  Elder  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Bogert  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  fraternity  but  aside  from 
this  his  relations  in  life  are  domestic.  He  is  public  spirited,  and 
through  his  kindly  aid  the  village  has  received  great  help.  In  1894 
he  generously  donated  for  public  use  two  acres  of  valuable  ground  in 
the  center  of  the  borough,  for  a  park,  in  which  are  twenty-seven  vigor- 
ous sugar  trees  of  his  own  planting. 

In  1852  Mr.  Bogert  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Van  Wagoner, 
daughter  of  John  Van  Wagoner  of  Oradell,  Their  beautiful  home 
constitutes  one  of  the  attractions  of  Westwood.     They  have  no  children. 

DR.    S.    J.    ZABKISKIE. 

Dr.  S.  J.  Zabriskie,  the  oldest  physician  in  Bergen  county,  belongs 
to  the  old  family  of  that  name,  who  came  to  New  Jersey  in  the  early 
days  of  the  country.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Zabriskie) 
Zabriskie,  and  was  born  February  .'?,  i830,  and  brought  up  on  a  farm. 
After  a  primary  education  in  the  common  schools,  he  took  an  academic 
course,  followed  by  his  professional  studies  in  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  New  York,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of   1 856. 

He  first  located  in  Lodi  and  subsequently  practiced  his  profession  in 
Saddle  River  for  a  few  years.  In  iS70  he  removed  to  Westwood  where 
he  built  up  a  lucrative  business.  In  addition  to  his  general  practice  Dr. 
Zabriskie  is  physician  to  the  Bergen  county  Almshouse. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Bergen  County  Medical  Society,  member 
of  Odd  Fellows  Westwood  Lodge  No.  201,  is  president  of  Board  of 
Health,  and  has  held  a  number  of  local  offices.  In  politics  the  doctor  is 
a  Democrat. 

He  was  married  in  i857,  to  Miss  Sarah  L.  Moore,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Moore  a  native  of  Bergen  county. 


298  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

PASCACK. 

Pascack  \Yas  the  name  given  to  the  northern  part  of  the  township 
which  embraced  what  are  now  the  villages  of  Woodcliff.  Park  Ridge,  and 
Montvale.  It  is  a  settlement  full  of  tradition  and  history  antedating  by 
a  century  or  more,  the  beginning  of  the  villages,  whose  existence  were 
brought  about  chiefly  by  the  building  of  the  railroad  in  1870.  The 
Demarests,  the  Perrys,  the  Ackermaus  or  Eckersons,  the  Westervelts, 
the  Blauvelts,  the  Herings  and  others.  Garret  Ackerson,  a  native  of 
Holland,  settled  at  Old  Tappan  in  Bergen  county  a  long  time  prior  to  the 
Revolution.  His  son  John  born  in  1743,  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  at  Pas- 
cack. He  married  Garritje  Hogencamp  who  bore  him  two  children. 
Garret,  and  Hannah,  afterward  Mrs.  Nicholas  Zabriskie.  Garret  became 
the  Major-General  of  the  New  Jersey  militia  and  was  twice  sent  to  the 
vState  Legislature.  He  had  four  sons,  John,  Cornelius,  Garret  G.,  and 
James.  Hon.  John.  Ackerson  above  named  not  only  engaged  in  farming 
but  had  a  store,  a  cotton  mill  and  a  distillery  on  his  premises.  He  died 
at  Pascack  in  1828,  ninety-four  years  of  age. 

This  probably  w^as  the  beginning  of  the  mercantile  history  of  this 
place.  The  store  now  owned  by  J.  H.  Ackerman  was  built  in  1871. 
This  family  trace  their  descent  to  Mrs.  Elenor  Ackerman  who  came  to 
the  township  with  a  family  of  children  among  whom  were  David,  Garret 
and  Johannes.  The  latter  married  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  Demarest 
and  had  four  children.  Garret,  Cornelius  and  two  daughters. 

J.  H.  Ackerman,  the  present  Mayor  of  Woodcliff,  son  of  Nicholas 
B.  Ackerman,  comes  of  this  family.  The  father  of  J.  H.  was  a  promi- 
nent man  in  the  Church  and  was  a  merchant  of  this  place  for  a  long 
time.  He  built  the  store  in  1871  and  had  his  son  J.  H.,  for  a  partner  at 
one  time.  The  store  is  now  in  the  name  of  J.  H.  Ackerman  &  Brothers. 
They  have  a  store  at  Montvale,   also, 

The  first  schoolhouse  of  which  mention  is  made  in  Pascack,  was 
built  in  1808,  near  the  Reformed  Church.  It  was  an  unpretentious 
building  with  an  old-fashioned  fireplace,  and  slabs  around  the  room  for 
seats.  Colonel  Garret  G.  Ackerson  of  Hackensack,  born  in  1816,  went 
to  school  there  under  George  Ackenbach.  A  Mr.  Leach  taught  this 
school  in  1820.  In  1855  anew  building  was  erected  and  the  present  one 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  dollars. 

Manufacturing  at  Pascack  was  begun  soon  after  the  Revolution  by 
John  Campbell  who  established  a  Wampum  factory  conducting  an  ex- 
tensive business,  supplying  the  Indian  agents  and  traders  of  the  day 
with  this  commodity.  Mr.  Campbell  had  eight  children  all  of  whom 
located  in  the  township.  The  sons  of  Abraham  A.,  one  of  these 
children,  are  John  A.,  James  A.,  David  A.,  and  Abrani  A.,  all  now 
dead,  the  youngest  dying  in  1899  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 
Years  ago  the  business  was  conducted  by  all  these  brothers,  the  pro- 
ducts consisting  of  pipes,  beads,    moons,   etc..    made  from  conch  shells. 


HISTOKY  OK  BKKGKN  COUNTY  29') 


all  kiidwn  under  the  general  name  id'  wampum.  Jnhn  Jacob  Astnr  was 
a  large  patron  of  this  house. 

Friendship  Lodge  No.  102  F.  and  A.  M.  is  located  at  Pascack.  It 
was  granted  a  dispensation  October  14,  A.  D.  iS()'),  and  was  constituted 
a  working  lodge  on  the  i7th  of  February.  iS7().  The  warrant  otlicers 
were  Henry  C.  Neer,  W.  M.,  James  C.  Hering,  S.  \V'..  (larret  K. 
Hering,  J.  W. 

The  inhabitants  of  Pascack  and  vicinity  desired  for  many  years  to 
organize  a  church  in  their  neighborhof)d,  but  were  prevented  from  va- 
rious causes.  Finally  the  Saddle  River  Church,  being  separated  from 
that  of  Pararaus,  offered  to  join  with  the  people  of  Pascack,  and  to 
assist  them  in  building  a  house  of  worship.  It  \va>  agreed  to  ha\e  two 
church  buildings,  one  c<insistory,  and  one  congregation,  and  to  hold 
services  alternately  in  the  two  houses  of  worship. 

In  the  year  i8i4,  Rev.  Stephen  (ioetschius  was  called  as  pastor. 
The  building  of  the  church  at  Pascack  was  then  begun,  and  was  com- 
pleted in  one  season.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  (!Si4i  it  was 
dedicated,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  the  pastor. 

On  the  2d  day  of  July,  i8i4,  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Classis 
of  Paramus  met  according  to  the  order  of  the  Classis,  all  the  members 
John  Yury,  Joseph  Debaun,  Jacob  Debaun  and  John  Debaun — being 
jiresent.  They  proceeded  to  the  election  of  elders  and  deacons.  The 
following  persons  were  chosen  elders:  John  J.  Eckerson,  John  Gamble, 
(ierret  Duryea,  and  John  Banta;  Deacons,  Gerret  J.  Ackerman,  Edward 
Eckerson,  Hendrie  Storms  and  John  J.  Demarest.  The  church  was 
organized  with  fifty  members.  Rev.  S.  Ooetschius  continuing  pastor  of 
the  two  churches,  Saddle  River  and  Pascack,  from  the  year  i814  to  iS.v^. 

Rev.  John  Manley  was  called  in  the  year  i835,  and  continued  his 
relations  until  i853  or  i854.  About  this  time  the  two  churches  l)ecame 
separate  organizations,  and  the  Rev.  John  Manley  remained  as  pastor 
of  the  Saddle  River  Church.  Rev.  John  T.  Demarest,  D.  D.,  accepted 
a  call  from  the  consistory  of  the  church  of  Pas:a;k.  His  ])astorate 
extended  over  a  period  from  1 854  to  iSdT.  In  the  year  i8().=.  land  was 
])urchased  and  the  parsonage  erected. 

In  the  year  i867  Rev.  J.  T.  Demarest,  D.  D.,  resigned  his  charge, 
and  the  following  year  the  Rev.  B.  A.  Bartholf  was  called  to  the  ])astor- 
ate  of  the  church,  where  he  remained  until  IsT.v 

During  the  years  1S7.>  and  1874  the  church  and  jparsonage  were 
remodeled,  at  an  expense  of  about  four  thousand  live  hundred  dollars, 
after  which  Rev.  Alexander  McKelvy  was  stated  supply  for  three  months. 

Rev.  Edward  Lodewick,  the  present  jiastor,  accepted  a  call  from  tlie 
consistory  in  the  year  1875. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Church  are  as  follows:  Elders  H.  C. 
Neer,  A.  J.  Ackerman,  Isaac  Forshay,  J.  H.  Ackerman;  Deacons.  J.  K. 
Mabie,  C.  Cronk,  I.  Donaldson,  O.  J.  Ackerman;  Sexton,  Josejdi  Daw- 
son. 


300  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

The  old  Pascack  cemetery,  uear  the  church,  is  also  of  great  ag-e, 
several  of  the  memorial  stones  bearing-  that  date  1745.  These  are 
engraved  in  rude  fashion,  and  are  mostly  in  the  Dutch  language.  Those 
erected  at  a  later  day  bear  date  1790,  1796,  1800,  1813,  etc. 

The  following  is  the  legend  upon  the  tablet  erected  to  the  memory 
of  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  sons  of  Washington  township: 

Here  rests  the  remains  of  Hon.  Jacob  R.  Wortendyke,  born  in  Ber- 
gen County,  N.  J.,  November  27,  1818,  died  at  Jersey  City,  November  7, 
1868.  After  he  had  served  his  own  generation,  by  the  will  of  God  he 
fell  on  sleep,  and  was  laid  unto  his  fathers. 

The  old  burying-ground  connected  with  the  Pascack  Church  has 
been  in  use  for  years,  and  is  still  maintained  as  the  place  of  interment 
for  many  of  the  families  of  the  township.  Among  the  inscriptions  are 
these : 

In  memory  of  Sarah  Peack,  wife  of  Jacobus  Demarest,  who  died 
March  17,  1820,  aged  80  years  and  8  days. 

The  voice  of  this  alarming  scene. 

May  every  heart  obey  ; 
Nor  be  the  heavenly  warning  vain 
That  calls  to  watch  and  pray. 
In   memory   of  Margaret   Pulis,  wife  of  Jacob   Post,  who   departed 
this  life  March  31,  1826,  aged  25  years,  3  months,  and  22  days. 

In  memory  of  David  Wortendyke,  who  departed  this  life  August  2, 
1827,  aged  19  years,  6  months,  and  29  days. 

In  memory  of  Peter  Cambell,  who  departed  this  life  September  15, 
1819,  age  1  year,  i  month,  and  2  days. 

In  memory  of  Daniel  Peck,  who  died  November,  1819,  aged  76  years, 
9  months,  and  2  days. 

Daniel  I.  Hering,  born  November  17,  1775,  died  January  13.  1815, 
aged  39  years,  7  months,  and  29  days. 

In  memory  of  Maria  Ackerson,  wife  of  Isaac  Debaun,  born  October 
27,  1730,  died  April  18,  1817,  ag-ed  86  3-ears,  10  months  and  12  days. 

The  Old  Hook  cemetery  lies  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  town- 
ship, and  is  intimately  connected  with  the  earlier  deaths  in  the  town- 
ship. It  has  been  used  by  many  of  the  prominent  families  of  Washing- 
ton, and  carefully  maintained  since  its  incorporation  by  an  act  of  the 
State  Legislatnre.  Among  the  families  who  "have  buried  here  are 
the  Coopers.  Alyeas,  Bogerts,  Hoppers,  etc.  There  are  several  other 
private  burial-places  within  the  township  limits. 

Woodcliff  Borough  was  organized  in  1894.  It  has  a  population  of 
about  four  hundred.  The  official  vote  given  in  November  1898  was 
eighty-five.  The  first  officers  of  the  borough  were:  S.  B.  Read, 
Mayor;  J.  H.  Wortendyke,  Assessor;  William  English,  Collector;  Martin 
J.  Meyers,  C.  A.  Felter,  F.  F.  Wortendyke,  Garret  J.  Acuerman,  Walter 
Stanton,  F.  P.  Van  Riper,  Council;  Richard  Storms,  Clerk.  Mr.  J.  H. 
Ackerman  was  elected  Mayor  in  1896,  and  re-elected  in  March  1899.  The 
remaining  ofiicers  for  this  year  are  J.  H.  Wortendyke,    Assessor;  A.  J. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  301 

Ackerman,  Collector;  J.  H.  Post.  C.  A.  Feltcr.  C.  A.  Lowrie,  T.  H. 
Tice,  Georg-e  Mudikingf,  Garret  Cronk,  Council  :  (t.  J.  Wortcndyke. 
Clerk. 

HILLSDALE    TOWNSHIP. 

This  a  township  within  a  township,  having  the  village  of  Hillsdale 
for  its  central  or  business  location.  The  village  is  desirably  located  on 
the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Railroad,  having  its  mercantile  and 
business  interests  dating  from  the  building  of  that  road. 

CHURCHES. 

There  are  two  churches  at  Hillsdale,  of  which  the  Methodists  were 
first.  Religious  services  were  originally  conducted  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Garton,  and  the  society  was  organized  in  1875.  The 
building  lot  was  donated  by  D.  P.  Patterson  in  1876,  upon  which  an 
edifice  was  erected.  Services  have  continued  here  regularly  from  the 
time  of  the  organization  in  both  pulpit  and  Sunday  school  work.  Rev. 
Mr.  Thomas  was  pastor  in  1899. 

There  is  also  an  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  Henry  M. 
Ladd  was  rector  until  1895. 

There  are  three  schools  in  the  township  of  Hillsdale,  one  at  the 
village,  occupying  a  two-story  four-room  building,  recently  erected. 
Three  teachers  are  employed  in  this  school.  Of  the  first  school  houses 
in  the  township,  there  is  no  definite  record.  In  1856  a  school  house  one 
mile  west  of  Hillsdale,  on  the  road  from  Pascack  to  Paters(m,  was 
erected.  Mr.  W.  W.  Banta,  a  resident  of  Hillsdale  and  now  a  teacher 
in  Hackensack,  taught  there. 

David  P.  Patterson  built  the  first  store  in  the  village  about  the  time 
the  railroad  was  built,  or  a  little  before  that  time.  He  let  it  to  H.  (i. 
Hering,  who  conducted  it  for  a  number  of  years.  Then  came  John  U. 
Voorhis,  and  one  or  two  others.  John  F.  Winters  now  owns  the  prop- 
erty. There  are  also  one  or  two  other  places  of  business  in  the  village 
and  one  hotel. 

Hillsdale  Township  was  set  off  in  the  Spring  of  1S9S.  This  organi- 
zation was  effected  through  the  interventitm  of  ().  S.  Thrall,  J.  H. 
Riley,  J.  F.  Winters,  David  A.  Demarest,  Herndon  Kohrs,  A.  C.  Hold- 
man  and  others.  Election  for  officers  held  Tuesday,  April  19,  l,S9S 
resulted  as  follows:  Arthur  J.  Stever,  Freeholder;  Orrin  S.  Thrall, 
Collector;  John  A.  Storms,  Assessor;  Sanford  Bogert,  George  H.  Sea- 
man, Edward  L.  Greenin,  Town  Committee;  William  W.  Banta,  Town- 
ship Clerk. 

Officers  elected  Tuesday,  March  14,  1899,  are  as  follows  :  Freehold- 
er, John  H.  Riley;  Collector,  Orrin  S.  Thrall;  Assessor,  Cornelius  H. 
DeVoe ;  Township  Committee,  George  H.  Seaman,  Sanford  Bogert, 
Edmond  L.  (Jreenin  ;  Township  Clerk,  William  W.  Banta. 

"The  Hillsdale  Manor,"  a  group  of  beautiful  suburban  residences, 
called  formerly,    Hillsdale  Terrace,    by   F.   J.    Finlay,  its  projector,  lies 


302  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

within  the  bounds  of  the  village  of  Hillsdale.  This  place  contains  one 
summer  hotel  and  a  number  of  beautiful  residences  built  by  the 
Hillsdale  Improvement  Company,  of  which  Arthur  J.  Stever  is  president. 

PARK    RIDGE. 

Park  Ridg-e  is  situated  one  mile  north  of  Woodcliff,  and  is  the  center 
of  business  interest  in  that  part  of  the  township.  Here  the  Mittag  & 
Voider  Company  have  their  works,  a  business  that  reaches  out  to  every 
country  on  the  globe.  In  a  mercantile  way  the  Gurnee  family  were 
long  identified  with  Park  Ridge.  Abram  Gurnee,  son  of  Levi,  owned 
and  operated  a  store  here  for  twenty  years.  He  was  murdered  in  his 
place  of  business  about  the  year  of  the  Centennial.  A  Mr.  Rawitzer 
now  has  the  store.  G.  H.  Teimeyer,  owner  of  another  store  came  to 
the  village  in  1880.  The  hotel  at  this  place  was  formerly  used  by- a  Mr. 
Bannister  for  a  private  school.  It  finally  passed  into  the  hands  of  Gil- 
bert Ackerman,  who  turned  it  into  a  hotel.  Mr.  John  Johnson  now 
owns  the  property. 

Manufacturing  of  bobbins  was  begun  here  by  A.  Wortendyke  many 
years  ago,  but  the  business  has  since  passed  away.  Mittag  &  Volger 
do  a  large  business  the  world  over  in  the  manufacture  of  carbon  paper, 
ribbons,  line  inks  and  other  supplies  for  the  type-writer  trade.  They 
first  built  a  factory  in  1889,  and  again  1895.  This  was  burned  down 
September  9th,  1897,  and  rebuilt  that  same  fall.  They  employ  now 
about  forty  men,  and  make  shipments  to  New  York,  Chicago,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Toronto,  London,  Paris,  Cologne,  Bombay  and  Sidney. 

A  good  school  building  in  Park  Ridge  was  erected  a  few  years  ago, 
in  which  are  employed  four  teachers.  There  is  also  a  Congregational 
Church,  of  recent  origin  but  it  is  a  small  congregation  and  has  no  pas- 
tor at  the  present  time. 

PARK    KIDGE    BOKOtlGH. 

This  borough  was  organized  in  1895,  but  originated  in  the  Park 
Ridge  Improvement  Association  instituted  in  1889,  by  W.  B.  Smith  and 
others,  for  the  improvement  of  that  part  of  old  Pascack.  Through 
the  efforts  of  that  society  of  public  spirited  gentlemen,  avenues  were 
laid  out,  trees  planted,  and  lights  placed  at  suitable  intervals  along  the 
highways,  the  public  school  interests  were  fostered  and  cognizance 
taken  of  every  public  need.  The  officers  were:  W.  B.  Smith,  president. 
Dr.  E.  (iehl,  first  vice-president;  J.  E.  Brooks,  second  vice-president;  J 
B.  H.  Storms,  secretary;  W.  Park,  treasurer;  J.  Freebes,  sergeant-at- 
arms. 

As  time  progressed  local  interest  in  g-ood  roads,  taxes  for  schools 
and  other  improvements  led  to  the  formation  of  the  borough  under 
legislative  enactment  as  a  better  way  for  the  securing  of  these  neces- 
sities; and  accordingly  the  borough  was  voted  for.  May  4,  1894,  and  the 
first  borough  meeting  held  June  2ist,  that  year,  with  officers  elect  as 
follows:  Mayor,  H.  C.  Neer;  Councilmen:  Francis  Wheaton,  Theodore 
G.   Volger,   Jacob  H.    Hall,    James  A.    Heale,    James   Leach,   John    J. 


FKANK    ().     MITTAC. 


304  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN  COUNTY 


Storms.  Election  contested  and  set  aside.  At  new  election  August  7th 
James  H.  Weild  elected  Mayor;  Councilmen:  James  A.  Heale,  Theodore 
G  Volger,  Jacob  H.  Hall,  Eugene  Gehl,  James  Leach,  John  J.  Storms. 
Present  officers  are:  Mayor,  Andrew  P.  Perry;  Council:  Geo.  Braus- 
grove  Isaac  B.  Herring,  Alonzo  J.  House,  Arthur  Lesoil,  James  S. 
Mittao-  John  S.  Storms;  Assessor,  Robert  A.  Libbald ;  Collector, 
Geor-"e  J.  Stark;  Commissioner  of  Appeals,  William  D.  Woodly,  Peter 
E  Wortendyke,  William  Denton;  Board  of  Education,  William  D. 
Woodly,  Theodore  F.  Granger,  William  H.  Romaine;  Borough  Clerk. 
George  Ritter. 

FRANK  O.    MITTAG. 

Among  manufacturers  in  America,  who  are  known  to  the  com- 
mercial world  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  should  be  mentioned  the 
name  of  Frank  O.  Mittag,  inventor  and  manufacturer  of  Park  Ridge, 
N  J  Mr.  Mittag  is  the  son  of  John  C.  L.  and  Caroline  (Herms) 
Mittao-  who  are  both  natives  of  Prussia,  Germany.  Mr.  Mittag's 
father'is  a  landscape  gardener,  a  profession  to  which  the  flower-lovmg 
German  is  so  admirably  adapted.  His  mother  is  a  descendant  from  the 
Herms  and  Schillings,  who  in  Prussia,  for  more  than  a  century  have 
been  noted  manufacturers  of  tobacco  and  cotton,  and  also  of  Chinaware 
Frank  O.  Mittag  was  born  August  1,  1855,  at  Marshland,  Richmond 
county  New  York.  He  has,  however,  been  a  resident  of  Park  Ridge 
since  1886.  In  i889  he  began  business  with  Mr.  J.  H.  W.  Maclaghan, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Mittag,  Maclaghan  &  Co.,  manufacturing  type- 
writer carbon  papers,  transfer  papers,  stamping  inks,  numbering  machine 
inks  copying  inks  for  use  in  connection  with  typewriter  machines,  and 
in  fact  eVerything  in  the  line  of  carbon  transfer,  duplicating  and  copy- 
ing papers,  "ribbons  and  ink  for  use  on  the  typewriter  machine,  dating 
machines,  numbering  machines,  stamping  machines,  etc. 

A  chano-e  in  the  firm  was  made  in  189i  when  Mr.  Maclaghan  re- 
tired from  the  firm,  disposing  of  his  interest  to  Mittag  and  Volger,  the 
firm  since  then  being  known  as  Mittag  &  Volger.  Mr.  Maclaghan  then 
went  to  New  York  city  where  he  has  since  had  the  sale  of  all  goods 
manufactured  by  this  firm.  . 

Prior  to  1899  Mr.  Mittag  was  connected  with  a  house  in  JNew 
York,  which  manufactured  the  same  goods  he  is  now  making.  In  fact  he 
is  the  original  maker,  inventor,  and  perfector  of  many  of  the  inks  used 
for  making  typewriter  ribbons,  carbon  papers,  etc,  for  use  on  the  various 
typewriting  machines.  When  the  typewriting  machine  was  put  on  the 
market  in  1870  to  75,  Mr.  Mittag  saw  that  many  changes  in  its  con- 
struction were  necessary  in  order  to  make  perfect  impressions  through 
an  inked  ribbon,  that  would  be  legible,  and  copy  plainly,  and  also  that 
it  mi-ht  be  possible  to  make  duplicate  copies,  by  alternating  the  carbon 
with^the  white  paper,  making  the  impressions  through  the  ribbon  and 
he  various  carbons  at  one  and  the  same  time.  About  1880  the  machines 
had  come  to  a  perfected  state,  and  since  that  date  the  sale  of  all  sorts 
of  typewriter  supplies  has  grown  to  enormous  proportion. 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKGHN    COUNTY 


305 


Carbon  paper  invented  in  Eng-land,  fifty,  or  probably  sixty  years 
ag-o,  and  still  in  use  there,  is  made  of  lamp  black  and  g-rease,  a  soft  and 
smutty  production,  unsuiled  to  the  uses  retpiired  in  this  country.  Mr. 
Mittag  claims  to  be  the  veteran  American  carbon  paper  and  ribbon 
maker  for  writing  machines,  transfer,  and  pen  and  i)encil  work. 


Under  the  new  lirm,  trade  so  increased,  that  after  a  period  of  five 
years  the  business  had  so  outgrown  the  older  buildings,  as  to  make  it  neces- 
sary to  erect  a  new  factory  and  offices.  The  new  structures  were  placed 
near  the  railroad  stations,  and  furnished  with  new  and  more  modern  and 
improved  machinery.  These  new  buildings  were  burned  September  '), 
lcS97,    Init  were  immediately  replaced   Ijy  the  present   ones   which    were 


occupied  in  less  than  three  months  after  the  fire,  and  ever  since  that 
time  the  business  has  been  carried  on  more  extensively  than  at  any  time 
preceeding". 

The  present  office  and  buildings  of  the  comi)any  are  sliowii  in  tin- 
accompanying  views. 


THEODOKE    C,     VOLOEK. 


HISTORY    OK    BHKGKN     COUNTY  307 

KX-MAY()K    THICODOK]-:    (",.    VOI.GEK. 

Ex-mayor  Theodore  G.  Volg-er  of  Park  Ridge  is  of  German  origin 
tracing  his  ancestry  back  to  1307,  and  may  be  said  to  belong  to  a  family 
of  mayors.  In  1310,  Dietrich  Volger  was  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  and  more  than  a  century  later — in  1420 — Goedecke  Volger 
held  the  same  oifice.  Following  in  direct  line  through  a  little  more 
than  three  centuries,  in  1725,  we  find  Otto  Johan  Volger,  mayor  of  the 
same  important  city. 

Ever  since  1420  members  of  this  family  have  represented,  uninter- 
ruptedly, the  cit}-  of  Hanover,  in  the  highest  offices,  such  as  Senators 
etc.  One  of  the  principal  streets  in  Hanover  is  named  "Volger's  Way," 
and  one  of  the  family  is  now  General-Adjutant  to  the  Ex-CJueen  of  Han- 
over living  in  Vienna,  Austria.  The  coat-of-arms  of  the  family  is  now 
in  the  Museum  of  Hanover,  being  one  of  the  oldest  on  record. 

Theodore  G.  Volger  was  born  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  February  2(i, 
18f)7,  and  is  the  son  of  Gustavus  G.  Volger  and  Sophie  Huneken. 
Having  been  educated  at  Detmold  and  Lemgo,  Germany,  where  he 
received  a  high  school  education,  he  returned  to  America  and  began 
business  in  New  York  city  in  the  dry  goods  trade  where  he  remained 
during  the  year  1886.  The  following  year  he  engaged  in  the  export  of 
cotton,  succeeding  which  came  three  years'  experience  in  the  dry  goods 
*  business  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  In  August  1891,  he  returned 
North  locating  at  Park  Ridge,  N.  J.,  where  he  has  since  been  associated 
with  Mr.  F.  O.  Mittag  in  the  manufacture  of  typewriter  supplies. 
Their  trade  is  a  large  one,  goods  being  shipped  in  great  quantities  to  all 
parts  of  the  world. 

Mr.  Volger  is  also  active  in  local  affairs.  In  1S'(4  he  was  elected 
councilman  of  Park  Ridge  borough,  serving  three  years  and  at  the 
close  of  this  term  of  office  was  elected  Mayor  serving  one  term.  He  is 
also  vice  president  of  the  Eureka  Building  and  Loan  Association  of 
Park  Ridge. 

Mr.  Volger's  military  career  covered  a  period  of  three  years,  as  a 
private  in  the  F'irst  Regiment  South  Carolina  Volunteers,  from  1888  to 
l.S'U. 

Mr.  \'olger  married  Miss  May  Marjorii'  Smilli. 

WII.I.IAM    BKNJAMIN    SMITH. 

William  Benjamin  Smith,  a  prominent  figure  in  the  organization  of 
of  the  Borough  of  Park  Ridge,  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  M  ary  S. 
(  Johnson  )  Smith.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  William  an<l  ICdnii 
(  Etheridge  )  Smith;  his  great  grandfathers  on  the  paternal  side  1)eing 
Enoch  Smith  and  Samuel  Etheridge.  His  maternal  grandi)arenls  were 
Benjamin  Johnson  and  Mahala  (  Brickhouse  )  Johnson. 

Mr.  Smith's  American  ancestors  were  the  settlers  of  Roanoke  Is- 
land, N.  C.  and  back  to  his  great  grandparents,  all  lived  and  died  on 
their  own  estates  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.      Mr.  Smith  was  born 


308  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

on  Knott's  Island,  Currituck  county,  N.  C,  September  15.  1841,  and  was 
educated  at  Cobb's  Preparatory  Academy,  near  Murfreesboro,  N.  C. 

In  1858  he  edited  the  "Newbern  Gazette,"  but  in  18(>0  boug-ht  and 
edited  the  "  Tar boro  Mercury."  Putting  aside  all  business  at  the  call 
to  arms  on  April  17,  1861,  he  entered  the  Confederate  service  in  which 
he  continued  until  the  close  of  the  Rebellion  in  1865,  when  a  surrender 
of  his  command  was  made  to  General  Hartranft  at  Greensboro,  N.  C,  on 
May  1. 

Going  back  into  the  puljlishing  business  in  this  same  year,  he  be- 
came owner  and  publisher  of  "Southern  P^ield  and  Fireside,"  with 
sundry  other  periodicals,  in  connection  with  a  bookstore  at  Raleigh, 
N.  C." 

In  January,  18()8,  he  came  North  and  entered  the  emplo^-ment  of  A. 
S.  Barnes  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  school  book  publishers,  remaining  with 
them  five  years.  At  the  time  of  leaving  their  employment  Mr.  Smith 
was  receiving  a  salary  of  four  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
per  year,  all  his  living  expenses,  and  three  per  cent  of  the  firm's  annual 
profits. 

In  1873  Mr.  Smith  organized  and  incorporated  the  Authors'  Pub- 
lishing Company,  succeeded  by  W.  B.  Smith  &  Co.,  at  27  Bond  street. 
New  York,  where  he  conducted  a  regular  book  publishing  business  until 
1885. 

He  moved  to  Park  Ridge  in  18S3,  and  became  the  founder  of  the 
Improvement  Association,  and  this  led  to  the  formation  of  the  Borough 
of  Park  Ridge,  then  known  as  "  Pascack,"  where  there  were  at  that  time 
only  one  hundred  population.  Here  he  accidentally  drifted  into  real 
estate  and  sold  out  his  publishing  business  in  1885. 

Mr.  Smith,  in  1862,  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C,  married  Miss  Penelope 
Churchill,  by  whom  he  has  one  child  living,  a  daughter,  now  a  widow, 
and  through  whom  he  has  one  granddaughter.  He  was  married  a  second 
time  in  1878,  at  Dover,  N.  J.,  to  Louise  Capsadell. 

Mr.  Smith  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Park  Ridge  from 
1889  to  1898,  but  declined  a  re-election.  He  is  a  member  of  Fidelity 
Lodge,  F.  A.  M.,  No.  1 13,  at  Ridgewood,  and  is  also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason, 
Council  Mason  and  32d.  He  was  confirmed  in  the  Episcopal  Church  but 
is  now  a  Swedenborgian  in  religion.  He  still  retains  on  Knotts  Island, 
Currituck  County,  N.  C,  the  old  "homestead"  where  he  was  born, 
owned  by  his  forefathers,  whereon  the  dwelling  was  built  in  1799,  of 
imported  bricks. 

MONTVALK. 

The  land  on  which  the  hamlet  of  Montvale  is  located,  was  originally 
owned  by  Jacobus  Demarest,  and  was  later  purchased  and  buildings 
erected  by  various  parties  from  time  to  time. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  the  upper  portion  of  Bergen  county  and 
the  lower  portion  of  Rockland  county,  N.  Y.  were  a  numlier  of  Low 
Dutch  and  German  families,   who  were,  while  in  the  Fatherland,  either 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKOEN    COrNTY  309 


members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  or  whose  sympathies  were  strons^iy 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  this  cont^TeyHtion.  These  families  were  forme(l 
into  a  congregation  in  1745,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  II.  M. 
Muhlenbergh,  D.D.,  and  a  house  of  worshi])  built  at  Ramapo,  N.  Y.  near 
the  State  boundary-  line. 

The  borough  of  Montvale  was  organized  inlH9().  The  lirst  officers 
of  the  borough  were  as  follows  : — Jacob  Terkuile,  Mayor;  William  I. 
Weller,  H.  W.  Ellsworth,  Auguste  Avenengo,  Fred  Steiner,  S.  S. 
Barie,  John  W.  Allison,  Council;  Edward  Brown,  Clerk;  J.  D.  Van 
Riper,  Assessor;  John  B.  Herring,  Collector. 

The  present  officers  are  Garret  F.  Herring,  Mayor;  Rasmus  J.  San- 
dall.  Garret  Van  Houten,  John  F.  Hering,  Samuc!  Rudlun,  Arnold  J. 
D.  Heins,  Council;  Jas.  D.  Van  Riper,  Assessor;  Freeman  C.  Ackerman, 
Collector;  John  B.  Herring.  Clerk;  Garret  F.  Herring,  Sidney  Genung, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

The  Hering  family  are  of  Holland  ancestry.  The  progenitor  of 
this  branch  was  Garret  F.,  who  resided  at  Pascack.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Campbell,  to  whom  was  born  one  daughter, — 
Rachel.  She  was  married  to  David  Hering,  who  had  one  son, — Ralph, 
born  February  28,  1809,  on  the  homestead  in  Washington,  foiAierly 
known  as  Harrington  township.  He  passed  the  early  portion  of  his  life 
on  the  farm  of  his  grand-father,  whom  he  succeeded  as  owner  and  culti- 
vator of  the  family  estate.  He  was  married  to  Gertrude,  daughter  of 
Judge  John  R.  Blauvelt,  of  Old  Hook,  in  the  township  before  men- 
tioned. They  had  children— Garret  R.  and  Rachel  Ann  (Mrs.  Aaron 
Rider)  of  Schraalenburgh.  The  birth  of  Garret  R.  occurred  February 
2(>,  1831,  at  Tappan,  in  Washington  township,  where  his  early  years 
were  passed.  His  education  was  acquired  first  at  the  academy  under 
the  management  of  David  I.  Cole,  and  later  at  Hackensack,  when  Jacob 
Wortendyke  filled  the  role  of  instructor.  Being  desirous  of  a  career  of 
independence  he  engaged  in  teaching,  his  earliest  field  of  labor  being 
Cumberland  county,  N.  J.,  where  he  remained  for  two  years,  afterwhich 
he  repaired  to  Bergen  county  and  followed  the  same  vocation.  The 
inherited  love  of  agricultural  pursuits  led  him  eventually  to  ad<ipt  the 
calling  of  farmer.  He  was,  in  September,  1842,  united  in  marriage  to 
Catharine  A.,  daughter  of  Garret  A.  Eckerson,  of  Tappan,  to  whom 
two  children  were  born,— John  and  Sarah,  the  latter  of  whom  becanu- 
Mrs.  Charles  Fornier,  of  Hackensack. 

The  tastes  of  Mr.  Hering  prompted  him  in  1874  to  embark  cm  the 
restless  waters  of  political  life,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Bergen 
county  and  was  re-elected,  and  serve  1  thre?  additional  years.  B.'ing 
favorably  impressed  with  the  wealth  of  the  ores  of  North  Carolina,  he 
enK-ajred  extensively  at  one  time  in  mining  enterprises. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
MIDLAND. 

ROADWAYS SCHOOLS — EAKLY    SETTLEMENTS— ORGANIZATION — CIVIL  LIST 

— ARCOLA — DELFORD — NEW  MILFORD — OKADELL — RIVERSIDE  BOR- 
OUGH  RIVER    EDGE  AND  CHERRY  HILL — BURIAL    PLACES 

— MAYWOOD — MANUFACTURING — SCHOOLS — OR- 
GANIZATIONS— BIOGRAPHY. 

The  township  of  Midland  was  formerly  a  potion  of  New  Barbadoes, 
from  which  it  was  set  apart  in  1871.  It  has  productiveness  in  the  lands, 
and  has  historic  associations  of  great  interest.  The  army  of  the  Revo- 
lution camfied  frequently  in  this  township,  and  Washington  frequently 
honored  the  early  settlers  here  with  his  presence. 

Midland  has  always  received  close  and  careful  attention  to  its  roads. 
Among  the  historic  highways  in  this  township,  that  of  Paramus  and  the 
stone  Arabia  road  should  be  mentioned.  Both  of  those  roads  were  much 
used  in  former  times  before  the  railroads  were  built.  The  Paramus  road 
extended  from  Hoboken  to  New  Burgh  and  Goshen,  and  doubtless  was 
the  thoroughfare  for  the  earliest  stage  line.  Man)'  taverns  were  built 
on  this  road.  The  Stone  Arabia  Road,  however,  was  probably  the  earli- 
est one  in  the  township.  This  highway  began  its  course  at  Hackensack 
and  following  a  north  easterly,  then  a  northerly  direction  entered  Rock- 
land, N.  Y.  It  ran  near  the  Hackensack  River  for  a  distance  of  several 
miles  and  was  the  principal  thoroughfare  for  many  years. 

In  its  educational  interests  the  township  has  taken  high  rank. 
Schools  were  established  here  long  prior  to  the  Revolntion,  and  in  these 
last  years,  a  high  degree  of  scholarship  has  been  maintained.  There 
were  until  recently  live  school  districts  in  the  town,  but  the  formation 
of  the  three  boroughs  within  its  borders  leaves  only  three  school  dis- 
tricts at  the  present  time.  They  are  the  Paramus  District,  the  Areola 
District  and  the  Spring  Valley  District.  The  first  schoolhouse  was 
erected  in  the  Paramus  District,  which  is  in  the  north-western  part  of 
the  township,  in  the  year  172(>.  It  was  a  house  built  of  rough  stone  and 
finished  after  the  old  fashion,  with  slab  benches.  This  house  was  near 
the  residence  of  Peter  Board,  but  over  a  hundred  years  ago,  probably 
another  house  similar  in  style,  was  erected  to  take  its  place  on  the  west 
side  of  Paramus  road,  and  this  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  one  near  the 
mill  of  David  Baldwin.  Finally  Mr.  (iarret  A.  Hopper  erected  a  frame 
edifice  at  his  own  expense,  which  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years  was  the 
schoolhouse  of  the  District. 

The  present  school  district  was  formed  in  1833,  The  district  event- 
ually leased  the  land  owned  by  Mr.  Hopper  for  a  period  of  twety-five 
years  at  a  nominal  cost  of  one  dollar,  and  the  edifice  used  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  three  hundred  and    fifty-six   dollars.     This  was  superseded 


HISTORY    OK    BKKOKN    COUNTY  311 


by  a  new  building  of  modern  arohitcclure  and  furnished  with  all  tho  hi  lost 
improvements,  which  cost  all  told,  two  tlmusand  five  hundred  dollars. 
Among  the  many  teachers  in  this  district,  the  name  of  .Mr.  (leorge 
Ackenbach  should  be  mentioned.  He  taught  for  forty  dollars  a  month 
and  board  for  his  labor.  Afterward  he  became  cashier  of  the  Merchants 
Bank  of  New  York  for  many  years,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
president  of  the  Bank  of   Bergen  County. 

MIDL.Wl). 

In  the  History  of  Bergen  and  Passaic  Counties  we  find  a  sketch  of 
the  early  settlement  in  this  town,  which  we  give  in  full,  as  follows: 

"Among  the  oldest  families  is  that  of  Zabri.-Aie.  the  jvrogenitor  of 
whom  was  one  Albert  Saboroweski,t  who  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
Dutch  ship  "Fox"  during  the  year  lf>(>2.  He  was  of  Polish  descent,  and 
was  united  in  marriage  to  a  Miss  Van  Der  Linde,  after  which  he  settled 
in  Bergen  county.  His  five  sons  were  John,  Jacob,  (leorge,  Henry  and 
Christian,  one  of  whom,  probably  .Jacob,  was  stolen  by  the  Indians.  On 
his  recovery  the  red  men  gave  as  an  apology  for  the  theft  the  fact  that 
they  wished  to  instruct  him  in  their  language,  in  which  he  afterwards 
became  proficient.  As  an  evidence  of  their  gwod  faith  they  gave  his 
father  the  title  to  the  patent  of  land  known  as  the  "New  Paramus 
patent,"  containing  nineteen  hundred  and  seyenty-seven  acres.  Saboro- 
weski  is  said  to  have  studied  for  the  ministry  in  the  Lutheran  Church, 
but,  not  being  satisfied  with  his  calling,  emigrated  to  America  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  and  became  the  ancestor  of  the  large  family  of  Zabris- 
kies  in  Bergen  county.  Three  of  the  five  sons  of  Albert,  aboved  named, 
located  in  the  northern  portion  of  Midland  township,  Jacob,  Hendrick 
and  Christian,  each  of  \yhom  left  a  numerous  descent.  The  homestead 
of  Christian  fell  by  inheritance  to  C  )rnelius.  Among  the  representatives 
of  Jacob  were  Jacob  J.,  Thomas  V.  B.,  David,  John  C.  and  Abram  S. 
Another  branch  of  the  family  located  at  .Areola,  and  were  formerly 
from  Paramus.  The  oldest  member  of  this  family  recalled  is  John,  who 
resided  upon  the  land  afterward  owned  by  Stephen  Berdan.  lie  had  five 
sons,  John,  Barney,  Albert  and  (leorge.  The  death  of  John  Zabriskie 
occurred  many  years  ago,  in  Saddle  River  township.  The  family  of 
Zabriskies  is  not  confined  to  Midland,  but  largely  represented  in  other 
portions  of  the  county. 

"The  pioneer  of  the  Demarest  family  was  David  Desinaretz,  who 
emigrated  from  France  about  the  year  1(>7(.,  and  was  one  of  a  large 
band  of  Huguenots  who  left  their  native  land  to  escape  religious  per- 
secution. With  him  came  three  sons-David,  John,  and  Samuel.  It  is 
related  of  this  gentleman  that  on  his  arrival  he  located  on  Manhattan 
Island,  where  he  purchased  the  whole  of  Harlem,  but  subsecjuently  dis- 

t  In  an  old  pappr  preserved  by  Hon.  Isaac  Wortendyke  we  And  llie  f.dlowint'; 

•'  Albert  Zaborneski  is  Geboren  den,  17  January  Anno  ITcW  ICn  is  Ovcrleeden  Den  17  January  Anno 
17.=a." 

This  either  refers  to  a  later  Albert  Zabriskie,  <ir  the  statement  above  iriven  is  incorrect.  I'robably 
it  refers  to  one  of  the  descendants  of  the  oriirinal  Albert.  ' 


312  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

posed  of  this  propert}-  and  secured  two  thousand  acres  in  Bergen 
County,  extending  along  the  easterly-  side  of  the  river  from  New 
Bridge  to  a  point  beyond  Old  Bridge,  and  easterly  so  far  as  the  line  of 
the  Northern  Railroad.  The  original  deed  bears  date  June  8,  1677. 
Many  parties  claimed  the  land  after  Mr.  Demarius  (as  the  name  was 
later  spelled)  had  acquired  possession,  and  he  was  obliged  to  purchase 
no  less  than  four  times  before  he  became  absolute  owner.  A  grant  of 
land  was  originally  made  to  David  Dumarius  from  the  Governor  of 
New  Jersey,  in  consideration  of  his  forming  a  colony,  the  members 
being  all  French  or  Hollanders.  He  was  unable  to  carry  out  fully  his 
intention,  and  the  grant  was  withdrawn,  but  a  subsequent  grant  was 
made  to  his  sons.  The  decendants  of  these  sons  are  numerous.  John 
located  at  Old  Bridge,  now  River  Edge,  and  erected  a  mill  upon  the 
river,  which  has  long  since  gone  to  decay.  A.  J.  Demarest,  a  represen  - 
tative  of  this  branch  of  the  family,  is  now  living  at  River  Edge,  as  is 
also  P.  V.  B.  Demarest.  The  remaining  branches  are  located  in  various 
portions  of  the  county. 

"  Yost  De  Baun  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  came  about  the  year  17uO 
from  their  native  Holland,  and  settled  in  Bergen  County.  Very  little  is 
known  of  them  or  their,  immediate  offspring.  It  is  probable  they  located 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  present  Midland  township.  Jacob  De 
Baun,  a  descendant,  inherited  from  Aurt  Cooper,  before  the  war  of  the 
■Revolution,  land  now  occupied  by  David  W.  Christie.  He  had  the 
honor  of  acting  as  host  for  three  weeks  to  the  General-in-Chief  when  the 
Federal  army  were  encamped  on  the  hill  above  the  river.  Jacob  De 
Baun  had  one  son,  Peter. 

"The  Kipp  family  made. their  advent  to  the  county  previous  to  Ib'*.^. 
and  but  little  'is  known  of  their  early  history.  John  Kipp  had  sons — 
Isaac,  William,  John,  and  Albert — and  four  daughters.  Of  this  num- 
ber William  lived  in  the  township,  married,  and  had  children, — James 
B.,  John  W.,  and  a  daughter.  He  died  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  John 
W.,  in  1856. 

"The  Copper  family  are  of  Holland  extraction,  the  name  having 
originally  been  Kupos,  and  subsequently  Kuypers.  Aurt  Cooper  resided 
in  Midland  long  before  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  at  which  period  he 
was  a  man  of  advanced  years.  He  was  much  annoyed  by  the  depreda- 
tions of  Federal  soldiers,  who  made  raids  upon  his  granary  and  carried 
away  his  cattle.  He  reported  the  fact  to  Vv'ashington,  who  gave  orders 
that  the  old  man  should  not  be  further  troubled.  He  resided  at  River 
Edge,  and  left  four  daughters,  but  no  sons. 

"Another  member  of  the  family  was  John  Cooper.  He  had  a  son, 
Richard,  who  was  the  parent  of  three  children,  a  son  and  two  daughters. 
The  latter  married  with  the  Van  Wagoner  family. 

"  John  Van  Wagoner  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Mid- 
land. His  son  Jacob  resided  at  New  Milford,  and  lived  upon  the  farm 
afterward  occupied  by  his  son  John. 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKGEX    COUNTY  313 


"The  Voiirhis  family,  orisj-inall y  s])elled  Van  Vdorheyson,  have 
been  since  their  early  advent  into  Midland  larg-ely  represented,  and 
many  branches  are  still  occupvinj^  inherited  estates.  The  piuneer  was 
Lucas  Voorhis,  who  resided  on  the  river  between  New  Milford  and  River 
Edge.  He  purchased  of  the  Indians  property,  which  was,  by  will  dated 
January  5,  1768,  devised  to  his  son  Necausie,  who  lived  upon  the  land 
until  his  death  in  his  ninetieth  year,  when  his  son,  Henrv  N.  Voorhis, 
became  owner.  He  also  survived  until  his  ninetieth  year,  when  his 
son,  Henry  H.,  became  the  possessor.  Jacob  Voorhis  removed  from 
River  Edge  to  Oradell,  and  followed  milling,  having-  purchased  the 
mill-site  there  located.  He  had  three  sons, — Henry,  Albert  and  Lucas, 
the  latter  of  whom  left  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Albert  Voorhis, 
another  member,  resided  at  Areola,  and  had  sons  and  daughters.  His 
son  George  died  on  the  homestead,  and  left  children,  Albert  and  Thomas. 
The  Oldis  family  are  of  French  descent,  the  first  to  settle  in  Mid- 
land having  been  Garret,  who  before  the  Revolutionary  war  located  on 
the  homestead  later  owned  by  J.  R.  Oldis.  The  original  dwelling, 
which  was  a  popular  house  of  entertainment  during  the  Revolution, 
was  burned  by  the  British  and  afterwards  rebuilt.  Among  the  chil- 
dren of  Garret  were  John,  Benjamin,  and  Garret,  all  of  whom  settled  in 
Midland,  then  New  Barbadoes.      The   family  is  now  represented  by  J. 

^ Oldis  and  Garret  J.,  a  descendent  of  John. 
.  "The  Banta  family  are  of  Holland  extraction,  and  came  to  Bergen 
county  previous  to  1686,  John,  the  earliest  to  arrive,  having  owned  a 
large  tract  of  land,  which  he  willed  to  two  sons,  Cornelius  and  John. 
Cornelius  was  father  of  a  son  Henry,  who  had  a  son  Cornelius.  His 
children  were  Henry  and  two  daughters, — Elizabeth  and  Jane.  Henry 
married  a  Miss  Timpson,  and  had  children, — Cornelius  and  one  daugh- 
ter. 

"Albert  Bogert  came  about  the  year  1680,  and  acquired  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Spring  Valley.  His  f(mr  sons  were  David,  Cor- 
nelius, James,  and  John,  all  of  wh<mi  located  in  the  township. 

"John  Van  Buskirkmade  his  advent  in  the  township  as  early  as  1697, 
and  located  at  Oradell.  Among  his  descendants  were  John,  Luke,  and  a 
s(m  who  became  a  physician.     John  remained  a  resident  of  Midland. 

"An  early  settler  at  Oradell  was  named  Valleau.  He  was  of  French 
descent  and  a  large  landed  proprietor,  having  at  one  period  owned  a  tract 
nine  miles  in  extent.  He  resided  in  a  spacious  mansion,  and  <m  his  death 
left  no  family.     Very  little  is  remembered  of  his  life. 

"Peter  Lutkins  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Paramus,  where  he  pur 
chased  land  and  followed  farming.  His  children  were  Peter,  John,  and 
a  daughter  Anne,  the  former  of  whom  settled  on  the  homestead,  and  his 
brother  on  land  adjacent.  Washington  on  one  occasion  passed  the  night 
at  the  Lutkins  homestead,  and  manifested  great  interest  in  the  children, 
which  was  long  after  remembered  by  them.  The  descendants,  Andrew, 
Peter,  Richard,  and  one  sister,  Mrs.  John  Devoe,  continued  to  live  in 
Midland. 


314  HI8TOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

"The  Pells  are  of  English  descent,  and  were  for  a  succession  of  years 
ship  builders  and  sea-captains.  Captain  William  Pell  represented  the 
fifth  generation  in  America,  and  resided  in  New  Yoi'k  city.  He  was 
Captain  of  the  "  Columbus,"  in  the  Royal  Philippine  Company,  of  Mad- 
rid, Spain.  He  married  into  the  Bogert  family,  and  during  the  latter 
portion  of  his  life  retired  to  Midland,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1S15. 
Among  his  sons  was  Casper,  who  had  children,  of  whom  William  J., 
resides  on  the  homestead. 

"  The  Van  Diens  are  Hollanders,  Albert  having  been  the  first  mem- 
ber of  the  family  to  arrive.  He  together  with  a  brother  chose  a  location 
in  Saddle  River  township.  Nearly  a  century  ago  one  of  the  desendants, 
Harmon  by  name,  married  into  the  Zabriskie  family,  and  made  Midland 
his  place  of  residence.  Another  branch  of  the  family  resided  in  Para- 
mus,  among  whom  were  Yost  and  Casparus.  both  of  whom  lived  and 
died  there. 

"The  Hoppers  are  among  the  oldest  families  in  Midland,  as  else- 
where in  the  county.  Three  bothers  (  one  of  whom  was  Garret )  emigra- 
ted from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  settled,  one  at  Paramus,  another  in 
Hohokus,  on  land  of  the  late  John  J.  Zabriskie,  and  a  third  at  Small 
Lots,  on  lands  of  the  late  Garret  Hopper.  The  Paramus  estate  was  pur- 
chased of  the  Indians  for  a  quart  of  whiskey  and  a  pound  of  tobacco." 

OKt'..\NIZ.\TION. 

Midland  became  an  independent  township  by  an  Act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture approved  March  7.,  1871.  The  territory  was  taken  from  the  town- 
ship of  New  Barbadoes  and  included  all  that  part  which  lies  west  and 
mirth  of  "Cole's"  Will  Brook,  running  from  the  point  where  it  intersects 
the  Lodi  to^vnship  line  on  the  Paterson  turnpike  northwesterly  and  east- 
erly, until  it  empties  into  the  Hackensack  River." 

April  10,  1871,  the  voters  of  the  township  met  at  Spring  Vallev 
Chapel  and  proceeded  viva  voce  to  elect  officers  of  the  town,  the  follow- 
ing being  the  more  important  ones. 

1872. — Freeholder,  David  A.  Zabriskie  ;  Township  Clerk,  William 
A.  Kipp;  Assessor,  Abrara  S.  Zabriskie;  Collector,  Albert  J.  Bogert : 
Surveyors  of  Highways,  T.  V.  B.  Zabriskie,  J.J.  Banta ;  Township 
Committee,  John  Chrystal,  Peter  Ackerman.  William  J.  Pell,  John  R. 
Oldis.  Stephen  Voorhis. 

1873. — Freeholder,  David  A.  Zabriskie;  Township  Clerk,  William 
A.  Kipp;  Assessor,  A.  S.  Zabriskie;  Collector,  Albert  J.  Bogert;  Sur- 
veyors of  Highways,  T.  V.  B.  Zabriskie,  Albert  Berdan ;  Township 
Committee,  J.  R.  Oldis,  D.  D.  Baldwin,  Abram  J.  Demarest,  John 
Chrystal,  J.  A.  Zabriskie. 

1874.— Freeholder,  H.  H.  Voorhis;  Township  Clerk,  William  A. 
Kipp;  Assessor,  Albert  Berdan;  Collector,  J.  C.  Zabriskie  (Paramus); 
Surveyors  of  Highways,  Isaac  A.  Voorhis,  J.  D.  Terhune ;  Township 
Committee,  Abram  I.  Demarest,  D.  D.  Baldwin.  John  R.  Oldis.  Jnhn  R. 
Voorhis,  John  Chrystal. 


HISTOKY    01--    BKKGKN    COUNTY  .^15 

1875. — Freeholders,  H.  H.  X'norhis;  Tdwiishij)  Clerk,  Lewis  Lane; 
Assessor,  Albert  Berdaii;  Collector,  J.  C.  Zabriskie  (Paraimisi;  Survey- 
ors of  Highways,  Jasper  D.  Terhune,  Isaac  A.  Voorhis;  Township  Com- 
mittee, J.  G.  Zabriskie,  U.  R.  15rinkerliolT,  L.  Hague,  John  K.  Voorhis, 
A.  G.  Hopper. 

1876.— Freeholder,  H.  H.  X'oi.rliis;  Township  Clerk,  N.  G.  Hopi)jr; 
Assessor,  Albert  Berdan;  Collector,  John  C.  Zabriskie  (Paramusi;  Sur- 
veyors. R.  W.  Cooper,  L  A.  \"oorhis;  Township  Committee,  John  G. 
Zabriskie,  A.  G.  Hopper,  U.  R.  Brinkerhoff,  L.  Hague,  J.  C.  Z.ibriskie 
(Cherry  Hill);  Justices  of  Peace,  John  (L  Webb,  Wm.  J.  Pell. 

i877. — Freeholder,  H.  H.  Voorhis:  Townshi])  Clerk,  IS.  (i.  Hopper; 
Assessor,  John  A.  Demarest;  Collector,  Wm.  J.Pel.:  Surveyors  of  High- 
ways, Isaac  A.  \'oorhis,  R.  W.  Cooper;  Township  Committee,  J.  C. 
Zabriskie  (Cherry  Hill),  D.  R.  Brinkerhoff,  L.  Hague,  A.  G.  Hopper, 
J.  G.  Zabriskie. 

1878.— Freeholder,  H,  H.  \"oorhis:  Township  Clerk,  N.  G.  Hopi)er; 
Assessor,  J.  A.  Demarest;  Collector,  Wm.  J.  Pell;  Surveyors  of  High- 
ways, Thos.  Gardner,  Jr.,  R.  W.  Cooinr;  Township  Committee,  J.  C. 
Zabriskie,  John  G.  Zabriskie,  I).  R.  Brinkerhoff,  A.  G.  Ho])per.  Leopold 
Hague. 

1S79. — Freeholder,  J.  C.  Zabriskie  (Paramus);  Townshij)  Clerk,  X. 
(t.  Hopper;  Assessor,  Jacob  (i.  Zabriskie;  C(dlector,  Wm.  J.  Pell;  Sur- 
veyors of  Highways,  R.  W.  Cooper,  Thomas  Gardaer,  Jr.;  Township 
Committee,  J.  C.  Zabriskie,. J.  G.  Zabriskie,  Peter  V.  B.  Demarest. 

1880. — Freeholder,  J.  C.  Zabriskie  (Cherry  Hill);  Township  C^lerk, 
X.  G.  Hopper;  Assessor,  Jacob  (i.  Zabriskie;  Collector,  Wm.  J.  Pell; 
Surveyor  of  Highways,  Stephen  Voorhis,  Thomas  (iardner.  Jr.;  Town- 
ship Committee,  J.  G.  Zabriskie,  P.  V.  B.  Demarest,  Henry  C.  Herring, 

1881.— Freeholder,  J.  C.  Zabriskie  (Paramusi;  Townshij)  Clerk, 
Wm.  A.  Kipp;  Assessor,  Jacob  G.  Zabriskie;  Collector,  Wm.  J,  Pell: 
Surveyors  of  Highways,  Stephen  Voorhis,  Thomas  Gardner,  Jr.;  Town- 
ship Committee,  Henry  C.  Herring;  John  G.  Zabriskie,  Garret  II, 
Zabriskie;  Justice  of  Peace.  John  G,  Webb. 

1882. — Freeholder,  John  C.  Zabriskie;  Townshi])  Clerk.  John  II. 
Blair;  Assessor,  W.  J.  Pell;  Collector,  John  W.  Van  Buskirk;  Township 
Ctmimittce.  John  R.  Oldis,  Henry  C.  Herring,  Cornelius  Anderson. 

188.^^.  Freeholder,  John  C.  Zabriskie;  Townshi])  Clerk,  John  H. 
Blair,  C.  H.  Storms  elected  Clerk  in  July;  .Assessor,  John  C.  Van  Saun, 
Collector,  John  W.  Van  Buskirk;  Townshij)  Committee,  John  R.  Oldis. 
H.  C.  Herring,  Cornelius  Anderson. 

1884.— Freeholder.  John  C.  Zabriskie:  Townshi])  Clerk.  C.  H. 
Storms;  Assessor,  John  C.  Van  Saun;  Collector,  John  W.  Van  lUiskirk; 
Township  Committee,  John  R.  Oldis,  II.  C.  Herring.  Cornelius  Anderson. 

1885.  -Freeholder,  John  C.  Zabriskie;  T<)wnshi])  Clerk,  C.  H. 
Storms;  Assessor,  John  C.  Van  Saun;  Collector,  J.  W.  Van  Buskirk; 
Township  Committee.  J.  R.  Oldis,  II,  W.  Winters,   Cornelius  .Xnderson. 


316  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

1,S8(). — Freeholder,  John  C.  Zabriskie;  Township  Clerk,  C.  H. 
Storms;  Assessor,  John  Van  Saun;  Collector,  J.  W.  Van  Buskirk;  Town- 
ship Committee,  H.  W.  Winters,  J.  R.  Oklis,  L.  Hague. 

1887.  —  Freeholder,  John  G.  Zabriskie;  Township  Clerk,  C.  J.  Van 
Saun;  Assessor,  John  C.  Van  Saun;  Collector,  J.  W.  Van  Buskirk; 
Township  Committee,  H.  W.  Winters,  L.  Hague,  R.  J.  Oldis. 

1888. — Freeholder,  C.  J.  Van  Saun;  Assessor,  John  C.  Van  Saun; 
Collector,  J.  W.  Van  Buskirk;  Township  Committee,  H.  W.  Winters,  L. 
Hague,  J.  R.  Oldis. 

188'). — Freeholder,  Henry  Van  Buskirk;  Township  Clerk,  J.  Edgar 
Waite;  Assessor,  N.  G.  Hopper;  Collector,  P.  V.  B.  Demarest;  Town- 
ship Committee,  James  Taplin,  Casper  T.  Zabriskie,  J.  R.  Oldis. 

i8'J0. — Freeholder,  Henry  Van  Buskirk;  Township  Clerk,  J.  Edgar 
Waite;  Assessor,  N.  G.  Hopper;  Collector,  Peter  Van  Buskirk;  Township 
Committee,  A.  J.  Bogert,  C.  T.  Zabriskie,  James  Taplin. 

1891. — Freeholder,  Henry  Van  Buskirk;  Township  Clerk,  Edward 
P.  Veldrame;  Assessor,  N.  G.  Hopper;  Collector,  Peter  Van  Buskirk; 
Township  Committee,  John  G.  Zabriskie,  A.  J.  Bogert,  C.  T.  Zabriskie. 

1892. — Freeholders,  E.  D.  Howlaud,  John  C.  Van  Saun;  Township 
Clerk,  J.  H.  Weston;  Assessor,  N.  G.  Hoi)])er;  Collector,  Peter  Van 
Buskirk;  Township  Committee,  John  (x.  Zabriskie,  Caspar  Zabriskie, 
Albert  J.  Bogert. 

1893. —Freeholder,  John  E.  Van  Saun;  Township  Clerk,  J.  H.  Wes- 
ton; Assessor,  N.  C.  Hopper;  Collector,  Peter  Van  Buskirk;  Township 
Committee,  John  G.  Zabriskie,  Casper  Zabriskie,  Albert  J.  Bogert. 

1S<)4.— Freeholder,  E.  D.  Howland;  Township  Clerk,  J.  H.  Weston; 
Assessor,  N.  G.  Hopper;  Collector,  Peter  Van  Buskirk;  Township  Com- 
mittee, J.  (i.  Zabriskie,  D.  H.  Hopper,  C.  T.  Zabriskie. 

1895.— Freeholder,  E.  D.  Howland;  Township  Clerk,  H.  Howland; 
Assessor,  N.  (t.  Hopper;  Collector,  E.  M.  Pell;  Township  Committee,  D. 
H.  Hopper,  John  G.  Zabriskie,  Peter  Ackerman. 

1896.— Freeholder,  E.  D.  Howland;  Township  Clerk,  H.  Howland; 
Assessor,  N.  G.  Hopper;  Collector,  E.  M.  Pell;  Township  Committee, 
D.  H.  Hopper,  John  G.  Zabriskie,  Peter  Ackerman. 

1897.— Freeholder,  R.  W.  Cooper;  Township  Clerk,  H.  Howland; 
Assessor,  N.  G.  Hopper;  Collector,  E.  M.  Pell;  Township  Committee, 
D.  H.  Hopper,  John  G.  Zabriskie;  Peter  Ackerman. 

1898.— Freeholder,  R.  W.  Cooper;  Township  Clerk,  H.  Howland; 
Assessor,  N.  G.  Hopper;  Collector,  E.  M.  Pell;  Township  Committee, 
D.  H.  Hopper,  John  G.  Zabriskie,  John  W.  Winters. 

1899. — Freeholder,  R.  W.  Cooper;  Township  Committee,  H.  How- 
land; Assessor,  M.G.  Hopper;  Collector,  E.  M.  Pell;  Township  Committee, 
D.  H.  H(ipper,  John  G.  Zabriskie,  John  W.  Winters. 

AKCOLA 

located  on  Saddle  River,  was  originally   known  as  '"Red  Mill",    where  a 
saw  and  grist  mill  erected  on  the  river  at  this  point,  before  the  Revolu- 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKC.KN    COUNTY  317 


tion,  was  owned  l)y  Jacob  Zabriskic.  i;-cnerally  known  in  the  neii^libor- 
hood  as  •King  Jacob". 

Stephen  Slote,  followed  by  Barney  Kver  were  afterwards  projjrietors. 
Benjamin  Oldis  who  afterward  owned  the  property,  sold  it  to  Albert  A. 
Westervelt  when  it  was  converted  into  a  woolen  factory.  Edward  B. 
Force,  also  operated  the  concern  as  a  woolen  mill  and  sawmill.  His 
heirs  afterward  sold  to  (ieorge  Graham,  and  after  his  death  it  became 
the  property  of  a  company.     The  mills,  however,  fell  to  decay  years  a<>;o. 

The  tirst  school  in  Areola  District  was  established  in  1821.  The 
salary  of  the  teacher  Miss  Lydia  Westervelt,  was  raised  by  contributions 
from  the  patrons  of  the  school.  An  old  stone  dwelJing-  house  served  for 
school  purposes  until  i824,  when  an  old  red  scln)()lhouse  standing-  in  dis- 
trict twenty-six  was  purchased  and  placed  on  a  stonewall  so  high  that 
four  steps  were  required  to  reach  the  entrance.  These  steps  were  con- 
structed of  four  logs  hewn  square.  This  house  was  fourteen  by  twenty- 
four  feet,  and  one  story  high,  the  whole  costing  two  hundred  dollars. 
In  1826  Mr.  Andrew  Cudihy  became  the  teacher,  succeeded  in  182*>  by 
Mr.  John  W.  House,  whose  salary  was  thirty-six  dollars  per  quarter. 
Mr.  James  J.  Terhune  taught  the  school  in  1831,  and  Mr.  Christian 
Reeder  in  1836.  These  last  were  paid  by  the  assessment  of  one  <lollar 
and  a  half  per  quarter  for  each  child  and  his  proportion  of  the  teacher's 
washing  bill. 

AKCOLA    METHODIST    KPISCOPAI,    CHUKCII 

Areola  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  tlie  oldest  in  the  townshi]), 
was  originally  known  as  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Red  Mills, 
the  name  being  changed  to  that  of  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Areola,  when  the  name  of  the  town  was  changed.  The  tirst  meeting 
with  a  view  to  the  erection  of  a  building  was  held  March  14,  1843,  at 
the  home  of  Edward  H.  Force,  who  was  a  member  of  the  society,  and 
donated  the  land  upon  which  the  edifice  stands,  and  for  which  a  deed, 
dated  March  7,  1843,  was  given.  Mr.  Force  also  contributed  largely  to- 
ward the  construction  of  the  building,  supplying  all  deficiencies  in  ma- 
terial or  means.  The  first  hoard  of  trustees  was  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen:  Edward  H.  Force,  James  V.  Joralemon.  William  II. 
Phelps,  Andrew  Lutkins.  Loilowick  Youngs  and  William  A.  (iurnes. 
The  present  trustees  ( 18')'M  are  Isaac  A.  Voohris,  .\.  I).  Voorhis,  David 
Dunbar,  ().  J.  Peeple,  T.  W.  Vreeland,  1'..  1).  East<m  and  Joseph  Lut- 
kins. 

The  pastors  in  succession  have  been  Rev.  Nicholas  Van  Sant. 
Fletcher  Luminis,  Dr.  A.  L.  Hrice,  A.  E.  Ballard  and  Rev.  Bush.  After 
Mr.  Bush,  the  next  of  whom  is  a  record,  is  Rev.  Manning  F.  Decker, 
who  was  followed  in  time  by  Revs.  S.  F.  Palmer,  J.  A.  Trimmer,  T. 
T.  Hall,  T.  D.  Frazee,  E.  S.  Jamison,  11.  J.  Hayler  and  W.  M.  John- 
ston.    The  present  presiding  elder  is  Kev.  J.  K.  Fright. 


318  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

SPRING    VALLEY. 

The  title,  Sprin<f  Valley,  belongs  not  to  a  village  or  settlement  but 
to  a  region  in  Midland  about  three  miles  in  length  and  two  miles  in  width. 
A  succession  of  valleys  lying  between  gentle  elevations  abounding  in 
perennial  springs  probably  gave  it  the  name.  Originally  the  name 
"  Sluckup "  was  the  term  used  in  designating  the  place.  That  word 
having  once  been  used  by  a  land  owner  whose  cow  had  tried  to  swallow 
his  coat,  after  which  he  always  spoke  of  the  place  by  that  name. 

In  1832  the  more  euphonious  title.  Spring  Valley  was  substituted. 
Of  these  springs,  one  is  said  to  mark  the  spot  near  where  Washington 
and  his  troops  encamped  one  night.  Many  of  the  houses  in  this  vicinity 
have  a  colonial  appearance,  and  were  built  after  the  old  Dutch  style  of 
architecture.  The  first  school  building  in  the  Spring  Valley  district,  for- 
merly known  as  "Sluckup,"  was  erected  before  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  used  for  school  purposes  until  1810.  A  new  building 
was  then  erected  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  neighborhood  nearly  a  mile 
distant  from  the  old  location.  In  1852  another  house  was  erected  a  few 
hundred  yards  north  of  the  old  site  and  then  a  modern  structure,  in 
1875.  Spring  Valley  Association  was  formed  during  the  year  1860  and  a 
building  known  as  the  Spring  Valley  Chapel  was  erected  for  the  uses 
specified  in  the  Constitution  of  the  Association.  Clergymen  from  differ- 
ent Churches  have  held  services  in  the  Chapel  until  the  jiresent  time. 

DELFOKD. 

The  borough  of  Delford  was  made  from  portions  of  four  townships  : 
Midland,  Harrington,  Palisade  and  Washington,  the  corners  of  these 
four  portions  of  the  county  centering  at  New  Milford.  The  name  was 
made  from  the  last  syllable  of  Oradell  "Del"  and  the  last  one  of  New 
Milford  "Ford"  and  this  compromise  settled  a  contention  carried  on  by 
the  inhabitants  of  the  two  villages  above  mentioned  for  the  naming  of 
the  borough  as  each  of  them  wanted  it  in  honor  of  his  own  place.  The 
organization  was  effected  in  the  Spring  of  1894,  by  Mr.  Jacob  Van  Bus- 
kirk,  Mr.  R.  W.  Cooper,  D.  I.  Demarest  and  others,  principally  of  Mid- 
land township,  in  order  to  secure  benefits  arising  from  their  own  exces- 
sive taxation  for  public  improvements,  for  their  own  use.  The  first 
election  for  officers  resulted  in  the  selection  of  R.  W.  Cooper  for  Mayor; 
Daniel  I.  Demarest,  Albert  J.  Bogert,  Horton  Chapin,  Stephen  Voornis 
and  James  Earl  for  Council;  Arthur  Van  Buskirk,  Clerk;  Jacob  M. 
Hill,  Assessor;  Peter  Van  Buskirk,  Collector. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  succeeded  b}-  Mr.  Daniel  I.  Demarest  and  he  in 
turn  bv  the  present  Mayor. 

The  officers  of  the  borough  for  iS')'*  are  as  follows: — Aaron  A. 
Ackerman,  Mayor;  Frank  T.  Barnes,  J.  Demarest  Van  Wagoner,  Adolph 
Landmann,  Leopold  Hague,  Charles  Winters,  Herbert  Jones,  Council; 
J.  Edgar  Waitc,  Clerk;  Charles  H.  Storms,  Assessor;  Peter  W'ln  Bus- 
kirk, Collector. 

The  official  vote  cast  in  this  Ixirough  at  the  November  election  of 
1!S')S  was  151. 


HISTOKV    OK    BKKC.KN    COUNTY  319 

NEW    MILFOKD. 

The  villag-e  i)f  New  Milford  is  on  the  line  of  the  New  Jersey  and 
New  York  railroad  and  on  the  Hackensack  River,  where  the  immense 
pumping  stations  of  the  Hackensack  Water  Company  are  located.  The 
water  of  the  Hackensack  at  this  point  is  pure  and  clear,  and  supplies 
Hoboken,  North  Hudson  county  and  all  Berg-en  county.  Average 
daily  consumption  being-  8,000,000  gallons.  Three  pumps  are  in  use 
here  with  a  capacity  of  10,000,000,  5,000,000  and  .^,000, 000,  and  one  now 
in  coBstructicQ  of  13,000,000  gallons  respectively. 

The  earliest  effort  with  a  view  to  business  enteri)rise,  was  made 
by  one,  Wanamaker,  who  opened  a  store  and  cond:.cted  it  for  a  consider- 
able time.  He  was  succeeded  by  Abram  Cole,  after  whom  came  Cornel- 
ius Smith,  then  Jacob  R.  Demarest,  followed  by  George  Derunde. 
Jacob  Van  Buskirk  afterwards  controlled  the  trade.  He  had  the  post 
office  for  sixteen  years,  taking  that  position  about  the  time  of  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.     J.  B.   H.  Voorhis  now  owns  the  store. 

Before  the  Revolutionary  war  there  was  a  sawmill  here,  which 
subsequently  became  a  tannery  and  a  bleaching  mill,  then  a  button  manu- 
factory and  later  still  was  converted  into  a  grist-mill  by  Jacob  Van 
Buskirk.  This  was  in  1830.  It  remained  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Van 
Buskirk  and  his  son  Jacob,  now  diving,  until  1882,  when  the  pro])erty 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Hackensack  Water  Company. 

A  coal  and  lumber  yard  in  New  Milford  is  owned  by  Cooper  I'i 
Demarest,   who  formed  a  partnership  in  1890. 

Oradell  had  no  history  as  a  village,  until  after  the  building  of  the 
railroad  in  1878.  when  the  present  hotel  was  erected  and  soon  after  the 
store  opposite  the  depot  was  built.  From  this  time  buildings  were 
added,  now  it  is  a  beautiful  village.  In  18')3  the  present  commodious 
church  edifice  was  erected,  of  which  congregation  the  Rev.  John  T.  K. 
DeWitt  has  pastoral  charge. 

The  mill  now  owned  by  William  X'eldran  occupies  the  site  of  an  old 
grist  and  saw  mill  that  was  burned,  and  afterwards  rebuilt  by  Albert  /i. 
Ackerman.  This  mill  was  also  consumed  by  fire.  Soon  after  the  late 
war  it  was  rebuilt  by  Mr.  Veldran  and  is  now  operated  by  him  on  a  large 
scale,  he  buying  his  grain  by  the  carload  from  the  west. 

Mercantile  interests  here  were  begun  by  Isaac  Demarest,  who  traded 
for  a  time.  He  built  his  store  two  or  three  years  after  the  railroad  was 
built.  Then  John  Van  Buskirk  and  A.  Landmann  took  it  and  it  is  now 
owned  bv  the  latter,  who  is  carrying  on  a  large  trade.  A  hardware 
store  was  but  recently  opened.  The  post  office  in  Oradell  has  been  ke]Jt 
the  greater  part  of  the  past  twenty  years,  by  D.  I.  Demarest,  who  is  the 
present  incumbent. 

OKADKI-L. 

signifying  "margin  of  the  valley",  is  attractively  located  on  the  Hack- 
ensack River  just  above  tidewater.  The  New  Jersey  and  New  York 
Railroad  passes  through  it  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.      It  was  here  on 


320  HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

the  first  ridge  west  of  the  river,  that  Washington's  army  was  camped 
for  some  months. 

The  earliest  families  in  this  vicinity  are  the  Demarests,  Voorhis' 
Loziers  and  Van  Buskirks.  Mr.  John  Van  Buskirk  owned  and  operated 
the  original  mill  at  this  place,  probably  as  early  as  the  period  of  the 
Revolutionary  War.  His  son  Luke  Van  Buskirk,  sold  it  to  Jacob  Voor- 
his, in  whose  family  it  remained  three  generations,  first  going  from 
Jacob  Voorhis  to  his  son  Henry,  and  from  Henry,  to  his  son  Henry,  by 
whom  it  was  sold  to  Jacob  and  John  Voorhis 

The  Oradell  School  District  boasted  of  a  log  structure  here  before 
the  Revolutionary  War.  It  stood  on  land  owned  by  Jacob  Van  Buskirk, 
Sr.,  and  was  used  until  ISlO  when  a  second  building  was  erected  on  lands 
of  Mr.  Henry  Voorhis.  In  1847  another  building,  the  last  one  before 
the  present  structure,  was  erected,  Mr.  Daniel  P,  Demarest  was  a 
teacher  here  for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1819  he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Bordeaux.  Peter  Debaun  came  in  1826,  then  William  Smith  who 
taught  the  classics.  The  schools  of  Oradell  are  now  in  a  flourishing 
condition. 

KIVEKSIDE    BOKOUGH. 

This  borough  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  18'H  and  includes  the 
villages  of  River  Edge  and  Cherry  Hill.  The  circumstances  which  led 
to  its  organization  are  similar  to  those  which  caused  its  sister  borough 
of  Delford  to  incorporate,  both  of  them  having  been  taken  principally 
from  the  township  of  Midland.  Its  first  officers  were  as  follows  :  John 
G.  Webb,  Mayor ;  A.  Z.  Bogert,  Nicholas  R.  Voorhis,  D.  Anderson 
Zabriskie,  Nathaniel  B.  Zabriskie,  James  D.  Christie,  Fred.  H.  Crum, 
Council;  Joseph  A.  Brohel,  Clerk;  John  R.  Voorhis,  Assessor;  J.  B. 
Holdrum,  Collector. 

The  first  officers  were  all  re-elected  the  next  year  and  in  18'>7  Joseph 
A.  Brohel  was  elected  Mayor,  and  is  the  preserft  Mayor  of  the  borough. 

The  officers  for  189'*  are  as  follows:  Joseph  A.  Brohel,  Mayor;  A. 
Z.  Bogert,  James  B.  Christie,  Fred.  H.  Crum,  J.  Anderson  Zabriskie, 
Nathan  B.  Zabriskie,  J.  Z.  B.  Voorhis,  Assessor;  Joseph  A.  Weston, 
Collector. 

The  official  vote  in  November  1898  was  162. 

CHEKKY'    HILL. 

Cherry  Hill  lies  on  the  Hackensack  River  less  than  two  miles  below 
River  Edge  on  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Railroad.  It  was  early 
settled  by  the  French,  none  of  whom  now  remain.  It  has  a  post  office,  a 
hotel,  a  church  and  one  or  two  small  stores.  The  historic  building  of 
the  place  is  the  Baron  Von  Steuben  Mansion  erected  in  1757,  and  now 
owned  by  Captain  Zabriskie.  David  A.  Zabriskie  moved  into  this  house 
in  1812.  There  was  a  mill  on  the  river  here  which  burned  down  years 
ago.  Formerly  the  chair  making  industry  was  carried  on  here 
to  some  extent.  The  building  of  the  railroad,  however,  changed  the 
centre  of  trade.     The  hotel  was  built  in   1871  and  other  buildings   fol- 


HISTORY    OK    BKRGEN    COUNTY  321 

lowed  soon  after.  The  tornado  of  July  13,  lS't5  blew  the  hotel  down 
and  killed  Mr.  Freideman,  the  proprietor  and  also  unroofed  a  number 
of  houses. 

The  Reformed  Church  at  Cherry  Hill,  \v;is  formed  in  the  Spring;  of 
1858  by  John  A.  Parsons,  a  devout  Christian  man  of  Hackensack,  who 
visited  New  Bridge  on  Sabbath  afternoons  to  instruct  the  youth.  May 
2,  1852  a  Sabbath  school  was  organized  with  Mr.  Parsons  as  superinten- 
dent the  success  attending  the  school  resulting  in  meetings  for  praver 
and  praise  service  Sabbath  evenings,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Romeyn  of  Hacken- 
sack also  frequently  attending  the  meetings.  This  condition  of  things 
continued  down  to  1875,  when  the  Church  was  organized.  The  ground 
for  a  Church  building  was  donated  by  John  A.  Zabriskie  of  Hacken- 
sack and  the  greater  part  of  the  building  stone  for  it  was  taken  from 
an  old  house  that  stood  opposite,  and  which  was  once  owned  by  Usual 
Meeker,  an  officer  in  the  British  armv,  which  encamped  in  the  neighbor- 
hood during  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  subsequently  became  the  prop- 
erty of  John  Lozier,  whose  widow  carried  out  the  wishes  of  her  husband 
in  the  building  of  the  church  edifice  which  was  dedicated  November  1, 
1886  as  "  The  Reformed  Church  of  Cherry  Hill  and  New  Bridge."  The 
sermon  for  the  occasion  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  David  Inglis  of  New 
York.  At  first  the  society  had  about  twentj'-five  members,  over  whom 
Mr.  Charles  Wood  officiated  as  temporary  minister  for  about  two  years. 
The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  about  fifty  persons  over  whom 
the  Rev.  Abram  Duryee  officiated  as  pastor. 

BUKIAI.-PI.ACES. 

The  burial-places  in  Midland  are  not  numerous,  and  now  but  little 
used,  many  of  the  inhabitants  at  the  present  day  having  chosen  places 
of  interment  outside  the  township  limits. 

The  oldest  is  probably  known  as  the  Spring  Valley  Cemetery,  near 
the  centre  of  the  township,  on  the  farm  of  Gilliam  Zabriskie.  It  rej)- 
resents  more  than  a  century  of  use,  some  of  the  memorial  tablets 
being  of  old  red  sandstone,  and  much  defaced  by  age.  Among  the 
families  who  have  buried  here  are  the  Bantas,  Demarests,  Voorhis, 
Bertholfs,  Kipps,  Van  Sauns,  De  Bauns,  and  Huylers.  Among  the  in- 
scriptions are  the  following: 

In  memory  of  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eftie  Bogert,  who 
died  on  the  12th  of  December,  i807,  aged  1  year.  11  months,  and  (> 
days. 

When  I  lie  buried  deep  in  dust. 
My  flesh  shall  by  Thy  care: 
These  withered  limbs  with  Thee  I  trust. 
To  raise  them  strong  and  fair. 

In  mcmorv  of  Henry  Banta,  who  departed  this  life  August  12lh, 
1817,  aged  sixty-six  years,  one  month,  and  eighteen  days. 

Also  of  Elizabeth  Lake,  wife  of  Henry  Banta,  who  died  September 
4,  1817,  aged  sixty-seven  years,  eight  months,  and"  eighteen  days. 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKGKN     COUNTY  323 


I  know,  O  Lord,  that  thy  judgments  are  right,  and  that  thou  in 
faithfulness  has  afflicted  me.  See  !  the  Lord  is  good.  Blessed  is  the 
man  that  trusteth  in  him. 

In  memory  of  Nicholas  Demarest,  who  was  born  on  the  .^rd  of  Mav, 
175'),  and  departed  this  life  February  dth,  ISll.  aged  liftv-one  years. 
nine  months,  and  three  days. 

Hier  Leir  her  Lighaem  Van  Yacob  Brouwer  is  (iestervende  2(.  fr  \  an 
Augustus  in  her  laer  1784  was  our  tifty-efght  laer. 

In  memory  of  Margaret  Ackerman,  born  the  lOth  of  February.  17(i4, 
and  who  departed  this  life  September  f)th  1805,  aged  thirty-eight  years, 
six  months,  and  twenty-four  days. 

A  very  old  burial-place,  known  as  the  Voorliis  burial-ground,  is 
located  near  New  Milford,  cm  the  farm  of  N.  R.  Voorhis.  It  was  in  use 
at  the  time  of  the  Revolutit)nary  War,  but  has  since  been  abandoned. 
A  substantial  fence  incloses  its  ancient  graves. 

The  two  hamlets  of  River  Edge  and  Cherry  Hill  are  in  the  borough 
of  Riverside.  Both  of  these  places  have  been  trading  centres  since  a 
very  early  day.  At  River  Edge  there  were  two  stores,  one  on  each  side 
of  the  river,  kept  by  the  Demarests.  The  wagon  teams  were  constantly 
busy  hauling  wood  to  the  place  for  transportation  to  New  York,  the 
stores  there  trading  salt,  sugar  and  molasses,  they  being  among  the 
products  of  exchange.  The  Demarests  also  had  a  mill  on  the  river, 
used  over  two  hundred  years  ago.  During  the  trying  scenes  of  the 
Revolution  it  was  known  as  Old  Bridge,  and  prior  to  the  date  of  its 
present  christening  as  New  Bridge.  Here  it  was  that  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  upon  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Lee,  the  troops  escaped  from 
the  British  bv  crossing  the  bridge  at  this  point  and  afterwards  burning  it. 

The  village  is  beautifully  located  on  the  slope  of  a  ridge  overlooking 
the  depot  and  railroad,  and  at  the  present  time  is  a  brisk  center  of 
trade.  A.  Z.  Bogert  and  J.  D.  Holdrum,  each  has  a  store,  the  former 
also  engaging  in  the  coal  and  lumber  trade. 

B(>K<)r(;ii   oi'   :\iAVW()()i). 

The  village  of  Mavwood  is  situate<i  on  the  Susejuehanna  Kailr<iad 
sixteen  miles  west  of  New  York  and  two  miles  west  of  Hackensack,  and 
is  in  close  touch  with  both  of  these  cities  through  numerous  trains  (hat 
pass  to  and  from  them  daily  at  this  place. 

The  lands  here  were  formerly  owned  by  Daniel  Ackerman,  .lolm 
Romaine,  John  R.  Olds,  Andrew  Voorhis,  James  Berdan,  David  lierdan, 
Cornelius  Van  Saun  and  by  Henry,  John  and  Martin  Terhune  It 
remained  a  farming  community  until  Mr.  (lustav  L.  Jaeger  and  Henry 
Lindenmeyer  purchased  a  large  tract  of  the  land  and  began  to  plot  it  off 
for  a  village.  In  18 — Mr.  Jaeger  purchased  Mr.  Lindenmeyer's  interests 
and  from  that  time  handsome  new  buildings  began  to  be  erected,  roads 
laid  out  and  macadamized  and  other  improvements  made. 

Through  Mr.  Jaeger's  efforts,  and  his  money,  the  Hackensack  Water 
Com])anv   was  induced  to  extend   their  mains  through  the  streets,   the 


324 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COITNTY 


Electric  Liji^ht  Company  to  put  up  lamps,  and  these  with  the  internal 
improvements  incident  to  the  public  spirit  of  the  place  has  made  the  vil- 
lag-e  a  desirable  one  for  a  country  residence. 

The  Borough  of  Maywood  was  organized  in  March,  18'>4.  The  offi- 
cers then  elected  were  Clarence  A.  Breckinridge,  Mayor;  Gustav  L. 
Jaeger,  John  H.  Voorhis,  John  H.  Cumberland,  Charles  Lydecker,  Philip 
Thoma  and  David  H.  Price,  Councilmen.  Mr.  David  H.  Price  was  next 
elected  Mayor,  and  he  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  John  C.  Van  Saun,  who 
is  now  serving  his  second  term. 

The  borough  was  taken  out  of  Midland  Township,  and  is  in  extent 
of  territory  one  and  three-fourths  by  one  mile.  The  official  vote  cast 
here  in  November  1898  was  ninety-one. 


•     ■  MAYWOOD    AKT    TILK    WOKKS. 

The  Maywood  Art  Tile  Company  whose  works  and  land  are  situ- 
ated near  the  New  York,  Susquehanna  and  Western  Railroad  tracks, 
west  of  the  Maywood  station,  is  the  chief  industrial  establishment  of 
the  thriving  Borough  of  Maywood.  This  company'  was  first  organ- 
ized and  the  works  built  in  the  year  1890,  under  the  name  of  the  Elte- 
rich  Art  Tile  Stove  Company  with  Mr.  Gustav  L.  Jaeger  and  Henry 
Lindenmeyer  as  principal  stockholders.  The  object  was  the  manu- 
facture of  art  tile  stoves  and  gratesresembling  the  ornamental  European 
tile  or  porcelain  stoves,  combining  with  the  artistic  appearance,  the  more 
practical   features  of  the  American  self-feeding  and  base-burning  stove. 

These  stoves,  however,  not  meeting  with  the  expected  favor  and 
success,  it  was  decided  to  go  more  extensively  into  the  manufacture  of 
art  tiles  for  the  general  market. 

The  company  was  reorganized  in  the  winter  of  1892-93  and  its  name 
changed  to  that  of  Maywood  Art  Tile  Company,  when  the  manufacture 


HISTOKV    OF    BKKCtEN    COUNTY 


325 


of  art  tiles  was  beg'un  at  once,  under  the  nianag-ement  of  Mr.  Krnst 
Bilhuber.  The  tiles  produced  are  the  kind  used  in  our  modern  buildin<js 
around  fireplaces  and  mantels,  in  bathrooms,  vestibules,  wainscotinjf,  etc. 

The  artistic  product  of  this  factory,  has  been  successfully  introduced, 
is  well  received  by  the  trade  and  has  been  carrying-  the  name  of  "Ma\-- 
wood  Tiles"  as  a  synonj'm  of  excellence  of  quality  and  beauty  all  over 
the  country. 

The  greater  part  of  the  raw  material  used  in  this  manufacture  comes 
from  the  New  Jersey-  clay  beds,  of  which  there  is  an  abundance  in  many 
parts  of  the  state. 

The  company  is  gradually  increasing  its  outpir  and  furnishes  steady 
work  for  some  tortv  to  fifty  men,  a  good  many  of  wh  mi   live  in  the  neat 


MAvwooi)  scHOOi.  iiorsic 

cottages  built  by  the   Company  for   that   purpose,  in   close  proximity  to 
the  works. 

TllK    MAVWOOI)    UOS1-;    COMI'AXV,    NO    1. 

The  Maywood  Hose  Company,  No.  1,  was  organized  .May  10,  ls<»;v 
an  was  the  first  public  organization  of  any  kind  in  .Maywood.  The  first 
officers  were  William  Widnall,  President;  C.  T.  Kuchler,  Secretary; 
Georgia  Jaeger.  Treasurer;  I).  A.  SpeigKt,  Foreman;  K.  J.  Marsh,  Jr., 
Assistant  Foreman.  In  July,  1S9.S,  the  organization  lost  its  house  and 
apparatus  by  fire,  an<l  in  Sei)tember  of  the  same  year  secured  a  new  hose 
wagon,  as  shown  in  cut.  Through  the  efforts  .)f  Mr.  (nistav  L.  Jaeger, 
Ernst  Bilhuber  the  company  was  materially  assisted  and  the  present 
hose  house  ori  Jlufiter- Av-Pnwe, -er-ected.  The  comi)any  at  present  has 
twenty  active  members  and  a  number  of  honorary  members. 


^1> 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKGKN     COUNTY 


327 


COLONIAL  BX'ILDINGS  OK  MAYWOOD  AND  VICINITY. 

Maywood,  and  the  suburbs  of  the  county-seat,  Hackensack,  can 
pride  itself  on  the  possession  of  a  hirge  number  of  substantial  old  build- 
ing's, being-  fine  specimens  of  early  colonial  architecture,  landmarks  of 
the  early  settlements  with  a  typical  style  all  their  own. 

There  seems  to  be  three  specific  types  of  cohmial  architecture  in  this 
country.  The  English  noblemen  and  their  offspring,  who  settled  in  \'ir- 
ginia  and  Maryland  developed  there  an  ornamental  and  pretentious  style 
of  architecture,  while  the  Puritans  in  New  England,  being  men  of  the 
most  severe  simplicity,  built  houses  of  a  more  modest  and  plain  character. 
It  was  the  Dutch  who  settled  New  Jersey,  and  more  especially  Bergen 


A    COI.O.NIAI.    KKSIIIK.NCK    DI'    MAVWOOn 

county,  and  here  we  find  the  greatest  originality  of  taste  and  character 
in  their  colonial  buildings,  which  are  superior  to  both  the  other  classes. 
If  we  remember  that  the  Dutch  settlers  of  Bergen  county  came  fnmi  a 
country  which  at  the  time  of  their  emigration  represented  the  leading 
civilization  of  Europe  in  industry,  commerce  and  fine  arts,  being  the 
countrv  of  Rembrandt,  Van  Dyke,  and  the  illustrious  Dutch  School,  we 
find  it  quite  natural  that  these  peojjle  have  shown  culture  and  taste  in 
their  architecture,  as  is  demonstrated  in  hundreds  of  buildings  all  over 
Bergen  count}-.  Besides  the  dwellings,  we  may  mention  as  fine  examples 
of  their  style,  the  churches  and  especially  the  First  Dutch  Reformed 
Church  of  Hackensack  and  the  Paramus  Church,  of  which  we  show 
illustrations  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Accompanying  this  sketch,    we  have    shown   a  few  ])rints   of    tlie 
houses  in  j)roximity  to  the  Maywood  R.iilroad  station. 


328 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKCEN    COUNTY 


All  of  these  houses  were  built  in  the  last  century.  The  walls  are 
from  two  to  three  feet  in  thickness,  of  domestic  red  sandstone,  and  the 
mortar  used  is  of  the  best  quality',  greatly  superior  to  that  in  our  modern 
masonwork.  The  interior  woodwork  is  artistic  and  well  finished.  The 
doors  and  the  necessarily  deep  window  casinffs,  are  finely  paneled,  and 


the  mantel  pieces  well  proportioned  and  sometimes  richly  carved.  All 
is  harmonious  with  no  inartistic  feature.  The  timbers  and  roofs  are. 
without  excepticm,  of  hewn  oak  most  substantially  jointed,  and  if  n( 
vandalism  destroy  these  monuments  of  the  early  Dutch  colonial  time 
they  will  stand  and  be  admired  for  centuries  to  come. 


HISTORY    OK    BKKCIKN    COUNTY 


329 


MK.    GUSTAV    I,.    JAEGER. 

Mr.  Gustav  L.  Jaeg-er  is  a  successful  New  York  business  man  who 
has  made  Maywood  his  home,  and  where  he  owns  a  large  tract  of  land. 
He  is  President  of  the  Maywood  Land  Company  and  has  built  an 
eleg-ant  residence,  the  so  called  "Colonial  Terrace."  He  has  been  in  this 
country  about  forty-six  years  and  has  been  in  active  business  ever  since, 
generally  in  the  line  of  paper  and  its  manufacture.  He  is  a  patnm  of 
a  number  of  benevolent  institutions  in  New  Jersey  and  New  Y(  rk.  As 
a  practical  and  active  man,  he  has  taken  out  over  seventy  Patents,  some 
of  which  are  in  world  wide  use.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first 
Borough  Council  of  Maywood  and  has  been  Chairman  of  the  Finance 
Committee  ever  since. 


RI'tSlDHNCH 


.1  >r\v  I,.    iai:i".i:k 


As  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  along  the  New  York  Southern 
and  Western  Railroad  running  from  Hackensack  Heights  to  the  Saddle 
River,  he  has  erected  a  number  of  houses,  and  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments in  the  Borough,  such  as  the  water  supply,  electric  lights  and  gas, 
as  well  as  the  macadamized  streets,  are  due  to  his  energy  and  liberality. 

MR.    KRNST    BII.mrHICK. 

Mr.  Uilhuber  of  Maywood,  was  born  in  the  south  of  (Jrermany  in  the 
year  1849.  He  came  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  twenty  and  began 
work  in  New  York,  in  his  profession  of  designing  and  consulting  engin- 
eer. In  the  year  1876  he  served  as  secretary  of  the  (lerman  Commission 
to  the  World's  Centennial  Exposition  in  Philadelphia.  Through  his  con- 
tributions to  European  technical  and  industrial  papers  (luring  this  time 
he  has  helped  considerably  to  make  Europe  acejuainted  with  the  high 
industrial  development  and  achievements  of  this  country.  Later  on  he 
devoted  his  attention    to  manufatturing  enterjjrises.      The   large  Steel 


330  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Wire  Works  of  R.  H.  Wolff  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  of  which  concern  he  is 
a  director,  were  built  under  his  superintendence.  In  1892  he  interested 
himself  in  the  Maywood  Art  Tile  Company,  of  which  he  took  the 
management.  Since  that  time  he  has  made  Maywood  his  home,  and  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  its  development  and  in  all  local  issues  of  the 
borough.  He  served  in  the  iirst  Maywood  Board  of  Education,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  Building  Committee,  during  the  erection  of  the  model 
school  house,  of  which  we  publish  a  good  view.  He  has  been  influential 
in  organizing  the  first  fire  company  of  the  borough,  and  in  1895  was 
elected  to  a  seat  in  the  Borough  Council,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  first 
three  years'  term,  was  re-elected. 

Mr.   Bilhuber  bought  for  his  home   one  of  the  old  landmarks,  the 
the   Brinkerhoif  homestead,    a  substantial   stone  dwelling,  next  to   the 


KKNST    BII,HI:BEK 

present  railroad  station,  and  has  greatly  beautified  the  grounds  and 
improved  the  house  both  in  its  exterior  and  interior,  keeping  strictly  to 
the  spirit  and  style  of  its  original  architecture.  His  residence  has  the 
appearance  of  a  substantial  old  colonial  homestead  of  which  there  are 
many  fine  specimens  to  be  found  in  Bergen  county,  worthy  of  preserva- 
tion and  study. 

JOHN    C.    VAN    .SAUN. 

John  C.  Van  Saun,  Mayor  of  Maywood,  represents  an  old  family  in 
the  county  who  was  here  before  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  Cornelius 
Van  Saun  was  the  first  to  locate  at  Cherry  Hill,  where  his  three  Sf)ns 
John  C,  Cornelius  and  David  were  born.  John  C.  Van  Saun  was  born 
in  1774  and  died  in  1849.  He  married  Sarah  Huyler,  and  moved  first  to 
Rochelle  park  and  in   18.i3   to   Maywood.     Cornelius,    his   s<in,    b  irn    in 


HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  331 

1S12.  married  Anna  Moore  of  Tenafly.  Their  children  were  Sarah 
Ann,  Jane  Elizabeth,  John  C.  and  Henrietta  John  C.  Van  Saun,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  183')  and  was  raised  a  fanner.  l)ut  has 
spent  most  of  his  life  in  public  office. 

Many  years  of  his  official  career  has  been  given  to  the  interest  of 
hig'hwavs,  as  overseer  of  roads.  He  has  served  as  Assessor  ten  years 
and  has  also  been  for  two  years  freeholder  of  this  townshij).  In  1S')7  he 
was  elected  Mayor  of  May  wood  and  re-elected  in  18')'». 

In  1862  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Amelia  Moore.  Their  children 
are  Cornelius  J.,  now  the  Marshal  of  Maywood;  Lizzie  M.,  Anna  Amelia 
and  Peter  Edwin. 


^ 


RESIDENCE   OF    EKNST    BII.HUBKK 

Mr.  Van  Saun  built  his  new  h<mse  in  18'M  in  which  he  now  resides. 

KDW.XNl)    I).    E.\STON. 

At  Areola,  on  the  banks  of  the  winding  Saddle  Kiver  near  the  site 
of  the  old  Red  Mill,  where  it  is  related  the  people  of  the  county  gave  a 
reception  to  Colonel  Aaron  Burr,  when,  in  the  days  of  his  youth  that 
impetuous  officer  headed  an  expedition  that  drove  the  Hessian  troops 
from  this  region,  has  risen  a  stately  mansion,  which  serves  both  as  an 
adornment  to  the  country  and  as  a  monument  to  the  achievements  of  (me 
of  the  men  that  Bergen  Cfninty  has  reason  to  be  proud  of.  This  is  the 
home  of  Mr.  Edward  D.  Easton.  It  was  on  this  spot  his  childhood  and 
youth  were  spent,  and  here  he  returned  to  make  his  home,  when,  still  in 
the  prime  of  manhood,  he  had  won  fortune  through  an  industry  and  an 
organizing  and  creative  ability,  that  overcame  every  obstacle. 

Mr.  Easton's  father  and  mother,  who  came  to  New  Jersey  from 
Hrooklvn  in  l.Sf.S,  lived   in   a  comfortable  old  house  fronting  on  Paramus 


EDWAKD    D.    EASTON 


HISTOKY  OK  KKKGKN  COUNTY  .?33 


road.  Mr.  Easton  "grew  up"  hero,  attended  the  district  s.hocil,  but 
started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  much  younger  than  most 
boys  do.  His  first  employment  was  on  the  Hackensack  R?publican 
where  he  served  nearly  two  years  as  reporter  and  editor.  Having  ac- 
quired a  knowledge  of  shorthand,  he  did  work  in  that  line  for  various 
New  York  papers,  as  well  as  for  his  own  paper.  His  shorthand  accom- 
plishment led  to  his  securing  an  appointment  when  barel}-  eighteen  years 
of  age,  in  the  Light  House  Board  in  Washington.  This  took  him  from 
Areola,  and  thenceforward  until  his  return  in  1897;  he  spent  only  his 
vacation  days  in  the  old  home.  Mr.  Easton  retained  his  position  in  the 
Light  House  Board  for  several  years  ;  but  meanwhile  had  been  gaining 
such  a  reputation  as  a  stenographer,  that  there  was  a  constant  demand 
for  his  services  in  that  capacity.  This  resulted  finally  in  his  severing 
his  cimnection  with  the  Ciovernment,  in  order  to  enter  the  more  lucrative 
field  offered  in  private  work  to  a  stenographer  of  superior  attainments. 
Mr.  Easton  succeeds  in  whatever  he  undertakes,  and  he  succeeded  to 
such  an  extent  as  a  stenographer  that  he  not  onh-  came  to  be  acknowl- 
edged by  fellow  craftsmen  one  of  the  greatest  of  them  all,  but  also,  be- 
came notable  among  them  for  having  earned  more  money  with  his  pen 
in  a  given  time  than  any  shorthand  writer  living.  Mr.  Easton  first  came 
into  prominence  as  a  stenographer  in  the  (iuiteau  trial  at  Washington, 
the  full  and  accurate  repbrt  of  that  celebrated  case,  having  been  mostly 
the  ■vV'orkof  his  pen.  -  His  excellent  work  there  brought  about  his  employ- 
ment by  the  Department  of  Justice  and  by  other  Government  Bureaus  in 
famous  and  protracted  trials,  notably  the  Star  Route  trials,  which  occu- 
pied upward  of  a  year.  During  these  busy  years  Mr.  Easton  found  time 
to  study  law.  and  was  enrolled  as  a  member  of  the  bar  of  the  District  of 
Columbia. 

When  a  little  over  thirty  years  of  age,  Mr.  Easton  was  able  to  lay 
aside  his  pen,  having  accumulated  a  substantial  capital,  and  devote 
himself  to  what  has  seemed  to  be  his  life  work,  the  development  of  the 
talking  machine  art.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  first  men  to 
appreciate  the  talking  machine  as  a  practical  invention  were  steno- 
graphers, who  saw  the  incalculable  value  of  an  instrument  that  would 
perform  automatically,  tirelessly  and  accurately,  the  work  for  which 
stenographers  required  years  of  training-  that  is,  the  recording  and 
rejjroducing  of  human  speech.  Soim  after  the  (irapho])hone  patents 
were  issued  in  1877,  and  the  talking  machine  became  a  practical  thing. 
Mr.  Easton  organized  in  Washington  the  Columbia  Phonogra])h  Com- 
jianv.  which  at  first  had  for  its  territory  the  District  of  Columbia, 
Maryland  and  Delaware.  Mr.  Easton  and  his  associates  were  i)ractical 
men  and  began  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  instrument  they 
had  to  deal  with,  and  an  enthusiastic  faith  in  its  future  as  well  as  a 
good  stock  of  business  sense.  Through  lack  <>!'  these,  the  thirty  other 
c  >nipanies  then  organized  gradually  disappeared  while  the  Columbia 
Company  was  successful  in  all  its  undertakings.  Its  operations  soon 
extended  bevond  its   original    territorial    limits   and  becann'   world-wide. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  335 

When  the  American  (Irapliophone  C()m])anv  the  owner  of  the  patents 
was  reorganized  in  1<S<J5,  Mr.  Easton  who  had  secured  practical  control 
of  the  talking  machine  market  was  made  first  general  manager  and 
soon  afterwards  President  of  the  Company.  At  the  same  time  that  he 
entered  with  characteristic  vigor  upon  the  practical  business-manage- 
ment of  the  company,  he  took  charge  also,  as  Counsel,  of  its  local 
affairs  and  his  wise  management  in  that  capacity  contributed  much  to 
placing  the  concern  on  its  present  solid  footing.  A  coalition  was  formed 
between  his  old  company  and  the  Graphophone  Company,  and  Mr. 
Easton  at  the  head  of  both  came  into  control  not  of  the  market  only 
l)ut  of  the  concern  which  soon  became,  under  his  direction  the  greatest 
manufacturing  establishment  in  the  world  of  talking  machines.  The 
remarkable  strides  made  by  the  American  Graphophone  Company  in 
three  years  under  Mr.  Easton's  capable  management  are  familiar  facts 
to  those  at  all  acquainted  with  the  condition  of  the  industry.  The 
establishment  which  at  the  time  he  took  charge  required  only  one  end 
of  a  leased  factory  to  house  it,  now  occupies  the  whole  of  one  of  the 
largest  factory  plants  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  the  company  owning  the 
buildings  and  additional  ground  sufficient  to  duplicate  the  plant  when 
necessary. 

Through  the  Columbia  Phonograph  Company,  under  Mr.  Easton's 
management,  the  American  (jraphophone  Company  is  represented  in 
most  of  the  principal  cities  of  this  country,  as  well  as  in  Paris,  by 
handsome  offices  and  salesrooms,  in  nearly  every  case  occupying  entire 
buildings.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Easton  having  removed  his  business 
headquarters  from  Washington  to  New  York,  and  having  acquired  the 
means  to  enable  him  to  gratify  his  wishes,  has  returned  to  Areola,  the 
spot  he  has  so  long  known  as  home.  As  a  matter  of  sentiment,  he  has 
built  his  new  home  on  the  very  site  of  the  old  one,  and  a  part  of  the  old 
house  has  been  utilized  on  the  new. 

Mr.  Easton  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  died  after  a  brief 
wedded  life,  leaving  a  daughter.  In  1883  he  married  Miss  Helen  Morti- 
mer Jefferis,  of  Washington,  the  lady  who  now  presides  over  the  home 
at  Areola.  By  his  second  marriage  he  has  four  children,  three  daughters 
and  a  son.  Mr.  Easton  is  simple  in  his  tastes,  affable  and  approachable. 
His  straightforward  methods,  unfailing  courtesy  and  unswering  loyalty 
to  his  high  ideals  of  right,  have  gained  for  him  the  respect  of  the  com- 
mercial world  and  attached  his  friends  and  business  associates  to  him 
with  bonds  of  the  strongest  character.  Mr.  East(m  has  been  a  great 
traveler  on  business  and  pleasure  and  possesses  a  varied  knowledge  of 
men  and  affairs  that  makes  him  a  most  pleasing  companion.  His  home 
is  noted  for  its  hospitality  and  for  the  happiness  that  always  dwells  in  it. 

The  house  is  simple  but  imposing  in  appearance,  the  style  being 
Colonial.  There  is  a  broad  veranda  in  front,  spacious  and  delightful 
hall,  ])arlors  and  general  rooms  cm  the  first  Hoor,  and  many  commodious 
chambers  above.  The  stable  is  built  in  corresptmding  style.  Mr. 
Easton  has  about    fifty  acres  of    land  attached    to  his   residence.     That 


HISTOKV    OI-    BEKC.EN    COUNTY  337 

immediately  adjoining  the  house  has  been  laid  out  as  a  park  with  strik- 
intf  landscape  effects.  To  illuminate  the  house  and  grounds  and  the 
roadway  between  the  house  and  Rochelle  Park  railway  station,  elec- 
tricity has  been  brought  by  Mr.  Easton  by  a  private  line  from  Hackeij- 
sack.  and  a  long  distance  telephone  connects  the  house  by  ]irivatc  line 
with  Hackensack  thence  all  other  telephone  posts. 

JACOB    VAN  BUSKIKK. 

The  earliest  ancestor  of  the  Van  Buskirk  famiij-  in  Bergen  county, 
was  John,  who  came  from  Holland,  and  located  at  Teaneck,  now  Engle- 
wood.  He  had  two  children,  John  and  Cornelius.  Both  settled  in  Ber- 
gen county,  Cornelius  eventually  removing  to  St;iten  Island,  where  his 
descendants  still  reside.  John  married  Miss  Rachel  Dey  and  remained 
at  the  old  homestead  spending  his  life  as  a  farmer.  His  children  were: 
Peter,  who  lived  on  the  old  farm ;  Elsie,  who  married  John  Ackerman ; 
Jacob,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Bogert,  and  John  who  also  resided  at 
Teaneck.  Of  these  children,  Jacob  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  but 
never  made  use  of  it  further  than  to  build  a  saw  mill  for  his  own  use 
being  a  farmer  all  his  life. 

He  married  Catharine,  daughter  of  Captain  Abram  Haring,  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier.  Their  children  were  Sarah,  wife  of  Stephen  Lozier, 
John,  Abram  and  Jacob.  John  removed  to  Staten  Island  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Abram  removed  to  River  Edge,  and  died  there 
a  few  years  later. 

Jacob  who  was  born  at  Teaneck,  July  26,  1807,  spent  his  early  years 
at  this  place,  where  for  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years  he  carried  on 
the  store  now  owned  by  J.  H.  B.  Voorhis.  Later  he  and  his  brother 
erected  the  mills  afterward  owned  by  his  sons.  He  was  active  in  the 
promotion  of  public  enterprise,  a  director  of  the  New  Jersey  and  New 
York  Railroad,  and  also  a  director  of  the  Bergen  County  Farmers' 
Mutual  Insurance  Company. 

Mr.  Van  Buskirk  married  in  August  5,  1826,  Miss  Hannah  Voorhis 
of  Kinderkamack.  Three  children  were  born  of  this  union,  Jacob, 
Henry  and  Eliza  C,  who  became  the  wife  of  Nicholas  R.  Voorhis.  Mrs. 
Van  Buskirk  died  September  8,  187'). 

Jacob,  our  subject,  was  born  July  23,  1827.  He  lirst  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  for  a  number  of  years,  subsequently  bec<miing  a  student  in 
Lafayette  Academy,  Hackensack,  where  he  paid  his  tuition  by  acting  as 
assistant  teacher.  After  leaving  the  Academy,  he  taught  in  the  district 
school  at  Closter  for  a  short  time,  and  afterwards  had  charge  of  the 
school  at  Kinderkamack,  from  which  jjlace  he  was  called  to  the 
principalship  of  Washington  Institute,  where  he  remained  over  three 
years.  This  was  a  iitting  close  to  his  short  but  successful  career  in  the 
work  of  teaching. 

Mr.  \'an  Ihiskirk  with  his  brother  Henry  now  bought  a  half  share 
in  the  milling  business  and  formed  the  partnership  of  J.  &  H.  Van  Bus- 


3.^8  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

kirk.  This  tirm  eventually  sold  out  to  the  "Hackensack  Water  C<)m])any 
ReorfJ-anized." 

The  only  offices  Mr.  Van  Buskirk  could  be  induced  to  accept  was 
that  overseer  of  highways,  which  he  held  for  a  period  of  twenty  years; 
and  the  office  of  postmaster  which  he  held  about  sixteen  years,  begin- 
ning- near  the  time  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  He  is  largely  inter- 
ested in  public  improvements  in  the  Borough  of  Delford,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  promotors,  and  to  his  business  sagacity  is  largely  due 
the  success  of  that-corporation. 

Mr.  Van  Buskirk  was  married  Februarry  16,  1853  to  Miss  Ursula 
Peack.  There  children  were:  Sarah  Maria,  wife  of  Jacob  Van  Wag- 
oner; Hannah  Amelia  wife  of  Huyler  Voorhis;  Catharine  Elmira,  wife 
of  Francis  H.  Waite;  Jacob  Henry,  who  died  in  infancy;  Peter  Edwin 
and  Arthur. 

Mr.  Van  Buskirk  is  a  strong  Republican. 

THE    LE    SUEUK    FAMILY. 

The  Le  Sueur  Family  has  been  vrell  established  in  Normandy, 
France,  for  over  seven  centuries,  and  are  well  known  in  the  cities  of 
Paris,  Dieppe  and  Rouen,  and  for  four  centuries  were  among  the  largest 
manufacturers  of  cloth  in  the  latter  city,  where  the  business  is  conducted 
by  their  descendants.  They  were  also  well  known  in  the  liberal  arts. 
Eustace  Le  Sueur  the  celebrated  painter,  born  in  Paris  in  1617,  and 
Jean  F.  Le  Sueur,  the  composer  of  music  born  in  Abbeville  in  1763  were 
respectively  brother  and  nephew  of  Francois  Le  Sueur,  the  Lozier 
ancestor  who  was  born  in  Dieppe  in  1625,  and  by  profession  was  a  civil 
engineer  and  surveyor,  his  name  taking  such  forms  with  his  descendants 
as  Leseur,  Lesier,  Lazier  and  Lozier.  He  came  from  Dieppe  to  New 
Amsterdam  in  April,  1657,  and  was  attended  by  his  sister  Jeanne, 
neither  being  married,  but  in  1659  Francois  married  Jannetie  daughter 
of  Hildebrandt  Pietersen  of  Amsterdam,  Holland.  New  Amsterdam 
was  not  to  be  the  permanent  home  of  Francois  Le  Sueur,  he  with  about 
twenty  others,  mostly  heads  of  families  and  freeholders,  desiring  to 
continue  the  language  and  customs  of  their  mother  country  applied  to 
the  Director  General  and  Council  of  New  Netherlands  for  permission  to 
purchase  a  tract  of  land  adjoining  the  Great  Kill  or  Harlem  river.  The 
number  of  applicants  for  the  land  being  sufficient  for  a  beginning,  the 
Council  granted  their  request.  Ground  was  broken  for  the  new  settle- 
ment August  14,  1658,  and  it  was  named  New  Harlem  by  request  of  the 
Dutch  Governor,  Peter  Stuyvesant. 

In  1663  Francois,  with  several  others,  becoming  dissatislied,  owing 
to  the  heavy  taxation  levied  by  the  Dutch  authorities,  sold  their  prop- 
erty, and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  went  up  the  Hudson  River  to  Esopus 
(now  known  as  Kingston),  but  in  the  spring  of  1669,  Francois  returned 
to  New  Harlem,  now  known  as  Harlem,  a  portion  of  the  city  of  Greater 
New  York. 


HisTOKV  oy  keki;i;n   corNTv  339 

The  issue  of  his  marriage  was  four  children,  Jannetie,  born  in  1660; 
Hillel)rand,  born  in  1663;  John,  born  in  1()65,  and  Nicholas,  born  in  1668. 
Jannatie  married  John  Post,  of  Kinjifston.  N.  Y.,  and  after  his  death, 
Thomas  Innis,  of  New  Amsterdam.  Hillebrand  married  Elsie,  dau<j;hler 
of  Julian  Tappen,  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  but  died  soon  after,  leaving  one 
child,  Jannattie,  born  in  1689,  who  married  William  Elting.  John,  the 
second  son,  married  Rachel  Snedes,  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.  He  had  three 
children,  Jannattie,  born  in  1(>.S7;  John,  born  in  1689,  and  Catharine, 
born  in  1692.  Nicholas,  the  fourth  child  of  Francois,  was  born  in  1668, 
and  whose  branch  of  the  family  write  their  name  Lozier,  married  in 
New  York,  May  8,  1691,  Tryntie,  daughter  of  Peter  Slot,  of  New  York. 
After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  Hackensack,  N.  J.  By  this  marriage 
Nicholas  had  eight  children,  as  follows:  Hillebrand,  born  1695;  Petrus, 
born  1697;  Johannes,  born  February  26,  1699;  Mariti^,  born  May  11.  17(tl; 
Antie,  born  October  31,  1703;  Lucas,  born  March  18,  1705;  Jacobus,  born 
October  5,  1707,  and  Benjamin,  born  October  24,  1708.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife  Nicholas  married  in  Hackensack  Antie  Direcksee  Banta, 
daughter  of  Derieck  Banta. 

His  children  by  this  union  were  Trintie,  born  March  12,  1710;  Hester, 
born  December  16,  1711;  Rachel,  born  May  17,  1714;  Jacob,  born  May  24, 
1819;  Abram,  born  July  1,  172i;  Leya,  born  September  22,  1723;  Mar- 
grietje,  born  April  5,  1726.  The  genealogical  record  of  the  Lozier 
family  has  been  traced  for  several  generations,  and  in  some  lines  to  date. 
The  descendants  of  Nicholas  Lozier  are  now  living  in  Bergen  county, 
N.  J.,  and  Newburg,  Orange  county,  N.  Y. 

The  records  of  the  Dutch  churches  at  Hackensack  and  Schraalen- 
burg,  N.  J.  contain  the  names  of  several  generations  of  the  Lozier 
family  who  in  their  day  were  quite  numerous  but  are  now  few  in  numbers. 
Nicholas  Lozier  was  a  man  of  importance  in  local  and  church  affairs. 
In  the  records  of  the  Hackensack  church  we  find  that  he  was  accepted 
as  a  member,  on  confession  of  faith,  April  4,  1702.  He  was  elected 
churchmaster  in  place  of  Roelof  Westerveldt  May  1712,  was  elected 
deac(m  in  place  of  Derik  Blinckerhof,  May  14,  1713,  and  elected  elder  in 
place  of  Jacob  Banta  in  May  1723. 

During  these  years  the  movement  of  the  people  was  eastward  to- 
ward the  Hudscra,  lands  were  cleared  and  farms  were  occupied  at  Schraal- 
enburg,  and  as  early  as  1724  it  was  ff)und  necessary  to  establish  a  church 
at  Schraalenburgfor  the  convenience  of  the  people  of  that  neighborhood 
who  had  been  accustomed  to  worship  at  Hackensack.  Nicholas  Lozier 
was  among  those  in  this  forward  movement  and  was  elected  one  o(  the 
first  elders  in  the  new  church  and  was  one  of  the  six  elders  who  called 
Rev.  Georgius  Wilhelmus  Mancius  to  the  pastorate  of  this  church  De- 
cember 23,  17,^0.  This  was  his  last  church  connection,  and  he  was  sue. 
ceeded  as  an  officer  by  his  children  and  grandchildren. 

In  Ulster  county.  New  York  the  descendants  of  Francois  I^e  Sueur 
have  been  known  as  Le  Suer,  Leeshueur,  Lashiere  and  Lasher.  Tluy 
were  loyal  to  the  colonial  government.     In  the  documentarv  hist()r\  of 


340  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

the  state  of  New  York  we  lind  the  names  of  Hiklebrant,  John  and 
Nicholas,  sons  of  Francois  among  those  who  in  1689  were  supporters  of 
the  local  authorities  of  the  county  of  Ulster.  They  were  an  intensely 
patriotic  people  and  were  among  the  first  to  oiTer  their  services  to  aid  the 
cause  of  liberty  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  No  less  than  sixteen  of 
this  family  were  in  the  service  of  the  state  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 
Dunlap's  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  2,  page  216  published  in  1840,  gives 
an  account  of  the  organizing  of  the  committee  of  one  hundred  and  their 
address  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  stating  that  "the  city  of  New 
York  is  as  one  man  in  the  cause  of  liberty,"  etc.  The  address  is  signed 
by  the  committee,  John  Lasher  being  one  of  their  number.  In  the  arch- 
ives of  the  state  of  New  York  is  documentary  evidence  showing  the  valu- 
able services  of  Colonel  John  Lasher  and  others  of  the  family.  Bergen 
County,  N.  J.  records,  on  file  in  the  state  archives,  also  show  that  there 
were  several  Loziers  who  did  well  for  themselves  and  their  countr3'. 

JOHN    B.    I.OZIKK. 

On  a  high  elevation  of  land  overlooking  the  fertile  valley  of  the 
Hackensack  River  on  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Railroad  eighteen 
miles  from  Jersey  City,  are  located  the  buildings  of  the  Oradell  Stock 
Farm,  one  of  the  best  horse  boarding  establishments  in  America.  The 
farm  is  undulating  and  the  eye  can  roam  over  the  counties  of  Bergen 
and  Hi  dson  in  New  Jersey,  and  Rockland  and  Westchester  in  New 
York.  1  he  buildings  are  modern  up-to-date  structures  in  which  are 
one  hundred  and  fifty  box-stalls  well  ventilated,  and  all  opening  into 
high  fenced  paddocks  where  the  horses  are  allowed  to  exercise  every 
pleasant  day.  Excellent  water  is  furnished  for  the  stables  from  an 
Artesian  well,  i45  feet  deep  and  from  which  5000  gallons  have  been 
pumped  at  one  time  without  lowering  the  water  more  than  one  inch. 
This  property  is  owned  by  Mr.  John  B.  Lozier  who  conceived  the  idea 
of  an  institution  which  should  surpass  all  others  of  its  kind  and  of 
which  the  American  Horse  Breeder,  March  2,  1895,  says:  "is  as  nearly 
perfect  as  can  be  made."  The  land  comprising  the  farm  has  been 
owned  by  the  Lozier  family  since  the  time  of  George  HI.,  the  present 
owner  having  now  in  his  possession  the  original  deed  from  the  King. 
The  whole  farm  which  has  been  kept  intact  consists  of  three  hundred 
acres  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of  which  is  virgin  forest.  The  railroad 
intersects  some  of  the  pastures  aiTording  horses  and  colts  a  chance  to 
become  accustomed  to  the  cars.  For  horses  having  tender  feet,  is  a 
large  tract  of  pasture  land  moist  with  a  blue  clay  subsoil,  and  this  with 
a  foaling  barn,  blacksmith  shop,  pharmacy,  hospital  and  a  regulation 
half  mile  track  completely  equips  the  establishment  as  one  of  the  best 
of  the  kind. 

The  Lozier  family  are  French  Huguenots  who  formerly  spelled 
their  name  LeSueurs.  They  were  cloth  manufacturers  in  the  cities  of 
Paris,  Dieppe  and  Rouen  in  France. 


^42 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN     COUNTY 


WINTER    QTAKTEKS       (IKADKI.I.    STofK    FARM 

Francois  Le  Sueur,  the  Lozier  ancestor  that  came  to  America,  was 
from  Colmied,  Normandy,  a  town  adjoining  Dieppe  on  the  south.  The 
family  was  well  founded  in  Caux,  and  a  century  previous  (  1525  )  had 
figured  among  the  cloth  manufacturers  of  Rouen.  Francis  Le  Sueur, 
landed  on  Manhattan  Island  in  April  1657.  In  1659  he  married  Hilde- 
brant  Pieterson,  of  Amsterdam,  Holland.  The  issue  of  this  marriage 
was  Annette,  1660;  Hildebrant,  1663;  John,  1665  and  Nicholas  1668. 
Nicholas  on  May  8,  1691  married  Tryntie  Slot,  a  daughter  of  Pieter 
Jansan  Slot  former  mayor  of  New  Amsterdam.  After  marriage  Nich- 
olas settled  near  Hackensack  and  the  Oradell  Stock  Farm  is  part  of  the 
tract  taken  up  by  him  at  that  time. 


KICTaVTXC.    :^ARX--ORADKI.I.    STOCK    FAR>r 


344  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Mr.  John  B.  Lozier,  the  present  owner  of  the  estate,  is  the  son  of 
David  B.  Lozier,  and  Kitty  Woodworth  Garretson,  and  was  born  Novem- 
ber 28,  1865.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  on  the  farm,  which,  prob- 
ably owing  to  favorable  surrounding's  contributed  largely  to  his  splendid 
physique,  his  courtle}^  bearing,  and  to  a  general  symmetrical  growth  pro- 
ducing the  broad  liberal  minded  man  that  he  is.  A  public  school  educa- 
tion supplemented  by  a  course  of  instruction  in  the  Hackensack  Academy 
completed  his  curriculum  of  studies ;  and  these  attainments,  added  to  his 
many  natural  endowments  gives  us  the  man  of  practical  ideas  and  of 
many  accomplishments. 

Mr.  Lozier  who  is  an  artist  of  considerable  originality  and  taste  has 
produced  many  specimens  of  his  own  handiwork,  especially  in  decorated 
china  and  bric-a-brac,  and  is  also  an  expert  in  penwork.  He  is  a  musi- 
cian of  no  mean  attainments  having  made  a  special  study  of  the  violin. 
As  a  sportsman  he  excels  ;  this  being  verified  by  the  many  rare  speci- 
mens he  has  collected  by  rod  and  gun  while  on  various  expeditions  to 
Florida  and  other  shooting  resorts. 

As  might  be  supposed  Mr.  Lozier  is  a  royal  good  fellow  and  a  fine 
entertainer.  As  a  writer,  many  interesting  articles  from  his  pen  have 
found  their  way  into  sporting  papers  and  periodicals  as  the  "  Turf,  Field 
and  Farm"  and  "The  American  Field."  His  writings  are  chiefly 
descriptive  and  from  his  own  experience. 

On  June  20,  1885,  Mr.  Lozier  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Rumsey  and  by 
this  union  have  three  children — Claire,  Grace  and  Milred.  Mr.  Lozier 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  independent  in  local  matters  especially  as  to 
the  welfare  of  his  borough.  He  takes  great  pleasure  in  his  home  and 
no  great  wonder  since  the  celebrated  Oradell  Stock  farm  is  certainly  one 
of  the  most  interesting  spots  and  his  home  one  of  which  any  man  of 
equal  possessions  might  feel  justly  proud. 

HIKAM    LOZIEK. 

Among  the  descendants  of  Nicholas  Lozier  now  residing  at  New- 
burgh,  N.  Y.  is  Hiram,  son  of  Isaac  Van  Duzer  Lozier  and  Margaret 
Jam  Shay.  Mr.  Lozier's  grandparents  were  Nicholas  and  Sarah  (  Barton  ) 
Lozier.  His  great  grandfather  Peter  married  a  Miss  Brouwer,  of  Hol- 
land ancestry,  the  line  continuing  unbroken  to  Nicholas  Lozier  and 
Tryntie  Slot,  his  wife,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Hacken- 
sack, N.  J.  This  family  as  noted  elsewhere  were  for  more  than  seven 
centuries  well  known  in  Normandy,  France  and  are  well  known  in  the 
cities  of  Paris,  Dieppe  and  Rouen.  For  more  than  four  centuries  they 
were  large  manufacturers  of  cloth  in  the  city  of  Rouen,  where  the  busi- 
ness is  still  carried  on  by  their  descendants.  They  were  also  well  known 
in  the  liberal  arts.  Music  and  painting  being^represented  by  Jean  F.  Le 
Suer,  the  composer,  born  in  Abbeville  in  1763,  and  by  Eustace  Le 
Sueur  the  celebrated  painter,  born  in  Paris  in  1617.  Eustace  being  a 
brother  and  Jean  F.,  a  nephew  of  Francois  Le  Seuer,  who  was  by  pro- 
fession a  civil  engineer  and  surveyor.     The  name  has  passed   through 


HiKAM   i.(>/.ii:k. 


HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY  345 

several  orthographical  changes  Lesuer,  Lesier,  Lazier  and  at  present 
Lozier.  The  tastes  and  professions  of  these  early  ancestors  have  devel- 
oped in  the  present  generation  in  no  mean  degree,  as  demonstrated  in 
the  persons  of  both  Mr.  Hiram  Lozier  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  and  Mr. 
John  B.  Lozier  of  Oradell,  N.  J.  Hiram  Lozier  was  born  at  Newburgh, 
N.  Y.,  June  4,  1852,  and  was  educated  in  the  Latin  and  English 
branches,  in  the  Newburgh  public  schools  and  Academy,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1868. 

Immediately  after  leaving  school  Mr.  Lozier  entered  the  office  of  the 
Washington  Iron  Works,  at  Newburgh,  remaining  about  one  year,  sub- 
sequently taking  a  position  with  the  Whitehill  Engine  Works,  to  learn 
the  practical  workings  of  the  engine  business.  After  several  years  spent 
with  this  company  he  formed  a  connection  with  the  Fishkill  Landing 
Machine  Company,  (builders  of  Corliss  Engines,  Boilers  and  General 
Machinery )  where  he  still  continues.  These  works  are  located  at  P^ish- 
kill  Landing,  N.  Y.,  opposite  Newburgh. 

Mr.  Lozier  is  active  in  public  and  social  affairs,  was  vice-president 
of  the  Board  of  Excise,  Newburgh,  18'>4-1895,  member  of  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, since  1895,  and  chairman  of  committee  of  City  Library. 

Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York  City; 
member  of  the  Empire  State  Society;  Sons  of  American  Revolution,  New 
York,  also  member  of  Newburgh  Historical  Society,  Treasurer  of 
Masonic  Veteran  Association  of  Newburg,  and  Treasurer  of  Newburgh 
Academy  Alumni  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  Newburgh  Lodge 
No.  309  F.  &  A.  M.  and  Past  Grand  of  Acme  Lodge  No.  469, 1.  O.  ().  F. 
In  his  church  relations  he  is  a  member  of  Trinity  M.  E.  Church,  being 
a  member  of  the  official  Board. 

Mr.  Lozier  married  Miss  Martha  A.  Wylie  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y. 

DANIEL    I.    DEMAKEST. 

Daniel  I.  Demarest,  Mayor  of  Delford.  son  of  Isaac  D.  and  Margaret 
(Van  Wagoner)  Demarest,  traces  his  descent  in  a  direct  line  from  the 
early  emigrants  of  that  name  who  came  to  America,  subsequently 
settling  in  Bergen  County.  Mr.  Demarest  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead near  the  Hackensack  River,  March  i6,  iS36.  This  property  is 
now  owned  by  Hugh  J.  Grant,  ex-Mayor  of  New  York  city.  Previous 
to  its  purchase  by  its  present  owner,  Mr.  Demarest  had  resided  on 
another  part  of  this  farm  near  Oradell,  thirty  acres  of  which  he  owns 
and  is  his  home.  As  an  old  time  resident  of  the  place,  fully  identified 
with  its  business  and  other  interests  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Delford 
B(jrough,  and  in  addition  to  this  for  many  years  he  has  been  postmaster 
of  Oradell ;  treasurer  of  the  Bergen  County  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, and  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Bergen  County  Farmers'  Mutual 
Insurance  Company. 

Mr.  Demarest  is  a  Christian  gentleman,  wln)  with  his  family  belong 
to  the   Reformed  church.      In   ]>olitics  he  is  a  Republican.      He  married 


hoAA^ul  ^  •   S^-^^^^-^^ 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  347 

Miss  Ellen  A.  Demarest,  a  dau^rhter  of  John  D.  Demarest.      They  have 
one  son,  Isaac. 

PETEK    G.    ZABKISKIE. 

The  Zabriskie  family  are  numerous  in  Bergen  county,  all  havinf^ 
sprung-  from  one  common  ancestor,  Albert,  who  came  from  Poland  in 
1(.()2.  The  maternal  ancestor  however,  being:  a  Miss  Vim  der  Linde,  of 
Holland  stock.  In  time  the  children  and  grandchildren,  finding  it  to 
their  advantage  to  seek  homes  in  other  localities,  the  branch  to  which 
Peter  G.  belongs,  came  to  be  residents  of  the  western  part  of  the  county, 
where  his  grandfather,  Jacob,  and  his  father  Gilliam  both  continued  to 
reside,  and  where  Peter  was  born  December  24,  \8M>. 

Mr.  Zabriskie  received  a  limited  education,  being  obliged  to  begin 
early  to  prepare  for  the  business  of  life.  Learning  the  carpenter  trade, 
he  eventually  became  a  builder,  after  spending  a  number  of  years  as  a 
journeyman.  Success  usually  follows  strict  attention  to  business,  when 
honest  work  is  done  through  honorable  methods.  That  Mr.  Zabriskie 
has  been  successful,  is  demonstrated  by  the  character  and  number  of 
buildings  he  has  erected  in  the  vicinity  of  Ridgewood,  especially  resi- 
dences of  New  York  business  men,  among  which  are  those  of  E.  F. 
Hanks,  W.  J.  Fullerton,  H.  S.  Patterson,  H.  A.  Dunbar,  A.  C.  Brooks, 
C.  F.  Shultz.  W.  C.  Parker.  F.  C.  White,  K.  C.  Atwood,  and  C.  Atwood  of 
Oradcll.  These  are  all  palatial  residences,  specimens  of  the  highest  art 
in  modern  building. 

Mr.  Zabriskie's  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1858,  was  Miss 
Mary  Garrison,  daughter  of  John  A.  Ciarrison  of  Allendale.  Of  their 
two  daughters.  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Nearing,  while  Maude  resides 
at  home. 

Mr.  Zabriskie  is  an  independent  Republican. 

A.    I.ANDMANN. 

A.  Landmann,  merchant  in  Oradell,  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
March  6,  1852,  is  a  son  of  Frederick  Landmann,  who  emigrated  from 
Darmstadt,  Germany  in  IS.'^l,  coming  to  New  Jersey  in  186'j.  Here  he 
engaged  in  the  milling  business.  He  first  came  to  Oradell  in  1880, 
when  he  became  associated  with  John  W.  Van  Buskirk,  succeeding 
Charles  E.  Van  Buskirk  of  Van  Buskirk  Bros.  They  succeeded  Mr. 
Isaac  D.  Demarest,  who  had  established  the  business  in  i8()9.  In  1880 
A.  Landmann  bought  out  the  interest  of  Charles  E.  Van  Buskirk, 
when  the  business  was  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Van  Buskirk 
&  Landmann  until  May  4,  18'K),  when  Mr.  Landmann  bought  the  inter- 
est of  J.  W.  Van  Buskirk,  continuing  under  the  name  of  A.  Landmann. 
He  is  successfully  dealing  in  the  retail  of  general  merchandise. 

Mr.  Landmann  was  married  in  1874  to  Emma  Jane  Veldran,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Veldran  of  Oradell.  They  have  the  following  children: 
Florence  E.,  Margaretta  V.,  Emma  A..   William  F.,  and  Herbert  A. 

Politically,  Mr.  Landmann  is  a  Democrat,  holding  the  office  of 
postmaster  under    Cleveland's   first  .Administration.      He   is  a   Council- 


PKTER    G.    ZABKISKIK 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY  349 

man  of  the  boroug'ti,  and  District  Clerk  of  Schools.      He  is  a  inemher  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum. 

CHARLES    C.    BASLKV. 

Charles  C.  Basley  was  born  in  Elizabeth,  X.  J.,  July  27th.  lSf)4. 
His  parents  and  all  his  ancestors,  however,  were  natives  of  Europe. 

Mr.  Basley  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  city  and 
after  leaving-  school  spent  two  years  on  the  sea,  stopping  at  all  seaports 
from  Maine  to  the  Amazon  River.  After  his  return  from  this  voyag^e, 
he  spent  two  years  in  the  west,  and  later  was  for  a  time  engaged  in 
business  in  New  York  city.  At  present  he  is  occupied  in  gardening. 
He  is  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Midland  townshij),  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the   Midland    Republican  Club. 

Mr.  Basley  was  married  on  February  25,  18')1,  by  J.  J.  Brower,  |)as- 
tor  of  the  North  Baptist  Church  ia  West  Eleventh  Street,  New  York 
city.  Mrs.  Basley  is  a  granddaughter  of  ex-sheriff  John  Ackerson,  who 
was  a  brother  of  ex-judge  (iarret  Ackerson.  Two  children  have  b-en 
born  of  this  marriage — one  a  g-irl  of  seven  years  and  the  other  a  boy  of 
a  few  months. 

HKRBKKT    S.    JONES,    M.    n. 

Dr.  Herbert  S.  Jones  of  Oradell  is  a  son  of  William  P.  Jones  a 
shoe  manufacturer  of  South  Sudbury,  Mass.,  and  was  born  November  5, 
1851.  He  was  educated  at  Williston  Seminary  and  at  Yale  Colleg^e, 
spending  three  and  one  half  years  in  classical  work  but  did  not  take  his 
degree.  After  leaving  College  he  immediately  entered  upon  his  profes- 
sional studies  at  the  Homeopathic  Medical  College  in  New  York  city, 
and  upon  the  completion  of  this  course,  opened  an  office  in  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.,  where  he  practiced  two  years.  The  doctor  then  spent  some  time 
in  the  west,  but  returned  to  Oradell  in  1892,  where  he  has  continued  to 
reside,  building  up  a  lucrative  practice.  In  addition  to  his  general  work 
he  is  Medical  examiner  for  the  Prudential  I^ife  Insurance  Company, 
and  also  for  the  Ro^-al  Arcanum. 

In  18S7  Dr.  Jones  was  married  to  Miss  Eveline  Wilson,  daughter  of 
James  Wils(m  of  Elizabeth.     They  attend  the  Reformed  Church. 

JOHN    (',.       DEMAREST. 

John  Ci.  Demarest,  son  of  Garret  D.  Demarest  first  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter,  afterwards  spending  (me  year  in  the  office  of  an 
architect.  In  1890  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Richard  W.  Cooper 
of  New  Milford,  in  the  business  of  building  and  contracting,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Cooper  &  Demarest.  They  are  Architects  and  Builders, 
and  have  built  some  fine  houses  in  Bergen  county. 

Mr.  Demarest  is  president  of  the  Hackensack  Coal  and  Lumber  Co., 
president  of  the  Delford  Land  Co.,  and  also  ])resident  of  the  Delforil 
Sewer  Co. 

He  is  a  Mason  belonging  to  the  Temjjle  I^odge  of  Westwood. 

Mr.  Demarest   was   born   Julv   25,  ISdS.      In    1S')4   he   married    Miss 


350  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COINTV 

Letitia  Onderdonk,  a  daughter  of  Issac  Onderdonk  of  Westwood.     They 
have  one  son,  Alfred. 

THE    COOPEK    FAMILY. 

The  progenitor  of  this  family  was  Richard  Cooper,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  16'»8,  and  who  emigrated  at  a  later  period  from  his  native 
Holland  to  America.  He  became  the  owner  of  an  extensive  tract  of  land 
in  Bergen  county,  purchased  of  the  New  Jersey  proprietors,  and  por- 
tions of  which  are  still  owned  by  his  descendants, — Mrs.  H.  C.  Herring, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Moore,  and  Mrs.  Eleanor  Van  Wagoner.  He  married  Miss 
Catherine  Van  Pelt,  also  of  Holland  descent,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
1700  and  her  death  in  1745,  her  husband  having  survived  until  1753. 
Among  their  children  was  John,  born  July  22,  1731,  who  served  with 
credit  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  as  did  also  his  son  Richard,  both  of 
whom  were  taken  prisoners  and  confined  on  Long  Island. 

John  Cooper  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Maria,  daughter  of 
Rev.  J.  H.  Goetschius,  and  had  the  following  children,  who  grew  to 
mature  years:  Richard,  Mary  (Mrs.  John  Hopper),  Catherine  (Mrs. 
(iarret  Hopper ),  Sally  (Mrs.  Abram  Ackerman).  and  Henry,  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  death  of  Mr.  Cooper  occurred  December  29,  1808.  His 
son,  Richard  J.,  was  born  on  the  ancestral  estate  October  27;  1757,  and 
devoted  himself  to  the  improvement  of  the  landed  property  he  inher- 
ited. He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Ferdon,  to  whom  were 
born  three  children, — John,  Eleanor  (Mrs.  Jacob  Van  Wagoner),  and 
Mar_y  (Mrs  .John  Van  Wagoner).  Richard  J.,  on  his  release  from  im- 
prisonment during  the  war  for  American  independence,  returned  to  his 
home  and  followed  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  8. 
1812.  The  birth  of  his  son  John  occurred  December  1,  1782,  on  the 
homestead,  where  his  whole  life  was  spent.  He  was  married,  February 
4,  1804,  to  Miss  Sally,  daughter  of  David  Campbell,  a  Revolutionary 
patriot,  who  bore  through  life  the  scars  of  many  wounds  received  while 
in  the  service  of  his  country.  Their  children  were  Anne  ( Mrs.  Lucas 
Van  Soun)  born  September  10,  1805;  Hannah  (  Mrs.  B.  P.  Moore),  whose 
birth  occurred  March  31,  1815;  and  Helena  (Mrs.  H.  C.  Herring),  born 
February  17,  1818.  The  children  of  Mrs.  Moore  are  Sarah  Louisa 
( Mrs.  Dr.  S.  J.  Zabriskie ) ;  John  Cooper,  who  served  with  credit  as 
surgeon  during  the  late  civil  war,  with  the  brevet  rank  of  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  died  while  in  service,  in  1865,  at  Clinton,  La.;  Louis,  resid- 
ing at  New  Milford;  Eliza  Ann  (Mrs.  David  H.  Van  Ordan);  Mary 
(Mrs.  Henry  C.  Banta);  and  Helena  (Mrs.  George  Brickell. ) 

John  Cooper  spent  his  whole  life  upon  the  farm,  though  other  busi- 
ness also  engaged  his  attention.  The  offices  of  freeholder,  justice  of 
the  peace,  etc.,  were  frequently  filled  by  him.  He  espoused  with  vigor 
the  principles  of  the  Democracy,  and  never  wavered  from  these  con- 
victions. His  religious  views  were  in  sympathy  with  the  Reformed 
(Dutch)  Church,  Mrs.  Cooper  having  been  a  member  of  the  True  Re- 
formed Church  at  Schraalenburgh. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKOKN    COfNTY  .^51 

The  death  of  Mr.  C.)()])cr  took  phuc  January  15,  1S75,  at  the 
ancestral  home. 

IvMCIIAK'I)  \V.    COOPKlv'. 

Richard  W.  Cooper,  son  of  William  K.  Cooper,  was  born  in  Pierii-en 
county,  November  1st,  1841.  His  father  who  was  a  mason  and  builder, 
was  a  native  of  Berg-en  county,  also.  Mr.  Cooper  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  afterward  learninu-  the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  which  he 
has  continued  to  work  ever  since.  More  than  thirty  years  ago,  he  went 
into  business  for  himself  and  is  now  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Cooper  &  Demarest,  architects  and  builders.  He  is  also  in  the  lumber 
business  at  New  Milford,  is  treasurer  of  the  Hackensack  Lumber  Com- 
panv,  and  associated  with  the  Delford  Land  and  Improvement  Company. 
He  is  a  Democrat,  is  ex-mayor  of  the  Borough  of  Delford,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent a  member  of  the  Board  of  Freeholders. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  married  in  1892  to  Miss  Ella  Christie. 

DANIKI.    lIlvKKlNG. 

Daniel  Herring  an  early  settler  of  Midland  Township,  married  and 
reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  live  sons  and  two  daughters, — Henry, 
Daniel,  Jacob,  John,  Cornelius,  Jane,  and  Tiny.  He  died  September  ?•, 
1784,  aged  eighty  years.  His  wife  (Margaret)  died  October  4,  177'), 
aged  seventy-one  years. 

Jacob,  third  son  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  Herring,  was  also  a  farmer, 
an<l  member  of  the  same  church  as  his  father.  He  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Wilhelmina  Banta,  second  to  Susan  Livingstone,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children — Wilhelmina,  Daniel,  and  Cornelius. 

Jacob's  death  occurred  June  9,  1809,  at  the  age  of  seventy-live  years, 
and  that  of  his  wife  i  Susan  )  April  1,  18.^1,  at  the  age  <if  sixty-seven 
years. 

Cornelius,  son  of  Jacob  and  Susan  i  Livingstone)  Herring,  was  born 
April  10,  1797.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  l)ut  spent  the  greatest  i)orlion 
of  his  life  as  a  farmer. 

He  was  married  Noveml)er  27,  lsl7,  to  Ann  D.  Kiker.  of  New  York 
citv,  who  bore  him  the  following  children:  Henry  C,  James,  Jacob, 
Susan  Ann,  wife  of  John  De  Voe,  of  Rutherford;  Daniel,  John,  Harry, 
Marv  Jane,  wife  of  Dr.  John  Turniure,  of  Schraalenburgh,  N.  J.,  and 
William. 

Of  these,  Henry  C.  was  born  Fel)ruarv  '».  ISl't.  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  During  his  infancy  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Schraalen- 
burgh, N.  J.,  and  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred 
June  19,  1839,  to  Helena,  daughter  of  Joliii  Cooper,  Ksii..  of  New  Mil- 
ford,  Bergen  county. 

He  served  his  townshij)  as  freeholder,  justice  of  the  pe.ice.  etc.,  and 
was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  for  the  years  1874-7.=..  He  was 
vice-president  of  the  Bergen  County  Farmers'  Mutual  I'irr  Insurance 
C(jmpany,  and  an  active  member  of  the  True  Reformed  Church  at 
Schraalenburirh. 


o.-i2  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGHN    COUNTY 

CHAKLES    E.    COLE. 

Charles  E.  Cole,  Steward  of  the  Berg'en  County  Ahnshouse,  and 
son  of  W.  H.  and  Anna  E.  ( Traver )  Cole,  was  born  at  Stanfordville. 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y..  June  (>.  18()().  His  parents  are  also  both  natives 
of  Dutchess  county  where  his  father,  who  was  a  highly  respected  citi- 
zen, was  an  architect  and  builder. 

Mr.  Cole  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Brooklyn  and  also 
at  Croton  Landing-,  N.  Y.  His  business  experience  has  been  somewhat 
varied,  having  been  for  a  considerable  time  engaged  in  the  Fire  Arms 
department  of  E.  Remington  &  Son  of  New  York  city,  and  also  with 
their  successors.  The  Alfred  Ward  Davenport  Co.  Upon  his  retirement 
from  the  employ  of  this  firm,  he  began  the  butchering  business  with  his 
uncle  in  Brooklyn,  continuing  two  years,  subsequently  becoming  asso- 
ciated for  a  time  with  the  Metropolitan  Insurance  Company.  He  then 
removed  to  Bergen  county,  N.  J.,  where  he  became  interested  in  farming 
and  during  a  period  of  six  years  superintended  the  work  of  a  farm. 

In  1895  Mr.  Cole  received  the  appointment  to  his  present  position, 
his  amiable  disposition,  equable  temper,  together  with  his  experience, 
making  him  a  valuable  man  for  the  i)lace.  and  in  which  he  has  given 
entire  satisfaction  to  the  public. 

He  was  married  in  1890  to  Miss  Elnora  S.  Traver,  daughter  of 
Ephraim  Traver  <if  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  In  politics  Mr.  Cole  is  independent, 
giving  his  support  to  the  best  man.  He  and  his  wife  are  Congregation- 
alists. 

H'DGK  hi-:n'kv   h.   vookhis. 

Judge  Henrv  H.  Voorhis  became  a  prominent  citizen  of  Midland 
township  and  spent  his  life  on  the  homestead  where  his  father  Henry  N., 
and  grandfather  Nicholas  both  resided.  For  fifty  years  he  was  active 
as  an  executor  and  administrator  of  estates.  He  was  an  active  sup- 
])orter  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  the  presidency  and  when  the  war 
broke  out  in  1801,  he  became  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Union  Cause. 

In  1835  he  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Peter  D.  Vroom  a  justice, 
of  the  peace,  and  after  serving  for  five  years,  he  was  again  commis- 
sioned a  justice  of  the  peace  by  Governor  Daniel  Haines  in  i843,  and 
served  three  years,  when,  by  the  change  in  the  constitiition  of  the 
State  requiring  that  office  to  be  filled  by  election  by  the  people,  he  was 
elected  to  the  same  office  and  served  for  two  years.  Judge  Voorhis  was 
elected  and  served  in  the  State  Legislature  for  the  years  1848-49;  was 
appointed  master  in  chancery  in  1853,  and  1857  he  was  appointed  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Bergan  County,  and  served  one  term 
of  five  years.  In  1874  he  was  elected  freeholder  of  Midland  township, 
which  position  he  creditably  filled  for  five  years.  Upon  the  construction 
of  the  Midland  Railroad  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  for 
appraising  damages  to  land  passed  through  by  the  road  in  forty-five 
cases,  and  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Bergen  Couaty  Farmers" 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  which  he  was  Secretary. 


HISTOK\     OK    BEKI;KN    COl'NTV  .•'r.l 

JOHN    H.    VOOKHIS. 

Jdhn  H.  "\'oorhis,  son  of  Andrew  A.,  was  born  October  i,  1802.  ;in(l 
belonys  to  another  branch  of  this  same  faniilv.  He  married  Mariah 
Saloma  Schoonmaker,  March  2.>,  1S3(>.  The  result  of  this  union  was 
three  children, — Euphemia.  wife  of  Tliomas  Voorhis,  Elizabeth  i  de- 
ceased I,  and  John  H.  Mr.  \'oorliis  was  a  member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Hackensack,  as  was  also  his  wife.  She  died  March  5. 
1S74. 

John  H.  \'o!)rhis  was  born  March  5,  \S.M,.  He  was  married  Nov- 
ember 23,  1858,  to  Anna  Mariah  daughter  of  Anna  and  Samuel  Demu- 
rest.    Thev  have  had  three  children, — Anna,  Salome,  and  Andrew,  Jr. 

COKNEI.IUS  BOAKD. 

Cornelius  Board  emigrated  to  America  with  his  wife,  Elizabeth  and 
two  scms,  David  and  James,  and  settled  in  Ringwood  afterward  called 
Boardville.  where  he  became  a  large  real  estate  owner.  His  son  David 
succeeded  to  a  large  part  of  his  father's  estate.  His  son  Nathaniel  born 
September  27,  1775,  died  December  31,  1.S42.  He  was  a  participant  in 
what  was  known  as  the  "Whiskey  War",  serving  as  Lieutenant  in  that 
ferocious  escapade  against  the  Whiskey  Boys  of  Kentucky.  He  was 
also  in  the  war  of  1812  being  stationed  for  six  months  at  Sandy  Hook. 
He  served  in  both  branches  of  the  New  Jersev  Legislature  and  was  a 
man  of  good  judgment  and  ability. 

He  was  frequently  sought  after  as  counsellor  amtmg  his  neighbors 
and  townsmen,  and  often  selected  as  executor  and  administrator  of  es- 
tates. His  wife,  Mary  Kingsland,  a  native  of  Morris  county,  bore  him 
the  following  children,  who  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood:  Edmund 
K.,  John  F.,  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Daniel  H.  Bull,  of  Orange  county,  N.  Y., 
Peter,  Eleanor,  (deceased),  was  the  wife  of  James  H.  Bull,  Harriet, 
wife  of  O.  E.  Maltby,  of  New  Haven,  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  John  C.  Zabriskie, 
and  David  J.  Board. 

Peter;  son  of  Nathaniel  Board,  was  born  August  19,  1S0'>,  on  the 
Board  homestead  in  Pompton  township,  where  he  spent  his  early  life 
and  acquired  an  education,  being  prepared  for  college  in  the  Ponijjton 
Academy. 

Turning  his  attention  to  business  for  eight  vears  he  was  a  clerk  in 
general  merchandise  stores  in  the  vicinity  of  his  Inrth  He  married. 
May  .^0,  1833,  Matilda  B.  Zabriskie.  of  Midland  township,  who  has  borne 
him  twf>  children, — Cornelius  Z.  and  Mary  C,  wife  of  John  J.  Zabriskie, 
of  Ridge  way. 

Mr.  Board  s])ent  most  of  his  active  business  life  as  a  farmer; 
was  a  man  of  strcjng  force  of  character,  decided  in  his  opinions,  and  of 
correct  habits.     He  was  honored  by  his  townsmen  with  positions  of  trust. 


chaptp:r  XXV. 
LODI 

GENEKAL    DESCKIPTION — EARLY    SETTLEMENTS — SCHOOLS — EAKLV      HIGH- 
WAYS— ORGAXIZATION — CIVIL     LIST — SOCIETIES,     ORDEKS,    ASSOCIA- 
TIONS— FIRE      DEPARTMENT  —  MANUFACTURING      INTERESTS  — 
CHURCHES — BURIAL    PLACES — HISTORICAL    INCIDENTS    AND 
REMINISCENCES — BOROUGHS     OF      CARLSTADT,      WAI.L- 
INGTON,    WOODKIDGE,    HASBROUCK    HEIGHTS,    LIT- 
TLE FERRY — LODI      VILLAGE     AND     BERGEN 
TOWNSHIP — BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  townshi])  of  Lodi  was  organized  in  1825,  and  at  that  time  con- 
tained about  22,000  acres  of  land,  but  many  changes  have  been  made 
since  then,  the  first  being  the  setting  off  of  the  township  of  Union  in 
1852.  Lodi  was  named  from  a  flourishing  town  of  Italy,  founded  by 
the  Bois,  and  colonized  by  the  father  of  Pompeii  the  Oreat.  Hence  the 
name  of  Laus  Pompeia,  which  was  corrupted  gradually  into  the  cogno- 
men it  bears  at  the  present  time.  Lodi  is  celebrated  for  the  victory  of 
the  French,  under  Bonaparte,  over  the  Austrians,  in  \l')t).  It  is  said 
that  when  Lafayette  was  at  Hackensack,  in  1825,  that  he  suggested  this 
name  for  the  town  of  Lodi  that  his  own  might  not  again  be  brt)ught 
into  such  common  use. 

The  Poliflv  road,  so  named  from  the  bog  meadow  along  which  it 
passes,  is  a  fine  thoroughfare,  built  over  two  hundred  years  ago,  and 
runs  through  the  whole  length  of  the  township.  At  the  time  of  its 
settlement,  the  eastern  part  of  Lodi  township  was  covered  with  a  fine 
growth  of  cedar  timber,  where  now  it  is  overgrown  with  a  coarse  grass, 
which  is  cut  and  stacked  in  the  summer,  but  cannot  be  removed  until 
the  ground  is  frozen  in  the  winter,  so  as  to  admit  of  horses  and  wagons 
being  taken  out  for  this  purpose. 

The  early  settlers  of  Lodi  township  were  principally  Dutch,  many 
of  them  coming  directly  from  Holland,  while  others  were  descendants 
of  various  families  located  in  different  parts  of  New  Jersey  and  New 
York.  Captain  John  Berry  is  said  to  have  been  the  original  owner  of 
all  the  land  in  Lodi.  This  land  was  obtained  by  grant  from  Governor 
Carteret  in  \i>(i').  The  Kipps  or  De  Kypes,  as  they  then  spelled  the 
name,  came  originally  from  France,  but  immediately  from  Holland  in 
1()35,  coming  about  1()85  to  the  township  of  Lodi,  where  Hendrick  in 
time  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on  the  Poliflv  road.  The  Van 
Bussum  family  is  known  to  have  lived  on  the  old  homestead  as  early  as 
Revolutionary  times,  but  it  is  not  certain  at  what  date  they  located 
there.  Theodore  Van  Idestine  who  was  the  first  of  the  name  to 
emigrate  to  America,  came  from  Holland  in  1700,  his  son  I'eter  some 
time  later  coming  to  Lodi,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  on  the  Passaic  river.  The  Romaines  came  from  New  Barbadoes 
about  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  and  purchased  about  one 


HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  355 

hundred  acres  nf  land,  ^vith  mill  site  and  water  privileges  <>n  the  Saddle 
River.  The  Demarest  family  came  to  Lodi  township  in  the  last  century', 
although  they  had  been  in  New  Jersey  since  about  lh76.  Upon  coming 
here,  the  first  of  the  name,  Stephen  Demarest.  purchased  a  homestead 
of  about  one  hundred  acres  on  the  Polifly  road. 

The  island  of  Moonachie  was  purchased  by  three  men,  one  of  whom 
was  Thomas  Francis  Outwater,  who  came  here  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  where  his  descendants  still  remain.  The  Terhune 
familv  is  a  prominent  one,  but  it  is  not  known  at  what  time  thev  located 
here.  George  Briukerhoff  the  first  of  this  family  in  Lodi  township, 
came  from  Holland  in  the  latter  i)art  of  the  seventeenth  century.  He 
purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  where  the  village  of  Woodridge 
now  stands.  Walling  Van  Winkle,  a  Hollander,  was  the  owner  of  a 
farm  of  five  hundred  acres,  near  the  city  of  Passaic.  His  deed  granting 
him  the  land,  is  signed  in  Holland  script,  dated  17.34.  Ji.o')  Hopper  also 
bought  a  farm  of  five  hundred  acres,  extending  from  the  Pidifly  road  to 
the  Saddle  River. 

The  people  of  Lodi  have  shown  their  thrift  and  enterprise  in  the 
building  of  good  roads,  the  Polifly  being  the  first  and  also  the  longest. 
The  other  roads  leading  into  this  from  Passaic,  Saddle  River  and  other 
adjoining  territory,  were  built  at  an  earh-  date  and  afforded  an  outlet  to 
the  settlers  of  this  township.  The  road  from  Passaic  through  Carlstadt 
to  Moonachie  was  completed  in  or  about  181(),  while  the  Paterson  and 
Jersev  Citv  Plank  road,  was  finished  about  four  years  later  and  the 
Hackensack  and  Paterson  road  in  182(>.  In  IS.^0,  the  road  from  the  vil- 
lage of  Lodi  to  the  Polifly  road  was  opened.  The  New  Jersey  &  New 
York  railroad  now  runs  through,  connecting  it  with  Jersey  City  and 
other  parts  of  the  State.  The  trolley  road  from  Arlington  to  Carlstadt 
through  Rutherford  was  opened  in  1897,  and  connects  Lodi  with  New- 
ark. The  Paterson  and  Hoboken  trolley  also  touches  Carlstadt,  thus 
giving  Lodi  the  benefit  of  traffic  with  important  points  in  all  directions. 

Schools  have  been  organized  and  utilized  in  accordance  with  the 
times.  The  various  districts  have  been  more  or  less  changed  from  time 
to  time  to  keep  pace  with  the  growth  and  demands  of  the  localities  in 
which  thev  are  situated.  As  late  as  ]S4(i.  the  townshij)  had  but  two 
schools  and  about  fifty  sch(dars.  Since  that  time  a  great  change  has 
been  effected  both  in  Iniildings  and  the  number  of  pupils  as  well  as  in  the 
efficiency  of  the  schools.  Woodridge  District  erected  its  first  building  as 
early  as  1801  on  land  owned  liy  John  W.  Berry.  This  house  was  Imiltof 
stone,  one  story  high  and  twenty-five  by  tv.enty  leel.  in  extent.  The 
first  teacher  was  Patrick  Dillon,  '['he  district  was  about  four  and  one- 
half  miles  long  by  three  miles  broad.  A  new  housi-  was  nt'edi'd  in  1S4.^. 
when  ground  was  purchas„'d  from  Philip  Berry,  Jr.,  and  a  l.iry-e  l)uilding 
erected.  This  was  accomjjlished  under  the  supervision  of  the  "Mount 
Pleasant  New  School  Association,"  the  district  conii)rising  Rutherford 
Park,  Carlstadt,  Woodridge,  Corona,  Hasbrouck  Heights.  Moonachie  and 
East  Passaic.      In    1S7.>  this  building  gave  jflace  to  a  more  modern  and 


356  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

commndious  structure.  From  time  to  time,  it  became  necessary  to  divide 
the  districts  in  order  to  accommodate  the  growing  number.  What 
became  known  as  the  Moonachie  District  opened  its  tirst  school  in  the 
kitchen  of  Peter  Allen,  where  it  was  conducted  during  the  winter  months 
only,  the  first  teacher  being  Thomas  Stephenson.  The  first  building 
was  erected  in  1832,  and  had  long  desks  and  slab  seats.  This  house  did 
service  forty  years,  when  it  was  replaced  by  a  fine  modern  structure. 

The  school  in  the  village  of  Lodi,  had  a  small  beginning  of  only 
twelve  scholars,  in  a  little  house  seventeen  feet  by  twenty,  and  furnished 
with  long  desks  and  slab  seats.  Nicholas  Terhune  was  the  first  teacher. 
In  1853.  a  new  house  became  necessary.  The  first  house  was  on  the  farm 
of  Jacob  H.  Hopper,  but  the  last  one  was  on  land  donated  by  Robert 
Rennie.      Mr.  Merritt  was  the  first  teacher. 

When  Carlstadt  was  organized  in  1S53,  it  contained  a  part  of  the 
most  southerly  district  of  the  township,  and  in  1865,  it  became  necessar}- 
to  secure  more  commodious  quarters  when  they  purchased  four  lots  and 
erected  a  two  story  building  with  a  frontage  of  twenty-five  feet  and 
thirty-two  feet  deep,  adding  a  hall  sixteen  by  ten  feet.  In  1874  they 
built  an  annex  to  this,  sixty-two  by  thirty-two  feet,  at  a  cost  of  over 
eight  thousand  dollars.  This  serves  to  show  how  rapidly  the  township 
developed  in  substantial  directions. 

The  Little  Ferry  District  was  formed  in  1875,  when  they  secured 
ground  and  built  a  brick  building  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  hundred  dol- 
lars. The  school  was  opened  on  November  29,  with  Miss  Brinkerhoff  of 
Hackensack  as  teacher  and  an  enrollment  of  thirty-two  pupils  recorded. 

*  HISTORICAL    INCIDENTS    .\ND    REMINISCENCES. 

Earlv  in  the  history  of  New  Jersey  Captain  John  Berry,  gentleman; 
received  a  grant  of  all  the  land  lying  between  the  Boiling  Spring  at 
Rutherford,  the  Passaic  River,  Saddle  River,  Cherry  Hill,  and  the 
Hackensack  River.  This  grant  included  the  land  within  the  present 
township  of  Lodi.  It  is  probable  that  Captain  Berry  built  the  Poli- 
fly  road,  the  oldest  in  the  township,  expecting  to  sell  the  land  ad- 
joining it  for  farms  and  building  lots.  He  parceled  out  his  land  on  the 
west  side  of  this  road  into  sections,  extending  back  to  the  Passaic 
River  and  Saddle  River.  The  buyers  of  these  were  the  ancestors  of 
manv  of  the  present  leading  citizens  of  Lodi  township. 

The  proximitv  of  Lodi  township  to  the  camping-ground  of  the 
Hessians  during  the  Revolution  rendered  the  inhabitants  subject  to 
manv  depredations  on  the  part  of  the  latter.  The  district  of  Moonachie 
was  nearlv  depopulated  on  account  of  the  ravages  of  bands  of  Hes- 
sians from  New  York.  There  is  scarcely  a  representative  of  an 
old  family  in  Lodi  township  who  cannot  relate  harrowing  tales  of  hun- 
ger, flight  by  night,  burying  of  valuables  in  the  earth,  told  him  by  his 
grandsire  from  persimal  experience  during  the  struggle  for  inde])endence 
one  hundred  years  ago. 

At  the  old  Hopper  homestead  on  the   Polifly  road  a  division  of  sol- 

'Kr.iin  Hi-liHA  of  Hi-ij;eii  and  Passaic  Counties. 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGK.V    COUNTY  .  357 


(Hers  made  themselves  at  hume  tor  a  nuinlier  of  weeks,  the  officers  sleep- 
iiiir  in  the  house,  and  the  eominoii  soldiers  under  the  trees  in  the  orchard 
immediately  back  of  the  house.  One  nig-ht  Mrs.  Hopper  was  awakened 
from  her  slumbers  by  a  noise  among  the  pigs  in  the  pig-pens.  Mrs. 
Hopper  at  t)nce  aroused  the  officers  and  requested  them  to  investigate 
the  causes  of  the  disturbance.  They  thereupon  ran  out  into  the  dark- 
ness in  the  direction  of  the  sounds  and  discovered  one  of  their  own  men 
in  the  act  of  carrying  off  a  struggling  pig.  Considering  the  miscreant 
as  a  poacher  on  their  own  preserves,  the  officers  flogged  him  soseverelv 
that  neither  he  nor  any  of  his  comrades  ever  afterwards  repeated  the 
experiment.  It  is  not  related  whether  Mrs.  Hopper's  pleasure  at  the 
rescue  was  of  long  duration,  but  it  is  probable  that  His  Majesty's  officers 
had  as  keen  an  appetite  for  pork  as  their  subordinates,  and  that  the  pigs 
were  soon  a  thing  of  the  past. 

The  Hessians  made  many  expeditions  into  Moonachie,  and  on  such 
occasions  were  accustomed  to  fire  into  dwelling  houses  regardless  of  the 
danger  to  the  lives  of  women  and  cliildren.  ( )n  one  of  their  raids  thev 
stabbed  in  the  back  and  killed  old  Abraham  Allen  as  he  was  trying  to 
escape  from  them.  A  single  incident  worthy  of  note  occurred  here  in 
the  Revolution.  A  party  of  Hessians  had  stolen  all  the  cows  for  miles 
around,  and  ^j'ere  driving  them  to  their  boat  on  the  Hackensack,  followed 
bv  a  band  of  angry  farmers.  Arriving  there  they  found  to  their  dismay 
the  tide  low  and  their  boat,  on  which  they  intended  to  embark,  high  and 
dry.  The  cattle  were  at  once  abandoned.  Many  of  the  Hessians  were 
killed  by  shots  from  their  pursuers,  or  drowned  in  attempting  to  swim 
the  river.  The  ammunition  of  the  farmers  gave  out  after  a  few  shots, 
or  not  one  of  the  plunderers  would  have  escaped. 

William  Berry  a  descendant  of  John  Berry  settled  near  the  village 
of  Carlstadt,  where  he  owned  considerable  real  estate,  and  settled  a 
homestead,  which  has  been  in  the  family  since,  a  period  of  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years. 

His  children  were  John,  born  in  IT.^d;  Albert,  born  in  175');  Marv, 
born  in  17f)l;  Jane,  born  in  17f>,^;  Albert  (2).  born  in  ]7(i();  Elizabeth, 
born  in  177(1;  John  W.,  1)orn  in  1772:  Sarah,  born  in  177.^;  and  Kleanor. 
liorn  in  1  77(i. 

<)f  these  children.  John  W.  Herry,  of  Moonachie,  resided  ujion  the 
homestead  during  his  life,  dying  February'*,  1S5'>.  He  lived  in  the  old 
house  by  theloA'  lands  until  1825,  when  he  built  on  or  near  its  site  a 
stone  house,  which  was  burned  in  1873.  His  wile,  whom  In-  married 
February  2.^,  17'»4,  was  Elizabeth  Terhune,  who  was  born  (  )ctober  I'l. 
177,\  and  died  May  .^l.  1S57.  'i'lie  children  of  this  union  were  I'^liza- 
beth,  wife  of  Cornelius  Banta,  William,  Ste])hen,  Albert.  Sarah,  wife  of 
Nichidas  Terhune,  Stephen  i2i,  Letitia,  wife  of  John  II.  Ackerman. 
Mary,  wife  of  Enoch  BrinkerholT,  and  J<din  I. 

Originally  the  area  of  the  townshi])  of  Lodi  was  large  but  within 
recent  years  one  townshi]!  and  six  boroughs  hawlieen  fornu'd  from  it' 
territory  leaving  but  a  remnant  that  formerly  belonged  to  it.      Like  that 


358  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

of  the  township  of  Bergen  it  has  been  almost  contracted  to  death.  Con- 
tinual secessions  have  tinallv  forced  its  area  within  a  small  com])ass. 
The  Moonachie  road  on  the  south  and  that  of  Calico  or  Turkey  Neck 
on  the  north  togfether  with  the  Hackensack  plank  road,  and  line  running- 
parallel  with  the  old  Poliflv  road  about  one  thousand  feet  east  of  the 
railroad- stand  for  its  east  and  west  boundary  lines,  with  the  Little  Ferry 
boroug-h  left  out,  is  all  that  remains  of  this  once  large  and  important 
township.  In  justice,  however,  it  must  be  stated,  that  Lodi  township 
with  its  Philippine  Colony  of  "Lodi  Park'",  in  the  vicinity  of  Garfield, 
is  one  of  the  townships  in  existence,  that  has  use  for  a  foreign  policy. 
Its  official  vote  of  November,  18')8,  was  seventy-one. 

CIVIL    LIST. 

There  are  no  records  of  elections  previous  to  1  8h2,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  freeholders,  which  are  given  since  the  organization  of  the  town- 
ship. 

1.S27,  Henry  W.  Kingsland,  Joseph  Budd;  '28,  William  C.  Kings- 
land;  "28-29,  Samuel  H.  Berry;  '29-30,  Henry  P.  Kipp;  '.>0  Abraham  I. 
Berry;  '31-.32,  Cornelius  G.  Brinkerhoff;  '31-32,  '37,  Michael  Van 
Winkle;  '33-34,  '38-39,  (George  Kingsland,  Peter  H.  Kipp;  '35,  John  A. 
Berry;  '35-3(>.  Richard  Cutwater;  '3(),  Martin  Romeyn;  '37,  Peter  A. 
Kipp;  '40-43,  David  E.  Van  Bussum;  '40-42,  Jacob  J.  Brinkerhoff;  '43-45 
'54-56,  Richard  Berdan;  '44-46,  Jacob  H.  Hopper;  '46-48,  Enoch  I  \'ree- 
land;  '47-49,  '52-53,  John  Huyler;  '49-.S1,  "5()-58.  David  Ackerman;  '50-51, 
James  L.  Van  Winkle;  '52-54,  Enoch  Hopper;  '57-59,  James  J.  Brink- 
erhoff; '59-61-64,  Daniel  Romaine;  '60-()2,  Abraham  K.  Ackerman;  '62, 
63,  Abraham  Kipp;  '63,  John  P.  Outwater;  '64-(.(>.  Geo.  W.  Conklin;  '6(), 
Richard  Terhune;  '67,  Walling  Kipp;  68,  John  Richard  Vreeland; 
'68-69,  Isaac  H.  Schoonmaker;  '69-74,  John  Van  Bussam;  '70  Henry 
Kipp;  '75-77,  Theodore  F.  Muehling;  '78-83,  John  F'eitner;  '83-87,  Max 
Mathe;  '87-93;  John  H.  Outwater;  '93-99,  John  Van  Bussam;  '9<»,  James 
W.  Mercer. 

MOON.VCHIE. 

To  a  district  of  excellent  farming  land,  al)out  one  mile  southeast 
of  Little  Ferry,  and  two  miles  to  the  west  of  Carlstadt,  is  given  the 
name  of  Moonachie.  It  was  so  named  in  memory  of  Moonachie,  the 
chief  of  a  tribe  of  Indians,  a  branch  of  the  Six  Nations,  who  occupied 
this  region.  Over  two  hundred  years  ago  Thomas  Francis  Outwater,  a 
Mr.  Brinkerhoff,  and  a  Mr.  Kipp  bought  the  so-called  island  of  Moon- 
achie of  Captain  John  Berry,  paying  seven  hundred  pounds  for  it.  This 
"island"  was  located  between  Berry's  Creek,  Indian  Path,  Losing 
Creek,  and  the  Hackensack  River;  The  Indians  who  peopled  it  at  that 
time  were  said  to  be  very  friendly  to  the  whites.  The  land  was  covered 
with  valuable  cedar  timber  till  within  a  few  years.  Moonachie  was 
for  a  time  known  as  Peach  Island,  on  account  of  the  large  quantities  of 
peaches  produced  here.  This  name  is  no  longer  applicable,  as  scarcely 
a  peach-tree  can  now  l)e  found  in  this  region.  Just  at  the.  junction  of 
.Moonachie   with  the  township  of  Union  is  located   a  hotel,   known   as 


HISTORY    UK    BICKCEN    COUNTY  3j9 

the  Half-Way  House.  It  has  long  marked  the  point  of  bisection  of  the 
Paterson  phiuk-road  from  Paterson  to  Jersey  City.  The  people  of  Moon- 
achie  are  generally  farmers,  their  principal  production  being  garden 
products,  which  they  sell  in  the  markets  of  New  York  and  Jersey  City. 
A  Baj)tist  chapel  was  built  here  in  1871  at  a  cost  of  about  one 
thousand  dollars.  This  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  A.  Mc- 
Kean,  in  the  church  at  Rutherford  Park.  After  a  few  years  this  was 
abandoned  by  the  Baptists  and  at  present  the  Presbyterians  and  Luther- 
ans are  occupying  the  house. 

THE    VII.I..\GE    OF    LITTLE    KEKKV. 

The  village  of  Little  Ferry  occupies  the  northeastern  portion  of 
the  old  township  of  Lodi.  It  has  always  been  an  isolated  part  of  that 
township,  aside  from  its  legislative  restrictions  and  naturally  sought 
independence  through  the  formation  of  a  borough.  Brickmaking  is  the 
only  industrv  and  the  facilities  for  the  shipping  of  this  product  by  water 
are  excellent.  The  borough  has  a  population  of  about  fifteen  hundred 
people.  Its  official  vote  for  November  1898  was  one  hundred  and  fifty. 
James  Pickens  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  village  came  there  a  few 
years  before  the  civil  war,  and  under  his  influence  the  private  school 
system  was  changed  into  the  public  one.  They  now  have  a  commodious 
school  building  and  employ  five  teachers.  The  house  was  erected  about 
1878,  Mr.  Pickens  also  fostered  the  religious  influences  of  the  place, 
establishing  a  flourishing  Sabbath  school  which  resulted  in  the  building 
of  a  house  oi  worship,  the  corner  stone  of  which  was  laid  on  Easter  day 
April  2,  1899.  Mr.  Pickens  kept  the  tollgate  and  had  the  post  ofiice 
from  1873  until  his  death  in  1896. 

The  first  brick  yards  in  Little  Ferry  were  owned  b}-  Shower  &  Cole 
in  1872.  This  enterprise,  however,  did  not  prove  successful,  and  the 
business  soon  passed  into  the  hands  of  John  Thume.  He  in  turn  was 
succeeded  in  a  short  time  by  the  Mehrhofs  in  1877.  Since  then  this  in- 
dustry has  thriven.  The  buildings  in  which  the  bricks  are  burned, 
have  been  enlarged,  and  new  appliances  have  been  added  until  to-day 
the  industrv  is  next  to  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States. 

For  a  term  of  years  the  business  was  carried  (m  under  the  name  of 
.Mehrhof  Brothers  Manufacturing  Company,  the  officers  being  Nicholas 
.Mehrhof,  president;  Peter  Mehrhof,  treasurer;  Philij)  Mehrhof,  secretary. 
The  plant  went  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  in  1S9.=;,  but  the  i)roperty 
was  leased  from  the  Hackensack  Bank  and  ojieraled  since,  under  the 
name  of  Mehrhof  Brick  Company.  Last  year  they  manufactured  two 
million  two  hundred  thousand  brick,  and  eni])loye(l  about  two  hundred 
men. 

The  inii)etus  given  tliis  industry  in  l^ittle  j-'erry  \>y  the  .Mehrhof 
Brothers  brought  other  manufacturers  to  the  place.  James  W.  (iillies. 
The  Gardner  Brothers,  Charles  Walsh,  Edward  Snmlto,  I.  &  W.  Felter, 
each  of  which  companies  have  established  plants,  the  total  output 
beinuf  about  one  hundred  million  bricks  annually. 


360  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Philip  Mehrhof  started  business  in  1896  with  a  ten  years  lease  on  a 
plant  formerly  owned  by  B.  L.  W.  Hanfeld.  He  employs  thirty-five 
men,  and  his  yard  has  a  capacity  of  five  million  annually,  N.  Mehrhof 
&  Son  have  a  capacity  of  ten  million  and  eni])loy  seventy-five  men. 
They  organized  in  ISSl. 

I.  &  W.  Felter  org-anized  in  1886.  Walsh,  Gardner  Brother  and 
James  W.  (lillies  each  started  their  yards  in  1884-'85. 

The  Borough  of  Little  Ferry  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1894, 
the  first  election  of  officers  having  been  held  in  November  of  that  year. 
The  first  officers  were  :  James  Pickens,  Mayor;  Samuel  Hanson,  Charles 
Kiel,  (reorge  D.  Mehrhof,  Louis  Bausbach,  J.  Adams  Eckel,  Jacob  Vogt, 
Council;  E.  M.  Mehrhof,  Clerk;  Silas  B.  Gardner,  Assessor;  J.  Irvin 
Pickens,  Collector.  Irvin  Felter  was  the  second  mayor  and  was  follow- 
ed in  March  i899  by  the  present  officers  :  J.  Adam  Eckel,  Mayor;  Wil- 
liam Kingsley,  Clerk;  Samuel  Hanson,  Charles  Kiel,  Abram  Derunde, 
Jacob  Vogt,  Louis  Bausbach,  Hugh  H.  Eckel,  C(nmcil;  Abram  Woods, 
Assessor;  August  Werkhaus,  Collector. 

THE    MEHRHOF    BROTHERS. 

The  Mehrhof  Brothers  were  the  founders  of  the  brick  making  indus- 
try of  Little  Ferry.  ]>road  minded,  comprehensive  men,  filled  with  pub- 
lic spirited  motives,  it  became  a  matter  of  easy  solution  for  them  tn 
inaugurate  the  business  they  have  so  successfully  carried  on  in  that  part 
of  the  county. 

Philip,  the  father  of  this  family,  left  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  in 
1841,  for  America,  locating  at  Croton  Point  where  he  continued  business 
for  some  years  as  an  architect.  He  finally  moved  to  a  farm  in  Oneida 
county.  New  York,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1S()9.  The  three  sons,  Nicholas,  Peter  and  Philip,  were  all  born  in  Hesse 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  the  oldest  in  18.^0,  Peter  in  1836  and  Philip  in  1839. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  Nicholas  and  his  two  brothers  in  company 
with  their  sister  and  mother,  sailed  for  America.  This  was  in  1844,  and 
almost  immediately  the  brothers  began  their  career,  the  brick  making 
industry,  working  for  A.  Underbill.  In  1856  Nicholas  Mehrhof  became 
superintendent  of  Mr.  Underbill's  yard  and  remained  in  that  ca])acity 
until  1877,  when  he  came  here.  He  married  Hester  Ann  Oakley,  of 
Croton  Point,  and  lives  in  Hackensack. 

Peter  Mehrhof  was  the  first  to  come  to  I^ittle  Ferry.  While  in  New 
York  state  he  spent  i)art  of  the  time  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  and 
upon  his  arrival  here  in  1871  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
of  land  which  was  the  beginning  of  their  business  at  this  place.  Mr. 
Peter  Mehrhof  has  filled  several  offices  in  his  town,  having  held  that  of 
town  committeeman  nine  years,  and  township  treasurer  seven  years.  He 
has  been  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Eh'eline  Dodd.  His 
])res^'nt  wife  was  a  Miss  Dick. 

rnil.II'    MKHKHOF 

Philip  Mehrhof,  the  well-known  brick  manufacturer,  at  Little 
Ferry,  was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  January  23,  183'».  When 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKC;EN    COUNTY  361 

four  years  old  his  father,  Niehnhis  Mehrhof,  came  to  America  and  lo- 
cated eventually  at  Crotou  Point,  N.  Y.,  f^oing  subsequently  on  a  farm 
in  Oneida  county,  where  he  died  in  1S()').  He  was  an  architect,  formerly, 
but  au  agriculturist  in  later  years.  Young  Philip  attended  school  until 
sixteen  years  of  age,  working  in  the  summer  at  the  brick  making  indus- 
try. When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  began  the  manufacture  of  staves 
l\>r  barrels  for  the  Syracuse  lumber  market,  but  two  years  thereafter 
returned  to  Crotou  Landing,  where  he  managed  the  brick  yard  of  Harris 
H.  Cox,  for  nine  years.  Following  this  came  two  years'  foremanship  for 
Orrin  Frost's  brick  3'ard  in  New  York  city,  and  two  years  more  in  the 
same  position  at  Croton  Point,  and  in  1.S75  he  came  to  Little  Ferry, 
where  he  commenced,  on  a  larger  scale  than  ever,  with  his  brothers, 
and  with  whom  he  C(jntinued  until  1S')5,  when  he  started  business  on  his 
own  account. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1S()2,  Mr.  Mehrhof  was  married  to  Margaret 
Hare,  of  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  and  with  whom  he  lived  thirty-two  years,  when 
she  died.  Two  years  later  he  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Hunniken, 
daughter  of  John  Marshall,  of  Ridge tield  Park,  N.  J.,  the  well-known 
florist  and  nurseryman,  of  that  place. 

Mr.  Mehrhof  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  loves  a  good  horse  and  is  fond  of 
yachting.      He  has  a  delightful  home. 

BEKGEN    TOWNSHIP. 

The  old  township  of  Bergen  was  important  in  territorial  area  in 
this  history  of  the  county,  and  in  tradition.  The  new  Bergen  town- 
ship is  now  but  a  patch  of  meadow  land  of  very  small  extent,  lying 
opposite  Woodbridge  just  east  of  the  old  P(difly  road  ha\ing  at  this 
time  only  dl  official  votes.  It  is,  therefore,  the  smallest  townshii)  in  the 
county. 

Originally,  howerer  it  was  made  to  include  the  town  of  Carlstadt, 
Woodridge,  Wallington  and  Moonachie,  and  the  voters  of  the  old  town- 
ship are  still  entitled  to  a  freeholder.  It  was  created  a  turnpike  at  the 
time  Mr.  (ieorge  Zimmermannwas  in  the  Legislature,  and  was  organized 
on  March  18,  1893,  and  in  Zimmermann's  hotel  two  days  after  organiz- 
ing the  following  officers  of  the  town  were  elected.  Town  Clerk,  Alfred 
(iramlich;  Assessor,  Adolph  Kruger;  Collector,  (ieorge  Zimmerniann; 
Freeholder,  Frantz  Fritsch;  Town  Committee,  John  McMahon,  J.  F. 
Feitner,  F.  Kohbertz.  Mr.  Fritsch  has  l)een  freeholder  of  the  town  six 
years. 

The  i)resent  officers  are:  Chosen  Freeholder,  Adolph  Kruger;  Col- 
lector ,  Charles  Beck;  Town  Committee:  Alfred  Harry,  Peter  La  Place, 
Joseph  Linden;  Assessor,   Pius  Crueter;  Clerk,  Ch;irles  Link. 

\'ir,LAGES    .\ND   HAMLICTS. 

The  village  of  Carlstadt  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  county,  having 
a  po])ulation  of  2200  based  upon  the  last  official  vote  which  was  4S(».  The 
land  on  which  it  stands  is  laid  out  in  rectangles  bounded  by  streets.  l-"orm- 
erlv  the  village  was  called  Tailor  Town  from  the   fact  that  nianv  of  the 


362  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN     COUNTY  • 

inhal)it;ints  bntli  men  and  women  were  engag^ed  in  sewing-  for  New  York 
tailors.  In  1.S51  the  land  here,  was  purchased  of  John  Earl  by  a  society 
of  workmen,  knovvti  as  the  German  Democratic  Land  Association.  In 
1855  there  were  only  two  stores,  now  there  are  more  than  a  score.  The 
villag-e  of  Carlstadt  is  largely  engaged  in  manufacturing,  nearly  half  of 
its  population  beingemployed  in  its  various  factories.  In  1893  Carlstadt 
became  a  part  of  Bergen  township  and  in  1894  it  was  organized  into  a 
borough  with  John  Oehler  as  its  first  mayor.  George  Zimmermann  was 
next  elected  to  that  office  and  by  common  consent  has  held  that  position 
ever  since.  Through  interests  best  calculated  to  promote  the  growth  of 
the  village,  since  its  organization  into  a  borough,  three  annexations 
have  been  made,  one  of  which  was  the  extension  of  its  territory  to  in- 
clude that  of  theMoonachie  district.  The  other  addition  extends  to  the 
short  cut  railroad  in  the  other  direction,  while  the  third  was  to  present 
boundary  line  between  this  village  and  that  of  Woodridge. 

In  Carlstadt  the  name  of  the  buildings,  the  hotel  signs  and  the  ad- 
vertisements are  largely  in  the  German  language,  which  is  used  almost 
exclusively  in  the  pulpit,  the  school  and  the  family. 

The  social  spirit  of  this  people  is  maintained  in  a  variety  of  asso- 
ciations. About  the  year  1872  a  dramatic  club  was  organized  to  which 
the  name  "Concordia"  was  given.  Its  membership  is  large,  and  it 
meets  in  a  hall  decorated  with  emblems  appropriate  to  the  character  of 
the  exercises. 

About  1880  an  Odd  Fellows  lodge  was  organized  with  Charles  Fo- 
wald  as  the  first  N.  G.  and  John  Bedenkopf  as  secretary.  It  was 
named  after  the  illustrious  German  poet,  Wieland  Lodge,  and  is  No. 
113  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  of  New  Jersey. 

The  Fire-Department  of  this  village  is  well  equipped  with  engine. 
truck  and  hose.  It  was  organized  in  1872,  and  is  under  a  governing 
power  of  a  Board  of  Commissioners. 

The  present  postmaster  of  the  village  is  Jacob  H.  LTllman. 

Following  is  a  sketch  of  Carlstadt  by  Hermann  Foth,  first  ])ub- 
lished  in  the  "Illustrated  Rutherford,"  and  reprinted  here  by  per- 
mission. 

CAKLSTADT. 

"The  village  of  Carlstadt,  known  to  many  readers  of  the  New  York 
Dailies  as  "the  beautiful  little  German  Village  on  the  hill,"  is  situated 
upon  the  ridge  of  land  separating  the  Hackensack  and  Passaic  valleys, 
ten  miles  northwest  from  the  post  office  in  New  York  city,  within 
twenty  minutes'  ride  by  the  Naw  Jersey  &  New  York,  and  New  York, 
Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroads.  Looking  from  the  ridge  towards  the 
south  gives  a  splendid  view  of  the  New  York  Bay  and  Statue  of  Liberty 
and  towards  the  north,  of  the  beautiful  Passaic  valleys  including  the 
city  of  Passaic  and  the  Orange  mountains  in  the  back  ground. 

A  number  of  German  residents  of  New  York  city  most  of  whom 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  to  exercise  political  liberty,  and  who  de- 
sired more  healthv  and  comfortable  homes  in  the  country  formed  in  1851 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  363 

an  association  known  as  the  (lerman  Duniocratic  Land  Association. 
The  urirjinization  was  perfected  A])ril  27,  1.SS3  with  the  following-  offi- 
cers: President,  Carl  Klein;  Vice-President,  Alexander  Lang-;  Treas- 
urer, Ignatz  Kappner.  The  latter  was  a  Polish  refugee  and  accom- 
panied Kossuth  from  his  home  to  Constantinople  and  thence  to  tliis 
country.  Other  prominent  founders  were  Lewis  Foth,  John  Ructtinger, 
Frederick  Merkel,  Charles  Treppke,  William  Maass,  Valentine  Dietrich, 
Henry  Dechert,  John,  Jacob  and  Joseph  Fortenbach  and  Charles 
Trassbach. 

The  Association  after  searching  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  for 
suitable  property  for  a  village  settlement  resolved  to  purchase  from  John 
L.  Earle,  executor  of  the  Abraham  L  Berry  estate,  the  present  site  of 
Carlstadt.     They  bought  140  acres  for  S16,0(IU. 

The  land  was  divided  into  three  sections,  and  each  section  sub- 
divided into  lots.  Each  of  the  240  members  received  seven  lots  bv  allot- 
ment, two  on  the  highest  part  of  the  ridge,  two  below  the  ridge  and 
three  in  the  lowlands,  at  a  cost  of  $70. 

Papers  of  incorporation  were  executed  February  24,  1S.S4.  The 
projector  of  the  village  was  Dr.  Carl  Klein,  and  in  honor  of  him  the  vil- 
lage was  named  Carlstadt.  After  the  settlement  here  numerous  other 
organizations  purchased  adjoining  tracts  of  land  and  laid  them  out  in 
building  lots  constituting  the  villages  of  New  Carlstadt,  Woodridge, 
Hasbrouck  Heights  and  Boiling  Springs,  and  this  has  been  without 
doubt  the  cause  of  the  prosperity  of  the  present  thriving-  Borough  of 
Rutherford. 

Carlstadt  is  compactly  built,  all  parts  of  it  being  within  tivo  minutes 
walk  of  the  depot  of  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Railroad,  and  within 
fifteen  minutes  of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western  Railroad. 
Twenty-six  trains  stop  at  Carlstadt  daily ;  on  Sundays  there  are  ten 
trains,  and  the  accommodations  on  the  N.  Y.  L.  E.  and  W.  R.  R.  are 
more  extensive,  there  being  twenty-eight  trains  each  way  daily,  and  six- 
teen trains  each  way  on  Sundays.  Monthly  commutation  tickets  are  sold 
tm  both  railroads  at  $5.35,  and  fifty  trip  family  tickets  at  $7.50. 

The  growth  of  the  town  has  been  g-radual  and  steady,  its  present 
population  is  between  2500  and  3000.  The  inhabitants  are  a  progres- 
sive and  industrious  class,  and  the  town  presents  a  thriving  New-Eng- 
land-like appearance. 

Its  chief  industries  in  the  way  of  manufacturing  are:  S.  Klaber  cSL- 
CiK.  .Marble  and  Onyx  Works.  It  might  be  mefitioned  here  that  they 
do  <|uite  some  of  Tiffany  &  Co.'s  work,  and  build  some  of  the  linest 
(vnvx  and  marble  church  pulpits.  Justus  Nehler,  manufacturer  of 
ladies' shoes.  Watch  Case,  S])ring  &  Tool  Co.,  are  manufacturers  of 
watch  case  springs.  The  Silk  Controller  Manufacturing  Co.,  Charles 
H.  Levy  &  Herman  Schultze,  proprietors.  This  com])any  has  been 
recently  organized  and  has  bright  prosi)ects  for  success.  The  \'iiK  an 
Hardware  Co.,  manufacturers  of  wire  gauges.  August  (ierecke  is  presi- 
dent,      (k'bhardt    Fritsch's    wax  bleacherv    and   niainifajturv     of     lin- 


3(>4  HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

decorated  \va.\  candles  f(ir  church  purposes.  Theodore  Muehlins^'  manu- 
facturer of  seg'ars. 

Other  industries  are  the  manufactuie  of  artificial  ffowers  and  mak- 
ing' of  ladies'  white  g-oods. 

In  1854  only  two  stores  existed,  which  have  since  increased  to  a 
considerable  number  and  now  supply  the  neighboring-  smaller  towns.- 

Carlstadt  is  supplied  with  water  by  the  Hackensack  Water  Works, 
and  its  streets  are  lighted  by  electricity.  Negotiations  are  pending  for 
the  supply  of  gas  from  the  Rutherford  Gas  Company.  It  is  protected  bv 
an  efficient  Fire  Department  and  Police  Force. 

It  possesses  a  large  Public  School  accommodating  500  children.  In 
it  the  English  and  German  languages  are  taught  by  competent  and 
experienced  teachers.  Thirty  years  ago  the  only  school  existing  was 
a  half  a  mile  above  the  present  village  on  the  Polifly  road,  which  was 
frequented  by  all  the  children  of  the  neig^hborhood  some  of  whom  were 
obliged  to  walk  two  miles.  The  new  settlement  of  Carlstadt  gradually 
increased  and  in  1865  the  old  building  became  too  limited  in  its  dimen- 
sions. The  villagers  then  made  strenuous  efforts  to  have  an  edifice 
erected  sufficiently  large  to  supply  the  demand  for  comfortable  space, 
but  differences  arose  in  selecting  the  site  and  as  a  consequence  the  then 
existing  district  was  divided  leaving  Carlstadt  a  school  district  bv  it- 
self, to  build  as  it  .cht)se.  To  accomplish  this  the  Trustees,  in  l.S()5, 
purchased  four  lots  in  the  village  and  received  authority  to  erect  a  two 
story  brick  building  35  feet  front  by  32  feet  deep  with  an  addition  10  by 
1()  feet  to  be  used  as  a  hallway.  On  October  4,  18()5,  the  corner  stone 
was  laid  and  in  1866,  the  building  was  completed  at  a  co.,t  of  four 
thousand  three  hundred  and  five  dollars.  The  school  increased  so  stead- 
ily in  numbers  that  more  space  was  required  and  the  Trustees  were 
forced  to  enlarge.  An  addition  was  built  62  by  32  feet  which  was  ready 
for  use  in  February  1874  and  cost  eight  thousand  two  hundred  and 
forty  three  dollars.  Six  rooms  are  furnished  with  modern  improve- 
ments and  are  heated  by  a  hot  water  apparatus.  Through  the 
strenuous  eiTorts  of  the  late  principal,  Richard  Geppert,  a  Kinder- 
garten department  was  established  in  1875,  which  has  become  very 
popular.  This  in  all  probability  was  the  first  Kindergarten  in  a  public 
school  of  New  Jersey  and  most  likely  of  this  country.  Specimens  of 
work  of  this  Kindergarten  were  exhibited  at  the  Centennial  Exhibition 
in  1876  and  at  the  New  Orleans  Exposition  in  1886.  Besides  this 
department  there  is  a  Primary,  an  Intermediate  and  a  (Grammar 
department  in  which  besides  the  regular  course  of  studies.  Manual 
Training  was  introduced  in  September,  1891.  The  school  ranks  as  one 
of  the  best  in  the  county  and  its  pupils  have  in  many  instances 
attained  a  high  degree  of  sclKjlarship.  Mr.  A.  F.  Schem  is  the  present 
principal  and  Mr.  Jacob  Moench  the  German  teacher. 

There  are  three  churches,  Presbyterian,  Lutheran  and  Catholic.  A 
weekly  newspaper  the  "Carlstadt  Freie  Presse"  is  published  in  the  Ger- 
man lanyuatre. 


HISTOKV    Ol"    liKKCKN    COUNTY  .iC).-^ 

The  inhabitants  here  have  manifested  a  social  spirit  in  the  forma- 
tinn  and  maintenance  of  a  variety  of  associations. 

A  trymnastic  association,  the  "  Carlstadt  Turn  \'erein,"  which  is  the 
oldest,  was  organized  in  i857  and  incorporated  in  February  1S(,4.  The 
members  meet  for  exercise  once  a  week  and  the  association  entertains  a 
drawing  school  and  juvenile  classes  for  gvmnastics.  From  the  abdvu  it 
will  be  seen  that  athletics  received  attention  early  in  the  history  of  Carl- 
stadt.    The  association  is  a  link  of  the  "North  American  Turner  Bund." 

Twenty-two  years  ago  a  Dramatic  Club  was  organized  under  the 
name  "Concordia".  Pla3's  by  well  known  authors  arc  presented  semi- 
monthly. A  choir,  the  Concordia  Mannerchor  which  is  a  section  meets 
for  exercise  once  a  week.  The  latter  has  participated  in  several  Saen- 
gerfests  and  brought  laurels  for  the  society. 

Among  the  different  beneficial  associations  Wieland  Lodge,  No.  ii.> 
I.  ().  O.  F.  of  New  Jersey  is  the  oldest  here,  having  been  organized  about 
twelve  years  ago  and  was  named  after  the  illustrious  German  poet. 
Branches  of  the  Chosen  Friends,  United  Friends,  Germania  Sterbe-Kasse 
and  other  orders  exist.     TheG.  A.  R.  is  represented  bj' Custer  Post  No.  17. 

The  village  is  governed  by. a  President  and  a  Board  of  Trustees.  A 
great  many  of  the  streets  are  curbed,  guttered,  macadamized  and  lined 
with  flagged  sidewalks  which  are  bordered  with  shade  trees.  A  resident 
here  may  have  in  his  house  all  the  conveniences  which  he  has  in  the 
city.  Ant)ther  of  Carlstadt's  many  advantages  is  a  booming  Building 
and  Ivoan   Association." — Herm.an  Fotii. 

M.VNUl'ACTUKIXG    INTICK  IvSTS. 

John  B.  Fortenbach  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  ISd.;.  and  now 
living  at  the  age  of  ninety-five  years,  came  to  this  country  in  1S47.  and 
to  Carlstadt  about  ten  years  later.  He  became  the  head  of  the  great 
Watch  Case  Manufacturing  Co.,  in  Carlstadt.  He  and  his  sons  Jacob 
and  Joseph  Fortenbach  operated  this  plant  several  years  beginning  at 
the  close  of  the  war  and  at  one  time  employed  about  four  hundred  men 
and  manufactured  as  many  as  eight  hundred  silver  watch  cases  daily. 
The  factory  was  eventually  leased  for  a  term  of  six  years  for  live  thousand 
dollars  per  year,  after  which  it  went  into  disuse. 

The  Cragin  Manufacturing  Co.,  are  now  in  charge  of  this  jjlant  for 
the  manufacture  of  Japanned  Cloth,  Hatters  (ilaze  and  Specialties, 
They  have  had  the  business  about  two  years  and  employ  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  men. 

(iebhard  Fritsch's  Wax  Bleachery  and  Manufacturv  of  line  di-coraled 
candles  for  church  purposes  was  established  here  in  lS(i7. 

In  1890,  the  father  died  and  the  business  was  sold  to  Smith  Nicholas 
of  New  York.  Mr.  F'ritsch  being  retained  as  sujierintendent  of  the 
works.  The  Company  employ  about  forty  men  and  manufacture  about 
20(1, (MM)  candles  annually. 

C.y.KMAS   pi\'Ksbvti:ki.\n   ciukcii,   caki.stadt. 

The  First  German  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carlstadt,  (  the  first 
Church  organization  of  the  town  )  was  organized  on  Wednesday  even- 


36f)  HISTORY  OF  BERGEN  COUNTY 

ing',  Aug-ust  18,  1S()9,  with  thirty-two  members.  The  first  elders  of  the 
congregation  were  J.  H.  Boking  and  J.  H.  Deppert,  the  Rev.  Albert  J. 
Winterick  being  the  first  pastor.  His  pastorate  extended  from  August 
19,  1869,  until  April  16,  1871.  The  congregation  met  in  Woodridge 
schoolhouse  in  the  near  vicinity  until  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  F. 
Kern  a  church  building  was  erected  on  the  border  of  what  was  called 
Old  Carlstadt,  corner  Division  avenue  and  Third  street,  in  the  year  1871, 
the  church  being  dedicated  on  the  17th  of  December  1871,  by  the  Rev.  J. 
U.  Guenther  of  the  First  German  Presbyterian  Church  of  Newark,  N. 
J.     The  dedication  sermon  was  from  the  forty-fifth  psalm. 

Carlstadt  and  surroundings  have  always  proved  to  be  a  poor  field 
for  evangelical  work  and  in  consequence  of  this  fact  there  could  only 
be  expected  a  very  slow  growth  of  the  church  work.  The  pastorate 
of  the  Rev.  F.  Kern  extended  from  the  year  1872,  January  2,  until  May 
28,  1876.  The  following  pastors  served  the  church  in  succession:  Revs. 
F.  O.  Zesch  from  July  14,  1876,  until  April  30,  1883;  Emil  Hering, 
December  i7,  1883  until  August  3,  1888;  Louis  Rymarski,  June  28,  1898 
until  September  18,  1891;  Augustus  Lange  September  24,  1892  until 
August  25,  1893.  The  Rev.  F.  J  Kraushaar  was  installed  as  the  present 
pastor  of  the  church  on  the  15th  of  February,  1894.  The  church  has  now 
a  membership  of  one  hundred  scholars,  a  Sunday  school  of  one  hundred 
and  a  Ladies'  Society  of  about  forty  members. 

Directly  north  of  the  Carlstadt  cemetery  there  is  a  very  old  private 
burial-ground,  that  of  the  Berry  family.  There  are  five  stones  here  with 
the  following  inscription: 

In  memory  of  Philip  Berry,  who  departed  this  life  September  25th, 
1793,  aged  72  years,  1  month  and  4  days. 

Remember,  man,  as  thou  goes  by. 
As  thou  art  now  so  once  was  I, 
As  I  am  now  so  must  thou  be: 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me. 
In  memory  of  Catharine  Berry,  who  departed  this  life  August  14, 
1803,  aged  78  years,  2  months,  and  6  days. 

Hier  Jut,  Begraven,  Hermanus  Vogelsang,  Oud:32:  Jaar,  Gestorven 
19:  December:  Aa  1797,  Van:  Holland. 

Philip  Berry,  born  July  4,  1763,  died  December  22,  18.§,0. 
In  memory  of  Eve  Van  Winkle,  wife  of  Philip  Beri^y,  who  departed 
this  life  April  1(),  1843,  aged  70  years,  5  months,  and  25  days. 

THE    C.\KLSTADT    MUTUAL    LOAN    AND    BUILDING    ASSOCIATION. 

The  Carlstadt  Mutual  Loan  and  Building  Association  was  founded 
in  May  1890.  It  is  an  institution  which  owes  its  existence  and  present 
unbounded  success  almost  wholly  to  the  untiring  efforts  of  Mr.  George 
Zimmermann  who  was  the  prime  mover  and  its  sole  supporter  for  years. 
Eventually  the  leading  men  of  Carlstadt  took  hold  of  the  enterprise  and 
Mr.  John  G.  Niederer  was  elected  president  ;  Adolph  Kruger,  secretary, 
and  George  Zimmermann,  treasurer. 


GKOUGK    ZIMMKKMANN 


,(^g  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


The  present  officers  are:  John  Oehler,  president ;  Charles  Ziegler, 
vice-president;  George  Zimniermann,  treasurer;  Adolph  Kruger,  secre- 
tary   and  Charles  Albertine,  recording  secretary. 

■  The  association  is  capitalized  at  $120,800,84,  and  has  a  membership 
of  three  hundred  persons.  It  is  a  substantial  institution  of  Carlstadt 
and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  useful  institutions  in  this  part  of 
the  country. 

GAKKET    HOPPEK. 

Carret  Hopper  who  was  of  Holland  origin,  purchased  a  large  tract 
of  land,  extending  from  the  Hackensack  River  to  Slaughter  Dam,  some 
five  hundred  acres  of  which  became  the  homestead  of  the  family.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  church  in  Hackensack  as  early  as  1792.  His  son, 
Jacob  Hopper,  had  his  residence  on  the  property  on  the  Pohfly  road, 
leading  from  the  Paterson  turnpike  to  Carlstadt.  Jacob  Hopper  s  wife 
was  Cornelia,  who  bore  him  the  following  children:  Katrina,  wife  of 
John  Earle,  who  died  in  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war;  Henry 
Carret  and  John  I.  settled  on  the  homestead,  which  was  divided  between 
them,  the  latter  occupying  the  homestead  part;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Cornelius  Terhune,  grandson  of  John  Terhune,  the  progenitor  of  the 
Terhune  family,  and  who  settled  where  Sheriff  Jacob  C.  Terhune  resided 
in  1881,  upon  coming  to  this  country.  Jacob  Hopper  died  about  IMS, 
aged  eighty-eight.  ^^^^  ^    ^^^^^^^^ 

John  I.  Hopper,  his  grandson  was  born  in  1775,  and  died  m  1833,  on 
the  homestead  where  he  resided  during  his  whole  life.  His  wife  was 
Maria,  daughter  of  Albert  Terhune,  who  died  January  i  1857,  aged 
seventy-six  years.  Their  children  were  Cornelia,  wife  of  John  Terhune, 
a  farmer  and  miller  of  New  Barbadoes,  who  died  in  1879,  aged  seventy- 
nine  •  Altia,  widow  of  Albert  A.  Brinkerhoff,  of  Hackensack  ;  Catharine, 
wife'of  Jonathan  Hopper,  a  merchant  of  Paterson;  Albert  died  in 
7833,  aged  twentv-four ;  Jacob  I.;  John,  a  lawyer  of  Paterson;  Ehza; 
Maria  wife  of  Henry  Demarest  of  New.  York;  Jane,  wife  of  Dr. 
Wilson,  of  New  York,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 

John  I.  Hopper  was  drafted  to  serve  the  war  of  1812  but  urnished 
•I  substitute.  He  is  said  to  have  used  springs  on  his  wagon  the  hrst  of 
^ny  one  who  carried  products  to  a  New  York  market.  In  1818  he  erected 
the  elec^ant  brownstone  house  on  the  premises  known  subsequently  as 
Terrace  Avenue.  Jacob  I.  Hopper,  his  son,  was  born  on  the  homestead 
in  1810.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1835  to  Ann,  daughter  of  Garret 
Merselis  and  Leah  DeGray  of  Preakness.-  Passaic  c<.unty,N  J.  He  was 
born  December  13,  1812.     Their  children  were  John  and  Ellen. 

HON.    GEORGE    ZIMMEKM.\NN. 

Some  years  since  the  New  York  W..rld  published  photographs  of 
one  hundred  notables  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  Among  this  list  we 
find  the  picture  of  the  Hon.  George  Zimmermann,  who  because  of  his 
prominence  in  political  and  official  life  is  entitled  to  a  place  among  that 
number      Mr.  Zimmermann  has   probably  been  advanced   more   rapidly 


JOHN    K.    KKITNKK 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN     COUNTY  ?if>9 

than  ordinarily  falls  to  the  lot  of  young  men  because  of  the  public  spirit 
he  has  always  manifested. 

He  was  born  in  New  York  city  in  1857,  the  family  removinir  to 
Carlstadt  the  same  year.  In  18  73  his  father  purchased  of  Adam  Rut- 
tenger  the  property  now  known  as  Zimmermann's  Hotel,  then  a  farm- 
house, and  an  old  landmark  of  the  locality,  probably  a  hundred  years 
old.  Here  Mr.  Zimmermann  has  demonstrated  his  capacity  as  a  busi- 
ness man  both  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business,  while  showing- 
a  public  spirited  interest  in  his  locality,  resulting  in  his  election  to  yar- 
ious  offices  of  trust. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age  Mr.  Zimmermann  was  elected  to  his 
first  office,  serying  the  public  in  one  important  capacity  or  another  ever 
since.  It  was  in  187'^»  he  was  made  Clerk  of  the  township  of  Lodi. 
Subsequently  certain  irregularities  were  discoyered  in  the  books  of  the 
township  collector  and  a  change  in  the  office  was  demanded  by  a  popular 
uprising  of  the  people,  and  being  preyailed  upon  to  accept  the  nomin- 
ation he  was  elected  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  He  was  next  ap- 
pointed by  President  Cleveland  postmaster  in  1885,  without  opposition, 
and  the  able  manner  in  which  he  conducted  this  office  gave  universal 
satisfaction. 

Having  successfully  met  all  official  requirements,  he  was  nominated 
for  Assembly  in  188<^»  and  elected  bv  a  large  majority.  He  has  twice 
filled  the  office  'of  Assemblyman,  holding  that  place  when  the  noted 
Reform  Ballot  Act  was  passed,  and  during  the  many  heated  controver- 
sies he  was  always  found  true  to  the  interests  of  his  constituents.  In 
1898  he  was  again  nominated  for  the  Assembly  but  was  snowed  under  in 
commcm  with  all  aspirants  of  his  party  almost  everywhere.  In  1897  he 
was  elected  Mayor  of  his  borough  and  is  discharging  the  duties  of  that 
office  at  this  time  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all. 

Mr.  Zimmermann  has  successfully  filled  the  office  of  Fire  Commis- 
sioner, president  of  the  Fire  Department,  and  also  Chief  of  the  Dc])art- 
ment.  He  is  ft)under  of  the  Carlstadt  Mutual  Loan  and  Building  Asso- 
ciation, a  highly  successful  institution  which  particularly  owes  its  exist- 
snce  to  his  good  judgment  and  persevering  spirit.  As  a  real  estate  man 
Mr.  Zimmermann  has  been  very  successful,  while  socially,  there  is  no 
Lodge  or  Club  in  Carlstadt  that  does  not  seek  his  followship  as  a  mem- 
ber of  their  organization. 

JOHN     l-KANCIS     I'lUTMCK. 

Something  over  a  hundred  years  ago,  John  Jacol)  .Vstor,  John  V. 
Feitner  and  a  Mr.  Phillips  set  sail  together  from  Waldorf,  a  mountain 
village  in  (iermany  for  the  shores  of  America.  The  name  of  .\stor  is 
well  known.  Phillips  died  in  the  jjoor-house,  but  Feitner  left  a  hand- 
some fortune  and  descendants,  who  like  their  ])r()genitor,  i>ossess  many 
of  the  sterling  qualities  of  which  that  name  is  a  synonynin. 

Feitner  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  extending  from  the  Hloom- 
ingclale  road,  now  Broadway,  to  the  riviT.      .\stor  ]>urchasi(l   on  the  np- 


HISTORY  OK  bkk<;kn  COI'NTY  371 

posite  side  of  the  Feitner  Lane.  The  old  Feitner  homestead  was  at 
Fortv-sixth  street  and  Broadway. 

Mr.  Feitner  married  Miss  Catherine  Ann  Kellar,  and  there  children 
were  Peter,  George,  Charles,  Daniel,  Catherine,  Elizabeth,  John, 
Francis  and  Hannah,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead. 

Peter,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  married  .Marie, 
daug'hter  of  John  and  Sarah  Hunt,  whose  g-rand-father  was  one  of 
Washing-ton's  body  guard,  and  an  old  naval  soldier  in  the  war  of  1S12, 
with  Commodore  Decatur  on  the  old  Constitution,  at  Algiers.  The 
homestead  of  Peter  F.  Feitner  was  on  Ninth  Avenue  and  Feitner's  Lane. 
John  F.  Feitner,  of  Moonachie  Avenue,  was  an  only  child.  He  was 
born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  March  2,  1826.  His  youth  and  early  man- 
hood was  spent  in  the  city  and  doubtless  had  he  remained  there  he  would 
have  become  a  distinguished  factor  in  the  political  history  of  the  Great 
Metropolis  of  to-day.  Born  gifted  with  strenth  of  mind,  and  with  an 
iron  will  in  an  iron  frame  and  possessed  with  ability  to  manage  political 
situations  in  great  emergencies,  he  was  advanced  at  a  somewhat  rapid 
rate  in  official  life.  Among  other  positions  he  held,  in  New  York,  was 
a  seven  3-ears  service  as  secretary  of  the  old  Volunteer  Fire  Department, 
being  a  member  of  Hudson  Engine  Company  No.,  1.  Twenty  five  years 
ago,  however,  the  superintendency  of  the  Twenty-Second  Police  Pre- 
cinct, of  New  York,  having  been  tendered  him  and  foreseeing  the  turbu- 
lence of  such  a  political  existence  he  declined  the  honor  and  instead  was 
induced  to  seek  the  pleasurable  'pursuits  of  a  more  quiet  life  in  the 
country.  Accordingly  the  farm  on  Moonachie  Avenue,  was  purchased 
and  the  change  of  reidence  made  to  Bergen  county.  It  is  not  to  be  sup- 
posed, however,  that  Mr.  Feitner  has  kept  aloof  wholly  from  politics  in 
this  county.  The  acknowledged  fitness  of  the  man  for  official  life  has 
of  itself  brought  almost  every  public  trust  in  the  gift  of  the  people  with- 
in his  reach,  but  he  has  invariably  refused  all  offers.  Although  of 
rather  a  brusque  manner  he  is  one  of  the  kindest  of  men. 

When  Mr.  Feitner  came  to  his  present  home  his  father  came  with 
him  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  His  mother  lived  four  score 
and  four  years. 

The  present  Feitner  homestead  was  erected  in  187.^.  An  old  stone 
in  the  corner  of  his  house  taken  from  the  first  house  built  in  this 
part  of  Bergen  county,  has  on  its  face  three  dates,  i.  e.:  171S,  ISld  and 
187.^.  The  original  house  having  been  built  by  Francis  Outwater  at  tin- 
date  first  named. 

Within  doors  are  antique  furniture,  and  a  variety  nf  curiosities. 
The  Feitner  home  has  in  its  sacred  keejjing  a  great  number  of  valuable 
souvenirs,  some  of  them  centuries  old,  and  valuable  beyond  all  commer- 
cial calculation.  Here  is  a  valuable  wooden  clock  at  least  seventy-live 
years  of  age  ;  a  handsome  cherry  bureau  and  desk  combined  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  f)ld ;  rush  bottom  chairs  as  solid  and  comfortable  as  the 
day  when  used  by  the   grand  parents  and  all   uni(|uc  as  anticjue  ;  stone 


HISTOKV     <)1'    HKKC.IvN    COl'NTV  .^  /  ,^ 

tomahawks  and  arrow  heads  used  by  the  Indians  were  found  on  his  placi'. 

\'ases  one  hundred  and  sevent^'-five  years  old  stand  beside  china- 
ware  on  mantel-pieces  just  as  aged,  and  all  the  handiwork  of  skilled 
mechanics.  At  the  top  of  the  stair-way  is  the  head  of  a  deer  with  its 
branching'  antlers,  shot  on  the  farm  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  years 
ago.  On  the  walls  hang  fine  works  of  art,  curious  pictures  of  needle- 
work in  portrait,  woven  in  silk,  gives  us  the  shepherd  and  shepherdess 
in  two  frames. 

In  1S4')  Mr.  f^eitner  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Kline,  whose  grand- 
father was  on  the  staff  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  (lovernor  of  Straus- 
burg. 

Their  children  are  Peter,  John  F..  Charles  ().,  (xLorge  W.  and 
Martha  Gertrude.  Charles  O.  died  when  two  years  old,  and  John  F.  is 
a  member  of  the  clergy.  He  graduated  at  Rutgers  College,  and  is  ])as- 
tor  now  of  a  church  in  Westchester  county,  New  York. 

DK.     At'Cl'.ST    A.     KICHTKK. 

In  the  death  of  Dr.  August  A.  Richter,  Carlstadt  lost  its  oldest 
practicing  physician.  He  was  popular  among  all  classes  both  (unnan 
and  American,  and  his  place  cannot  soon  be  filled. 

Dr.  Richter  was  born  in  the  year  1840  in  Sackingen,  (iermanv,  and 
at  the  celebrated  institutions  of  Leipzig  he  received  an  education  and 
prepared  himself  for  a  professional  career.  Coming  to  America  in  1<S71 
he  first  resided  in  Hoboken,  N.  J.  He  remained  there  a  short  time  and 
then  settled  permanently  in  Carlstadt,  where  he  soon  built  up  an  exten- 
sive and  successful  practice.  As  time  went  on  his  services  became  in 
urgent  demand  by  the  Germans  of  Hackensack  and  he  ojjened  a  branch 
office  in  that  city,  doubling  his  practice. 

Dr.  Richter  was  chief  medical  officer  of  the  Schuetzen  Company  of 
Hackensack  besides  being  a  member  and  Medical  Examiner  of  Wieland 
Lodge  I.  C).  O.  F.  of  Carlstadt.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Palisade 
Lodge  of  Free  Masons  at  Union  Hill.  His  death  occurred  December 
2F>.    18'iS. 

JACOH   11.    n.l.MAN.N". 

Jacob  H.  Ullmann  was  born  in  New  York  city  November  15,  1S()1, 
and  two  years  later  his  ])arents  removed  to  Carlstadt,  where  his  father 
died  in  IHH.^. 

Young  Ullmann's  taste  for  botanical  pursuits  K-d  him  to  the  study  ol 
Howers,  and  as  a  florist,  he  does  a  successful  business,  su])]. lying  quan- 
tities of  cut  flowers  both  to  the  New  York  market    and  the   home  trade. 

He  has  held  a  number  of  offices  in  both  borough  and  county.  In 
IH^."?  he  was  elected  coroner  by  a  large  majority,  having  lu'en  idected 
township  clerk  in  1890  and  re-elected  the  following  year,  still  later  being 
made  Township  Committeeman.  Mr.  I'llmann  lias  also  been  chairman 
of  the  Board  of  Health  and  in  18')()-''»7  was  elected  member  of  Assemblv. 
He  has  been  Secretary  of  the  Bergen  Hose  C!ompany  No.  1,  and  fore- 
man of  Carlstadt  Hose  Com|)anv.  bul  rdusrcl  to  take  entire  command  of 


374 


HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 


the  borough  fire  department  which  was  offered  him.  He  was  made 
postmaster  of  Carlstadt  July  15,  18^7,  and  is  serving  as  collector  of  taxes 
for  the  borough  at  present. 

Mr.  Ullmann  is  a  member  of  the  Turn  Verein  and  Concordia  Dramatic 
Society. 

KEV.    CAMILLUS    MONDOKF. 

Undoubtedly  every  one  living  in  East  Rutherford, Carlstadt  and  vicin- 
ity knows  and  reveres  Rev.  C.  Mondorf,  the  charitable  Rector  of  St. 
Joseph's  Roman  Catholic  Church.  As  a  self  sacrificing  man  and  priest 
of  (iod,  he  enjoys  the  esteem  and  hearty  good  wishes  of  all  denomina- 
tions. 

He  was  born  on  the  historic  banks  of  the  Rhine,  near  Cologne, 
Octtiber  21.  1S44.      As  a  student  he  entered  the   Prussian  Army  in  18()(), 


FATHER    MONDOKF 

and  after  serving  the  Statutory  term  he  resumed  his  studies  first  in 
Belgium  and  afterward  in  (iermany.  He  came  to  America  in  1876,  and 
the  following  year,  January  1,  1877  was  ordained  a  priest  by  Bishop 
Wadhams  of  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Wigger  selected 
him  in  August  1885  as  Rector  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  in  East  Rutherford. 
This  Church  was  built  in  1873.  Father  Mondorf  also  acts  as  Rector  of 
St.  Francis  De  Sales'  Church  in  the  village  of  Lodi,  three  and  a  half 
miles  distant.  The  little  Catholic  Church  in  Lodi  was  built  in  1854  and 
was  dedicated  by  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Bailey  of  Newark  on  the  2 its  of  De- 
cember in  the  same  year. 

EKNKST    F.    SICKENBKKGEK. 

Ernest  F.   Sickenberger  Ph.  D.,    Phar.    D.,    M.  D.    is  a  highly  edu- 
cated physician,  who  came  to   this  country  in   1881   and  to  Carlstadt  in 


HisTDKv  oi'   hi;k{;en  county  •■■/.■^ 

IS'iS,  wluTc  lu-  has  luiilt  u])  all  extensive  practice  in  llu-  prdl'cssion  nl' 
medicine. 

He  is  a  native  of  tiermany  and  was  borii  in  1S5'».  After  receivinji 
a  jjood  education  in  the  public  and  hij^-li  schouls  of  his  native  country, 
he  studied  pharmacy  in  the  University  of  Freiburg,  subsequently  spend- 
ing- some  years  travelling  through  Europe  and  the  Orient,  mastcring 
several  languages,  which  he  speaks  with  fluency. 

He  was  graduated  also  from  the  New  York  College  of  Pharmacy  in 
1852;  the  National  College,  Washington,  D.  C.  1SS7,  and  the  Columbia 
College  Medical  Department,   in  1.S95. 

FK.\NZ    FKITSCH. 

Franz  Fritsch,  a  well  known  business  man  of  Carlstadt,  is  of  (ier- 
man  birth,  but  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  when  but  fifteen 
years  of  age.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  the  late  Joseph  and  Therese  (  Rail- 
ing)  Fritsch.  His  father  was  born  in  181(i  at  Bergenz,  Austria,  and 
resided  there  until  1S59,  the  date  of  his  coming  to  America.  Here  he 
continued  his  business  of  wax  bleaching  and  candle  making,  in  New 
York  city  until  1861,  when  he  removed  to  Carlstadt  and  engaged  more 
extensively  in  the  manufacture  of  candles,  a  business  w'hich  he  carried 
on  u])  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  is'io. 

Mr.  Franz  Fritsch  was  born  in  Hergenz,  Austria,  Noveml)er  2(>, 
1S47.  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place,  after- 
wards learning  the  business  of  wax  bleacher  and  candle  maker.  Mr. 
Fritsch  was  for  some  years  projjrietor  of  a  large  livery  and  sales  stable, 
keeping  a  well  selected  stock  of  animals  and  enjoying  the  patr(mage  of 
the  best  j^aying  customers.  At  present  he  is  engaged  in  the  liquor  busi- 
ness. 

Always  taking  an  active  interest  in  his  locality,  he  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  new  Carlstadt  village  board  of  trustees  for  a  period  of  eleven 
years,  member  of  the  Board  of  Chosen  Freeholders  from  18').^  to  18')'), 
and  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  fire  department. 

Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Carlstadt  Turn  Verein.  Mr.  l'"ritscli 
married  Miss  Lizzie  Mary  Burger,  Iroiu  Carlstadt. 

(,(itti.ii:h  sAfi'i.K. 

(iotllieb  Sauter  is  a  repri'sentative  of  one  of  the  old(7crman  lamilies 
of  Europe.  His  grandfather  was  a  teacher  in  the  schodls  of  i'"leliiii- 
gen  and  Zaisenhausen  for  fifty  years.  His  father  was  Titvyn  Clerk 
eighteen  years.  Mayor.  '  lUirgeiiieistiT  j  nine  years  and  t'ollector  of  'Paxes 
for  twenty  years. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  the  town  of  Flehingen,  Baden, 
(iermany  in  1854.  In  1871  Mr.  Sauter  came  to  the  United  States,  locating 
first  in  Kockport,  Indiana,  coming-  to  Carlstadt  in  1S77.  In  r87<»  he  went 
to  New  York  city  and  took  a  three  years  course  in  Mechanical  Drawing 
in  Cooper  Institute.  He  tlun  returned  to  Carlstadt  settling  first  on  his 
farm.  After  nine  yt-ars  lie  built  bis  sliii]paii<l  later  erected  his  residence, 
sinci'  then  becoming  priniiiiuiitl  \   ideiiti  linl  with  all  tlie  iiiqiorlant  move- 


3V() 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN     COUNTY 


ments  lookinsr  t..  the  buikliug:  up  of  the  town.  He  employs  twelve  or 
fifteen  men  the  year  round  and  has  built  many  of  the  fine  residences  in 
this  part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Sauter  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  councilman;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Education,  was  also  one  of  the  promoters  of  the 
Buildiuif  and  Loan  Association,  having;  been  a  director  in  that  institu- 
tion from  the  time  of  its  organization.  He  is  a  member  of  Ihe  I.  O.  O. 
F.  and  is  identified  with  many  other  societies  in  the  place. 

AUCtI'ST   moench. 
Auf^ust    Moench,    editor    and    proprietor    of    the   "Carlstadt    Freie 
Presse"''is   a  son  of  Jacob   and  Wilhelmina   Moench,  and   was  born   in 


AUGUST    MOKNCH 

Wurtemberg-,  Germany,  February  2,  1864.  His  father  who  died  May  1'), 
18'J8,  at  the^'age  of  sixty-five  years,  was  teacher  of  the  German  language 
in  the  Carlstadt  public  schools  for  thirty  consecutive  years.  He  was  re- 
tired on  a  pension  January  1,  1898,  under  the  "Teachers' Retirement 
Fund"  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Moench  was  a  well  known  pedagogue, 
throughout  the  county,  being  the  first  German  teacher  to  be  actually 
en'^ag^'ed  in  the  county.  Young  August  was  but  one  year  old  when  his 
parents  emigrated  to  this  country,  and  located  in  the  village  of  Csrl- 
stadt  where  he  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  is  sole 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  "Freie  Presse,"  the  only  German  paper 
published  in  Bergen  county.     After  serving  an  apprenticeship  with  the 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKGKN    COUNTY  377 


•'Freie  Presse"  he  bei-ame  connected   with  "Puck"  where   he  remained 
twelve  years,  returning  to  take  chars^o  of  this  plant. 

Mr.  Moench  is  a  public  spirited  and  respected  citi;.en,  takins;-  :i  lull 
share  in  the  welfare  of  his  village.  He  is  president  of  the  Free  Sundav 
school,  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  is  director  of  the  hical  Loan 
and  Huilding  Association,  president  of  the  Carlstadt  Bowling-  Club, 
member  of  Turn  Verein,  Concordia;  Fire  Department,  Dramatic  Circle, 
and  member  of  the  Workingman's  Association  of  Woodridge.  He  is 
happily  married  to  Miss  Mary  Wentzel  of  Carlstadt. 

CHRISTOPHER    NIEDEKKK. 

Christopher  Niederer,  who  conducts  the  Mount  Pleasant  Park  and 
Hotel  is  a  popular  man,  genial,  courteous  and  obliging.  He  was  born 
in  Amorbach,  Bavaria,  April  12,  1836,  and  came  to  America  in  1S53, 
when  he  settled  in  New  York  city  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  cabinet 
maker. 

At  the  beginning  of  our  Civil  War  Mr.  Niederer,  patriotically  en- 
listed in  Company  F,  20th  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  serving-  two 
years  and  four  months.  He  has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  G.  A.  R. 
man  and  was  one  of  the  originators  of  Custer  Post  No.  17  which  was 
organized  in  his  house  on  July  29th,  i878.  Capable,  as  well  as  popular, 
Mr.  Niederer  has  held  all  the  offices  belonging  to  the  Post. 

Upon  coming  to  Carlstadt  in  1S71  he  established  his  present  busi- 
ness which  he  has  carried  on  continuously  and  -with  good  success. 

His  ])lace  is  made  headquarters  for  the  Turn  \'erein,  Friendsliij) 
Howling  Club  and  the  Carlstadt  Drum  Corps. 

.\LBEKT    XIKDEKEK. 

xVlbert  Niederer,  son  of  Christopher  and  Johanna  Niederer,  was 
born  in  New  York  city  March  27,  181)8,  and  was  educated  in  Woodridge 
and  Carlstadt  public  schools  and  in  New  York  College  of  Pharmacv. 
from  which  he  was  graduated  March  1888,  receiving  third  ])rize.  He 
then  became  ccmnected  with  the  Eastern  Dispensary  of  New  York  city, 
remaining  about  two  years  as  assistant  pharmacist.  After  this  he  was 
connected  with  various  pharmacist  in  the  city  until  IS'H,  when  he  opened 
a  store  on  his  own  account  in  Carlstadt,  N.  J.  which  is  proxing  suc- 
cessful. 

Mr.  Niederer  was  married  to  Miss  ICmily  Fortt'ubach  on  Octolier  18. 
i8<>4.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Alumni  .Association  of  the  College  of 
Pharmacy  of  New  York  city,  of  New  Jersey  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion, also  a  member  of  the  "League  of  American  Wheelmen."  and  the 
"Carlstadt  Turn  \'erein  "  of  Carlstadt,  N.  .1. 

WILLI.^M    HMH.VCH. 

William  Uml)ach,  manufacturer  of  soda  water,  and  beer  liottler, 
has  been  a  resident  of  Carlstadt  since  1892.  He  is  a  native  of  ( lermany, 
where  he  attended  school  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
spent  a   year  or  more   in    ICngland.      When   si'venteen   years   of  age    he 


378  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEX     COUNTY 

came  to  New  York,  landing-  in  the  New  World  without  a  cent  in  his 
pockets.  This  was  in  1871.  After  working  some  years  for  Stratton  & 
Storm,  large  cigar  manufacturers,  he  had  enough  money  to  enter  the 
grocery  business  on  his  own  account.  Success  followed  him  in  his 
new  venture  and  he  came  into  possession  of  valuable  property-  in  the 
citv  which  he  still  owns.  In  1892  he  purchased  property  in  Carlstadt, 
enlarged  and  utilized  it  for  the  purposes  of  his  plant,  two  years  subse- 
quentlv  putting  in  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  soda  water.  Mr. 
Umbach  gives  employment  to  several  men  constantly,  and  has  a  well 
established  business. 

William  Umbach,  Jr.,  is  studing  law,  and  Lituis  another  s(m,  is 
pursuing  a  business  education. 

AUGUST    GERECKE 

August  Gerecke,  son  of  Christopher  and  Friedericke  (Volger) 
Gerecke,  was  born  in  Braunschweig,  Germany,  September  22.  184i. 
After  coming  to  America  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New 
York  cit}'.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  sch(K)l  work  he  learned  the  trade 
of  machinist  and  locksmith,  in  which  he  has  since  successfully  engaged. 
May  1,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fifth  Regiment,  New  York 
Militia,  for  three  months"  service,  and  was  discharged  at  New  York  city 
August  7,  of  the  same  year.  On  October  5,  1861,  he  re-enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H,  Fifty-second  New  York  Volunteers,  and  was  made  corporal.  He 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Sunday,  June  i,  1862,  and  was 
discharged  at  Falmouth,  Virginia,  December  iith  of  that  year,  Isecause 
of  wounds  received  in  battle. 

Since  that  time  Mr.  Gerecke  has  become  a  citizen  of  Carlstadt,  and 
is  president  of  the  Vulcan  Hardware  Manufactory  of  Wire  Gauges.  He 
is  a  member  of  Custer  Post,  No.  i7.  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  the  Carlstadt 
Bowling  Club. 

Mr.  (ierecke's  wife  was  Miss  Mary  A.  Oswald  of  Scotland. 

JOHN    W.AGXEK. 

John  Wagner,  proprietor  of  Union  Park  Hotel,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  New  York  in  1855.  His  father  John  Wagner.  Senior,  who  was  born 
in  Germany  in  183.^,  came  to  America  in  1850.  landing  in  New  York, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  of  baker.  He  was  the  first  to  use  the  four 
wheeled  single  truck  in  that  city,  for  trucking  and  moving.  In  18()7. 
Mr.  Wagner  came  to  Carlstadt  and  purchased  the  Dramatic  Hall,  but 
later  sold  this  property,  and  on  May  1,  1869,  moved  into  the  hotel  which 
bears  his  name.  In  1892  he  built  his  residence  on  First  Street,  where  he 
died  December  5,  1897. 

John  Wagner,  Jr.  came  to  Carlstadt  when  a  boy  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Newark  and 
worked  five  years  as  a  butcher,  following  the  same  business  for  a  time  in 
Paterson.  In  1871  he  made  a  visit  to  the  old  country  and  in  1880  located 
])ermanently  in  Carlstadt,  remaining  since  that  time  iu  charge  of  Union 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  379 


Park  Hotel.  This  buililinLj  when  jiurehased  oceupied  but  a  small  space 
of  ground,  but  additions  have  been  made  until  now  the  grounds  cover  an 
entire  block.  The  hotel  proper  contains  thirteen  large  rooms  in  addi- 
tion to  which  is  a  large  pavillion  used  for  dancing  and  for  large  gather- 
ings which  are  frequently  held  there.  There  are  also  large  summer  and 
.  winter  kitchens  with  all  the  appliances  for  entertaining  a  large  compan  v 
at  short  notice.  As  many  as  two  hundred  and  tiftv  people  have  l)een 
served  at  one  time  in  the  dining  room. 

ArC.fST    KICIIAKD    KI.AUSS. 

August  Richard  Klauss  was  born  in  Germany  April  2.>,  IS.^f).  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place  and  came  to 
America  in  188O,  where  he  spent  the  first  eighteen  mcmths  in  I'itts- 
burgh,  Penna.,  subsequently  coming  to  New  York  citv  and  thence  to 
Carlstadt  in  i882. 

He  takes  a  lively  interest  in  ])ublic  affairs,  and  has  held  various 
local  offices,  having  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  Police 
Commissioner,  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department,  and  also  Foreman  of  Fn- 
gine  Company  No.  i.  As  a  member  of  the  borough  council  he  has 
served  on  some  of  its  most  important  committees. 

Mr.  Klauss  is  president  of  the  Liquor  Dealers'  Association,  .ind  con- 
ducts a  business  of  his  own,  meeting  with  success. 

A  true  German  in  his  love  of  music  and  social  good  cheer,  he  is  a 
valuable  member  of  the  Carlstadt  Schutzen  Company,  and  also  belongs 
to  the  C(mcordia,  a  singing  association.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a 
Turner,  in  addition  to  belonging  to  diiTerent  benevolent  and  beneficial 
organizations. 

His  wife  was  a  Miss  Maggie  Deerhert  of  Carlstadt,  who  w.is  liorn 
in  New  York  citv  in  i8S'>. 

l'l\'.     KIST. 

Fr.  Kist,  manufacturer  of  ladies'  muslin  underwear  7  and  ')  Small 
Street,  is  a  native  of  Germ.inv  l)orn  in  the  citvof  Buclian  of  Wirtenberg, 
in  18:w. 

In  early  life  he  lost  l)oth  p.irents,  and.  after  recei\ing  some  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  he  learned  the  trade  of  tailor.  In  1S71, 
during  the  Franco-German  war,  he  came  to  America,  where  he  worked 
for  the  P^ortenbach  Company,  in  Carlstadt,  six  years.  After  residing  for 
fifteen  years  on  the  Hoboken  Koad.  across  the  Ilackttisack.  he  moved 
into  the  village  in  IS8S.  to  the  ])ropertv  he  now  occii])ii's  and  where  he 
started  his  factorv. 

Mr.  Rist  and  his  four  daughters  began  this  business  first  in  a  small 
way,  but  he  now  employs  thirty  girls  and  will  soon  be  under  the  neces- 
sity of  increasing  the  capacity  of  his  i)lant.  He  manufactures  soKlv 
for  Siecher  &  Company,  New  York,  the  largest  concern  in  the  citv  for 
the  manufacture  of  uncU'rwear. 

III'.NKN'    KKIIU.INC. 

Henry  Krieling.  for   twenty-tive  years  a    prominent    Ljrocer  in   Carl- 


380  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

st;idt,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  the  province  of  Hanover,  in  the 
year  1825.  When  twenty-five  years  of  ag-e  he  set  sail  for  this  country, 
and  for  fifteen  years  was  associated  with  one  of  the  leading-  dry  goods 
establishments  in  New  York.  In  1868  he  came  to  Carlstadt  when  he 
established  himself  in  business,  and  also  became  prominently  identified 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  having;  served  as  treasurer,  and  as 
trustee  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Krieling-  has'  two  sons  well  known  in  business  circles  in  Carl- 
stadt. Henry  Krieling,  Jr.,  the  elder  son,  is  a  cutter,  and  Herman  owns 
a  dairv.  Socially,  they  have  all  been  prominent  in  various  ways,  looking 
to  the  welfare  of  the  community. 

JOHN    N.     KASMl'.S. 

John  N,  Rasmus  one  of  the  oldest  merchants  and  contractors  in 
Carlstadt  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  in  1830.  In  1850  he  came  to 
New  York  and  on  May  10,  of  that  year,  took  up  his  abode  in  Carlstadt. 
He  worked  at  his  trade  of  mason  until  1855,  when  he  became  manager 
for  Charles  Treppke,  with  whom  he  remained  in  full  charge  of  his  store, 
for  five  years,  after  which  he  opened  a  store  on  his  own  account. 

In  1 854  Mr.  Rasmus  built  a  house  on  Hackensack  street  for  Mr. 
Trappke,  the  first  in  the  village  of  Carlstadt,  and  in  i86S  he  built  the 
Stewart  Winslow  residence  on  Orient  Way,  the  first  house  in  Ruther- 
ford. He  carried  on  the  business  of  contractor  from  i8f>5  to  i888,  and 
built  the  Methodist  Protestant  church  and  many  other  fine  structures  in 
Rutherford. 

In  i858  Mr.  Rasmus  j()ined  the  Turners' Society  of  Carlstadt,  and  in 
i872  became  a  member  of  the  fire  department,  holding  it's  secretaryship 
three  years,  he  was  foreman  two  years,  and  treasurer  three  years,  he 
was  also  on  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  his  town  fourteen  years.  Treasurer 
of  the  Board  three  years.  Overseer  of  the  Poor  two  terms  and  has  been 
Councilman  of  his  borough  since  its  formation  in  i882. 

C;OTTFKIED    MEKCKEL. 

Gottfried  Merckel,  pharamacist  and  proprietor  of  the  drug  store 
established  by  Otto  Frank,  many  years  ago,  is  a  native  of  (lermany, 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  in  which  country  also 
he  took  a  thorough  pharmaceutical  course  of  instruction,  supplementing 
that  with  a  three  years'  clerkship,  preparatory  to  going  into  business  for 
himself.  In  1892  he  sailed  for  America,  landing  in  New  York,  when  he 
continued  his  chosen  field  of  labor  until  1897  when  he  came  to  Carlstadt. 

Mr.  Merckel  has  a  good  trade  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the 
people. 

GEOKGE  MULLEK. 

George  Muller,  proprietor  of  the  Monumental  Marl)le  Works,  and 
of  the  Casino,  '^Carlstadt,  was  born  in  Darmstadt,  in  the  province  of 
Hesse,  Germany,  in  1848.  He  is  the  son  of  Valentine  Mueller,  a  farmer, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  ])lace.      At  the  age 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKCiKN    COUNTY  381 

of  L'iyhtCL'ti  years  he  came  to  this  eountrv  aiiil  became  apprenticed  t<>  Mr. 
Gregx>rv.  of  Hoboken,  to  learn  the  trade  of  stone  mason. 

He  remained  with  his  employer  in  all,  until  1S7S,  hayin<j;-  in  the 
meantime  become  his  foreman,  and  a  skilled  workman  at  the  trade.  In 
ls7.^,  he  came  to  Carlstadt,  purchased  twelye  lots  of  t^round  and  beg'an 
his  career,  which  has  since    disting-uished   him.    in  the   marble  business. 

The  monuments  for  Fortenbach,  (lro.-,se,  Wagner,  Otto  and  the 
yault  for  William  Werger  stand  as  specimens  of  his  work  in  Bergen 
county,  while  in  Paterson  the  colossal  m')numents  erected  to  the  Rev. 
Jidm  C.  \'oorhees,  Merhof  and  others   represent  his  work  in  that  ])lace. 

ADAM    ZINK,    SK'. 

Adam  Zink,  Sr.,  i>resi(lent  of  Berrv  Lawn  Cemetery,  and  forn.icr 
Commissioner  of  Appeals,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  lSo2. 
Farming  was  his  occupation,  and  in  1854  he  came  to  this  country,  locat- 
ing afterwards  on  the  farm  of  John  Ackerman  in  Lodi  township,  where 
his  father  died  in  1855.  In  18()9  he  went  into  business  for  himself,  and 
has  held,  besides,  many  political  offices.  In  i8'>7  he  was  elected  Com- 
missioner of  Appeals  for  two  years.  He  was  a  member  for  sex'en  years 
of  the  Carlstadt  Fire  Department  which  he  joined  in  i872.  He  was 
made  president  of  the  Berry  Lawn  Association  in  I8't,^,  and  still  holds 
that  position. 

THK    Vil.I.AHE    OF    LODI. 

Sixty-seyen  years  ago,  Rt)bert  Rennie,  Esq.,  left  Scotland,  the  place 
of  his  l)irth.  for  the  United  States,  and  arrived  here  penniless,  but  as  a 
Yankee  once  expressed  it,  "chock  full  or  work."  He  brought  with  him 
personal  honesty,  industry,  intelligetice,  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  a 
good  trade.  His  brother.  James,  who  was  originally  "a  block  printer" 
was  then  ccmducting  a  small  manufacturing  business  on  the  banks  of 
the  Passaic,  on  the  spot  still  known  as  "Nightingale's  Mills."  To  this 
])!ace  Robert  immediately  directed  his  steps,  and  became  engaged  as 
superintendent  of  the  establishment,  immediately  infusing  new  life  and 
energy  into  tlu'  business.  They  soon  remii\ed  to  the  present  town  oi 
Lodi  where  a  small  mill  had  been  built  for  James,  by  Jacob  Ho])per  and 
Abraham  C.  Zabriskic.  This  mill  was  com])letely  destroyed  by  lire  in 
18.^4,  and  rebuilt  on  a  much  larger  scale  by  Robert  Renni^-,  who  suc- 
ceeded his  brother  as  the  sciK-  pro])rietor,  thus  laying  tlu'  foundation  id' 
the  afterwards  famous  '"  I^odi  Print  Worlcs,"  which  atone  time  stood  at 
the  head  of  all  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States. 

Previous  to  that  period  Lixli  had  been  .almost  a  wilderness.  In  1S2S 
the  only  houses  in  the  vicinity  were  tin-  unassuming  residences  of  Henry 
Hopper,  Richard  Stagg  and  l)a\id  I.  Ackerman.  To-day  L xli  has  a 
large  pojniiation,  five  or  si.\  churches,  many  stores,  a  district  schocd.  ])ost 
office,  and  other  elements  of  a  good  sized  city. 

For  this  the  inhabitants  are  nriiiilv.  if  not  altogether  indel)ted  to 
Robert  Rennie,  who  out  of  most  un])romising  material  fashioned  com- 
])aratiye  grcritness.      Lodi  was  at  lirst  called   K'einiiev\il]e,    in  opposition 


382 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGKN    COUNTY 


to  the  wishes  cf  Mr.  Rennie,  who  finally  caused  the  name  to  be  changed, 
and  still  retained  the  respect  and  gratitude  of  the  community. 

The  Rennie  brothers  were  three  in  number,  Robert  being  tlie 
voun crest.  Peter  Rennie  was  well  known  in  New  York.  He  had  an 
extensiYe  laundry  in  Bloomingdale,  yielding  him  a  large  fortune  which 
he  enioved  and  used  with  commendable  good  sense.  He  remained  there 
until  hi's  death ;  but  it  mav  be  said,  truly,  that  Robert  Rennie.  by  his 
industry,  enterprise,  liberality  and  genuine  devotion  to  business  did  the 
most  to  make  the  name  celebrated.  He  always  had  an  extreme  aver- 
sion to  being  spoken  of  by  the  press. 

The  heavy  factories  of  New  England,  proved  to  be  too  formidable 
for  competition  here  and  the  "  Lodi  Print  Works,  "  or  -Manufacturing 
Company,"  as  the  institution,  with  its  stockholders,  was  subsequently 
called,  went  by  the  board.  ,    •      ., 

After  abandoning  the  print  works,  Mr.  Rennie  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  chemicals  and  dye  stuffs  and  in  this  pursuit  he  was  not 
likely  to  meet  with  any  serious  reverses.  He  employed  about  httv 
workmen  in  the  chemical  works,  but  during  his  control  ot  the  print 
works  he  had  charge  of  upwards  of  five  hundred  men. 

He  had  a  large  interest  in  the  Hackensack  Railroad.  ..t  which  he 
was  a  prominent  director,  and  built  the  Lodi  Railroad  at  his  own  est. 
and  for  the  convenience  of  his  friends. 

Mr  Rennie  resided  on  the  west  side  of  Saddle  River  br,.ok.  on  a 
large  estate  which  commanded  a  view  of  the  Print  Works  and  objects 
of  interest  in  the  vincinity. 

The  grounds  were  laid  out  with  fine  taste,  and  were  a  m<.del  worthy 
of  imitation.     He  died  August  23,  1882. 

CHUKCHES. 

In  1845  was  organized  the  Lodi  Congregational  Church.  Services 
were  reo-ularly  held  at  various  places  in  the  village  until  the  year  18/2 
when  a  plot  of  ground  was  purchased  and  a  church  edifice  erected  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  dollars.  Subsequently  a  library  of  several  thous- 
and volumes,  formerly  belonging  to  the  Lodi  Reading  Room  Association, 
was  purchased  by  the  church   which  made  a   valuable   additi.ni   to  the 

needs  of  the  society.  l-       i     \ 

The  first  ministers  in  succession  since  1871  were  Revs.  \<  rank  A. 
Johnson,  F.  Y.  Turn,  and  William  H.  Broadhead.  Subsequently  sup- 
plies from  the  Theological  Seminary  New  York,  filled  the  pulpit. 

In  1878  the  founders  of  the  Second  Reformed  Church  of  Lodi  Village. 
seceded  from  the  Ccmgregaticmal  Church.  They  were  accompanied  in 
their  movement  by  the  former  pastor  ,.f  the  church.  Rev.  R.  M.  Ottord. 
The  secession  from  the  Congregati.mal  Church  was  due  to  a  dispute  as 
to  the  regularity  of  the  ordinaticm  of  Mr.  Offord.  On  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember 1878,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Classis  of  Paramus.  and  on  the 
lOth  of  October  of  the  same  year  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Second  Re- 


HisTOKV  or  bick(;ex  county  S83 

fiirini'd  Churcli.  A  hnuse  of  worship  was  subsequently  erected  and  ser- 
vices rei;ularlv  held  thereafter. 

The  First  i  Holland  )  Reformed  C'hureh  was  orifanized  in  i.S5'».  A 
house  of  worship  was  erected  in  the  village  of  Lodi,  at  a  cost  of  about 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  during'  the  same  year.  In  lSf)S  the 
General  Synod  of  the  Holland  Reformed  Church  in  America  directed 
that  the  term  Holland  be  dropped  from  the  name  of  the  church,  or  placed 
in  brackets.  A  majoritv  of  the  members  of  this  church  in  Lodi,  with 
their  pastor.  Rev.  W.  C.  Wust,  disapproved  of  the  chanj,'-e,  and  refused 
to  comply  with  the  directioti.  A  minority,  on  the  other  hand,  conceded 
the  rig'ht  of  the  General  Synod  to  modify  the  name  of  the  church,  and 
were  ready  to  carry  out  the  direction.  A  question  arose  as  to  which 
party  should  have  the  church  edifice.  A  long  course  of  litigation  fol- 
lowed, which  terminated  in  favor  of  the  minority.  The  minister  was 
the  Rev.  James  Hyssoon,  1>S5<M)4;  Rev.  \V.  C.  Wust,  l.S(,4-7,=^:  Rev.  Wil- 
liam F.  Betz,  1875-78.  The  next  pastor  of  this  church  was  Louis  (i. 
Jongeneel,  the  preaching  being  in  the  Holland  language.  The  first 
officers  were:  Deacons,  Aart  Jonsen  Brun,  Nicholas  Boogartman,  P. 
Vande  \'reede;  Elders,  B.  H.  Smith,  Christian  Van  Heest,  Pieter  Van 
Heest,  Cornelius  Vande  Vreedc,  G.  W.  Burchkeyser. 

The  body  which  seceded  from  the  First  (Holland)  Reff)rmed  Church 
in  18()8  asstimed  the  name  "Nethcrland  Reformed  Church."  The  pastor. 
Rev.  W.  C.  Wust,  under  whose  leadership  the  secession  was  consuma- 
ted,  in  1876  gave  a  plot  of  ground  to  the  society,  on  which  an  edifice  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  dollars.  Since  that  date  their  pastor 
accepted  a  call  to  preach  in  his  native  Holland.  He  remained  there  two 
years  but  returned.  During  his  absence  the  services  were  conducted  by 
one  of  the  leading  members,  Mr.  Daniel  Cook.  The  first  officers  of  this 
church  were  Daniel  Cook.  (larret  Btiller,  Peter  Ney,  Peter  De  X'ries,  M. 
Sacker,  and  A.  Vogleson. 

St.  Francis  de  Sales' Roman  Catludic  Church  of  Ivodi  X'illage  en- 
joys the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  Catholic  Church  in  Bergen 
county.  It  was  organized  in  \Sr>5.  The  edifice  was  erected  during  that 
year  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  dollars,  and  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  J. 
Roosevelt  Bayley,  late  Archbishop  of  Baltimore.  It  is  .1  mission  church, 
its  pulpit  having  been  supplied  in  turn  l)y  pastors  from  I'aterson, 
Hackensack,  Fort  Lee,  and  Carlstadt.  The  first  jjastor  was  L.  I). 
Senez. 

The  African  Zion  E])iscopal,  a  small  society,  was  organizi'd  about 
1S72.      The  first  pastor  was  Ileiuy  Dumson. 

lUlv'IAI.-lM.  ACl'.S. 

The  township  of  F^odi  h.is  only  two  ])ublic  burial-grounds,  one  in 
Lodi  and  the  other  in  Carlstadt,  both  of  comparatively-  recent  origin. 
The  one  at  Lodi  is  a  Catholic  cemetery,  and  was  oi)ened  in  1855,  when 
the  Catholic  Church  was  built.  It  is  (juite  extensive,  having  been  used 
for  several  years  as  a  burial-ground  by  all  the  Catholics  in  Bergen  coun- 


3^4  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


ty.     The  cemetery  at  Carlstadt  was  opened  soon  after  the  organization 
of  the  villag-e  in  1S53.     The  inscriptions  are  mainly  in  German. 

GEORGE  C.   MEKCEK. 

Georg-e  Cockburn  Mercer  was  born  in  Earlston,  Scotland,  March  17. 
185h  fifs  mother's  lineage  mingles  not  far  back  with  that  of  the  late 
Lord  Chief  Justice  Cockburn  of  England,  Cockburn  being  her  maiden 
name.  Earlston  has  historical  interests  and  lies  in  one  of  most  beautiful 
sections  of  Scotland.  It  was  the  home  of  Thomas  the  Rhymer,  the  ruins 
of  whose  castle  are  visited  by  tourists  from  far  and  near.  These  old 
ruins  have  recently  passed  into  .the  hands  of  the  Historical  Society  of 
Scotland,  and  will  receive  the  care  due  them.  Seven  miles  over  the  hills 
from  Earlston  is  Galashiels,  famous  for  its  woolen  industries.  At  much 
less  distance  is  Melrose  with  its  immortal  abbey,  also  Dryburgh,  Abbots- 
ford,  the  home  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  afld  other  places  of  world  wide 
renown  The  Leader,  a  picturesque  stream,  home  of  the  finest  trout  m 
Scotland,  and  on  which  Earlston  stan4s,  flows  into  the  Tweed,  two  miles 
below  the  town.  To  the  beauties  of  Jiature  are  added  the  atmosphere  of 
romance,  and  here  young  Mercer  not  only  first  saw  the  light,  but  received 
his  principal  educational  training,  passing  through  a  thorough  academic 

course.  ^  ,  .     ,  .  , 

Mr.  Mercer  followed  the  example  of  many  of  his  kinsmen  and  a 
still  larger  number  of  his  countrymen,  when  in  1873  he  left  his  native 
shores  for  America.  He  reached  the  land  of  his  adoption  October  24th 
of  that  year,  and  at  once  found  a  home  with  relatives  in  Lodi.  After 
a  brief  engagement  with  the  proprietor  of  the  old  Lodi  store,  he  became 
associated^with  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  railroad,  and  managed 
its  Lodi  branch,  overseeing  the  disposition  of  large  quantities  of  freight, 
which  passed  to  and  from  the  Lodi  mills.  Subsequently  he  was  engaged 
in  a  confidential  capacity  with  Messrs.  H.  J.  Libby  &  Co.  of  New  York, 
the  well  known  agents  of  the  Norfolk  and  New  Brunswick  Hosiery 
Co  with  their  large  mills  in  New  Jersey  and  New  England.  Later  on 
he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Byrne,  Bros.  &  Co.,  with  its  cotton 
croods  finishing  mills  at  Lodi,  and  was  the  New  York  representative  and 
financial  manager  of  the  concern.  After  seven  years  of  marked  suc- 
cess the  property  of  the  firm  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  not  rebuilt, 
and  the  firm  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  Mr.  Mercer  then  turned 
his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  woolen  shoddies  and  extracts,  and 
located  in  Garfield.  For  this  purpose  he  organized  in  1894  the  Garfield 
Woolen  Company  and  became  its  president  and  treasurer  and  still  holds 
these  offices,  to  which  he  devotes  his  most  assidious  attention.  He  is 
also  a  director  of  the  Peoples'  Bank  and  Trust  Company  of  Passaic,  of 
which  concern  he  has  been  a  stockholder  from  its  inception.  Seven 
years  a-o  he  organized  the  Lodi  Building  and  Loan  Association  and  is 
"its  president  This  organization  has  a  high  reputation  for  its  conser- 
vatism It  has  aided  scores  of  the  citizens  of  Lodi  to  procure  homes 
of  their  own,  and  proved  a  lucrative  form  of  investment  to  the  stock- 
holders. 


HISTOKV    OF    HKK(;KN   COVNTV  .iho 

In  1890  Mr.  Mercer  married  Miss  Isabella  Vair  Cockburn,  a  dautfh- 
ter  of  (icorge  Cockburn,  of  Ludinjjton,  Michisran.  She  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Boston  Conservatory  of  Music,  and  a  voung  lady  of  marked  musical 
talent. 

In  addition  to  his  many  business  duties,  Mr.  Mercer  was  for  many 
years  postmaster  of  Lodi.  As  a  result  of  his  efforts,  the  village  was 
incorporated  as  a  borough  in  1894,  and  at  the  second  election  for  Mayor 
in  1897,  he  was  elected  to  that  office  without  opposition.  In  this  t)fficial 
capacity  he  has  pushed  needed  measures  for  the  improvement  of  its 
thoroughfares,  and  has  shown  a  spirit  of  progress  that  is  proving  infec- 
tious and  full  of  promise  for  the  welfare  of  the  place.  In  his  private 
capacity  he  ensured  the  locating  of  the  Alexander  Dye  Works,  one  of  the 
largest  silk  dyeing  and  finishing  mills  in  the  world,  in  Lodie.  He  has 
also  introduced  an  electric  system  and  is  lending  his  efforts  to  the  move- 
ment, which  he  practically  initiated,  to  link  Passaic  and  Lodi  by  means 
of  an  electric  railway. 

Mr.  Mercer  is  a  member  of  the  Washington  Club,  Passaic,  a  Oovern- 
nor  of  the  Passaic  General  Hospital  and  a  member  of  its  Committee  on 
P^inance.  He  is  a  Free  Mason  of  high  degree,  having  some  time  since 
become  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St. 
Andrew's  Society  of  New  York  and  of  the  Orean  Park  Club  of  Passaic. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Second  Reformed  Church  of  Passaic, 
serving  for  nearly  twenty  years  as  deacon  and  its  treasurer.  He  has 
been  one  of  its  most  active  members  and  supporters,  and  its  interests  are 
dear  to  his  heart.  He  is  the  Superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school  and  in 
many  other  ways  fosters  the  work  and  aids  the  cause.  Mr.  Mercer  is  a 
man  of  unflagging  energy,  great  executive  ability  and  industry.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  an  intelligent  observer  of  the  times,  a  faithful 
friend,  and  among  his  fellow  men  always  genial  and  companionable. 
He  is  benevf)lent  without  ostentation,  and  has  the  respect  and  hearty 
esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 

WAIJ.INGTOX. 

The  liorough  of  Wallington  includes  all  that  territory  of  land  lying 
between  the  Passaic  River,  the  Short  Cut  Railroad  and  the  trolley  road 
from  Passaic  to  Hoboken.     It  was  organized  in  March  i895. 

The  officers  elected  were  as  follows:  Mayor,  Jacob  Wagner;  Presi- 
dent of  Council,  Bernard  Koster;  Councilmen,  Bernard  Koster,  John 
Baker,  Thomas  R.  Collins,  Walter  F.  Schmitt,  Charles  R.  Stewart,  and 
Robert  Engle;  Clerk,  Conrad  Kreger;  Assessor,  William  De  Vogel; 
Collector,  Pascal  Gardella;  President  Board  of  Education,  Bernard  Kos- 
ter; Board  of  Health,  Menzo  Neer,  president. 

March,  1899:  Mayor,  James  Van  Bussum;  President  of  Council, 
Thomas  R.  Collins;  Councilmen,  James  Soop,  James  Ryan,  Peter  Gly- 
nis,  (ieorge  W.  Gill,  John  J.  Polmann;  Clerk,  Christian  De  Keyser;  As- 
sessor, John  McMahon;  Collector,  Peter  De  Keyser;  Counsel,  A.  D.  Sul- 
livan; Chief  of  Police,  Robert  Cook;  Commissioners  of  Appeals,  Wil- 
liam De  Vogel,  Jacob  Wagner  and  Jolin  De  Keyser;   Board  of  Education, 


386 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COITNTY 


Frank  Wentink,  president;  Board  of  Health,  Edward  Cutting,  president. 


PUBLIC    HALL. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  Public  Hall  of  \Vallin<^ton  was  laid  on 
Saturday,  November  13,  1897,  by  appropriate  exercises,  Mr.  A.  D.  Sulli- 
van acting  as  Master  of  Ceremonies.  Mr.  Sullivan  was  followed  by  As- 
serablvman-elect,  John  M.  Bell.  Mayor  Koster,  ex-Mayor  Wagner,  Coun- 
cilman James  Soop,  and  others.  President  Krug  of  Wallington  Hall 
Association,    presented    Mayor    Koster  with   a    handsome    silver-plated 


W.^LLIXGTON    SCHOOL 

trowel  with  which  he  tapped  the  stone,  saying,  "I  herewith  dedicate 
this  hall  to  the  w^elfare  of  the  Borough  of  Wallington." 

The  children  sang  "America,"  and  othernational  melodies,  and  each 
received  a  souvenir. 

After  the  ceremonies.  ex-Mayor  Wagner  entertained  the  invited 
guests  at  his  residence,  where  the  festivities  were  prolonged  until  a  late 
hour. 

\V.\LLIXGTOX    PKESBYTEKI.'^N    CHURCH. 

From  a  report  of  the  secretary,  Mr.  George  C.  Woolson,  to  the 
officers  of  the  Wallington  Presbyterian  Church  and  Sunday  School, 
dated  October  17,  1897,  we  note  the  following  interesting  facts  relative 
to  its  history. 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKOKN    COUNTY  387 

Mr.  WodIsdh  s;iys  :  "Tho  articles  of  incDrptJration  constitutiiiii'  thr 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  WallinL^fton  Presbyterian  Society  were  drawn 
up  and  tiled  according  to  law  on  May  23d,  IS'td.  Two  preliminarv  meet- 
ings of  the  trustees  were  held  (m  May  30  and  June  11,  rcspectivelv,  to 
consider  plans  for  a  church  edifice,  and  to  devise  ways  and  means  to 
secure  funds  for  such  a  building,  as  well  as  to  select  two  lots  on  which 
to  build,  said  lots  having  been  previously  generously  donated  by  Mr.  L. 
M.  Alden,  of  Passaic.  On  June  T>th  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  Wal- 
lington  public  schoolhouse  to  decide  upon  plans  for  the  proposed  church 
edifice,  when  it  was  decided  to  accept  that  offered  by  Architect  S.  B. 
Reid  of  New  York  city,  and  the  trustees  were  empowered  to  make  such 
alterations  as  in  their  judgment  were  deemed  necessary.  At  the  close 
of  the  meeting  the  ladies  met  and  organized  the  Ladies"  Aid  Society  of 
the  Wallington  Presbyterian  Church. 

"On  June  22  the  trustees  met  and  projjoscd  certain  changes  look- 
ing towards  the  improvement  of  the  plans,  and  in  the  last  week  in  June 
ground  was  broken  for  the  cellar." 

"The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  Rev.  Dr.  P.  F.  Leavens  on  the  even- 
ing of  July  21st,  with  appropriate  ceremonies  and  in  the  presence  of 
several  hundred  persons.  Mr.  Woolson  saj-s  'This  corner-stone  was  cut 
and  donated  by  Mr.  Daniel  Demarest  of  Passaic,  and  it  may  be  further 
stated  that  nearly  all  the  material  and  labor  used  were  freely  given  by 
those  interested  in  the  promotion  of  a  church  in  this  place.'  " 

On  October  7th,  8th  and  ')th  a  very  successful  fair  was  held  in  the 
building,  at  which  time  about  $491, — no  small  sum  for  such  a  commun- 
ity— was  cleared,  and  in  June  a  lawn  party  was  held,  at  which  S75  more 
was  cleared,  this  money  enabling  the  ladies  to  furnish  the  church. 

The  Sabbath  School  was  opened  at  2.30  o'clock  on  Sunday,  October 
11,  and  the  church  was  dedicated  November  17,  Rev.  Ame  Vcnnema  de- 
livering the  sermon.  November  22,  Rev.  Dr.  P.  F.  Leavens,  preached 
the  first  sermon  at  3.30  P.  M.  On  April  11,  1S'>7.  lifteen  members  were 
received  by  confession  of  faith,  three  joined  by  letter,  and  during  the 
])ast  year  forty-one  adults  and  eight  infants  were  bajjlizcd. 

The  attendance  at  the  Sunday  School  from  October  11,  1S')(>,  U> 
October  3,  1897,  inclusive,  averaged  sixty-five,  a  weekly  coiitrilmtion  nf 
!?11.21  having  been  given.  The  average  attendance  at  church  for  the 
same  time  was  fifty-seven,  the  weekly  contribution  amounting  to  $4.80. 
The  trustees  of  the  new  church  are  W.  A.  Wiliard,  president;  (1. 
C.  Woolson,  secretary;  Janus  Soop,  treasurer;  J.  \'an  Idestine,  Charles 
Kuhne.  John  Kingsland,  A.  L.  S])ringsteen,  Adney  P.  Post  and  Charles 
R.  Stewart. 

Regular  church  services  are  held  every  Sabbath  evening  at  7.30, 
and  besides  the  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor,  which  holds  regular 
services,  a  weekly  j)raycr  meeting  was  started  in  November  1898,  and  is 
held  every  Friday  evening,  at  eight  o'clock.  The  present  pastor  is  Mr. 
A.  F.  Parker  of  Patcrson  and  under  his  earnest  and  zealous  preaching 
tlu-  society  is  making  good   and   substantial  progress. 


3S8  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COIiNTY 

STANDARD    OIL    WORKS. 

The  Standard  Oil  Company  carry  oil  from  their  fields  in  Pennsylva- 
nia to  the  seaboard  at  Bayoune,  in  pipes  laid  under  ground  to  a  depth  of 
thirty-sis  inches. 

Were  the  surface  through  which  these  pass,  on  a  level,  or  nearly  so, 
the  force  necessary  to  carry  the  oil  to  its  destination  would  be  greatly 
reduced,  but  as  it  is  necessarily  over  hills  and  along  lowlands,  it  is  not 
possible  to  use  long  lines  of  tubing.  To  obviate  the  danger  of  bursting 
pipes  by  such  great  force,  pumping  stations  are  arranged  at  regular 
intervals  of  thirty  miles  where  the  oil  is  received  in  large  tanks  and 
again  pumped  to  the  next  station.  This  is  the  eleventh  and  last  station 
on  the  line. 

At  Garfield  twenty-four  large  iron  tanks  having  a  capacity  of  thirty- 
five  thousand  barrels,  and  several  large  brick  buildings  are  located. 
One  of  the  buildings  contains  the  engines  and  pumps,  while  in  the  others 
are  the  telegraph  office  and  steam  boilers.  The  engines  are  running 
constantly  day  and  night  throughout  the  year,  egg-anthracite  coal  being 
used  as  fuel.  Natural  drafts  keeps  the  furnaces  running  without  artifi- 
cial aid  consuming  about  twenty-five  tons  of  coal  in  every  twenty-four 
hours.  To  determine  when  a  break  or  leak  occurs,  and  also  the  amount 
of  pressure,  each  station  employs  a  mercury  pressure-gauge,  which  will 
indicate  a  leak  of  even  one  barrel  per  hour.  The  pipe  lines  are  passed 
over  each  day  by  men  who  are  called  line  walkers.  At  the  station  are 
employed  four  engineers,  four  fireman,  two  coal-heavers  and  four  tele- 
graph operators. 

The  Standard  Oil  Company  bought  their  right  of  way  for  a  large 
sum,  by  which  they  are  entitled  to  this  right  for  a  term  of  twenty  yea-rs 
more  or  less.  The  station  in  Garfield  is  in  the  south-east  corner  of 
the  borough,  near  Passaic. 

THE    ANDERSON    LUMBER    COMPANY. 

The  Anderson  Lumber  Company  was  established  in  1812  by  David 
I.  Anderson  and  Major  Post,  under  the  firm  name  of  Anderson  &  Post. 
David  I.  Anderson,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  was  born  in  1792  and 
died  in  1873.  His  son  W.  S.  Anderson  was  born  in  1827,  and  after  at- 
taining his  majority,  became  a  clerk  in  the  lumber  and  coal  office  of 
Anderson  &  Post,  eventually  becoming  a  partner  in  the  business  and 
finally  succeeding  to  the  sole  ownership.  In  1876  S.  T.  Zabriskie  came 
into  the  firm.  In  1885,  S.  L.  Nickerson,  who  for  twenty-eight  years  be- 
fore had  been  a  sea  captain,  entered  into  partnership  with  W.  S.  Ander- 
son Company  and  built  the  original  factory  on  the  Wallington  side. 
This  building  afterwards  receiving  additions,  has  a  one  hundred  and 
fifty  horse-power  engine,  while  about  fifty  men  find  constant  employ- 
ment in  manufacturing  all  kinds  of  packing  cases,  and  everything  per- 
taining to  wood  work  for  a  house.  In  1887  a  stock  company  was  formed. 
The  present  officers  are:  Simeon  T.  Zabriskie,  President;  Edward  Phil- 
lil^s.  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  Captain  S.  L.  Nickerson   Superintendent. 


Jfl.irS    KOKKHS 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


?89 


This   cnmpaiiy  has   extensive  duck    I'aeilities.      Its   water    I'nnit   is   iiKire 
than  half  a  mile  in  length. 

MK.   Jfl.irS   K()|.;ilKS. 

Julius  Kochrs,  proprietor  of  the  Mammoth  Flower  (xarden,  near  the 
crest  of  the  Showhank  ridge,  on  the  Paterson  plank  road,  is  a  native 
of  Germany,  born  in  the  cit  v  of  Hamburg-  in  the  year  1844. 

After  leaving  school  he  started  as  apprentice  in  the  Kiel  Botanical 
Garden  at  the  University  of  Holstein.  He  afterward  supplemented  his 
training  by  travel  through  the  greenhouses  and  flower  gardens  of  Ger- 
many, Belgium  and  other  countries,  until  he  secured  a  position  with  M. 
Sienan.  Esq.,  of  Jersey  City,  to  take  charge  of  his  extensive  collection  of 
Orchids.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1868,  and  for  six  years  was 
associated  with  Mr.  Sienan.  After  this  he  rented  the  plant,  enlarging 
it  subsequently  and  conducting  it  as  his  own  in  connection  with  another 
establishment,  on  Jersey  Citv  Heights. 

In  18S4  he  formed  new  plans,   and    began   anew.       Hi-   sn]il    dut  his 


i<oi':hks'  fi.owick  iionsics 

interests  in  the  citj-,  bought  fifteen  acres  of  ground  and  moved  his 
effects  to  the  present  site  near  Carlton  Hill  where  he  soon  afterward 
erected  his  beautiful  residence.  He  now  began  building  his  glass 
houses  and  since  that  time  he  has  added  structure  to  structure'  until  the 
place  has  become,  in  appearance,  a  miniature  city  of  greenhouses. 

Mr.  Roehrs  was  married  to  Miss  Magdalene  Scliroeder,  also  a  native 
of  Hamburg,  Germany,  in  1877.  They  have  seven  children,  live  boys 
and  two  girls.  The  eldest  son,  Julius,  is  now  completing  his  education 
in  the  science  of  Botany  at  St.  Albans,  England,  at  which  place  is  one 
of  the  largest  flower  gardens  in  the  world.  Mr.  Koehrs  trade  is  in  the 
wholesale  line  solely.  Following  is  a  description  of  his  gard.-n  by  one 
who  has  had  an  intimate  knowledge  of  it  from  the  beginning. 

"There  is  no  i)art  of  tile  world  where  the  growing  of  ornamental- 
leafed  plants  and  cultivation  for  cut  (lowers  is  more  successfull  \-  carried 


399  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

on.  than  on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Julius  Koehrs  near  the  crest  of  the 
Showhank  ridge.  In  fact  there  is  no  part  of  the  old  world  that  can  boast 
of  a  similar  establishment.  The  growers  of  Europe  are  amazed  at  seeing 
such  an  immense  stock  of  well-grown  plants.  Mr.  Roehrs  himself  is 
what  may  be  justly  called  an  intense  product.  He  is  Hortits  iiia.xinium  in 
the  plant  growing  world.  That  he  began  in  a  small  way  is  a  credit  to 
his  skill,  industry  and  preseverance.  Taking  a  look  into  his  houses  we 
see  specialities  grown,  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  most  critical  retail 
trade.  We  find  Orchids  growing  as  perfectly  and  as  profusely  as  in 
their  natiye  soil.  Of  these  there  are  20,000  Catteyas  of  rare  yarieties, 
and  more  than  5000  strong  clumps  of  Cypripediums  of  the  standard 
sorts,  as  well  as  the  more  rare  noyelties.  His  Orchid  collectors  are  in 
every  field  where  these  beautiful  plants  are  found,  India,  the  Phillipine 
Island  and  South  America  are  constantly  contributing  to  his  collection. 
Mr.  Roehrs  grows  1,000,000  Lily-of-the-valley  pips  annually,  and  any 
day  of  the  year  these  delicate  flowers  may  be  had  in  reasonable  quant- 
ities. But  few,  if  any,  of  the  seed  merchants  of  our  country  sell,  as 
many,  as  he  alone  grows.  Lilacs  both  white  and  purple  are  here  forced 
in  such  quantities  as  to  supply  the  market  from  Christmas  until  they 
can  be  cut  in  the  open  air.  250,000  Tulips,  Hyacinths  and  Narcissus 
are  annually  disposed  of  here,  and  20,000  choice  Azaleas,  large  and 
small,  are  yearly  grown  for  the  Easter  Trade.  In  his  Palm  houses  are 
all  the  better  varieties  by  the  thousand,  all  in  perfect  health  and 
beauty. 

"Mr.  Roehrs  selected  this  fine  location  about  twelve  years  ago  and 
immediately  began  the  work  of  erecting  and  preparing  his  present  ideal 
establishment,  and  at  this  time  has  sixty  greenhouses  with  an  area  of 
125,000  square  feet,  or  about  three  acres.  In  addition  to  all  these  he 
grows  roses  of  only  choice  varieties  and  on  a  large  scale,  besides  any 
other  flowers  the  trade  may  demand.  The  system  adopted  here,  permits 
of  no  idle  house  room  or  idle  houses,  the  moment  one  plant  has  furnished 
its  flowers  or  perfected  its  growth,  it  must  make  room  for  another, 
thus  forming  a  constant  succession.  There  are  in  all  about  forty  men 
empkn^ed,  and  all  are  kept  busy." 

GKOKCE    C.    WOOLSON. 

George  C.  Woolson,  florist,  and  senior  member  oi  the  firm  of  Wool- 
son  &  Co.,  Wallington,  N.  J.,  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  the 
town  of  Hopkinton,  that  State,  July  20,  1848.  His  father  Levi  Wod- 
scm,  now  eighty-seven  years  of  age,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  from  which 
occupation  young  Woolson,  no  doubt,  learned  to  love  nature  in  general 
and  living  plants  in  particular.  After  graduation  from  the  high  school 
of  Hopkint(m,  in  1807,  he  entered  the  Agricultural  College  at  Amherst, 
Mass.,  from  which  institution  he  took  the  degree  of  B.  S.,  in  1871. 
Having  become  proficient  in  a  technical  knowledge  of  the  studies,  which 
he  had  been  pursuing  he  was  offered  and  accepted  the  Assistant  Editor- 
ship of   the  "Hearth   and   Home,"  and   the  "American  Agriculturist," 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKC.KN    COUNTY  .Vtl 

under  the  management  of  the  well  known  botanist,  the  eminent  Dr. 
(ieorire  Thurber,  to  which  position  he  was  called  in  i87(),  one  year  be- 
fore taking-  his  degree  from  the  colleg-e.  He  remained  actively  engaged 
in  this  capacity  until  1.S77.  In  1885  he  was  made  superintending  Gard- 
ener of  the  department  of  Public  Parks  of  the  city  of  New  York,  having 
passed  a  very  severe  Civil  Service  examination  and  securing  the  highest 
rating  of  twelve  applicants,  and  for  seven  years  devoted  his  time  to 
planting  and  otherwise  adorning  the  parks  from  the  Battery  to  the 
Harlem  Kiver.  As  the  homes  of  Dr.  Thurber  and  Mr.  Wf)olson  were 
one,  they  were  brought  into  constant  companionship  and  this  gave  him 
the  privilege  of  making  the  acquaintance  of  man^-  eminent  scientists  of 
both  Europe  and  this  country.  Mr.  Woolson  came  to  Wallington  in 
December  i870,  and  five  years  later  married  Miss  Sarah  Martin  Thurber, 
the  sister  of  Dr.  Thurber.     They  have  ever  since  resided  here. 

Mr.  Woolson  was  the  first  in  this  part  of  the  countr3^  to  engage  in 
the  cultivation  of  hardy  perennial  plants  for  commercial  purposes.  In 
18<S'>,  he  purchased  the  seven  and  one-half  acres  he  now  occupies,  since 
which  time  his  nursery  has  steadily  kept  pace  with  the  demands  of  the 
trade.  Mr.  Woolson  has  also  been  prominent  in  the  borough  of  Walling- 
ton. He  was  school  trustee  and  district  clerk  for  nine  years,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  things  affecting  the  welfare  of  his  part  of  Ber- 
gen county.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  Passaic  Lodge,  No.  67,  in  1883, 
and  from  that  time  until  the  present  has  held  some  oiBce  in  his  Lodge, 
serving  as  Worshipful  Master  in  1889-'%.  He  is  now  and  has  been  for 
five  years  Historian  of  his  Lodge.  For  six  years  he  was  a  member  of 
various  committees  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  Jersey.  In  1884  he  was 
elected  and  exalted  in  Centennial  Chapter  of  P.  M.  34,  of  Royal  Arch 
Masons.  For  the  past  six  years  he  has  been  High  Priest  of  this  Chap- 
ter, and  has  received  high  honors  in  the  Grand  Chapter  of  this  State, 
now  holding  the  office  of  (irand  King.  In  1S8.S  he  was  knighted  in  Mor- 
ton Commandery,  No.  4,  of  New  York  city,  and  in  1890  joined  Mecca 
Temple  and  was  made  an  Illustrious  Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  New 
York  city.  He  also  holds  a  membership  in  the  Fraternal  Union  of 
.Xnnointed  High  Priests  of  New  York. 

DIV.    CICOKCIH    TIll'Klil'.lv'. 

George  Thurl)er.  <listinguished  botanist,  author  and  teacher,  and  for 
nearly  a  (piarter  of  a  century  editor  of  the  "American  Agriculturist," 
was  a  resident  of  Wallingtcm  from  18()8  to  1890,  where  he  died  April  2, 
of  that  year.  He  was  born  on  September  2,  1821,  at  Providence,  K.  I., 
where  he  received  an  apprenticeship  as  apothecary,  at  the  termination  of 
which  he  began  business  for  himself  in  partnership  with  Joshua  Chapin. 
During  these  years  he  devoted  himself  early  to  the  study  of  chemistry 
and  natural  sciences  in  general,  but  especially  to  botany,  so  that  at  that 
early  age  he  was  already  well  known  as  one  of  the  most  accomplished 
botanists  of  the  century.  This  brought  him  in  close  intimacy  with  Drs. 
John   Tcirrev,    Asa    Gray,    Louis  Agassi/,,    George   iMigk'nian  and  other 


392  HisTOKY  OF  bek(;en  county 

g'eiiial  scientists  whose   warm    friendshij)   he    enjoyed   until    his  death. 

In  1850  Dr.  Thurber  was  appointed  quartermaster  and  commissary 
on  the  United  States  and  Mexico  Boundary  Suryey,  and  with  the  special 
object  to  explore  the  flora  of  the  hitherto  unknown  border  regions. 
This  task  he  accomplished  in  a  most  excellent  manner,  collecting-  and 
bringing  home  with  him  s])ecimens  of  nearly  all  the  native  plants  of 
that  territory. 

In  185.>  he  received  an  appointment  at  the  United  States  Assay 
Office,  of  which  he  and  Dr.  Torrey  were  then  the  Assayers.  Here  he 
remained  until  185(>,  when  for  political  reasons  he  was  forced  to  resiy;n. 
In  1859  he  was  appointed  professor  of  Botany  and  Horticulture  at  the 
Michigan  State  Agricultural  College,  which  he  held  four  years  and  only 
resigned  to  accept  the  editorship  of  the  American  Agriculturist  in  1863. 

Few  men,  if  any,  have  exerted  so  powerful  and  effective  an  in- 
fluence on  American  Agriculture  and  Horticulture  as  has  Dr.  Thurber 
through  the  pages  of  this  magazine.  The  botany  of  Appleton's  Ency- 
clopedia was  contributed  entirely  by  Dr.  Thurber.  This  excellent  phar- 
macist, splendid  botanist,  admiral  teacher  and  genial  man,  died  at  his 
home,  at  the  "Beeches,"  in  his  sixty-ninth  year. 

His  remains  were  buried  in  Swan  Point  Cemetery,  Providence,  R.  I., 
a  locality  where  a  young  man  he  spent  many  happy  hours  in  collecting 
and  studying  the  botanical  treasures  formerly  found  in  such  abundance 
in  this  portion  of  the  state.  His  affection  for  the  young  was  very 
marked,  and  nothing  so  delighted  him  as  to  find  a  young  man  who  was 
interested  in  his  favorite  sciences  of  botany  and  chemistry,  and  he  was 
always  ready  to  give  that  advice  and  friendly  suggestion  which  so  en- 
deared him  to  those  brought  into  intimate  relations  with  him.  For 
many  years  no  book  was  issued  by  the  firm  with  which  he  was  connected 
without  his  critical  examination,  and  many  of  them  show  his  handiwork 
which  served  to  render  them  more  practical  and  intelligent  to  the  g'en- 
eral  reader. 

MR.    JACOB    WAGNEK. 

Jacob  Wagner,  the  first  Mayor  of  the  Borough  of  Wallington,  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  born  in  Grasapsach,  in  the  county  of  Backnaug,  in 
the  year  1835.  Christian  Wagner,  the  father,  died  when  Jacob  was  but 
eleven  years  of  age.  His  mother  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six  years,  dying  in  May  1897.  Mr.  W^agner  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  town  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  nineteen  years  old,  when  ac- 
companied by  two  elder  sisters,  he  sailed  for  America  in  the  old  ship 
Queen  Victoria  landing  in  New  York  on  August  19,  1854,  forty-nine 
days  after  leaving  the  father-land.  During  the  first  eighteen  months, 
after  coming  here,  Mr.  Wagner  worked  as  a  hired  hand  for  a  farmer  on 
Long  Island,  beginning  on  a  salary  of  five  dollars  per  month.  Follow- 
ing this  came  six  years  or  more  of  service  for  the  Erie  Railroad  Com- 
pany, working  as  a  common  laborer.  As  early  as  1861,  he  found  him- 
self the  happy  possessor  of  a  few  hundred  dollars  which  he  immediately 


HISTOKV    OF    BEKGKN    COUNTY  343 

invested  in  real  estate  and  through  other  investments  in  realty  his  hund- 
reds were  soon  converted  into  thousands.  Now  he  has  large  interests 
in  Jersey  City  and  elsewhere.  In  1858,  Mr.  Wagner  was  married  to 
Miss  Whilhelmina  Brecht  and  in  1S(>1  he  bought  a  lot  and  built  a  house 
in  Jersey  City,  continuing  to  live  there  until  18'tl  vhen  he  removed  to 
Wallington,  where  he  now  resides.  His  wife,  after  bearing  him  ten 
children,  and  enjoying  the  comforts  resulting  from  a  well  ordered  life, 
passed  away  in  June  1895,  leaving  the  husband  and  six  children  to 
mourn  their  loss.  In  18')!,  Mr.  Wagner  purchased  of  George  Engle- 
man  fifty  acres  of  the  old  Theodore  Van  Idestine  estate  and  since  that 
time  his  interests  have  been  centered  in  this  borough.  In  1896  he  was 
chosen  Mayor  of  his  borough,  which  position  he  held  till  March,  1897. 
when  he  insisted  upon  retirement. 

BEKNAKD    KOSTER. 

Bernard  Koster,  Mayor  of  Wallington,  is  a  son  of  Henry  Koster  and 
Catharina  Weber.  He  is  German  by  birth  and  education,  born  in  Atten- 
dorn,  province  of  Westphalia,  Germany,  August  8,  1860.  His  parents 
early  placed  him  in  the  elementary  public  school,  where  he  remained 
until  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  assist  his  father  in  the  maintenance 
of  a  large  family.  From  September  i874,  he  was  employed  in  the  chem- 
ical works  until  October  30,  i880,  when  he  sailed  for  this  country.  In 
December  1880  he  came  to  Bergen  county  locating  at  Englewood.  From 
April  1883  until  September  1887,  he  was  with  the  late  Andrew  S.  Ful- 
ler of  Ridgewood,  one  of  the  oldest  horticulturists  in  America.  He  then 
took  his  family  to  New  York  city,  returning  to  Bergen  county  in  Febru- 
ary 1889,  and  located  in  Wallington  his  present  home.  Since  his  return 
to  Bergen  county  he  was  foreman  for  a  number  of  years  at  the  nurseries 
of  Woolson  &  Co.,  hardy  plants,  the  last  five  years  having  been  spent 
as  superintendent  of  Mr.  Peter  Reid's  greenhouse  and  grounds  which 
are  the  finest  in  Passaic. 

Mr.  Koster  is  at  this  time  president  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent 
Legion  in  Passaic,  treasurer  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  in  Passaic, 
treasurer  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Wallington  Savings  Loan  and 
Building  Association,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  originators,  treasurer 
of  the  Wallington  Hall  Association,  and  an  active  member  and  the 
treasurer  of  Wallington  Hose  Company,  No.  1.  In  addition  to  tluse 
Mr.  Koster  is  affiliated  with  a  number  of  Church  societies  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  in  Passaic.  His  military  record  covers  a  period  of 
nearly  nine  years  having  enlisted  Aj^ril  28,  1882.  in  Comi)any  B,  Second 
Battalion.  Infantry,  First  Brigade,  National  Guards  of  New  Jersey,  and 
discharged  from  the  service  March  10,  1891.  In  his  public  achievements 
and  offices,  Mr.  Koster  jietitioned  the  court  of  Bergen  county  lor  the 
incorjjoration  of  the  Borough  of  Wallington  in  Ueceml)cr,  1894,  which 
was  granted.  He  was  a])pointed  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
Wallington.  bv  the  Countv  Superintendent  in  I'^ehruary  1895,  remaining 
a  member  of   tlial  Imdv  cunlinunusl\-   since  lliat  time;   1)V  re-eJectiim  in 


394  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUI^TY 

1895,  for  a  term  of  two  years,  and  again  in  1897  for  three  years.  In 
1895  he  was  elected  councilman  for  three  years,  and  in  1897  Mayor  of 
the  Boroug-h. 

Mr.  Koster's  marriage  to  Bridget  Cuoney  of  New  York  was  solemn- 
ized April  S,  1883,  at  Englewood,  by  Rev.  Father  McDonald,  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church. 

JOHN  J.    POLMAXN. 

John  J.  Polmann,  Recorder  of  the  Borough  of  Wallington,  was  born 
in  the  old  romantic  and  historic  'ALoo  'ALoo,"  in  the  Province  of  Gelder- 
land,  Holland,  July  18,  18f)0.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  young  Polmann 
after  a  rigorous  examination,  was  found  fully  competent  to  enter  the 
profession  of  teaching,  beginning  work  in  the  school  room  at  once,  a 
position  for  which  he  was  well  fitted  both  by  education  and  natural 
ability.  After  teaching  one  year  he  was  forced  into  the  military  ser- 
vice, where  he  served  his  country  eighteen  months.  Upon  his  return 
home,  he  immediately  entered  again  upon  his  chosen  field  of  labor  and 
taught  school  in  Texel  for  a  continuous  period  of  five  years.  In  1883  he 
married  Miss  Cornelia  Kooiman,  and  with  his  wife  sailed  for  America  in 
1887.  The  struggle  for  a  new  home  now  began  and  after  a  trial,  first 
in  Chicago,  then  in  Passaic  N.  J.,  and  subsequently  in  Staten  Island, 
they  finally  came  to  Wallington  in  1894,  where  they  have  prospered  and 
find  a  congenial  home.  Mr.  Polmann  purchased  the  property  where  he 
now  lives,  success  having  followed  all  his  enterprises  since  coming  here. 
He  is  recognized  as  a  leader  in  public  affairs  and  consequently  many 
honors  have  been  thrust  upon  him.  He  has  been  Clerk  of  the  Borough, 
and  is  now  by  appointment,  serving  as  Recorder  of  the  Borough;  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  President  of  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment. He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Wallington  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, and  a  director  of  the  Public  Hall  Associatii)n.  In  March  18'».s 
the  citizens  of  the  borough  elected  him  Justice  of  the  Peace,  by  a  nearly 
unanimous  vote. 

JAMES    SOOP. 

Mr.  James  Soop.  Councilman  of  Wallington  Borough,  and  for  over 
twenty-five  years  engineer  on  the  Pavonia  Ferry,  was  born  in  Albany. 
N.  Y.,  October  f>,  1843.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  young  Soop  was  earn- 
ing wages,  as  a  deck  hand,  on  board  a  steamboat.  At  sixteen  he  was 
made  fireman  on  the  "Ohio,"  and  continued  in  that  capacity  till  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  In  1865  he  received  license  as  engineer  and  served 
first  on  the  "Cayuga,"  a  Hudson  river  boat  that  plied  between  Albany 
and  New  York. 

After  the  war  he  served  as  oiler  for  a  few  years  on  steamships  run- 
ning from  New  York  to  Richmond,  New  Orleans  and  other  places  South, 
but  in  1873  accepted  the  position  he  still  holds.  March  19,  1873,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Turner,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  two  days  later 
the  young  couple  began  housekeeping  in  Jersey  City.  In  1888  two  lots 
were  purchased  and  a  house  built  in  Wallington,  where  they  have  since 
resided. 


ADKIKN    D.    Sn.I.IVAN 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKCKN  COUNTY  395 

Mr.  Soop  was  one  nf  tho  ])r(iin( iters  of  tlie  boroug'h  ^overniiu'iit  and 
is  at  present  a  member  of  the  council.  He  is  president  of  the  Buildin";- 
and  Loan  Association,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  originators,  and  is 
now  a  director.  He  is  also  a  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church;  is  a  Mason  and  Past  Master  of  a  Lodge  in  Jersey  City  and  for 
eighteen  years  he  has  l)een  a  member  of  Pioneer  Council  No.  22,  Royal 
Arcanum. 

ADKIAN    ]).    Sl'LI.IV.VX. 

Adrian  D.  Sullivan  was  l)orn  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  not  far 
from  the  spot  where  was  fought  one  of  the  decisive  battles  of  the 
world's  history. 

He  attended  the  public  school  of  his  native  town,  and  later,  the 
I'niversity  of  Ohio,  where  he  also  gained  his  legal  education.  Here  his 
keen,  penetrating,  judicial  mind  made  him  a  marked  student. 

In  i89(),  he  married  Miss  Lucia  Meek  MacFaddin,  a  well  known 
and  highly  respected  young  lady  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Three  children, 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  have  come  to  bless  his  home.  He  moved  to 
Passaic  in  l.S')4,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  New  Jersey  the  follow- 
ing June.  The  people  were  not  slow  to  recognize  his  genius.  His 
])ractice  soon  became  eminent  and  lucractive,  and  he  now  numbers 
among  his  clients,  many  of  the  most  prciminent  people  of  the  city. 

During  his  first  year  in  practice,  he  gained  a  wide  reputation  as  a 
jury  lawyer.  He  ever  shows  a  willingness  to  champion  the  cause  of  men 
unjustly  attacked.  For  justice,  he  is  bold  and  brave;  toward  oppression, 
scornful  and  tierce.  He  is  free  from  tlie  sordid  mercenary  motives  that 
control  too  many  men  of  the  present  day. 

Lawyer  Sullivan,  on  account  of  his  location  among  the  foreign 
element  in  Passaic,  has  identified  himself  in  feeling  with  those  oppressed 
people,  and  has  frequently  defended  them  without  fees,  when  they  were 
being  made  the  victims  of  injustice.  He  understands  the  Slavonians 
and  Hungarians  in  their  virtues  and  in  their  vices;  in  their  sufferings 
and  in  their  wrongs.     He  is  their  friend,  and  they,  in  return,  love  him: 

His  personal  manners  are  unpresuming  and  unpretending;  his  in- 
tercourse with  people  being  marked  by  cordiality  and  dignity,  and  liis 
demeanor  as  simple  as  his  spirit  is  sincere.  His  candid,  open  nianiu-r 
and  high  sense  of  justice  h;ive  made  him  universally  resjjected.  and 
his  friends  are  numerous. 

MK.     TIIOM.VS    K.    C(JI.LINS. 

Tliomas  K.  C(dlins,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  i)roininent  con- 
tractor in  the  plumbing  business  with  offices  in  Passaic  and  Wallington. 
He  is  a  native  of  Canada,  born  in  Toronto,  in  18()4,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  city.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  came  to 
New  York,  where  he  worked  five  years  for  Cassidy  &  Son,  chandelier 
manufacturers,  and  the  following  eleven  years  was  in  the  employ  of  J. 
W.  Fiske  in  his  Ornamental  Iron  Works.  In  IHS.^.  he  married  .Miss 
Mary  Crone,  removing  to   Wallington   the   foll<iwing  year.      His  brother 


396  HI.STOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

John  Ctillins,  \vhi>  had  carried  on  the  plumbing-  business  in  Canada,  came 
here  in  18'».i,  when  a  partnership  was  formed  by  the  brothers,  Thomas 
being  a  silent  partner.  In  1897,  the  shop  was  built  in  Wallino-ton,  while 
the  oiSce  and  show-room  in  Passaic,  was  opened  in  December,  of  the 
same  year. 

As  plumbers  the  Collins  Brothers  do  a  large  business.  They  have 
just  completed  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  the  largest  plumbing  contract  ever 
given  out  in  Passaic.  Contracts  have  also  been  taken  for  five  or  six 
hotels  belonging  to  the  Midland  Beach  Traction  Company,  on  Staten 
Island.     Nine  practical  plumbers  are  in  their  employ. 

Mr.  Collins  is  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  DeVogel  &  Co.,  builders. 
He  was  one  of  the  promotors  of  the  borough  system,  of  Wallington ; 
was  elected  Councilman,  holding  the  office  two  years  and  re-elected  for 
three  years,  'being  made  President  of  the  Board.  He  was  made  Record- 
er in  March,  of  this  year,  while  two  years  ago  he  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  He  is  Vice-President  of  the  Building  and  Loan  Association. 
Secretary  of  the  Public  Hall  Association,  and  was  also  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Wallington  Hose  Company.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  but  resigned.  His  wife  died  in  1894,  leaving  him  three 
children. 

MR.    LOUIS    DANKHOFF, 

Mr.  Louis  Dankhoff  (1836-1893)  was  born  at  Pietz,  near  Berlin, 
Germany.  He  came  to  America  in  1860  with  his  family  settling  at 
Pittsfield,  Mass.  Eventually  he  became  superintendent  of  Libby's 
Woolen  Mill  at  Warren,  Mass.,  which  position  he  held  for  fifteen  years. 
In  1880  he  settled  at  Passaic,  N.  J.  He  was  appointed  overseer  at  Am- 
midown's  Woolen  Mill.  In  1882,  Mr.  Dankhoff  purchased  the  well- 
known  saloon  on  Passaic  Street.  In  1887  he  bought  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  Wallington  of  the  Anderson  Lumber  Company,  and  in  the  same 
year  built  a  large  hotel  on  the  Plank  Road.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
business  men  to  settle  here. 

Mr.  Dankhoff  was  also  an  inventor.  He  invented  a  number  of 
articles  one  of  which  was  his  double  beer  faucet  which  sold  so  widely. 
His  father  was  known  abroad  as  the  inventor  of  the  now  lost  art  of 
permanently  enameling  the  colors,  red,  blue  and  white  on  ironware.  The 
book  containing  the  formula  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  when  he  died  the 
secret  died  with  him. 

Mr.  Dankhoff  was  an  influential  member  of  a  number  of  lodges: — 
The  Odd  Fellows,  Red  Men,  and  United  Friends.  He  died  in  his  hotel, 
leaving  a  widow  and  two  married  daughters. 

WOODKIDGK. 

Woodridgc  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  localities  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  The  wooded  ridge,  suggesting  the  name,  runs  parallel  with 
the  Palisade  from  Rutherford  to  Hackensack  at  a  high  elevation,  mak- 
iny:  a  natural  drainage  of  great  value. 


HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


yri 


THK    KOHBEKTZ    MANSION    -  FOK    SAI.li 


The  two  hundred  acres  of  land  covering-  this  site  was  taken  up  l)y 
Georg-e  Brinkerhoff  who  came  from  Holland  to  America  in  1()3S,  and  to 
New  Jersey  in  1685.  This  property  has  remained  largely  in  the  family 
until  the  present  time.  About  the  close  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
Henry  Gerecke  purchased  a  part  of  this  farm  with  a  view  of  selling  it 
out  for  building  lots,  and  for  which  he  paid  $5,000  but  the  expectations 
of  Mr.  Gerecke  were  not  realized  and  the  land  reverted  to  its  former 
owners. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Frederick  Kohbertz  became  interested  in  the 
success  of  the  village  and  in  1870  the  town  was  laid  out  and  under  his 
guiding  hand  buildings  began  to  take  the  place  of  desert  waste. 

Originally  the  Dutch  settled  here  and  in  this  vicinity  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  locating  mostly  on  the  Pt>lilly  road.  Their  houses  were 
built  one  story  principall}-,  having  walls  of  l)rownstone  with  a  widely 
I)rojecting  roof  shading  a  porch  extending  around  on  three  sides  ot  the 
building. 

The  borough  of  Woodridge  was  organized  on  tlie  I'Hh  day  of  Janu- 
ary 1895,  at  the  office  of  Franz  Fritsch.  A.  Molinari,  was  the  first 
Mayor;  the  lirst  Council  consisting  of  Henry  E.  Brinkerhoff,  Josejih  if. 
Schmitt,  Louis  A.  Eurrard,  Franz  Fritsch,  Isidore  Lazard,  l'"red 
Kohl)ertz;  Assessor.  Emil  Pirovano;  Collector,  .Alfred  Gramlich;  Clerk. 
\V.  II.   White. 

On  .March  14.  l.S't'»,  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Mayor  .\. 
.Molinari;  Council,  Franz  Fritsch,  Frank  C.  Ball;  Assessor,  Emil  II. 
Pirovano;  Collector,  .Alfred  Gramlich;  Franz  Fritsch,  Freeholder;  Clerk, 
W.  H.  White. 


ANTON    MOLINAKI. 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  399 

THE    KOHBEKTZ    MANSION.  —  FOR    SALE. 

Mr.  Frederick  Kohbertz,  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the  buildin<rup 
of  the  village  of  Woodridge,  a  man  of  great  energy  and  perseverance, 
determined  to  use  his  best  efforts  to  make  it  a  model  village  of  country 
homes.  In  1870  the  town  was  laid  out  and  buildings  began  to  take  the 
place  of  trees  and  underbrush.  Mr.  Kohbertz's  own  residence  and 
grounds,  where  he  formerly  lived,  is  a  place  of  beauty  and  an  ornament 
to  that  part  of  the  country.  It  is  a  large  and  commodious  mansion  of 
twenty  rooms,  with  wide  halls.  The  house  is  supplied  with  gas  and 
water,  and  all  other  modern  improvements  and  equipments.  Three  acres 
of  park  laid  out  in  the  most  artistic  manner  surround  the  house,  fine 
stables  built  in  a  style  of  architecture  to  correspond  with  that  of  the 
house  all  go  to  make  the  whole  a  most  beautiful  and  desirable  property 
as  a  residence,  a  club  house,  or  private  school.  Mr.  Kohbertz  aban- 
doned it  as  a  family  residence,  only  when  his  family  became  reduced  and 
a  small  house  better  suited  his  convenience.  The  cost  of  this  beautiful 
place,  including  grounds,  was  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  and  now  it 
can  be  bought  for  one  third  of  its  original  value. 

Mr.  Kohbertz  has  expended  large  sums  of  money  in  various  ways, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  village,  working  for  the  introduction  of  electric 
light,  water  mains,  street  grading  and  other  conveniences,  at  all  times 
endeavoring  to  preserve  a  rural  appearance.  He  donated  a  church  plot, 
used  his  influence  in  securing  good  schools,   and  also  a  fire  department. 

He  is  still  in  the  Real  Estate  business,  seeking  always  to  attract 
desirable  settlers  to  his  place  by  keeping  the  price  of  ground  at  fairly 
low  prices,  taxes  being  within  proper  limits. 

ANTON    MOLINAKI. 

Anton  Molinari,  Mayor  of  Woodridge,  and  proprietor  of  a  manu- 
factory at  that  place  is  an  Italian  by  blood  but  Polish  by  birth  and 
American  by  adoption.  His  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Venice, 
Italy,  but  being  disturbed  by  the  Austrians  under  the  great  Napoleon, 
took  up  his  residence  in  Lombardy,  France.  Julian,  his  son,  father  of 
our  subject  becoming  interested  as  a  Revolutionist  in  1863,  in  the  un- 
successful war  Poland  waged  against  Russia,  lost  his  home,  fortune  and 
all  in  the  part  he  took  in  that  unfortunate  struggle  for  liberty.  Being 
proscribed  he  left  the  continent  to  avoid  banishment  to  Siberia,  after- 
wards visiting  this  country. 

Anton  Mt)linari  was  born  in  Poland  in  1856.  When  seven  years  of 
age  he  attended  school  in  Paris,  France,  and  before  eighteen  years  of 
age  sailed  for  the  city  of  New  York,  reaching  that  place  July  4,  1874. 
After  learning  the  trade  of  machinist  in  Boston  he  came  to  New  York 
in  1884,  where  he  worked  as  a  common  laborer  until  1880,  when  he 
established  a  plant  and  laid  the  foundations  of  his  jjresent  industrv.  In 
1889  he  moved  his  effects  to  Woodridge,  built  a  house  and  factory  here 
where   he   has  continued  to  the  present   time.     Mr.    Molinari   employs 


Al.l   Ki;ii    CRAMLICH 


HISTOKY    OV    HKKOHN    COUNTY 


401 


thirtv-five   hands   in   the   ni.iniifacturo  nf    all   kinds  of  suri^-ical   instru- 
inonls  for  the  trade. 

January  15,  1S*»5.  Mr.  Mdlinari  was  elected  Mayor  (d'  \V(i(>drid!:^-e, 
and  has  been  re-elected  to  that  position  three  times  since.  He  and  his 
paternal  ancestors  have  been  Republicans.  He  himself  takes  great 
interest  in  Americanism,  but  eschews  politics  as  a  jjrofession. 

AI.KKKD  CKAMI.ICH. 

Alfred  (iramlich  one  of  the  officials  of  the  Borouyh  of  \\'<iodrid!^e, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  train  despatcher  on  the  Erie  railroad,  Jersey 
City,  is  a  native  of  Carlstadt,  and  was  born  June  29th,  1866.  At  twelve 
years  of  a^e  vounsj;-  Cramlich  left  school,  since  whi^'h  time,  now  a  period 


HKSIDKNCKS   OF    F.    KOHHKKTZ    AND   ALFRED   GR.\MUCH 


of  twenty  years,  he  has  been  enga<»-ed  in  the  railroad  business  in  some 
capacity.  His  father,  one  of  the  promoters  of  Carlstadt,  was  the  lirst 
ailment  at  that  station  for  the  New  Jersey  and  New  York  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  being-  in  need  of  a  telegraph  operator,  both  of  his  sons  were 
put  into  training,  in  due  time  becoming  experts  in  the  use  of  the  wires. 
They  were  now  assigned  to  positions  by  this  company,  and  for  years 
succeeding  such  appointments,  hard  work  followed  in  offices  at  various 
stations  along  the  line,  until  not  only  the  needed  experience  w-as  acijuired, 
but  also  the  confidence  of  the  company  respecting  their  worthiness  and 
responsibility,  was  attained.  Then  followed  better  pay  with  less  labor. 
.\lfred  (xramlich  was  stationed  first  at  Cherry  Hill,  N.  J.,  in  1S7S.  In  a 
year  or  so  he  was  i)laced  at  River  Edge,  going  from  there  to  Hills(lak\  in 
the  Superintendent's  office.      In    1887  he  left  the   New  Jersey    and    New 


402 


HISTORY   OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


KJ-IMDKNCK    OK    ANTON    MOLINAKI 

York  road  and  went  to  Jersey  City,  where  in  IS'X)  he  became  train 
despatcher  for  the  Erie  Railroad,  which  position  he  has  tilled  with 
marked  ability  for  the  past  eight  years.  In  his  present  position  Mr. 
Gramlich  has  oversight  of  all  freight  and  passenger  trains  from  Jersey 
City  to  Port  Jervis,  from  eleven  in  the  evening  until  seven  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  a  responsible  position,  to  which  he  was  appointed  because  of 
his  peculiar  fitness  for  the  place. 

Mr.  Gramlich  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  Republicans  elected  in  the  township  of  Bergen,  being 
elected  to  the  ofi&ce  of  Township  Clerk.  He  was  also  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  for  the  township,  resigning  both  offices  when  the 
borough  was  organized.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  County 
Committee,  having  been  elected  first  to  that  office  in  1895,  and  was 
elected  Collector  of  the  borough  upon  its  organization  and  has  held.the 
office  ever  since.  Although  indifferent  to  office,  he  is  yet  public  spirited 
enough  to  share  in  the  responsibilities  necessary  to  good  government. 
Mr.  Gramlich  purchased  ground  and  built  his  residence  in  1890,  and  in 
the  fall  of  that  year  married  Miss  Anna  Kohbertz,  cousin  of  Frederick 
Kohbertz  of  Woodridge.     They  have  three  children. 


HKNKV    E.    BKINKEKHOFF. 

George,  the  progenitor  of  the  Brinkerhoff  family  in  Bergen  county, 
emigrated   to  America  from  Holland  in  1().^S.     He  came   to  New  Jersey 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  403 

in  1()S5,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  t\vo  hundred  acres  of  land  which  is 
still  owned  and  occupied  by  the  family.  Of  the  three  other  brothers 
who  came  at  the  same  time,  one  settled  in  New  York,  one  went  West 
and  the  other  made  a  home  in  New  Jersey.  Two  of  George's  sons, 
Henry  G.  and  Jacob,  settled  in  Lodi  and  divided  the  farm  each  taking- 
one  hundred  acres.  Henry  married  Rachel  Vreeland,  and  of  this  union 
two  sons  were  born.  Enoch,  the  young^er  became  a  leading  man  in  his 
locality,  taking-  an  active  part  in  the  political  interests  of  his  townshij) 
which  he  represented  in  the  Assembly  during  one  term. 

He  married  Mary  Berry,  a  daughter  of  John  W.  Berry,  who  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  Enoch  and  Mary  {  Berry )  Brinker- 
hoff  were  the  parents  of  Henry  E.,  who  was  born  at  Polifly  near  Wood- 
ridge,  April  8,  1833,  and  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  He  was 
educated  in  New  York  city,  at  the  Boys'  High  School. 

Mr.  Brinkerhoff  served  in  the  Hackensack  Continentals  about  five 
years,  until  the  militia  was  reorganized  in  the  state  under  the  "New 
Jersey  Rifle  Corps  Act,"  when  he  was  made  lieutenant  in  Company  G, 
and  afterwards  captain  of  Company  A,  when  it  became  a  part  of  the 
National  Guard  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  is  also  prominent  in 
his  town  in  an  official  capacity,  havingf  filled  many  positions  of  trust. 
He  is  well  known  in  business  being  an  extensive  farmer  and  a  large 
land  owner.  His  marriag-e  to  Miss  Sarah  Terhune  connects  him  with 
another  of  the  old  families  of  the  county. 

CHAKM.ICS    LINK. 

Charles  Link,  present  township  clerk  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
Bergen  township,  is  a  native  of  Berlin,  Germany,  and  was  born  in  1848. 
Mr.  Link  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Germany.  He  came  to 
New  York  immediately  after  leaving  school,  eng-aging  for  some  time 
in  manufacturing  establishments  as  a  common  workman.  In  i88(>,  how- 
ever, he  went  to  Philadelphia  as  foreman  for  a  firm,  and  followed  the 
I)rofession  of  Veterinary  Surgeon  for  several  years  in  that  city. 

In  1891  Mr.  Link  came  to  New  Jersey  and  established  his  bleachery 
in  Jersey  City,  and  in  1895  purchased  propert_v,  and  started  a  fac- 
tory in  Bergen  township,  where  he  chemically  treats  some  .SO.dOO 
sheepskins  annually  for  the  drug  trade,  employing  three  and  four  men 
constantly. 

Mr.  Link  belongs  to  several  clubs  and  societies,  and  is  well  and 
favorably  known.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  18'»S,  and 
Township  Clerk  in  1899. 

HASHKOrCK    HKICIITS. 

Hasbrouck  Heights  situated  about  two  miles  south  of  Hackensack 
on  the  Polifly  road,  has  a  territory  of  about  one  and  a  half  square  miles 
and  lies  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  above  tide  water. 

Previous  to  1870  this  district  was  a  farming  community,  comprising 
such  families   as   Enoch    Vreeland,    Abram   A.    Ackerman,  Christian  P. 


404  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Terhune,  John  Van  Bussum,  Henry  Ackerman,  Richard  Berdan,  Rich- 
ard Terhune,  John  H.  Berdan,  Isaac  Gott,  Henry  Kipp,  Robert  Williams 
and  Garry  Kipp.  Since  1870  outside  capital  has  become  interested. 
Lord  &  Van  Cleeve  bought  the  land  known  as  the  Richard  Terhune. 
farm,  Meyer  &  Smith  bought  part  of  the  Richard  Berdan  farm,  all  of 
the  farm  of  J.  H.  Berdan,  and  an  Association  known  as  the  Center 
Corona  Land  and  Building  Association  bought  the  Henry  Kipp  farm. 
Of  all  this  property  purchased,  no  improvement  was  made  until  1874, 
then  Henry  Kipp  foreclosed  a  mortgage  on  the  property  held  by  the 
Center  Corona  Land  and  Building  Association,  and  built  about  eight 
houses,  which  were  occupied  soon  after.  During  all  this  time  and  up  to 
1889  this  place  was  known  as  Corona  and  was  part  of  Lodi  township. 

In  1889  Daniel  P.  Morse,  of  New  York,  bought  the  farms  of  Henry 
Ackerman,  Chris.  Terhune  and  part  of  the  John  Van  Bussum  farm, 
which  he  laid  out  in  building  plots,  making  macadamized  streets,  and 
bluestone  sidewalks,  and  immediately  began  the  erection  of  buildings, 
thus  giving  the  town  the  first  and  most  substantial  start.  The  follow- 
ing year,  Mr.  Henry  Lemmermann,  another  New  York  business  man, 
then  owning  the  Richard  Terhune  property,  began  to  improve  it  by  lay- 
ing out  streets  and  building  houses.  It  was  owing  to  the  efforts  of 
these  two  men,  that  water  and  electric  lights  were  first  introduced. 

In  1894  Hasbrouck  Heights  separated  from  the  township,  holding 
an  election  July  .^Ist,  of  the  same  year.  The  people  by  their  ballot 
carried  the  election  for  incorporation,  and  the  Borough  was  incorpor- 
ated August  12th.  The  first  election  for  Borough  officials  was  held 
September  11th  with  the  following  results  :  John  H.  Garrison,  Mayor; 
G.  W.  Selleck,  S.  P.  Ferdon.  R.  F.  Taggart,  John  W,  Charlton,  Andrew 
McCabe  and  -Will  D.  Crist,  Councilmen.  These  officers  served  until 
March  12th  1895,  when  another  election  was  held  with  the  following 
results:  J.  W.  Charlton,  Mayor;  George  W,  Selleck,  W.  D.  Crist.  S.  P. 
Ferdon,  S.  P.  Frier,  Henry  Gross,  and  John  Behrens,  Councilmen.  The 
present  officers  of  the  borough  are:  William  S.  Laurence,  Mayor;  John 
E.  Musselman,  F.  S.  Chesebro,  John  H,  Garrison,  E.  A.  Capen,  E.  W. 
Biesecker  and  S.  P.  Frier,  Councilmen.  Since  the  incoi^poration  all  the 
officials  have  done  nobly  in  building  up  the  borough.  It  has  to-day  a 
population  of  about  thirteen  hundred,  a  $14,000  brick  school  house,  five 
churches,  two  social  clubs,  one  weekly  newspaper,  a  Hook  and  Ladder 
Company,  Hose  Company,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  "Council",  besides 
prosperous  stores.  The  village  is  situated  so  high  above  tide  water  as 
to  make  it  a  healthy  spot,  while  the  magnificent  views  render  it  a  place 
<if  beauty. — W.  S.  Laurence. 

CHURCHES    OF    HASBKOUCK    HEIGHTS. 
METHODIST    CHUKCH. 

The  Methodist  church  was  the  first  religious  organization  in  Has- 
brouk  Heights.    For  a  long-  time  itinerant  preachers  held  service  at  stated 


IIISTOKV    OF    BKKi;i:x    COTNTY  4().-i 

periods,  finally  succeeding  in  the  organization  of  a  class,  a  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  and  Sabbath  school,  members  of  other  denominations  assisting 
in  the  work.  In  1878,  Rev.  W.  H.  Russell,  from  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  the 
present  pastor  of  the  church,  came  in  answer  to  a  call,  and  through  his 
labors  a  chapel  was  built,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Valentine,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Alexander,  Charles  Ackerman  and  others  being  the  prime 
movers  in  this  work. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  erected  some  five  or  more  years  ago, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Russell,  after  an  absence  of  twetity-one  years,  is  again 
conducting  a  successful   ministry. 

KKFOKMED    CHUKCH. 

The  Reformed  Church  was  organized  February  11th,  ls<».^,  previous 
meetings  having  been  held  looking  toward  the  establishment  of  this 
society.  Both  the  Reformed  and  the  Baptist  churches  had  their  origin 
in  a  Sabbath  school,  for  a  long  time  conducted  by  W.  A.  Fisher,  in  the 
chapel.  On  January  5th,  1893,  the  people,  with  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society, 
met  to  organize  a  church.  A.  M.  Paulison,  W.  A.  Fisher  and  W.  G. 
Martin  were  the  first  elders  ordained,  and  Henry  Lemmermann,  Henry 
Kiel  and  A.  K.  Goodrich  were  the  first  deacons.  These  officers,  with 
one  or  two  changes,  remain  the  same.  Mr.  Lemmermann  and  Mr.  Kile 
are  now  elders,  their  place  as  deacons  being  filled  by  J.  Behrens  and 
Frank  O.  Peckham.     Dr.  C.  L  Shepard  has  been  their  only  pastor. 

He  is  a  native  of  New  York  city,  was  born  in  1827,  is  a  graduate  of 
Rutger's  College,  New  Jersey,  and  for  a  term  of  twenty-four  years  was 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Newtown,  L.  L  Dr.  Shepard  was  president  of 
the  General  Synod  of  1887,  president  i)f  the  Particular  Synod  of  New 
Brunswick  in  1896,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Education  for 
Academics  and  Colleges,  for  the  Synod  of  1897,  and  president  of  tlu- 
Board  of  Publication  for  189f,.  The  annex  to  the  old  chapel  was  Iniilt 
in  189."v 

THK    BAPTIST    CHI'KCIl. 

The  Bai)tist  church  wasorganized  Decemlier  22.  1892,  and  iiKor])()r- 
ated  November  27,  189.^.  The  church  building  was  begun  November 
21,  of  the  same  year,  and  the  corner  stone  laid  January  1,  1894.  Rev. 
(ieorge  B.  Griffin  was  the  first  pastor,  and  filled  the  pulpit  from  Decem- 
ber 25,  1892,  to  February  4,  1894.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles 
Stanley  Pease,  who  served  from  April  5,  1894,  to  April  5,  1896.  He  left 
the  church  free  from  debt  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Ackland  Boyle, 
who  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a  time  on  a  salary  of  eight  dollars  per  week 
and  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  May  22,  of  that  year.  He  was  succeed- 
ed by  the  ])resent  acting  pastor.  Rev.  (ieorgc  L.  Hunt,  D.  D.  of  New 
York  city. 

The  first  deacons  of  the  church  were  K.  F.  Taggart,  (George  W. 
Davis,  George  Kiel  Jr.,  and  George  W.  Selleck. 

The  church  membership  has  increased  and  a  flourishing  Sabbath 
School  of  over  sixty  scholars  is  maintained  the  year  round. 


406  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

V 
THE    ROMAN    CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church  is  a  beautiful  structure  on  Kipp 
Avenue,  built  in  1896.  This  was  started  by  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Murtha, 
who,  feeling-  the  need  of  a  place  to  worship  nearer  than  the  church  at 
Lodi,  visited  Bishop  Wigger  at  Newark,  and  having-  received  permis- 
sion and  letters  from  him,  set  about  the  work  of  securing  a  house  and  a 
church  organization. 

Mrs.  Murtha  was  assisted  in  the  enterprise  by  her  faithful  husband, 
through  whose  untiring  efforts  the  money,  amounting  to  $2700,  was 
raised  and  the  chapel  built.  Edward  M.  Anson  donated  the  t-wo  lots 
on  which  the  house  stands,  and  Father  John  A.  Sheppard  has  charg-e 
of  the  flock.  The  church  has  a  membership  of  about  fifty  souls  and  is 
growing. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murtha  are  natives  of  Ireland.  They  were  mar- 
ried Jul}-  14,  1895.  Mr.  Murtha  is  a  prominent  contractor  and  builder 
in  New  York.  He  erected  the  Bachelor  apartments  on  Twenty-third 
street,  the  Progress  Club  on  Howard  street  and  Broadway  and  other 
high  class  buildings  in  the  city.  They  bought  their  present  residence 
in  1896. 

CHURCH    OF    .ST.    JOHN    THE    DIVINE. 

The  young  and  growing  congregation  of  the  Church  of  St.  John 
the  Divine,  in  Hasbrouck  Heights  deserves  more  than  passing-  notice. 

Although  but  little  more  than  three  years  since  its  organization,  it 
has  become  a  stronghold  in  the  community.  Realizing  the  need  of  a 
church  home  for  those  who  were  of  the  Episcopal  faith,  a  meeting  was 
called  for  May  17,  1895,  when  an  organization  was  effected.  The  first 
service  was  held  about  one  month  later  on  June  28,  in  the  old  school  build- 
ing. Afterward  the  congregation  purchased  this  building,  which  they 
remodeled  and  dedicated,  the  dedication  being  conducted  by  William  R. 
Jenvey,  assisted  by  Dr.  Holley,  of  Hackensack,  Rev.  Ladd,  of  Ruther- 
ford, and  several  others  of  the  clergy. 

The  organization  is  now  under  the  direction  of  the  Right  Reverend 
Thomas  A.  Starkey,  D.  D.,  bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Newark,  the  services 
at  present  being  conducted  by  lay  reader  J.  Montier  DeVoll,  of  the 
General  Theological  Seminary  of  New  York  city. 

The  present  board  of  three  trustees  hold  the  property  of  the  diocese 
are  as  follows,  under  appointment  by  the  Bishop:  Eugene  W.  Dunstan, 
chairman;  Richard  Berdan,  Jr.,  secretary;  John  L.  Dean,  treasurer; 
Edwin  F.  Benedict,  financial  secretary.  The  congregation  and  Sun- 
day school  are  increasing  steadily  and  the  results  are  thus  far  gratifying. 

WILLIAM    SUMNER    LAURENCE. 

William  Sumner  Laurence,  the  present  Mayor  of  Hasbrouck  Heights, 
was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  October  8,  1854,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Newton,  Massachusetts.  In  business  he  has 
always  been  connected  with  the  wholesale  shoe  trade,  being  with  one 
house  in  Boston  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years  and  is  now  a  stockholder 


NMI.I.IAM    S.     I.AfKlCNCl-; 


408 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


and  director  in  the  firm  of  Morse  &  Roij;ers,  134-140  Duane  Street,  New 
York,  the  largest  shoe,  rubber  and  linding-s  jobbers  in  New  York  city. 
He  has  been  with  this  house  for  nine  years. 

He  was  elected  Mayor  of  Hasbrouck  Heights,  March  1897,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1899.  He  is  also  a  director  of  Hasbrouck  Heights  Building 
and  Loan  Association,  director  of  Star  Building  and  Loan  Association 
of  New  York  city,  has  been  two  terms  president  of  Hasbrouck  Heights 
Field  Club;  also  a  member  of  the  executiye  committee  of  Seward  League 
of  Hasbrouck  Heights.  The  last  named  is  a  Republican  organization. 
Mr.  Laurence  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Hasbrouck  Heights  Board 
of  Education  two  terms. 

Mr.  Laurence's  wife  is  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of  Captain  Myer  Brad- 
bury, of  Machias,  Maine. 


JOHN    VAN    BUSSX'M. 

The  old  homestead  of  the  Van  Bussum  family  at  Peck  Hook,  be- 
tween Lodi  and  Passaic,  was  first  occupied  by  David  D.  Van  Bussum  of 
Revolutionary  fame,  who  settled  in  this  part  of  Lodi  some  time  before 
that  vital  struggle.  Of  his  three  sons,  two  died  in  early  youth,  but 
David  D.,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  lived  to  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-eight  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature 
from  1837  to  184(»,  and  was  for  a  time  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,     He  died  in  the  year  1879. 

His  youngest  son,  John  Van  Bussum  was  born  at  the  old  homestead 
February  9th  1837.  He  has  always  lived  in  the  immediate  vicinity, 
and  now  occupies  a  very  pleasant  resldenci  at  Hasbrouck  Heights,  less 
than  one  mile  from  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  one  of  the  leading  Democratic   politicans  of  Bergen  county; 


HISTOKV    OK    BKKCKN    COINTY  4(1') 

has  been  Assessor  of  Lodi  township  since  187(>;  a  member  of  the  County 
Executive  Committee  since  1870;  was  elected  to  the  State  Assembly  in 
ISSl,  and  thrice  re-elected.  He  was  Freeholder  in  1S()7  and  held  the 
position  uninterruptedly  for  nine  years,  ag-ain  assumin<r  its  duties  six 
years  ago.  He  has  occupied  many  minor  positions  of  trust,  and  is 
always  foremost  in  every  measure  promoting-  the  public  weal,  In  18r>7 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Katharine  .^nna  Voorhis,  a  member  of  one  of 
the  oldest  and  best  known  families  of  Bergen  countv. 

Mr.  Van  Bussum  is  possessed  of  untiring-  energv  and  perseverance, 
and  has  overcome  obstacles  that  would  have  crushed  any  person  of  ordi- 
nary- endurance.  Like  all  men  of  positive  character,  he  has  some 
enemies,  but  many  strong-  personal  friends,  and  is  very  popular  in  his 
locality.  The  poor  and  afflicted  know  where  to  find  a  helper,  and  they 
never  leave  his  doors  unaided.  Generous  to  a  fault,  he  scatters  his 
benefactions  on  every  side. 

HENRY  LEMMKKMANX. 

Henry  Lemmermann,  the  president  of  the  Mattson  Rubber  Com- 
pany, New  York,  is  a  well  known  resident  of  Hasbrouck  Heights.  He 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1848,  and  came  to  America  in  1863.  After 
coming-  to  New  York  he  was  employed  in  a  grocery  store  for  some  years 
but  eventually  embarked  in  the  hotel  business,  in  which  he  continued 
until  1890,  when  he  became  actively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
rubber  goods.  At  that  time  he  became  president  of  the  "Mattson  Rub- 
ber Company,"  and  still  remains  in  that  office.  Previous  to  this,  in 
1884,  he  bought  a  farm  of  Mr.  Terhune  at  Corcma,  N.  J.  (now  Has- 
brouck Heights),  and  in  i891  built  his  present  residence.  He  immedi- 
ately afterward  began  improving  the  land  and  prei)aring  it  for  building, 
by  opening  streets,  making  sidewalks,  planting  shade  trees,  introducing 
water  (The  Hackensack  Water  Company  ),  and  supplying  electric  lights. 
He  then,  through  the  Hasbrouck  Heights  Land  and  Im])r()vement 
Comi)an>',  built  about  thirty  cottages.  In  18<».^  lie  organized  the 
"Lemmermann  Villa  Site  Company,"  of  which  be  has  been  president  and 
treasurer  ever  since.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Hasbrouck  Heights 
Building,  Loan  and  Savings  Association  an<l  lias  been  continuously, 
since  its  organization   in  .lune  1S')(). 

Mr.  Lemmermann  is  a  Past  Supreme  Representative  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  was  Grand  Chancellor  of  Knights  of  Pythias  of  New  York 
ill  1878,  and  at  this  time  is  the  treasurer  of  the  Pythian  Home  of  New 
York.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  the  Koyal 
-Vrcanum,  president  of  the  Pioneer  Club  of  Hasbrouck  IKights  and  a 
member  of  the  New  Commercial  Club  of  New  York.  He  has  been  Town- 
ship Committeeman  of  Lodi  township  and  a  councilman  of  the  Borough 
of  Hasbrouck  Heights  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health. 

Mr.  Lemmermann  was  married  in  ls72,  to  Miss  Willielmina  (iross, 
daughter  of  F.  C.  Gross  of  Hackensack,  N.J. 


410 


HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


EDWAKD    M.    ANSON. 

Kdward  M.  Anson  was  born  at  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  New 
York,  June  4,  185().  His  ancestors  are  English,  who  for  several  gener- 
ations have  been  in  America.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lockport,  Niagara  county,  New  York,  and  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years  was  employed  as  telegraph  operator  in  the  oil  regions  of  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania,  later  being  employed  by  the  Western  Union 
Company  in  the  cities  of  Buffalo,  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis  and 
New  York.  When  the  St.  Louis  Convention  met,  which  nominated 
Samuel  J.  Tilden  for  president,  Mr.  Anson  was  one  of  the  five  operators 
of  Chicago  chosen  to  attend  to  the  telegraphic  business  of  the  meeting, 
and  again  at  the  Cincinnati  Convention  when  Rutherford  B.  Haves  was 


KDWAKD    M.    ANSON,   ESO. 

nominated  he  was  chosen  to  act  in  the  same  capacity.  In  1877,  Mr. 
Anson  came  to  New  York  as  chief  operator  in  the  main  office,  where  he 
remained  twelve  years.  In  April  1892,  he  left  the  service,  to  engage  in 
real  estate  business,  in  which   he  has  ever  since  continued. 

Hasbrouck  Heights  has  a  prospei'ous  "Building,  Loan  and  Savings 
Association"  of  which  Mr.  Anson  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  for  six 
years  its  secretary.  He  was  the  organizer  and  secretary  of  Hasbrouck 
Heights  Land  and  Improvement  Company,  and  also  organizer  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Lemmermann  Site  Company.  Since  beginning  business  Mr. 
Anson  has  built  over  one  hundred  houses  and  brought  out  from  the  city 
more  than  one  thousand  residents.  While  devoting  time  and  energy  to 
the   upbuilding  of    his  borough,    alth(}ugh   not   seeking   office   or   self- 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKGEN    COUNTY  411 

interest,  he  was  elected  postmaster  in  November  IS'IJ?,  holdinfi^  the  office 
for  a  period  of  four  years,  and  in  iH't(>  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  a  number  of  org'anizations  at  Hasbrouck 
Heiifhts.  the  Pioneer  Club,  Hasbrouck  Heights  Field  Club,  and  the 
Roval  Arcanum;  is  also  a  member  of  the  "Old  Time  Telegraphic  Asso- 
ciation." "Telegraphers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association,"  and  "Teleg- 
ra])hers"  Aid  Society." 

Mr.  Anson  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Crawford  of  New  York 
city,  .\pril  16,  1879.  He  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  both  in  his  public 
life  and  in  his  private  character. 

jri)t;K    HKNKY    KIPP. 

The  following  is  taken  almost  wholly  from  the  "New  York  Tri- 
bune" of  January  12,  18'*f>: 

One  of  the  most  unique  characters  in  Bergen  county.  New  Jersey,  is 
Henry  Kipp.  He  presents  a  strong  type  of  the  early  settlers,  who  in 
1()4(),  ascended  the  Hackensack  River  and  established  a  trading  post  to 
barter  with  the  Hackensack  Indians  who  were  then  masters  of  the  land. 
Mr.  Kipp's  ancestors  were  a  part  of  that  sturdy  Dutch  colony  which  laid 
the  foundation  of  so  many  communities  near  New  York.  His  name 
comes  down  through  a  record  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  years,  the 
family  history  going  back  to  the  De  Kypes  of  Alencon,  France,  the  first 
conspicuous  member  being  Boloff  De  Kype,  whose  chateau  was  burned 
and  lands  confiscated  by  the  Prince  of  Conde.  Hendrick  De  Kype,  son 
of  Boloff,  and  progenitor  of  the  American  Kips,  was  born  in  1576,  com- 
ing to  Amsterdam  in  1635.  In  1657  he  was  selected  by  Governor  Stuy- 
vesant  as  one  of  twenty  families,  comprising  the  aristocracy,  and  was 
otherwise  honored. 

Henry  second  moved  from  New  Amsterdam  to  the  western  Ixnmdary 
of  New  Jersey,  on  the  Delaware  River,  where  he  remained  a  few  years, 
when  he  returned  towards  New  York  and  settled  at  Polifly  on  the  King's 
Highway  in  1685.  The  ne.xt  year  the  name  was  changed  to  Ki]),  as 
shown  in  a  deed  of  that  date,  a  second  "p"  being  added  by  a  later 
member  of  the  family. 

In  Polifly  the  direct  male  descendants  of  Hendrick  were-  born  in 
the  order  named:  Henry  Nacasias,  Peter,  Abraham,  Peter  A..  Henry  and 
Henry  second. 

The  present  Henry  Kij^p  is  a  son  of  Peter  A.  Kipp  and  .Maria 
Stuyvesant,  a  lineal  descendant  of  (lovernor  Stuyvesant.  No  descendant 
of  the  first  Hendrick  has  led  a  more  active  life  or  attained  to  more  local 
notoriety  than  this  Henry,  who  was  born  August  .'^l.  isil.  In  .Inly, 
1841,  he  married  Susan  A.  Howard,  a  niece  of  Enoch  .Morgan.  She 
became  the  mother  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Judge  Kip  was  a  master  of  the  Cooper's  trade  but  abandoned  it  to 
open  a  clothing  house  in  (ireenwich  Street,  New  York.  This  \enture 
was  attended  with  fair  success  and  from  there  he  removed  to  Trenton, 
where  he  established  the  largest  general  store  in  New  Jersey. 


412  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

At  the  age  of  thirty  he  received  the  title  of  Judge  by  appoint- 
ment as  a  lav  member  of  the  Mercer  county  bench.  He  retired  from 
mercantile  business  in  1846,  to  take  charge  of  the  homstead  farm  at 
Polifly,  which  he  managed  for  about  forty  years.  While  a  resident  of 
this  town,  Mr.  Kipp  erected  two  churches  and  the  first  school-house  for 
the  village  of  Corona. 

The  Judge  is  rich  in  reminiscences  of  early  days  and  recalls  vividly 
the  visit  of  Lafayette  to  Hackensack. 

In  1873,  Judge  Kipp  purchased  the  "Bergen  County  Herald"  at 
Rutherford  Park,  but  after  a  comparatively  brief  editorial  experience, 
he  returned  to  the  farm  where  his  wife  died.  Mr.  Kipp  served  as  chosen 
Freeholder.  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Town  Committeman,  Township 
Superintendent  of  Schools  and  other  local  offices.     He  died  in  1898. 

JOHN    L.    C.    GRAVES, 

John  L.  C.  Graves  one  of  the  Assemblymen  elected  in  November 
1899,  to  the  State  Legislature  and  who  died  a  few  days  afterwards,  was 
a  contractor,  who  came  into  Bergen  county  from  Jersey  City,  where  he 
was  identified  with  the  Union  League  Club  of  Hudson  county. 

On  coming  to  this  county  he  soon  made  friends  throughout  Lodi 
township,  before  Hasbrouck  Heights  became  a  borough. 

He  was  elected  president  of  the  Harrison  and  Reed  club  of  Lodi 
township,  afterward  the  Republican  club  of  Hasbrouck  Heights,  and 
remained  its  president  until  lcS98. 

Mr.  Graves  was  a  tireless  worker.  He  was  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican County  Committee  for  several  years,  during  which  he  served 
either  as  chairman  or  member  of  every  committee  incidental  to  the  life 
of  a  convention,  whether  state,  congressional  or  county.  He  served  as 
chairman  of  the  Bergen  county  delegation  in  the  congressional  conven- 
tion of  1898. 

He  was  a  volunteer  fireman,  and  had  been  repeatedly  re-elected  chief 
of  the  department  of  Hasbrouck  Heights.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Volunteer  Fire  Department  Association  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  a  charter  member  of  Hasbrouck  Heights  Council  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  whose  orator  he  was  until  he  declined  re-election  in  1899. 

He  was  a  ready  and  forcible  talker,  and  an  uncompromising  defender 
of  what  he  believed  to  be  right.  His  aggressiveness,  combined  with 
straight-forwardness,  won  for  him  the  respect  of  his  opponents  and  had 
he  lived  he  would  have  been  found  an  able  representative  of  our  county 
at  Trenton. 


CHAPTEK  XXVI. 
UNION  T(  )WNSHIP. 


FOKMATION     OF     THE     TOWNSHIP — <-,ENEKAI.       DESCKIPTION — THE      KINOS- 

LAN'DS    AND    OTHEK    PROMINENT     PERSONS — THE    SWAMP  EANDS — 

THE     PPKCHASE     OF     WILLIAM     SANDFOKD — THE     HOME     OK 

THE    KINGSLANDS — THE    SCHUVLEK    COPPER    MINES — 

BIOORAPHICAL. 

That  portion  of  Bergen  county  which  included  what  now  constitutes 
Union  township  was  originally  known  as  a  part  of  New  Barbadoes 
Neck.  In  the  year  1825  a  new  township  was  made  from  New  Barbadoes 
township  named  Lodi,  which  included  the  present  townships  of  Lodi 
and  Union,  in  Bergen  county,  and  of  Kearney  and  Harrison  townshii)s 
in  the  county  of  Hudson.  In  1840  Hudson  county  was  formed  from  the 
county  of  Bergen,  and  a  new  township  was  made  and  named  Harrison, 
which  included  Union,  Kearney  and  Harrison,  but,  because  of  the  long 
distance  for  the  farmers  to  trayel  when  attending  court  or  doing  other 
business  in  Hudson  county,  the  township  of  Union  was  set  off  bv  an  act 
of  the  Legislature  approved  February,  i853. 

The  first  town  meeting  of  Union  township  was  held  in  the  school- 
house  of  Riverside  April  6,  1853,  the  moderator  or  presiding  officer  being 
Joseph  K.  Hazen.  The  officers  elected  were  as  follows:  Aaron  Hazen, 
Town  Clerk;  John  V.  S.  Van  Winkle,  Assessor;  Henry  H.  Yearance, 
Collector  of  Taxes;  Henry  Kipp  and  Cornelius  C.  Joralemon,  F'reehold- 
holders;  Joseph  K.  Hazen,  Robert  Rutherford,  Tunis  A.  Brown,  Joseph 
M.  Roy  and  John  I.  Vreeland,  Town  Committee. 

The  total  amount  of  taxes  raised  in  Union  township  for  that  year 
was  Sl.WT.DS. 

Boiling  Springs,  so  called  from  a  powerful  and  never-failing  spring 
of  pure  cold  water,  which  flowed  in  the  cross  road  at  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  township,  gave  a  name  to  that  locality.  Here  the 
wagon  road  and  the  railroad  crossed,  and  here  the  "Depot,"  a  small 
structure  was  built.  In  1858  a  gentleman  from  New  York  bought  a 
small  farm  of  twenty-five  acres  near  the  Boiling  Spring  and  soon  after- 
ward increased  his  purchase  to  one  hundred  acres.  In  iS()2  the  first  ma]) 
suggestive  of  streets  and  avenues  was  published,  and  business  men  from 
the  city  were  induced  to  settle  in  the  place  and  build  homes.  In  18()() 
several  men  bought  a  large  farm  on  the  Passaic,  founded  an  Associa- 
ti(m  and  ])rojected  a  broad  avenue,  now  Park  Avenue,  in  a  direct  line 
from  their  proj)erty  to  the  railroad  station,  and  one  year  from  that  time 
the  name  "Boiling  Springs"  was  dropped  and  the  i)lace  called  Ruther- 
ford Park,  abreviated  subsequently  to  that  of  Rutherford,  its  present 
coirnomen. 


414  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


In  1S()8  the  Delaware  and  Lackawanna  Railroad  was  built  giving  rise 
to  Kingsland  village  and  South  Rutherford.  In  the  year  1890  the  bor- 
ough of  Rutherford  and  Boiling  Springs  township  were  formed  and  in 
1895  the  borough  of  North  Arlington  was  set  off  leaving  the  territory 
comprising  Union  township  that  which  now  lies  between  the  two  bor- 
oughs just  named,  with  Berry's  Creek  on  the  East  and  the  Passaic  River 
on  the  West,  for  that  organization. 

The  officers  of  the  town  for  the  year  1898  are :  Charles  R.  Searle, 
Chairman  of  the  township  committee;  David  Machette,  James  McKenna, 
Thomas  Buckley,  Assessors;  Herman  Froehlich,  Collector;  William  L. 
Grant,  Clerk. 

The  following  sketch  of  Union  township  was  taken  from  a  valuable 
paper  prepared  for  this  work  by  W.  H.  Castles,  of  Kingsland.  In  speak- 
inu-  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  town,  Mr.  Castles  says: 

••For  over  two  centuries,  since  their  first  settlement  the  progress  of 
improvement  and  colonization  of  Union  township  and  North  Arlington 
has  been  far  behind  that  of  any  of  the  other  nearby  environs  of  New 
York  city. 

"The  southeastern  point  of  intersection  of  the  boundary  lines  of 
Hudson  and  Bergen  counties  on  the  north  Arlington  border  is  the 
nearest  point  in  Bergen  county  to  the  first  area  of  settlement  of  the 
state  itself. 

"Both  places  are  within  easy  distance,  view  and  sound  of  the  great 
metropolis,  their  eastern  boundaries  being  less  than  five  miles  away,  as 
the  crow  flies.  The  tall  buildings  of  the  city  and  the  statue  of  liberty 
—in  the  upper  bay— loom  up  grandly  against  the  eastern  horizon  on  a 
clear  day  and  the  boom  of  the  sunset  gun  at  Fort  Hamilton  is  not  an 
unusual  sound  on  a  quiet  day. 

"Faithful  search  and  eager  inquiry  for  historical  fact  and  events 
bearing  upon  these  places,  from  their  first  settlement  to  the  present 
time,  which  might  be  of  interest,  has  been  made  with  poor  satisfaction 
and  meagre  results.  The  field  is  bare  and  at  this  time  there  seems  to 
be  no  documentary  evidence  or  matter  among  the  township  or  borough 
records,  to  add  anything  to  their  history.  Very  little  can  be  secured 
from  the  present  resident  descendants  of  those  energetic,  hardy  spirits, 
who  settled  here  and  by  energy,  industry  and  perseverance  developed  its 
wilderness  into  fair,  fruitful  fields  and  pastures— a  birthright  of  great 
worth  and  magnitude  to  be  pointed  to  with  pride  by  their  kindred  wh.j 
follow  them. 

"Very  few  of  the  descendants  of  the  earlier  heroes  bearing  the  old 
ancestral  name  of  Kingsland  are  now  to  be  found  within  the  confines  of 
the  two  places.  With  but  one  exception,  North  Arlington  contains  the 
only  descendants  of  Isaac  Kingsland,  who  settled  here  in  16(i8.  These 
are' the  children  of  Enoch  Kingsland,  with  Mr.  William  Kingsland  an<l 
his  children.  The  enterprise  of  the  early  settlers,  transmitted  to  each 
succeeding  generation,   has    manifested  itself    in    new    lines,    the    male 


lilSTOKV    Ol"    lilvKCHN     COINTY  415 

members  of  the    f.imily  seekiii<r  the  more  active   political,  financial   and 
commercial  world  to  be  found  in  the  citv. 

•'In  time  strantifers  came  to  purchase  portions  of  this  land  and  to 
occupy  it  as  homes.  In  1868  the  partition  of  the  oritfinal  lioldint>s  was 
practically  completed  by  a  g-cneral  jniblic  auction  sale  of  the  fields  lyintr 
about  the  old  homestead,  made  l>v  the  widow  and  executors  of  the  last 
owner,  (ieneral  tieorire  Kinsjfsland. 

"Those  who  invested,  have  bren  dis.ippoinled  in  the  outcome  of 
their  expectations. 

■' Amonif  other  thiniifs  in  the  way  of  "growth,  is  the  lack  of  railroad 
accommodations  at  hours  to  suit  those  who  need  transportation  to  and 
from  New  York  citv. 

"The  !i;eo,t>Taphical  situation  of  the  two  places  may  have  contributed 
somewhat  to  their  i)resent  depressed  cimdition,  lying-  as  they  do  between 
the  Passaic  and  Ilackensack  rivers,  a  large  portion  of  the  area  being 
the  low,  marshy  lands  bordering-  the  two  streams.  These  uninhabited, 
unprt)ductive  tracts  comprise  nearly  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  area  of  the 
township  and  boroug-h.  Many  schemes  have  been  ])roposi'd  and  several 
attempts  made  to  reclaim  the  Hackensack  Meadows,  but  no  success  has 
vet  been  achieved  within  the  Berg-en  county  lines. 

"The  most  elaborate  scheme  ever  attempted  was  that  Ijy  Spencer 
B.  Driggs,  some  fifty  years  ag-o,  in  which  was  invested  a  large  amount 
of  capital.  He  built  a  series  of  dikes  and  canals  which  by  the  aid  of 
windmills  was  to  pump  out  the  water,  in  the  old  Dutch  fashion  at  Hol- 
land. He  also  intended  to  supj)lement  the  wind  power  with  steam  to 
prevent  sulimerg-ence  when  there  was  a  lack  of  wind. 

"His  first  dikes  were  bored  full  of  holes  by  muskrats,  which  abound 
in  great  numbers  on  the  meadows  and  he  was  forced  to  insert  sheets  of 
perforated  iron  in  the  dikes  to  save  them  from  the  ravages  of  these 
pests." 

The  following  is  a  brief  summary  of  the  cotuiection  of  Mr.  Driggs 
with  his  great  enterprise: 

"He  first  purchased  the  whole  four  thousand  acres  of  swani])  land 
in  Hudson  and  Bergen  counties  from  the  many  owners,  among  them 
being  representatives  of  the  oldest  families  in  Bergen  county,  such  as 
the  Kingslands,  Kutherfords,  Stuyvesants  and  many  others.  The  land 
cost  from  two  to  five  dollars  per  acre.  A  great  deal  of  trouble  and 
expense  was  incurred  in  getting  deeds  correct,  some  of  them  having  to 
be  sent  to  Europe  for  signatures,  and  so  varied  and  complex  were  the 
legal  intricacies  of  these  dociunents  that  when  completed,  the  instru- 
ment covered  a  space  100  square  feet  in  area  and  filled  a  good  sized  Ijox. 
"The  lawyer,  former  Judge  Lawrence,  of  New  York  city,  who 
searched  and  passed  upon  the  titles,  received  the  enormous  fee  of  S10,()()0. 
.Ml  real  estate  men  jjreviously  had  decided  that  a  perfect  title  was 
unobtainable,  but  the  Judge  set  all  doubts  at  rest. 

"After  this  success,  Mr.  Driggs  found  a  capitalist  in  the  person  of 
.\Ir.    S.   N.   Pike,  a  millionaire,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.     It  is  stated   upon 


416  HISTOKY   OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

good  authority  that  within  twenty-four  hours  after  his  tirst  interview, 
Mr.  Drig-gs  had  interested  and  caused  Mr.  Pike  to  comprehend  his 
scheme,  with  the  aid'of  his  patent  iron  dikes.  Within  these  twenty- four 
hours  a  contract  was  drawn  and  ch)sed  and  Mr.  Pike  had  deposited 
SIOO.OOO  to  the  credit  of  Mr.  Driggs,  and  the  next  week  work  began  on 
the  four  thousand  acres.  Jerome  J.  Collins,  who  afterwards  died  with 
the  Jeannette  expedition  of  the  "New  York  Herald,"  and  was  buried 
with  great  honor  on  the  recover}-  of  his  body,  was  employed  by  Mr. 
Driggs  as  his  chief  engineer.  Many  men  were  given  employment  and 
much  money  was  spent. 

"A  great  deal  of  annoying-  criticism  was  raised  and  many  adverse 
opinions  were  circulated  as  to  the  result.  This  did  not  phase  Mr. 
Eriggs,  who  went  on  in  tlie  even  tenor  of  his  way  undisturbed.  His 
dikes  were  cut,  and  his  men  incited  to  revolt.  Impediments  caused  by 
ignorance  and  jeahiusy  were  placed  in  his  way,  but  after  a  time  favor- 
able results  were  seen.  In  the  lower  section — in  Hudson  county — the 
cars  and  engines  of  the  New  Jersey  Railroad  Company,  at  high  tides 
no  longer  ran  with  their  wheels  under  water.  The  land  rose  gradually 
and  after  being  well  drained  by  a  system  of  cross  ditches,  ceased  to  be 
flooded  at  the  highest  tides. 

"  The  iron  protected  dikes  prevented  the  muskrats  and  crawfish 
from  boring  holes  in  the  banks  and  letting  in  the  river  water.  Then 
the  hunters  of  these  rodents  complained  that  Mr.  Brig-gs  was  depriving 
them  of  a  living,  and  the  contractors  tried  to  force  upon  the  Iron  Dike 
Reclamation  Co.,  S.  N.  Pike,  president  and  S.  B.  Briggs,  manager,  the 
rejected  plates  and  suit  was  brought  for  their  value. 

"Another  trouble  was  caused  by  the  men  who  not  having  been  paid 
for  two  weeks  were  then  incited  to  riot  by  enemies  of  the  company. 
They  quit  work  and  assembled  upon  the  land,  threatening  to  cut  the 
dikes,  and  sent  written  communications  to  Mr.  Briggs,  denouncing  him 
and  endorsing  their  papers  with  a  skull  and  cross-bones.  . 

"Without  fear  Mr.  Uriggs  w^ent  to  the  scene  of  the  disturbance, 
accompanied  by  a  friend  in  a  carriage,  his  only  protection  being  a  walk- 
ing stick.  When  he  arrived  there  was  at  least  a  thousand  excited  men 
awaiting  him.  Jumping  out  of  the  vehicle  he  advanced  toward  his 
employes  shouting  loud  enough  that  all  could  hear:  "  You  wanted  me, 
here  I  am."  This  bold  action  changed  the  sentiment  of  the  mob,  who 
cheered,  while  he  explained  the  cause  of  the  delay  and  pledged  himself 
for  the  payment  of  the  men  on  the  following  Saturday.  The  rioting 
ceased,  although  there  were  many  lawless  characters  scattered  among 
his  workmen,  who  were  captured  by  his  bravery  and  daring. 

"Having  thus  discovered  the  class  of  men  wath  whom  he  had  to 
contend,  he  deemed  it  necessary  to  use  caution  and  protection,  and  when 
av  day  came,  his  paymaster  stood  upon  a  small  bridge  with  two  clerks 
covering  each  man  with  a  pistol  as  he  advanced  to  receive  his  pay. 

"  What  land  was  reclaimed  became  tillable  and  fertile  and  the  com- 
pany set  off  a  piece,  planted  it  and  raised  the  tinest  of  vegetables,  even 


HISTORY    OK    BERCRN    COl^NTY  417 

t<>l)acco  hcin-i-  ij^Tiiwn,  as  the  soil  w.-.s  very  rich.  Arrannenu-nts  were 
])en(linu;  to  build  a  town  on  the  lower  (le\eloi)e(l  section,  when  Mr.  Pike's 
sudden  death  put  an  end  to  the  scheme. 

"So  hig-hly  did  Mr.  Pike  value  his  lioldino-s  tliat  he  left  them  to 
his  i^randchildren,  and  when  the  Pennsvhania  Railroad  madi'  a  lari^'e 
offer  for  the  portion  of  land  which  they  occupied,  it  was  necessary  to 
Ji'ct  permission  of  the  court,  before  a  sale  could  be  eft'ected.  This  sale 
netted  the  company  S17,S, ()()();  f)ther  sales  jiroduced  S2.^,0()il  more. 

"Twenty  years  ag-o  Mr.  Navarro  oi'  New  York  offered  S1,0(»0,(1U() 
for  the  whole  tract  but  his  oft'er  was  refused.  Mr.  Hrii;-<,'-s  obtained  from 
the  Penns3-lvania  Railroad  Company,  throui^h  Mr.  Cassatt.  a  bid  of 
S')(lO  per  acre,  which  was  also  refused.  More  receiulv  the  prices  became 
much  hijrher.  There  are  now  over  three  thousand  acres  of  this  land 
left  of  the  four  thousand  acres  oriijinally  bought  l)y  Mr.  Urij;-<i;'s  for 
SM),000.  S.^()(),()00  has  been  realized  by  the  company,  SI, 0(10, 000  was 
refused,  and  it  holds  what  will  be  one  of  the  most  valuable  lartje  tracts 
of  land  in  this  section  of  the  country,  thanks  to  Mr.  Drigo's'  foresight, 
inventive  g'enius  and  untiring'  jjerseverence. 

"  The  benefits  derived  fnjm  the  taxes  of  the  improved  portions  of 
the  land,  yields  a  good  revenue  to  the  state  and  to  the  municipalities  in 
which  they  lie.  In  the  near  future  it  is  expected  that  factories  will  be 
built  and  homes  be  established  along  the  trolley  roads,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  next  twentv-live  years  a  town  will  i)robably  connect  the  two  cities 
of  Jersey  City  and  Newark. 

"Another  effort,  and  the  last  attempt  to  reclaim  this  great  area  of 
waste  land,  was  made  by  James  R.  l);iv,  but  on  a  smaller  scale.  His 
dikes  were  built  of  blocks  of  peat  cut  from  the  meadows  but  they  were 
not  heavy  or  substantial  enough.  The  material  dried  and  one  spring 
season  during  a  freshet  the  greater  jjart  <if  his  dike  tlo.atcd  away  on 
the  tide. 

"  The  tirst  ;ind  original  owners  of  the  land  grant  from  the  Lord 
Pro])rietors,  were  two  Englishmen,  William  S.mdford  ;md  Nathaniel 
Kingsland,  the  latter  being  a  Sergeant  Major  in  the  llritish  Army, 
stationed  at  Christ  Church  Parish  in  the  Island  of  liarbadoes." 

The  record  of  their  grant  is  described  in  New  Jersey  under  the 
l)roprictors  as  follows  : 

"On  July  4th  16f)S,  all  tlu'  meaiK>ws  and  ui)l;ind  lying  south  of  a 
line  drawn  from  the  Hackensack  to  the  Passaic  Rivers,  seven  niiUs  north 
of  their  intersection  and  C()ini)rising  5.i().S  acres  of  upland  and  10,0ii() 
acres  of  meadow,  were  granted  to  Captain  William  Sandford  for  twenty 
l)ounds  sterling  per  annum,  in  lieu  of  the  liaU  penny  per  acre,  per 
annum,  the  standard  price  of  the  agreement." 

To  complete  the  title  there  remainded  the  Indian  title.  The  Indi- 
ans hereabouts  at  this  time,  we  are  informed,  were  very  sensiti\e  regard- 
ing the  title  to  their  lands  and  actively  resented  its  being  taken  from 
them  by  the  whites  without  their  consent  or  any  consideration  or  value 
being  given  for  it. 


418  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

The  Indians  were  in  considerable  numbers  about  the  settlement  then, 
but  thev  were  stronsf  in  their  alliances  with  neig'hboringf  tribes  by  whose 
aid  thev  could  easily  annoy  the  outlying'  plantations,  and  previous  to 
this  time,  there  had  been  much  friction  between  them  and  the  Dutch 
settlers. 

'riie  Dutch,  who  had  settled  the  outlying  country,  about  New  York 
and  New  Jersey,  tirst  feared  English  interference.  They  supplied  the 
natives  with  guns  and  atiimunition  and  taught  them  their  use,  in  order 
that  they  might  use  the  natives  to  help  them  dispossess  the  English 
when  the  opportunity  came. 

In  order  to  allay  all  fears  of  unjust  treatment  in  the  savage  mind, 
regarding  their  property  rights,  the  Lords  Proprietors  made  provision 
for  them  in  their  concessions  by  instructing  the  Governor  and  Council  to 
purchase  the  Indian  titles  to  all  lands  and  look  for  reimbursement  to  the 
settlers,  as  the  latter  made  their  purchases.  In  compliance  with  these 
instructions  the  Governor  decreed  that  the  new  comers  were  either  to 
purchase  from  the  Indians  themselves,  or  if  the  land  had  been  previously 
purchased  bv  the  Proprietors,  thev,  the  new  comers,  were  to  pay  their 
]>roportion. 

It  is  related  that  this  system  of  securing  equity  to  the  natives  had 
the  desired  effect  and  they  parted  with  their  lands  with  satisfaction, 
becoming  good  neigh tiors,  no  instance  being  recorded  showing  any  fric- 
tion with  them  in  the  early  davs  of  the  New  Jersey  settlements. 

William  Sanford  purchased  the  Indian  title  to  the  lands  aforemen- 
tioned, on  the  20th  day  of  July,  1668,  and  sixteen  days  after  he  received 
the  land  grant  from  the  proprietors,  giving  for  it  the  following  commo- 
dities: 

170  fathom  l)lack  wampum,  2(M)  fathom  white  wampum,  l'»  match 
coats,  supjiosed  to  be  watch  coats,  16  guns,  (>U  double  hands  powder,  10 
pairs  breeches,  (i7  bars  lead,  1  anker  of  brandy,  3  half  fat  beer,  11 
blankets,  30  axes,  20  hoes,  and  2  cooks  of  dozens. 

The  later  item  seems  to  have  been  intended  as  two  coats  of  Duffils, 
a  cloth  of  that  age,  suitable  for  warm  climates.  It  is  claimed  that 
Nathaniel  Kingsland  was  the  principal  in  this  grant,  and  received  con- 
sideration for  it  from  the  crown,  as  services,  although  there  is  no  record 
to  establish  this  claim.  Captain  Sanford  is  said  to  have  made  the  pur- 
chase in  Kingsland's  interest.  Kingsland  gave  the  new  tract  the  name 
of  New  Barbadoes  which  was  afterward  localized  to  New  Barbadoes 
Neck,  which  name  it  retained  until  recently.  Previous  to  its  settlement 
that  location  bore  the  Indian  name  of  "  Mighgecticook." 

There  is  mention  of  a  patent  having  been  issued  for  this  grant  by 
the  proprieti>rs  on  March,  11.71,  to  William  Sandford  in  trust  for 
Nathaniel  Kingsland,  forever,  for  the  sum  of  200  pounds  sterling.  This 
])atent,  it  is  supposed,  confirmed  possession  to  the  grantees,  they  having 
probably  within  the  time  specified  in  the  first  document  made  the 
required  settlement  and  improved  and  fulfilled  the  requirements  of  the 
concessions. 


HISTOKV    OK    BKU(;):N     COl'N'TY  4l'l 

The  liind  adjoiniuir  the  Sandftird  and  K  lilies  land  tract  on  tlio  iiortli 
and  extondinff  six  miles  into  tho  coiintrv,  or  from  Rutherford  '  tlK-n 
SandftJrd's  Spring's),  to  Ilackensack  was  granted,  bv  the  Lords  Pro- 
prietors to  Captain  John  Berry  and  associates,  about  a  sear  after  Sand- 
ford's  grant  was  issued. 

A  conveyance  was  made  on  the  first  of  Juni',  liiTl.  I)V  Nathaniel 
Kingsland  and  Mary  his  wife,  to  William  Sandford.  of  cme-tliird  of  their 
])atcnt.  the  consideration  Ijeing  2(10  jxiunds  sterling-,  and  this  transfer 
was  confirmed  by  the  (Governor  and  Council  on  the  21st  day  of  March. 
1()7,^.  This  it  would  seem,  should  conlirm  the  statement  that  Sandford 
acted  in  the  interest  of  Kingsland  throughout. 

This  latter  conveyance  appears  to  have  been  the  linal  division  of  the 
property  between  Sandford  and  Kingsland,  the  line  of  separation,  as 
near  as  one  can  discover  being  the  northerly  boundary  of  the  Van  Km- 
l)urgh  estate,  in  Kearney  township,  Hudson  county,  which  seems  to 
have  been  the  first  portion  deeded  away  by  the  Sandft)rds. 

The  first  actual  settlers  of  New  Barbadoes  were  Edwar.l  Hall. 
Nathaniel  Wheeler  and  John  Bauldwin.  who  were  annmg  the  first  settlers 
of  Newark,  (settled  in  1()()()  by  colonists  from  Connecticut,  i  These  did 
not  remain  long,  however,  being  probably  warned  by  Captain  Sandford, 
that  he  and  Kingsland  had  a  prior  claim  to  the  land. 

No  record  exists  to  show  that  Nathaniel  Kingsland  ever  left  Bar- 
badoes to  settle  his  share  of  the  grant.  Isaac  Kingsland,  supposed  to 
be  a  nephew,  was  the  lirst  of  the  f.amily  to  settle  here  in  l()f>S.  for  at 
that  date  we  find  an  account  of  the  New  Colony  in  New  Jersey  writti-n 
bv  Secretary  Nichols  of  New  York,  in  which  he  stales  that  on  the 
north  of  Milford,  or  Newark  River,  is  a  larger  tract  of  land  belonging 
to  Kingsland  and  Sandford  and  that  higher  up  the  river  another  tract 
exists  owned  by  Captain  Berry,  wlio  divided  his  tract  into  plantations 
which  were  soon  settled. 

It  is  recorded  that  when  Captain  Sandford  was  tendered  a  coun- 
cillor appointment,  by  Philip  Cartaret.  the  first  (losornor  of  New 
Jersey,  in  \<>(>'K  he  was  unwilling  to  accejjt  it.  or  any  ollicc  in  the  com- 
mcmwealth. 

"Some  interest  as  well  as  mvsterv.  is  thrown  around  this  name 
bv  the  records,  for  it  does  not  appear  from  whence  he  came.  Inil  he  was 
l)robablv  an  Englishman,  from  the  West  Indies. 

"His  title,  'Captain  (»f  .Militia,'  was  conferred  ui)on  him  while  resid- 
ing in  Newark,  in  i(>7.^.  His  scruples  respecting  his  contempt  for 
office  seems  to  have  been  overcome,  for  he  subsequently  served  in  the 
Councils  of  Ueputy  Governors  Rudyard  and  Lawrie. 

"On  April  24,  1(>77,  Sandford  transferred  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Whartman. 
in  trust  for  his  eldest  daughter,  Nedemiah  and  the  children  born  of  the 
said  Sarah  Whartman,  viz.:  "  Cather,  Peregrine.  William  and  (xrace,  one 
equal  third  ])art  of  all  his  i)roi)erty  between  the  I'assaic  and  Ilacken- 
sack  Rivers,  with  one-third  (d"  the  stock,  household  stulTs.  etc.,  jjrovided 
it  were  im])ro\ed  for  her  inaintenence  and  the  education  .d'  the  said  chil- 


420  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEX    COUNTY 

dren,  the  principal  not  beintr  disposed  of,  in  any  way,  ^yithout  his 
consent." 

Whether  he  left  the  nei'i'hborhood  after  this,  is  unkjiown,  but  the 
next  year  on  Au<fust  Idth,  Mrs.  Wliartman  relinquished  all  she  had 
received,  re-transferring-  it  to  Sanford  having-  of  her  own  obstinate  will 
violated  the  condition  of  the  conveyance  by  removing  the  stock.  The 
historian  then  states  that  these  proceedings  assume  rather  a  strange 
aspect  when  considered  with  reference  to  the  following  facts : 

"Major  William  Sanford  died  in  1862,  letters  of  administration  of 
his  estate  being  granted  in  September  16()*t.  His  will  was  dated  Janu- 
ary .>d,  1()'»0,  in  which  he  acknowledged  Sarah  Whartmanto  be  his  lawful 
Nvife.  Some  considerable  reasons  having  caused  them  t(j  conceal  their 
mrriaage,  a  certificate  of  marriage  was  annexed,  signed  by  Richard 
Vernon,  as  having  occurred  on  board  the  Pink  Susannah,  in  the  river  of 
Swimam,  on  the  27th  day  of  March,  1()67. 

"In  his  will  he  desired  that  his  body  be  buried,  if  it  may  be,  in  his 
own  plantation,  without  pomp  or  expensive  ceremonies,  and  he  implored 
hishonorcd  friends.  Colonel  Andrew  Hamilton,  Mr.  James  Emott,  Gabriel 
Meudillc  and  William  Nichols,  of  New  York,  to  assist,  and  favor  the 
concerns  of  a  poor  ignorant  widow  and  five  innocent  children  (another 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  having  been  added  to  those  already  named)  '  with 
their  best  advice  and  counsel,  to  preserve  them  from  those  vultures  and 
harpies,  which  prey  upon  the  carcasses  of  widows,  and  fatten  on  the 
blood  of  orphans.'" 

Further  mention  is  made  of  his  daughters  Nedemiah,  who  married 
Richard  Berry,  and  Catharine,  who  married  Doctor  Van  Emburgh,  and 
who  left  numerous  descendants,  and  of  Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Captain  James  Davies.  There  seems  to  be  no  doubt  that  Major  Wil- 
liam Sandford,  who  was  one  of  the  council  under  Governors  Hamilton 
and  Lord  Cornbury,  was  his  son.  He  was  very  prominent,  and  when  but 
twenty-eight  years  of  age  presided  as  Chief  Justice  over  the  Court  of 
Sessions  at  Elizabethtown,  March  12th,  170(1,  with  four  associate  Jus- 
tices, who  were  said  to  be  all  men  of  standing  in  their  respective  com- 
munities 

The  desire  of  the  first  Sandford  to  be  buried  on  his  plantation,  with- 
out pomp  or  expensive  ceremony,  seems  to  have  been  carried  out,  al- 
though nothing  definite  exists  relating  thereto,  except  the  existence  of 
a  very  old  landmark,  a  burial  plot  in  which  is  interred  some  of  the  early 
Sandfords.  Its  location  is  in  Kearney  township,  Hudson  county,  about 
two  miles  south  of  the  North  Arlington  line,  just  off  vSchuyler  Avenue, 
a  few  yards  north  of  the  old  Kenton  homestead.  In  this  same  yard 
another  quite  large  stone,  broken  straight  across  its  middle,  lying  face 
upward,  bearing  the  record  that  •' Major  William  Sandford  died  March 
2d,  17.^2-33,  aged  60  years." 

This  broken  and  neglected  relic  marks  a  point  very  near  to  the 
burial  place  of  the  colonial  Major,  Judge  and  Councillor  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Jerseys,  son   of  the   first  William    Sandford,  the    first  owner 


HisTouN   OK  bi:k(;kn  C(jrN"Tv  421 

of  one  of  the  richest  land  lirants  of  the  United  States  at  the  present  <lav. 

THK    lUmiv    Ol-    TH1-;    KIN<;SI.AXI)S. 

The  old  Manor  House,  formerly  the  home  of  the  Kin<^sland  family 
still  stands  as  a  memento  of  "ye  olden  time"  in  the  \  illatfe  of  Kini^sland. 
Around  this  house  cluster  the  memories  of  much  Ih.il  is  historically 
associated  with  this  part  of  Beri^en  counlv,  and  in  remembrance  of  liis 
forefathers  the  property  is  retained  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Edmund  W. 
King'sland,  president  of  the  Provident  Saving's  Institution,  of  Jersey 
City,  N.  J.  Besides  this  old  land-mark  there  remains  also  the  olil  mill 
])ond.  and  the  antiquated  graves,  both  reminders  of  colonial  days.  The 
old  wheel  and  the  miller's  house  were  both  but  recently  torn  down  by 
the  railroad  people,  but  the  old  homestead  with  its  wide  door  and  iireat 
knocker,  though  bereft  of  its  pr()jecting,  wooden  columned  jiorch, 
which  for  many  years  shielded  it  from  sun  and  storm,  still  stands  under 
its  old  gambrel  roof  with  an  a])pearance  as  imposing  as  any  domicile 
erected  to-day. 

This  old  house  was  once  the  object  of  attack  by  the  British  in  Revo- 
lutionary times.  Edmund  W.  Kingsland  then  the  owner,  was  dragged 
from  his  home  and  after  suffering  injury,  insult  and  ignominy  was  incar- 
cerated in  the  old  sugar  house  prison  in  New  York  city  and  there  con- 
fmed  for  a  longtime.  The  silver  and  household  vahial)les  were  saved  by 
the  ingenuity  of  the  inmates  of  the  house,  wlio  were  not  disturbed  by 
the  soldiery. 

The  late  Cliief  Justice  Joseph  Hornblower,  who  died  in  .Newark  in 
lS(i4,  was  born  in  this  house.  His  father  was  Josiah  IIorni)lower.  a 
young  man  who  came  from  FjUgland  in  175.^,  to  superintend  the  erection 
of  a  steam  engine  brought  from  that  country  to  Union  township  to 
work  the  copi)cr  mines  then  oi)erated  by  Colonel  John  Schuyler.  Mr. 
Hornblower  married  Miss  Kingsland  by  whom  he  became  the  father  of 
Joseph,  afterward  the  Chief  Justice,  he  being  the  youngest  member  (d' 
of  his  family  oi  twelve  children. 

In  l.S()K,  the  .Morris  and  ICssex  Division  of  the  D.  I^.  and  \V.  K.  R. 
Company  comj)leted  its  railroad  through  this  place,  and  shortly  .after- 
wards the  railroad  shops  were  re-erected  for  the  repair  and  renew.il 
of  its  worn  out  and  defective  locomoti\is. 

In  April  1M75,  the  shop  e([ui])nienls  of  tools  and  machinery  were 
taken  from  the  other  shops  at  Iloboken  and  elsewhere  on  the  road  and 
removed  to  this  point,  wJiere  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  hands  find 
steady  employment. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Lewis,  Master  Mechanic  of  this  division,  has  been  in 
charge  of  these  shops  since  i87().  In  1.S.S2,  the  macliine  shop  or  main 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  it  was  immediately  rebuilt.  The 
depot  station  ;it  this  point  was  formerly  a  dwelling  house.  'I'he  rail- 
road company  has  another  statittn  at  Lyndlnirst,  about  oiu-  mile  from 
the  station  at  Kingsland. 


422  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

THE    SCHUYLKK    COPPKN    MINES. 

The  first  business  venture  in  this  part  of  the  country  was  the  cop- 
per-mining- industry.  These  mines  are  located  in  the  borough  of  North 
Arlington  and  were  the  property  of  the  Schuyler  family  until  a  fe^v 
years  ago,  %Yhen  they  were  purchased  by  Mr.  George  Bayless. 

About  the  Year  170(1,  Arent  SchuYler,  son  of  the  celebrated  Philip 
Pieterson  SchuYler  who  came  from  Holland  in  1650,  bought  the  tract  of 
land  upon  which  these  mines  are  situated,  from  William  Kingsland.  A 
few  Years  later  a  negro  slave,  while  plowing  a  field  found  a  stone  which 
from  its  peculiar  hardness  excited  his  curiosity-.  He  carried  the  stone 
to  his  master,  who  finding  in  it  indications  of  copper  ore,  sent  it  to 
England  for  examination.  This  resulted,  eventually,  in  the  opening  of 
the  mines.  Owing  to  the  find  the  negro  was  given  his  freedom,  with  a 
request  that  he  make  three  wishes,  which  if  possible  were  to  be  granted. 
His  first  wish  was  that  he  might  live  with  his  master  as  long  as  he 
lived  and  to  have  all  the  tobacco  he  could  smoke.  His  second  wish  was 
for  a  dressing  gown  with  big  brass  buttons  ''just  like  massa's."  When 
urged  to  ask  something  valuable  as  a  third  wish,  he  thought  a  moment 
and  scratching  his  wooly  head  said,  "I  guess  I'll  hab  a  little  more 
'baccy."  The  mines  were  not  made  profitable  until  about  1753,  when 
Colonel  John  Schuyler,  son  of  Arent,  coming  into  possession,  sent  to 
England  for  a  steam  engine,  such  as  were  being  used  in  the  Cornwell 
mines.  These  engines  were  built  by  Joseph  Hornblower  &  Sons,  manu- 
facturers. At  the  request  of  Mr.  Schuyler  that  an  experienced  engineer 
be  sent  to  place  the  engine  in  successful  operation,  for  that  purpose 
came  young  Josiah  Hornblower,  afterwards  the  father  of  Chief  Justice 
Josiah  Hornblower.  The  engines  referred  to  were  known  as  the  New- 
comer &  Cornish  engines.  This  one  brought  over  and  planned  at  great 
cost  was  burned  in  1772.  In  1792,  work  was  resumed  and  carried  on  for 
several  years,  but  finally  ceased.  The  eastern  face  of  the  old  mine  has 
been  operated  for  some  years  as  a  stone  quarry-  In  September,  1899,  a 
SYndicate  of  Boston  copper  capitalists  commenced  operations  looking  to 
the  deYeU)pment  of  the  mines,  as  a  first  step,  pumping  out  the  Victoria 
shaft  on  the  west  side  of  Schuyler  Avenue. 

Colonel  John  Schuyler  was  a  progressive  man  and  probably  it  was 
he  who  extended  the  Belleville  turnpike  from  the  Passaic  river  at  Belle- 
ville, to  the  Hackensack  river  at  Dow's  ferry.  This  road  is  supposed  to 
have  been  finished  and  the  ferry  established  about  the  year  1755.  Wil- 
liam Uow  was  given  charge  of  the  ferry,  the  site  of  which  was  at  a 
point  a  little  north  of  the  present  bridge  of  the  northern  railroad  of  New 
Jersey.  To  this  ferry  and  over  this  road,  it  is  presumed  Schuyler  carted 
his  ore  and  afterwards  loaded  it  into  vessels  which  conveyed  it  to  Eng- 
land, the  vessels  clearing  from  New  York  city-  The  late  openings  in 
these  mines  disclose  veins  of  the  finest  ore,  while  the  stone  quarried  for 
building  purposes  is  said  to  contain  about  three  per  cent,  of  ore.  Lack 
of  space  forbids  further  description  of  this  interesting  locality  and  its 
earlY  surroundings. 


HISTOKV    Ol"    BKKf.HN    COUXTY  42,^ 

LOUIS  KOCH. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  Louis  were  machinists  and  dealt  in  iron, 
steel  and  brass,  in  Saarlouis,  their  French  home.  The  first  practical 
coffee  mills  are  said  to  have  been  made  by  them  and  conveyed  to  Paris, 
in  big'  wagons.  The  father  of  Louis  was  Peter,  the  father  of  Peter 
had  seven  sons.  One  of  these  was  Michael  a  professor  of  languages  in 
Zweibruchen,  Bavaria,  while  his  son  Victor,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Bavarian  array  and  another  son,  August,  was  Court  Physician.  Mr. 
Koch's  father  was  born  in  18O1,  and  died  in  Metz,  Germany,  in  18'J7, 
aged  ninetv-six  years.  John  Koch,  a  brother  of  Louis,  with  six  other 
brothers  gave  New  York  the  first  successful  Symphony  Concert  in  Cen- 
tral Park  Garden,  wnth  Theodore  Thomas.  John  afterward  built  the 
Lexington  Opera  House,  and  lost  it  in  the  great  panic  which  came  upon 
us  in  the  seventies. 

On  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Koch's  grandparents  were  John  and  Anna 
Raiser.  John  Raiser  was  of  an  old  French  family  and  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three,  being  the  last  of  the  name.  He  had  seventeen  daughters, 
and  one  son,  who  died  at  nineteen  years  of  age.  Three  of  these  daugh- 
ters married  three  of  the  Koch  brothers.  John  Raiser  was  a  captain  of 
Artillery  under  Napoleon  1,  until  his  surrender  in  1815.  Peter  Koch, 
the  father  of  Louis,  invented  the  breech-loading  cannon,  sending  the 
pattern  and  specifications  to  Napoleon  HI  in  1854,  who  afterward,  it  is 
said,  claimed  the  invention  for  himself. 

Louis  Koch  was  born  in  Saarlouis,  Germany,  March  14,  1837,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place.  His  mother 
who  had  ten  boys  and  six  girls,  desired  that  Louis  should  enter  the 
priesthood,  but  after  her  death  which  occured  in  1851,  he  left  school  and 
went  to  Nancy,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  confectioner.  In  1854  he 
came  to  America,  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  this  country.  The 
following  three  years  he  was  employed  by  a  Mr.  Schiller  a  confectioner 
of  Ilonesdale,  Pennsylvania.  In  1857,  he  with  his  brother  John  started 
in  business  in  Scranton,  in  the  hotel,  restaurant  and  confectionary  trade, 
at  the  same  time  oj)ening  places  in  Easton,  Pennsylvania  and  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

August  lO,  18(,4,  Mr.  Koch  was  married  to  Miss  Amelia  Weber  of 
Scranton,  in  the  Masonic  Hall,  at  which  ceremony  there  were  present 
over  two  hundred  of  Scranton's  best  families.  Mr.  Koch  was  a  private 
in  the  Fifth  Pennsylvania  Militia  during  the  first  invasion  of  the  state 
by  the  rebels.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Town  Committee  of  Union 
township  from  1872  to  187'>,  President  of  the  Kingsland  and  Sawmill 
Creek  Drainage  Company,  and  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
Union  township.  He  became  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  !•'.  in  1858,  and 
jnined  the  Free  Masons  in  185'J  and  the  Knigllt^  Templar  in  18t>2, 
liecoming  a  .^2d  degree  Mason  in  1887,  in  Scranton. 

Mr.  Koch  has  four  children,  Louis,  Albert,  Frank  and  .\nna  Ida. 
Louis  and  Frank  both  served  in  the  late  Spanish  war  as  members  of 
Company  L,  Second  Regiment,  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  Louis  a  sergeant 


l.nriS    KOCII. 


HISTOKY    OK    BlvKClKN     CHJINTY  42.-^ 

whili'  l'"ratik  was  a  torjiDral.  Anna  Ida  was  lately  jiTaduatt-d  t'nmi  the 
Metropolitan  College  of  Music.  She  has  a  dramatie  soprano  voice,  and 
is  preparini,'-  for  a  professional  career. 

WII.I.IAM     II.    CASTl.KS. 

William  H.  Castles,  who  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  was  born  in 
Newark  about  fifty  years  ago.  His  education  was  received  in  that  city 
in  the  public  and  high  schools.  He  afterwards  took  a  course  of  mathe- 
matical training  from  Bernard  Kearney,  one  of  the  ablest  mathemati- 
cians of  his  day.  Mr.  Castles'  first  business  experience  was  in  the 
grocery  trade,  his  father  placing  him  in  charge  of  a  store  when  he  was 
but  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  business  not  being  congenial  to  his  taste 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  (iould  Machine  Works  Company  at  New- 
ark, as  an  apprentice,  and  by  close  attention  to  business  and  hard  study, 
he  was  soon  able  to  begin  work  as  a  journeyman  machinist.  In  18f)'t 
Mr.  Castles  was  emplo3'ed  as  such  in  the  shops  of  the  Delaware,  Lacka- 
wanna &  W'estern  Railroad  Company,  at  Hoboken,  where  he  was  sub- 
sequently promoted  to  the  place  of  time-keeper.  His  energetic  business 
ability  was  soon  noticed  and  appreciated  by  President  Sloan  who 
appointed  him  in  1873  chief  clerk  of  the  Car  and  Machinery  department 
— which  comprise  all  the  locomotive  and  car  repair  shops  of  the  Dela- 
ware. Lackawanna  and  Western,  as  well  as  the  Sussex  Railroad,  in  New 
Jersey.  This  position  he  had  held  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  when  in  April  1899,  owing  to  a  change  of  management,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  position  of  manager  of  all  the  company's  holdings 
of  real-estate  in  Union  township. 

Mr.  Castles  is  of  Scoth-Irish  ancestry  of  Presbyterian  stock.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Scotch-Irish  Society,  which  has  had  Dr.  John  Hall  as 
a  member  and  also  Robert  Bonner,  with  other  eminent  men  of  the 
country.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Northern  Lodge,  No.  25  K.  &  A.  M. 
of  Newark  and  <>f  Kingsland  Council,  J.  ().  U.  A.  M.,  :ind  of  other 
societies. 

Public  spirited  and  wide  awake  he  has  served  in  many  cajjacities  in 
society  organizations,  among  others,  was  president  of  the  Kureka 
Boat  Club  during  the  Centennial  year.  He  has  served  one  term  as 
collector  for  Union  township.  While  doing  some  real  estate  business, 
he  has  also  acted  in  the  capacity  of  agent  for  the  (ierman-American 
Insurance  Companv  for  over  twenty  years.  He  is  a  Commissioner  of 
Deeds,  Notary  Public  and  a  Pension  Attorney. 

Mr.  Castles  purchased  some  years  ago,  the  r.ither  picturesi|iie  old 
(ieorge  Kingsland  homestead  at  Kingsland  where  he  now  resides.  Four 
acres  of  ground  surround  the  house,  and  some  fine  old  trees  adorn  the 
sloping  lawn.     A  fine  spring  supplies  water. 

Mr.  Castles  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen. 

JOHN'     U.     MII.I.AIV. 

Robert  Millar,  the  father  of  Mr.  John  K.  Millar,  of  North  Arling- 
ton, was  a  successful  scientific  gardener  in    Scotland,  the  n,iti\,    l;inil  of 


WILLIAM    H.    CASTLES 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  427 

the  Millar  family.  For  "generations,  ij-ardeninf;-  on  scientific  principles, 
had  been  the  chief  industry  of  the  Millars.  In  i.S(.7,  Mitchell  Millar, 
a  brother  of  Robert,  died,  leaving  an  estate  valued  at  S50,()0(),  represent- 
ing the  earnings  of  forty  years,  on  twenty-six  acres  of  land,  which  had 
cost  him  yearly  about  fifty  dollars  an  acre  for  rent. 

Upon  reaching  manhood,  John  R.  Millar  became  manager  of  a  farm 
known  as  "  Melvin  Hall,"  in  Midlothian,  in  the  interest  of  Margaret 
(low,  heir  to  this  estate.  Miss  Gow  was  the  eldest  of  six  daughters, 
and  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  her  manager. 

They  were  married  in  March,  1872,  coming  to  America  and  settling 
<m  land  owned  by  her  father  in  Kingsland.  N.  J.  In  1875  they  bought 
land,  built  a  house  and  entered  upon  the  business  of  making  a  farm  out 
of  the  forest.  It  looked  a  herculean  task,  but  trees  and  tanglewood 
were  in  due  time  cleared  away,  and  we  now  see  a  fine  garden,  bringing 
in  a  handsome  revenue.  Of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millar's  four  children,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  John  Gow  Millar,  the  eldest  son,  is  a  prominent 
man  in  the  borough,  being  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and  holding 
several  oftices  in  the  government.  Robert  (i.  Millar  inherited  the  tastes 
of  his  ancestry  in  the  line  of  gardening,  while  also  being  an  expert 
bookkeeper.  His  death  occurred  on  December  1,  18'»8,  at  twenty-three 
vears  of  age.  His  father  survived  him  but  a  few  days,  dying  on  the 
isth  of  the  same  month.  Mr.  Millar  was  born  near  Edinburg,  Scot- 
land, in  1S40. 

JIvSSIC  V.  JOKAI.KMON". 

The  .loralenion  family  came  to  this  country  in  a  very  early  day. 
John  and  Cornelius  Joralenum,  with  the  Westervelts  and  the  Browns 
represented  the  shipbuilding  craft,  in  the  early  history  of  the  town  of 
Union.  Cornelius  Joralemon  who  died  during  the  first  years  of  the  civil 
war  built  many  vessels,  mostly  two  masted  and  of  about  thirty  or  forty 
tons  burden. 

The  Joralemon  homestead  was  on  tln'  Passaic  Ri\er,  wliert-  John 
Post  now  resides,  their  shipyards  also  being  in  that  vicinity.  Boats  in 
those  days  plying  between  Acquackanonk  and  New  York  were  the  com- 
mon mode  of  convevance  for  excursions  or  other  i)leasure  jiarties  between 
these  two  places. 

Peter  Joralemon,  who  has  been  bridge  tender  for  the  last  twenty 
years  at  the  Lyndhurst  bridge,  studied  the  art  of  shipbuilding  and 
became  a  skilled  draughtsman,  modeler  and  designer.  During  his  time, 
larger  vessels  were  constructed,  some  schooners  of  four  hundred  tons 
burden  and  over,  having  been  built  by  him  and  others  for  several  lines 
doing  business  between  New  York  and  Charleston,  Savannah  and 
other  southern  seaports. 

The  last  vessel  he  built  was  the  ••Westley  Stone."  still  running  into 
New  York  harbor. 

He  married  Miss  Margaret  Hrown.  daughter  of  .Abraham  Brown, 
and  is  the  father  of  Jesse  P.  and  Warren  H.  Joralemon,  the  well  known 
coal  men  of  Rutherford. 


428  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Jesse  p.  Joralemon,  was  also  engaged  for  a  time  in  boat  building-. 
He  owned  a  floating  dock,  a  few  years  since  in  Hoboken,  but  he  drifted 
from  that  to  house  building  and  finally  placed  his  capital  in  the  business 
of  trucking,  already  started  by  his  brother.  The  large  storage  house  in 
Lyndhurst  was  built  by  Jesse  P.  in  1890,  and  the  present  dock  about  the 
same  time. 

Twelve  or  fifteen  teams  are  constantly  in  use,  and  a  large  business 
is  done,  not  only  in  coal  and  ice,  but  in  the  moving  business. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

ruthp:rf()rd  boroughs. 

VILLA    SITES — THE    MANOK    HOUSE — KUTHEKKOKD    PAKK    LAND    COMPANIES 
— THE  BOKOl'GH — SCHOOLS — NEWSPAPERS — SOCIETIES,    ASSOCIA- 
TIONS,   CLUBS    AND    LODGES — BOARD    OF    TRADE — BANKS — 
COMPANY  L — CHURCHES — EAST  RUTHERFORD — ORGAN- 
IZATION OF  THE    BOROUGH — BOROUGH  OFFICERS 
— BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

In  "Thing-s  Old  and  New,"  published  in  18'i8,  we  find  a  letter  writ- 
ten by  Mr.  Floyd  W.  Tompkins,  the  "Pioneer"  of  the  village  of  Ruther- 
ford, in  which  he  tells  us  that  on  April  2d.  1858,  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  a  little  farm  of  twenty-five  acres  which  he  had  bought,  and 
on  which  stood  a  small  stone  house.  Shortly  after  this  he  purchased 
seventv-five  acres  more  on  what  is  now  Union  Avenue,  and  had  it  sur- 
veyed and  a  map  made  of  "  Villa  sites  at  Boiling-  Springs,  New  Jersey." 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  village,  although  a  station  had  been 
established  here  ever  since  1832,  when  the  New  York  and  Paterson  Rail- 
road was  finished.  When  locomotive  power  was  adopted  the  never  fail- 
ing spring  had  been  utilized  by  the  company  as  a  watering  station  under 
the  name  of  Boiling  Springs.  Several  gentlemen  now  bought  lots, 
built  houses  and  finally  by  using  some  liberality  prevailed  upon  the 
railroad  company  (now  the  Erie)  to  erect  a  passenger  depot  and  ticket 
office.  This  depot  was  a  small  triangular  shaped  brick  building,  with 
a  gable  roof.  It  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  railroad  at  the  corner  of 
Union  Avenue,  which  was  then  more  a  lane  than  an  avenue.  At  this 
time  Charles  Ingersoll  was  station  agent.  About  the  year  18(>2,  this 
little  structure  gave  place  to  the  one  which  in  time  has  been  displaced 
by  the  beautiful,  new  and  commodious  building  completed  in  1897. 
Park  Avenue  was  laid  out  in  18()f)  by  the  commissitmers.  to  connect  the 
lands  of  the  Rutherford  Park  Association  with  the  depot. 

In  18(>7  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  authorizing  the  im- 
provement of  this  street  and  soon  after  Ridge  Road  and  Rutherford 
Avenue  were  laid  out  and  graded,  under  an  act  of  the  Legislature, 
other  streets  following,  through  the  efforts  of  land  cntn])anies  or  by 
])ri\Mte  individuals. 

During  the  lifelinu'  uf  Mr.  Rutherford  his  property  was  known  as 
•'Edgerston  Manor."  the  name  of  the  family  seat  in  Scotland.  The 
Manor  House  stood  on  the  River  Road  south  of  what  is  now  Ruther- 
ford .\venue.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Rutherford  the  greatir  p:irt  of 
the  estate  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  William  J.  Stewart,  who  dis- 
posed of  it  to  the  Rutherford  Park  Association.  They  laid  out  sinets, 
dividing  the  land  into  building  lots,  converting  the  Manor  Housi>  into  a 
hotel,  which  after  a  ]K'ri<"l  of  some  success  and  later  of   failure    in  1)usi- 


430  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

ness,  was  eventual!}-  destroyed  b}-  lire  and  never  rebuilt.  Another  hotel 
in  the  early  history  of  the  borough,  was  the  "Vreeland  House,"  now 
used  by  the  Salvation  Army  as  "Cherry  Tree  Home." 

In  1870  the  name  "Rutherford"  was  adopted  on  account  of  much 
of  the  land  having  been  a  part  of  the  farm  of  John  Rutherford,  while 
"Park"  was  attached  no  doubt  as  a  sort  of  attraction.  This  name 
continued  until  about  1875,  when,  after  much  discussion,  a  request  was 
forwarded  to  the  Postmaster.  General  to  drop  "Park"  from  the  name. 
This  request  was  granted,  the  Erie  company  soon  after  changing  to  the 
same  name. 

In  1882  controlling  interest  of  the  Rutherford  Heights  Association 
passed  into  new  hands,  when  it  was  decided  to  begin  building  houses  iur 
sale  on  easy  terms.  Three  cottages  were  built  on  Passaic  and  Donald- 
son Avenues,  which  were  rented,  because  of  failure  to  find  purchasers. 
However,  under  the  able  management  of  Mr.  A.  G.  Bell,  the  treasurer  of 
the  Association,  several  houses  were  built  and  disposed  of  on  liberal 
terms.  This  giving  an  impetus  to  business,  many  people  availed  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity  to  secure  a  home,  and  soon  more  than  two  hun- 
dred houses  had  been  disposed  of  on  "easy  terms."  Other  land  companies 
were  now  organized,  "Mount  Rutherford  Land  Company"  claiming 
precedence  in  the  matter  of  organization.  The  Home  Land  Company, 
Rutherford  Heights  Association,  Park  Land  Company,  The  Ruthei- 
ford  Park  Association,  West  Carlstadt  Land  Verein,  and  the 
East  Rutherford  Land  Association.  All  these  have  aided  in  building 
up  the  borough.  In  the  little  "Souvenir"  from  which  we  draw  largely 
in  this  article,  we  lind  this  statement  :  "Looking  westward  from  the 
depot  two  modest  looking  hills  completely  shut  out  a  view  of  the  lands 
l^-ing  beyond.  The  more  southerly  one  is  now  dignified  by  the  name  of 
Mount  Rutherford,  the  other,  a  smaller  one,  arose  in  a  depressed,  cone- 
like shape  directly  back  of  the  depot.  Between  these  sister  hills  was  a 
deep  ravine  affording  a  complete  drainage  for  a  large  section  of  back 
land.  Upon  laying  out  and  grading  the  lands  around  the  depot  by  the 
Mt.  Rutherford  Company  the  smaller  hill  was  cut  down  to  fill  up  this 
ravine,  where  it  was  crossed  by  the  Orient  Way,  and  also  by  the  Home 
Land  Company,  in  forming  the  plateau  through  which  runs  Ames 
Avenue.  A  filling  at  Orient  Way,  gave  opportunity  for  the  forming  of 
a  picturesque,  lake-like  pond,  called  'Glen  Waters,'  fed  by  living  springs, 
and  fringed  on  its  southern  side  by  a  cluster  of  fine  elms.  In  its  waters 
was  baptized  the  first  convert  in  the  Baptist  church  of  Rutherford.  This 
lake  was  given  to  the  town  by  the  Mt.  Rutherford  Company,  but  was 
subsequently  filled  up  from  fear  of  malaria." 

The  Rutherford  Improvement  Association  was  organized  in  18S1. 
This  organization  was  the  outcome  of  a  meeting  called  by  a  few  leading 
citizens  in  order  to  bring  before  the  people  a  plan  by  which  they  might 
secure  a  local  government.  Major  Richard  Allison  was  its  first  presi- 
dent. On  September  5,  a  meeting  was  called  over  which  Mr.  David  B. 
Ivison   presided,  when    it  was  decided  to  call  a  meeting  and   take  a  vote 


HISTORY    OK    BERGEN    COUNTY  431 


on  the  question  of  l)oroui^-li  ii-overnment.  This  ok'ction  was  hekl  on  the 
twentieth  of  the  same  month,  when  the  question  was  (kxi(K'(l  and  the 
certificate  filed  the  followiuL;'  day.  The  first  election  for  horou^-li 
officers  was  held  October  4,  followini»-.  when  Alfred  Oakley  was  elected 
Mayor.  The  final  and  full  separation  from  the  township  g-overnment, 
however,  took  place,  when  on  March  10,  1S'»(),  a  law  was  enacted  by  the 
le<ifislature,  by  which  the  borough  became  a  distinct  municipality,  the 
officers  consisting  of  a  mayor  elected  annually,  with  executive  responsi- 
bility and  power  to  veto,  with  six  councilnien  serving  three  years  each, 
who  with  the  mayor  constitute  a  full  local  legislative  power,  the  council 
having  the  power  by  a  two-thirds  vote  to  pass  measures  over  the  veto  of 
the  mayor.  In  addition  to  these  an  assessor  and  collector  of  taxes  serv- 
ing three  years,  four  justices  of  the  peace,  who  are  elected  for  five  years, 
and  also  three  commissioners  of  appeal,  having  power  to  adjust  the 
assessment  laid  by  the  assessor.  As  many  marshals  may  be  appointed 
as  the  Mayor  and  Council  deem  necessary. 

Prior  to  this  an  Electric  Light  plant  had  been  placed  and  put  in 
operation  in  189'*.  In  1891,  water  was  introduced  by  the  Hackensack 
water  system,  which  supplied  pure  water  taken  from  the  river  at  New 
Mil  ford,  above  the  dams  at  the  lowest  point  where  fresh  water  can  be 
obtained.  The  water  in  the  mains  as  well  as  in  the  reservoir,  is 
thoroughly  aerated,  by  forcing  fresh  air  into  the  mains  of  the  reservoir, 
by  compressors  built  for  that  purpose  and  located  at  New  Milford  and 
W'eehawken.  Some  forty  hydrants  are  distributed  throughout  the  bor- 
ough at  convenient  localities,   about  twelve  miles  of  mains  being  used. 

A  system  of  sanitary  sewers  was  also  voted  for,  in  which  is  embodied 
all  the  advantages  of  modern  science,  as  applied  by  Colonel  d.  E.  War- 
ing of  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  other  well  known  engineers.  The  sewers  are 
of  the  kind  known  as  the  "close"  system,  intended  to  convey  sewage 
only,  instead  of  receiving  surface  and  subsoil  drainage  in  addition  to 
household  sewage.  By  this  system  no  foul  gases  are  sujjposed  to  escape; 
the  conduits  are  small  and  the  joints  hermetically  sealed,  while  the 
sewers  are  flushed  twice  every  day  to  insure  against  the  accumulation 
of  ff)ul  gases. 

The  borough  of  Kutherford  C(>\ers  an  area  of  something  less  than 
two  square  miles,  with  a  population  of  about  5U()().  The  business  por- 
tion of  the  borough  is  mostly  near  the  depot  and  on  Park  Avenue. 
Business  of  various  kinds  is  carried  on  by  which  the  necessaries  of  life 
may  be  supplied.  The  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks  as  a  beverage  has 
never  yet  been  authorized. 

When  the  railroad  was  first  comi)leted  in  l.s.>2,  and  for  some  time 
afterward,  the  coaches  were  drawn  by  horses,  the  flriver  sitting  com- 
fortably on  top  of  the  coach.  Two  small  locomotives  were  subse()uently 
built  in  Baltimore,  which  superseded  the  horses.  A  pumping  station 
was  built  near  where  "Just's  Hotel"  nf)w  stands,  the  water  Ijeing  drawn 
fri>ni    the  underground    vein    of    the   Boiling  Springs.      Two   l)oys   were 


432  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

employed  to  pump  the  water  into  an  elevated  tank,  which  supplied 
water  for  the  locomotives. 

What  is  now  East  Rutherford  was  then  composed  of  five  or  six  old- 
fashioned  farm  houses. 

The  Rutherford  fire  department  is  regularly  orj^anized  under  the 
control  of  a  Chief  and  Assistant  Chief  Engineer.  The  department  com- 
prises four  companies,  Truck  and  Bucket  Company  organized  June  (>, 
1876;  Fire  Engine  Company  No.  2  organized  March  24,  1886;  and  West 
End  Fire  Engine  and  Hose  Company  No.  3  organized  July  1890.  No.  3 
is  equipped  with  a  chemical  apparatus  furnished  for  immediate  use,  and 
not  wholly  dependent  upon  water.  Hose  Company  No.  4  was  organized 
September  1896.  This  company  is  composed  of  men  who  are  within  call 
during  the  day.  They  are  equipped  with  a  modern  style  of  hose  cart  to 
be  drawn  by  hand  or  horses.     No.  1  has  a  truck  drawn  by  horses  also. 

Unlike  the  general  run  of  suburbs,  Rutherford  has  a  well  kept  and 
finely  located  cemetery,  the  property  of  a  local  corporation.  The  Hill- 
side Cemetery  Company  was  organized  May  20,  1882,  under  the  act 
entitled  "An  act  to  authorize  the  incorporation  of  rural  cemetery 
associations  and  regulate  cemeteries,"  approved  April  9,  1873.  The 
cemetery  is  situated  between  Rutherford  and  Kingsland,  and  is  easily 
accessible  from  Jersey  City  and  Hoboken  by  either  Kingsland  or  Ruther- 
ford depots.     It  contains  about  forty-five  acres. 

The  present  officers  of  the  borough  of  Rutherford  are:  Mayor, 
Edward  J.  Turner;  Councilmen,  Andrew  H.  Teeple,  President;  Joseph  N. 
Mileham,  Charles  L.  Crear,  Frank  P.  Newman,  David  Bosman,  Samuel 
T.  Davy;  Clerk,  Joseph  W.  Burgess;  Collector,  Edwin  C.  Abbot;  Asses- 
sor, Jacob  Rohrbach. 

Pl'BLIC    SCHOOLS. 

The  Rutherford  Public  School  as  it  now  exists,  is  practically  what 
was  Old  District  No.  40,  in  the  township  of  Union.  In  1870  the  resi- 
dents in  the  vicinity  of  the  Rutherford  depot,  then  Boiling  Springs, 
were  obliged  to  patronize  the  only  school  in  the  neighborhood,  on  the 
Meadow  Road.  It  was  a  quaint  old  one-story  building  said  to  have 
been  built  about  the  year  1850.  The  school  house  seated  fifty  pupils 
and  was  like  many  of  the  old  fashioned  school  houses,  seated  with 
benches  without  backs,  and  with  smaller  benches  for  the  young  children. 
Many  who  were  teachers  in  this  old  building  are  now  alive  and  it  is 
amusing  to  hear  them  recount  their  experiences.  At  that  time  before  a 
teacher  was  permitted  to  instruct  pupils  in  the  public  school  he  had  to 
procure  a  license  from  the  town  superintendent  who  together  with  the 
board  of  school  trustees  constituted  the  examining  board.  Mr.  Jacob 
G.  Van  Riper,  late  postmaster  of  Rutherford,  was  for  many  years  town 
superintendent  and  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  intelligent  who  held 
the  office.  The  teachers  who  at  various  times  taught  in  the  Meadow 
Road  school  house  are  George  Brinkerhoff,  J.  P.  Jones,  E.  E.  Vreeland, 
Mr.  Gow,  George  Parcel  and  G.  R.  Alyea.  A  Mr.  Mersereau  became 
the  first  teacher  in  the  Park  Avenue  school  house.     After  the  erecticm 


HISTORY  OK  ri;kc;i-:n   county 


433 


of  the  Park  Avonuu  buildiiii^-,  ahuut  the  war  1S71,  the  old  school  hiiild- 
iiig'  was  sold  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  McClinnis  who  placed  it  uixm  a 
stone  foundation  and  occupied  it  as  a  residence  for  n'.any  years.  AIjouI 
the  year  1886  Mr.  Mcdiiinis  look  the  huildini;-  down  ])iece  by  piece  and 
moved  it  tog-ether  with  the  foundation  to  Newark  where  it  still  stands 
in  much  of  its  former  style. 

The  Park  Avenue  house  when  erected,  was  a  model  of  its  kind  and 
its  erection  by  taxation,  raised  all  in  one  year,  showed  a  spirit  of  enter- 
prise and  energy  that  was  commendable.  This  school  was  first  in  charge 
of  Mr.  Mersereau.  then  came  Mr.  \V.  F.  Morrow,  who  was  succeeded  bv 


t 

IHHnI 

i 

KCTUKKKOKI)    .NO. 


William  H.  Palmer  in  1.S77.  In  1.S7S  .Mr.  Paddock  Mersereau 
had  the  school,  and  in  1X7"^  Captain  Atldison  IClv  became  its  principal 
and  held  the  position  for  seven  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  T. 
B.  Hascall  who  was  principal  for  eight  vears.  Tie  was  succeeded  by 
the  present  ])rincipal,  Mr.  William  C.  Ingalls. 

In  1.S76  there  was  a  division  of  the  school  district,  when  a  new 
school  house  was  built  in  East  Rutherford  for  the  new  district  formed 
out  of  a  part  of  District  No.  40  which  became  known  as  District  No.  40)i. . 
A  Miss  (iinn  was  made  principal,  and  Mr.  Canfield  an  old  citizen,  and 
school  teacher  throughout  this  section  of  Bergen  county  for  many  years 
succeeded  her.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  G.  R.  Alyea,  who  was  a 
few  years  since  succeeded  bv  Mr.  Wilcox,  the  present  County  Sujjerin- 
tendent  of  Passaic  Countv. 


434  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

The  residents  nf  Rutherford  have  been  noted  for  their  liberality  in 
the  matter  of  public  schools  and  have  expected  as  a  result  of  their 
expenditures,  the  best  schools  possible.  Rutherford  sustained  the 
reputation  of  being  second  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey  in  the  cost  of 
education  per  capita,  last  year.  Within  a  few  years  the  number  of 
pupils  attending  school  having  become  too  large  to  be  accommodated 
longer  in  the  Park  Avenue  house,  buildings  were  erected  on  Sylvan 
Street  and  Union  Avenue  and  at  present  the  Board  of  Education  have 
an  annex  building  on  Park  Avenue.  The  average  number  of  children 
attending  all  the  Public  Schools  during  the  last  year  is  not  far  from 
six  hundred. 

CHURCHES    OF    KUTHEKFOKD. 
BY    EDWIN    BULKLEY. 

For  several  years  prior  to  1862  a  Union  Sunday  School  had  been 
maintained  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  "Boiling  Springs  Neighbor- 
hood," comprising  the  territory  of  the  present  Borough  of  Rutherford, 
and  that  part  of  the  township  up  to  the  boundaries  of  Carlstadt.  This 
"Neighborhood"  was  regarded  as  connected  with  and  under  the  care  of 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  in  Passaic,  with  which  many  of  the  farmers 
and  other  residents  here  were  identified.  The  Union  Sunday  School 
was  not,  however,  an  outgrowth  of  that  church,  but  owed  its  existence 
to  persons  of  the  immediate  vicinity.  They  united  to  secure  a  building 
and  meeting  place  for  purposes  of  public  welfare,  the  most  lasting  and 
beneficial  of  which  proved  to  be  this  Sunday  School.  The  building  was 
erected  on  high  ground,  facing  the  railroad.  It  still  remains,  trans- 
ferred to  the  opposite  side  of  Ames  Avenue,  as  a  part  of  Union  Hall,  much 
having  been  added  to  it  since;  its  frontage  being  changed  and  its 
accessibilit}-  increased  by  taking  down  the  hill  on  which  it  stood,  and 
lowering  it  to  its  present  foundation. 

Although  occasional  preaching  was  heard  in  Union  Hall,  and  some 
resorted  to  neighboring  places  for  church  services,  it  soon  became 
apparent  that  this  was  insufficient  provision  for  the  community.  No 
other  denomination  being  prepared  to  offer  this,  a  Presbyterian  organ- 
ization was  determined  upon,  with  the  concurance  of  many  who  felt  the 
need  of  church  privileges  of  which  they  could  more  easily  avail  them- 
selves. 

PRESBVTEKIAN    CnUKCH. 

With  the  fostering  care  of  Rev.  Joseph  Alden,  D.D.,  L.L.D.,  who 
became  a  property  owner  and  resident  of  "  Boiling  Springs," — a  Church 
was  organized  by  the  Presbj'tery  of  Passaic — afterward  merged  into  the 
present  Presbytery  of  Jersey  City,  July  26,  1863,  with  an  original  mem- 
bership of  fifteen.  Dr.  Alden  continued  as  its  stated  supply  for  nearly 
two  years,  or  until  the  Spring  of  1865.  This  distinguished  man  rend- 
ered good  service  to  it  by  his  sound  teaching  and  counsel.  He  had 
(Kcupied  eminent  positions  in  colleges  and  other  of  the  higher  institu- 
tions of  learninuf,  and  was  the  author  or  editor  of  several   useful  books. 


HISTOKY    Ol-    BEKOEN    COUNTY  435 


The  Kov.  (loorsie  L.  Smith  was  the  first  pastor,  from  October  25, 
1S()5,  to  April  1*J,  1.S71.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Herman  C.  KiirtTS, 
(D.  D.,)  from  November  12,  1871,  to  March  2(>.  1S7(..  Rev.  Dana  M. 
Walcott  was  invited  to  the  pastorate  May  25,  lS7f>,  but  was  never 
installed  in  it.  His  laliors  were  discontinued  June  15,  1S7S.  Rev. 
Edwin  A.  Bulkley,  D.  D.,  was  called  to  be  pastor  September  1.^,  1.S7.S. 
and  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his  office  until  March  27,  18")8,  when  on 
account  of  infirm  health  he  asked  to  be  released  from  them.  Retirin<jf 
from  active  service  he  was  unanimously  invited  bv  the  conirre<.^ati().i  to 
be  "Pastor  Emeritus,"  with  an  annual  allowance. 

He  commemorated  October  17,  l!S'>7,  the  fiftieth  anniversarv  of  his 
ordination  to  the  ministry,  October  11,  1847,  when  he  was  but  little  over 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  Since  that  time  he  had  been  nearly  continu- 
ously in  the  active  pastorate.  During  the  time  of  his  service  in  Ruther- 
ford 697  had  been  added  to  the  membership,  leaving  it  at  5()(1,  and 
embracing  716  in  its  Sabbath  schools. 

After  the  use  of  Union  Hall  as  a  place  of  worship  for  several  years, 
the  erection  of  a  proper  church  building,  at  the  intersection  of  Park 
Avenue  and  Chestnut  Street,  was  undertaken  in  18()'>,  and  on  the  25th 
of  December  in  that  year  the  completed  edifice  was  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  God, — about  S12,0()()  having  been  expended.  Four  years  later 
important  improvements  were  made  at  a  cost  of  ?670(),  and  subsequently 
much  was  done  for  the  good  condition  and  adornment  of  the  church. 
But  the  growth  of  Rutherford  caused  it  to  be  insufficient,  and  the  build- 
ing of  a  new  edifice  upon  a  new  site  was  begun  in  18<S8.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  May  9,  1889,  and  the  dedication  of  the  finished  work  took 
place  March  27,  1890.  It  stands  upon  a  triangle  of  nearly  an  acre  in 
extent,  Park  and  Ridge  Avenues  intersecting  in  front,  and  Passaic 
Avenue  crossing  at  the  rear.  Its  style  is  the  rural  English  (Jothic,  with 
low  side  walls  and  high  gables  of  brown  Belleville  stone,  laid  in  rock- 
faced  ashlar.  The  interior  is  of  corresponding  finish,  the  cost  of  the 
site,  edifice,  and  furnishing  being  al)out  S75,0tW). 

In  1868  the  first  manse,  or  parsonage,  was  built  on  C'hestmit  street. 
Upon  the  sale  of  this,  the  one  on  Ridge  Avenue  was  erected,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  occupied  by  the  pastors  until  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Bulkley. 

In  organic  connection  with  the  Rutherford  Presbyterian  Church, 
there  are  three  chapels,  Kingsland,  Lyndhurst  and  Emmanuel,  at  dis- 
tances of  about  a  mile  from  the  Mother  Church,  all  having  sufficient 
and  well-appointed  houses  of  worshi]),  and  growing  Sabbath  schools. 
Services  arc  regularly  maintained  by  ])astor's  assistants. 

KIMSCOI'.M.  ClUKCII. 

(Irace  >  Protestant  Episco])al  i  Church  was  orgimixed  March  4.  18(.9. 
in  the  Rutherford  Park  Hotel. 

The  building  now  called  the  "Lyndhurst  Chapel,"  and  formerly  tlu' 
"Academy,"  was  erected  in  the  same  year  by  the  "Rutherford  Park 
School  and  Hall  Association."     The  lower  rooms  were  used  for  a  private 


436  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

school,  and  the  upper  room  was  leased  for  the  church  services.  Rev. 
W.  H.  Lord  was  chosen  first  rector  May  12,  18(>'»,  and  remained  with 
the  parish  until  July  1871.  At  that  time  the  church's  finances  had 
become  so  embarrassed,  and  the  population  so  much  changed  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  "Academy,"  that  it  was  decided  to  move  to  the  upper 
part  of  Union  Hall,  where  the  congregation  was  under  charge  of  Mr. 
N.  R.  Boss,  as  a  lay  reader,  for  one  year.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  E.  S.  W.  Pentreath,  a  deacon  at  the  time,  who  remained  till  April 
5,  1874.  Rev.  R.  M.  Hayden,  deacon,  accepted  charge  in  1874,  his  min- 
istrations covering  a  period  of  about  one  year.  The  services  were  there- 
after mainly  conducted  by  lay-readers,  till. the  spring  of  1878,  when 
Rev.  N.  R.  Boss  was  called  as  rector,  and  remained  in  that  office  till 
September  25,  1883.  The  parish  was  without  a  rector  till  February  8, 
1883,  when  the  Rev.  F.  J.  Clayton  began  his  services,  continuing  till 
his  decease  December  27,  1894.  He  was  succeeded  in  May  1895,  by  the 
present  rector.  Rev.  Henry  M.  Ladd. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  present  church  edifice  was  laid  October  14, 
1872,  on  a  plot  of  ground  (Passaic  Avenue)  donated  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Tomp- 
kins. It  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  about  $7,000.  and  opening  services 
were  held  October  7,  i873.  In  i887  the  remainder  of  the  mortgage, 
incurred  in  building  the  church  was  paid,  and  on  August  1,  i890  the 
corner-stone  laid  of  a  new  chancel  and  transepts,  which  were  form- 
ally opened  on  February  5,  189i.  The  enlargement  was  designed  by 
W.  Halsey  Wood,  and  cost  about  $12,000. 

A  new  organ  has  this  year  been  placed  in  the  church,  and  the 
interior  tastefully  decorated — all  signs  of  cheering  progress. 

St.  Thomas  Mission,  in  the  adjoining  township  of  Union,  is  under 
the  care  of  Grace  Church,  and  is  regularly  supplied  with  services  and 
Sunday  School. 

BAPTIST    CHl'KCH. 

The  earliest  Baptist  residents  of  Rutherford  participated  in  the 
Union  Sunday  school  until  the  organization  of  the  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  October  1,  1869,  with  eighteen  members.  For  some  time  the 
pulpit  was  occupied  on  Wednesday  evenings  by  Rev.  Franklin  Johnson, 
D.  D.,  the  pastor  of  the  Passaic  Baptist  Church.  On  October  9,  1870, 
the  Rev.  John  A.  McKean  became  the  settled  pastor,  and  continued  as 
such  till  July,  1873.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Robinson,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1873,  who  terminated  his  pastorate  November  1,  1874.  From 
early  in  i875  to  July  28,  i876,  the  Rev.  W.  E.  Wright  served  the  church. 
In  November  of  the  latter  year  Rev.  A.  H.  Cornell  became  pastor,  remain- 
ing until  July,  1878.  At  the  close  of  his  labors  the  Rev.  J.  Huggins 
and  others  acted  as  temporary  supplies,  until  October  19,  i884,  when  a 
call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  P.  Franklin  Jones,  who  became  the  last 
pastor  of  the  "First  Baptist  Church."  In  September,  1884,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  difference  of  opinion  about  church  order,  ten  members  with- 
drew and  formed  themselves  into  the  Pilgrim  Baptist  Church,  January 
22,  1885.      In  February,  1885,  the  "  First"    church   voted   to  disband   on 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGKN    COIINTY  437 

account  of  financial  weakness.  A  new  orifanization  of  the  "  Kutherford 
Baptist  Church"  was  effected  October  2S.  18S7,  the  Pilgrim  Baptist 
Church  transferring  its  pro])erty  to  this  organization.  A  council  recog- 
nized this  November  4,  1887,  and  ordained  Rev.  J.  Hewitt  to  the  minis- 
try and  pastorate  November  15,  1887.  He  continued  only  till  Ajtril  28, 
1888,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Hastie.  Jr..  who  began  his  services 
as  Stated  Supply  May  13,  18S8.  and  three  munths  later  was  settled  as 
pastor.  He  resigned  June  16,  i8'>().  Rev.  W.  (uithric  Myles  was  pastor 
about  a  year  and  a  half,  from  Noveml)er  2,  18'J0.  His  successor.  Rev. 
E.  J.  Cooper,  served  as  supply  and  pastor  fur  four  and  a  half  years. 
The  present  pastor,  Rev.  W.  W.  Case,  shortly  accepted  a  call  to  the 
pastorate,  and  had  his  public  recognition  December  22,  189(). 

A  house  of  worship  was  erected  soon  after  the  organii.atinn  of  the 
•'  First  Church"  on  a  site  at  the  corner  of  Park  Avenue  and  Highland 
Cross,  by  Mr.  R.  Shugg,  at  a  cost  of  about  S3()0(t.  This  Iniilding  was 
sold  at  the  time  of  the  disbanding  of  the  church  for  a  sum  about  cover- 
ing the  mortgage  upon  it.  Worship  was  maintained  by  the  Baptist 
congregations  in  Union  and  Masonic  Halls  until  the  present  church  edifice 
on  Passaic  Avenue  was  erected  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Hastie,  at  a 
cost  of  near  S6000. 

In  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  McKean  a  mission  chapel  was  built  at  Moon- 
achie,  at  a  cost  of  SiOOU.  The  liuilding  was  fullv  paid  for,  but  passed 
into  the  control  of  the  owner  of  its  site.  The  field,  after  some  years  of 
good  and  rewarded  work,  was  abandoned  by  the  Baptists,  and  is  now 
occupied  by  the  Presbyterians  and  Lutherans. 

METHODI.ST    CHURCH. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  entered  this  field  with  preliminary 
missionary  efforts,  extending  from  18()8  to  1S7().  On  December  15th  of 
the  latter  year,  an  organization  was  effected  of  the  "Park  M.  E.  Church 
of  Rutherford  Park,"  under  Rev.  S.  P.  Hammond  as  Preacher  in 
Charge.  Services  were  held  in  Union  Hall  until  the  Society  entered  a 
new  church  edifice,  June  I'J,  1872.  This  stood  in  Orchard  Street,  north 
of  the  railway.  The  cf)rner-stonc  was  laid  September  25,  1871,  the 
basement  was  cf)mpleted,  and  the  building  formally  dedicated  Septem- 
ber 15,  1872.  After  enjoying  the  use  of  it  for  a  season,  and  turning  it 
to  profitable  account,  the  Church  became  so  discouraged  by  diminishing 
numbers  and  financial  burdens,  that  it  was  disbanded  in  the  Si)ring  of 
1878,  and  the  building  sold  by  foreclosure. 

On  March  3,  1880,  the  church  organization  was  revived.  .\  site  for 
a  chapel  was  given  on  Ames  Avenue,  and  the  dismantled  Park  Church 
was  purchased  that  its  frame  and  materials  might  be  used  in  a  new 
building,  which  was  dedicated  November  20,  1881. 

The  first  church  was  served,  in  the  succession,  after  Mr.  Hammond 
(1870-74),  by  Rev.  J.  A.  Owen  (74-70),  Rev.  E.  Clement  (7.5-78)  and 
Rev.  A.  A.  King  (78-7'(i.  The  present  Church  by  Rev.  Messrs.  W.  H. 
Kussell  i'8(l-'84i,  Ostrander.  Howard   i '84-'87  i,  Schuch   and    I'.ower.      In 


4.48  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

1888  the  Rev.  C.  M.  Auderson  comnienced  his  five  years'  ministry,  dur- 
ing- which  the  church  grew,  and  a  parsonage  was  erected  on  Passaic 
Avenue.  In  IS'»3  the  Rev.  W.  Tumbower  was  appointed  pastor,  suc- 
ceeded in  1894  by  Rev.  W.  Day,  who  was  suddenly  removed  by  death 
before  the  close  of  his  term.  The  next  incumbent  was  the  present 
pastor  Rev.  Charles  L.  Mead.  During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Day,  the 
old  church  building  on  Ames  Avenue  was  sold,  and  the  congregation 
met  in  the  Union  Club  Auditorium,  and  later  in  Ivison  Hall.  The  erec- 
tion of  a  new  edifice  on  the  site  adjoining  the  parsonage,  followed  in 
due  course,  the  corner-stone  being  laid  November  4,  1895,  and  the 
dedication  occurring  April  12,  1896.  A  fine  organ  has  since  been  put  in 
place,  and  general  prosperity  crowns  the  church.  The  parsonage  and 
its  lot  are  valued  at  S75()0.      The  church  and  its  lot  at  822,500. 

CONGKEG.\TION.\L    CHURCH. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Rev.  D.  M.  Walcott  from  the  pulpit  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  1878,  some  eleven  of  its  membership  followed 
him  and  associated  with  others,  became  the  Congregaticmal  Church  of 
Rutherford,  July  15,  1878.  For  a  number  of  years  they  met  in  the  brick 
building,  at  the  corner  of  Park  Avenue  and  Franklin  Place.  The  small 
remnant  then  withdrew  to  the  house  of  the  pastor,  in  which  they  c(m- 
tinued  to  hold  services  and  enjoy  his  ministrations. 

UNITARIAN    CHURCH. 

The  first  Unitarian  service  was  held  in  Rutherford  at  the  residence 
of  H.  G.  Bell,  October  3,  1891.  From  that  time  regular  services  have 
been  continued,  the  "Unitarian  Society  of  Rutherford,  N.  J.,"  being 
incorporated  December  22,  1891.  On  May  2(>,  1892,  Rev.  George  H. 
Badger  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  entering  upon  his  ministry  in  Ruther- 
ford July  1st.  A  Sunday  school  was  began  immediately.  Upon  the 
settlement  of  the  pastor  the  church  organization,  with  a  simple  non- 
credal  covenant,  was  effected  September  13,  1892,  under  the  name  of 
•'The  Church  of  Our  Father."  A  small,  but  tasteful  house  of  worship, 
built  on  Home  Avenue  at  a  cost,  with  furnishings,  of  $6800,  was 
dedicated  December  15,  1892. 

MT.    AKAKAT    BAPTIST    CIU'KCH. 

Thischurch  i  colored  )  was  organized  July  14,  1,S9(,,  and  incorporated 
March  12,  1897.  It  is  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  \V.  II.  Howerton, 
■•md  worshijjs  at  present  in  Union  Hall. 

NEWSPAPERS. 
THE  BERGEN  COUNTY  HERALD. 

The  Bergen  County  Herald,  published  by  the  "Bergen  County 
Herald  Publishing  Company,"  with  one  exception  is  the  oldest  newspaper 
published  in  the  county  of  Bergen.  Its  first  issue  came  out  about  i871, 
and  represented  a  constituency  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rutherford  and 
Carlstadt.      It  sixm  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  Publishing  Company  con- 


HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COl'XTY  4.>'» 

sisting  of  Charles  H.  Voorhis,  Henry  Kipp,  John  Bartholph  and  Jacob 
P.  Westervelt.  As  early  as  1873  the  Bergen  County  Herald  was  nt^t 
excelled  by  any  newspaper  in  the  county.  In  fact  its  only  competitor 
was  the  Hackensack  Democrat.  It  1875  it  was  purchased  by  John  Hay- 
wood and  the  plant  moved  to  a  frame  building  which  then  stood  opposite 
the  Rutherford  Depot.  Mr.  Haywood  associated  with  him  Mr.  James 
N.  Bookstaver,  an  old  newspaperman,  and  together  they  made  character 
and  reputation  for  the  Herald.  It  was  well  and  familiarly  known  by 
every  body  as  the  "Bergen  County."  Mr.  Haywood  and  Mr.  Bookstaver 
conducted  the  paper  as  an  independent  Democratic  sheet  and  from  the 
date  of  their  purchase  until  the  present  time  it  has  maintained  and 
su]iportcd  with  vigor  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  John  Haywood,  Mr.  James  N.  Bookstaver  c(m- 
tinued  the  publication  of  the  paper  for  about  a  year,  when  the  plant 
being  disposed  of  by  the  Haywood  estate,  the  title  and  good  will  of  the 
newspaper  was  purchased  by  ex-Coroner  Nelson  W.  Young  and  Messrs. 
Frederick  and  Nelson  W.  Wilson,  when  a  new  office  was  fitted  up  to 
accommodate  the  paper.  Shortly  afterwards  the  Messrs.  Wilson  severed 
their  connection  with  the  paper,  and  for  many  years  it  was  intelligently 
and  effectively  conducted  by  Mr.  Young.  In  18S'J  Messrs.  Morris  and 
Stevens  purchased  the  interest  of  JNIr.  Young.  Mr.  Morris,  having 
other  business  in  New  York  state,  sold  out  his  interest  to  Mr.  Stevens, 
who  continued  the  publication  for  several  years. 

Mr.  C.  L.  Parker  succeeded  Mr.  Stevens,  and  in  18'>5  Captain  Addi- 
son Ely  acquired  the  plant.  Under  his  ownership  and  influence  it  has 
secured  an  extensive  circulation,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading 
Democratic  weeklies  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey. 

In  1S'»(>  the  County  Democratic  Committee  after  inducing  Captain 
Ely  to  move  his  plant  to  Hackensack  and  they  constituted  his  paper  the 
official  party  organ.  Many  additions  and  extensions  were  then  made  to 
the  plant  and  the  size  of  the  paper  increased  to  an  eight  page.  The 
circulation  has  rapidly  advanced  and  it  is  known  as  an  enterprising  and 
fearless  Democratic  journal. 

THK    KfTHEKFOKD    NEWS. 

The  Rutherford  News  was  founded  by  James  N.  Bookstaver,  Sep- 
tember 1SS5.  It  was  Republican  in  politics,  remaining  so  while  under 
the  control  of  its  founders,  to  June  1888,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  following  gentlemen,  taking  the  name  of  the  "  Rutherford  News 
Publishing  Company:"  Carl  Dannheim,  H.  N.  Bullington,  Andrew  H. 
Brinkerhoff,  E.  N.  Edgar.  William  K.  Everdell,  Joseph  D.  Brinkerhoff, 
John  J.  Dupuy,  Carl  von  Hartz,  William  H.  Smith  and  Anderson  Price. 
This  corporation  passed  under  the  control  of  John  J.  Ketchum,  Tom 
Stevens  and  E.  A.  Fletcher,  who  made  it  a  Republican  paper  until 
Dr.  Ketchum  had  a  change  of  heart  and  became  a  Democrat.  The 
paper  was  finally  sold  to  Homer,  Farnum  &  Homer,  who  were  succeeded 
by  Homer  &  Farnum  and  later  by   Thomas  W.    Homer.     In  June   18*'7 


440  HISTOKV    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

the  paper  was  bought  by  the  Rutherford  News  Publishing-  Company 
whose  owners  and  officers  are,  Carl  von  Hartz,  President;  Anderson 
Price,  Treasurer;  and  William  E.  Sturm,  Secretary. 

The  Rutherford  American  was  started  on  June  30,  1892,  as  a  four- 
pag-e,  six-column  Republican  newspaper,  to  be  published  every  Thursday. 
At  the  end  of  si.x  months  an  additional  column  was  added  to  each  page, 
and  later  the  paper  was  increased  to  eig^ht  pag-es,  six  columns  to  a  pag-e, 
at  which  size  it  now  remains.  Its  office  is  in  the  Shafer  Building-, 
Rutherford.     It  is  owned  and  edited  by  John  E.  Tyler. 

KOV.\L    .VKCANl'M. 

The  local  Subordinate  Council  known  as  Rutherford  Council,  No. 
122"),  was  instituted  on  January  17,  IS'JO,  with  nineteen  members.  Its 
first  Regent  was  S.  N.  Hig-bie,  the  subsequent  Regents  being:  J.  L. 
Chapman,  W.  G.  Williams,  tl.  N.  Janes.  S.  T.  Davy,  A.  A.  Clark,  J. 
H.  Bowne,  W.  W.  Ward,  and  for  the  term  of  1S'»S,  J.  A.  Jesty.  The 
following  is  the  list  of  the  nineteen  original  members:  W.  A.  Tomp- 
kins, S.  N.  Higbie,  Dr.  S.  E.  Armstrong,  J.  W.  Burgess,  A.  A.  Clark, 
J.  L.  Chapman,  Wm.  Fleming,  Sr.,  J.  C.  Hastie,  E.  H.  A.  Habbert,  A. 
O.  Jackson,  G.  N.  Janes,  F.  H.  Miller,  E.  R.  S.  Saunders,  L.  T.  Savage, 
C.  E.  Tolhurst,  J.  H.  Van  Harding,  W.  G.  Williams,  W.  W.  Ward,  Jr., 
C.  H.  Warner. 

The  officers  elected  for  the  term  ending  January,  1899,  are:  Regent, 
J.  A.  Jesty;  Vice  Regent,  .H.J.  Ronalds;  Orator,  George  Shrive;  Past 
Regent,  W.  W.  Ward;  Secretary,  F.  T.  Doolittle;  Collector,  W.  C. 
Jesty;  Treasurer,  J.  P.  Speer;  Chaplain,  C.  E.  Conkling;  Guide,  Thomas 
Hunt;  Warden,  Edwin  Speer;  Sentry,  E.  A.  Staehley;  Organist,  Harry 
Green;  Representative  to  the  Grand  Council,  W.  \V.  Ward;  Alternate 
to  the  Grand  Council,  A.  O.  Jackson;  Trustees,  S.  H.  Rhodes,  W.  M. 
Petty. 

To-day  there  are  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  members  belonging  to 
the  Rutherford  Council. 

BOILING    .SPRING     LODGE,    OF     FREE    .\ND     ACCEPTED    MASONS    OF    RUTHEK- 
FORD,   N.J. 

The  present  growing  and  successful  lodge  of  Free  Masons  at  Ruther- 
ford would  hardly  be  recognized  as  the  infant  Lodge  that  on  the  ninth 
day  of  December,  1881,  met  in  the  upper  room  of  old  Union  Hall  on 
Ames  Avenue  and  were  officially  instituted  as  a  Masonic  lodge  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Cirand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  The 
organization  of  a  Masonic  Lodge  at  Rutherford  was  long  in  abeyance. 
In  1880  there  were  but  few  Masons  in  Rutherford,  and  the  population  of 
the  whole  township  of  Union  was  scarcely  more  than  2500,  but  a  few 
faithful  Masons  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Dr.  Kenneth  K.  King, 
Mr.  Jacob  H.  Vreeland,  Captain  Addison  Ely  who  was  then  principal 
of  the  public  school  and  Abraham  B.  McKeon  from  time  to  time  dis- 
cussed the  propriety  of  organizing  a  Masonic  Lodge,  and  for  this  purpose 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN   COUNTY  441 


with  other  Masons  in  the  nein-hhorhmid  they  met  and  for  more  than  a 
year  continued  their  meetinj^s  in  the  upper  room  of  Union  Hall  and 
exemplified  the  work,  and  finally  obtained  a  dispensation  from  the  Grand 
Master  to  institute  the  Lodg-e  provided  they  were  qualified.  The  appli- 
cation was  referred  to  the  Passaic  Lodge  and  an  exemplification  of  the 
work  of  a  Free  Mason  made  before  them.  This  being'  satisfactory  the 
Lodg-e  was  ordered  instituted.  The  warrant  members  were:  Jacob  H. 
Vreeland,  Worshipful  Master;  Dr.  Kenneth  K.  King,  Senior  Warden; 
Eugene  K.  Sloat,  Junior  Warden;  William  Earle,  Secretary;  Arbam 
B.  McKeon,  Treasurer  and  Andrew  McClaury,  Daniel  D.  Burtis, 
Louis  Kruger,  Addison  ]<^ly  and  Peter  Dammers.  Addison  Ely 
was  the  first  Senior  Deacon  and  held  the  office  for  several  years. 
Peter  Dammers  and  Louis  Kruger  were  Masters  of  Ceremonv 
and  Daniel  D.  Burtis  was  Tyler.  It  would  be  an  incomplete  his- 
tory if  Past  Master  William  H.  Van  Houten  of  Paterson,  Orange 
Lodge,  were  overlooked  in  this  connection  for  to  him  the  Lodge  owes 
much  as  its  first  instructor.  Of  the  eleven  members  who  worked  so 
diligently  to  establish  Boiling  Spring  Lodge  Dr.  Kenneth  K.  King, 
Abrani  B.  McKeon  and  Louis  Kruger  have  gone  to  that  bourne  from  which 
no  traveler  returns.  Dr.  King's  was  the  first  death  in  the  Lodge  and 
he  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors  in  Greenwood  Cemetery.  From  a 
Lodge  of  eleven  members  the  Rutherford  Lodge  now  has  about  one 
hundred  members  and  is  in  every  way  a  successful  and  thriving  Lodge. 
The  room  in  Union  Hall  proved  inadequate  and  insecure  and  Mr.  Arthur 
Van  Winkle  who  afterward  became  a  Mason  fitted  up  in  this  building 
an  excellent  lodge  which  served  for  many  years,  and  in  this  room  the 
first  officers  were  installed  on  the  27th  day  of  February,  1882,  by  William 
Hardacre  the  Grand  Master  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  six  grand 
officers  being  in  attendance.  Afterward  the  lodge  moved  to  the  Bell- 
chambers  Building  where  it  now  has  pleasant  and  spacious  quarters. 
Its  membership  includes  almost  all  the  influential  and  prominent  men  of 
the  borough  of  Rutherford  and  surrounding  villages.  It  is  fulfilling 
the  purposes  of  its  organization  to  a  high  degree.  Since  its  organiza- 
tion 129  Masons  have  joined  the  lodge  and  there  have  been  losses  from 
deaths  and  demits  amounting  to  34.  The  present  officers  of  the  lodge 
are:  W.  M.,  James  Leyland;  S.  W.,  David  Taylor;  J.  W.,  Frank  P. 
Newman;  Treasurer,  Theo.  Muehling;  Secretary,  W.  A.  Tompkins;  S. 
D.,  H.  J.  Ronalds;  J.  D.,  Charles  G.  Hyslop;  Chaplain.  R.  P.  Klinger; 
S.  M.  C,  W.  F.  B.  Pratt;  J.  M.  C,  J.  C^  E.  Chambers;  Marshal,  Charles 
Rehwoldt;  Tyler,  A.  B.  Douglas.  The  lodge  now  has  a  membership-of 
ninety-one,  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

(^f  the  original  members  of  the  lodge  who  are  still  members  and 
attend  its  meetings  are  Past  Master  Jacob  H.  Vreeland,  William  Earle, 
Addison  Ely  and  Peter  Dammers. 

THE    woman's    KEADIN(;    CH'K. 

The  Woman's  Reading  Club  was  originated  bv  Mrs.  Margaret  G. 
Riggs  in  18S9,  when  she  invited  a  fevi-  ladies  to  unite   in  an   association 


442  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

for  mutual  improvement.  Twenty-two  women  soon  after  effected  an 
org-anization.  with  Mrs.  Riggs  as  president.  Mrs.  Castor,  Mrs.  Gnade, 
Mrs.  Crear,  Mrs.  A.  W.  \'an  Winkle  and  Mrs.  Henry  G.  Bell,  succeeding 
to  the  presidency  in  the  order  named.  The  membership  increased 
rapidly  until  a  question  of  limitation  was  brought  up,  but  that  idea  was 
abandoned,  and  all  who  sought  for  admission  were  received.  When  it 
became  necessarv  to  have  more  room,  the  Field  Club  kindly  offered  the 
use  of  their  parlors.  The  offer  was  accepted  and  meetings  were  held 
in  the  home  at  the  corner  of  Chestnut  street  and  Franklin  Place,  until 
the  Field  Club,  after  changing  its  name  to  that  of  "Union  Club."  built 
its  new  house  on  Park  Avenue.  The  Reading  Club  then  met  here  until 
the  winter  of  1896,  when  they  removed  to  the  hall  of  the  Library 
building.  They  are  now  investing  a  part  of  each  year's  income  in  a 
building  and  loan  association.  They  have  a  choice  ctdlection  of  over 
two  hundred  volumes  and  a  bookcase,  toward  the  furnishing  of  the  home 
they  hope  to  have. 

The  question  of  a  public  library  had  been  agitated  to  some  extent, 
when  Mr.  H.  S.  Rhodes  took  the  initial  step  by  holding  a  concert  for 
the  purpose  of  starting  a  fund.  This  effort  netted  one  hundred  and  ten 
dollars,  but  nothing  further  was  done  until  1S'»3,  when  Mrs.  Henry  G. 
Bell  opened  the  subject  in  the  Reading  Club.  Mrs.  Gnade,  then  presi- 
dent, appointed  a  committee,  calling  a  meeting  for  February  16,  which 
resulted  in  a  good  attendance,  Mr.  Joseph  P.  Cooper  in  the  chair.  On 
March  10,  1893,  The  Rutherford  Free  Library  Association  was  organ- 
ized, the  constitution  and  by-laws,  as  reported,  being  adopted  March 
24th.  Mr.  Cooper  as  Mayor  of  the  borough,  was  the  first  president,  the 
other  officers  being  elected  by  members  of  the  Association.  At  a  meet- 
ing held  on  April  l7th  about  six  hundred  dollars  was  subscribed.  This 
called  out  a  spirit  of  helpfulness  among  the  members  of  the  Reading 
Club,  when  it  was  proposed  that  each  member  contribute  a  book,  the 
whole  to  go  as  a  gift  from  the  Club  to  the  Library.  Nearly  four  hun- 
dred books  were  secured  by  this  movement. 

Rev.  George  H.  Badger,  who  had  had  some  experience  in  such  work, 
undertook  the  business  of  arranging  the  details,  shelving  and  catalog- 
ing. A  room  in  the  Shafer  building  was  taken  and  furnished,  when 
Miss  Anna  T.  Cooper,  who  had  just  finished  a  course  of  study  in  the 
work,  was  engaged  as  librarian.  May  4th,  1894.  the  library  was  opened 
with  about  eleven  hundred  volumes. 

At  present  there  are  in  all  about  twenty-five  hundred  volumes  in 
various  classes  of  literature.  September,  1896,  Mr.  David  B.  Ivison 
presented  to  the  library  association  the  stone  building  on  the  corner  of 
Park  Avenvie  and  Chestnut  Street,  formerly  occupied  by  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  A  reference  and  reading  room  was  now  opened  and  supplied 
with  more  than  fifty  volumes  of  cyclopedias,  dictionaries,  etc.,  with  the 
jjrincipal  current  literature  of  the  day. 

The  a])i)ropriati(ms  from  the  borough  have  been  about  two  hundred 
and  tiftv  dollars  annually.      This  with  members'  fees  and  gifts  are  the 


HISTOKY  OF  BERGEN  COUNTY  44.^ 

only  source  <if  support.      Kent  paid  by  the  Reading-  Club  for  use  of  the 
hall  has  added  a  little  but  much  more  is  needed. 

THE  UNION  Cl.Un. 
M.   \V.  H.WVES.   * 

The  Union  Club  of  Rutherford  was  organized  March  1st,  1S')2,  when 
the  following-  officers  were  elected  : 

Charles  Burrows,  President;  E.  J.  Turner,  \'ice-President;  W.  H. 
Stevens,  Treasurer;  C.  Danuheim,  Recording  Secretary;  R.  H.  Beau- 
mont, Corresponding-  Secretar-s'.  The  first  Board  of  Governors  consisted 
of  H.  H.  Copeland,  T.  W.  Alyea,  W.  H.  Smith,  M.  W.  Hawes,  G.  V. 
Sloat  and  A.  h.  Watson.  The  Union  Cluli  was  the  successor  of  the 
Rutherford  Field  Club,  which  owned  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Frank- 
lin Place  and  Chestnut  Street,  and  which  was  organized  by  the  combi- 
nation of  the  Rutherford  Wheelmen  and  the  Rutherford  Chess  Club. 
The  Union  Club  in  IS'O  had  a  membershij)  of  fifty-nine,  which  has 
increased  to  one  hundred  and  seventy.  The  object  of  the  Club  is  the 
social  enjoyment  of  the  members,  which  is  sui)plied  by  committees  ap- 
pointed by  the  President  each  year,  who  arranges  stage  entertainments, 
billiard,  j)ool  and  bowling  tournaments,  informal  dances,  recepticms, 
card  parties,  &c.  The  charter  of  the  Club  prohibits  the  sale  or  use  of 
intoxicating  liquors  in  the  club  house,  and  by  the  rules  and  reguhitions 
of  the  club  no  gambling  is  allowed.  These  features  make  it  a  desirable 
resort  for  all  the  members  and  a  place  where  their  wives  or  parents  can 
find  no  objection  to  their  attendance.  Friday  evening  of  each  week  is 
set  aside  as  ladies'  night,  on  which  night  there  is  always  a  bowling 
match,  dance,  card  party  or  a  stage  entertainment.  The  present  officers 
of  the  Club  are:  Henry  Prentiss,  President;  H.  N.  Bulling-ton,  \'ice- 
President;  W.  H.  Stevens,  Treasurer;  J.  E.  Spaulding,  Recording  Sec- 
retary; J.  K.  Watson,  Corresponding  Secretary.  Board  of  Governors, 
W.  Williams,  M.  W.  Hawes,  C.  A.  Goodspeed,  (t.  T.  Hollister,  A.  I). 
W  bee  lock,  J.  Zahn. 

KUTHEKFOKD    LODCiE    NO    240,    I.    O.    ().     K.,    NEW    JEKSKV. 

The  birth  of  Odd  Fellowship  in  this  country  took  i)lace  (m  the  2(>th 
of  April,  1S19,  butit  was  not  until  August  .^,  IS.i.^,  that  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  New  Jerse_y  was  instituted,  while  Rutherford  Lodge  No.  240  dates  its 
existence  from  the  17th  of  October,  l.S').^. 

In  ISO  1-42  certain  residents  of  this  borough,  members  of  the  order  but 
away  from  home  lodges,  conceived  the  idea  of  forming  a  subordinate 
lodge  here  to  which  they  might  attach  themselves,  thus  securing  the 
benefits  of  a  lodge  home,  so  dear  to  every  member  of  the  order. 

The  following  seventeen  members  of  the  lodge  were  the  main  ones 
instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the  order  in  this  town:  James  Lev- 
land.  Charles  T.  Johnson,  Wm.  J.  Singerland,  tieorge  K.  Thomas,  Julius 
Jaeger,  Horatio  N.  Fish,  David  R.  MacNeil,  John  J.  Dupuv,  C.  Henry 
Kotzenberg,  William  Henkelman,  George  Ruckstuhl,  James  H.  vSniith, 

*Froni  -'Thini,'-^  Old  ainl  New." 


444  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Rensselaer  Furman,    William    W.    Butler,    Joseph    W.    Beebe,    William 
Gibson,  Frank  Spitz. 

Forty-five  members  were  taken  in  nn  the  nig-ht  of  institution, 
making  a  total  of  sixty-two  members  to  start  with. 

While  the  growth  of  the  order  here  has  been  slow,  it  has  been  sure,  ' 
the  present  membership  being  about  eighty-five. 

The  lodge  is  sustained  by  the  payment  by  each  member  of  $8.00  per 
year  dues,  the  member  receiving  in  case  of  sickness  the  sum  of  S5.00 
per  week,  and  in  case  of  death  his  benficiary  is  entitled  to  $100.00 
funeral  benefits,  and  in  case  of  the  death  of  a  member's  wife  he  receives 
S50.00 

The  f)rder  in  this  State  has  increased  from  SI  members  in  1833  to 
about  30,000  in  1897,  while  the  membership  in  the  country  at  the  present 
time  is  nearly  700,000. 

The  amount  expended  for  relief  of  distressed  brothers  in  this  State 
for  1897  has  been  nearly  SISO.OOO. 

KNIGHTS    OF    PYTHIAS. 

The  great  American  Order  of  Knights  of  Pythias  was  introduced 
in  Rutherford  on  September  16,  1893,  by  the  organization  of  Rutherford 
Lodge,  No.  150.  Among  the  names  of  those  found  on  the  charter  of 
this  lodge  are  A.  H.  Brinkerhoff,  J.  C.  Sares,  Dr.  J.  J.  Ketchum,  H.  R. 
Harden,  S.  T.  Davy,  W.  H.  Smith,  G.  Y.  Renshaw  and  John  Patrick. 
An  acti-e  interest  in  the  work  of  the  lodge  has  been  taken  by  nearly  all 
the  charter  members,  so  that  at  the  present  time  the  roster  of  the  lodge 
contains  the  names  of  considerably  over  one  hundred  members,  and  all 
are  men  of  good  social  standing,  as  well  as  being  fitted  physically  and 
morally  for  membership  in  the  lodge. 

The  endowment  or  life  insurance  plan  in  this  order  is  a  well  con- 
sidered and  admirably  conducted  business.  Members  may  insure  in 
amounts  from  $500  to  $3000,  with  rates  according  to  age.  Payments 
monthly,  and  only  one  payment  per  month,  or  twelve  per  year  required, 
under  any  circumstances.  This  is  made  possible  by  a  reserve  fund  being 
on  hand  of  half  a  million  dollars,  which  is  so  invested  as  to  be  absolutely 
safe,  draws  good  interest,  and  can  be  called  upon  to  any  amount  required 
in  an  emergency.  Confidence  is  shown  in  this  by  the  one  fact  that  about 
$.■^0,000  of  this  insurance  is  being  carried  by  members  of  the  Rutherford 
Lodge. 

BO.\.KD    OF    TKADE. 
KI"THEKFOKD    .\ND    E.\ST    KUTHEKFOKD. 

This  Association  was  formed  for  the  encouragement  of  trade  and 
commerce  for  the  Ruther fords,  the  certificate  of  incorporation  having 
been  taken  out  and  recorded  at  Hackensack  May  18,  1897.  The  follow- 
ing list  of  names  records  the  promoters  of  this  business  enterprise  and 
are  as  follows:  Joseph  P.  Cooper,  William  McKenzie,  E.  J.  Turner, 
Luther  Shafer,  Charles  Burrows,  W.  H.  Smith,  C.  R.  Soley,  John  G. 
Niederer,    Frank  E.    Hatch.    Robert   M.  Watson.    A.   P.   Hackett.    I.    B. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKCIEN    COUNTY  445 

Nichols,    John    E.    Tyler,    Edward    A.    Jeannerot,    William    (iramlich. 
Charles  F.  Harring-ton,  J.  L.  Chapman. 

The  officers  for  18'»S  are  as  follows:  President,  William  McKenzie; 
Vice  President,  Joseph  P.  Cooper;  Secretary,  Luther  Shafer;  Treasurer, 
Charles  Burrows;  Directors,  Edward  J.  Turner,  Charles  F.  Harring-ton, 
Charles  R.  Soley.  John  (t.  Niederer,  Robert  M.  Watson,  William  H. 
Smith,  Frank  E.  Hatch,  A.  P.  Hackett. 

KTTHKKFOKD    NATIOXAI.    BANK. 

Established  May  ,^,  1895,  its  career  since  its  inception  has  been 
characterized  by  the  most  gratif^-ing  deyfree  of  prosperity.  It  has  a  ])aid 
up  capital  of  S50,()00,  with  a  surplus  and  undivided  profits  of  Sl.^UOi), 
which  success  is  attributed  to  the  fidelity  with  which  its  officers  and 
directors  have  administered  their  trusts.  The  building  occupied  is 
owned  by  the  bank,  and  is  a  great  attraction  to  the  place.  It  is  hand- 
somely finished  in  hardwood,  and  contains  all  the  latest  im])rovements, 
including  fire  and  burglar  proof  vaults  and  safes.  A  legitimate  national 
l)anking  business  is  transacted  in  loans,  deposits,  exchange,  collections, 
etc.,  its  facilities  not  being  surpassed  by  any  contemporaneous  institu- 
tion in  this  section.  The  following  well  and  favorably  known  gentle- 
men comprise  its  officers  and  board  of  directors:  President,  Henry  R. 
Jackson;  Vice  President,  Robert  D.  Kent;  Cashier,  Henry  R.  Harden; 
Directors,  H.  R.  Jackson,  R.  D.  Kent,  Julius  Roehrs,  E.  J.  Turner,  Carl 
Von  Hartz,  A.  W.  Van  Winkle,  Peter  H.  Kip,  J.  P.  Cooper.  William 
McKenzie,  A.  L.  Watson  and  F.  B.  Poor. 

COMPANY    I,,    SECOND    KEGIMENT,    NATIONAL    CrAKD.    N.    j. 

The  military  spirit  seemed  to  take  possession  of  the  youth  of 
Rutherford  early  in  the  year  1892  and  Robert  A.  Brunner  and  Wilkin 
Bookstaver,  formerly  of  Company  G,  2nd  N.  G.,N.  J.,  both  of  whom 
afterward  became  officers  of  Company  L.  were  active  in  securing  enroll- 
ments for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  National  Guard  Company. 
After  the  enrollment  in  some  measure  had  been  completed  the  members 
met  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Shafer  Building,  ana  afterward  in  the  old 
Union  Hall  and  were  drilled  in  military  tactics  by  Lieutenant  Book- 
staver and  Mr.  George  M.  Pollard.  Early  in  the  Spring  of  1893  an 
election  of  officers  was  held  and  Addison  Ely  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
Rutherford  was  invited  to  command  the  Company  as  its  Captain.  Cap- 
tain Ely  had  formerly  belonged  to  Company  C,  Third  Regiment,  N.  G., 
N.  J.,  commanded  by  Captain  W^.  H.  DeHart.  for  many  years  the  crack 
company  of  the  National  Guard.  Prior  to  Captain  Ely's  election  there 
had  been  several  aj)plications  to  the  State  Military  Department  to  muster 
the  company  into  the  State  service,  but  although  much  effort  and  influ- 
ence were  used  these  applications  had  met  with  no  success. 

Captain  Ely  secured  the  services  of  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Poole  an 
expert  tactician,  a  Lieutenant  and  afterward  Captain  of  (ine  of  the 
comi)anies  of  the  9th  Regiment  N.  G.,   N.  J.       Lieutenant   Poole  drilled 


44(1  HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 

the  company  one  nigiit  a  week  for  several  weeks  and  pronounced  them 
efficient,  and  they  were  tinally  mustered  into  State  service. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  at  Jersey  City,  and  the  Second  with  head- 
quarters at  Paterson  under  Colonel  Moore  had  recently  been  reorganized, 
and  it  was  to  one  of  these  that  the  company  sought  to  be  assigned. 
Colonel  S.  V.  S.  Muzzy  who  had  secured  a  high  reputation  as  a  military 
officer,  about  this  time  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Second  Regiment, 
and  Captain  Ely  applied  to  him  for  admission  as  one  of  the  companies  of 
his  Regiment.  After  much  urging  Colonel  Muzzy  accepted  the  company 
and  used  his  influence  to  secure  the  desired  order,  which  was  finally 
made  and  on  the  22nd  day  of  June,  1893,  the  company  was  mustered  into 
the  State  service.  In  the  fall  of  1896  the  company  undertook  the  con- 
struction of  an  Armory  on  Park  Avenue,  having  previously  acquired  a 
plot  of  ground  50  by  i50  feet  for  S6000.  The  Armory  building  contains 
a  flat  for  a  janitor,  a  large  company  room  and  two  stores  in  the  front 
part,  and  a  drill  shed  118  by  50  feet  in  the  rear,  fitted  up  with  a  stage 
and  equipments  for  public  entertainments.  The  basement  is  arranged 
for  a  bowling  alley  and  rifle  range. 

The  company  has  occupied  this  Armory  since  the  early  Spring  of 
1897.  The  total  cost  of  building  and  ground  was  about  S24,000of  which 
a  large  portion  has  been  paid.  In  April  1897  a  fair  was  held  netting  a 
large  sum  of  money,  the  ladies'  association  contributing  much  to  its 
success. 

In  April,  1898,  when  war  with  Spain  was  declared  and  the  National 
Guard  called  out,  Company  L  responded  with  the  full  quota  called  for. 
Fifty-eight  men  and  three  officers  of  Company  L  were  accepted  and 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  with  twenty-three  volunteer 
r&cruits  on  May  14,  1898.  The  officers  mustered  in  were:  Captain, 
Addison  Ely;  First  Lieutenant,  Joseph  J.  Blake;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Robert  A.  Brunner. 

The  company  having  gone  into  camp  at  Sea  Girt  on  May  2d 
remained  there  until  June  1st,  when  they  were  ordered  to  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  to  await  further  orders.  They  were  returned  to  New  Jersey  in 
September  and  on  November  17th  were  mustered  out  of  the  United 
States  service.  Under  the  re-organization  of  1899  the  company  was 
relieved  from  service. 

GERSHOM    MOTT    POST. 

The  Post  bearing  this  name  was  instituted  April  30th,  1891,  with 
twenty-four  members,  N.  W.  Hawes  being  its  first  Commander,  which 
office  he  held  for  two  years.  Then  came  Robert  Leeds,  who  held  the 
office  for  three  ^-ears,  the  members  recognizing  the  fact  that  it  was  due 
solely  to  his  indefatigable  labors  that  the  Post  was  instituted.  Under 
his  command  the  Post  flourished  and  added  to  its  membership  until  it 
reached  the  number  of  fifty-four.  Horatio  N.  Fish  then  succeeded  to 
the  command,  holding  the  office  for  one  year,  and  then  came  John 
Amery,  who  died  in  command.  Clifford  K.  Reece  was  then  elected  to 
serve  for  the  unexpired  term,  and  at  the  last  election  was  again  elected 


lAITHEK    SHAFEK 


448  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Commander.  Throug'h  harmony  and  wise  leadership  the  Post  has 
accumulated  quite  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  sick  or  disabled  soldiers  or 
sailors  or  their  wives  or  orphans. 

During'  the  Spanish-American  war  the  Post  was  among-  the  fore- 
most in  g-iving  money  to  relieve  the  families  of  those  who  had  g^one  to 
the  front. 

I.l'THEK    SHAFEK. 

Mr.  Shafer  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  progressive  citizens  of 
Rutherford.  He  is  a  wise  counselor,  and  was  one  of  the  leading-  public 
spirited  citizens  of  the  place  who  orig-inated  its  borough  government  in 
1881.  Mr.  Shafer  is  a  native  of  New  York  State  and  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery, Orange  county,  in  1848.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  the  son 
had  a  share  of  the  farm  work  to  perform,  attending  the  district  school 
as  his  duties  would  permit.  His  parents  planned  to  give  him  a  college 
education  but  circumstances  changed  the  course  of  events.  His  father 
dying  when  young  Luther  was  but  twelve  years  of  age,  made  it  neces- 
sary for  him  to  contribute  to  his  own  support.  He  attended  the  Mont- 
gomery Academv  for  a  time,  and  afterward  entered  the  law  office  of  R. 
R.  Lea  in  New  York  city.  Later  he  secured  a  clerkship  in  the  office  of 
Downing  &  Couert  at  Flushing,  L.  L,  and  although  but  seventeen  years 
of  age,  was  made  assistant  postmaster.  In  1867  he  entered  the  Albany 
Law  School,  going  soon  after  leaving  that  institution  into  the  office  of 
David  Dudley  Field,  where  he  filled  an  important  position.  From  there 
he  went  as  managing  clerk  for  Vernam  &  Wilcox,  where  he  remained 
until  he  began  the  pratice  of  law  in  New  York  city  in  1872.  One  year 
later  Mr.  Shafer  was  admitted  to  practice  in  New  Jersey,  and  in  187(> 
was  made  a  counselor.  This  gave  him  the  legal  right  to  full  active 
practice  both  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  From  1877  until  1889,  he 
was  counsel  for  Union  township,  during  which  time  he  secured  the 
passage  of  the  Tax  Act  of  1874.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican. 
Mr.  Shafer's  services  and  abilities  having  been  recognized,  he  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Rutherford  in  which  office  he  proved  an  efficient  and 
worthy  incumbent,  for  a  period  of  several  terms.  P'rom  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  borough  in  1881,  until  1890,  Mr.  Shafer  was  noted  as  its  coun- 
sel, absolutely  refusing  any  compensation  for  his  services.  He  has  also 
been  counsel  for  Union  and  Boiling  Springs  townships  and  for  the  vil- 
lage of  Carlstadt  and  also  solicitor  of  the  Rutherford  Mutual  Loan  and 
Building  Association  and  is  now  counsel  for  East  Rutherford,  Carlstadt 
and  Montvale. 

JOHN    M.    BEI.L. 

When  John  M.  Bell  came  to  Rutherford,  less  than  ten  years  ago. 
he  immediately  set  about  a  preparation  for  active  usefulness  in  his 
adopted  home.  He  is  a  Scotch-Irishman,  born  at  Kells,  Ireland,  August 
3,  18()(l. 

Although  of  foreign  birth  Mr.  Bell  is  an  ideal  American  citizen, 
having  been  educated  in  this  country  imbibing  the  tastes  and  acquiring 
the  habits  of  the  people.  He  was  six  years  old  when  he   came  to  America 


JOHN    T>\.     KKI.I. 


450  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


with  his  parents,  who  located  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylyania. 
Young-  Bell  receiyed  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Schuylkill 
county,  and  came  to  Rutherford  in  1891 . 

After  studying-  law  for  some  time  in  the  office  of  Addison  Ely,  Mr. 
Bell  entered  the  office  of  Luther  Shafer  where  he  completed  his  course 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  the  November  Term,  1894.  He  lirst 
opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  the  Shafer  Build- 
ino-  in  March  of  the  following  year,  and  was  almost  immediately  made 
counsel  to  the  Borough  of  Rutherford,  which  office  he  still  holds.  He 
has  also  been  counsel  to  the  Borough  of  Lodi  since  March  1807.  Mr. 
Bell  is  at  present  member  of  Assembly,  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket 
at  the  last  election,  1897. 

KEY.   EDWIN  A.   BULKLEY,   D.   D. 

Rev.  Edwin  A.  Bulkley,  D.  D.,  who  was  born  in  Charleston,  S.  C, 
January  25,  1826,  is  a  descendant  in  direct  line  from  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley, 
whose  wife  was  Lady  Grace  Chetwode.  Became  to  America  in  1(..^4. 
from  Odell,  England,  and  was  born  in  1583. 

This  man,  distinguished  among  the  early  colonists,  was  descended 
from  a  long  line  of  noble  ancestry,  easily  traceable  to  Robert  de  Bulkley 
(1200),  his  descendants  still  holding  one  of  the  ancestral  seats  in  Eng- 
land. He  succeeded  his  father.  Rev.  Edward  Bulkley,  D.  D.,  m  the 
rectorship  of  Odell  or  Woodhill.  His  earnest  preaching,  and  resistance 
to  ecclesiastical  tyranny  compelled  his  emigration  to  New  England, 
where  he  became  the  founder  of  Concord,  Mass.,  and  pastor  of  its  tirst 
church.  Cotton  Mather  in  a  funeral  sermon  speaks  of  his  noble  birth, 
and  praises  his  benevolence  in  spending  his  wealth,  his  eminent  learn- 
in.^  and  devoted  piety.  In  his  old  church  at  Concord,  the  hrst  provin- 
01^1  Cono-ress  was  held,  and  in  its  assembly  were  made  those  stirring 
speeches^by  Hancock,  Adams  and  other  patriots  which  hastened  the 
events  of  the  Revolution.  Rev.  Gershom  Bulkley  son  of  Peter  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Charles  Chauncey,  D.  D.,  President  of  Harvard 
College,  and  their  son  Edward  married  Dorothy  Prescott.  Next  m  line 
comes  Charles  Bulkley  whose  wife  was  Mary  Sage,  their  son  Charles 
beincr  the  great  grandfather  of  Dr.  Edwin  A.  This  Charles  married  Mary 
Griswold.  Dr.  Bulklev's  grandparents  were  Charles  and  Eunice 
(Robbins)  Bulkley,  whose  son  Erastus,  father  of  Dr.  Edwin  A.  married 
Mary  Walbridge. 

The  maternal  line  traces  back  to  Henry  Walbridge  who  came  from 
Dorsetshire,  England,  about  1650.  His  son  Ebenezer  married  Mary 
Durkee  Their  S(m  Ebenezer  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  Stebbms  were  the 
parents  of  Adolphus  Walbridge  and  Mary  Deming.  the  grandparents 
of  Dr.  Bulkley,  his  mother  being  their  daughter  Mary.  Elizabeth 
Walbridu-e  "The  Dairyman's  Daughter,"  memoralized  by  Leigh  Rich- 
mond wis  of  this  family.  In  Dr.  Bulkley's  children,  early  colonial 
lines 'of  distincti.m  unite;  through  him  from  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley; 
throu-'-h  their   mother  from  Henry  Melchior   Muhlenberg,  of  whom  she 


KEV.    IIK.     HDWIN    A.     KII.KI.H^ 


452  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

is  a  lineal  descendant.  He  was  the  Patriarch  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  this  country,  and  the  father  of  those  men  of  Revolutionar}-  fame, 
Henry  Aug-ustus  Muhlenberg-,  the  first  speaker  of  the  first  congress  in 
New  York  city,  and  General  Peter  Muhlenberg,  whose  statue  Pennsyl- 
vania has  placed  in  the  Rotunda  of  the  capitol  at  Washington. 

Dr.  Bulkley  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  in  New  York  city, 
entered  Yale  College  in  1841,  when  not  yet  fifteen  years  of  ag-e,  and  was 
graduated  in  1844,  subsequently  finishing  his  professional  studies  in 
Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1847. 

Last  Fall  (1897)  he  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  ordin- 
ation to  the  ministry,  October  11,  1847,  from  which  time  his  pastoral 
work  had  been  almost  unbroken.  His  first  charge  was  at  Geneva,  N. 
Y.,  from  1847  to  1850,  then  in  Groton,  Mass.,  from  1850  to  1864.  in 
Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  from  1864  to  1878,  and  in  Rutherford,  N.  J.,  from 
1878  to  1898.  On  March  27,  1898,  having  labored  about  twenty  years 
in  the  last  place,  and  the  condition  of  his  health  requiring  a  cessation 
from  the  active  charge  of  a  large  congregation,  he  was  released  from 
his  pastorate,  and  made  "Pastor  Emeritus." 

The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him 
in  1868,  by  the  University  of  Vermont.  The  wisdom  of  his  counsel, 
with  his  executive  ability,  has  often  been  acknowledged  in  high  official 
places  in  the  gift  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  For  twenty-five  years 
he  filled  the  most  important  Presbyterial  office  in  the  Presbyteries  of 
Champlain,  and  of  Jersey  City.  In  1883-84  he  was  moderator  of  the 
Synod  of  New  Jersey,  and  had  twice  previously  presided  over  the  Synod 
of  Albany.  He  was  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1879  at  Saratoga 
Springs. 

September  27.  1848,  Dr.  Bulkley  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  F. 
Oakley  of  Huntington,  L.  I. 

JIR.    DAVID    B.    IVISON. 

David  B.  Ivis<m,  ex-president  of  the  American  Book  Company,  a 
prominent  figure  in  the  organization  and  development  of  the  borough  of 
Rutherft)rd  in  Bergen  county,  is  a  son  of  Henry  Ivison,  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  school  book  trade  of  the  country.  Mr.  Ivison  is  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  his  father  coming  to  this  country  in  1820,  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years.  Soon  after  completing  an  apprenticeship  with  the  book- 
binding and  bookselling  house  of  William  Williams,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.. 
Mr.  Ivis(  n  become  the  head  of  a  prosperous  business  of  his  own.  With 
a  keen  sense  of  the  business  conditions  of  the  country,  prevailing  at  that 
time,  and  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  needs  in  his  especial  line,  he 
decided  to  make  the  metropolis  his  field  of  operation.  The  business 
grew  and  prospered  with  the  name  of  Ivison  at  the  head  of  the  firm, 
under  the  various  names  of  Ivison  &  Phinney;  Ivison,  Phinney  &  Com- 
pany; Ivison,  Phinney,  Blakeman  &  Company;  Ivison,  Blakeman,  Taylor 
&  Company  and  Ivison,  Blakeman  &  Company.  Mr.  David  B.  Ivis<m 
besran    his  business   career  with  this  house,  under  which    he  received  a 


<^tx^/^^^^^^<>tl 


HISTOKV    OF    BHKCEN    COUNTY  455 

skillful  training'  and  had  assumed  a  large  share  of  the  interest  and  all 
the  responsibilities  of  his  father,  Mr.  Henry  Ivison,  before  his  retire- 
ment in  1881,  three  years  before  his  death.  Mr.  Ivistm  became  a  full 
partner  in  the  business,  in  1863,  which  was  then  under  the  name  of 
Ivison,  Phinney,  Blakeman  &  Company.  At  the  time  of  the  retirement 
of  Mr.  Henry  Ivison,  the  firm  was  known  as  Ivison,  Blakeman,  Taylor 
&  Company,  which  continued,  until  1887,  when  ill  health  caused  Mr. 
Taylor  to  withdraw,  malting-  it  necessary  to  again  change  the  name  to 
that  of  Ivison,  Blakeman  &  Company,  which  continued  until  the  ccmsoli- 
dation  of  the  several  book  concerns,  resulting  in  a  new  corporation  known 
as  the  American  Book  Company,  in  1890.  In  this  Mr.  Ivison  took  a 
leading  part,  holding  positions  of  the  highest  responsibility,  until  18')4. 
He  was  then  chosen  president  and  held  that  office  two  years,  when  he 
resig-ned  in  1896,  with  the  most  cordial  relations  existing  among  his  as- 
sociates who  became  reccmciled  to  his  withdrawal  from  the  fact  of  his 
remaining  on  the  board  of  directors,  thus  assuring  his  co-operation  and 
continuance  of  interest  in  the  company  and  the  helpfulness  of  his  large 
experience  and  wise  counsel.  The  business  life  of  these  two  successful 
men,  father  and  son,  covered  a  period  of  the  greatest  activity  in  the 
school  book  trade.  The  public  were  passing  through  an  educational 
period  in  the  matter  of  text  books,  for  use  in  public  school  work,  and  in 
this  the  Ivison  house  took  a  leading  part  in  sup])lving  good  school  litera- 
ture. Mr.  Ivison  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club  of  New  York  and 
Union  Club,  of  Rutherford,  N.  J.  where  he  now  resides.  In  religion  he 
is  a  Presbyterian  holding  the  office  of  ruling  elder  in  the  Rutherford 
congregation.  At  present  he  is  traveling  abroad  for  recreation  and 
pleasure. 

Mr.  Ivison's  eldest  son,  Henr^-  Ivison,  also  formerly  a  member  of  the 
original  firm,  succeeded  his  father,  and  was  for  ten  years  head  of  the 
Manufacturing  Department  of  the  American  Book  Company.  He  re- 
cently resigned  from  this  position,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  New 
York  Stock  Exchange. 

JOSEPH    J.    BL.\KK. 

Joseph  J.  Blake,  formerly  proprietor  of  the  well-known  Blake  Res- 
tauant  and  Hotel,  was  born  in  New  York  city  July  5,  1857.  It  was  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  city  of  New  York  young  Blake  was  given  an  educa- 
tional start  in  life,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  earn  his  living, 
necessity  compelled  him  to  relinquish  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  for  food 
and  clothing.  His  business  career  was  begun  in  the  emploj^  of  Justice 
William  Haywood,  who  was  operatingf  a  factory  in  New  York  for  the 
manufacture  of  wall  paper,  and  came  to  Rutherford  with  him  in  1875. 
Upon  returning  to  New  York  Mr.  Blake  was  made  superintendent  of  Bar- 
tholmae  &  Company's  factory,  having  charge  of  more  than  two  hundred 
hands.  He  remained  with  them  until  1891,  when  he  returned  on  account 
of  failing  health,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Rutherford  since  1883,  at 
which  time  he  built  his  house  at  the  corner  of  (irove  Street  and  Erie 
Avenue. 


JOSEPH    J.    BI,AKE. 


HISTOKY    OF-  BEKGEN    COUNTY  457 

Mr.  Blake  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  borougfh, 
and  in  1842  was  elected  Councilman  on  both  the  Democratic  and  Citi- 
zens' tickets  bv  a  large  majority.  He  has  been  an  active  member  of  the 
Fire  Department  twelve  years,  and  is  a  member  of  Eng'ine  Company 
No.  2,  of  which  he  was  assistant  foreman  two  years  and  foreman  three 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  originators  of  Company  L,  Second  Regiment, 
N.  J.,  and  elected  Second  Lieutenant  July  5,  18^(5,  and  First  Lieutenant 
in  the  winter  of  189f). 

Mr.  Blake  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Royal  Aracanum,  Order  of  United  Workman,  and  Business  Mens'  Pro- 
tective Association.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Rutherford  Wheel- 
men of  which  organization  he  has  been  a  trustee. 

In  1891,  Mr.  Blake  began  business  next  door  to  the  large,  commo- 
dious structure  he  remodeled  and  occupied  until  called  into  the  Spanish- 
Cuban  war.  After  which  he  removed  to  New  York,  where  he  resides 
now.  Mr.  Blake,  as  the  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  L,  was  one  of 
the  most  popular  officers  of  the  Second  Regiment. 

In  1891,  Mr.  Blake  began  business  in  the  store  next  door  to  the  one 
he  lately  disposed  of,  remaining  there  five  years.  The  present 
building  is  a  pleasent  and  commodious  structure  which  he  remodeled 
in  lS9f,. 

CiKL  VON   HAKTZ. 

Carl  Von  Hartz,  president  of  the  "Rutherford  News  Company,"  in 
the  borough  of  Rutherford,  is  a  native  of  Germany  and  was  born  in  1855 
in  Diepholz,  Hanover.  In  1873  he  came  to  America,  subsequently  entering 
the  employ  of  a  banking  house,  but  remained  in  this  business  only  a 
short  time  when  he  became  connected  with  the  business  of  C.  .\. 
Auffmordt  &  Co.,  importers  of  dry  goods.  Following  this  he  became 
associated  with  William  Meyer  &  Co.,  lace  importers. 

Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Rutherford,  Mr.  Von  Hartz  has  identi- 
fied himself  with  its  interests,  having  been  elected  councilman  in  1890,  on 
the  ticket  brought  out  as  the  "Citizens'  and  Democratic"  ticket,  and  two 
years  later  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  finance  committee,  of  which 
he  was  chairman,  and  was  at  the  same  time  member  of  the  committee 
on  streets. 

Mr.  Von  Hartz  is  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Union  Club  of  Ruther- 
ford and  served  for  three  years  on  the  Board  of  Governors,  then  as  vice- 
president  and  president;  is  also  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and 
Knights  of  Pythias  of  Rutherford.  In  addition  to  these  social  and  fra- 
ternal organizations  he  belongs  to  the  Leiderkranz  and  Free  Mason 
Societies  of  New  York  city. 

Mr.  Von  Hartz  is  a  progressive  man,  and  interested  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  improvement  and  building  up  of  his  Borough. 

MK.    WILLIAM    m'mAINS. 

William  McMains,  now  a  resident  of  Bradley  Beach,  N.  J.,  has 
been  prominent  in  Rutherford    during  the   past   thirty  years.       He  was 


CAKI,    VON    HAKTZ 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  459 

born  in  Myroe,  county  Derry.  Ireland,  August  6,  1828.  In  1850,  he 
came  to  New  York  and  subsequently  carried  on  the  drv  goods  business  in 
that  city  for  live  or  six  years.  In  1867,  he  married  Miss  Susan  Simpson 
of  New  York,  daughter  of  Richard  Simpson,  of  the  firm  of  Simpson  & 
Cooper,  contractors,  removing  soon  afterward  to  Burlington,  Iowa.  He 
now  ventured  his  all  in  the  grocery  business,  and  having  lost  every- 
thing, a  few  months  afterward,  by  being  burned  out,  he  returned  to 
New  York  in  1868,  without  a  dollar.  He  then  went  to  work  for  Simpson 
&  Cooper.  Eventually  Mr.  Simpson  retired  and  Mr.  McMains  succeeded 
to  his  place;  but  in  1871,  he  gave  up  the  business  and  came  te  Ruther- 
ford, somewhat  discouraged  at  his  pros])ects.  With  the  thought  that 
others  had  risen  under  adverse  circumstances  Mr.  McMains  again  started 
in  business,  this  time  being  succeesful  in  accumulating  a  large  amount 
of  propert}-. 

He  first  built  a  house  on  River  Road,  Kingsland,  but  in  187(),  he 
moved  to  Rutherford  and  this  year  erected  the  McMains  building  on 
Depot  Square,  using  it  as  a  hotel  for  a  number  of  years.  This  was  the 
second  brick  house  built  in  Rutherford.  It  was  burned  in  189(),  and  was 
immediately  rebuilt.  He  also  built  other  houses  in  Rutherford,  and  in 
1895,  bought  two  cottages  in  Bradley  Beach,  N.  J.,  where  he  now 
resides.  Mr.  McMains  was  Town  Committeeman  one  term  during  which 
time  some  of  the  more  important  improvements  in  the  little  city  were 
made. 

CAPTAIN    ADDISON    ELY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  descended  from  the  Rev.  George  Ely, 
Vicar  of  Tenterden,  county  of  Kent,  England,  through  his  son  the  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Ely  also  a  vicar  of  the  Church  of  England  and  the  latter's 
son  Nathaniel  who  came  to  Massachusetts  in  the  year  1634.  Captain 
Ely's  great-grandfather  was  Captain  Levi  Ely  who  was  killed  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  in  the  Battle  of  Mohawk  in  1780.  His  great-grand- 
mother was  Abigail  Sergeant  whose  father  Lieutenant  John  Sergeant 
distinguished  himself  in  the  French  and  Indian  War.  His  grandmother 
was  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Samuel  Rose  a  distinguished  officer  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Captain  Ely's  mother  was  a  Harrison,  being 
descended  from  the  same  familv  of  which  William  H.  Harrison  and 
later  Benjamin  Harrison  were  distinguished  members.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  at  Westfield,  Mass.,  in  1853,  and  came  to  New 
Jersey  in  1862  with  his  father  who  settled  at  Bloomlield.  N.  J.,  within 
a  few  miles  of  which  he  has  since  lived.  Captain  Ely  was  prepared  for 
Harvard  College  at  the  Newark  Academy  and  Philips'  Exeter  Academy, 
and  afterwards  was  graduated  at  the  Polytechnic  Institute.  In  1871  he 
became  a  teacher  in  the  public  school  at  Connecticut  Farms,  Union 
county,  N.  J,,  and  later  acted  as  principal  of  the  High  School  at  Cald- 
well, Essex  county,  and  in  1879  came  to  Rutherford  as  principal  of  the 
Public  School.  He  joined  Company  C,  Third  Regiment,  the  crack 
military  organization  of  the  New  Jersey  Nati(mal  Guard  in  August, 
1872,  and   in   189.^  organized  Company   L,   Second   Regiment,    National 


WILLIAM    M  MAINS. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  4'»1 

Guard.  N.  J.,  which  was  mustered  into  the  state  service  June  24,  1S'».^, 
of  which  Company  he  has  been  captain  ever  since.  Captain  Ely  and 
his  company  volunteered  in  a  body  for  the  Spanish- American  War  April 
22,  1898,  and  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Sea  Girt 
May  14,  1898.  On  June  1st  they  were  sent  to  the  front  beingf  attached 
to  the  Seventh  Army  Corp  of  which  General  Fitzhugh  Lee  was  the  com- 
manding- officer,  but  remained  in  camp  during-  the  whole  periol  of  the 
war,  at  Jacksonville,  Florida. 

Captain  Ely  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  February  term  of  the 
Supreme  Court  1888,  and  as  Counsellor-at-Law  four  years  later.  Since 
his  admission  to  the  bar  he  has  been  recognized  as  a  successful  lawyer, 
taking  in  all  the  important  litigations  in  his  part  of  the  State.  Probably 
no  other  lawyer  in  New  Jersey  has  been  counsel  in  so  many  cases  invol- 
ving the  construction  of  Borough  Law.  The  Borough  Law  of  1897  was 
formulated  and  almost  entirely  drafted  by  Captain  Ely,  and  at  present 
he  is  devoting  a  large  amount  of  time  to  secure  the  passage  of  an  act  to 
give  extra  pay  to  the  New  Jersey  soldiers  in  the  Spanish-American  War. 

On  December  29th,  1874,  he  married  Emily  J.  Johnson  at  Connecticut 
Farms,  N.  J.,  and  while  Captain  Ely  and  his  wife  are  still  young  peo- 
ple they  have  a  family  of  ten  children,  seven  boys  and  three  girls  all  of 
whom  are  living.  The  oldest  son,  Addison  Ely,  Jr.,  is  editor  of  the 
Bergen  County  Herald.  The  iother  children  are  Seth  Harrison,  Sanford 
D.,  William  H.,  Leon  Abbett,  Hiram  Baldwin,  James  S.  T.  Stranahan, 
Abigail  M.,  Emily  J.,  and  Clara  Stranahan  Ely. 

With  the  exception  of  the  term  of  one  year  as  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  of  the  borough  of  Rutherford,  Captain  Ely  never  held  a 
public  office  although  he  has  been  actively  identified  with  public  affairs 
and  has  always  expressed  a  deep  interest  in  their  proper  conduct.  His 
views  on  public  questions  have  generally  been  pronounced.  He  has 
always  been  a  steadfast  Democrat,  insisting  that  the  liberties  of  the 
people  are  best  maintained  and  preserved  through  the  success  of  that 
party.  As  a  Democrat  his  influence  is  second  to  none  in  the  county  of 
Bergen.  In  1896  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  in  the  Sth  N.  J.  Con- 
gressional District  and  made  a  thorough  and  brilliant  canvas,  but  that 
was  a  bad  year  for  Democrats. 

DAVID    BOSMAN. 

David  Bosnian  of  Rutherford,  prominently  connected  with  the  Erie 
railroad  is  a  son  of  David  and  Sarah  Bosman  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  born  December  18,  18()4.  Young  Bosman  was  educated  in  the 
"  Old  Public  School  No.  1,"  and  in  the  High  School  of  his  native  city, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  with  Congressman  Charles 
(i.  Bennett.  For  some  time  after  leaving  school  he  was  engaged  in 
commercial  pursuits,  later  entering  the  office  of  Hon.  William  B.  Horn- 
blower  of  the  New  York  bar,  where  he  read  law  for  several  years.  In 
1887  he  became  an  employee  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company  in  the  office 
of  the  general    manager.       Soon    after   this  he    was   appointed  private 


462  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

secretary  to  the  president,  John  King-,  and  continued  in  this  capacity 
until  President  King-"s  resignation  in  1895.  Preyious  to  this  in  1893,  he 
was  appointed  secretary  to  the  Receiyer  of  the  road,  in  which  office  he 
continued  until  the  reorganization  of  the  company  in  1895,  when  he  was 
appointed  assistant  secretary  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company,  where  he 
still  continues.  In  1890  Mr.  Bosman  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of 
the  Chicag-o  &  Erie  Railroad,  being  elected  secretary  of  that  road  in 
1891  and  in  1897  elected  assistant  secretary  of  the  New  York  &  Green- 
wood Lake  Railway.     All  of  these  positions  he  still  holds. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bosman  is  a  Republican,  and  has  always  taken  an 
actiye  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  party,  having  served  as  delegate  to 
numerous  conventions  and  held  various  offices  in  the  party  organiza- 
tions. He  was  nominated  on  the  Republican  and  Citizens'  ticket  for  the 
office  of  Councilman  in  the  Spring  of  1898,  and  was  elected  by  the 
largest  majority  ever  given  a  candidate  in  that  borough.  He  is  chair- 
man of  the  Fire  Committee  and  a  member  of  the  Finance,  Police  and 
Ordinance  committee  of  the  borough. 

Mr.  Bosman  is  a  Past  Master  and  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  a  member  of  the  Union  Club,  Junior  Order  of  Ameri- 
can Mechanics,  Alumni  Association  of  the  Brooklyn  High  School  and 
of  the  Republican  Club. 

In  1892  Mr.  Bosman  was  married  to  Miss  Emily  Sloane,  of  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. 

(lAKKABKANT    KYEKSON    ALYEA. 

(iarrabrant  Ryerson  Alyea,  at  one  time  postmaster  of  Rutherford 
and  for  twenty-live  years  teacher  and  superintendent  of  schools  in  and 
about  Rutherford,  is  a  native  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  born  December  IS, 
1841. 

When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Rutherford  and  began 
teaching  school  but  in  1861  he  left  his  chosen  profession  for  a  place  in 
the  Ocean  National  Bank,  New  York,  where  he  remained  seven  years 
filling  all  the  positions  of  trust  in  that  institution  except  those  of  cashier 
and  president.  In  1868  he  returned  to  Rutherford  and  to  school  work,  giv- 
ing his  attention  to  pedagogy  and  didactics,  nothing  diverting,  until 
1892.  At  this  time  a  change  from  a  professional  to  a  business  career  was 
made  by  accepting  a  position  in  the  Peoples'  Bank,  Rutherford,  remaining 
Cashier  of  that  Institution  until  i894.  He  then  became  postmaster  of  the 
borough,  tilling  that  position  with  credit  to  himself  until  relieved  by 
change  of  administration  in  1898.  Mr.  Alyea  was  also  collector  when 
postmaster,  and  in  fact  he  has  filled  every  position  of  trust  in  the 
borough  except  that  of  mayor  and  he  was  only  defeated  for  that  office 
by  a  few  votes  in  favor  of  his  opponent,  Luther,Shafer. 

Mr.  Alyea  was  marred  to  Miss  Martha  Brinkerhoff  October  20,  iS69, 
and  not  only  by  marriage  but  by  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  lines 
is  connected  with  the  Ryersons,  Paulisons  and  Cadmuses,  all  old  families 
of  Holland  ancestry  and  French  Huguenot  extraction.  Mr.  Alyea's 
oldest  son  William  T.  Alyea  was,  until  his  death,  which  occured  Janu- 


HISTOKV    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  46."? 

ary  13,  1899  a  student-at-law.  His  oldest  daug-hter  Eva  B.,  is  a  graduate 
of  the  State  Normal  School,  and  taught  in  School  District  .V(  until  her 
marriage. 

Mr.  Alvea  is  a  Past  Master  in  the  Masonic  fraternit}-,  and  is  also 
a  prominent  member  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Odd  Fellows. 

\v.  J.  r.A\VKi-;NsoN  &  co. 

C.  \V.  Lawrenson,  who  for  twiiity-tive  years  has  been  manager  for 
Spaulding  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  one  of  the  largest  concerns  of  the  kind 
in  tlie  country  dealing  in  Sporting  (joods,  removed  to  Rutherford  from 
the  city  of  New  York  in  188.^. 

His  son  W.  J.  Lawrenson,  the  head  of  the  firm  that  now  bears  his 
name,  was  born  in  Rutherford  in  1S78,  in  which  place  he  was  educated 
and  prepared  for  his  business  career.  In  1897  he  ojjcned  the  well 
equipped  and  commodious  establishment  now  occui)ied  at  90  Park 
A\  enue. 

This  business,  though  but  two  years  old,  has  stepi)ed  to  the  front 
rank  among  the  enterprising  dealers  of  the  towti  and  enjoys  a  liberal 
and  first-class  patronage. 

The  compan}-  carry  in  stock  a  tine  line  of  Sjjaulding's  bicycles  and 
other  wheels  of  the  "best  make"  which  deserve  the  term  "celebrated." 
Messrs.  Lawrenson  &  Co.  are  business  men  and  besides  renting  and 
repairing,  which  is  promptly  attended  to,  they  also  keep  a  complete 
assortment  of  bicycle  sundries  usually  found  in  all  well  conducted 
establishments. 

KfCKSTI-HI.    KKOTHICKS. 

Cieorge  and  Adam  Ruckstuhl  began  the  manufacture  of  pianos  in 
Rutherford  in  1893.  The  brothers  are  natives  of  New  York  city  where 
thev  received  skilled  training  in  the  art  of  piano  making,  the  elder  hav- 
ing been  in  the  employ  of  Chambers  &  Co.,  the  younger  with  Steinway, 
both  having  perfected  themselves  in  the  work  years  before  beginning  for 
themselves. 

The  Ruckstuhl  j)iano  is  an  instrument  of  high  grade  with  tine  tone 
and  finished  workmanship,  its  good  (jualities  being  protected  by  patents, 
the  result  of  years  of  test  and  study.  Besides  the  factory  in  Ruther- 
ford, the  Ruckstuhl  Brothers  have  salesrooms  in  both  the  cities  of 
Passaic  and  Jersey  City,  where  their  trade  is  in  keeping  with  their 
enviable  reputation. 

]Mr.  (ieorge  Ruckstuhl,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  has  been  an 
active  enterprising  citizen  of  Rutherford  since  his  coming  to  the  place 
in  1S8().  He  has  been  identified  with  the  fire  department  of  Rutherford 
for  ten  years,  and  was  foreman  of  the  company.  He  was  elected  Justice 
of  the  Peace  in  the  Spring  of  1898  being-  the  only  Democrat  elected  on 
the  ticket.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  C)dd  Fellows  Lodge,  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  identified  with  other  societies  and  enterprises 
of  Rutherford. 

They  erected  their  new  building  in  1899. 


4()4  HISTORY  OF  BERGEN  COUNTY 

KRANK  E.  HATCH. 

About  f(/rty  years  ag'o,  in  the  village  of  Watertown,  Connecticut, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  His  father  was  a 
mechanic  and  skilled  worker  in  wood  and  iron;  his  mother  of  true 
Yankee  blood  had  much  to  do  wth  the  forming  of  his  character.  The 
son,  Frank  E.  Hatch,  inherited  a  taste  for  mechanical  pursuits,  and  the 
genius  of  mechanism  thus  transmitted  has  proved  a  rich  legacy.  With- 
out money  but  with  a  fair  education,  young  Hatch  when  a  lad  entered 
the  field  of  labor  for  himself.  At  thirteen  years  of  age  he  was  earning 
six  dollars  a  week,  and  as  experience  and  opportunity  afforded,  he  was 
advanced  in  keeping  with  his  abilities.  Possessing  an  inventive  genius 
he  won  laurels  which  soon  distinguished  him  from  the  ordinary  opera- 
tor. Besides  skill  in  handwork,  he  excelled  as  a  designer.  He 
was  the  first  to  build  special  machinery  for  drilling  several  holes  in 
iron,  at  one  and  the  same  time,  while  he  also  originated  the  three 
spindle  drills  and  the  combination  dies.  in\enting  this  machinery  before 
he  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Hatch  ccmtinued  his  work  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  whert- 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Emily  L.  Bull,  in  1878.  The  father,  Mr. 
George  W.  Hatch,  a  few  years  afterward  moved  to  Allendale,  this 
county,  where  he  now  resides,  and  in  1887,  the  son  moved  to  Ruther- 
ford, where  he  has  become  a  known  factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  this 
little  citv.  Some  four  years  ago,  following  the  charitable  bent  of  his 
nature,  he  sought  to  aid  another  in  a  financial  way  which  resulted 
finally  in  the  purchase  of  the  Park  Pharmacy.  This  store  with  its 
trimmings  and  finished  equipments,  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  kind  in 
Bergen  county.  It  is  under  the  management  of  an  able  pharmacist 
with  a  corps  of  competent  assistants  and  is  a  credit  to  the  town. 

Mr.  Hatch  is  constantly  on  the  road,  in  charge  of  other  interests 
that  keep  him  traveling  North  and  South  and  from  coast  to  coast  almost 
without  cessation.  He  is  sole  agent  for  some  half  dozen  large  manu- 
facturers of  paper  box  machinery,  for  the  United  States,  in  which  his 
father  assists  him.  As  a  public  spirited  citizen,  Mr.  Hatch  has  been  a 
leading  factor  in  the  Rutherford  Board  of  Trade,  and  has  identified  him- 
self with  all  the  prominent  societies  and  institutions  of  the  place.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  K.  and  of  the  Free  Mason  lodge,  was  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  I^incoln  League  and  has  been  a  promoter  of 
nearly  every  enterprise  looking  to  the  growth  of  Rutherford,  in  which 
he  takes  great  pride.  Mr.  Hatch  is  a  self  made  man  in  the  true  sense 
of  the  term. 

MK.    GEORGE    B.    HOI.IIAX. 

George  B.  Holman.  pro])rietor  of  Holman's  Steam  Carpet  Cleaning 
Works,  is  one  of  the  bright  men  of  the  country.  His  father,  George 
W.  Holman,  was  a  man  of  marked  characteristics,  who  as  a  poor  orphan 
boy  made  his  way  to  New  York  state,  then  to  Chicago,  returning  to 
New  York    in   l,s5(i,   having  succeeded  in   all   his  business  enterprises. 


HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY  4(>0 

He  was  married  in  1S()1,  to  Miss  Jane  Crocker  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  becom- 
ing a  resident  of  Rutherford  in  1S72.  After  serving  on  the  police  force 
of  New  York  for  several  years  he  was  made  Sergeant  in  1866,  ana  dur- 
ing the  war  acted  for  a  time  as  government  detective  in  the  citv.  He 
died  in  1872. 

George  B.  Holman  was  born  in  l.S(>(>,  and  at  nineteen  years  of  age 
began  business  for  himself.  Upon  securing  the  loan  of  ten  dollars  on 
the  night  of  June  22,  1885.  he  took  the  initial  step  in  his  business 
venture.  Although  in  ill  health,  he  attended  an  ice-cream  festival  at 
the  Methodist  Church  assisting  at  the  table  and  under  each  plate  as  it 
was  served  he  placed  his  business  card,  as  an  upholsterer.  That  night's 
advertisement  brought  him  sixty  dollars  worth  of  orders.  In  one  month 
from  that  time  he  was  employing  a  man  and  had  more  work  than  they 
both  could  do.  In  December,  188f>,  he  built  an  extension  to  his  mother's 
house  for  a  shop,  and  the  following  vear  Ixnight  the  site  which  his 
house  and  (jther  buildings  now  occupy. 

In  18S7  he  erected  a  two-story  building  and  in  18S"i  added  Steam 
Carpet  Cleaning  Works.  In  18")1  he  put  u\>  a  three-story  house  for 
upholstering,  and  in  l.S'O  converted  the  original  two-story  structure  into 
a  residence,  b\'  adding  a  front  and  other  extensions.  In  October  18'),i 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Ethelyn  R.  Huntly  of  Lyme,  Conn. 

Thev  have  one  child,  a  son.  Mr.  Holman  does  a  large  business, 
emjdoying  several  men  constantly. 

COKNKI.irS    COI.I.IN'S. 

Cornelius  Collins  the  well  known  Coroner  and  undertakerof  Ruther- 
ford, is  of  Irish  descent,  his  father  having  emigrated  from  Ireland  in 
ISO.v  Mr.  Collins  was  born  at  Littleton,  Morris  county,  N.  J..  August 
21,  1842,  where  he  recieved  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  At 
eighteen  years  of  age  the  iron  manufacturing  establishment  of  William 
Berdan  of  Trov,  New  York,  was  entered  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
making  horse  shoes,  an  industry  which  was  carried  on  extensively  and 
where  he  remained  twenty-three  years.  In  1877,  he  came  to  Ruther- 
ford, finding  employment  in  the  locomotive  shops  of  the  Delaware  and 
Lackawana  R.  R.  In  188.^,  Mr.  Collins  opened  undertaking  rooms  with 
his  son  John,  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  Collins  &  Son,  and  three  years 
later  bought  a  lot  on  the  north  side  of  Park  Avenue  and  erected  a  two 
story  and  basement  brick  building,  where  they  opened  a  stock  of  furni- 
ture, and  did  an  extensive  business  not  only  in  furniture  Init  in  livery 
and  undertaking.  In  1892,  this  partnership  was  dissolved  since  which 
time  Mr.  Collins  has  carried  on  the  undertaking  business  alone,  being 
assisted  in  the  work  of  embalming  by  his  daughter  Abby,  who  like  him- 
self holds  a  diploma  from  the  National  Embalming  College,  New  York. 

In  1863  Mr.  Collins  married  Miss  Healy  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  their 
children  are  John,  Cornelius,  William,  Abby  and  Annie,  all  living.  Mrs. 
Collins  died  in  1882,  and  the  following  year  he  married  Miss  Alice  Cor- 
bitt  of  New  York.     Of  this  marriage  there  is  one  child,  Alice. 


466  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Mr.  Collins  has  held  a  number  of  political  offices.  He  was  Super- 
visor of  Hig-hwavs  for  six  years;  was  first  made  cori>ner  b}-  appointment 
from  Governor  Grig-g-s  and  afterward  elected  to  the  same  office  in  1896, 
for  a  term  of  three  years;  was  made  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  18'<3,  for  five 
years  and  in  1898,  he  was  appointed  Recorder  of  the  boroug-h  of  Ruther- 
ford. Mr.  Collins  was  with  (reneral  Kilpatrick,  in  the  Harris  Cavalry 
for  two  and  one  half  years. 

ni^.    COKXliLirS    H.    ALI.EX. 

American  dentists  are  noted  for  being-  the  best  dentists  in  the  world. 
As  a  rule  thev  are  thorouglv  trained  and  expert  in  the  use  of  many  in- 
struments utilized  in  modern  dentistry.  What  is  true  of  the  profession 
as  a  whole  is  true  of  the  individual  members  of  the  fraternity. 

The  enviable  reputation  attained  by  Dr.  Cornelius  H.  Allen  during 
his  stay  in  Rutherford,  is  a  credit  to  the  profession  he  represents.  He 
is  English  bv  birth,  and  was  born  in  Manchester  in  1858.  Ten  years 
later,  he  came  with  his  father  to  Jersey  City,  where  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship under  him  in  the  gold  leaf  business. 

His  inclinations,  however,  were  decidedly  in  favor  of  a  professional 
career,  and  in  1893  he  entered  the  New  York  Dental  College,  from  which 
after  a  thorough  course,  he  received  his  merited  titled  D.  D.  S.  Dr. 
Allen  is  a  licensed  practitioner  in  the  states  of  New  Jersey  and  New 
York.  He  occupies  a  fine  suite  of  rooms  at  8S  Park  Avenue,  Rutlier- 
ford. 

ArCrST    NADI.KH. 

August  Nadler,  the  florist,  is  a  native  of  Switzerland,  bt)rn  in  1S46, 
and  received  his  education  in  his  native  land,  coming  to  America  in 
1865,  when  he  located  in  Westchester  county.  N.  Y.  He  first  worked 
for  a  florist,  and  later  was  employed  by  Mr.  Leland.  the  well  known 
hotel  man,  whose  son  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  New  York 
city.  He  remained  three  years  with  him  taking  care  of  his  grounds  at 
his  home  in  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.  In  1868,  he  came  to  Rutherford,  N. 
J.,  where  he  was  for  some  time  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  David  B.  Ivison. 
In  1871,  he  bought  ten  lots,  on  Woodward  Avenue,  for  a  greenhouse, 
and  has  at  the  present  time,  seven  thousand  five  hundred  square  feet 
under  glass.  He  opened  an  office  on  Park  Avenue  in  1895,  and  keeps 
on  hand  a  supply  of  palms,  and  plants  of  various  kinds.  He  is  prepared 
to  furnish  cut  flowers,  and  floral  designs  at  short  notice,  and  enjoys  a 
liberal  patronage  in  the  retail  trade,  both  at  home  and  in  New  York 
city.  In  March  1871.  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Tilly.  She 
died  in  1891,  and  in  1894,  he  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Miss 
Annie  G.  Baker,  of  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia.  Mr.  Nadler  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

MK.    FEKDIN.\ND    BKUN'NEK. 

Mr.  Ferdinand  Brunner,  the  popular  jeweler,  of  Rutherford,  N.  J., 
may  well  be  classed  am(mg  the  pioneers  of  Bergen  county. 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKC.EN    COUNTY  4C>7 

Mr.  Brunner  came  to  this  country  when  a  boy  nine  years  of  age.  He 
attended  public  school  in  New  York  and  at  an  early  ag-e  entered  the 
jewelry  business  to  which  he  has  ever  since  been  devoted.  He  tirsl 
became  identified  with  Bergen  county  in  1S(,()  when  lie  moved  to  Carl- 
stadt.  In  1868  he  purchased  ground  and  erected  a  house  at  Woodridge. 
At  all  times  interested  in  the  development  of  the  town,  and  especially 
interested  in  school  matters,  it  was  largely  through  his  efforts,  while  a 
school  trustee,  that  the  handsome  school  building  was  erected.  A  few 
years  later  when  the  Corona  Land  Association  was  organized  Mr.  Brunner 
was  chosen  president.  This  was  a  prosperous  organization  until  the 
panic  of  1S7.^,  after  which  real  estate  was  at  an  ebb  for  a  long  time,  but 
with  the  name  now  changed  to  Hasbrouck  Heights  it  is  again  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

In  187()  Mr.  Brunner  opened  a  small  jewelry  store  in  the  McMain's 
Building  in  Rutherford,  where  b\-  honest  dealing  and  strict  attention  to 
business,  it  can  safely  be  said  that  he  now  has  the  largest,  best  equipped 
and  most  modern  jewelry  establishment  in  Bergen  county.  In  addition 
to  a  full  line  of  jewelry,  there  is  also  in  the  rear  of  the  store  a  private 
optical  parlor  which  is  in  charge  of  a  graduate  optician.  This  dei)art- 
ment  has  made  rapid  strides  in  the  past  few  years,  and  many  peo])le  can 
testify  to  the  care  which  is  taken  in  fitting  the  eyes. 

Mr.  Brunner  has  erected  a  fine  brick  building  at  >>{\  Park  Avenue 
for  his  e\er  increasing  trade.  He  is  ably  assisted  in  the  l>usiness  by  his 
t\yo  sons,  Robert  A.  and  Ferdinand,  Jr. 

KOBKKT    A.     HK'I-NXlCIv'. 

Rol)ert  A.  Tjrunner.  who  was  l)orn  in  Bergen  county,  March  ISd't. 
was  educated  at  the  Park  Avenue  school,  Rutherford. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  was  employed  by  one  of  the  largest 
jewelry  firms  in  New  York,  an<l  a  few  years  later  decided  to  make  watch- 
making and  optics  a  study.  Since  that  time  he  has  confined  himself 
wholly  to  these  two  lines.  At  one  time  he  was  in  business  for  himself 
on  Maiden  Lane,  but  owing  to  tailing  health  was  compelled  to  lea\e 
New  York,  when  he  entered  his  father's  store  to  assist  in  his  greativ 
increased  business. 

Mr.  Brunner  becoming  interested  in  National  Guard  affairs,  was 
one  of  the  promotors  of  Company  L,  Second  Regiment,  N.  G.  N.  J.,  in 
1892.  After  the  organization  of  this  company  he  was  elected  a  sergeant 
and  in  1895  was  made  First  Sergeant.  In  iS'tdhe  was  elected  Second 
Lieutenant  and  now  holds  that  commission.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Spanish-American  war  he  was  among  the  first  to  \olunteer  and 
while  in  the  service  was  an  honest,  courteous  and  hardworking  officer. 
Lieutenant  Brunner  is  also  secretary  and  one  of  the  directors  of  Com- 
pany L  Rifle  Association,  and  ablv  assisted  in  building  the  handsome 
structure  now  owned  by  the  company.  Mr.  Brunner  is  a  graduated 
optician  associated  in  business  with  his  father  in  Rutherford. 


468  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

GEOKCnC    F.    SCHEKMKKHOKN. 

(ieorufc  F.  Schermerhorn,  t)ne  i)f  the  promoters  of  Rutherford  is  a 
descendant  of  Judg-e  Jacob  Jansen  Schermerhorn,  who  came  to  this 
country  from  Holland  in  1640,  settled  at  Fort  Orany-e  (  now  Albany. 
N.  Y.  ),  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Mohawk  River  in  the  vicinity- 
of  the  present  city  of  Schenectady.  Simon  (  probably  his  son  ),  accord- 
ing- to  record  lost  a  son  and  three  negroes,  in  the  massacre  and  burning 
of  that  villag-e  l)y  the  P^rench  and  Indians  in  168'»,  himself  being 
wounded.  He  was  the  Hrst  to  give  the  rejfort  of  that  event  to  the  citi- 
zens of  Fort  Orang-e. 

During-  the  Revolution,  over  sixty  of  this  name  appear  on  the 
roster  of  New  York  State  troo])s.  Cornelius,  grandfather  of  George, 
was  engaged  in  the  Naval  Ser\  ice  during  that  war  and  was  afterward 
captain  in  the  merchant  service,  having-  an  interest  in  a  line  of  packets 
between  New  York  City  and  Charleston,  S.  C.  He  was  also  in  the  ship 
chandlery  business  in  New  York  city.  On  an  old  map  of  the  city,  1728, 
is  to  be  seen  "Schermerhorn  Wharf,"  near  the  foot  of  Keekman  Street. 
(Jeorg-e  F.,  son  of  James  Stewart  Schermerhorn,  was  in  the  book  busi- 
ness for  a  number  of  years  in  New  York.  Having  become  a  stockholder 
in  the  Mt.  Rutherford  Company  in  1870,  he  moved  to  Rutherford  in  1.S72, 
and  has  resided  there  to  the  present  time. 

JOSEPH    \V.     Kl'lUiESS. 

Joseph  W.  Burgess,  Clerk  of  the  Ijorough  of  Rutherford,  is  an 
Englishman  by  birth,  the  year  1853  being  the  date  of  that  event.  When 
still  in  infancy  his  father,  Robert  Burgess,  emigrated  to  America  locat- 
ing in  the  city  of  New  York  where  young  Burgess  received  his  educa- 
tion. When  fourteen  years  of  age  his  parents  located  in  Rutherford, 
where  the  father  died  in  18')(i.  For  many  years  the  show  card  Iiusiness 
was  carried  on  in  Canal  Street,  New  York,  by  father  and  son,  the  son 
continuing  with  the  father  until  recent  years.  Robert  Burgess  was  also 
identitied  with  the  government  of  the  borough  of  Rutherford  having 
been  one  of  its  first  councilmen  when  organized. 

Joseph  Burgess  was  made  Borough  Clerk  in  1804  and  has  held  that 
position  with  credit  to  himself  since  that  time.  By  appointment  he  has 
been  Commissioner  of  the  streets  and  was  elected  Councilman  for  one 
term  also.  He  has  been  Deacon  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  the  past 
ten  years,  and  is  Treasurer  of  that  Board.  When  in  1875  the  Ruther- 
ford Mutual  Loan  and  Building  Association  was  projected,  Mr.  Burgess 
was  active  in  the  formation  of  that  successful  organization,  and  was 
shortly  after  made  its  Secretarv.  which  office  he  held  for  seven  years 
when  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of  Treasurer.  This  office  he  now 
holds,  having  been  chosen  for  twelve  successive  terms.  During  this 
period,  between  one  and  two  million  dollars  have  passed  through  his 
hands,  withcmt  the  loss  of  a  dollar  to  the  Association.  It  may  be  said 
that  it  is  to  Mr.  Burgess'  twentv-two  years  of  untiring  effort  in  behalf 
of  this  association,  that  its  successful  career  is  largely  due.       He  is  one 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKOKN    COUNTY  4()9 

of  the  charter  members  and  was  the  first  treasurer  <if  the  Royal  Arca- 
num of  Rutherford.  He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Exempt  Firemen's 
Association  of  Rutherford  and  is  in  many  other  ways  identified  with  the 
f^rowth  and  ])rosj)erity  of  the  I)orou,i;-h. 

lU'NJAMIN     VATHS. 

Benjamin  Yates,  one  of  the  promotors  of  Rutherford  was  born  in 
the  citv  of  New  York  in  1831.  His  parents  were  Benjamin  and  Miriam 
(  I^e  Count)  Yates,  the  father  coming-  from  an  ancestry  in  Nova  Scotia, 
the  mother  being-  of  Huguenot  extraction.  Mr.  Yates,  Sr.,  was  an 
engineering  ship  builder  and  died  when  only  thirty-two  years  ni  age, 
during  the  cholera  epidemic  in  l.S,^2.  I'enjamin's  early  life  was  spent 
in  New  York  when  that  citv  hardly  extended  above  Twelfth  street. 

He  attended  school  in  an  old  building  yet  standing  on  Madison 
Street,  near  Jackson  Park,  in  the  old  Seventh  Ward,  and  still  known  as 
School  No.  1.^.  His  old  teacher  Andrew  V.  Stout  afterwards  organized 
the  Shoe  and  Leather  Bank,  becoming  its  first  president.  He  also 
organized  the  Police  Department  of  the  city  and  subsequently  became 
Citv  Chamberlain.  Out  of  a  school  <d'  about  one  hundred  pu])ils,  twelve 
are  still  living,  all  prominent  men  in  the  \-arious  walks  of  life  to-day. 
These  old  school  friends  hold  annual  reunions.  Their  last  meeting  was 
in  October,  18V7,  at  Mr.  Yates'  residence  on  Orient  Way. 

Mr.  Yates  became  an  engineering  ship  builder,  learning  his  tr.ide 
in  the  Noveltv  Iron  Works.  He  worked  on  the  Arctic  Shij)  which  col- 
lided with  the  French  steamer  many  years  ago,  a  catastro]ihe  in  which 
so  nianv  lives  were  lost.  He  built  a  numl)er  of  vessels  which  left  the 
jx.rt  of  New  York. 

In  XSr^T  Mr.  Yates  married  Miss  Tryi)hena  Finch,  oi  New  York, 
and  became  the  father  of  three  children.  In  1S(>7  he  came  to  Ruther- 
ford, engaging  for  a  time  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  castings,  subse- 
quently becoming  a  builder;  but  after  erecting  alxmt  a  dozen  houses  for 
himself  he  retired  from  business. 

Mr.  Yates  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

IIAK'KN     K-.     II  \1x-Ii1-:N. 

Harrv  R.  Harden,  Cashier  of  tlie  Rutherford  National  Bank,  Ruther- 
ford. N.  .1.,  was  born  in  New  York  city  December  2,^,  1S()7.  The 
family  moved  to  Westfield,  N.  J.,  in  1875,  where  Harry  R.  was  graduated 
from  the  public  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  After  receiving  a 
course  of  instruction  at  the  New  Jersey  Business  College,  Newark,  N.  J., 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  United  States  National  Bank,  New  York 
citv  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  remained  in  the  employof  that  institution 
for  about  twelve  years. 

Mr.  Harden  was  appointed  cashier  of  theRutherford  National  Bank, 
May  i6,  1895,  and  opened  the  Bank  for  business  June  27,  1895. 

CHAKLES    EDWAKD    WATERS. 

Charles  Edward  Waters,  gold  and  silver  refiner  and  assayer  of  New 
York  citv,  is  a  son  of  John  and    Anna  Waters,  his  father   having  estab- 


470  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

lisbed  this  business  in  lS3't.  It  is  now  carried  on  in  the  name  of  John 
Waters"  Son.  Mr.  Waters  was  born  in  New  York  city,  Aiig-ust  4,  184(i, 
and  was  educated  in  his  native  city,  afterward  completing'  a  course  of 
instruction  in  the  Commercial  College  at  Aliddletown,  Connecticut.  He 
is  a  man  of  character  and  dignity,  taking  high  rank  in  social  circles, 
and  other  places  in  which  he  is  called  to  act. 

On  January  7,  1874,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  23d  Regiment,  N. 
G.,  State  of  New  York,  in  Brooklyn,  and  was  elected  Corporal  March 
1,  1875;  elected  Sergeant  May  15,  1876,  1st  Sergeant  August  7,  1S7S; 
1st  Lieutenant  May  6,  1879;  Captain  March  4,  1880,  and  Major  April  1"», 
1SS().  On  June  20,  1892,  Major  Waters  was  honorably  discharged,  ha\- 
ing  missed  but  three  roll  calls  during  his  term  of  service. 

During  his  residence  in  Brooklyn,  he  was  a  member  of  all  the  lead- 
ing social  Clubs,  of  that  city;  the  Oxford  Club,  Union  League  Club  and 
Marine  and  Field  Club  at  Bath  Beach.  Since  his  removal  to  Ruther- 
ford, he  has  become  a  member  of  Union  Clul),  the  most  prominent  social 
organization  of  that  locality.  Major  Waters'  wife  was  Miss  Belle  F. 
Keeney  of  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

Kiev.    WILLIAM    WICKHAM    CASK. 

Rev.  William  Wickham  Case,  son  of  Rev.  John  B.  Case  and  Eliza- 
beth Wickham,  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  at  Perth  Amboy  August 
M).  18.^'),  and  was  graduated  from  Bucknell  University,  Lewisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  July,  1S(>,t.  His  first  charge  was  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Phil- 
adelphia, following  which  were  New  London,  Connecticut,  and  other 
places.  Mr.  Case  served  at  Hamilton  Square,  N.  J.,  ten  years  and  was 
at  Holmdel,  N.  J.,  for  a  period  of  twelve  years.  In  1S')(,  he  came  from 
Hoboken  to  Rutherford  where  he  is  located  at  this  time. 

CHARLES  K.   SOLEY. 

Mr.  Charles  R.  Solev,  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  at  Lyndhurst 
forty-three  years  ago.  He  began  business  as  contractor  and  builder,  in 
1878.  Eventually  he  improved  his  fortunes  by  launching  out  in  the 
broader  rield  of  steam  sawing,  moulding,  turning,  &c.  Experience  had 
taught  him  the  wants  of  the  trade,  and  the  necessity  of  good  and  well 
manufactured  material,  in  carrying  out  specifications  in  detail.  In 
1890,  Mr.  Solcy  built  his  factory  in  Rutherford,  N.  J.,  where  he  carries 
a  heavv  and  varied  stock,  and  is  able  to  till  orders  without  delay.  Mr. 
Solev  is  prepared  to  furnish  any  article  in  wood  or  glass,  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  house.  He  is  serving  his  second  term  as  freeholder  ;  was 
a  member  of  council  one  term;  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  hre 
department  of  the  borough,   having  acted  as  its  chief  for  several  years. 

lanVAKD    W.    DEAX. 

Thirty-one  years  ago,  Mr.  Edward  W.  Dean,  a  New  Euglander  by 
birth,  and  a  Bt)stonian  Ijv  education  and  prestige,  changed  his  residence 
from  New  York  city,  to  Rutherford.  N.  J.,  where  he  has  been  recog- 
nized as  a  leading  factor,  in  the  growth  and  develojmient  of  that  little 
city.      His  father,  Christopher  C.  Dean,    was  a   well  known  jjublisher  of 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKC.KN     COUNTY  4/1 

reliifioiis  books,  in  Boston.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Martha  W. 
Peck,  both  families  being-  well  known  throughout  the  country  gener- 
allY.  Mr.  Kdward  W.  Dean,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  inheriting-  the 
literary  tendencies  of  his  progenitors  was  prepared  for  colleg-e  at  Phil- 
lips Academy,  Andover,  Mass.,  but  failing- health  necessitated  his  enter- 
ing; at  once  upon  a  business  career,  which  now,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
years,  can  be  reviewed  with  a  feeling-,  somewhat  akin  to  pride.  In 
Boston  Mr.  Dean  became  associated  as  partner,  with  Stoddard,  Lover- 
ing  &  Co.,  importers,  and  in  lS()fi,  he  came  to  New  York  city,  and 
opened  a  branch  store,  where  a  large  business  was  carried  on  till  1S87, 
when  he  retired,  the  iirm  going  out  of  existence.  Mr.  Dean's  wife  was 
Miss  Sallie  B.  Emerson  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  whom  he  married  Novem- 
ber 1,  1859.  In  1867,  ground  was  bought,  and  building  begun  for  the 
new  home  in  Rutherford.  The  house  which  is  on  the  plan  of  an  English 
cottage  with  commodious  apartments  and  all  the  appointments  of  a 
comfortable  home  including  gas  and  water,  was  erected  at  a  time  when 
Rutherford  had  no  public  water  or  gas.  It  was  named  "The  Deanery," 
and  completed  in  lS(i<S,  when  the  family  took  possession.  The  death  of 
Mrs.  Dean  in  December  of  1893,  left  a  vacancy  in  the  beautiful  home, 
which  can  never  be  filled.  Mr.  Dean  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  church  work,  in  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Rutherford,  and  superintended  the  building  of  their  elegant  church 
edifice.  He  has  been  a  leading  citizen  in  all  public  improvements  and 
affairs  in  the  little  city.  Mr.  Dean  has  tra\-eled  extensively  in  many 
lands. 

JIAJOK    KICHAKD    .-ALLISON. 

The  first  ancestor  of  the  Allison  family  in  America  was  Lawrence, 
who  is  supposed  to  have  emigrated  to  this  country  with  Robert  Win- 
throp  and  Sir  Richard  Saltonthal  in  1630.  In  direct  line  from  him  came 
John,  John  second,  and  following  him  Joseph,  the  great-grandfather  of 
the  present  Richard.  Joseph  married  Elizabeth  Benson,  and  their  son, 
Richard,  married  Eliza  Ruckel.  Mr.  Allison's  parents  were  Michael 
Allison  and  Susan  Gentil,  whose  home  was  in  New  York  city  where 
Richard  was  born  Julv  7,  183S.  After  receiving  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  New  York,  he  immediately  entered  upon  a  business 
career,  acting  as  clerk  for  John  W.  Ouincy  at  98  William  street  from 
1853  to  1861.  When  the  war  broke  out  Mr.  Allison  joined  the  Seventh 
Regiment  N.  G.  I.,  N.  Y.,  April  19,  1861,  and  was  made  Captain  in  the 
127th  New  York  Volunteers  in  1862,  serving  during  the  war.  He  made 
an  enviable  record  in  the  army  and  after  the  surrender,  he  was  made 
Provost  Marshal  of  Charleston  and  commanded  the  "Boat  Infantry"  in 
Charleston  Harbor  during  the  siege.  He  was  further  honored  by  being 
made  Inspector  General,  of  the  Northern  District  of  the  South.  Upon 
his  return  at  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Allison  was  elected  a  captain  in 
the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  (i.  I.,  N.  Y.,  serving  fifteen  years  and  was 
then  elected  Major,  after  which  he  resigned  upon  the  completion  of 
twenty-five  years  of  service. 


472  HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Major  Allison  is  a  progressive  mart  along  all  liiies  which  tend  to 
high  citizenship,  culture  and  refinement,  and  to  the  best  growth  and 
development  of  his  borough.  He  was  president  of  the  Rutherford 
Improvement  Association  out  of  which  grew  the  Borough  of  Ruther- 
ford; president  of  the  Protective  Association,  and  active  in  all  public 
and  social  events.  Mr.  Allison  is  a  member  of  Union  Club  and  nearly 
all  the  clubs  or  associations  leading  up  to  the  promotion  of  Union  Club. 

Mr.  Allison's  wife  was  Miss  Mary  A.  Love.  His  brother,  Thomas 
Allison  holds  a  judgeship  in  New  York  city. 

While  in  command  of  the  Boat  Infautr}-,  in  Charleston  Harbor, 
with  three  boats  he  made  on  August  2,  1864,  a  reconnoissance  of  Fort 
Sumter,  which  General  Foster  formally  acknowledged  as  follows: 
Headquarters,  Department  of  the  South,  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  August 
6th,  1864. 

"The  Major  General  commanding,  desires  to  express  his  thanks  to 
the  officers  and  men  who  made  the  reconnoissance  of  Fort  Sumter  on  the 
night  of  the  second  of  August  and  is  much  pleased  with  their  energy  in 
the  enterprise."     Signed,  Thomas  J.  Robinson,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

MK.    COOK    CONKLING. 

The  Conkliug  family  came  to  America  from  Staffordshire,  England, 
in  1639.  Ananias  Conkling,  the  first  of  the  name  to  come  to  this  country 
settled  in  Salem,  removing  with  his  brother  John  to  East  Hampton,  L. 
I.,  where  he  married  Mary  Gardiner,  daughter  of  Lyon  Gardiner,  of 
Gardiner's  Island,  near  Moutauk  Point.  Many  of  the  descendants  of 
Mr.  Conkling  are  still  residents  of  that  part  of  Long  Island,  although 
others,  among  them  Alfred,  the  father  of  Roscoe  Conkling,  have  removed 
to  other  parts  of  the  state  of  New  York.  About  forty-two  years  ago, 
Calvin  B.  Conkling  the  father  of  Cook,  removed  from  Sag  Harbor  to 
the  farm  in  Morris  county.  New  Jersey,  where  he  still  lives.  It  was 
upon  this  farm,  near  Stanhope,  that  Cook  Conkling  was  born,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1858.  Mr.  Conkling's  mother  was  Harriet  A.  W.  King,  daughter 
of  Silas  D.  King,  Silas  D.,  being  a  son  of  John  Phcenix  King. 

The  paternal  grandmother  of  Mr.  Conkling  was  descended  from 
the  Cooks  of  Lancastershire,  England,  who  became  famous  as  merchants 
and  shipowners.     She  was  a  relative  of  Aaron  Burr. 

Mr.  Conkling  was  educated  in  Stanhope,  N.  J.,  public  school  and 
prepared  for  college  at  Stouten bourgh's  Latin  School  at  Schooley's 
Mountain  Springs,  N.  J.  Afterward  at  Mount  Union  College,  Ohio. 
After  leaving  college  he  taught  school  for  three  years,  following  which 
he  travelled  in  a  business  capacity  through  the  United  States  and 
Canada.  In  1888  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Addison  Ely  and  in  1898 
a  new  partnership  was  entered  into  with  Luther  Shafer,  Mr.  Conkling 
being  admited  to  the  bar,  in  November  of  this  year,  continuing  practice 
as  Shafer  &  Conkling.  Mr.  Conkling  has  resided  in  Rutherford  since 
1888,  ccraducting  a  private  banking  business  and  reading  law.  In  1.S9.S, 
he  procured  the  organization  of   the   Rutherford   National   Bank,     was 


IIISTdKV    OK    KEKCEN    COUNTY  473 

elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1897,  and  is  now  devoting-  all  his  time  to 
the  ])ractice  of  law  in  connection  with  farminij  i>n  a  larg-e  scale. 

MK.    HHTICK     H.    KIP 

Peter  H.  Kip  is  a  descendant  of  Rueloff  De  Kyjx',  who  distinguished 
himself  in  the  war  waged  against  the  Huguenots  in  the  l(>th  century  by 
Catharine  De  Medicis  through  her  weak  son,  Charles  IX. 

Roeloff,  fled  to  Holland  and  remained  there  till  iS.-i'),  when  he 
returned  to  France  and  assisted  the  Duke  of  Anjou  to  suhdue  the  Prot- 
estants. A  son  of  Roeloff,  embraced  the  Protestant  faith,  however, 
dropped  the  "De"  and  became  the  parent  stem  of  the  Kii)p  family  in 
America.  His  son  was  prominent  in  the  organization  of  the  company 
which  dispatched  Hendrick  Hudson  to  explore  the  New  World,  and  he 
himself  came  to  New  Amsterdam,  where  the  family  from  the  first  have 
played  an  important  part  in  the  public  life  of  New  York. 

The  first  to  settle  in  New  Jersey  was  Nicholas,  who  bought  a  large 
tract  on  the  Polifiy  road  in  1865,  and  became  the  progenitor  of  all  the 
Kips,  now  residing  in  this  vicinity.  His  eldest  son  Hendrick,  in  due 
time,  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in  that  part  of  Boiling  Springs  town- 
ship now  constituting  Rutherf<jrd  and  built  a  tine  mansion  of  cut  brown- 
stone,  which  is  still  standing  on  the  Meadow  Road  in  the  borough  where 
four  generations  of  the  Kips  were  born.  Peter  Kip,  his  son,  occupied 
the  homestead  and  married  first  Clarissa'Marcelus,  and  after  her  death 
he  married  Sail}'  Van  Iderstine.  His  children  were  Henry,  Edo,  John, 
and  Peter,  who  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Peter  H.  Kip  is  a  prominent  land  owner  and  a  director  in  the 
Rutherford  National  Bank,  He  was  b:)rn  in  1843,  in  the  old  homestead 
where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  Kij)  is  a  man  of  simple  tastes  and  habits, 
and  is  unmarried. 

MK.    THEODOKE    MTEHLINC. 

Mr.  Theodore  Muehling  is  a  native  of  Germany,  horn  in  the  city  of 
Leipzig,  January  2,  1843.  Coming  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1849, 
the  family  lived  in  New  York  until  1855,  when  they  removed  to  Carl- 
stadt,  N.  J.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  his  father  apprenticed  him  to 
a  cigar  manufacturer  in  the  town,  where  he  continued  until  the  death 
of  his  employer  in  1863,  when  he  succeeded  to  the  business.  By  dint  of 
industry  and  perseverance,  he  soon  established  a  flourishing  trade  and  a 
reputation  as  a  manufacturer  of  fine  cigars,  and  is  known  as  a  conscien- 
tious and  reliable  business  man.  In  1870,  he  built  the  fine  brick  building 
at  the  corner  of  Hackensack  and  Broad  Streets,  known  as  Odd  Fellows' 
Hall,  he  occupving  the  lower  part  of  the  building  as  a  factory,  the 
upper  being  used  for  lodge  purposes.  Mr.  Muehling  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Carlstadt  Fire  Department,  organized  in  1872,  of  Wieland 
Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.,  organized  in  1879,  and  of  William  Tell  Council  O. 
C.  F.,  orgfanized  in  1886.  He  has  also  been  an  active  worker  for  many 
years  in  other  fields  of  labor,  which  have  for  their  object  the  advance- 
ment of  our  youths   both   mentally    and   physically.      He  has  served  on 


474  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

the  Board  of  Trustees  several  terms,  on  the  Township  Committee  and 
Board  of  Chosen  Freeholders.  Mr.  Muehling  has  been  an  active  tire- 
man  ever  since  the  first  org-anization,  and  was  Fire  Commissioner  nearlv 
as  long.  He  was  also  a  trustee  of  the  public  schools  for  many  years. 
Mr.  Muehling  moved  his  business  to  Rutherford  in  1893,  where  he  built 
the  handsome  brick  building  which  he  occupies,  and  now  resides  in 
Rutherford.  He  employs  eight  hands,  while  he  looks  after  the  sale  of 
his  goods  himself.  He  is  thorough  master  of  all  the  details  of  the  manu- 
facturing part  nf  the  business  as  well  as  the  selling  part. 

E.VST    KUTHEKFOKD. 

That  portion  of  the  old  township  of  Union,  known  as  East  Ruther- 
ford, after  the  organization  of  the  borough  of  Rutherford,  became  in- 
corporated by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  April,  1899,  under  the  name 
of   "  Boiling  Springs  Township." 

The  hrst  election  was  held  May  1st  of  that  year,  and  was  as  follows: 
Judge  of  Elections,  William  Begnell;  Inspector  of  Elections,  James 
Talbot.  David  Taylor;  Township  Clerk,  Luther  M.  Axford;  Assessor, 
Peter  J.  Post;  Collector,  Edward  A.  Jeanneret;  Chosen  Freeholder, 
Louis  Lane;  Township  Committee,  Louis  H.  Beck.  William  Sanders, 
Joseph  Huber;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  William  Conirie;  Commissioner 
of  Appeals,  Jules  Ducommun,  Theodore  Wood,  John  V.  S.  Van  Winkle; 
Surveyor  of  Highways,  George  Stettler,  Henry  Bachmann;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Edward  J.  Sutton,  Charles  E.  Griffith;  Cimstables,  L.  B. 
Van  Alstyne,  Henry  Uuintle,  Paul  Jeanneret;  Pound  Keepers,  John 
Tuma,  Louis  Handel,  John  Miller. 

Township  Purposes,  S8(U);  Township  Roads,  $900;  Poor  Purposes, 
S50;  Fall  and  Spring  Elections.  No.  3.  Engine  House. 

In  March,  1891,  Mr.  Axford  was  succeeded  by  W.  H.  Taylor,  who 
has  held  that  office  both  for  the  township  and  borough,  virtually,  since 
that  time.  During  a  portion  of  the  months  of  April  and  May,  1894,  P. 
B.  Spencer  Hodges  was  clerk  of  the  borough,  and  Luther  Shafer  has 
been  the  only  counsel  for  these  two  corporations. 

The  election  of  Borough  officers,  for  East  Rutherford,  took  place. 
April  17,  1894,  Theodore  G.  Hoster,  serving  as  Mayor  until  released  by 
William  McKenzie  in  May  following  who  has  filled  that  office  to  the 
present  time. 

On  May  23,  1893,  the  last  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Boiling 
Springs  township  was  held,  for  the  purpose  of  closing  uj)  the  township 
business  and  for  making  transfer  of  -  all  properties  to  the  borough 
c)fficers. 

The  officers  of  the  borough  for  the  year  1897  were  as  follows: 
Mayor,  William  McKenzie;  President  of  Council,  William  Gramlich; 
Councilmen,  James  P.  Edwards,  Charles  Uhl,  Charles  Albertine,  J.  V. 
S.  Van  Winkle,  John  F.  Randolph;  Clerk,  William  H.  Taylor;  Assessor, 
Henry  Bachmann;  Collector,  Edward  A.  Jeanneret;  Counsel,  Luther 
Shafer;  Recorder,  James  A.  Morgan;   Engineers,  Wise  and  Watson. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


475 


THIC    ]':AST    lU'THlUvl'OKD    LOAN    AND    BUILDING    A.SSOCL\TION. 

This  institution  with  its  several  advantag-eous  features  has  become 
one  of  the  useful  organizations  for  the  poor  men  of  this  borough.  It  owes 
its  })romotion  to  a  number  of  citizensof  East  Rutherford  and  vicinity  who 
in  a  public  spirited  manner  incorporated  for  business  in  18')5.  Among  those 
who  were  the  first  to  promote  this  enterprise  should  be  mentioned  the 
names  of  William  McKenzie,  president  of  the  Company  from  the  lirst; 
E.  A.  Jeanueret,  first  vice  j)resident;  Rudolph  Uannheim,  second  vice 
president;  William  Fleming,  Sr.  secretary;  J.  F.  Randolph,  William  II. 
Taylor,  E.  H.  Turner,  Theodore  Wood  and  Charlotte  Cooper,  all  of 
whom  be-long  to  the  Board  of  Directors  at  the  present  time. 

One  of  the  useful  features  connected  with  this  association  is  its 
Juvenile    Sa\ings    Bank.      The    liabilities  to    the    association    from    this 


EAST    Kt'THKKl-f>KI)   SCHOOL 


source  alone  during  the  last  year  amounted  to  S1158.88.  The  number 
of  shareholders  belonging  to  the  association  is  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
two,  total  liabilities  874,794.80  and  net  profits  for  1898  S4,764.15. 

CHUKCHES. 

The  Methodists  erected  a  building  for  Worship  in  East  Rutherford 
in  189,S.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hubach  was  the  first  pastor.  The  congrega- 
tion is  constantly  increasing,  and  a  flourishing  church  is  in  prospect. 
There  is  also  a  gospel  Mission  here  which  is  a  branch  of  the  Passaic 
Mission  Church  Society,  Rev.  James  R.  Morris  in  pastoral  charge.  Be- 
sides a  flourishing  Sunday  School,  the  Mission,  though  small  in  mem- 
bership, exercises   the   influence   and    does  a  work  creditable   to  a  good 


476  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

sized    church  orij-atiization.     It  was  this  mission  that  sent  one  hundred 
Testaments  to  Company  L  at  Sea  Girt,  N.  J. 

WILLIAM    m'kEN'ZIE. 

William  McKenzie,  May(^rof  East  Rutherford  borouii^h,  was  born  in 
Glasg-ow,  Scotland,  on  August  22,  1841.  From  a  boy  the  business  of 
cotton  bleaching  possessed  a  strong  attraction  for  him,  and  he  was 
already  proficient  in  the  art  when,  in  1866,  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
In  Norwicli,  Conn.,  and  in  Pawtucket,  Rhode  Island,  he  followed  the 
business,  winning  a  high  reputation  as  superintendent  in  a  large  con- 
cern. With  the  natural  energy  of  an  active  man,  Mr.  McKenzie  con- 
stantly sought  opportunities  of  improving  his  position,  and  in  1885  he 
took  advantage  of  the  opening  which  has  resulted  in  his  becoming  so 
largely  interested  in  East  Rutherford  and  Bergen  county. 

Standing  alongside  the  Erie  Railway  track  at  Carlton  Hill  at  that 
time  was  a  large  brick  building  which  had  become  known  in  the  neigh- 
borhood as  a  white  elephant.  A  cotton  bleachery  had  been  established 
their  fifty  years  ago,  and  its  record  had  been  one  of  ruin  for  the  men 
who  put  their  money  into  the  enterprise.  Mr.  McKenzie,  whose  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  was  accurate,  and  who  was  sanguine  of  success 
under  the  right  conditions,  interested  John  Ward,  a  wholesale  jeweler, 
in  a  plan  for  starting  up  the  works ;  the  place,  including  machinery 
which  had  lain  idle  for  years,  was  bought  and  the  wonderfully  success- 
ful career  of  the  Standard  Bleachery,  with  a  reputation  for  fine  work  as 
wide  as  the  continent,  began.  Obstacles  which  appeared  to  be  insur- 
mountable were  overcome,  and  success  was  fairly  forced  from  apparent 
failure  by  the  indomitabe  energy  and  enterprise  of  Mr.  McKenzie. 
This  to-day  is  one  of  the  most  important  industries  in  Bergen  county, 
and  gives  employment  to  nearly-  500  people. 

Like  many  men  deeply  immersed  in  business  cares,  Mr.  McKenzie 
reached  middle  age  before  taking  any  active  part  in  public  atfairs. 
When  the  call  came  for  him  to  take  a  part  in  the  government  of  his 
town,  which  was  then  Boiling  Springs  township,  he  reluctantly  con- 
sented, and  served  two  terms  as  chairman  of  the  Township  Committee. 
His  judicial  temperament  and  unvarying  fairness  quickly  made  for  him 
a  name  which  went  far  beyond  the  confines  of  his  town,  and  strong 
pressure  was  brought  to  bear  to  induce  him  to  run  on  the  Republican 
ticket  for  Assemblyman  in  1892.  This  was  the  year  of  the  Democratic 
tidal  wave,  and  Mr.  McKenzie  was  defeated;  nevertheless,  he  headed 
the  ticket,  and  was  beaten  by  a  margin  so  small  that  his  prestige  was 
greatly  increased,  in  a  county  hitherto  always  Democratic. 

Mr.  McKenzie  was  still  chairman  of  the  Township  Committee  when 
the  movement  began  which  resulted  in  the  changing  of  Boiling  Springs 
township  into  East  Rutherford  borough.  The  success  of  the  movement 
was  largely  due  to  him,  and  he  became  the  first  Mayor  of  the  borough. 
His  entrance  into  the  office  was  marked  by  a  stirring  incident,  the  local 
election  board  having  unwittingly  counted   him  out  in    favor  of  another 


HISTORY    OF    BHKGEN     COUNTY  479 

man.  An  ai)pcal  to  Judge  Dixon,  however,  led  to  a  recount,  and  he 
was  seated.  In  18')7  he  was  elected  for  the  third  time,  and  he  had  no 
opposition. 

For  many  years  Mr.  McKenzie  had  served  as  a  member  of  the  Ber- 
yen  County  Republican  Executive  Committee,  and  his  marked  services 
to  the  party  were  recog'nized  this  year  by  his  election  as  chairman  of 
the  committee,  to  succeed  Judge  D.  D.  Zabriskie.  He  is  also  vice  presi- 
dent for  the  Fifth  Congressional  District  of  the  Republican  State  League. 

Recognizing-  the  need  of  some  association  to  set  forth  the  advan- 
tages of  Rutherford  and  its  neighborhood,  Mr.  McKenzie  last  year  took 
an  active  part  in  forming  the  Rutherford  and  East  Rutherford  Board  of 
Trade,  of  which  he  was  chosen  president,  a  place  which  he  now  holds. 
He  has  just  been  re-elected  vice  president  of  the  Rutherford  Public 
Library  Association.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Rutherford  National  Bank, 
of  which  institution  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 

Being  a  strong  believer  in  the  maxim  that  "a  penny  saved  is  a 
penny  earned,"  Mr.  McKenzie  has  for  years  been  interested  in  loan  and 
building  associations,  being  a  pronounced  advocate  of  local  associa- 
tions. Three  years  ago  he  was  one  of  the  active  organizers  of  the  East 
Rutherford  Savings,  Loan  and  Building  Association,  of  which  he  ac- 
cepted the  presidency,  which  he  still  holds,  and  the  remarkable  progress 
of  the  young  association  has  been  due  largely  to  his  interest  and  to  the 
prestige  which  his  name  bestowed  upon  it.  He  is  a  Governor  of  the 
Passaic  Hospital,  and,  in  addition  to  being  President  of  the  Standard 
Bleachery  Company,  holds  the  presidency  of  a  Paper  Manufacturing 
Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the  Union 
Clul)  of  Rutherford. 

Mr.  McKenzie  lives  in  a  handsome  residence  at  Carlton  Hill,  sur- 
rounded by  acres  of  grounds,  and  located  near  the  bleachery.  He  is 
married  and  has  four  sons  and  a  daughter.  His  eldest  son,  James  J. 
McKenzie,  is  actively  connected  with  the  management  of  the  Bleachery, 
and  his  third  son  is  a  student  in  a  textile  college  at  Philadelphia.  His 
only  daughter  is  married  and  lives  near  Boston,  Mass. 

Mr.  McKenzie  is  a  man  of  sanguine  temperament;  level-headed,  warm- 
hearted and  true;  a  !--taunch  friend  and  a  manly  foe.  A  deep  interest  in 
all  that  tends  toward  the  uplifting  of  his  community  has  been  marked 
bv  many  unostentatious  deeds  of  generosity  on  his  part;  but  no  man  can 
be  sterner  toward  an  unworthy  cause.  A  mental  habit  of  looking  diffi- 
culties squarely  in  the  face  makes  him  a  tower  of  strength  in  trouble; 
and  his  advice  is  constantly  sought  by  thcise  who  know  his  absolute 
integrity.  A  certain  sturdy  independence  of  manner  and  an  insistence 
upon  his  rights  have  combined  to  attract  toward  him  a  circle  of  friends 
whose  entire  confidence  in  him  is  at  once  a  tribute  and  a  sign  of  proper 
appreciation  of  his  worth.  His  tine  mental  fibre  has  been  shown  in 
every  positiim  of  trust  which  has  been  given  to  him,  and  a  deep  strain 
of  reverence  in  his  nature  lor  what  is  grand  and  ennobling  has  left  its 
impress  on  his   life.      He  ])ossesses  a   rare   sym])athy   for  those  who  are 


480  inSTOKY    OF    KKKOKN    COUNTY 

engaged  in  the  battle  of  life  against  odds,  and  enjoys  that  faculty  of 
discernment  which  permits  him  to  guage  accurately  the  motives  of  men. 
Of  an  intrepid  nature  himself,  he  appreciates  courage  in  others,  and  has 
all  that  catholicity  of  view  which  enables  men  to  judge  their  fellows 
leniently.  While  a  lover  of  peace  Mr.  McKenzie  never  avoids  a  conflict 
where  a  question  of  principle  is  involved.  His  rapid  business  advance- 
ment has,  in  no  instance,  been  accomplished  to  the  detriment  of  others, 
and  no  ruins  mark  the  path  that  he  has  trod.  He  is  an  illustration  of  what 
a  sound  head  and  a  willing  heart  can  accomplish,  when  united  with  the 
other  sterling  attributes  of  an  upright  man,  and  his  prosperity  to-day 
awakens  nothing  but  satisfaction  in  the  minds  of  those  who  know  him, 
for  no  man's  sorrow  has  contributed  thereto,  and  no  man  is  the  jxiorer 
because  of  his  splendid  rise. 

MK.    JOHN    J.    DUPUV. 

Mr.  John  J.  Dupuy.  proprietor  of  the  HoiTman  House,  and  a  well 
known  official  in  municipal  and  county  affairs,  passed  his  early  days  in 
the  busy  city  of  New  York,  where  he  was  born  August  6,  1855.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  years  he  left  school  and  since  that  time  his  life  has  been 
a  busy  one. 

In  1876,  he  came  to  Rutherford,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  watch 
case  factory  for  five  years.  In  1881,  he  opened  a  store  which  he  con- 
ducted till  1886.  During  this  time  he  began  in  a  small  way  to  manu- 
facture base  balls  and  other  sporting  goods,  eventually  becoming  very 
successful  in  this  business.  His  factory  was  in  Rutherford  and  his 
salesroom  at  'No.  112  Chambers  Street,  New  York.  At  one  time  he  had 
in  all  nearly  one  hundred  hands  employed  and  in  one  season  manufac- 
tured 365,000  dozen  balls.  He  conducted  this  business  and  at  the  same 
time  a  dry  goods  store  in  Rutherford,  until  the  panic  of  1893  caused 
him  to  relinquish  both  enterprises. 

As  an  official  Mr.  Dupuy's  career  has  beeen  successful  also.  He 
served  the  borough  of  Rutherford,  first,  in  the  capacity  of  constable 
from  1880  to  1885,  was  Town  Collector  from  1886  to  1888,  the  only  Demo- 
crat elected  on  that  ticket.  He  was  Coroner  from  1887,  to  1889,  running 
ahead  of  his  ticket  in  that  election.  It  was  during  his  incumbency  the 
inquest  was  held  over  the  remains  of  Sherff  Demarest  who  was  killed  at 
the  Erie  crossing. 

Mr.  Dupuy  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1882,  serving  five 
years,  and  again  elected  in  1893.  In  1891,  he  was  elected  Assemblyman 
from  the  second  Assembly  District,  and  re-elected  the  following  year. 
He  is  Chief  of  the  State  Detective  Bureau,  and  has  been  prominent,  in 
fire  circles — having  served  in  the  department  as  foreman,  chief  and 
president  of  the  organization. 

Mr.  Du])uy  is  also  a  member  of  the  Boiling  Spring  Lodge,  No.  152, 
F.  and  A.  M.;  Rutherford  Lodge,  No.  240,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  Passaic  Lodge, 
No.  387,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  Rutherford  Lodge,  No.  42,  Foresters  of 
America;  Rutherford  Council  Royal  Arcanum;  United  F'riends  Council 
and  other  social  organizations. 


JOHN    J.    DUPUY 


PETER    J.    POST 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  '  483 

PETEK    J.    POST. 

Peter  J.  Post,  a  resident  of  East  Rutherford  from  1875  till  his 
(leatJi,  was  a  prominent  business  man  in  New  York  for  over  fifty  years. 
He  was  born  in  Rockland  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1821.  When  a  youth  he 
went  to  Ne-v?'  York  and  learned  the  clothiers'  trade,  subsequently  going 
into  business  for  himself  at  Eighth  Avenue  and  Twentieth  Street,  where 
he  remained  twenty-five  years.  He  then  joined  his  brother  of  the  firm 
of  A.  J.  Post  &  Son  and  carried  on  business  with  them  at  two  places  in 
the  city  for  twenty  years  or  more.  In  1875  Mr.  Post  purchased  prop- 
erty in  Rutherford  where  he  remained  until  removed  by  death.  From 
1875  till  1884  he  was  a  commuter,  at  which  time  he  retired  from  active 
pursuits.  In  1S43  he  married  his  first  wife  Miss  Caroline  Canfield,  and 
after  four  children  were  born  of  this  union  she  died.  The  children  are 
all  dead  also.  His  second  wife,  who  was  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Owens, 
survives  him.  She  was  born  in  Bangor,  North  Wales,  and  was  married 
at  the  home  of  her  uncle,  James  Loyd,  in  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.  She 
is  a  Christian  woman,  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  her.  Mr.  Post 
was  a  religious  man  and  greatly  devoted  to  his  church.  He  was  a  life 
member  of  the  American  Institute  Missionary  Society,  and  belonged  to 
the  Baptist  Church  in  Sixteenth  Street,  New  York.  He  was  a  Free 
Mason,  also.  Mr.  Post  is  missed  the  most  in  his  home,  for  those  who 
knew  him  best  loved  him  most.  He  died  in  IS"^)?,  and  was  buried  by 
Stephen  Merrit,  his  intimate  friend,  who  also  buried  General  Grant, 
Bishop  Simpson  and  other  persons  of  note.  He  was  buried  in  Green- 
wood Cemetery,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

JOHN    F.    RANDOLPH. 

The  earliest  paternal  ancestors  of  the  Randolph  family  in  America, 
of  which  we  have  a  record,  was  Basil  F.,  born  in  Virginia.  His  son. 
Justice  F.,  was  born  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  and  was  the  father  of  Absalom 
Fitz  Randolph,  also  a  native  of  Elizabeth,  and  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  Edwin  Fitz  Randolph  the  father  of  John  F.,  was  born  in 
Jersey  City,  November  9,  1812.  He  married  Hannah  Goetchius,  of 
Paterson,  a  grand-daughter  of  Rev.  Henry  Goetchius  a  Dutch  Reformed 
minister  of  early  days.    They  had  ten  children,  two  boys  and  eight  girls. 

Of  these  children  John  Fitz,  was  born  at  Lodi,  January  31,  1857, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Rutherford.  After  leaving 
school  Mr.  Randolph  turned  his  attention  to  the  nursery  business  and 
horticulture,  and  since  1872,  has  devoted  his  energies  to  this  line  of 
trade.  His  nurseries  and  greenhouses  are  located  in  East  Rutherford, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  successful  and  growing  industry. 

Mr.  Randolph's  military  record  covers  a  period  of  five  years  in  Com- 
pany L,  Second  Regiment.  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  He  served  a  term 
of  two  years  as  member  of  Township  Committee  and  three  years  as  bor- 
ough Councilman.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  since  its  organization  ;  was  for  thirteen  years  a  fireman 
and   for  fifteen  years  belonged  to  the  order  of  United  Friends,  in    addi- 


4g4  ■  HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


tion  to  several  other  clubs  and  organizations  of  minor  importance. 

Mr.    Randolph    was    married    May    15.   1890,    to  Miss  Mary  Emma 
Ostendorff,  daughter  of  Louis  H.  Ostendorff  of  Hoboken. 

.\KTHUK    ANDEKS. 

Arthur  Anders  in  real  estate  and  insurance  business  in  East  Ruther- 
ford is  a  native  of  Berlin,  Germany,  and  was  born  July  22,  i859. 

Mr  Anders  acquired  his  education  in  his  native  country,  first  m  the 
public  schools,  following  this  by  a  High  School  course.  In  preparation 
for  a  business  life,  Mr.  Anders  immediately  entered  a  business  college 
in  Berlin,  and  after  completing  the  prescribed  course  of  instruction, 
began  his  career  bv  spending  three  years  in  commercial  business  in  that 
city  After  coming  to  America,  in  1884,  he  occupied  various  positions 
in  New  York  business  houses,  beginning  at  a  small  salary,  but  building 
up  until  in  1890,  his  accumulations  enabled  him  to  come  to  East  Ruther- 
ford and  purchase  property.  ,  -,  •  •. 
After  establishing  a  general  agency  business,  he  continued  in  it 
until  1897  when  he  turned  his  attention  wholly  to  real  estate  and  insur- 
ance in  which  he  has  been  successful.  Mr.  Anders  takes  pride  in  doing 
his  share  toward  the  development  of  his  village,  and  the  vicinity.  He 
or<ranized  a  Board  for  the  Metropolitan  Savings  and  Loan  Association,  a 
prosperous  organization  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  which  is  of  great  benefit  to 
those  who  have  a  small  income. 

Mr  Anders  married  Miss  Margaret  Mutter,  of  Berlin,  Germany. 
He  is  a  progressive  man  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  having  taken  ad- 
vantage of  all  the  privileges  of  an  American  by  acquiring  his  citizen- 
ship in  1890. 

JAMES    A.    MORGAN. 

James  A  Morgan,  Recorder  for  the  borough  of  East  Rutherford,  is 
a  native  of  England,  born  in  1846.  In  1847  his  father  emigrated  to 
this  country,  where  James  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  New  York  city.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Franklin  Grove  in  Illinois. 
In  1861  he  enlisted  in  a  New  York  Regiment  volunteers,  and  served  in 
the  army  until  honorably  discharged  in  June,  1865.  After  a  visit  to 
England  in  1866,  he  followed  his  trade  of  marble  cutter,  coming  into 
the  employ  of  S.  Klauber  &  Co.,  eventually  working  tor  them  from  18/.^ 

to  1897.  ,  ,         ,  •       ,wi,    f 

In  1871  he  married  Miss  Kate  Corrigan,  who  has  shared  in  all  that 
has  made  his  social  and  business  relations  successful  in  the  home  of  his 
adoption.  Judge  Morgan  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  m  the  Spring 
of  1896,  and  was  appointed  Borough  Recorder  in  the  Spring  of  189/. 
He  is  manager  of  the  Thespian  Institute  of  Carlstadt,  which  organiza- 
ti.m  he  effected  in  December,  1897.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  i  ellows, 
belongs  to  the  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  is  an  esteemed  citizen  ot 
Bergen  county. 

LOUIS  BECK. 

Louis  Beck  of  East  Rutherford,  N.  J.,  is  a  man  of  varied  an.l  wide 
experience.     He  was  born  at  Homburg,  Germany,  February  1.  184...  and 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN     COUNTY  485 

is  of  pure  German  descent  by  both  paternal  and  maternal  lines.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  country,  going  to  sea  when 
but  fourteen  years  of  age  and  remaining  until  his  twentieth  year.  The 
last  two  years  of  this  time  he  was  Quartermaster  in  the  service  of  the 
Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company,  and  before  that  in  the  Anchor  and 
Allen  Line,  and  also  in  the  American,  Bremen  and  Brazilian  Lines. 
In  1861,  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  came  to  America,  entering 
as  cabin  boy  on  the  Vanderbilt  line  of  steamers,  "Northern  Light," 
but  had  to  leave  after  a  few  trips  to  Aspinwall  on  account  of 
being  sick  with  fever.  In  1865  he  left  the  service  coming  from  Liver- 
pool to  New  York  in  the  steamer  St.  David  of  the  Allen  Line,  which 
was  thirty-three  days  making  the  trip.  He  then  began  work  as  a 
painter  remaining  with  one  man  nine  and  one-half  years.  He  came  to 
Rutherford  in  1871,  and  has  seen  the  place  grow  from  nothing  to  its 
present  rather  prosperous  proportions.  In  1877,  he  opened  business  on 
his  own  account,  and  in  18*J2.  started  in  the  building  and  contracting 
business. 

Mr.  Beck  is  a  public  spirited  citizen,  is  president  of  the  Union  town- 
ship committee  and  Board  of  school  trustees  in  District  No.  40 '2.  He 
belongs  to  the  "  Order  of  United  Friends,"  the-  "Fraternal  League," 
and  the  "Odd  Fellows."  Is  a  member  of  the  German  Presbyterian 
Church.     His  wife  is  also  German;  she  was  Miss  Caroline  Greyner. 

CHAKI.ES    DANIEL    BKOOKS,    M.    D. 

Among  the  prominent  physicians  of  the  county,  having  a  large 
practice,  may  be  mentioned  Dr.  Brooks,  of  East  Rutherford.  He  was 
born  near  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  thirty  years  ago  and  spent  the  first  nine- 
teen years  of  his  life  on  his  father's  farm.  Having  natural  inclinations 
to  the  study  of  medicine,  he  began  a  course  in  that  science  before  leav- 
ing his  early  home.  His  educational  career  began  in  the  public  school, 
which  in  time  was  supplemented  by  special  courses  on  subjects  looking 
towards  the  profession  he  intended  to  espouse.  In  time  he  was  gradu- 
ated from  Bellevue  Medical  College,  New  York,  taking  his  degree  from 
that  institution.  He  also  completed  a  course  of  instruction  in  the  New 
York  Midwifery  Dispensary,  April  6,  1842,  and  on  January  22,  1S'»4, 
passed  the  examination  by  the  State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners,  at 
Trenton,  N.  J.  Dr.  Brooks  is  a  brother  of  Dr.  Harry  H.  Brooks,  a  pro- 
fessor in  Bellevue  College,  New  York,  who  is  also  one  of  the  visiting 
physicians  at  Sing  Sing,  on  expert  cases,  for  testimony. 

THEODOKE    WOOD. 

Theodore  Wood,  a  citizen  of  East  Rutherford  since  1870,  and  one  of 
the  original  councilmen  of  that  borough  is  a  native  of  New  York  city, 
and  was  born  in  1840.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Maria  Wood,  both  de- 
scendants of  old  New  Jersey  families,  members  of  the  old  Holland  Church. 
Having  received  a  good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York, 
Mr.  Wood  learned  the  trade  of  bookbinding,  taking  up  the  work  in  the 
employ  of  Beatty&  Stevenson,  with  whom  he  remained  thirty-five  years. 


486  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

the  last  ten  years  of  which,  as  a  member  of  the  firm.  In  i890  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  on  Dutch  street,  New  York,  where  he  still 
remains  as  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Wood  &  Salter,  binders  and  manu- 
facturer of  blank  books.  The  firm  employ  from  fifteen  to  twenty  hands 
constantly,  and  do  a  large  business.  In  1865  Mr.  Wood  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Rodman  of  New  York,  and  in  1870  thev  moved  to  East 
Rutherford.  They  have  four  children.  Mr.  W^xxl  has  been  a  member 
of    the  Masonic  Lodge  for  thirty  years. 

JAMES    p.    EDWAKDS. 

James  p.  Edwards,  son  of  James  B.  Edwards,  a  former  wholesale 
drug  dealer  of  Jersey  City,  was  born  in  Morrisania  in  1862.  W^hen  four 
years  of  age  his  father  removed  to  Jersey  City,  where  he  lived  the 
remainder  of  his  life  dying  in  1881.  James  P.  was  brought  up  in  that 
city  coming  to  Boiling  Springs  in  1886.  He  then  bought  property  and 
built  several  houses.  In  1888  when  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  Town- 
ship Committee  the  office  was  tendered  him  which  he  declined,  but  three 
years  later  he  appeared  as  an  independent  candidate  and  was  elected 
over  two  other  regular  party  nominees.  He  has  been  councilman  in  East 
Rutherford  for  eight  years. 

Mr.  Edwards  is  of  English  descent.  His  grandfather  Major  John 
Edwards  of  Paterson  was  born  in  the  town  of  Trowbridge,  Vv'iltshire, 
England,  October  14,  1808,  and  came  to  this  country  when  but  fourteen 
years  of  age.  Making  his  way  to  Paterson,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
machinist,  finally  becoming  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Danforth  &  Cooke 
Locomotive  Works,  from  which  he  retired  with  a  comfortable  fortune  to 
spend  his  last  days  in  peace  and  rest.  Our  subject  is  a  progressive 
citizen  in  the  best  sense,  and  looks  to  the  interest  of  his  borough.  In 
1893  he  built  his  own  residence,  where  he  now  lives,  enjoying  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  of  all. 

JACOB    H.    VKEELAND. 

Mr.  Vreeland's  ancestors  came  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  set- 
tled in  Bergen  county  at  a  very  early  date.  The  old  homestead  is  on  the 
Polifly  road,  the  site  of  which  is  now  Hasbrouck  Heights.  His  grand- 
father, Abraham  Vreeland  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  his 
grandmother  drawing  a  pension  until  her  death  which  occurred  in  1856. 
Mr.  Vreeland  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
in  a  private  high  school  at  West  Hoboken.  Upon  leaving  his  father's 
farm  at  sixteen  years  of  age  he  became  apprenticed  to  the  firm  of  Hogg 
&  Delameter,  marine  machinists,  located  at  the  foot  of  Thirteenth 
Street,  New  Y''ork  city.  After  serving  his  full  time  a  position  was 
immediately  offered  him  as  assistant  engineer  in  the  Russian  Navy, 
which  he  declined. 

In  1861  Mr.  Vreeland  removed  to  West  Hoboken  and  in  1863  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Township  Committee  and  by  them  was  made 
president  of  the  Board.  Returning  to  Boiling  Springs  (  now  Rutherford  ) 
in  1865  he  was  elected  president  of  the  township  committee,  serving  two 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  4S7 

terms.  He  was  also  school  trustee  for  fourteen  years,  being'  president  of 
the  board  of  trustee^  for  a  ^leriod  of  ten  years,  and  was  collector  of  the 
town  three  3'ears. 

While  serving-  the  public  he  was  not  neglecting  his  own  interests, 
being  the  inventor  of  a  "Patented  Hydraulic  Jack,"  for  removing  and 
replacing  locomotive  drivers  without  disturbing  the  height  of  the 
engine.  This  device  is  in  use  on  all  the  prominent  roads  in  the  United 
States,  Canada  and  Mexico. 

In  1864  and  part  of  lS(i5>  he  was  em.ployed  by  Commodore  Stevens 
of  Hoboken,  superintending-  his  machine  shops.  At  this  time  he  was 
offered  a  situation  with  the  Erie  Railroad  Company  at  Jersey  City.  He 
accepted  a  position  as  foreman,  soon  after  becoming  general  foreman, 
and  later  master  mechanic  of  the  Eastern  division  and  all  its  branches, 
including  the  care  of  about  three  hundred  locomotives,  and  a  fleet  of 
ferr}'  and  tugboats.     He  remained  with  the  company  until  ISSS. 

Mr.  Vreeland  married  Miss  Frances  Ferritt  whose  ancestors  are  of 
the  Morgan  family  of  Connecticut.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  been  Master  three  successive  terms.  In  his  religious 
connections  he  is  a  member  of  Grace  Episcopal  Church  of  Rutherford. 
He  is  a  son  of  Lawrence  and  Mary  ( Smith )  Vreeland,  his  grand- 
parents being  Abraham  Vreeland  and  Rachel  Ackerman.  He  was  Ixirn 
in  Bergen  county,  August  16,  1834. 

ADOLPH    (;UHL. 

Adolph  (iuhl,  wagon  manufacturer  and  general  blacksmith,  was 
horn  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  March  11,  i850,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  wheelwright  with  his  father.  He  came  to  New  York  in  1873, 
and  the  year  following  to  Carlstadt,  where  he  worked  three  j'ears  as  a 
hired  hand.  In  i87S  he  started  business  for  himself,  but  after  two  years 
he  again  began  working  for  wages  remaining  in  his  position  until  189f>, 
when  he  built  his  present  brick  shop.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
manufacturing  wagons  and  doing  all  kinds  of  blacksmithing,  employing- 
at  times  a  dozen  or  more  hands.  In  1879  he  was  married  to  Miss  Freda 
Guckelberger,  and  in  1882  purchased  his  present  residence.  Mr.  Guhl 
belongs  to  the  I.  ().  O.  F.  and  the  Foresters. 

EDWARD  A.  JKANXEKET. 

Edward  A.  Jeanneret  is  of  Huguenot  e.xtraction  born  in  Locle, 
Switzerland,  in  1840.  His  father  August  Jeanneret,  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  watches  and  lived  for  a  time  in  St.  Petersburg,  where  he  mar- 
ried Amelia  Walter  in  1836.  Her  father  was  a  Polander.  She  is  still 
living  and  is  now  ninety-four  years  old.  In  1859  Mr.  Jeanneret  came  to 
America,  and  in  1872  located  in  Rutherford,  N.  J.     He  died  in  1882. 

Edward  Jeanneret  learned  the  trade  of  manufacturing  watches  in 
Switzerland  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  time  in  New  York.  In  1867, 
he  married  Juliet  Guinand  whose  father  was  an  old  watch  case  manu- 
facturer in  New  York  for  many  years,  and  when  he  died  in  1881  Mr. 
Jeanneret  succeeded  to  the  business. 


488  HISTORY   OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

In  1885  his  brother,  Paul  Jeanneret,  who  had  been  with  him  for  a 
time,  succeeded  as  sole  owner.  The  brothers  were  successful  manu- 
facturers and  often  employed  twenty-five  and  thirty  men.  Mr.  Edward 
Jeanneret  came  to  East  Rutherford  in  1870,  and  has  been  in  the  real 
estate  business  ever  since.  Soon  after  coming  here  he  was  made  Tax 
Collector  and  still  holds  that  office.  He  is  vice  president  of  the  East 
Rutherford  Building  and  Loan  Association  and  has  been  president  of 
the  Fishing  and  Gun  Club  since  August  1888.     His  wife  died  in  1805. 

VALENTINE    GKAMLICH. 

Valentine  Gramlich  was  resident  here  since  1853,  is  a  native  of 
Baden,  Germany,  and  was  born  August  1,  1830.  He  came  to  this 
country  in  the  William  Tell  in  1853.  In  1856  he  built  the  first  five  houses 
in  Carlstadt  for  the  German  Land  Association.  In  1863  he  began  busi- 
ness in  coal  and  wood  and  during  that  same  year  married  Miss  Mina 
Hobe.     They  have  five  sons  and  one  daughter, 

William  Gramlich,  the  eldest  son  is  president  of  the  Borough 
Council,  having  been  a  member  of  that  body  since  1893,  and  chairman 
of  the  Board  since  1895,  He  has  been  in  charge  of  the  Station  on  the 
Erie  Railroad  at  Carlstadt  for  many  years. 

WILLIAM    ]•;.    VOI.MEK. 

William  E.  Volmcr,  florist,  conducts  a  profital)le  trade  in  flowers  on 
the  Paterson  Plank  R(jad,  East  Rutherford,  N.  J.  He  was  born  in 
Brunswick,  Germany,  in  1856.  His  early  training  in  the  business  was 
obtained  in  the  Botanical  Gardens  of  his  native  town,  and  a  diploma 
conferred  upon  him  in  lS9i  in  testimnnv  of  his  advancement  in  the 
knowledge  of  plants  and  flowers. 

After  coming  to  America  in  [892,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  De 
Forest,  at  Summit,  N.  J.,  four  years,  in  charge  of  an  extensive  place, 
the  orchids  alone  numbering  125,000.  In  1896  he  began  business  for 
himself  on  Jersey  City  Heights,  and  in  1897  Mr.  Volmer  bought  three 
acres  of  land,  where  he  is  at  present  located,  and  has  about  10,000 
square  feet  of  this  under  glass.  He  enjovs  a  liberal  patronage  in  his 
new  field. 

JA.MES    K.    TOLESON. 

James  R.  Toleson  was  born  in  Paterson  in  1843,  and  is  a  son  of 
Robert  Toleson  of  that  city.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  moulders'  trade  at  the 
Danforth  &  Cooke  Locomotive  Works,  where  he  remained  until  1861. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Regiment  of  Sickles' 
Brigade  (70th  N.  Y.  Volunteers)  as  a  drummer  boy.  Before  he  had  been 
out  a  week  he  exchanged  his  drum  for  a  gun,  and  at  Chancellorsville  was 
promoted  to  Color  Sergeant.  Not  long  after  this  he  was  recommended 
by  his  superior  officers  for  a  lieutenancy  and  papers  were  forwarded  for 
his  ])romotion,    but  on   July  2d,    at   (Gettysburg,    he   lost   an   arm,  which 


iiisToKV  OF  bkk(;i';n  coi'nty  48'* 

unfitted  him  for  dutv.  Upon  recovery  he  w;is  placed  in  charge  of  the 
jruards  at  the  Jarvis  General  Hospital  in  Baltimore,  and  was  subse- 
quently transferred  to  the  Court  Martial  building-  in  Washingtcm,  where 
he  remained  until  mustere<l  out  of  service  after  having  Iteen  in  the  war 
three  years.  After  Mr.  Tnlesun  returned  to  Paterson,  he  was  elected 
Poormaster  in  iShS,  but  soon  afterward  became  superintendent  for  T. 
F'rank  Hoxsie  at  that  time  one  of  the  leading  contractors  of  the  state. 
He  remained  in  this  capacity  until  his  removal  to  Bergen  county  in  18'«), 
at  which  time  he  purchased  his  present  property.  He  is  a  prominent 
contractor  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  for  a  i)eri<>d  of  three  years 
filled  the  office  of  Freeholder,  having  been  elected  nn  the  Republican 
ticket,  defeating  both  the  Democratic  and  Citizen's  candidates.  As  a 
c(mtractor,  Mr.  Toleson  built  the  bridge  over  the  Lodi  at  that  village ; 
macadamized  Washington  Avenue  from  the  river  to  Kingsland  Lane, 
making  it  one  hundred  feet  wide,  and  one  of  the  best  graded  streets  of 
the  kind  in  the  county.  He  did  similar  work  <in  the  other  streets. 
including  Bloomfield  Avenue,  Irvington  Road  and  other  thoroughfares 
of  Rutherford,  and  has  also  done  extensive  work  for  the  Erie  Railroad 
Comjjanv. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 
RIDGEFEILD  TOWNSHIP. 

OKIGINAI.      TOWNSHIP — EAKLY    SETTLEMENTS — CIVIL    LIST — COMPANY    E — 

VILLACxES — REVOLUTION AKY    INCIDENTS — SCHOOLS — CHURCHES — 

FORT    LEE,  RIDGEKIELD  PARK,  COVTESVILLE — BIOCVR APHICAL. 

RIDGEFIELD. 

This  township  embraced  originally  the  earliest  settlements  in  the 
ancient  township  of  Hackensack,  and  was  the  iirst  the  traveller  entered 
in  passinuf  up  the  Palisades.  The  valley  of  the  Hackensack  invited  set- 
tlers early  in  the  seventeenth  century  and  the  valley  of  the  Overpeck 
Creek,  a  navig'able  arm  of  the  Hackensack,  also  attracted  settlers  quite 
as  earlv  in  this  direction.  Overpeck  Creek  is  navigable  for  small  ves- 
sels as  far  up  as  the  nothern  boundary  of  the  township.  Originally  the 
township  of  Ridgeiield  included  the  villages  of  Fairview,  Ridgefield, 
Palisades  Park,  Leonia,  Nordhoff,  Shady  Side,  Edgewater,  Fort  Lee, 
Taylorsville,  Coytesville,  Ridgelield  Park  and  Bogota,  but  now 
the  boroughs  of  Undercliff,  Palisades  Park,  Bogota,  Leonia,  Fair- 
view,  Ridgefield  and  the  village  of  Ridgefield  Park  and  Overpeck 
township  have  been  taken  away  leaving  but  a  small  portion  of  the 
original  town  for  the  present  township.  The  original  township 
was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Englewood,  on  the  east  by  the 
Hudson,  on  the  south  by  Hudson  county — Bellman's  Creek  forming 
part  of  the  southern  boundary  line — and  on  the  west  by  the  Hackensack 
River.  The  southern  boundary  was  less  than  two  miles  in  extent,  the 
nothern  less  than  four,  and  the  length  of  the  township  from  North  to 
South  did  not  exceed  four  miles.  The  town  was  well  watered  while 
various  railroad  lines  furnished  the  people  with  ample  facilities  for 
travel. 

K'IDGEKIELD    TOWNSHIP. 

The  earlv  settlements  of  Ridgefield  township  antedates  even  the 
organization  of  Hackensack  township  in  1<)'I.^,  and  of  the  county  of 
Bergen  in  1675.  There  seems  to  have  been  no  town  or  village  com- 
pactly built,  like  the  village  of  Bergen,  but  there  were  settlements  both 
of  Dutch  and  English  in  and  about  what  was  subsequently  known  as  Eng- 
lish Neighborhood  prior  to  1675.  The  Westervelts,  the  Zimermanns,  the 
Bantas,  and  the  Blauvelts,  all  coming  from  Holland,  settled  in  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  in  that  locality.  The  ancestors  of 
Jacob  P.  Westervelt,  now  of  Hackensack  Village,  with  himself,  were 
born  in  English  Neighborhood.  His  father  was  born  there  in  1776,  and 
was  the  son  of  Christopher  Westervelt,  who  was  born  there  certainly 
as  early  as  1690.  He  was  the  son  of  the  original  ancestor  of  his  family, 
who  came  from  Holland  and  settled  on  Overpeck  Creek,  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  Ridgefield  township,   probably  al)out  1670. 


HISTORY  OF  BEKOEN  COUNTY  4')! 

The  earliest  iiieiilidii  of  the  name  of  Westervelt  that  can  be  ascer- 
tained in  Holland  is  that  of  Dirck  Van  Westervelt,  who  was  born 
between  1475  and  1500,  and  married  into  the  Van  Wenkom  family,  and 
from  them  sprang-  a  large  and  influential  family  now  living  in  Holland. 

The  earliest  settlers  bearing-  the  name  in  America  were  Lubbert 
Lubbertson  and  Willem  Van  Westervelt,  who  came  from  the  town  of 
Meppel,  province  of  Drenthe,  Holland,  on  the  ship  "Hoop,"  in  April, 
1(>()2,  and  settled  on  Long  Island,  (as  given  in  other  portions  of  this 
volume).  The  fact  of  settlement  is  established  from  records,  showing 
that  a  son  of  Willem  purchased  in  1()97  considerable  property  in  New 
Utrecht,  which  he  sold  in  1708  to  Anthony  Holsart,  and  also  that  Willem 

married  Dericke ,  and  lived   for   some   time  there,  as   Dericke   Wil- 

lemse  Van  Westervelt  names  in  her  will,  her  husband,  Willem,  and  also 
her  son,  Abraham  Willemse.  whose  wife  was  Margaret.  Their  children 
were  Alltie,  l)orn  in  1()51;  Abraham,  lf)53;  Willemtie,  1(>54;  Femmetie, 
1()58;   and  Jan,  1(><)0. 

Lubltert  Ivubbertson  \'an  Westervelt  had  children  :  Lubbert,  born  in 
Meppel,  and  married  Belitjc  Bouluse,  March  4.  K.SO;  Roelof,  also  born 
in  Meppel  in  1(>59.  Jumen,  Jan.  Margrietie,  and  Maritie  were  born  in 
this  country. 

Deeds  and  papers  in  possession  of  their  descedants  show  that  the 
Van  Westervelts  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  old  Bergen  county, 
as  Cornelius,  son  oi  Lubbert,  settled  at  Acquackanonk,  and  was  one  of 
the  original  fourteen  patentees  who  purchased  the  Acquackanonk  patent 
in  1684,  containing  some  thirty  thousand  acres.  He  did  not  remain  long 
there,  as  there  is  only  one  conveyance  afterwards,  and  then  settled  (m 
the  other  side  of  the  Passaic  River,  in  what  is  now  Bergen  county,  and 
hence  originated  the  Van  Westervelt  name  here.  Like  other  families 
from  Holland  when  first  coming  to  America,  they  had  no  surname,  but 
added  to  their  baptismal  name  the  name  of  the  place  from  whence  they 
came  in  Holland.  Hence  Jan,  from  the  west  oi  Holland, — "wast  valt," 
a  west  field, — would  be  "Jan  Wast  Valt."  or  John  Westervelt. 

The  grandfather  of  Samuel  D.  Westervelt  lived  at  the  Hopper  grist- 
mill. The  Hoppers  settled  in  the  valley  of  the  Wagzaw  in  1711,  and 
owned  nearly  all  the  land  in  that  section  on  the  Passaic  River. 

Of  his  children,  Lucas,  the  youngest,  was  born  in  Pompton,  March 
17,  1788,  and  upon  the  death  of  his  mother,  when  he  was  only  seven 
years  old,  he  came  to  Teaneck,  where  at  the  proper  age  he  learned  the 
mason's  trade.  He  married  Belinda  Demarest  November  5,  1803,  who 
was  born  November  24,  1784,  and  died  January  (>,  1858.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  settled  at  Tenafly,  where  he  built  a  stone  house,  in  which  he 
resided  until  his  death,  March  17,  1825.  The  house  was  standing  in 
1881,  and  is  one  of  the  monuments  left  of  "olden  time,"  and  showing 
his  chosen  occupation. 

His  children  were  Simon.  John.  Cornelius,  Samuel  D.,  Elizabeth, 
Eve,  and  Ann,  wife  of  Albert  Winant,  of  Hackensack. 


492  HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Lourens  Andriessen  Van  Buskirk,  signifying-  "from  the  church  in 
the  woods"  (sometimes  calling  himself  by  the  former  and  sometimes  by 
the  latter  name,  and  whose  name  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  recital 
of  early  events  in  this  history)  jointly  with  others  purchased,  January 
(>.  1()7(),  a  large  tract  of  land,  then  known  as  New  Hackensack,  upon 
which  he  resided  as  early  as  1()S8. 

The  De  Mott  family  were  Huguenots,  and  settled  in  English 
Neighborhood  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Mathias,  the  ancestor  of 
this  family  was  born  in  France,  and  settled^  in  Bergen  county  in  IdSS. 
His  son  Jacob  was  father  of  John  De  Mott,  who  died  in  1S32,  aged 
eighty-four.  Jacob,  the  father  of  Jacob  J.  De  Mott,  was  born  March  11. 
1794,  and  succeeded  to  the  ancestral  home  on  the  Tenafiy  road.  John 
De  Mott,  son  of  Jacob,  liwvl  in  E.i^lish  Xjighb;)rho:Hl  where  he  carried 
on  a  saw  and  grist  mill. 

Richard  Paulison  was  descended  from  an  early  settler  in  English 
Neighborhood.  He  was  born  October  1,  1773,  and  lived  all  of  his  life 
in  the  present  Ridgefield  township  and  died  in  1873,  at  nearly  one  hun- 
dred years  of  age.  He  w;is  the  father  of  Johi  R.,  and  other  children, 
who  have  left  a  large  family  of  descendants,  among  whom  was  the  late 
Judge  Paulison  and  Paul   Paulison. 

Robert  Earle,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Bergen  county,  located 
in  Ridgefield  townshi]),  and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  beginning 
at  the  North  River,  from  thence  to  the  Hackensack,  and  running  thence 
to  Bull's  Ferry,  from  thence  to  Five  Corners  (or  Bergen),  near  Fort 
Lee,  as  early  as  1650;  and  as  there  were  no  white  inhabitants  near  Mr. 
Earle,  he  gave  several  acres  of  woodland  to  a  number  of  white  families 
to  locate  on,  with  a  view  nf  forming  a  settlement.  The  only  descendant 
of  which  there  is  anv  knowledge  was  Robert,  who  married  Mary  Smith 
and  located  in  Ridgefield  township.  His  children  were  Daniel,  Robert, 
Philip,  Joseph,  John,  Charles,  Edward,  Elizabeth,  Jennie  and  Mary. 

Andrew  Engle,  a  native  of  Germany,  settled  on  Bull's  Ferry  Hill, 
Ridgefield  township,  in  about  1779,  and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land, 
and  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil.  His  family  consisted  of  John,  Jennet, 
Sarah,  Maria,  Margaret,  Andrew  S.,  and  James. 

John  married  Mary  Day,  and  settled  adjacent  to  his  father.  His 
children  were  Jennet.  Andrew,  Henry,  Sarah,  Catherine,  John,  Mar- 
garet, Eliza  Ann,  James,  Wilmina.  Louisa. 

CIVIL    OKGANIZATION. 

The  act  of  1871,  erecting  the  township  of  Ridgefield  from  the 
southern  part  of  Old  Hackensack,  defines  its  lines  of  boundary  as 
follows  : 

"Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  Hackensack  River  where  the  Cedar 
Lane  road  strikes  the  same,  running  thence  in  an  easterly  direction 
along  the  middle  of  the  said  Cedar  Lane  road  to  the  middle  of  the  Over- 
peck  Creek  ;  thence  in  a  northerl3-  direction  along  the  easterly  branch  of 
said  creek  to  where  the  same  strikes  the  line  of  lands  formerly  of  John 


HISTORY   OF    BEKC.EN    COUNTY  493 


I.  Demott ;  thence  easterly  along-  the  southerly  line  of  said  Deni  )tt's  land 
to  the  east  line  of  the  township  of  Hackensack." 

Edward  Jardine  became  the  tirst  chosen  freeholder  under  this  last 
organization,  and  served  for  the  year  1.S71,  and  followed  bv  Hunh  Hros- 
naham  for  1872  and  1873,  followed  l)y  Thmnas  (ioulard  for  1S74,  Ijv 
Isaac  R.  Vreeland  for  1875-77,  John  Wiiitcrburne  for  1S78,  John  J. 
Wood  for  1879  and  188lf,  by  Stephen  H.  V.  Moore  for  1.S81  to  IS'ii)  and 
by  Cornelius  J.  Terhune  to  1895,  John  C.  Abb  »t  to  18'M>,  and  bv  William 

B.  Pugh  to  189'). 

The  assessors  of  the  townshij)  since  its  organization  are  as  follows  : 
John  V.  H.  Terhune,  1871-75;  James  Armett,  '76-77;  John  Fletcher 
Burdett,  Jr.,  '77-79;  William  E.  Taylor,  '8;)-85;  J.din  Burns,  ■85-8(.:  John 

C.  Abbott,  '8()-87;  John  Burns,  '87-88;  John  H.  Mannix,  "88-91;   Thomas 
F.  Mallon,  '91-94;   Henry  Beneckc,  '94-97;  Charles  Corker,  ■97-'»"». 

The  collectors,  Nicholas  T.  Romaine,  1871-72;  J(din  H.  Winant, 
'73-75;  William  P.  Degraw,  "7()-78;  James  Christie,  ■80-,s4;  Charles  H. 
Lozier,  '84-86;  J.  Fletcher  Burdett.  ■8(,-')(i;  James  Christie.  ""10-91;  J. 
Fletcher  Burdett,  '94-99. 

Township  Clerks:  James  Christie,  1871-73;  Andrew  S.  Engle,  '7.'- 
75;  Arthur  J.  Pollock,  "75-77;  J.  H.  Mannix,  '77-8(1;  Charles  H.  Lozier, 
'80-84;  Daniel  Manning,  '84-87;  John  H.  M(mahan,  ■S7-8<);  Edward  M. 
Fitzgerald,  "89-90;  Fred.  Marsden.  "90-92;  James  F.  Tracy,  "92-9'). 

The  justices  of  the  peace,  Charles  W.  Chamberlain,  1872;  James  C. 
Hazelton,  '73;  Thomas  Dunn  English,  '76;  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  '77; 
Arthur  J.  A.  Pollock  and  Alexander  Clendenin,  '78;  Samuel  E.  De 
Groot.  "7');  James  Day.  "80;  Joseph  L.  (ireeley,  "85;  Joseph  Covte,  "86; 
Cornelius  D.  Schor.  "81-')();  Alexander  Clendenin,  "83-88;  Maurice  Fitz- 
gerald, "80-")0;  Daniel  Manning,  "'iO-9'h  S.  (1.  H.  Wright,  "86-92;  Henry 
W.  Mabie,  "8<)-94;  James  F.  Tracey,  "')4-'»');  Eilward  A.  Caute'-l,  '98-99. 
The  population  of  Kidgewood  Townshij)  in  1875,  was  357().  The 
official  vote  cast  at  the  November  election  after  six  boroughs  had  been 
taken  out  was  527. 

FKEEHOLDl'.K'S. 

Names  of  members  of  Ridgetield  Township  Committee:  1871, 
Maurice  Fitzgerald,  John  R.  Paulison,  Nicholas  Jocobus,  David  Christie. 
Joseph  Coyte;  1872,  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  Nicholas  Jacobus,  Jacob  \'.Banta, 
David  Christie,  Albert  Z.  Bogert;  1873,  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  Albert  Z.  Bo- 
gert,  Nicholas  Jacobus,  John  W.  C.  Van  Winkle,  WilliamL.  Jones;  1874, 
Maurice  Fitzgerald,  S.  H.  V.  Moore,  Henry  D.  Eagle,  John  H.  Brinker- 
hoff,  Jacob  \'.  Banta;  1875,  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  S.  H.  V.  Mo;)re,  Henry 
J.  Kipp,  Nicholas  Jacobus,  Charles  W.  Chamberlain;  187i«.  Iknr\  J. 
Kipp,  James  Christie,  John  Monahan,  Charles  W.  Chamberlain,  Charles 
E.  Richter;  1877,  John  Monahan,  James  Christie,  Charles  E.  Richter, 
Henry  J.  Kipp,  John  H.  Williams;  1878.  James  Christie,  S.  H.  V. 
Moore,  Jacob  Terhune,  William  E.  Taylor,  John  D.  Pro'ost;  1879,  S.  H. 
V.  Moore,  Jacob  Terhune,  Janiis  Day;  1880.  Peter  Bogert,  Jr.,  Albert 
B.  Christie,  Jose])h   Coyte;   1881.    Nicholas   Jacol)us,    Peter   Bogert,   Jr.. 


494  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

John  S.  Watkins;  1882.  Peter  Bog-ert,  Jr.,  Nicholas  Jacobus,  Joseph 
Coyte;  1883,  John  S.  Edsall,  Peter  Bogert,  Jr.,  Frederick  R.  Grace; 
1884,  Peter  Bogert,  Jr.,  Frederick  R.  Grace,  John  S.  Edsall;  i885,  Peter 
Bog-ert,  Jr.,  Frederick  R.  Grace,  John  S.  Edsall;  1886,  Peter  Bogert,  Jr., 
John  S.  Edsall,  Frederick  R.  Grace;  1887,  John  S.  Edsall,  Peter  Bogert, 
Jr.,  Frederick  R.  Grace;  1888,  John  C.  Abbot.  John  S.  Edsall, 
Frederick  R.  Grace;  1889,  Joseph  Schlosser,  Jr..  John  C.  Abbott, 
Johns.  Edsall;  1890,  John  S.  Edsall,  Joseph  Schh)sser.  Jr.,  John  C. 
Abbott;  1891,  Albert  Ravekes,  Joseph  Schlosser,  Jr.,  John  S.  Edsall; 
18'»2,  Joseph  Schlosser,  Jr.,  Albert  Ravekes,  John  S.  Edsall;  1893,  Peter 
Spindler,  Joseph  Schlosser,  Jr.,  Albert  Ravekes;  1894,  Albert  Ravekes, 
Joseph  Schlosser,  Jr.,  Peter  Spindler:  1895,  Joseph  Schlosser,  Jr.,  Peter 
Spindler,  Albert  Ravekes;  1896,  Samuel  Mabie,  Joseph  Schlosser,  Jr., 
Albert  Ravekes;  1897,  Julius  M.  Dubois,  John  A.  Brandt,  Samuel 
Mabie;  i898,  Julius  M.  Dubois,  John  A.  Brandt,  Samuel  Mabie;  18')<i, 
James  A.  Brandt,  James  Burns,  John  Brown. 

COMMENCEMKNT     OF     IMPKOVEMENTS    TO    CKAXD,     PAI.ISADF:     AND     BKOAD 

AVENUES. 

In  1869  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersev  to 
widen,  straighten,  grade,  macadamize  and  put  in  good  order  all  that 
part  of  the  public  road  heretofore  known  as  the  English  Neighborhood 
road,  in  the  township  of  Hackensack,  in  the  county  of  Bergen,  from 
where  it  joins  the  Bergen  turnpike  in  Ridgefield  to  Palisade  Avenue  in 
Englewood  in  the  said  township;  and  appointed  (iarret  A.  Lydecker, 
Nathan  T.  Johnson,  Samuel  E.  De  Groot,  J.  Vreeland  Moore  and  Nich- 
olas T.  Romaine  commissioners  for  five  vears,  in  which  to  make  these 
improvements. 

In  1870  the  Legislature  amended  the  Act  of  18()'t,  and  largely 
increased  the  powers  of  the  Commissioners;  also  specifying  that  the 
English  Neighborhood  road  should  be  known  as  Grand  Avenue;  and 
also  added  all  that  part  of  Palisade  avenue  from  Grand  avenue  west- 
wardly  to  the  bridge  on  said  Palisade  avenue  near  the  blacksmith  shop 
)f  Henry  West,  in  said  village  of  Englewood.  Said  Commissioners  were 
also  authorized  to  open,  alter,  grade  and  put  in  good  order  a  new  public 
road,  to  be  known  as  Broad  avenue,  from  Ridgelield  to  Englewood.  In 
1871  and  1872  there  was  additional  legislation;  and  the  Commission 
finallv  completed  their  work  July  4.  1874,  at  an  exjiense  of  a  little  over 
thirty-tive  thousand  ilollars. 

SCHOOLS. 

From  a  report  of  the  schools  of  Ridgetield  township,  dated  A])ril 
10,  1843,  we  extract  the  following: — 

"No.  2,  at  Fort  Lee  was  visited  on  the  tirst  Monday  in  March. 
The  school  building  appears  to  be  the  best,  largest,  and  most  com- 
modious of  any  in  the  township.  A  becoming  sjnrit  animates  all  in  the 
furtherance    of   i)opular   education.       The   average   number  of  scholars 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  445 

taught  is  tifty-two.  the  ti-rms  of  tuition  81.5(1  and  S2.U();  the  school  has 
been  kept  open  the  whole  year;  the  amount  of  mouev"  received  S')2.44. 
Out  of  this  was  paid  for  interest  debt  on  school  house,  $30;  to  paying 
teacher  $30;  for  stove  and  fuel  $24,  leaving  an  unexpected  balance  of 
$8.40  Poor  children  are  admitted  free  of  charge,  the  teacher  being 
engaged  by  the  year  at  a  fixed  pension. 

"  All  of  which  is  respectfully  subtuitteil." 

(signed)  John  \'an  Hrunt. 

COMP.VNV    v..    2nd    KKGIMENT,    N.    j.    VOL.    INFT. 

This  company  was  organized  May  1.  l.S()l,  the  recruiting  having 
been  done  largely  in  Ridgefield  townshij).  The  armory  is  at  Leonia. 
The  first  officers  were  James  Vreeland  Moore,  Captain;  Garret  L.  Edsall, 
First  Lieutenant;  Stephen  H.  \'.  Moore.  Second  Lieutenant:  .lohn  H. 
BrinkerhoiT,  First  Sergeant. 

The  company  was  organized  for  the  New  Jersey  National  (iuard 
service,  and  during  the  railroad  riots  of  1877  took  ])art  in  the  quelling 
of  that  disturbance.  From  the  Adjutant  General's  report  of  1S77  we 
find  that  the  2nd  Battalion  was  commanded  by  James  \'.  Moore,  Major; 
his  staff  officers  being  Charles  W.  Springer,  Adjutant;  Jacob  J.  DeMott, 
Uuarter  Master;  William  P.  DeCJraw,  Paymaster;  Melancthon  S.  Ayers, 
Surge(m. 

Company  A,  of  I^eonia;  B  of  Englewood.  an<l  C.  of  Hackensack, 
1st  Brigade  composed  this  Battalion.  Companv  A,  at  that  time,  was 
commanded  by  Stephen  H.  \'.  Moore,  Captain:  Emanuel  G.  (iis'mond. 
First  Lieutenant;  Frederick  (i.  Bennett,  Second  Lieutenant. 

During  the  Spanish  American  war,  this  company,  (known  as  Com- 
pany E,  Second  Regiment,  N.  G.,  N.  J.  i.  was  recruited  to  the  war 
standard  largely  from  Leonia.  Fort  Lee,  Covtesville  and  Englewood, 
and  was  mustered  into  the  I'nited  States  service  at  Sea  Grit,  N.  J.,  May 
2,  1898,  for  the  Cuban  war.  On  June  1st  the  Company  left  therefor 
Camp  "Cuba  Libre"  Jacksonville.  Fla..  and  was  attached  to  the  Second 
Brigade,  First  Division,  7th  Army  Corps,  (ieneral  Fitzhugh  Lee  com- 
manding. It  returned  home  September  24th,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
\J.  S.  service  November  17,  1898,  at  Paterson,  N.  J.  The  company  was 
commanded  by  Captain  Henry  R.  Goesser;  First  Lieutenant,  Lorenzo 
Gismond;  Second  Lieutenant,  John  Brinkerhoff;  First  Sergeant,  George 
M.  Williams,  and  upon  the  return  of  the  command  the  entire  company 
received  a  royal  welctmie  at  Leonia  and  also  at  Fort  Lee,  September  2(>, 

1898.  One  private  of  Company  E,  died  during  their  absence.  In  com- 
pliance  with   general   orders  No.   (>,    A.   (t.   ().,   dated  Trenton,  May  2, 

1899,  the  National  Guard  of  New  Jersey,  was  re-organized  to  conform  as 
nearly  as  possible  to  the  organizations  in  the  United  States  Army,  and 
reducing  the  number  of  infantry  requirements  from  six  to  four.  A 
number  of  the  companies  were  also  disbanded,  including  the  infantry 
Company  at  Leonia. 


496  HISTOKV    OK    BEK(;EX    COl'NTY 

FOKT  LEE.* 

"As  tlie  traveller  passes  up  the  Hudson,  he  will  observe  that  a 
point  nearly  opposite  Carmansville  the  mass  of  rock  known  as  the  Pali- 
sades, which  from  below  Hoboken  recede  for  some  distance  over  the 
river,  and  have  their  basis  studded  with  towns,  villages,  and  countrv 
seats,  are  suddenly  forced  apparently  to  the  edge  of  the  stream  by  a 
deep  and  narrow  ravine.  Thence  thev  approach  so  close  to  the  water's 
edge  that  their  columnar  wall  seems  to  rise  nearly  direct  over  the  bed  of 
the  river.  In  the  circular  bend  made  by  this  change  of  position  lies  the 
older  village  of  Fort  Lee,  formed  by  about  fiftv  dwelling  houses,  an 
exceedingly  uncomfortable  schoolhouse,  a  shacklv  building  that  was 
once  a  piano  manufactory,  a  dilapidated  barn,  and  four  wharves  that 
seem  to  have  been  erected  about  the  time  that  Charles  II  gave  to  his 
brother  that  portion  of  the  New  Netherlands,  now  known  as  New 
Jersey.  This  is  the  original  settlement  which  grouped  itself  arcjund 
Berdette's  house  after  the  Revolution.  The  modern  portitm  of  the  vil- 
lage, embracing  the  mint)r  hamlets  of  Coytesville,  Taylorsville,  Pond 
Park  and  Irishtown,  lies  above  the  summit  of  the  Palisades,  and 
occupies  about  four  square  miles.  This  part  contains  nearly  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  buildings,  irregularly  scattered  over  the  surface,  and 
fashioned  in  every  style  of  architecture  known  to  civilization,  including 
some  erections  that  seem  to  be  modelled  after  the  style  of  Kamtchatka 
and  Central  Africa.  The  roads  and  streets  are  graded  and  covered  in  a 
way  that  would  break  the  hearts  of  McAdam  and  Telford,  could  either 
of  these  famous  engineers  see  them. 

"The  Palisades,  which  first  show  at  this  point  their  most  striking 
peculiarity  of  formation,  commences  at  Bergen  Heights  and  extends  to 
the  New  York  line,  a  distance  of  about  twenty-four  miles.  Their  height 
varies  from  two  hundred  to  five  hundred  feet,  and  their  average  width 
is  a1)out  one  and  a  half  mile.  They  are  composed  of  metamorphic  rock, 
particularly  trap  and  green  stone,  with  occasional  thin  seams  of  zoolite, 
maguesite  and  amethystine  quartz.  The  summit  of  the  Palisades  from 
Bull's  Ferry  upward  remain  in  an  almost  primitive  state  of  wildness. 
The  timber  is  mostjy  of  second  and  third  growth,  but  it  contains  many 
beautiful  trees  that  might  have  been  standing  v>'hen  Hendrick  Hudson 
ascended  the  river. 

"In  the  rockv  clefts,  and  through  the  rarely  trodden  woods  that 
have  thus  far  escaped  the  axe,  there  is  to  be  found  a  choice  varietj-  of 
insect  and  reptile  life  not  to  be  seen  on  the  other  side  of  the  Hudson. 
The  deer  and  panther  have  long  since  gone  with  the  red  men;  and  the 
fox  and  American  hare,  and  that  handsome  little  animal  which  defends 
himself  against  all  comers  by  a  perfume  more  potent  than  agreeable, 
make  all  the  fauna  of  to-day.  Snakes  there  are  in  abundance;  copper- 
heads, black  snakes  and  blowing  vipers  abound,  while  occasionally  a 
rattlesnake  gives  warning  that  he  has  not  yet  entirely  yielded  to  the 
approach  of  civilization.      P^or  miles  and  miles  a  foot  traveller  may  pass 

From  a  skeltil  ..ii  K.irt  I.n-  1.%    Dr.  •riiomas  Dunn  Eiljflisl!  in  1S71, 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COfXTY  4<»7 

aloiif^-  the  summit  (,)f  the  Palisades  and  find  no  trace  of  man,  hut  of  the 
wihl  heauty  of  nature  he  will  find  enousi'h.  The  artist  who  makes  his 
annual  wearv  piltjTimai^es  to  the  White  Mountains  or  the  Adirondacks 
in  search  of  subjects  for  the  jiencil.  rarely  knows  tliat  within  less  than 
an  hour's  journey  from  the  Art  Buildin<^  he  can  find  studies  enoujifh  to 
keep  him  busy  for  a  lifetime  at  his  easel,  and  that  he  has  a  choice 
between  inland  scenes  of  i^i'ri'at  variety  and  beaut v,  and  water  views, 
with  an  extent  of  panorama  and  a])ex  of  liijiit,  shade  and  atmosjdiere  to 
be  surpassed  in  few  portions,  if  any  in  the  United  States." 

"Durini;  the  Revolution  Fort  Lee  was  the  theatrt' of  many  excitins^ 
scenes,  and  raids  were  made  by  the  British  and  Tories  along  the  Hud- 
son from  Weehawken  to  Ta])pan,  dri\in!;'  ofT  cattle  and  destroying' 
property  of  the  settlers.  South  of  Fort  hcc.  above  Bull's  Ferry,  <m 
Block-house  Point,  stood  the  famous  block-house,  the  refuge  for  the 
most  unscrupulous  Tories  of  the  Revolution.  From  the  block-house 
frequent  raids  were  made  ui^on  the  settlers.  Washington  ordered  Gen- 
eral Wayne  to  attack  this  neighborhood,  ;ind  on  July  Jo.  1780,  Wayne 
left  his  headquarters  at  New  Bridge,  and.  leaving  two  regiments  at  Fort 
Lee,  proceeded  with  the  remainder  of  his  force  to  the  attack.  On  tlie 
morning  of  the  21st  the  attack  was  made,  and  after  a  tierce  encounter 
Cieneral  Wayne  was  forced  to  witlulr^.w,  first  destroying  the  Tories' 
boats  on  the  river  front,  and  dri\ing  off  their  cattle.  • 

"This  attack  brougdit  forth  a  sarcastic  i)oem  entitled  "  The  Cow 
Chase,"  written  by  Major  A;:ilre,  the  unfortunate  British  ofi|icer  who 
was  executed  as  a  spy,  just  beyon<l  the  border  of  this  county,  near  the 
village  of  Tappan. 

"It  was  at  Fort  Lee  that  the  noted  Thomas  Paine  wrote  one  of  his 
famous  political  pap-ers,  tlie  one  beginning  with  the  often  quoted 
phrase:  "  These  are  the  times  that  try  men's  souls."  In  a  short  account 
of  the  battle  and  evacuation  of  Fort  Lee,  Paine  says: 

"It  is  stated  that  Washington  saw  the  assault  and  its  result  and 
wept  at  the  sight  in  the  presence  of  Burdett,  who  lived  in  the  house 
below  the  cliff,  which,  part  of  the  time  was  Greene's  headquarters,  and 
still  stands  with  a  modern  addition.  This  account  is  implicitly  believed 
by  Dr.  Dixon.  Burdett  was  evidently  one  of  tliose  prudent  men  who 
kept  on  good  terms  wit'n  both  sides.  With  a  large  force  ready  to 
cross  at  the  ferries  above,  and  powerful  enougli  to  force  a  passage,  F^ort 
Lee  and  its  dependencies  became  unattainable,  and  preparations  for 
retreat  was  made  at  once.  The  movement  on  the  2()th,  was  that  of  the 
rearguard.  The  distance  was  not  more  than  five  miles  by  the  direct 
route,  but  a  part  of  the  forces  moved  up  a  lower  rf)ad,  traces  of  which 
exist  and  have  furnished  the  artist  with  one  of  his  views.  The  main 
road  now  a  little  south  of  the  present  turnpike,  arose  on  the  hill,  so  as 
to  strike  just  back  of  the  present  residence  of  Henry  J.  Irving,  running 
close  to  tlie  farm  house,  now  occupied  by  William  Taylor.      As  (ieneral 


498  HISTORY   OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Washington  lodged  at  this  last  house  for  a  short  while,  it  forms  one  of 
the  many  Washington  headquarters.  The  exterior  of  the  house,  built 
in  the  Dutch  style,  has  been  recently  modernized,  but  the  interior  of  the 
sitting  room  remains, — except  the  furniture — in  its  old  condition. 
There  is  a  bullet  hole  in  the  jamb  of  one  of  the  doors,  a  relic  of  a  Revo- 
lutionary skirmish.  Mr.  Trylor  took  out  the  bullet  some  years  since 
and  then  replaced  the  casing  leaving  the  hole  unfilled.  Down  these  two 
roads  the  army  seems  to  have  marched,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  who 
retreated  in  a  path  further  south  above  a  beaver  dam,  which  may  still  be 
seen,  minus  the  beavers.  The  British  pursued  as  far  as  the  Hackensack 
river  where  they  encamped. 

"  Fort  Lee  did  not  grow  for  a  long  time  after  the  Revolutionary 
war.  At  one  time  it  was  the  seaport  town  of  the  county.  Here  the 
farmers  of  the  neighboring  valley  used  to  embark  with  produce  to  seek 
a  New  York  market,  first  in  periaguas,  then  in  horse-boats  and  iinally 
in  the  steamboat.  Turnpike  roads  first  and  railroads  afterward,  diverted 
this  stream  of  travel.  Then  came  a  piano  manufactory.  After  some 
years  this  passed.  Then  came  the  shoe  interest,  which  had  its  day,  and 
gave  place  to  the  Belgian  block-makers,  who  now  'form  the  industrial 
element  of  the  neighborhood.  With  all  these  the  lower  village  does  not 
grow,  for  mere  want  of  space.  As  for  the  upper  village,  that  is  gradu- 
ally expanding.  In  1776  there  were  farms  on  the  hill.  War  swept  all 
that,  and  Demeter  fled  before  Ares.  The  embankment  was  thrown  up 
in  a  cornfield,  in  which  were  a  number  of  bearing  pear  trees  that  were 
cut  down  to  form  abatis.  When  the  war  was  over  the  i)lace  was  cover- 
ed with  copsewood  and  brambles,  with  young  trees,  and  liquid  ambers 
and  hickories  here  and  there,  that  gradually  formed  a  grove.  As  the 
proprietors  of  the  ground  were  Tories,  and  Toryism  got  the  worst  of  it, 
their  property  was  confiscated  and  sold  to  the  highest  bidder.  The 
highest  bidder  was  a  very  low  bidder  indeed.  A  few  shillings  per  acre 
was  considered  a  high  'price  for  land  that  was  made  up  of  rock  and 
swamp  and  low  grow^th.  There  is  a  tract  in  the  neighborhood,  held 
partly  by  position,  and  partly  through  reference  to  it  in  the  conveyance 
of  an  adjoining  plot  of  ground.  The  owner  did  not  think  the  ground  of 
enough  value  to  pay  for,  according  to  the  original  deed,  which  was 
afterward  lost.  Yet  part  of  this  wild  property  sold  for  thirty  dollars 
per  acre  less  than  thirty  years  since  and  recently  changed  hands  at  over 
one  hundred  and  eighty-six  times  that  price. 

THE    BOl'KDETTES. 

Fort  T^ee  was  commenced  on  the  12,  of  September,  1776,  and  was 
situated  on  the  western  side  of  the  road  that  leads  up  the  hill  from  the 
steamboat  landing,  about  three  hundred  feet  behind  Palisade  rocks 
which  skirt  the  river.  Its  southern  bastion  is  situated  directly  behind 
the  Episcopal  Church.  It  was  about  a  quarter  of  an  acre  in  extent,  and 
was  surrounded  by  an  embankment,  still  traceable,  though  nearly 
obliterated  by  the  plough. 


HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  4''*' 

Some  four  hundred  acres — comprising'  the  whole  of  the  village 
])roper,  tog-ether  with  the  landing  and  the  hill  on  which  the  hotel 
stands — were  purchased  about  twenty  years  before  the  Revolution,  by 
Stephen  Bourdette,  wlm,  in  connection  with  William  Baj-ard  had 
received  from  the  King-  a  grant  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  comprising 
Weehawken  and  Ht)boken.  The  house  is  still  standing  at  Weehawken 
Hill,  in  which  he  lived.  He  purchased  the  land  at  P^ort  Lee  from  an 
old  slave  who  had  been  made  a  freeman  by  his  master,  and  lived  in  soli- 
tude by  lishingf  and  trapping  the  animals  that  abounded  in  the  vast 
forest  about  that  place. 

The  father  of  Stephen,  Etienne  Bourdette,  was  the  son  of  a  French 
g-entleman  who  had  left  hisnative  country  many  years  before  the  Edict  of 
Nantes  and  settled  in  one  of  West  India  islands  as  a  planter.  Etienne 
had  been  sent  to  New  York  by  his  father,  to  acquire  an  education,  about 
eighty  years  before  the  war. 

Stephen  Bourdette  lived  in  Pine  street  and  cultivated  the  beautiful 
region  of  which  we  write  purchased  the  entire  place,  and  erected  a 
spacious  stone  house  afterward  occupied  by  Robert  Annette,  pro])rie- 
tor  of  the  hotel  and  landing.  This  exceedingly  valuable  and  command- 
ing situation,  was  given  to  an  ohl  man  for  constructing  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  wall,  to  hold  up  the  old  road  leading  from  Mr.  Burdette's  house 
to  the  cow  pasture  on  top  the  hill. 

The  stone  house  occupied  bv  Etienne  Burdette,  was  the  only  one 
then  standing  on  the  place.  This  was  the  headquarters  of  Washing- 
ton, and  after  the  death  of  Etienne  it  was  left  to  his  son  Peter,  and 
his  wife,  who  had  been  living  at  Hackensack,  but  came  to  take  charge 
of  their  father  in  his  extreme  old  age.  He  died  there,  aged  eighty 
years.  Peter  Bourdette,  with  his  excellent  wife,  came  to  the  place  about 
fifteen  years  before  the  war,  and  soon  made  it  an  abode  of  great  comfort 
and  hospitality.  There  the  miserable  and  afflicted  always  found  a  com- 
forter, and  were  never  turned  away  empty. 

Upon  the  death  of  Etienne,  several  years  before  the  war,  the  place 
was  given  by  Stephen  to  his  brother  Peter,  who  with  his  eldest  son  (also 
Peter)  and  his  wife  Rachel  Bush,  then  seven  years  t)ld,  afterwards  the 
mother  oi  Edward  H.  Dixon  of  New  York,  passed  through  the  stormy 
period  of  the  Revolution.  In  November,  1776,  Washington  having 
issued  orders  to  General  Mercer  to  summon  all  available  troops  and  erect 
a  fort  there,  hundreds  of  tents  appeared  on  the  high  ground  that  com- 
mands the  river,  the  general  himself  coming  on  the  i.^th  of  that  month. 

Washington  became  the  admiration  of  the  Bourdette  family,  he 
having  taken  up  his  abode  in  the  old  Bourdette  homestead.  On  more 
than  one  occasion  it  is  said  a  son  of  Peter  Bourdette,  a  youth  of  sixteen 
years  rowed  to  the  city  at  midnight  and  brought  papers  and  intelligence 
of  the  anticipated  movements  of  the  British  army  which  threatened  Port 
Washington,  and  then  the  illustricms  chief  would  retire  to  his  room  and 
peruse  the  papers  after  which   he   would  walk    to  the    Fort  and    insjK-ct 


500  ■  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

tlirovigh  his  glass  the  movements  at  Fort  Washington  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river. 

One  night,  when  the  bra\-e  youth  was  approaching  the  shore  after 
one  of  his  night  visits  to  the  city  to  get  the  news  for  the  General,  and 
to  convey  some  provisions  to  her  poor  friends  from  his  excellent  mother, 
who  never  forgot  the  needy,  the  wind  prevented  his  signal  from  being 
heard  by  the  sentinels  who  guarded  the  shore,  and  supposing  an  enemy 
to  be  approaching,  a  rifle  ball  cut  his  oar  into  two  pieces.  As  he  had 
but  one  oar  left,  he  managed  his  boat  with  it  as  well  as  he  could,  and 
landed,  at  great  risk  of  being  shot,  about  a  mile  down  the  river,  and 
made  his  way  home  on  foot.  On  this  occasion,  the  chief  stood  bv  while 
his  mother  ripped  up  the  lining  of  the  boy's  great  coat,  and  receiving 
the  pa])ers,  complimented  him  warnilv  for  his  bravery. 

*  Dr.  Edward  H.  Dixcm  in  writing  of  the  battle  at  Fort  Lee,  and  its 
evacuatiim  by  Washington,  says: 

My  grandmother  and  the  children  were  obliged  to  flee  to  the  Eng- 
lish Neighborhood,  two  miles  off,  so  as  to  escape  the  immediate  conse- 
quences of  the  free  plunder  that  they  knew  was  to  come — my  grand- 
father and  his  son  remaining,  to  collect,  if  possible,  any  property  that 
might  be  spared. 

What  valuables  and  money  they  possessed  were  buried,  and  they 
soon  had  occasion  to  summon  all  their  fortitude.  Some  thousands  of 
Hessians  and  mercenary  soldiers  devastated  the  place.  A  perfect  saturn- 
alia now  commenced.  A  barrel  of  whiskey  and  another  of  sugar  were 
rolled  out  of  the  cellar,  and  thrown  into  a  rain-water  cask  standing  at 
one  corner  of  the  house,  in  the  court-yard.  My  good  grandmother's 
dairy  room  yielded  its  aid,  and  a  jiuncheon  of  milk  punch  was  made, 
and  stirred  with  a  rail.  My  grandfather  begged  a  British  officer  to  try 
to  preserve  at  least  a  single  pail  of  milk  for  his  children's  evening  meal. 
Overcome  with  sympathy  at  the  request,  he  was  too  much  excited  to 
carry  out  his  benevolent  intentions  judiciously.  Ap])roaching  a  Hes- 
sian soldier,  who  was  coming  up  the  cellar  steps  with  a  flat  vessel  of 
milk  (called  a  "keeler"  in  dairy  phrase)  on  his  head,  he  struck  him 
slightly  on  the  back  with  the  flat  side  of  his  sword.  The  cowardly 
creature  jumped  aside  at  his  officer's  frown,  the  bottom  of  the  old  vessel 
broke,  and  he  became  in  a  moment  a  personification  of  plenty — literally 
flowing  with  milk.  There  was  a  shout  of  laughter,  in  which  my  grand- 
father was  too  much  of  a  Frenchman  not  to  join. 

When  the  punch  was  prepared,  my  grandfather  was  impudently 
requested  to  drink  the  King's  health  by  those  wretched  creatures,  the 
Hessian  soldiers.  They  were  using  their  shoes  by  way  of  drinking 
cups.  Several  British  officers  were  present,  and  it  is  but  doing  them 
justice  to  say  that  they  seemed  to  sympathize  with  the  inhabitants. 
One  of  them   immediately  stepjKnl   up  to  my  grandfather,    and   advised 

The  abnvesUelch  is  lak.-n   from  wiirk     now    oul   i>f   print     .MUiUed   "Sceiif!;  in   tile   Pr,n;t'ce  of  .1 
New  York  Siirijeon"  ami    wriiu-ii  bv  Kdwaril  H.  Dixon.  M.    I).,  wlio    wa-  a  trraiiilson   ol   til.'  .Mr.  Hiuir- 


HISTOKY    OF    BKKGKN     COUNTY  501 

iiim  to  ^■o  throuiiii  with  the  lOrmalitv  onl v,  as  the  soldiers  continued  to 
call  loudly  for  him.  There  were  hundreds  of  soldiers  present.  He  said  hv 
feared  it  would  be  the  cause  of  ])ersonal  danjifer  to  him  if  he  refused; 
but  he  had  stern  Huguenot  blood  in  liiin,  and  replied  that  if  he  drank 
at  all,  he  would  say  what  he  ])leased.  Thev  immediately  made  way  for 
him  to  approach  the  puncheon,  and  the  officers,  who  well  knew  his  bold- 
ness, surrounded  him  completely.  Uncovering  his  head  an<l  dipping 
his  hand  into  the  liijuor,  which  he  only  pretended  to  drink,  he  bowed 
to  the  name  he  was  about  to  utter,  rather  than  to  the  officers, 
and  exclaimed  in  his  clearest  tones,  throwing  a  Frenchman's  kiss  over  the 
mountain  where  he  had  that  morning  taken  leave  of  his  beloxed  and 
great  friend,  "The  health  of  (Jeneral  Washington,  confusion  to  King 
(leorge,  and  destruction  to  his  hireling  Hessians,"  It  was  well  for  him 
that  the  ofticers  were  attached  to  him,  or  he  would  have  been  cut  to 
pieces  by  the  infuriated  scddiers.  Whv  he  was  not  killed  l)y  some  of 
them  when  the  officers  were  absent,  is  to  me,  a  wonder,  for  his  fearless 
utterance  was  always  exas])erating. 

At  the  end  of  ten  davs  the  British  troops  had  evacuated  the  place, 
and  were  proceeding  toward  Newark  under  Cornwallis,  Washington 
had  crossed  the  Passaic  on  his  way  to  New  Brunswick,  and  my  gr;ind- 
father  and  his  son  went  in  pursuit  of  the  family  to  bring  them  back  to 
their  ruined  household.  My  mother  and  the  other  children  were  l)rought 
over,  and  they  were  about  being  sent  supperless  to  such  beds  as  could  be 
prepared  for  them  out  of  the  torn  fragments  which  the  infuriated  sol- 
diery had  not  entirely  destroyed,  when  my  good  grandmother  appeared, 
coming  down  the  hill  on  an  old  wooden  sled,  drawn  by  a  beautiful  horse, 
the  only  living  animal  they  now  possessed,  driven  by  a  black  man.  All 
the  cattle  and  other  horses  were,  of  course,  carried  off  by  the  British 
trooi)s,  and  she  had,  herself,  driven  this  horse  to  the  English  Neighbor- 
hood, when  the  family  fled  from  the  old  house  with  a  bag  of  flour  and 
a  few  pounds  of  butter,  and  secreted  him  in  the  cellar  of  an  old  deserted 
house  I  have  often  seen.  Here  he  remained  for  three  days,  without  food 
or  drink,  and  would  have  died  but  for  the  kindness  of  a  British  officer, 
who  was  attached  to  my  grandfather,  and  to  whom  she  conununicated 
the  hiding  place  of  her  beautiful  pet.  He  kindly  went  o\er  and  fed 
him  and  gave  him  drink,  during  those  three  days,  when  the  Jiritish  had 
extended  themselves  from  Fort  Lee.  and  were  foraging  the  southern  ])or- 
tion  of  the  English  Neighborhood,  where  she,  of  course,  could  not  ven- 
ture to  go. 

Hearing  their  mother  below  stairs,  the  children  were  clamorous  for 
food,  for  they  had  not  eaten  since  morning.  The  poor  little  creatures 
were  fain  to  content  themselves  with  a  raw  turnip  till  some  cakes  could 
be  hastily  made  for  them.  The  wholesome  milk  and  the  pet  cows  each 
one  having  its  name  and  its  owner — were  all  gone;  and  had  it  not  been 
for  the  providence  of  a  mother  who  C(mibined  all  the  affection  of  the 
woman  with  the  firmness  of  a  most  determined  man,  they  might  have 
well  nii>-h  starved  to  death;   for,  as  we  have  already  said,   there  was  no 


502  HISTOHY    OK    BEKGHN    COUNTY 

other  house  near,  and  the  people  for  miles  were  robbed  of  all  their  food 
and  cattle. 

"Bless  God  for  all  his  mercies.  Here  you  are,  and  here  are  we  all 
together;  and  here  is  food,  too,"  said  this  excellent  woman  to  her  hus- 
band. "I  feared  your  tongue  would  cost  you  your  life."  She  little 
knew  how  nearly  true  her  anticipations  had  proved. 

My  mother,  who  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  and  her  sister  mounted 
the  old  sled,  and  begged  a  turnip  to  appease  their  hunger.  She  had 
found  her  doll  and  her  pet  cat  near  the  wood-pile,  and  seated  herself  on 
a  log,  perfectly  happy,  eating  her  turnip. 

"This  is  hard  to  bear,"  said  my  grandmother;  "l)ut  (iod  will  yet 
prosper  our  cause,  if  we  follow  the  counsels  of  Washington." 

"Yes."  said  her  husband;  "and  they  now  know  my  sentiments 
adding  an  expletive  in  French,  which  his  feelings  will  pardon. 

"  What's  that?"  said  she.      "Some  more  imprudence,   I  dare  say." 

A  few  days  after,  my  uncle  told  her  the  story  of  the  punch  and  the 
toast,  to  which  she  jocosely  replied,  looking  nevertheless  proudly  at  lier 
husband:  "Pity  it  is  your  father  had  not  a  little  Dutch  blood  in  him. 
These  Frenchmen  are  always  half  crazy.  Thank  (xod,  my  son,  your 
father  was  not  killed  before  your  ej-es." 

The  family  were  now  in  still  greater  danger  than  before,  for  they 
were  entirely  unprotected,  as  the  entire  American  army  were  west  of  the 
Hackensack,  and  what  was  worse,  the  country  was  continually  ravaged 
by  tories  and  robbers.  What  money  and  valuables  they  possessed  were 
buried,  and  my  grandfather  abstracted  from  time  to  time  only  enough  to 
procure  bread  for  his  family  during  the  winter.  It  was  useless  to  pur- 
chase many  cattle,  for  he  could  not  be  sure  of  preserving  them  over  a 
single  night.  The  family  managed  to  subsist  during  this  hard  winter; 
l)ut  it  was  necessary  for  my  uncle  to  visit  the  city,  often  at  great 
risk  of  life,  to  procure  food;  and  when  I  last  saw  him,  at  ninety  years  of 
age,  firm  and  erect,  with  the  voice  and  will  of  a  lion,  his  immense 
features  and  grey  hair  adding  great  dignity  to  his  appearance,  I  could 
not  but  think  that  the  sage  was  right  when  he  said,  "Difficulty  is  good 
for  man". 

An  event  occurred  shortly  after  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Ivee.  which 
I  have  often  felt  would  have  graced  the  page  of  history,  although  it 
never  probably  occurred  to  its  chief  actor  that  it  was  worth  recording; 
for  he  never  seemed  to  think  it  of  much  moment.  Cieneral  Knyphausen 
continued  in  command  of  the  fort  and  the  division  of  the  army  on  the 
northern  part  of  the  island  of  New  York.  But  a  few  days  elapsed  after 
the  family  had  returned,  when  they  were  alarmed  by  the  rude  midnight 
summons  of  a  British  officer,  followed  by  several  soldiers,  and  a  demand 
that  my  grandfather  should  immediately  cross  the  river  to  the  fort. 
They  were  all  dreadfully  alarmed;  but  the  officer  assured  them  he  would 
be  permitted  to  return  before  da}-,  as  General  Knyphausen  merely  required 
some  information,  which  would  insure  his  safe  return.  This  was  equal 
to  an  assurance  that  he  would  be  sent  to  one  of  the  city   prisons,  as  the 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  503 

family  knew  he  Wduld  communicate  nothing  to  the  enemy,  and  that  he 
had  greatlY  exasperated  the  Hessians  by  the  toast.  It  had  now  obtained 
general  currency,  and  every  one  supposed  him  a  doomed  man.  My  uncle 
most  earnestly  begged  to  be  permitted  to  accom])any  his  father,  but 
was  not  allowed.  He  was  hurried  off  to  the  fort,  none  supposing  they 
would  again  see  him  in  weeks  or  months,  if  ever.  On  his  arrival  at  the 
fort,  he  was  immediatelv  intr<iduced  to  (General  Knyphausen,  who  treat- 
ed him  very  courteously,  offering  wine  and  refreshment. 

The  General  soon  commenced  the  conversation  by  alluding  to  the 
trouble  my  grandfather  had  already  undergone,  and  made  some  remarks 
on  the  unequal  contest.  My  grandfather  replied  that  when  a  whole 
nation  were  of  one  mind,  and  a  country  as  extensive  as  America,  he 
could  scarcely  believe  it  jxyssible  to  subjugate  them  without  years  of 
sacrifice  and  expenditure.  General  Knyphausen  smiled,  and  asked  if 
the  recent  results  showed  much  determination  on  the  part  of  the  Amer- 
icans. My  grandfather  had  it  on  his  tongue  to  refer  him  to  General 
Rawlings  and  the  northern  bastion  of  the  fort,  within  the  enclosure  of 
which  they  were  then  sitting;  but  prudence  prevailed  and  he  was  silent. 
General  Knyphausen  was  not  a  rude  man,  and  made  no  further  effort  to 
prolong  the  conversation;  but  drawing  from  his  pocket  a  heax'v  purse  of 
gold,  he  threw  i'  upon  the  table,  and  assured  niv  grandfather  that  he 
would  be  i)leased  to  extend  to  his  f;imilv.  in  his  present  dangerous 
position  on  the  lines,  the  ai<l  and  ])rolectiiiTi  of  a  guard,  and  that  he 
would  be  happv  in  return  to  receive  some  necessary  information  about 
the  future  movements  of  the  armv;  that  as  General  Washington  had 
been  his  guest,  he  must  possess  more  knowledge  of  the  plan  of  action 
than  any  other  person;  ending  with  the  assurance  that  he  would  be 
pleased  to  possess  his  personal  friendship,  and  in  return  he  would  sup- 
])lv  his  more  immediate  pecuniary  necessities,  pointing  to  the  ])urse. 
Mv  grandfather  felt  as  though  every  drop  of  blood  in  his  Ijody  had 
mounted  to  his  face.  He  immediately  arose,  and  walking  towards  the 
further  entrance  of  the  tent,  replied:  "Permit  me,  (ieneral  Knyphausen, 
to  draw  this  conversation  to  a  close;  and  excuse  me  for  the  remark,  that 
if  vou  insist  upon  its  further  continuance.  I  cannot  but  feel  it  will  be 
discreditable  to  both  of  us.  I  have  already  been  too  long  here;  but 
what  could  a  man,  seized  at  midnight,  surrounded  by  a  helpless  family 
do,  but  vield  to  superior  force  ?  I  am  ready  to  accompany  your  soldiers 
to  your  prison,  for  I  suppose  that  is  to  be  my  fate  ?" 

"  That  is  not  the  way,  Mr.  Bourdette."  replied  General  Kny])hau- 
sen.  "  I  have  no  such  intention.  But  vou  are  a  bold  man  thus  to  trifle 
with  your  family.  I  will  return  you  to  them  for  the  present,  but  can- 
not always  promise  to  be  so  lenient," 

"General  Knyphausen,"  replied  my  grandfather,  "  it  may  save  you 
and  my  helpless  family  further  trouble  should  the  chance  of  war  again 
bring  General  Washington  under  my  roof,  if  I  inform  y(m  that  I  am  not 
advised  of  his  intended  movements.  They  will  doubtless  be  dictated  by 
the  emergencies  brought  about  by    your  superior   numbers  and  apjxiint- 


5U4  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

ments;  but  I  trust  in  God  for  my  poor  country,  they  will  result  in  good. 
Good  niofht.  General,  I  am  certainly  indebted  to  you  for  your  clemencv, 
and  hope  you  will  save  yourself  and  me  any  future  trouble  of  a  character 
like  the  present." 

"  Ciood  night.  Mr.  Bnurdctte.  You  are  a  bold  man,  and  if  your 
countrvmen  were  all  like  vou,  we  would  have  harder  duty  before  us." 

My  grandfather  reached  home  in  safety,  and  was  awaited  by  the 
whole  family,  who  had  not  slept  since  his  departure. 

But  my  pen  betrays  me,  and  I  must  close  this  tribute  to  the  m.emorv 
of  the  past.  The  family  underwent  many  vicissitudes  during  the  sub- 
sequent six  years  of  the  war. 

The  old  house  was  rebuilt  shortly  after  the  war,  and  its  rooftree  a 
second  time  became  grey  with  muss  whilst  it  covered  the  venerable 
heads  of  its  owners,  and  they  recounted  to  their  grandchildren  the 
scenes  they  had  witnessed,  and  again  made  it  the  abode  of  comfort  and 
hospitality.  Often,  as  in  my  schoolboy  days,  I  have  sought  the  old 
mansion  through  the  forest  of  Weehawken,  and  could  see  the  venerable 
pair  seated  on  the  porch,  and  hear  the  echo  of  the  woodman's  axe  and 
the  tinkling  of  the  cow-bell,  I  have  thought,  even  in  my  early  youth, 
that  a  life  thus  spent,  and  Hearing  its  close,  was  far  more  ccmgenial 
with  nature  and  true  dignity  of  character,  than  all  the  applause  of  popu 
larity  or  the  fawning  sycophancy  of  luxury  and  fashion. 

KOBEKT    ANNETT. 

Robert  Annett  was  born  in  Ireland  of  French  ancestry  September 
l')88.  In  company  of  his  brother  James  and  sister  Mary,  he  came  to 
this  country  when  eleven  years  old.  After  landing  he  worked  for  a 
Ouaker  family  in  New  York  city,  and  was  by  them  apprenticed  to  a  ship 
carpenter.  Being  early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  he  did  not  stay 
long  as  ship  carpenter,  but  became  the  owner  of  a  small  sloop,  (  Perry 
Atger  I,  carrying  freight  along  the  Hudson  and  was  for  a  time  engaged 
in  running  a  ferry  from  Hoboken  to  Christopher  Street,  New  York, 
with  Barnet  De  Klyn,  in  lSOf>,  he  opened  a  grocery  store  in  Vessey 
street,  North  side,  between  Greenwich  and  Washington  streets.  While 
running  this  store  old  Commodore  Vanderbilt  would  bring  from  Staten 
Island  in  his  sloop  a  load  of  oysters  to  the  oyster  market.  The  old 
Commodore  after  selling  his  goods  would  often  visit  Robert  Annett's 
store  and  buy  his  groceries.  A  strong  friendship  grew  up  between  the 
two  men  and  lasted  during  their  lives. 

In  1S()5  Robert  Annett  married  Catharine,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Mtxire.  From  this  union  were  born  twelve  children,  four  of  these  dying 
in  infancy.  Those  growing  up  were  Mary,  James,  Stephen,  Catharine, 
Robert,  Jr.,  Alexander,  Hannah  and  George  W.  Robert  Annette  moved 
to  Fort  Lee  in  the  year  1824  and  purchased  a  plot  of  ground  between  the 

old  Fort   Lee  road   and   the   river,   from  one Sloat,   he  constantly 

added  to  this  in  time  owning  most  of  the  Bluff  property. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  505 

The  tirst  ferry  was  run  from  Fort  Lee  to  Spring-  street  by  John 
Deg-roat.  Boat  named  "Echo"  two  trips  a  day.  This  was  in  the  year 
1825.  The  trip  took  two  and  a  half  hours  time.  The  steamer  "  Shep- 
pard  Knapp"  took  the  place  of  the  "Kcho"  in  1829,  owned  by  Joe 
Coffee.  She  was  replaced  by  the  steamer  "Boston"  afterwards  named 
"Robert  Annett "  also  run  by  Coffee,  Captain  Ike  Scott  in  command. 
Then  the  steamer  "Frank,"  Captain  Rodger;  steamer  "Flora,"  Captain 
Hanes;  then  "Thomas  E.  Hulse,"  Captain  George  W.  Annett. 

BKKGEN    COfXTV    TKWCTIOX    COMPANY    (  TKOLLKY  )     KAILKOAD    AND    RIVEK- 
SIDE    AND    KOKT    LEE    FEKKY. 

The  trolley  which  runs  through  Fort  Lee  from  the  ferry  to  130th 
Street,  New  York,  was  commenced  in  March,  1895. 

The  Riverside  and  F'ort  Lee  Ferry  removed  from  the  old  landing-  at 
Fort  Lee  Under-the-Hill  to  Pleasant  Valley  April  20th,  1896.  On  that 
day  the  trolley  and  the  ferry,  which  is  its  terminus,  were  opened  for 
public  traffic.  At  that  time  the  road  extended  only  as  far  as  Leonia 
Heig-hts,  but  has  since  been  extended  to  the  city  of  Eng-lewood,  and 
Bogota,  on  the  Hackensack  River,  and  will  shortly  run  into  Hackensack 
with  which  it  is  now  connected  by  stag-e.  After  leaving  the  ferry  the 
road  runs  up  the  Palisades  by  means  of  a  switchback,  thence  along-  the 
Palisades  along-  Palisade  Avenue  to  Main  Street,  Fort  Lee,  continuing- 
akmg  Main  Street  to  Leonia.  The  cars  and  other  equipments  of  the 
line  are  of  the  most  approved  modern  appliances  known  in  trolley  con- 
struction. 

The  road  is  owned  and  operated  by  Philadelphia  people,  the  resi- 
dent officials  of  the  company  being  William  N.  Barrows,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer;  E.  W.  Lawson,  Superintendent. 

PALISADE    KAILKOAD. 

The  ctrastruction  of  this  railroad  was  commenced  in  the  year  1893 
and  completed  and  opened  for  traffic  in  the  early  part  of  1894.  It  was  first 
operated  as  a  steam  road,  but  has  since  been  changed  to  Trolley.  At 
first  its  northern  terminus  was  at  Fort  Lee,  but  now  extends  to  Coytes- 
ville,  and  is  operated  by  the  North  Hudson  Railroad  Company,  its  ter- 
minus being  the  West  Shore  ferries  at  Weehavvken,  connecting  with 
Hoboken,  Jersey  Citv,  and  the  entire  system  of  North  Hudson  Railroad 
Company. 

ELECTRIC    LIGHTS. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1899,  a  meeting  was  held  and  appropriations 
made  for  lighting  Fort  Lee  and  Coytesville  with  electric  lights.  A  con- 
tract was  signed  by  the  Township  Committee  with  the  Hackensack  Gas 
and  Electric  Light  Company,  and  the  erecti(m  of  the  poles  is  now  in 
progress.     Everything  will  be  in  readiness  for  lighting  by  July  20th. 

FORT    LEE    FIKE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Fort  Lee  Fire  Protecti()n  Association,  No.  1,  was  organized  as 
a  volunteer  tire  company  July  18,  1888.     A  handsome   fire  house  was 


50()  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

erected  on  the  sotith  side  of  Main  street,  two  stories  in  height,  with 
engine  room  down  stairs  and  large  meeting  room  upstairs.  September 
14,  1898,  under  an  ordinance  passed  by  the  Ridgefield  Township  Com- 
mittee, this  company  was  accepted  as  the  first  company  of  the  Ridge- 
field Township  Fire  Department,  and  is  now  under  township  control  as 
regular  firemen. 

MADONNA    CHUKCH. 

Catholic  services  were  first  held  at  Fort  Lee  at  the  residence  of  Dr. 
H.  Anderson,  and  in  1859  the  present  church  was  erected  principally  by 
Dr.  Anderson.  The  pastors  who  have  supplied  this  church  are  Fathers 
Anelli,  1859-62;  J.  Heyman,  1862;  Patrick  Corrigan,  1863-66;  H.  A. 
Brann,  D.  D.,  1866-67;  Patrick  Cody,  1867-69;  O.  J.  Smith,  1869-97;  G. 
Spierings,  1870-76;  Rev.  Daniel,  1876-82;  Rev.  Dominic,  1882-86;  Rev. 
Hyacinth,  1886-91;  J.  A.  Huygen,  July  25,  1891,  to  the  present  time. 

The  membership  of  the  church  including  Coytesville,  Nordhoff, 
Palisades  Park  and  Undercliff  is  twelve  hundred  and  sixty-five,  men 
woman  and  children, 

INSTITUTE    OF    THE    HOLY    ANGELS. 

This  institute  for  young  ladies  under  the  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame 
was  chartered  bv  the  Legislature  in  June  1890.  The  convent  was  once 
the  residence  of  the  late  Dr.  Anderson,  a  well  known  scientist  and 
philanthropist  who  desired  that  his  home  should  one  day  be  converted 
into  an  institution  of  learning.  The  doctor  did  not  live  to  see  his 
wishes  fulfilled  but  his  plans  were  carried  out  in  the  purchase  of  his 
home  together  with  the  eleven  acres  of  ground  with  it,  by  the  Sisters 
of  Notre  Dame  on  the  Feast  of  the  Guardian  Angel,  October  2,  1879. 
In  1890  a  new  school  building  was  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  old 
residence  facing  Linwood  Avenue. 

The  building  is  furnished  with  every  accessory  for  comfort,  conve- 
nience and  safety,  and  in  dimensions  is  one  hundred  feet  long  by  sixty- 
five  feet  in  width,  and  three  stories  high. 

The  Sisters  began  the  erection  of  the  Chapel  of  the  Holy  Angels  in 
March,  1894,  and  on  the  Feast  of  Annunciation,  25th  of  March,  1895,  it 
was  dedicated  by  the  Right  Reverend  W.  M.  Wigger,  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese,  under  whose  lordship,  also  presiding  on  June  20th,  1899,  the 
twentieth  annual  commencement  of  the  school  was  held. 

CHURCH  OF  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD. 

Rev.  Ralph  Hoyt  held  Episcopal  services  in  Fort  Lee  from  1852  to 
1853  in  a  small  church  erected  at  a-cost  of  four  hundred  dollars,  but  the 
church  was  never  organized.  Owing  to  Mr.  Hoyt's  ill  health  he  aban- 
doned preaching  and  since  1880  no  services  have  been  held  in  the  church. 
The  house  is  now  used  for  business  purposes. 

STONE    CHITRCH.  —  (PARKEK    PEACE.) 

This  building  was  erected  in  1867  by  General  Edward  Jardine,  John 
G.    Cunningham  and  others   at  a  cost  oi  eight  thousand  dollars.     The 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKCKN    COUNTY  507 

tirst  trustees  were  J.  (J.  Brown,  J.  (i.  Cunningham  and  General  Edward 
-lard  inc. 

The  church  jjjissed  through  many  hands,  owned  at  one  time  bv  J. 
R.  Hoadley,  of  New  York,  who  let  it  out  to  all  denominati(.)ns  for  relig- 
ious purposes,  and  it  was  so  used  from  1880  to  1889.  In  February  1899 
it  was  purchased  by  the  "Good  Shepherd  Mission"  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  them,  having-  a  good  and 
steadily  increasing  membership.  The  pastors  from  1889  to  date  are  as 
folloA's:  Reverends  Matthew  A.  Bailey,  "Walter  M.  Sherwood,  J.  Byron 
Curtis,  M.  M.  Fothergill,  James  McCleary,  and  Charles  M.  Douglass. 
F^rom  the  date  of  its  erection  to  the  present  time,  Charles  Wilson  has 
been  sexton. 

Reverend  B.  C.  C.  Parker  came  to  Fort  Lee  in  the  year  IS.^'I,  and  l)uilt 
a  home  on  what  is  now  known  as  Parker  Place.  He  came  originally  from 
Boston,  and  settled  in  New  York  where  he  preached  in  the  Seaman's 
Floating  Church  at  Peck's  Slip.  He  made  many  improvements  about 
his  home  at  Fort  Lee,  employing  a  number  of  men.  He  died  January 
3,  1859. 

THK    CHUKCH    OF    THK    PALISADES. 

The  Church  of  the  Palisades,  (Dutch  Reformed),  in  Coytesville, 
owes  its  origin,  under  God,  to  the  self  denying  labors  of  Mrs.  Catherine 
F.  Dana,  wife  of  Mr.  William  B.  Dana. 

On  the  15th  day  of  February,  18f)3,  she  organized  a  Sabbath  school 
at  her  residence  near  Englewood,  which  rapidly  increased  in  members 
and  interest,  and  soon  led  to  the  establishment  of  a  monthly  preaching 
service  conducted  by  the  neighboring  clergy.  A  little  later,  in  response 
to  an  application  made  by  Mr.  Dana  to  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  an  appropriation  of  three  hundred  dollars  was 
made  by  said  Board,  in  part  payment  of  the  support  of  a  missionary  to 
the  people  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Mr.  Dana's  residence,  and  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Puytren  Vermilye  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Mission. 

On  the  22nd  of  May,  1866,  a  church  was  organized  by  the  Classis  of 
Bergen  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Dana;  and  in  September,  1867,  the  "Church 
of  the  Palisades"  was  incorporated  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  Jersey. 

In  November,  1867,  Mr.  Joseph  Coyte  presented  to  the  church  two 
building  lots  in  the  village  of  Coytesville,  and  sold  to  the  church  a  third 
lot  adjoining,  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  On  this 
site  a  chapel  was  erected,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  on 
the  14th  of  October,  1868.  A  loan  of  SIOOO  was  made  to  the  church 
from  the  Building  Fund  of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missi(ms,  which  made 
the  erection  of  the  chapel  possible. 

The  connection  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vermilye  with  the  church  was 
severed  in  January,  1868,  and  he  was  immediately  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Isaac  M.  See  as  Missionary.  Mr.  See  withdrew  in  1871,  and  following 
him  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Davis,  January  28,  1872;    the  Rev.    Henry  Maltice  in 


508  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

i873,  the. Rev.  F.  M.  Bog-ardus  in  187')  and  the  Rev.  W.  E.  Buckek-w  in 
May  1888. 

In  the  Spring-  of  1888  a  considerable  number  of  the  cong^regation 
became  disaffected  and  withdrew  from  the  church,  and  org-anized  a 
Congreg-ational  Church.  Mr.  Buckelew's  health  failed,  and  he  was  dismis- 
sed from  his  pastoral  charge  in  the  early  part  of  1893,  and  in  May  of 
the  same  year  the  Rev.  Artemas  Dean,  D.  D.,  was  installed  and  still 
remains  pastor  of  the  church. 

"  The  Church  of  the  Palisades  "  has  ever  been  small  in  numbers, 
and  until  May  18'H,  regularly  received  large  aid  from  the  Board  of 
Domestic  Missions.  Since  that  date  it  has  been  self  supporting.  Mr. 
William  B.  Dana,  though  no  .longer  a  resident  in  this  neighborhood, 
has  continued  to  this  day  to  be  a  princely  contributor  to  the  treasury  of 
the  church,  and  without  his  aid  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  the  regular 
worship  of  the  sanctuary  could  have  been  maintained.  A  Christian 
Kndeavor  Society  organized  six  years  ago,  has  done  g-ood  work,  and  dur- 
ing two  years  of  its  history  gave  more  per  capita  to 'the  Mission  Boards 
of  our  order  than  any  other  Christian  Endeaver  Society  in  New  Jersey. 
Two  years  ago  it  raised  funds  and  purchased  a  free  circulating  Library 
numbering  over  nine  hundred  volumes,  which  is  kept  in  the  gallery  of 
the  church,  under  the  care  of  the  Society. 

There  are  sixty-four  names  on  the  roll  of  church  members. 

CHAKLES  VOGEL. 

Charles  Vogel,  inventor  and  machinist  was  born  in  Germany 
August  22nd,  1843,  and  eight  years  later  his  father,  Ludwig  Vogel, 
with  his  family  set  sail  for  America,  landing  in  New  York  where  Charles 
was  educated.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  began  the  career  of  inventor, 
since  then  having  taken  out  about  fifteen  patents  on  various  kinds  of 
machines.  His  first  patent,  g-ranted  in  1867,  was  for  a  machine  for  cut- 
ting files.  Many  previous  attempts  having  been  made  by  prominent 
inventors  without  success,  it  was  the  general  opinion  that  the  only  way 
to  cut  a  file  was  by  hand.  Mr.  Vogel's  invention,  however,  refuted  this 
idea,  his  files  comparing  favorably  with  the  hand  made,  both  in  dura- 
bility and  cutting  qualities. 

In  1874  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Fort  Lee  and  established  a 
machine  shop,  where  he  continues  to  construct  the  machines  of  his  own 
invention.  The  last  two,  which  are  manufactured  mostly  by  himself, 
are  an  improved  steam  engine,  and  an  especial  contrivance  for  burning 
crankshafts  for  engines,  etc.  This  engine  has  three  cylinders  and  but 
one  rotary  valve  making  half  as  many  revolutions  as  the  main  shaft.  It 
is  perfectly  balanced,  and  can  be  run  slowly  on  account  of  having  no 
dead  center  and  can  also  be  run  rapidly,  several  engines  running  now 
at  the  rate  of  fifteen  hundred  revolutions  per  minute.  It  is  light  in 
weight,  very  compact,  economical  in  the  use  of  steam,  entirely  enclosed, 
and  can  be  started  or  stopped  at  any  point,  and  can  also  be  instantly 
reversed. 


chaki.es  vogei. 


510  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Any  one  familiar  with  the  process,  is  aware  of  the  tedious  task  of 
burning  a  crank  in  a  lathe  on  account  of  the  vibration  of  the  unbalanced 
and  unsupported  mass  of  metal,  and  as  only  light  cuts  can  be  taken,  the 
necessity-  of  using  long  cutting  tools  in  order  to  reach  the  crank  pin, 
adds  to  the  vibration  and  uncertainty  of  the  work.  On  this  machine 
crank  pins  are  burned  with  the  shafts  remaining  in  the  main  centers, 
thus  assuring  perfect  alignment  in  every  direction,  the  crank  remaining 
stationary  while  the  cutter  travels  around  the  crank.  A  rest  easily 
adjusted  holds  the  crank  perfectly  rigid  while  being  burned,  thus  pre- 
venting vibration  and  enabling  it  to  produce  a  round  crank  pin  on  shafts 
which  would  be  considered  too  weak  to  be  burned  by  the  old  way.  A 
change  can  quickly  be  made  to  a  greater  or  less  throw  of  crank  without 
removing  shaft  from  main  centers. 

In  1862  Mr.  Vogel  joined  the  New  York  National  Guard  and  as  a 
member  of  the  11th  Regiment  took  part  in  the  campaign  when  the  New 
York  National  Guard  was  called  upon  in  1863  to  repulse  the  invasion  of 
the  Confederate  General  Stuart  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  He 
continued  an  active  member  of  this  regiment  until  1871,  when  he 
resigned.  Since  1870  Mr.  Vogel  has  been  a  member  of  Copestone 
Lodge  641,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  New  York. 

He  was  married  in  May  187.?  to  Miss  Elise  Guide  of  New  York. 
She  died  in  1891.  Their  children  were  Charles,  Alfred  and  Paul.  In 
1893  Mr  Vogel  married  Miss  Marie  H.  Campbell  of  Fort  Lee,  and  two 
children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage,  Henrietta  and  Weston. 

GEKOME    SAKDI 

On  Third  Street,  New  York,  near  West  Broadway,  is  one  of  the 
largest  plants  in  the  East  for  the  manufacture  of  artificial  flowers. 
The  business  was  established  in  1878  by  Gerome  Sardi  who  mastered 
the  intricacies  of  manufacturing  and  trade  in  this  line  of  goods,  after 
years  of  experience  and  close  application,  having  successfully  met  the 
requirments  of  the  most  fastidious,  for  beauty  and  personal  adornment, 
not  only  in  flowers  but  also  in  feathers  and  piquets. 

The  business  is  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  (i.  &  M.  Sardi, 
importers  and  manufacturers,  and  gives  einployment  to  nearly  live 
hundred  hands.  The  trade  has  almost  a  world  wide  patronage  in  the 
wholesale  line,  and  Mr.  Sardi  has  a  favorable  and  extensive  acquaint- 
ance, especially  in  the  East.  They  have  ofiiices  in  Paris,  at  the  Rue 
des  Petites-Ecuries,  54. 

Mr.  Sardi  was  bt)rn  in  Italy  in  the  city  of  (Jenoa  in  1855.  When 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  America  and  worked  for  a  pittance 
until  he  amassed  a  small  sum  for  his  business,  which  he  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  on  a  small  scale,  in  1878.  In  1888  he  came  to 
P^ort  Lee  in  which  place  he  now  resides,  having  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  prosperity  and  growth  of  the  place.  Mr.  Sardi  is  fore- 
most in  all  progressive  movements  looking  toward  the  improvement  of 
the  place  of  his  adopted  home. 


HISTORY    OF    BP:rOKN    COUNTY  511 

J.    KI.KTCHKK    BTilv'DKTT. 

J.  Fletcher  Burdett  is  the  son  of  John  F.,  and  grrandson  of  Peter 
Burdett,  of  whose  ancestry  a  full  history  is  g-ivcn  in  this  chapter  on 
Fort  Lee.  J.  Fletcher  Burdett  was  l-orn  in  March,  1843.  After  his 
education  in  the  public  schools,  which  was  completed  when  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  he  apprenticed  himself  in  the  carriage  making 
business  at  Rah  way,  N.  J.,  where  he  remained  until  the  war  broke  out 
in  18()1,  when  he  went  with  his  company,  being  one  of  the  members  of 
the  Twenty-Second  N.  J.  Regiment  of  Bergen  county.  Upon  returning 
home  from  the  South  Mr.  Burdett  fitted  himself  more  completelv  for 
business  by  taking  a  course  of  instructiim  in  the  College  at  Poughk-eep- 
sie,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  began  carpentry  in  Fort  Lee  and  vicinity, 
and  during  the  succeeding  live  or  six  years  erected  many  houses  in  this 
part  of  Bergen  county.  He  built  his  own  residence  in  189f>.  Mr.  Bur- 
dett has  also  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  for 
many  years.  As  a  public  official  he  has  filled  the  offices  of  assessor  and 
collector  for  a  number  of  terms,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  that 
chapter.     He  is  at  the  present  time  collector  of  the  township. 

In  18()S  Mr.  Burdett  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Mannix,  daughter 
of  David  Mannix  of  Fort  Lee,  and  is  the  father  of  live  children.  His 
eldest  son,  George  Burdett,  was  educated  in  Manhattan  College,  and  is 
now  successfully  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Fort  Lee.  He 
married  Miss  Ada  Dubois.  The  other  children  are  Catherine.  Laura. 
Harry,  Lester  and  (xrace. 

JAJIKS  F.   TKACFV. 

James  F.  Tracey,  present  township  Clerk  of  Ridge  field  township, 
was  born  at  Fort  Lee,  Bergen  county,  N.  J..  January  23,  1864.  He 
has  spent  all  his  life  here,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
su])plemented  Ijv  a  course  of  instruction  in  the  parochial  School. 

Mr.  Tracey  is  of  purely  Irish  origin,  both  of  his  parents  having 
been  born  in  Ireland.  He  takes  a  lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his 
township  and  has  served  in  the  office  of  township  Clerk,  to  which  he  was 
elected  March  8,  1892,  and  re-elected  March  14,  1893.  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace  March  13,  1894,  and  served  to  May  1,  1899.  On 
March  10,  1896,  he  was  again  elected  township  Clerk  and  was  re-elected 
March  14,  1899.  He  has  been  secretary  of  Madonna  Benevolent  Society 
of  Fort  Lee,  since  1892.  In  private  life  Mr.  Tracey  is  engaged  in  real 
estate  and  insurance,  conducting  a  profitable  business.  He  has  never 
married. 

MAX    WVLKK,     M.     D. 

Dr.  Wyler,  a  young  man  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  profession  of 
medicine,  is  a  native  of  Switzerland.  He  was  born  in  18(i4,  and  was 
educated  in  his  native  country,  in  the  cities  of  Zurich  and  Berne,  taking 
a  full  course  of  instruction  in  the  institutions  of  those  cities.  From 
Switzerland  he  went  to  Germany  for  further  study  and  research,  the 
great  centers  of  learning,  Munich,  Heidelberg  and  Wurzburg  attracting 
him,  in  the  pursuit  of  a  course  of  preparation   for  his   proposed    profes- 


JAMKS    K.    TKACKV 


HISTOKY    0>"    BER(;EN    COUNTY  5\?> 

sional  career.  After  completing  his  studies  in  those  institutions  he 
came  to  America,  first  settling-  in  Burlington,  Vermont,  but  later  com- 
ing to  New  York  city,  where  he  entered  the  Harlem  Dispensary  for  eye, 
ear,  throat  and  nose  diseases.  In  1892  he  located  in  New  York  city,  and 
remained  until  1896,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Fort  Lee,  bought  prop- 
erty and  is  building  up  a  lucrative  practice,  making  a  speciality  of  the 
eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat,  besides  his  general  pratice. 

Dr.  Wyler  is  a  member  of  the  Bergen  county  Medical  Society,  and 
of  the  New  York  Physicians  Mutual  Society.  He  was  married  in  1895, 
to  Miss  Miriam  Schreiber  of  New  York. 

CHAKI.KS    J.     HIKI.IMANN. 

Charles  J.  Hirlimann  an  expert  in  electric  batteries  and  a  manufac- 
turer of  prominence,  was  born  in  France,  September  1,  1849.  Mr.  Hirli- 
mann has  been  a  resident  of  Fort  Lee,  Bergen  county  since  1873, 
although  his  business  is  located  in  New  York  city,  at  17  Laight  street. 
He  is  not  only  a  manufacturer  but  an  inventor  as  well,  and  during  his 
professional  career  in  the  United  States  has  made  many  improvements 
in  the  "Disque  Leclanche  Battery,"  of  which  he  was  the  first  manufac- 
turer in  this  country.  Mr.  Hirlimann's  batteries  have  been  adopted 
and  are  in  constant  use  with  the  Telephone  companies.  Railroad  and 
Steamship  companies  in  the  United  States,  as  well  as  in  Canada,  Mexico 
and  Cuba.  The  Industrial  Academv  of  Paris,  in  1891,  awarded  him  a 
gold  medal.  The  "Electrical  Age"  of  October  17,  189 1  devotes  a  con- 
siderable space  to  the  "Disque,"  in  which  it  exhorts  the  ])ublic  to  main- 
tain the  integritv  of  this  battery  a1)i)ve  all  others. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hirlimann  is  prominent  in  Democratic  circles.  He 
was  married  June  1,  1885,  to  Miss  Aimee  Dubois  of  New  York.  He  is  a 
member  of  several  clubs  and  organizations,  among  which  are  the  Circle 
Francaise  de  I'Harmonie,  New  York;  Mardi  Gras,  New  York  and  the 
Fort  Lee  Fire  Company. 

JOSKPH    SCHLOSSER. 

Joseph  Schlosscr.  proprietor  of  the  Fort  Lee  Club  House,  was  born 
in  Fort  Lee  in  1857.  His  father,  Joseph  Schlosser,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  but  was  in  business  in  Leonia  and  Fort  Lee  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  He  came  to  Leonia  in  1855,  and  in  1859  bought  the  property 
in  Fort  Lee,  afterward  converted  into  a  hotel,  but  which  was  first  used 
for  a  few  years  in  part  as  a  meat  store.  The  interests  in  the  last  named 
business  were  sold  to  his  brother-in-law,  Philip  Hook,  who  moved  across 
the  street,  and  where  he  has  been  in  business  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Schlosser  then  began  the  manufacturing  of  stone  blocks  for 
street  paving  purposes,  and  carried  on  that  enterprise  successfully  for  a 
few  years.  In  1869  he  opened  the  hotel,  subsequently  making  such  ad- 
ditions to  the  house  as  were  necessary  for  that  purpose.  Here  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  in  1891. 


514  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


Joseph  Schlosser,  son  and  successor  to  the  hotel  property,  is  one  of 
six  children.  His  four  sisters,  Mrs.  Bcnecke.  Mrs.  Cherny,  Mrs.  Heft 
and  Mrs.  Saita,  all  live  in  Fort  Lee. 

While  Mr.  Schlosser  has  confined  his  attentions  wholly  to  business. 
he  is  nevertheless,  a  public  spirited  citizen,  and  has  frequently  been 
called  into  positions  of  honor  and  public  trust.  He  was  a  member  ot 
the  Township  Committee  from  1889  to  i897,  and  was  appointed  m  Janu- 
ary 1898  as  a  member  of  that  body  to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Pioneer  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M„  of  Hackensack,  and  a 
charter  member  of  the  Fort  Lee  Fire  Department,  and  is  treasurer  of 
the  company.      He  also  belongs  to  various  other  organizations. 

KIDGEFIELD    PARK. 

Althouo-h  Ridgefield  Park  began  to  attract  the  notice  of  land  specu- 
litors  as  far  back  as  1870  when  the  Ridgefield  Land  Company  parcelled 
a  secti.m  of  the  town  into  building  lots  and  sold  them  at  what  is  even 
now  looked  upon  as  high  prices,  it  was  not  until  ten  years  ago  that  the 
home  builder  put  in  his  appearance.  Soon  the  little  ridge  midway 
between  Hackensack  and  the  Palisades  caught  the  infection  and  devel- 
oped into  a  community  of  commuters.  Speaking  of  commuters,  Morti- 
mer Smith  and  Peter  Kenny  deserve  mention  as  the  oldest.  They  for- 
merly went  to  New  York  by  way  of  the  Northern  Railroad  at  Leonia 
three  miles  away.  Mr.  Kenny  died  two  years  ago;  Mr.  Smith  is  still 
travellin<^  every  day,  but  has  the  pleasure  of  using  the  New  York,  Sus- 
quehanna and  Western  at  Ridgefield  Park.  He  collected  over  two  hun- 
dred dollars  to  build  this  station,  and  speaks  with  pride  of  his  efforts  to 

establish  it.  .-•,,,  t 

With  the  advent  of  the  home  builder  and  his  benehcient  help  mate, 
(The  Building  Association),  came  a  demand  for  better  and  more  modern 
improvements.     It  was  thought  that  the  old  township  form  of  govern- 
ment    run   exclusively  by  the  politicians  of  Fort  Lee,   or  those  under 
their'direction,  was  inadequate  for  the  needs  of  this  growing  hamlet, 
and  soon  a  question  of  change  was  agitated.     The  good  offices  of  Sena- 
tor Winton   were  obtained  and  he  framed  a   law  which  was  called  the 
"Winton  Act"  and  under  which    Ridgefield  Park  was  incorporated  as  a 
villao-e    m  the  summer  of  1892.     Many,  however,  thought  this  form  of 
o-overnment  was  not  suitable  as  the  vote  by  the  people  was  eighty-four 
Tn  favor  and  sixty-two  against.     The  interest  in  the  first  primary,  how- 
ever    was  intense,    twenty-three  candidates  for  village  trustees  being 
nominated,  while  only  five  were  to  be   elected.     The  village  Board  met 
at  the  residence  of  Thomas  M.  Brewster  on  July  U,    1892.     They  were 
Andrew  (xaul.  Dr.  Ad<ilph   Dexheimer,   Thomas  M.   Brewster,   John  W. 
O'Brien  and   John   A.    Crandall.      Andrew   Gaul   was   elected   the    first 
,,resident    of    the   village;    Dr.    Adolph   Dexheimer    its  first    treasurer; 
Joseph  \.  Behan,  clerk;  and  James  A.  Stratton,  superintendent.      The 
Board  decided  that  eight  hundred  dollars  would  be  sufficient  for  current 
expenses  and  ordered  the   Assessor  to    levy  that  amount.      The  tax  offi- 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  515 


cials  were  still  cdntrdlled  l>y  Kidy^efa-ld  tdwiisliip.  Ridj^otield  Park  was 
not  entirely  out  of  its  g:rasi).  At  the  Spring  election  of  18'»3  George  E. 
Helm  was  elected  to  succeed  John  A.  Crandall  whose  time  had  expired. 
John  E.  Ht)ey  was  appointed  clerk.  Owing  to  a  lack  of  funds  very  little 
work  was  done  during  the  first  year.  During  1893  nearly  all  the  streets 
were  dedicated  and  made  public  thoroughfares,  the  exception  being 
those  in  the  northern  section,  known  as  Westview.  Garden  Street  was 
cut  through  to  Brinkerhoff  Street  making  a  much  nearer  outlet  from  the 
southern  end  of  the  village.  The  grade  map  was  made  bv  Williams 
Brothers. 

On  March  12.  1S'I4,  Mr.  O'Brien  introduced  the  first  sidewalk  ordi- 
nance, providing  for  Central  Avenue  between  First  and  Fourth  Streets. 

In  tlie  Spring  of  1S94  a  complete  change  was  made  in  the  personel 
of  the  Board,  the  terms  of  Messrs.  Gaul  and  Dexheimer  expiring.  Mr. 
Gaul  was  re-elected,  but  Dr.  Dexheimer  was  not  a  candidate,  while  W. 
H.  Hobart  was  elected  after  a  very  close  and  exciting' contest.  Three 
or  four  votes  would  have  turned  the  election  either  way.  After  election 
day  four  citizens  were  indicted  for  alleged  illegal  voting  but  were  sub- 
sequently released  the  indictments  having  been  quashed  for  lack  of  evi- 
dence. Mr.  Hobart  was  elected  president  of  the  Board;  George  E. 
Helm,  treasurer,  and  Joseph  A.  Behan,  clerk.  From  that  time  bitter 
feeling  among  tlie  citizens  sprung  up  and  resulted  in  two  factions,  both 
evenly  dividing  the  two  great  parties.  One  was  the  Brewster  and  the 
other  the  O'Brien  faction,  both  Democrats.  Messrs.  Brewster  and 
O'Brien  retired  from  the  Board  of  Trustees  on  April  9,  1895,  and  were 
succeeded  by  John  H.  Ficken  and  Milo  H.  Morgan.  Mr.  Hobart  con- 
tinued to  be  president  but  Mr.  Ficken  assumed  the  office  of  treasurer. 
Nothing  of  particular  interest  occurred  during  1895.  George  E.  Helm 
was  re-elected  village  trustee  at  the  Spring  election,  1S9(),  for  three 
years,  and  Alfred  W.  Price  supplanted  Joseph  A.  Behan  as  Clerk  of  the 
Board.  After  a  few  months  Mr.  Helm  objected  to  the  methods  of  the 
Street  Superintendent  and  with  the  assistance  of  Messrs.  Morgan  and 
Gaul  dismissed  Thomas  Marshall  and  installed  Thomas  R.  Lindley  in 
his  place.  Mr.  Price  then  came  under  the  ban  and  was  removed,  Mr. 
Behan  taking  his  place.  These  changes  caused  a  bitter  feeling  and  Mr. 
Helm  was  roundly  denounced  by  some  of  the  citizens.  One  of  the  vil- 
lage notes  went  to  protest  through  lack  of  harmony  in  the  Board,  and 
an  indignation  meeting  was  called  which  was  largely  attended.  The 
Board  was  censured  for  its  indifference  to  the  credit  and  reputation  of 
the  village.  The  legislature  of  1S9()  and  18')7  passed  an  Act  making 
Ridgefield  Park  a  township,  which  was  called  Overpeck,  thus  taking 
the  village  out  of  the  semi-control  of  Fort  Lee.  The  new  law  did  not 
interfere  with  the  village  government.  A  snag  was  struck  later,  how- 
ever, when  the  village  trustees  endeavored  to  make  a  settlement  with 
Ridgefield  township.  The  latter's  town  committee  refused  to  recognize 
the  trustees;  a  mandamus  was  applied  for  but  the  Supreme  Court  decided 
against  Ridgefield  Park.      The  fact   that  Ridgewood  was  a  village  in  a 


516  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

township  was  cited,  but  Ridgewood  had  no  settlements  to  make  with 
other  townships,  and  the  right  of  a  village  trustee,  to  be  a  town  com- 
mitteeman without  election  to  that  office  was  disputed  successfully. 
The  village  was  not  declared  illegal  as  some  believed,  but  it  was  neces- 
sary to  have  a  town  committee  to  transact  business,  which  the  law  did 
not  confer  on  the  village  trustees.  Thus  it  came  later  that  trustees  and 
committeemen  were  elected.  Frank  C.  Lowe  and  John  L.  Oberg  were 
elected  trustees  March,  1897,  with  the  remaining  township  officers  neces- 
sary to  transact  business.  Mr.  Oberg  held  office  as  trustee  for  one 
year.  In  March,  1898,  D.  S.  Servoss  was  elected  trustee  for  two  years; 
W.  N.  Schwab  and  Hugh  Innes  each  for  three  years.  They  were  also 
elected  township  committeemen.  W.  A.  Wilcox  is  the  township  clerk 
elected  in  1897. 

Practically  all  the  business  is  transacted  by  the  Village  Board,  and 
since  the  new  board  was  installed  the  streets  have  been  lighted  by  elec- 
tricity; gas  mains  are  in  nearly  four  miles  of  street,  and  two  miles  of 
new  sidewalks  have  been  laid,  with  no  village  bonded  indebtedness. 
We  have  sprung  from  a  hamlet  of  a  few  families  to  a  population  of 
nearly  two  thousand  five  hundred  in  ten  years.  Over  five  hundred  chil- 
dren are  on  the  school  census  rolls.  Two  schools  with  nine  teachers, 
six  churches,  two  railroads,  and  other  virtues  too  numerous  to  mention. 

The  first  Board  of  Education  in  the  township  of  Overpeck  consisted 
of  Conrad  W.  Mergler,  H.  W.  Brewster,  John  E.  Hoey,  P.  W.  Johnson, 
Adolph  Dexheimer,  F.  C.  Lowe,  E.  S.  Ferris,  Carl  Damcke  and  C. 
Oberg.  The  first  meeting  of  the  new  board  was  held  at  the  school 
house  on  April  b,  1897,  when  they  elected  Conrad  W.  Mergler  president, 
and  John  E.  Hoey  district  clerk,  immediately  proceeding  to  a  final  ad- 
justment of  details  incident  to  the  new  conditions. 

On  account  of  the  overcrowded  condition  of  the  one  school  in  the 
township,  a  building  had  been  secured  from  the  district  known  as  West- 
view,  which  was  made  to  serve  the  purpose  until  the  completion  of  the 
new  building,  then  in  process  of  erection.  This  house,  built  at  a  cost 
of  six  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  was  dedicated  September  6,  1897. 
The  enrollment  at  this  time  in  School  No.  1  was  two  hundred  and  fifty, 
and  in  School  No.  2  one  hundred  and  forty. 

In  March,  1898,  a  new  board  was  elected  as  follows:  John  E.  Hoey, 
Conrad  W.  Mergler,  H.  N.  Brewster,  Carl  Damcke,  P.  W.  Johnson, 
James  M.  Shourt,  William  F.  Dowell,  Jesse  Gregory  and  Alfred  Price. 
John  E.  Hoey  was  made  president  and  Conrad  W.  Mergler  district  clerk. 

The  present  board  (1899)  consists  of  John  E.  Hoey,  president; 
William  F.  Dowell,  district  clerk;  Louis  Weiss,  Samuel  J.  Shaw,  H. 
M.  Brewster,  Carl  Damcke,  P.  W.  Johnson,  James  M.  Shourt,  Conrad 
W.  Mergler. 

The  total  enrollment  of  the  schools  in  Overpeck  township  at  present 
is  four  hundred  and  eighty. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN   COUNTY  517 

KIKE     nEPAKTMEXT    OK    KIDC.KFIKI.D    PAKK. 

Althouifh  organized  in  1892  it  was  not  until  March  2,  18%,  that  the 
Ridg-efield  Park  Hose  Company,  No.  1,  and  Friendship  Hook  and  Lad- 
der Company  were  brought  into  department  form,  and  put  under 
control  of  the  Board  of  Village  Trustees,  which  enacted  an  ordinance 
creating  the  offices  of  Chief  and  Assistant  Chief  Engineers,  and  formu- 
lated rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  newly  made  fire 
department.  The  first  officers  elected  were:  Fred  A.  Lyman  and  Charles 
M.  Brewster.  The  following  year  Mr.  Brewster  was  promoted  to  Chief; 
and  Mr.  A.  E.  Innes,  D.  A.  Christie,  Samuel  J.  Shaw  and  E.  S.  Carr 
have  since  served  as  chief  and  assistant  chiefs. 

On  August  15,  189').  E.  S.  Carr  and  John  E.  Hoey  v.^ere  elected  lor 
the  ensuing  year. 

KIK'KMEN's    KELIKK    ASSOCIATION. 

Firemen's  Relief  Association  was  organized  April  22,  18'I5.  This 
organization  is  managed  by  a  "Board  of  Representatives"  elected 
annually  from  the  two  companies.  This  board  provides  out  of  the  fund 
furnished  by  the  state,  for  members  who  are  sick  or  disabled.  They 
also  elected  delegates  to  the  State  Firemen's  Convention,  held  an- 
nually. 

KIDOEKIHI.D    PAI'fK    HOSE    COMPANY    NO.    1. 

Ridgefield  Park  Hose  Company  No.  1  formed  a  temporary  organi- 
zation on  December  "I,  1,S91.  enrolling  fifty  citizens  who  agreed  to  become 
volunteer  firemen,  A  ])ermanent  organization  was  effected  February 
10,  1892,  with  the  following  officers:  President,  C.  W.  Calloway;  Vice 
President,  W.  H.  Robert;  Secretary,  J.  H.  Ficken;  Treasurer,  J.  A. 
Behan;  Foreman,  F.  S.  Sturgis;  Assistant  Foreman,  F.  H.  Rudol])h; 
Trustees,  C.  \V.  Mergler,  C.  \V.  Reinhart  and  J.  A.   Crandall. 

The  event  leading  to  the  formation  of  the  Hose  Company,  was  the 
burning,  one  ■night,  of  the  dwellings  of  Messrs  Reinhart,  Henderson 
and  Enders.  on  Preston  Street.  The  entire  population  turned  out  to  see 
the  blaze,  but  owing  to  a  lack  of  proper  facilities,  were  unable  to  sub- 
due the  flames. 

Since  March  2,  189(),  the  Board  of  Trustees  have,  among  other 
things,  provided  a  Jum])er  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  hose,  which 
with  a  first  class  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  insure  protection  to  the 
town. 

I'KIENDSniP    HOOK    AND    LADDEK    COMPANY. 

The  Friendship  Hot)k  and  Ladder  Company  was  organized  February 
22,  1892,  with  twenty  members  and  was  incorporated  on  April  5th  of 
the  same  year.  The  officers  elected  were:  President,  A.  P.  Carpenter; 
Vice  President,  E.  S.  Carr; 'Secretary,  Isaac  B.  Winn;  Treasurer,  M.  T. 
Brewster;  Foreman,  C.  K.  Brewster;  assistant  Foreman,  Austin  Wolf; 
Trustees,  E.  M.  Lemarie,  James  T.  Donnelly,  D.  A.  Christie.  A  hook 
and  ladder  truck  having  been  procured  the  company  was  ready  for 
business. 


518 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


The  C(>mpaii\-  set  to  work  to  secure  funds  to  build  a  house,  and 
have  now  a  commodious  home  on  Garden  Street.  The  membership 
numbers  twenty-seven,  and  that  of  the  Hose  Company  twenty-eight. 
In  the  department  are  men  prominent  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  and 
from  its  inception  has  made  itself  felt  in  local  affairs. 

UNION     CHI'KCH. 

This  church  owes  its  orig'in  to  Mrs.  E.  W.  Barnes,  a  daughter  of 
Mortimer  Smith,  in  whose  parlors  a  Sunday  School  was  opened  in  1SS4. 
From  this  small  beginning-  came  the  congregation,  which  is  apparently 
doing  a  good  work.  Organizing  in  18'J0,  thev  built  their  house  of 
worship  in  1891  and  dedicated  it  the  following  year,  the  present  pastor 
being  installed  June  4.  1893.  This  church  has  now  a  membership  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  is  non-sectarian,  and  supports  two  Sunday 
Schools  of    about   three   hundred  scholars,    a  Young    People's  Society 


UNION    CHUKCH 

of  Christian  Endeavor  of  fifty  members,  a  Ladies'  Society  of  sixty 
and  a  Junior  Endeavor  Society,  of  ninety,  educating  two  of  its 
members  in  schools.  They  also  publish  the  "Union  Herald," — a 
monthl}- paper — support  a  "  Winter  Night  College,"  a  "Penny  Bank" 
and   a  Boys'  Athletic  Club  and  Fife  and  Drum  Corps. 

The  pastor  of  this  church.  Rev.  Allan  MacNeill,  is  of  Scotch  and 
English  parentage.  On  the  paternal  side  he  is  of  Scotch  descent, 
while  his  maternal  ancestors  are  English.  He  was  born  on  Prince 
Edward's  Island,  August  22,  1860,  and  was  educated  in  Prince  Edward's 
Island  public  schools,  and  in  the  night  schools,  and  Denver  High  School. 
He  then  took  a  course  in  Amherst  College,  after  which  he  entered  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  where  he  studied  for  his  professional  career, 
finishing  his  school  work  with  Post  Graduate  studies  in  the  University 
of  New  York.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Seminary  immediately  pre- 
ceediuu:  his  installation  in  1S<*3. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKOEN    COUNTY  519 

Mr.  MacNeill  is  president  of  tlie  Public  Library  Association;  a 
member  of  the  Reading  Club;  of  the  Athletic  Club;  and  of  the  Society 
of  Comparative  Relig-ions,  being-  also  president  of  the  Township  Sun- 
day School  Association. 

Mr.  MacNeill  married  Miss  Fanny  Pomeroy  Cutter,  of  Amherst, 
Massachusetts. 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHl'KCH. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Ridgefield  Park,  is  the  result  of 
a  service  looking  to  the  formation  of  a  church  of  this  denomination, 
held  in  Republican  Club  Hall,  November  !(.,  IS'io.  At  this  meeting 
Rev.  J.  R.  Daniels  of  Hackensack  preached  to  about  fifty  people.  A 
Sabbath  school  was  organized  soon  after,  and  March  '»,  1891  the  church 
was  regularly  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
The  first  regular  preacher  was  Mr.  C.  E.  Schenck,  from  Drew  Theologi- 
cal Seminary.  A  Ladies'  Aid  Society  was  an  early  helper  financially. 
After  incorporation,  the  subject  of  a  church  building  was  discussed, 
when  the  Board  of  Trustees  appointed  a  committee  to  select  a  site. 
Two  lots,  previously  donated  were  sold  and  the  proceeds  ajjplied  toward 
the  purchase  of  more  suitable  ground,  upon  which  a  church  was  built 
and  the  same  dedicated  on  July  7,  1895.  The  present  pastor.  Rev. 
Alfred  Evans,  resides  at  Ridgefield  Park.  He  was  graduated  from 
Drew  Seminery  in  the  class  of  1893. 

ST.     KKAN'CIS'    KO.MAN    CATHOLIC    CHI-RCH. 

The  first  church  edifice  erected  in  Ridgefield  Park  wa.s  that  of  St. 
Francis. 

The  Catholics  of  the  Park  having  met  nn  February  24.  1S,S'(,  formed 
themselves  into  what  was  called  the  St  I'^rancis  Association,  for  the 
purpose  of  devising  means  to  build  a  church.  Plans  were  adopted, 
means  secured,  and  the  building  begun  immediately,  the  corner-stone 
being  laid  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  November  28th  of  that  year.  The 
work  was  carried  forward  without  delay  and  on  July  27,  1890,  the  church 
was  dedicated.  The  first  pastor.  Rev.  John  F.  Duffy,  took  charge  on 
August  3,  continuing  until  November  14,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  Russell.  Pastor  Russell  remained  until  March  25.  1891,  and 
was  followed  by  Rev.  John  Hennes  who  had  pastoral  charge  until  March 
15,  1892,  when  the  present  pastor  the  Rev.  John  E.  Lambert  assumed 
the  care  of  the  little  flock. 

The  niombershii)  at  present  numbers  about  fifty  families  or  two 
hundred  and  fifty  souls. 

Rev.  John  E.  Lambert  was  born  in  Pliiladeljjhia  Fel)ruarv  2(1,  18(.4. 
and  received  his  Parochial  school  education  in  that  city,  graduating 
from  the  grammar  department.  He  then  took  a  classical  course  in  St. 
John's  College,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  1885.  After  pursuing  theological  studies  in  Seton  Hall  at  South 
Orange,  N.  J.,  for  a  time,  he  went  to  Genoa,  Italy,  continuing  his 
studies  in  that  city  for  a  period  of  four  years,  subsequently  completing 


520  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

his  course  in  theolog'y  at  the  University  of  Innsbruck,  in  the  Tyrol 
(Austria),  and  was  ordained  by  the  Archbishop  of  Brixen  (Tyrol), 
July  28,  1890. 

Returning-  to  America  Rev.  Mr.  Lambert  became  assistant  at  St. 
Peter's,  Newark,  N.  J.,  until  March  25,  18')2.  Since  then  he  has  been 
pastor  in  lower  Hackensack  and  Ridgetield  Park. 

HOTELS. 

There  are  three  hotels  in  Ridgefield  Park.  The  one  at  Little  Ferry 
was  erected  by  Michael  J.  Collins  in  1893  at  a  cf)st  of  seven  thousand 
dollars  and  serves  the  travelling-  public  to  a  considerable  extent  as  a 
depot,  there  being  no  suitable  accommodations  provided  by  the  railroad 
company  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Collins  has  conducted  hotels  during  the  most  of  his  business 
career.  He  was  born  fifty-three  3'ears  ago  in  Ireland  and  came  direct  from 
Mayo,  the  people  of  which  province  are  among  the  most  hospitable  in 
the  world.  His  father  was  a  farmer.  His  parents  both  died  when  he 
was  a  youth,  and  he  then  sailed  for  this  country  landing  in  New  York 
city,  where  he  served  tirst  as  an  orderlie  in  a  hospital  for  sixteen  years, 
then  for  nineteen  years  in  the  hotel  business  at  59  West  Street.  He 
came  to  Ridgefield  Park  in  189.i. 

MOKTIMEK    SMITH. 

Among  the  residents  of  this  part  of  the  old  townshi])  of  Ridgelield 
should  be  mentioned  the  name  of  Mr.  Mortimer  Smith,  of  Teaneck 
Ridge,  who  has  been  living  here  for  the  past  thirt)^  years.  Mr.  Smith 
is  a  native  of  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  has  maintained  business 
relations  with  two  of  the  old  insurance  companies  for  over  forty  years. 
He  was  with  the  Gebhard  Fire  Insurance  Company,  as  an  appraiser, 
twenty-one  years,  and  has  now  been  with  the  New  York  Life  Insurance 
Company  in  the  same  capacity  over  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Smith  has  a  life  membership  in  the  National  Academy  of  De- 
sign, having  been  a  fellow  of  that  institution  since  1860.  He  is  a  lover 
of  fine  art,  a  man  of  public  spirit,  interested  in  all  charitable  and 
benevolent  work,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Ridgefield  Park  Free 
Public  Library. 

THE    OLD    CHKLSTIE    HOMESTE.\n. 

This  home,  prior  to  November  hth,  1844,  belonged  t()  the  farm  of 
Paul  Paulison,  at  which  time  it  was  conveyed  by  commissioners  H. 
W.  Banta,  David  D.  Demarest  and  William  DeWolfe,  to  David  Christie 
of  English  Neighborhood  for  his  stm  Albert,  and  upon  his  death  in  1848, 
Albert  became  absolute  owner  and  lived  there  until  his  father's  death 
in  1887  or  '88.  All  his  family  of  nine  children  were  born  there,  but 
since  his  death  the  family  have  removed  to  a  new  residence  on  another 
part  of  the  farm.  The  house  was  presumably  built  by  Paul  Paulison, 
and  is  no  doubt  nearly  if  not  quite  two  hundred  years  old. 


524  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

CORNELIUS    CHRISTIE. 

Cornelius  Christie,  train  master  for  the  West  Shore  Railroad  at 
Weehawken,  N.  J.,  is  distinctively  a  railroad  man,  having- spent  his  entire 
business  life  in  that  line.  His  grandfather,  David  Christie,  upon  his  mar- 
riage to  Anna  Brinkerhoff,  removed  to  New  York  city,  where  he  accum- 
lated  a  fortune  in  his  trade  of  stone  cutting,  and  in  1835,  bought  the 
farm  of  Garret  Meyer  at  English  Neighborhood  and  retired  from  busi- 
ness. His  son,  Albert  Brinkerhoff  Christie,  the  father  of  Cornelius, 
went  to  Ridgfield  Park  about  1830  where  he  died  in  1888,  nearly  seventy 
years  of  age.  His  wife  who  was  Miss  Lydia  Ann  Christie  (not  a 
relative  )  died  in  18'}6  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

Cornelius  Christie  was  born  at  Ridgetield  Park  September  24,  18r)4, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  graduated  from  Washing- 
ton Public  School,  No.  32,  Hackensack,  in  July  1881.  Beginning  business 
as  a  telegraph  operator  in  the  office  of  the  New  York,  Susquehanna  & 
Western  Railroad,  in  May  1881  he  continued  in  their  employ  until  June 
4,  1883.  At  this  date  he  entered  the  office  of  the  West  Shore  Railroad 
Company  as  telegraph  operator  and  so  continued  until  March  1888  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  train  dispatcher,  which  he  held  until 
April  1,  1895,  when  by  a  second  promotion.be  became  trainmaster.  Mr. 
Christie  has  about  five  hundred  men  under  his  supervision,  directly  and 
indirectly,  more  than  half  of  whom  may  trace  their  examination,  disci- 
pline and  employment  to  his  management,  conductors,  brakenian  and 
baggagemen  all  coming  under  his  surveilliance. 

Mr.  Christie  was  married  October  12,  1898,  to  Miss  Selena  Wells  of 
Goshen,  N.  Y.,  only  daughter  of  J.  E.  Wells,  for  many  years  Super- 
visor of  the  Town  of  Goshen  and  also  general  superintendent  of  the 
Orange  county  Agricultural  Society.  The  bridal  trip  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Christie  extended  over  nine  thousand  miles  of  travel  throughout  the 
Western  States.  In  this  long  trip  thej'  never  passed  over  the  same 
road  a  second  time  between  any  two  points. 

ALBERT    RAVEKES. 

Among  the  names  of  those  who  have  become  identified  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  village  of  Ridgefield  Park,  is  that  of 
Albert  Ravekes,  which  stands  prominent  among  the  first  of  those,  in 
this  part  of  Ridgefield  township.  Mr.  Ravekes  is  a  native  of  New  York 
city  where  he  was  born  fifty-six  years  ago.  He  attended  school  in  that 
city  until  eleven  years  of  age,  and  then  began  a  business  career.  In 
1857  he  became  ai)prenticed  to  the  carpenter  trade,  an  occupation  which 
he  has  successfully  followed  ever  since,  having  had  his  offices  at  one 
place  on  Mulberry  Street,  New  York,  forty-two  years. 

In  1885  Mr.  Ravekes  removed  to  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  but  the  year 
following  he  moved  to  Ridgefield  Park  where  he  erected  a  beautiful 
home  and  is  surrounded  bv  his  married  children,  who  also  occupy  homes 
ot  their  own. 


526  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Before  the  incorporation  of  the  village  of  Ridgefield  Park  Mr. 
Ravekes  served  his  township  as  committeeman  for  six  years,  having 
been  the  first  representative  of  the  western  district  elected  to  that  posi- 
tion, serving  as  treasurer  of  the  township  at  the  same  time.  The  duties 
incident  to  a  large  business  interest,  however,  prevented  him  from  serv- 
ing further  in  any  politicial  capacity,  nevertheless,  he  has  been  kept 
foremost  in  various  other  positions  before  the  people.  He  is  president 
of  the  Sherwood  Land  and  Improvement  Company  and  also  president  of 
the  Ridgeiield  Park  Town  Hall  Company.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
Ridgetield  Boat  Club  during  the  past  five  years.  Among  the  fraternal 
organizations,  he  is  Past  Regent  of  the  Ridgefield  Park  Council  Royal 
Arcanum  No.  1428;  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  of  which  both  he  and 
his  son  Oliver  have  taken  the  highest  degrees,  while  they  are  also 
members  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

Mr.  Ravekes  has  been  a  liberal  contributor  to  all  the  churches  in 
Ridgefield  Park;  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  village  organization, 
and  has  been  identified  with  all  its  interests  since  its  incorporation. 

JOHN    H.     FICKEN. 

JohnH.  Ficken,  cashier  for  Charles  H.  Zinn,  of  New  York,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  New  York  in  February,  1858,  where  he  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  Upon  leaving  school  Mr.  Ficken  became  connected  with  a 
commercial  house  in  the  city,  holding  responsible  positions  continuously 
since  that  time,  first  in  the  tea  and  coffee  business,  and  then,  for  twelve 
years,  in  the  cotton  trade.  The  past  nine  years  have  been  spent  in  his 
present  position.  In  1883  he  married  Miss  Annie  S.  Beaven,  of  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  and  since  then  has  resided  in  Ridgefield  Park,  where  he  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  living  issues  of  that  village,  hav- 
ing been  treasurer  from  1894  to  1897,  and  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
appointed  when  the  present  law  went  into  effect  in  1894.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  has  also  held  the  offices  of 
secretary,  vice-president  and  president  of  the  Fire  Department,  holding 
each  office  for  a  term  of  two  years.  He  is  a  trustee  and  assistant 
treasurer  of  the  Union  Church,  Ridgefield  Park,  besides  being  prominent 
in  other  organizations. 

CHARLES    W.    CAI.LOW.W. 

Charles  W.  Calloway,  private  secretary  to  Mr.  J.  P.  Morgan, 
Banker,  New  York,  is  a  native  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  England,  and  was 
born  forty-seven  years  ago.  He  is  the  son  of  George  Calloway,  who 
died  in  1898,  at  the  age  of  seventv-nine  vears,  having  been  an  officer  in 
the  British  nav}-  for  nearly  a  half  century. 

Mr.  Calloway  graduated  in  1865  and  after  several  years  of  mercan- 
tile life  in  Buenos  Ayres  and  the  Island  of  Ceylon,  became  connected 
with  the  house  of  J.  P.  Morgan  &  Co.,  reaching  New  York  in  1879. 
being  the  onlj'  one  of  his  family  who  ever  came  to  this  country. 

Mr.  Calloway  married  Miss  Maud  Glover  of  Brooklyn,  a  lineal 
descendant  of  (General    Burgoyne  of  Revolutionary  fame.      In    ISS')  Mr. 


C-^Cc^-eo^    ,/^^!^<:x-g-/z^^ 


HISTOKY    l)K    BKKGEN    COUNTY  52't 

Calloway  took  up  his  residence  in  Rid^etield  Park.  His  son  Alfred 
Calloway  is  superintendent  of  the  Rochester  &  Pittsburg-  Coal  Com- 
pany, at  Adrian,  Pa.,  and  Ernest  Evelyn,  a  second  son,  is  assistant 
cashier  for  Price  McCormick  &  Co.,  Bankers  and  Brokers,  New  York. 

CONK.\D    WILLI.\M    MERGLEK. 

Conrad  William  Mergler,  is  of  American  birth  and  education.  His 
ancestors  in  the  paternal  line  are  purely  German,  while  the  maternal 
line  is  French,  making-  a  good  union  of  the  stolid,  plodding  German 
temperament  with  the  mercurial  French  spirit.  Mr.  Mergler  is  himself 
a  good  illustration  of  this  combination  especially  in  his  business  enter- 
prise. Coming  to  Ridgefield  Park  in  1887  with  but  a  meagre  sum  as 
capital,  he  had  a  fund  of  "energy  and  pluck,"  which  no  doubt  were  the 
chief  powers  in  securing  his  success. 

Mr.  Mergler  is  the  son  of  Jacob  Mergler,  whose  father  was  Philip. 
His  mother  was  Elsie  Archard,  a  direct  descendant  of  a  P^rench  Hugue- 
not family  who  in  the  time  of  Catherine  de  Medici,  fled  from  France  to 
(iermany,  where  they  made  a  home  prior  to  their  emigration  to  America. 

Conrad  W.,  was  born  in  New  York  city  February  5,  18()1,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city,  afterward  taking  a  course  in 
civil  engineering,  in  Cooper  Institute.  In  1888,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
fifty  dollars,  and  in  a  room  twelve  b}-  thirteen  feet  in  dimensions,  this 
young  man  started  to  build  up  his  fortune.  Faithful  attentitm  to  busi- 
ness and  continuity  of  purpose  have  gained  success.  He  has  not  only 
made  a  home  for  himself,  but  has  helped  build  up  the  village.  What 
was  formerly  a  bog,  is  now  one  of  the  finest  corners  in  the  town,  a  hand- 
some store  covering  eighteen  hundred  square  feet  and  holding  a  stock 
of  goods  valued  at  not  less  than  five  thousand  dollars,  adorns  the  spot. 

In  1888  Mr.  Mergler  was  appointed  postmaster,  continuing  in  the 
office  four  years;  he  was  elected  member  of  the  local  Board  of  Education 
in  1S8'»,  being  re-elected  four  times  since,  and  holding  the  office  at  the 
present  time.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  local  council  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum;  member  of  Pioneer  Lodge,  Free  Masons,  Hackensack;  mem- 
ber of  New  Jersey  Sovereign  Consistory  Scottish  Rite  F.  M.  and  of  Kis- 
muth  Temple  Mystic  Shrine,  Brooklyn.  He  is  president  of  the  local 
Building  Association,  re-elected  three  times,  and  also  charter  member 
of  local  Fire  Department. 

Mr.  Mergler  married  Miss  I,ouise  Rech  of  New  York  city. 

JOHN    EDW.\KD    HOEY. 

John  Edward  Hoey,  a  progressive  citii,en  of  Ridgefield  Park,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  September  <>,  1S(>(.,  receiving  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  his  native  place. 

In  1890  Mr.  Hoe^-  came  to  Ridgefield  Park  for  the  ])urpose  of  mak- 
ing it  his  home,  and  immediately  becoming  identified  -with  all  the 
interests  of  the  village,  political,  social  and  religious,  has  ever  since 
taken  an  active  part  in  its  development  and  growth.  In  18')4  he  was 
ap])(>inte(l  \illage  clerk  serving  one  term,  and  was  subsequently  in   l<S'i(i, 


530  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

elected  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Ridg'efield  to\vnship,  which 
embraced  several  communities  including'  Coytesville,  Leonia  Heights, 
Palisades  Park  and  Ridgetield  Park.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
board  he  was  elected  district  clerk,  serving  until  1897,  when  bj-  an  Act 
of  the  Legislature,  Ridgefield  Park  was  made  the  township  of  Over- 
peck.  He  was  then  appointed  district  clerk  bv  Superintendent  John 
Terhune,  to  serve  until  the  regular  election  of  1898,  at  which  time  he 
was  elected  for  a  term  of  three  years.  In  the  same  year  (1898),  he 
was  chosen  president  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  re-elected  in  1899. 
Mr.  Hoey  acted  in  the  capacity  of  village  clerk  during  the  fiscal  year 
of  1898  and  1899,  and  while  district  clerk  of  Ridgetield  township  took 
an  active  part  in  the  erection  of  the  new  school  building  at  Westview, 
being  chairman  of  the  committee  on  site,  and  subsequently  on  dedica- 
tion. He  also  helped  organize  and  became  a  charter  member  of  Ridge- 
field  Park  Hose  Company  No.  1  in  1892,  and  also  of  the  Royal  Arcanum 
Council  No.  1428,  organized  in  the  same  year.  Mr.  Hoey  is  president 
of  the  Hose  Companj-;  trustee  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  assistant 
chief  of  the  Fire  Department  of  Ridgefield  Park. 

ANDREW    GAUL. 

Andrew  Gaul,  first  president  of  the  village  of  Ridgefield  Park,  is  a 
native  of  Hudson,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  fifty-two  years 
ago.  His  father  John  H.  Gaul,  was  a  prominent  merchant  in  that 
county. 

Mr.  Gaul  received  an  academic  education  and  then  selected  the  busi- 
ness of  eng-ineer  for  his  future  career.  His  license  dated  from  1868  and 
his  field  of  labor  covered  the  rivers  of  the  American  continent  and  its 
coasts,  trading  on  the  Atlantic  in  all  kinds  of  vessels,  in  which  a  valu- 
able experience  was  gained  which  fitted  him  for  the  position  he  now 
holds.  One  of  the  first  vessels  on  which  he  served  as  fireman  was  the 
dispatch  boat  Greyhound  carrying  dispatches  from  the  seat  of  war  to 
Jamestown  Island  whence  they  were  wired  to  Washington. 

He  began  as  assistant  engineer  on  the  steamship  Ladona,  a  vessel 
plying  between  New  York,  New  Orleans  and  Havana,  and  was  subse- 
quently advanced  to  the  position  of  chief  engineer.  After  an  experience 
of  nearlv  thirty  years  he  was  commissioned  in  1897  United  States 
Inspector  of  Steam  Vessels,  which  position  he  holds  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Gaul  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Smith  of  New  York  city  in  1873. 
In  1889  he  moved  to  Ridgefield  Park,  since  which  time  he  has  borne  his 
share  of  political  responsibilities.  He  became  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  villag-e  government;  was  its  first  president,  and  served  two  terms  as 
trustee  on  the  village  board.  His  eldest  son,  Andrew  Gaul,  Jr.,  is 
cashier  for  Johnson  &  Wood,  brokers  New  York,  and  is  also  doing  a 
brokerage  business  on  his  own  account.  John,  the  next  son  entered  ser- 
vice in  the  Cuban  war,  stationed  in  the  hospital  ship,  "Missouri," 
returning'  to  his  home  in  perfect  health,  but  died  a  few  days  afterward. 
Rav,  Anniedeal  and  Alexander  complete  the  names  of  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  familv. 


OVEKPKCK    I'AKK,    HOTEL    AND    LAKE  -L.    A.    EICHEK.    I'KOP. 


CHAPTKR  XXVIII. 
BOROUGHS  OF  OLD  RIDGEPIKLD  TOWNSHIP 

KIDC,KFIELD-1--AIKVIK%V-PALI.:ADES    PAKK-l-EONIA-^rNDEKCLIFF. 

BOGOTA. 

KIDGEFIELD    BOROUGH. 

The  vilhicre  of  Ridyetield  is  situated  on  the  New  Jersey  and  North- 
ern Railroad  t'en  miles  from  New  York  and  is  the  center  ot  what  was 
known  as  English  Neighborhood.  ,^.         ■    • 

Many  En^rlish  people  had  settled  in  this  locality,  hence  the  origin 
of  the  name.  The  old  stone  church  standing  just  west  of  Ridgewood 
depot,  erected  in  1768,  is  a  memento  of  former  years.  There  is  also  in 
the  village  an  Episcopalian  church,  a  hotel,  two  stores  and  a  town  hall. 
The  borough  has  a  population  of    about  six  hundred. 

STOKES. 

Samuel  DeGroot  built  the  first  store  in  Ridgelield  in  1875,  and 
which  is  now  occupied  by  A.  M.  Lemm.  This  building  was  hrst  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  DeGroot,  then  by  his  stepson,  Mr.  Lozier,  after  whom  came 
W  G  Christie,  and,  in  1877,  John  Brinkerhoff  began  business.  In 
1888  he  sold  to  Christie  &  Ackerman  who  disposed  of  the  propertyto 
W  B  Pu.rh  in  18S1.  Mr.  Pugh  came  to  the  village  a  few  years  prior 
to 'this  time  continuing  to  occupy  this  store  until  1895,  when  he  opened 
his  present  office  since  which  time  many  sales  of  real  estate  have  been 
effected  by  him.  He  was  the  first  mayor  of  Rulgefield  elected  to  that 
office  which  he  held  two  terms.  He  was  a  freeholder  of  the  town  from 
18<K.  'to  IS'X)  A.  M.  Lemm,  the  present  owner  of  the  store,  and  the 
postmaster  of  the  village,  began  business  here  in  October    1895, 

Mr  Lemn  is  a  member  of  the  Building  and  Loan  Association,  of 
the  Board  of  Health,  also  of  the  Fire  Department  of  Ridgeheld,  and 
belono-s  to  a  number  of  clubs  and  societies.  Frank  A.  Kiel  began  busi- 
ness in  Rido-efield  in  1889.  At  that  time  he  erected  a  building  adj.nnmg 
the'one  he  now  occupies,  and  kept  a  barber  shop  and  stationery  store. 
Three  years  later  he  built  his  present  store  and  carries  meat  and  gro- 
ceries. ■  He  also  owns  a  store  in  Hasbrouck  Heights.  He  was  b,.rn  m 
Beru-en  county  in  1859. 

The  borou-h  of  Ridgefield  was  incorporated  May  26,  1892.  Peter 
Hall  was  the  first  mayor.  The  first  councilmen  were  as  follows:  N. 
Jacobus,  W.  H.  Goodday,  D.  \^Bro%yer,  J.  V.  Banta,  W.  B.  Pugh,  E. 
H  Piatt  J  R.  Beam,  E.  B.  Meyrowitz.  George  S.  Wood,  borough 
clerk-  s"  E.  DeGroot,  collector;  Frederick  G.  Bennett,  assessor. 

W  B  Puo-h  was  elected  Mayor  and  held  the  office  two  terms,  being 
followed  by  the  present  officers,  Alexander  A  Shaler,  Mayor;  J^\. 
Banta,  Charles  E.  Boardman,  Charles  Englehardt,  James  E.  Maxfield, 
I      K    Cotton    P.  A.  Meserole,  Council;  C.   B.   Wilson.   Borough  Clerk: 


HISTORY    OF    BKKGKN     COUNTY 


53.^ 


Board  of  Health,  Marion  A.  Lemin,  Dr.  B.  F.  Underwood,  W.  H. 
Rueckart,  James  Mc(iill. 

The  Reformed  Church  of  the  English  Neig-hborhood  can  only  trace 
its  written  history  to  a  few  years  prior  to  the  Reyolutionarv  war,  the 
records  of  the  most  interestingf  period  of  its  existence  haying-  been  lost. 

The  two  churches,  located  at  Hackensack  and  Bergen  Hill,  respec- 
tively, were  the  easiest  of  access  from  this  part  of  the  county.  The 
church  at  Hackensack  called  the  "Church  on  the  Green,"  was  attended 
by  many  of  the  settlers  at  English  Neighborhood,  prior  to  17().S,  when 
on  Noyember  IS,  a  meeting  was  called  and  steps  taken  toward  the  erec- 
tion of  a  church  at  this  place.  The  records  of  the  society  of  this  date, 
contain  this  entry: 

■'English  Neighborliood.  in  the  County  of  Bergen  and  I'roxmce  of 
New  Jersey.     Noyember  ISth,  Anno.  Uom.  17()S. 


# 


.  B|^ 


-i-i   33  -.  n 


"As  Mr.  Thomas  Moore  has  conveyed  to  us.  the  underwitfen  trus- 
tees, one  acre  of  land,  on  ])ur])ose  that  we  sliould  erect  a  church  on  it 
agreeable  to  the  constitution  of  Thirteenth  .Reformed  Church  of  Hol- 
land, established  by  the  National  Synod  of  Dort ;  and  as  the  minister, 
elders,  and  deacons,  and  also  the  members  and  all  their  successors,  which 
shall  be  elected,  appointed,  and  established  in  the  said  church,  now  act- 
ually building  in  the  English  Neighbourhood,  are  to  be  conformed  to  the 
doctrine,  discipline,  and  worship  established  in  the  United  Proyinces  by 
the  National  Synod  of  Dort  aforesaid,  we  promise  according  to  engage- 
ment toendeayour  that  such  minister,  elders,  deacons,  and  members  shall 
now  be  called  and  appointed  in  said  church  ;  we  all  pnmiise  that  we  will 
keep  out  of  the  debate  that  is  now  between  Coetus  and  Conferentie  as 
much  as  in  us  lies,  and  we  will  indeayoiir  to  liye  in  Christian  peace  with 


534  HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

both  parties,  as  we  have  agreed  from  the  first,  on  purpose  that  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  English  Neighbourhood  and  members  of  the  said 
church  may  live  in  peace  and  love  among  themselves  and  others,  for  a 
divided  house  must  fall,  but  a  well  united  house  or  church  shall  stand. 

"(Signed), 

"  Abkaha.m  Moxtanv,  Michaki,  Mooke, 

"Stephen  Boukdktt,  Thomas  Mooke, 

"John  Day,  John  Mooke." 

The  strife  between  Coetus  and  Conferentie  was  disturbing  the 
Church  at  this  time  and  in  this  new  organization  its  members  sought  to 
avoid  as  much  as  possible  a  discussion  of  these  questions,  the  record 
stating  that: 

"The  people  of  the  English  Neighbourhood,  being  unanimous, 
agreed  to  erect  a  congregation,  and  having  thus  accomplished  their 
desire  and  intention,  they  proceeded  by  a  free  vote  of  the  people  to  call 
Mr.  Garret  Lydecker,  then  Candidate  of  Divinity,  who,  having  accepted 
their  call,  was  ordained  and  installed  in  the  congregation  by  Dominies 
Ritzma  and  Vanderlinden,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy,  and  in  the  said  year  the  consistory,  to  wit,  Abraham  Montany 
and  Michael  Moore,  elders,  and  John  Day  and  John  Lozier,  deacons, 
were  elected  and  constituted  by  Abraham  Day,  form  Hackensack  con- 
gregation, and  Dominus  Garret  Lydecker." 

The  record  also  adds  this  entr^-, 

"N.  H.  The  above  is  a  small  statement  of  the  building  of  the 
church  and  of  organizing  the  congregation.  The  congregation  being 
deficient,  on  account  of  Dominus  Lydecker  removing  in  the  year  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six  from  this  congregation  to  New 
York,  who  at  that  time  took  with  him  all  the  papers  and  writings 
belonging  to  the  congregation,  from  the  time  of  his  removal  we  were 
destitute  of  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  excepting  some  temporary  sup- 
plies which  different  ministers  favored  us  with,  until  the  year  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  ninety-two.  The  consistory,  in  behalf  of  the 
congregation,  entered  into  a  combination  with  the  congregation  of 
Bergen  to  call  John  Cornelinson,  their  present  candidate,  who  accepted 
our  call,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  in  the  church  of  Bergen  by 
Dominus  Froeligh,  Lansen,  old  Dominus  Cooper,  and  son.  W.  Cooper, 
on  the  26th  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  I^ord  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  ninety-three." 

The  Rev.  Gerrardus  I^ydecker  referred  to  above  went  with  the 
Tories  in  the  Revolution.  After  officiating  for  a  time  in  the  Dutch 
Church  in  New  York  city,  he  went  to  England,  and  died  at  the  house  of 
his  son  at  Pentonville.  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  A  record  dated 
July  1.  1770,  says: 

"Then  were  constituted  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in 
the  congregation  of  the  English  Neighborhood  the  following  persons 
after  due  examination,  viz.:  Michael  Moore,  Abraham  Montany,  John 
Lashier.    John    Day,    David    Dav,    Thomas   Moore,    Edward    Bylestead, 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  535 

Samuel  Moore,  Benjamin  Bourdette.  John  Cahy  (and  nine  females).  At 
the  same  time  were  nominated  and  chosen  Michael  Moore  and  Abraham 
Montana  as  elders,  and  John  Day  and  John  Lashier  as  deacons  of  the 
aforesaid  congreg-ation.  (Tarret  Lydecker,  V.  D.  M.,  examined  the 
above  named  persons  and  nominated  the  aforesaid  members  of  the 
consistory. 

During  these  times  of  strife  this  church  was  sixteen  years  without 
a  pastor,  the  Rev.  John  Cornelison  (spelled  Cornelinson  in  the  church 
record  )  was  called  to  this  church,  November  28.  17'J2,  and  on  May  2(), 
following  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  this  church  and  the 
church  at  Bergen,  by  Revs.  S.  Warmoldus  Kuypers,  William  Prevoost 
Kuypers,  Nicholas  Lansing  and  Sohmion  Froeligh.  Only  one-third  of 
Mr.  Cornelison's  time  could  be  devoted  to  this  church,  and  service  in 
Dutch  was  only  occasional.  In  17'J3  a  new  church  was  built,  but  before 
a  new  (rae  was  begun  the  following  document  was  issued,  apparently  as 
a  precautionary  measure:  "That  Catharine,  widow  of  Michael  Moore, 
deceased,  and  Michael,  Jacob,  and  Samuel  Moore,  his  sons,  gave  full 
jiower  to  the  elders  and  deacons  for  building  up  or  pulling  down  or 
removing  the  (old)  church  without  any  molestation  from  them  or  any 
person  claiming  under  them."  Subscriptions  came  in  freely,  the  highest 
amount  subscribed  being  twenty-five  pounds  and  the  lowest,  two  shil- 
lings. The  subscribers  were  to  be  credited  pro  tiiiito  in  purchasing 
pews.  Everything  was  planned  in  detail  as  the  description  here  given 
will  show:  "Plan  for  building  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  the 
English  Neighborhood,  17'»3: 

"Whereas,  The  Elders  and  Deacons  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
of  the  English  Neighborhood,  in  the  county  of  Bergen  and  state  of 
New  Jersey  having  long  seen  the  necessity  of  having  a  place  of  public 
worship,  having  by  C(msent,  and  it  also  appearing  to  be  their  right, 
thought  most  beneficial  to  the  said  congregation  to  pull  down  the  old 
church,  and  have  laid  a  plan  to  build  and  erect  a  new  one  in  a  more 
pro])er  jjlace.  and 

"Whereas,  It  has  pleased  the  Omnipotent  Disposer  of  I'ublic 
Events  to  bless  the  land  with  peace  and  plenty,  and  we  also,  wishing 
harmony  in  the  said  congregation  having,  with  the  advice  of  our  min- 
ister and  the  congregation  in  general  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  to  ])ro- 
ceed  in  building  said  church  according'  to  the  following-  plan: 

I.  "  The  place  proposed  is  to  be  on  the  Point  Field  west  of  an  apple 
tree,  and  according  to  the  following  dimensions,  viz:  40  feet  wide  bv  52 
feet  long,  and  with  two  '  gallerevs.' 

II.  "The  stone  and  timber  to  be  brought  on  the  ground  free  gratis, 
and  no  money  to  be  paid  out  unless  it  be  for  '  meteriels'  until  the  car- 
penters' and  masons'  work  is  begun. 

III.  "The  following  persons  are  appointed  'managers:'  Messrs. 
Cornelius  ^'reelandt,  (iarret  Banta,  John  Williams,  John  Dav,  Rinier 
Earl  and  Samuel  Edsall,  whose  business  it  shall    be  to  engage  workmen 


536  HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

and  lalxirors,    procuri.-    '  muteriel,"  superintend    the   work,    and  do  every- 
thing necessary  to  promote  the  said  building." 

IV.  '"The  cong-regation  shall  immediately  take  in  voluntary  sub- 
scripti(ms  in  order  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  building.  The  money 
subscribed  is  to  be  in  two  equal  payments,  viz.:  The  hrst  at  the  time  of 
subscribing,  the  second  immediately  after  the  roof  of  the  new  church  is 
raised. 

V.  "After  the  church  is  finished  the  pews  shall  be  divided  into 
convenient  seats,  except  as  many  free  seats  for  strangers  as  the  manag- 
ers shall  think  proper,  and  also  Elders'  and  Deacons'  pews,  and  a  pew 
for  the  minister's  family.  The  said  seats  shall,  after  due  notice  given 
at  an  appointed  time  and  place,  be  disposed  of  at  public  auction  to  the 
highest  bidder,  and  the  several  subscribers  shall  have  credit  for  all 
moneys  by  them  subscribed,  provided,  they  purchase  to  the  amount  of 
the  moneys  so  subscribed. 

\T.  "  In  seats  or  pews.  If  any  pers(m  shall  become  heir  to,  or 
^hall  purchase  from  another  any  of  the  said  seats,  and  shall  not  apply 
within  one  year  and  one  day  after  such  purchase  or  the  obtaining  of  such 
right  or  legacy,  to  have  such  seat  transcribed,  they  shall  be  deemed  the 
property  of  the  congregation,  and  the  church  masters  have  a  right  to 
sell  them.  The  price  for  transcribing  shall  be  four  shillings.  New  York 
currency,  per  seat." 

Many  of  these  records  are  curious  reading  at  this  day.  Among 
others  we  find  a  bill  for  an  item  of  repairs  as  paid  in  so  many  shillings 
"and  a  gallon  of  rum." 

The  Work  and  material  in  this  structure  were  of  such  a  substantial 
kind,  that  the  roof  lasted  over  seventy  years.  The  house  was  built 
without  chimneys,  and  all  the  heat  the  people  had  was  from  the  little 
portable  foot  stoves  they  carried,  which  were  filled  at  the  corner  by  Mr. 
\'reelandt,  ( who  kept  a  supply  of  coals)  and  yet  they  attended  church 
in  midwinter,  sitting  in  these  straight  backed  pews  without  a  murmur. 

On  January  S,  1795,  a  public  auction  was  held  at  which  the  pews 
were  sold  to  the  highest  bidder.  The  highest  price  paid  was  thirty- 
iive  pounds,  and  the  lowest,  four  pounds  and  twelve  shillings.  The  total 
sum  realized  at  this  sale  was  ;^1292,  Is.  The  ground  upon  which  this 
church  was  built  was  bought  from  Cornelius  Vreelandt,  for  ^AO,  "  being 
one-half  acre,  whereon  the  new  church  is  now  erected,"  and  adjoining 
that  upon  which  the  old  church  stood.  Stipulations  with  reference  to 
the  use  of  the  graveyard  were  as  follows:" 

"  The  following  rates  shall  be  paid  by  the  strangers  for  the  privi- 
lege of  burying  grounds  of  this  church:  for  an  adult,  two  dollars  per 
grave:  all  under  twelve  years,  one  dollar  per  grave.  "The  following 
persons  shall  be  considered  as  strangers:  all  those  who  live  in  the 
congregation  but  pay  nothing  toward  the  support  of  the  Gospel." 

"All  those  who  live  out  of  the  congregation,  except  such  as  have 
paid    toward    building   the  church,    purchasing  the   ])arsonage   lot,  and 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKCJEN    COUNTY  o3/ 

buildini^-  nf  the  Iiousl-  and  I)uyin^  of  tin-  l)uryin<i-!rrnun(l  iind  their 
children  while  reniaininfj-  under  their  jurisdiction •" 

Mr.  Cornelison's  pastorate  covered  a  peric id  of  thirteen  years,  closinjj- 
November  ISOh,  and  during-  this  time  thirty  persons  were  added  on  con- 
fession and  eleven  by  certificate.  Rev.  Henry  Polhemus  became  the 
next  pastor  on  February  17,  1809,  and  remaine<l  until  February  1813,  and 
during-  this  time  twenty-six  were  added.  On  the  29th  of  December  180'*, 
the  church  was  incorporated,  and  on  the  same  dav  Mr.  Polhemus 
deeded  to  the  church  a  desirable  tract  of  land  he  had  secured  for  a  par- 
sonag-e,  at  a  purchase  price  of  eig-hteen  hundred  and  thirty-two  d(dlars, 
and  upon  this  they  built  a  commodious  parsonage.  Ke\-.  Cornelius  T. 
Demarest  succeeded  Mr.  Polhemus  as  pastor  of  this  church  April  2(). 
1813,  pleasant  relations  existing  until  the  troubles  of  1822  arose,  and 
which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  True  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 
the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Demarest  over  this  people  terminating  in  1824. 

The  first  feeling-  ag-ainst  Mr.  Demarest  arose  through  his  sympathy 
with  Dr.  Froeligh,  who  had  received  suspended  members  from  other 
churches,  and  aroused  the  enmity  of  those  who  may  have  misunderstood 
his  motive.  Mr.  Demarest  was  afterwards  the  victim  of  charges  and 
criminations,  leading  later  on  to  the  accusation  that,  as  Clerk  of  Classis, 
he  had  returned  copies  of  minutes  which  were  materially  false  and  incor- 
rect ;  of  deliberate  falsehood  and  prevarication  ;  of  abusive  and  false 
slanders  in  public  and  private,  and  also  of  public  schism.  Mr.  Demar- 
est disregarded  the  citation  to  answer  these  accusations.  The  trial  pro- 
ceeded and  judgment  entered  by  default  declaring-  him  guilty,  and 
suspending  him  from  the  office  of  the  ministery.  Sixty-two  members  of 
the  church  and  ccmgregation  united  in  a  complaint  against  the  elders 
and  deacons,  because  of  their  adherence  to  the  suspended  pastor.  Thev 
were  tried,  their  seats  declared  vacant  and  they  deposed. 

From  February  1825  to  July  182S  Mr.  Abeel  served  the  church  and 
was  followed  by  Rev.  Philip  Duryea,  who  was  installed  in  December 
1828  and  continued  with  them  until  1848.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev. 
James  McFarlane,  installed  April  1849,  who  remained  with  them  six 
years.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Andrus  Brown  Taylor  who  was  with 
them  thirty-eight  years.  After  him  came  a  number  of  pastors,  the  Rev. 
Marcus  J.  Roop,  the  present  incumbent  coming  to  the  place  in  189(). 
Mr.  Roop  is  also  Sabbath  school  superintendent.  The  elders  are  Peter 
Acker,  John  Bush  and  Mr.  Geo.  C.  Gausman.  The  deacons  are  W.  P. 
DeGraw,  Thomas  Moore  and  Martin  Jacobus.  Mr.  Acker  has  been  elder 
of  the  church  for  eighteen  years.  He  was  born  in  Dobbs  Ferry,  New 
York,  and  was  ccmnected  for  many  years  with  the  New  York 
and  New  Haven  Railroad.  He  married  Anna  Belle  Martling, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Martling  in  1867  and  has  had  a  residence  in 
Ridgetield  for  over  thirty  years.  He  also  has  a  residence  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  and  spends  his  winters  there. 

The  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  organized  in  Ridgelield  in 
1889  and  has   capitalized  stock  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.      The 


538  HISTOKY   OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

officers  are  W.  B.  Pug-h.  President;  M.  S.  Avers,  M.  D.,  Vice-president; 
(ieorg-e  S.  Wood,  Secretary;  P.  A.  Meserole,  Treasurer;  Samuel  (i.  H. 
Wright,  Counsel. 

The  Fire  Department  of  Ridgefield  was  organized  early  in  1895  and 
has  an  efficient  force  of  twenty-two  members,  with  all  the  appliance 
necessary  for  extinguishing  fires.  The  officers  are  :  Edward  Servaizc, 
Foreman;  John  S.  Van  Sciver,  Assistant  Foreman;  (lustavus  Hausman, 
Secretary;  Frank  Hill,  Treasurer. 

samup:l  edsai.l  de  groot. 

The  ancestors  of  Samuel  Edsall  DeGroot,  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  "  English  neighborhood"  in  Bergen  county.  The  DeGroots 
were  French  Huguenots,  and  like  many  others  of  their  race,  went  first 
to  Holland,  and  subsequently  came  to  America.  John  DeGroot  the 
great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  first  of  the  name 
to  locate  in  Bergen  county.  He  married  a  Miss  Demarest,  of  Bergen 
county,  whose  family  were  French  Huguenots,  and  had  left  their  native 
land  because  of  religious  persecution.  Of  the  three  sons  from  this 
union,  his  son  John  DeGroot,  married  Johannah  Day.  and  settled  on  a 
tract  of  land  which  has  ever  since  been  the  DeGroot  homestead.  He 
was  a  farmer,  a  man  of  affairs,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  term  of 
years,  and  in  various  ways  was  thoroughly  identified  with  the  history  of 
his  county.  John  Day  the  maternal  grandfather  was  also  a  prominent 
public  man.  He  was  a  farmer  and  surveyor,  was  a  member  of  the  Old 
Dutch  Church,  and  politically  was  an  influential  Whig.  Samuel  E.  De 
Groot's  father  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Edsall, 
whose  children  were  John,  Naomi,  Samuel  E.,  and  Leonard.  His  second 
wife  was  Maria  Scott,  whose  two  children  were  Ciustavus,  Abeel  and 
Sarah. 

Mr.  S.  E.  DeGroot  was  born  June  9th  1819.  His  early  life  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  where  he  attended  the  district  school,  afterward 
spending  four  years  in  the  Academy  at  Caldwell,  N.  J.  Following  this 
he  took  a  course  in  the  Columbia  College  Grammar  school,  upon  the 
completion  of  which  he  entered  the  University  of  New  York.  Law  was 
his  chosen  profession,  but  after  studying  for  two  years,  failing  health 
compelled  him  to  abandon  his  plans  and  take  up  farming.  In  addition 
to  agricultural  pursuits  which  proved  not  t>nly  profitable  but  pleasant, 
time  was  also  found  for  public  affairs. 

In  1849,  Mr.  DeGroot  was  elected  town  clerk,  serving  four  terms  in 
succession.  In  the  mean  time,  in  1853,  he  was  elected  Assessor,  in 
which  office  he  served  four  successive  terms.  In  1861  he  was  elected 
choosen  Freeholder  and  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  after  being 
elected  a  member  of  that  body,  he  was  made  director  and  each  term 
thereafter  for  three  terms.  Mr.  DeGroot  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Township  committee  a  number  of  terms,  and  twice  elected  a  Justice  of 
Peace.  The  Court,  recognizing  his  ability  and  superior  judgment,  many 
times  ai)pointed  him  appraiser  to  estimate  and   award  damages  for  land 


^5»*r=^.; 


SAMUKL    K.    UK  (iKOOT. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  541 

taken  f(ir  railroad  purprtscs.  Private  individuals  souirht  his  aid  and  ex- 
pressed their  confidence  in  his  inteifrity  by  placing-  their  interests  in  his 
hands,  as  executor  and  administrator  of  estates,  in  at  least  eleven 
different  instances  and  to  an  amount  aggregating-  over  $248,000  divided 
among  different  heirs. 

To  Mr.  DeGroot  was  confided  the  task  of  keeping  account  of  all 
monies  raised  for  bounties  paid  to  the  soldiers  in  the  county  during  the 
iirst  three  years  of  the  Civil  War,  and  afterwards  when  the  county  ac- 
counts were  investigated  he  had  the  gratification  of  being  congratu- 
lated by  Judge  Dixon,  who  said  that  Mr.  Ivcwis,  the  expert  who 
examined  the  books  found  them  absolutely  correct  during  the  time  he 
kept  them. 

At  the  time  he  retired  from  the  Board  of  Freeholders,  the  Bergen 
County  Democrat  said  of  him: — "Mr  DeGroot  as  a  director  of  the 
Board  displayed  marked  executive  and  financial  abilitj^,  and  retires  from 
the  Board  with  full  esteem  and  confidence  of  every  member  thereof  and 
of  the  community  at  large." 

He  has  always  been  a  liberal  contributor  to  all  wortliv  local  enter- 
])rises,  and  is  a  man  of  the  highest  christian  character,  whose  religious 
convictions  have  made  him  a  member  of  the  Seceder  church  for  more 
than  forty  years. 

.M.KXANnEK   SH.M.KK. 

"The  Shaler  family  were  the  tirst  settlers  of  Middlesex  county. 
Conn.,  from  Stratford-on-Avon,  England.  Thomas,  the  progenitor  of 
the  family  in  America,  came  across  in  16()2.  The  line  descends  through 
Thomas  second,  Samuel,  Asa,  James  and  Ira,  the  father  of  Alexander, 
our  subject.  The  last  of  this  line  in  England  lies  buried  in  "Shakes- 
peare's Graveyard."  They  were  an  honored  and  refined  ])eople,  though 
not  distinguished. 

Alexander,  son  of  Ira  and  Jerusha  (Arnold)  Shaler,  was  born  at 
Haddam,  Connecticut,  March  l'>th,  iS27.  His  father,  known  as  Captain 
Shaler,  was  a  mariner  during  a  part  of  his  life,  and  commanded  a  vessel 
sailing  between  New  Yf)rk  and  the  West  Indies.  The  family  removed 
to  New  York  when  Alexander  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  whereafter 
attending  the  public  schools  he  became  a  pupil  in  two  diiferent  private 
schools,  finishing  his  education  at  Brainerd  Academy,  Haddam.  After 
leaving  school,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  became  employed  by  his  father, 
and  three  years  thereafter  became  business  manager  of  the  concern,  which 
consisted  in  general  contracting  and  in  buying  and  selling  North  River 
bluestone  and  builders' materials.  Fond  of  military  affairs,  he  enlisted 
as  private  in  Fifth  Company,  Washington  Greys,  in  1845,  Eighth  Regi- 
ment, New  York  State  Militia,  and,  in  1848,  was  transferred  to  Second 
Company,  Seventh  Regiment,  National  Ciuard,  New  Ynrk.  He  was  im- 
mediately made  sergeant,  then  first  lieutenant,  and  in  IS.Sd  he  was  made 
captain.  He  remained  captain  in  the  Seventh,  New  York,  nearly 
eleven  vears,  when,  becoming  a  resident  of  New  Jersey,  he  be- 
came   identilied    with    the    militia  of   that    state,    an<l    was   for  five  vears 


542  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

colonol  of  the  First  Rcg'imeiit,  Hudson  Brigade.  In  18()()  he  resig^ned 
hiscommand  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  commissioned  major  of  the  Seventh, 
New  York. 

When  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  on  in  18()1  he  went  with  his  regiment 
to  the  front  and  after  remaining  away  about  six  weeks  they  returned 
when  he  was  commissioned  by  the  President,  lieutentant  colonel  First 
United  States  Chasseurs,  afterward  the  Sixty-fifth  N.  Y.  V.  After  the 
Peninsula  campaign  he  was  promoted  the  colonelcy.  His  regiment 
formed  part  of  the  Sixth  Corps  and  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  After  the  assault  on  Mayre's  Heights,  Fred- 
ericksburg, Va.,  May  1863,  he  was  appointed  brigadier  general  of  volun- 
teers, and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  first  brigade,  third  division, 
sixth  corps.  He  conducted  the  memorable  march  of  that  corps,  thirty- 
four  miles  in  nineteen  hours,  to  reach  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg. 
May  (>,  18()4,  during  the  Wilderness  fight  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  after 
six  weeks  he  was  exchanged.  After  his  exchange  he  was  assigned  by 
tieneral  J.  J.  Reynolds  to  third  brigade,  second  division,  nineteenth 
army  corps  ;  and  by  General  Solomon  Meredith,  commanding  the  depart- 
ment of  Kentucky,  was  ordered  to  the  Post  at  Columbus,  Ky.,  where  head- 
quarters were  established  November  1,  18«)4.  In  December  1864,  (general 
Shaler  was  placed  in  command  of  the  second  division,  seventh  army  corps, 
and  of  the  White  River  District,  Department  of  Arkansas,  with  headquar- 
ters at  Duvall's  Bluff.  In  1865  while  in  this  command  he  was  appointed 
by  the  President  a  brevet  major  general  of  volunteers. 

In  civil  life  General  Shaler  was  in  1866,  elected  a  member  of  the 
New  York  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  in  1867  appointed  a  Fire  Commis- 
sioner and  also  made  president  of  the  Department,  and  held  this  office 
for  three  years.  He  was  a  commissioner  until  1873.  At  the  request  of 
the  municipal  authorities  of  Chicago,  he  reorganized  the  fire 
department  of  that  city,  after  the  fire  of  1871.  Prior  to  that 
time,  in  1867,  the  fire  department  of  New  York  was  reorganized  under 
act  of  the  Legislature,  requiring  the  Government  to  appoint  a  fifth  fire 
commissioner,  when  General  Shaler  was  made  commissioner.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  and  for  four  years  president  and  vice  president  of 
the  National  Rifle  Association,  and  incorporator  of  the  Army  and  Navy 
Club,  commander  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States,  member  of 
the  Union  League  Club,  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  the  Ameri- 
can Geographical  Society,  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
the  (xeneral  Society  of  Mechanics  and  Tradesmen,  and  other  organiza- 
tions. 

In  1883  he  was  appointed  president  of  the  New  York  Hoard  of 
Health,  and  in  1884,  was  made  a  member  of  the  board  to  provide  armor- 
ies for  the  city  militia. 

(ieneral  Shaler  has  done  much  for  the  prosperity  of  Ridgefield.  He 
was  connected  with  the  organization  of  the  present  borough  govern- 
ment.     For  six  years  he  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and 


NICHOLAS    JACOBl'S 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKdEN    COUNTY  545 

was  also  president  of  the  Board   of  Health   of  the  borough   and  is  now 
( 18'>'t )  mayor. 

Cleneral  Shaler  was  married  March  .^1,  l,s47.  to  Miss  Mary  McMur- 
raj  of  New  York  cit_v.  Of  their  live  children  his  only  son,  Ira  Alexander 
Shaler,  was  graduated  as  civil  engineer  in  Cornell  University,  and 
served  in  the  late  Spanish-American  war  in  Porto  Rico  as  major  in  the 
First  Regiment  U.  S.  Volunteer  Engineers. 

NICHOLAS    JACOBl'S. 

Nicholas  Jacobus,  for  the  past  forty  years  a  resident  of  Ridgelield, 
N.  J.,  is  a  native  of  the  city  of  New  York,  born  July  30,  182'*.  He  is 
son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  Ryerson  Jacobus,  old  residents  of  the  city, 
where  his  own  life  was  spent  until  his  marriage  and  removal  to  Ridge- 
tield,  just  prior  to  the  Civil  war.  David  Jacobus  was  a  manufacturer  of 
sash,  blinds,  doors,  etc.,  first  on  Spring  street  and  finally  on  Wooster 
street.  New  York,  where  his  business  was  continued  for  many  years. 
He  retired  from  business  about  five  years  before  his  death  which 
occurred  November  22,  1S7S.  He  was  born  in  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  June 
21,  1S()4,  and  at  fifteen  years  of  age  went  to  the  city  to  carve  out  a 
fortune  for  himself,  which  he  did,  unaided  by  any  resources  save  those 
created  by  himself. 

The  mother  of  Nicholas  was  born  June  5,  1807,  and  died  July  2*t, 
1890.  She  was  a  native  of  Pompton,  N.  J.  The  issue  of  this  marriage 
were  Nicholas,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Hannah  Maria,  who  was 
born  September  5,  1831,  and  died  Novemljer  2,  1840.  The  homestead  is 
at  No.  325  West  28th  street,  New  York,  where  Mr.  Jacobus  resides  during 
the  inclement  season  of  the  year,  the  house  and  belongings  being  pre- 
served intact  out  of  regard  for  the  home  made  sacred  by  parents  now 
g-one. 

Mr.  Jacobus  received  his  education  in  the  Mechanics  Institute  of 
New  York,  a  school  under  the  auspices  of  a  society,  which  gave  the 
youth  of  the  city  the  advantages  of  a  collegiate  training  before  the  pres- 
ent course  of  study  in  high  schools,  was  adopted.  As  the  only  son  and 
heir  Mr.  Jacobus  has  necessarily  been  kept  busy  looking  after  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  a  large  estate,  tarst  before  his  father's  death  and  subse- 
quently until  his  own  retirement  from  active  life,  when  he  was  succeeded 
in  the  management  by  Martin  R.  Jacobus,  his  son.  He  was  Township 
Committeenvin  of  Ridgelield  for  1872-73,  1875-76,  1881-82-83. 

On  March  29,  1861,  Mr.  Jacobus  married  Miss  Sarah  Catherine 
Carpenter,  of  Orange  county.  New  York,  and  during  that  year  took  u]) 
his  residence  in  Ridgelield,  his  summer  residence  at  the  present  time. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Agnes  [Fulton]  Carpenter  and  was 
born  in  1S34. 

The  property  purchased  in  Ridgefield  was  originally  owned  by 
Samuel  Edsall  (an  account  of  whose  life  is  given  elsewhere).  Mr. 
Jacobus  bought  the  property  from  (Gamaliel  Rose  who  had  purchased 
the  estate  from  James  P.    Demarest,    by  whom   it  was  ccmveved    to  Mr. 


546  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Rose  May  3,  1837.  Mr.  Demarest  had  lived  here  about  thirty  rears, 
and  the  old  stone  house,  a  landmark  of  those  earlv  years  is  still 
standing'. 

There  were  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacobus. 

David  S.,  the  eldest  son,  is  Professor  of  Experimental  Mechanics 
and  Engineering  Physics  in  the  well  known  Stevens  Institute  of 
Technology  in  Hoboken.  As  a  student,  he  won  a  free  scholarship  for 
the  course  at  the  institution,  given  to  the  graduate  of  the  preparatory 
school  standing  highest  in  a  competitive  examination.  He  was  ap- 
pointed an  instructor  when  he  was  graduated  from  his  Alma  Mater  in 
1S84,  and  has  remained  there  since  that  time.  On  April  5th  1899,  he 
married  Miss  Laura  Dinkel  of  Jersey  City. 

In  addition  to  his  work  as  an  instructor  Professor  Jacobus  has 
undertaken  a  large  amount  of  practical  engineering  work,  and  served  as 
an  expert  in  investigating  the  feasibility  and  actual  performance  of  new- 
machines  and  processes.  He  has  been  given  every  encouragement  in 
such  work  as  it  is  appreciated  by  those  in  charge,  that  an  engineering 
school  should  have  among  its  faculty,  men  conversant  with  the  practi- 
cal side  of  the  profession,  and  his  training  has  been  with  this  end  in 
view.  He  has  made  numerous  tests  of  Mechanical  devices  to  demtmstrate 
certain  physical  laws,  and  has  made  these  the  basis  of  a  number  of 
papers  presented  to  scientific  societies,  the  majority  being  published  in 
the  Transactions  of  the  American  Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers,  of 
which  society  he  has  long  been  a  member.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers;  the  Society  of  Naval  Archi- 
tects and  Marine  Engineers;  The  American  Mathematical  Society,  and 
the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Engineering  Education,  and  is  Fellow 
of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science.  He  has 
contributed  to  the  transactions  of  all  these  societies  and  also  to  the 
transactions  of  the  the  Civil  Engineers  of  Great  Britian.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Engineers'  Club,  the  Arts  Club  and  the  Holland 
Society  of  New  York  and  of  the  .Technical  Club  Chicago.  The 
other  children  of  Mr.  Jacobus  are  Mrs.  Agnes  Pratt,  wife  of  Elisha 
Pratt;  Daniel  C.  Jacobus  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Bank,  New  York;  Nicholas 
Jacobus  who  died  in  early  life;  Martin  R.  Jacobus,  Manager  of  the 
Jacobus  estate  and  deacon  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Ridgofield  : 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Roop,  pastor  of  the  same  church,  and 
Robert  Fulton  Jacobus,  the  youngest  member  of  the  family. 

JACOB    V.    KANTA. 

Jacob  V.  Banta,  coal  merchant  of  Ridgetield,  is  a  descendant  of 
Yan  Banta,  who  early  settled  in  English  Neighborhood,  now  Ridgetield, 
from  which  place  he  removed  to  Pascack  about  175(1,  Captain  Banta 
a  descendant  of  Yan  Banta  lived  in  a  stone  house  in  Ridgetield,  which 
had  been  built  prior  tt>  the  Revolution.  This  house  became  the  property 
of  Stephen  Martling,  <me  of  the  projectors  of  the  Northern  Railroad 
who  moved  here    from    New   York   in    1S4'»,  and    remained    until    1S()5. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  547 

This  was  the  homestead  of  the  Banta  family  for  many  years.  Here 
Cornelius,  the  father  of  John  V.  Banta,  died  in  1819.  John  V.  Banta, 
the  father  of  Jacob  V.,  died  in  1876,  seventy-one  years  of  age.  He  was 
the  founder  of  the  house,  lirst,  Banta  &  Son,  then  Banta  &  Brother, 
now  Banta  &  Son  again,  coal  merchants  and  feed  dealers,  well  known 
throughout  this  part  of  Bergen  county.  Jacob  V.  Banta  was  born  in 
the  Vreeland  homestead  in  1829.  In  1856  he  married  Clarrissa  Ann 
Demarest,  daughter  of  Cornelius  Demarest  of  Saddle  River  township, 
and  by  this  union  had  two  children,  Cornelius  and  Naomi.  The  son  is 
a  member  of  the  firm,  Banta  &  Son.  Mr.  Banta  cares  little  for  political 
preferments  though  he  has  served  in  the  Council  since  the  organization 
of  the  borough. 

FAIKVIEW. 

This  village  is  at  the  sonthern  end  of  the  township,  spreading  it- 
self partly  into  Hudson  county.  It  is  a  small,  thriving  village,  where 
the  descendants  of  the  Bantas,  Herrings  and  Garrabrants  could  once  be 
found  in  numbers,  but  these  are  fast  giving  away  to  new  comers.  Among 
the  mansions  of  the  place  stands  that  formerly  owned  by  Thomas  H. 
Herring,  an  old  New  York  merchant  and  one  of  the  early  presidents 
of  the  Northern  Railroad,  who  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  New- 
Jersey  State  Senate.     He  died  July  1st,  1874. 

The  Garrabrants  here  and  in  Hudson  county  are  from  a  family  at 
one  time  numerous  in  Bergen  countv.  The  name  is  taken  from  the 
Christian  name  of  the  founder,  Gerbrand  Claesen,  his  sons  and  daugh- 
ters taking  the  name  of  Gerbrandsen,  of  which  Garrabrant  is  a  corrup- 
tion. 

Henry  Day,  father  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Day,  for  many  years  a  well-known 
physician  in  this  town,  was  a  prominent  man,  known  as  the  hospitable 
landlord  on  the  old  stage  route  from  Albany  to  New  York.  He  was  born 
at  Leonia  in  1775,  where  his  father  owned  a  hotel  during  Revolutionary- 
times.  He  married  Catherine  Banta,  who  died  in  1840,  and  by  whom  he 
had  one  son,  W.  H.  Day.  Henry  Dav  bought  the  property  now  owned 
by  George  Hornecker,  and  carried  on  business  as  an  innkeeper  until  his 
death  in  i852.  Gus  De  Groot  and  John  Scott  carried  on  blacksmithing 
wagon  making  in  one  end  of  the  old  Day  homestead.  Dr.  W.  H.  Day 
was  born  in  this  house  July  6th,  1810.  He  practiced  medicine  many 
years  before  the  law  was  passed  requiring  a  license.  A  diploma 
was  granted  to  him  dated  May  28th,  1852.  He  c(mtinued  his  practice 
at  Fairview  until  1867,  when  he  moved  to  Fort  Lee,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  23d,  1876.  Dr.  Day  was  an  able 
physician,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  District  Medical  Society,  and 
was  held  in  high  esteem  by  every  one  who  knew  him.  December  31st, 
1839,  he  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Peter  Wake  and  Elizabeth  Hatfield, 
of  Fort  Lee.  Their  only  child,  Anna  Blanchard  Day,  is  the  wife  of 
Benjamin  R.  Burdett,  at  whose  residence  the  mother  now  lives,  and  she 
is  now  in  her  eisfhtv-ninth  year. 


548  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

John  and  Peter  (larrabrandt  were  both  contractors,  and  erected 
several  of  the  building's  in  Fairview.  Conrad  Sedore,  a  prominent 
builder  in  New  York,  learned  his  trade  in  New  York  city  and  assisted 
in  the  building-  of  the  Day  homestead  in  1854.  He  also  helped  to  build 
the  residence  now  owned  by  Dr.  M.  S.  Avers.  About  this  time  Edward 
Earl,  one  of  the  early  and  prominent  deacons  of  the  Church  at  English 
Neighborhood,  died  (1854)  ag-ed  seventy-six  years.  He  was  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Marv  Sedore,  the  mother  of  Conrad  Sedore,  and  she  is  still 
living  in  the  place  eighty-nine  years  of  age;  she  was  married  to  Alex- 
ander Sedore  in  1827,  the  old  Monahan  place  now  owned  by  the  Mabie 
heirs,  having  been  their  homestead.  During  these  days  the  old  Deezer 
hotel  stood  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Hackensack  Plank  Road  and 
the  old  Bulls  Ferry  Road.  This  inn  was  afterward  kept  by  Abraham 
Carlisle,  then  bv  John  Lovett,  and  later  by  James  and  George  Weaver. 
A  Mr.  Bankroft  had  a  grocery  store  sixty  years  ago,  afterward  owned 
by  Henry  Tracy  who  died  of  cholera  in  Fairview  in  1852.  The  ravages 
of  this  fearful  disease  sorely  afflicted  almost  every  home  in  Fairview  dur- 
ing those  dreaded  days;  it  not  unfrequently  happening-  that  one,  two 
and  three  members  of  a  family  would  be  taken  away  in  a  sing-le  night. 
David  McDonald,  the  father  of  Jeremiah,  the  first  victim  of  cholera 
kept  a  grocery  in  one  part  of  the  (dd  Deezer  hotel,  but  after  the  death 
of  Henry  Tracy  he  ])urchased  the  property  and  continued  business  at 
that  stand. 

There  are  several  stores  here  at  this  time,  also  a  post-oftice.  a  school 
and  a  church. 

THE    BOKOfCiH    OE    E.MKVIEW. 

The  first  vote  for  this  borough  was  cast  on  the  14th  of  December, 
18^14.  and  the  first  election  for  officers  was  held  in  February,  1S'J5,  fol- 
lowed in  March  by  the  selection  of  permanent  officials.  Dr.  M.  S.  Ayers 
was  elected  the  first  Mayor  of  the  borough,  and  has  been  re-elected, 
holding  that  office  continuously  since  that  time.  The  first  Council  was 
as  follows:  Benjamin  R.  Burdett,  John  N.  Nicholson,  Cfmrad  Sedore, 
William  D(maldson,  William  H.  Wendall,  Harry  D.  Fink;  F.  B.  Wallace. 
Clerk.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  Dr.  M.  S.  Avers,  Mayor; 
F.  B.  Wallace,  Clerk;  Council,  Conrad  Sedore,  Girard  Farenholtz,  An- 
drew Grim,  W.  H.  Wendall.  Taylor  Hurley,  F.  H.  Egbert.  The  vote 
cast  in  November,  1895,  was  one  hundred  and  thirty-five.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  village  is  about  seven  hundred. 

SCHOOLS. 

There  are  two  School  Districts  in  the  borough,  Nos.  1  and  2.  No. 
1  was  originally  the  old  Bulls  Ferry  School,  the  house  of  which  was 
moved  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  is  now  used  for  the  primary  grade. 
Miss  Laura  Clarke,  teacher.  No.  2  has  two  departments.  Miss  Ethel 
Powel  Harris,  principal ;  Miss  Nellie  Boos,  assistant.  The  School 
Board  consists  of  eight  members,  of  which  F.  Y.  Pond  is  president. 


msTOK'v  ()!■■  bhk<;kn    county  54'» 

KOYAI.    AKCANUM  NO.    498. 

Royal  Arcanum.  Nd.  4'»8,  was  org-anized  in  18')fl.  The  charter 
members  were  Doctor  and  Mrs.  M.  S.  Avers,  Croorf^-e  Bruce,  Jr.,  J. 
Nicholson.  Frank  .Murjjhy,  J«>hii  S.  Tracy,  K.  M.  Pawsen,  Dr.  M.  S. 
.\vers  was  the  first  Regent.  The  names  of  other  Regents  who  have 
tilled  this  office  are  Charles  Merrick,  Henry  Wilson,  George  Nash, 
Albert  Lussen,  F.  D.  Murphy.  The  present  officers  are  George  A. 
Storms,  Regent;  A.  H.  Wendall,  Vice-regent;  E.  M.  Pawsen,  Secretary; 
F.  D.  Murphy,  Treasurer;  John  S.  Tracy,  Collector;  J.  D.  Cowan, 
Orator;  N.  Samler,  Warden. 

The  societv  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  ciglitv,  and 
holds  its  meetings  in  the  Town  Hall. 

l''IKE    DEPAKTMKNT. 

Protection  to  property  was  organized  in  1894,  The  leaders  in  this 
movement  consisted  of  B.  R.  Burdett,  W.  H.  Tracy,  John  S.  Tracy, 
Taylor  Hurley,  Malcolm  Long,  Harry  D.  Fink,  Frank  D.  Murphy, 
John  Nicholson  and  Conrad  Sedore.  W.  H.  Tracy,  foreman;  Jacob  H. 
B.  Dav,  assistant  foreman;  John  P.  Haas,  treasurer.  The  present 
foreman  is  Jacob  H.  B.  Day,  and  F.  Y.  Pond  is  treasurer. 

HAP'IMST    CHIKCH. 

For  some  time  previous  to  1.S4S,  the  people  of  English  Neighbor- 
hood. ( now  Fairview  i  under  a  council  of  ministers  and  delegates, 
organized  an  independent  Baptist  Church  at  this  place,  to  be  called  the 
First  Baptist  Church  at  English  Neighborhood.  Among  those  at  Fair- 
view  instrumental  in  securing  this  organization,  was  Mary  Sedore,  who 
is  the  only  one  of  the  nineteen  persons  of  that  number,  now  living. 

Rev.  William  H.  Spencer,  pastor  of  the  Blo(>mingdale  Church,  was 
chosen  moderator;  Re\-.  George  F.  Hendrickson,  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Perth  Amboy,  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  council;  Rev.  Richard  Thomp- 
s(m,  pastor  of  New  Durham  Baptist  Church,  read  a  portion  of  Scripture 
from  the  second  chapter  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  The  joint  letter 
of  dismission  from  the  New  Durham  Baptist  Church,  containing  the 
names  of  nineteen  members,  as  follows:  James  D.  Demarest.  David 
McDonald,  Ephraini  Tracy,  William  H.  Tracy,  David  C.  Dyer.  Andrew 
Engle,  Jr.,  .\braham  Jackson,  Sarah  McDonald,  Elizabeth  Tracy, 
Francis  Ebis,  Sarah  Freeland,  Elizabeth  Compton,  Mary  McDonald, 
Mary  Sedore,  William  Engle,  Catharine  Townsend,  Margaret  Demarest, 
Sarah  Engle,  Elizabeth  Jackson,  who  were  dismissed  from  the  sai<l 
church,  was  then  read  before  the  council.  The  articles  of  faith  and 
church  covenant  were  then  read  and  examined  by  the  council,  which  were 
approved.  It  was  then  voted  to  ])roci'ed  to  organize  them  into  an  inde- 
pendent Bajjtist  Church,  and  services  were  first  held  in  i)rivate  houses 
until  1S(,4.  when  the  membership  increase*!  and  a  church  edifice  deemeil 
necessary.  In  the  fall  of  1864  a  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  ot  two 
thousand  dollars,  which  was  built  bv  subscription.  This  church,  a  small 
wocxlen   structure,    twent\-foiir    bv    thirtv-five    feet,    was   located    in  the 


550  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 


centre  of  the  villao-e.  The  building-  committee  was  David  C.  Dyer, 
James  D.  Demarest,  David  McDonald,  W.  H.  Tracy,  Andrew  S.  Enf^le. 
The  church  was  dedicated  December  13,  18(.4,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Dowlely,   ol 

New  York.  . 

The  tirst  trustees  were  James  D.  Demarest,  David  C.  Dyer,  David 
McDonald,  W.  A.  Tracv,  and  Andrew  S.  Engle.  First  deacons,  James 
D.  Demarest  and  Ephraim  Tracy,  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  George  F. 
Hendrickson,  who  presided  over  this  congregation  at  intervals  since 
1848.     Rev.    C.   A.    Harper,   was  called  in  1878,  and  in  1880  the  church 

disbanded. 

The  building  is  now  used  as  a  chapel  for  any  denommatKm  that 
chooses  to  worship  there.  The  Methodists  at  this  time  under  the 
preaching  of  the  Rev.  John  Mena,  of  New  York,  being  prominent. 

MELANCTHON    S.\YKE    AYERS,    M.    D. 

Dr.  Melancthon  Savre  Avers,  Mayor  of  Fairview,  and  otherwise 
prominent  in  social  and"  political  life,  is  a  native  of  Beemerville,  New 
Jersey,  born  October  23,  1846.  His  maternal  ancestors  were  of  Hol- 
land and  French  descent,  his  mother  being  Rebecca  Ogden  Decker.  His 
father,  however,  came  from  Scotch  stock,  and  owned  a  large  farm  in 
Sussex  county  where  our  subject  spent  the  -earlier  years  of  his  life. 
After  leaving  the  public  schools,  voung  Ayers  prepared  for  college  at 
Suffield,  Connecticut  after  which  he  taught  school  at  Beemerville,  one 
year.  In  1868,  he  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  m 
New  York,  and  desiring  to  familiarize  himself  with  drugs  and  medicines, 
he  purchased  a  drug  store  in  the  city  during  the  first  year  of  his  college 
career.  He  c<mtinued  this  business  until  the  completion  of  his  studies, 
when  he  was  h<mored  by  an  appointment  as  Surgeon  on  board  of  one  of 
the  Black  Ball  Packet  Line  of  ships,  and  sailed  for  Europe  where  he 
spent  the  summer.  Upon  returning  to  New  York  Dr.  Ayers  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  the  city  but  remained  there  only  until  1872.  He 
then  located  in  Fairview  and  is  still  practicing,  having  in  the  mean- 
time made  an  honorable  record  in  his  profession. 

As  a  rule  every  honorable  and  upright  man  possessing  force  of 
character  sufficient  to  qualify  himself  for  the  duties  of  life,  has  sooner 
or  later  been  recognized  as  a  useful  factor  in  matters  of  public  import- 
ance This  has  been  the  history  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  In 
military  affairs  the  Doctor  has  been  honorably  remembered  m  his  ap- 
pointment of  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Surgeon  to  the  Second 
Battalion,  National  Guard,  New  Jersey,  June  18,  1873,  and  promoted  to 
Major  and  Surgeon  April  15,  1876.     He  resigned  m  June  1888. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  borough  of  Fairview  Dr.  Ayers  was 
elected  its  first  Mayor  in  1894,  re-elected  in  1895  and  re-elected  again  in 
1897.  His  term  expires  in  1899.  The  doctor  has  been  president  of  the 
Rido-efield  Twouship  Protective  Association  since  1882,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Special  Police  Justice  by  Governor  Abbett  during  his  presidency 
of  the  Protective   Society.      He   is  a  member  and   ex-president   of    the 


^:^^^ 


:^^,JK 


HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY  a.-'.'. 

Berg-en  County  Medical  Society,  and  has  also  been  from  time  to  time 
himored  with  other  positions  of  trust. 

In  1897  the  Doctor  organized  the  Cliffside  Land  Company  and  he- 
coming'  its  president  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  Palisades 
o])p<)site  Grant's  Monument,  laid  it  out  in  lots,  and  formed  the  nucleus 
of  a  town  which  he  had  named  Grautwood. 

Dr.  Ayers  was  married  first  to  Miss  Nellie  Hill  of  New  York  city, 
December  1874.  Mrs.  Ayers  died' August  12,  1876,  leaving  a  son,  Nelson 
M.,  an  infant  but  a  few  days  old.  The  Doctor  married  Miss  Lillian 
Packard  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  on  November  4,  1885.  His  son  Nelso.i  M. 
Avers  prepared  for  college  in  Berlin,  Germany,  and  at  Princeton  and 
Hackettstown,  N.  J.  He  was  graduated  from  Yale  University  June. 
18'»8,  and  entered  New  York  Law  School  in  October  following. 

COXK.VD    SEDOKE. 

Conrad  Sedore,  a  well  known  contractor  and  member  of  the  Bor- 
ough Council,  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  interests  of 
Fairview  for  many  years.  His  grandfather  Conrad,  and  Althea  Sedore 
moved  to  Ridgefield  township  from  New  York  State,  locating  on  the  hill 
above  Fairview,  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  Their  children  were: 
Isaac,  William,  Alexander,  Eliza,  Mary,  Jane,  Catharine,  Susan  and 
Elvira.  Alexander,  the  father  of  our  subject  married  Mary  Earl, 
daughter  of  Edward  Earl,  in  1827,  locating  on  the  property  now  known 
as  the  Mabie  place  in  English  Neighborhood,  and  at  this  time  owned  by 
John  Monahan.  Edward  Earl  was  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  church  at 
English  Neighborhood  for  many  years.     He  died  in  1854,  79  years  of  age. 

Conrad  Sedore  was  the  third  son  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  and 
was  born  in  1834.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  New  York  and 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  remained  in  the  city  many  years 
following-  his  calling  and  was  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years  in  charge  of 
the  three  hundred  and  fifty  buildings,  belonging  to  the  old  Trinity  cor- 
poration. He  remained  in  the  city  twenty-five  years,  actively  engaged 
in  business,  much  of  that  time,  in  charge  of  large  interests,  and  at  the 
head  of  many  employees.  Soon  after  the  Rebellion  he  returned  to  Fair- 
view,  building  his  own  house  in  1891,  where  he  now  resides. 

In  185()  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Westerfield,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Eliza  Westerfield,  of  Hudson  county. 

Mr.  Sedore,  although  public  spirited,  takes  the  most  interest  in  his 
church  connections,  and  in  church  work.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  since  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  was  a 
class  leader  for  eleven  years  in  the  Perr}^  Street  M.  E.  Church,  New 
York.      He  is  also  a  leading  member  of  the  Union  Society  in  Fairview. 

Be:nJ.\MIN    K.    Bl'KDETT. 

Benjamin  R.  Burdett  of  Fairview  traces  his  lineage  to  Ste])lien 
Hurdett,  who  was  a  resident  and  landowner  in  this  locality,  many  vears 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war. 


554  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

About  twenty  years  previous  to  that  period,  Stephen  purchased 
some  four  hundred  acres  of  hind,  upon  which  are  located  the  sites  of 
the  two  forts,  which  is  now  Fort  Lee.  At  an  earlier  date,  howeycr,  he 
liad,  conjointly  with  William  Bayard  received  from  the  king  a  grant  of 
land  covering  the  ground  upon  which  Weehawken  and  Hoboken  are 
built.  In  the  course  of  time  the  spelling  of  the  famil}'  name  was 
changed  to  Burdett,  by  dropping  the  "o"  and  "e"  from  the  first  syllable. 

Mr.  Burdett's  grandparents  were,  Benjamin  and  Rachel  Burdett. 
His  father  Henry  Burdett  married  Rachel  Scott,  and  by  this  marriage 
there  have  been  the  following  children:  Mary  Alvira,  wife  of  Rev. 
Martin  Herr;  Peter,  now  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.;  Sarah  A.  (deceased  );  Rachel 
(now  dead)  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Burdett  of  Hackensack;  John  H.,  of 
Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.;  Benjamin  R.,  Wilbur  F.,  deceased;  Richard 
Watson  in  Hunterdon  county,  and  Newtcm  James,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  months. 

Benjamin  R.,  our  subject,  was  born  at  Fort  Lee,  March  18th,  184(1. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Fort  Lee,  supplemented  by  a 
two  years  course  at  Pennington  Seminary.  Mr.  Burdett's  father  was  a 
Methodist  and  entertained  the  preachers  at  his  home.  During  his  life- 
time he  was  a  carpenter  and  boatbuilder,  as  was  his  father.  He  died  in 
1874  aged  seventy-two  years.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Mr. 
Burdett  was  in  the  grocery  business  in  Spring  street.  New  York  city, 
and  later  in  Fort  Lee,  when  his  health  failed  and  he  was  obliged  to  give 
up  business.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1878,  was  Miss  Anna  B. 
Day,  only  daughter  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Day  of  Fort  Lee.  Dr.  Day  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  District  Medical  Society  of  the  county  of  Bergen, 
and  died  in  1S7(). 

Mr.  Burdett's  two  children  are  William  Day,  who  was  graduated 
from  the  Hackensack  High  school,  and  "later  took  one  year  in  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New  York  when  his  health  failed. 
Eliza  Day  is  at  home. 

Peter  Burdett  brother  of  Benjamin  R.,  enlisted  in  Com])any  K  22nd 
New  Jersey  Volunteers,  in  which  he  was  made  sergeant. 

Mr.  Burdett  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Republi- 
can Executive  Committee  of  Bergen  county  for  six  years.  He  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  one  year,  and  was  one  of  the  first  councilmen  and 
President  of  the  Council  of  the  borough  of  Fairview.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  and  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Got)d- 
fellows,  in  which  he  has  held  every  office  in  the  gift  of  the  association. 
In  addition  to  these,  Mr.  Burdett  has  been  District  Deputy  of  the 
district. 

JOHN    p.    H.V.\S. 

John  P.  Haas  son  of  Joseph  and  Crezencia  (  Kfeiffer  !  Haas,  was 
born  in  New  York  city,  June  22,  1859.  His  parents  came  from  (iermany 
in  1850,  and  settled  in  New  York  where  John  was  educated  in  a  private 
school. 


HISTOKV    OF    BEKtlKN   COUNTY  OOO 

In  1<S72  he  learned  the  trade  of  barber,  finding  employment  in 
various  shops  until  1878,  when  he  went  into  business  for  himself  in  this 
city,  continuing-  them  until  1880,  he  then  came  to  Fairview  and  began 
business  which  has  proved  successful.  Mr.  Haas  been  twice  married, 
first  to  Miss  Emma  Kaufhold  who  died  leaving  him  two  daughters.  His 
second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Anna  Beck.  They  have  four  daughters 
and  two  sons.  Mr.  Haas  has  been  Collector  since  the  formation  of  the 
borough  in  18'»4,  having  been  twice  elected  to  that  office,  being  also 
Treasurer  of  the  borough.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Englewood  Lodge, 
I.  ().  ().  F.,  No.  T)7,  and  a  charter  member  of  Bergen  Lodge,  A.  O.  U. 
\\\,  No.  52.  He  was  a  charter  member  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
organization  of  Piges  Hose  Company. 

PALISADES    I'AKK. 

The  village  of  Palisades  Park  was  founded  by  Benjamin  W.  Hitch- 
cock, who  built  the  depot  about  1888,  and  afterwards  sold  it  to  the  rail- 
road. There  are  one  or  two  stores  in  the  place;  also  a  Union  Chapel, 
the  ground  for  which  was  given  by  Henry  and  John  Brinkerhoff,  the 
chapel  being  dedicated  on  March  8th,  1898.  John  Blackstrom,  the  first 
storekeeper,  is  still  trading  here.  The  new  school  house  was  erected  in 
18'H.  F.  B.  Armstrong,  the  principal,  is  assisted  by  three  teachers. 
The  last  census  gives  a  list  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  children 
in  the  district  of  school  age. 

The  borough  of  Palisades  Park  lies  between  the  boroughs  of  Le- 
tmia  and  Ridgefield,  is  about  one  mile  square  and  has  a  taxable  valuation 
of  about  $(.00,000.     It  was  incorporated  March  22,  1899. 

The  officers  are  as  follows:  John  S.  Edsall,  mayor;  Michael  Reid, 
Louis  Schlumberger,  Henry  Scholz,  Robert  MacDonald,  John  P.  Davis, 
Daniel  Krueger,  council;  John  Brinkerhoff,  collector;  Alfred  I.  Parkyn, 
assessor;  C.  H.  Lozier,  Sr.,  W.  G.  Sanderson,  Johannes  Johns(m,  com- 
missioners of  appeals;  C^eorge  W.  Gardiner,  borough  clerk. 

JOHN    G.    EDSALL. 

John(i.  Edsall  of  Palisades  borough,  occupies  the  old  Edsall  home- 
stead, which  has  come  to  him  by  inheritance  from  father  to  son,  from 
Samuel  Edsall,  the  progenitor  of  the  family,  who  purchased  the  estate 
in  colonial  times.  This  estate  originally  consisted  of  about  two  thou- 
sand acres  of  land  extending  north  from  Bull's  Ferry  along  the  Hudson 
River  two  and  a  half  miles  nearly  to  Fort  Ia'c  and  inland  to  the  Hack- 
ensack  River  and  Overpeck  Creek.  This  grant  according  to  a  state- 
ment made  in  the  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Record  of 
October  1882,  was  obtained  from  the  Indians  early  in  1()(>9.  This 
Samuel  Edsall  was  of  Holland  ancestry  and  emigrated  from  England  to 
America  in  1648.  In  1774  we  find  him  acting  as  president  of  the 
recently  organized  "Court  of  Judicature"  in  the  village  of  Bergen,  and 
in  l(i7.^  a  special  court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  was  held  over  which 
William   Sandford  was  i.rcsident,  and  Samuel   Edsall  was  an  associate. 


lOHX  ('..   i-;dsai.i.. 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNT\  557 


( )n  an  old  map  of  New  York  he  is  marked  in  i(.56  as  the  owner  of  a  larg-e 
tract  <.f  laud,  a  part  of  which  lay  on  the  Strand,  now  Pearl  street.  He 
married  his  first  wife  Janetje  Jane  Wessels  in  the  Dutch  church  in  lf)55. 
After  her  death  he  married  Namoi,  widow  of  Samuel  Moore,  a  merchant. 
Mr.  Edsall's  third  wife  was  Ruth  Woodhull  who  owned  the  old  Edsall 
plantation,  known  as  Edsall's  Point.  This  property  falling  into  the 
possession  of  her  son  Richard  Edsall,  was  sold  May  27,  1735  to  Michael 
Vrielandt. 

Samuel  E.,  son  of  John  and  jrrandson  of  Samuel  tirst  mentioned  was 
sheriff  of  Bergen  county  in  174(1.  It  was  this  Samuel  who  built  the 
okl  stone  house  used  until  1851  for  the  Edsall  residence.  John  G. 
Edsall  is  a  great  grandson  of  Samuel  and  Naomi  Christina  (Day) 
Edsall,  grands(m  of  John  and  Gertrude  ( Lydecker )  Edsall,  and  the  son 
of  Garret  L.,  and  Lavinia  ( Terhune )  Edsall.  Mr.  Edsall's  mother,  a 
daughter  of  James  A.  Terhune  of  Teaneck,  is  still  living  on  the 
homestead. 

John,  son  of  Samuel,  and  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  died  in  l,s7(,,  eighty-eight  years  of  age.  The  present  residence 
was  built  by  him  in  ISi.l.  Garret  L..  his  son,  died  in  1885.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Jersey  Blues  (in  1S(,1  )  and  became  the 
second  lieutenant  of  that  famous  company. 

The  old  residence  built  by  Sheriff  Edsall,  was  torn  down  in  1SS7. 

John  G.  Edsall  was  born  in  1851,  and  has  spent  his  whole  life  at 
the  place  of  his  birth. 

A  man  of  sterling  character,  he  has  made  a  record  in  business  for 
strict  integrity  and  honesty,  neither  seeking  nor  desiring  political 
recognition,  alth<mgh  his  borough  forced  him  into  the  candidacy  for 
mayor,  and  came  within  a  vote  or  two  of  electing  him  to  that  positi.m, 
in  the  spring  of  l,S'»<t.  He  has  served,  however,  on  the  school  board  in 
his  district,  the  question  being  (me  of  vital  issues  of  the  day. 

The  farming  interests  of  the  old  Edsall  estate  have  always  been 
imixirtant.  while  the  improvements  on  the  farm  and  the  produce  raised 
for  market   have  been  made  to  keep  progress  with  the  time. 

In  1S8,^  Mr.  Edsall  was  married  to  Miss  Pauline  Pruden  and  by  this 
union  there  are  two  children. 

JOHN    S.     KDSAI.I,. 

John  S.  Edsall.  Mayor  of  Palisades  Park,  is  a  great  grandson  of 
Samuel  Edsall  and  Naimii  Christina  Day.  His  grandparents  were  John, 
and  (kTtrude  (Lydecker)  Edsall,  and  his  parents  Samuel  and  Isabella 
(Christie)  Edsall. 

Mr.  Edsall  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  which  is  a  part  of  the  old 
Samuel  Edsall  estate  meutitmed  elsewhere  in  the  work.  In  addition  to 
his  farming  .interests,  he  is  engaged  in  real  estate  business  with  his 
brother  Samuel  S.  Edsall.  Mr.  Edsall  is  identified  officially  with  the  in- 
terests of  his  part  of  Bergen  county.  He  was  a  member  of  "the  Tri-town- 
ship  (P.iorhouse)  Committee  for  a  period  of  eleven  years,  was  Treasurer 


558  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

of  the  Poorhouse  Cdmmittec  for  ten  years.  He  was  elected  Mayor  of 
the  V)orough  of  Palisades  Park  in  the  spring  of  l.S't'>. 

On  May  7,  1S()1,  Mr.  Edsall  enlisted  in  the  First  Regiment,  Bergen 
Brigade,  and  was  from  time  to  time  promoted,  holding  different  offices 
in  his  company  until  October  If),  1888,  when  he  was  made  captain. 

Mr.  Edsall  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Garret  S.  Banta,  and  is 
father  of  seven  children;  Belle,  Lena,  wife  of  Abram  Christie;  Gertrude; 
Sarah  B.,  wife  of  J.  B.  Moore;  Charles;  (iarret,  who  was  killed  by  a 
train  on  the  Northern  New  Jersey  Railroad  in  1S')7;  Agnes  Naomi  and 
Lily  May.  Samuel  S.  Edsall  his  brother,  and  member  of  the  tirm  of 
Edsall  Brothers,  New  York,  is  unmarried. 


THK    BKINKEKHOl'F    FA^^L^•. 

The  Brinkerhoff  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  this  county.  The 
homestead  was  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  Henrj-  Brink- 
erhoff in  Palisades  Park.  The  fountain  head  of  this  family  dates  back 
to  1().^8,  when  Joris  Dericksen  Brinkerhoff,  with  his  family  landed  in  the 
little  city  of  New  Amsterdam.  From  Joris  Dericksen  (  Joris  son  of 
Derick  j  so  far  as  known,  with(^ut  exception,  have  come  all  who  bear 
the  name,  or  lineage,  of  Brinkerhoff  upon  the  American  continent. 
Some  spell  the  name  B-r-i-n-c-k  and  some  B-r-i-n-k,  and  the  othographv 
of  either  is  fully  authenticated  in  ancient  documents.  In  a  few  manu- 
scripts it  is  written  "Blinkerhoff,"and  in  one  instance  Van  Blynckerhoff. 
The  Flushing  branch  of  the  family,  (  descendents  of  Abraham,  son  of 
Joris  Dericksen,  )  for  the  most  part,  use  the  "c."  The  Bergen  branch 
(  descendents  of  Hendrick,  son  of  Joris  Dericksen,  )  have  almost  entirely 
omitted  it.  It  may  be  safely  said  that  Joris  Dericksen  Brinkerhoff  was 
a  very  worthy  representative  of  the  Holland  family  to  plant  in  America, 
and  very  deserving  of  rememberance  by  all  who  bear  his  family  name 
or  have  descended  from  him.  All  of  these  may  feel  assured  that  the 
first  representative  of  that  name  in  America  was  an  honest  and  upright 
man.  The  family  motto  "  ( 'oi/.^fai/s  fidc:>  cl  iutcgritas"  seems  evidently 
fitting  to  the  man.  He  held  in  those  early  days  positions  of  trust  requir- 
ing probity  and  integrity  of  character,  and  held  them  for  years,  was 
preeminently  a  religious  man.  He  lived  in  times  of  great  religious 
excitement.  His  children  (  two  sons  and  a  daughter  )  were  all  members 
of  the  church  and  his  descendants,  with  very  rare  exceptions,  down  to 
the  present  time,  have  been  loyal  adherents  of  the  churches  of  the 
Reformation.  The  records  of  any  of  the  Dutch  churches  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  New  York  will  give  abundant  evidence  of  this  fact.  Seven 
of  the  subscribers  to  the  building  fund  of  the  Dutch  church  at  Flushing, 
Long  Island,  for  17.il,  were  Brinkerhoff's,  and  in  the  list  of  pew-holders 
for  17.^h,  twentj-one  of  them  were  Brinkerhoff's.  The  first  two  names  on 
the  roll  of  the  Brooklyn  church  organized  in  1660,  are  Joris  Dericksen 
Brinkerhoff  and  his  wife,  Susannah.  The  first  two  names  in  the  Hack- 
ensack  church,  are  Hendrick  Jorise  Brinkerhoff  and  his  wife,  Clausie. 


HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY  55<> 

In  17.^7,  what  is  now  the  Brinkerhoff  homestead  consisted  of  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  Ixiuyht  hy  I'ornelius  Brinkerhoff  from  Mat- 
thew Benson  for  ^,5(>S(I,  and  was  then  a  tract  of  unimproved  land, 
covered  with  woods  and  underbrush.  It  was  not  until  1758  that  the  first 
house  was  built  here  bv  John  Brinkerhoff.  It  was  two  stories  high,  a 
sort  of  cross  between  a  flat  roof  and  a  "short  pitch,"  a  stvle  of  archi- 
tecture much  in  voyue  at  that  period.  Heavy,  rouL;h  oak  iseams  were 
used  in  its  construction,  the  timbers  being  all  pinned,  and  no  nails  used 
where  it  was  possible  to  pin  together  with  wooden  pins. 

John  Brinkerhoff,  the  great  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 
A])ril  14,  1750,  and  died  October  19,  182.i.  His  son,  Henry,  born  Janu- 
ary 30,  17'i,>,  married  Mary  Christie.  He  was  a  captain  of  the  militia. 
Theirchildren  were  John  H.,  Cornelius,  Hannah  Maria  and  William  Henry. 
He  built  the  house  now  standing  on  the  farm  in  1838,  when  his  son, 
John  H.,  was  l'»  years  of  age.  John  H.  Brinkerhoff  was  born  Septem- 
ber 10,  181'».  On  March  25,  1840,  he  married  Naomi  Edsall,  and  by  this 
union  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom,  only  two,  Henry  and  John, 
are  now  living.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  "  Jersey  Blues," 
May  7,  1861.  He  died  in  1SS7.  Of  his  two  surviving  sons,  Henry,  the 
elder,  owns  the  homestead.  He  is  distinctively  a  farmer,  and  has  never 
sought  office  (ir  political  preferment. 

John  Brinkerhoff  has  been  a  member  of  Company  E,  Second  Regi- 
ment, N.  G.  N.  J.,  since  1872,  first  as  a  private,  afterwards  being  made 
second  lieutenant,  hcdding  that  office  during  the  enlistment  of  his  regi- 
ment in  the  Spanish-American  war.  On  December  10,  1897,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  company  presented  him  a  handsome  sword,  engraved  with 
suitable  inscription,  in  recognition  of  his  twentv-five  years'  faithful 
service.  He  was  married  on  November  29,  1882,  to  Miss  Anna  Louisa 
Pruden,  and  is  the  father  of  one  child,  Ethel  Louise.  An  ehler  child, 
William  De(jraw  Brinkerhoff.  was  born  November  17,  1S83,  and  died 
June  2,  1892. 

LKNO.VIA. 

This  part  of  old  English  Neighborhood  had  no  sci)arate  existence  as 
a  village  until  the  railroad  was  built.  Among  the  oldest  families  who 
lived  here  when  the  church  building  was  erected  in  1831,  were  John 
Burdett,  who  built  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  bv  General  Moore 
and  his  brother  Major  Stephen  H.  V.  Moore;  (xarret  Meyers  who  with 
John  Cole  gave  the  ground  for  the  church  ;  and  David  Christie  who 
bought  the  farm  of  (t.  Meyers  and  moved  into  the  house  at  present  owned 
by  Cornelius  and  known  as  "The  Homestead,"  are  among  the  number. 
But  we  hear  of  no  trading  here  until  C.  D.  Shaw,  the  first  agent  of  the 
depot  for  the  railroad  company  kept  the  post-office,  also  a  store,  and  Mr. 
Shaw  has  been  from  that  time  to  this  in  a  business  way  connected  with 
the  people  of  Leonia. 

P.  P.  Cluss,  recorder  of  the  borough,  who  has  been  in  business  six- 
teen years  succeeded  C.  D.  Shaw  in  1890.  J.  H.  Clarke  and  A.  M.  Price, 
are    each    doing    a    successful    commercial    business    also.      Mr.    James 


560  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Christie,  collector  of  the  boroug'h,  established  a  prosperous  trade  in  coal, 
wood,  lime,  etc.,  over  twenty  3'ears  aj^o.  He  was  succeeded  by  J.  H. 
Ferdon,  in  1896. 

The  stores  and  business  enterprises  of  the  boroug'h  tog-ether  with 
the  beautiful  site  of  the  village,  which  has  attracted  people  from  the 
great  metropolis,  is  fast  building  up  the  place. 

THE    BOROUGH    OK    LEONIA 

The  borough  of  Leonia  was  incorporated  December  5,  1894.  The 
first  officers  were:  Mayor,  Cornelius  Christie;  Councilmen,  Lorenzo  Gis- 
mond,  William  P.  De  Graw,  D.  G.  Beeching,  J.  Vreeland  Moore,  Edward 
CJrinslade,  C.  J.  Terhune;  Collector,  R.  J.  G.  Wood;  Assessor,  C.  D. 
Schor;  Borough  Clerk,  H.  F.  Ahrens. 

Officers  elected  March  20,  1899,  were:  Mayor,  Cornelius  Christie; 
Councilmen,  Edward  Stagg,  Morell  M.  FuUarton,  Frank  I.  Barrett, 
Benj.  H.  Belknap,  Robert  Duncan,  Edward  Stagg,  Lorenzo  Gismond; 
Collector,  James  Christie;  Assessor,  Julius  H.  Clark;  Borough  Clerk, 
H.  F.  Ahrens. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  borough  in  1899  was  $579,930. 

H.  P.  Hurd  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Health. 

LEONIA  COUNCIL  KOVAL  AKCANUM  NO.  956. 

Leonia  Council  Royal  Arcanum  No.  956  was  instituted  on  July  29th, 
1!S9().  Brother  J.  Day  Otis,  Grand  Regent  of  New  Jersey  was  the  instal- 
ling officer,  assisted  by  Past  Grand  Regent  Frank  T.  Griffeth,  F.  S. 
Petter,  R.  H.  Alberts,  S.  J.  Kallam,  W.  Lounsbury.  The  officers  for 
the  term  were  as  follows:  Regent,  O.  O.  Clark;  Vice-Regent,  B.  H. 
Belknap;  Past  Regent,  Abram  Whitle}';  Orator,  P.  S.  Saitta;  Secretary, 
E.  D.  McKown;  Collector,  J.  H.Clark;  Treasurer,  J.  Randolph  Appleby; 
Chaplain,  Edward  Stagg;  Guide,  G.  W.  Peters;  Warden,  H.  D.  Van 
Zaut;  Sentry,  I.  W.  Pope.  The  number  of  charter  members  was  twenty- 
one,  and  the  number  on  roll  July  1st,  1899,   was  fifty-eight. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Council  are  as  follows: — Regent,  H.  D. 
Van  Zaut;  Vice-Regent,  Robert  Duncan;  Orator,  B.  H.  Belknap;  Past 
Regent,  J.  H.  Clark;  Secretary,  C,  Harry  Eaton;  Collector,  E.  T. 
Swayer;  Treasurer,  E.  G.  (iismond;  Chaplain,  H.  F.  Ahrens;  Guide,  E. 
B.  Williams;  Warden,  William  S.    Iserman;  Sentry,   Charles  E.  (loebel. 

FIRE    DEPAKTMENT. 

The  borough  maintains  four  churches,  an  excellent  school  of  three 
teachers,  a  lire  department,  and  has  one  flourishing  beneficiary  organi- 
zation. 

Protection  against  loss  by  fire  has  been  assured  by  the  incorporation 
of  a  well  organized  fire  department,  of  Hose  Company  No.  1,  July  9, 
1898,  and  shortly  after  of  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  2,  consisting 
of  thirty-two  members  with  George  W.  Mabie,  Chief;  A.  D.  Bogart, 
and  H.  E.  Oakley,  Foremen  of  the  respective  companies.     The  building 


HISTORY    OF    BEROEN    COUNTY  561 

was  erected  in  1S")S.      The  department  have  hose  cart,  hook  and  ladder, 
truck,  and  one  thousand  feet  of  hose. 

THIC    TKTIv    KKI''()KMKn    DUTCH    CIIUKCII    A'l'    I.ICONIA. 

Probably  the  actual  history  of  this  church,  as  a  separate  body, 
dates  from  I'^ebruarv  20,  1824,  at  which  time  the  consistory  issued  their 
sii;-ned  protest  ag-ainst  the  Classis  of  Berj^en.  This  protest  was  signed 
by  49  persons,  male  and  female.  The  Rev.  C.  T.  Demarest  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  consistory  at  this  time  and  preached  for  the  new  cong^rega- 
tion.  On  March  11,  1S24,  the  consistory  met  at  the  parsonage  and  John 
W.  Banta  and  John  Kdsall  were  made  a  committee  to  wait  ui)on  the 
Kev.  James  (t.  Brinkerhoff  to  ])rocure  his  services  for  the  two  succeed- 
ing- Sabbaths,  and  afterwards  issued  a  regular  call  to  him,  "offering- 
him  $250.00  per  annum  in  half  yearly  payments,  tog-ether  with  the  use 
of  the  parsonag-e  so  long-  as  it  remains  in  the  possession  of  this  consis- 
tory, for  the  whole  of  his  services,  except  six  free  Sabbaths."  During 
the  succeeding-  months  there  appears  to  have  been  some  legal  disturb- 
ances in  the  church,  but  they  were  happily  settled. 

On  June  .■^,  1S24,  at  a  meeting  of  the  consistory  at  the  house  of 
Kichard  Scott,  in  Hackensack,  at  which  the  Rev.  Sidomon  Froeligh 
presided,  by  recjuest,  the  Rev.  C.  T.  Demarest  stated  to  the  meeting 
that  he  had  received  a  call  from  the  True  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in 
New  York  city,  and  had  accepted  the  same,  and  desired  to  be  dismissed 
from  his  then  charg-e.  The  request  was  g-ranted.  "  During  the  minis- 
trations of  Mr.  Demarest  the  church  community  was  especially  looked 
after  l)y  him  in  church  dicipline,  and  the  teaching  of  the  church  was 
ever  on  his  lips."  Still  it  was  not  all  harmony,  and  finally  the  (General 
Synod  was  appealed  to,  to  assist  in  the  settlement  of  internal  disorders. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  I'eter  D.  Froeligh  of  Ackquackanonk. 
He  was  called  June  21st,  1825,  and  died  February  1'),  1S2S.  Irregular 
preaching  followed,  the  Rev.  C.  T.  Demarest  occasionally  officiating 
until  November  4.  is,^'),  when  he  was  duly  installed. 

"  The  society  first  held  service  in  a  barn,"  then  attached  to  the  old 
parsonage,  afterwards  the  property  of  Mrs.  James  Cronkwright,  and 
later  still  in  the  parlor  of  the  parsonage  until  the  erection  of  their  pres- 
ent church.  It  is  recorded  that  "in  the  year  of  our  Lord  18.^1,  the  new 
meeting  house  of  the  True  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church  of  the 
English  Neighborhood  was  built."  The  record  states  that  "the  church 
was  built  on  the  west  side  of  the  English  Neighborhood  road,  a  little 
distance  lielow  where  the  road  from  Hackensack  to  Fort  Lee  crosses  it, 
on  ground  given  by  (iarret  Me3'er  and  John  Cole;  and  to  this  David 
Christie,  who  bought  G.  Meyer's  farm,  and  John  Cole,  afterward  made 
handsome  additions  on  each  side."  Then  comes  the  information  that 
the  church  was  dedicated.  Rev.  C.  T.  Demarest  preached  a.  m.,  from 
Zach,  13:7,  the  last  clause,  and  C.  Z.  I'auliscm.  p.  m.,  from  Eph.  2:21. 
The  church  building  was  paid  for  by  subscription,  and  cost  about  81500, 
and  a  final  settlement  w;is  made  April  3.  IS.^2."  Some  of  the  jiews  in 
the    completed    edifice    were    sold    at    public    auction    Deceml.)er   (i,  1831  ; 


562  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

another  sale  was  held  July  23,  1832,  and  still  another  afterward,  and  the 
final  settlement  on  sales  was  made  December  10,  1832. 

In  1850  the  finances  of  the  church  received  a  very  welcome  addition. 
On  March  27,  1850,  the  Consistor}'  Elders  and  Deacons  met  at  the  house 
of  James  P.  Brinkerhoff  to  receive  the  one  thousand  dollars  from  the 
executors  of.  the  late  John  Lydecker  which  he  willed  to  the  church. 

Mr.  Demarest's  pastorate  closed  in  1852  and  he  was  succeeded  bv 
Rev.  Cornelius  J.  Blauvelt,  who  was  installed  on  the  fourth  Sabbath  of 
1853.  About  this  time  Mr.  Abraham  Huyler  left  a  beqeust  of  some  four 
hundred  dollars  to  the  church,  but  some  trouble  was  experienced  because 
the  church  was  not  incorporated.  Articles  of  incorporation  were  again 
tiled  October  12,  1854  and  the  money  was  paid  over  to  the  church  not- 
withstanding- it  had  been  incorporated  during  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
P(dhemus  of  the  old  church  in  1809. 

Dominie  Blauvelt  commenced  his  administration  with  great  energy 
and  success,  but  failing  health  soon  told  on  his  efforts.  In  September 
1859  the  lower  part  of  his  body  was  paralyzed  and  a  little  later  the  Rev. 
John  Y.  DeBaun  assumed  charge  of  both  congregations.  He  was 
installed  May  6,  I860.  He  was  eloquent  and  earnest  and  a  successful 
pastor.  On  April  18,  1875  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon,  the  Rev. 
A.  Van  Houten  succeeded  by  installation  May  14,  1876.  To  the  regret 
and  loss  to  the  church  Mr.  Van  Houten  handed  in  his  call  to  the  Consis- 
tory in  September  1884,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Harvey  Iser- 
man  May  24,  1885.  He  was  a  student  under  the  Rev.  Mr.  DeBaun,  and 
ranked  high  as  a  Latin,  Greek  and  Hebrew  scholar.  He  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  James  Wyckoff,  the  last  pastor  of  the  church,  who  took 
charge  May  1,  1896,  remaining  until  December  1898  when  the  church 
voted  itself  out.  There  is  no  pastor  at  the  present  time.  Samuel 
DeGroot  and  James  Christie  are  the  elders  and  Cornelius  Shaw  is  the 
deacon. 

THE    PKE.SBVTEKIAN    CHUKCH. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  February  1st,  1899,  with 
tifty-eight  members  from  the  Christian  Reformed  Church  of  Leonia, 
when  ten  others  were  subsequently  added  to  the  number.  The  elders 
are  John  Eiserman.  John  W.  Christie.  David  Talmadge.  The  Society 
now  worship  in  Lyceum  Hall,  but  are  intending  to  build  very  soon.  Rev. 
James  Wyckoff,  the  pastor,  is  a  native  of  Lodi,  Seneca  county,  N.  Y., 
and  was  born  in  1839.  He  took  his  degree  of  A.  B.  from  Rutgers  Col- 
lege in  1861,  graduating  from  the  Seminary  at  New  Brunswick  in  lS(i4. 
He  took  charge  of  the  Christian  Reformed  Church  May  1,  189(..  On 
December  18,  1898,  the  church  voted  itself  out  of  the  Reformed  Churcli 
and  formed  the  above  organization. 

THE    EPISCOP.VL    CHUKCH. 

The  Episcopalians  built  their  house  of  worship  in  Leonia  in  IS'iS. 
They  have  a  membership  of  ft)rty  persons,  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  Rev.  C.  Malcolm  Douglas,  and  are  in  a  prosperous  condition.  Rev. 
Walter  H.  Sherwood  was  their  first  rector.     K.  Ahrens  is  senior  warden. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTV  5(>5 

THE    METHODIST    CHURCH. 

The  Methodists  also  have  a  place  of  worship  in  the  villaj^e,  which 
they  built  about  three  years  ago.  Their  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  John 
Burton. 

COKNELIUS  CHRISTIE. 

Cornelius  Christie,  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Leonia,  is  of 
vScotch  and  Flemish  ancestry.  The  earliest  paternal  emigrant  in  the 
Christie  family  was  James,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  died  at 
Schraalenburgh,  April  lf>,  17()S,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-si.x  or 
ninety-eight  years,  and  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of  Cornelius. 
William,  the  son  of  James  was  born  August  9,  1720,  married  Catalynthe 
Demarest.  vSeptember  22,  174.^,  and  died  September  13.  18(1^).  Of  their 
twelve  children  James,  the  eldest,  was  born  August  20.  1744.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Banta  in  1772,  and  died  July  ,^,  1.S17.  Daxid  the  son  t)f 
James  and  Maria  Christie,  was  born  December  1,  17.S"),  married  Anna 
Brinkerhoff  March  12,  1814,  and  died  April  8,  184S.  David  and  Anna 
were  the  parents  of  Cornelius.  Mr.  Christie's  mother  was  a  descendant 
of  J(iris  Derickson  BrinkerholT,  of  Flemish  extraction,  who  with  his 
wife  Susannah  Dubbels,  emigrated  to  this  country  from  the  United 
Provinces,  in  ll>.^S,  and  settled  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died 
January  1(),  1()()1.  Hendrick,  son  of  Joris  married  Clausie  Boomgaert 
and  in  1685,  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hackensack, 
now  known  as  Ridgetield  Park,  and  in  the  township  of  Ridgetield.  Soon 
after  removing  his  family  to  his  new  home  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  died,  leav- 
ing three  sons.  Two  of  tlie  sons.  Jacobus  and  Derrick,  took  the  land 
at  old  Hackensack,  while  Cornelius  removed  to  Bergen. 

The  line  descends  through  Jacobus,  whose  wife  was  Agnetie. 
Their  son  Jacob  had  seven  children,  one  being  Albert  who  was  born 
March  21,  17(>.>,  married  Kezia  Voorhis  in  17()(>,  and  died  Deceml)er  S, 
1844.  Albert  and  Kezia  Brinkerhoff  bad  three  chihlren,  Anna, 
the  eldest,  born  May  12,  17'*7,  becoming  the  wife  of  Da\i(l  Christie. 

The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Christie  were  petiple  of  decided  character,  and 
deep  convictions  concerning  the  aims  and  duties  of  life.  In  their  relig- 
ious life  they  were  Calvinistic  in  doctrine,  adhering  strictly  to  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church.  They  were  also  intensely  patriotic,  rendering 
valuable  service  to  the  cause  of  their  adopted  country.  James  Christie. 
grandfather  of  Cornelius  bore  a  Captain's  commission  in  the  Re\dlu- 
tionary  war  and  did  good  service,  but  the  royalist  as  zealous  in  their 
cause,  burned  the  homestead  of  William  the  father  of  James,  while 
John,  a  brother  of  James,  and  Lucas,  a  Ijrother  of  Alliert  Brinkerhoff, 
were  imprisoned  in  the  old  Sugar  House. 

John,  a  f)rother  of  Da\-id  Christie,  was  minister  of  the  Reforme<l 
Dutch  Church  and  settled  at  Warwick,  Orange  County,  N.  J.,  where  he 
died  after  a  long  jKistorate.  Peter  Christie,  another  brother,  was  for  a 
long  period,  a  surgeon  in  the  United  States  Navy  and  died  at  Erie, 
Pennsylvania. 


566  HISTORY    OF    BEKGKN    COUNTY 


Altboutj-h  they  were  all  engag-ed  in  agricultural  pursuits,  it  was 
usually  in  connection  with  some  other  trade  or  profession.  Soon  after 
his  marriage  to  Anna  Brinkerhoff,  David  removed  to  New  York  city, 
and  engaged  in  the  business  of  stone  cutting  in  which  he  prospered 
until  in  1835  he  purchased  the  farm  of  Garrett  Meyer  at  English 
Neighborhood,  (now  Leonia)  and  removed  there  with  his  family  to 
spend  his  remaining  days.  It  was  here  that  Cornelius  was  born, 
December  6,  1835.  His  preparatory  studies  were  under  the  supervison 
of  the  Rev.  John  Mabon  in  his  well  known  classical  school  at  Hacken- 
sack.  after  which  he  entered  Yale  College  taking  the  full  course,  and 
was  graduated  in  1855.  After  spending  one  year  at  the  Harvard  Law 
School,  he  finished  his  studies  with  Chancellor  Abram  O.  Zabriskie  in 
1860  and  almost  immediately  opened  an  office  in  Jersey  City.  In  1867 
he  was  elected  Member  of  Assembly  of  the  State  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  and  the  following  year  was  re-elected  on  the  same  ticket.  In 
1871,  he  started  the  "  New  Jersey  Citizen,"  a  weekly  paper  at  Hacken- 
sack,  of  which  he  was  editor  and  proprietor.  The  publication  was 
Democratic,  devoted  to  local  interests  and  the  improvement  of  journalism 
in  the  county.  This  was  continued  six  years,  the  last  three  as  a  semi- 
weekly.  In  1879  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  at  Jersey  city.  Mr. 
Christie  resides  at  Leonia,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  Mayor 
of  the  Borough. 

JAMES    VKKEI.AND    MOOKE. 

The  first  official  record  of  Samuel  Moore  ( the  emigrant  ancestor  of 
the  Moore  family,  of  English  Neighborhood,  Bergen  county,  N.  J.)  is 
dated  July  20,  1669,  on  which  date  a  "Patent  was  granted  by  Governor 
Philip  Carteret  to  Mark  Noble  and  Samuel  Moore,  of  Barbadoes,  Mer- 
chants, for  sundry  Parcels  of  Land  lying  in  and  about  the  Town  of 
Bergen."* 

These  tracts  of  land  they  had  purchased  July  15,  lf)(i9,  of  Samuel 
Edsall,  who  was  then  a  prominent  member  of  Governor  Carteret's 
Council,  the  first  being  a  large  lot  or  jjlot  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. 

In  the  second  described  ti"act  of  land,  one  of  the  corner  boundaries 
is  designated  as  a  "stake,"  standing  in  the  road  that  leads  from  the 
town  to  the  English  Neighborhood,  showing  that  it  had  been  so  named 
prior  to  that  date. 

The  third  tract  comprehended  five  lots  of  upland  and  five  lots  of 
meadow,  and  extended  from  what  is  now  West  Side  Avenue  to  the  Hack- 
ensack  River.  All  these  tracts  are  now  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
Jersey  City. 

Mark  Noble  seems  to  have  remained  in  the  Island  of  l>arl)a(loes.  and 
is  included  in  the  census  of  the  town  of  St.  Michaells  in  168(l.t 

Samuel  and  Naomy  Moore,  his  wife,  emigrated  to  Boston,  Mass., 
from  the  English  island  of  Barbadoes  in  the  West  Indies,  about  the 
year  1671-2,  and  removed  to  New  York  in  1674  or  5;  following  them  in 
direct  line  are   Samuel,   ( the   voungest   son  of  said  Samuel   Moore,  the 

'  Winfleld-s  Land  Titles  <if  Hudson  C.miu.v.  X.  J.,  7... 

tOritrinal  Lists  ,)f  Kniijrrants.  etc.   published  in  L.indon.  IS71  .  4+s.  isj. 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY  5f,<) 


emigrant,  )  who  married  on  September  14,  1705,  Sarah  Smith,  a  o-rand- 
daug-hter  ..f  Major  John  Kerry  of  Hackensack;  who  was  Deputy  (iov- 
ernor  of  East  Jersey  in  l(,72-3.  and  Deputy  Governor  of  East  Jer- 
sey m  l(,8i);  vSamuel  (who  was  one  of  the  Justices  of  Bergen 
county  in  1753-54)  who  married  Hester  Lozier  February  2(.,  17M,\ 
Samuel  James  Moore  who  married  Sarah  Day,  December,  1776,  and  next 
in  line  come  the  grandparents  of  General  James  Vreeland  Moore,  our 
subject,  James  and  Sarah  Moore,  who  were  married  September  17,  17')(,. 
His  parents,  Samuel  J.  Moore  and  Clarrissa  Vreeland  were  m'arried 
November  11,  1823. 

The  maternal  ancestors  were  Hollanders  being  tirst  represented  bv 
Michael  Jansen  who  emigrated  from  Broeckhuvsen,  North  Brabant, 
with  his  wife,  Pytje  Hartmar,  and  their  two"  children  in  the  ship 
Rensselaerwyck,  October  1,  1630.  After  the  arrival  of  Michael  Jansen 
in  the  New  Netherlands,  he  settled  first  at  Greenbush,  opposite  Albany, 
and  remained  there  for  several  years.  In  1644  he  became  a  resident  of 
New  Amsterdam,  and  in  1646  he  removed  to  Communipaw,  New  Jersey. 
The  same  year  he  was  one  of  the  nine  representatives  of  Pavonia ; 
and  again  in  1649  and  1650.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Magistrates  of 
Bergen.  The  farm  which  he  had  agreexl  to  purchase  of  Jan  Eversen 
Bout,  for  8,000  Florins— about  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Communipaw, 
or  shortly,  thereafter— he  completed  the  payments  therefor  and  obtained 
deed  September  9,  1656.     He  died  in  1661. 

On  May  12,  1668,  Fytje  Hartman  (widow  of  Michael  Jansen),  ob- 
tained two  patents  from  Governor  Philip  Carteret;  the  first  being 
apparently  to  perfect  title  to  the  farm  purchased  of  Jan  Eversen  Bou't 
in  1656;  and  the  second  for  land  west  of  and  adjoining  that  described  in 
the  first  patent.  These  two  tracts  of  land  are  now  in  Jersey  City.  Fytje 
Hartman  died  vSeptember  21,  1697. 

The  next  in  direct  line  were  Cornells  Michielse  Vreeland  and  Metje 
Dirkse  Braecke,  married  March  12,  1681;  Michael  Vreeland  and  Jenneke 
Helmighse  Van  Houten,  married  October  23,  1713;  Jacob  Vreeland  and 
Wintje  Duryee  married  1769,  and  the  grandparents  of  General  Moore, 
Michael  Vreeland  and  Rachel  DeGroot,  married  February  13,  1796. 

General  Moore  was  born  in  New  York  city  August  18,  1824.  He 
first  attended  school  at  the  village  Academy,  of  which  Stephen  Runyon 
Martin  was  the  principal,  ana  subsequently  attended  Chamberlain  & 
yumn's  Classical  vSchool;  at  that  time  located  on  Broadway  near  Grand 
street.  After  leaving  school  his  first  business  engagement  was  as  a 
clerk  in  the  dry  goods  establishment  of  Blauvelt  &  Crum;  afterwards 
being  employed  by  Zabriskie  &  Van  Riper,  in  Greenwich  street.  With 
the  imward  move  of  business,  trade  necessarily  gave  place  to  industries 
which  sought  the  districts  nearest  the  great  lines  of  transportation. 
Sixth  Avenue  and  Twentj-third  Street  now  have  a  large  share  of  the 
dry  goods  business,  which  was  then  in  the  down  town  streets.  In  Mav 
1852  he  and  his  brother  Stephen  H.  V.  Moore,  purchased  a  farm  in  that 
part  of  English  Neighborhood  n(.w  known  as  Leonia  and  removed   from 


570  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

New  York  city  to  their  farm;  on  wbicli  thev  have  resided  ever  since — 
now  more  than  forty-seven  years. 

Possessed  of. good  judgment,  high  moral  character  and  steadfast 
purpose  Mr.  Moore  could  not  fail  to  succeed  in  his  undertakings.  That 
he  commands  the  respect  of  those  who  know  him  is  proven  by  the 
recognition  accorded  in  the  various  walks  of  life  in  which  we  find  him. 
His  military  record  is  a  good  index  of  his  popularity.  At  the  time  the 
National  Guard  of  New  Jersey  was  organized  he  commanded  Companv 
B  Second  Battalion,  New  Jersey  Rifle  Corps;  which  became  Company  A 
Second  Battalion,  National  Guard,  April  14,  1869.  He  was  elected 
Major,  Second  Battalion,  National  Guard,  New  Jersey,  October  8,  1872  ; 
I^ieutenant  Colonel  May  4,  1885 ;  Colonel  of  the  Second  Regiment  June 
18,  1892  and  was  retired  at  his  own  request  April  25,  1893.  Colonel 
Moore  was  brevetted  Brigadier  General  upon  the  date  of  his  retirement. 
The  Second  Battalion,  under  General  Sewell,  was  in  the  service  during 
the  railroad  riots  of  1873.  General  Sewell  in  his  report  to  the  Adjutant 
(General  of  the  State  makes  mention  among  others — of  the  "Second 
Battalion  under  Major  Moore  as  a  credit  to  any  command  in  either  peace 
or  war." 

General  Moore  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his 
locality,  having  been  a  member  of  the  Township  Committee  of  the  old 
township  of  Hackensack,  for  a  term  of  three  years,  besides  holding- 
other  local  offices.  He  has  also  been  Councilman  of  the  borough  of 
Leonia  from  the  time  of  its  incorporation  to  the  last  election,  when  he 
declined  a  unanimous  renomination.  He  has  also  served  two  terms  as 
President  of  the  Borough  Council. 

The  General  is  an  associate  member  of  the  Military  Service  Institu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  and  member  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Rifle 
Association. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Palmer,  eldest  daughter  of  John 
and  Cynthia  (Swift)  Palmer,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  June  29,  1868.  She 
was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  March  26,  1830,  and  died  at  Leonia, 
N.  J.,  June  20,  i884,  leaving  one  daughter,  Ida  Cynthiella  Moore,  who 
was  born  June  14,  1869.  She  married  Frank  Irving  Barrett,  April  21, 
1S96.     They  have  one  son,  Roydon  Moore  Barrett,  born  June  12,  1898. 

Mrs.  J.  Vreeland  Moore,  nee  Palmer,  was  a  descendant  in  the  sev- 
enth generation  from  William  Palmer,  who  emigrated  from  New  Eng- 
land to  the    town  of  Westchester,  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1862-3. 

*Of  the  twelve  trustees  of  the  town  of  Westchester  in  1692,  three 
were  sons  of  the  said  William  Pahiier,  viz:  John,  Joseph  and  Samuel. 
The  names  of  all  the  trustees  are  inscribed  in  a  full  warranty  deed 
executed  by  the  Indian  chiefs  Maminepoe  and  Wampage,  as  proprietors 
of  a  large  tract  of  land  lying  east  of  the  Bronx  River,  and  extending 
to  Pelham  Neck,  "within  the  limits  and  bounds  of  the  patent  of  the 
county  town  of  Westchester,  in   the  province   of  New  York,"  by  which 

"History  of  the  Couiitv  of  Westchester.  X.  Y.,  fmin  its  tirst  settlement,  by  Rev.  Robert  Bolton. 
Jr.      First  edition,  is+s  .     Vol.  II.  ITS-li. 


4^^/  ^y^</C>m^^ 


HISTOKY  OF  BKKGEN  COUNTY 


the  title  thereto  became   vested  in  said  trustees  and  successors,  as  rep- 
resenting said  town. 

STEPHEN    H.    V.    MOOKE. 

Stephen  H.  V.  Moore  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  June  18, 
1828,  where  he  resided  until  1852,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  home 
at  Leonia,  then  known  as  Enylish  Neig-hborhood,  and  enf^ag-ed  in  agri- 
culture. 

He  was  educated  in  the  English  branches  at  the  Academy  of  Stephen 
R.  Martin,  and  in  classics,  mathematics  and  civil  engineering  at  the 
High  School  of  Isaac  F.  Bragg  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

On  November  •>,  1852  he  married  Julia  Frances,  daughter  of  Alder- 
man William  Tucker  of  New  York  city,  and  a  descendant  of  the  seventh 
generation  from  Henry  Tucker,  who  emigrated  about  1627  from  the 
county  of  Kent,  England  to  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay.*  She 
was  born  July  15,  1833  and  died  March  23,  1881.  Their  children  are 
Clarissa,  born  April  9,  1854.  wife  of  Captain  Henrv  R.  (loesser; 
Josephine:  born  August  12,  1855;  Julia  Lavinia,  horn  Julv  18,  1857, 
died  June  2(>,  1858;  Henrietta,  born  June  28,  18()(),  and  James  Vreeland, 
born  February  6,  1863,  who  married  Sarah  Banta  Edsall,  daughter  of 
Captain  John  S.  Edsall.  They  have  one  child,  Harry  Edsall,  born  July 
6,  18'»2, 

Mr.  Moore  was  trustee  of  Central  School  District  No.  11,  Hacken- 
sack  township  from  1858  to  1866,  a  period  of  nine  years.  He  was  one 
of  the  township  committee  of  Hackensack  township  in  1861,  and  for 
Ridgelield  tov>^nshii)  in  1874  and  1875,  and  again  from  1878  to  1880. 
He  was  chosen  Freeholder  of  Ridgefield  townshij)  in  1881,  holding  the 
oifice  continuously  for  nine  years. 

Major  Moore  traces  his  paternal  ancestry  in  America  back  to  l(>71-2. 
His  father  Samuel  J.  Moore,  was  born  in  English  Neighborhood,  Bergen 
county,  N.  J.,  October  11,  17'<7,  married  Clarissa  Vreeland,  November 
11,  1823,  and  died  .\pril  24,  1832.  James  Moore,  father  of  Samuel  J., 
was  born  October  1'),  17(>7  and  on  September  17,  17'>6  married  Sarah 
Moore,  (his  second  cousin),  who  was  born  in  May  22,  1778.  Samuel 
James  Moore,  father  of  James,  was  born  April  1'),  173'l,  and  married  in 
1776,  Sarah  Day,  who  was  born  June  5.  1744.  The  ])arents  of 
Samuel  James  Moore  were  Samuel  Moore,  bajJtized  October  4,  1712,  and 
his  wife,  Hester  Lozier,  baptized  December  16,  1711  Samuel  Moore, 
father  of  this  Samuel,  was  born  in  New  York  in  1673-4.  He  married. 
September  14,  1705.  Sarah  Smith,  (third  daughter  of  Lieut.  Michael 
Smith).  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Samuel  and  Naomy  Mo(ire,  who 
emigrated  from  the  English  Island  of  Barhadoes  in  1671-2  to  IJoston, 
where  their  eldest  son.  Francis  was  born. 

On  the  maternal  side,  the  mother,  Clarissa  Vreeland,  was  born  on 
the   west   bank  of   the   Hudson   River   (opposite   the  present  Riverside 

•James  Tucker,  a  descendant  of  the  third  (reneratum  i.f  the  aforesaid  Henry  Tucker  rem.ived 
frnm  Connecticut  wiOi  his  wife  Leali.  to  the  Providence  of  East  New  Jersey  in  ITls,  and  settietl  at 
Deal,  where   lie  owned  a  lari-e  I'lanlation.      They   were  members  of    the  Society  of   friends,   as    were 


574  HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Park),  November  18,  18(1(1.  and  died  October  25,  lS7t>.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Michael  Vreeland,  born  October  11,  1770,  and  Rachel 
DeGroot  (his  second  wife  )  born  May  25,  1775.  They  were  married  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1796.  Michael  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Vreeland.  born  March  11. 
1737,  and  Wyntje  (  Lavinia  )  Der  Yee,  the  record  of  whose  birth  was  lost 
during-  the  Revolution.  They  were  married  in  1769.  Jacob  was  the  son 
of  Michael  Cornelise  Vreeland,  born  September  18,  1694,  and  Jenneke 
Helmighse  Van  Houten,  who  were  married  October  23,  1713.  The  par- 
ents of  Michael  Cornelise  Vreeland,  were  Cornelis  Michaelse  Vreeland. 
born  June  3,  l()f)(l.  and  Metje  Dirkse  Braecke,  who  were  married  May 
12,  1681. 

LOKENZO  frISMOND. 

Lorenzo  Gismond  of  the  firm  of  Tarrant  &  (iismond.  Jewellers, 
New  York,  has  been  one  of  the  leading  factors  in  the  borough  history 
of  Leonia,  having  been  the  projector  of  that  municipal  incorporation 
and  identified  with  it  officially,  from  its  organization.  Mr.  (jismond  is 
a  grandson  of  George  F.  and  Rebecca  (Earle)  Schor,  both  families 
early  settlers  of  English  Neighborhood;  and  son  of  Emanuel  (j.,  and 
Louisa  (Schor)  Gismond,  whose  lives  were  spent  in  this  part  of  Bergen 
county.  Mr.  Gismond  was  born  in  Leonia.  N.  J.,  February  5,  1859.  and 
here  his  school  life  began  and  ended.  His  early  business  connections 
were  with  his  father,  who  was  a  coal  merchant.  In  August  1887,  both 
his  parents  died  leaving  him  administrator  of  the  estate,  after  which  he 
went  into  business  in  New  York.  About  this  time  he  began  to  take  a 
lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  township  and  county.  As  a  member 
of  the  Republican  party,  his  services  being  considered  invaluable,  ap- 
pointments to  positions  of  trust  followed,  the  more  important  being  his 
connections  with  the  county  organization,  he  having  served  two  terms 
as  member  of  the  Executive  Committee.  Being  public  spirited  he  was 
the  first  to  see  the  importance  of  securing  the  benefits  that  would  come 
to  his  own  village  under  the  law  of  1879,  and  under  his  direction  more 
than  to  any  other,  the  incorporation  of  the  borough  of  Leonia  was  car- 
ried to  a  successful  conclusion;  and  largely  to  him  as  a  member  of  the 
Council  from  the  time  of  this  organization,  has  been  delegated  the 
duties  belonging  to  the  more  important  committees. 

He  was  indentified  with  the  military  organization  of  his  town, 
having  enlisted  as  a  jjrivate  of  Company  A.  of  the  Second  Battalion  in 
December  1877.  his  father  Emanuel  G.  Gismond  being  first  lieutenant  of 
that  Corapan}'.  In  1887  he  was  made  sergeant;  second  lieutenant  Janu- 
ary 9,  1892;  and  first  lieutenant  April  12,  1892.  in  which  capacity  he 
was  mustered  in  the  United  States  service  at  Sea  Girt,  May  2.  1898  and 
mustered  out  November  17,  1898,  at  Paterson,  N.  J.* 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  (iismond's  parents,  the  jewelry  business  was 
inaugurated  in  a  small  way  in  New  York.  In  time  a  partnership  had 
been  formed  with  Mr.    (ieorge  Tarrant,  who   is  a   ])ractical  jeweler,  and 

Siv  Hislor.v  .if  C.iin])anv  K.  Scci.n.i  K."..'iin,-iit  N,  i;..  N.  J. 


/^ 


^/t^M^n.  M.  ^^^. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  577 

under  the  able  manasjement  of  these  two  experienced  men,  the  business 
soon  demanded  larger  quarters  causing-  the  removal  of  oftices  to  the 
present  commodious  rooms  on  Maiden  Lane.  As  Manufacturing  Jewelers 
and  Importers  of  Diamonds  the  firm  of  Tarrant  &  Gismond  is  well 
known  to  business  houses  throughout  the  United  States. 

JULIUS  hkkbekt  clakk. 

Julius  Herbert  Clark,  of  Leonia,  a  well  known  educator  in  the  state 
of  New  Jersey,  is  a  son  of  Harman  and  Sarah  J  (Clausen)  Clark,  and 
was  born  at  Beemerville,  Sussex  county,  N.  J.,  December  22,  1852.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  Isaiah,  son  of  James  Clark,  and  his  maternal 
grandfather  was  Elias  Clausen.  His  elementary  education  was  received 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  supplemented  by  an  advanced 
course  in  the  Connecticut  Literary  Institute,  at  Suffield,  Connecticut. 
Upon  the  completion  of  his  course  in  the  Institute  he  began  teaching  in 
the  public  schools  of  New  Jersey,  spending  his  first  year  in  Sussex 
county.  Following  this  he  taught  seven  years  in  Warren  county,  and 
from  there  was  called  to  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  two  years  as 
instructor  in  the  Collegiate  Institute.  Returning  to  New  Jersey  he 
taught  in  the  schools  of  Leonia,  Bergen  county,  for  a  period  of  fourteen 
years,  after  which  he  was  one  year  in  New  York  city  and  one  in  Ridge- 
field,  N.  J.  Mr.  Clark  holds  life  certificates,  obtained  upon  examination 
in  the  states  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

He  served  on  the  Board  of  Examiners  for  teachers'  certificates  in 
Bergen  county,  for  a  term  of  three  years,  having  been  appointed  by 
superintendent  John  Terhune,  and  also  served  four  years  as  assessor  of 
borough  of  Leonia.  In  1888  he  was  appointed  by  Collector  Magone  to  a 
position  in  the  Auditor's  Department  of  the  Custom  House  in  New  York, 
but  resigned  after  a  few  nn^nths  to  resume  school  work  in  Leonia,  at  an 
increased  salary.  Mr.  Clark's  military  record  began  with  his  enlistment 
in  Company  A,  Second  Battalion,  N.  G.  N.  J.,  December  30,  1884.  He 
was  made  corporal  June  17,  1889;  sergeant  December  3,  following;  first 
sergeant  February  24,  1892,  and  was  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service,  October  9,  1893. 

At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  Overpeck  Boat  Club,  of  the 
Schoolmasters'  Club  of  New  York  city,  and  is  Past  Regent  of  Royal 
Arcanum,  Leonia  Council  No.  956. 

Mr.  Clark  married  Miss  Louise  B.  Phillips,  December  28,  1875,  and 
has  three  children,  Charles  H.,  Fred  H.,  and  Mabel  Louise. 

HKN'KV    G    PAKKKK. 

Henrv  G.,  the  only  surviving  child  of  Benjamin  and  Martina 
(  Bartholf  )  Parker,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  July  17,  1841,  receiving 
his  education  in  his  native  place.  His  father  was  a  tinsmith  and  suc- 
cessful in  business,  but  failing  health  compelled  him  to  retire  to  his 
little  farm  of  thirty-five  acres,  to  which  he  added,  by  subsequent 
purchases   enough  to  increase   his   land   to  sixty  acres.      Henry  (i.,  and 


578  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

his  brdtlier  John  B.,  carried  on  the  farm.  John  married  Anna  Brinker- 
hoff.  and  of  this  marriag-e,  their  two  children  John  R.,  and  Jennie  A., 
are  both  married.  J<ilri  B.  died  July  14,  lS").i,  at  the  ag-e  of  fiftj'-five 
years.  Henr}'  G.  married  Mary  A.  Slocum,  April  24,  1861,  and  b}-  this 
marriage  have  Benjamin  F.,  Margaret  C.  deceased,  Julia  M.  and  H. 
Ue\yitt  who  is  in  the  Hackensack  Bank.  His  second  marriage  was  to 
Eva  McDaniel,  April  27,  1886,  and  bv  this  marriage  is  one  child,  Marie 
E.,  who  was  born  March  12,  1S87. 

In  politics  Mr.  Parker  is  a  Republican  as  was  his  father.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  man  taking  an  active  interest  in  all  that  tends  to  the 
welfare  of  this  locality,  and  is  especially  interested  in  educational  mat- 
ters, having  acted  as  school  trustee  for  many  years.  JNIr.  Parker  is  a 
successful  man  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term.  His  military  career  began 
by  his  enlistment  in  Company  I,  22d  Regiment,  New  Jersey  Volunteers, 
under  Colonel  A.  G.  Demarest,  and  in  the  same  company  with  Judge 
Van  Valen,  serving  nine  months  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  His 
father's  first  investment  was  on  Teaneck  Ridge,  where  the  mother  died 
September  27,  1893,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  and  the  father  November 
1(),  18'»S  at  the  age  of  eighty-two. 

Tin-:    MABIK    FAMILY. 

The  Mabie  family  of  Bergen  county  are  descendants  of  French 
Huguenots,  who,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  left 
their  native  country  and  found  a  home  first  in  Holland,  and  subsequently 
in  Long  Island. 

John  Mabie,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  gold  pen  and  pencil  case 
house  of  Roanch  &  Co.;  subsjqueatly  Mabie,  Todd  &  Bard  of  New 
York,  settled  at  Fairview  in  1857,  where  he  built  a  substantial  brown- 
stone  mansion. 

James  Maine,  another  descendant  of  this  Huguenot  family,  came 
to  Leonia  from  New  Bridge,  probably  forty  years  ago.  He  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade  and  superintended  the  erection  of  many  of  the  first 
houses  in  Leonia  and  vicinity.  He  died  July  29,  1893,  seventy-five  j'ears 
of  age.  His  widow  is  still  living.  There  were  seven  children  born  of 
this  union,  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  All  the  sons  mastered  the 
trade  of  carjienter,  but  none  of  them  pursued  that  avocation  except 
John  J.,  the  eldest,  who  is  now  foreman  of  the  Erie  Railroad  car  shops, 
Jersey  City.  The  other  children  are  Anna,  now  Mrs.  John  Day;  Henry, 
an  undertaker;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Stephen  Annett ;  Samuel,  formerly  one  of 
the  fireman  for  Abbot's  Piaij  Mia-ifa;t  )ry,  n.)w  pr.iprietur  of  a  lieer 
bottling  establishment,  EnglewTK)d;  Walter,  now  of  Jersey  City,  and 
(ieorge  W.  Mabie,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  who  was  born  in  Leonia 
thirty-six  years  ag'>  and  who  has  been  running  a  butcher's  store  in  the 
\  illage  since  ISSS.      He  is  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department. 

HKNKV    W.    MABIK. 

Henrv  W.  Mabie.  undertaker,  has  carried  on  a  successful  business 
in  his  line  for  over  fifteen  years  in  Fort  Lee  and  in  New  York.    IIi>  New 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN   COUNTY  57') 

York  repositories  are  at  1 '»'•.>  Lcxing;ton  Avenue.  He  was  Justice  nf  the 
Peace  from  1SS9  to  i8'H;  Police  Justice  for  about  five  ^-ears;  C<.)roner  of 
the  district  for  live  vcars,  and  for  a  period  of  nearly  thirty  years  was 
connected  with  the  New  York  State  militia,  enlisting'  on  the  31st  nf 
August,  1861,  and  retiring  with  the  commission  of  iirst  lieutenant. 

UNDEKCLIFF. 

The  borough  of  Undercliff  is  one  of  the  richest  municipalities  of  its 
kind  in  Bergen  county.  It  has  a  population  of  about  1500,  has  two 
churches,  and  a  number  of  very  important  manufacturing  establish- 
ments among  them  being  the  large  chemical  works  of  Goetchius  & 
Morgan;  the  oil  wi.irks  of  John  Ellis  &  Co.;  the  mciulding  works  of 
Hinners  &  Son,  also  the  tar  works,  color  works,  and  iron  fnundery. 
These  various  establishments  give  to  hundreds  of  people  of  this  locality 
employment  the  year  through.  The  territory  of  this  borough  extends 
from  the  village  of  Shad^"  Side  to  Fort  Lee,  taking  in  a  portion  of  the 
latter  village  and  including  Shady  Side,  Edge  Water,  and  Pleasant 
Valley. 

The  borough  was  formed  in  March  1S'»5,  Eido  H.  Hinners  being  its 
first  Mayor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Jeremiah  Casey  the  present  Mayor. 
George  H.  Nash  was  the  first  Clerk,  and  E.  M.  Speer  is  the  present 
Clerk. 

A  Catholic  Church  under  the  pastorate  of  Father  Purcell,  gives  a 
place  for  worship  in  one  of  the  most  picturesque  spots  on  the  Palisades, 
although  the  congregation  is  not  a  large  one.  The  E])iscopal  Church 
is  the  other  society. 

The  village  of  Coytesville  was  founded  bv  Jose])h  Covte  wlin  buught 
a  large  tract  of  woodland  soon  after  the  war  of  the  Kebellion  and  laid  it 
out  in  lots. 

CHURCH    OF    THF    M ICDI ATOK'. 

Episcopal  services  were  first  held  in  "Church  of  the  Mediator"  in 
1862.  This  edifice  was  erected  in  185't,  and  used  as  a  union  church 
until  1862,  when  it  was  purchased  b}*  the  Episcopal  congregation  and 
consecrated  by  Bishop  Odenheimer  August  7,  1864.  Eugene  A.  Hoffman, 
Dean  of  the  Theological  Seminar}-,  New  York,  became  the  first  rector, 
but  was  in  charge  only  a  short  time.  The  first  wardens  were  D.  T. 
Baldwin  and  Lucas  S.  Comstock.  The  first  vestrymen  were  John  Mc- 
Michael,  Frederick  Ogden,  C.  C.  Rockwell,  John  Winterburn  and  Frank 
Van  Woert. 

The  Rev.  James  A.  Cameron  was  here  for  twenty-one  years,  and 
during  his  stay  the  rectory  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  S4000.  He  was  in- 
stalled May,  i866. 

The  Rev.  J.  A.  McCleary,  the  present  rector,  took  charge  of  the 
flock  May,  1894.  The  officers  of  the  church  at  the  present  time  are  as 
follows:  Jf)hn  Winterburn,  Sr.,  F.  W.  Winterburn,  Jr..  Wardens;  John 
Ackerman,  Clerk;  Col(mel  George  Laird,  Major  S.  Wood  McCave.  K.  H. 


580  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Mitt,  Edward  Fischer,  J.  Procter,  George  H.  Neild,  Georg-e  A.  Carlton, 
Walter  Ellis,  Vestrymen. 

The  parish  has  organized  missions  in  Ridgefield,  Leonia,  Cliff  Side 
and  Palisade  Park.     At  present  it  is  also  carrying  on  work  at  Fort  Lee. 

BOGOTA. 

This  borough  is  on  the  Hackensack  between  that  river  and  Queen 
Anne's  road,  and  has  a  voting  population  of  about  eight}-.  It  was 
organized  into  a  separate  municipality  in  1893,  Frederick  W.  Cane 
having  been  its  Mayor  till  the  present  time.  The  village  is  beautifully 
located  but  its  close  proximity  to  Hackensack  of  necessity  makes  it  one 
of  residences  alone.  There  are  no  churches  in  the  place.  The  Bogota 
Paper  Company,  founded  by  Rogers  &  Co.,  about  five  years  ago  and  now 
owned  by  the  companv  who  came  into  possession  of  the  mill  two  years 
ago,  manufacture  ab<.)ut  three  tons  of  card  board  paper  daily,  and  give 
employment  constantly  to  twenty  hands  more  or  less.  The  Riverside 
Planing  Mill,  operated  by  Horton  &  Clayton,  successors  to  Negus  & 
Clayton,  is  the  only  other  manufacturing  enterprise  in  the  borough,  it 
also  being  of  recent  origin. 

The  borough  of  Bogota  is  named  in  honor  of  the  Bogart  family, 
who  first  occupied  these  lands.  The  ancestors  of  this  family  came  to 
America  from  Holland  locating  first  some  time  prior  to  1661  in  Long 
Island,  but  subsequently  removing  to  Bergen  county,  where  Peter  Bon- 
gart  bought  the  farm  still  ovmed  by  his  decendants.  Ruloff  Bongart, 
son  of  Peter  and  grandfather  of  Judge  Peter  Bongart,  was  the  last  to 
spell  the  name  as  written  above. 

FREDERICK    W.    CANE. 

Hon.  Frederick  W.  Cane,  Mayor  of  the  borough  of  Bogota  and  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  William  H.  &  F.  W.  Cane,  contractors  and  build- 
ers, of  Jersey  City,  is  well  known  in  business  circles  throughout  the 
country  in  general.  As  a  contractor  he  comes  of  a  long  line  of  ancestors 
whose  operations  have  been  on  an  extensive  scale,  his  father  and  grand- 
father in  particular,  having  been  connected  with  large  undertakings  in 
different  cities  throughout  the  country.  William  H.,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  now  in  his  seventy-ninth  year,  is  still  in  business, 
having  the  energy  and  capability  of  men  but  half  his  age.  His  wife, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Elizabeth  ( Rennie )  Cane,  lies  in  a  vault  in  a  Jersey  City 
cemetery.  Mr.  Frederick  W.  Cane  was  born  in  Montreal  in  1844,  and 
in  1848  the  father  moved  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  soon  afterwards  to 
Jersey  City,  in  which  latter  place  offices  were  opened  at  240-242  Twelfth 
Street,  and  also  in  the  Second  National  Bank  Building,  both  of  which 
places  still  remain  the  headquarters  of  the  company.  Mr.  Cane  was 
fitted  for  the  arduous  duties  of  his  important  business  career  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Jersey  City,  subsequently  graduating  from  Nugent's  Com- 
mercial College,  corner  of  Montague  and  Court  Streets,  Brooklyn,  taking 
his  diploma  from  that   institution  in   1S()4.     He  then  become  identified 


I'KKDIiKIL'K      W.     C  Wl-; 


HISTOKY  OF  BERGEN  COUNTY  58.^ 

with  the  above  named  tirm,  since  which  time  the  company  of  W.  H.  & 
F.  W.  Cane  have  undertaken  many  mammoth  enterprises,  carrying;  them 
throug-h  to  successful  completion.  They  plan  for  work  only  ona  larg-escale, 
and  build  warehouses,  docks,  hotels,  railroads  and  electric  light  plants, 
carrving  on  business  in  various  sections  of  the  country  at  one  and  the 
same  time.  Being-  a  practical  builder,  and  having-  knowledge  of  archi- 
tectural structure,  Mr.  Cane's  services  :is  an  adjuster  of  fire  losses  have 
been  eagerly  sought  by  the  assured.  In  this  capacity  he  has  adjusted 
some  of  the  largest  losses  known  to  the  insurance  companies  in  the  city 
of  New  York.  Although  owning  numerous  houses  in  Hoboken  and  Jer- 
sev  Citv,  Mr.  Cane,  lured  by  the  pleasures  and  privileges  incident  to 
country  life,  sought  a  home  in  the  village  of  Bogt)ta.  In  1893,  from  the 
time  of  his  coming  here,  he  has  been  an  active  participant  in  all  move- 
ments looking  to  the  public  welfare,  and  to  promote  healthy  and  invig- 
orating exercises  for  the  young  men  of  Bogota,  Mr.  Cane  built  a  boat 
house  and  formed  a  boating  association  as  a  means  to  that  end,  giving 
to  them  both  pleasure  and  profit.  He  was  quick  to  see  the  advantages 
of  borough  government,  and  through  his  efforts,  principally,  that  organ- 
ization was  effected  in  1894,  when  he  was  elected  the  first  mayor,  con- 
tinuing in  office  until  the  present  time.  It  is  due  to  the  people  of  Bogota 
to  sav,  also,  that  its  government  is  one  of  the  most  economical  and  one 
of  the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Cane  has  been  identified  with  different  companies  as  director, 
\ice  president  and  president,  is  a  member  of  high  degree  in  the  Masonic 
order,  and  belongs  to  various  other  organizations.  Mr.  Cane  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Kate  A.  Ed-^\-ards  of  Brooklyn  in  1807,  the  daughter  of 
Captain  Edward  Edwards  of  that  city,  and  three  children  were  born  to 
this  union,  two  daughters,  Caroline  Augusta  married  and  living  in 
Boston,  and  Gertrude  Louise  also  married,  and  living  in  Jersey  City, 
and  one  son  William  H.,  Jr..  who  is  with  his  father  at  Bogota  and  is 
al)out  to  become  a  member  of  the  linn. 

MAX     K.     KK  IN  KM  AN",     D.     I).     S. 

Max  R.  Brinkman,  D.  1).  S..  an  accomi)lished  dentist  of  Hacken- 
sack,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  ISdd.  P^ducated  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  Haven.  Conn.,  an<l  was  graduated  from  its  High  School 
in  1S77.  He  supplemented  this  l)y  a  course  in  mechanics,  and  after- 
wards served  full  time  in  learning  the  trade  in  cutlerv  and  surgical 
instrument  making. 

He  then  took  up  the  study  of  ilentistry  in  1SS2.  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  a  preceptor.  Dr.  G.  H.  Smith  of  Holyoke,  Mass.,  with  whom  he 
remained  one  year,  immediately  thereafter  entering  the  New  York  C(>\- 
lege  of  Dentistry,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  March  "I, 
18S.^,  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  S. 

Dr.  Brinkman  then  began  the  i)ractice  of  his  jtrofession  in  the  citv 
of  Ne-w  Haven.  Conn.,  making  a  s])eciality  of  crowning  and  bridging. 
He  continued  here  inuil  IS'Ml.  when  he  came  to  New  York  and  hecanu-  a 


5S4  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


member  of  the  firm  of  F.  A.  Ring-ler  Co.,  manufacturers  of  Printing 
Plates,  remaining-  with  them  until  January.  1899.  at  which  date  he 
opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  dentistry  in  Hackensack. 

Dr.  Brinkman  was  married  in  1889  to  Miss  Anselma  Stolz,  of  New 
York  cit3-,  and  resides  at  Bogota,  where  he  erected  a  beautiful  residence 
in  1896. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
THE  Te)WNSHIP  OF  ENGLEWOOD. 

GENEKAL  DESCRIPTION — CIVIL  LIST — CITY  OF  ENGLEWOOD — THE  NEW  VIL- 
LAGE AND  ITS  PROMOTERS — HOTELS — NEWSPAPERS — CHURCHES — 
SCHOOLS — ORGANIZATIONS — BIOCiRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

The  township  of  Enjrlewood  was  set  off  from  the  old  township  of 
Hackensack  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  passed  in  1871.  By  virtue  of 
this  act  the  boundaries  of  the  territory  are  described  as  follows:  "Be- 
ginning- at  the  Hackensack  River,  where  the  road  leading  from  New 
Bridge  to  Schraalenburgh  intersects  it.  and  running  thence  easterly 
along  the  middle  of  said  road  to  the  Schraalenburgh  road  ;  thence 
southerly  along  the  middle  of  the  Schraalenburgh  road  to  the  inter- 
section thereof  with  the  middle  of  Liberty  road;  and  thence  southerlv 
along  the  middle  of  Liberty  road  to  the  intersection  thereof  with  the 
middle  of  the  road  leading  to  Cornelius  Brinkerhoff's  house  ;  thence 
along  the  middle  of  the  same  to  the  Tenafly  road;  thence  northerly 
along  the  middle  of  the  Tenafly  road  to  the  south  line  of  lands  formerly 
of  Jacob  I.  Demott;  and  thence  southeasterly  along  the  same  to  the  east 
line  of  the  township  of  Hackensack." 

The  first  census  after  the  organization  of  the  township  in  1875, 
showed  a  population  of  3932.  It  has  since  become  so  densely  inhabited 
that  a  village-like  appearance  is  given  to  every  part  of  it.  In  some 
respects  portions  of  it  might  be  called  one  long  continued  hamlet,  especi- 
ally is  this  true  of  the  picturesque  Phelps  villa,  and  other  residences 
on  the  Teaneck  road  which  form  almost  one  continuous  village  for 
miles. 

The  township  is  amply  provided  with  railroads  and  trolley  lines  for 
the  accommodation  of  travel.  The  New  Jersey  Nothern  and  West 
Shore  railroads  run  parallel  through  the  township,  about  one  mile 
apart,  affording  rapid  and  frequent  connection  with  New  York.  The 
Bergen  County  Traction  Company  has  a  trolley  line  of  cars  running  to 
Englewood  city,  which  is  well  patronized,  and  a  branch  of  this  road 
runs  to  Hackensack  connecting  with  the  main  line  at  Leonia. 

The  village  oi  Highwood  is  an  extension  of  the  northern  part  of 
Englewood,  and  occupies  high  level  ground.  It  contains  a  railroad 
station,  a  church,  a  store,  and  many  beautiful  residences.  The  streets 
are  well  graded  and  the  grounds  artistically  laid  out.  Teaneck  Ridge 
named  from  Teaneck  road,  now  Teaneck  township,  was  set  off  from 
Englewood  in  1895.  Englewood  Cliffs  Borough  was  also  taken  from 
Englewood  township. 

The  act  of  the  Legislature  for  the  erection  of  the  township  of 
Englewood  provided  that  the  first  meeting  for  the  election  of  township 
officers  should  be  held  at  Stagg's  Hall.  The  first  chosen  freeholder  of 
the  township  was  Joseph  W.  Stagg,  who  held  office  for  the  years  1871-73, 


586  HISTORY   OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

and  was  succeeded  by  James  Vanderbeck  for  1874-76,  who  was  followed 
by  William  Bennett  for  1877-79 ;  Henry  West,  1880-82 ;  Silas  Wright, 
1883;  Georg-e  R.  Button,  1SS4-8');  W.  W.  Green,  l,s')()-'H;  A.  D.  Bog-ert. 
1895-%. 

The  justices  of  peace  have  been  Ira  W.  Hover,  1871-7.1 ;  Hardy  M. 
Banks,  1871-73 ;  Joseph  B.  Miller,  1872-74,  1877-79 ;  Philip  P.  Class, 
1876;  George  R.  Button,  1878-80;  Joseph  B.  Miller,  William  Ellison, 
1882;  William  Ellison,  1883;  Gilbert  W.  Chamberlain,  1884 ;  Alexander 
Cass,  Peter  Van  Wag-oner,  1885;  Alexander  Cass,  1886-90;  John  H. 
Ackerman,  Bavid  C.  Van  Horn,  1891 ;  Henry  J.  BeMott,  Patrick  H. 
Morris,  Charles  R.  Bailey,  Bavid  C.  Van  Horn,  1892;  Joseph  W.  Stag-g-, 
Cornelius  Sweeney,  1893;  Fred  L.  Voorhees,  Samuel  M.  Riker,  William 
C.  Bavis,  1894;  Alexander  Cass,  Bonald  Mackay,  Bavid  C.  Van  Horn. 
1895  ;  Bavid  Ireland,  John  L.  Hendricks,  1896. 

The  assessors :  Baniel  G.  Bogert,  1871-76 ;  Alexander  Cass,  1877  ; 
John  B.  Cole,  1878-80;  Baniel  G.  Bogert,  1883-85;  John  Henry  Acker- 
man,  1886-87:  Gilbert  W.  Chamberlain,  1888-91;  Moses  E.  Springer, 
1892-94;  Hezikiah  Birtwhistle.  1895-96. 

The  collectors:  Cornelius  A.  Herring,  1871-73;  Charles  Barr,  Jr., 
1874-76;  Adriance  Van  Brunt,  1877;  Jacob  A.  Bogert,  1878-79;  Thomas 
Russell,  1880-82-84;  George  Bavis,  1885-86;  Henry  Cooper,  1887;  Thomas 
Russell,    1888;  Henry  Cooper,  1889-93;  James  H.Coe,  1894-96. 

Town  clerks:  Francis  W.  Van  Brunt,  1871-73;  Albert  A.  Coyte, 
1874-76;  Richard  Bemarest,  1877;  Robert  Wagner,  1878-79;  Gilbert  W. 
Chamberlain,  1880-82;  Charles  F.  Valentine,  1883-84;  Frank  F.  Bema- 
rest, 1885;  Albert  A.  Coyte,  1886-87;  Edward  J.  Sheridan,  1888;  Thomas 
O'Brien,  1889-92;  Robert  Jamieson,  1893-95;  Fred  G.  Coyte,  1896. 

Township  committee:     1882,  Cornelius  Lydecker,  Henry  R.  Bailey, 

Mr.  Terry;  1883,  Henry  R.  Bailey,  Patrick  H.  Morris,  W.  C.  Bavis; 

1884,  Henry  R.  Bailey,  Patrick  H.  Morris,  Isaac  J.  Zabriskie;  1885, 
James  Harris,  Henry  R.  Bailey,  Patrick  H.  Morris;  1886,  James  Harris, 
Henry  R.  Bailey,  Patrick  H.  Morris;  1887,  Jacob  S.  Wetmore,  James 
Harris,  Henr}-  R.  Bailey;  1888,  Henry  R.  Bailey.  James  Harris,  Jacob  S. 
Wetmore,  Henry  J.  Brinckerhoff.  (To  fill  out  an  unexpired  term.) 
1889,  James  Harris,  Abram  Tallman,  Jacob  S.  Wetmore.  'To  till 
out  an  unexpired  term.  )  1890-91,  James  Harris,  Abram  Tallman.  Henry 
J.  Brinckerhoff;  1892,  James  R.  Harris,  Henry  J.  Brinckerhoff,  Abram 
Tallman;  1893,  Oliver  Brake  Smith,  Henry  Brake  Smith,  James  R. 
Harris;  1894,  Joseph  Thompson,  James  Harris,  Oliver  Brake  Smith; 
1895,  Joseph  Thompson,  Oliver  Brake  Smith,  James  Harris;  189(),  James 
Harris,  Baniel  A.  Currie.  Joseph  Thompson. 

CITY    OF    ENGLEWOOD. 

Until  the  spring  of  1859  Englewood  was  part  of  the  old  English 
Neighborhood  and  was  known  as  Liberty  Pole.  Prior  to  that  date  this 
part  of  the  old  township  bore  its  share  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
after  which  for  eighty   years  it  was  the  residence  only  of  a   few  thrifty 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


587 


families.  In  1858  it  was  but  a  mere  succession  of  long  narrow  farms 
reaching  from  the  valley  back  into  the  forest  and  up  the  Palisades  to 
the  Hudson  River.  The  lands  comprising  the  present  site  of  the  city, 
were  secured  by  J.  Wyman  Jones,  Esq.,  and  under  his  management 
months  were  spent  by  Hopkins  and  his  assistants  iu  surveying,  laying 
out  streets  and  lots,  mapping  the  surveys  of  the  old  town  lines,  deter- 
mining exact  center  lines  and  the  corners  of  different  plots  in  detail,  for 
the  new  village.  This  work  was  begun  in  the  autumn  of  1858,  con- 
tiiuicd  through  the  winter  and  spring  following,  the  map  being  filed  in 
the  clerk's  nftice  of  the  county  of  Bergen,  August  15,  1859.  The  con- 
tract for  much  of  this  jiropertv  was  drawn  September  24,  1858.  The 
map  of  the  pro]3erty  covered  six  farms,  and  a  lot  on  the  Palisades  then 
belonging  to  John  Van  Neste  of  the  city  of  New  York,  the  whole  con- 
taining altogether  six  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land.  Two  ot 
these  farms  were  on  the  south  of  Palisade  Avenue,  and  the  other  four 
on  the  north  of  that  road. 

The  h<mor  of  being  the  founder  of  Englewood  belongs  to  Mr.  Jones 
more  than  to  anv  other  man. 

The  selection  of  a  name  for  the  place  excited  stmie  considerable 
interest  and  not  a  little  discussion.  The  meeting  was  at  Van  Brunt  & 
Waters'  Carpenter  shop,  which  was  situated  on  the  cross-roads  running 
between  Van  Brunts  and  J.  B.  Millers.  It  was  presided  over  by  the  late 
Rev.  James  H.  Dwight  who  afterwards  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare and  development  of  the  town.  The  name  first  proposed  was  "Pali- 
scena,"  then  "Brayton."  and  finally  Englewood,  suggested  by  Mr. 
Jones,  was  adopted. 

At  that  time  Liberty  Pole  tavern  was  the  most  important  building 
in  the  place.  It  stood  in  the  center  of  Palisade  Avenue  where  it  is  inter- 
sected by  the  Tenafiy  road. 

The  first  house  erected  in  Englewood  was  built  by  J.  W.  Deuel  on 
the  property  of  J.  H.  Lyell,  Esq.,  for  the  purpose  of  a  residence  as  well 
as  a  school.  Within  its  walls  many  of  the  young  men  of  the  town, 
now  in  active  pursuits  and  professions  began  their  preparation  for  col- 
lege. It  was  in  the  school-room  of  this  building  that  the  Rev.  James 
H.  Dwight  began  to  preach  to  a  small  congregatiim,  which  -was  the 
nucleus  of  the  Presbyterian  church  afterward  organized,  and  of  which 
full  mention  will  be  made  hereafter.  The  house  built  by  Robert  Pratt 
was  erected  about  this  time  on  the  corncY  of  Engle  street  and  Demarest 
Avenue  opposite  the  Episcopal  Church. 

The  railroad  was  completed  in  October  1859,  and  among  the  beauti- 
ful towns  to  which  it  gave  communication  with  New  York,  none  proved 
more  inviting  or  grew  so  rapidly  as  Englewood.  The  present  beautiful 
stati(m  house  was  opened  to  the  public  in  1898.  The  road  did  not  pay 
expenses  for  sometime,  and  run  out  one  train  a  day  when  first  opened. 
Thomas  W.  Demarest  was  its  president  and  John  Van  Brunt,  treasurer 
and  director. 


588  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

After  the  erection  of  the  first  houses,  and  of  the  schoolhouse,  then 
followed  the  neat  stone  chapel  which  was  completed  in  ISfiO.  Two  years 
later  the  Methodists  erected  a  church,  and  the  Catholics  built  in  1862, 
the  Episcopalians  followed  in  1865  and  the  Christian  Reformed  in 
1875.  The  rapid  succession  of  church  building  indicates  the  growth  of 
the  place.  In  1869  a  Protection  Society  was  formed,  for  the  better 
defense  of  the  people,  which  soon  made  itself  a  terror  to  evil  doers. 
Armed  with  police  authority  by  the  state,  sustained  by  private  subscrip- 
tion of  citizens  and  fortified  by  the  services  of  an  experienced  officer  from 
the  New  York  police,  the  organization  gave  the  town  such  a  name 
among  criminals  of  every  grade,  that  for  years  it  was  singularly  exempt 
from  predatory  intruders. 

Among  the  first  pers(ms  who  were  attracted  from  the  city  to  this 
place,  after  the  same  was  laid  out  were  Isaac  Smith  Romans,  Editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Bankers'  Magazine  and  his  two  sons,  Sheppard, 
and  I.  Smith,  Jr.,  with  their  three  families.  Mr.  Romans  and  his  sons 
bore  a  large  share  of  the  burden  and  responsibility  of  the  various  im- 
provements which  marked  the  several  steps  of  progress,  and  each  built 
for  himself  a  large  handsome  stonehouse  for  a  family  dwelling. 

The  Hon.  Hiram  Slocum,  Ex-Mayor  of  the  city  of  Troy  was  one 
of  the  early  purchasers  of  Englewood  lands,  as  were  also  Nathan  T. 
Johnson  and  Jeffrey  A.  Humphrey  of  New  York  city,  each  of  whom 
acquired  considerable  interest  in  Englewood.  He  came  in  1859  and 
during  that  year  lots  were  sold  to  J.  W.  Stagg,  John  Van  Brunt,  Hob- 
art  Van  Zandt,  John  S.  Messenger,  and  to  Mr.  Crowell  all  of  whom  be- 
gan to  build  in  a  short  time. 

In  1860  Francis  Howland,  Esq..  also  from  New  York,  settled  in 
Englewood,  and  his  contributions  to  the  town  were  continued  for  many 
vears,  and  in  various  forms. 

About  the  same  time  came  Byron  Murray,  Jr.,  then  cashier  of  the 
American  Exchange  Bank  in  New  York,  afterwards  occupying  the  same 
position  in  a  large  banking  institution  in  San  Francisco,  and  Robert 
Baylis,  then  assistant  cashier  in  the  same  bank,  and  subsequently  presi- 
dent of  .the  Market  Bank  in  New  York.  Mr.  Murray  built  the  Swiss 
house  afterward  sold  to  Colonel  Washington  R.  Vermilye,  and  later 
occupied  by  his  son,  W.  Romeyn  Vermilye,  this  was  one  of  the  large, 
prominent  st(me  and  brick  houses  of  the  place.  Both  these  gentlemen 
became  ccmsiderably  interested  in  real  estate. 

Very  soon  after,  the  circle  of  "new-comers'"  was  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  John  H.  Lyell,  president  of  the  New  York  Marine  Insurance 
Company,  Daniel  Drake  Smith,  president  of  the  Commercial  Marine 
Insurance  Company,  Charles  E.  Trott,  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Wise,  Darius  W. 
Geer,  Charles  A.  Nichols,  Livingston  K.  Miller,  Dr.  H.  M.  Banks,  and 
James  W.  McCuUough,  all  of  whom  established  their  family  residences 
in  Englewood. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  58'J 

Shortly  after  came  E.  W.  Andrews,  Frank  B.  Nichols,  James  O. 
Morse,  Charles  H.  Waterbury,  George  S.  Coe,  William  B.  Dana,  Donald 
McKay,  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Wall,  and  Rev.  Dr.  James  Eels. 

Following-  these  came  at  different  times,  with  their  families,  David 
Hoadley,  president  of  the  Panama  Railroad  Company,  Elwood  Walter, 
president  of  the  Board  of  Marine  Underwriters,  Colonel  W.  R.  Vermilye, 
General  T.  B.  Van  Buren,  afterward  consul-general  at  Yokohoma, 
Jacob  S.  Wetmore,  Henry  W.  Banks,  E.  S.  Munroe,  Dr.  F.  Markoe 
Wright,  Jf)hn  Bailey,  Lebbeus  Chapman,  Jr.,  the  Hon.  William  Walter 
Phelps,  afterward  minister  of  the  United  Stated  to  Austria,  Vincent 
Tilyou,  Charles  Taylor,  Henry  A.  Lyman,  Uzal  Cory,  Stephen  Lane, 
Jr.,  Hon.  Cullin  Sawtelle,  and  others. 

At  a  somewhat  later  day  the  following  gentlemen  and  their  families 
became  residents  of  Englewood:  William  A.  Booth,  widely  known  in 
commercial  circles  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  in  large  benevolent 
societies  of  the  country,  and  president  of  the  Third  National  Bank  of 
New  York;  his  son,  William  T.  Booth:  his  brother,  Charles  H.  Booth; 
and  his  son-in-law,  J.  Hugh  Peters,  H.  A.  Barling,  James  L.  Dawes, 
Oliver  H.  Shepherd,  S.  Doughty,  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  B.  Cheever,  John 
and  Augustus  Floyd,  J.  H.  Selleck,  Clinton  H.  Blake,  William  Stanley, 
Charles  T.  Chester,  Josejih  Toyman,  S.  Hinckley  Lyman,  William  Blakie. 
D.  Randolph  Martin,  Thomas  M.  Wheeler,  Charles  W.  Hassler,  R.  L 
Hunter,  etc. 

P'roni  among  tliis  list  of  the  earlier  settlers  in  Englewood  death  has 
already  gathered  an  .ihundant  harvest. 

noTi-:i.s. 

The  only  pul)lic  means  of  communication  with  New  York  in  earlier 
times  was  by  omnibus,  which  left  "  I^iberty  Pole  Tavern"'  every  day, 
Sundays  excepted,  at  se\en  o'clock  in  the  morning,  reaching  Hoboken 
at  ten  o'clock.  In  the  afternoon  it  reached  Englewood  on  the  return 
trip  at  four  o'clock.  r.,ong  loud  blasts  from  a  tin  horn,  by  the  driver, 
announced  its  approach  to  the  places  along  the  way,  and  from  which 
was  gathered  in  the  course  of  the  trip,  a  mixed  company  of  travelers. 
Occasionally  there  would  be  a  full  load  of  people  aboard,  but  more 
frequently  the  "  bus  "  would  start  out  with  but  one  or  two  passengers 
for  the  journey.  "  I-/iberty  Pole  Tavern"  was  the  princi])al  hotel  in 
Englewood  and  known  far  and  wide  for  years., 

Englewood  House  was  built  in  1860,  and  a  small  hotel  near  the 
station  was  opened  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Kingsley  was  the  first  pro- 
prietor of  the  Englewood  House.  In  1869  the  Palisade  Mountain  House 
was  erected  by  Senator  Lydecker  in  connection  with  William  B.  Dana, 
editor  of  Financial  Chronicle.  Unfortunately  this  elegant  structure 
was  burned  in  1871.  The  proi)erty  is  now  owned  by  W.  O.  Allison. 
There  are  two  hotels  at  this  time  in  the  city  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  traveling  public,  and  a  number  of  places  for  the  accommodation  of 
boarders  durinir  the  heated  season. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  S'tl 

SCHOOI,.S. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Deuel,  one  of  the  most  th(irou!j;h  and  successful  teachers 
Bergen  county  has  ever  had,  established  the  first  private  school  in 
Englewood,  using  one  part  of  his  house  for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Deuel 
had  been  engaged  in  teaching  the  district  school  in  the  ■"Neighbor- 
hood," and  foreseeing  a  demand  for  a  select  school,  erected  his  dwelling 
house  to  serve  that  purpose.  Mr.  Deuel  was  greatly  beloved,  and  pos- 
sessing fine  abilities  as  a  teacher,  he  became  the  instructor  of  men  now 
engaged  in  the  active  pursuits  and  professions,  who  prepared  for  busi- 
ness and  college  under  his  tuition.  It  was  in  the  schoolroom  of  this 
building,  the  Rev.  James  H.  Dwight  began  to  preach  to  a  small  congre- 
gation, which  was  the  nucleus  of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church. 

A  school  for  young  ladies  had  been  started  by  S.  S.  Norton  in  the 
former  residence  of  Dominie  Demarest,  and  before  the  end  of  the  year 
1S59,  the  town  had  both  a  church  and  a  school. 

The  Seminary  for  young  ladies  was  still  further  enlarged  and  passed 
under  the  control  and  management  of  Professor  Jonathan  A.  Fowler 
and  Rev.  W.  B.  Dwight,  brother  of  the  pastor,  being  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  G.  Wall,  who  maintained  the  school  until  the  building 
was  accidentally  burned. 

An  advanced  school  for  boys,  which  educated  many  of  the  youth  of 
the  place,  was  established  by  Prof.  August  Kursteiner  who  also  opened 
a  boarding  school  <m  Palisade  Avenue  west  of  the  railroad,  which  he 
ccmducted  with  assistants,  until   ISSO. 

DWICHT    SCHOOL    FOK    CrlKI.S. 

The  modern  Dwight  School  for  Girls  has  been  under  the  princi])al- 
ship  of  Miss  E.  S.  Creighton  and  Miss  E.  W.  Farrar  since  18.S').  The 
school  is  well  attended,  and  its  course  is  adapted  to  suit  the  admission 
requirements  of  any  college  open  to  women.  Miss  (ierrish's  Collegiate 
School  for  Girls  has  long  been  a  leading  school  for  young  ladies  of  this 
place,  also. 

enc;lkwo()1)  school  fok'  boys. 

The  Englewood  School  for  Boys  was  incorjxirated  in  September, 
1840.  The  building  is  situated  on  an  attractive  site,  and  contains  five 
recitation  rooms  and  a  large,  well-ventilated  assembly  room. 

The  course  of  study  covers  seven  years,  the  object  being  to  meet  the 
requirements  for  admission  to  the  foremost  colleges  and  scientific  schools. 

The  military  drill  is  one  provisioned  for  physical  development,  the 
fatigue  suit  of  the  United  States  army  officers  being  the  uniform  used. 
Mr.  E.  A.  Brinkerhoft  is  president  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees  and  Mr. 
John  B.  Parsons  principal  of  the  school. 

lIia.ICON    HALL. 

Helicon  Hall,  situated  on  Woodland  Street,  is  probably  the  most 
unique  educational  institution  in  the  country.  The  building,  designed 
by  the  principal.  Dr.  J.  W.  Craig,  is  a  harmonious  adaptation  of  various 


592  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

architectural  desig-QS.  The  pictures,  statuary,  a  palm  garden,  a  Greek 
theatre,  and  many  other  features  emphasize  the  individuality  of  the 
institution. 

Within  the  city  limits  tliere  are  four  public  schools,  with  an  attend- 
ance in  all  of  some  six  hundred  and  fifty  children.  The  force  of  teach- 
ers is  larg-e  and  the  course  of  study  liberal  and  C(jmprehensive.  Improve- 
ments and  changes  have  recently  been  made  in  the  school  buildings. 

PO.ST    OFFICE. 

Postal  facilities  have  been  given  the  people  of  this  vicinity  from 
the  time  of  John  Van  Brunt,  who  was  the  first  postmaster  in 
Englewood.  He  also  kept  the  first  grocery  store.  During  his  term  of 
office,  mail  was  distributed  from  Liberty  Pole  tavern.  Following  came 
John  F.  Vanderbeck,  J.  W.  Deuel,  Gilbert  W.  Chamberlain — who  had 
the  office  in  the  dep(it — H.  C.  Jackson,  John  H.  Ackerman,  Frank  H. 
Demarest,  Alexander  Livingston  and  James  Harris,  the  present  post- 
master, whose  commission  dates  from  December  15th,  1897.  The  office 
maintains  a  free  delivery,  four  letter  carriers,  and  a  money  order  depart- 
ment. 

The  Citizens  National  Bank  was  founded  in  IS'd).  Donald  Mackay, 
president;  Charles  B.  Piatt,  vice-president;  Fred.  H.  Hoffman,  cashier. 
It  has  a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  present  t)fficers 
are:  Donald  Mackav,  jjresident;  Clinton  H.  Blake,  vice-president;  Char- 
les F.  Park,  Cashier. 

NEWSPAPEKS. 

Englewood  is  reaping  the  benefits  derived  from  two  newspapers, 
publications  in  both  instances  issued  without  bias  or  affiliation  with  any 
other  interest  save  that  of  the  public,  in  the  place  in  which  they  are 
published.  The  first  of  these  enterprises  ha"d  its  orig-in  in  the  "Bergen 
County  Journal,"  a  Union  paper,  but  went  down  in  1S(>I).  In  the  fall  of 
18()1  Mr.  Eben  Winton  and  C.  C.  Burr,  started  the  "Bergen  County 
Democrat."  Mr.  Winton  becoming  sole  owner  in  1862.  March  1874  the 
"Englewood  Times"  was  started  by  Eben  Winton  and  successfully 
maintained  as  an  independent  first-class  local  newspaper.  In  1879  No.  1, 
Vol.  1,  of  the  "Englewood  Standard,"  was  issued  by  Tillotson  &  Litch- 
enberg,  proprietors.  This  paper  growing  in  popularity  and  financial 
prosperity  under  the  able  management  of  Mr.  Tillotson,  is  now  published 
under  the  name  of  the  Englewood  Times  Publishing  Company.  Charles 
Huckin,  manager.     They  bought  the  plant  in  1895. 

Mr.  Huckin  was  born  in  Englewood,  April  17,  1871.  His  experi- 
ence in  Journalism  began  with  the  "Oil,  Paint  and  Drug  Reporter,"  a 
New  York  publication  which  was  continued  three  years.  He  was  a 
member  and  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education  1897-98,  is  a  member  of 
the  Natiimal  Guard,  also  of  the  I.  O.  ().  F.,  belonging  to  Hackensack 
Hope  Encampment. 

"The  Englewood  Press"  was  started  l)y  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Tillots(m 
1890.        It     has    steadily     jfone     forward     confining    attention     to     the 


HISTOKY    OK    KKKCIEN     COUNTY  S'>o 

news  of  the  day.  kee])inir  pace  with  the  demands  (if  the  times,  and  the 
needs  of  an  ever  i^rowintf  citv.  In  order  to  meet  the  exii^eneies  ol  a 
hiri^-e  i)atronag-e  Mr.  Tillotsoh  erected  and  equipped  a  huildinii-  in  all 
respects  suitable  for  his  business  and  is  in  jiossession  of  one  of  the  Ijest 
plants  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  Mr.  Tillotson  is  (uie  iif  the  public 
s])irited  citizens  of  Englewood,  and  his  name  frequently  occurs  in  the 
affairs  of  the  city.      His  ])a]ier  is  one  id'  the  land  marks  of  Bcrt;-eu  countv. 

TUSCAX    T.ODCK,    I".   AN'I)  .\.    M.   NO.    11.='. 

Tuscan  Lodg-e  F.  and  A.  M.  No.  115,  was  chartered  January  l'». 
1S71.  First  officers  were:  Peter  Rogers,  W.  M.,  John  E.  Wertz,  S.  W.; 
W.  C.  Dayies,  P.  M.;  Moses  R.  Springer,  treasurer;  Alexander  Cass, 
secretary;  Jno.  H.  Hyde,  S.  D.;  Saml.  Salters,  J.  D.  ;  Jacob  Campbell  and 
Jos.  Conklin,  Master  of  Ceremonies;  Jno.  W.  Dale,  Tyler.  Theoiiticers  for 
1899,  are:  Edw.  Koster,  P.  M..  W.  M.;  Jas.  W.  Proctor,  S.  W.;  M.  Frank 
Vanderbeek,  J.  W.;  John  Tipper,  treasurer;  Robert  J amieson,  secretarj-; 
Jacob  R.  Demarest,  P.  M.,  S.  L).;  John  A.  Campbell,  J.  D.;  George  E. 
Bearss,  S.  M.  C;  Byron  (i.  \'an  Ilorne,  J.  M.  C;  Moses  E.  Springer, 
P.  M.,  Chaplain;  Francis  W.  Phelps,  P.  M.,  Marshall;  Philip  M. 
Weidig,  Organist;  Peter  Martin,  Tyler. 

The  Past  Masters  are:  William  C.  Dayies,  Moses  E.  Springer, 
William  Bennett,  Daniel  A.  Currie,  Robert  Steyenson.  John  M.  Booth, 
Jacob  R.  Demarest,  James  Harris,  Francis  \V.  Phelps,  Edward  Koster. 
There  are  about  sixty-fiye  members. 

ENflI.EWOOD    I.ODdK    N'O.     1 ''7.   I.  O.   ().    K. 

This  Lodge  was  instituted  October  25.  iSS.i.  It  now  has  a  member- 
ship of  ninety-three.  Its  first  oflicers  were  :  S.  I.  Demarest,  N.  G., 
Albert  H.  Clark,  V.  O.;  Ahin  S.  Conklin.  R.  S.;  John  H.  Ackerman; 
F.  S.;  Henry  West,  treasurer. 

The  officers  for  iS'C)  are  :  Charles  Brucker,  N.  C;  James  M.  Gulnac, 
\'.  G.;  J.  E.  Demarest,  R.  S. ;  S.  I.  Demarest.  F.  S.;  John  M.  Foley, 
treasurer. 

p,\i.is.\nE  coi'NCiL,    ^■(:)^■.\I.  akcanitm,   no.   1135. 

Tliis  beneficiary  order  was  incorporated  under  Massachusetts  laws  in 
Novemljer  1877.  The  society  is  secret  in  part,  but  founded  with  un- 
selfish motives,  and  upon  strict  business  principles  and  has  all  the  facili- 
ties for  successfully  promoting  its  objects. 

The  Society  was  organized  March  27,  i88'>.  Its  regents  to  the 
present  time  are:  1889,  C.  O.  Dewey;  '90,  R.  P.  Wortendyke,  '91,  C.  L. 
Vanderbeek;  '92,  George  Lounsbury;  '9.^,  M.  Mattison;  '94,  T.  H. 
Haring;  '95,  John  Demarest;  '96,  E.  S.  Richards;  '97,  Jacob  R.  Demarest; 
'9S,  F.  Meyerhoff;  '99,  G.  W.  Springer. 

dwi(_;ht  post,    no.   1().\   i;.    a.    iv'. 
This  Post  was  organized    March  25,    1S87.      It   was    named   for    the 
Rey.  James  H.  Dwight  who  served  in  the  Union  Army  both  as   a  sohlier 
and   as  chaplain. 


594  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

THE    women's    exchange. 

The  Women's  Exchange  was  organized  in  1887.  Mrs.  Samuel  Dun- 
can, was  first  President. 

COMP.\NY    "F." 

This  company  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Sea 
Girt  on  May  14,  1S')8,  having  been  ordered  to  that  place  on  April  27. 
On  May  25,  the}-  were  ordered  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  where  they 
remained  until  about  September  1st,  when  the  company  was  removed  to 
Pablo  Beach,  Florida,  and  from  which  point  they  were  ordered  North 
and  mustered  out  of  service  November  17,  1898. 

Every  company  in  the  Regiment  had  some  deaths  save  Company  F, 
which  escaped  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man.  In  the  department  of 
rifle  practice  Company  F  ranks  seventh  in  the  State,  while,  according 
to  the  last  adjutant-general's  report,  it  was  the  only  company  in  the 
regiment  which  received  a  superior  mark  for  efficiency  at  the  annual 
inspection.  Public  drills  are  held  in  the  Armory  every  Monday  night. 
In  addition  to  the  active  members  of  the  company  it  numbers  among  its 
honorary  members  all  of  our  city's  best  and  most  public-spirited  citizens. 

Captain  Frank  S.  DeRonde  the  present  commander  of  the  company 
joined  the  National  Guard  in  June,  1888,  as  a  private;  was  made  a 
corporal  in  1890;  sergeant  in  1892;  second  lieutenant  in  1895;  captain 
in  1S97.  The  company  is  comjjosed  of  the  representative  young  men  of 
Englewood. 

THE  ENGLEWOOD  MUTU.VL    LOAN   &  BUn,D!N(;    AS.SOCI ATION. 

The  Englewood  Mutual  Loan  &  Building  Association  was  organized 
May  7th,  1887,  and  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  New 
Jersey  May  16th.  Its  first  officers  were:  Samuel  M.  Riker,  president; 
R.  S.  Maugham,  vice-president;  Henry  Jones,  treasurer;  William  J. 
M.  Byrn,  secretary.  Samuel  M.  Riker  remained  president  of  the 
Association  until  his  death  which  occurred  November  6th,  1898.  Mr. 
(iarrv  Vanderbeck  was  elected  vice-president  June  18th,  1889,  and  still 
holds  that  position,  having  also  acted  as  president  since  Mr.  Riker's 
death.  M.  E.  Springer  was  elected  secretary  September  5th,  1890,  and 
has  continued  to  serve  in  that  capacity  to  the  present  time.  George 
H.  Payson  was  elected  treasurer,  at  the  annual  meeting  June  18th. 
1889,  and  still  holds  that  position. 

The  present  officers  are: — Garry  Vanderbeck,  vice-president  and 
acting  president  ;  M.  E.  Springer,  secretary  ;  George  H.  Payson. 
treasurer  ;  Robert  B.  Taylor,  William  C.  Davies,  R.  A.  Gorham,  Alfred 
P.  Thud,  Albert  Grasing,  John  S.  Westervelt,  Jacob  R.  Demarest,  F. 
W.  Phelps,  Andrew  D.  Bogert,  Garret  Fenton,  John  Tipper,  Carl  Hall- 
lierg,  directors. 

THE    ENGLEWOOD    I.IBKAKV. 

The  Englewood  Library  was  organised  in  June  1S')0.  It  wasstarte<l 
bv  a  number  of  public  spirited  gentlemen,  among  whom  should  be  men- 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTS  595 

tioncd  Dr.  DHiiiel  Wise.  Dr.  Henry  M.  B(»itli,  Mr.  E.  A.  Brinkerli.iff. 
Dwi^^-ht  A.  J<jnes  and  Clinton  H.  Blake. 

Life  memberships  to  the  number  of  seventeen  at  a  cost  of  two  hun- 
dred dolhirs  each,  were  obtained  and  the  monev  thus  secured  was  ap])lied 
to  the  purchase  of  l)ool<s.  There  are  now  six  thousand  four  hundred 
volumes  in  the  liljrarv. 

The  officers  for  1S'»2-'),".  were:  President,  Rev.  Daniel  Wise,  D.  D.; 
Vice  President,  Elbert  A.  Brinkerholf;  Secretary,  Clinton  H.  Blake; 
Treasurer,  Donald  Mackay  ;  Librarian,  Miss  Anna  L.  Waterbury. 

The  present  officers  are:  Dwig-ht  A.  Jones,  president;  E.  A.  Brinck- 
erhoff,  vice-president;  C.  H.  Blake,  Secretary;  Donald  Mackay,  treas- 
urer; Harriet  R.  Prosser,  librarian. 

THE    ENGI.EWOOD    KIE7.D    CI.X'B. 

This  club  was  orifanized  June  ."^O,  1887,  at  which  time  the  following 
officers  were  elected:  President,  Dwio-ht  A.  .Tones;  Vice-president,  D.  W. 
Evans;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  John  E.  Curran. 

Articles  were  filed  soon  after  in  the  County  Clerks  office.  An 
admirable  field  on  Eng-le  street  was  rented  for  a  term  of  vears  with 
privileg'e  of  purchasing- the  land  at  a  fixed  price,  and  a  contract  awarded 
for  putting'  the  grounds  in  order  for  baseball,  lawn  tennis,  archery  and 
wheelmen.  On  Saturday  July  '),  1887,  the  manag-ers  opened  the  new 
grotxnd  imformally  the  feature  of  interest  beingf  a  ball  g-ame  between 
a  team  from  the  Eng'lewood  Field  Club  and  the  Rutherford  Wheelmen. 

With  great  energy  and  in  a  remarkably  short  time  D.  L.  Barrett, 
contractor,  put  the  grounds  in  order,  having  them  graded  and  rolled. 
A  baseball  diamond  was  laid  out,  cm  the  north  side,  a  cricket  ground  on 
the  east  side,  with  four  earth  tennis  courts  on  the  south,  and  behind  the 
tennis  courts  high  wire  nettings  were  placed.  Two  entrances  from  the 
street  for  carriages  were  made,  and  seats  for  spectators  arranged. 
There  was  also  a  handsome  little  clubhouse  erected  containing-  lockers 
for  the  use  of  the  members,  a  bathroom,  and  a  reception  room  furnished 
with  chairs  and  tables  and  with  curtains  at  the  windows.  From  a  forty- 
foot  staff  the  colors  of  the  Club,  a  beautiful  streamer  presented  bv  the 
ladies,  floated  to  the  breeze. 

The  grounds  were  formally  opened  to  the  public  by  a  tennis  tourna- 
ment begun  on  Thursday  August  2fHh,  1887,  ending  on  Saturday  fol- 
lowing. 

The  Club  is  well  equipped  for  every  kind  of  out  door  and  indoor 
recreation.  The  ground  in  level  as  a  floor  and  for  tennis  or  baseball, 
cricket  or  golfing,  is  as  fine  as  any  in  the  state.  They  also  have  bowl- 
ing alleys,  skating  ponds  and  other  accommodations  for  indoor  sports. 

There  are  now  over  five  hundred  members  belonging  to  the  Club, 
and  the  total  receipts  for  the  year  1898,  amounted  to  six  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  fortj^-eight  dollars,  and  thirty-six  cents.  The  officers  for 
the  year  1899  are: — President,  William  Dulles,  Jr.;  \'ice-President, 
David  W.  Cory;  Secretary,  Augustus  Duryea;  Treasurer,  Charles  J. 
Peabodv. 


596  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

The  Golf  Club  has  its  own  links  and  its  own  club-house,  both  of 
wh-ich  are  models  of  their  kiud.  The  membership  is  larg'e  and  the 
standing  of  the  club  is  excellent  in  every  particular. 

A  Bicycle  Club  holds  regular  meets  in  the  season  and  has  matle 
exceptionally  line  runs.  One  of  the  more  recent  organizations  is  the 
Camera  Club,  which  has  its  head(iuarters  on  Engle  Street. 

EXC;i,EWOOD    GOLF    CH'B. 

The  Englewood  Golf  Club  owns  a  piece  of  land  between  Englewood 
and  Nordholf.  A  Golf  Club  was  formed  early  in  1896,  a  club  house  was 
erected  and  a  course  laid  out  by  Harrj-  Stark.  Sixty-one  men  and  fifty- 
one  woman  joined  the  club  the  first  Season.  In  1897  fifty  acres  more 
land  was  leased  and  a  handsome  Club  house  erected.  The  organization 
has  now  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  members.  Thoinas  Thatcher  is 
president. 

ENGLEWOOD    HOSPITAL. 

This  hospital  at  Englewood  was  organized  on  the  7th  of  May, 
l.SS.S,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Sheppard  Homans.  Mr.  William  Blaikie 
having  been  called  to  the  chair  the  following  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year  were  elected: — President,  Mrs.  Sheppard  Homans;  Vice-President, 
Mr.  S.  G.  Clarke;  Treasurer,  Mr.  C.  F.  Park;  Secretary,  Miss  Adeline 
Sterling.  Standing  committees  were  then  appointed  on  Domestic  Affairs. 
Medicines,  and  Comforts  for  the  sick,  on  Visiting  and  on  Finance. 
Mr.  Peck,  Mr.  Frendenthal,  Mrs.  Currie,  Dr.  Pianks  and  Dr.  Wells  were 
appointed  a  committee  "to  secure  a  suitable  building  for  the  hospital,  or 
land  for  the  same."  On  May  7,  1888,  steps  were  taken  to  secure  the 
present  grounds  which  extend  from  Engle  street  to  the  Railroad,  and 
soon  after  the  present  building  was  erected  by  A.  D.  Bogert,  builder,  at 
a  cost  of  about  five  thousand  dollars. 

In  1896  a  Training  School  was  opened  and  the  tirst  class  of  trained 
nurses  graduated  in  that  year. 

The  Englewood  Hospital  has  never  stood  still  since  its  opening, 
and  is  becoming  a  larger  and  better  equipped  institution  every  year  of 
its  existence.  The  citizens  of  Englewood  have  always  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  its  welfare,  and  generous  gifts  of  money,  delicacies  for  the 
sick,  and  comforts  for  the  injured  have  always  been  freely  and  graciously 
bestowed . 

The  number  of  patients  treated  during  the  year  1898  was  three 
hundred.  Total  expenses  for  nursing  in  the  hospital  was  S(),^7(l.f>7.  The 
total  receipts  were  $7()88.()'t. 

President,  Mrs.  Clinton  H.  Blake;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  J.  O.  Cle- 
phane;  Secretary,  Lewis  Dawes;  Treasurer,  George  P.  Payson;  Attend- 
ing Phvsicians  and  Surgeons,  D.  A.  Currie,  M.  D.;  J.  A.  Wells,  M.  D.; 
J.  W.  B.  Lansing.  M.  D.;  J.  W.  Proctor.  M.  D.;  Consulting  Physician, 
E.  L.  Partridge,  M.  D.;  Consulting  Surgeon,  L.  A.  Stimson,  M.  D.; 
C(msulting  Oculist.  J.  M.  Emerson,  ^L  D.;  Resident  Physician,  Dr. 
Helen  A.  Lord. 


HISTOKY    OK    BKKGHN    COUNTY  507 


HACKKXSACK    WATIiK    COMPANY. 

Water  was  introduced  into  Eni^-lewood  in  tS.Si).  In  April  1S,S7,  the 
Hackensack  Water  Company  began  to  lay  mains  through  the  streets  of 
Eng-lewood  for  the  new  water  supply,  at  which  time  also  it  was  agreed 
by  the  Town  Committee  that  forty  lire  hydrants  should  be  built  in  June 
of  that  year,  the  pipes  having  been  laid,  the  New  Milford  Water  became 
a  hxed  fact. 

The  citizens  next  formed  the  Knglewood  Sewerage  Association,  and 
on  July  yth  of  that  year  it  was  found  that  one  hundred  subscriptions 
had  been  given  to  the  stock  of  the  company,  amounting  to  twenty-three 
thousand  dollars.  The  tirst  directors  (d'  this  association  elected  were: 
Jacob  S.  Wetmore,  president;  Herbert  I>.  Turner,  tirst  vice-president; 
Oliver  Drake  Smith,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

The  separate  flushing  system  was  put  into  use,  allowing  only  the 
house  waste  from  kitchens,  closets,  etc.,  to  be  drained  oil.  Six  miles  of 
small  pipes  were  laid,  fifteen  flush  tanks  and  ninety  manholes  and  venti- 
lators were  then  built  for  tlie  inspection  of  the  interior  of  the  main  pipes. 

In  the  Company's  building  is  a  taj)  made  in  twenty-four  inch  main 
December  1,  18"»2.  Charles  B.  IJrush,  chief  engineer,  was  largely 
instrumental  in  securing  water  for  the  city.  There  are  now  twelve 
hundred  consumers.  The  officers  are:  Robert  W.  De  Forest,  president; 
E.  A.  Stevens,  treasurer;  William  Shii)])en,  secretary;  D.  W.  French, 
superintendent.  Charles  H.  llrush,  the  former  engineer  and  superinten- 
dent, died  June  .^.  1S')7. 

THK  KN(;i,i':w()ui)  Mivi':  association. 
Monday  evening,  Octolier  Idth.  1.SS7,  citizens  of  Englewood  lielil 
their  first  meeting,  with  Oliver  Drake  Smith  as  chairman,  to  take  meas- 
ures against  loss  by  lire.  On  November  11th  they  met  again  to  form 
and  incorporate  a  Hose  Company.  Among  tliose  prominent  in  tlie 
movement  were  Donald  Mackay,  W.  D.  Terry,  John  E.  Miller,  Jacol) 
Taylor,  John  H.  Ackerman,  Oliver  Drake  Smith,  Joseph  H.  Tillotson, 
H.  M.  Banks,  Charles  C.  Townsend,  (ieorge  R.  Dutton.  On  November 
24th  Donald  Mackay  was  elected  president  of  tlie  Association;  Oliver 
Drake  Smith,  secretary;  the  Ooverning  Board  consisting  of  Donald 
Mackay,  Oliver  Drake  Smith,  W.  O.  Terry,  Dr.  D.  A.  Currie,  C.  F. 
Park,  George  R.  Dutton,  J.  B.  ]5urdett,  Fred  Hoist,  J.  F.  Fitschen. 
Jacob  Taylor  was  elected  Foreman  and  Charles  C.  Townsend  Assistant 
Foreman.  The  Associaticm  purchased  two  jumpers  with  one  thousand 
feet  (d'  hose,  ti\e  truck  ladders,  buckets  and  other  equipments.  They 
also  decided  to  build  a  truck  house  with  a  tower  C(mtaining  an  alarm 
l)ell. 

BKKOEN    CO^■NT^■    OAS    COMPANY. 

Bergen  County  Gas  Company  introduced  gas  into  the  town  in  1S(>'(, 
charging  first  S3. 50  per  thousand  feet.  The  tirst  oflieers  of  this  com- 
])anv  were,  Treasurer,  W^illiani  King;   Superintendent,  Sanniel  !•'.  Gold. 


598  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

POLICE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  protection  of  the  citizens  of  Enfjlewood,  bej^an  first  in  an 
Association  formed  April  25,  1869,  known  as  the  Eng-lewood  Protection 
Society,  James  \V.  McCulloh,  president.  The  Society  has  been  one  of 
the  most  effective  ones  in  existence.  The  officers  for  1899  are:  Presi- 
dent and  Special  Police  Justice,  Donald  Mackay;  Vice-president,  C.  H. 
Blake;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Charles  F.  Park;  City  Marshal, 
Charles  C.  Townsend. 

Armed  as  it  is  with  police  authority  by  the  state,  and  sustained  by 
the  pet)ple,  this  association  has  proven  a  protection  indeed  ag-ainst  all 
sorts  of  evil  doers,  arrests  by  the  thousands  having'  been  made  since  its 
existence. 

The  protection  of  the  citivezs  of  Eng-lewood  is  intrusted  to  six 
patrolmen  under  James  A.  Turhune,  Chief  of  Police,  and  John  T, 
Markam,  Sergfeant.  The  Police  Board  is  under  the  control  of  the  City 
Council,  E.  A.  Brlnckerhoff,  president;  Ernest  T.  Fellows,  recorder, 
Cornelius  Lydecker,  clerk. 

BKOOKSinE    CEMETERY. 

In  1876,  this  site  then  a  wild  barron  spot,  filled  with  chestnut, 
dogwood  and  wild  cedars,  was  purchased  for  a  place  of  burial.  The  gfrounds 
have  recently  been  enlargfed,  and  under  the  charge  of  its  superinten- 
dent, Moses  E.  Springer,  has  been  made  one  of  the  beautiful  i)laces  of 
its  kind  in  the  county. 

ENGLEWOOD    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

This  church  is  located  on  Palisades  Avenue  and  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  most  costly  church  structures  in  the  county. 

The  chapel  of  this  denomination  once  stood  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent church.  It  was  completed  in  1860  and  twice  enlarged,  but  after  ten 
years  "was  found  too  small  as  a  place  of  worship,  and  was  removed  stone 
by  stone  and  re-erected  within  the  cemetery  grounds.  Funeral  services 
are  now  held  there  at  the  departure  of  the  dead  to  their  graves.  Then, 
too,  it  will  stand  a  memorial  edifice  of  the  first  church  ever  built  in 
Englewood.  The  new  edifice  is  constructed  of  red  and  white  sandstone. 
J.  Wvman  Jones  and  I.  Smith  Homans,  Jr.,  gave  the  land  on  which  the 
church  stands.  Mr.  Jones  prepared  and  circulated  the  subscription 
papers  for  the  needed  funds  to  build  the  church.  A  building  committee 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Jones,  W.  R.  Vermilye,  George  S.  Coe,  James  Van- 
derbeck  and  Jeffrey  A.  Humphry  with  Mr.  Jones  as  chairman,  was 
appointed  June  29,  1S68,  The  first  meeting  of  this  committee  to 
organize,  was  held  July  4,  1869,  and  a  report  of  the  building  completed 
was  made  October  24,  1870,  its  entire  cost,  exclusive  of  bell,  but  inclu- 
sive of  furniture,  being  forty-nine  thousand,  seven  hundred,  forty-five 
dollars  and  sixty-six  cents.  David  Hoadley  presented  the  organ  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  six  hundred  dollars.  The  bell  cost  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  and  was  the  gift  of  Colonel  W.  R.  \'ermilye.  After  the 
coin])letion  of    the   church    the   chajiel    was    rcmo\-ed  to   the   cemetery  by 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN     COUNTY  599 

Mrs.  Emily  ().  Brinkcrhoff,  the  only  daui;-hter  of  Colonel  Washington  R. 
X'ermilve,  in  memory  of  her  father. 

The  eighteen  persons  forming  this  ehureh  have  been  members 
from  various  denominational  churches,  as  follows:  seven  from  the 
Madison  Square  Presbyterian  Church,  New  York  city;  three  from  the 
Church  of  the  Pilg-rims,  Brooklyn,  Congregational ;  two  from  the 
Westminister  Presbyterian  Church,  Utica,  N.  Y.,  two  from  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church.  Utica  ;  three  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  English 
Neighborhood;  and  one  from  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  Hoboken.  James 
Harrison  Dwight,  the  first  pastor  was  a  son  of  the  missionary  to 
Turkey,  Rev.  H.  G.  O.  Dwight,  D.  D.,  and  was  born  on  the  island  of 
Malta,  October  9,  18.^0.  He  left  Turkey  at  seventeen,  was  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1852,  and  thence  attended  medical  lectures  in  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  and  the  Union  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  the  New  York  city.  Afterwards  he  preached  in  Cherry  Valley, 
in  New  York,  and  in  1859  in  Englewood. 

Mr.  Dwight  was  possessed  of  great  natural  abilities,  which  were 
quickened  and  greatly  aided  by  a  most  accomplished  education  in  two 
professions.  He  was  carried  away  by  consumption,  dying  on  the  2d  of 
December,  1872,  and  sleeps  in  the  be.iutiful  little  cemetery  at  Engle- 
wood, lamented  by  his  own  church  and  people  of  the  town,  who  will 
long  revere  his  memory. 

The  first  pastor  of  this  church  took  up  liis  residence  in  the  place 
early  in  1859,  and  held  public  services  on  each  Lord's  day,  with  the 
purpose  of  gathering  the  nucleus  of  a  congregation.  In  this  he  was 
cordiall}-  sustained  by  the  original  inhabitants  of  the  valle}',  who  gladly 
opened  their  houses  for  divine  worshij)  until,  towards  the  close  of  the 
year,  a  more  suitable  room  was  i)ro\iiled  in  the  newly-erected  school- 
house  of  Mr.  James  W.  Deuel. 

In  the  meantime,  as  the  c(mgregation  enlarged  and  interest 
increased,  a  sum  of  money  was  raised  by  subscription  sufficient  to  build 
a  chapel,  the  foundations  of  which  were  laid  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 

In  March  of  18()0  this  chapel  was  completed,  and  the  first  service 
held  on  the  25th  of  that  month,  when  a  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached 
fr(mi  the  text,  "My  name  shall  be  there." 

Thus  it  became  the  first  church  of  Englewood,  and  first  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Bergen  county. 

The  following  individuals  were  elected  as  lirst  officers  of  the 
church:  Elders,  Charles  A.  Nichols,  James  X'anderbeck.  Sheitjiard 
Homans;  Deacons,  John  Dc  Mott,  J.  Wyman  Jones. 

At  the  first  worshiping  in  the  chapel  the  congregation  numbered 
from  seventy  to  one  hundred. 

On  the  tirst  day  of  May,  1S()7,  the  lirst  pastor  resigned  liischarge_ 
taking  leave  with  sorrow  of  a  warm-hearted  and  affectionate  i>eo])le. 
and  of  an  enterprise  with  which  his  affections  and  labors  had  been 
identilied  from  the  betiinning. 


600  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGKN    COUNTY 


After  an  interval  of  only  a  few  weeks  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion voted  unanimously  to  extend  a  call  to  Rev.  Henry  M.  Booth,  of 
New  York.  This  was  prosecuted  in  due  form  through  the  Fourth  Pres- 
bytery, and  accepted.  Whereupon,  on  the  I'Hh  of  September,  1867,  Mr. 
Booth  was  duly  ordained  and  installed  as  second  pastor  of  the  Engle- 
wood  Presbyterian  Church. 

Under  the  pastorate  of  I\Ir.  Booth,  the  church  prospered  and  en- 
larged both  in  numbers  and  in  the  administration  of  Christian  labors 
and  charities.  His  excellent  services  as  a  pastor  and"  most  capable 
preacher  closed  in  1891,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  James 
Eells,  who  in  turn  was  followed  March  1st.  1S')8,  by  the  present  pastor, 
the  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Hamilton. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are:  -Elders  Henrv  W.  Banks, 
Elbert  A.  Brinkerhoff,  Henry  Jones,  Charles  F.  Park.  J.  Hugh  Peters, 
L.  V.  Davis(m,  Frederick  B.  Schenck.  (iarrv  \'anderbeck,  Edwin  M. 
Bulkley. 

Deacons: — (icorge  H.  Payson,  John  W.  Pitkin,  Stuart  IvVinan.  John 
F.  Fitschen,  C.  D.  Kerr,  Theodore  L.  Peters. 

The  West  Side  Presbyterian  Church  is  a  branch  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Englewood,  and  was  formed  in  1S97.  the  Rev.  Paul 
A.  Junkin  pastor. 

The  Scientists  have  also  recently  organized  a  society  in  the  city 
which  is  growing  rapidly. 

The  Highwood  Chapel  service  Committee  organized  for  1899  with 
the  following  officers  :  J.  C.  Thomson,  chairman;  George  Baker,  secre- 
tary; N.  V.  Ketchum,  treasurer. 

ENGLEWOOD    METHODIST    EPI.SCOP.\I.    CHl'KCH. 

This  organizaticm  took  its  rise  in  the  Summer  of  1859,  but  it  was 
not  until  1862  that  a  church  building  was  erected  for  worship,  with  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Wise,  D.  D.,  as  pastor.  It  was  largely  through  Dr.  Wise's 
enterprise  and  generosity  that  the  tasteful  edifice  was  constructed.  The 
dedicatory  services  were  conducted  by  the  late  Bishop  Edmund  S.  Janes 
in  December,  1863.  Succeeding  Dr.  Wise,  came  the  Rev.  E.  Hewitt, 
whose  brief  pastorate  was  followed  by  that  of  the  Rev.  Henry  M. 
Simpson,  A.  M.,  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan  University.  In  18()()  the 
Rev.  James  B.  Faulks  became  pastor;  in  1869,  Rev.  Edson  W.  Burr,  A. 
M.  now  a  trustee  of  Wesleyan  University.  During  Mr.  Burr's  term  an 
addition  was  made  to  the  church  edifice  at  a  cost  of  S5000,  and  the  new 
thoroughly  furnished.  The  Rev.  John  Coyle,  M.  D.,  was  his  successor, 
remaining  in  charge  one  year,  when  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Bebout  was  ap- 
pointed in  1873.  He  occupied  the  pulpit  until  1876,  and  was  succeeded 
bv  the  Rev.  James  W.  Marshall,  D.  D.,  now  of  Camden,  N.  J.  The 
Rev.  C.  E.  Walton  followed  in  1879,  and  his  successor  in  188(»  was  the 
Rev.  J.  (t.  Johnston  who  remained  three  years.  From  1883  to  1886,  the 
Rev.  Joseph  W.  Dally  ministered  to  the  congregation,  when  he  was 
succeed  by  the  Rev.  N.  Wallin"-  Clark  in  the  latter  year.      Mrs.  Clark  is 


HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY  ()01 

a  well  known  autliDress,  now  rcsidini^  in  Italy,  where  Prof.  Clark  occn- 
pies  a  chair  in  the  Methodist  Theological  School  at  Rome.  Rev.  E.  H. 
Conklin  was  the  next  pastor,  appointed  in  1<S!S9.  In  1891  the  Rev.  Olin 
B.  Coit  was  minister,  who  was  followed  in  1S'»,^,  by  the  Rev.  E.  S.  Jami- 
son, Ph.  D.  In  1895  the  Rev.  James  I  Boswell.  I).  1).,  became  pastor, 
who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent,  .Toseph  \V.  Dally, 
who  is  serving  his  second  term  in  this  cong-regation. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Church  are  Moses  E.  Springer,  Rufus  A. 
Gorham,  Henry  C.  Jackson,  George  W.  Springer,  (ieorge  G.  Weeks, 
Isaiah  Huson,  Robert  Taylor,  Jacob  R.  Demarest,  Gilbert  Gregory. 
Adolph  H.  Engelke,  Sherman  C.  .\bramson,  .lolin  H.  Baldwin  and  A. 
L,  Williams.  M.  E.  Springer  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  A. 
H.  Engelke  is  the  superintendant  of  the  Sunday  School. 

THE    CHKISTI.\N'    KKFOKjMHD    CHVKCII. 

The  Christian  Reformed  Church  was  organized  in  Englewood  April 
1st,  1875.  It  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  work  of  the  Rev.  John  Y.  De 
Baun,  of  Hackensack,  who  started  the  organization  by  coming  over  to 
Englewood  on  Sundays  and  jjreaching  to  a  circle  of  friends  in  Engle- 
wood Hall,  Leonia.  At  the  end  of  two  years  Henry  P.  Demarest  and 
Hannah  Bogert,  his  wife;  Margaret  Demarest,  wife  of  Cornelius  Wester- 
velt;  Sarah  A.  Bogert,  widow,  and  Ellen  Westervelt,  wife  of  Peter  R. 
Christie;  Rachel  Cooper,  widow  of  David  J.  Bogert,  and  a  few  others, 
org-anized  the  church,  with  the  Rev.  John  Calvin  Voorhis  as  pastor. 

A.  D.  Bogert,  Catharine  M.  Demarest,  Lettie  Westervelt,  wife 
of  Joseph  E.  Miller;  Hester  Demarest,  wife  of  John  D.  Demarest, 
have  been  active  members,  also.  The  Hon.  Thomas  W.  Demarest 
was  the  first  elder;  Richard  Earle  and  Henry  P.  Demarest  were  the  first 
deacons.  The  church  was  dedicated  May  25th,  1875,  the  Rev.  John  Y. 
De  Baun  preaching  the  sermon.  Rev.  J.  C.  Voorhis  was  called  August 
12th,  1875,  and  remained  twelve  vears,  his  connection  ceasing  August 
4th,  1887,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  Hackensack,  where  he  is  at  the 
present  time.  He  was  followed  by  Revs.  Abram  Van  Houten,  March 
1st,  1888,  to  April  25th,  1892;  C.  D.  De  Mott  from  1892  to  .\pril  2d,  1895, 
the  present  pastor.  Rev.  E.  Van  Den  Berge,  coming  March  1 7th,  1896, 
and  who  preached  his  farewell  sermon  May  21st,  1899.  There  is  a  mem- 
bership of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  persons.  Elders,  John  S. 
Westervelt,  Isaac  A.  Demarest;  deacons,  Abram  Demarest,  John  A. 
Bogert. 

THE    EPISCOPAL    CHUKCII. 

The  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  July  11,  18(>5.  'J^he  first  war- 
dens were  John  H.  Lyell,  Charles  T.  Chester,  William  King,  Richard 
K.  Coole,  E.  W.  Andrews  and  Herbert  Turner.  The  first  rector  was 
Rev.  O.  W.  Whittaker,  now  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  followed 
by  Revs.  Mr.  Benjamin,  John  H.  Elliott,  W.  S.  Langford, — afterward 
general    secretary  of     the   Church     at    large — he   died   in    18()7,-   John 


602  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

William  Pavre,   James  H.   Van  Buren,  and  the  Rev.  Charles  F.  Flicht- 
ner,  the  present  pastor,  who  took  charge  January  1,  1888. 

The  present  Wardens  of  the  church  are  W.  E.  Tillinghast,  H.  L. 
Congdon.  The  church  has  a  membership  of  four  hundred  and  sixty 
communicants.     An  elegant  house  of  worship  is  about  to  be  erected. 

ST.  Cecelia's  church. 

Catholic  services  in  Englewood  were  held  in  1863-64  by  Father 
Coardly,  followed  by  Rev.  D.  Corrigan  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Hoboken. 
Then  Father  Brann  took  the  pastorate  and  under  his  able  direction  the 
church  building  was  erected  in  18b6  and  under  Father  Smits  was 
enlarged  in  1868.  He  was  followed  by  A.  J.  Smits,  T.  J.  McDonald.  C. 
J.  Feehan,  A.  E.  Van  Rich,  A.  M.  Murphy.  The  Rev.  A.  J.  Smits  was 
here  at  different  times  covering  a  period  of  twenty  years.  The  Rev.  D. 
T.  O'Malloy,  O.  C.  C,  came  here  the  last  time  in  1897.  He  was  gradua- 
ted in  Dublin  in  1873,  came  to  America  in  1874  when  he  was  appointed 
to  work  in  Kentucky.  From  there  he  went  to  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y., 
coming  to  Englewood  first  in  1885,  leaving  in  1889.  Under  his  efficient 
services  the  church  has  reached  a  membership  of  about  two  thousand, 
and  is  well  equipped  in  various  ways  through  organized  effort  to  meet 
the  needs  of  young  men,  the  education  of  children  and  the  spiritual 
requirements  of  all. 

Father  O'Malloy  is  ably  assisted  by  Fathers  Fink,  McDonald  and 
Angelus.  He  holds  three  masses  on  Sunday  and  two  services  are  held 
at  Tenafly  by  the  Rev.  I.  J.  McDonald.  A  school  of  two  hundred 
children,  under  the  direction  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  from  Madison. 
N.  J.,  is  ably  maintained,  and  there  is  also  a  school  of  one  hundred 
children  at  Tenafly.  A  Catholic  Club  with  a  membership  of  two 
hundred  under  the  presidency  of  William  Tierney,  Jr.,  the  Rev.  I.  J. 
McDonald,  treasurer,  and  a  board  of  governors,  holds  regular  meetings 
in  the  Lecture  Hall  and  gives  entertainments  of  various  kinds  for  the 
young  and  old.  The  club  has  a  well  appointed  gymnasium  and  among 
other  equipments  has  one  of  the  best  bowling  alleys  to  be  found  any- 
where. 

ENGLEWOOD  LODGE,    NO.    103. 

Englewood  Lodge,  No.  103,  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars 
was  instituted  April  12th,  1870,  with  sixteen  charter  members:  It  is 
also  an  efficient  organization  having  influenced  during  its  time  hun- 
dreds, if  not  thousands  of  persons  for  good. 

CITY    OF    ENGLEWOOD. 

City  of  Englewood  March  10,  1896,  the  village  of  Englewood  became 
a  city  by  a  vote  of  its  citizens  who  favored  the  change,  five  hundred  and 
sixteen  votes  being  cast  for  the  incorporation  and  three  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  votes  against  it.  This  election  was  held  under  the  act 
entitled,  "An  Act  authorizing  any  town,  township  or  borough  or  part 
thereof  containing  a   population  exceeding  five   thousand  inhabitants  to 


HISTORY    OK    BEKCJEN    COUNTY  603 

be  incorporated   as  a  'city,'   after  a  vote  by  the  people,    and  providing' 
the  g'overnment  and  powers  of  such  cities." 

A  special  meeting  of  the  township  committee  was  called  March  12, 
1896,  for  the  purpose  of  dividing  the  city  into  wards.  Mr.  Thomson 
offered  the  following  resolution: 

The  Township  Committee  of  the  township  of  Englewood,  pur- 
suant to  the  lifth  section  of  the  Act  entitled  "An  Act  authorizing  any 
town,  township  or  borough,  or  part  thereof,  to  be  incorporated  as  a  city, 
after  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  providing  for  the  government  and  powers 
of  such  cities,  approved  March  22d,  1895,"  hereb}-  divide  the  city  of 
Englewood  into  four  wards  as  follows.      (Giving  boundaries). 

Mr.  Oliver  Drake  Smith  was  appointed  Mayor;  Mr.  J.  Hugh  Peters 
Councilman  from  the  first  ward;  Mr.  James  Harris  Councilman  from 
the  second  ward;  Mr.  Joseph  Thomson  Councilman  from  the  third  ward; 
Mr.  Henry  Birtwhistle  Councilman  from  the  fourth  ward;  City  Clerk, 
Robert  Jamieson. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  city  of  Englewood  to 
the  present  time.  Elected  April  14th,  1896,  Mayor,  Daniel  A.  Currie 
City  Clerk,  Robert  Jamieson;  Receiver  of  Taxes,  Thomas  O'Brien; 
Assessor,  Hezekiah  Birtwhistle;  Chosen  Freeholder,  James  C.  Ander- 
son; Board  of  Excise,  George  S.  Coe,  Jr.,  George  R.  Van  Brunt,  James 
M.  Gulnac;  Members  of  City  Council,  Leonard  E.  Curtis,  Edward  P. 
Coe,  Abram  Tallman,  William  Scully;  Board  of  Education,  Huyler 
Bogert,  Robert  B.  Taylor,  Francis  M.  Demarest,  Eugene  M.  Boeheim; 
Commissioners  of  Appeals,  Jacob  S.  Wetmore,  Rufus  A.  Gorham,  Walter 
Westervelt,  Ralph  J.  Demarest. 

Elected  April  13th,  1897,  Councilman  first  ward,  unexpired  term, 
Clinton  H.  Blake;  Board  of  Education,  Miss  Adaline  W.  Sterling, 
Robert  B.  Taylor,  Joseph  M.  Cooper,  Charles  Huckin;  Board  of  Excise, 
George  H.  Payson,  Edward  J.  Irwin,  Henry  Booth,  James  M.  Gulnac. 

Elected  April  12th,  1898,  Mayor,  Daniel  A.  Currie;  City  Clerk. 
Robert  Jamieson;  Receiver  of  Taxes,  Thomas  O'Brien;  Assessor,  James 
C.  Thomson;  Chosen  Freeholder,  Andrew  D.  Bogert;  Members  of  City 
Council,  Oliver  Drake  Smith.  Abram  DeRonde,  James  F.  Cooke,  Heze- 
kiah Birtwhistle;  Board  of  Education,  Miss  Adaline  W.  Sterling;  Board 
of  Excise,  George  H.  Payson,  M.  Frank  Vanderbeek,  Frank  D.  Cana- 
vello,  Edward  Ouirk. 

Elected  April  11th,  1S99,  Mayor,  Elbert  A.  Brinkerhoft;  Council- 
man-at-large,  John  Dougherty;  City  Clerk,  Robert  Jamieson;  Collector 
of  Taxes,  Tho'mas  O'Brien;  Overseer  of  Poor,  Hugh  Smith;  Chosen 
Freeholder,  William  C.  Davies;  James  M.  Gulnac;  Members  of  Com- 
mon Council,  James  C.  Anderson,  Robert  B.  B.  Taylor,  Frederick  L. 
Vorhees,  John  M.  Booth;  Assessors,  Moses  E.  Springer,  Edson  B.  Gor- 
ham, James  C.  Thomson,  Henry  Birtwhistle;  Commissioners  of  Appeals, 
John  W.  Pitkin,  Garry  Vanderbeek,  Walter  Westervelt,  Edward 
O'Hara. 


f)04 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


J.    WVMAN    JONES. 

*"  It  is  always  interesting-  to  trace  the  early  life  of  men  of  energ-y 
for  usually  there  will  be  found  those  surroundings  which  foster  a  vigor- 
ous and  independent  character.     This  is  aptly  illustrated  in  the  life  of 
J   Wyman  Jones.     Born  in  the  town  of  Enfield,  N.  H.,  he  was  subjected 
throughout  boyhood  to  the  hardy  and  healthy  country  life  of  New  Eng- 
land; and  the  rug:ged  aspect  of  nature,  the  exhilarating  winter,  together 
with' a  ri"-orous  home  training,  combined  to  produce  a  strong  and  cour- 
ageous  youth,  eager  for   a  conflict  with    the  world.     His  father  was  a 
st'urdy  New  England   justice,  prominent   in  the   affairs  of  his  locality, 
and  several  times  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature.     His  mother  was 
a  woman  of  genuine  sweetness  and  refinement;  a  direct  descendant  of 
the  famous  Hannah  Dustin.     It  was  the  desire  of  both  parents  to  keep 
their  only  son  at  home,  but  when  his  school  career  at  Meriuen  Academy 
was  ended,  he  pressed  onward  to  Dartmouth   College,  where  he  was  ad- 
mitted in  \s:^7.     In   his  class  were  a  son  of  Daniel  Webster,  Edward 
Webster,    who   died   in   the   Mexican   war;  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Swain,  of 
Nashua,'N.  H..  and  Gardiner  G.  Hubbard,  Esq.,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Upon   graduation,  in  1841,   he  could  not  be   persuaded  to  locate  at 
home    and^although  put  wholly  upon  his  own  resources,  he  began  the 
study"  of   la^v  iaNew  York  city.     In   1843  he  was  admitted  to  the  New 
York  bar,  and  foftwenty  years  followed  his  profession,   the  latter  part 
of   the   time   af  Utica,   N.   Y.     Prior   to  his  removal  there  he  married 
Harriet  Dwight  Dana,  daughter  of  James  Dana  of  Utica,  and  sister  of 
Professor   James  D.  Dana  of  Yale  University,   who  survived  until  1882. 
At  Utica  Mr.  Jones  made  many  warm  friends  in  his  profession,  includ- 
ino-  the  late  Justice  William  J.  Bacon,  Senator  Kernan,  Joshua  Spencer, 
and  Senator  Conkling.      But  advised  by  his  physician  that  he  must  lead 
an  out-of-do.)r  life,  he  reluctantly  relinquished  the  practice  of  law  to  give 
himself  to  rural  pursuits,  alth..ugh  still  retaining  his  interest  and  mem- 
bership in  the  New  York  bar.  In  1S5S,  by  invation  of  a  former  client,  then 
en-a-ed  in  surveying  the  Northern  Railroad  of  New  Jersey,  he  made  an 
examination  of  the  prop..sed  route,  and  being  impressed  by  the  natural 
beauty  of  the  country,  with  characteristic  daring  determined  to   throw 
himself  heartily  into"  the  developmeut  of  the  regi(m  where  Englewood  is 
now  located.     He  spent  the  summer  <,f  1S5S  in  securing  property  rights 
from  the  ori-inal  owners,  and  by  the  autumn  of  that  year  had  control  ot 
nearly  all  the  land  now  occupied  by   the  village.     He  proceeded   to  lay 
out  the  town    to  name  its  streets,  and  to  procure  a  survey  and  map  of  its 
territory      By  the  spring  of  1859  he  had  moved  his  family  to  the  new 
place  and  had  gained  for  it  the  support  of  several  valuable  friends.     In 
this  same  spring  at  a  meeting  of  the  residents,  the  name  Englew.od. 
su-<^ested  and  advocated  by  him,    was  adopted.     Since  that  time  Mr. 
Jones  has  been  prominent  in  the  secular  and  religious  life  of  Englewood, 
and  he  still  maintains   a  keen  interest  in  its  growth  and  welfare.     He 

„, „   i„   ,„e  ■■  M,-m..ri.-,l   llismry   of  Ihe  city   of   N.-w    York   and    flu.   Hudson    Riv.T 


V^llle 


I 


4iA.^ 


HISTORY    OF    BEK<;EN    COUNTY  607 

has  had  the  satisfactiun  of  seeiiiii-  it  develop  pursuant  to  the  g-oneral 
plan  formuhited  liv  himself,  into  a  beautiful  and  progressive  suburb  of 
New  York  city.  In  1S()5  Mr.  Jones  became  president  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Lead  Companv,  a  corporation  manufacturinuf  and  mining-  lead  in  the 
state  of  Missouri;  and  bv  persistent  energy  he  has  raised  the  Company 
to  its  present  position  as  one  of  the  largest  lead  producing  concerns  of 
the  United  States  and  the  world.  With  this  Lead  Company  are  also 
associated  a  railway  corporation  having-  a  road  forty-eig-ht  miles  in 
length,  and  a  cattle  and  farming  company  transacting-  a  large  business, 
of  both  of  which  Mr.  Jones  is  president.  He  is  also  president  of  the 
Doe  Run  Lead  Companv.  During  the  thirty  years  of  his  presidency  of 
the  St.  Joseph  Lead  Company,  he  has  sjjent  much  of  his  time  at  the 
mines  of  Missouri,  where  now  there  is  a  prosperous  community.  During 
this  entire  period  there  has  never  been  a  serious  strike  among  the  men  ; 
it  having  been  one  of  the  chief  concerns  of  the  company,  under  the 
leadership  of  Mr.  Jones,  not  <inly  t<i  treat  its  employees  fairly,  but  also 
to  aid  in  every  undertaking-  which  ])romised  to  contribute  to  their  i)leas- 
ure,  or  their  moral  or  physical  welfare. 

In  politics  Mr.  Jones  has  been  a  Kepublican  since  the  days  of  the 
I'Vee  Soil  ]-iartv.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war,  while  deep  in  his 
work  at  Englewood,  he  was  an  ardent  Northerner,  frequently  speaking 
at  ])ublic  meetings.  He  was  many  years  Chairman  of  the  Republican 
County  Executive  Committee,  and  was  chosen  a  delegfate-at-large  from 
the  State  of  New  Jersey  to  the  Presidential  Convention  of  1.S72.  In 
lS7<i  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  by  the  Engle- 
wood  Republicans  after  he  had  declared  himself  friendly  to  Senator 
Conkling-,  and  opposed  to  Hon.  James  (i.  Blaine,  and  subsequently  by 
the  State  Ccmvention  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Presidential  Con- 
vention at  Cincinnati.  There,  with  five  other  New  Jersey  delegates,  he 
refused  to  vote  for  Mr.  IJlaine,  and  voted  on  the  first  and  every  ballot 
for  Mr.  Hayes,  who  was  nominated  by  the  Convention.  While  this 
course  was  distasteful  to  the  Blaine  adherents,  so  far  as  Mr.  Jones  was 
concerned  it  was  in  accord  with  the  declarations  he  had  jireviously 
made,  and  with  the  decision  of  his  Englewood  constituents.  In  late 
years  he  has  taken  no  .-ictive  i)art  in  politics,  but  maintains  a  loyal 
adherence  to  his  party,  and  an  earnest  concern  for  the  country's  pros- 
perity. 

Personally  Mr.  Jones  is  a  courtly  gentleman  who  is  thoroughly 
American,  and  he  counts  his  friends  among  all  classes  of  men.  He 
possesses  a  keen  insight  into  human  nature,  and  judges  quickly  and 
accurately.  He  is  reserved  in  manner  and  refined  in  his  tastes.  In  1<SS() 
he  married  Mrs.  Salome  Hanna  Chapin,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  During 
the  winter  season  they  reside  at  Thomasville,  (leorgia,  where  they  have 
a  vSouthern  home  of  rare  attractiveness,  and  where  Mr.  Jones  has  inter- 
ested himself  in  the  development  both  of  the  aesthetic  and  the  practical 
sides  of  the  town.  They  also  have  a  charming  summer  home  at  Bolton 
Massachusetts. 


608  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

HON.  JOHN'  VAN  BRUNT. 

Hon.  John  Van  Brunt  was  one  of  the  promotors  of  the  Northern 
Railroad,  and  a  resident  of  Eng-lewood  Township  from  1834  to  the  time 
of  his  death  June  20,  187'».  He  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  February 
17,  1802,  and  before  coming  to  Englewood  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  West  Street,  New  York,  for  eight  years.  In  1830  he  mar- 
ried Margaret  daughter  of  Peter  Westeryelt,  Jr.,  of  Englewood,  and 
four  years  later  took  up  his  residence  on  the  farm  where  he  resided  until 
his  decease. 

He  took  an  especial  interest  in  the  cause  of  Education  and  the 
office  of  Town  Superintendent  was  filled  by  him  from  1847  to  18(>7- 
or  during  the  whole  time  the  provision  made  by  that  law  was  in 
existence.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Bergen  County  Mutual 
Assurance  Association;  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  from  1S4'»  to 
1853  and  held  other  positions  of  trust. 

DR.     H.\KDV    M.     BANKS. 

Dr.  Hardy  M.  Banks,  the  youngest  of  five  children  was  born  on 
August  <»,  1 830  at  Murfresboro,  N.  C.  His  father  Hardy  M.  Banks,  was 
a  planter  at  Murfresboro,  where  his  son  was  educated.  He  died  there 
in  1 84 1.  In  i846  young  Banks  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office 
of  Dr.  James  B.  Gilbert  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  one  and  a  half  years 
afterwards  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  John  F.  Gray  a  leading  homeo- 
pathic physician  of  New  York  city.  He  was  gratuated  from  the  Medi- 
cal Department  of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York  in  i84*>. 
Not  being  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  graduation  Dr.  Banks  went  to  Paris 
and  attended  the  lectures  of  the  ''Faculty  of  Medicine"  for  two  years, 
and  attended  lectures  of  that  famous  writer  on  medical  therapeutics. 
Dr.  Trousseau,  a  professed  believer  in  the  palliative  treatment  of 
.■\llopathy. 

In  1 852  Dr.  Banks  received  his  diploma  from  the  University  of  the 
City  of  New  York  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  that  city,  and  soon  afterwards  became  associated  with  Dr.  A.  D. 
Wilson,  a  leading  homeopath  with  wht)m  he  remained  until  i860.  In 
the  summer  of  i860  he  k)cated  in  Englewood.  Dr.  Banks  is  very  popu- 
lar and  was  president  of  the  Protection  Society  of  the  villiage  for  a 
number  of  years. 

DR.    D.    A.    CURKIK. 

Dr.  D.  A.  Currie,  Mayor  of  Englewood,  was  born  October  1(1,  1.S42,  at 
Searsville,  N.  Y.  In  1857  he  entered  as  a  student  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
Sanford  Eastman,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  attended  lectures  at  the 
Medical  University  of  Buffalo,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1863.  He 
afterwards  studied  at  Edinburg  University,  for  two  and  half  years  and 
at  the  close  of  the  year  1867  returned  to  the  United  States  settling  in 
Englewood  in  the  practice  of  his  professicm  in  1872.  His  specialties  in 
practice    are    surgery,   and    diseases    of  women    and   children.      He    was 


HISTOKY    OF    BERGEN   COUNTY  611 

president  of  the  Bergen  County  Medical  Society  in  1876,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  various  medical  societies.  He  enjoys  wide  popularity  in  Engle- 
wood  and  upon  the  organization  of  the  city  was  elected  its  mayor.  He 
served  in  the  Spanish  American  War  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the 
Second  New  Jersey  Regiment. 

GAKKET  A.  LYDECKEK. 

The  Lydecker  family  are  descendants  of  Ryck  Lydecker,  who  was 
amt)ng  the  first  settlers  of  Bushwick,  L.  I.,  in  1661,  where  he  obtained 
a  grant  of  land  in  1660,  as  recorded  on  page  54  of  the  English  Manual. 

In  the  years  1662-63-65  he  was  magistrate  of  the  town,  and  was 
appointed  captain  of  the  militia  June  24th,  1663,  as  noted  on  the  town 
record.  The  muster  roll  contained  forty  names,  including  officers,  and 
these  were  divided  into  watches  of  ten  men  each,  of  whom  one  watch 
was  on  duty  each  night  as  a  guard  against  attack  by  the  Indians,  and 
<m  June  22d,  1663,  Stuyvesant,  the  Director  General,  visited  the  village 
and  ordered  a  fortification  of  the  place  with  palisades,  as  a  further 
protection. 

Ryck  Lydecker  married  Claere  Voormiere,  and  their  children  were: 
(ierrit,  born  in  1650;  Jan,  born  in  1653;  Rj'ck,  Cornelis  and  Abraham. 
It  is  not  probable  that  Ryck  ever  lived  in  New  Amsterdam  or  New  Har- 
lem. He  died  prior  to  November  28th,  1666.  His  son,  Gerrit,  married 
Neeltje  Cornelis,  from  Kuijl,  Holland,  daughter  of  Cornelis  Cornelison, 
at  New  Amsterdam,  in  the  Dutch  church.  May  20th,  1682,  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  Englewood,  probably  in  16<)1  to  1696.  The  children  of 
this  marriage  were:  Ryck,  born  May  7th,  1683;  Lysabeth,  November  2, 
1684;  Claere,  October  3.  1686;  Cornelis,  March  13,  1689;  Gerrit,  October 
21,  1691.  These  children  were  all  baptized  in  New  York  at  the  dates 
given,  except  Lysabeth,  who  was  baptized  in  Hackensack  August  "Hh. 
1696. 

Gerrit  married  Weintjen  Terhuen,  young  daughter  of  Albert 
Terhuen  and  Weyntie  Brickers,  (baptized  at  Hackensack  April  1st, 
1705),  April  5th,  1723.  Their  children  were:  Neeltje,  baptized  at 
Hackensack,  February  2,  1724;  Gerrit  born  at  Tappan,  N.  Y.  November 
19th,  1728;  Geertijn  baptized  at  Hackensack,  May  16th,  1731;  Cornelia, 
baptized  at  Schraalenburgh,  March  13,  1734 ;  Antjen,  baptized  at 
Hackensack,  March  21st,  1736;  Elizabeth,  May  28th,  1738;  Albert, 
August  10th,  1740.  These  three  were  baptized  at  Hackensack,  Marytje 
was  born  at  Schraalenburgh,  March  20,  1743,  and  Neeltje  was  baptized 
at  Schraalenburgh,  August  22,  1745.  Gerrit  G.  Lydecker  son  of  Gerrit 
Lydecker  and  Weintjen  Terhuen,  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary 
War  and  was  subsequently  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Legislature. 

He  married  Lydia  Demarest  (twin  daughter  of  Jacobus  Demarest 
and  Margreitje  Cozine  Herring),  baptized  at  Schraalenburgh  July  19, 
1733,  marriage  record  not  found.  Both  became  members  of  South 
Church  March  11,  1762.  Their  children  were  Gerred,  born  August  29, 
17.53;  Jacobus,  May  27,  1755;   Wyntje,  April  17,  1757;   Margrietje,  April 


612  HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


lf>,  1759;  Gerrit,  Aug-ust  31,  17()1;  Jacobus  and  Cornells  (twins)  March 
2S,  1764;  Lidia,  September  13,  17()();  Jacobus,  March  14,  1769;  Elizabeth, 
June  2o.  1771,  and  Maria,  March  15,  1774.  These  were  all  born  at 
Knglewood. 

His  son  Garrit  born  August  31,  17(>1,  drove  one  of  the  wagons 
containing-  household  goods  belonging  to  the  family  when  they  fled 
from  the  British,  and  after  crossing  at  New  Bridge,  the  bridge  was 
destroyed  behind  them  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  following.  The 
British  after  landing  at  Fort  Lee  came  and  encamped  on  the  Lydecker 
homestead  adding  quite  materially  to  their  commissary  stores  by  appro- 
priating a  number  of  fat  sheep  and  hogs,  which  were  necessarily  left 
behind.  Mr.  Lvdecker  subsequently  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
on  this  farm.  He  married  Annaatje  Westervelt,  daughter  of  Ari  and 
(ieertje  (Zabriskie)  Westervelt,  (born  February  16,  1766)  November 
27.  1784. 

Their  children  were  :  Abraham  born  May  23,  i7S6;  Gertrude,  born 
April  16,  1790,  married  John  Edsall  of  English  Neighborhood ;  and 
John,  born  December  25,  1795.  Garret  Lydecker  died  April  27,  1848, 
and  his  wife  September  15,  1849. 

Abraham  the  eldest  son  of  this  Garret,  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead as  given  above,  and  became  a  farmer,  as  his  father  had  been.  He 
was  active  and  energetic,  identified  with  the  interests  of  his  locality. 
He  served  as  freeholder  of  his  township  for  two  terms,  and  represented 
his  district  in  the  Legislature  of  the  state.  A  man  of  sound  judgment 
and  business  abilitv  he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  act  as  executor  and 
administrator  of  estates.  Mr.  Lydecker  married  Maria,  daughter  of 
Uaid  N.,  and  Maretje  (De  Clark)  Demarest,  December  iS,  i808.  Their 
children  were  Garret  A.,  David,  born  May  3i,  i8i4,  died  in  infancy  ; 
Mary  Ann,  born  February  15,  1820,  married  Thomas  W.  Demarest, 
and  Martha  born  July  18,  1824,  married  John  Van  Nostrand.  Abraham 
Lydecker  died  November  20,  11S41,  and  his  wife  tm  July  7,    i834. 

Garret  A.  Lydecker  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  his  son  Abra- 
ham afterward  resided,  in  Englewood,  on  January  5,  1811.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  locality  and  at  the  Hackensack 
Academy.  In  1833  he  removed  to  the  farm  which  became  his  by  bequest 
from  his  grandfather.  Garret  Lydecker,  and  continued  to  reside  here 
during  his  life.  Mr.  Lydecker  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  his  younger 
days  was  interested  in  local  politics.  He  was  freeholder  of  his  township 
for  three  years,  and  was  town  committeeman  for  a  period  of  about  fifteen 
years;  also  holding  the  position  of  commissioner  of  appeals,  and  other 
local  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Hackensack,  and  of  the  Hackensack  Savings  Institu- 
tion, and  a  director  in  the  Bergen  County  Mutual  Assurance  Society,  of 
which  his  father  was  one  of  the  founders.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
True  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  of  Leonia,  in  which  he  held  the  office  of 
elder  for  many  years. 


THOMAS    \Vn,I.IA:\I    I.VDKCKKK 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGP:n    COUNTY  ()1,S 

Mr.  Lydecker  was  married  first  to  Gertrude,  daug-hter  of  Peter  J. 
Cole,  on  August  25,  i83f.  She  was  born  August  22,  1813,  and  died 
August  10,  1847.  Of  this  marriage  were:  Gertrude,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Abraham,  born  January  M),  18.^4,  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  Ralph 
S.  and  Jane  (Haring)  Dcmarcst;  Rachel,  born  July  10,  1838,  married 
James  Christie;  Maria,  born  August  i2,  1841,  wife  of  Cornelius  Terhune, 
and  John,  who  died  in  infancy.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Maria, 
daughter  of  Samuel  R.  and  Elizabeth  ( Zabriskie )  Demarest,  of  Bergen 
county.  They  were  married  December  30,  1847.  The  children  of  this 
union  were  Thomas  William,  born  April  i8,  i849,  died  October  20,  l.s70, 
and  Martha,  born  April  9,  185i,  married  Silas  Wright,  of  Jersey  C'ity, 
died  July  29,  1879.      Mr.  Lydecker  died   March  16,  1888. 

THOMAS    WILLIAM     LYDKCKKK. 

Thomas  William  f.,ydecker,  grandson  of  Garret  A.,  is  of  Holland 
and    French    ancestry,  having   descended   directly    through     the  line   oT 


KESIDKNCK 


)K    TUDMAS    «  II. 1, 1AM     I.VIIKCKKK 


Lydeckers  and  Demarests,  two  of  the  oldest  families  in  Bergen  county. 
On  the  maternal  side  his  grandfather  Ralph  S.  Demarest,  was  a  great 
grandson  of  Samuel  Demarest  who  was  imprisoned  in  the  Old  Sugar 
House  in  New  York  city,  being  a  true  patriot  worthy  of  historical 
notice.  The  four  sons  of  Samuel  Demarest  all  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Ralph  S.,  who  was  a  schoolmate  of  Hamilton  Fish  and 
John  Jay  in  New  York  city,  chose  the  life  of  an  agriculturist,  becoming 
a  representative  man  not  (mly  in  business  but  among  men.  He  was  one 
of  the  projectors  of  the  Northern  railroad  of  New  Jersey  and  was  for 
many  years  a  director  in  the  company.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New 
Jersey  State  Assembly  from  1854  to  1855,  and  was  also  State  Senator 
from  1859  to  1861.  His  daughter,  Rachel,  married  Abraham  Lydecker, 
a  farmer.  Their  children  were  (iarret  and  Jennie,  who  both  died  in 
infancy,    Gertrude,    Ralph    Demarest.    Thomas    William,     and     Bessie. 


616  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

Thomas  William  was  born  at  EuHflewood  August  11,  1868.  He  occu- 
pies the  house  built  in  1803,  by  his  great-grandfather.  Garret  Lydecker, 
and  in  which  his  grandfather  Garret  A.  Lydecker  was  born  January  5, 
ISll.  This  is  the  oldest  house  in  Englewood,  a  print  of  which  accom- 
panies this  sketch. 

Thomas  William  Lydecker  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Englewood.  He  is  a  floriculturist,  devoting  his  time  almost  wholly  to 
the  cultivation  of  roses.  He  began  in  a  small  way  in  1892,  first  occupy- 
ing a  building  covering  a  space  of  about  eleven  by  forty-eight  feet  and 
having  on,ly  about  two  hundred  feet  under  glass.  His  business  has 
increased  until  he  now  has  25,000  square  feet  under  glass,  and  does  a 
wholesale  trade  almost  exclusively.  He  is  a  thorough  going  business 
man,  understanding  and  carr3'ing  out  in  detail  the  enterprise  he  has  so 
successfully  inaugurated.  Mr.  Lydecker's  father  died  September  16, 
1885.      His  mother  is  still  living. 

JAMES    LYDECKER 

Another  branch  of  the  family  descends  from  James,  son  of  Captain 
Garret,  whose  son  Garret  J.,  was  born  in  i797,  died  in  i880.  He  was  a 
man  who  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  the  locality  then  known  as 
the  English  Neighborhood,  having  large  farming  interests,  and  being 
one  whose  advice  was  sought  in  all  leading  questions  of  the  day.  His 
wife  was  Sarah  Ryer,  who  died  in  1862.  Their  children  were  James, 
John  R.,  Cornelius,  and  Maria.  John  R.,  was  born  in  i824.  He  was  a 
merchant  for  a  number  of  years.  Afterwards  he  entered  political  life 
and  served  as  deputy  collector  for  the  port  of  New  York  for  twenty-five 
years.  He  was  a  personal  friend  of  President  Arthur  and  many  other 
well  known  men.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ward.  They  had  four  children. 
Garrett  J.,  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  the  regular  army,  J.  Ward,  Robert  and 
Ida.     He  died  in  i896. 

James  was  born  January  i5,  i822.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age 
he  went  to  New  York  and  became  station  agent  for  the  Harlem  Rail- 
road and  in  one  way  and  another  he  had  been  connected  with  the  railroad 
interests  until  his  retirement  to  private  life.  In  iS()2  he  went  to  Alex- 
andria, Va.,  where  he  served  the  interests  of  railroad  officials  as 
conductor  in  and  about  Washington  for  awhile,  but  in  1864.  and  for  a 
few  years  subsequently,  he  conducted  a  train  for  the  Erie  Railroad,  from 
Port  Jervis  up  through  the  Catskills  in  New  York.  In  i868  he  returned 
to  Englewood  and  subcontracted  for  the  building  of  the  Northern  Rail- 
road of  New  Jersey  and  afterwards  wasconductor  for  a  train  on  this  road. 
In  1842  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Lake  with  whom  he  lived  fifty  years. 
Four  children  were  born  of  this  union. 

CORNELIUS    LVUECKEK. 

Cornelius  Lydecker  a  descendant  of  Dutch  ancestry,  who  emigrated 
Irom  Amsterdam,  Holland,  at  an  early  day,  is  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
the  county.  He  is  a  great  grandson  of  Garret  Lydecker,  and  a  grand- 
son of  James  Lydecker  and  Mariah  Day.  Mr.  Lydecker's  father  was 
(iaret  J.,  who  married  Sarah   Ryers.      Their  children  were  James,   John 


HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY  ()17 

R.,  and  Cornelius  who  was  born  at  Englewood  on  the  ])lace  where  he 
now  lives,  April  16,  1827.  Mr  Lydecker  has  had  a  varied  experience  in 
both  public  and  private  life.  In  1846,  he  went  to  New  York  as  a  clerk 
in  the  dry  goods  store  of  his  brother  John,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
The  gold  excitement  of  i849,  attracting  him  to  California,  he  went  by 
the  water  route  sailing  around  Cape  Horn.  After  a  stay  of  two  years 
in  the  gold  regions  he  returned  home  and  subsequently  entered  the 
political  field,  soon  after  being  elected  surveyor  of  highways.  Follow- 
ing this  he  was  elected  township  collector,  and  in  1862,  was  elected 
county  collector,  holding  that  office  five  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected 
to  the  state  senate,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  being  continued  in  this 
office  from  year  to  year  until  1875,  when  he  became  a  candidate  for  state 
treasurer  and  comptroller,  and  for  seven  years  thereafter  he  was  a 
lobbyist  in  the  Senate.  In  1871,  Mr.  Lydecker  with  William  B.  Dana, 
editor  of  the  "Financial  Chronicle"  built  the  Palisade  Mountain 
House.  He  then  took  a  rest  by  travelling  for  a  time,  returning  to 
engage  in  real  estate,  building  and  selling. 

Mr.  Lydecker  was  married  in  1852  to  Miss  Catherine  S.  Van  Blar- 
com,  they  have  six  children,  Mary  wife  of  Oliver  Drake  Smith,  Mary 
Ryers,  wife  of  Stanly  P.  Parsons,  Elizabeth,  Garret  in  a  banking 
house  at  18  Wall  Street,  New  York,  Katie  and  Cornelius  at  Englewood. 
Mr.  Lydecker  is  a  member  of  Masonic  Lodge,  114. 

AI.EX.\NDEI<  CASS,   ESQ. 

Alexander  Cass,  Esq.,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Surveyor,  Coroner  and 
citizen  needs  no  introduction,  although  many  have  been  introduced  to 
him,  and  some  in  the  quiet  retirement  of  the  County  boarding  house  in 
Hackensack  have  subsequently  regretted  the  necessity  of  the  interview. 
Mr.  Cass  was  born  November  20,  1825,  at  Carlisle,  Schoharie  county, 
N.  Y.  When  he  was  about  eighteen  months  old  his  father  died.  Some 
two  years  later  his  mother  remarried  and  went  to  Carthage,  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  to  reside.  She  died  there  in  1852.  The  then  juvenile 
Alexander  did  not  accompany  his  mother  to  her  new  home,  but  was  left 
with  his  maternal  grandparents,  at  Carlisle,  on  a  farm.  There  he 
grew,  and  when  of  sufficient  years  was  sent  to  the  public  school,  where 
he  received  a  rudimentary  education.  When  he  reached  the  age  of 
twelve  years  he  was  taken  from  the  school  and  sent  to  Albany,  where 
for  a  year  he  officiated  as  clerk  in  a  store.  At  the  end  of  the  twelve 
months  he  returned  to  his  grandparents'  home,  where  he  remained  for  a 
few  weeks.  Next  he  was  sent  to  the  Schoharie  Academy,  remaining 
two  years.  After  this  he  worked  for  one  season  on  the  farm  of  an 
uncle,   but,  as  he  himself  says,  he  did  not  take  kindly  to  farming. 

He  next  attended  a  select  school  conducted  by  Prof.  A.  Smith 
Knight,  a  most  excellent  teacher,  who  was  also  a  civil  engineer  and  a 
lawyer.  There  he  studied  surveying  and  acted  as  amanuensis.  During 
the  last  six  months  of  study  under  Prof.  Knight  he  made  his  home  with 
him.      He  left  his  tuition  Ajiril  1,  1.S42,  and  became  teacher  of  the  school 


HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY  f)14 

in  Carlisle  where  he  had  received  his  earlier  education.  The  school  was 
known  as  District  N.  4,  or  the  Little  York  District.  He  tauj^ht  there  for 
two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  went  to  an  adjoining-  district,  known  as 
Rockville.  There  he  remained  live  and  one-half  j-ears.  From  1848  to 
ISSO,  however,  he  spent  a  portion  of  his  time,  Saturdays  generally,  in 
the  law  office  of  Mr.  John  H.  Salsbury,  at  Carlisle.  In  November  1850, 
Mr.  Cass  went  to  Cobleskill,  N.  Y.,  where  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Messrs.  T.  and  H.  Smith,  remaining  until  September  1852,  as  a  student, 
subsequently  entering  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Albany, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  April  1853.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  April  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  the  same 
year,  at  Albany,  as  an  Attorney  and  Counsellor  at  Law.  Meantime  the 
Senior  member  of  the  firm,  Thomas  Smith  had  moved  his  law  office  to 
Albany  and  Mr.  Cass  remained  with  him  at  No.  51  State  Street,  for  some 
time.  He  looks  back  with  a  justifiable  pride  tt)  the  fact  that  he  paid 
most  of  his  way  while  studying  law,  with  money  he  saved  while  teach- 
ing school.  One  man,  Mr.  Charles  Courter  proved  his  bon  ami,  and 
advanced  him  money  to  enable  him  to  finish  his  legal  course  and  pay 
graduating  expenses,  taking  Mr.  Cass's  note,  simply,  as  security.  This 
was  paid  after  Mr.  Cass  removed  to  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Cass  came  to  this  state,  to  Bergen  county.  May  22,  1853,  and 
and  through  Mr.  John  Van  Brunt  was  appointed  teacher  of  the  Upper 
Teaneck  public  school.  In  1842  the  school  committee  consisted  of 
Abram  Ely,  New  Bridge;  Abram  Carlock,  P^ort  Lee;  and  John  Van 
Brunt,  English  Neighborhood.  There  were  then  ten  school  districts  in 
the  township.  In  1853  there  were  thirteen,  as  follows:  Bulls  Ferry,  Fort 
Lee,  English  Neighborhood,  Tenafly,  Lower  Teaneck,  New  Bridge, 
Schraalenburgh,  Kinderkamack,  Closter,  Upper  Teaneck,  Central  Eng- 
lish Neighborhood,  Old  Bridge  and  Palisades.  The  Coytesville  district 
was  set  off  frcmi  District  No.  11,  this  year  (1898).  In  Mr.  Van  Brunt's 
report  for  1854  he  says:  "Eight  districts  have  changed  teachers  within 
the  year.  These  changes  are  not  so  much  to  be  attributed  to  entire 
dissatisfaction  with  the  teachers  as  to  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  trustees 
to  engage  the  services  of  such  as  possess  rare  abilities.  This  township 
has  now  a  far  better  corps  of  teachers  than  at  any  time  within  the 
recollection  of  the  superintendent."  This  may  be  considered  a  highly 
complimentary  reference  to  Mr.  Cass  and  the  other  seven  new  teachers. 

Mr.  Cass  assumed  charg-e  of  the  Upper  Teaneck  School  August  6, 
1S53.  The  school  house  was  then  located  on  the  corner  f)pposite  the 
present  building.  About  six  months  after  Mr.  Cass  assumed  charge  it 
was  moved  to  the  present  site.  He  taught  in  the  Upper  Teaneck  school, 
in  all  about  ten  and  a  half  years,  but  after  si.x  years  and  a  half  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Lower  Teaneck  District,  where  he  remained  two 
years  after  which  he  returned  to  the  Upper  District.  This  gave  him  all 
told  a  teachership  of  thirteen  years  in  Teaneck. 

Besides  his  experience  as  a  teacher  Mr.  Cass  had  other  connections 
with  various  schools.       In  1845  he  was  elected  Town  Superintendent  of 


620  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COtTNTY 

Public  Schools  at  Carlisle,  but  could  not  qualify  on  account  of  his  age. 
The  next  year  he  was  re-elected  and  served  for  two  terms.  He  moved 
from  Teaneck  to  Englewood  in  1865.  In  1867  he  was  appointed  School 
Superintendent  for  Bergen  coiinty,  being  the  first  man  to  hold  that 
office.  He  remained  in  the  position  two  terms  or  six  years  in  all.  The 
salary  for  the  first  year  was  S688,  of  which  he  had  to  pay  expenses. 
Subsequently  the  Board  of  Freeholders  allowed  SlflO  extra  for  the 
latter  purpose. 

Since  retiring  from  the  position  of  County  Superintendent,  Mr.  Cass 
has  acted  as  civil  engineer,  been  a  Justice  of  "the  Peace,  a  Coroner,  and 
has  held  other  offices. 

His  first  term  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  began  in  18()4,  and  was  for  five 
years.  Mr.  Cass  is  now  serving  his  fiith  term  as  a  Justice.  He  was 
the  Town  Clerk  for  Englewood  from  1859to  1865.  He  was  Assessor  for 
Englewood  Township  during  the  years  ISTfi-??.  He  served  his  first 
term  as  Coroner,  1878  to  '81,  and  his  second  term  1892  to  '95,  the  term 
expiring  in  November.  Mr.  Cass  has  also  served  several  terms  as  Com- 
missioner of  Appeals.  In  1858  he  was  a,ppointed  one  of  the  two 
examiners  and  visitors  of  th,e|)ublic  schools  of  Bergen  county,  a  position 
beheld  for  two  years'    '       ,       ,  .        ' 

Many  of  our  citizens  were  pupils  under  his  tuition  at  Upjier  and 
Tjower  Teaneck,  and  Mr.  Cass  feels  proud  of  the  fact  that  ex-Judge  J. 
M.  \'an  Valen,  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  was  one  of  his  pupils. 
The  Judge  Teceived  his  first  license  as  a  teacher  from  Justice,  then 
superintendent  Cass. 

Other  pupils  who  received  their  early  training  under  his  guidance 
were  Rev.  S.  I.  Vanderbeek  of  the  Reformed  Church,  late  of  (irand 
Rapids,  Mich.;  Judge  Holt  of  Galesburgh,  N.  Y.;  H.  T.  Austin,  E.  I).. 
now  of  California;  and  lawyers,  late  George  Palmer,  of  East  Worchester. 
N.  Y..  and  Theodore  F.  Lozier  of  Jersey  City. 

Mr.  Cass  was  married  July  4,  1855,  to  Miss  Maria  Louisa  Halleck. 
a  lineal  descendant  of  Fitz  Greene  Halleck,  the  celebrated  author  of 
••  Marco  Bozzaris."  Miss  Halleck  was  a  native  of  Delaware  county,  N. 
Y.,  is  now  dead.  Two  children  were  born  to  them  Willard,  now  a 
civil  engineer,  and  a  daughter,  Hattie  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
months.  Mr.  Cass'  ancestors  were  Germans  and  Hollanders  on  the  ma- 
ternal side,  and  English  on  the  paternal  side.  He  traces  his  ancestry 
back  to  1686.  He  is  a  distant  relative  of  the  late  U.  S.  Senator  Lewis 
Cass,  of  Michigan." 

Copied  from  Englewood  Press,  of  September  7,  1S'I5. 

ABKAM    DK  KONDE. 

On  a  common  field  stone  in  the  old  De  Ronde  grave  yard  in  King 
Valley.  Rockland  county,  New  York,  is  the  name  of  Abram  De  Ronde,  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  The  death  of  this  old  soldier  occurred  in  1781, 
and  was  caused  by  a  gunshot,  in  an  attempt  the  Americans  were  mak- 
ing to  recapture  him  from  the  enemy  who  had  taken  him  while  he  was 
conducting  an  expedition  to  Clinton  Point. 


0<*^^^=-5:?Z^         A^ 


HISTOKY    OF    BHKGEN    COUNTY  ()2.> 


William  I)e  Rondo  was  the  i^randson  of  Hendrick  De  Ronde  one  (d' 
the  ancestors  of  this  family  who  e"aine  frcjm  Holland  in  Colonial  days  and 
settled  on  Long-  Island.  The  De  Ronde's  were  French  Huguenots,  who 
like  others  failed  to  find  an  asylum  in  Holland  and  came  to  this  country 
in  consequence.  His  son  William  De  Ronde  married  Rachel  Goetchess 
and  moved  to  Teaneck,  Bergen  county  about  sixty-five  years  ago.  He 
was  the  father  of  four  children  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Two  sons, 
Abram  and  John  died  recently,  aged  respectively  eighty-two  and  eighty- 
three  years.  The  other  son  W-^illiam,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  the  well  known  coal  dealer  of  Englewood  and  is  still  living. 
By  his  marriage  to  Miss  Lavinia  Doremus,  he  became  the  father  of 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  living  excej>t  Rachel 
the  eldest. 

Abram  De  Ronde  was  born  in  1S57,  and  his  career,  for  so  young  a 
man,  has  been  both  financially  and  politically  a  brilliant  one.  His 
education  preparatory  to  entering  College  was  received  in  the  Has- 
brouck  Institute,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
left  school  and  entered  upon  a  business  career,  which  eventually  evolved 
the  well-known  house  of  Abram  De  Ronde  &  Co.,  a  large  business  firm 
favorably  recognized  as  such  throughout  the  countries  of  Europe  as  well 
as  in  both  North  and  South  America.  It  is  not  often  that  financial  ven- 
tures backed  by  syndicates  and  moneyed  influence  have  forced  them- 
selves world  wide  upon  the  business  public  even  under  these  favorable 
circumstances,  but  Abram  De  Ronde  has  accomplished  this  mercantile 
feat,  not  only  alone  but  without  a  dollar  to  begin  the  enterprise  and 
with  the  natural  drawbacks  and  disadvantages  which  always  encumber 
such  undertakings. 

With  a  definite  conception  of  life  before  him  and  a  faith  in  himself 
necessarily  commensurate  with  the  victory  to  be  achieved,  Mr.  De  Ronde 
became  first  the  agent  for  E.  Oakes  &  Co.,  41  Dey  Street,  New  York, 
going-  to  Boston  for  this  firm,  where  he  succeeded  in  establishing  their 
Eastern  house  under  some  trying  difficulties  and  putting  it  upon  a 
solid  business  foundation.  Two  years  afterwards  he  established  a  busi- 
ness for  the  same  firm  in  Philadelphia,  and  when  twenty-four  years  of  age 
launched  out  for  himself  in  the  manufacturing  and  importing  of  chemi- 
cals, colors  and  dyes,  with  offices  in  New  York,  at  which  place  the  head- 
quarters of  the  concern  has  remained  ever  since,  with  branches  in  Bos- 
ton and  Philadelphia. 

The  manufacture  of  nitrate  of  iron  occupied  the  attention  of  Mr. 
De  Ronde  at  first,  but  as  business  necessitated,  other  chemicals  were 
put  upon  the  market,  and  the  trade  eventually  so  widened  that  importa- 
tions were  undertaken,  a  large  agency  with  a  competent  corps  of  buyers 
and  sellers  were  brought  into  requisition,  so  that  now  the  name  of 
Abram  De  Ronde  &  Co.  is  well  known  throughout  the  old  world,  and  is 
(me  of  the  most  prominent  of  American  houses  as  manufacturers  ;ind 
im])orters  of  all  kinds  nf  chemicals  and  dye  stuffs. 


h24  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

Mr.  De  Ronde  has  also  become  largely  identified  in  real  estate  in- 
terests, and  has  built  several  larg'e  houses  in  Englewood.  His  own  resi- 
dence is  one  of  the  most  elegant  structures  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

In  1889  Mr.  De  Ronde  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, and  was  re-elected  in  1893.  He  was  afterwards  candidate  for  State 
Senator,  but  was  defeated  in  the  nominating  convention.  As  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Democratic  party  he  served  four  years  on  the  State  Com- 
mittee of  New  Jersey,  but  not  approving  of  the  Chicago  platform,  he 
resigned  that  position  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  campaign  for 
sound  currency.  He  has  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  City  Council, 
of  Englewood,  where  he  now  lives. 

IIOSE.S    E.    SPRINGER. 

Mr.  M.  E.  Springer  is  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  Englewood.  and 
was  born  at  the  corner  of  Bedford  and  Commerce  streets,  in  the  old 
Ninth  Ward,  New  York,  August  5,  1827.  When  about  five  years  old  he 
was  taken  to  Paterson,  N.  J.,  where,  at  the  early  period  of  seven  sum- 
mers he  began  to  earn  bis  own  living.  He  was  first  put  to  work  in  a 
cotton  mill  and  at  one  time  worked  in  the  "  Old  Red  Mill  "  at  Oradell 
At  that  time  he  used  to  walk  the  entire  distance  to  and  from  Paterson, 
both  morning  and  night,  from  and  to  the  house  of  his  grandmother, 
where  he  resided. 

When  about  eleven  years  old  he  was  taken  back  to  the  city  of  New 
York,  where  he  attended  a  public  school  on  Seventeenth  street  for  a 
short  time.  He  afterward  received  a  brief  course  of  rudimentary  instruc- 
tion in  the  public  school,  which  with  an  occasional  month  or  two  at  a 
country  school  at  Cold  Spring,  and  at  the  Pond  Church.  Franklin  town- 
ship, this  county,  was  all  the  schooling  he  received. 

At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  was  placed  in  a  shoemaker's  store  and 
shop,  on  Houston,  opposite  Orchard  Street,  New  York  city,  with  a  view 
of  mastering  the  mysteries  of  the  cobbler's  art.  The  employment  was 
not  congenial  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  and  a  half  he  went  to  reside  with 
a  Dr.  Colville  who  at  that  time  had  a  local  reputation  as  the  "Scotch 
Doctor,"  a  man  who  was  both  a  practicing  physician  and  a  druggist. 
Master  Springer  remained  here  for  two  3-ears.  During  that  time  he 
mastered  the  art  of  making  pills,  learned  to  compound  drugs  and  to  put 
up  physicians' prescriptions.  This  line  of  business  proved  pleasant  to 
him,  but  those  who  had  control  of  his  destiny  thought  that  he  should 
learn  a  trade,  and  when  fifteen  years  and  a  half  old  he  was  taken  to 
Fishkill  Landing,  "  Five  Corners,"  N.  Y.,  and  apprenticed  to  ti  country 
carpenter  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner. 

Here  he  learned  to  swing  the  broad-axe,  to  handle  the  adze,  to 
tongue  and  groove  flooring  by  hand,  to  match  boards,  to  dress  siding,  to 
stick  mouldings,  and  to  do  all  the  various  things  pertaining  to  house 
building.  After  working  here  for  about  three  years  Mr.  Springer 
became  dissatisfied  with  the  prospects  in  a  small  country  town,  and  once 
again  returned  to  the  city  of  New  York  where  he  obtained   employment 


MOSES    K.    SPKINGEK 


HISTOKY    OK    KKKCKN    COUNTY  627 

for  a  time,  at  five  shillings  a  day,  under  instruction.  By  close  applica- 
tion he  soon  obtained  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  art  (jf  house  building, 
to  be  able  to  turn  his  hand  to  stair  building,  sash  and  blind  making 
which  are  now  followed  as  separate  trades. 

In  the  year  1853.  Mr.  Springer  liecame  acquainted  with  Miss  Mary 
A.  Golding,  of  English  parentage,  born  in  London,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  New  York.  He  wedded  her  in  1854.  At  this  time,  and  for 
two  or  three  years  previously  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  A.  G.  Bogert, 
in  Bank  street.  New  York,  a  brother  of  Mr.  Andrew  D.  Bogert,  of 
Englewood.  In  his  shoj),  for  some  time  he  occupied  the  responsible 
position  of  foreman,  until  in  the  Spring  of  185(>. 

About  this  time  he  started  West,  landing  in  B^'averdam,  Wisconsin. 
Two  years  following  his  arrival  at  Beaverdam  were  marked  b}-  great 
financial  depression,  and  although  Mr.  Springer  worked  hard  to  make  the 
business  of  a  steam  planing  mill  and  sash  and  door  factory  (in  which  he 
was  part  owner)  successful,  the  venture  proved  a  failure.  Heartily 
tired  and  sick  of  the  West  he  turned  his  feet  toward  his  former  home. 
To  reach  this  he  was  obliged  to  obtain  some  pecuniary  assistance,  hav- 
ing wasted  his  substance  and  accumulation  of  former  years  in  his 
ill-stared  venture  in  Beaverdam. 

As  Mr.  Springer  and  family  were  about  ready  to  start  for  the  East 
they  heard  through  a  friend  of  the  existence  of  a  place  called  Engle- 
wood, and  where  carpenters  would  be  in  demand  to  put  up  houses  which 
it  was  supposed  would  soon  be  needed  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
multitude  expected  to  flock  to  its  beautiful  site.  This  news  was  the 
changing  factor  in  Mr.  Springer's  life.  It  brought  him  to  Englewood 
in  time  to  grow  up  with  the  town  and  to  be  identified  with  its  founders. 
With  his  little  family  of  wife,  two  girls  and  a  boy,  he  left  Beaverdam. 
and  on  April  10,  1859,  landing  in  Englewood.  At  first  he  occupied  the 
house  which  has  recently  been  known  as  the  Metzler  house,  now  in 
Lafayette  Park;  and  worked  for  a  year  as  a  journeyman  carpenter  for 
Messrs.  Van  Brunt  &  Waters,  whose  shop  -a  brick  building  with  steam 
power — was  located  at  what  was  then  called  \'an  Brunt's  Station,  on 
Railroad  avenue,  near  Grand. 

Arriving  thus  in  the  infant  days  of  the  town,  Mr.  Springer  natur- 
allv  assisted  in  putting  up  scmie  of  the  first  buildings  which  were 
erected  in  the  place.  He  helped  to  build  the  first  railroad  station  at 
Englewood,  and  also  aided  in  constructing  the  water  tank  for  the  rail- 
road, Englewood  then  being  a  watering  station.  He  further  contri- 
buted his  labor  in  the  building  of  the  Presbyterian  Chapel  which  for  a 
long  time  occupied  the  site  where  the  Church  now  stands. 

In  the  Spring  of  18()0  Mr.  Springer  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Waters  in  the  firm  and  entered  into  a  co-partnership  with  Mr.  Adriance 
Van  Hrunt.  One  of  the  first  buildings  erected  by  them  vras  the  store 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  H.  J.  DeMott,  on  Palisade  Avenue,  by  the  rail- 
road. In  this  building  Englewood  had  its  first  post-office  located.  Mr. 
John   Van   Brunt,    then   the   owner,    being    the   first   postmaster.       The 


628  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

small  building'  now  owned  and  occupied  by  tbe  Woman's  Exchange  was 
erected  along-  side  the  Van  Brunt  building  and  was  used  as  Van  Brunt 
&  Springer's  office. 

At  the  close  of  the  civil  war  thej  removed  their  shop  from  Van 
Brunt's  station,  and  erected  the  large  building  west  of  the  railroad, 
for  a  time  known  as  the  Ramie  Spinning  Works,  although  used 
at  one  time  as  a  rubber  factory,  subsequently  as  the  Democratic 
Campaign  headquarters  during  the  Cleveland  campaign,  and  since 
as  a  livery  stable.  They  fitted  the  building  with  steam  power 
and  introduced  the  many  wood  working  machines  required  in  con- 
ducting a  large  business  for  building  purposes.  Mr.  Joseph  Blauvelt 
was  about  this  time  taken  into  partnership  with  Messrs.  Van  Brunt  & 
Springer,  and  the  firm  became  ''Van  Brunt,  Springer  &  Blauvelt." 
After  a  few  years  Mr.  Springer  purchased  the  interest  of  his  two  partners 
and  then  for  a  number  of  years  conducted  the  business  alone.  During 
this  time  he  erected  many  substantial  residences. 

Mr.  Springer  has  been  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Englewood  almost  from  the  date  of  its  organization,  both 
himself  and  wife  having  united  with  it  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hewett,  who  was  in  charge  during  the  first  six  months  after  the 
erection  and  dedication  of  the  building.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Official  Board  of  the  church  from  that  time  to  the  present,  and  was 
largely  instrumental  in  raising  the  funds  necessary  for  the  work  of  en- 
larging the  church  building  in  1<S()9,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E. 
W.  Burr. 

Mr.  Springer  has  always  been  greatly  interested  in  the  subject  of 
temperance,  and  to  him  is  due  the  credit  of  the  establishment  of  the 
Englewood  Lodge  of  Good  Templars,  No.  103,  April  12,  1870.  He  was 
also  instrumental  in  establishing  a  children's  order  called  the  Temple 
of  Honor.  He  was  also  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Tuscan  Lodge, 
F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Englewood,  and  was  the  third  Grand  Master  of  the 
Lodge,  holding  that  office  for  two  j-ears.  For  fifteen  consecutive  years 
he  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Englewood  Free  School,  and  for  a 
considerable  portion  of  that  time  he  held  the  position  of  District  Clerk. 
He  has  also  been  connected  with  Brookside  Cemetery  as  its  Superin- 
tendent, from  the  date  of  its  organization,  and  still  holds  that  position, 
as  well  as  being  one  of  the  the  trustees  and  secretary  of  the  Cemetery 
Association. 

In  1872  Mr.  Springer  retired  from  the  business  of  carpenter  and 
builder.  But  having  subsequently  invested  heavily  in  considerable 
property  he  also  burdened  himself  with  a  heavy  mortgage  in  the  pur- 
chases. The  financial  depression  of  1873  followed  with  its  reverse  and 
shrinkage  of  values,  and  the  result  proved  disastrous,  leaving  him  some 
S4,()00  worse  off  than  nothing,  and  he  was  obliged  to  begin  life  over 
again. 

In  the  fall  of  1X75  he  started  in  his  present  business  of  Undertaker 
and    Funeral    Director,    in    which    he  has  been  successful.      During  the 


JnaiUuaST^^^^'' 


HISTOKV    OK    BKKGEN    COUNTY  631 

winter  of  1875-76  he  started  a  hardware  and  house  furnishing  store, 
having-  purchased  entirely  on  credit  the  stock  and  fixtures  of  a  small 
store  of  that  description  in  the  Parramore  building,  on  Palisade  avenue. 
He  continued  at  this  stand  until  his  growing  stock  became  too  large  for 
the  building,  when  he  leased  a  much  larger  store  in  the  Athenaeum 
building  and  fitted  same  up  with  especial  reference  to  the  necessities  of 
his  trade.  The  work  of  fitting  up  was  done  by  himself.  He  then  took 
his  son,  who  had  been  clerking  for  him  from  the  start,  into  partnership, 
and  for  a  time  the  firm  did  a  thriving  business.  The  Athenaeum  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  November  1887,  and  their  business  went  up  as  the 
building  was  dissipated  in  smoke.  During  the  time  he  was  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  Mr.  Springer  succeeded  in  paying  off  the  entire 
debt  incurred  during  the  financial  depression  of  1873. 

After  the  fire  at  the  Athenaeum  Mr.  Springer  again,  for  a  few  years, 
devoted  himself  to  the  business  of  constructing  houses,  putting  up  a 
number  of  dwellings  in  Englewood.  But  the  attention  this  required  in 
addition  to  the  duties  pertaining  to  his  profession  of  undertaker  proved 
to  great,  and  he  was  once  more  compelled  to  relinquish  the  carpenter 
trade. 

In  August  1S40  Mr.  Springer  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Engle- 
wood Mutual  Loan  and  Building  Association.  The  success  of  that 
organization  is  good  proof  of  the  character  of  his  work  in  that 
capacily. 

His  family  has  been  increased  since  he  made  Englewood  his  home 
by  a  son  and  daughter,  making  five  children  in  all,  four  of  whom  are 
married.  He  has  seventeen  grandchildren,  all  living,  and  when  he 
gives  a  Christmas  or  other  family  dinner  he  has  a  full  table  indeed. 

Mr.  Springer  has  also  served  as  Assessor  for  the  township  of  Engle- 
wood, and  incidentally  while  in  that  position  as  Secretary  to  the  Board 
of  Health. 

It  will  be  seen  that  his  life,  while  passed  in  the  quiet  lines  of  trade 
and  business,  has  been  by  no  means  an  uneventful  one.  Much  of  it  has 
been  directly  or  intimately  passed  in  the  building  of  Englewood,  and 
few  men  have  done  more  than  he  in  his  mf)dest  way  to  make  the  town 
what  it  is.  -From  the  Eng-lewood  Press  of  August  3,  18M5. 


.\NDKKW    DEM.\KEST    BOGEUT. 

.\ndrew  D.  Bogert  was  born  at  Teaneck,  Bergen  county,  N.  J.,  May 
2.S,  1835,  and  is  the  son  of  (iilliam  and  Marie  Demarest  Bogert.  The 
American  ancestor  of  the  family  was  Gilliam  Bogert,  who  emigrated 
from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  in  the  vear  1662.  Mr.  Bogert's  father  was 
a  volunteer  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  mother  was  a  direct  descendant  of 
north  of  France  Huguenot  stock. 

Mr.  Bogert  during  his  boyhood  resided  at  home  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  a  common  school  education,  principally  at  the  Teaneck  district 
school,  and  learned  the  art  of  farming,   before  leaving  home,    which  he 


HISTOKV    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  633 

(lid  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  then  went  to  New  York  city  where  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  carpentering  and  building-  business, 
during  which  period  he  utilized  the  opportunity-  afforded  b}-  the  Cooper 
Institute  night  school,  to  master  the  branches  best  suited  to  his  pur- 
])ose.  Mr.  Bogert  remained  in  New  York  city  until  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Englewood,  N.  J.,  and  entered  into 
the  contracting  and  building  business  on  his  own  account,  in  which  he 
has  since  been  prominent.  During  the  year  1877,  Mr.  Bogert  purchased 
the  Dutch  Point  saw  mill  and  plant,  adjoining  the  Colt's  factory  in  the 
city  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  where  he  carried  on  an  extensive  log- 
ging and  lumbering  trade  on  the  Connecticut  river,  in  which  Mr.  I.  S. 
Homans  was  associated  with  him.  This  property,  Mr.  Bogert  sold  in 
1878,  and  returned  to  Englewood,  where  he  has  since  continued  to 
reside,  conducting  his  extensive  contracting  and  building  business, 
constructing  many  of  the  tine  residences,  hotels  and  public  buildings  in 
the  neighborhood.  An  enumeration  of  a  few  of  these  includes  the 
Englewood  House,  the  Tenaily  Hotel,  Palisades  Mountain  House,  Fort 
Lee  Hotel  and  Octagon  Building,  the  Methodist,  Presbyterian  and 
Reformed  Dutch  churches,  the  Englewood,  Teaneck,  and  Undercliff 
school  buildings.  He  has  also  been  active  in  purchasing  and  promot- 
ing real  estate  enterprises  in  Englewood  and  vicinity,  in  buying,  build- 
ing and  selling,  and  was  the  promoter  of  Leonia  Park  at  Leonia,  N.  J. 

Mr.  Bogert  was  a  member  of  the  Englewood  Reformed  Church  until 
1881,  and  held  offices  of  trust.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Englewood  Presbyterian  Church.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Hol- 
land Society  of  New  York  in  1889,  and  was  elected  vice-president  for 
Bergen  county  in  189f).  For  ten  years  he  has  been  a  director  in  the 
Englewood  Loan  and  Building  Association  and  has  also  acted  on  the 
Building  Committee  during  that  time.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
Citizens"  Sewer  Company  since  its  incorporation  in  1882,  also  a  member 
of  the  Englewood  Field  Club  since  its  organization. 

In  ])olitics  Mr.  Bogert  is  an  ardent  Democrat  and  has  held  many 
minor  offices  of  trust.  He  was  elected  Chosen  Freeholder  from  Engle- 
wood township  in  the  spring  of  1895,  and  from  Englewood  city,  in  1898, 
his  familiarity  with  architectural  construction  and  finance,  well  fitting 
him  for  the  office.  He  has  been  president  of  the  Democratic  County 
Committee  for  three  terms,  has  alwaj-s  been  a  hard  worker  and  an  ener- 
getic organizer  in  every  undertaking.  He  is  of  Christian  character  and 
of  such  temperate,  methodical  and  unassuming  habits,  as  seems  the  best 
kind  of  success  with  which  American  life  is  concerned. 

AKlv'A.M    TAI.LMAN. 

Abram  Tallman  of  the  firm  of  Gulnac  &  Tallman,  carpenters  and 
builders  of  Englewood,  is  a  descendant  in  the  direct  male  line  of  Douwe 
Harmensen  Tallman  who  came  to  this  country  from  Friesland,  Holland 
in  1658  and  settled  in  Bergen  (  now  Jersey  City  ),  New  Jersey.  Douwe 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Nyack,  Rockland  county,  New  York,  extend- 


ABKAM    TALI. MAN. 


HISTOKY    OK    BKK(;EN    COUNTY  (>35 

ing  from  the  Hudson  River  to  the  Hackensack  River  and  embracing' 
what  is  now  the  business  portion  of  the  town.  His  son  Tunis  and 
Douwe  removed  to  N^ack  after  his  death  and  became  the  progenitors  of 
all  the  Tallmans  in  Rockland  county,  N.  Y.  and  Bergen  county,  N.  J. 
Mr.  Tallman  can  also  trace  his  connection  with  many  of  the  other  old 
Dutch  families  who  settled  in  this  country  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  and  the  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  centuries,  among 
them  being  the  DeRonde,  Onderdonk,  Haring  and  Blauvelt  families  of 
Rockland  county,  N.  Y. 

Abram  Tallman  was  born  at  Tallman's,  Rockland,  county,  N.  Y.,  on 
May  6,  184().  His  father,  John  A.  Tallman,  like  most  of  his  ancestors,  was 
a  farmer,  and  Abram's  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  attending 
school  at  Sufferns,  N.  Y.  In  1862,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  taught 
school  for  a  few  months  at  Tallman's,  the  first  venture  he  made  in  life 
for  himself.  In  1863  and  1864  he  was  employed  in  a  photograph  gallery 
in  New  York  city,  but  this  work  proving  too  trying  to  his  health,  he 
returned  to  Tallman's,  and,  after  six  months'  rest  on  the  farm,  found 
employment  at  the  Ramapo  Car  Shops,  at  Ramapo,  Rockland  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  stayed  for  the  next  two  years,  learning  the  car  building 
trade.  Afterwards  he  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  in  Sufferns  and 
Middletown,  N.  Y.,  and  Paterson,  N.  J.,  and  finally,  in  1867,  came  to 
Englewood.  From  1867  to  1882  he  worked  at  the  building  trade  in 
Englewood,  and  in  1882  formed,  with  Mr.  James  M.  Gulnac,  the  present 
firm  of  Gulnac  &  Tallman.  This  firm,  since  1882,  have  built  up  a  good 
business  and  established  a  first-class  reputaticm  for  themselves  as  car- 
penters and  builders,  and  are  among  the  leading  concerns  engaged  in 
that  business  in  Englewood,  having  built  many  of  the  city's  finest 
residences. 

Mr.  Tallman  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
Englewood,  having  seen  it  grow  from  a  village  of  about  fifteen  hundred, 
in  1867,  when  he  first  came  there,  to  a  city  of  about  five  thousand  five 
hundred  inhabitants  in  1889  to  189,3.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Engle- 
wood Township  Committee  from  1889  to  1893.  He  was  also  a  member  ' 
of  the  Citizens'  Committee  formed  in  1895  to  promote  the  movement  for 
the  incorporation  of  Englewood  as  a  city,  and  when  the  place  was  finally 
incorporated  in  1896,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first  regular  City 
Council  and  was  chairman  of  that  body  from  1896  to  1898. 

Mr.  Tallman  was  married  in  1870  to  Miss  Maria  Zabriskie  of  what 
is  now  Oradell,  Bergen  County,  N.  J.,  whose  ancestors  were  am(mg  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Bergen  County.  They  have  one  daughter  and  three 
sons  of  whom  (me.  William  Tallman  is  a  lawyer  practicing  in  New 
York  city. 

THE    BOKOUC.H    OF    ENC.I.EWOOD    CI.IKK.S. 

This  borough  originally  formed  a  part  of  Englewood  townshij)  and 
was  organized  into  a  municipality  by  itself  March  11th,  189.S.  W.  (). 
Allison  was  elected  mayor,  and  has  been  continued  in  office  to  the  pres- 


IJ.WID    J,.    KAKKICTT. 


HISTORY  OF  BERGEN  COUNTY 


637 


ent  time.  John  (1.  Ropes,  Assessor  and  Clerk;  and  Benjamin  Woster- 
velt,  Collector,  have  also  held  their  respective  positions  from  the 
ortranization  of  the  biirou<>h. 


HUDSON    KIVKH    AND    THE    PAI.ISAI>H> 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
TEANECK  TOWNSHIP. 

HOW    FOKMED — CIVIL    LI.ST — TEANECK    GKANGE — SCHOOLS — BIOCIKAPHICAL 

This  township  was  formed  from  Englewood  township  and  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Berj^enfields  boroug-h,  east  by  Eng-lewood  city  and  Le- 
onia  borough,  south  by  Bog-ota  boroug-h  and  river,  and  on  the  west  bv 
the  Bogota  borough  and  river.  It  contains  about  three  thousand  live 
hundred  acres  and  has  a  real  estate  valuation  of  four  hundred  and  sixtv 
three  thousand,  six  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars.  The  population 
in  1895  was  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-five.  The  official 
vote  cast  at  the  November  election  of  1898  was  one  hundred  and  fortv- 
nine. 

The  township  was  incorporated  February  13,  1895.  The  first  officers 
were:— Township  Clerk,  P>ank  S.  De  Ronde,  1895-98;  John  H.  Acker- 
man,  1898-1901;  Township  Committee,  William  Bennett,  18<)5-98;  Peter 
I.  Ackerman,  1895-97;  Henry  J.  Brinkerhoff,  1895-96;  Freeholder,  John 
J.  Phelps,  1895-1901;  Assessor,  Daniel  (i.  Bogert,  1895-98;  Jonathan 
Hawkins,  1898-1901.  Collector,  Tunis  Cole,  1895-98  (died  in  1895), 
Warren  M.  Cluss  appointed  to  '96,  elected  '96-98;  Jasper  Wester velt  1898 
resigned  in  '98;  Robert  Stevenson  appointed  in  1898.  Daniel  G.  Bogert 
elected  in  1899-1901.  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Robert  Stevenson,  1S'»5  to 
1900;  William  Bennett,  1898-1903.  Officers  elected  March  14,  18')9. 
were: — For  Township  Committee,  Henry  J.  Brinkerhoff;  for  Collector, 
Daniel  G.  Bogert;  for  Constable,  Christian  Cole,  Jr.;  for  Commissioners 
of  Appeals,  Peter  Rademann,  Jasper  Westervelt;  for  Surveyors  of  High- 
ways, Donald  Matheson,  Cornelius  J.  Terhune. 

Teaneck  township  is  a  representative  of  unity  so  far  as  politics  and 
party  are  concerned,  there  never  having  been  a  party  election  held,  all 
tickets  have  been  citizens  tickets  and  all  nominations  have  been  made 
at  citizens  primaries.  While  the  political  complexion  of  the  township 
is  two  to  one  Republican  the  agreement  is  favorable  to  the  Democrats 
who  could  not  expect  anything  from  a  party  vote. 

TEANECK    CrKANGE. 

There  are  no  villages  in  Teaneck  township,  but  a  villa  grange  lies 
within  its  precincts,  of  more  than  usual  significance  and  historical 
importance,  extending  from  Nordhoff  in  both  directions  over  twenty-five 
miles  of  roads.  It  runs  through  the  Phelps  estate  and  is  the  Mecca  of 
thousands  during  the  summer  months,  who  drive  or  bicycle  through  the 
woods  and  shaded  groves. 

Here  resided  William  Walter  Phelps,  our  former  minister  to 
Austria  and  Germany.  His  estate  included  the  thousand  of  acres 
of  field,    slorje    and  hill,    intersected   bv   macadamized   ro.ids.   sli.nU-d  bv 


f)40  HISTORY    OF    BERGEX    COUNTY 

forests  and  ornamental  trees.  The  quaint,  low.  rambling',  wooden 
structure  flanked  oti  the  south  by  an  ornate  om  of  stone  containing 
drawing-  rooms,  picture  gallery,  etc.,  the  whole  surrounded  by  spacious 
grounds  beautified  bv  rare  plants  and  flowering  shrubs  was  for  years  the 
home  residence  of  the  family.  This  unique  Villa-Grange,  for  years,  not 
only  the  political  Mecca  of  one  party,  but  the  seat  of  hospitality  so 
generous  and  wide  as  to  attract  to  it  persons  of  all  parties  and  classes, 
unfortunately  and  to  the  regret  of  all,  fell  with  the  greater  portion  of 
its  contents,  a  victim  to  the  cruel  ravages  of  fire,  April  1,  1888. 

On  the  hill  New  Bridge  lies  partly  in  this  township  and  partly  in 
Palisade  township.  It  is  the  locality  of  Baron  Steubens  residence,  built 
in  1752,  but  aside  from  its  Revolutionary  history  and  traditions  the 
place  has  but  little  that  is  important  for  this  chapter. 

WitLIAM    WALTER    PHELPS. 

William  Walter  Phelps,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  August  24. 
1839.  His  father,  John  Jay  Phelps,  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of 
the  city,  accumulated  a  large  fortune,  having  been  prominently  identified 
with  many  of  the  imp&rtant  enterprises  of  his  day.  He  was  the  pro- 
jector and  virtual  founder  of  the  Delawaro,  lyackawanna  and  Western 
Railroad  Company  andheld  the  office  of  president  for  many  years. 

William  Y*' alter,  his  distinguished  son^  received  his  collegiate  edu- 
cation at  Yale  College  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  with 
high  honors  in  1860.  Following. this  he  pursued  a  special  line  of  study 
for  a  short  time  in  Europe,  subsequently  taking  a  leading  place  in  the 
class  of  1863,  in  the  Columbia  Law  School,  where  he  was  graduated  as 
valedictorian. 

Immediately  after  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  Mr.  Phelps  opened 
offices  in  New  York  and  was  rapidly  building  up  a  large  practice  when 
the  death  of  his  father  occurring  in  1868,  changed  all  his  future  plans 
for  life.  The  settlement  and  care  of  a  large  estate  now  demanded  his 
attention,  compelling  him  to  abandon  his  profession  and  devote  his 
entire  time  to  private  interests.  Recognizing  his  abilities,  Governor 
Fenton,  had,  prior  to  this,  tendered  him  the  appointment  to  the  bench 
of  the  Sixth  Judicial  District  of  New  York  city. 

The  estate  upon  which  he  resided  is  situated  near  Englewood,  N.  J., 
and  comprises  about  twenty-nine  hundred  acres  of  land.  In  the  midst 
of  this  stood  a  residence  of  palatial  proportions  filled  with  treasures 
collected  during  extensive  travel  in  foreign  lands.  (  This  residence  was 
burned  April  1,  1888. 

Soon  after  his  removal  to  Bergen  county,  Mr.  Phelps  began  to  take 
an  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Republican  party. 

In  1872  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  representing  the  Fifth  Con- 
gressional District  of  New  Jersey.  Forceful  and  vigorous  in  oratory, 
ready  in  debate,  and  ever  the  courteous  gentleman,  he  attracted  atten- 
tion  and  made   an  immediate  and  marked  impression.     He  was  made  a 


oMJ. 


9LiM 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  643 

member  of  the  committee  on  Batikins^  and  Commerce,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing' committees  of  the  House. 

His  statesmanlike  abilities  were  quickly  recognized  by  Speaker 
Blaine,  who  appointed  the  young  New  Jersey  Cong-ressman  upon  several 
special  committees  of  the  highest  importance,  where  he  acquitted  him- 
self with  such  fairness  and  good  judgment  as  to  elicit  the  approval  of 
prominent  m>n  and  the  newspapers  of  all  parties. 

It  was  at  this  tim;  that  a  warm  friendship  and  close  personal  inti- 
macy sprang  up  between  Mr.  Phelps  and  Mr.  Blaine  which  was  life 
lasting. 

Mr.  Phelps  was  renominated  for  Congress  in  1874,  which  was  a 
Democratic  tidal  wave  year,  and  although  he  ran  six  hundred  votes 
ahead  of  his  ticket,  the  Democratic  candidate  was  elected  by  a  plurality 
of  seven.  He  declined  to  become  a  candidate  again  in  1878,  his  private 
business  demanding  his  whole  attention. 

In  1880  he  was  a  delegate-at-large  from  the  state  of  New  Jersey  to 
the  National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago,  where  he  worked 
heroically  for  the  nomination  of  James  G.  Blaine  for  president,  but 
with  characteristic  gracefulness  he  accepted  the  inevitable,  and  at  once 
threw  his  influence  and  hearty  support  toward  the  election  of  Mr. 
Garfield. 

His  health  giving  way  during  this  campaign,  he  was  ordered  abroad 
by  his  ph3'sicians  and  sailed  in  October.  In  the  Spring  of  1881,  while 
still  abroad,  he  received  the  appointment  of  Minister  to  Austria  from 
the  new  administration.  This  he  accepted  but  resigned  the  new  posi- 
tion after  the  death  of  Mr.  Garfield  three  months  later.  He,  how- 
ever, remained  in  his  position  at  the  Court  of  Vienna  for  another  year 
before  being  relieved  by  a  successor. 

On  returning  to  this  country  in  1882,  he  found  his  party  ready  to 
again  nominate  him  for  a  seat  in  the  National  House  of  Representatives. 
He  was  elected  by  a  handsome  plurality,  and  was  re-elected  in  i884, 
and  again  in  i886,  each  time  by  an  increased  majority. 

He  positively  declined  a  re-nomination  for  Congress  in  1888,  and 
at  the  Republican  National  Convention,  that  year  his  name  was  pre- 
sented as  a  candidate  for  the  vice-presidency,  and  he  received  a  vote 
next  to  that  of  Mr.   Morton  of  New  York,  the  successful  candidate. 

Mr.  Phelps  had  no  sooner  closed  his  Congressional  career  in  March. 
1889,  than  he  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison,  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners to  represent  the  United  States  at  the  International  Congress 
<m  the  Samoan  question  which  met  in  Berlin  in  the  coming  April.  Here 
Mr.  Phelps  and  his  American  associates  as  well  as  some  of  the  leading 
diplomats  of  Europe,  had  to  measure  swords  with  Bismark  and  his 
talented  son,  Herbert. 

It  was  agreed  on  all  sides  that  American  interests  had  been  splen- 
didly guarded  in  this  conference.  Mr.  Phelps  arrived  in  this  ccmntry 
with  the  treaty  in  June.  The  exaniinati(m  of  the  treaty  proved  so 
satisfactorv    to    our    government    that    in    two   weeks  after     Mr.    Phelps 


(>44  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

returned,  he  was  nominated  by  the  President  to  be  Minister  to  Getmanv, 
Mr.  Harrison  remarking  at  the  time  that  it  was  the  reward  of  merit. 
His  nomination  was  promptly  contirmed  by  the  Senate  which  was  thon 
in  session.  Mr.  Phelps  tilled  the  Berlin  mission  until  superseded  in  llu- 
summer  of  1S<)3  by  Ex-Chancellor  Theodore  Runyon  the  appointee 
of  President  Cleveland.  The  mutual  regard  which  had  grown  u]> 
between  the  American  Commission  and  Prince  Bismark  during  the 
Samoan  Conference,  proved  of  much  assistance  to  Mr.  Phelps  when  he 
went  back  as  Minister  and  it  enabled  him  to  perform  important  services 
to  the  United  States  which  his  predecessor  had  failed  to  secure,  especi- 
ally in  the  removal  of  the  embargo  on  American  port  products. 

Before  Mr.  Phelps  left  Berlin,  he  received  an  appointment  imm 
(lovernor  Werts  to  be  a  special  judge  of  the  Court  of  Errors  and 
Ajjpeals  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Phelps  accepted  the  honor, 
and  the  choice  of  so  distinguished  a  man  to  serve  in  the  court  was 
warmly  applauded  throughout  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Phelps  took  a  keen 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  court,  but  his  health  never  robust  began 
rapidly  to  fail,  and  his  illness  made  rapid  progress  early  in  the  Spring 
of  1894.  Governor  Werts  had  named  him  as  one  of  the  Commissioners 
provided  for  by  a  joint  resolution  of  the  Legislature  to  revise  the  con- 
stitution of  the  State.  Mr.  Phelps  looked  forward  with  great  interest 
to  the  work  of  this  body,  which  was  to  hold  its  first  session  the  latter 
part  of  June,  but  it  was  fated  that  he  should  never  meet  his  distin- 
guished associates  of  that  Commission,  for  on  the  seventeenth  day  of 
June  he  died. 

While  always  the  possessor  of  ample  wealth,  Mr.  Phelps  was  most 
democratic  in  his  manners.  His  hospitalit}-  was  proverbial,  and  his 
house  was  in  every  sense  of  the  word  made  a  home  to  all  his  guests. 
His  popularity  with  all  his  neighbors  and  the  people  of  Bergen  county 
was  demonstrated  on  many  occasions.  He  was  the  kindest  of  employers; 
his  large  contributions  to  private  charities  and  his  generous  gifts  to  the 
needy  were  without  ostentation. 

His  financial  standing  and  his  character  for  probity  were  of  the 
highest.  He  made  notable  pecuniary  sacrifices  to  save  the  credit  of 
others.  His  business  interests  were  extensive,  and  he  was  an  influential 
member  of  the  directories  of  many  companies  and  institutions. 

While  a  positive  party  man,  early  in  his  public  career  he  established 
a  character  for  political  independence  and  liberality  which  gained  him  a 
jjublic  respect  that  he  never  lost. 

He  was  a  fluent  talker,  and  as  an  orator  he  was  natural  and  cnncise, 
discarding  the  ornate,  and  speaking  in  the  choicest  diction  directly  to 
the  point.  His  wit  was  ever  bright,  keen  and  fresh.  In  Congress  he  did 
not  speak  often,  Ijut  he  was  among  the  few  in  the  House  whu  wen- 
always  listened  to. 

Soon  after  concluding  his  collegiate  course  Mr.  Phelps  was  married 
to  a  daughter  of  Joseph  E.  Sheffield,  the  founder  of  the  Sheffield  Scien- 
tific School  of  New  Haven.      Of  this  niarriasje  there  was  one  daughter. 


JASPKK     WKSTI'.KN'IU.T 


646  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

the  wife  of  Dr.  Franz  Von  Rottenburg',  a  German  scholar  and  Under 
Secretary  of  State  for  the  German  Empire;  and  two  sons,  Captain  John 
Jay  Phelps  of  Bergen  county,  and  Colonel  Sheffield  Phelps,  editor  of  the 
Jersey  City  Journal. 

THE    WESTEKVELT    FAMILY. 

The  Westervelt  family  trace  their  lineage  to 
Derick  Van  Westervelt  who  was  born  about  152tt. 
In  Holland,  the  native  place  of  this  family,  they 
occupied  places  of  honor  and  trust  such  as  burgo- 
masters, students,  doctors  and  as  landed  proprietors. 
Lubbert  Lubbertse  Van  Westervelt  the  first 
American  ancestor  came  in  the  ship  "Hope"  in 
1662,  from  Meppel,  Province  of  Drenthe,  Holland. 
^  r     t— .     11  He    first   settled    at  Flatbush,  Long  Island,    after- 

wards removing  to  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  where  he 
assisted  in  building  the  first  Reformed  Church  on  the  "Green"  in  16S(.. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  this  church. 

Benjamin  Westervelt,  the  great  great-grandfather  of  Jasper,  was 
the  first  American  ancestor,  and  was  born  in  1702.  His  wife  was  Hen- 
dricktie  Bouguert.  Casparus,  the  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born  in  1723, 
and  married  Wyntie  Terheun.  The  grandparents  of  Mr.  Westervelt 
were  Casparus  C.  and  Maria  (Durie)  Westervelt,  and  his  parents  were 
Peter  C,  Jr.,  and  Anna  (Lozier)  Westervelt.  His  father  was  born  in 
1811. 

Jasper  was  bom  at  Teaneck,  Bergen  county,  December  2,  1837,  in 
the  same  house  in  which  he  has  resided  for  the  last  sixty  years,  and 
whose  foundation  walls  were  laid  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago  by 
his  great  grandfather.  The  house  has  been  several  times  rebuilt  and 
modernized,  and  still  continues  in  possession  of  the  family. 

Until  fifteen  years  of  age  Jasper  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  village,  after  which  he  was  placed  in  a  private  school  at  Leonia, 
and  at  seventeen  years  of  age  entered  Claverack  Institute,  a  boarding 
school,  situated  at  Claverack,  N.  Y.  After  leaving  school  Mr.  Wester- 
velt began  farming,  keeping  steadily  at  this  occupation  until  tifty-live 
years  of  age,  when  he  retired  from  active  business.  On  the  subject  of 
pear  culture  Mr.  Westervelt  is  an  enthusiast,  holding  a  first-class 
diploma  for  the  exhibiton  of  pears,  apples  and  quinces. 

When  the  call  was  made  for  volunteers  in  our  Civil  War,  Mr.  Wes- 
tervelt responded,  becoming-  a  private  in  Company  I,  22d  Regiment,  N. 
J.  Volunteers.  He  was  one  of  "Father  Abraham's  Three  Hundred 
Thousand;"  was  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville. 
advancing  in  the  famous  mud  march  under  Buruside.  He  is  a  member 
of  James  B.  McPhers<m  Post,  No.  52,  Department  of  N.  J.,  G.  A.  R.. 
and  is  at  present  the  Chaplain.  In  his  religious  life  Mr.  Westervelt  has 
been  a  member  of  the  first  Reformed  Church  of  Hackensack  for  the  past 
thirtv-nine   vears,   serving  in   the  consistory  of  that  church  under  Dr. 


WILLIAM    W.    KHNNETT. 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKC.EN    COUNTY  f>49 


Komevn  and  Dr.  Vandcrwart,  both  as  deacon  and  elder  for  a  number  of 
terms.  He  was  also  for  man}'  years  connected  with  Sabbath  school 
as  teacher,  and  subse([uentlv  as  superintendent. 

He  was  married  on  June  22,  lHh5,  to  Miss  Annie  Maria  De  Mott, 
(laui^hter  of  John  J.  De  Mott,  who  died  in  1898. 

In  1888  Mr.  Westervelt  travelled  throug-h  the  West,  takinj^  a  tour 
through  the  most  interesting-  portions  visiting  the  beautiful  points  on 
the  Pacific  coast,  the  Yosemite  Valley,  the  Columbia  River  and  Yellow- 
stone Park;  the  large  cities  also  claiming  a  share  of  his  time.  In  18<»(. 
he  made  an  extended  tour  of  the  old  World,  making  visits  to  Holland, 
(iermany,  Switzerland  at  Interlaken  and  Mont  Blanc,  France,  Belgium 
England.  Mr.  Westervelt  reported  after  coming  back  from  the  old 
World  that  he  still  retained  his  admiration  for  the  new:  with  the 
sublime,  grand  and  inspiring  views  of  the  Yosemite,  its  peaks  in  the 
clouds  and  its  beautiful  falls  descending  from  dizzy  heights;  the  mag- 
nificent and  unequalled  scenery  on  the  Columbia  river,  the  Yellowstone 
Park  filled  with  Nature's  wonders,  Geysers,  Hot  Springs,  beautiful  cas- 
cades and  grand  views  of  the  falls  and  the  gorge  of  the  Yellowstone. 
He  says:     "Unfurl  the  Red,  White  and  Blue,  it  is  good  enough  for  all." 

Mr.  Westervelt  is  a  man  with  well  stored  mind  and  exemplarv 
character,  a  pleasant  com])anion  and  true  friend. 

WII.I.I.V.M    W.    BKNMCTT. 

William  W.  Bennett,  Superintendent  of  the  Phelps  Estate  in  Bergen 
county;  was  born  in  England,  February  4,  1841.  When  six  months  old 
his  parents  came  to  America  and  located  at  Bingham  ton,  New  York, 
where  the  father  died  about  twelve  j-ears  later.  When  eleven  years  of 
age  young  Bennett  was  taken  by  a  Mr.  Louis  Lee  Morris,  a  farmer  of 
Otsego  county,  N.  Y.  where  he  remained  six  years.  This  was  one  of 
the  important  periods  of  his  life,  in  which  he  was  trained  to  habits  of 
industry,  and  frugality  and  otherwise  prepared  to  meet  and  solve  the 
many  difficult  and  trying  problems  of  life  which  come  to  all.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  years,  the  young  man  met  Mr.  John  Stewart  Wells,  of 
Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  to  whom  he  apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the  trade 
of  carpenter,  and  remained  with  him  three  years,  thoroughly  master- 
ing this  branch  oi  mechanics,  becoming  an  architect  as  well.  After 
working  for  a  time  at  his  trade  at  home,  he  enlisted  as  a  mechanic,  in 
the  War,  in  1862,  and  stayed  with  the  army  in  one  capacity  or  another, 
with  the  construction  and  repair  work  on  railways,  going  to  Alexandria, 
then  to  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  Virginia,  remaining  for  a  considerable 
time  on  the  Peninsula  where  McClellan  operated.  In  1863  he  was 
assigned  to  the  quarter-master's  department,  under  Captain  Goodwin, 
and  then  was  employed  solely  in  the  construction  of  Barracks  and 
prison  houses,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  army  furniture,  which  closed 
his  army  career.  After  the  fall  of  Richmond,  he  applied  for  his  dis- 
charge papers,  and  while  on  his  way  home,  when  near  Turner's  Station, 
on  the  Erie  railroad,  in    New  York,  President   Lincoln   was  shot,  and  a 


()50  HISTOKY    OF    BKKCrKX    COUNTY 

sing'ular  coincidence  was,  that  he  happened  to  be  on  the  same  spot  on 
July  2,  1881,  when  President  Garlield  was  assassinated. 

For  two  3'ears  after  the  war,  Mr.  Bennett  followed  his  trade  of 
carpenterinir  at  Binghampton,  N.  Y.,  but  in  1867  came  to  New  Jersey, 
g'oing  to  the  home  in  which  he  now  lives,  staying  there  one  year  as  a 
tenant.  In  1882  he  returned  to  the  same  house,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  His  work  in  New  Jersey,  was  the  erection  oi  a  tine  house  for 
Judge  Phelps,  subsequently  building  a  row  of  houses  in  Teaneck,  and 
following  this  with  a  number  of  buildings  in  Englewood,  then  the 
elegant  residence  of  William  Walter  Phelps,  which  led  to  the  acquaint- 
anceship of  the  two  men,  and  the  life  long  superintendency  of  Mr.  Ben- 
nett in  the  management  of  the  Phelps  estate.  This  was  twenty-seven 
years  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Phelps,  during  which  tiirie  the  large 
interests  of  this  wealthy  resident  of  the  county  was  so  ably  managed 
and  so  agreeably  with  Mr.  Phelps'  wishes,  that  substantial  considera- 
tions not  infrequently  accompanied  the  salary  allowed,  and  also  honor- 
al)le  mention  with  flattering  financial  considerations  were  made  in  his 
will. 

Mr.  Bennett  has  been  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Mrs. 
Mary  C.  Corby,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Catherine  Terhune  to  whom  he 
was  married  in  1870.  She  died  in  1875.  Two  daughters  were  the  fruit 
of  this  union,  Catherine,  the  younger  being  the  wife  of  Captain  Frank 
S.  De  Ronde.  On  June  10,  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs. 
Margaretta  Ferdon,  daughter  of  Gilchrest  and  Eliza  Perry  of  Nyack, 
N.  Y.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls, 
the  elder  of  the  boys  now  being  a  member  of  the  Second  Regiment  New 
Jersey  Volunteers,  Infantry. 

When  Mr.  Bennett  first  came  to  Englewood  he  was  elected  Town 
Committeeman  and  held  that  office  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  also 
chosen  member  of  the  board  of  Freeholders  and  elected  by  both  jiarties 
and  re-elected. 

When  Teaneck  township  was  formed  he  was  selected  by  all  jjarties 
for  Town  Committeeman  and  elected  chairman  of  the  Board.  This  office 
he  held  three  years  and  then  by  all  parties,  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
position  and  also  selected  for  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Mr.  Bennett's  life  has  been  a  comparatively  smooth  one.  He  is  a 
kindly  man  whose  lines  have  fallen  in  pleasant  places.  In  politics  his 
preference  has  always  been  Republican,  except  where  in  his  judgment 
the  party  needed  discipline,  in  which  case  he  has  not  hesitated  to  vote 
with  the  opposite  party. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 
PALISADES  TOWNSHIP. 

ICAKl.Y    SKTTI.KMKNTS — BUKOl-GIIS    OF    TEXAl'I.V,     DrM(_)\-T,   iii;Kr.i;x  i-n;i,i>s 

AXl)    CKKSSKILL — CHUKCHK.S,    .SCHOOLS,    .SOCIKTIKS,    I.ODCKS. 

ETC. — BIOGKAPHIC.\L    SKETCHES. 

Palisades  township  is  of  special  interest  from  a  historical  point  of 
\-iew,  many  <>t"  the  most  interesting-  events  of  the  Revolntioii  havini;- 
transpired  within  its  borders.  In  177h  the  patriots  held  F'ort  Leo.  which 
was  a  constant  source  of  annoyance  to  the  British,  niaking-  it  almost 
impossible  for  them  to  navigate  the  Hudson  river.  Lord  CornwalHs 
crossed  the  river  to  Huyler's  Landinjf  from  Spuyten  Duyvil  on  Novem- 
ber IS.  177(1.  He  had  with  him  a  force  of  two  battalions  of  light  in- 
fantry, two  companies  of  chasseurs,  two  Itattalions  of  British  an<l  two 
of  Hessian  grenadiers,  two  battalions  of  guards  and  the  Thirty-third 
and  Forty-second  Regiments  of  the  line,  (ieneral  Washington,  who 
was  in  Hackensack,  was  immediately  notified  by  (General  (Ireen  of  the 
movements  of  the  enemy,  and  that  he  had  ordered  a  retreat  of  his  troups 
to  Eng-lish  Neighborhood,  now  in  Ridgelield  township,  and  to  River 
Edge,  now  in  Palisade  township.  Washington  met  (lenera!  (ireene  at 
River  Edo;e  (then  called  New  Bridge).  After  reaching  this  jdintin 
safety,  General  Greene  returned  to  Fort  Lee  and  brought  up  some,  who, 
in  the  rush,  had  straggled  behind.  By  his  quick  movements  three 
thousand  Americans  were  saved  from  capture.  Huyler's  Landing  was 
formerly  known  as  Lower  Closter.  Anumg'  the  early  settlers  of  this 
township  were  the  Huvlers.  Ca])tain  John  Huyler,  who  scrxed  in  the 
militia  during'  the  Revolution,  was  a  special  object  of  vengeance  by 
the  Krtish.  who  burned  his  hf>use  and  left  him  in  a  destitute  condition.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  purchased  the  estate,  which  is  vet  in  possession 
of  the  family,  and  was  a  part  of  the  confiscated  estate  of  J(din  Ecker- 
son,  which  was  sold  for  /!^1<)5S.  York  money.  In  ISIS  this  ])roperty 
descended  to  Peter,  born  in  17S(i.  He  died  in  1S72.  The  Demarests 
settled  here  in  early  times  where  Samuel  R.,  was  born  in  17S3.  He 
belonged  to  the  Schraalenburg-h  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  The  Lozier 
familv  were  early  settlers,  coming  in  the  latter  ])art  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  Daniel  Lozier  was  born  in  17o7,  and  died  in  17"»2.  The 
Zabriskies  also  came  in  the  seventeenth  century,  their  descendants  con- 
tinuing- to  reside  in  the  townshij).  The  Paulisons  who  tr.-ice  their  origin 
to  Paulis  Pieterse,  removed  to  Bergen  from  New  York  about  l(i()((. 
Governor  Peter  Stuyvesant  appointed  Paulus  Pieterse  in  li)<i,^  one  of  the 
c<immissi(mers  for  fortifying  Bcrg-en,  N.  J.,  against  the  Indians.  For 
his  services,  he  recei\-ed  the  same  year  a  patent  for  several  ])arcels  of 
land.  In  1()()2  he  subscribed  towards  the  sui)port  of  a  minister  at  Ber- 
gen and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Churcli  organ- 
ized there  in  li><.4.  the  earliest  in  the  state.      He  and    his  wife   both  died 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  653 


in  1702.  A  son  of  Paulus  Pieterse  named  Martin  Paulisse  married 
Marg-rietje  Westervelt,  and  their  son  Paulus  Martense,  married  Rachel 
Demarest.  They  joined  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  1731.  Their 
descendants  still  reside  in  Palisades  township 

Palisades wasa  part  of  Hackensack  township  until  1871.  when  it  was 
organized  into  a  separate  township.  The  first  officers  were:  Samuel 
D.  Demarest,  who  was  elected  Freeholder  in  1871,  and  was  followed  by 
John  Westervelt  in  1875.  John  H.  Anderson  was  the  first  Town  Clerk 
and  served  from  1871  to  1873,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  H. 
Huyler.  The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  was  William  S.  Harris;  the  first 
Collector,  John  C.  Banta;  the  first  Assessor,  Albert  A.  Terhune. 

The  present  officers  are:  J.  E.  Collins.  J.  B.  Christie,  and  (i.  Buck. 
Townshij)  Committee;  William  Ely.  Assessor;  Joseph  Arnold,  Collector; 
Walter  Christie,  Freeholder,  and  Ralph  Saier.  Township  Clerk. 

THE    PALISADES. 

This  precepitous  wall  of  rock,  known  as  the  Palisades  of  the  Hud- 
son, have  ever  been  an  attraction  since  discovered  by  Henrick  Hudson 
in  l()(t'».  This  wall  of  rocks  rising  from  the  western  shore  of  the  river 
forms  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  old  boundary  lines  of  Ridgefield. 
Englewood,  Palisades  and  Harrington  townships,  to  the  state  line. 

The  height  of  the  range  near  Weehawken  is  about  three  hundred 
feet  above  the  river,  rising  gradually  to  five  hundred  and  forty  feet  near 
its  northern  terminus.  This  precipice  rose  at  first,  undoubtedly,  right 
from  the  river's  edge,  but  time  has  formed  a  talus  of  fragments  of  the 
trap  falling  in  course  of  long  centuries,  as  if  to  guard  the  deep  founda- 
tions below  the  great  river.  The  range  continues  in  bold  precipitous 
heights  and  rocky  bluffs  along  the  river  to  Haverstraw,  a  little  below 
the  Highlands;  thence  it  sways  back  from  the  river,  rising  again  in 
lofty  escarpments  and  massive  columns  to  the  northwest  and  the  west 
from  three  hundred  to  eight  hundred  feet  high. 

In  spite  of  all  efforts  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  the  Palisades, 
systematic  attempts  have  been  made  for  some  time  by  blasters  of  rock  to 
break  up  the  stone,  to  be  used  chiefly  for  macademizing  streets.  Indian 
Head  one  of  the  most  historic  points  of  the  Palisades,  a  few  years  ago 
projected  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  into  the  North  River  beyond  the 
point,  where  its  demolition  was  effected  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
on  May  .^0,  18<^'».  The  destruction  of  this  massive  rock  1>y  a  blast  in 
which  at  least  ten  thousand  pounds  of  dynamite  were  used,  and  two 
hundred  thousand  tons  of  rock  torn  away  was  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful efforts  ever  made  to  destroy  the  grandeur  of  this  part  of  the  Hudson. 
It  broke  out  an  area  surface  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty-five  feet  and  a  depth  of  about  (me  hundred  feet  con- 
stituting nearly  one-third  of  the  height  of  the  cliff. 

Indian  Head  is  about  five  hundred  yards  from  Washington  Point  at 
which  the  Father  of  Our  Country  arrived  after  the  defeat  of  his  forces 
in  New  York.  The  declivity  up  which  he  climbed  still  stands  although 
the  ]>oint  is  i)racticallv  wiped  out. 


654  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

TKXAFLY. 

As  to  the  name  of  this  locality  it  is  undoubtedly  from  a  compound 
Holland  word  signifying  "Willow  Meadow."  The  territory  embraced 
by  the  name  in  question  never,  exceeded  an  area  of  more  than  six  miles. 
The  country  northward  was  known  as  Closter.  The  section  west  of 
Tenafiy  was  known  in  the  remote  past  by  another  Dutch  word  signi- 
fying barren  hill.  That  country  to  the  south  of  Tenafiy  for  a  dist- 
ance of  several  miles  was  known  as  English  Neighborhood.  The  old 
Tenafiy  road  connected  these  two  places  and  was  used  long  years  ago  as 
a  trotting  course. 

EAK I.V    .SKTTI,EM1{NTS. 

George  Huyler  who  died  in  1894  aged  eighty  years,  was  one  of  the 
old  residents  of  Tenafiy.  His  residence  was  built  and  occupied  by  his 
grandfather  John  Huyler,  who  owned  part  of  the  forfeited  estate  of  Juhn 
Eckerson,  the  purchase  price  having  been  ^^^IftSS,  York  money.  John 
Huyler  owned  the  premises  in  question,  to  1818,  when  it  descended  to 
his  son  Peter,  who  died  in  1872,  aged  ninety-two.  John  Huyler  was 
Captain  of  Militia  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  became  the 
especial  object  of  British  vengeance,  his  house  having  been  burned  and 
his  family  left  destitute.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  purchased  the 
property  above  mentioned,  which  had  been  confiscated  by  the  State,  the 
title  deed  to  him,  bearing  date  1780.  He  had  two  children,  John  a 
physician  of  high  reputation  in  New  York,  and  Peter  born  April  8, 
1781,  on  the  parental  estate.  Peter  married  Miss  Catharine  Naugle, 
daughter  of  Barney  Naugle,  whose  birth  occurred  August  26,  1781, 
and  the  birth  of  his  son  George  occurred  June  24,  1811,  George  was 
married  May  25,  1847  to  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  Garret  A.  Hopper. 
Mr.  George  Huvler  was  for  fifteen  years  Captain  of  Jersey  Blues,  a 
military  organization  comprising  the  foremost  men  of  Bergen  county. 

Huyler's  Landing  on  the  Hudson,  formerly  known  as  Lower  Closter 
was  the  place  at  which  the  British  crossed  the  river  at  the  time  of  their 
raid  on  F^ort  Lee. 

TKNAFLV. 

Tenafiy  as  a  post  office,  railroad  station,  anil  a  part  of  Palisades 
township  has  been  a  pretty  village  of  the  northern  valley  for  about  forty 
years.  In  the  winter  of  189.1  a  call  was  issued  by  a  number  of  property 
owners  for  a  citizens'  meeting  at  the  home  of  Colonel  A.  G.  Demarest, 
for  considering  the  advisability  of  incorporating  the  village  of  Tenafiy, 
under  the  borough  law  of  1879,  permitting  an  area  of  four  square  miles. 
The  result  of  that  meeting,  held  January  26th,  was  a  determination  to 
applv  to  Judge  Van  Valen,  of  the  County  Court,  for  an  order  to  hold  an 
election,  which  application,  as  required  by  law,  was  signed  only  by 
owners  of  land  in  fee  simple,  within  the  boundaries  of  the  proposed  in- 
corporation. 

The  committee  apjiointed  by  that  meeting  to  carry  this  wish  into 
effect   were   Stchen   (i.    Clarke,    chairman;   H.    B.    Palmer,    treasurer; 


HISTOKY    OK    BKRGEN    COUNTY  ()55 


William     G.    Jellison,    Frederic    L.    Colver,    H.   E.   Demarest,    J.   Hull 
Browning'  and  Charles  E.  Vog't. 

There  was  much  opposition  to  this  movement  at  the  time,  and  not 
a  little  effort,  made  leg-ally  and  politically,  to  defeat  the  object  at  the 
election,  there  being-  cast  about  three  hundred  votes,  with  a  majority'  of 
only  seven  in  favor  of  such  an  organization.  This  was  in  January, 
1894.  At  this  time,  however,  the  beneficial  effects  arising  from  such  an 
incorporation  in  a  municipality,  having  now  an  assessed  value  exceeding 
$800,000,  is  apparent  to  all  interested,  and  what  was  once  political  dis- 
sent, has  now  become  mutual  amity  and  <rood  fellowship. 

OFFICEKS  OF  THE  BOKOUGH  AND  BOARD  OF  HEALTH. 

The  first  officers  elected  in  January  1894  were: — Henry  B.  Palmer, 
Mayor;  Garret  W.  DeMott,  J.  Hull  Browning,  Stephen  G.  Clarke,  Paul 
Richter,  James  H.  Buckley,  and  Frederic  L.  Colver,  Council;  F.  R. 
Ing-ersoll,  Clerk,  succeeded  by  Warren  H.  Wendover;  Charles  J.  Everett. 
Assessor;  George  E.  Westervelt,  Collector;  George  H.  Westervelt,  Mar- 
shal.    The  last  three  officials  mentioned  are  still  in  office. 

The  first  officers  of  the  Board  of  Health  were: — Dr.  J.  J.  Haring, 
president;  Dr.  J.  B.  W.  Lansing,  secretary;  James  E.  Butler,  Richard 
Delahanty  and  Stephen  G.  Clarke.  Commissioners  of  Appeals,  Messrs 
A.  G.  Demarest,  B.  F.  Pond,  and  John  R.  Zabriskie.  The  mayors  of 
the  boroug-h  have  been  as  follows:  Henry  B,  Palmer,  General  Thomas 
L.  James,  Charles  P.  Buckley. 

The  present  officers  of  Tenafly  borough  are:  Charles  P.  Buckley, 
mayor;  John  H.  Osterman,  J.  Hull  Browning-,  Elias  H.  Sisson,  Jt)hn  H. 
DeMott,  George  Lounsbury,  Paul  Richter,  Councilmen;  Maurice  Lind- 
say, Clerk.  The  Board  of  Health:  Drs.  Haring  and  Lansing;  Messrs 
Stephen  G.  Clarke,  Richard  Delahanty  and  Frederic  L.  Colver. 

In  the  Fall  of  1897,  in  response  to  a  petition  signed  by  Judge 
Ashbel  Green  and  others,  who  had  originally  opposed  the  incorporation 
of  the  borough,  together  with  many  other  citizens  who  favored  the 
movement,  the  New  Jersey  Legislature  passed  a  special  Act  extending 
the  corporate  limits  eastward  to  the  Hudson  River,  which  Act  took 
effect  February  1,  1898.  Tenafly  is  now  bounded  on  the  North  by  Cress- 
kill,  South  by  Englewood,  and  West  by  Bergenlields.  Tenafly  is  one 
of  the  most  successful  towns  in  the  county  under  the  borough  form  of 
government,  and  many  desirable  improvements  are  now  possessed  by  the 
people  at  a  moderate  tax  rate. 

TENAFLY    LIBKAKY    SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  February  5,  1891,  in  response  to  a  call 
issued  by  Frederic  L.  Colver,  John  W.  Hull  and  William  G.  Jellison, 
who  was  then  editor  of  "Tenafly  Record." 

The  society  was  incorporated  in  March,  1S9.^,  its  object  being  the 
improvement  of  its  members  in  literary  matters  and   for  maintaining  a 


656 


HISTORY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 


reading  room,  which  were  reasons  sufficient  for  enlisting  the  good  will 
and  kind  support  of  every  truly  public  spirited  citizen  of  the  village. 

For  several  years  meetings  were  held  at  the  homes  of  members  of 
the  society,  and  very  frequently  from  that  time  many  successful  enter- 
tainments, literary  and  otherwise  of  a  public  character,  have  been  given. 
Many  of  the  most  prominent  professional  men  and  women,  and  citizens 
of  Bergen  county  have  delivered  lectures  on  these  public  occasiims,  and 
the  society  now  numbers  about  one  hundred  members. 

The  present  officers  are:  Trustees,  Stephen  G.  Clarke,  Henry  B. 
Palmer,  A.  C.  Worth,  Fisher  Howe  Booth,  Colonel  A.  G.  Demar'est: 
Secretary,  Frederic  L.  Colver;  Treasurer,  J.  Eddie  Tuttle.  The  pres- 
ent executive  committee  are  F.  H.  Booth,  chairman;  Frederic  L.  Colver, 
Rev.  C.  W.  Kirkby,  H.  M.  Rogers,  secretary;  James  Currie,  Mrs.  A.  G. 
Demarest,  Miss  Carrie  Cauter,  Mrs.  Samuel  Westervelt,  Miss  Amelia 
Haring. 

The   society  holds  meetings  twice   a   month   in  its  rooms.  Tenatlv 


LIBKAKY    IIAI.L 

Hall,  and  (hiring  the  winter  season  gives  entertainments  consisting  of 
lectures,  debates,  public  socials,  and  other  affairs  for  amusement  or 
improvement.  Being  the  only  non-religious  and  non-political  organ- 
ization for  men  and  women,  young  and  old,  it  naturally  holds  a  leading 
place  in  Tenafly,  and  contributes  largely  to  the  literary  and  social  life 
of  the  community. 

TENAI'I.V    HALL    COJIPAXY. 

This  company  was  started  in  the  spring  of  1891  by  a  committee 
from  the  Tenafly  Library  Society.  That  commitee  consisted  of  Frederic 
L.  Colver,  chairman;  David  H.  Gildersleeve,  John  W.  Hull,  and  A.  J. 
Waddell,  Jr.  In  1892,  the  company  was  incorporated  with  sixteen 
thousand  dollars  capital  stock,  the  incorporators  and  officers  being: 
Stephen  G.  Clarke,  president;  John  Hull,  vice-president;  Frederic  L. 
Colver,  treasurer;   Frank   R.  Ingersoll,  secretarv;   Henry   B.  Palmer,  A. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  b57 

G.  Demarest.  Frank  A.  Hiue,  B.  F.  Pond,  and  E.  K.  Meigs.  The  present 
board  of  officers  consists  of  Mr.  Clarke,  president;  Mr.  Browning-,  vice- 
presiden.t;  Mr.  Palmer,  treasurer,  and  Mr.  Colver,  secretary;  and  in 
addition  Charles  H.  Sission,  Col.  A.  G.  Demarest,  John  H.  Demott,  J. 
E.  Tuttle,  J.  S.  Lyle. 

This  company  has  a  membership  of  nearly  one  hundred,  built 
Tenafly  Hall  in  1892-3.  This  building,  modern  in  its  appointments  and 
beautifully  situated  on  Highwood  Avenue,  wasopened  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Tenafly  Library  Society  on  June  6,  1893.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  social  events  ever  held  in  Tenafly,  there  being  present  fully 
four  hundred  people  admitted  by  ticket  two  dollars  each.  The  enter- 
tainment was  furnished  on  this  occasion  by  the  New  York  Philharmonic 
Club  and  the  University  Glee  Club,  followed  by  a  reception. 

The  entertainments  given  in  this  Hall  have  always  been  of  a  high 
character.  The  building  is  used  by  the  borough  gov^ernment,  the 
Tenafly  Library  Society,  the  Tenafly  Club  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 
Mr.  W.  Stoddart,  formerly  a  resident  of  Tenaflv  was  architect  of  Tenaflv 
Hall. 

.SCHOOLS. 

Originally  the  youth  from  this  vicinity  attended  the  school  at  Liberty 
Pole.  The  district  was  to  large,  however,  and  in  1871,  the  community 
in  the  meatime  having  grown  rapidily.  County  Superintendent  Cass 
formed  the  new  district,  designated  as  No.  12.  The  trustees  then 
appointed  were:  Messrs  Charles  P.  Buckley,  John  Westervelt  and  Charles 
H.  Clarke.  In  due  time  lots  were  purchased  from  Charles  P.  Buckley, 
and  a  beautiful  brick  structure  erected.  It  was  built  two  stories  high 
with  mansard  roof  and  basement,  and  was  forty  by  sixty  feet  in  dimen- 
sions. The  building  has  since  been  enlarged,  there  being  apartments 
for  various  grades,  and  at  the  present  time  five  teachers  are  employed. 
Besides  the  grammar  school  grades,  one  year  of  the  high  school  course 
is  taught  here. 

When  the  district  was  first  organized  the  school  was  held  over  the 
store  of  Peter  I.  Westervelt,  and  continued  there  until  the  middle  of 
October,  1872,  when  the  new  building  was  completed.  At  that  time 
Miss  Angle  was  employed  as  principal  and  Miss  Libbe  Duel  as  assist- 
ant. Miss  Maggie  Terhune  was  principal  of  the  school  a  number  of 
years.  Mr.  R.  S.  Maugham,  the  present  principal,  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  1887.      He  has  live  assistant  teachers. 


MIS.S    HAKING  S    PKIVATE    SCHOOI.. 

There  are  in  average  communities  some  parents  who  for  various 
reasons  prefer  to  have  their  children  pursue  their  preparatory  education 
in  a  private  school  judiciously  conducted;  and  hence  the  demand  for  such 
opportunity.  Recognizing  the  same,  Miss  Haring  opened  a  school 
about  twelve  years  ago  and  has  conducted  it  with  marked  success.  Being 
well  qualified  for  the  work  both  by  careful  prej)aration  and  natural  teni- 


658  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

perament,  she  has  had  under  her  care  each  year  a  group  of  happy 
children  whose  elementary  training-  has  been  very  thorough. 

In  conjunction  with  the  intellectual  work,  eftorts  are  made  to  culti- 
vate the  moral  and  religious  natures  of  the  children,  and  to  instill  into 
the  youthful  mind  high  ideas  of  correct  deportment. 

With  such  aims  in  view  pursued  with  rare  enthusiasm  on  the  teach- 
er's part  the  result  could  hardly  fail  to  be  in  every  sense  gratifying  to 
the  patrons  of  the  school. 

The  school  building  is  well  located  on  high  ground  with  rural  sur- 
roundings in  keeping  with  the  work,  and  not  a  few  parents  congratulate 
themselves  in  being  able  to  place  their  children  under  the  moral  and 
intellectual  influence  of  this  private  school. 

NORTHERN    VALLEY    LODGE    3638,    KNIGHTS    OF    HONOK. 

Above  Lodge  was  instituted  April  7,  1891,  with  twenty-six  charter 
members.  Present  membership  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  including 
seven  charter  members. 

Four  members  died  since  the  Lodge  was  organized,  two  of  the 
widows  receiving  two  thousand  dollars  each,  and  two  receiving  one 
thousand  dollars  each. 

This  Lodge  also  pays  sick  benefit  to  all  members  in  good  standing 
at  the  rate  of  five  dollars  per  week  for  ten  weeks,  and  two  dollars  and  a 
half  per  week  for  live  weeks  additional;  and  has  paid  as  much  as  two  to 
three  hundred  dollars  annually. 

The  officers  for  term  of  18W  are  as  follows:  S.  P.  D.,  J.  C.  West- 
ervelt;  Diet.,  Jos.  A.  Jacobs;  Vice  D.,  William  R.  Golding;  Asst.  D., 
Alexander  B.  Roberts;  Reporter,  Nicholas  Kreutztieldt;  Fmcl.  Rep.. 
John  Ostermann,  Jr.;  Treasurer,  John  Golding;  Chaplain,  Charles  B. 
Hooper,  Jr.;  Guide,  William  Ryan;  Guardian,  Jacob  Radner;  Sentinel, 
Pacific  M.  Valle;  Lodge  Physicians,  James  B.  W.  Lansing  and  Robert 
G.  Contrell.  The  Past  Dictators  are  George  E.  Tooker,  Leonard 
Schenkel,  Edward  Henkel,  Nicholas  Kreutzfieldt,  Charles  P.  Wester- 
velt,  John  Ostermann,  Frank  H.  A.  Achilles,  Henry  M.  Hensel,  J.  C. 
Westervelt.  All  of  above  with  exception  of  Messrs.  Charles  P.,  and  J. 
C.  Westervelt  are  members  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  Mr.  Tooker  is  assist- 
ant Grand  Dictator  for  the  term  1898  to  1899. 

CHURCHES. 

Prior  to  the  vear  1860,  the  locality  then  and  since  known  as  Tenafly, 
though  near  the  great  metropolis,  was  yet  strictly  rural,  its  pojjulation 
being  engaged  almost  wholly  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

Descended  from  French  and  Holland  ancestry,  they  were  a  religi- 
ously inclined  and  church-going  community,  having  their  connections 
with  the  old  Reformed  and  Seceder  churches  in  Schraalenburgh  about 
two  miles  westward. 

The  intervening  distance  between  their  residences  and  these 
churches  was  not  regarded  by  them  as  much  of  an  obstacle  to  regular 
church  attendance.     Regularly  on  Sabbath  mornings,  more  or  less  re- 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEX    COUNTY  659 

gardless  of  weather  conditions,  the  farm  horses  were  harnessed  to  the 
carry-all  vehicle  of  no  standard  tji'c,  and,  filled  with  the  family,  the 
church  was  reached  in  time  to  exchange  greetings  with  neighbors  and 
relatives  before  the  service. 

The  construction  of  the  Northern  Railroad  through  the  valley  soon 
entirely  changed  the  trend  of  affairs.  Now  families  began  to  appear 
who  were  naturally  strangers  to  and  hence  uninfluenced  by  the  local 
environments  and  traditions.  Among  these  were  the  families  of  Ashbel 
Green,  Henry  B.  Palmer,  William  S.  Opdyke,  Edwin  Saxton,  William 
K.  Fowler,  Benson  Van  Vleet,  Lyman  F.  Holman,  Thomas  G.  Wall, 
D.  D.,  and  others.  These  families  soon  began  considering  the  religious 
needs  of  themselves  and  of  the  incoming  population.  Arrangements 
were  made  for  weekly  religious  services,  w^hich  were  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Wall.  A  small  chapel  was  erected  in  which  services  of  a  union 
nature  were  held  for  a  year  or  more. 

By  the  explosion  of  a  lamp  the  building  was  set  on  lire  and  totally 
destroyed.  Services  were  afterward  held  in  a  building  erected  by  Mr. 
George  Huyler  for  store  pur])oses,  but  rented  later  for  a  boarding  school 
for  boys. 

A  denominatit)nal  i)reference  towards  Presbyterianism  having  from 
the  first  been  apparent,  application  was  made  to  the  Second  Presbytery 
of  New  York,  which  met  at  Tenafly  on  November  21,  18()5,  and  organized 
the  Society  under  the  name  of  the  Tenafly  Presbyterian  Church,  about 
fifteen  names  constituting  the  first  roll  of  membership.  At  the  same 
time  Edwin  S.  Saxton  and  Robert  Halley  were  elected  as  the  first 
board  of  elders. 

The  society  was  legally  incorporated  March  31,  18f>().  The  follow- 
ing persons  were  elected  upon  the  first  Board  of  Trustees:  Ashbel  Green, 
William  S.  Opdyke,  Henry  B.  Palmer,  William  K.  Fowler,  Garret 
Huyler,  and  Colin  G.  Newcombe.  The  board  organized  on  April  2,  1866, 
Ashbel  Green  being  elected  president;  and  Henry  B.  Palmer,  secretary. 
The  time  now  arriving  for  considering  the  subject  of  a  permanent  build- 
ing, this  board  took  the  matter  in  hand  and  under  its  able  management 
the  present  elegant  and  costly  stone  edifice  soon  appeared  upon  the  well 
graded  and  beautiful  site  upon  the  hillside,  the  latter  having  been  donated 
by  the  heirs  of  the  Jay  estate.  At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  pre- 
sided over  by  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  of  New  York,  the  Rev.  T.  G.  Wall, 
D.  D..  was  unanimously  chosen  as  the  first  pastor.  Mr.  Wall  served  the 
church  until  1873. 

Rev.  Clarence  Geddes  became  his  successor  on  July  16,  1873,  and 
continued  in  the  pastorate  until  June,  1881.  Rev.  Richard  Bentley  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Geddes  for  the  following  six  years,  and  Mr.  Vernon  B.  Car- 
roll was  Mr.  Bentley's  successor  for  eight  years.  The  present  pastor 
Rev.  Fisher  Hov^e  Booth  is  in  the  third  year  of  his  pastorate. 

The  church  has  exerted  a  very  wholesome  influence  upon,  and  has 
been  a  useful  factor  in  the  experience  of  a  growing  community.  Ojjpo- 
site  the  church  edifice  on  a  beautiful  site,  on   a  high  knoll,  there  stands 


660  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

a  noble  and  commodious  stone  building  erected  and  donated  as  a  manse, 
by  the  late  Judge  Ashbel  Green  in  memory  of  his  wife  Louisa  B.  Green, 
who  was  closely  identified  with  the  church,  and  whose  death  was  greatly 
lamented  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

CHUKCH    OK    ATONEMENT. 

There  is  no  record  giving  the  date  of  organization  of  this  society 
nor  any  statement  relative  to  the  church  property  made  on  the  church 
books.  Mrs.  Mahon  mother  of  Captain  Mahon,  gave  the  land  for  the 
church  building,  and  her  sister  gave  the  land  for  the  Presbyterian 
church.  The  first  baptism  recorded  is  that  of  Charles  Rowland  in 
1869,  and  the  first  marriage  was  in  October  of  that  same  year.  The 
Rev.  Ralph  B.  Hoyt  who  was  the  first  rector  of  the  church  remained 
until  1882.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Fletcher  who  had 
charge  of  the  congregation  until  1890,  when  the  Rev.  M.  M.  Fothergill 
succeeded.  The  present  rector,  the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Kirkby,  A.  B.  a 
graduate  of  Cambridge,  England,  came  to  take  temporary  charge  of  the 
parish  in  January  1898,  and  was  invited  to  remain  as  rector,  shortly  be- 
fore Easter  of  that  year.  Under  his  spiritual  direction  the  church  and 
congregation  is  rapidly  increasing.  The  officers  of  the  church  are: — 
Henry  Torrence,  Senior  Warden;  Joseph  H.  Heddon,  Junior  Warden; 
H.  T.  Bailey,  H.  A.  Wolcott,  J.  F.  Denton,  David  Paul,  A.  Torrence, 
Vestrymen.  St.  Luke's  Mission,  Bergenfields,  is  a  branch  work  of  the 
Church  of  Atonement,  Joseph  H.  Heddon  being  the  Lay  Reader. 

TENAFLY    COUNCIL,    ROYAL    ARCANUM,    1479, 

Tenafly  Council,  Royal  Aacanum,  1479,  instituted  August  i9,  1892. 
Charter  members:  T.  L.  Maclntyre,  R.  S.  Maugham,  J.  C.  Westervelt. 
C.  H.  Buckley,  Herbert  Westervelt  (deceased)  J.  H.  Buckley,  T.  L. 
Hunter,  J.  B.  W.  Lansing,  M.  D.,  T.  L.  Taveniere,  Eawin  D^^marest, 
James  Roome,  E.  B.  Buckley,  J.  J.  Edsall,  P.  J.  Westervelt,  W.  H. 
Mowerson,  J.  J.  Schuh,  George  E.  Westervelt,  W.  B.  May,  F.  R. 
Ingersoll.  C.  P.  Westervelt,  M.  E.  Martin,  W.  G.  Trabold,  F.  J. 
Campbell,  H.  F.  York,  Jr.,  S.  Upward,  Christie  Westervelt,  J.  C. 
Schnebbe. 

The  past  Regents  are  J.  H.  Buckley,  T.  L.  Maclntyre,  R.  S. 
Maugham,  James  Westervelt,  H.  F.  York,  E.  H.  Sisson,  Jr. 

The  present  officers  are:  Regent,  A.  I.  Benedict;  Vice  Regent,  J.  H. 
Demott;  Orator,  Huyler  Bogert;  Treasurer,  Samuel  Westervelt;  Secretary, 
Edwin  Demarest;  Collector,  H.  J.  B.  Willis.  (  Term  expires  December 
31 . )     Present  membership  is  eighty-nine. 

Tenafly  Council  has  lost  two  members  by  death,  Herbert  Wester- 
velt and  Frank  A.  Hine,  the  widows  in  both  cases  receiving  $3000. 

CHARTER    LIST    OF    NORTHERN    VALLEY    LODGE    K.    OF    H. 

Northern  Valley  Lodge  3638  K.  of  H.,  was  instituted  April  7,  1891. 
with  twenty-six  charter  members.  Leonard  Schenkel,  Edward  Henkel, 
Theodore  Taveniere,  Paul  M.  Hawthorne,  John  G.  Ruhl,  Frederick  C. 
Evers,  (dead);  (ieorge  Van  Valen,   Nicolai  Kreutzfieldt,   John  B.  Trcn- 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  661 


kle,  Isaac  Mabie.  Jacob  H.  DeMott,  Paul  Richter,  David  W.  DeMott, 
Ludwig  Mayer,  Charles  Stag^,  Joseph  Van  Valen,  Charles  L.  A. 
Wenger,  John  J.  Demarest,  (dead);  Richard  J.  Lyons,  Edward  J.  Lyons, 
Richard  Wright,  William  Weise,  David  D.  Campbell,  Edward  Hall, 
Charles  P.  Westervelt,  Jacob  A.  Tuers. 

"happy    land" — FKESH    AIK    HOME. 

Upon  a  commanding  site  on  West  Clinton  avenue  about  a  half  mile 
from  the  railroad  depot,  owned  by  Mrs.  J.  S.  Lyle,  a  wealthy  resident 
of  Tenafly,  there  began  about  six  years  ago  to  be  evidences  of  a  build- 
ing enterprise  of  some  sort. 

Soon  a  large  and  ornate  building  loomed  up,  wl  ich  in  due  time  was 
finished.  Its  size  and  general  arrangement  showed  it  to  be  intended  for 
some  charitable  purpose. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  hot  weather  of  the  following  vear,  a 
group  of  forty  or  more  children  under  proper  oversight  alighted  from 
one  of  the  northbound  trains.  Ct)nveyances  were  at  hand  and  they  were 
taken  to  the  new  building  designated  as  "Happy  Land."  This  deter- 
mined the  purpose  of  the  building  and  the  nature  of  the  work  for  which 
it  was  provided.  Since  then  about  four  hundred  children  are  annually 
brought  from  the  hot  over-crowded  districts  of  New  York  city  in  relays 
of  fifty,  each  group  remaining  about  two  weeks.  While  at  the  Home 
they  are  under  careful  management.  The  beautiful  grove  upon  the 
grounds,  well  provided  with  facilities  for  amusing  and  interesting  the 
children,  resounds  with  happy  shouts  from  morning  until  evening. 
Nutritious  and  wholesome  meals  are  well  served,  and  the  children  are 
taught  as  far  as  possible  in  their  short  experience,  the  rules  of  practical 
politeness  and  proper  behavior.  Upon  Sabbath  afternoons  exercises  are 
provided  to  stimulate  the  religious  nature  of  the  children,  and  when 
each  group  leaves  the  Home  it  is  believed  they  have  not  only  been  enter- 
tained and  made  comfortable  physically  but  that  their  mental  and  relig- 
ious natures  have  received  an  uplift  that  may  leave  a  permanent  impress 
for  good. 

This  work  is  understood  to  have  been  inaugurated  by  Mrs.  Lyle, 
who,  though  delegating  its  details  to  able  assistants,  still  gives  personal 
oversight  to  this  good  enterprise,  which  in  the  line  of  fresh  air  work 
for  children  is  perhaps  not  surpassed  by  any  similar  movement  any- 
where. 

kethmokE  home. 

This  institution  was  established  by  Mrs.  J.  Hull  Browning  in 
August,  1892,  and  incorporated  in  December,  1892,  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  a  fresh  air  home  to  a  limited  number  of  poor  children  from  the 
city  of  New  York.  During  the  first  year,  twelve  children  were  taken 
at  a  time  in  the  "Home,"  two  weeks  being  allowed  each  party  to  remain. 
The  following  year  the  house  was  enlarged,  so  the  number  has  been 
increased,  and  now  twenty-six  or  more  are  admitted  at  a  time,  the  num- 
ber for  the  season    being  over   two  hundred.     Children  were  first  taken 


662 


HISTOKY  OF  BEKGEN  COUNTY 


from  St.  Aug-ustine  Mission,  New  York,  but  during  the  past  two  years 
the  New  York  Protestant  Episcopal  City  Mission  has  enjoyed  that 
privilege. 

In  1892  the  Rethmore  Sunday  school  was  established  with  thirty- 
five  scholars.  In  connection  with  the  school  is  a  Sewing  Class  and  a 
Boys'  Battalion  of  sixty  cadets.  Recently  a  Convalescent  Home  has 
been  established  at  "The  Rethmore"  for  aged  people. 

The  Rethmore  Home  (Rethmore  means  "large  spring")  consists  of 
about  four  acres  of  ground,  and  formerly  belonged  to  the  Westervelts' 
estate,  but,  through  the  philanthropic  spirit  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Browning, 
has  been  dedicated  to  uses  above  mentioned.  Mr.  J.  Hull  Browning  did 
most   of  the  repairing  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Tenafiy  in  1882,  and 


KETHMOKE    HOME 


restored  the  building  to  a  good  condition,  and  has  been  a  large  con- 
tributor to  that  society.  After  the  establishment  of  the  "Home" 
public  services  for  Episcopalians  were  begun  there,  tirst  by  the  Rev.  R. 
H.  Herron,  and  subsequently  by  the  Rev.  C.  B.  Mitchell,  both  of  whom 
were  from  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York. 

BOROUGH    OF    DI'MONT. 

Schraalenburgh  is  a  village  on  the  West  Shore  Railroad  and  was 
orginally  in  Palisades  township.  It  has  a  population  of  about  six  hun- 
dred; is  the  site  of  the  North  Reformed  Church,  and  the  center  of  con- 
siderable mercantile  interests  in  this  part  of  the  county.  John  (Juacken- 
hush  owned  and  operated  the  first  store,  which  was  sold  to  Peter  E. 
Moore,    its    present    jjroprietor,    in    1877.      Mr.    H.    Meartens,    another 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  hf>3> 


merchant,  came  here  in  IS'tS,  and  DeCiister&  Ferdon  erected  their  build- 
ing in  1898. 

The  borough  of  Duraont,  orig-inally  named  Schraalenburgh,  was 
organized  in  1895  and  was  at  that  time  three  miles  square,  but  in  18'»7 
it  was  reduced  to  an  area  of  about  two  and  a  half  miles.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  North  by  Harrington  township,  on  the  South  bv  Ber- 
genlields  bort)ugh,  on  the  East  by  Cresskill  borough  and  on  the  West  bv 
Palisades  township. 

The  first  Mayor  of  the  borough  was  Dumont  Clarke.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Newton  A.  Fuller,  and  Mr.  I'^uller  bv  the  present  Mavor. 
Richard  Van  Buskirk. 

The  village  has  a  fire  department  with  a  membe'-ship  of  forty  men. 
under  the  chieftaincy  of  D.  J.  Whittaker.  The  Town  Hall  was  erected 
in  18'»(.. 

BOKOUfrH    OK  BEKGENFIELDS. 

The  village  of  Bergenfields  is  on  the  West  Shore  Railroad,  thirteen 
miles  from  the  city  of  New  York,  and  is  the  place  where  the  old  South 
Dutch  Reformed  Church  is  located.  John  Z.  Demarest,  freeholder,  owns 
the  only  store  in  the  village.  Originally  this  part  of  the  old  township 
of  Palisades  belonged  to  the  Schraalenburgh  district. 

The  borough  of  Bergenfields  was  organized  July  17.  18'>4.  The 
first  officers  were: — W.  P.  Tyson  was  the  first  Mayor;  Mr.  Walter 
Christie  became  the  second  Mayor  and  was  followed  by  the  present  in- 
cumbent William  Van  Valkenburgh. 

THE    Dl'TCH    KEI'OKMED    CHUUCH. 

The  Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  Schraalenburgh  was  organized 
about  the  year  17.24,  and  the  first  Church  was  erected  in  1725.  The 
Rev.  Reinhardt  Erickson  became  the  first  pastor.  In  17,^0,  the  Rev. 
George  Wilhelmus  Mancius  commenced  his  work  there  on  September 
19.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Antonius  Curtenius  in  1737,  continuing 
over  the  two  churches  (Schraalenburgh  and  Hackensack )  until  1784, 
when  Rev.  John  Henry  Goetschius  became  his  colleague. 

After  the  strife  which  resulted  in  a  second  church  organization,  the 
old  church  called  Rev.  Dirck  Romeyn  who  was  pastor  fnmi  1775  to  1785. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  second  church  (  known  as  the  South  Re- 
formed Church  )  was  Rev.  John  Schuyler.  Dr.  Solomon  Froeligh  was 
the  successor  of  Mr.  Romeyn  in  the  first  church  in  1786,  remaining 
until  1822,  when  the  separation  took  place  which  resulted  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  "True  Reformed  Dutch  Church."  The  second  pastor  was 
Rev.  Cornelivis  J.  Blauvelt,  from  1828  to  1852;  Rev.  Ebeu  S.  Hammond. 
1858  to  18(>2;  Rev.  Abram  A.  Van  Houten  from  1862  to  1868,  followed 
by  Rev.  Garret  A.  Haring,  1868,  who  stills  remains  its  pastor. 

The  old  North  Church  at  Schraalenlmrgh  was  built  in  1800,  after 
repeated  attempts  to  induce  the  other  party,  to  join  in  the  building  of  a 
house  of  worship.  Mr.  Romeyn  served  the  combined  churches  thirty- 
three  years,  but  in    1832  when   paralysis   (lisal)le(I    him  and   a   colleague 


664  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

was  needed,  the  church  at  Schraalenburgh  made  application  for  an  inde- 
pendent organization,  which  was  granted,  and  the  relations  of  pastor 
and  people  then  existing,  was  disolved  in  April  IS.^.^,  when  that  at 
Schraalenburgh  became  a  distinct  church. 

The  minister's  salary  was  provided  for  by  circulating  a  paper  yearly 
for  subscriptions,  which  were  to  be  paid  half  yearly.  The  highest 
amount  given  was  ten  dollars  and  the  lowest  amount  one  dollar.  The 
amount  subscribed  for  1817  was  three  hundred  and  fort}-  dollars  and 
eleven  cents  in  money,  and  sixty-four  loads  of  wood. 

Rev.  John  Garretson,  of  Middleburgh,  N.  Y.,  was  installed  pastor 
October  23,  1833,  and  remained  as  such  until  i836,  during  which  time 
the  parsonage  was  built.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Michael  Osborne, 
of  Virginia,  May  15,-  1837,  who  continued  with  them  until  1841.  He 
died  in  1863.  Cornelius  Blauvelt,  a  licentiate,  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled November  16,  1842,  remaining  until  1858,  and  in  October  of  that 
Year  Rev.  William  R.  Gordon,  S.  T.  D.,  was  installed,  and  was  a  suc- 
cessful pastor  until  i880. 

In  June,  1859,  the  church  was  enlarged,  the  cost  being  S5300.  Rev. 
George  Seibert  entered  upon  his  pastorate  October  1,  1880,  after  which 
many  improvements  were  made  in  the  church  property.  Rev.  George 
H.  Cotton  succeeded  Mr.  Seibert  about  eight  years  ago,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent pastor. 

In  1 784  the  congregation  of  which  Rev.  Warmoldus  Kuypers  was 
was  pastor,  elected  John  Demarest  their  precentor,  the  service 
being  conducted  entirely  in  the  Dutch  language.  Dominie  Kuyper  died 
September  10,  1797.  In  1799,  Rev.  James  V.  C.  Romeyn  became  his 
successor.  One-third  of  the  service  was  then  conducted  in  English,  and 
John  P.  Durie  was  made  English  precentor.  For  ninety-two  years  the 
position  of  precentor  was  occupied  by  John  Demarest  and  Isaac  D. 
Demarest,  except  about  thirteen  years  intervening,  when  Frederick 
Mabie  and  Jacob  Brinkerhoff  served.  Mr.  Demarest  was  chorister  of 
the  church  fifty-two  years. 

CKESSKILL. 

The  borough  of  Cresskill  was  formed  in  1S94,  and  taken  from 
Palisades  township.  The  officers  first  elected  were:  James  H.  Ferdon. 
Mayor;  B.  I.  Westervelt,  W.  H.  Westervelt,  John  Ferdon,  W.  A.  Tall- 
man,  Henry  H.  Westervelt,  William  Frazier,  Council;  A.  C.  Demarest, 
Assessor;  W.  V.  Wilson,  Clerk. 

Mayors  of  the  borough  subsequently  elected  were:  Egbert  Tallman, 
A.  C.  Worth  and  E.  B.  Westervelt,  the  present  incumbent.  Mr.  Wilson 
filled  the  office  of  Clerk  until  his  removal  to  Tenafly  in  1899.  .•\.  C. 
Demarest  that  of  Assessor  to  the  present  time. 

Colonel  A.  G.  Demarest  and  I.  Smith  Homans  were  among  the  first 
owners  of  land  in  Cresskill.  Colonel  Demarest  had  the  first  store  which 
was  sold  to  Daniel  H.  Voorhis  in  1861.  This  stand  is  now  used  for  a 
hotel.  In  1869  C.  A.  Demarest  bought  land  of  I.  Smith  Homans  and 
erected  his  wagon  works,  which    have   been  operated   since   that  time. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


About  five  years  later  Simeon  Westervelt  built  his  carpenter  shop  in 
the  village,  since  which  time  with  a  force  of  men  constantly  employed 
he  has  constructed  a  great  number  of  houses  in  Cresskill,  being  one  of 
the  largest  contractors  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

The  Manhattan  Optical  Company  in  the  vicinity  of  Cresskill  began 
operations  a  few  years  ago,  manufacturing  cameras,  lenses,  etc.  F.  and 
E.  M.  Shafer  are  largely  interested  in  this  plant  and  in  1894  erected  a 
building  fifty-two  by  one  hundred  feet.  They  employ  a  large  force  of 
help  and  ship  their  products  over  the  entire  country.  Their  plant  stands 
on  ground  formerly  occupied  by  J.  R.  and  B.  V.  Demarest's  Woolen 
Mills. 

The  school  at  Cresskill  was  formerly  included  in  District  No.  12, 
Old  Hackensack  township  known  as  Federal  District.  The  schoolhouse 
stood  in  Harrington  township,  on  the  farm  of  Samuel  A.  Demarest, 
afterwards  District  No.  14.  This  school  was  patronized  until  the  year 
1S57,  when  the  trustees  made  application  to  have  the  district  divided. 
The  application  was  granted  and  the  organization  effected.  A  lot  was 
purchased  of  John  B.  Westervelt,  corner  of  Madison  Avenue  and  County 
Road,  near  Cresskill  station.  John  'Durie  was  given  the  contract  to 
build  a  house,  which  he  erected  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  The  house 
was  furnished  with  seats  for  seventy-five  pupils. 

Miss  Ray  Ward  and  R.  S.  Maugham  have  each  held  the  principal- 
ship  of  this  school  for  six  or  eight  years.  Robert  F.  Doyle  is  the 
present  principal.     He  has  one  assistant. 

D.WID    H.    VOOKHIS. 

Albert  N.  Voorhis,  a  descendants  of  Henry  Demarest,  probably  a 
Revolutionary  "soldier,  who  emigrated  from  Holland  in  Colonial  times 
and  settled  at  Demarest,  N.  J.,  was  born  here  about  1760,  and  died  at 
Demarest  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  His  two  children  were 
Henry  A.  L.,  and  Nicholas  N.  Henry  A.  L.  Voorhis  married  Lavinia 
Blauvelt  of  Old  Tappan,  N.  Y.,  and  raised  nine  children,  four  of  whom, 
David  H.,  Henry  D..  John  B.  H.  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  P.  B. 
Westervelt,  are  still  living. 

David  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest  of  the  family. 
He  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  at  Demarest  N.  J.,  December  7,  1818. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York  and 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  Shortly  afterwards,  however,  he  formed 
a  connection  with  Ludlan  &  Lazanby,  large  tobacconists,  who  carried 
on  an  extensive  trade  with  the  merchants  in  the  South  in  their  line  of 
business,  and  through  them  became  agents  for  the  Old  New  York  and 
Virginia  Steamship  Cimipany,  which  position  he  kept  for  nineteen 
years.  This  company  first  built  and  operated  the  "Roanoke,"  subse- 
quently building  five  other  vessels,  and  these  were  the  first  ships  that 
plied  between  New  York  and  Virginia. 

Mr.  Voorhis  was  superintendent  of  the  men  at  the  New  York  Dock, 
and  maintained  that  ])osition   with  fidelity  and  satisfaction   to  the  com- 


666  HISTORY    OF    BEKOEN    COUNTY 

pany  until  the  war  broke  out  in  1861,  when  his  vessels  were  taken  into 
government  service,  which  severed  his  business  relations  with  that  corn- 
pan  v.  Afterwards  Mr.  Voorhis  removed  to  Cresskill  and  purchased  the 
store  and  other  property  of  A.  G.  Demarest.  He  then  built  his  resi- 
dence here,  but  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  but  a  short  time. 

In  1840  Mr.  Voorhis  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Henry  Westervelt, 
and  by  this  union  became  the  father  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
now  living.  His  daughter  Lizzie  M.  Voorhis  was  drowned  in  the  Hud- 
son river  in  18S8. 

SIMEON    WESTEKVELT. 

Simeon  Westervelt,  carpenter,  is  a  direct  descendant  of  William 
Lubbertsen  Van  Westervelt,  who  came  from  Meppel,  Province  of  Dren- 
the,  Holland,  in  the  ship  "Hope,"  April,  i662,  and  settled  in  Bergen 
county,  sketches  of  whom  and  his  descendants  can  be  found  in  the 
chapters  on  Englewood  and  Palisades. 

Dower  I.  and  his  wife,  Anna  (  Banta  )  Westervelt.  daughter  of  John 
T.  Banta,  were  his  grandparents.  Their  son,  John  D.  Westervelt,  of 
Tenaflv,  not  only  carried  on  a  large  farm  but  operated  a  cider  mill  on 
an  extensive  scale. 

Simeon  Westervelt  was  born  in  Tenafly  November  1,  1842.  In  18()1 
he  enlisted  in  Captain  Vreeland's  company.  Twenty-second  Regiment. 
N.  J.  Volunteer  Infantry,  afterwards  commanded  by  Colonel  A.  G.  Dem- 
arest, and  was  with  that  command  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  as  a 
drummer  boy  until  mustered  out  of  service.  After  the  war  he  mastered 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  was  with  Blauvelt  &  Bogert,  of  Englewood. 
for  ten  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Cresskill  and  began  business  fur 
himself. 

November  7,  186f),  Mr.  Westervelt  married  Sarah  M.  Bogert,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  S.  Bogert,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Closter,  who  died  March 
1,  1886,  over  seventy-one  years  of  age.  He  was  the  son  of  Seba  Bogert. 
The  old  Bogert  homestead  farm  is  situated  in  Cresskill,  on  the  Closter 
road,    midway  between  Tenafly   and   Demarest,   N.   J. 

During  the  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Westervelt  located  on 
twenty  acres  of  this  farm,  and  built  his  residence  in  Creskill.  Shortly 
after  his  business  settlement  he  built  an  office  and  shop,  one  of  the  best 
of  its  kind  in  this  part  of  the  county.  A  large  force  of  men  has  been 
constantly  employed,  and  almost  every  building  in  and  around  Cresskill 
has  been  built  under  his  supervision.  He  has  also  constructed  a  number 
of  large  and  extensive  buildings  in  the  city  of  New  York.  In  addition 
to  other  business,  Mr.  Westervelt  owns  and  operates  a  cider  mill  in  sea- 
son, consuming  great  quantities  of  apples  every  ^^ear. 

Mr.  Westervelt  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Royal  Arcanum  and 
Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  also  one  of  the  marshals  of  the  Protective 
Society.  Mr.  Westervelt  is  the  father  of  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
Arthur  Bogert,  Antoinette  and  Alice  Irena.  The  son,  Arthur  Bogert 
Westervelt,  was  formerly  in  the  American  Exchange  National  Bank  of 
New  York  city,  for  a  period  of  twelve   years,  but   is  now   with  Harvey, 


HISTOKY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  667 

Fisko  &  Co..  (if  New  York.      Ho  married    Henrietta  H.  Kohler.  and  has 
two  children.  Marian  K.  and  Noeline. 

AAKON    C.     I)I';M.\1\MvST. 

One  of  the  jjrojeotors  of  the  horoujjfh  of  Cresskill,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  prominently  identified  with  town  and  county  politics,  is  A.  C. 
Demarest,  member  and  secretary  of  the  Berg'en  County  Republican 
Committee.  Mr.  Demarest  was  born  in  Sprinir  Vallev,  N.  J.  in  1S4S, 
and  twenty  years  afterward  went  to  Spring  Valley,  N.  Y..  where  he 
operated  a  store  for  a  time.  In  1869  he  came  with  his  father,  Cornelius 
A.  Demarest,  to  Cresskill  where  property  was  purchased  and  a  wag-on 
sho])  built.  The  father  died  in  1885,  about  sixty-five  years  of  age,  since 
which  time  Mr.  A.  C.  Demarest  has  conducted  the  business  himself. 
From  the  time  he  first  came  to  Bergen  county,  he  has  been  more  or  less 
active  in  politics,  having  been  permanently  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can County  Committee  during  the  past  fifteen  years,  filling  the  office  of 
chairman  for  two  years  and  at  present  being  secretary  of  the  board. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  borough  of  Cresskill,  and  has  been 
Assessor  since  its  incorporation,  and  during  the  same  time  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  serving  as  District  Clerk  of  that 
bodv.  From  1895  to  1898  he  was  Freeholder  of  Palisades  Township,  and 
was  director  of  the  board  during  the  last  year  of  his  term.  In  is'is 
and  1899  he  was  made  Assistant  Journal  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Assembly 
for  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Demarest  is  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows,  and  is  a  Past  Grand  Master  of  that  fraternity. 

Mr.  Demarest  married  Miss  Addie  Cluss,  daughter  of  H.  H.  Cluss 
of  Ne^v  Bridge  in  1868,  and  has  four  cliildren. 

THP;    KICHTEK    M.^NITKACTUKINC    COMPANY. 

This  company  was  organized  in  1887,  by  Paul  Richter  princii>ally 
for  the  manufacture  of  window  shades,  etc.,  the  building  having  been 
erected  for  that  purpose.  William  Jefferson  Johnson,  son  of  Josiah 
Johnson  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  claiming  to  be  the  only  living  son 
of  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was  the  builder. 

The  manufacture  of  window  shades,  however,  was  changed  to  that 
of  textile  fabrics,  for  upholstering  and  interior  decorations,  the  product 
of  these  articles  at  this  time  having  a  somewhat  worldwide  reputation 
and  sale.  Burlap  the  article  manufactured  by  Mr.  Richter,  for  interior 
decorations,  made  from  manila  or  Indian  hemp,  was  a  coarse  heavy 
material  for  wall  covering  or  decoration  which  has  been  used  in  many  of 
our  best  colleges,  such  as  Columbia  and  Bryn  Mawr,  and  similar  institu- 
tions in  the  United  States,  as  well  as  in  hotels  and  halls. 

Mr.  Richter  employs  a  large  number  of  men  constantly,  and  from 
burlap  manufactures  draperies,  canvas,  buckram,  etc.  Mr.  Richter  is  a 
native  of  (Germany.  He  has  been  in  business  for  himself  since  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  and  as  a  citizen  of  Tenafly  has  been  honored 
with  various  positions  of  trust  and    responsibility.      lie   was  one  of  the 


PAl'I,    KICHTKK. 


HISTOKY    01--    BEKGEN    COUNTY  f)69 


promotors  of  the  borou^-h  ^--uvcrnment  of  Tcnafiy  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  its  Borough  Council  from  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  and  is 
at  present  president  of  the  council.  He  is  also  member  of  the  school 
board. 

KLIZABKTH    C.VDY    STAXTON. 

Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton,  one  of  the  most  aygressive  of  the  advocates 
of  W(mian  Suffrag-e  and  a  leader  in  the  movement  ever  since  she  was  a 
mere  g-irl,  was  born  at  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  November  12,  1815,  received 
her  preparatory  education  in  the  Johnstown  Academy,  where  she  studied 
Cxreek,  Latin  and  the  higher  mathematics,  with  a  class  of  boys. 
Although  prepared  to  enter  any  college,  these  institutions  not  then 
being  open  to  women,  she  finished  her  school  work  in  Mrs.  Kmma 
Willard's  Seminary  at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Stanton's  father  was  Daniel  Cady,  an  eminent  jurist,  a  ju<lge 
of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  a  man  of  un- 
impeachable integrity.  Judge  Cady  remained  on  the  bench  until  eighty- 
four  years  of  age  when  he  resigned,  having  filled  out  a  length  of  time 
hitherto  unknown  in  a  similar  position.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Stanton, 
was  Margaret  Livingston  a  direct  descendant  of  Chancellor  Robert  Liv- 
ingston, who  administered  the  oath  to  Washington  at  his  inauguratiim. 

The  Cady  family  consisted  of  six  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  and 
thecmlyson,  died  soon  after  the  completion  of  his  collegiate  course. 
His  father  was  well-nigh  inconsolable,  and  at  one  time  exclaimed  to  his 
daughter  Elizabeth,  then  eleven  years  of  age,  "I  wish  you  were  a  boy." 
This  in  a  measure  caused  her  determination  to  become  as  nearly  like  one 
in  her  aims  and  studies  as  possible.  Gerritt  Smith,  her  cousin,  was  an 
influential  factor  in  the  formation  of  her  future  career,  and  it  was  in  his 
house  she  met  Henry  B.  Stanton  the  notable  author,  philanthropist  and 
reformer,  whom  she  married  in  1840.  Previous  to  her  marriage  she  had 
spent  much  time  in  her  father's  office,  where  she  read  Blackstone  and 
Kent  and  often  listened  to  the  complaints  of  women  who  felt  injured  at 
not  being  allowed  a  voice  in  the  care  of  their  inherited  property. 

Accompaning  her  husband  to  the  World's  Anti-Slavery  Conventi<.n 
in  London,  she  met  among  others  who  proved  to  be  valuable  acquaint- 
ances, the  devoted  and  now  sainted  Lucretia  Mott,  a  (Juaker  preacher, 
a  woman  of  rare  ability  and  religious  fervor.  These  two  energetic  and 
aggressive  women  returned  to  America  together,  and  in  1S48  called  a 
Woman's  Rights  Conventi<m  to  meet  in  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y.,  on  July  I'tth 
and  20th  of  that  year.  Mrs.  Stanton  had  spent  the  years  of  1845-4(.-47  at 
Albany,  during  which  time  she  had  used  her  influence  toward  inducing 
members  of  the  legislature  to  vote  for  the  "Woman's  Rights  Bill,"  then 
before  the  public.  In  1848  she  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  this  bill 
passed,  giving  married  women  the  right  to  hold  and  control  their  in- 
herited property.  Her  work  during  all  the  years  since  have  been  along 
the  same  lines— Woman's  Suffrage — as  a  means  to  woman's  so-called 
emancipation. 


670  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

It  was  not  until  ISd')  that  Mrs.  Stanton  became  a  resident  of  Tena- 
fly,  N.  J.,  where  she  iiurnediatelj  set  to  work  to  bring-  about  reforms  for 
the  women  of  this  State,  and  in  1880  caused  a  little  sensation  by  attempt- 
ing to  vote,  leaving  her  ballot  lying  on  the  edge  of  the  box,  with  the 
remark  that,  with  the  inspector  lay  the  responsibility  of  refusing  the 
vote  of  a  citizen  of  New  Jersey. 

Mrs.  Stanton  is  now  living,  more  than  fourscore  years  of  age,  and 
in  1898  published  the  reminiscences  of  her  busy  life,  under  the  title  of 
"Eighty  Years  or  More,  Reminiscences  of  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton." 

Of  her  six  children,  Daniel  Cady  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
Louisiana  Legislature,  Henry  Gerritt  and  Robert  are  lawyers,  Theodore 
is  an  author,  Margaret  a  professor  and  Harriet  is  an  author  and 
reformer. 

Comparativeh-  few  persons,  either  men  or  women,  live  to  the  age  of 
Mrs.  Stanton  retaining  the  mental  and  physical  vigor  she  possesses. 

EX-POSTMA.STEK    GENEKAL    THOMAS    L.    JAMES. 

Ex^Postmaster  General  Thomas  L.  James,  the  present  president  <>f 
Lincoln  Bank,  New  York  city,  is  of  pure  Welsh  ancestry.  Both  his 
paternal  and  maternal  grandparents  came  to  America  from  Wales  in 
1801).  He  was  born  and  educated  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  learning  the  trade  of 
printer,  in  the  office  of  the  Utica  Liberty  Press.  Subsequently  he 
bought  the  Madison  County  Journal,  a  Whig  newspaper,  published  at 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.  In  1856,  his  paper  united  with  the  Democratic  Re- 
flector, under  the  name  of  Democratic  Republican.  Mr.  James'  career 
in  newspaper  work,  covered  a  period  of  ten  years,  and  in  the  meantime 
he  incidentally  acted  as  collector  of  canal  tolls  at  Hamilton  for  a  year 
or  more.  In  18bl,  having  been  appointed  Inspector  of  Customs,  he 
removed  to  New  York  city.  Later  he  was  appointed  Weigher,  and  in 
1870  was  made  Deputy  Collector  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  Ware- 
house Division  and  the  bonded  warehouses  of  the  port.  His  methodical 
and  systematic  manner  of  conducting  business,  in  a  few  months  estab- 
lished order  and  efficiency,  where  confusion  and  laxity  had  heretofore 
existed. 

General  Chester  A.  Arthur,  who  was  then  Collector  of  the  Port 
appointed  Mr.  James  a  member  of  the  civil  service  board  of  the  Col- 
lectors and  Surveyors  offices,  of  which  board  he  was  soon  after  ma<le 
chairman. 

(reneral  James  was  appointed  postmaster  of  the  city  of  New  York 
bv  president  Grant,  March  17,  1873  and  was  re-appointed  four  years 
later  bv  President  Hayes.  Laying  aside  all  partisanship  he  set  to  work 
to  imi)rove  the  postal  facilities,  succeeded  in  increasing  the  number  of 
deliveries.  He  also  developed  the  fast  mail  service,  expediated  the 
foreign  mails  and  promoted  the  greater  security  of  the  mail  generally, 
bv  various  carefully  considered  devices.  By  conducting  the  office  on 
purelv  business  principles,  he  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  both 
])olitical  parties.      Fpon  the  removal  of  General    Arthur,  from  the  office 


CHAKI.ICS    I..    A.    Wl'lNOlMv'. 


672  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN   COUNTY 

of  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York,  President  Ha3-es  offered  the 
place  to  General  James,  who  out  of  courtesy  and  respect  to  General 
Arthur  refused  to  supersede  him.  Soon  after  this,  when  David  M.  Key 
resigned  the  Cabinet  office  of  Postmaster  General,  the  president  ten- 
dered the  place  to  General  James,  but  this  too  was  declined.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  urged  to  go  on  the  local  ticket  for  mayor  of  New 
York,  which  he  also  refused.  So  widely  known  had  the  reforms  in  the 
New  York  post  office  become,  that  experts  were  sent  from  European 
governments,  for  the  purpose  of  looking  into  the  details  of  the  manage- 
ment of  the  New  York  office.  The  post  office  authorities  in  Kngland 
were  disposed  to  rank  Postmaster  James  with  Rowland  Hill,  Scudamore, 
Chetwynd,  and  others  who  accomplished  postal  system  reforms. 

When  President  Gartield  selected  his  Cabinet,  Thomas  L.  James 
was  appointed  Postmaster  General,  and  while  remaining  in  office  but 
ten  months,  he  yet  applied  business  methods  and  rigid  discipline  the 
current  of  affairs,  resulting  in  complete  reform. 

General  James  is  a  local  member  of  the  St.  David's  Society,  an 
association  of  the  Sons  of  Wales.  He  was  president  of  this  society' 
two  years,  a  position  his  son,  Charles  F.  James,  now  holds.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Union  League.  He  belongs  to  the  Atlantic  Yacht 
Club,  the  Englewood  Club,  the  Tenafly  Club,  as  well  as  to  several 
church  and  commercial  bodies. 


CHARLES    L.    A.    WENGEK. 

Charles  L.  A.  Wenger  was  born  at  Alsace,  now  a  German  province. 
December  15,  1854.  His  father,  Bernard  D.  G.  Wenger,  took  an  active 
part  in  the  affairs  of  his  locality,  serving  as  collector  and  assessor,  and 
in  other  official  capacities.  Charles  was  educated  in  the  boys'  school  of 
his  native  place  from  which  he  was  graduated.  Mr.  Wenger  with  true 
German  foresight  and  thrift,  became  apprenticed  to  a  baker,  taking  the 
full  training  of  three  years.  He  then  worked  at  his  trade  for  two  years, 
coming  to  America  in  1871.  Here  he  settled  in  Closter,  Bergen  county, 
in  1874,  engaging  in  business  on  his  own  account,  which  proved  a  suc- 
cessful undertaking.  In  1893  he  removed  to  Tenafly  and  bought  the 
property  on  Washington  street,  where  he  now  resides  and  carries  on 
business. 

In  1879  he  married  Miss  Adeline  Hincke.  By  this  marriage  he  has 
four  children,  John  W.,  Josephine,  Lena  and  Adriana.  His  second  mar- 
riage was  in  1896,  to  Miss  Freda  Mulfinger.  The}-  have  one  child. 
Charles  A.  Before  coming  to  the  United  States  Mr.  Wenger  served  in 
the  French  army  thirteen  months,  in  the  Commissary  Department.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  holds  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  Deeds, 
to  which  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Werts.  He  is  a  member  of 
Alpine  Lodge  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Odd  P^ellows  of 
Englewood,  and  K.  of  H.  Norton  Vallev  No.  .^6.>S. 


HISTOKY    OF    Bp:kGEN    COUNTY  673 

JOHN    J.    HARING,  M.  D. 

John  J.  Haring-,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Rockland  count}-,  N.  Y.,  March 
15,  1834.  His  parentag-e  was  among  the  Holland  Huguenot  stock  com- 
mon in  that  county.  His  education  was  pursued  in  the  public  schools 
and  academies  progressing  to  a  stage  fitting  him  for  entrance  to  college, 
it  being  his  original  intention  to  complete  a  college  course.  A  chain  of 
circumstances  turned  him  aside  from  this  purpose  and  in  1852  he  began 
the  stud}-  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  M.  C.  Hasbrouck,  then  the 
leading  physician  and  surgeon  in  Rockland  county.  A  year  later  he 
came  to  the  office  of  Dr.  Charles  Hasbrouck,  a  brother  of  his  former 
preceptor,  then  in  an  extensive  practice  in  Schraalenburgh,  Bergen 
county.  His  first  winter  medical  course  was  in  the  University  Medical 
College,  his  second  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  both  in 
New  Yf)rk  city.  A  third  course  was  in  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of 
Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1854. 

Invited  to  a  partnership  with  his  preceptor.  Dr.  Charles  Hasbrouck, 
he  accepted  the  same  and  for  two  years  performed  the  larger  share  of 
the  joint  work  extending  over  at  least  forty  square  miles  of  territory. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  the  entire  practice  came  into  his  hands  by  the 
removal  of  his  preceptor  to  Hackensack. 

For  fifteen  years  Dr.  Haring  responded  to  all  professional  demands 
of  this  extensive  field,  he  being  the  only  practitioner  within  its  limits. 
The  amount  of  work  involved  in  these  demands  was  known  only  to  him- 
self. Fifteen  hours  were  daily  spent  in  making  his  professional  rounds, 
all  of  the  tooth  extracting,  fractures,  dislocations,  and  accidents  gener- 
ally of  the  locality,  came  into  his  hands.  In  addition  he  was  compelled 
to  perform  many  of  the  duties  assigned  in  recent  times  to  the  druggist. 

With  a  view  to  restricting  his  professional  field  and  taking  advant- 
age of  the  developments  expected  from  the  construction  of  the  Northern 
Railroad,  he  located  at  Tenafly  thirty  years  ago,  selecting  a  fine  site 
and  erecting  upon  it  an  attractive  and  expensive  residence,  where  he 
has  since  resided  and  has  pursued  his  profession  with  unabated  activity 
and  success. 

Being  of  a  practical  matter-of-fact  mental  make-up,  and  not  given 
to  sentimental  tendencies,  he  has  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way 
never  resorting  to  any  of  the  doubtful  expedients  often  made  use  of  in 
attaining  popularity  and  professional  repute.  Naturally  reticent  and  a 
stranger  to  the  art  of  flattery,  there  is  little  about  him  of  what  is 
known  as  personal  magnetism.  Hence  he  has  never  courted  social  popu- 
larity and  has  been  sparing  in  his  selection  of  close  and  confidential 
friends. 

In  the  domestic  life  he  has  found  his  chief  source  of  satisfaction, 
and  has  attained  to  more  than  the  average  of  its  enjoyment. 

Positions  of  public  trust,  political  and  otherwise,  have  for  the  most 
part  been  declined  when  offered  to  him.  At  the  present  time  he  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  Health  Board  of  his  borough  and  chairman  of  the  Medical 
Board  of  the   Englewood  Hospital.     He  is  the  oldest   member   of  the 


J.    J.     HAKINC,     M.    D. 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY  675 


Herjren  County  Medical  Society-,  having-  been  associated  with  that  body 
since  its  organization,  over  forty  years  ago. 

Politically  he  has  been  in  sympathy  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
has  frequently  and  earnestly  advocated  through  the  public  press  some 
of  its  leading-  measures.  His  religious  relations  have  been  with  Pres- 
byterianism,  having-  been  an  elder  for  many  years  in  the  Tenafly  Pres- 
byterian Church  and  clerk  of  its  session.  He  is  tolerant  of  the  opinion  of 
others  and  is  of  charitable  tendencies,  having  cheerfully  given  an  un- 
usually large  share  of  time  and  labor  without  expectation  of  pecuniarv 
reward.  He  is  a  writer  of  unusul  facility,  having  made  numerous  con- 
tributions to  various  periodicals.  Several  years  ago  he  published  in  the 
local  weekly  paper  of  his  borough  a  series  of  paper^,  running  through 
an  entire  year,  upon  the  history  of  the  eastern  part  of  Bergen  county, 
given  reminiscences  and  personal  observations  of  much  interest,  from 
which  papers  we  have  been  privileged  to  quote  in  other  pages  of  this 
volume. 

One  of  the  doctor's  dreams  (  if  he  mav  be  supposed  to  have  any  i  is. 
when  he  shall  retire  from  active  professional  life,  he  may  have  the  op- 
portunity and  intellectual  vigor  to  write  just  one  book  differing  from 
any  other  printed,  which  will  find  favor  with  serious  and  thoughtful 
readers,  and  which  may  hold  a  permanent  place  upon  their  book  shelves. 
This  would  satisfy  the  full  measure  of  his  future  ambition.  His  large 
circle  of  acquaintances  and  friends  we  feel  assured  will  be  gratified  if 
this  cherished  hope  shall  be  realized. 

COLONEL  ABRAHAM  C.  DEMAKEST. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  early  imbued  with  the  military 
spirit  and  at  the  age  of  22,  he  recruited  a  company  for  the  now  cele- 
brated 71st  Regiment  of  the  city  of  New  York,  which  was  then  called 
the  American  Rifles.  This  regiment  was  organized  during  the  "Know 
Nothing"  excitement  in  that  city,  and  was  composed  exclusively  of 
American  citizens.  Colonel  Demarest's  first  commission  was  received 
in  185.^  from  Horatio  Seymour,  who  was  then  Governor  of  the  state  of 
New  York.  In  1855  he  was  again  commissioned  by  Governor  Myron  H. 
Clark  and  again  in  1857  by  Governor  John  H.  King.  At  this  time  owing 
to  his  faithfulness  in  attending  to  duty  and  his  efficiency  in  matters 
militarv,  he  was  appointed  drill-master,  and,  during  this  time,  it  is  a 
matter  of  record  that  he  never  was  absent  from  a  drill  or  a  parade. 

Those  who  remember  the  so-called  "  Quarantine  War"  at  Staten 
Island  and  the  "Dead  Rabbit  Riots"  in  the  city  of  New  York,  may  know 
that  the  Seventy-first  Regiment  was  called  upon,  and,  by  its  prompt  and 
effective  service,  put  an  end  to  the  unpleasant  disturbance. 

In  18M»,  Cohmel  Demarest  removed  to  Cresskill,  N.  J.,  which  neces- 
sitated his  retirement  from  the  New  York  militia. 

The  troublous  times  of  the  Civil  War  stirred  again  his  military 
spirit,  and,  with  old-time  vigor,  he  recruited  a  company  in  Closter  for 
the  independent  t)attalion  of  the  Hergen  County  Brigade,  and  was  com- 


67f>  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

missioned  captain  by  Governor  Charles  S.  Olden,  in  1862.  As  soon  as 
the  companv  was  formed  he  commenced  to  drill  his  men  in  his  usual 
efficient  manner,  so  that  when  Governor  Olden  issued  his  proclamation, 
calling  for  New  Jersey's  quota,  under  President  Lincoln's  call  for  300, (KKI 
men,  he  had  a  nucleus  around  which  to  rally  recruits  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  company,  which  he  did  by  enlisting  volunteers,  and  by  Sep- 
tember 1,  the  limit  of  time  given,  had  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
recruited  from  Closter,  Cresskill,  Tenafly  and  Englewood.  With  these 
he  reported  at  the  rendezvous  in  Trenton,  when  they  became  a  part  of 
the  Twenty-second  New  Jersey  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  left  the 
capital  for  the  seat  of  war,  one  thousand  strong — eight  hundred  being 
from  Bergen  county  and  two  companies  of  about  two  hundred  men  com- 
ing from  Mercer  county.  The  Twenty-first  New  Jersey  Regiment, 
which  was  enlisted  in  Hudson  county,  under  the  same  call,  was  enrolled 
the  day  previous  to  the  muster-in  of  the  Twenty-second,  and  proceeded 
to  the  front.  When  field  officers  were  appointed.  Captain  Demarest  be- 
came major,  which  rank  he  held  until  January  1863,  when  he  was  com- 
missioned colonel. 

The  Twenty-second  Regiment  left  Trenton  for  Washington  very  hur- 
riedly, and  was  ordered  into  camp  on  East  Capitol  Hill.  In  a  few  days 
the  regiment  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  was  stationed  in  the 
defences  of  Washington  at  the  Chain  Bridge,  near  Georgetown,  which 
position  it  occupied  until  November  30,  when  it  was  ordered  to  the  front. 

During  his  connection  with  the  army  he  participated  in  many  of  the 
hard-fought  battles,  until  mustered  out  of  service  upon  the  regiment's 
return  to  Trenton  at  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service. 

After  the  war.  Colonel  Demarest  had  in  contemplation  the  assist- 
ing in  raising  the  Second  Regiment  of  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  which  was 
afterward  formed  under  Colonel  Louis  Karge,  but  the  strenuous  objec- 
tions of  his  family  deterred  him  from  the  purpose,  and  he  returned  to 
the  management  of  his  mercantile  business.  Colonel  Demarest  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion;  also  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

FREDERIC    L.    COLVER. 

Frederic  L.  Colver  is  of  New  England  and  New  York  ancestry, 
but  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  October  13,  1863.  He  resided  in 
Brooklyn.  N.Y.,  from  1866  to  1888,  removing  then  to  Tenafly,  where  he 
has  since  lived  and  built  a  home.  His  tastes  early  inclined  him  to  the 
publishing  business,  and  at  seventeen  years  of  age  he  began  the  pub- 
lication, in  Brooklyn,  of  the  "Philomathean  Review,"  the  official  paper 
of  the  Philomathean  Society,  of  which  society  Mr.  Colver  was  one  of 
the  founders  and  presidents.  This  paper  he  succeeded  with  the  "Brook- 
lyn Magazine"  in  1886,  organizing  a  stock  company  to  publish  this 
magazine,  a  department  of  which  contained  the  sermons  of  Henry  Ward 
Beecher  and  T.  DeWitt  Talmage.  During  the  last  winter  of  Mr. 
Beecher's  life,  1886-7,   he  conducted  a  newspaper   syndicate  of   Beecher 


HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


677 


articles.  In  1S87  the  "Brooklyn  Magazine"  was  succeeded  b}'  the 
"American  Magazine,"  with  Mr.  Colver  as  manager.  In  May,  1889, 
Mr.  Colver  accepted  the  post  of  advertising-  manager  for  Frank  Leslie's 
publications,  after  serving  a  short  time  as  partner  in  a  book  publishing 
business.  He  was  lessee  and  manager  of  Frank  Leslie's  Publishing 
House  from  18M5  to  July  1,  1898,  at  which  date  he  incorporated  the 
business  under  the  Frank  Leslie  Publishing  House,  with  Mrs.  Frank 
Leslie  as  president  and  Mr.  Colver  as  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  June, 
1899,  Mr.  Colver  was  chosen  president  and  general  manager.  Since  his 
removal  to   Tenafly  in  1888,  Mr.   Colver  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 


FKF.r)i:Kic  I 


many    public    movements.       In    1891    he    started    the    Tenatly    Library 
Society,  now  a  growing  and  prosperous  literary  associaticm. 

In  the  spring  of  1892,  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  from  that 
society  which  raised  the  funds  and  built  the  Tenafly  Hall,  he  acting  as 
Treasurer  of  the  Tenafly  Hall  Company.  During  the  years  of  1894-.=; 
he  was  editor  and  manager  of  the  "Tenafly  Record,"  a  weekly  news- 
paper, and  in  the  winter  of  1892-3,  he  organized  the  movement  which 
led  to  the  incorporation  of  Tenafly  as  a  borough  in  January,  1894.  Mr. 
Colver  served  cm  the  first  Borough  Council,  and  in    1S9S  was  a])pi.inted 


678  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

a  member  i)f  the  Board  of  Health.  He  is  an  active  worker  and  officer  in 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  a  member  of  the  Tenafly  Council,  Royal 
Arcanum. 

Mr.  Colver  is  married  to  Lillian  Frances  Warren,  of  Glens  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  and  has  one  child,   Frederic  Beecher  Colver. 

HENRY    B.    PALMER. 

Henry  B.  Palmer,  first  mayor  of  Tenafly,  is  a  native  of  New  York- 
city  and  was  born  in  1840.  He  received  his  education  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  where  he  has  also  been  identified  with  the  firm  of  Barrett,  Palmer 
&  Heal,  for  years  one  of  the  largest  dyeing-  establishments  in  the  coun- 
try. The  works  of  this  company  are  at  Nordhoff,  N.  J.,  and  the  business 
done  by  them  is  extensive.  Mr.  Palmer  is  also  president  of  the  "Old 
Staten  Island  Dyeing  Establishment,"  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  the 
world.  He  came  to  Tenafly  about  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  where  he 
has  since  resided.  As  one  of  the  public  spirited  citizens  of  the  new 
borough,  he  was  elected  its  first  mayor,  and  was  subsequently  re-elected 
to  the  position  twice  afterward,  both  preceeding  and  succeeding  General 
James  in  that  office. 

PROFESSOR    R.   S.   MAUGHAM. 

Professor  R.  S.  Maugham,  principal  of  the  schools  at  Tenafly,  and 
Recorder  of  that  borough,  is  a  native  of  Jersey  City  and  was  born  in 
1859.  His  father  Joseph  B.  Maugham,  Supervising  principal  of  Bern- 
ard township,  Somerset  county,  N.  J.  came  from  England  just  prior  to 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  locating  in  this  state,  where  his  life  since  that 
time  has  been  given  to  educational  work.  Being  a  teacher  and  a 
scholar,  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  from  him  a  course 
of  instruction  and  mind  training  equal  to  that  pursued  by  those  who 
secure  classical  degrees  in  our  colleges  of  the  present  time.  Possessing 
a  logical  mind  and  with  a  taste  for  scientific  subjects,  such  topics  as 
evolution  and  the  science  of  life,  has  engaged  his  attention,  both  as  a 
writer  and  a  lecturer. 

As  an  educator,  however,  he  has  devoted  his  energies,  since  eigh- 
teen years  of  age,  to  the  work  of  teaching  in  the  public  schools,  first  in 
Tuckerton,  N.  J.,  then  in  Cresskill,  for  a  period  of  six  or  eight  years, 
coming  here  in  1887  where  he  has  remained  to  the  present  time  at  the 
head  of  the  Tenafly  schools.  He  is  public  spirited  and  jxissesses  qual- 
ities of  leadership  as  in  connection  with  many  of  the  institutions  of 
his  adopted  city  will  testify.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Tenafly,  and  was  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school  and  organist 
of  the  church  for  a  few  years.  He  was  recently  appointed  Recorder  of 
the  borough,  and  is  otherwise  identified  with  the  government  of  the 
place. 

BUELL    B.    BROWN. 

Buell  B.  Brown,  was  born  in  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  in  1848.  His 
ancestors  came  from  Vermont  in  the  early  part  of  the  century,  and 
settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  Western   Reserve,  then  a   wild  region- 


HISTORY    OF    BEKOEN    COUNTY  674 

Thev  were  noted  for  their  public  spirit  and  patriotism,  the  g-reat-urand- 
father  on  both  sides  being  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  the 
grandfathers  soldiers  of  the  war  of  1812,  while  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
his  father  and  brother  served  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Mr.  Brown 
is  a  distant  relative  of  John  Brown,  "whose  soul  is  marching  on"  and 
of  Lord  Nelson,  his  mother  being  a  grand-neice  of  the  hero  of  Trafalgar. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  enlisted  as  a  member  of  the  Sixth  Ohio 
Cavalry,  and  served  under  General  Sheridan  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  Spencerian  Institute  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in 
lSr>S,  the  Kingsville  Ohio  Academy,  in  1870,  and  the  Rochester  New 
York  Business  University,  in  1871,  being  an  instructor  in  the  last  named 
institutiim  in  1871-72,  when  he  accepted  the  principalship  of  the  Louis- 
ville Business  College.  He  afterwards  established  and  conducted  sev- 
eral commercial  schools,  which  now  bear  his  name.  He  has  been  the 
editor  of  several  weekly  papers,  and  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  the 
New  York  press,  also  author  of  works  on  commercial  education.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  director  of  the 
Englewood  Loan  and  Building  Association. 

Mr.  Brown  gave  up  the  school  and  newspaper  business  some  time 
since  and  is  now  a  real  estate  and  insurance  broker. 

CHAKI.ES    p.    lU'CKI.KV. 

Charles  P.  Buckley,  Mayor  of  the  borough,  is  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  but  has  been  a  practitioner  of  law  in  the  city  of  New  York 
for  over  forty  years.  He  was  born  in  Montclair,  N.  J.,  in  December 
1834.  A  few  years  thereafter  his  parents  moved  to  the  city  where  he 
received  his  education.  He  has  followed  his  profession  since  1858, 
when  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  State.  He  was 
appointed  a  Master  in  Chancery  in  1873  by  Chancellor  Rumyon.  In  18f.5 
he  became  a  resident  of  Tenafiy,  where  his  name  is  found  in  connecticm 
with  all  the  movements  in  that  place,  socially,  politically  and  other- 
wise. Mr.  Buckley  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  borough  of  Tenafiy  in 
March  18')9.  He  is  a  member  of  Lawyer's  and  New  York  Athletic 
Clubs,  New  York  city  and  of  the  L<mg  Beach  Club  and  Tenafly  Club, 
New  Jersey. 

AI,I''K'KI)    JAKVIS. 

Alfred  Jarvis  was  born  at  Babylon,  Long  Island,  June  4,  1835,  and 
is  the  son  of  Rufus  and  Onee  (  Gildersleeve  )  Jarvis.  Alfred  served  as 
Lieutenant  in  the  late  Civil  war,  in  the  12th  Mississippi  Regiment  from 
April  1,  18()1,  until  July  10,  18()5.  His  grandfather  Augustus  Jarvis 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 
HARRINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

EAKI.V       SKTTLEMENT — CIVII,       LIST — CLUSTER,       DEMAKEST,      NOKWCKJD — 
SCHOOLS — CHUKCHES — BIOGK.\PHICAL    SKETCHES. 

This  township  became  a  separate  organization  in  1775,  having- 
heretofore  been  a  part  of  old  Hackensack. 

The  division  of  the  territory  for  the  formation  of  Washing-ton 
township  called  forth  strong  opposition.  In  i840,  howev-er,  it  was  nearly 
equally  divided  leaving  Harrington  on  the  east  side,  making  the  line  of 
New  York  state  its  northern  boundary,  with  the  Hudson  river  on  the 
east  and  Palisades'  township  on  the  s;)Uth.  Includia-r  the  borough 
recently  taken  off  it  contains  fourteen  thousand  two  hundred  and  one 
acres  and  has  two  railroads,  the  Northern  Railroad  of  New  Jersey  and 
the  West  Shore  traversing  the  township  from  North  to  South. 

The  civil  powers  of  the  township  at  that  early  day  were  legallv 
vested  in  the  county  board  justices  and  freeholders.  The  first  Chosen 
Freeholders  of  the  townshij)  were  Johnson  Boskirk  and  Jacob  Cole. 
From  that  time  to  i794  the  records  are  indefinite,  but  from  the  year  last 
named  the  freeholders,  with  the  respective  years  in  which  they  served, 
will  be  found  as  follows: 

1794,  Capt.  Abr.  Haring;  ■<)4-')(,,  ').S-'»'»,  Abrni.  (i.  Haring;  95-96. 
Henry  Harring;  97,  David  Durie;  '97-i.S(lil.  John  I.  Banta;  1800-5,  Peter 
Harring:  1801-2,  '08-13,  Jacob  I.  Banta;  'tl.V5,  Cornelius  Blauvelt;  '06-9. 
John  D.  Harring;  '06-7,  '10-11,  Carret  A.  Ackerman;  '12-17,  John  W. 
Ferdon,  '14-17,  James  G.  Demarest;  "IS,  Uavid  A.  Demarest;  '18,  Gar- 
ret A.  Zabriskie;  '19-21,  David  A.  Demarest;  '19,  Garret  A.  Zabriskie; 
'20-21,  Jacob  Al.  Terhune;  '22-25.  John  W.  Ferdon;  '22,  26-28,  John  R. 
Blauvelt;  23-25,  30,  Samuel  G.  Demarest;  26-28,  '31-33,  Garret  Acker- 
son;  '29-39,  Jacob  I.  Blauvelt;  '29,  Peter  Wortendyke;  '31-33,  Stephen 
Powles;  '34-36,  Matthew  S.  Bogert;  '34-36,  '46-48.  John  I.  Blauvelt; 
'36-40.  John  H.  Zabriskie;  '37-39,  Aaron  H.  Westervelt;  '40-42,  William 
V.  D.  Harring;  '41-43,  Samuel  R.  Demarest;  '43-45,  Tunis  Harring; 
'44,  John  I.  Ackerman,  Jr, ;  '45-47,  Benjamin  Bogert;  '38-40,  Jacob  J. 
Ferdon;  '49-51,  David  D.  Harring;  '51-53,  David  Doremus;  '52-54,  Garret 
A.  Ackerson;  '54-56,  Ralph  S.  Demarest;  '56,  Peter  D.  Harring;  '57-(>l, 
Garret  I.  Auryansen;  '57-59,  Henrv  (t.  Zabriskie;  '60-62,  John  T.  Har- 
ring; '62-64,  John  S.  Powles;  '63-64,  '(>(>,  Abraham  C.  Eckerson;  '66. 
Barney  N.  Ferdon;  '67-68,  Cornelius  Eckerson,  Jr.;  '68-70,  Ralph  S. 
Demarest;  '69-70,  Abraham  Harring;  '71,  John  Van  Buskirk;  '72-74, 
James  P.  Blackledge;  '75-77,  Peter  S.  Yeury;  '78-80,  Peter  A.  Demarest; 
'83-84,  John  Ackerman,  Jr.;  ''84-86,  Jacob  B.  Eckerson;  '86-90,  W.  L. 
Lindemann;  '90-99,  Garret  T.  Haring;  '99,  George  N.  Brewster. 

Justices  of  the  Peace,  1872,  Barney  A.  Ferdon;  '75,  Henry  G. 
Zabriskie;   '7(>,    Cornelius   Eckerscm,    Jr.,    John    C.    Ackerson.    Moses    .1. 


HISTOKY    OF    KHKGEN    COUNTY  681 

Taylor;  '77,  John  B.  Kipj);  '7S.  James  Y.  Van  Orden;  '80,  IMartin  De 
Wolf,  Allien  B.  Eckerson;  "82,  J.  P.  Andrews.  H.  G.  Zabriskie;  "83,  P. 
C.  De  Wolf,  James  Y.  Van  Orden.  Robert  N.  Sneden;  '85,  Jenkins 
Sloat;  '88,  Moses  J.  Taylor,  Peter  C.  Ue  Wolf,  James  Y.  Van  Orden; 
'89,  C.  Eckerson,  Jr..  B.  N.  Ferdon;  ''H,  H.  Campora,  B.  N.  Ferdon;  '')2, 
George  Dayton;  '9.^,  Georg-e  Dayton,  who  still  holds  that  office;  J.  Y. 
Van  Orden,  who  was  elected  for  five  years  and  J.  1!.  Eckerson.  who  was 
elected  for  three  years. 

Town  Clerks.  1871-73,  Jacob  J.  Demarest;  '74-76,  Cornelius  A. 
Eckerson;  '77-79,  William  J.  Demarest;  'S()-,S7,  Charles  L.  DuBois;  '87- 
89,  Charles  H.  Lyons;  '89-9.^,  C.  A.  Eckerson;  '93-96,  W.  C.  Endres, 
resig-ned  November,  1897,  George  Dayton  a]}pf)inted;  '98,  George  Day- 
ton elected. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1899  are:  Town  Committee.  Ward  Varian, 
Closter;  George  E.  Tooker,  Demarest;  (iarret  D.  Durie,  Closter;  Town- 
ship Collector,  John  H.  Lindemann.  (  loster;  Assessor.  William  J. 
Demarest.  Norwood;   Township  Clerk,  George  Dayton,  Closter. 

EAKI.Y  sktti.1':ks. 

The  Harings,  or  Harrings,  as  the  name  was  sometimes  spelled 
were  among  the  first  settlers,  giving  the  name  to  the  township 
upon  its  organization  in  1775.  Peter  Haring  came  to  America 
from  North  Holland  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  His  son  John 
born  December  26,  1633.  married  Margaret  Cozine.  Their  son  Cozine 
whose  son  John,  had  a  son  Frederick  whose  son  John,  was  born  June 
14,  1760.  He  married  Jemima,  daughter  of  Tennis  Blauvelt.  Their 
son  Teunis,  born  September  7,  1787,  married  Elizabeth  Perry  who  died 
in  1858.  Among  their  children  were  Abram  B.,  and  Jane,  wife  of  Ralph 
S.  Demarest.  Abram  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  May  20,  1811. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  freeholders,  was  surveyor,  and  was 
sheriff  of  Bergen  county  from  1853  to  185().  He  also  served  two  terms 
in  the  State  Legislature. 

Peter  Westervelt  the  ancestor  of  the  branch  of  the  family  of  that 
name  living  in  this  part  of  Bergen  county,  settled  here  in  the  first  part 
of  the  seventeenth  century.  His  scm,  Peter  Benjamin,  was  the  father 
of  John  Peter  Benjamin  of  this  townshi]).  The  Blauvelts,  Ackermans 
and  Ferdons  were  also  early  settlers  in  the  township.  Garret  Ackerson, 
the  first  of  his  name  in  America,  settled  at  Old  Tappen.  He  sometimes 
spelled  his  name  Eckerson. 

SCHOOLS. 

Benjamin  Blacklidge,  who  was  the  first  teacher  of  English  in  Ber- 
gen county,  located  in  Harrington  township  as  a  doctor  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  married  Caroline  Tallman,  and 
began  housekeeping  in  a  part  of  the  house  in  which  he  taught  school, 
teaching  both  Dutch  and  English. 

The  oldest  school  house  of  which  we  have  any  definite  account  was 
built   on    ground    given    bv    Abraham    Ackerman    on    condition   that    it 


682  HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY 

should  be  used  always  as  a  school  lot.  The  house  was  of  stone  one- 
story  high,  with  two  rooms,  one  of  which  was  for  school  and  the  other 
for  the  teacher  to  live  in.  It  was  in  that  house  that  Mr.  Blacklidge 
began  housekeeping  with  his  sixteen-year-old  wife.  It  was  built  by 
subscription.     The  deed  was  written  in  Dutch,  but  was  never  recorded. 

The  first  school  in  Closter  City  District,  No.  15,  was  a  private  enter- 
prise begun  in  1864  in  the  basement  of  the  church  and  became  a  flourish- 
ing institution.  The  first  public  school  in  this  district  was  opened  in 
1870,  in  a  barn  rented  for  the  purpose,  while  the  new  building  was  in 
process  of  erection.  This  new  house  was  of  brick,  thirty  by  seventv- 
one  feet  and  two  stories  high.  Alpine  District,  No.  16,  had  no  school 
of  importance  until  1845. 

The  old  Closter  District,  No.  17,  is  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
township,  where  the  first  building  was  of  stone,  near  the  house  of  Moses 
Taylor.  This  was  used  until  1830,  when  a  new  one  was  built  on  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Taylor,  where  the  lease  was  to  be  good  as  long  as  used  for 
school  purposes.  The  next  building  was  erected  in  1858,  and  was 
twenty-eight  by  forty  feet  in  dimensions. 

Old  Tappan  District  No.  1'^,  is  upon  historic  ground.  Major  Andre 
having  been  executed  near  the  boundaries  of  this  district.  The  first 
school  building  in  No.  19  was  built  a  long  time  ago.  According  to  some 
accounts,  it  was  about  1785,  when  a  little  school  house  was  built  with 
no  ceiling  and  having  a  chimney  built  of  sticks  and  mud.  A  house 
erected  in  1856  was  the  fourth  to  be  put  up  in  the  district,  but  they  did 
not  all  occupy  the  same  site. 

Harrington  township  will  always  be  interesting  as  the  locality  in 
which  young  Andre  was  executed  as  a  spy,  October  2,  1780,  the  execu- 
tion taking  place  between  the  village  of  Tappan  and  the  state  line,  not 
over  two  hundred  feet  from  the  boundary  line  of  Harrington  townshij). 
This  vicinity  was  the  scene  of  the  massacre  of  Colonel  Baylor's  troop. 
a  small  force  detached  from  the  main  army  to  intercept  a  British  forag- 
ing party.  The  massacre  of  these  men  was  a  cruel  and  inhuman  act 
calling  forth  the  greatest  hatred  of  the  Americans  against  their  British 
foe. 

The  liorough  of  old  Tappan  was  taken  out  of  this  township,  and 
incorporated  in  rS94.  John  H.  DeWolf  was  elected  the  first  mayor 
December  6,  1S')4.  and  has  been  re-elected  to  that  office  every  election 
since  that  time. 

vn.L.\GES. 

Closter,  the  largest  village  in  the  township,  is  very  pleasantly  situ- 
ated on  the  Northern  Railroad  of  New  Jersey,  twenty  miles  from  the 
city  of  New  York.  It  has  one  hotel,  several  stores  and  four  churches, 
with  a  flourishing  public  school. 

Manufacturing  of  window  shades  was  begun  under  the  firm  name 
of  Adam  Richter  &  Co.,  the  business  being  carried  on  from  that  time 
to  the   present.     The   present   jiroprietor,    Mr.   Joseph   Schuessler,  who 


HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 


683 


has  always  been  interested  in  the  company  from  the  beginninir,  is  to-dav 
manufacturing'  about  ten  thousand  every  two  days.  He  emjilovs  nearly 
twenty  hands  constantly. 

HOTELS. 

The  Closter  Hotel  was  built  by  William  L.  Lindemann  many  years 
■Ago,  but  it  proved  a  failure,  and  subsequently,  for  want  of  an  occuj)ant, 
stood  idle  for  a  number  of  years.  Finally  a  manager,  in  the  person  of 
the  g-enial  landlord,  John  W.  Hutton,  took  the  property,  and  from  that 
time  the  house  became  a  landmark  of  some  value  to  the  village.  Mr. 
Hutton  purchased  the  property  in  ISS'I.  and.  in  IS'ts.  sold  it  to  (rarret  I^. 


DHMAK'KS'I'    SCH< 


Earing,  the  present  proprietor.  Mr.  Hutton  at  one  time  carried  on  an 
extensive  trucking  business  in  New  York,  and  later  opened  a  large 
restaurant  there  on  Wall  and  William  Streets,  where  he  conducted  two 
bars,  and  kept  about  thirty  men  constantly  employed.  Tiring  ol  such 
an  active  life,  he  sought  a  home  where  the  remainder  of  his  days  could 
be  spent  in  retirement. 

DKM.VKKST. 

The  village  of  Demarest  follows  next  in  population.  It  was  lai<l 
out  by  Ralph  S.  Demarest,  and  has  a  store  and  church.  As  a  place  of 
residence  it  has  attracted  a  number  of  New  York  business  men,  whose 
coming  has  helped  to  build   up  the   place.      The    Murray   Hill    House  is 


f>84  HISTORY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

located  here.      An  artificial   lake  adds  to  the   beauty  and    attractiveness 
of  the  place. 

XORWOOD. 

This  villag-e  has  two  churches,  two  stores  and  a  hotel.  J.  Wvman 
Jones,  who  bought  the  land,  laid  it  out  in  lots  for  a  villag-e.  Among 
the  older  settlers  Henry  ver  Valen  and  his  son-in-law.  David  Hariug, 
are  worthy  of  mention.  Mr.  Haring  lived  where  Peter  A.  Blauvelt  now 
resides. 

CHUKCHES. 

The  Methodists  have  held  services  in  the  town  of  Harrington  since 
the  year  1841.  At  that  time  Rev.  Mr.  Stur,  a  local  preacher,  from  the 
Bedford  Church  in  New  York,  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Uemarest  and 
held  meetings,  which  were  continued  by  DuBois  and  others  from  the 
same  church  in  New  York.  From  that  time  a  movement  was  set  on 
foot  which  resulted  in  the  building  of  a  church  edifice  on  what  is  known 
as  Hilltop,  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars.  The  first  board  of  trustees 
consisted  of  Henry  DuBois,  Thomas  DuBois,  Jacob  Jordan,  and  William 
Jordan.  Before  this  church  was  built,  it  is  stated  that  the  mother  of 
Jacob  DuBois  was  in  the  habit  of  walking  four  miles  to  a  Reformed 
Church  in  the  valley.  At  that  time  there  was  no  village  on  the  cliff, 
but  most  of  the  people  lived  on  the  river  bank  and  on  the  hill.  Among 
the  early  members  of  this  church  were  Oliver  Cosine,  Henrv  DuBois. 
Thomas  DuBois,  Mrs.  Thomas  DuBois.  Jacob  Jorden.  William  Jorden. 
Mrs.  Springstead,   and  Mrs.  Older. 

In  1857  a  new  edifice  was  erected  sixty  feet  long  and  thirty  feet 
wide,  the  building  material  being  hard  bluestone.  Mr.  NordhofF 
defrayed  the  architect's  expenses. 

The  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  of  Closter  was  organi/.ed  in  IS'H),  and  is 
a  small  congregation. 

In  the  fall  of  1860  Rev.  E.  S.  Hammond  began  preaching  at  Closter, 
and  in  February,  1861,  at  a  public  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Peter 
Maxon  it  was  resolved  that  an  effort  be  made  to  secure  a  church  edifice 
for  the  better  and  permanent  accommodation  of  the  county,  and  in  1862 
a  plot  of  ground  was  deeded  to  the  congregation  by  Thomas  W.  Demar- 
est  and  wife,  and  a  church  was  erected  under  the  supervision  of  Daniel 
Blauvelt,  Nicholas  Duree,  Garret  J.  Demarest,  John  H.  Stevens,  and 
Matthew  S.  Bogert.  The  church  was  completed,  and  dedicated  October 
7,  1862,  by  Rev.  Isaac  W.  Cole,  of  Tappan,  N.  Y.  The  church  was 
organized  September  30,  1862.  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Mabon,  Rev.  W.  R.  (iordcn. 
Rev.  James  Demarest,  Jr.,  and  William  Williams.  The  first  members 
were  Garret  J.  Demarest,  Agnes  Westervelt,  Peter  A.  Blauvelt,  Elixa 
Herring,  Robert  D.  Huvler.  Mrs.  R.  D.  Huyler.  John  H.  Stephens.  David 
D.  Blauvelt,  George  H.  French,  Phebe  W.  Peck,  Gideon  Peck,  Lydia 
Coddington,  Isabella  Percell,  Margaret  H.  Hammond,  Peter  J.  White. 
Sarah  Zabriskie,  and  Abraham  J.  Hopper.  The  first  elders  were 
Gideon  Peck,  Daniel  Blauvelt,  (larret  Demarest;  deacons,  Peter  Blauvelt. 
Abraliaiu  J.  Ho])per,  Peter  White. 


HISTORY    OF    BHKC.EN    COITNTY  ()S5 


The  church  is  located  on  the  hill,  and  is  built  of  wood,  fiirtv  l)V 
sixt\-  feet,  and  cost  ten  thousand  dollars.  The  pastors  have  been  Co-- 
nelius  Blauvelt,  1865,  who  continued  until  April  27,  18'^>S,  as  a  su'>-)iv, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  P.  K.  Vaubuskirk,  Mav,  18')9,  who  remained 
in  pastoral  charge  until  April,  1SS7,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Henry  Ward,  the  present  jjastor  who  took-  charge  September,  1SS7. 

FIK.ST    CONCKM'.CATIONAI.    CIIUKCH. 

The  First  Congregational  Church  of  Closter  is  the  outcome  of  the 
meetings  for  prayer,  instituted  by  a  number  of  Christian  i)eo)le  who 
first  met  in  the  building  then  known  as  Closter  Institute,  but  is  no.v 
Hammond  Hall.  This  prayer  service  resulted  in  the  People's  Churcli, 
organized  with  eighteen  members.  December  6,  1877,  becoming  in  time 
the  F^irst  Congregational  Church  of  Closter.  February  22,  1S7S,  the 
church  was  recognized  in  a  council  of  which  Rev.  R.  B.  Howard,  of 
East  Orange,  was  moderator,  and  Rev.  William  H.  Brodhead,  of  S])ring 
Valley,  scribe.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Herbert  B.  Turner,  installed 
February  6,  1879.  The  dedication  of  the  new  church  building  took 
l)lace  on  December  8,  ISSl. 

In  October,  1883,  Mr.  Turner  left  the  congregation,  and  in  October. 
1884,  Rev.  G.  W.  Plack  was  installed,  remaining  until  September,  LS'iO. 
In  December  of  the  same  year  Rev.  (i.  M.  Walton  was  called,  serving 
the  church  until  April,  189,'^,  when  Rev.  C.  A.  S.  Dwight  followed  him, 
beginning  his  laliors  in  November  of  the  same  year,  and  in  November, 
1894,  was  installed,  continuing  to  serve  as  pastor  to  the  present  time. 

A  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  the  village  has  a  small  meniber- 
shij).     Rev.  Arthur  Whitaker  is  the  rector. 

A  Lutheran  church  was  built  in  1887  in  the  village  of  Closter,  and 
dedicated  in  1888.  The  membershij)  is  small.  The  Rev.  (ntstav  H. 
Scheild  is  pastor. 

THIC    N(_)K\V()OI)    I'Ki:SHVTl-:i<IAN    CIU'KCH. 

The  Norwood  Preslivterian  church  was  established  in  the  f.ill  of 
1S()8.  Meetings  had  been  held  in  the  hotel  parlors  for  about  one  vear 
prior  to  this  time.  A  lot  was  then  donated  to  the  church  by  J.  Wyman 
Jones,  upon  which  a  church  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  1868.  The 
building  was  afterwards  remodelled  and  moved  so  as  to  face  the  street. 
The  church  was  organized  May  18,  1869,  by  Rev.  John  Spaulding,  D.  D., 
of  New  York  city,  and  Rev.  Henry  M.  Booth,  of  England.  Twenty- 
one  were  received  by  letter  and  four  on  profession  of  faith.  These  con- 
sisted of  Paul  Powless,  John  Powless,  Margretta  Powless,  Mrs.  M.  A. 
Kline,  William  Hammell,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hammell,  Mary  Atwale, 
(ieorge  H.  French,  Mrs.  Phiebe  French,  Eydia  Coddington,  E.  K. 
Houghton,  Mrs.  Louise  S.  Houghton,  Matthevv  H.  Houghton,  Mrs. 
Sarah  S.  Houghton,  Peter  A.  Blauvelt,  Mrs.  Eliza  Blauvelt,  John  H. 
Serviss,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Serviss,  Curtiss  N.  White,  Mrs.  Delia  1).  White, 
C.  M.  Buck,  W.  J.  Demarest,  Leah  Demarest,  Matthew  Powless,  and 
Mai^ufie  Powless. 


686  HISTORY  OF  bekc;en  county 

The  (irst  elfk-rs  were  Paul  Powless,  William  liammell,  and  George 
H.  French. 

The  first  deacons  were  Peter  A.  Blauvelt,  Matthew  Houghton,  John 
H.  Serviss.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  P.  Fisher,  who  was 
installed  November,  1871;  Rev.  L.  F.  Stevens,  October  14,  1873;  Rev. 
S.  M.  Jackson,  May  30,  1876;  Rev.  J.  E.  Abbott,  stated  supply  for  1880; 
Rev.  Charles  B.  Chapin,  September  13,  1881,  and  following  him  came 
various  other  clergymen  until  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  William  E. 
Westervelt  succeeded  the, Rev.  Mr.  Hegerman  two  or  three  years  ago. 
The  present  elders  are  Peter  A.  Blauvelt  and  Tunis  A.  Haring. 

There  is  a  Baptist  church  in  Demarest  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Coleman.  This  society  was  organized  in  1874,  with  seventeen 
members,  as  follows:  William  M.  Whitmore,  Mrs.  W.  M.  Whitmore, 
William  R.  Whitmore,  Mrs.  W.  R.  Whitmore,  Miss  G.  P.  Whitmore. 
Miss  Amelia  C.  Blacklidge,  H.  S.  Downs,  Mrs.  H.  S.  Downs,  George 
Allen,  Mrs.  George  Allen,  Miss  Annie  Rich,  Miss  Nellie  Rich. 
Mrs.  Mary  F.  Rich,  W^illiam  H.  W.estervelt,  Miss  Anna  Randall,  W.  F. 
Laroche,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Laroche. 

Meetings  were  first  held  in  the  school  house  until  a  church  edifice 
could  be  erected.  Mr.  Ralph  Demarest  donated  a  plot  of  ground,  and 
the  erection  of  a  chapel  was  commenced,  and  completed  in  the  fall  of 
1874.  On  the  17th  of  December,  1874,  the  chapel  was  dedicated.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  James  H.  Andrews,  who  was  called  February,  1875. 
He  died  October  17.  1875.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  B.  F.  McMichael, 
who  was  installed  October  11.  1876,  and  preached  there  until  187*». 
Various  other  clergymen  have  had  charge  of  the  flock  since  that  time. 
The  present  pastor  is  Mr.  Coleman.  The  first  deacons  were  W.  J.  La- 
roche and  William  M.  Whitmore;  trustees,  William  M.  Whitmore  and 
William  H.  Westervelt. 

GAKKKT    Z.    DK  MA  WEST. 

Mr.  Demarest's  early  ancestors  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Bergen  county.  Mr.  David  des  Marest  of  French  parentage,  together 
with  his  wife,  Marie  (Sohier)  and  their  three  sons,  John,  David  and 
Samuel,  emigrated  to  America  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  in  the  shi]> 
"  Bcmtekoe,"  (spotted  cow),  arriving  at  New  Amsterdam  April  16, 
1(>63.  On  June  8,  1677,  a  deed  of  conveyance  was  made  for  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  the  northern  New  Jersey  province  and  Mr.  des  Marest  with 
his  entire  family  settled  at  what  is  now  known  as  River  Edge,  N.  J.  in 
1()7S. 

Samuel  des  Marest  son  of  David,  married  Maria  daughter  of  Simon 
Dreuns,  August  11,  1678.  They  had  eleven  children.  Peter,  their  son, 
married  Margrietie  Cornelise  Hariugh,  a  daughter  of  Cornelise  Hariugh, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Tappan,  N.  J.,  September  14,  1717,  and  made 
his  home  at  Schraalenburgh,  N.  J.  having  two  children,  Samuel  and 
John.  Samuel  was  born  June  5,  1724.  and  died  March  14,  1808.  His 
wife  Margaret  Brinkerhoif  who  was  born  October  4.  172<»,  died  March 
21,  1S02,  l)ore  him  the    following  children:   Peter,   Hendrick,    Cornelius, 


(;ai%'kkt  /.   i)i;:vi  \kicst 


«)88  HISTORY  OF  BERGEN  COUNTY 

Roeldf  and  Margaret  Ann.  All  of  the  sons  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  The  father,  Samuel,  was  captured  by  the  Tory  leader,  Colonel 
Abraham  Van  Buskirk,  in  his  famous  Old  Closter  raid  and  was  im- 
prisoned in  the  Sug-ar  House  in  New  York  city.  Cornelius  was  killed  in 
this  raid  and  Hendrick  wounded.  Roelof,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  August  23,  1756,  and  died  September  4,  1814.  His  wife, 
Maria  Demarest  born  August  8,  1756,  died  May  10,  1810.  She  had  borne 
him  three  children  Samuel  R.,  John  R.,  and  Margaret.  Samuel  R.,  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  February  5,  1783,  in  the  old  township  of 
Hackensack  now  Palisades,  and  died  February  24,  1872.  His  occupa- 
tion was  farming  and  distilling.  In  politics  he  was  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat, representing  the  county  in  both  branches  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature. He  was  a  very  active  man,  and  was  connected  with  all  mat- 
ters in  both  church  and  civil  life,  that  pertained  to  the  prosperity  and 
welfare  of  the  community,  and  can  safely  be  classed  as  a  representative 
man  of  the  past  He  married  Elizabeth  Zabriskie  December  22,  1808, 
who  was  born  February  13,  1789,  and  died  May  14,  1875.  Their  chil- 
dren were  John  Z.,  Ralph  S.,  Cornelia,  John  S.,  Maria,  Samuel  S.. 
Margaret,  Catherine,  Garret  Z.,   and  Ann  Eliza. 

Garret  Zabriskie  Demarest  the  onl)'  surviving  son,  was  born  in  Lower 
Closter  or  what  is  now  Demarest,  in  Harringtown  township  June  21. 
1829.  He  married  Margaret  Zabriskie,  a  daughter  of  John  Zabris- 
kie, October  18,  1849.  She  was  born  October  14,  1830  and  died 
October  10,  1893,  having  borne  him  two  children,  John  H.  Z.,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  V.  Moore  ( children  J.  Westervelt  and  Gretta )  and 
William  E.,  who  married  Sarah  Ferdon  (  children  Margretta,  Garret 
and  Bessie  ). 

Mr.  Demarest  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  town,  and 
early  in  life  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  later  entered  into  the 
coal  business,  to  which  enterprise  he  is  now  devoting  his  entire 
attention. 

Mr.  Demarest,  though  a  strong  Democrat,  has  never  sought  any 
political  office.  He  is  a  man  of  amiable  disposition,  and  one  who  has 
the  respect  of  his  entire  community,  always  an  ardent  supporter  of  all 
enterprises  that  lead  to  the  advancement  and  prosperity  of  his  town. 
Mr.  Demarest  has  ever  been  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  True  Reformed 
Church  of  Schraalenburgh  known  as  the  "South."  This  church  has 
been  the  place  of  worship  for  his  ancestors  since  its  organization. 

Mr.  G.  Z.  Demarest  is  the  brother  of  the  Hon.  Ralph  S.  Demarest 
who  represented  Bergen  county  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature, 
and  who  held  many  other  offices  of  trust  in  the  county,  being  also  one 
of  the  promoters  and  first  directors  of  the  Nothern  R.  R.  of  New  Jersey. 

Demarest,  N.  J.  was  named   in    honor  of  this  branch  of  the  family. 

CKOKGE    D.WTON. 

George  Dayton,  for  many  years  Justice  of  the  Peace,  is  a  great- 
grandson  of  Jonathan  Dayton,  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  borough 


HISTORY    OF    BERGEN    COUNTY  f)8'» 

of  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  and  father  of  General  Elias  Dayton,  who  was 
borti  in  Elizabeth  Town  in  1737.  Here  Jonathan,  son  of  General  Elias 
Dayton,  was  born  October  16,  1760.  General  Elias  Dayton  commauded 
the  Third  New  Jersey  Regiment  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was 
made  a  major-general  by  act  of  Congress.  His  son  Jonathan  was  a 
captain  of  one  of  the  companies  in  his  father's  regiment,  and  afterwards 
United  States  Senator.  Nathan  Dayton,  brother  of  General  Elias  Day- 
ton, was  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  May  11,  1758,  and 
died  October,  1842.  He  also  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  His  wife, 
Mehitable  (Hutchinson)  Dayton,  was  born  October  11.  1750,  and  died 
June  4,  1803.  Their  son,  Samuel  Hutchinson  Dayton,  father  of  Judge 
George  Dayton,  was  born  on  Long  Island  September  2,  1790,  and  died 
August  9,  1864.  He  married  Sally  S.  Crary,  October  13,  1814.  She  was 
bora  May  25,  1793,  and  died  March  6,  1846.  He  was  a  farmer  and  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  the  vicinity  of  Troy,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  October  2,  1827,  and  where  he  spent 
the  first  twenty  years  of  his  life. 

A  few  years  before  the  civil  war  Judge  George  Dayton  took  up  his 
abode  in  the  city  of  New  York  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits, 
and  where  he  on  February  1,  1859,  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Dennis, 
daughter  of  Stephen  A.  Dennis,  a  manufacturer  of  jewelry  of  that  city. 
The  names  of  his  children  are  Ella  Fitch  Wiswall  and  George  Crary 
Dayton. 

In  1868  a  residence  was  established  in  Rutherford,  N.  J.,  and  next  a 
removal  was  made  to  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.  In  1890  Mr.  Dayton 
came  to  Closter,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  has  held  numer- 
ous positions  of  trust.  While  in  Rutherford  he  was  elected  to  various 
ofiices  and  was  sent  to  the  State  Senate  from  1874  to  1877.  In  1891  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  has  since  served  the  township  of 
Harrington  in  that  capacity.  In  1897  he  was  elected  Township  Clerk 
and  still  holds  that  office. 

ROBERT    GRAHAJI    CONTRELI.,   M.   D. 

Among  the  younger  physicians  of  the  county  who  are  fast  pushing 
their  way  to  recognition  in  the  profession  of  medicine,  is  Doctor  R.  G. 
Contrell  of  Closter,  N.  J.,  whose  admission  to  the  practice  of  Materia 
Medica,  is  but  recent.  He  is  the  son  of  John  P.  Contrell  of  Newark, 
N.  J.,  who  has  been  cashier  for  Clark's  O.  N.  T.  Spool  Cotton  Works 
for  thirty-seven  years;  and  the  grandson  of  John  Contrell  of  New  York, 
the  proprietor  and  manufacturer  of  Contrell's  Magic  Troches,  which 
have  been  known  to  the  world  for  years.  Doctor  Contrell  is  a  native  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  in  which  city  he  received  a  public  school  education. 
Subsequently  he  was  a  student  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pa.,  and 
in  1896,  his  degree  of  M.  D.  was  received  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Department  of  Medicine.  Following  graduation  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Newark  where  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Newark  City 
Dispensary  until  his  removal    to  Tenafly  July  2,    1S'»7.      He  resided  here 


600  HISTOKY    OF    BEKGEN    COUNTY 

until  October,  IS'Ct,  when  he  removed  to  Closter,  N.  J.,  where  he  is  at 
present  practicing;-.  He  is  examiner  for  the  Prudential  Life  Insurance 
Company,  Newark.  N.  J.;  the  Colonial  Life  Insurance  Company,  Jersey 
City,  and  for  the  Knights  of  Honor,  Tenafly. 

Dr.  Contrell  was  married  on  May  "^l,  1S4'),,  to  Miss  Ann  May  Curtis 
of  Englewood,  N.  J. 

MK.   CHAKI.ES  W.   WKTYKX. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Wetyen,  one  of  the  substantial  and  progressive 
citizens  of  Closter,  is  a  native  of  New  York  city,  and  was  born  in 
1S58.  He  is  the  son  of  John  Henry  and  Mrs.  Adeline  Brickwell 
Wetyen,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany.  His  father  came  to  New 
York  when  a  young  man,  and  was  successful,  first  in  the  milk  business 
then  in  the  grocery  trade  for  ra.any  years.  About  forty  years  ago  he 
moved  his  family  to  Bergen  county,  locating  on  a  valuable  tract  of  land 
near  Demarest,  N.  J.  Soon  after  this  time  the  father  died.  Mr.  Wetyen 
has  spent  his  life  principally,  in  this  part  of  Bergen  county.  In  18S2 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  L.  Schenck,  daughter  of  John  Schenck, 
a  business  man  of  New  York,  now  dead,  and  by  this  union  is  the  father 
of  nine  children  all  living. 

In  1S93  Mr.  Wetyen  took  up  his  family  residence  in  Closter,  where 
he  his  been  active  in  all  the  forward  movements  made  in  the  interest  of 
his  village  and  church,  is  identified  with  the  schools,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  for  the  past  five  years.  He  is  a  stockholder 
and  director  in  the  Harrington  Building  and  L«jan  Association,  is  a 
member  of  the  Closter  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  and  is  otherwise 
identified  with  the  interests  of  the  village. 

PETER    .V.    BLAUVEI.T. 

Peter  A.  Blauvelt,  pioneer  undertaker  at  Norwood,  and  for  many 
years  ati  official  in  the  church  at  that  place,  is  a  grandson  of  Abraham 
Blauvelt  of  Paramus,  a  history  of  whom  can  be  found  in  another  part 
of  this  work. 

Abraham  A.  Blauvelt,  father  of  Peter  A.,  was  born  in  Paramus, 
but  owing  to  the  death  of  his  mother  he  was  placed  in  infancy  under  the 
care  of  an  uncle  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Norwood.  He  became  a 
farmer,  but  having  learned  the  trade  of  tailor  followed  that  occupation 
also.  In  early  manhood  he  married  Mary  Bogert,  daughter  of  Matthew 
P.  Bogert.  By  this  union  he  became  the  father  of  six  children,  four 
girls  and  two  boys,  all  of  whom  married  except  one  daughter,  who  died 
when  fifty  years  of  age.  Mr.  Blauvelt  senior  died  in  18()7  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine. 

Peter  A.  Blauvelt,  the  eldest  of  this  family  was  born  in  l<S2't.  His 
early  life  was  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  his  present  residence.  In  1S4S  he 
married  Eliza  Haring.  daughter  of  David  D.,  and  Leah  Vervalen  Haring. 
They  reside  on  the  estate  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  Henry  Ver- 
valen, grandfather  of  Mrs.  Blauvelt.  In  1850,  Mr.  Blauvelt  removed  to 
the  city  of  New   York,  where   he  followed  the  business  of  truckman  for 


HISTORY    OK    BEKGEN    COUNTY  691 


several  years,  returning  to  Norwood  in  1S5S  to  take  charge  of  the  home- 
stead, where  Henry  Vervalen  died  in  1.S71,  in  the  eighty-ninth  year  of 
his  age. 

Mr.  Bhmvelt  has  been  an  active  participant  in  all  the  affairs  of 
Norwood  during  his  residence  in  the  village.  For  the  first  few  years 
after  his  return  he  followed  farming,  but  the  past  twenty-six  years  of 
his  life  he  has  taken  care  of  the  dead,  as  an  undertaker,  and  has  had  a 
business  experience  reaching  to  all  portions  of  that  part  of  Bergen 
county. 

He  was  formerly  a  deacon  in  the  Old  Reformed  Church,  but  has 
been  for  the  past  twent3--one  years  an  elder  and  trustee  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  His  children  are  Leah,  now  Mrs.  T.  J.  Haring,  whose 
husband  is  a  manufacturer  of  silverware  in  New  York  city;  and  Ira  J. 
Hlauvelt,  who  married  Miss  Anna  De  I'ew.  Their  children  are  Flor- 
ence and  Marjorie. 

David  D.  Haring  died  aged  eighty-nine  years,  his  wife,  Leah,  in 
her  eight v-first  year. 


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